Now you can literally ask me me about my band

So, yesterday was the big day! I got up early. Took my second shower in 6 hours with antibacterial soap, woke up my husband and got ready for my day. I slept surprisingly well for the night before. He didn't. My mother-in-law came in, we got our daughter up a few minutes earlier than normal. Then I made lunches for the kids and my husband started dinner for that night for them in the crockpot. While all this my parents had come and brought my husband breakfast.

Now we were out the door. The drive was about a 45 minute one. We arrived and got into a little scuffle regarding what the security/valet guy had said (apparently loud enough the whole lobby heard, this is somewhat unusual for us ;). We went upstairs and they whisked me back to pre-op.

They weighed me and according to their computer and BMI calculator (which put the notes in my hospital notes for the insurance) my BMI was EXACTLY what it needed to be to be covered by insurance. Thank the Lord! I was worried I had lost too much weight. Which will be the last time you will ever hear that from me.

They put this gown on me that hooks up to this air hose that blows warm air into your gown. I'm not a fan of warm air as it makes me sick. They started my IV. My family finally got to come back to see me. They gave some relaxing meds and offs I went.

The procedure itself was only about 35 minutes. The doctor told my family it went great.

I'm rather sore, more so than I was prepared for honestly. But I've been trying to get up and get around a bit here and there to help my recovery and prevent blood clots. I'm also staying on top of my pain meds and ice packs are my best friends. It feels like a really bad muscle tear.

So far, I've had one nausea event with chicken broth. I'm trying to stay as hydrated as possible as well.

Now that I've blogged I should go back to bed. I did all of this from my phone at 3 am.

Night all!

Day 5 of 10 Pre-Op Diet

It is the afternoon of Day 5. Days 1 and 2 were awful. I'm not going to lie. I had a headache that just would not go away!! But, day 3 was a turnaround day. So far, I haven't felt too awfully hungry. I'm having my moments. That's for sure, but it's actually not too bad.

What I am also not a fan of is the protein shakes. How in the world do body builders do these things all the time? I am assuming a bunch of people drink these things constantly because they are everywhere! The market for them is big, so people are buying them. Yuck! At least try to make them taste better.

So, I march on. Today I have already drank my 3 protein shakes allotted to me. I have left for my "meals" are: 1 fat free yogurt, 1/2 cup of fruit, 1 lean cuisine and 1 cup of salad with 1 tbsp of lite dressing.

I feel like I'm obsessing too much about the food part of this. Maybe I am. I don't know. I'm on this road that has been in my mind for a few years now and I can't believe I'm only 5 days away. I'm not excited anymore. I was. I'm nervous. I'm not nervous about the success. I believe this will be successful for me. I really do. I'm nervous about the surgery and the aftercare of the surgery.

Ok, that's it. My thoughts for today in blog form. Bye!

Day 2 of 10 Pre-Op Diet

So today is day 2 and well, although I'm not too incredibly hungry (which is good), I have a wicked bad headache the last 2 days!!

For those of you that don't know, I am having Lap-Band surgery in 9 days. I believe I am getting the Realize Band. Not sure how big of a band it will be, meaning how many cc's it will be able to hold.

To be honest, I've been super upbeat about the whole having surgery thing, but today had a slight meltdown. With tomorrow being Mother's Day, I can't go to dinner with our families to celebrate, right now, it's just a bummer. I know it will pass and this will be a good thing, but I did way too much research on side effects and it not working for some people the other day and well, it all got into my head.

The good news is, I'm sticking to the very strict pre-op diet. So far since starting at the bariatric clinic, I've lost 19 lbs in about 2 months and hope to lose at least 6 or 7 more before my surgery. Seeing how we have only a few days but a very limited menu and 2 days being only liquid, I'm thinking I may be close. We shall see.

Also, I belong to an online message board and made a declaration today.....I HATE PROTEIN SHAKES!! Yuck!! I'm trying to mix them up, flavor wise, but yuck, yuck, yuck!!!

Monday, Monday

Outside my window...it's sunny and snowy, same as the last time I did this :)

I am thinking...about my hospital visit today.

I am thankful for...the Lord.

From the kitchen...Lucas is still chewing on his fiber gummy (c'mon kid....time to move onto those mini pancakes!!).

I am wearing...capris and a t-shirt.

I am creating...nothing. I'm not creative. Ok, wait, does this blog count? I will probably keep repeating that.

I am going...to the hospital today.

I am reading...nothing really.

I am hoping...for a few things. Today's test goes well, Paul's workman's comp has no issues and his surgery is scheduled quickly.

I am hearing...my washer machine fill with water and Lucas breathing and chewing.

