Welcome Back!

Well, to my hair at least!

I've noticed in the past month that my hair is actually growing both in length and thickness. I've scaled back the use of Mane & Tale to once a week.. if that. After using it daily for three months, I guess I didn't notice the way my hair felt so dry to the touch. But, about a week ago I realized I still had some left over conditioner left from the last time I dyed my hair... you know that conditioner that is ALWAYS so nice and leaves your hair so nice?!?! And, seriously ALL day I kept feeling my hair.

Instantly I realized how dry my hair has been over the past few months and I decided to change.

I'm thankful Mane & Tale has helped get my hair back. But, I'm ready to have normal hair!

For Christmas my mom bought me a Groupon for a local salon. It was for full high lights, a hair cut and a blow dry styling. I recently went to use it! I decided to go way dramatic and go lighter than I've ever gone.

I will say that the photo above does NOT to the color justice. It's a LOT lighter in person. It's WAY more brown than blonde. And, I have to admit it... I LOVE IT!

Not bad considering I just had to pay tip! I also LOVE how she cut it to frame my face! 

whoooohoo!

FitBit Challenge.

So I've owned my FitBit since March. For the most part, it's my BFF. I wear it almost daily. In the beginning I was determined to ALWAYS reach 10,000 steps. However, after a few months that kind of wore off and I was happy just pushing myself as much as I could before I said OK!

Well, my friend Lisa and I have now created a challenge on Facebook to further encourage FitBit use!

Right now, we have a group on Facebook. If anyone wants to join the group the link is https://www.facebook.com/groups/127213300729383/

The plan is to pretend we are traveling around the United States. How it will work is that ONE person will start. They will pick the next participant they want to "visit" The person who starts will then be responsible for figuring out how many miles it would take to travel from their home to the person they picked. They will then share that total with the group.

Then, the group effort will kick in!

As a group we will ALL work towards that mile total. We will check in at the end of the week with our totals to see how much we've accomplished.

Once we reach the final mile count needed, the person who was "visited" can share a few facts about their home town. Or, even pictures. That way it seems like we are really VISITING!

Then, that person will pick the next person to visit. And, we're of once again!

Anyone up for a challenge!?!? 

We should set a time frame to accomplish this. Obviously, depending on who you pick will help pick that time frame since everyone is in different places. However, we should try to keep them in a timely manner! Such as two weeks! That way we don't lose sight on what we're trying to accomplish!

2012...

is almost here. And, normally I'd be working on some sort of resolution for the New Year. But, instead this year there's a different plan! If you're on my Facebook page, then you've probably already seen this but for those who aren't.. here goes!

An online friend of mine recently shared this idea on her page, and I just fell in love. It's a "challenge" or sorts I guess you could say. The challenge is simple... lose the long list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick ONE word. So rather than coming up with a resolution for 2012, I'm going to pick the word Embrace.

By the dictionary, the word embrace means to take or receive gladly or eagerly, accept willingly.

I'm going to embrace who I am. Embrace my role as a wife, a daughter, a sister, grand daughter, aunt, niece, teacher and friend. Embrace my life and those in it! Embrace my new healthier and happier lifestyle. Embrace the things I can and can not change.

Embrace the fact that each new day is a fresh, clean slate. That there is a plan for me. 

Sounds like a plan!

My one year mark is coming up. And, to be completely honest I was really hoping I would be at goal by then. However, its just not happening. But, I have come so far in this almost year. And, this journey is not a race. So instead of beating myself up over this I have decided to put my scale away for some time. My plan is to weigh in tomorrow. And, then wait until I go to my 1 year check up to weigh in at the surgeons office. =)

Blog Award =)

My dear blogging friend Sheila (clickable link!!) nominated me for two awards. Since I have already accepted the first one from another blogging friend I figured I'd focus on this one! They both basically require the same "acceptance" deal... so yeah!

Stolen from Sheila!!

