28 Weeks Post Op

Time seems to be just speeding by. I'm trying to slow down a little and just relax and read a book. But so hard to do when I feel like I have so much of life to catch up on. Having this surgery later in life makes me anxious as I have missed being able to do so much all these years because of being morbidly obese and feel like I need to catch up. Six months prior to surgery and until now I have been running around getting ready to move and now trying to settle in and have not really rested after WLS. Sometimes I feel like I will just collapse from exhaustion but every morning I get up with so much energy that I can not slow down. That's why I know I have to take my vitamins, get the protein in and drink lots of liquids.

I miss weighing in at the airport cause I know the scale is checked regularly for accuracy. But purchased one as believe it or not I am afraid of losing too much weight too fast. Never had that worry before. But want to lose at a even steady pace so as not to get sick.

Date of Surgery 12/02/05 : 349.7 pounds

Today 06/25/06 : 250 pounds

Goodbye Forever: 99.7 pounds

I can not believe that I have lost all this weight plus more as I had to lose weight prior to surgery in order to have the surgery. I was once over 400 pounds, then I know I was about 382-386 in December of 2004 when I put my name on the waiting list for surgery and was told I needed to drop some weight and get better control of my health in order to have surgery. I am now doubting the scale I bought and wish I could drive down to cargo to weigh myself. But I must have lost something cause my clothes I bought a few weeks ago are all baggy.

Signed up with a Health Fitness Club, 5 minutes from my house, called Spectrum. Costly but told myself, my hubby and I was worth every penny. Even more than my hooking up to the internet. Tried walking in the Mall but I end up spending too much money there and browsing instead of exercising. I need to tone up and get into a regular routine. I want to prepare myself for those tummy tuck, and here and there fix 'em surgeries, got a year now to do what I got ton do. Spectrum has a lap pool and tons of equipment. Will walk in that pool and go on the treadmill, sometime next month I'll then sign up for the personal trainer and have an exercise program set up, want to get myself in the routine of going first. I am all excited about it. They have a room set aside for women only and I peeked in and watched the big girls, I'm going in with them, I'm still self concious about exercising in public and well I mentally feel I'm still a big girl. Well 250 pounds ain't exactly Twiggy. What I like the most is that they have this computer set up, where it takes your weight, BMI, heart rate, etc. and keeps your info so you can record your progress. I'll be able to tell if this scale of mine is worth keeping or tossing out the window.

I miss posting on LAWLS surgery. I read the posts till I get cutoff. I know I am being cheap by not connecting to the Internet. But when I no longer can stand being cut off, I will hook up. Writing this Blog is a challenge cause I have to keep saving it as a draft so when I get cut off I don't have to start from scratch. The Neighborhood means a lot to me, I am having posting withdrawals and supppaah dupppah hugs withdrawals.

I am trying to introduce new things in to my diet, cause I eat the same things every day. I don't know why I doing this cause apparently what I am doing now is working for me. I am not bored with my meals. I just feel like I missing something or something wrong with me cause I eat the same thing every day. I have no cravings for anything. I eat cause I got to eat, not because I want to. Wonder if this is okay. Next week Friday I'll be 7 months post op, wonder if this behavior of mine is normal.

Gee I best get back to the Neighborhood, talking to myself here.

Posting Problems

Because I am on a wireless connection it has been difficult to post as the connection is poor. Very frustrating. I miss posting and reading blogs and checking out LAWLS. But I got to make do until we figure out our finances in a month or two after this move to San Antonio. So far I love the gas prices and food prices, they are definitely lower than Hawaii's. I miss Hawaii alot but I am enjoying the daily adventures as I drive out and around. Life is so exciting as I explore.

I am doing okay WLS wise. Doing my best getting in the protein and water. Being able to get fresh fruits is also a plus. No more frozen blueberries for me. I just stand in the vegie/fruit section of the supermarket like a kid in a candy store. I love it. I have been cooking great meals for my hubby and daughter and can just watch them eat and not want a bite of something that is a no no. I just don't want to jeopardize my health.

