95 pounds gone

95 lbs gone!

This was taken today in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
My friend Lisa and I took a much needed vacation. We leave here on Sunday to head to Alabama to visit my daughter.

6 Months

It has been 6 months today since I lost my "OL Goat". It still feels like only yesterday.

I still feel lost and alone. I feel like I only go through the motions of living day to day. I'm not really living. I guess I am just doing what everyone else expects me to do.

I try to be strong, but, it's not really that easy to do. I function, I suppose, but how well remains to be seen.

I miss you Wayne.

A daily dip in the deep end could add years to your life

I began a new exercise regiment yesterday. Swimming.

With my bones in the shape they are in, my doctors have been telling me to do water exercises for years. Well Monday was my 51st birthday,,, (ugh!),, my oldest son Travis gave me some birthday money, so I put it to good use.

I went to the Holiday Inn Express in town and bought a pool/fitness room pass.

The fitness room is very small, 2 treadmills and a recumbent bike. Oh, and of course, a scale!

The exercise equipment and I don't quite see eye to eye yet, but a few minutes a day and eventually I hope to get a better relationship going with it. HA!

I have spent about 2 to 2 1/2 hrs a day in the pool. Not always swimming, but always moving.

I have met some really nice women there, who are very encouraging. One lady, Barb, loaned me a book of water exercises from the arthritis foundation. I am going to study it to find the best ones for me to do.

So, not only am I getting exercise in but I am also making new friends, and that's always a great thing.

Until next time,
Liz

Just a little update

I am just a little over 3 weeks post-op. Things are going pretty good. I need to get more exercise in but other than that its all ok. In this pic, the blouse I have been unable to wear in years and the shorts were too tight.

I haven't been weighed for a while, but last weight loss count I was at a loss of about 30 lbs.
I have moved on from the full liquid diet to pureed and soft foods with finely diced meats.
Its hard getting my 60 to 75 grams of protein in daily and drinking 64 ounces of fluids, examples: flavored waters, crystal light, decaf tea w/splenda. This little pouch can only hold so much and with no drinking a half hr before or half hr after and eating 6 "meals" and taking several vitamins and other medications several times a day, it ain't easy getting it all done.

I am trying though. I made this choice and one way or another I WILL SUCCEED!!!

Surgery Update

Surgery went well. On Tuesday I had a few minor complications but nothing major. I was released on Wednesday.
They weighed me the day after surgery and there was an extra 7lbs from IV fluids, swelling, etc. As of today I have lost that 7lbs plus 10 more lbs gone.
I got out of the house yesterday for a bit, I went up to visit Wayne's memorial bench up close to our former home. That was not easy, but its my way of visiting him, ya know?
I went to the grocery to pick up a couple small things just to be able to get out and do a litlle walking and to the drugstore to buy a new scale. My old one died and I just had to know if I had made any progress yet,,,
All in all, everything is going along smoothly for now.
Still fighting with the VA to get things settled so money is still nill, but my dad and kids are my saviors for now.
Always, Liz

Surgery Date

Ok all, I know I was going to get back to this sooner than now. I still have a bit of trouble concentrating and Wayne was my inspiration when it came to cooking.

I am living with my son and his family now. Jordan and Lily's daddy Trevor, (Toad).

Still waiting for the slow as heck VA to pay my widows pension after almost 4 months.

I am luckier than most, I have family willing to take me in after losing my home to foreclosure because the government is so slow. But what about other veterans widows, that have no one. Its really a shame the way the government treats our war hero's and their families.

Alright, enough of that or I could go on for hours.

My surgery is this coming Monday August 24th. I have posted a recent pic as my new before picture, well, unless the kids get snap happy with the camera that is. I have lost 44 pounds since I began this journey into weight loss surgery. I started at 315, as of last week, I am at 271.

Also a pic of Miss Lily Bell and I. I have a new one of Aaron and I coming soon.

