Starting again

So couch to 5k was quite a bit easier for me than I imagined. Within a few days I was walking/joging/running more than the 5k. Then life threw another wrench in things as it often does. The kids got sick. One had a ear infection, then they both had horrible colds that wouldn't pass. Then it was my turn. I had a painful ovarian cyst, that just wouldn't quite and a few other issues that caused a lot of pain. We had a hurricane and a huge snow storm. Life, right? I have really been thinking about my lack of progress this last 9 months and I don't feel at all guilty. Really I dont.
I stopped breast feeding and I have gained about 20 lbs. Having 2 year old (or will be 12/8) doesn't make getting regular exercise easy. While chasing them around gives me some what of a work out it is nearly enough. Most gyms don't offer childcare and those that do, offer it sporadically and for a cost. It really ranges. The most affordable is the Y, but they are a bit of a drive away so I worry I won't have enough time between putting kiddo #1 on the bus and getting him off the bus at 11:30am (Thanks half day kinder). Another option is LA fitness. They have crazy weird pricing for adults but for kids (and they just offer child watch, nothing for the kids to do like at the Y) its an additional $10 per month per child (no sibling discount.)  The last place is even further away and charges $5 for the first child per visit and $4 for each sibling each visit! Who on earth can afford that! So I came to this conclusion; I am going to have to wake very early each morning, before hubby goes off to work, and jog. Once I get home I am going to have to try and find clever ways to tone. Maybe lifting milk jugs full of water?? Who knows.
Why don't I feel guilty? Well, it's not like I am in love with the extra 20lbs I packed on, but I have maintained since those came on. I gained those very shortly after the twins quit nursing. With as much as they nursed I am very lucky it wasn't more. Over the last few months I have been busy being a mom and wife. I can't feel guilty about 20lbs if I have done a great job taking care of my family. Now with the Holidays upon us, I want to make sure I keep working on living healthy. I do want to loose the 20lbs I gained. I was at my goal weight before, I'd like to be there again. I want to tone my body and be in shape. But I refuse to feel guilty about the days, weeks, and sometimes months that pass as I put things I value more first.

So here is my goal for now. Next week I want to run/jog/walk at least three mornings. Not a difficult task to some, but depending on how well the twins sleep it might be difficult for me! :-)
Until next time.
W

ZUMBA

Tonight was Zumba. I love it so much! At the moment I am signed up through my local parks and rec, but I think I may get a membership to a Zumba studio. I find myself smiling during the workout! Gotta love that!

Moving Forward

It's been almost 3 months since my surgery and life finally seems to be evening out. Healing from the abdominoplasty was far more challenging than I expected. My muscles are still sore and tight. I have started doing Zumba, but that just isn't enough. I have about 10-15lbs I want to drop, but the bigger picture is that I just want to be healthy. Granted I am far healthier than I was at 300 lbs, but like most it could be better.
So I am doing another challenge. This one is my 9 week fitness challenge. I am vowing to spend the next 9 weeks getting in the best shape I have ever been in. Thanks to friend on FB I found something I think will really work. It's called Couch to 5k. I had never heard but it looks great. Check out the schedule here. I realize this is just a start, but that's just it a start. I feel like that's the most challenging part. I'll be checking in periodically so check in, comment, follow, and join in! Let me know how you are doing!

The Big Nip and Tuck

NICK: Watching the surgeon mark Wendys midsection with his marker was a trip. He seemed to so casually mark her meanwhile he was precision accurate in his drawings.

I guess it was a good omen that the last thing I remember prior to dozing off into lala land was laughter. I had said something to the nurses they found amusing, then the drugs took effect.

Waking was a bit less amusing. Of course I woke confused, thirsty and just as I have with every other surgery since my knee surgery I was asking for Nick. Next time I woke Nick was there upon seeing him I "had a big relieved smile on (my) face" (said Nick) and I was being allowed some juice which I quickly turned away bc it made me feel sick. They encouraged me to nibble on some crackers as Nick rubbed my hand. I don't remember much but I do remember his hand on mine and thinking, thank god he is here.

When it was time to move me from the surgical center to the Yale Health Infirmary, they moved me in a chair ambulance. Meaning I rode sitting in a wheel chair that I was strapped into, that was then strapped into the ambulance. The ride was a bit fuzzy. I do remember thinking slow down and feeling nervous that Nick wasn't with me.

NICK: Wendys surgery was ~30 minutes late getting started. They have a big LCD television outside in the waiting room with sliding rows showing off who was in what state. A nurse came out around mid-day asking for me to come back to recovery and that my wife woke and immediately asked for me. The nurses in recovery were wonderful. Very attentive and accommodating. They let me hang out in the recovery area during her stay. It was very boring and chill until we had to road trip to the Yale Health Center infirmary for recovery. The old man driving the stand up ambulance was a goofball always with something to say.

Once we got to the infirmary I slept a lot! We tried watching some tv but couldn't control the volume which for some reason really bothered me. :) The first night was all about sleep. Nick wasn't allowed to stay the night so he went home around 8 or 9 for bed time.

NICK: Yale Health Center infirmary was slick. Empty, clean, quite accommodating. Its unfortunate I couldnt stay the night, but it was good to stay around with Wendy during the day and help hold down the kid fort with Mimi during the night.

Nick got home to sleeping babes, a clean house and Mimi waiting to give him a report of a rather boring (no drama) day. YAY

NICK: Mimi blew my mind telling me the babes did just fine. No tears, two naps, amazing.

The next day Nick arrived in the morning and we hung out. Around noonish he left to check on the kids and much to my angst and sadness he left me there until around 5 in the evening. He came after I called crying. Poor guy felt torn, I know this. He wanted to help with the kids, but as I tearfully pointed out my mom was there to take care of the kids and his job was to care for me. Just having him around made me feel stronger, I'm not sure he understands. We are each others rocks.