Versatile: 

ver-sa-tile [vur-suh-tl] or, especially British, [vur-suh-tahyl]: capable of, or adapted for, turning easily from one to another various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.: a versatile writer.Word information source: www.dictionary.com

Here is how the award works:
1. You thank the person who presented you with the award.
2. You tell 7 things about yourself.
3. You award 15 other newly discovered bloggers.

Sheila! Thank you so much for nominating me. I enjoy reading your blog, and all the encouraging comments you leave me. I'm thankful for your friendship! =)

Once again, I must list seven things about myself. Since this blog is strictly weight loss related will refrain from citing things specific to my WLS journey.

1. I absolutely love BLOGGING. I love having a place to go where I can unleash all my thoughts and feelings! =)

2. I'm backwards. Ok, let me explain! I'm right handed but for whatever reason I feel more comfortable doing most tasks left handed. I can write with both but this is the ONE thing I can't get used to all the way left handed. But, when learning some sign language I felt most comfortable as a lefty, shooting pool the same. I also close my eyes in the dark when I'm trying to find my way around. I have no clue why. I do it without thinking.

3. I've known every since I was little that there was only two things in the world that I ever wanted to do. One is being a mommy. I never got into Barbies when I was little. However, I was crazy addicted to baby dolls. I can still remember my childhood bedroom. It looked as if I had a REAL baby I had so much stuff. Next, a teacher. I've known forever that I wanted to be on. It was in fifth grade that I decided I wanted to work in Special Education. I had an interaction with a little girl with Down's and I just fell absolutely in love. Now, I work with kids with emotional disturbances and I couldn't picture doing anything else.

4. I'm so afraid that my dream of having a family isn't going to work out. As I said in my last blog award thing my husband battled Cancer for almost two years or so. And because of the treatments they told us that he may be infertile. We had his fertility tested about two years ago and got bad news. So I'm hoping that it's in our plan, but if not I know there's a ton of children out there that need a home. It does not have to be MY baby biologically to be MY baby.

5. I have this HUGE dream to adopt a baby with Down's Syndrome. I have a huge spot in my heart for people with this diagnosis. They just love you unconditionally for no reason at all. But, due to my husbands health history I don't know if that's ever going to be in our plan.

6. I like to play around with graphic design. I've been doing this as a hobby for about seven years now. I enjoy digital scrap booking and making little tags in my free time! I'm not so great at it. But, it's something I enjoy so I stick with it!

7. I'm extremely sentimental. Almost to a fault. I save a lot of stuff b/c it's special to me. For example, I have two wedding sets. I have the original one my husband proposed to me with and a second one we got as a new start to our Cancer Free life. Both sets are too big for me now, and the second one that means the most to me can't be resized yet I still can't part ways with them. I have every card or letter my husband has ever written me. I carry around a small piece of fabric that my best friend wrote I love you on before she was killed. I have a lot of of the drawings my nieces made to decorate the hospital room we stayed at during Phil's transplant.... I'm just emotional and everything means so much to me!

I am supposed to nominate seven people. I'll have to figure out who! lol

Mane & Tale Trial

I have been complaining about hair loss for a few months now. I try not to be too negative about it all because it's only hair. But, it's hard because my hair has always been one of my favorite things about myself. I decided I'd try some new things to see what would work.

I'm taking more Biotin which I know works because I have TONS of re growth. 

And, then I switched to using this new shampoo/conditioner.

It had great reviews so I'm hoping it works!

I've been using it for almost a week now!

11 Month Update....

Today I'm officially 11 months out. I swear I don't know where the time has gone. But I'm enjoying my journey to say the very least.

Today, I'm thankful for the Gastric Sleeve. As of today, I am 11 months out. I'm down 149 pounds, and over 70 inches. I've gone from a BMI of 52 down to 28. I've gone from size 24/26 in pants, 3X in tops to a 11/12 and a M in shirts. I knew the day of surgery my life was going to change, but NEVER in a MILLION years did I expect my life to change like THIS! =) I'm forever thankful!

Here's a quick picture!

My mom and I had a baby shower yesterday. And, I was in desperate need of a new pair of jeans. So through my mom's encouragement I went into Dots and tried some clothes on.

