A New Beginning

Today I am 18 days out of weight loss surgery.  On Oct. 1, during a 9 hour operation I was "switched"-had the "Duodenal Switch" procedure.
It's been far from easy, in fact my dear friend Amy, who had the same surgery about 2 years ago, tried telling me just how hard it was going to be.  I'm a tough bird-have had several major operations and  endured 14 months of chemotherapy for breast cancer....nothing no NOTHING compared to this and if you ask me-YES, I'd do it again-in a few months.  But thank goodness I won't need too!!
I've lost 33 lbs. so far and LOTS of inches.  It seems like I look in the mirror and the word HEALTH blinks at me like a marquee.
I still have two large incisions on my belly which had a total of 44 staples closing it shut.  I 'm still in some pain or maybe discomfort is more like it.  I look down on my ever shrinking belly and smile hoping the best is just beginning!!

And The Little Ones Shall Conquor....

Our little grand daughter-Erin Vienna, EV, Rinna-she goes by any name, is now 10 months old.  She had the toughest first 5 months-she was soooo tiny-maybe someday my heart will stop skipping beats long enough for me to put it to words but it's still too emotional right now.
Her mother and I would sit up late nights during her feedings and talk to her, encourage her and her Momma would say "I'm so proud of you, you're sooo tough".  I would say "I'm so proud of you".
EV has broken every rule for a tiny little thing...she has TUDE, she has MOXY.
Erin Vienna went RUNNING through my living room last week.  Some baby's learn to walk...EV learned to RUN at 9-1/2 months. Just like her momma did 20 years ago....Some things are as it should be.

Ya, It's never too late.....

Hmmmmm  So it's Sat. night and I'm home....and in no pain.  I have not had any procedure.
We got up at 1:00 AM to drive 4 hours to have my weight loss surgery-got there in time, 5:30 AM.  So they call me back, get me hooked up to monitors, take my final pee, she was just about to put in the I.V. when the surgeon walks in with his assistant-he sees a "rash" under my belly button and says "you have a fungal infection", yes, I get it every year when the weather changes, I tell him.  He can't operate.  And they walk out.  The nurse brings in a script and in 5 minutes we're out the door.....gone.  It seems I am NOT destined to have this damn surgery or HEALTH-the reason for the surgery.  This surgeon is sooooo full, you wait months to get into him.  I'm doomed.  I even suggested one of his colleges whom are very capable.
I take the meds. and by day 2-I can tell it's changing.  On Thursday (the day after my original date) the scheduler calls and I already have a new date-Tues. Sept. 28.  Wahooo ya, all excited!!  But this thing on my stomach is NOT going away completely.  So by Saturday, I call out the big guns-in the form of BLEACH!  Ya, fungus-bleach they go together right??  We shall see.  I have a sneaking suspicion that I'll be back here in the same spot next Saturday night.....in no discomfort, having had no surgery  UHGGG.
It's VERY disheartening to me that all these obstacles are in the way.  I know that there are reasons and for everything there is a season but I can't help but wonder why???
Well, until I post again-Here's to talking like a (bewildered) Northerner.
p.s. my surgeon said I probably got the fungus from a gym....so watch out where ya lay your towels and clothes, ewwwww

"It is never to late to be what you might have been." -George Elliot

So it's two days before the "BIG" day-the day my life changes forever and I hope in a positive way only!
I've had sooo many operations and so I'm not sure why I still get nervous but I do...
I should find out today what time we need to be at the hospital.  We live 3-4 hours away from the hospital so we'll get up very early and venture south. 
They say that you should have goals set for yourself for after surgery-I don't.  They say you need to have those to look forward to but for some reason, God just decided to give me peace about it and I do.  Except for a few nerves.  I also think that part of the peace that Gods given me is in the form of Effexor.  I started taking that for anxiety attacks that I was having on the way to chemo...I will NEVER go off them!!  I don't care that I am "numb" or whatever people call it, to emotions.  I am able to live a basically anxiety free life while still having evil around me trying to corrupt my wonderful little world-Effexor is the armor that allows me to kick ass to those that are crap!

So maybe I do have a couple goals....being able to sit and gracefully cross my leg without looking like there is a tree trunck in my lap, well and to actually have a lap would be nice as well!  The other is to wear knee high boots and have them look nice (ok and a bit sexy wouldn't hurt).  My main goal is HEALTH.  Did you get that point HEALTH.  I have been to hell and back thanks to cancer-I've looked death in the face a few times put my hand up and said

 

I am in control of this life and body....I will be what I was meant to be.