The NEW ME!!!

(This is me excited about going to my appointment... in the van)

I went for my 1 week post opp. appointment today and got the super TIGHT bandage cut off and man, did that ever make a word of a difference!!! I can BREATH again!

Breath with me...IN...........

hold a second or two

and slowly let it out......

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! :)

That felt good didn't it? Well it did for me :) Did I mention that the bandage I had wore a week was SOOO TIGHT?!!?? LOL

I was so relieved when he cut that down my back and off! After he cut that bandage off today and after I came home and even tonight, I feel like a WHOLE NEW WOMAN! :)

Dr. Beckert confirmed that he removed just at 6 POUNDS! And that all tissue came back normal from the lab. He also fitted me in my new sports bra which he wants me to wear another 5 weeks… and guess what – it was a size Medium! I haven’t worn a medium since I’ve been old enough to buy my own clothes. So yes, you can imagine how great I feel now. :)

His orders were to not shower for another 2 weeks... I can take a bath though but keep the breasts dry - and after 5 weeks go BRA shopping! :) whoo hoo!!! He even was quite knowledgeable about which stores were the best to go to - He had great things to say about JC Penny's and Dillard's ;)

Taken after coming out of my appointment. See the new me! :)

Thanks everyone for your prayers! I actually received lots of prayers and emails too from the St Francis ACTS group off list and it gave me a lot of peace knowing that a lot of them had gone through or knew someone who did and knew what I was getting ready to go through.

My dad and step mom have been here just over a week – and are leaving tomorrow morning (Fri) to go back to KY. They are very anxious to return home, as this is the longest they’ve ever been gone. I’d love for them to stay through the weekend and enjoy our Mardi Gras festivities…

but they want to get back to KY. Thankfully Nora is off school tomorrow so I’ll have no need to leave the house or “LIFT” babies into car seats.... and then David will be with me during the weekend and he’s off work Monday, so that should be helpful to give me some more healing time.


Also prayers for my parents driving back to KY would be appreciated…I’m a little nervous about them driving on Friday the 13th Last year when they drove back tornado followed them through each town it seamed… thankfully they were able to stay ahead of the storm the whole way and made it back safe.


… and I’m still not ready for *Hugs* or lifting or holding my twins during mass… but I am doing great.


Love from Texas!

My posting has helped Emma

Hi Bonnie,
I just wanted to thank you for being so frank about your recent Breast Reduction surgery. I have been wanting the surgery for a number of years and have just recently started looking into it. My family doctor tells me that everyone she knows who has had it has been happy that they did it. But, not being a plastic surgeon, she couldn't really tell me much more than that. (She referred me to a couple of surgeons.) Reading your blog post and seeing the post surgery pictures was a much better idea of what it's like. I applaud your honesty, both with your words and your pictures, and want you to know that your posting has helped me.I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery. Knowing that you are a spiritual person, I'll say a few prayers for you too. I always enjoy reading your posts. You have a lovely family, and a bright outlook.

Sincerely, Emma


Wasn't that a nice email that I read this morning??? I have received so many emails both from my church family and so any from my online community friends!!! - and honestly, I have not the time to reply to each and everyone b/c while Dad and Clara were here I took FULL ADVANTAGE of my resting time ;) and didn't even turn the laptop on some days at all. ;) But I'll get them replied. Most onlineers will visit here and be able to read this so please know that your kind words and Thoughts and Prayers really meant the world to me!!! Thank you all!

So if you don't mind, I want to do a cut and past here of this email and also my reply as my entry for today's blog post. ;) Some may call it lazy, I call it smart for not having to retype what it was I had planned to tell my readers about anyway! ;)



Dear Emma,

Thank you for your kind message. I'm surprised at how many people have taken the time to write to me since I announced about my surgery. Either they'd had it done or knew someone who did.

