***WARNING*** Loose skin ahead!!!

Dec 30th 2013 

Jan. 1st 2014

FIRST OF ALL HAPPY 2014!!!!

Don't you just love how much clothing can cover/hide. I'm now down 139lbs and feel great. I'm going to be honest this post has got the be the hardest for me out of any post ever because this has to be the most personal post I have ever posted. We are going under the clothing (somewhat) and revealing the dirty truth of what it looks like to loose large amounts of weight in a short time. 

O.K. here we go

It's not easy to show others how you really look but I know it's only going to be temporary. It won't be this year (at least I don't think it will be) but I will be scheduling a full body lift so that I will be able to get rid of all my excess skin. I'm also planning on having my breast lift. I have been big all my life. Yes I have gone up and down like a roller coaster but have never been a healthy size. I still remember my 8th grade picture in the college park year book when I was on the yearbook staff. I was 220lbs then. I finally decided if I was going to do this I was going all the way. I don't just want to feel good in my skin I want to feel great about all of me (and I so totally do but still have more to go). So far I have gone from morbidly obese to finally being a healthy weight (I've lost 139lbs so far). I'm proud of myself regardless.

Thighs:

I kinda wish I had taken before pictures to compare with but when you feel huge and ugly you tend to hide from the camera. Even though I have gone from a size 26 jeans to now 9-10 I still have big thighs. I know once I have the lift a lot of  this will be gone and I will actually look like I have a butt..lol. I used to have a huge hunk of meat on the inside of both my knees, Which I still have a little but no where near as much as there used to be.

Belly:

My poor belly has been through the ringer quite a few times. About 16 years ago I had to have surgery which resulted in a long scar starting at the top of my stomach and ending at the very bottom. I've has my gallbladder removed, tubal ligation, and a hernia repair as well as my first gastric bypass done laparoscopicly and then finally I had my gastric bypass repair that resulted in my having to be opened up and leaving me with another huge scar. As of right now my belly is nothing but a scared of hanging mess of loose skin. I will be so happy to have this removed and tighten. Secretly I hope most of my scar can me removed when they do my belly.

Arms:

This is one area that isn't really easy to hide 

with clothing. I've been trying to tone this area but the more I lift weights the bigger the muscle gets but the skin keeps getting saggier underneath my arms.

Neck:

All I can say is gobble gobble gobble!!! lol. This lovely dangily skin actually runs in my family I didn't get this gobble till after I starting loosing weight. My Dr. did give me hope by telling me that it for the most part would be temerary. It looks this way because I lost so much weight so fast. She told me it may take six months but since I'm still young-ish  the collagen in my face/neck will tighten up on it's own. 

 (for the most part).

This is a picture taken today of myself and my 15 yr old son standing in the pants I myself weren't even able to fit back in Jan of 2013 because they were to small. These are the only pair of fat pants I kept as a reminder of where I used to be. I was actually in a 26 when I started but somehow ended up keeping a pair of my 24s. It's mind boggling to look back at the old pictures and compare them with pictures taken today. I hardly look like the same person. I of course see myself as bigger than I am until I see photos side by side but in the mirror I still struggle with grasping the fact that I am so much smaller than I think I am. I do feel healthier, more energetic, and whole lot happier but I guess in time I will be able to accept my lighter self and see myself as I truly am. Till then thank goodness for cameras :)

Healing as I go - June 2013

June started out pretty well. I was happy to be moving around a little more taking my pain meds a little less and finally being able it eat a little as I had been on the liquid stage till the end of March and then started some purees and then was told about mid June I could finally try some solid foods. Since I still had to be on my feeding and G tubes 16 hours a day I mostly only moved from the couch to the bathroom or to the kitchen. I tried to make my family meals but with the tubes I usually ended up with the dry heaves or as many call it foamies. Used my hand weights to get my exercise in while sitting and my husband would drag my pole up and down the street almost daily so that I could walk as much as I could handle. I felt very weak even though my feeding were mostly protein. I still was unable to drink a full protein shake a day but I did my best to at least get half.

Since I spent a lot of time sitting I decided to make use of it by doing as much research as possible to learn as much as I could about my new life change. I had read a lot about the surgery and what was involved before going under the knife but now I wanted to know it all. I started sharing links on my page so that I could go back and study what I had read and to share with others information that they themselves may not know.

