Trip to see Texas Wildflowers

My hubby and I went for a nice leisure drive not all that far from where we live, to enjoy the explosion of wildflowers that have come up this season. With all the rain we've had, we have a bumper crop of beautiful flowers this year. We haven't seen this many flowers in a while, so we had to see for ourselves, and I'm glad that we did. Hope you enjoy some of the pictures.

Surgery & Post Surgery

I never spoke of my surgery and what I went thru. I had the surgery on February 1, 2010 at Brooks Army Medical Center, Tx. I had a terrific surgeon that was both compasionate and truthful. I had the best care while there, and I couldn't be happier with how I was treated. I was in surgery for 9 hours. It was long! I was the biggest patient that my surgeon had ever worked on. Of course knowing that was a little embarrassing, but it made me feel good that he took a chance on me and felt confident that he could help me out. I had it done laproscopically, and ended up with 8 holes as a result. The biggest site was about an inch and a half long-the others were fairly small. I was sent to PCU for 2 1/2 days, post surgery, where they monitored me very well. Because I had Sleep Apnea, they had to monitor my breathing closely, and being in PCU meant more one on one attention. I had such wonderful care there, with the most terrific nurses. I took my first swallow test the following morning, and this was the first I ever got out of bed. I was hooked up to monitors, a pain pump, a drainage bulb and a foley(UGH!), and had to stand while that test was being administered. After a while I felt very weak, so was carted off back to PCU. From what they saw, it looked like everything was ok. I was told later that they had to remove 4" of my intestine during surgery, as it didn't look very healthy, and felt it needed to be taken out. No biggie-we have tons of intestine, so I wasn't worried about that. They warn you about how you will feel in the briefings, and boy were they right. The first day you feel like you've been hit by a train. You are very sore in your abdominal region, and rightly so. Your insides are being juggled around, so you'll be super tender. The following day you feel like you have been hit by a bus. The pain is less than the day before, but there is still a great deal of soreness. By the third day you are feeling so much better than the first, and you're able to breath deeper by this point, as breathing deeply on day one is very difficult. The whole while, you have to practice your breathing to strengthen your lungs. You'll have a little gadget to breath in and you'll have to do this every hour. By the 3rd day I was wheeled to the floor with 3 other room mates. I was on ice chips the 1st and 2nd day, and by that afternoon I was on liquids. By day 3 they put me on full liquids and it was then that I noticed that my taste for chicken flavor went south. They warned us that this might happen, and I fell victim. Dang!!! By day 4 I was released to go home. My surgeon stopped by to check on me, ordered the drainage to be removed, and that was it. By 6:00 that evening I was released and headed to home sweet home-and boy, was it wonderful to be home. I went to sleep early that night as sleeping in the hospital on the floor with others was near impossible, with all the racket. I stayed on Full liquids for 2 wks, and then went for my follow up. I tell ya, that liquid diet was tough and was beginning to get monotonous. That was a good solid 4 wks of liquids because I did 2 it wks prior as well. Well, we're 2 months in since my surgery and I'm noticing some changes. I lost 20 lbs on my first 2 wk follow up. On my second follow up-1 1/2 months post surgery I lost another 25 lbs. So, so far 45 lbs---but, from my heaviest I've lost 88 pounds. It's feeling good. Of course I've had my ups and downs. I've gotten sick a handful of times and that's because I either ate too quickly, or because I was unable to sit straight up while eating, due to a back injury. That story is for later. All in all, I've been recovering well, and fortunately have not had any complications. I have to keep reminding myself to eat, and to drink. I just don't have the appetite I once had. It's amazing, but I never thought I'd see the day that I would have to remind myself to eat. Who knew? Anyhow, physically I'm seeing differences. Of course I have a long way to go, but I'd say I'm off to a great start.

