Karen C.
My name is Karen Cross and I am 43 years old. I am happily married to the most wonderful man on the planet in my opinion. My husbands name is Mark. If ever there were a person who definitely has angel wings, it would be him. He's been my friend, my rock, my sounding board, my greatest support and my love for as long as I can remember. He works for Goodyear Tire & Rubber and has been there for 22 years. Because of him, I am afforded the luxury of being a "Stay at Home Mom". My most favorite job ever!!!!
I have three truly fabulous children. My oldest is my son Aaron who is almost 20 and is currently a sophmore in college at Oklahoma State University! He's the most awesome kid. He's supportive, tender, loving, honest and brilliant. He is now and always has been an A+ student. Let me just say that he has truly truly been a blessing in my life.
My next child is my daughter Whitney, She is currently a Freshman at Eisenhower High School and just turned 15. She's on the cheer squad, is a gymnast, and is an "A" student. Whitney is the most "full of energy" child I have ever come across. It's not annoying, but surely keeps my busy..haha. I wish to someday possess half of her energy. Too bad it cannot be bottled and sold.
My baby is Katelyn, although she's not really a baby any more. She's 13 and is in the eighth grade at Eisenhower Jr. High. She too is a cheerleader for her school. She's also an avid dancer and takes, tap, ballet, jazz, modern and point. Katelyn is probably the most laid back of all 3 children. She's also an "A" student and works very hard to keep her grades up.
My story is really not that different from most of you. It would seem to me, that for as long as I can remember I have struggled with my weight. I always had one excuse or another for why the weight wouldn't come off when I tried so many of the various diets. I guess the beginning for me was when I was pregnant with my son. I didn't gain alot of weight, I just never got rid of what I did gain. And so it was the same with my next two pregnancies. I always thought...it's not so bad as long as I dress appropriately, look nice and take care of myself. Well.....19 years later, here I am.
My turning point was monumental. My son had just graduated from High School and we were all gathered at our home both prior to the graduation and immediately after the graduation. Tons of family and friends were here and we were all anxious to have those million pictures taken with the "graduate". Me being the mom....I was thrilled for him and for the journey that awaited him, and yet so sad for myself because I was losing my baby, and my son after 3 short months of summer would be "gone" from my home. It didn't matter that he was only going to school...what mattered was that when I woke up each day after he started college, that I would never ever feel the same. So that you know....I have come to terms with his being gone...and I love it now more when he comes home and visits. I also try very hard to make trips to see him now that he is in his second year and has an apartment. Anyway, later that evening after everyone had left our home, I brought all the cameras in to my computer and downloaded all the pictures of everyone with my son. And at that moment, I do not believe I have ever cried harder in my life. Every single picture that I had taken with him made me sick to my stomach. I hated the way I looked in all of them. Only one...was even acceptable..and it was because I was "behind" him. I vowed to myself at that moment, that I would never ever again have pictures taken that I had to be ashamed of or that made me feel the way those pictures did. So there....began my journey for having this Weight Loss Surgery.
I attended a seminar in my town put on by the surgeons office that I was interested in using. The first thing I learned that was for him to even see me, I had to quit smoking and be smoke free for 30 days. My Dr. also recommended starting an excercise program of walking. The next thing was that I had to fill out tons of paperwork, have a consultation and then proceed from there. I was so excited when I returned from the seminar just at the prospect that perhaps there was something in my life I could use to help change my life and give it back to me!
I left the seminar, came home, researched information on stopping smoking and began from there. Six weeks after the seminar, I had been off the cigarettes for a little over 30 days and had been walking 2 miles a day for most of that time and was off to see my Dr. for the first time. It was June 1st, 2007. My visit went well and I was ever more excited on the drive home. Now, it was a matter of getting approved from my insurance I never doubted that it would happen, to many things had already gone my way. After all, I had quit smoking after over 25 years!
Woohoo, my surgery was approved on the first submission. My surgery was scheduled for the 24th day of August, and nothing was going to keep me from being there! On the 14th day of August I was required to start a clear liquids diet and let me tell you, it was not near as easy as it sounds....but....I made it! I didn't care at that point if I ever touched another popcicle...or drank another cup of broth. But, I have overcome those two things as well. They have become my friends again :)
The hospital where I was having my surgery was actually in another state. It was just about 45 miles from me, so I was required to drive down the day before and have the last minute labs, etc. done. Then it was off to the Rothgaber House where I would stay the night and be up to go to the hospital the next morning. I was so excited I could barely sleep. Many things wondered through my mind that night, but most of all, the ones that made me smile...were the ones of me having pictures again with my son, only this time it would be from his 'College Graduation". A much more monumental moment.....now that the other has passed me by.
My surgery was perfect, no problems and in less than 48 hours I had my staples out, and was on the road back to the Rothgaber House to stay one more additional night, just to make sure everything was going fine. On Monday morning, Dr. Warnock came to visit me, checked my incision and released me to go home. My journey home was awesome. It seemed to me at the time that the whole world looked brighter already!
It has now been almost 8 weeks since my surgery and I have still not had any complications. I've had an upset tummy a few times, but only because I did something wrong....not being careful. Nothing serious though...thank goodness. I attended my first support group meeting just a couple of weeks ago. It's a little hard sometimes to get there, since it is out of town, but the meeting itself was fabulous! I'll definitely be going back, again and again. Their support and encouragement are awesome. I do not know how anyone could do this all on their own. So, if you have any issues or are struggling, my best advice, find a support group!!! Next piece of advice...get involved with them, exchange phone numbers, email, and become friends!
As of today...October 18th. 2007. I am down 36lbs. I way excited and loving the feeling more each day. **A simple note*** my son, calls me every single day.....just to tell me hello and to see how much more I have lost. On those days when the scale doesn't move, he says, "It's OK Mommy"....it's going to move again soon. What a kid huh? My daughters...they are just as awesome. They have been so supportive and are learning that they too can enjoy a whole new way of life. It doesn't have to be all about junk food or fast food for them to love it. My husband....Oh my gosh, he's loving that we are all getting healthier and that we are all "eating at home more" and that there is no longer a "cloud of doom" hanging over me. My husband purchased a fabulous treadmill for me because it's beginning to get colder in the evenings and that's when I like to walk, so now, I'm continuing to do my 2+ miles a day and feeling so much better than I could ever begin to explain. I'm loving life....finally!
About Me
Lawton, OK
Location
24.8
BMI
Surgery
08/24/2007
Surgery Date
Oct 15, 2007
Member Since
