And so it begins!

First, let me say that I really appreciate your comments. I've been wondering though, what is proper blog etiquette when responding to comments? Do I leave another comment on my blog, should I comment on the commenter's blog, or just send an email?

I got my first fill today, after 14 months. So far, so good. I really feel like I'm brand-new at this again, especially since the guidelines here are so different than in Korea. For example, according to my new doctor, I'm supposed to eat liquids/soft foods for 2 after my fill; yeah, that didn't happen. I just ate very carefully and very slowly, and everything was fine. I guess if I knew WHY I'm supposed to do all that I would be more inclined to, but until then, I'll do what works for me.

I just wanted to write a quick update about that. I'm exhausted. Good night!

7seven7seven7seven7seven!

I can't believe that Karinne is already 7 months old--people aren't kidding when they talk about how quickly kids grow up. It seems like every day she's doing something new! Here are some pictures from her 6-month photo shoot:

I'm still breastfeeding, and we'll keep going as long as she wants. Pumping 2-3x at work every day is a drag, and for the last month I haven't been pumping as much as I used to; if only I were able to stay home with her for the first year (like in Canada!) then I wouldn't have this added stress. It'll be all right though; if push comes to shove, we'll have to start giving her maybe a bottle of formula per day to make up for what I can't pump. It's not the end of the world :)

I went to the gym tonight and walked a little bit longer on the treadmill than I have been; it felt good, like I'm actually making some progress. When I started walking again, I could barely make 20 minutes, and I had to use my inhaler; now I'm up to 27 minutes, walking faster (3.2mph), and I haven't used my inhaler the last 3 times I went. Woohoo! Of course, it's been freaking SUMMER (80 degrees today!) here, so that helps with the asthma.

Now, for the honesty--I came home from the gym to freshly baked chocolate chip cookies :-( I'm sure I don't have to tell you how that went down. I wanted to say no and really just dump them in the trash, but I felt bad because Marc NEVER bakes. So I ate them. Note the word "them"; of course I didn't have just one! Argh. Tomorrow is a new day, right?

BYOC!

It's BYOC (Bring Your Own Crazy) time, thanks to Drazil! Five little questions to help us get to know each other better:

1.  Since I talked about psychics this week - I'm curious....if you could see one for free and you could only ask one question - what would it be?

How many children will I have? (Babies on the brain ALL the time!)

2.  What's your favorite ice cream flavor and topping?

Oh man. My all time favorite is Ben and Jerry's Phish Food. If I'm putting toppings on it, vanilla bean is good, with hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream, cookie dough, broken reese's cups, etc... mmmmm.

3.  What's your preferred method of working out?  DVDs, an external gym, gym inside your home, classes?

These days I go to a gym outside of my house and walk on a treadmill. I really love walking outside, but the area where I live isn't really conducive to that. I also like to work out with the free weights (just 3 pound weights) but I'm super self-conscious and if more than like 1 man is working out by the free weights, I won't do it.

4.  If you work outside the home or if you ever did or will in the future - do you think it's better/easier to work with men or woman?  Who do you work mostly with now?

I work with mostly women now. I don't mind it usually, but sometimes things get pretty catty around here; on those days, I feel sorry for the 4 men who have to work with 13 women.

5.  Repeat question.  Summarize your week in real life and in blog land.

It's been a good week. The baby's good, the husband's good, work's good. I've gone to the gym 3 times this week, which is awesome (for me). That is all. 

Happy Friday!

On a roll...

Exercising it going well. I've managed to make it to the gym 3 days this week (Wednesdays are pretty much a no-go because that's Marc's night to hang out with his friends). I even *gasp* joined a weight-loss challenge at my gym! Wish me luck--I'm actually kind of excited about it.

I'm still working on getting my eating under control. I'm not quite where I should be in terms of types of food, portions, etc, but I'm getting there. I go for my first fill in 14 months on Monday--for real! Two things about that sentence really make my head spin: first, that it's been 14 months since I had anything in my band, and second, that I STILL haven't managed to get that stinking fill I've been trying to get since January. I finally got fed up with that doctor and found another one--I feel much better about this guy. I guess another thing that makes my head spin a little is that with it being so long since my unfill, I'm actually only up about 5 pounds *pats self on back*. I figure that in the grand scheme of things, being right at my pre-pregnancy weight is something to be happy about.

