Cleaning attack!

Oh-wow... I've read about it happening to other people before surgery but I didn't think it would happen to me!  I am having major "nesting" issues right now.  I keep my house pretty clean, especially considering I have three kids and two dogs.  But this morning I got up and *BAM* I absolutely could not deal with the state of my house!  I absolutely had to start organizing right then... After some coffee...which I realized later was a big mistake, the caffeine made me extra special crazy.  I had to completely re-organize the pantry-

Then I re-organized all off the cabinets in my kitchen, dining room, bathrooms, laundry room, bedroom...I made the kids clean their rooms (they weren't too happy about that)... I organized the toys, and my closet, I'm still doing laundry!  So far I've washed the sheets and comforter for the futon my mom will sleep on while she's here (and set that up too), washed all of the kids clothes, washed mine and hubby's clothes, washed towels, and the kids sheets...I still have to do my sheets.  I had to stop myself when I realized it was 2pm and all I'd had all day was one cup of coffee.  I'm writing on here right now to keep myself from getting up and doing the actual housecleaning...you know- bathrooms, vacuum, etc.  I also need to buy food...I'll be doing those two things tomorrow.  Then Tuesday I get my mom from the airport, get my hair blown straight to make it easier to deal with, set up my recovery chair area and make a few casseroles..... Deep breaths....

Better than homemade boxed cake

Yeah I know all of my food related posts have been about healthy eating etc.  Well this is not all that healthy, lol, BUT my excuse is my sons birthday!  His actual birthday was yesterday (he turned 9, holy cow!) but today was his "party".  By his choice we took two friends to jump street (an indoor trampoline park), then home for Taco Bell and movies, with one friend staying the night.  For his cake he requested chocolate cake and he wanted a sprinkles bar so everyone could decorate their own slice.

So I decided that the boxed mix that he picked out just wouldn't cut it, I am after all one of those moms who does go a bit overboard and baking is my thing!  I love to do homemade cakes for birthdays... For my daughters last birthday I made Chocolate bacon cupcakes with maple frosting and Hummingbird cupcakes with coconut frosting, yum!  So I hopped on Pinterest to find a link on how to make boxed cake taste homemade.  I actually found several different recipes although most had a few similarities.

First you need a boxed cake mix, this is what my son picked out-

Now, I still followed the general directions on the back of the box, but with a few modifications.  First, I added an extra egg, this helps add to the density of the cake so it's not overly light.  Next, I replaced the oil with an equal amount of melted butter, this simply improves the flavor and makes a richer but fluffier cake.  Finally, I replaced the water, half with coffee and half with coconut milk (the yummy dense fatty kind froma can, not the dairy fridge).  Why?  Coffee actually brings out the flavor of chocolate, so if you're not making a chocolate cake go for straight coconut milk.  The coconut milk is rich in healthy fats and makes for a super moist, rich cake.

Three of the five kids in the house ate two large slices each... And my husband ate two slices, that might not be surprising to most people, so let me explain.  My husband HATES cake, in general he refuses to eat it.  Yes, when I make some new kind he will taste it and then brush it off as just fine.  For his birthday he always wants pecan pie, pie is his thing.  He actually ate two slices!!  It's just that good!  See how yummy it looks?  Now I can get my chocolate and sugar fix it before my surgery!

With three days left before my surgery I'm feeling a bit flustered...so much to do!  I have to buy groceries, clean the house, get my mom from the airport, exercise, get the kids to and from school, etc... And of course just plain try not to freak out!

Only a few days to go!

Wow!  It's crazy how time flies!  Only a few days left to surgery.  I keep oscillating between nervous and excited.  Yes of course I'm excited, I want that end result.  I want to be the thin me I know is hiding behind the skin and separated muscles.  I can't wait t see what I actually look like without it!  I do know I will have a long way to go, the recovery is hard and long and swelling lasts for a long time.  I know most people go through a tummy tuck go through a period of depression about 4-5 days post surgery, I'm really hoping hat being aware of this will help me prevent or at least lessen the emotional roller coaster.