Originally I picked a pair of flare legged jeans that were a little dressy. And, when I tried them on the looked HUGE in the bottoms. Like bell bottoms or something. Well, the nice sales associate saw me with them and was like GIRL! With people like us who are SHORT, flare legged pants make us look boxy. So, he was like let me help you! He asked my size and ran off to find the jeans pictured above. HE brought me both a 13/14 and an 11/12. My mom suggested I go a little bigger then normal because she thinks their jeans are cut smaller.

The 13/14's were just TOO big. And, the 11/12's fit perfect on the bottom but up top they're a tad too big. But, such is my life. And, I liked the outfit so BAM!

The sweater is my NEW favorite. The boots aren't comfortable but they're cute so yah! I felt super cute!

I'm thankful...

I also have a blog on LiveJournal.

I basically use that one for personal use which is mainly for my graphic designs I like to do.

But, I did notice there was a WLS specific group there so I figured what the heck? IT won't hurt to join! So anyway I seen a post about from someone that was listing what they were thankful for surgery related.

So I figured I'd give it a whirl. I've been so thankful during this entire journey that it's time to list them all.

I'm thankful....

 that my insurance covered this surgery. It has changed my life in SO many ways. And, in the very beginning I was DENIED! I cried. I knew I couldn't do this on my own and MAINTAIN it alone. And, just did not have the financial resources myself to pay for it out of pocket.

for my surgeon. He is an INCREDIBLE man. I do not normally like doctors. But, he has been the exception to that. From the first meeting I instantly felt comfortable with him. 

my surgeon's team. They're incredible. In the beginning I'd call every day with some question and they helped me so much! 

for my amazing AMAZING support system. I decided to be very honest from the beginning about having weight reduction surgery. I was VERY nervous that a lot of people would pass judgement but I felt this was about ME! I needed to do whatever I needed to be healthy. However I was quickly shown how much my friends and family care for me. I have been blessed with the MOST amazing support system ever. Never in a million years would I of guessed I'd have so much support.

for the forums I've joined online. When I originally started to pursue WLS, I thought I wanted the Lap Band it wasn't for a few months later that I changed my mind. I didn't know ANYONE in real life who had the sleeve. It was through the help of STRANGERS that I felt comfortable enough to make this life changing decision.

for my followers. I am now up to 45. I'm closer to some of you then others. But, I'm thankful for everyone just the same. I'm thankful for the encouraging words you guys leave on my posts,  for taking the time to actually READ my blog. Just everything!

For the weight I've lost so far in the past almost 11 months. I've lost about 145 pounds with about 21 more left to go until I reach goal.

that I can fit into a size 12 pant. Never in a MILLION years would I imagined this. I started in about a 26. This is CRAZY! I can't EVER remember being a 12!

that when I wear a size Large t shirt it looks so baggy on me. It really helps put everything into perspective for me. 

That I can comfortably cross my legs.

That I can run small distances (for now!) without feeling like I'm going to die.

That I actually ENJOY exercising.

Hair Comparison...

Since I have so little left to lose I don't have as much to update about... But, I still want to bring blogs that MAY help someone later on... I've been thinking of ideas of stuff that I was curious about in the beginning and so on.

I know before I had my surgery the NUMBER ONE question I had was how much hair I would lose! I LOVE my hair and honestly didn't think I would lose THAT much because I had SO much. But, as much as I hate to say it... I definitely lost a LOT!

It IS starting to grow back slowly. But, I miss my hair!

In the first picture I didn't even have my surgery yet. I felt like I had a TON of hair. And, it was long. In the second I still hadn't started to lose a lot of hair. But, in the last one WOW! I did get my hair cut shorter in an attempt to make it look like I had "more hair" but, we see how that worked out!

** KEEP IN MIND EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. RESULTS MAY VARY**

Tell Me About Yourself...

One of bloggers I follow, and fellow sleeve friend Julie at FreeJulie recently nominated me for this pretty cool award. So of course I decided to jump in and participate. 

