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I am adding some pictures from the Bari-Ball that Mike and I attended. We had such a good time, meeting Vickie Reed, Vickie Stone, and everyone that has had the surgery. I haven't had such a good time in so long, I could hardly contain myself.
Everyone was all happy and giddy, I just love Christmas parties.
Vickie Reed was just as sweet as could be and I had such a good time conversating with her all night. She is very pretty in real life and her pictures don't do her justice. I'm looking forward to becoming better friends with her and her husband Steven. Mike really liked him, especially since they both love to fish and camp. We've made future plans to do things together and we are both looking forward to doing them.
Vickie Stone is lovely too. She had on this silver sparkly top that was accented with some cool looking rhinestones. To top it off, she had a sparkling personality and I had an amazing time with them both.

The staff at St. Joes did a fantastic job at putting together this shindig, a special thanks to Amanda--she did a fantastic job planning this all out---and it really paid off, we all had a good time.

Here are some pictures of the night.

My protein intake has totally lacked in the last 2 days. I wasn't able to get past 45 yesterday and that isn't good. Today was better and I will continue to work on getting over 70g in.

I think my hair is starting to feel the effects of surgery. When I was brushing my hair this morning, a small clump came out in my hands. Gaaaaaawwwwd, why did I let that little boy cut my hair off??????? Rolling Eyes

I haven't been feeling well today. I got sick this afternoon and had to lay down. I was at my brothers and ate my calcium supplement. It's a small chocolate chew with about 4g of sugar. I've been taking it since I started back on my vitamins and suppliments, but today I think it gave me a small dumping syndrome.
I got very nauseated, to the point I got me a bag, because I knew I was going to blow. My heart was racing, I had a cold sweat and felt like I was going to have diarrhea. After I laid down though, I was fine after about an hour.
Now I just feel hung over. I took my second chew of the day and it hasn't hit me the same way as earlier, so I'm not sure what the deal was.

I'm thinking about going back on liquids for awhile. I feel like I'm eating too much and not having rapid weight loss; which is something that I want. I did liquids mostly today, with the exception of a small meal tonight at dinner.

I feel like such a loser half the time--I wish I could just quit being my own worst enemy.

Breakfast:
1 protien shake w/banana (30g)

Snack:
1 hot chocolate (15g)
1tbsp of PB

Dinner:
2.5 oz of filet mignon (msp)
2tbsp of vegie mix

Snack:
1 hot chocolate (15g)
1 tbsp of PB

Total protein (60g)

This has been a long entry, so I will close and post an update as they come about.

Ok, now I will tell everyone the latest going on in the life of the DeeZee's aka: the Dillards:

I don't even feel like I have had surgery. The day I was released from the hospital, I was relieved to get the drainage tube pulled out. It was quite humourous, (to the doc I think) because when he went to reach for it, I let out a yelp.
He laughed (along with my hubby) because he had yet to touch me. He was just pulling the tape off me. I was looking away, at Mike, and after he got the tape off, I was waiting for him to pull that freaking thing out of me.
"Ok doc, don't prolong my agony, take the damn thing out!"
"You're such a dramaqueen!" Mike laughed.
Doc starts laughing and tells me that it's already done and if he could, he'd give me some ice-cream, but chicken broth will have to suffice.

I can not begin to tell you how relieved I was to have that thing out of me. Imagine, if you will, the days of your childhood when you would start running and you'd get one of those charlie horses in your side. This is exactly what this drainage tube felt like. I wasn't ever really able to get in a deep breath, but once it was out, I took several deep breaths. It was niiiiiccce. Wink

Stepping out of the hospital, or rather pushed out by means of a wheel chair, was just totally awesome. It was a cold morning and the cool breeze slapped my face in a loving manner. I took in the sunshine and crisp cool air like I've never done before. It was just lovely.

The subject of poop will be discussed here, so if your squimish (like me) then you might want to skip the next few paragraphs.


