Questions and Concerns...

One of the things that I never thought about when I started the journey to get the Lap-band was my marriage. It is not something that has ever crossed my mind until yesterday. I was online on a lap-band forum, when I came across a lady that was getting divorced. She was claiming it was due to the Lap-band. That it changed her life dramatically. That is when she said that she wished that she would have researched how many couples end up divorced after Lap-band. The figure is any where between 60-80%. Wow! That is a huge number. I can't believe how big that is. I'm not worried about my marriage, but it does give me pause. It makes me wonder why that number is so big. What about their marriages made it go south? I'm really curious. I want to avoid all those pitfalls. I don't believe I ever settled with Hubster, which is why some experts think the number is so high. I think that I got the best husband in the world.

I also wonder if my body will ever stop craving things that are not good for me. I would love to have a cookie, a piece of cake, french fries, a hamburger, and a steak. The caffeine craving has gone away, but will the other cravings ever go away. I picked the kids up Wendy's for lunch, and the smell of their food in the car today was awful. I ended up eating a french fry and a chicken nugget, but I did stop myself at that. I refused to eat any thing else. Instead I came home, and I made my protein shake that I am supposed to drink. Amazingly the cravings for that food did go away somewhat. A kid's meal is sitting on the table, and I don't want it. Maybe I answered my own question.

Yesterday Hubster and I went to T-mobile and picked up TB's 12th birthday present. We got him the new Samsung Gravity T. He is loving it. He certainly wasn't expecting it. We refuse to get him the internet on it. If he wants that added to his plan, he has to pay for it.

I got the boys taken care of next week. They are going to spend Sunday night with some friends of Hubster and I. They have to be at church at 8 AM on Monday morning to be ready for camp. I'm praying that God will bless them in many ways next week. They should be back home around noon on Thursday.

Tomorrow I am supposed to go and get my hair done. Today, I'm going to run up to the gym and work out. Have to work off that chicken nugget that I just ate. I'm very disappointed in myself over that. I wish I hadn't done it.

Sunday...

Tomorrow is my pre-op appointment. Getting very excited about the surgery. Ready for the surgery to be done and over.

We were sitting on the couch last night when KB was asking me a question. I had turned around to look at him just as he turned his head, and that is when I noticed a knot the size of a half dollar on his neck. He said it doesn't hurt, but my heart started pounding. Knots on the neck can turn out to not be good. I'm calling his doctor first thing in the morning. I'm praying that it is only a swollen lymph node. He hasn't been sick, but his energy levels have not been all that great for a 10 year old. I've been chalking it up to bad sleeping habits.

Hubster took the boys and KG to see Cats and Dogs up on base today. I came home after church with BG. I didn't think she would sit through that movie. Hubster said that KG slept through the entire movie. Go figure.

Day 5 of the Pre-op Diet...

and let me say, that my body is slowly getting used to it. I've noticed an upswing in my energy levels, and I actually feel better.. It might help that I have been working out too. I'm proud of myself, but I'm still getting the Lap-Band done. I'm ready to get it done and over. Next week is shaping up to be pretty busy. Have a pre-op appointment at 1015 for all of my testing. I figured out how to drink my shakes. Amazingly, if I mix 1 scoop (calls for 2) and 8 oz of skim milk, I can drink it. It isn't all that bad.

Found out today that the boys can go to church camp if I can figure out where to come up with $350 before August 2. They were both really wanting to go, and it would probably be a fantastic time for them to be gone with me having surgery on that Monday.

I've about decided that I'm not going to tell any body else about the surgery. Feedback from people has been 50/50 to say the least.