Around the house.. laundry, laundry, laundry (seems to be a theme).

One of my favorite things...my iPad.

Simple Monday

Outside my window...it's sunny and snowy.

I am thinking...Lucas needs to hurry up and eat because his bus will be here soon!

I am thankful for...days off!

From the kitchen...I need to put dishes in the dishwasher and put the roast in the crockpot.

I am wearing...pajamas. If I could live in them, I would.

I am creating...nothing. I'm not creative. Ok, wait, does this blog count? I will probably keep repeating that.

I am going...nowhere today.

I am reading...nothing really. Notes from school. Random blogs. Pinterest.

I am hoping...that Lucas picks up the pace!

I am hearing...the sound of my voice over Lucas' reminding him to put his coat on.

Around the house...a suitcase a certain all access member needs to clean out and put away after her weekend at SLAM and laundry, laundry, laundry.

One of my favorite things...Arizona flavored teas since I cannot drink anything carbonated anymore.

Simple Monday (stolen from my Pastor's wife...yep, you read right...STOLEN!)

Outside my window...it's raining on my awning.

I am thinking...that I have hor d'oeuvres for Life Group this Wednesday and if I don't kick this sickness in the butt I may need to trade with someone because let's face it, no one wants germs.

I am thankful for...my husband taking care of me and medication.

From the kitchen...ramen noodles and butter pecan ice cream. We don't do a whole lot of nuts in the house, but this is one I have to have every once in a while. Good thing the kid isn't allergic to pecans and there is no peanuts indicated anywhere on the packaging.

I am wearing...pajamas. Yep, took a bath and put pjs right back on.

I am creating...nothing. I'm not creative. Ok, wait, does this blog count?

I am going...nowhere today, because not to be redundant, but not feeling well.

I am reading...my mom would kill me for including these adjectives but cheesy, Christian romance novel. I like romance novels, but they have to be clean.

I am hoping...that no one else in my house gets sick.

I am hearing...the dishwasher going and the fan over my head. I realize it's winter but we are hot blooded in this house and I can't seem to regulate my heat over the last 24 hours.

Around the house...not too much. I saw a juice box a little boy is going to be throwing away when he gets home. Paul's work clothes that need to be folded and put away.

One of my favorite things...a salt bagel with cream cheese from the Bagel Factory on my way into work.

Ok...this was a first time for this one...........off to some Netflix.

6 Years Ago Today.....and Yesterday!!!

Here is what happened 6 years ago (yesterday and today):

Six years ago yesterday it was a Wed. night and I went to the hospital to be observed because my blood pressure was really high. I had an appt. on Thursday for an NST (non-stress test) and to see the dr. at 10 and 10:50 am.

I was hooked up to the NST machine and things were fine. The baby’s heartrate wasn’t doing a whole of lot of reacting when they were moving, but still fine. Then all of a sudden the heartrate drops off. I thought the baby had moved. So, I waited and no one came. You see the NST room is in the back of the office where no one is and I get forgotten about. I tried moving it around and finally decided to go find a nurse asst. She came back in and couldn’t find it. She got another nurse asst. and she couldn’t find it. They got the Doppler, still couldn’t find it.

They take me up front to see the doctor. She gets out the Doppler and can’t find the heartrate. She brings the ultrasound machine into the room and calls the other doctor into the room. Of course by now I am crying. The other doctor came in the room. They were trying to whisper over my head. Then I am not sure if they could find the heartbeat or not, finally they did and began counting. The heartrate what I know now was in the 70’s.

By now they are calling 911. I had to get my cell phone and call P and my mom. P was taking M to the doctors because she was so sick. I had to track him down in the waiting room and to have them tell him to come because they were rushing me to the hospital by ambulance. Then I remembered to call back (even in the midst of craziness) to tell them I wasn’t going to the hospital we had planned on but to the one closest to my doctor’s office.

They called 911. They put me in an ambulance and we had a police escort to the hospital. I found out later that my blod pressure in the ambulance was 200/150.

I got to the hospital at approximately 12:00 pm and our baby BOY was born at 12:10 pm. He was born on Thursday, November 3rd at 12:10 pm. He weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 inches long. He has a head full of dark hair with natural highlights!

God was there with us that day. He protected L from all the harm that could have come to him. He protected me throughout the surgery and in the ambulence where my blood pressure was extremely high.

That's what happened 6 years ago today.

5 years ago today.....

Here is what happened 5 years ago (yesterday and today):

Five years ago yesterday it was a Wed. night and I went to the hospital to be observed because my blood pressure was really high. I had an appt. on Thursday for an NST (non-stress test) and to see the dr. at 10 and 10:50 am.