I didn't have any trouble with pooping at first. In fact, I started having bowel movements before I left the hospital. The first one freaked the heck out of my hubby, because it was black as tar. Now we already knew this from soemone we've befriended who's had the surgery, that our first poop was going to be black. So we, or *I*, was prepared for a black stool.
Well Mike starts acting like I'm dying and he's calling the nurse in to take a loosie at Dee's poop.
I am soooo emabarrased, because the doc just so happen to be there doing his rounds. He walks into the bathroom to take a look at my poop and I'm as red faced as I can be, thinking to myself, now how can I kill my hubby and get away with it?

The doc reassures Mike and me that the blackness is completely normal for now and explains its because I was cut open and it's just some left over blood from the surgery.
I guess that soothes Mike and well, he's still alive so I guess up to this point I have blocked out the memory of him making the doc stare at my shit. (now that I remember, I am thinking about homicide again)

Walking was a major issue from the doc as something that I need to do. I was compliant in getting the walking in, but boy don't I feel it. Our little book says that a few months after surgery we should be able to walk about 2 miles.
HuH! Yeah right! Confused
I assure you that 2 miles isn't happening and I don't forsee it happening anytime soon. I am lucky to walk 5-10 minutes at a time, but the doc assures me that this is fine. I am out of the woods, as I understand it, for any blood clots to take effect on me. Still, I am concerned. I hate to come this far for something like that to take my life.

Anyhoot, back to the poop...I've gone from having runny type poop to laying a 20lbs turd everytime I sit down. Yesterday, I gave birth to such fecal proprieties and it laid me out for the rest of the day. Being someone that has had a fisher inside her anus for the last 15 years; I am guessing that it ripped me open and it hurt for the rest of the day. I was unable to sit and had to lay on my side in my bed.
Suffice to say, I was very miserable. I cried like a baby. Mike used hot compresses on my ass and we went through a tube of cool-gel prep-h and it still didn't seem to touch my pain. I ended up taking a couple of pain pills (over a 2 hour period) because nothing seemed to work.
I tried to use the Internet to distract me, and after awhile it worked. When the pain subsided enough, I finally got into the shower and ran the spray on my arse, (direct aim) with as hot of water as I could stand it. It felt gooooood and it really helped with the pain.

Today the pain is almost gone, but when I tried to have a BM, I could feel my pain warning me of what was to come, should I try giving birth again to mega-giant-poopmonster. I stopped myself and will wait to have my BM until this prescription strength stuff takes effect and softens it enough that it wont litterly rip me open. I hope it works soon.


Eating has been good, I think, because I just can't seem to eat a lot. Although, I do have my moments where I think I'm eating too much. I don't know how many calories I'm eating, but I'm estimating anywhere from 600-900 a day. They're wanting me to get in 3oz of protein in at a time and yesterday I was able to get in 2.5 of chicken breast, but I felt stuffed to the gills.
I have begun eating some vegetables again, praying that it will help with the poop problems. The protein suppliments are about to kill me. I have a 30gP shake in the morning for breakfast and for a snack, I have an 8-10oz cup of protien hot chocolate with a tablespoon (or so--maybe a full 2tbsp) of PB. The for lunch I will have about 3-4oz of chilie with cheese and a dollop of sour cream.
Dinner usually is some kind of meat and for bed, I will have another hot chocolate with a spoonful of PB.

This is what yesterdays menu looked like:

Breakfast:
1 potien shake w/ 1/4 banana 30g of Protein

Snack:
8oz of proto-diet protien hot chocolate 15g of protein

Lunch:
2.5oz of barbque chicken
2tbsp of sweet tater
1tsp of mixed veggie

Dinner:
3oz of spaghetti sauce mixed with Unjury protein (10g)
1.5 oz of shredded sharp cheese

Snack:
1 hot chocolate (15g)
1.5tbsp of PB

I had 70g of protein ontop of my meal protein. We are supposed to get in 60-80g of protein ontop of our meal proteins. I've not been having any trouble getting that in, thus far. Although I will admit that I am having hungry days and don't wanna eat days. Some days it doesn't seem like enough food and then other days, it's too much.
I am chalking this up to being head hunger days. Yesterday I was not wanting anything to eat.
However, the weekend was a hungry weekend for me. I wanted everything in sight.
Of course, the period that I missed last month and the light one I had the month before, was made up for lost time this last week in a bloody, scary, halloweenie type period. It killed me, litterly, because I was bleeding so heavy I had to change my tampon every 30 minutes so that I wouldn't leak all over the place.
It kind of scared me at one point that I thought I would have to go see my GYN about it, but it was just a regular heavy period.