It feels good to be getting back into blogging. The support system is incredible, and I hope to be part of it again :)

Still Waiting!

In my last post, I told you that my fill was scheduled for the 23rd. Well, guess what--IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

klsjhglshgl;shglksjdg;lksjdlgjslkdgj;lskjdg;lgaiopjl!!!!!

The surgeon had to review my records prior to making an appointment to decide if he'd see me or not. I faxed my records on December 29, and I know they received them because they called me about them. Well, I got a call on the 22nd (at 4 in the afternoon, mind you--what the crap can I do about it at 4 in the afternoon??!?) that they needed my records. Apparently the doctor lost them or something? I don't know. I was mad. I sent them around 5 (when I got the voicemail) and the morning, the poor receptionist chick said they'd received them, but I couldn't come to my appointment because THEY ALREADY GAVE IT AWAY. Ugh. I have yet another appointment scheduled for this week, but I'm soooo not excited about meeting this doctor. He just sounds like a turd.

I searched and searched, and actually found another group of lap-band surgeons that I somehow missed. I got a message from their office today saying they would see me, so now I'm waiting to find out just how much a fill there would cost me. When I was in Korea, I don't think I realized how difficult it would be to find a surgeon to take care of me after I came back, nor did I realize how expensive it would be (my insurance doesn't cover bariactrics). I think if I had I would have taken a different route.


I went to the gym at 6am on Saturday. I just happened to be awake and thought, "why not?". It felt good.

What a let-down...I need help and advice!

Remember the last time I posted, I was supposed to be getting my first post-pregnancy fill on January 26th? Well, the day before that appointment, the doctor's office called to reschedule. So February 7th was my new appointment.

Same thing happened; the day before, they called to reschedule. Now it was going to be February 14th. Well, wouldn't you know, THAT would be the one day I decide to oversleep and get to work an hour and a half late?? There was no way I'd be able to get all my work done in time to leave for the appointment, so I rescheduled that one. Now my appointment is the 23rd--let's hope this one actually sticks!

I hope I like this doctor, as he's the only one in Birmingham that's willing to do fills for people who had their surgeries elsewhere. I just need a fill, period.

Time for a little honesty now. I've gained about 20 pounds since I had Karinne. I'm so mad at myself for falling back into my old pre-band pattern of eating... I'm not at my pre-band weight yet, thank God, but I'm not far off. I barely fit into all the clothes that were fitting me quite nicely this time last year; isn't it sad that I was apparently skinnier when I was PREGNANT???? It's the belly--I wish I could cut it off. I know I need to exercise more and do about 984759 crunches every day. I have to find my motivation.

I want/need to get the new bandster mentality again. How do you motivate yourselves? I would love to hear some tips from all you old pros :)

Hopping back on the wagon!

YO!!!

So, I'm doing it--I'm back on the wagon (mostly), and feels great. I made an appointment with a lap-band doc to get my first fill in over a year! I see him on January 26th--I'm pretty nervous, actually. In Korea, it was $30 for a fill/unfill and they used the x-ray machine every time; here, it's going to cost $250 for my initial visit, and then $125 for fill/unfill after that. It was easy to go back and forth to tweak my fill level in Korea; now, I imagine I'll just try to "deal with it" if the level isn't quite right. I just have to be careful that I'm getting adequate calories so my milk supply doesn't drop.

I've gained about 20 pounds since Karinne was born--definitely not something I'm thrilled about. How is it possible that I've gained more weight NOT being pregnant AND nursing than I did the whole time I was pregnant?!?? Argh. This is why I have to get fill; I'm just not good at controlling how MUCH I eat.

I've also joined a gym. I went 5 days this week, so that's pretty good I think. On the weekends, I go when Karinne goes down for her first morning nap. During the week, I've been going after she goes to bed for the night (around 7pm). I work 6:30 to 4:30, so if I want to see my baby at all I have to go after she's asleep.

Hopefully I'll have some good news weight-wise to share next time I blog!