Update

Weighed in yesterday, I finally lost 4 more pounds. I am about one-third of the way to the goal of 150 lost! I feel good, but still get tired easily. I have begun to try more foods, and have been lucky that nothing has bothered me so far. I am hoping once school is out to make meals for the week that are well balanced and definitely healthier than before. I think we may buy a Wii and get the new Wii Fit so we can exercise together. Jarad has lost about 15 pounds. Oh, and I have officially made the one month mark as of today!!!

Getting back into the groove

Sorry I haven't written in awhile, but things have just been crazy!! We went to a horse show over the holiday weekend, I didn't ride in any classes but did manage to ride around. Then with all the holiday socializing with Chantelle and family...I am still stuck at 40 pounds, but everyone says that happens and that I will start to lose more soon. I drank lots over the weekend and have been drinking more now that I am back to work. I can't wait for school to be over! I am ready for the summer. I am so tired when I come home that all I want to do is sleep. I need to find some energy to get some things done around the house.

Riding

Well, I finally got Jarad and Mom to agree to let me try to ride. I was able to ride both Presley and Peaches. I even managed to saddle them myself. It felt good to get back in the saddle, but I was really tired afterwards. I may ride Peaches at the show this weekend as she's a little smoother than Presley. All my show clothes are looking good on me, Mom has to work on taking in my Showmanship outfit and my chaps for me to use them this weekend. I'm kinda sad about the showmanship outfit as this will be the last time I probably can wear it. Oh, well, guess I get a new one then! I managed to fit into a pair of pants 2 sizes smaller than I would normally wear! They are snug around the waist still, but not uncomfortable, and look really good on every where else. Off to work I go...

Back to work

Well, today is my second day back to work. Its not as bad as I thought, although I am tired. Its been hard to get back into a routine of getting up in the mornings. The kids have been glad to see me when I am doing the home visits. They are all excited for me to return...I am up to 40 pounds lost now. I am in a size smaller of all clothes, including underwear. It is still hard to get enough protein and liquids. Yesterday was better with the liquids. I am doing better eating today too.

2 week mark

Well, I just passed the two week mark. I am feeling much better and have resumed lots of my "normal" activities. I am looking forward to riding again soon, although Jarad is not having it until the doctor releases me to ride, but I don't think I can wait until June 9th. We'll see....

Monday

Weighed myself yesterday, I've lost another 4 pounds, for a total of 32 pounds! I am starting to feel almost back to normal. Mainly still having some muscle pain on the left side of my abdomen, but it is getting better. So far I've tried many different "pureed" foods-applesauce, carrots, mashed potatoes, melon, banana, and eggs-and haven't had problems with any of it. I managed for three days in a row to get all the protein I am required to get, but didn't do so hot yesterday. I am not really looking forward to returning to work...

Staples

Went Friday to have the staples removed. It didn't really hurt, just sort of a pinch and took less than 2 minutes to get them all out. Dr. Barkan said the weird burn and pull sensation I feel near my bellybutton is just the muscles from being cut and stitched internally. Nice, huh? They were surprised at the Dr. office how much weight I've lost which made me feel good.
Jarad and I stayed really busy yesterday, we were on the go from 8 am until about 2 pm. It is surprising how fast I get tired now, I came home and slept for about an hour then went to Meadville with mom, I only made it to one store before I was ready to come home and lay around.
Today Jarad and I are planning to clean house (he's cleaning, Im supervising), and go shopping in Meadville. I do feel alot better with the stitches out, my skin isn't pulled tight and itchy now.

Weight loss

I weighed myself this evening...total weight loss since two weeks prior to surgery is 28 pounds!!!
I lost 12 in the two weeks before, so that is 16 in a week since surgery.

measurements

Okay its official...I'm sort of happy I did the surgery. Today in honor of my one week anniversary, Jarad helped me remeasure. I measured myself on April 28 and here were the results: stomach 54 inches, calf 20 inches, thigh 32 1/2 inches, hips 58 inches, bust 52 inches, and upper arm 15 inches. As of 3:43 pm today, they are now stomach 52 1/2 inches, calf 19 inches, thigh 31 inches, hips 52 inches, upper arm 15 inches, and bust 50 inches. Jarad joked that the only place I can't afford to lose more inches is in my bust! Ha ha! I plan on weighing myself this evening. I will post the results soon!

Okay, Im back...

