MIA

Sorry I've been MIA!  I've been a horrible blogger the last several weeks!  Between my crazy busy schedule, work and planning my trip I have had absolutely no time to write blog posts or even read other blogs!

Just to give you an idea, last weekend I had 4 pool parties, dinner with friends, an afternoon at the lake and a photography class.  It was insane, but so much fun.  I've been working so late every night this week just to try and keep up.

Then this weekend, my friend Holly is coming in town to stay the weekend with me in a few hours and we have plans all weekend including throwing a baby shower at my house for our friend Michelle.  Then I leave for the airport as soon as the shower is over on Sunday to head to NYC.

Ahhh...I have so much to do and so little time!  But I wanted to at least come on here and give a quick update.  I'm trying to get caught up with reading your blogs, so please forgive me if I don't comment like I normally do.

My eating has been okay the last several weeks.  Not great, but not horrible either (thanks in huge part to the lap-band)!  I really need to buckle down and get back to basics, but that's going to have to wait one more week.

My 1 year bandiversary was on Sunday.  I started writing a post about that, but didn't get to finish or publish it.  So be on the lookout for that soon.

I'm so excited about my NYC/New England trip in 2 days!  I have so many fun things planned so I'll try and post some blogs and pictures of all of that.

Hope everyone is doing great! I'll leave you with a couple of pictures from the last couple of weeks.  The one above is from dinner on Sunday night.

Me and my roommates at a fundraiser

Love my city!

Day of fun on the lake!

New York!

I just found out that I'm going to New York in 2 weeks for work!  I've wanted to go to New York for so long and it's just never worked out for me to go.  I am ecstatic about going!  I'm flying in late Sunday night because I already have commitments here that weekend, and I will be working Monday - Wednesday.  My boss knows it's my first time in NYC so she is going to go with me to do some things at night those first 3 days.  Then I'm going to extend my trip and stay until Sunday.

My plan at this point is to be in NYC until Thursday and then spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday driving around New England.  I really want to drive up the coast and go to Boston and hit some of the other highlights up there.  I haven't been anywhere north of DC, so I really want to take advantage of my time there and see as much as possible.

So I need your help.  What are the things that I really need to do or see while I'm in NYC?  If I drive up the coast, what cities/towns should I visit?  Other things outside of NYC?  Any advice you have would be so helpful!

I'm so excited!!!

Fibroids

I debated sharing this on my blog, because it feels really personal.  But because the rest of my life is already an open book, I thought why not?  And who knows, maybe my story will help others, or just be good for me to share.

On Monday I went to the doctor for my annual checkup.  The doctor thought she felt something and wanted me to come back the next day for a sonogram.  Tuesday morning I went in for the sonogram and found out that I do have for sure 2 fairly large fibroid tumors.  The sonogram tech said they were pretty large and that the doctor would be calling me to discuss my options.  Then Wednesday morning the doctor called me and said that my only option is to have surgery to remove them.  Because of how large they are and where they are located, that is my only option.  She said that the biggest one is 11 x 10 cm, which is 4.3 x 3.9 inches.  Of course it's scary and not the news that I wanted to hear, but I'm feeling pretty good about it and I'm thankful that it's not worse.  Fibroid tumors are benign so I'm even more thankful for that.

My doctor knows all about my weight loss and she recommended that I wait to have the surgery until I'm a little closer to my goal weight.  She didn't want me having surgery and then being out of commission during the recovery time and not being able to workout to get me off-track with my weight loss.  Of course it's my decision and if I want to go ahead and have the surgery I can.  She did say that I for sure need to do it at least 1 year before I want to have kids to allow my body time to heal.  The problem with that is that I have no idea when that will be.  It really depends on how soon I meet someone and get married, but when that does happen, because of my age I won't want to wait a long time.

So I have some decisions to make.  Now that I know I have these and they are large (they said it's like I'm 17 weeks pregnant), part of me just wants to get them out of me and not have to think about it.  But the other part of me thinks that the doctor is right and it would be smart to wait.  I could also choose a better insurance plan starting in January and have a much lower deductible which would be wiser financially.  I'm glad that although they need to come out, that the doctor doesn't think that it's urgent to do it.

At this point I'm not sure what is best.  I'm just praying for wisdom and asking the Lord to guide me to what is best.  I'm trying to stay positive and really focus on all I have to be thankful for.  The fact that she found them now and that I can get them taken care of soon, instead of later on down the road when I'm trying to have kids is a huge blessing.  I'm also so thankful that she found them.  I had my annual checkup last year and they didn't find them even though they were there then.  Also, once I get them take out my stomach will be flatter! :)  Several of my friends recommended this doctor to me.  She is great and so loving and caring.  Monday was the first time I met her, but I already feel like I know her.  It nice to have a doctor that really cares about me and that I can trust to do what is best.

My sister mentioned that if I do decide to wait, that it might be good to have a goal in mind and really push me to lose as much weight as possible and/or get to my goal weight by the time I have the surgery.  If I wait, I will probably have it around the first of the year, but if I decide to go ahead and get them taken out, I will most likely do it as soon as possible.

The good news is that she said all my labs came back perfect!  Everything they tested for is in the normal range, including things that were low or borderline last year.  I'm so thankful that I'm getting healthy and making that a top priority in my life.  Please focus on making your health a top priority and not just losing weight or looking good!

Thanks so much for all your love and prayers!  <3

National Women's Health Week

This week is National Women's Health Week.  A week set aside to help promote women's health and to "empower women to make their health a top priority".

I loved what their website said about making your health a top priority.  For me, that started with choosing to have lap-band surgery.  I knew that I had to take control of my health, and for me that is what I chose to help me get there.  Losing over 80 pounds already has made a huge difference in my health and I feel so good!

It just so happens (total coincidence) that I had my annual well-woman exam scheduled for today and it was the perfect way to celebrate National Women's Health Week!

I hadn't had my yearly exam since I had lap-band surgery (almost a year ago).  It was so amazing to see how far I've come in a year and how much easier it is to go to the doctor now!  When I went before they were never able to get my blood pressure.  They would try several times, get a larger cuff, try on my lower arm and sometimes even then they still weren't able to get it.  Today, they used the standard cuff and had no problems getting it on the first try...and it was normal!  Love it!  I also had to get some blood work done and had no problems finding my vein on the first try.  Can I just tell you how amazing that is?!?  Last year when I went to get blood taken, I had 4 different people try so many times and nobody was able to find a vein.  They had to send me to a blood draw place and even there they had trouble.  No wonder I hated going to the doctor so much!

The bad news is that she did feel something on my uterus and I have to go back in the morning for a sonogram.  She thinks that they are fibroids, but I need to get them checked out.  Hopefully it is no big deal, but we'll see.  Has anyone had them before?

Taking control of my health is not just about losing weight for me, but being healthy inside and out.  Being proactive in having different types of health screenings done, eating healthy, exercising, and being healthy mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well.  I'm really working on becoming healthy in every area of my life.

So please remember to make your health a top priority and do what you need to do to take care of yourself!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!  Hope you all have a great day and know how much you are loved and appreciated!

And especially to my mom, Lana!  Happy Mother's day, Mom!  I love you!  Thank you so much for everything you have done and how much you have sacrificed for all of your children!

And for those that want to be moms, have struggled with infertility, or have lost their mom, I pray that you would feel loved and comforted today!

Happy Mother's Day!