Motherly ramblings...

I am anxiously awaiting the information packet from Hickory Surgical to be filled out and returned to get a information meeting date scheduled.  So, I get a yellow slip in my post office box Saturday after the post office closed.  Wasn't expecting anything so I'm thinking, "Woohoo!  It's the info packet!"  Get up this morning, get ready, drive to the post office, happy as a lark...and it ends up it's a package about Ontario Canada that my walking encyclopedia of a son (the 18yo) ordered!  LOL!  I drove my sad little self back home, feeling a bit like a deflated balloon.  ;)  I know it will come, but I was already *mentally* pen-in-hand filling it out and faxing it back TODAY!  :)

So, I was snuggling my other son (the 8yo) over the weekend and he was happily "mushing" my fat rolls.  I said, "Wouldn't it be great if mommy were thin?!"  He gave me his usual emphatic NO, he does not want to see me thin, he likes me just the way I am!  :)  Nice sentiment, but...  I explained to him that if I could get thin, I'd be healthier, happier, and we could do so much more together.  He went back to mushing me while watching TV (he loves my soft, mushy arms - rolling my eyes here), not happy I'd ruined his blissful moment with my daydreams of thinness.  :P 

For all of you moms and dads out there, how has your rapid weight loss affected your children?  My life has really been changed by my weight gain and I know I will be a very different person than I am now once I am thinner.  I know my husband knows who I really am, sans obesity, but my children have never known me as anything but.  Can't wait to introduce the real me...the one who LOVES roller coasters, LOVES fashion, is ACTIVE...!!!  I know they will love it, but I am sure it's going to be very strange for them also.  Would love to hear some stories/experiences with this!

Shauna,

I'm not a Mom but I can relate!  Sorry about your bursted bubble but it will come, probably today.  As for the rapid weight loss affecting our "Children"...  I have 2 Nephews and a God Daughter that I adore and spoil rotten.  Anyway, I didn't tell them I was having WLS because they were only 6, 7 & 8 (I told my 8 year old God Daughter) because I didn't want them to be scared (My Nephews Uncle had just passed away that week before in the hospital that I was having my WLS in...  sooooo...)  Anyway, it's amazing to see how things get processed in their brains.  We all used to go out to dinner a lot but after WLS we didnt go very often and did a lot of cooking at home.  I'd take them grocery shopping with me and they'd see me looking at all the labels and trying to make good decisions.  They'd ask me what I was doing, so I'd explain nutritional values to them (educational).  They saw me do this for years.  I realized I was having an effect when my God Daughter was shopping with her Mom and told her Mom she shouldn't have a certain type of cereal because of the sugar, fat and carb content...lol!  I didn't realize she was watching that closely!!!  Anyway, after I had lost 217 lbs I asked them if they remembered me when I was heavier, all three of them couldn't remember it until they saw pictures, then they all said they were glad I wasn't heavy anymore and I was more fun now.  My Nephews still love playing with my arms (I have "Angel wings"), and poking at my flab, but heck...  I pick right back at them! 

Anyway, again I hope you get your package soon, I hate waiting too!!!  Good luck with your WLS and get ready for this roller coaster ride of all rides!!!  Let me know if I can help!

Hello Members:

Having three children, I had the same concerns.  They are 12, 10 and 5.  They seemed more concerned about the surgery its self than having a skinny mommy.   I am scheduled to have surgery on 08/11/2008 and the children are spending the summer in NJ with their grandparents.  I will tell them I had surgery the day I come home from the hospital.  I think this is the best because they think when you go to the hospital you must be terribly sick. 

best wishes.....jonelle

Just had a flashback and it brought a tear to my eye...

I remember one day my son got off of the bus, probably 3rd grade, and I was standing there waiting for him. As soon as he stepped off he told me...so and so said "Your moms FAT!"  BAM...in the face truth and reality..as hard as it was!

&

Another time, we were looking through photo's and there was one of me holding my daughter...I was thin then. My son asked, "Who is that?" When I told him that it was me..it was disbelief. I realized he has only known a "FAT" mom because that is when my battle with my weight began...after his birth!

just flashing back.....

Sheryl,  I hope it does come today...I'm so ready to do *something more* to feel like I'm really getting the ball rolling.  Paperwork would be just the ticket.  ;)  I bet your nephews (handsome fellas...I saw the pic!) and goddaughter ARE spoiled rotten!  :)  It is totally amazing to hear how your WLS and your change in choices have affected them, for the positive.  :)  It's even more amazing to hear they didn't recall the "heavier" you until you showed them old photos.  How sweet is that?  I'm glad to hear your  nephews still enjoy playing with your arms because I would hate to miss out on E's snuggles anytime soon and I fear I might if I'm no longer "cushy!"  ;)  Thanks so much for the good luck wishes and I will indeed let you know if you can help...you be sure to do the same.  :)

Jonelle, My children also expressed concern about me actually having surgery.  When discussing that I was looking into it, the youngest 3 were like "Are you sure you want to do THAT?!...You are beautiful!...We love you!..." etc.!  They expressed that they do NOT want me to take any risks so we are going to keep any and all risks on the down-low.  Thankfully, I have a great clinic/surgeon/hospital lined up and I am not worried, yet.  Ha!  :)  I think it is GREAT that you will be able to send the kids on vacation to their grandparent's and let them know after the fact that you had the surgery!  I see you have a date scheduled, congrats!  How much longer?  Wishing you the best and looking forward to hearing about your success.  :)

Mike,  Thank you.  :)  I am so glad to hear that WLS has been the best thing for you and yours.  I can only imagine what it is like to ride the rides with the kids...and to PLAY in the ocean.  We took a family vacation to the Bahamas a couple (or few?) years ago and went snorkeling.  It was so hard getting in and out of the ocean...I felt like a beached whale, literally...but it was sooo nice gliding through the water, hand-in-hand with my daughter, looking at all the marine life!  :)  I can hardly wait to enjoy many, many more adventures with the kids without having my weight be any sort of obstacle or hinderance!  Again, good luck with your revision tomorrow...we will be thinking of you!  :)

Wendy,  {{{Hug}}}.  I have memories like that too and it makes me realize that we are doing the RIGHT thing...the BEST thing...not just for ourselves, first and foremost, but for those we love more than ourselves...our children.  You sent me down memory lane when my 18yo son was about 2 or 3'ish.  I had just taken a shower, threw back the shower curtain to step out, and there he stood.  Bug-eyed, fish-mouthed, and exclaimed, pointing to my mid-section, "Mommy!  You have STRIPES!!!"  Like I was a zoo exhibit or something!  :o  Thankfully he said it, not only surprised, but proudly.  I burst out laughing to keep from crying!  Someday I would give almost anything to be at goal weight and have had plastics to remove these well-earned baby-belly stretch-mark stripes!  ;)  Hang in there...you WILL once again look like that photo of yourself holding your daughter.  :) 

I am excited to have surgery on August 11.  Thought I would never do it, I chickened out in 2005.  I just finished all my paperwork for FMLA and disability for work.  My son's birthday is August 15 (he wants dirt bike) and the children go back to school on August 25, 2008.  I guess August is going to be a busy month! 

Just a side note:  I started the process in March and the time flew by.

In a way I am lucky because my children are all grown and they all know I am having the surgery and are supportive. I think they would like to introduce me to a lot of activities but knew I couldn't do them. I hope to be able to have more fun with my grandkids when I get to see them and have the stamina to do some fun things with them. Out of six children only two really have a weight issue and only one is obese. I am not sure how that happened but I am glad that they all want me to be healthier and I hope I can help inspire my heavier kids to do something now before they lose so much time like I have.