Am I nervous?  You bet!  My number one fear is that something happens to me during surgery, I have three young kids and a husband who need me.  And of course I'm worried about my recovery, I'm not a big pain person, I avoid it whenever possible and I'm paying someone to cut me up and put me back together like Humpty-Dumpty!  My youngest who is almost three is still very attached to me, he never went through that "daddy" phase like my other two.  He still insists that I make his food, dress him, help him to the bathroom, put him in bed, brush his teeth... Last night my husband tried do his bedtime routine, this resulted an complete meltdown including screaming "I want mom!" Over and over before my husband was even able to brush his teeth.  What is going to happen when I am unable to help do these things?  I really he hope that he reacts better to my mom than he did to his dad.  

One week out and my story

I was never a thin kid, I was always a little chunky...never fat, but chunky.  I never really noticed my weight too much until college.  My freshman year I got mono and lost weight, I don't know ow much (I didn't have a scale) but I did need smaller clothes and I actually look tiny in pictures.  But then I started organic chemistry, and my then fiancée went out of area for his internship, etc and I gained weight, at this same time i started having issues with my menstrual cycle (going months at a time without my period).  The first I remember truly being aware of my actual weight was the summer before my senior year of college, I weighed 184 (I'm 5'7"), my mm tried to get me to do Atkins diet with her but between graduating a semester early and planning my wedding it never happened. 

 After getting married I tried dieting off and on, but it never really stuck, I'd lose a few pounds just to gain it right back.  We were only married 5 months when my husband moved to Arizona for work and I stayed in California to sell our house.  I tried again to lose weight but again I gained it back when we moved.  Soon we started trying to get pregnant and when it didn't work we saw my doctor.  Turned out I have PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome), essentially, I don't ovulate I make cysts.  PCOS can cause weight gain among other things.  After four months of clomid to make me ovulate I finally got pregnant with my son and gained over fifty pounds.

When he was born he was 9pounds 12ounces, sunny side up, and when he was born he was blue and not breathing.  I couldn't walk normally for about 8 weeks, and because I was so traumatized (my son was fine) I lost all the baby weight in about 4 weeks.  Even though I was back at my pre-pregnancy weight I was still overweight and I now had a whole lot of hanging saggy skin on my stomach, I inherited my moms non-elastic skin.  When I asked my doctor what I could do to fix the skin, he told me that the only fix would be to have it surgically removed.

Since then I've had two more babies, a daughter at 8pounds and another son at 8pounds 10ounces.  With my daughter I gained another fifty and this time slowly lost it over the first year.  With my son I only gained 25 pounds (!!!) but I had a really hard time losing it.  When he turned one I was stuck at 194.  

Labor Day weekend after he turned one we were on vacation as a family when I woke up one morning and my jaw was locked... Shut.  I was able to open it only wide enough to put a straw between my teeth.  I was stuck on a liquid diet, my dentist couldn't fix the issue and had to send me t a TMJ specialist.  I couldn't get in to the specialist until mid-October!  Luckily the physical therapist at the specialist was able to unlock my jaw on October 31, 2011, but I was still required to eat a liquid and soft food diet for a few more months.  The very limiting diet did one thing for me, I lost weight, about 20 pounds.  So when the new year started and I was allowed to eat normally again I was determined to not regain the weight but to continue to lose.  I was determined to reach a size 10.  I started counting calories, and exercising.  I became addicted to Beachbody workouts, over the year I did p90x, Turbofire, and Insanity.  I reached 150 pounds and a size 4/6!!  

I've been amazed with my new body and have maintained my final weight for almost a year now, and I added Asylum, Les Mills Combat and karate to my repertoire.  But even with all I've lost, I gained two things... An even saggier nasty skin on my stomach and my boobs shrank away to small sagginess.  How sad :(. 