I am fine now, other than the poop stuff.

It's almost hard to believe that another year has passed by. I am in awe that it is, once again, the holiday seasons.
I'm doing rather well, with the few exceptions of a few days here and there where I suffer from fatigue. But, all is well and I would still rate myself as having more energy now, than I have had in a long time.

Things about the surgery that I would like to make a note of, for those of you who have found my profile interesting enough to carry on reading this far. I will post a journal entry I made to a blog of a few close friends of mine.

Today was an excellent day. The tempature was nice and the sun was doing it's best to break through the clouds. My dear hubby Mike had his pre-op appointment today and all is well.
Dr. Steiner is very confident that he will be able to do his surgery lap instead of open. I am most thrilled about this.

Mike is having his operation on Monday.

While at the surgery center, I met two-lovely ladies that were also doing their pre-op workup. Joann and Wendy were just wonderful to chat with and I'm hoping we will become "bari-buddies". I feel that we will have a lot in common and have ample support for one another in times of trial, as well as rejoice in the times of triumph. We exchanged phone numbers and I'm looking forward to talking with them both again.

Last week, Friday to be exact, I went to the support group meeting and when I weighed, the scale read that I hadn't lost any weight since my 2-week post op appointment.
I left the office very upset, )for alot of reasons, but mainly because I just knew the surgery failed me) only to spend the day at home crying and frustrated that I can't even handle the surgery correctly.

Yes, that was mostly my insecurities happening, because I am doing the surgery post-op correctly. What I failed to take into consideration is that I have recently started my solids and I'm at the stage where my incisions on the inside are finally healing. Basically it was a stall.

I went in today with Mike and weighed myself and I'm happy to report that I lost 6 more pounds since last Friday. (today is wednesday)

I am restored and even more determined to do right by this tool and make sure that I do lose the weight so that I may meet my goal weight. Dr. Steiner is the best, because he reassured me that I am doing a good job and I will do fine in losing my weight.
Thank you Dr. Steiner.

I am so happy for my hubby and nervous at the same time. I re-read my list of things we want to do together and I'm so looking forward to sharing those things/and time with him. It will be quality time that we've yet to experience together as a couple. (actively that is)

Well, I will post more thoughts as they come to me, thank you for reading thus far.

I promised my husband that I'd post the list I made of things I want to do once I was physically able. It's a rather long list, which I hope implicates a looooong life! I, of course, want to do all these things with my husband. I love you Mike!!


Things we discuss doing after we lose our weight and get into shape:

1)para-sail
2)hiking trip in the mountains (on a regular basis)
3)cruise
4) water skiing
5)try the kama sutra, each and every page
6)biking
7)fishing
8)take up tennis
9)golf
10)camping (on a regular basis)
11) snow skiing/snow mobiling
12)making me his biker bitch
13)sky diving (possibly--definitely still in debate)
14)clubbing
15)kariokiing
16)volunteering
17)school
18)kama sutra, each and every page
19)SCA-events
20)trip to Vegas
21)traveling
22)dancing

Hey folks, well it's been one week since my weigh in at the clinic. I am in good spirits, but will be honest enough to admit that I'm having some insecurities about my abilities to handle this tool and/or if it's even working for me.
I think I'm driving my hubby nuts, because I keep mentioning to him that this isn't working for me--I've not lost any weight--I'm not feeling any different--I'm eating too much---eccetera.