I went yesterday and got my bandage removed!!! and I'll post about that later on today or tonight on my blog But let me tell ya - after it came off I've not FELT MY BACK HURT ANYMORE! NONE! David and I went to a few stores in and out of the van each time before we returned to the town we live in, and each time I got in the van, I said, "My back doesn't hurt!"

Last night I went to bed with a smile on my face and kept thinking of all the "never agains"

• never gonna have the constant back ache!
• never gonna have to have bulging buttons on my shirts!
• never gonna have to hang ALL my shirts up to dry to prevent shrinking!
• never gonna walk by a perverted man and turn his head b/c of my FFF sized boobs!
• never gonna have to wear deodorant under my boobs to prevent sweating!
• never gonna have to wear lots of powder under my boobs to cover the stink!
• never gonna have rashes from skin on skin touching!
• never gonna have my boobs resting on my belly fat!
• never gonna have to be hanging out the sides, under the wire, and over the top of my bras!
• never gonna have to hid behid a babby I'm holding when getting my photo taken.
• never gonna have to avoid posting photos of myslef b/c of my big boobs.
• never gonna regret having this surgery done!

It was the best rest I'd had in so long.. other than a little tenderness (not bad though) on the lower sides of my breasts I laid there in my bed with JUST ONE pillow and slept the whole night! (all week with the tight bandage I had to sleep propped up with lots of pillows.

I even r-e-a-c-h-e-d for the remote on the nightstand just past my alarm clock to turn on the TV for Nora. (She's out of school today and I got to sleep in a little.) and that didn't even hurt!!! Use to my back hurt badly doing that!

and for the first time in my life - I've had this sports bra on that he fitted me for yesterday at my appointment (sized MEDIUM!!!) and I've not had to pull or pick at the band ONCE since I adjusted each of the arm straps!!! and I slept in it!!! and it has stayed put!!! Now that is a miracle! I can't count the number of bras that I pulled at over and over so many times, that I wore holes in the bands under the arms...!

So yes, it something I highly recommend!!! It's the most difficult the day of, and still sore the day after but you can tell a huge difference in each and every day - it just keeps on getting better... and once that dressing is removed (and trust me you'll be begging for someone to cut it in the back and give you some breathing room) but at least you will have a date to count down knowing that it is only temporary... and after the Dr takes it off.... well... it is so liberating!

I had my surgery Thurs. came home Fri. took my last prescription pain medication on Saturday - and from Sun until Thursday only took 2 extra strength Tylenol three times....

uncomfortable? YES

painful? NO

....and I was a little afraid about the bra...if it would hurt the stitches... but it feels like tight rubber band you'd have around your wrist...and it tingle if it rolled over your arm hair? Only this feels like the rubber band is around your middle...and it tingles only when I move to bend over... I got a few things out of the dryer and noticed that... but not in PAIN.. just a little ouch.

well enough for now.. I may very well cut and past this into my blog update so I don't have to retype LOL

Thanks again EVERYONE for your comments, thoughts and prayers, emails, PM's and for sharing your experiences and encouragements with me!!!


Happy Weekend and Love from Texas!

Do NOT hug me...and I am NOT gonna hug you either

Last Thursday was my surgery. I didn't share a lot about it on here but most all of my online friends knew I was having a breast reduction. (How come it's easier to open up to online friends anyway??)



Here I am dressed, on my feet (feeling very LOOPY headed) and ready to go home on Friday. Praise the Lord they let me stay the night... I soooo needed that! Reckon they let me stay b/c I mentioned at least 83 times I have three kids FOUR and UNDER at home!??! ;)

Edited to add - this photo I was not in pain... very dizzy feeling from the meds.

and excuse the messed up hair - I wasn't thinking the night before surgery when I took my shower and used the special gel to reduce staff infection... I *Should* have dried and styled my hair that night.. but instead I put it up in a ponytail WET!?%$@# oh well.



