Pre-Op Done...5 Days until Surgery

Yesterday I had my pre-op. It took a lot longer than it was supposed to...2 hrs compared to the 1 I was told it would be by Dr. Kim's office. 

I ordered my Journey Multi-vitamins and Pure Unflavored Whey Protein Isolate from Bariatriceating.com yesterday. And today I ordered a multi-flavored New Whey liquid protein from WholesaleSupplemementStore.com. I should have all these in the house when I get home so I won't have to worry about someone going out and trying to tell them what I want. 

I am excited about the New Whey because it has 42g of protein in a 3.8oz serving. I have read that some people will mix these with sugar free drinks of the same flavor to sip and get the protein throughout the day.

I also went and got my hair cut and colored today so I will feel good about myself that way. My parents will be coming into town from GA next Saturday to be with me that first week. I am so glad. It will take some weight off of hubby since he is always caring for our daughter and then I will need his help a little more to get up from a sitting position, etc. They can help me out and or our daughter. And maybe they can take our daughter to the water park or something.

I went to Bed,Bath and Beyond today to look for an insulated cup with a sipper lid. Found a great cup...did not look at the price...that is what I do when I want something and just don't care...probably should have...got home and saw that it was almost as much as what I spent on six insulated cups with a lid that holds a straw. While I was there I noticed they had lids that were sipper lids that might fit my cups so I bought one to try. The lid fit!! So, hubby is going back to get five more lids. I am going to keep my cup because I like the colors in it, but I won't be buying another one. The lids are 2.99. Much better than 16.99 for a cup. I bought a handle too, that fits on these 24oz cups so that will make it better for me carrying the cup on my commute on the train once I return to work. It has been difficult with my bag and the cup without a handle at times.

So, I think I have things pretty much in order for when I return. I forgot...I also got some EAS Advantage, which I had been drinking before the surgery as my nutritionist said I could have that after surgery also.

Now, come on surgery!! One bummer...my surgery is scheduled for 2pm!! No, nothing after midnight and no surgery until 2pm??? I love water!! I don't know how to go without it that long, but I know I must...

I will never diet again...

I have gone on and off diets my whole adult life. I was following the Adkins eating plan the longest...lost the most on Weight Watchers...found I was allergic to Nutrisystem foods...and all the time kept this yoyo thing going with my weight...

Well, diet should be how you eat all the time, not just when you are "trying" to lose weight. So, I have dedicated myself to doing just that changing my diet to a healthier way of eating in order for myself and my family to be healthy and live long active lives.

I am actually looking forward to recreating some of my favorite flavors into healthy options. I'll be sharing them on my personal website stephiezone.com once I get an opportunity to cook and eat again. My husband, whom is about 20 lbs heavier than he would like to be, is also looking forward to this change in our life. My daughter, luckily eats just about anything put in front of her and her favorite seems to be veggies and fish, so we are pretty set with her accepting what is put in front of her.

The closer I get to my surgery date and the closer I get to being able to cook again the more excited I get about life...join me...stop the dieting and change your diet for life...

Working through It

Well, I have been doing this my own way and being very anal about how I do it...I have allowed myself a meal here or there....well, if you can call it a meal.  This morning was a meal.  I made low fat mini quiche and had two.  So, this gives me 5 grams of fat today.  Yesterday I had some fat free refried beans with a tbs of light sour cream and a tbs of 2% cheese and salsa.  That gave me about 5 grams of calories also.  Some other nights I had just refried beans, fat free of course.  I have a really good dinner planned for the 4th, with chicken, sugar free baked kidney beans, spinach, and sweet potato hash browns.  The whole meal has 6 grams of fat.  That will be my last meal before my surgery, which is on the 14th, so I will have 9 whole days of liquids.  I have been really keeping my fat low when I eat so I am sure I am still doing what I need to to shrink this liver and take off a few lbs before the surgery.  I have not been eating every night, but found I just had to at times.  I feel good about how I have handled this...just could not go completely cold turkey to all liquid diet.  And once I have the surgery I will not feel the hunger like I have through some of these days leading up to it.

A Great Day

I am looking forward to having a great day...starting with my mind in the right place.

I know there will be challenges, but I plan on letting them happen and flowing with them, learning from them...

I hope you have a great day too!!