12 Years Ago Today...

my life changed drastically for the good. It was 12 years ago today, that my oldest child was born. First off, Happy Birthday TB! It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that TB was born. I can remember it like it was yesterday. I can remember the twice weekly OB visits. I can remember how incredibly hot it was that summer. I can remember wondering how much longer was I going to have to be on strict bed rest. I had already been on bed rest for 6 weeks, when I went in for my OB appointment on July 20. I was at 35 weeks, and TB had decided that he had had enough. He just decided that he would stop moving around in there. Decided to scare us all to death including the doctor. Dr. R decided to do a stress test to see what was going on, and in an hours time there was just a heart beat no movement. I was giving orange juice, and still he wouldn't move. (He was being stubborn. I should have known what it would bring.) My mom was with me, since I wasn't allowed to drive. Hubster wasn't even in the picture. I refused to talk to him at the time. Dr. R. walked into the room looked at the test, and told me to go and have a big lunch. Then to come back to her office. I knew something was wrong when I was taken into her office instead of a room. It was at that point she told us that we were going to be having a baby the next day unless something drastic happened over night with TB's heartbeat. I wasn't any where prepared to have TB at 35 weeks. I still had 5 weeks to go, but he had other ideas. I guess he was ready to enter this world. My SIL at the time, Jennifer, came to stay the night with me at the hospital. They had hooked me up to monitors and all sorts of fun things. My mother, took it upon herself, to go and get Hubster. She thought he at least deserved to be there for the birth of his son. She brought him by the hospital that night to see me, and it was then that I started to soften towards him again. Could have had something to do with how scared I was. I had practically gone through a difficult pregnancy by myself, and not because Hubster didn't want to be there. It was because I wouldn't let him be there. The next morning, the 21st, they started the pitocin at 6 AM. Hubster was by my side the entire time, except for when they came into give me my epidural. They kicked everybody out of the room, and that is when all of the fun started. My water broke before they could get the epi in, and TB decided he was ready NOW to make an appearance. The nurse asked me who I wanted in the room with me, and I told her to grab the first person walking down the hall. That happened to be my SIL at the time, Jennifer. They grabbed a doctor walking by to come in and deliver my baby. It was a whirlwind 10 minutes. It was all over and done with so fast, that at times I wonder if all of that really did happen that way. I think Jennifer can tell you that yes it did. Poor Hubster wasn't even there for the birth of his first child. He got stuck out in the hallway, and didn't get to see or hold TB for over an hour. The thing was that after all that happened, that Hubster never left my side except to sleep. We have been together every day since TB's birth. Not only do I celebrate TB's birthday today, but I also celebrate a new beginning for Hubster and I. We were married 5 months later, and I am so glad that my mom thought he needed to be there for the birth of TB.

Now, that I have that out of the way, let us get back to me. :) Yesterday was day 2 in the journey to my new life. I just couldn't take the protein shakes. They were horrible. I was gagging trying to drink it, so I decided to just try and drink my way to enough protein without a ton of calories. Still don't think I've gotten enough protein in 2 days, but I think it was better. I went to the gym last night, and in 35 minutes rode 7.5 miles on the bike. Never dropped below 85 rpms. I was proud of myself. Probably not all that great, but for somebody that had become a couch potato, I thought it was pretty good. I'm hoping to make it either after church tonight or before again to work out again. I caught myself taking a nibble here and there when I was fixing the kids lunch, but I spit it all out as soon as I realized what I was doing. I am bound and determined to make this work. Looking forward to the lapband. I have pre-op testing next Monday at the hospital. Sounds like loads of fun, and I hope that everything comes back okay. I don't want any roadblocks thrown up now.

Nature of the Blog is going to change a bit...

for a few weeks any way. We are T- minus 13 days till lapband surgery. I'm excited, but I'm also wondering if this is the right thing to do. Not feeling a lot of support from Hubster on this. He keeps telling me to do what I want to do because I will any way. Not what I am wanting or needing to hear. I guess his feelings were made known when he asked me if he needed to be there for the surgery. I have to keep remembering that is for me and not for any body else. I've already gotten some negative feedback from some people. Most any body that I have told though have been nothing but supportive and excited for me.

I started the 2 week liquid portion of the diet yesterday. I had my last ever coke(soda for those not from the south) on Saturday. No more fizzy drinks for me. I can have 2 protein drinks a day, jello, cottage cheese, and soup for supper. I don't think I had enough protein yesterday because I felt terrible last night. I was wiped out. Thankfully after the surgery is done on the 2nd, I will only have 2 days of liquid diet before I can slowly start introducing soft solids back into my diet.

I sometimes think that people will judge me for doing this. I don't think they have any idea just exactly how hard this is actually to do. There is a HUGE life changing experience. There are certain foods and drinks that you are never able to eat or drink again. This is a lifestyle change. You have to be committed to changing eating habits and exercise habits. I still feel it is best for me in the long run. I am doing what I feel needs to be done for me.

What A Wonderful Hubby I Have...

He sent me flowers on Monday, and when he got home from work he took me on a date. It was completely unexpected, but it was so nice to sit at supper and talk to him without a child present. It was such a sweet surprise, and I loved every minute of it.

We got an email on Monday from TB's football coach. We have to pay the athletic fees for him, and they are $250 for the entire year. Geesh, I'm wondering if they can be any higher. I didn't realize that they were so much.

We also had to buy a new vacuum yesterday. Another expense that we weren't expecting. I'm just wondering what the next expense will be.

My plans for Friday got cancelled. The wife I was going to go with got a temp job, so she can't go. I understand that completely though. We will try and get together another time.

All of the kids are doing fantastic. We have plans for the weekend. We have some friends coming over Saturday night for TB's and Hubster's birthday dinner. I'm hoping to get a hold of one of Hubster's very good Seabee friends to see if he can come over. Hubster has to work on Saturday, but he gets off at 330.

The Weekend...

It was super busy, and it flew by. I can't believe that today is already Monday. It was drill weekend for Hubster, so he was gone most of the weekend.

Saturday the kids and I went over to a friend's house. She had invited a few of the wives and their kids over to swim, since our husbands were back at drill. The kids had a ball, and I got a sunburn. One of the joys of having fair skin. We had so much fun there. We saw 4 other wives, and I enjoy spending time with all of them.