 One of my first questions was,  Why do we have to wait between eating and drinking ? Well I found a link that explained it perfectly at friends don't let friends drink and eat

Facebook post:

June 4th 2013: "I never imagined being able to walk around Wal-mart would ever be considered an achievement till I lost that ability. Well today I can say I DID IT!!!! To most that means nothing but to me it's another sign that I'm getting stronger. Feeling blessed"

June 5th: "It's so hard to make the big yummy dinner I promised my family last night when I'm so nauseated but a promise is a promise. Making some beef brisket, loaded mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies...."

*In the condition I was in it was so hard not being able to do the things that had come so easily before. It was even harder not to fall into a deep depression many nights when my family was sound asleep in their beds I would cry because I felt so useless. I had been a mother for 14 years and had always been the one taking care of everybody and at this point I couldn't even take care of myself. My children and or husband had to prepare my bag for my feeding tube, they got my food/ broth or cream of something soup for me and sometimes even prepared dinner for the family. Even my husband had to unclog my tubes when they got stuck because my strength was gone. It seemed like I always got sick in the middle of the night and my husband would coming running out of the bedroom making sure I was going to be o.k. on nights he didn't have to work he would even sleep beside me on the couch in case I needed him for anything.

June 10th: "Loving how all my kiddies are camped out in the living room with me. One month ago today I was discharged from the hospital. I've made quite a bit of progress but still have a long road ahead of me. Still have my feeding and g tubes in but pray they came out soon so I can finally take a long soak in the tub and FINALLY get to sleep in my own bed and not in the living room in a recliner. And go swimming!!!!!!!"

*It seemed like everybody took turns camping out beside me even my new little companion Brutus. Thought for sure since James had gotten his as a little pup just before I left for India there was no way he would remember me but he did. He stayed by my side like he understood something was wrong. And James was right puppies sure have a way of making you feel better.

*This was one post I remember re posting a lot. I tried not to keep asking Why me? I just tried to grin and bare it and kept looking towards the future.

June 12: Getting my first real takeout meal. Refried beans, drowned in cheese dip and topped with black olives.... my mouth is watering YUMMMMM!!! Headed home to eat and watch some Nurse Jackie while the lucky ones veg out in the pool.

June 13th: Went to my nutritionist and post op appts this afternoon and got great news at both places. I'm down another 5lbs, all my labs came back at good levels, he cut my feeding tube back to only 8hrs a day. On the other hand I still have both tubes (but he rescheduled me for the 27th to see about removing them both!!!!) And lastly I had to have 2 stitches to hold my feeding tube since Nick accidentally ripped them out the other day. Other than that things are pretty good still nauseated when I wake in the morning and I still have pain at night.

June 14th: It's hard not to feel like a horrible mom when this is the fist summer where we haven't done anything. No park, lake, adventure, nothing. And its all because of a selfish decision. When I finally do get well enough to get around we have got alot of time to make up. It's really hard trying not to feel depressed when I cant join in the fun.

June 17th: Vinny and Santana making dinner all by themselves can't wait till it's finished.

*Dinner is done. Cheesy hash brown casserole. Vinny even sauteed some onions for it. They did such a great job!! I'm so Proud of my children. I did try a tiny bit and had to chew, chew, chew it till it was bout liquefied but they do a great job.

June 21st: Vinny and I made baked crab cakes and tarter sauce from scratch. (I will start sharing recipes soon)

June 25th: "Super yummy!! My double stuffed mushroom Swiss burger. Mmmmmmmm. Nothing like grilling burgers on a nice day. Made the others bacon triple cheese stuffed burgers. All bellies are full."

*I made these with ground lean steak and was only able to eat about 1/4 of mine.

 June 27th: Early appointment with my nutritionist this morning. Really starting to enjoy stepping on the scale for weight ins. Praying that tomorrow's appointment with my surgeon goes well and I get these tubes out. Life will be so much better once they are gone.

*Great visit!!! Nutritionist says I'm at 48% loss to my goal weight of 125. She says it usually takes 6 mos to get 50% but due to my complications I got there faster but I'm doing amazingly well and healing faster than expected (her words exactly) So HAPPY!!!!!!!!

June 28th: Really excited this morning. Appointment with my surgeon in a couple hours. I REALLY want my tubes OUT!!! Wish me luck.

*With a heavy heart I have to say the tubes are still there. Next appt July 10th.

June 30th: My sweet daughter took it upon herself to research protein shakes to help me keep my levels up. She surprised me with a peanut butter banana shake and it was honestly REALLY GOOD!! Thank you baby girl I couldn't ask for a better more caring daughter.

