He's HERE!

Our beautiful baby, Noah Aiden Borders, came into the world on August 25, 2013.  We adore him so much!  But how could we not?  Look at that little face!  Aimee did great during her LONG labor, and she was a real trooper.  I'm so proud of her.

Been Busy

We've been doing a lot of home improvements around here.  We're painting, and laying new floors in the hallways and the bathroom.  Takes a lot of time and work.  But we're getting there slowly but surely.  The weight loss has slowed a bit, but it's still coming off in tiny increments.  But I'm fine even if I stay how I look now.  I feel so much better than before.

I did it!!!

I hit the 100 pound weight loss mark. I've lost 102 pounds so far! Woo hoo! And still counting. I'd like to lose about 30 more. But this has been such a blessing!

I've lost about 93 pounds now!

I'm doing pretty well now. I had a bit of a setback a few weeks ago. I had what they call an internal hernia. It's when my intestines twisted up around each other and blocked all blood flow to the lower part of my intestines. It was beyond painful. Had to have emergency surgery. But I'm better now.

I've Lost 85 Pounds Now!

I can't believe it's actually true, but it is!  It's been almost six months since surgery and I've already.  I'm feeling really good and positive.

Four Months Later...

It's been a while since my last post.  Laziness.  No excuse.  So, to date, I've lost just about 70 pounds!  I've been stuck here for a couple of weeks.  But at least I weigh under 200 lbs. for the first time in many years!  Woo Hoo!  I'm happy at the success of the surgery.  
Then to throw a wrench in the whole thing, I went and had a hysterectomy performed last Monday.  Not fun.  This was much more painful than the gastric bypass surgery.  Much, MUCH more painful.  Weird.  But I'm on the mend, and I'll be back to normal in no time. 
I'm so glad for the summer to be fading.  I really hate the heat.  Bring on the COLD!  

Two Month Check-up!

I went to my two month check up at my surgeon's office on Tuesday and he says I've lost about 50 lbs now!  I haven't been exercising that much lately and I've got to get back into it.  I'm slowing way down and I know that's why.

I've Lost 40 Pounds!

I actually lost 40 pounds now!  It's been six and a half weeks since my surgery and I'm still going strong!  I've lost inches too, but haven't kept great track of those!  I'm going to the gym regularly and eating right.  Here's the latest picture!

I Joined a Gym!

We got the most incredible deal on a gym membership at Blast! Fitness.  $1 down and $20 a month for two people!  Unlimited use of all equipment, exercise classes, tanning, Jacuzzi, sauna!  It's almost too good to be true.  I'm actually waiting for the other shoe to fall.  But I'll enjoy it while it lasts.  We went yesterday and I walked on the treadmill for over 30 minutes.  I was sweaty.  Which is good.  And I lost another pound this morning.  Only a half more pound and I will have lost 30!  Woo Hoo!  I added two weight loss tickers at the bottom of the blog to show my progress.  They're cute!

Three Weeks Post-Op

It's been forever since I've written.  My father-in-law is in very critical condition at the hospital due to some very serious lung problems.  He started coughing lots of blood, and now he's on a respirator.  Hoping to find out what caused the bleeding and wean him from the respirator afterwards.  We've been praying for his recovery.

I'm doing pretty well.  Today I'm three weeks out and I've lost 27.6 pounds!  I was hoping to hit the 30 lb. mark today, but it didn't happen.  I've weighed the exact same weight for four days in a row.  A little maddening, but I know it'll start dropping again.  I'm finally starting to feel thinner.  I notice little things like being able to wrap a towel around me now, and I can sit and bring my knees up which I never could have done before.  It's pretty fun to discover these little milestones.

I need to remember to take my three week pictures today.  I'm trying to wear the same clothes each time so there might be a difference.  Actually, I didn't the first week, but I have since.   I'm glad I've done this.  It's difficult finding foods to eat, but I can do it.

Onward and Downward, Ho!

Four Days Post-Op and Feeling Good!

Had my surgery on Monday, May 7, 2012 at 9:30 am.  It's now Friday May 11, and I'm feeling pretty darn good.  The first day wasn't great, nor the second, but after I got home, I feel better and better each hour.  I actually got up, showered, put on makeup for the first time in a week, dressed and went shopping at Walmart with my Mom.  I even bought a new outfit to wear for Mother's Day.  Just a casual outfit.  Not a church dress or anything.  But it's already a size smaller!  Woo Hoo!  So happy.