I was hooked up to the NST machine and things were fine. The baby’s heartrate wasn’t doing a whole of lot of reacting when they were moving, but still fine. Then all of a sudden the heartrate drops off. I thought the baby had moved. So, I waited and no one came. You see the NST room is in the back of the office where no one is and I get forgotten about. I tried moving it around and finally decided to go find a nurse asst. She came back in and couldn’t find it. She got another nurse asst. and she couldn’t find it. They got the Doppler, still couldn’t find it.

They take me up front to see the doctor. She gets out the Doppler and can’t find the heartrate. She brings the ultrasound machine into the room and calls the other doctor into the room. Of course by now I am crying. The other doctor came in the room. They were trying to whisper over my head. Then I am not sure if they could find the heartbeat or not, finally they did and began counting. The heartrate what I know now was in the 70’s.

By now they are calling 911. I had to get my cell phone and call P and my mom. P was taking M to the doctors because she was so sick. I had to track him down in the waiting room and to have them tell him to come because they were rushing me to the hospital by ambulance. Then I remembered to call back (even in the midst of craziness) to tell them I wasn’t going to the hospital we had planned on but to the one closest to my doctor’s office.

They called 911. They put me in an ambulance and we had a police escort to the hospital. I found out later that my blod pressure in the ambulance was 200/150.

I got to the hospital at approximately 12:00 pm and our baby BOY was born at 12:10 pm. He was born on Thursday, November 3rd at 12:10 pm. He weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 inches long. He has a head full of dark hair with natural highlights!

God was there with us that day. He protected L from all the harm that could have come to him. He protected me throughout the surgery and in the ambulence where my blood pressure was extremely high.

That's what happened 5 years ago today.

It's time to quit playing around.....

I posted something on my FB page today. I read of yet another earthquake, this time in Taiwan. When I heard this it draws me back to the Gospels where it speaks of wars, earthquakes....people, we are getting close.

I know those of us that were raised in a Pentecostal environment we have always heard about the Rapture and how it's getting close, but man, I can't help to think we are getting close.

Now mind you God's time is so different than ours, but what if this is it? What if the time on this Earth is wrapping up? Am I sure that God would welcome me into His kingdom?

Often, I know I fall short. Yes, I go to church. Yes, I love God. But, is my life what it should be? No. I don't know. But, see that's the problem. I should know without a doubt.

We all sin. We ALL sin. And, no sin is bigger than another, well, except one. I have such a hard time with that. I know we all do, but God is a black and white God. It either is, or it isn't.

I have so much work on myself to do. I should say, I need God to do so much work in me. My heart feels like it has gotten so hardened. It needs softening. My devotion and prayer time. Oh my goodness, does it need work.

I often feel alone in this walk, like I am the only one who worries am I going to make it? The sad thing is that I had these same thoughts as a teenager and thought once I am a grown up, I will be ok. Geez, I am going to be 35 years old this year, you can't get more grown up than that!

My heart loves the Lord. I am concerned for others, especially family and friends that don't know the Lord. But, I feel like I am short on what I should be.....

Am I alone?

Contemplating

I've been contemplating blogging all day.

It started first thing this morning when I woke up. I had a dream. I have LOTS of dreams (you can read about another dream here). I had a dream that someone who died, came back to the earth. His family was so thrilled to see him and he put on his best face. When I asked him how Heaven was he didn't really answer me too much. I asked him if he went to Heaven, he said no.

As I am sitting here in the dark thinking about this, my heart is beating just a little faster and I could almost feel tears down my face.

I feel the need to blog, like the Lord is asking me to blog. I have so much to say, but so scared to hurt feelings, but I have to do what I feel HE wants me to do.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love. I don't like to hurt anyone. I don't like when people hurt.

Heaven and Hell are real places. I believe it. And I also believe someday we are all going to one place or the other. God has made a way for us to get to Heaven. His name is Jesus. Jesus came to earth and suffered the most horrifying death imaginable.

Lots of people believe a lot of things. I believe in the Bible cover to cover. My Bible doesn't say anywhere that just by being a good person you can go to Heaven. It tells me that I have to confess that Jesus is Lord, that He died on the cross and rose again on the third day. I also have to ask Him for forgiveness.

I also believe that we all sin. We ALL sin. But, if we continue to sin and not strive to do the things God asks of us, then He can't accept us into Heaven.

I don't think God asks too much of us. But, just like anyone, He has standards.

I love all of my family and friends. I don't want anyone to miss out on Heaven because I didn't tell them how much God loves them and just wants us to turn from what deceives us and turn to Him.

This CHRISTmas season, I am thankful for Him. Because without that Gift, I would be lost.