The rules of this nomination are:

I get to tell you seven random things about myself as well as pass on the award to seven other great bloggers (see below).

Nominees, in order to accept this award you must:

-Thank and link back to the person who awarded you
-Write seven random things about yourself.
-Award seven other awesome and inspiring bloggers.

Anyway, onto my seven facts. I've decided since I try to keep this blog strictly related to my VSG/ WLS journey I will NOT use any of my seven to discuss weight related things. :)

1. I met my husband when I was 19. I knew from the first night I met him that there was definitely something between us. Well, six months later we were married. I met him the last day in March, we "officially" started to date in April, he proposed in June, and we married in September.  Since it was so quick we had a court house wedding. While I do not regret that choice, we do plan to have an actual ceremony some time in the future after we have a family of our own!

2. 2006 was MY year. A lot of really great things happened to me. I moved out on my own, met Phil, landed my dream job, and re connected with my dad. All of which I never really thought would happen. But, all of which I'm SO thankful for.

3. I have five nieces. CJ, Amanda, Hailey, Tessa and Savannah. These little girls mean so much to me. I always say I never knew how much love my heart could hold until I heard them call me Aunt Jes.

4. Phil and I have four fur babies. Two cats named Madison and Emily. A Chihuahua/Poodle mix named Bella and a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix named Mason! Bella was a gift to me for our anniversary. She's mommy's baby. Mason was a gift to celebrate Phil's 1st FIRST birthday (more on that later!) and, Madison and Emily were just because! Yes, I'm crazy. I dress my dogs. Mason only let me do it once for this photo. Now, Bella is almost ALWAYS dressed. But, a large part of that is because she's 4 lbs! 

5.

I am a PROUD wife of a HERO fighting Lymphoma. Phil was diagnosed with NK-T Non Hodgkins and the doctors thought his best chance at beating that monster was by having a Stem cell transplant. It's been a LONG and hard road but, we just celebrated 2 years of him being CANCER FREE! :)


6. I'm OBSESSED with nail polish. I have an EXTREME collection. My husband makes fun of me for it. But, I love painting my friends nails!

7. In 2003 my best friend was killed in a hit and run accident by a drunk driver. It's something I don't think I'll ever understand. Christina was one of THE nicest people I've ever met. And, it saddens me that someone could be so stupid as to get behind the wheel after the drank alcohol. I just don't get it.

Now, I must nominate 7 others!

Mallory


Sam


Lisa


Sheila


Tiffany


Christie
Jacquie

Halloween!

I love Halloween. It is one of my favorite things to celebrate.

So each year I plan the halloween party for my kids at work. I had a few ideas of what I wanted to be. But, in the end my ideas sucked and just didn't work out. I've beeN BEGGING my husband to get me some one piece pajamas with the footies. Now, I'm sure it's not entirely cute seeing your grown wife wearing ONE piece pajamas. But, my husband is sweet and agreed. Especially after I said I could use them as a costume! I mean, who can say no to a costume that can actually be used for MORE than just Halloween?!

Last night I went out and bought a set of Eeyore footie pajamas in a L. I thought they were cute. I picked out a pink blankie to hold and a stuffed bunny. I also found pink bows to put in my hair that matched Eeyores bow on his tail..

Well this morning I'm getting ready and I put the PJ's on... one part of my leg was cold. I was confused. I'm wearing fleece pi's... Why is ONE part of my leg cold? So I look down and find a hole in them :(

I ended up having to take them back to the store to exchange them. Since I was near work I went to another Walmart and found only TWO pairs of 1 piece PJs! I nearly walked away from them. They only had a S and a M left. There was NO way I could fit into either... but, then I was like ok... I can do this. At least TRY them!

Anyway, I FIT INTO THE MEDIUM! WHOOHOOO!

My brain sometimes plays tricks on me. But, I'm definitely getting to be "small enough" to wear those "ODD SIZES I USED TO JUST DREAM OF"

I came home and excitedly told my husband about the NSV... And realized the M was a 7-9. 

I'm totally on my way to being a smaller size.... :)

list...

