Three Year Post Op

Better late than never, right???  

My 3-Year Surgiversary was on May 9, but the lab where my blood work was drawn messed up the B-12 part of it and I had to have it redone. That pushed my follow-up to this past Thursday (a month late). In hindsight, it was probably an okay thing...but seriously I've realized I still have some 'baggage' that I'm dealing with in this process.

It's been 3 years and I'm still afraid of the scale! I'm still afraid that the scale at bariatric center will show that I've failed. How afraid, you ask? Well, if you asked CME, he'd tell you I was a NERVOUS wreck last week - even to the point that I was nearly in tears on Wednesday night before the appointment. I can't explain why. And if you've not struggled with this issue... that's great! But for me it was not only annoying, but frustrating!  One positive thing is that I did turn to Scripture to calm me last Wednesday. Spent some time in prayer with God - admitting that I've let the scale define me...even now.  Asking for His forgiveness for believing that lie instead of the truth He tells me.  It was after that moment that I finally felt calmness in my spirit.  Man!  Now to work on ignoring the lies before they get past my ears, I'll be in business!

The appointment with MD went well, actually. Though my weight was up .8# over last year, MD was very pleased that I am still at a good spot. My BP was 106/64; my lab work was all normal; my total cholesterol was 109 with the "bad" cholesterol being 33 (lowest MD said he's seen!); I lost 3" in my waist, but added 1" in my hips this past year. We discussed the pain I was experiencing in April. He's not convinced it was self-induced as food can't "give you an ulcer" - though things can weaken the lining of the stomach making it possible for h. pylori to do it's thing. Regardless, he's treating it as a suspected ulcer by keeping me on Prilosec 2x a day for a total of 6 weeks, then 1x a day for the next 6 months. I'll take it. The pain is gone...and one I don't care to experience again. MD did say that if I experience the pain again, he'll want to do and upper GI to find out what's going on. I'm praying that wont' be necessary. Like I mentioned to him, I am so aware of my body now that when something is amiss, it's a quick red flag for me to get it checked out. So that's positive. 

In other happenings... I successfully (at least in her opinion) made my gbaby's third birthday cake without eating the icing. Come to think of it, I didn't have a true piece of the cake either... I did, however, gather up a few crumbs to just get a taste. It was enough. The cake was like the leaning tower of Pisa, but at 3 my Boo couldn't care less about that! All she knew was that Gigi made her a Princess Castle Cake. She was happy...and so was I!

Also, CME the boys and I spent about 4 hours last weekend working on the trails at a local State Park. And by working, I mean shoveling, raking and clearing paths. Though at about the 3 hour broken blister mark, I was tired. I did totally appreciate the fact that 4 years ago this wouldn't have happened. Sure, they guys may have been out there, but I wouldn't have been. Not only would the heat have been a HUGE issue for me...walking the trails...shoveling the trails...just wouldn't have happened for me. So YAY for another NSV happening 3 years post op!

In the end, it's been three years of a healthy life. It's been three years of seeing how God will continue to use this part of my journey to bring Him glory. It's been three years but only a dent of what's to come! 

Mother's Day with my Sons

Memorial Day with my Daughters

Boo's Birthday

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"I praise you [God] because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." ~Psalm 139:14