I think what is difficult is retraining the way I think about food. I am eating healthier, but I have to say, when those commercials come on with all sorts of yummy food, I do miss being able to eat anything and everything. But this is why I'm in the situation that I'm in now, for that very reason. Knowing that my eye is on the prize of getting healthier, this is the reason for sticking to what I'm supposed to. You do go thru a mourning for what you used to be able to eat. You do miss it, and you do wish you could have those things you can not eat. That's just normal. But seeing it and actually eating that are two different things. Besides, with bypass surgery, you just can not eat anything and everything. Your body will not allow it, especially in the early stages. There is not getting around it. If it doesn't agree with you, it will come up faster than a bullet. So if you want to get sick, do what you're not supposed to. I, personally, am not a fan of vomiting. If I can avoid it, I will. Your success will come if you follow your doctor's orders, and do what you're supposed to do. Why have the procedure if you're going to cheat?

I have to say, if anyone tells me that having Gastric Bypass is the easy way out, they are out of their minds, and are ignorant. They do not know what a person has to do to have this surgery nor do they know what they have to do to make this surgery be successful. They just have no earthly idea how much of a commitment it is, and what a huge sacrifice it is. Ignorance is bliss, I suppose, but there will always be someone out there that will say this. Not just that, people will feel the need to tell you that you have to change your habits...DUH!!! We all know this and have to know this going in to this surgery. Oh well-you will always have people out there that don't think you did your homework, and research, and classes/briefings towards this surgery. They think they may know more that you and that you're having this surgery to get a quick fix. I just think of it like water off of a duck's back. I know what I did prior to this surgery, and what I have to continue to do to make this work, not just for a short period of time, but for the rest of my life...and quite frankly, that's all that matters to ME.

I have a date

Well, my 7 months of preparation has paid off. It looks like I have a surgery date for my gastric bypass. I received the long awaited call at about 2:30 or so today. My surgery date is officially February 1st, at Brook Army Medical Center(BAMC). I will meet with the surgeon on January 27th, and go over the details at that time. In the meantime I will start my liquid diet on Saturday, and will have to incorporate 30 minutes of walking a day. It's my last task for this procedure. I need to drop by the store and get some Flintstone's multi-vitamins. I'm excited, but I'm also a bit nervous about it. My dream is coming true, and it feels a little surreal at the moment. This is what I've wanted to do and now it is soon becoming a reality. Now that I have the date, I hope once people know, I will be greeted by a "Hello" rather than "Do you have a date yet?" LOL! So tomorrow is my final day for a serious meal and I'll be looking forward to it.

Looking back, I've done a lot to get to this point. Let me reflect a bit. I've had a consultation with a nutritionist for 6 months. I've had an Echo Cardiogram, an Endoscopy, a Colonoscopy, a Mammogram, a GYN annual exam, I had to attend a mandatory support meeting, had lab work, Psych evaluation and I'm sure I've left something out. I'll have to check my paperwork, but it has been a lot. At least now I know that everything is working great and there are no complications. I've only run into one bump in the road, and that was that I wasn't able to do the UGI because there was an issue with my weight and the weight limit of the table. Other than having to wait on what to do with that kink in my plan, everything else ran smoothly. I waited a good month before I was instructed further in regard to the UGI, as this was my last exam to complete. At first they had talked about sending me outside the military hospital into the civilian world to have it done. The explanation was that they would have more current machines that would facilitate my weight issue versus the old machines that both Wilford Hall & BAMC have. I waited and waited, but nothing ever developed. Finally they came to the conclusion that I would, instead, get an endoscopy at Wilford Hall Hospital, at Lackland AFB. Since I was scheduled for my colonoscopy at Brook Army Medical Center (BAMC), my doctor decided to kill two birds with one stone and get them both done at BAMC. So that took care of that.

All in all, it hasn't been that bad. Although my appointment book has been filled for the last 7 months, it's been pretty breezy. God willing I will survive this liquid diet and breeze thru this surgery and be on my way to a thinner and healthier me. I'm looking forward to it with excitement.

WHAT DID YOU DO?