I am getting a good amount of protein in daily, (I'm averaging between 60-75g a day) but I can't help but feel I'm eating too much and stretching my pouch out. Sometimes I feel so bloated, as though I ate an entire feast by myself, that it hurts. I still sometimes keep eating or drinking, so that I can get my protein in. I am so afraid that I won't make my daily requirements.

I've been exercising everyday. I have started going back to the pool 3x's a week and I walk everyday. (even if it's just for 5 minutes)
I feel lighter, I even got a shirt buttoned that I've never been able to button before, but I just feel--fat. (ok, it doesn't take any real logic to see that I *am* fat)

I've become constipated. I'm lucky if I poop everyday and it's a hard core, hard time, poop. (I know, y'all wanted to read this)

I am just so afraid that I'm stretching my pouch out. I'll be so upset if I am. I talked to someone else who had the surgery too and they told me that they are barely able to get a "couple of spoonfuls in". I think I'm probably eating 3-4x's as much as that. I don't have any nausea and definitely haven't been vomiting. (yay for that one)
I just feel--full. (another yay!)

What the hell is wrong with me? I do measure out what I'm supposed to be eating, but why do I trip so much on whether I'm doing it right or wrong?
I chew my food till it's litterly liquidfied in my mouth. I time myself eating whenever I eat. I take no less than 20 mintues, unless I just can't eat that much. Soups sometimes don't last 20 minutes either, no matter how much I try and make them.

I wan't to weigh, but I'm afraid. What if I've not lost anymore weight?


Another milestone for me...I went to Saturdays aqua-robics class by myself at the YMCA. I drove myself, walked in without help from the hubby, took the class, soaked in the hot tub, got dressed and came home--ALL BY MYSELF!! yeah!!!

Little steps, I have to keep reminding myself of that. I'm going to be going to the YMCA for another aqua-robics class tomorrow by myself. I just keep praying that the weight will come off me and I can walk, upright, without a cane or pain someday. That would be nice.

What a fantastic day!! I feel as though I am walking on cloud nine! I had my 2-week post-op check up today and it was an eventful appointment.
First they weighed me and I have lost 18lbs since my operation! Talk about a pleasant surprised. I was certain that this whole process wasn't working for me, because I have had no nausea, vomiting or anything! I've been able to get my protein in and my fluids, it's just been, well, easy. (except for the head hunger, which is another thing alltogether.)

Lilly took out my staples, (she did it ever so gently for the coward that I am toward pain) and shes told me they looked great. I had to play a little joke on her, (sorry Lilly--I was just in one of those moods :-) when she was going down her list of questions. She asked me if I had any alcoholic drinks since my surgery and I told her, "What? I can't drink my beer anymore??!"
I think I got her a little bit, but it was all in good fun. (No folks, I don't really drink beer LoL)

Dr. Steiner came in and he was real pleased with the progress that I am making. He said that he wants to see me donate that cane to the needy someday. I am all for that; no complaints here. He really has a way of making you feel like you can do it. (well, all of St. Joes Bariatric Center team players do; really.)

After he finished with my check up, he turned to my hubby and told him that he had him scheduled for the 23rd of October for his surgery. We were thinking his surgery was the 6th of November. It was, but because it had not been set in the computer yet, Mike went ahead and kept the 23rd's date and basically, his surgery has been moved up. I am really happy for him. (at least now, until the date comes then I'll be a nervous wreck!) I have every ounce of confidence in Dr. Steiner; he truly knows his, umm, stuff. :-)

So, I started this journey weighing 410lbs. and now I'm down to an even 380lbs. Woooooohoooooo!

I hope that when I see the team next time, I will have an even greater loss. I am free and clear to go back to the pool and ironically, while getting lunch with the hubby, I ran into my aerobics instructor. I told her of my recent surgery and she was very happy for me and was looking forward to seeing me back in class. (Me too!)

I start my vitamins and suppliments tomorrow and I'm ready to lose more weight! Are ya ready for the new me?