That night of sleep was horrible! The Yale infirmary isn't like the hospital, they let you sleep. no one is coming in checking your vitals constantly waking you. But I was in SO much pain all night. The Percocet and Demerol weren't working. I woke every hour. Finally around 6am when the nurses changed the new nurse realized the night nurse had not been giving me my valium (muscle relaxers). The pain killers were on an as needed basis the Valium however was supposed to be given to me ever 6 hours on the clock. Once I was given my dose along with my pain killer I passed out and finally slept! I woke around noon, my lunch tray sitting in wait along with Nick. Later in the day I had an appointment with the surgeon, but hadn't been cleared to check out yet. Around 1:45 Nick helped me put on some clothes for my appointment (which I don't remember, i thought I went to the appt in my hospital gown!) I can honestly say I have no memory of walking to the office. I remember falling asleep on Nick's shoulder and then going back.

NICK: Our road trip to the surgeons office was a trip. Poor Wendy was pretty medicated for pain so it was an event getting out of the infirmary, downtown, parked, and into the doctors office. We were so fortunate to score a metered spot right outside the front door. Good thing too as it took several minutes to slowly walk to our destination. Once we were checked in, we had a bit of a wait. Wendy took advantage and passed out on my shoulder as Im sure she was exhausted. Once called back, the doctor was amazing in helping look Wendy over and taking action where needed, all the while discussing things with Wendy and I.

When we got back I was getting a roommate but the Doctor was supposed to be coming in soon to discharge me. I dozed while we waited.

NICK: And we waited. Damn Doctor rounds. Apparently he came by while we jaunted over to the Surgeons downtown office ... which apparently moves our name down to the bottom of the list? ;) This was probably the worst part of the trip for me (since I didnt have to wake at o'dark thirty in pain like Wendy did) as I just wanted to get Wendy home and have everyone together again.

FINALLY I was going home. I arrived later in the evening close to bedtime. When I walked in the twins lost their minds and cried. Breaking my heart. I sat and tried to love on everyone the best I could.

The next couple of days I did more than I should, I picked the kids up every now and again (even as my mom yelled at me). One night I slept on the floor between the twins beds hoping they would sleep. But then I had to do see my Doctor. Without even confessing the doctor could tell because of the swelling. So now I am actually trying to take it easy.

My Mom and Alyssa are angels! They kept up with the kids, the house, the laundry! We would have been lost with out them!
My lovely friends MaryAnn and Chris brought us dinner! and Rachel came by to give my mom a break (she got to take a much needed nap)! Naomi and my fellow Perkadots gave me flowers and a gift card for groceries! I am in love with pea pod delivery!

NICK: Yes, all the help was a godsend. Mimi and Alyssa were amazing house guests who helped make our family being down 'one Wendy' much more manageable. I couldn't imagine their not being here. Well, I can now that our last houseguest is gone. The next few days is going to be fun! ;)

Well I decided to be brave... Below are the pictures!

Ok, These are pre-op. Excess skin and all. These are hard for me to show, but well I have always been open, so here were go...

It hangs lower but well I didn't feel like showing "that" part of my body. :)

Day of Surgery at the Yale Infirmary. Great fourth floor view of Yale's Grove St Cemetary!

1st Day home. I hate drains! yuck.

Below is a few days post op, tons of swelling from fluid (I was up 10lbs pre surgery weight and they removed a few pounds, if that gives you any idea how swollen I was)

Pictures from 2/27/12, I am still swollen. Not as bad though.

The scar goes from hip to hip.

Just a nip and a tuck...

As you all know I had Gastric Bypass surgery a little more than two years ago. I am currently down by about 135 lbs (on a good weigh in morning). The bad does come with the good though. With all that rapid weight loss (not to mention twins) excess skin is the downside. Yale has AMAZING health coverage, not only was the bypass covered but my abdoninoplasty is as well. So in a few short weeks I go under the knife to have my tummy tucked. I am excited but more than anything I am nervous. It's going to be a lot of pain and I have three kids to care for. My mom, sister in law and hubby will be around to help take care of everything so that take a little pressure off, but I worry about what state I will be in. I hope to eventually get a few other body parts covered but those will have to wait until I am no longer nursing.

Fingers crossed everything goes well.

Snip Snip here and a Snip Snip there!

And I am not talking hair, although that reminds me I want to get my hair done!

Everyone who reads this and most ppl who know me, know I had Gastric Bypass surgery. One of THE best decisions I have ever made for myself. Well one of the downsides of the rapid weight loss is sagging skin. Anyone who has lost 130lbs will tell you their skin never really went back to normal. I have inches of skin that hang on my arms, legs, rear, and stomach. Nothing can be done about skin, except to remove it; hence the snip snip in the title. Well Yale Health plan wins again! They are going to cover a tummy tuck and possibly a breast reduction/lift! If I can prove it medically necessary they will approve my arms and legs. I just have to talk with my Doctor. I am excited, scared, anxious... lots of feelings about the surgery. The tummy tuck will take about two hours to perform and I will go home with several drains. I would be on restricted movement for two weeks (super easy to do with twins!) and I could start working out again after 6 weeks. The Doctor was suggesting November! But I am thinking February. We will be stuck indoors anyway and it's far enough after the holidays that family might be able to come out to help. Also Nick will have to take time off for the holidays and the surgery, so I don't want to much time back to back. My hope is that I can get my arms covered and do both at the same time. I asked what it would cost out of pocket; for the low low price of 6,800 I can have the skin on my arms removed! So that was my experience with the Plastic Surgeon. When I know more or a date is set I will update!

In other news my sister comes to visit in a few days! Yay!