... snippets from a 5th Xmas

 It is my fifth Christmas since WLS ... oh my ... and my 5th year surgery anniversary is not until February 5th, 2012 ... I had RNY on 2/5/07 and despite a major complication on post-op day #2 and a lengthy first 3-4 months recovery ... I have been having the best time of my life with health and mobility allowing me to carry out at 100% speed all the things the physical limitations of my morbid obesity slowed down significantly ...

Today I am running every 5 - 10 or 20K I can participate in.  I belong to a running club and I run 3-4 mornings a week 4-5 miles along the trail or to the beach and back ... I love it...

Exercise and nutrition are a plus and I love planning my daily fitness routine and my meals... 

Any regrets? None 
Do I love my RNY? Absolutely .. I love it and will take care of it and me as the tool that gave me a healthy new beginning. 
Would I have done anything differently? Yes. If I had the option or know as much as I do now about the DS thanks for awesome information gathered on here and links provided as well as research I would have certainly have a DS with no hesitation about it.

Before and after I remain me ... I walk side by side with my former fat self and I like to think that my deliverance is her release and her release is my deliverance.  When I look in the mirror I see me as well as the fat girl that still resides in me encouraging me to stay the course less I go back to 5 co-morbidities and impaired mobility.  We walk together as one ...my former fat self and I ...

Except for life experiences that were at times challenging and difficult and sometimes downright painful (including but not limited to domestic violence with ex, rape, complete kidney shutdown, kidney transplant and amputations in current spouse, medical conditions of my children and a million and one life challenges and surprises) I had an awesome time in my former body totally loved by my husband of today and my children and peers and friends who all embraced and encouraged and still encourage me on my journey

I can't believe this is my 5th Christmas since Weight Loss Surgery ... and I have tracked it all in my empowerment journal that I titled ... A picture a day keeps the pounds and the inches away....

On this my 5th Christmas since WLS ... I am happy... I am loved ... and I embrace life/health and happiness for me and for all....

This morning I took pictures in the very WEIRD dress that my DD the prankster loves to give me as a dare ... to see if her otherwise crazy mom (me) would rock it .... and I did LOL ... Last night we celebrated 'NOCHE BUENA' (Christmas Eve) at home ... DH had just returned home from the hospital so we had friends over for the midnight supper as we celebrated El Niño Dios....

So I put on the goofy dress... CAN YOU BELIEVE I TURNED 54 two weeks ago? and I won the dare ... LOL I rocked it ... a crazy dress nonetheless ....
 

and I wore the AWESOME gift I got from my DH ... a lovely lovely Gray Coat by Donatella in a Size 0 ... can you imagine I used to be a size 4-5X and wondering why they were fitting tighter....
 
and of course I did a before and after collage for my empowerment digital journal a picture a day....keeps the pounds and the inches away .... I weigh in ... I fit in ... and I see it ... MAINTAINING FOR LIFE WITH NO REGAIN OVER MY GOAL WEIGHT... yet! I implemented lifestyle changes and will keep my before very present as I remain in my after ... for quality of life without co-morbidities or impaired mobility...
 
From my empowerment digital journal ... this is my 5th Xmas Post WLS and I tracked it all...

Christmas 2007 ... I lost all my weight by 7 months post op .. and at 10 months post op in Dec 2008 I looked like this...
 

For Xmas 2008... I sat at the workplace in awe at the lovely collection of gifts my co-workers gathered for me to bring to the outreach center where I volunteer... 
 
For Xmas 2009 I wore a Size 2 Laundry Dress to the Company's Xmas Party and rocked it with my DH
 

For Xmas 2010 I rocked a red backless dress made by me for me ... and I loved it... by then my DH had his forefoot amputation .. we did not cry we chose to cope thanking God for the miracle of not having the whole foot amputation and forever grateful that he is standing on both feet today ... despite prosthesis and a very slight limp ... WE ARE DANCING ON THE GOOD FOOT!
 

For Xmas 2011 I went to the Xmas party boldly sporting a fully sequined short red dress... another hoax I dare you to wear this gift from my DD on Mother's Day... I saved it for the occasion and rocked it...
 

and on Christmas EVE Morning I rocked my goofy dress ... then made myself comfy ..
 
and this morning I gave my furry babies their gifts..
 
Sat in my mess room where I do most of my painting with the busted wall in the background that I call my wall of pain because of its history ... I love to lie in my hammock or hang around with my ferrets as I enjoy quality time with my family... friends and loved ones even in cyberland here on OH.
 .
LOVE ... PEACE... GOODWILL TO ALL ... I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT LIKE CHARITY, LOVES STARTS WITHIN...

I am forever grateful for my awesome DH and DS and my beautiful DD who I took a picture with this morning... my beautiful daughter who a few months ago laid up with the most horrible lupus-like rash and CPKs in the 17,000 range and rising ... diagnosed with Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis and undergoing multiple biopsies and scans to rule out underlying cancerous conditions ... she is well in remission today ... OMG I am forever grateful ... TAKE ME FIRST LAWD PLEAAASE!!! not my loved ones...
 
and my beautiful ferrets ... 8 in all ... all beautiful and throughly loved by all of us....
 

