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June 7, 2003
Where do I even begin?? It is a beautiful Saturday
morning here in Florida and I am stuck inside. Why you ask? Well, I'll tell you why...I am a week and a half post
op from my plastic surgery!! YIPPEE! It actually happened! I think I am still in shock that it is actually
over with. So, let me tell you about that day...I woke up cool, calm and collected (probably from the sleeping pill
I took before I went to bed!!) and I showered and packed a bag and I had to be at the surgery center at 7am. As we drove
to the surgery center I remember thinking that the feeling I have with this surgery is so different than the feelings I had
when I had the bypass surgery. The bypass surgery brought up feelings of failure and embarrassment. I felt like
I had such a long journey ahead of me. Don't get me wrong, I was excited, but very VERY scared. On the 5 minute
drive I felt like my life had come full circle. Here I was literally half the person I was just a year and a half ago
and now I have the priveledge to have a tummy tuck and a breat lift with augmentation. I felt like my journey was almost
complete. That my transformation into a beautiful butterfly was actually going to happen. As we walked into the
surgery center I felt a rush of excitement, nervousness, but overall joy at the prospect of what was going to take place there
that day. I had to fill out a bunch of paperwork, pee in cup, put on a hospital gown and get my IV started. To
my shock and amazement it only took one try for the nurse to start my IV! This day couldn't get any better!! After
I was settled, all of my family came in one at a time to talk and pray with me. I know I scared Dave half to death just
by the look on his face, poor guy. He has only ever seen one other person with an IV in and it freaked him out a little.
Then Dr. Royce came in...my super hero...she marked me all up and kept commenting on how beautiful I am and how much happier
I'll be after surgery and she kept congratulating me on my success at weight loss. Then comes my all time favorite part
of having surgery...the happy shot!! After the happy shot I don't remember much until I woke up in the Recovery Room.
The surgery took a total of 10 hours, 4 hours longer than anticpated. Dr. Royce did some extra work on me to make sure
she and I both were happy with the results. She took 7 pounds of skin off my abdomen, lifted my breasts and gave me
large C-cup implants (I am not used to them just yet) and she also removed all the excess skin from under my arm pits.
She wasn't supposed to do that last thing, but she wasn't happy with the augmentation until that was done. I thought
that was so sweet of her. How many other doctors would do an additional proceedure that they hadn't included in the
cost of the surgery. I am so thankful that she is such a perfectionist. After the surgery I rode in a limo
to a rehabilitation hopital to spend the night and recover. Thankfully my mom stayed with me, otherwise who knows what
would have happened to me. They were nice and all, but they were so understaffed it was pathetic. The next
day the limo picked me back up and took me to Dr. Royce's office for a check up and then I got to go home. I am seriously
surprised at how little pain I have had with this proceedure. I mean I have been sore and all, but as far as the pain
goes there were only a couple of times when the drains pulled that really hurt. So my adivce to anyone thinking about
having this type of surgery...GO FOR IT!! I can't wait until all of the swelling goes down and I get to see the final
results. I am still wearing a stomach binder, it's like a big industrial sized girdle and I am also wearing a very "lovely"
bra with a bunch of padding in it. I went to the doctor on Thursday and I got one drain and all of my stitches removed.
I have to go back on Monday to have the other drain taken out and then I get to take a shower!! WOO-HOO!! No more
sponge baths for me!!
On to my other good news!! I am getting married!!
I am so excited you guys have no idea. I am getting married on January 17, 2004!! I'll put a picture in with
this entry so you can see my fiance'. I am beyond excited for the wedding to get here. Let me tell you that I
am shocked and amazed that I actually found the guy that I am supposed to be with forever. It's so funny how quick it
happened and how fast I knew that this guy was Mr. Right. I know this might sound cliche', but he completes me.
He has qualities that I lack, he brings out the best in me and he knows all about me and he still loves me. He doesn't
try to stiffle who I am and make me into someone that I am not. He is everything that I never knew I always wanted.
I know that with him taking care of me that I will be safe, secure and most importanly loved. I know that he charishes me
and wants me to be happy. He puts my needs before his and I do the same for him. I just can't wait to be his wife!!
Ok, ok enough mushy stuff!! My family is super excited and can't wait. I think what my mom is most excited about
is now there is a possibility for grandkids!! She has only bugged me for forever about getting married so she can have
grandkids. Well now she has her chance!! Wedding planning is something that is definitely a pain. My mom
and I can't agree on a reception location and I am itching to try on dresses. The dress part has to wait for a little
while anyway until some of the swelling goes down. So far the only things that have been settled on are the location
of the ceremony and the date. Everything else is still up in the air. I know it will all come together, but there
is so much to do. Everyone please say a prayer for my sanity and for Dave having to deal with me during this time!!
I'll keep you posted on the progress!
Maybe we'll just go to Vegas!!! Yeah, right...I would
be shot!!! :o)
| Me and Dave in the Keys |
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| Click on the picture to go to our wedding website |
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