We got a new primary doctor. I chose her as she is holisic and prescribes meds as the last resort. My last doctor gave me meds for my meds, and I am not going there again. I haven't met her yet, but I am hoping that things work out. I didn't want the military to chose my doc, but if she doesn't work out I can try another one. She so close to the house, I hope it works.

I found some plants to remind me of Hawaii. Gardenias and hibiscus. I will baby them and gradually move them into bigger pots then in the ground. I saw some avacado, guava, and orange trees that I may try to plant later. Also some plumeria, which I just have to have in my yard. Slowly I'll have my tropical garden. I need some color in my yard.

That's what I miss is color. In Hawaii you walk in the store and there's bright colors everywhere. Here not the same, even the pinata's not as colorful. People don't wear bright colors. I got tired of being spoken to in spanish so yesterday, out came one of my bright pareau's, wrap arounds and that's how I went to the supermarket. Not one person spoke to me in spanish, it was nice to be just me. Nothing wrong with being Hispanic, but I felt like I was losing my identity, and some people even if I tell them I don't understand them, they still insist in speaking to me in spanish. I understand that I can be mistaken for Hispanic and I don't have a problem with that, it was just that I wanted to be me Hawaiian. I guess every once in awhile out will come my pareau so I won't lose myself in the world outside the house.

I got a real kick at the International Market where the Korean clerk could speak fluent Korean and Spanish but could barely understand me speaking English. Anyways some people who I explained that I was not Hispanic and was Hawaiian, got excited that I was from Hawaii and asks me all about Hawaii and then the question "Why did you leave Hawaii, to come to Texas?'
Anway all in all I have been meeting very nice and friendly people and each day I am feeling more and more comfortable. But once in awhile the pareau have to come out so I can be who I am for a day.

Drove my daughter to the airport last night, I will miss her. My oldest son and his wife were to join us soon but talking ahout December. So hubby and I are alone in San Antonio, which kind of a plus cause we get to be adventurous alone. I get to set things up in the house the way I want before all the friendly advice arrives. New house, new life. I can handle this.

Hugs to anyone reading this.

26 Weeks PostOp

Got up early this morning and went to Walmart to buy me a scale. I need to badly weigh myself cause I been in major trouble, nibbling here and nibbling there and telling myself with all this walking I should be fine. Ultimate taste testing this and that, just a little nibble, won't hurt.

Well I didn't gain. Thank goodness. And I know inch wise I went down cause my clothes are so loose. Las Vegas and it's buffets is a bad place to be. Tasting things on my hubby's plate is bad.
I know better, and for the next 3 days I am here I will discipline myself, no tasting nothing.

Date of surgery 12/02/05 : 349.7 pounds
Today's date 06/10/06 : 260 pounds
Goodbye Forever : 89.7 pounds

My daughter inlaw, Tonia, took me for a pedi/manicure this morning. Talk about feeling like a Queen this morning. I can definitely get used to all this. I like being pampered. Now I have an excuse for grandma not to do the dishes. Smile. With so many in the house we have resorted to paper plates and plastic utensils, but there is always the pots and pans!

I am anxious to get to San Antonio, just want to settle in and put my stuff around and make things homey. I want to plant some flowers. My oldest son ordered a cal/king temperpedic (spelling?) bed to be delivered next week as a present to my husband and I. I won't know how to act on such a bed, I'll feel truly like a queen. I checked them out at a furniture store and could not believe how it feels, I have a pillow of it, and accepted that was as great as it would get. So my son getting it for us is overwhelming. I'm just used to making do, I would have been okay sleeping in sleeping bags until we can afford a new bed.

I am truly happy, life is really different since WLS. I am able to do so much more than I could do before. I am feeling more confident in myself and just so happy to be breathing and alive.
I been smiling and greeting everyone that crosses my path, I can't help myself. They just don't know how grateful I am that I have this second chance at life. People take life so granted. Not me. I'm like the cat with nine lives, keep getting more chances to live, somehow I know that this time, is my last chance.

