12 weeks post op

Well, technically today is 12 weeks post release from hospital. ;)
I have been thinking about how it's been a while since I've blogged about this, and I needed to take some follow up pics for you all. Today CJ went back to school so I went ahead and took some. While they look odd/kinda bad, I'm actually quite happy with how things are going right now.

The doctor was quite clear that as things healed, I'd end up with a "pooch" of swelling that's close to the incision mark. That's what I've got now, and I'm not overwhelmingly concerned because it really doesn't bother me at this point. It means that things are progressing normally, and I'm happy with that concept LOL. I know it's swelling, and I know I'm doing the right things with my eating, etc. Post op I was around 168 pounds and Monday my weigh in had me at 161.8. I'll get to goal eventually, though I really more down on myself with the scale not moving down than I am about the silly little pooch you'll see below.

First, the clothed shot....

Now, the "good side" shot. You'll notice if you compare the "good" and "bad" sides that the bad side has a more prominent scar area, but that's fine by me. ;)

The front shot....

The formerly "bad" side shot. This is a good angle to show the distension of my lower belly below my belly button right now.

Ugh, bloating....

Well, the goal of this is to show the good, the bad and the ugly. This week I hit some of the ugly. I'm having a bit of stress in my personal life, as well as lots of stuff going on with school and the kids and a new puppy, and other things too. Just hectic like usual. I did well at Disneyland over my birthday weekend making food choices, etc. My weight was only up a little bit after the trip (1 pound) and I was happy with that.

Since then I've been extremely bloated, and not sure why. I'm drinking my water, and my caloric intake has been under 1300 calories for the last three days and if you subtract calories burned I'm under 1000 (hit the gym every night...). I don't really understand what's going on and it's frustrating me physically. The good news (if you want to call it that) is that I'm not having much time to dwell on it because of all the activity in other parts of my life right now, but that activity is also making sure I'm staying on program.

I'm not sure if it's connected at all, but I'm having a fair amount of discomfort associated with my bellybutton. It's sore, like a bad muscle pull inside and the outside feels like it's tugging to stay connected inside. I'm wondering physically if this is because of the bloating I'm experiencing right now, swelling my stomach up and my belly button fighting to keep it's place. Laying on my stomach wasn't painful before but it is now. I think part of it has to do with the feeling returning in parts of my stomach at this point post op, but am not sure.

I'm just frustrated. The scale was up another pound this morning and I almost screamed. I know within my heart I'm working the program the right way. I don't think I've ever been more sure of it than I am now.

I guess this is just when we keep on keeping on, right?

13 Reasons Why I Love My Husband

Today is the 13th anniversary of the day I married my husband. Honestly I don't think anyone thought we'd last nearly this long. Sometimes we both didn't think it ourselves but we've made it this far, I'm sure we'll make it even farther.

So, in honor of this occasion, I'm going to post 13 reasons why I love my husband....

1. He's loved me literally through thick and thin.

2. Though our family differences are vast, he has rolled with the punches as much as he could as they have rolled through our lives for the last 13 years.

3. Even though he felt a sense of duty to continue serving in the Marines after 9/11, he listened to me and my wishes and went through with his plans to leave the service shortly after the tragic events of 2001.

4. He's helped me learn to be a better wife.

5. He's supported all my recent efforts to keep myself sane so I can be a good mother and wife.

6. He's a great cook!

7. He always thinks I'm worthy of smooching -- even with crazy bed head and morning breath.

8. He's doing his best to make sure I don't feel guilty about not contributing to the household income.

9. He almost always knows when he's screwed up, and almost always does what he can to remedy it.

10 . Thirteen years later I honestly think he's more attractive than he was when we got married. And of course I love him more than I did then -- that almost goes without saying, even though we were crazy pseudo teenagers getting hitched.

11. His genes mixed with mine apparently make for crazy cute kids... though I am biased....

12. He doesn't give me grief for the side effects from my new diet and workout regime.

13. He's like a fine wine -- he's getting better with age.