Trying to be at more than one place is not easy!!

As a teacher it has been my mantra that you have to be a positive example in your students life. As a mother that is what keeps me going! I am trying as a WLS patient to be that a positive example even when things are not perfect knowing that this surgery is a tool and that I was given this tool to use it. I am at 317 pounds which means that since the day of my surgery I have lost 63 pounds. I left the Hospital at 370, came home and as of today this is my weight loss. It has been slow and steady and because of my fluid retention on my abdomen who knows how many more pounds I have lost. I am taking my furrosimide everyday because my legs get really swollen with the shift on how I carry my weight. I have Varicose veins popping everywhere because of the change in how my weight is carried. You ask me will you have done it if you knew all these was going to happen my answer is yes. I just would of been more mentally prepared for the challenges ahead. I am doing OK I am still at home due to Dr's orders I loose my balance easily and the weight of my Panni is taking a toll on my back. I go see another plastic surgeon on Tuesday and then I will know when I will have the next surgery. I am worried but my worries are more of a financial nature I am the main wage earner in the house so I am waiting on a decision from the people that handle our long term disability policy and see what they have to say. I am hoping that all goes well and not to many hurdles to jump. I miss being in the classroom but right now I know I would not be of any good in a class full of teenagers. I want to be well so I can give them my all. So April is the date the Dr has in mind right now but that is also tentative and if I have surgery that can change. My life is never easy, but I roll with the punches because I know I am blessed in so many ways. I try to always look for that light at the end of the tunnel that will illuminate my path so I don't falter and I keep going always with the hope that things have to get better. I think that keeps me balanced. My hubby and my youngest went to Puerto Rico to visit family and this is when I am happy Nicole does the job she loves. Her benefits blessed us with the opportunity to go and see our family. I know before she had this job I had not been to Puerto Rico in almost seven years. So now they are there and I am hoping it stops raining enough that they can enjoy their stay. I am pretty sure they will. I miss them but I am so happy they got to go. They stay with family so not to much cost involved and the trip is part of her benefits. I hope I can go this summer and spend some time with my family over there. It will all depend on my health. I am creating which is always good and I need to scan all these pages I have not scanned and I taking care of me that is a full time job. You can't stop caring about yourself because you are the most precious thing you have. So make sure you continue to live life with a purpose and I promise I will be updating more!! Hugs Wanda

Jimmy's Army

Well after reading my tittle you are all going to wonder what is wrong with Wanda but when you see the photos you will get it. I have been at home wont be able to go back to work until April according to my DR. I need to keep my feet up because they get swollen due to the weight of my abdomen. I keep getting smaller and it keeps getting harder to carry my abdomen. It(my abdomen) retains water and has a life of it's own. I was not prepared mentally for this when it started now I just roll with the punches and try to look at the positives. I wanted to send big hugs to all the people that in one way or another have helped me the past months. The list is big but you guys know who you are and all I am going to say is that there are no words in the world that can express how moved touched I am by the care you have showed me and my family. This month I know the challenges of dealing with the huge pay cut the district made me realize that there is no way I can do some things all by myself and the love and support and prayers are all cherished in my heart. My kids use to ask me Mom why do you do the things you do and I always said because when you live life with a purpose you know you have a direction and even when things seem to be at their worst light and wisdom will come out of every situation. I realize when people are young and you tell them things like this they look at you and shrug their shoulders and sometimes think yeah right. The truth is that my kids have seen the love and care people we have sometimes no even meet reaching out to help. This in itself is one of the most valuable lessons we have learned from this experience. The lessons for me are of a different nature, some have to do with my ability to be resilient and face obstacles I had no idea I could. That setting personal goals for myself is something I can do but look forward to each day. That my creativity and art are an integral part of my soul and that if I am not able to be creative my soul can die. That I have five kids that are all unique in different ways but each day they show me the way they love me is unconditional. That my friends humbles me. I think I will write more about this one later. That my grandson is the sweetest kid I know and that even though he lives in two households and is back and forth every other week he never forgets me. Proof of this on Tuesday when he left he said to me "Grandma I am going to miss you when I go to Daddy's house, you remember me OK" Now how can I forget this dear child is beyond me. The truth is that this kid is such a gift when he saw his dad he said to him Daddy I missed you. He is so sweet and words still come easy for him. My prayers are that he never changes. I have been creating as always some pages a lot of crocheting I am also making leg warmers and hats you can place an order with me for those .So the list is right now I have scarves, ponchos, leg warmers and Hats. My method of preferred payment is pay pal. Feel free to email me at gel2mat@yahoo.com if you want any of my handmade creations. Scarves are 20-25, belts are 10-15, ponchos 30-40 hats are 10-15 and leg warmers and 2o-30 depending on the yarn. My daughter is in one of the photos modeling a hat scarf and her leg warmers. Make sure if you stop by leave me some love!! Winter is not going anywhere but I also make light things for spring and summer. The layouts on this post one is for Scrap Kitchen the new kit Chef has available for sale and her Phunky frames. I love them. The photo of mw which I took in my bathroom mirror the overlays are by Clara Wallace from A matter of Scrap. Thank you for stopping by, as always live life with a purpose. Hugs Wanda