I have made the decision that I will be going back to college in the summer of next year. I would start this spring, but I want to have a good weight loss and my muscles built way up before I attempt to go.

I think I want a bicycle for Christmas. It's time to do the things I enjoy!

Here we go...

September 29, 2006

Hey everyone! I thought I'd give you all an update on how I'm doing. I am doing so well, I don't even feel like I've had surgery.
I have little or no pain; the pain that I do have is from the stitches themselves, where the staples are irritating my skin. (I think it's time for them to come out!!)

I am currently in phase II and phase III of the diet plan, with more emphasis on the Phase II. I don't feel like I would have any problems eating pureed foods, it's just that I'm wanting to give my body plenty of time to adjust and heal to the changes. I have eaten some soft foods; e.g. egg salad, tuna salad, chili beans, refried beans, and such. I've not had ANY nausea (except the first time I ate and then only mild nausea) and no vomiting.

I finally broke down and got me a bottle of the Pro-Diet hot chocolate mix and daaa-uh-ummmm, it's the best hot chocolate I've ever drank. I've pretty much have made that a staple. I take a hot chocolate with a teaspoon of peanut butter, sipping and licking for about an hour. (I use 12oz of water instead of the asked 8oz)

The head hunger can be so bad sometimes! I don't think I had nicotine withdrawls as bad as head hunger. The pizza hut lasagne commercial and Wendy's Freshetta sandwich is driving me insane!

I'm doing good though. I'm having no depression, but am having some minor panic attacks that I'm screwing up my surgery by drinking so many fluids. My NUT assured me that I'm just being a ninny and keep drinking. (Thank you Amanda )

Yesterday I got in 87oz of fluid and 92oz of protein. WoooooHooooo!

Exercise is going well, I'm doing stretches everyday, walking, and still using my breathing toy to make sure my lungs expand out real nice.

I see my surgeon on Monday to get these dang stitches out of me and to weigh. I hope I've lost some weight. My ninny side is telling me I've not lost a pound.

I couldn't finish posting my experiences because of the storm that came in. It was quite a storm for a few days, killing around 6 people I believe.
Well during the course of it all, I wrote a little short story of the pre-op moments. I hope you enjoy and that it is infomative as much as it is silly.

By the way, I was ending the last post with wanting to thank Lilly, (a St. Joes East team manager) for coming by and visiting me in the hospital. It made me feel good and pleasantly surprised me.

Well, it was a sunny, muggy morning. The breeze was real light, but with the window of my car open, it was enough to give me a slight chill.
I kept telling Michael over and over in a high-pitched whiney voice that I was scared. It would come out like, "I'm sceeeeeeeeeeeered!" He would just laugh a small chuckle and tell me it would all work out alright.
His encouragement didn't keep me from going on and on about my fears and he eventually shut me up by putting on my favorite radio station. (This keeps me distracted with singing)

One of my favorite Chicago songs came on, 'I'm So Happy', and not enjoying it once, I put my CD in and just played it all the way to the hospital.
"Michael, what if they mess up my vocal chords more than the last place and I never get to sing again?"
"They're not going to mess your voice up Dee."
"But it's already raspy as though I smoke 20 cartons of cigarettes a day."
"Your voice is fine."
"What if Dr. Steiner perforates my intestine and I wake up in the middle of surgery with the taste of shit in my mouth?"
"Dr. Steiner is not going to perforate your intestine Dee."
"I'm sceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeereed!!"

We arrived at the very busy hospital and parked amazingly easy. He wheeled me in the building all the way back to the surgery waiting room. We checked in and because the room was so narrow, I decided from there I'd walk to wherever I needed to walk.
The 'Today' show was on with that Meredith chick, (how annoying) and she was trying to make blueberry blintzes with Martha Stewart. (Even more annoying) [/i]Mmmmmmm....blueberry blintzes.[/i]
Mike and I sat and watch these two bubble brains make these wonderful treats and suddenly I had a craving.
"I want a blwinzzte."
"Baby, you can't eat."
"But, I want one."
"Dee, you can't have one."
"They look really good."
"It's fake food."
"It's not fake."
"You don't really think they're making real food, do you?"
"Yes, see she took a bite."
"She's only going to spit the stuff out when they turn the camera off her."

