Jamie Shrepee

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Life really is a beach....I've been to the beach more this summer then in the last ten years all together.  #1 reason...I found a cute swimsuit that actually fit and I felt good in.  #2 reason...I had all the extra energy to spend the day in the sun running, and playing with the family.  I'm finally able to go to the beach and enjoy myself, my family and just love life.  Before surgery I hated the beach, I told myself it was the sun and the sand.  Now I know for sure it was all in my head.  It's not only the beach that has changed for me either, it's so much more.   Shopping, Bowling, and Tennis are now fun, I'm able to relax and enjoy what I'm doing without feeling or being worried about people watching me.  To date I'm down 70+ lbs, 4 dress sizes, feeling great and on my way to looking great too.  I could not have imagined that when I started this journey nearly a year ago so much would have changed already.  I'm so glad I waited to have surgery with Dr. McDevitt and his support group.  Doing this alone would have drove me crazy, but thanks to my Doctor and WLS buddies I've kept my sanity.  You know what was left of it. lol   

So far it's been one heck of a journey.  I had my down moments when I thought for sure I had made the biggest mistake of my life.  One of my bigger stressors was not getting enough protein.  Next was not getting enough exercise.  Things have now made a turn for the better.  I've made my own protein breakfast mix that works great for me. We've brought a treadmill so exercise is back on schedule.  My doctor seems to be happy with the weight lose so far so I can't complain.  I can't believe I ever doubted my decision, this surgery was the best thing to ever happen to me.  My energy is back I can play all day with my daughter and still have to energy for my hubby and house cleaning.  Plus I don't have pains at the end of the day.  What I'm trying to say is LIFE IS GOOD!! Thanks to Dr. Mc Devitt

So Far So Good...
Today was my one week post-op and I could not feel better. Well I could but I think for one week out I'm doing good.  McDevitt also thinks I'm doing wonderful, he mentioned this is the most he has seen me smile in the last 7 months.  I had every reason to smile once I stepped off that scale.  Down 12 pounds is one week and down a total of 23 since my pre-op appointment.  For the first time in a while the scale didn't move much pass the 300 mark.  Now I am determined to beat that 300 mark by the next week appointment.  With all that good news I'm still having a battle with food.  I knew it would not go away but after eating the liquid diet for about a month now I'm ready to bite into some "real" food.  Watching my family eat I hear myself screaming "I want a bite" "Just one small bite".  In the end I know it's not worth it and I'll eventually get to eat along with my family.  Till then I'm following the doctors orders to the best of my abilities and looking forward to the future. 

"Sleep Study" I use that term loosely.  If I did not have problems sleeping before I sure did that night.  Between the 20 wires attached me, and the 3-4 times the tech came in to "check" on me I was lucky if I had 4 hours of sleep.  I sure hope the results give us some helpful infor so that I would not have gone through this for nothing.  As much as I complained about it I suppose it was worth it. Hopefully this was my last hurtle before getting my surgery date.  But I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.  lol

For the most part February has been wasted time.  I had my first appointment with Dr. McDevitt a month ago. According to their records I have actually gained weight.  Big shocker there after spending the holidays back home in Texas and surrounded by all that great food.  I tried to be good... really I did.  lol Sure hope this doesn't stop my plans for surgery.  I know I can do this and succeed.  Since my appointment with Mc Devitt if been working on my preop testing.  Boy was there a lot of it.  It took sometime, and a few "talks" with Tricare but I'm finally getting the last of the tests (a sleep study) completed on the 28th.  Myself along with Joyce had hoped to have my surgery completed my the end of February now I'm just hoping for the end of March. lol I don't know how well they expect me to sleep.  It will be my first night spent away from my baby girl.  Doubt she'll have a problem with it, doubt she'll notice I'm gone.  As for Mommy I can't imagine not knowing how she's doing, not giving her a kiss goodnight.  Hope they give me something to help me sleep, if not good luck. lol  That should be it for now, I'll update with sleep study results.   

Though the drive to Texas was a long sixteen hours it was more then worth it.  For our daughter it was her first Christmas and first chance to meet the rest of the family.  For my husband it was his first visit home in over two years.  Which made it best Christmas we've had in a long time.  My daughter may not be old enough to enjoy the actives of the day, but mommy and daddy sure enjoyed their selves.  With her being the only grandchild and great grandchild on my side of the family she was spoiled and treated like a princess the whole time.  Which has made it a big pain for us to get back into our daily grind.  As much as I enjoyed spending the holidays with my family and friends, I still had to break the news of my WLS.  For the most part my family took the news fairly well.  In the words of my father..."I don't 100% agree with your decision but your 28 and are not going to listen to me either way". "So I'll just say I love you and I'm here for you".  But after talking with them and answering ALL their questions I believe I had won them over.  As for the in-laws, I stuch to my guns as hard as it was and kept my secret.  There were many times when I wanted to scream it from the roof tops just to shut them up.  My mother-in-law took every possible opportunity to inform me about the newest diet she was "trying".  I say trying cause out of the three meals she cooked for us two were fried and the other was pizza.  Thankfully we still have some leftovers from food I prepared for the trip.  During one of our talks I mentioned that we did not eat fried chicken anymore, we bake most our food now.  Her eyes got as big as golf balls.  Though hard as she tried to rain on my parade, I was floating on cloud nine and could not be touched.  I just kept repeating to myself wait till you see me next time woman.  Other then that this was an awesome trip home.  Everyone fell head over heels for Jalynn and who could blame them she is such a cute.  Now I'm really looking forward to the next trip, with the new healthier me.