Sunday the kids and I went to a baby shower for my nephew's fiancee. They are expecting a baby boy in September. The town it is in is 170 miles away, so we left the house at 830 Sunday morning. It makes for a long day when you are the only driver. They ended up with a ton of stuff, and I still have to order their baby bed that is from my mom, my brother, and me. I got to see my brother, and he is looking so good since his lapband surgery. Even his color is looking better. I can't wait till my surgery, and I hope that I do as good on it as he is. He says that he has to remember to eat because he forgets.

Hubster on Saturday bought us a new set of sheets that were 1000 count from up on base. I got home after spending the day at our friend's house to our bed being made. I must say there is something incredibly sexy about coming home to new sheets and a bed being made.

The kids are finally all better. We are down to 5 weeks before school starts, so I need to start buying school supplies and uniforms for the boys. Think I will start that either this weekend or next weekend. Don't want that to sneak up on us. I will wait till the very last minute though to buy them new shoes. They both grow so fast, that shoes might not fit in 5 weeks time.

Wow!..

I wasn't expecting things to happen so rapidly, but I'm not complaining. I scheduled my lap-band surgery today. I go in on July 19th for my pre-op consult. They told me that it should be between $150 - $200 for the stuff I need for the 2 weeks prior to the surgery date. They also scheduled my surgery for August 2. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. This is a big life changing thing that is about to happen.

The girls have both been sick, so there won't be any church tonight for us. That means I won't be in church again until next Wednesday. That is a long time. Feels weird.

TB had football practice today. He said they ran a lot, but that they got to play basketball for the last 10 minutes of practice.

I can't believe it has been a month...

since my last post. Where has the time gone? We seem to be busy every weekend with something, and I know that when August rolls around it will be even worse. We will have 2 kids in football, and they will both have practice at 2 different locations.

What is going on at our house? KG is just about potty trained. She still won't poop in the toilet, but that is the only time she has accidents. Thankfully that is usually once a day, and she will come tell me as soon as she does it. TB and KB are enjoying their time off from school, but I think they may be ready to go back. I know that I am ready for them to go back. Hubster is working, and he calls it a job. I don't think he likes it all that much, but it pays the bills. He will do what he needs to do I guess. We are hoping that next summer he will be active duty, and we will be able to move. In my world, I was approved by the insurance company for lapband. I'm just waiting to hear from the doctor's office for my surgery date. I had my psych eval and nutritional counseling last Wednesday. They told me once that is done, they will set my pre-op date and surgery date. I'm looking forward to it. Still having terrible headaches. They are bad enough that I'm thinking about going back to the doctor. I had a headache for 2 solid weeks, and nothing was taking care of them. I had a massage today, and he told me that my muscles in my neck and shoulders were extremely tight and tense which could be causing the headaches. My doctor was thinking I was having muscle spasms. The massauses basically spent an hour working on my back, my neck, and my shoulders. I'm very sore tonight from the massage. I did come out of there without a headache though. I want my next massage to be more relaxing though.

Another dear Seabee wife contacted me today to go for a girl's day out in a few weeks. We haven't gotten to have a monthly meeting since March, so we are planning on a meeting on the 16th. I really am looking forward to it. The kids and I are going to go to another Seabee sister's house for a pool party this weekend. The guys have drill, so she invited a bunch of us over. I can't wait to see everybody again.

Hubster and I are doing pretty good. Still stressing about the bills, but that isn't new. We could use some more date nights, but I don't know how to arrange those. I hate asking any body to watch the kids, and I'm just not sure if my oldest is ready yet to man the home front for a few hours. I know that Hubster reads this, so maybe he will take the hint and plan an evening out. I know that I could use it.

I went and got a pedicure on Saturday, and that is usually my time. I ended up taking KG with me. She was crying wanting her toes pretty, and my mom and Hubster guilted me into taking her. She was the best thing in there. I got lots of compliments on how well behaved she was. Saturday was also Hubster's birthday, so we went to his favorite Mexican food place to eat supper. It helps that he worked for them a few years because we always get seated right away, and we are always treated so great there. They put us in a side room where 2 women were. While we were waiting on the check, my dad took all 4 kids outside. The women commented on how polite, how quiet, and how well behaved all of them were. She couldn't believe how well they all listened. That always makes me feel good because I know that I pretty much raised these kids by myself for 10 months, and that means I didn't screw them up to bad. WOO HOO!

I did finally talk Hubster into flying into Vegas in October for our trip to California. We are going to fly into Vegas on Tuesday night and rent a van. Then drive the 8 hours to where his family lives. Then on Monday we are going to drive back to Vegas to stay there for a couple of nights. He has never been, and we are going to take the kids to Hoover Dam. My SIL said that she would love to come with us to Vegas, and that she would stay with all 4 kids one night. That way Hubster and I could have a "date". I found some really good deals into Vegas in October. I think it should be fun. It is much better than driving all that way. That is for sure.