On Monday at 9am est please keep me in thoughts and prayers as I am gonna need all I can get.

I will let you all know how things are going afterward.

Dad's Birthday Cookout

We had a surprise cookout for my daddy on Sunday at his house. Here he is holding Lily Bell and Aaron. His birthday is actually today. Happy birthday Daddy!

I thought these were great pics. I can show off my dad and updated pics of my babies!

Would have been 8 years today

Hi all!!

Yes I am still around. I was telling someone about the blog, and thought, ok, I better let you know I am still here. Now, I hope you haven't all forgotten me.


Life hasn't been easy since Wayne passed. I ended up losing my home to foreclosure as I am still waiting for my widows benefits from the Veterans Administration. The government gets in no hurry. I not only lost the "ol' goat", I have lost practically everything. My car is the next thing that goes.
On top of that, today, would have been our 8 year wedding anniversary.

I am living with my son Trevor, (Toad), his wife Jammie, grandson Jordan, and new grand daughter Lily. I have a little bedroom in the basement, that I lovingly refer to as "The Dungeon!" I spend lots of time with my 5 grand children. Oh, by the way, grandchild number 6 is due in January. My oldest son Travis and his bride Joanie are expecting. Their wedding pics are on here somewhere.

I have a new date for my gastric bypass surgery, it is now set for August 26th. That is if I pass all the pre-op stuff on July 28th. My nerves and frame of mind are way off kilter, so, I am just hoping that it doesn't impede my progress. My health sucks, and I need this to get myself back on track. I wanted to give up living, but I can't. Too many babies to spoil!

I plan on posting more often, so, if you are still interested in my life, keep checking in. As Arnold would say,,"I'll be back!"

Until next time,
Liz

Aaron James

Aaron James was born on May 13th, weighing in at 8 lbs 4.6 oz, 21 inches long. Quite the little bruiser!

Aaron looks like he is thinking, "Wow! This is a strange looking world!"

"Pucker up for some kisses Granny!"

" Hey Granny! You lookin' for a fight?"

Learning

I am sorry its been awhile since I have posted anything.
I am trying to learn how to live my life without the Ol' Goat.
I've been trying to get all the paperwork done so that has kept me pretty busy.
I have started staying alone here at the house again, letting my kids get on with their own lives.

I find myself talking to his chair without thinking, because thats where he was a lot. Then I turn to look because he isn't answering me and then I remember.

I want to thank you all for all the prayers and support. It means a lot to me. I may not have answered all the private emails and messages, but I have read them all.

Kiss and hug your loved ones daily, you never know what tomorrow may bring.

SEMPER FI JARHEAD

This is a photo board that we created for Wayne's memorial service

This is a family pic that I managed to snap of Waynes Children and grand children.

More pictures of Lily Bell

A very proud big brother

Taking a little snooze

Snuggling with her MawMaw Shirley

Granny Me holding Lily. Sure wish PopPop had gotten the chance to hold her.

He was so looking forward to her coming.

Granny's little Lily

This is just a cell phone picture for now, but wanted to let you all know that my grand daughter made her debut at 2:28pm on April 1st. 7lbs 2.5 ozs.

My little ray of sunshine during this gloomy time.
My Lily Belle.

Obituary and last pic taken of him

Wayne L. Smith, 65, Buchtel, passed away Thursday March 26, 2009, at his residence. Born in Mason, West Virginia, he was the son of the late George and Clarabelle Badgley Smith. He was a 1962 graduate of Rutland High School,he served 17 years in Marine Corp. and 10 years in Army National Guard. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Barrows Smith, children Wayne Jr. of Batavia, Robert of Florida, and Chris Hodge of Batavia; step children Travis Carr of Jacksonville, Trevor Carr and James Gambill of The Plains, and Shavona Gambill of Buchtel, 5 grandchildren, 1 great-granddaughter, 5 step-grandchildren; and a sister Mary of Florida. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by brothers Charles and Robert. Memorial services will be held April 4, 2009 at 2 PM at Bigony-Jordan Funeral Home with Pastor Dave Cogar officiating, and military services will be held. You may sign the register book or leave a condolence for the family at www.bigonyjordanfuneralhome.com.