One of the things I always say to people who are about to be sleeved (or about to have any WLS) is to sit down and write out a list of stuff they want to accomplish after surgery.

I just realized I never posted my "official" list so here goes:

Weigh less than I did in High School. Lose 25 pounds. Wear a size 16. Lose 50 Pounds. Get on rides at a carnival. Lose 75 pounds. Lose 100 pounds. Lose 150 pounds. Reach Goal. Wear a size 18. Weigh less than the husband. Wear dresses. Try new things I never thought was possible. Become more active. Buy a pair of shoes that aren't Wide Width! Be able to borrow clothes from friends. Weigh less than one of my brothers.

I need to update this list more!

Big News!

Well, in my household at least!

But, I am a proud wife of a GRADUATE! Today my husband graduated with his Associates degree in information technology! It was a HUGE deal for a few reasons... 1. It was his very FIRST graduation. He dropped out of HS due to issues at school and pursued his GED. 2. He has had SO many obstacles to face to get to this point. Between sickness, unexpected hospital stays... every day life he's had it rough the past two years. But, he stuck it out and today it paid off! WHOOHOO! I am so proud of I'm!

Also, it was a big day for me. I have NEVER been able to borrow clothes from friends... well, let me explain. I did have one friend I could borrow clothes from. But, she also had the sleeve months before me. So her wardrobe was filled with sizes 26 and below. I don't really count her for that purpose. But, today I borrowed a dress from an AVERAGE sized friend.

OH MY GOSH! Is this really ME!?

Anyway I wish I had a better picture but they were kicking us out :(

But nonetheless, here's my picture!

Vacation.

I ended up going on vacation Wednesday through Sunday. I knew if I didn't I would be so bummed! Especially since my youngest niece went. And, it was her VERY first time on the beach. :)

Anyway, this is more of a photo share then an actual word blog!

This is me from LAST year. I hate this picture so much. But, it shows CLEARLY how big I actually was. And, it makes me proud of where I am. 

I failed. I forgot to have my mom take a picture of me on the beach so that I could be able to do a before/after.. 1 year later thing. But, I forgot. However, here's one of me on the beach. But, my niece was sleeping on me :)

We have gone to this house for two years now. So, the first year we started this tradition of taking a picture near the end of vacation with everyone who went sitting on the fireplace edge.

Last year I was trying to hide. Not only because i hated pictures since I was so big, but also because if you can't see I was burned pretty bad. Second degree burns to be exact!

I actually wasn't trying to hide in this picture. There was just so many of us that it seems that way. But, notice that I am WHITE, not RED! :)

Here's another of just my family. My mom, her b/f, my niece, brother and his g/f. We're only missing my little brother who didn't come!

I have one more picture. But, I want that to have it's own blog post :)

Baby Blues...

I can't remember if I've actually touched on this yet. If I have I'm sorry for being repetitive. But, it's something that weighs heavily on my heart and my brain.

I have wanted to be a mom way before I knew I even wanted to be a wife. Way before I really knew ANYTHING. When I was younger I played with dolls all the time. They were my entire world.

Growing up it went from dolls to real live babies. I have always been around kids. Through family members children, and as I got older my friends babies. It's just always been a dream of mine.

When my husband was diagnosed with Cancer I was 19. Clueless at all this medical babble that was going on. When he got his first dose of Chemotherapy I was so scared. I was scared that this Cancer would get the best of us. I didn't even worry about fertility. It wasn't until we were told that he was going to get a Stem Cell Transplant that we were finally told to start planning our future. We had to go and have his sperm analyzed and stored. At this point he had a few rounds of Chemo under his belt.. so there was the fear that it may not go over as planned.

The doctors told us they would call us in a week with the results. But, we ended up finding out that same day that Phil was infertile. It hit us hard. We both want a family so badly.

To be honest here, I have to say that I don't think it hit me as hard then, as it does now.

Not only are more and more people around me getting pregnant or having birth... but, I'm at a more reasonable and healthy weight. Where it just seems more realistic to get pregnant.

