WOWSERS.

Eleven pounds. Nine days. I would no longer qualify for weight loss surgery. Enough said.

Sniff, blow, hack.

Arg. I can't tell if I have allergies and sinus pressure or a cold. Either one is uncomfortable. This was NOT how today was supposed to go. I have today off of work to spend with my friends. Instead, I am alternating tylenol cold and tylenol allergy sinus, hopefully to catch whichever disease process I am fighting. I'm drinking lots of water to flush out the nasties, but can't really tell if that's helping or not.

I hate it...whichever one it is.

It's WAY too hot!

I wish that it wasn't a blazing inferno in May. I realize we've been spared from the horrid temperatures for a year or so. Last summer was not bad at all...but this spring/summer is already torture. Why, oh WHY does it have to be hitting almost 100 with 100% humidity? It's just RUDE!

I learned yesterday that my 4 week post op self can NOT handle the heat. Let's just say fainting episodes were involved. NOT fun.

Yesterday, we had the 20th anniversary Children's heart transplant picnic. It was SO much fun! We had a bounce house, a DJ, TONS of food, and probably about 250 people! It was at a really beautiful park with a huge wooden play area for the kids, and a pavilion for all us weenies who need shade. I was there about 5 hours and stayed in the shade probably 4.75 of those hours...and still got sick. I even drank water all day long! So frustrating. Other than my episode, which thankfully occurred near the end when most of the people had gone, I had a wonderful time! I got to play with my kiddos in an atmosphere that isn't the hospital. I got led around by a 3 year old who was screetching "Miss Stephanie! Let's go BOUNCE!!!" and "Miss Stephanie! We need to color on the ground!". So fun! I have so many great families who were able to come! It was a great party! We were even on the news!

After the party, Michael, Jen, and I (plus all our pups) went to my grandma's in Fort Worth to eat dinner with her and my parents. It was nice to be in an air conditioned house! I was supposed to go to Scarborough Faire with Michael and Jennifer today, but the heat was not going to permit that. Liberty and I will busy ourselves with cleaning the house instead. Tonight, I'm going to dinner with friends...so that will be tons of fun!

I don't go back to work until Wednesday, so I'll have to postpone my weigh in until then. Hooray for time off!

Hooray!

Three more pounds! I am in shock! I need to take some 1 month pictures...

Keep your eyes on the ticker in the top right hand corner to keep eyes on my progress!

The love of friends

In the grand scheme of things, I am a very blessed woman. God has given me a multitude of people whom I can tell my troubles and share my happiness. These people have seen me through thick and thin, bad and good, happy and sad. Some of these people haven't been directly involved in my life for some time, but I know they are there and if I needed them, they'd absolutely support me.

Back in 2003, I started going to a new church with an amazing singles group, Ironically, most of the people in that group are no longer single, but we still get together a couple of times a year. We play games, eat, celebrate milestones, and do a lot of talking! If I need these people, they would absolutely jump in to help me at a moments notice. Five years have passed, but I still consider them some of my closest friends. It always makes me happy when there's an event involving them! Tonight we got together for a BBQ and sat outside talking in the absolutely beautiful weather! Of course, my idea of BBQ was 1/4 of a hamburger patty and four pickles! I made potato salad to take with me, one of my favorite recipes from my mother, and I didn't even miss eating it! The group even had margaritas and I sat there and just happily drank my water. It's odd how my tastes have changed in just a month.

I have decided to weigh myself every Monday on the scale at work. Last week, I'd lost 3 more pounds for a total of 27. I'm interested to see what the scale tells me!

Health wise, I'm doing okay. My endurance is getting better every day! I'm still tired at the end of the day, but I seem to be able to push through. A couple of days last week, I did feel the need to nap once I got home from work, but power naps seem to help! I'm really going to work this week at getting in some exercise, which I know will eventually help my energy level. One big piece of news is my pain is finally gone! I occasionally have "pouch issues"...like if I drink water too fast, or take that one extra bite when I feel full, but the abdominal pain from the actual surgery is gone! I wanted to wait until it was gone so I could exercise without the added issue of muscle pain!

Hope your weekend is wonderful!

Still recovering...

I'm not gonna lie...it's been a really HARD week. I went back to work last Monday to the happiness of my co-workers. I've really never felt so much love from a group of people I worked with! Everyone was SO sweet to me and wanted to know how I was feeling. I got a lot of compliments...and it was easy to see why when I got dressed that morning in my normal work clothes and realized they were falling off! When I got on the scale, I learned that I was down a total of 24lbs in 3 weeks! How nuts is that?

Starting on Tuesday, I was by myself doing both the inpatient and the outpatient. I really wasn't that busy, but my body was absolutely not prepared for the stress of doing all that work on my own. By Thursday, two of my closest doctor friends were asking me if I felt alright because I did not look right. I had stopped being able to sleep all the way through the night. I was completely overtired and had no energy. Thankfully, I work with great people who were absolutely willing to work with me, and in some cases, yell at me to go home!

I spent the weekend sleeping. Thankfully, I was able to sleep uninterrupted....for the first time in three or four days. Of course, I was still on call, but my sleep was only interrupted once and it wasn't for a heart we were going to take.

I went to work today, excited and nervous to weigh in. I started eating solid foods this week and the big girl inside me was just convinced I wasn't going to lose anything. I was wrong. I lost another 3 pounds! WOW!

Not much exciting going on this week. I'm still trying to recover after pushing myself too hard this week. I just have a feeling we're going to transplant soon...we've got two sweet kiddos who need hearts badly.

Well, I've just become very angry at the TV...so I guess I should turn it off and go to bed. Bed is the best thing right now. Have a great week.

Back to the land of the living...

Tomorrow I go back to work. I am excited to see my friends and sweet patients...but not excited to be back working. I worry that I'm going to overdo it and end up having to take more days off...which I can't afford to do. My lovely and ever-so-thoughtful co-worker decided she would take off Tuesday through the following Sunday. This worries me because what if I have to leave at the half day mark because I'm just TOO tired and hurting to finish? I'm also going to be on donor call...which is just too thrilling for words. Oh well...if she's going to be petty, then I'll just ignore the pettyness and do my job to the absolute best of my ability...like I always do.

As far as my recovery goes, I am feeling better every day. I still tire out pretty easily, but it's getting better as long as I don't push myself. I can sleep in any position I want to, which is SO much better than on my back! I'm not taking my pain meds during the day, and only occasionally at night. I'm actually getting all my protein in after many MANY different protein combinations! I go back to the doctor on Tuesday for my 2 week check up, and I think he'll be pleased! I'm hoping he says I can start a "mild" exercise program. I tried last week and ended up hurting and my abdomen HATED it! I was told to hold off until I talked to the doctor!

Tomorrow, I will weigh myself for the first time in 2 weeks...and we'll see. I think some of my clothes feel more loose...but I won't believe until I see the number on that scale! :)

I am so glad I took the 2nd week off...I think I needed it to feel alive again! Keep me in your prayers as I try to make it through what will most likely be a busy work week as I'm trying to get back into the groove and I'm doing it alone. Hope your week is wondeful too!