I am lucky my husband has always supported my desire for a tummy tuck when I reached my goal weight.  And I did it, and he came through on his end of the deal by making an investment and making enough money on it that we can afford my mommy makeover.  I'll be getting a full tummy tuck with abdominal muscle repair and a breast lift with augmentation ( silicone mid-profile 435cc) on Wednesday August 14, 2013!

Refrigerator oatmeal and air conditioning

So originally I was going to post just a recipe for refrigerator oatmeal, my new discovery that I think will be a great and easy post-surgery food.  But, our air conditioning broke today... I know in many places that's not such a big deal, but I live in Arizona... It's f-ing 110+ degrees (Fahrenheit) this time of year!!  My house is HOT right now!  Thank goodness our master bedroom/bathroom has its own ac unit, all three kids are currently camped in my room for the night, and thank goodness they will be fixing it first thing in the am because I don't think I could handle another day of a 90+ degree house... Sweaty hot, blech!  At least this happened BEFORE my surgery and not after... The last time this happened my youngest was a week old and that was AWFUL.  

So back to the refrigerator oatmeal... It's yummy, and creamy, and totally healthy!  Yay! 

I know it looks odd, but I promise it's good!

Recipe-

1/4cup rolled oats

1/4cup Greek yogurt (I used plain but flavored would be good too)

1/3cup milk (soy, dairy, coconut, almond, whatever floats your boat)

1tablespoon chia seeds

1teaspoon honey (optional) 

And fruit

Simply put the ingredients in a mason jar, shake, and place in the refrigerator overnight... Easy-peesy!

I used raspberries and realized they made the mixture a bit sour, so next time I'll add ten just before I eat or use a sweeter fruit like strawberries!

Pre-op appointment and cost

Now that my pre-op appointment is over I'm starting to feel pretty excited! :) I was pretty impressed with how simple my appointment was.

When the first nurse took me back to the room she handed my two "packets" of papers (only two sheets each) that outlines the do's and don'ts of my abdominoplasty and augmentation.  Here are the rules-

No aspirin and no aspirin containing medications or ibuprofen for two weeks before surgery and not after until given the okay by the doctor.

No dietary supplements or diet pills.

Notify the doctor of any blood thinners or other medications you are taking.

No eating or drinking for at least eight hours before surgery.

Tell the anesthesiologist if you get nauseated easily.

Wear loose fitting clothes, button up top and slip on shoes to surgery.

Shower with antibacterial soap and water morning of surgery, no deodorants, perfumes, or lotion.

For after surgery-

Have extra pillows for under knees while resting.

Have bacitracin ointment, gauze, and surgical tape available for changing dressings.

Have a front closure sports bra for after the bandages are removed.

The doctor will not give me drains in my chest and may not do drains in my abdomen, it will depend on how the tissue behaves when he's doing the surgery.  He told me he tries to re-attach the skin to the underlying tissues in several places to help it heal faster.  He also uses a lot of local anesthetic so the anesthesiologist doesn't have to use tons of meds to knock me out too deeply, which is good because I'm difficult to wake after anesthesia... My doctor said I was a lightweight with anesthesia probably because I rarely drink so my body isn't used to metabolizing things like that.  Two days after surgery I will be allowed to remove my dressings and shower!  Yay!  Afterwards I will need to apply bacitracin and new dressings.  If I feel comfortable I'm even allowed to sleep in bed on my side.  The big rule is I'm not allowed to try to stretch or stand up straight for the first week.  At my first post-op appointment (7-10 days later usually, mines actually 12 because of the weekend) they will check everything and remove any drains and I will then be provided with a binder for my abdomen.  I'm not allowed to lift anything heavy for at least six weeks and I need the doctors okay before starting exercise.  I also need to avoid direct sun or too much heat to the scars until the scar starts to fade.  

The doctor gave me prescriptions for an antibiotic that I will start that I will start the day after surgery because they will give me IV antibiotics that will last the first day.  I also get pain meds for the pain, and he wants me to take Arnica Montana for the swelling and bruising starting with one the night before surgery and three times a day after that.  

