MILESTONE!

Well, I have lost 100 pounds! How awesome is that!? I can't believe that I have lost that much! That is a person! Let me tell you the coolest part! My husband- bless his heart- emailed my family and friends asking them to help me celebrate. He asked them to send cards, cash for clothes- whatever they wanted to show their support. It was so touching.

So as I sit in the hospital (yes the hospital- will explain in a minute) excited about my goal, my husband reads me his email. Then he pulls out this package of cards that he has collected. There were cards from my dear co-workers in the lab. Some chipped in together and got me a month of the local gym. One of them gave me a card from his family and a subway gift card. I got a neat skinny quilt from my sister. I thought it was great because if was perfect to cover my lap, and since I freeze at work on the weekends I thought was perfect. Then I found out that it was made with a 100 squares (I knew there had to be some meaning in it somewhere!) and my siblings all got me a necklace- an amethyst journey necklace. The signaficance there is my birthday feb so amethyst, my surgery was feb. and it has been quite the journey! I got some pumpkin scented body and hair care set, a gift certificate to the local salon for a haircut, and a gift certificate for 6 tanning sessions. I was TOTALLY surprised! I was touched by my hubby, and his creative idea and his sweet email to everyone. I was touched also by the love, care, and support of everyone. It means so much to me to have that kind of support. Thanks to everyone! and Ty! What a wonderful handful of moments reading my cards and everything. I got sweet letters too. All of it means so much to me! I asked Ty to print out his email so I had that to keep as well. He didn't get many pics and what he did get he got on his cell phone. So we will see if we can get it online somehow! He felt bad he didn't have the camera but he didn't want to wait to give me the package, and the camera was at home and we were at the hospital!

Ok- quick run down of the hospital trip- Dr (the one that will do the lapband surgeries once certified-the dr I will be working with in the clinic) tried to access my port to empty some fluid out since I was having acid reflux. He was unable to do so- later that night (wed) I show up at the emergency room in severe - I mean SEVERE- pain! I was sure it was my appendix. The dr on call had to call the lapband dr since he is the surgeon and when he showed up and saw it was me - he was so worried that he had caused it! So we did a cat scan and he put me in the hospital to get fluids, get my band emptied, and watch me! he ordered antibiotics and stomach xrays and lab tests. I still have some pain but I am feeling better. We had someone come empty my band and in the process of all of this- we have learned that the port is sitting on its side. I think - believe- that it has been that way since another dr changed it to a low profile a year ago. It totally explains the swelling and tenderness in that area. So my band is empty! And after hitting that 100 pound mark! ugh. I will be really careful and exercise and eat well (I work at both daily anyway- exercise and eating well) But the 100 pound care package will help me to stay on track! Thinking of all that love and support from everyone! and I if I go buy clothes I want them to fit and stay that way!! So- the diagnose- NONE. I have another test in the morning. A cat scan with contrast. They are going to double check on the appendix and make sure I don't have a bowel blockage. Then hopefully if the test comes back well, the dr will let me go. BUT he has been very cautious with me and caring.

What did I learn from this?! A lot actually!! First off- I learned that the reason I had c-sections is that I would never handle labor and child birth!!! If that pain is anything like Wed night- wow I am glad I had no part of that!! Why would women do that more than once!!? I am impressed by women!

But seriously- I learned that the dr is very compassionate. Let me tell you- He is a big guy- intimidating somewhat. I have never thought badly of him, mind you, but to learn that the dr you are going to be working for and telling patients "trust him he does good work" has such a tender heart and compassion is a huge plus! I learned a lot about him and the kind of dr he is (he is fairly new to our hospital) I also learned how much my co-workers are my family. I am so thankful for all of them! They have been so caring and wonderful and I couldn't ask for a better group of co-workers! The hospital administrator is such a great person! He came in several times to check on me. Then he left to go out of town for meetings and called me from there to check on me! It brought tears to Ty's eyes to see the love and care I have received. Mine too, for that matter. We are both very touched by it all!

I also think it was a great learning experience for the dr. So it all happened as it should - We learn something from everything if we stop and take time to absorb the lesson.... I am thankful this happened. Not so happy about the amount of pain I had to go through!! Or the metallic taste in my mouth from all the antibiotics... but thankful for the lessons we have all learned and the discovery of my port being in wrong so we can get it fixed.

until I blog again....

New adventures

Well, let's see - since the beginning of the year my husband and I have been to the gym several times. We attended our first spinning class. Everyone know what that is? It is a 45 minute class on bikes- not the typical exercise bike- this is totally self powered! If you watch Biggest Loser, you have seen these bikes! I have watched contestants and thought to myself "NO WAY!"

So we attended a class. It was a butt kicker! I couldn't do all the stand up parts. It was hard on my knees, BUT I survived. I even went and lifted some weights then walked half a mile on the treadmill. After that class I dropped a few pounds right away. then stayed at that loss all week! So I decided to go to spinning class again. It wasn't as bad. I did the whole program just as it was! I did all the standing up and everything! I was very pleased with this. And since I have gained 3 pounds!