Here are Brinkley & Noah


Noah, the guilty party

I have 2 dogs, Noah & Brinkley. Noah is a 4 yr old Bassett Hound dog, and Brinkley a 12 yr old Terrier Mix. Noah thinks he's in charge, and Brinkley doesn't want to debate such nonsense. I had to run an errand yesterday, and decided to leave both boys inside, since it was drizzling. Both are not fond of inclimate weather, and I just couldn't see leaving them outside. So, they were left indoors to relax and take their naps. I stepped out to head on out when I noticed that I had forgotten my phone. I turned the car off, headed back inside to retrieve it, when I notice that one of the newspapers were on the floor-one that was in our recycling bin. Who do I see leaving that area, but Noah. Brinkley was innocently lying in the hallway, clear away from the evidence. I scolded Noah, picked the paper up off of the floor and sent Noah to bed. He ran off with his tail between his legs, and I headed out. Fast forward to my conversation with my husband. He came in the house, and only moments later he asked, "What the heck happened here?" It became very apparent that Noah had a field day with the contents of the recycle bin. The floor was littered with the entire contents. Now, was Brinkley involved as well? We will never know, but one thing is for sure, I am certain that Noah was the initiator. Such an angel face, but behind it is a mischievious Bassett. Naughty, naughty dog!!!

Happy New Year

Good riddance 2009, hello 2010. For my family, 2009 was a very tough year. We definately had some hard transitions, but we persevered. My husband losing a job, but fortunately getting hired on to another job the day after was certainly a blessing, but it came with some changes. Economically it was tougher for us-but no doom and gloom here. I'm hopeful that 2010 will bring good things to not only us, but for all those others that had to struggle with their own issues in 2009. God's blessings to each and every one of you. May 2010 bring you Joy, Peace, & Comfort.
I will start my year out by helping another family that is in much need right now. Unfortunately they have brought the New Year in with tragedy. Their apartment was consumed by a fire on New Year's day, early in the morning and they have lost everything. So my mission today is to help them in anyway I can.

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us." Flora Edwards

Angel Ornament

I worked hard on this sucker. I made 12 for my cookie exchange. That meant covering 121 mini spools with ribbon. I managed to do all 12 in one night. My obsessive nature forbids me to quit in the middle of a project, so it was an all or nothing kind of an affair. I think they came out cute and that the girls really enjoyed them.

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

This is what I will be having. Let me start from the beginning. I am 46 year old female. I am 5'8" and my weight...well, when I get more comfortable with myself, I will reveal that. Suffice it to say, I am what is called, "Morbidly Obese." Although that doesn't bring music to my ears, I am what I am. When I found out thru my family medicine physician, Mbue, that I was diabetic, she asked if I had ever considered the Gastric sleeve. I explained to her that I had never heard of this, but would be willing to learn about it. That was the catalyst-that is what got that ball rolling. My doctor submitted a referral to General Surgery/the Bariatric clinic at Wilford Hall, at Lackland, AFB.

Step one was to go to the first briefing. At this briefing, they spelled out all the procedures that Wilford Hall does, along with the benefits and the possible complications that come with each procedure. They offer 1 Lapband 2 Gastric Sleeve & lastly 3. Gastric Bypass. It was a basic overview. It was enough for those attending to be able to make an educated decision as to what they were leaning towards. It was at that time that I found out that I was not a good candidate for the sleeve because I have a diagnosed case of acid reflux. The program will not allow you to have this procedure if you have been treated and are currently taking meds for reflux. It will make your reflux a lot worse. That was a bit of a disappointment, as I thought the sleeve would be a better route. So, now it looks like Bypass is the way to go.

Step 2 was to attend a 4 hr briefing on Gastric Bypass. This is where you will learn everything you need to know about Gastric Bypass, but were afraid to ask. There was a quick discussion as to the papers that we needed to sign & initial, and then a Nutritionist came to speak to us. She was very open with us and was very blunt as to what we are going to have to look forward to. She didn't candy coat anything. On the contrary...she was very clear. We were then visited by the Sleep Lab. They explained their purpose, and afterwards scheduled all those that needed to get this study. I set up my appointment with them, and then waited until I could go up to the Director of the program (Nikki) to give her my paperwork. It was then discussed that we would be needing some referrals from her, and that they wouldn't be availble for scheduling for about a wk. Step 2 done-onward to step 3.

Step 3 I had my Psych. test. I went to the office, she asked a few questions. She also shared with me that she had the surgery back in November of last year and has lost 110 lbs. She offed to assist if I had any questions for her. I think through conversation, she knew I meant business, and wasn'[t wishy washy about this procedure. I spoke with her for about an hour. She also encouraged the group meetings that are held once a month. She said that if Arturo had any reservations, that he should ask the questions here. There would be plenty of people answering his questions.