Haven't been around for awhile.

I know that I haven't posted for awhile, but May always seems to be so busy. The students are leaving the houses, the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors and also the end of Neal's school year.

I am still figuring out this wonderful tool that I was gifted. Sometimes it seems to work smoothly, but other times not so good.

I have felt like someone has been stabbing me in the belly button since last Monday. I figured that it had to do with me not being able to go to the bathroom (if you know what I mean).

Well, I saw the Nurse Practitioner today for my first fill (yeah!!!) and she recommended a laxative. Well, I took it and now things are clean as a whistle, but my stomach is still hurting. Hopefully, it will work its self out, otherwise I will be visiting the doctor next week.

As I said before, I got my first fill today, very happy about that. I had been getting hungry and doing the kitchen crawl. I am sure that I have been eating more than I did right after surgery, but way less than I did before the Lap Band.

I have had two Atkins shakes since I had my fill, I can't say that I am hungry, which is a good thing.

The fill itself was simple and painless. A little stick and then it is over. I now have 4cc's in my band and go back in 3 weeks for another fill. It could have been two weeks but I am taking Neal to Chicago for his 8th grade graduation gift.

I also exercised here at home tonight. I did one of the Biggest Loser DVDs. I really like the video. I work up a sweat but don't feel like I am killing myself. I really need to step up the exercising to really make sure I am doing all I can on this journey.

So, I am on liquids for the next two days and then onto mushies. I may stay on liquids a little longer if my stomach pain doesn't go away. Hopefully, it is nothing but my body getting used to the band.

The dryer just went off, so I need to go fold clothes. I will check back in a little later this week and update you on my stomach. Prayers for the pain to go away.

Had my pre-op appointment!!!!!

My pre-op appointment was on March 16th.

I went in and met with Karen, Dr. R's nurse - she is so nice and positive it is always nice to see her. I told her that I thought my blood pressure might be a little high since we were packing and getting everything ready for vacation (leaving right after my appt.); but to my surprise it was normal and so was my pulse. Thank you father for your genes in all that.

I then met with the nurse practitioner, Jeanine. She was so helpful in explaining the order in which everything will happen. We talked about food before and after and talked about success. That is what I am looking forward to. Being successful all the way to goal. Not being close, but slow and steady and winning this battle that I can't seem to win. She explained the actual procedure and where I would have cuts in my stomach. Also, told me my port site might hurt longer than the other incisions.

Sometimes, I feel that I need to be pinched. I can't believe that I won. What a chance for a new life for me - not that my life now is anything but wonderful, but free from the fat that has held me back for a long, long time.

I sometimes sit and think about all this and feel so blessed and then I think wow, do I have alot of accountability built into winning this. People will be watching and I don't want to waste this chance.

Food and me will have a totally different relationship when this is all done. I will be full on a little food and won't have to think about it nearly as much. I am sure that there will be head hunger, but I will get past that and work my way to a healthy relationship with food.

I also got my surgery time. I need to be there at 7:15 and my surgery is 8:00; the first surgery of the day. I should be home by afternoon and out walking a little by evening. I need to keep moving to help move the gas from the laparoscopic surgery out of my body and also to avoid blood clots. The more you move the better off you are.

Time to go out and enjoy this cold, windy Florida weather - who would think that it is warmer in Illinois than it is here. It is supposed to be much warmer the next few days, so here to warmer weather and sunshine.

Talk to you soon.