Taking a little blog break....

Hello friends! You are probably wondering why I haven't posted in awhile. We have company here from Canada. My husbands dad, stepmom, sister, brother in law and their two kids are here visiting for a week from Ontario. We are having a great time visiting and I am taking an internet break until they leave. We are hoping to get out and do some fun things this week and I am looking forward to it. I will be back and blogging in another week. Sunshine & Peace, Jen

150 Pounds Gone Forever!

It has only been six and a half months and it doesn't seem possible, but, I did it! I have now lost 150 pounds! Thank goodness for my RNY Gastric Bypass, I truly believe that this procedure has saved my life! I needed this tool and the restriction that goes with it. I have learned to make healthy choices regarding my food, and now eat to live instead of living to eat. What a great feeling that is. I have 48 more pounds to lose to reach my doctors goal and 73 more pounds to reach my personal goal.

TuTu's Bliss Fantastic Giveaway!

Hey Friends, get on over to TuTu's Bliss Blog ~ http://tutusbliss.blogspot.com and check out her fantastic Aloha Giveaway. The prizes are awesome! We all could use some Hawaiian Sunshine in our lives!

Surgery postponed.......

What a scary night! Last night after posting my Wednesday ramblings on my blog, I started coughing........if you are squimish don't read on..... this was not a normal cough. I started coughing up blood. YUCK, I know! It totally freaked me out! I went to see my doc this morning and they did a fun influenza swab to rule out the flu, NO flu for me. I have a severe upper respiratory infection. I am going to be on antibiotics and prednisone for 10 days. My poor hubby, prednisone always makes me a raving lunatic! My hernia surgery has been postponed for at least 30 days so they can be sure the infection is gone and to build my resistance back up. On a good note (I think) I lost 5 pounds since yesterday.

Wednesday Ramblings....

I have the flu, a terrible, terrible, flu and have been feeling awful. Not only have I been feeling awful with a fever, chills and body aches.......the flu is making me think that perhaps I should postpone next weeks surgery. I feel really weak. I want to feel good and be strong physically before being gutted like a deer. Sorry if that is too graphic, but, that is what abdominal surgery always reminds me of. I am already freaked out about having surgery and now add my sick, weakened condition on top of that, I am having some major anxiety issues, can you tell?

I did have something amazing happen to me yesterday in the midst of my miserable condition. I had to drag myself out of the apartment to pick up Lily from preschool. As I was getting into my car, my neighbor from across the street slowed down her car and rolled down her window to compliment me on my weight loss. She told me that she owns a Curves franchise nearby and is so impressed with my weight loss she is giving me a year free membership! I couldn't believe it! Now I have no excuse not to go to the gym to exercise and as soon as I am feeling better I am going to take her up on her offer and start working out. http://www.curvesinformation.com/


"When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people." Abraham Joshua Heschel

My etsy shop........

I just finished listing some of my creations in my etsy shop. My shop is called "Jewel Art by Jen". The link is: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5131092 If you get a chance to check it out please leave me a comment here and let me know what you think!

Tell em' Luvey Sent You!! ~ Focus28

Most of you that read my blog and my posts on Obesityhelp.com know how much I LOVE Focus28 Bariatric Products! Their products are absolutely outstanding, top quality and taste great. I truly believe that the protein products from Focus28 are helping me lose my weight and are keeping me healthy.

Some of my favorite products are: Protein Hot Chocolate, Protein Cappuccino, Sour Cream Crunch O's, Protein Cheesecake and Protein Caramel Pudding, Chewable Multi Vitamin designed for bariatric patients, and Chewable Iron.......I really like everything they have to offer!

To check out their website, click the link on my blog. If you decide to order, you can use this code to receive a 10% discount: luvey10

Discount code good until 03/31/09

You won't be disappointed!!

P.S. Focus28 is also available on ebay. Discount code is not applicable on ebay purchases. The Focus28 ebay webstore is located at: http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/focus28wellness_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ

Under the knife once more......

I went to see my surgeon yesterday and they scheduled me for my ventral hernia repair on February 20th. I wanted to wait, no, I wanted not to do this at all! I know I have to get it done so I figured I had best not put it off. Things are getting worse lifting Lily every day.