Ah, Needed this Weekend

I have done nothing except for make sure I am well this weekend.  I have been able to work out what works for me with my drinks and trying to not feel hungry so often.  I am getting better at it.  Though I have made a decision to do something that is outside of my docs orders, but that I believe is okay based on what another friend's doctor had her do pre-op.  She had two shakes a day and a weight watchers dinner.  I am having three shakes a day and a cup of fat free refried bean.  This way I get to have a little bit of substance and I am getting the protein without the fat, which is what the liquid diet is mostly about.  I am only going to do this through Wednesday, at which time I will be done with my first week.  I then will have three more weeks of liquid diet which will help accomplish the part that is to clean out my colon.  I do not believe one cup of fat free refried beans for five nights out of 21 is going to hurt me at all.  Our nurse told us that our doctor is quite conservative and I understand, but I was just too hungry.  The beans seem to help me.

Well, I am trying to get my clothes ironed for the week to make things easier on myself with my 4:30am wake up.  I'll up date once or twice this week to let you know how I am doing.

This is SOOO Hard

I am scheduled for bariatric sleeve surgery on July 14, 2011.

Yesterday I started my liquid diet that is to help shrink my liver and clear my colon.  The liver needs to be smaller so that I have a successful surgery.

I made it through yesterday, dealing with hunger.  Did not think about brining the sugar-free Jello.  Today is much harder.  I keep crying...I don't know why exactly other than I am hungry and forgot my jello after telling myself to bring it!!

I wish I had had enough leave to take off today, but I have to save all my leave for my surgery and to be off the week after.  I just need a few days to get a routine going with this.  I am good with routines.  I know I can do this...others have before me, so I can.  It is just hard today.

I have a meeting with a doctor at 1pm to discuss timecards with them and I look like hell.  I need to get it together...wish I would have brought some makeup darn it!!

I am not sharing this stuff on Facebook, but decided my blog was the most appropriate place to let it all out...thanks for letting me vent.  No, back to the regularly scheduled program...

Catching Up

On June 1st we became the parents of Izza Rumina Giboney. A sensational 12 year old little girl.

Then we left for vacation to South Padre Island on June 3rd.  We had a great time with family on vacation and Izza was so comfortable with the water at the end of the week.

Pictures from our vacation.

Singing in my house

In the last 45 days or so there seems to always be a stream of song coming from the sweet little girl that has permeated my life in every way.   It brings a joy to my heart that I did not realize I was missing and tears to my eyes that are the happiest tears I have ever cried.  Does it get any better than this?

Less than 30 Days

In less than 30 days our daughter will officially be ours. We have received a waiver to consummate the adoption two weeks early to have it done before we go on vacation. I can't wait to start being able to share pictures with everyone. Maybe I will actually get back to blogging again. My life is so different these days, with very little TV and a lot of one on one time spent with my daughter, not to mention the outside things she is involved in such as Special Olympics, swimming lessons, speech classes, and karate. I am very happy and I do believe she is also from her behavior. Stay tuned…vacation is on June 3^rd so there will definitely be pics when we return!!

Life as a Family

Well, the past few months my husband and I have been nurturing this new life and learning to be parents.  Our daughter seems to have found her skin with us and has told us she does not want to move to any new homes.  That made me happy, but also broke my heart for her that she even had to think about such a thing.

Life is busy between MD appointments, Speech Therapy, Special Olympics Track practice, Karate, and soon to add swimming lessons. And with all of this we moved to the house next door to the one we have rented for the past two years.  I HATE MOVING...we often move due to my job, but someone else packs and moves us so it is not as bad.  This time however it was all on us and it about broke us...physically.  Our daughter is delighted with her new room.  She got to pick the colors and I got some great decals of flowers, butterfly, lady bugs, dragonflies and bees to put up on the walls.  We found a matching switch plate and yesterday we found these cute mushroom plaques with wall hooks attached.  It is really looking like a little girls room and she is so happy.  Daddy even put stars on her ceiling at her request...

The rest of the house is coming together slowly.

So, last night we decided to start a fire in our fire pit and roast hot dogs and marshmallows.  While we were waiting for the fire to get right my daughter and I played Snakes and Ladders, Mancala, and tic-tac-toe.  We did our hot dogs and at them and macaroni and cheese on the back patio.  We had music low, ate by candle light...the weather was perfect...it was an awesome time...We then made smores and talked an played.

It was a lovely and peaceful evening that I will not soon forget.  Only thing missing as my husband pointed out was my parents.  It was the type of evening they would have truly enjoyed.  I sure wish they lived closer to enjoy our daughter with us.