The waiting room was unbearably crowded and it was my scanning the room that I noticed a young woman working on her computer. I watched her intently, contemplating whether she was waiting for someone in surgery or about to go into surgery herself. She was deeply involved in her work, typing away, when her cell phone rang. She answered it with a girly voice that I have to mimic when saying, "I'm sceeeeeeeered!" It was about this time that Mike too noticed her too and he pointed out to me that St. Joes East has wireless internet service for guests.
"I wonder if that includes the folks in ICU?"
"I'm sure it includes everyone."
"You think they provide the computers?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Well what if you don't have a computer?"
"Then you don't need this service."
"That hardly seems fair."
"What's not fair about it?"
"It's just not and quit challenging me!"
"I'm not challenging you."
"Yes you are."
"No, I'm not."
"You are too."
"No, I'm not."
"I want a blueberry blintz!!!"
"You can't have one."

I heard a door open and someone yell, "Deanne Dillllllard!!"
"I want a blueberry blintz."
"Come on Dee, she called your name."
We get up and walk over to the nurse who verifies that I'm DeAnne Dillard.
"Mr. Dillard, when we finish getting her prepped, we will call you back to come sit with her till it's time."

I follow the nurse a short distance down the hall to a narrow door that led to a room full of beds. It was a large room with curtains galore pulled this way and that.
"Do you have to use the bathroom?"
I did, but only replied, "No."

She led me to a vacant bed that had a gown, hat and booties laying on it.
"Would you please undress and put these on?"
"Ok."
I started to undress and as I was trying to tie the gown a nurse's assistant walked in and helped me get the gown tied all the way around. It covered me rather well.
The nurse came in and she started asking me the questions of what I had to eat and when is the last time I ate it. It was your basic what, when, why, how, where, kind of questions.
She took my vitals, which were showing excellent numbers and I asked her if the surgery would be cancelled because I was sick.
"No, you don't have a fever and your lungs sound clear."
"Oh, ok." [i]Damn, I was wanting a cheese blintze!![/i]

Once I was prepped, here came my mother and my hubby.
"Oh you came!" I said to my mother, because I was actually rather surprised to see her so early in the morning. After all, this is her middle of the night.
"Why would you think I wouldn't come?"
[i]Ummmm, because you said you couldn't be around me if I went through with this surgery??!![/i]
"Who knows, but I'm glad your here all the same."
"How are you doing?"
"I'm fine, just a little tired."
"Have they given you anything to relax you?"
"I don't think so, but they're going to or so I've been assured."
The curtain flew back and the nurse came through with a small vial in her hand.
"This is going to relax you."
"Ahh see," my mother said, "We were on the same wave length."

It was only a few minutes after she injected it into my IV that I started feeling the room become as clear as rabbit ears on a television in the middle of a desert with the nearest station hundred of miles away.
"I wonder what kind of music the doc listens to?"
Mike perked up and said, "He's a rock man."
"Oh yeah, I can see him air guitaring with a scalpel in one hand and half of my intestines in the other."
"Now that is something I'd like to see on film!" My mother laughed.
"They probably can film it, but then he'd be good and not show off, you know how these docs are." I said.
I told Mike that Dr. Steiner had said he did his residency in San Francisco and that I pictured him a blues man with a touch of jazz.
"No way!" Mike said.

We took a little bet, but Mike didn't like the wager.
"But I want a cheese blintz!!!"
"Honey, you can't have one."