I always get so nervous before surgery, and I have had more than my share of them. I won't bore you with the grizzly details of my past 10 surgeries ....

Part of my nervousness is my panic anxiety kicking in and the other part is the fear of letting go, you know not being in control because I am knocked out by the anesthetic. Does that even make sense? I have this horrible fear of them putting me to sleep and not waking up.

Any good thoughts or prayers you could send my way would be so much appreciated. I have 2 more weeks to think about this and it is going to make me a bit crazy!

Sunshine, Peace and Hugs, Jen

Wednesday Ramblings.......

Miracles and Blessings.......

After having endometrial ablation surgery 15 years ago, the doctors told me that I would never be able have any more children. I was deeply saddened, but, accepted the fact that I would only have one child.

My husband always wanted children of his own, but, married me knowing that I could not have any more.

"Pregnancy after endometrial ablation is uncommon, with an estimated rate of 0.7%.1 These pregnancies have been associated with complications such as disorders of abnormal placental adherence, hemorrhage, preterm delivery, and hysterectomy. Although rare, planned pregnancies following endometrial ablation have been reported, but most are unintended and quite complicated. A 49% termination rate has been reported for pregnancies conceived after endometrial ablation." Marta C. Kolthoff, MD; Harold C. Wiesenfeld, MD, CM

In the winter of 2005, I was feeling extremely ill. I kept going to my doctor for a variety of things, from fatigue, difficulty swallowing, crazy dreams & nightmares, nausea and just plain feeling lousy. I must have seen her 4-5 times. Each time I mentioned that I had missed my "monthly" and she would say: "Well, you are over 40, overweight, and on a lot of medication. I wouldn't worry about it."

Finally, during a visit to my doc in May of 2005, she decided to order some tests. We thought it might be heart related because the chest pressure was getting worse and I have a family history of heart disease. She ordered a nuclear cardio-lite stress test.

Just thinking of them starting an IV and injecting me with some substance called Cardiolite sent me into a panic. I told the doctor I will have the test, but, just for the heck of it, I want a pregnancy test first. She ordered the pregnancy test.

When the lab tech came out with my test results, the printed page she gave me said "POSITIVE HCG". I said to her "What does that mean?" Now, after working in a hospital for 8 years, I certainly KNEW what that meant. It just wasn't registering!

My doctor called the lab and had them send me right over to radiology for an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed that not only was I pregnant, I was 20 weeks pregnant! Can you imagine being 5 months pregnant and not having a clue? It was a very difficult pregnancy, I gained 120 pounds *gasp* on my already heavy body. I was an inpatient for 35 days in the hospital on bed rest and complications after delivery. Our little miracle Lily Rose arrived 7 weeks early, weighing 4lbs 15oz and was in NICU for over 2 weeks.

Some days I have to pinch myself to believe that I am a 45 year old mother of a 20 year old and a 2 year old! My children were my motivation to have my weight loss surgery. I want to be around to see Lily grow up and to see Cody be successful in life, first he has to figure out what he is going to do! (I hope he figures out soon!)

I am just over 6 months post op RNY gastric bypass and have lost 144 pounds.

Baked Chile Relleno

I found this recipe in a Weight Watchers cookbook that I picked up at the thrift store. I have been craving spicy food lately and this hit the spot! The recipe is for one serving which is perfect for me, as are the nutritional stats: 188 calories, and 15g of protein.

Baked Chile Relleno Ala Weight Watchers Ingredients:
1 lg	Egg, separated
1 lg	Egg white
dash	Salt
1	Canned whole small green
	chili, drained
3/4 oz	Shredded cheddar cheese
	Hot or medium salsa (optional)

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Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Spray 6" augratin dish with nonstick spray.
Set aside.
In a medium bowl, with electric mixer on high speed, beat egg white and salt until stiff.
In a small bowl, lightly beat egg yolk; fold into egg whites.
Spread half the mixture in prepared dish.
Open chile and place flat on top; sprinkle with cheese.
Spread remaining egg mixture on top to make an even layer.
Bake until golden brown and center is set; 15-20 minutes.
Serve with salsa if desired.