Processing the decision

After I left Spokane Plastic Surgery's office I sat in my car for a minute to process the series of blessings that had just been given to me.  Amazing Health Care Insurance through my husband's hard work at a job he loves.  The right stars aligned to get me to Dr. Buchanan.  Remember I had tried to get a referral back in August, before my WLS Dr. V had even met Dr. Buchanan.  She was going to send me to the Dr in Idaho.  By having to wait for the referral until November it allowed these two drs to meet and build a relationship.  And then the right people work at SPS.  Alicia and Toni and Pauline went to bat for me with my Insurance company.   Dr. B was willing to try to get the surgery scheduled before the end of the year.  He motivated his awesome staff who obviously respect and admire him and worked hard to get it all to happen!  I have worked really hard to keep up on my supplements and iron and take care of myself in order to be healthy enough for surgery.  How many missteps could have happened?!?!?  Even 1 piece of the puzzle out of place could have ruined the whole thing.  All of it is such an overwhelming blessing I had to take a moment and feel it.  Tears were shed.

Then I activated my phone tree!  LOL I called my husband who was in total shock.   I got my sisters (by choice not blood) motivated and informed.  We made a plan of who was going with me, who was staying with my kids.  I called my Mom and my Aunt Kathy to give them all the news. Surgery was a go!!!!

WOW!!!  It is really gonna happen!!!

More planning.... Amber is gonna take my kids to and from school the week after next.  Tim let his boss know he really was gonna be gone for a week.  I stocked up our fridge and pantry.  I made menus for Tim.  I tried to make chore lists for the kids but in the end figured I would be too drugged to care and once  I did care I could tell them what I wanted done.

I packed a bag and gathered all my paperwork I needed to take with me to the hospital.  I posted my news on facebook.  Here is what it said:

I have debated putting this on FB. Part of me wants to keep it a secret. But the bigger part of me wants to share my journey. Wanting to keep it a secret is linked to shame. But I realize that I have nothing to be ashamed of! I started at 340pounds. I had gastric bypass surgery. I worked my ass off and lost 165pounds. And that my friends leaves a bunch of extra skin and complications that come with it. So I consulted a surgeon. We submitted to my insurance company. The Insurance company approved an abdominoplasty (removal of extra skin on tummy, tightening of muscles, and some contouring) on Christmas Eve! My surgeon pulled some strings and got it scheduled for the 30th. Tomorrow morning I am taking the next step in my journey to health! My hubby will be updating this thread tomorrow as I go under the knife! Wish me luck! Much love to all of my fb family and friends!!!

The responses I received from my family and friends was OVERWHELMING!!!!   So much love and encouragement.  Over 100 people liked and commented on my status.  The whole thread was full of love.  Just pure love and well wishes.  One person's comment that really stands out is my Cousin in law Steve Bell that told me:

You are answering a prayer, that I said for you when you told me you were having the [weight loss] surgery!  Thank you for not being ashamed, you brought a smile to my face.

I love you Steve.  Not only because you loved me through my weight loss journey but also because you loved and respected me before it.  You accepted me into your family with open arms and most importantly an open heart.  And the fact that you prayed for me and my health when I was starting my journey means so much to me.  And you ALWAYS bring a smile to my face.

There is just so much love in that comment thread that I can't even take it all in at once.  I go back and process more and more of it every time I read it.  I feel loved BEYOND MEASURE!

So the night before my surgery, when I was expecting anxiety and sleeplessness,  I feel asleep feeling the love and prayers of all those loved ones surrounding me.  <3

A picture of Steve and I and his lovely wife Ladeena