Tomorrow's the BIG Day

I go to the hospital at 7am for a 9 am surgery. Can't believe it's here. I'll try to update from the hospital. Wish me Luck!

Today is my last day of "normal" food!

I start my two day liquid diet tomorrow morning to "clean out" my system before surgery on Monday.  Wow.  Such an emotional roller coaster for me.  One minute I can't wait, the next minute I'm terrified.  Then the next I feel really good about everything, then I want to cancel the whole thing.  I guess it's normal to feel this way, but I don't like it.  I've had a cold for the past couple days, and I think it's going away now.  Thank goodness.  I went grocery shopping, and had to buy lots of liquids for the next two days as well as after surgery.  Lots of broth, flavored waters, protein powder for shakes.  After getting it all and looking at it...I'm already starting to miss food.  I never really realized how much I love food.  Which is why I'm fat, obviously.  I just need to figure out a way to have a new relationship with food.  I can still love it, but just not so much!  ha ha.  I'll write again tomorrow to update about the liquid diet and tell how I'm doing.  I'm going to take my "BEFORE" pictures today.  I can't wait to take the "AFTER" shots!

Got My Results!

I got the results of my biopsy today and they are CANCER FREE! Woo Hoo! What a relief! Whew. Now I'm scheduled for my pre-op appt. on Thursday and surgery is scheduled for Monday morning! So it's onward and upward! Or in this case, onward and DOWNWARD, (weight-wise)! Yippee! Such a weight off my shoulders!

Waiting for Biopsy Results...

I went to the gynecologist last week, and he took a biopsy of my uterine lining because it was thicker than it should be. I'm still waiting on the results and I'm going crazy! Now that I have my surgery date, the results of this biopsy will either make or break this whole process! If it's clear, then onward and upward. If it's cancerous or "iffy", then I have to cancel my gastric bypass surgery and get a hysterectomy instead. Then reschedule the bypass for later in the year. I'm so hoping for a clear result...obviously. Keep your fingers crossed!

I GOT MY SURGERY DATE!!!!!

Well, I went to my Primary Care Doctor today and she signed my recommendation letter for surgery! She faxed it to the surgeon's office, and I called to make sure she received it, and she had. So she said it will take a few days until the insurance clears it, but she set a date for May 7th! That's two weeks from yesterday! Thirteen days! I can't believe it's happening! I'm so excited, but so nervous at the same time! But the countdown starts! Yay!

Got My Results

Well, I got my results of the stress test today. My heart is ok, but it's a little enlarged and not pumping as strongly as it could. So the weight loss surgery is definitely a good thing at this time. If I weren't having it, I'd have to lose it some other way or I'd be looking at an early death. So, I'm thankful to be having it done. I go tomorrow to the OB/GYN to have them take a biopsy of my uterine lining to make sure I don't have cancer. If it's clear, then onward and upward! If it is cancer, then I need to schedule a hysterectomy asap then the the WLS later in the year. Whatever happens, happens! Que Sera, Sera.

Heart Stress Test

It's been a while since my last post. I had an echocardiogram a week and a half ago. It was irregular so they brought me back for a four hour stress test. I had that today. UGH. Not easy, but I did it. Tomorrow I have to return for another echo but this time for my arteries. I don't find out the results of either of these tests until the 19th of April. I also have my psych evaluation on Wednesday afternoon. Then after that, the surgeon's office will submit the surgery recommendation to the insurance company and after we get approval from them, I can make an appointment for surgery. This is a long process, but it's coming right along. My brother in law just had his surgery last week and he's doing well. I'll write more after I know more!

Dietician Appointment today!

Went to the dietician and sat there for two hours while she told me all of the foods that I can't eat. Ha ha. Just kidding. It was pretty informative. Now I wait for the psych evaluation, and then I'll be able to schedule my surgery! Woo Hoo!

Surgeon Appointment

It's been a while since I've written. I had my first appointment with my bariatric surgeon on Tuesday. It went great. We've decided on the gastric bypass. I was going back and forth between that and and the sleeve gastrectomy, but I think the bypass is best for me. I have my nutritionist appt. on March 14th, and an echocardiogram appt. on March 30th. So I think we're looking at late April or May before the actual surgery. Yay! So excited.