Still Living Out Of My Suitcase

There's 7 adults and 7 grandkids in my son Lani's house right now. My son Kamuela arrived a few days ago with his wife and 2 daughters from Illinois. They are on their way to San Francisco as my daughter in law who is in the Air Force was transferred to Travis AFB. Then my youngest son, arrived two days ago from Virginia, to surprise my hubby and I. My daughter who lives in Vegas has been dropping in when not working.

It is so nice to have my kids together, Lani 32, Kamaile 30, Kamuela 29 and Kapua 23 and my two daughter inlaws. My grandkids are 12,9,8,5,2,1 and 2 months old. The house is full, we sort of running into each other but it's just wonderful having them all together. Matresses on the floor, suitcases all over, toys tossed her and there, like one big sleepover.

Amazingly I have been able to cook for them and still prepare stuff for myself. I just so happy that I have the energy to run around and do things. I miss my children so much and having the grandkids together is a bonus, though the noise can be deafening at times. But I enjoying it while I can.

I have munched on some chips then quickly walked away from it. Scary that nothing happened to me. Things would be easier if I was socked across the head each time the chips passed my lips. Bad bad bad. Made myself some fruit and cottage cheese quickly. So much snacks and stuff all over the kitchen. But I am determined to keep on track so I gladly watched the grandkids eating chips and thought of what fun I have clothes shopping.

I went to Las Vegas Outlet Mall today and bought myself a pair of slip on shoes with heels. I have been wearing slippers or slip on clogs. Haven't worn any kind of heels for years, as my ankle and knees could not handle it. Well, I tried on the shoes, walked around the store in them and they felt so good and I felt so feminine and pretty. I couldn't help smiling. I was beside myself, wanted to shout "hey look at me!" Also bought two more jeans capris, size 24 (last week bought one in size 28) and two more blouses. Told myself that I best not buy any more clothes cause these be too big for me in a few weeks.

I'll be leaving for San Antonio next week Monday. I am so anxious to get to my new home and get settled in. Have to setup the doctors for my husband and myself. My daugher driving with us. We planning to make stops along Highway 10. I am so excited even if most of the ride is desert and cactus. Drove to Long Beach yesterday to pick up our van at the pier and the drive was just beautiful, though I was quite unhappy and surprised that I could not see the skys through the air pollution in California. It reminds me of the science fiction movie scenes of the end of the world. I would not want to live where you can not see the blue sky or even clean puffy white clouds.

I'm missing the blue skies of Hawaii and the feeling of a cool breeze on my face. I hope I can take a deep breath outside of my house in San Antonio without choking. This air conditioned air in Vegas, got to go. Can't fling the windows open and let breezes in. I'm starting to miss the smell of my trees and flowers. I haven't been to Vegas during the summer always came in the winter.
Got to get a grip here. I'm going to find a way to plant my piece of paradise in San Antonio. I saw some croutons and t-leaf plants at Walmart, buying them and taking them with me just in case I can't find them there.

I'm not heading back to Hawaii, okay, maybe I'm nuts for leaving in the first place but I needed a change in my life so I'm making it. I can handle this and I will. Home is wherever I can be with my hubby, and my kids don't have to swim miles to get to me. I think I'll feel better about all this once I get to my new home. It will be exciting furnishing it and cruising around the area. My hubby and I be alone till August, then end of August, my son Lani, his wife and 5 kids be staying with us, while their house is being built. So I will be busy and the house be full as I got a 3 bedroom just for me and hubby, I didn't want anything big that I would have to spend hours to clean. Just wanted somewhere to put my stuff and then travel around. Want to visit every state and Canada. Do some cruises and travel to Europe. I want to ride the Amtrack, a trolley car and a ferry and maybe a cab in New York.

No scale anywhere. Miss going to Hawaiian Airlines Cargo. Maybe I'll pick one up at Walmart tomorrow. Afraid of losing too much weight too fast. Sounds weird hah, but I don't want to get sick from not eating enough. Getting in the protein, and sipping lots of water. Checking into the Neighborhood to get my WLS fix. Lots to smile about.

Just enjoying each day of my life.