I finally have enough energy to do some things so I thought I'd get back to writing. Today was a pretty good day, but I didn't sleep well last night and ended up sleeping until 9 a.m. I finally gave in and laid in bed...it was good to lay down and be comfortable, but getting up isn't easy or painfree. I guess I didn't really realize how painful this experience was going to be physically, mentally or emotionally. I feel really bad because Jarad is working so hard to do everything, and he's exhausted. He fell asleep when he came home from work today so I let him sleep for about 4 hours. He put the recliner out in the yard for me so I could sit in the shade and read and nap. He's been great! I managed to walk 5 times today...I even went clear to the creek by the house to let the dogs swim. It was tiring, but I'm trying to push myself alittle more each day.
Other than the discomfort on my left side, none of the other incisions are bothering me, and the drain hole has even healed up. My arms and hands aren't as bruised and I've managed to get most of the adhesive off. I now have lots of pretty yellow and purple bruises on my abdomen. I'm sure eventually I'll be glad I had this done, but I wouldn't do it over as of today. Besides hurting, I'm missing so much with work, the horses, etc. I did hang out some of my "skinny" clothes as inspiration and I hope to start practicing showmanship by the weekend. My goal is to make it to Meg's graduation ceremony on Saturday in Clarion, but 45 minutes in a car does me in so...it gives me something to shoot for.
Thanks for all of the prayers and thoughts, and I love having comments to read! I plan to take my measurements and weight tomorrow.

Monday 5th Day after surgery

Kelly is doing great. She walked 5 or 6 times today at least ate cream of chicken soup and took her medicine. She was a good girl. She even went for a car ride to cochraton with me. Somehow we got to laughing and she was trying not to laugh because it hurt and she somehow started sounding like a sick donkey. It was so funny we couldn't stop I was great she is doing it right now.

Saturday Night Sunday Morning

Well we had an interesting night last night. Kelly said her chest was hurting and seem to get worse. So at 9:30p.m. I called the surgeon and he said get her the nearest hospital A.S.A.P and get a chest scan to make sure isn't a blood clot. They did not find a blood clot they say nothing was wrong and sent us home. We got home a 4:00a.m. What a night I was up for 24 hurs at this point and was defiantly ready for bed.

This morning the radiologist read the x-rays and the hospital called and said Kelly has Pneumonia come and pick up a prescription. Kelly seems to be doing pretty good today considering everything. She has been taking less of her pain medication. Still tires out after her walks but all in all she is doing well.

some pictures of kelly in hosptial

<-- This is Kelly in the hosptial doesn't she look great with the tube in her nose? She really didn't want me to take this picture but I just could not help myself.










This is Kelly showing off her jeweley. Pretty sexy!!
Ok on a serious not. She has five incision with one drain which she was able to have removed before she came home,








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<---This is Kelly showing off her arm. They had trouble finding her vein so the went digging until they found some blood. They even tried to get blood out of her foot. That didn't work either so they had to take it out of her finger.

Friday

Kelly is home!!!! She doesn't feel the greatest but she is home. She didn't think it would be this bad when she came home. She said her stomach is hurting pretty good. I'm sure the ride home didn't help much even though she had a wounderful driver the drover her home. I'm sur once she is able to get some rest without everyone poking at her she will be feeling much better..

Day after

They took Kelly off of the morphine pump and started her on a different pain medicine. It seems to be working much much better. She was very naushes (sick feeling) with the morphine. She is walking great and is getting out of bed really well. The nurse didn't think she was urinating enough and said they may have to put cathater back in. I told her that Kelly normally only goes two maybe three times a day. She said well we will have to see what the doctor says about that. Then both of her ives infortrated so they had to take them out and find another vain to use her por ars are black and blue and swelled. It took the lady from the Ive team two tries to get the ive in. That really hurt when they werte doing that put she pulled threw like a champ. She is still really tired but it is so hard to get sleep they are always poking at her and checking something. She should be able to come home Friday sometime.

Wensday night

I talked to Kelly at 9 am and she said she was doing ok but very tired. They came into her room at 12 a.m. and got her up to walk and then came in again at 4 a.m. to walk then got her up at 7 a.m. to go and get a chest x-ray. She said she had to drink some stuff for the x-ray and it made her sick because she hasn't had anything to drink since tuesady at midnight. She seem to be doing well just tired. I will write again later tonight. I will try to get some pictures on here as well but no promises.