I WILL NOT CURSE MY FIRE EVER ... THERE IS VICTORY IN THE VALLEY... OF PAIN, RIDICULE, CO MORBIDITIES.. LACK OF MOBILITY ..DOMESTIC VIOLENT ... I would love love love to think that between the cracks in the rough concrete ... a rose grew... it is all good ... I embrace it all ... in the name of DIVERSITY....

LOVE ... GOODWILL AND PEACE TO ALL ... THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE ...APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE IF I OFFEND ANYONE BY SHARING SNIPPETS OF MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY .... I CELEBRATE ... BECAUSE I CAME A LONG WAY ... WITH THE HELP OF MANY AS I HELPED MYSELF...

A picture a day ... from the highest weight to maintenance for LIFE today...
 
 
 

How uplifting, beautiful Marta!

Merry, Merry Christmas to you, Candace, Kenny, Al and your animoos.

God bless you, dear, dear heart! You deserve life's best!!!!!!!!

My beautiful and first person ever friended on OH and having to honor to paint both you and your DH and you cat and even speaking to you over the phone IRL ... MY BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL PJ Wilsen...

God bless you ALWAYS ... my you have love and happiness ALWAYS... you are beautiful Inside and Out...
 

Ooooh, Marta...what a dear and special person you are...I surely am thankful for the gift of knowing you.  Much , much love and adoration from the bottom of my heart....I have your pictures framed and think of your love on a daily basis. Not just for me, but for all your friends and admirers on OH and IRL! 

Thinking of all the strife and health issues you and your loved ones have had, but joyful that you all prevailed, and loving your daily posts of hope and faith. They mean so much to me, to all of us here.

P.S.....Rocking the white Donatella coat!!!  Wear white all the time, this shade is gorgeous on you!

 PJ .. remember we were going through together and praying for each other ... you with the anemia and other issues and I with Al and the foot ...  The Donatella coat is a very pale gray in color .. I have boots to match it too he forgot that my feet shrank a whole size though LOL so I have to exchange them.

Can you imagine my son saw my screen and asked me whether he was toast or painted on the wall I did not share a picture of him LOL go figure ... here is my big head old goofy guy .. he can be so totally sweet or so totally and arse depending on the day of the week LOL ...

Here goes my son and I ... sometimes I wonder ... he is artsy fartsy just like me  ...
 

Happy Monday, Marta! 

Yes my darling, how I remember so well. Amazing what you have been through and what Al has been through. The kids too. But, you are my miracle family, showing all things are possible with love. It really has pulled you all through, hasn't it ?

As for us, with all the complications, we are still rocking our RNY's.  I remember the first day you logged on to OH. I was drawn to your post immediately, and the rest was history!

Kenny is so handsome...and of course both he and gorgeous Candace are their Mama's babies, so creative and special.......beautiful souls. How is Al doing now? I saw some newer pics that made me so happy! 

The coat in gray...ooooooh , my mouth is watering!!!! Always looking for a good coat and boots....I have an issue with my larger calves, 14.5 inches even after 260 pounds weight loss. My fantasy is knee high boots to wear with leggings, either in black or a dark brown. I never used to wear coats because I had so much insulation, now I am finding I need something really warm , even in California. I am glad you found something which flatters you and looks so beautiful. I am glad your coworkers loved your coat. What a vision you are in that, and in all the things with which you show your flair.  

I love your daily pictures and look forward to seeing them, and your hairstyles.  God bless you dear friend, and your family, for the healthiest and happiest New Year yet! You all deserve it!

~  Much love and adoration,
PJ O'Lay

 I wore Donatella to work and THEY LOVE IT! it is sooooooooo warm on cozy too LOL... I am trying to find my picture of the canvas with the cat on your DH's back ... I have to see where I stored the pic of that canvas before sending it to you...

 Nothing like being warm!!!!....I am freezing now in LA. It's 45 degrees, which seems like a balmy paradise to you, I am sure. I bet the ladies can't wait to see what Marta is wearing next to work. I look forward to the pics myself :-)

Yes, that pic of Crumpet sucking DH's ear. So classic and sweet.  You captured it perfectly. I wake up smiling to that pic every day. 6 years later and Crumpet still suckles Papa's ear every morning and night.  In between, he loves to sit on Momy's lap.

Thank you , Marta, for all the wisdom , artisitc endeavors,  joy and love you bring to us online and IRL. 

You are loved,
PJ

 Thank you Pam my awesome and beautiful sista ... I just checked my email for notifications and got these... girl I came home with this horrible malaise I was barely able to crash ... been in bed since around 6 and now I have a second wind and not feeling any better ... I hope I am not coming down with a bug ... I need to treat this like now ...no way I am ending or beginning the year sick ...

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement always.  Crumpet on your DHs neck was my favorite canvas of all times and I must find that picture and repost it ... Thank you much Pammie for your support and encouragement always..

The after Christmas malaise? I know it well. i just hope you're not coming down with something....listen to your body, baby, and take a much needed rest. All those emotions and activities do take a toll. Now, it's time to wind down, for a little while anyway.

No worries about answering my posts..I have been on craze here,  and have made up for lurking all year, just in the past few days.

I think of how you paid homage to all our members with your paint brush, and how special you made us all feel. I can only imagine how you care for all the folks at work, at home, at church, and now you must take some YOU time to refuel.

Get some rest (if that is even possible) and get ready to say goodbye to 2011 and hello to an even better and healthier 2012 for you and your loved ones.....

Much love,
Pam