More Photos of My Love As Requested

Wayne doing his favorite thing, eating! If you notice the pics labeled Lawrence, that is his middle name and what he was known by in school. These ones are from a friend of his from back then, Larry Rupe. The skinny kid insert pic, was Wayne's graduation pic.

At my son's wedding last November

Christmas 07 after he mooned everyone, see that rotten look on his face?

A neighbor boy after interviewing Wayne for a report on Veterans for Veterans Day.

Proud of our new car

I have lost my hero

My husband the ol' goat Jarhead passed away between 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm Thursday afternoon. He went to take a nap, asking me to awaken him at 6pm so that he could watch the news. What I found was not pleasant.

My husband apparently had a heart attack in his sleep.

Two More Weeks

I just realized last night, I only have 2 weeks from today until my surgery. Yes, that has brought on a case of the jitters! I keep thinking, "OK LIZ! Take a deep breath and relax!"
I have been wanting this for so long. It's going to be a huge huge change in lifestyle.

Goodbye to the days of running to the fridge for comfort food when I am stressed.
Goodbye to the nights when Wayne and I sit around watching tv, eating chips or ice cream or chocolate.

Hello to being able to walk through the grocery without breathing hard.
Hello to being able to clean my house without taking a break every 10 minutes.
Hello to exercise.
Hello to a healthier me.

These are just some of my thoughts for today.

Until next time
Liz

My Under The Weather Soup

We have both been feeling pretty crappy for a few days, so tonight we wanted something light for dinner. We considered chicken noodle soup in the can. Then I thought, yuck! Too much sodium.

I had some leftover Taco-Salsa Chicken ( http://jarheadsbaby.blogspot.com/2009/02/taco-salsa-chicken.html ) from the other night that I made when my son came over. So, I decided to rinse off the salsa and some of the spices. I then diced it up, cooked it in some of my home canned chicken stock,( http://jarheadsbaby.blogspot.com/search/label/Canning ) added a can of no salt added mixed veggies and some whole wheat spaghetti noodles and now we have a semi homemade chunky chicken noodle soup. No extra salt or preservatives this way. Just comfort food at the healthiest I could do it, considering the way I feel.

Hubby gave his burp of Approval!

St Patrick's Day Treat

I wanted to create a treat for the ol' goat for St Patty's Day. I also wanted to thank him for waiting on me for 6 hours today while I went through all my pre-op testing.

I knew I had this in the pantry. So I thought, "Hmmm, chocolate dipped strawberries? How about white chocolate dipped strawberries? Oh better yet, green dipped strawberries!!"

So I melted the white chocolate melts with just a bit of water to loosen it up and added some green food coloring.

This is my finished product. Hey, I am no fancy smancy chef here! They might be a bit rustic looking but my hubby was tickled "green" to get them!

3 WEEKS FROM TODAY

Is April 6th, my surgery date. It's getting closer and I am getting more nervous.
However, I know that I have made the right decision. I have chosen to begin a new healthy lifestyle for myself and for my family.

Tomorrow I spend most of my day at the hospital doing all of my pre-op testing.
I have to have a history and physical exam, blood work, chest x-rays, an EKG, and a gallbladder scan. I then go to a class for Bariatric Pre-Op patients.

I have a pre-op appointment with my surgeon on April 3rd. To go over test results, final plans for surgery, etc.

Then its the day!

In the midst of all this, Baby Lily is due to make her arrival around the 4th of April! Hopefully Baby Aaron will stay put until closer to his due date of May 8th.

Plus Wayne has decided to have the guys come in and re landscape the yard. And I have a chest cold or something that I am fighting.

No wonder I feel like I am going nuts!!!