Okay...Recovering from surgery!

Well I had my surgery on December 16th at 9:00 a.m. I was out of surgery, out of recovery and in my room by 11:30 a.m. I was up and walking around the hospital by 1:00 p.m. the same day. I was not really in any pain at all from the incisions, but was having dry heaves which worried everyone a little. Jonathan was such a big help to me. He was there every step of the way. He was quite worried about me. The first day and a half I was constantly dry heaving and could not take anything down at all. The surgeon came in to see me Saturday afternoon to check on me. He said, I hear that you are having a little bit of a hard time, but I also hear that you are doing everything you are supposed to do to get better. Then he told me that he knew that over the night everything would just turn around for me. He was right! By 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning, I was feeling just fine. I got up by myself, used the bathroom (which everyone knows you have to do in order to get out of the hospital) and was able to drink several sips of water without any problems. The resident came by at 9:00 a.m. and told me that he hears that I am doing just fine and that he was going to discharge me by 11:00 am. We left the hospital at exactly 11:00 a.m. lol We got home at noon, I showered and we went to the Superstition Mall...lol The girls and Jon took turns pushing me around in a wheel chair so I wouldn't wear my self out. I have been going nonstop ever since. I tried on a pair of pants this morning that are 2 sizes smaller that what I have been wearing...and WOW they fit!!! I am still on the full liquid diet that I was on before the surgery. I will be on that for two weeks after the surgery then start adding pureed foods. I go back to the surgeon's office on January 6th. At that time I will see how much weight I have lost. My scales at home are ridiculous I can step on them three different times in a row and have three totally different weights.

Prepairing for Surgery

I have been struggling with my weight for my entire life and all through my thirties have wanted the opportunity to have surgery to help me with weight loss. Now at 42 years old, actually I will be 43 yrs. old 14 days after I have my surgery, I am finally blessed with the opportunity. God has blessed Jonathan with a job that provides our family with awesome health insurance. We have met our out of pocket costs through other medical visits this year and now my weight loss surgery is going to cost us exactly ZERO DOLLARS. Can you believe that!!!? God has guided me through every step of my life and has led me to this point and time to allow this to happen for me. I truly thank God and intend on doing my part in this journey to please him. As part of the surgery process I have to shrink my liver in order for the surgeon to be able to get to my stomach. So I have to be on a clear liquid diet for 14 days prior to the surgery and I am on the 3rd day now. I started 12/01/2011 and my surgery is on 12/16/2011. Then I have to be in the hospital for two days and then I will be on a liquid diet for two to four weeks after, depending on when the surgeon releases me to start pureed foods. Then I eat pureed foods for about three to four months. Then I slowly add solid foods one at a time. I am currently having to drink at least 4 protein shakes (with 0% fat milk) a day, 64 oz. of water, 12 oz. vegetable or tomato juice (for the potassium), a multi-vitamin, Calcium +D vitamin, and all of that is supposed to be in between my 3 meals a day, which are jello or broth. lol How am I supposed to loose any weight drinking all of that...lol I am not going to lie, it has been very hard to do and I haven't done it all yet. Today I actually got my 4 protein shakes down but still haven't eaten the vegetable juice. It's going to be a process that I am going to have to get worked out and I intend on doing it right. I will do my best to keep updating my posts to let everyone know how I am progressing. All of your prayers are needed and welcomed.

Christmas Eve - 2010

Jon, Kirsten, Brad and I are cooking all of the desserts for Christmas day. We have made a pare cobbler, fruit salad, chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies, lemon meringue pie. We also made up the chicken and dressing so all we have to do is bake it in the morning. It is really nice to have the kitchen full of family again. This has been an incredible year for Jon and I, especially compared to last year. Jon has a good job and I have been able to go back to school to get my certificate as an Medical Assistant. I am also continuing my education in the new year by taking a course called Health Care Administration. Once I finish the course, I will have a Degree which will better my chance of obtaining a higher paying and more stable career. Wish me luck! I have made some very good new friends this year and reconnected with some extremely great friends. God has blessed Jon and I so with such good friends. We love you all so much!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!

Surviving the girls' visit

Ok, Jon's daughters, Brittany 16 and Chelsea 14, came to visit us. Brittany could only stay for one week because of her school but Chelsea stayed for three weeks. Wow...it was quite an experience. They have been raised (if you can call it that) much different than Kirsten.