Phil and I made the decision in the beginning of my Weight Loss Journey that we wouldn't the precautions the doctors suggested as far as birth control. We both knew the risks and all that. But, I also know that it's common for people to become pregnant as they rapidly lose weight. And, while we heard he's sterile... we also learned that sometimes it can come back. Especially in guys because they're constantly producing sperm. I'm not all that religious of a person... but, I'm a firm believer in that what's meant to be, will be. I couldn't live my life knowing what COULD of happened.

Not knowing what is going to happen kills me. I'm to an age now where I thought I'd have a child. I've been married for almost five years now. I'm just ready. 

I just have to have hope that everything will work out and we will have our family we've been dreaming of. Whether it's biologically or otherwise... that doesn't matter to us. 

WOW!

I haven't updated my tickers... in let's say a VERY long time.

It definitely helped me realize how close to goal I actually am.

Wow is all I can say! :)

I'm giving myself another week to "recover" from this gallbladder business. Then, it's ON! I'm planning to get back on the losing wagon!

Gallbladder..

I managed to get an earlier appointment with my surgeon for the issues I've been having. My lovely patient coordinator pulled some strings and helped me. :)

He wanted to schedule my surgery for next week. But, since I'm away on vacation starting this Sunday. So then he seemed worried with me being 2+ hours away and having an attack. I've also been having REALLY bad back pains and nausea. So he was like "that's not going to be a great vacation!" Especially if you add the new heat hives that just showed up THIS summer.

He was out of town yesterday, so he was trying to schedule my surgery on Friday. But, then he decided he would come in after being out of town for the day to give me ONE more day to re coop before Sunday.

Anyway, It's out. My back isn't hurting anymore. Right now I just have neck/shoulder pain from the gas. And, my belly hurts. Definitely hurts more than yesterday. 

He even used three of my old incisions from my sleeve so I wouldn't have any extra scars.

And, he put waterproof stuff over the incisions.

He even gave me permission to get in the water at the beach. .As long as I don't get in there for longer than 30 minutes at a time. .So, hopefully  I feel comfortable enough to make the ride down there. :)

Sweet Tooth!

So I've always had some what of a sweet tooth!

I thought for awhile after surgery that might of changed. But, then I realized it didn't. I just used WILL POWER to avoid it at all costs. However, lately I've started to allow myself more treats... Sugar included.

At first I beat myself up about it. But, then I realized some things. 

One: I can NOT eat the amount of candy/junk that I used to.

Two: This is NOT a diet. It's a lifestyle change. So, I need to figure out what works for me and carry forth with that.

That being said I have a plan. And, it's been working fairly well.

I know that IF I had a box of my favorite candy I would eat it all day until it was finished.

Therefore, I don't allow myself to have FULL size candy. I buy these little one serving portion control candies at the local FiveBelow. They're like 4 for a dollar or something.

And, after one I'm good. It satisfies that sweet tooth!

Update about pains...

I went yesterday for an abdominal sonogram. And, they said by tomorrow (which is now TODAY) after noon my doctor who issued the script  for the scan would have the report. So, I was planning to call tomorrow. But, they ended up calling me today while I was at work.

The lady didn't really say anything except they were referring me to a general surgeon and gave me his name and number to make the appointment. And, said it was my gall bladder. So I called my surgeon's office and found out HE can do the surgery too! So I decided to use him instead.

I go see him on August 19th unless the pain gets worse :(

I had the doctors office fax me the report. And, come to find out I have multiple 3-4mm gall stones :(

I did some research and those things just look GROSS! Like actual rocks.


yay! I'm back with another update!


My patient coordinator for my surgeon emailed me asking to help with a before/after story. And, I told her I would work on it. I also mentioned my gallbladder issue so today she called me to check on me. And, GUESS WHAT? She made me an appointment SOONER! I go Wednesday! :)

Happy Birthday!

Today my blog is a year old!

Whooohooo!

I've enjoyed this blog so much. Not just for documenting MY journey but because I hope to be able to use it to help other people. SOME DAY.

Once again, thank you to my great followers. :)