About this time Dr. Steiner walked into the room and asked me how I was doing.
"I'm doing fine actually, feeling real good."
"Ahhh, I see they've already given you the sedative."
"Yeah, they did."
"Good-good." He turns to my mother and his eyes open wide and he says to her in a comical way, (at least to me) "Oh I see you made it, good-good."
"Yeah, I thought I'd show my support." My mother said.
"By the way DeAnne, I wanted you to know that I read your profile on Obesity Help and I really enjoyed getting to know you."
"Oh really, you read all that stuff?"
"Yeaup, every word."
"Well then tell me something doc, settle a bet between my hubby and me."
"Ok, shoot."
"Are you a blues man or a rock man?"
"What?"
"The music you play in the OR, will it be blues or rock?"
"I'm an 80's man."
"You mean as in Rick Springfield."
"Yeah, I like Rick Springfield actually."
"So you wished you had Jessie's girl?"
"No, that was my best friend."
My mother piped in, "Well I don't know who Jessie or this Rick person is, but it sounds as though that sedative is working very well."
The doc chuckled and said, "Yeah it is." He then excused himself by saying he'll see me shortly in the back.

"I really like him DeAnne." My mother said approvingly.
"Yeah, he's pretty cool."
Mike jumped in with his sentiments and again the curtain flew open with the nurse telling me that it was time.
"Mike, I'm sceeeeeeeeered!"
"You'll be ok."

The little nurse moved me and my huge bed in the back room where they do the cutting and it was crammed with a bunch of blue and green masked people, peering out of doorways from different operating rooms.
I was wheeled into one of them, which had a large table at the end of the bed with a box of metal instruments on it. [i]Oh God, I hope those are cleaned and not rusted.[/i][i]Wait, God I hope they're accounted for at the end of the surgery too.[/i]
"Ok Mrs. Dillard, I need you to slide from the gurney to the table."
I slid over with what I thought was relative ease when this man in green scrubs walks up to me and says, "I know you." "Where do I know you from?"
[i]Ummm, you probably saw me at the mashed tater wrestling at the titty bar last weekend.[/i]
"I don't know."
"What's your name dear?"
"DeAnne Dillard."
"Yes, your name sounds familiar too."
[i]Well what do you know, they assign distraction duty.[/i]
"What's your name?" He told me and it didn't sound familiar at all, but I wasn't about to let him know that.
"Oh wow, yes, it does sound familiar." It just so happened it turned out he was my anesthesiologist and his next move was to give me the next stage of sedative.
"This is going to relax you."
"Ok, they gave me something out there too."
"Yeah I know, but my stuff is stronger."
"Oh so you have the better mojo?"
"Yes, exactly."
I looked around the room at the dozen or so people in the room and thought to myself, [i]What will these people think of me if I shouted out that I...change....my.......miiiiiinnnnnnn...[/i]

The next thing:
"DeAnne, wake up hon, it's all done."
[i]What you mean it's done, it's actually done?[/i]

I was dumbfounded that I actually went through with it. [i]You idiot, you actually went through with it.[/i]
After being wheeled in my room I was bombarded by visitors that in essence, I didn't expect. However, I was glad to have the distractions and the laughter. My brother and Mitch made sure that I had plenty of laughs and I'm pretty grateful for that.

My parents were both there and they too were very surprisingly supportive. In fact, I'm real proud of them. My mom brought me a kittykat pillow with a balloon attached and the pillow is so soft and perfect (it has stitched on it purrrrrfect) for my coughing spells.

Mike has been an excellent nurse aid and makes sure that I do all the things I need to. I think that he is enjoying some of the power he has over me right now. [i]Control freak![/i] :lol:

The pain is not near as bad as I thought it was and the stitching is healing remarkably well. I really don't expect a lot of scarring. (not that it would matter if it did--full body tuck in a few years)

I'm having a difficult time gauging when I'm full and hungry. I think it's the mental with the hungry, because last night I broke down and started crying because I couldn't have a Freschetta from Wendys. I could actually feel the texture of that sandwich on my lips.
Mike right there, comforting me every step of the way.

And here I am now, thinking I'm hungry and I probably am, because I've yet to eat my breakfast and I've been taking my pills.

I think now I will close and get something to eat. Thank you for reading my story. I hope you all are having a nice Sunday morning.