Changing my life!

I decided it was time to change my life for good. Now that I am a widow I need to be there for my kids for as long as possible and therefore I chose to make a change. I had the Lap-Band procedure done on Tuesday. I was planning on doing it in December but the doctor's office called and said that the insurance came through and that they had a cancellation, so if I was interested I could be scheduled for next Tuesday. So I accepted since I kind of knew that we were being furloughed at work soon. This meant that I had to start a clear liquid diet the next day to be on for WHOLE WEEK! This SUCKED!!!! It so happened that the first day they had a salad potluck at work while I enjoyed my protein shakes and water. I also had to stop drinking caffeine and carbonation, my FAVORITE addiction Coke Zero with cherry. UGHHHH!!!! I did cheat the first night and had one since I was very sleepy at work but boy did I pay for it. The carbonation went straight to my intestines and bloated me severely. I stopped cold turkey and have had no desire to drink it since. The best thing about the clear liquid diet is that I lost 15 lbs before surgery.

Tuesday I had the surgery. I spent the night at my mom's, did not go to bed until 3 am and tossed and turned until 6 am when my mom came to get me up. So needless to say I was tired and ready for them to knock me out. I remember being taken down to surgery on the gurney and then having to slide over to the surgery table. Which is SOOOO small. It was just barely wide enough for my butt (okay it is huge but still)! Then I remember them adjusting the bottom of the table against my feet and putting my arms on these bars that you feel like being on a cross. I said the last time my arms were on theses for my c-sections they strapped me in and they said oh we will don't worry. Then I remember the anesthesiologist saying you should feel the medicine working any time now and I then felt a burning sensation. She then said take a couple of deep breaths as this air mask was coming toward my face and that is the last I remember. The next thing I know I am in recovery back on the gurney and hooked up to monitors. I was soooo groggy and just wanted to sleep but they wanted to get me up and going.

It has been 4 days now and I am still sore but only minimally now. I am on full liquids now which means clear liquids plus blended soups and sugar free pudding. I thought it would be hard but that is all I want to eat at this point. I have no idea if I have lost any weight after surgery because I have been backed up and having to deal with it now. Hopefully at my 1-week followup I will have good news about more weight loss. They say not to expect any and to just focus on adjusting to the diet and the amount of food you can eat, not the weight. They will not even adjust the band for a month.

The craziest thing that I realized (okay not crazy but probably meant to be) is that the day of surgery was the 6-month anniversary of John's death. I know that he is proud of me for making this decision and rooting me on from the other side. He is probably shocked that I have actually stopped drinking the Coke since that has been my worst habit.

Now on top of all of this I have accepted the calling of Relief Society Instructor and I am scared to death. It is only once a month, which is nice, but oh how scary!!! I know I will look back on this in years to come and laugh at myself but right now it scares me, but I know that the Lord wants me at this time and I will try my best.

Now back to relaxing and recovering.....