What a month June was. I went from the pureed stage to finally getting to have some solid foods. My nutritionist told me it would more than likely be a year before I could handle steak but I ended up being one of the few that could. of course I could only handle about an ounce per setting but it was helping keep my protein up since I was having trouble drinking a whole protein shake. I entered July with high hopes of finally having those tubes out. Will they finally come out? Well that will be in my next post. Hope you continue to follow along.

Finally Home May 10th 2013

I know it's been a little while since my last post but I have been super busy. Also I've come up with a little issue that ended me up in the ER and having to see my surgeon the next morning who sent me strait for a CT scan. somehow I ended up having some sort of trauma to my stomach which cause internal bleeding that caused a huge knot on my belly. the CT scar showed that it was a racket ball sized blood clot. Surgeon says my body should absorb it but I have to go back in the 31st of Oct. for him to recheck and make sure it did. Now with that out of the way I'm going to continue with my story. like I said in an earlier post a lot that happened earlier is foggy in my mind because of the heavy amount of pain killers I was on. So most of this are my Facebook updates and pictures as I go along.

May 10th 2013

*Doing a little happy dance. The doctor said I can go home today!!!! They are working on my discharge papers now and I'm keeping my fingers crossed I don't get sick.

*Happy to finally be home sweet home

Hooked up to my lovely feeding tube 24 hrs a day and also not pictured I had a G tube as well. My daughter posted this picture the day I came home. that couch ended up being my bed from May to Aug. with the feeding tube I was unable to lay in my bed. they told me you can't lay flat because the tube feeding will travel up and can choke you. I found first hand that it can make you sick as a dog. Also on the day I got home I was woke in the middle by a big bang. My husband and I found his mother unconscious on the bathroom floor not breathing and with no pulse. As I called an ambulance he put water in her face. Thank the lord some how she came to. by the time the paramedics got to our house and got her on a monitor they told us she was having a heart attack. they whisked her away to the closest hospital.

May 11th 2013

Asking for prayers and positive thoughts for James' mother. Luckily we found her in time, she had a heart attack and had to have 2 stents put in her heart last night.

May 14th 2013

Home health nurse came out today and says I'm doing great. Still got a long road of recovery ahead but I'm still up for the challenge. And another tid bit of good news, my mother in law was released from the hospital today and is doing great.

May 16th

Got 2 post op appts this morning. Keeping my fingers crossed I get to loose at least one or both of these tubes.

May 19th

Had post op appt last Thursday and was told I can unhook my tubes for a couple hours a day so I can get out. So far I've gone out and walked around Wal-mart and target every evening to get my exercise and stay cool. Well today I decided to be adventurous and take on the flea market... bad idea, we were there maybe 15 minutes and I got weak and sick. I do believe the sun had a little bit to do with it but I know I'm not ready for that. Got home hooked back up and haven't been able to shake the nausea or belly pains from the dry heaving. Hope tomorrow brings a better day.

May 20th

Still feeling miserable and can't sleep. Glad the nurse is coming in the morning I found a knot that just appeared today and its got a bruse over it. Hope it's nothing but it does hurt and I don't remember bumping into anything. In so much pain right now had to conserve my last 2 pills for tonight and now they don't seem to be working to well..... next time I wont dilly dally around and wait till the weekend before asking for a refill. Sorry for the rambling it sucks when everyone else is sleeping and I'm still stuck on the couch cause I cant sleep in my bed cause of the tube feeding. Ok done whining for now. Gonna shut my eyes and hopfully fall asleep.

James is once again my hero of the day.. He got my pain meds this morning and I'm feeling a lot better now.......... yeah I'm easy to please

My sweet boy picked me 2 beautiful roses to make me feel better.... Thank you again Nick. You always know how to make me smile.

May 21st

GOOD LUCK TO MY NEE-NEE!!!!! Missing Vinny's sports awards tonight because I started hurting but Nick stayed home to help me. He making me some soup and then it's gonna be 3D marathon time.

PROUD MAMA!!!!!! A certificate for football and a trophy for wrestling.

May 24th

I hate going from having a great day yesterday to having a utterly horrible day today. I'm in so much pain it's almost unbearable and I can't seem to kick the nausea... trying to sleep through it and pray tomorrow brings a better day.