When I finally ran out of questions he sent me into the room with the camera setup (eep!) and told be to get undressed except my underwear.  The nurse came in and took pictures at several angles, first of my stomach and the of my chest.  I must say that was very strange having no clothes on and having photos taken.  The nurse was very nice and made it no big deal and just talked to me through the whole thing and told me that I was going to have great results with my stomach and I would be really happy.  Then she took us to another room where I got to put on a stretchy bra and try out different size implants.  We already knew I was going with silicone and the nurse asked what look I was going for, I told her I just wanted to fill in my tissue loss from breastfeeding three kids and and then losing an extra 50 pounds.  She recommended the mid-profile style because of my chest size and the look I was going for.  She measures my breasts and chest and pointed out that the bottom of my right breast is lower than the left (which I'd never actually noticed but it does explain some issues I've had with bra fit) and made sure I understood that it wouldn't change with my surgery although the doctor may make some adjustments for that.  When trying on sizes she told me that any size of implant will look like its next size down does in the bra when it's inside the body.  After several different sizes my husband and I decided on 435cc, it's a decent size so I will get some size out of this, but it will still look natural and fit my frame.  Then the nurse gave me the sientra information books and told me that I need to fill out the informed decision page and she will fill out the warranty sheet and explained that each implant will have a serial number for tracking and warranty... The only thing going through my mind at that was an episode of Bones I saw once where they identified a body off the implant serial number, lol.  Now I get to read all of the little books that go with my implants!  

Now I just need to not get sick... I only mention that because my daughter is now all stuffed up and coughing like crazy, grrrr.

Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday August 14, 2013 at 8:30am!!

Cost-

So far this is my surgery cost, I'm getting a bit of a "discount" because we are paying out of pocket and not using financing through the doctors office.  The surgery fees also include all pre and post-op appointments and my compression garment.

Surgery-  $9,150.00

Anesthesia-$1,245.00

Recliner-$1,000.00

Over large button top pajamas- $30.00

Medications, bacitracin, gauze, tape, etc.-????  I'm guessing about $100.00

Appointment today

My pre-op appointment is this afternoon.  I can't believe I'm having elective surgery in just 13 days!  I'm really looking forward to getting information that I can use from my doctor, there are so many different ways that the doctors seem to prep their patients before surgery.  So I've made a list of questions, and I'm sure there's things I'm forgetting but hopefully the doctor will go over absolutely every detail with me-

Can I take arnica Montana one Bromelain for swelling and bruising?

Where will be place the implants and where will the incision be?

More specific on type/size of implant?

Do silicone implants really require follow up MRIs every few years?

Does he use a pain pump?

What vitamins should I take and avoid before and after surgery?

What are his recommendations to avoid medication induced constipation?

What foods should I eat and avoid before surgery?

Where will my drains be and approximately how long will I have them?

When is my first post op appointment?

What medications will I be taking?

When will I be able to shower?

Am I allowed to shave before surgery?

Anything else I can do to increase my chances of a great outcome?

What will my recovery be like?

What kind of pain can I expect?

How long before I can stand straight?

How long before I can sleep in my bed notepad of a recliner?

What type of stitches will he use?

How long before I can exercise? Timeline of types of exercise I can do and when...

I can't wait for answers, because everything I've found online varies so widely and I can't seem to find a list anywhere of foods to eat or avoid before surgery although I've found it mentioned several places! I also want more specifics on exercise.  I want to keep some muscle tone and I really don't want to be one of those people that gains wait after surgery!  I don't want to ruin my tummy tuck by eating crap and not exercising!  I have so many thoughts, questions and fears running through my head at all times, I've even gotten a few zits from stress (embarrassingly enough one smack in the middle of my right butt cheek and it hurts!).  Either tonight or tomorrow I'll post the specifics of my appointment.  It finally feels like things are getting going!

Here are a few recent tummy pics to start my "before"-