I am okay with this. I know that I have been pushing my body the last couple of weeks. I am sure I am working on building more muscle. So the plan is to just keep plugging away and not get frustrated. Not always easy to do- especially when my husband is dropping pounds quickly! I am so proud of him though. He is working hard and doing great! It won't be long before he is to his goal.


The other new adventure- we have recently learned about geocaching. This seems like such a great adventure- a neat family activity that we can do with the kids even when they leave the house to go to college or get married...We are really excited and talked about how if we get into this that we will get cross country skiis to go hiking in. Well, someone suggested snow shoes instead for the winter time. So we took our wal-mart gift cards from Christmas and ordered snow shoes from sam's club. We got them Saturday.

Sunday after I got home from work we had limited time before it got dark outside so we just went up to the orchard above our house. I used the trekking poles for balance and for arm work. Let me tell you! I LOVED IT!!! It was a wonderful walk! If you have ever walked in the deeper snow- you know that it is hard and tiring- the snow shoes makes it easier! We walked down the road that is closed in the winter. As we were walking though- we noticed it was getting darker, it was snowing in the mountains ahead of us, and the animal tracks we walked next to was a big topic of discussion! We finally decided it was mountain lion tracks! So with this combination of factors we didn't go very far. We walked just over a mile round trip! But it was a blast!! I can't wait until Saturday- we are going to go out early and hike all the way up to the orchard!! (we will be taking something to protect ourselves with incase that mountian lion is lurking about though!!)

It is the start of a new year. I have no new years resolutions except that losing weight will not be on my list of resolutions ever again! But I guess if I were to make one right now- it would be to try the things I never tried before because of my weight. Some of the things I never tried-I cheated myself out of. I could have done so much more even with the weight but I let what people might think stop me. I let what I thought stop me. I could have done several of the things I passed up- okay maybe not easily for some of them but I could have done it! So here goes nothing! I have shattered my comfort zone- I don't know what my comfort zone is anymore- which is really a great thing! My goals for the year- do the things I wanted to try but never did!

January- spinning class never thought I would survive and I have done two classes!!
Snow Shoeing (winter outdoors) - I love it! I can't wait to go out again!!! I am a little worried what the mountain lion is thinking of me but otherwise- I love it!! I intend to do a lot of snow shoeing! Now I just have to figure out a way to take my special needs son out with me- he loves the outdoors! He would love to go with us!

So my challenge to you is to try something new! Leave your comfort zone. Don't be afraid- don't let anything stop you! Try what you want to try-

until I blog again.....

The Biggest Loser Finale! WOW!!! What a big change in all of them!! Jerry is probably my favorite followed by his daughter Colleen! He turned his health around- looks great, and his daughter was so proud. My favorite part was when she was excited that she didn't lose more than he did!! I was watching and to me it was that she wanted him to have the moment!! How amazing!!

I was shocked to hear Vickie say she took the advice Phil gave her during a phone conference while they were not on the show! Phil is the one that she hated so much!! Vickie did grow some! I was kind of pleased to hear that! I even hit rewind to see if I heard her correctly!!!

The previews for next season - which starts Jan 6th!- were great! I cannot wait until Tues!!! The contestants for this new season seem sincere in the commercials!! One of the ladies says "I am taking my life back!" I know she will make it far and learn as she goes!

My husband has decided he wants to lose his extra pounds (he doesn't have a lot- about the same amount I have left to go) . So he wanted a membership to the new local gym. For Christmas I got us both the membership, him some new shoes (I got a pair from him!), tshirts, shorts, socks, and a sweat towel! We went twice this week!! We are planning on going to a spinning class tomorrow!! I am scared. I watch those contestants on the biggest loser, and I am sure I can't do the things they do!!! Not even now being where I am at!! I want to lose the rest of my weight!!!

We are plugging away at getting the program up and going at the hospital. I have a lot of things to prepare still. We need a name for the clinic - so if anyone has any suggestions- please send them to me!!! I am a bit overwhelmed with all that it takes to start a whole new program! BUT I am so excited and proud to be a part of it! I will survive! There are so many fun aspects of the whole project! I can't believe that after almost two years since the administrator and I first talked about it- we are getting the program going now!! WOW.

I want to provide an awesome program, for an amazing price, and help each patient get to their goal properly! I want them to succeed. I want to be a part of that! For those of you who don't know- I am the first one in our area to have had the lapband and now there are almost 20 of us in the valley to have had it! So I started something- now I want to continue. I feel very dedicated to those who followed me and those who are going to go through our program. I don't want anyone to assume the will succeed because I have, and I don't want anyone to worry they will struggle like I did. I want everyone to succeed with the fewest amount of struggles! sigh....

Today I learned that I want low riders for the front of my jeans and butt covers for the back!! I bought a pair of jeans that fit great in the front but when I sit down they barely cover my fanny! of course a size bigger would help cause the legs were tight as well. But that is the first pair of jeans I have put on my body in forever that the crotch of the jeans was actually in my crotch instead of hanging six inches down!!! (that is one of the 'promise of honesty' comments!!)

until I blog again...