May 28th

Still making progress. Having more good days than bad lately. Have an appt. With my surgeon Wednesday, still have my feeding tube till I can eat more and up my protein levels to where they need to be for me to be healthy. Hubby who has been taking care of me. He finally got to go back to work Sunday. And as for weight I've lost 67 lbs. I personally don't see it but everyone who sees my tells me I'm a lot smaller. I've been putting off posting any pictures of myself but I may post one soon.

May 29th

Got appts with my nutritionist and surgeon this morning but I'm so nauseated I can't seem to get going.

Down another 2 lbs. Still have my tubes but I get to cut back the feeding tube to 16 hrs a day and the other one is to stay disconnected unless I feel pressure. Getting to move to the pureed stage and was told I can test more foods. Happy that he changed my nausea meds sure hope zofran works better.

The entire first month home I lived on my feeding tube, cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, and cream of chicken and mushroom soup. I was eating (slurping) about a 1/4 of a cup at a time.

My vitamins consisted of 

Morning

1 tums ultra for calcium, 1 omeprazole (prilosec), 1 vit D3 1000 iu and Biotin 5000mcg

2 hrs later

1 Flintstones with iron chewable

Bedtime

1 tums ultra chewable, 1 biotin 5000mcg

once a week

1 B-12 5000mcg quick disolve

plus pain meds and nausea meds daily.

next post will continue into June and July

Keep up with my posts and more on my facebook page
Summer in ONEDERLAND

Arriving in Mumbai- Facebook updates.

APRIL 4th 2013, 3 a.m.

Arrived in Mumbai India this morning at 1 a.m. Just spoke to the Dr. Today is going to be nothing but

 testing since I had some of my intestine removed a 

long time ago they are having to do exploratory testing to decide which surgery I will be having.

 If to much was removed I will be having the sleeve 

done. If I have enough I will be having the RNY. Surgery was pushed from the 4th to the 8th.

4 A.M.

Oh my gosh. 3 in the morning and it was wild. Cars, bikes, mo-peds, and people walking every where. Streets without marked lanes and our driver was driving 120 mph. no lie we saw the gauge  it took 30 minutes to get from the airport to the hospital driving like that. The hospital is gated with armed guards all around it. Not allowed to take any pictures at the hospital but will take one when we get to go.

women don't wear gowns in the hospital it was a top and bottom set, sadly their biggest size wasn't big enough for me to fit so I had to wear a pair of my sweat pants

6 p.m.

Just got back to my room. had 2 ct scans, and MRI, EKG, chest x-ray, lung exam and an echocariogram. been fasting all day and they have finally sent off for some soup for me. I am officially on a liquid only diet till after surgery. Can't wait to slurp down some soup then I'm going to try to crash. exhausted and missing home, family, fur-babies, and MY BED

My IV that had to stay in everyday of my stay except when I went sight seeing

April 5th 2013 6 a.m.

I finally got a little sleep for the first time since we arrived..YAY!! My stress and nerves have been so out of wack missing my family. Just when I thought all my test were done, they walk in to take blood out of my artery. OUCH!!! They took it out of my wrist and OH MY GAHHHHHHHHH!!!! but things are good and I believe we get to go site seeing today..YAY!! I miss you Vincent, Santana, Nick, James you guys are always on my mind. LOVE YOU!!!

The lovely bruise that started to form after having blood taken from my artery 

9 a.m.

Well crud I guess the tests aren't over. Fasting today for an endoscope later :? this stinks I really wanted to go sight seeing today. I guess they have to check everything. I have to say they are very through here.

8 p.m.

It's 8:25 in the PM here and we are just eating dinner. got all my test results back and this pudgy girl is fit as a fibble doctor say he has no reason to think that the surgery won't be a success. So excited to finally be able to go out and explore tomorrow!!!!! 3 more days till the big day!!!!! YAY!! but found out I''m going to be on a ventilator after surgery :? uhhh scary but i'll be fine.

April 6th 8 p.m.

Had an absolute awesome day out in India. Went to the Dr. Bhau Daji Land Mumbai City Museum, The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Which was formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western History, an art museum  the zoo (YAY!!), Bollywood, The queens necklace, the hanging gardens, we saw the richest man in India's house, and we went to their mall for some shopping. and other stuff in the ragging heat!!!! Finally back going to take a shower slurp some soup and crash... I have some awesome pictures. Can't wait till I can post them

April 7th 2013 4:34 p.m.