Don't get me wrong, we had lots of fun with them while they were here, but there was several serous conversations during their stay also. It also reminded Jon and I of just how precious our quiet house really is. lol

None of us had ever been to the Grand Canyon, so Jon and I decided that would be our family trip. The girls slept nearly the entire way there and it rained on us almost the entire way. But when we got there, the clouds parted and the skies cleared. It was truely beautiful. We were all glad that we had made the long drive.

Jon to be driving in that state of mind. But thank God, we made it home safely.

The drive home was hard because we were all worn out and tired. But also because the girls chose the ride home to talk with their dad and I about some very disturbing issues that had happened in their lives recently. We were proud that they felt safe and comfortable enough to discuss these issued with us, but Jon was driving. And that was not very safe for any of us, for

Jon took all of us to his work place for a personal tour. We were able to actually go down into the mine pit. It was exciting to see all of the big equipment up close. It was interesting, but very hot and the truck ride was very bumpy. The safety guy, Sam, gave Brittany, Chelsea and I each a piece of copper with the ASARCO name imprinted in it. I think Jon was more excited about that than either of us. lol

We took the girls ice skating one night and had a great time. Jon skated with them. I haven't ever ice-skated and it has been about 17 years since I have been on roller skates. There was no way they were going to get me out on ice. lol They did try, but it was never going to happen.

The rest of their visit was spent at home. Which was good because Jon really got to spend quality time with his girls. We all played board games, card games, checkers, watched movies and of course played on the computer. He has really missed them over the years. He has tired many times to get them but his ex-wife always came up with some reason why they could not visit. After spending time with them he could really see just how much they needed him in their lives, if only for structure and decipline.

All in all the visit with Brittany and Chelsea was a good experience. We love them very much and would love to have them again soon.

Starting Back Office classes

Well I have started my 13th week of MA classes. I received my score today on the final we took last Friday for my last 6 week class. Get ready, are you ready? I got 100%. Yea!!! I am so excited because on all of my other finals I missed 1 on each. This is the first one that I did not miss any. My average so far for all of the classes I have taken (and there have been 8) in the past 12 weeks is 99.5% . I am now in a class where we are doing vitals. You know taking blood pressures, temperatures, pulse rates, respiration rates, height and weight. I took vitals on 3 different patients today and only have 47 more to go before I finish classes and go out to my exturnship. That will be in 17 1/2 more weeks. Wow!!! I have to get on the ball and figure out what specialty office I want to work in, so I can try to find a place to be sponsored for my exturnship. My exturnship starts on November 22, 2010 and lasts for 5 weeks. Forty hours a week for 5 weeks, equaling 200 hours. Then I graduate and start too work (hopefully right away). I sure miss all of my friends in Safford. If any of you know of a medical facility that will be needing a Medical Assistant in January, let me know. Maybe it will pay well enough that Jon and I could move back. Of course Jon would have to get a job there too, but who knows, maybe Freeport will be needing Electricians by then. Prayers are welcome. God willing it will come to pass.

Our latest ordeal!!

Well as you may already know, Jon's car broke down on him on his way to work Sunday afternoon. He made it about 5 miles down the road and I got a call to come pick him up. Luckily for us, and by the grace of God, I have a friend who ownes a car hawling business. She came and picked up the car for us and took it to our house and backed it right into our garage. Thank you Kenda.

Normally Jon works day shift, but Sunday was his first day filling in for a guy that had just retired, until the position could be filled full time. So since he is, for now, working 2:30 to 10:30, once we got his car home he was able to take my car and go into work.

We went to several of those buy-here pay-here places in Mesa to see what we could possibly do about getting another vehicle. Much too our suprise we were financed for a 2005 Chrystler PT Cruiser. It is not exactly our dream car, but it is what we could afford.

The new car is above.

Thank you God for blessing us with your grace.

11 weeks in!

Well I haven't been on her in a while. I have been very busy with school. I have just finished my 11th week. YEA!! Next week is my last week in front office, then I am moving on to back office. Things have been quite interesting up to this point. I am once again certified in First Aid and CPR. The last time I was certified was when I was a Girl Scout Leader. Wow that has been some time ago. lol These classes are extremely excellerated. We have a test at least every other day and sometimes twice a day. I think that the cobwebs have been dusted off of my feable brain. lol Now if I can just get it to regergitate what it has absorbed. lol I wish I would have been able to stay in Safford so that I could have been around all of my good friends there. I miss you all so much, but I know God planned for me to be here right now and who knows, maybe Safford is in my future. I can always hope! :o)