They are prepping my for surgery. It's 4:34pm now and my surgery is first thing in the morning. Was doing good till they made me sign a consent in case I needed a blood transfusion and then told me I will be in ICU for a day. Can't even explain how I'm feeling right now. Praying everything goes without a hitch. LOVE YOU ALWAYS Vincent, Santana, Nick, James, Brandie Luu, B.G. Uncle Randy, Sailor, Kaylie, Lil Gerry, Taleia, lil Ben, Jody, Ellie, lil Jody you guys mean the world to me. I love all my family.

April 8th 5:49 a.m.

It's 5:49am Mumbai time. They just came in and woke me up. One hour give or take and it will be show time!!!!!!!!!! 0_0 I wish I could just hit a fast forward button and stop on tomorrow. LOVE YOU ALL!!! Jennifer will be coming on and posting updates for those following along

7 a.m. {Jennifer's updates}

they just took Summer down for surgery. they will be keeping me updated and i will go down to see her as soon as they allow me to. i will be keeping everyone informed.

10 a.m. {Jennifer's updates}

still no word that procedure is finished. said that it may take longer due to her having a portion of her intestines removed but they came in an hour ago and said things were good

12 p.m. { Jennifer's updates}

still no word that procedure is finished. said that it may take longer due to her having a portion of her intestines removed but they came in an hour ago and said things were good

1 p.m. {Jennifer's updates}

just spoke to nurse. they will let me know when she moves to icu and i will continue to update as soon as i hear anything

3 p.m. {Jennifer's updates}

Surgery is over she was in the recovery room and they have moved her to the ICU cannot see her yet.

4 p.m. {Jennifer's updates}

Just saw Summer and talked to the surgeon.
The surgery took a lot longer than expected because of her intestines. it took about two and a half hours
longer. she was in some pain but they are giving her plenty of meds. she should be able to come back to her room tomorrow but he said it may be the next day. she talked a little but was pretty much out of it. ill check back in with her tonight and post any new info.

 April 9th 10 a.m. {Jennifer's updates}

just saw summer and spoke to the docs this morning. she is in a little pain and they are taking her for another endoscopy in just a little bit. they will be removing her tube today at some point. she walked a little bit last night and they are going to have her walk some today after the test. she said her throat was the most sore thing but that will be better once the tube is removed. more updated to follow

April 10th 9 a.m. {Jennifer's update}

just brought her up. shes sleeping. tube still in and they said may be in til tomorrow for drainage

1 p.m.

they had her walk a little more a few minutes ago but shes still feeling nauseous  didn't have her do too much yet and said they will have her do more later. she is also allowed to drink a little water now but that's it

3 p.m.

she just walked a little again and is doing some circulation exercises. once tube is out tomorrow the nausea should go away. doc just left and said everything looks good. just to walk a little bit more

April 11th 10 a.m. {Jennifer's updates}

the tubes are still in. she walked some more this morning around the room. They had some trouble with the i v but they fixed that. Said the pain in her throat is worse than in her belly but that's still related to the tubes

3 p.m.

shes now allowed to have 30 ml of water an hour but it has to be warm. is also doing steam treatments.

April 12th 6 a.m.

i finally got the tube out of my nose!!! walked a little more today. Thank you all for all the prayers. getting better and better. the surgeon did an amazing job. now just gotta get used to drinking 30mls of water an hour

10 a.m.

had a horrible night. pain meds wore off and it hurt so bad, they fixed me and I'm feeling better now. They took me off the pain pump and took out the cath. Two tudes left and I will be free!!walking more and the upped me to 100 ml of water an hour.

April 13th 6 a.m.

Woke up again this morning in terrible pain. The nurses here are just awesome.

3 p.m.

Watching "Grease"in India. This girl's in heaven, or maybe close.

6 p.m.

So ready to get home and see my family. tired of being sick and ready for some american clear liquids. tomato soup 8 times a day is making me sick. I need some good ol chicken broth.

10 p.m.

28 hours and we will be at the airport and 49 hours and I will have my family in my arms again. So excited!! Hope I can sleep tonight. It's almost 6pm Mumbai time

April 14th 10 a.m.

As part of my discharge today they did an after weight in....already down 15 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! leaving with a smile on my face for sure and a new lease on life. 

3 p.m.

 Before leaving to go home I was interviewed via phone by a reporter for the  Wall Street Journal  Mumbai and then I was interviewed and filmed by the hospital about why I chose to have gastric bypass surgery and about my stay in Mumbai.

8 p.m.

1 hour and 20 minutes and counting till we leave for the airport. 4 hours till the plane takes of and we will be home TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        TO BE CONTINUED!!