Saturday my step mom and I went to the beauty shop and got our hair washed and styled.. ouch $15.00 for something I should have done the night before surgery?? OH well, I'm glad I did pay to have it washed and styled (no way I could have held my arms up to style it) b/c we went to Mass (Catholic Church Service) on Saturday night so I looked decent. ;)



For church, Clara stayed home with the babies so we could go with just Nora and my Dad to church. For the first time in almost 2 years I got to hear all the readings and the homily! ...and of course as soon as Nora noticed the babies were with us in the van on the way, she begged us to let her choose the seat we sit in...



We're always in the back with the babies....but Saturday night...in her 4 year old mind, the best place to be was in the front row in the 1st seat by the isle ;) Maybe that's why I hear the whole homily b/c I *Had* to pay attention!!! Father Tom would know if I dozed off or not!!! and with the meds it was hard not to sleep!



Some other things that happened on Saturday - sorry for jumping around...



After the beauty shop, Clara had a grocery list so we went. I AM SOOOOO Glad I called David and had him bring me a pain pill while waiting to get hair done, however at the grocery it really took effect! and I started feeling major craps in addition to the dizziness...



When I got around to the pharmacy - I sat down at the blood pressure machine and it was 113 over 60 with a pulse rate of 98 beats per minute.


I'm sure it's been close to the same since then.... I feel so out of breath and WEAK... all b/c of my "dressing" as they call it. (bandages)



I don't know how my Dr. put this gauze around me so tight while I was unconscious... (I wasn't able to hold my breath & suck in for him)... he probably had two people hold up my arms and then took a saran wrap like gauze roll and ran circles around my body pulling and pulling until he heard ribs cracking!

Edited to add - this photo I was not in pain... just being silly fae in the mirror. Trying to express the TIGHTness of the bandage. LOL

I really thought it would loosen up in a few days but dang it feels tighter by the hour! (swelling has set in probably)I wish I could talk someone into cutting down thru it in the back between my shoulder blades to let my ribs expand then tape me back up. I so need another 2-4 inches of breathing space!


I can NOT breath hardly. Is it 1:00 Thursday yet??? and SORRY, NO I am not sucking in for the self pic. for ya... I'm too afraid I FLOP OVER ONTO THE FLOOR if I held my breath! LOL

and imagine I was SO considering a tummy tuck at the same time... what an OUCH that would have been... so glad I didn't do it at the same time, but I DO still want one of those! maybe for my 40th Birthday!? ;)

......and tonight while taking these pics..I came so close to cutting on it some tonight = the excess that does pull out easily in the cleavage area.., but then thought OMG NO b/c once I do it will tear into pieces and pieces, crumbs and crumbs, and that would be MUCH worse if they all fell down into the bandage. talk about itchy!!! thank goodness I had that thought before I cut! talk about measure twice cut once rule... LOLOL


and for the 4 or 5 that are still reading and not totally grossed out.... I have one more Bonus tid bid of information especailly for you LOL ;)

The Dr. removed SIX POUNDS!!! 6! He told David I went from a FFF cup to probably a C cup!



I can't tell any difference yet on feeling lighter, I do NOT feel better but worse... back pain, bruised and sore..but I do like the way I look much better already :) and I know once he cuts this "dressing" they call it off on Thursday THEN I will be able to start to feel lighter and better. ;)


Is it THURSDAY YET????

and agian, Please DO NOT hug me! LOL

Love from Texas!

Goodbye AT&T - HELLO SPRINT ;)

I don't remember if I posted when I lost my cell phone just after Christmas or not... what an expensive trip to Target that day turned out to be... I wish I had never went the first Saturday of the new year to look at clearance items...much less bought that new CHI shampoo! Every time I shower and use those bottles I get sick to my stomach.



Not know the story? Let me give you the summary aka long story short - which I'm not so short on most times. LOL



I was at the Christmas stuff in Target 1st Saturday of the new year...David called me to tell me he and twins were headed to check out.



I say OK, Nora and I are on the way, hang up and put phone in pocket. walk up to front, stop at the shampoo bend down to read a bottle, stand up, walk to check out see over 35+ carts between David and me, go to call him, and I HAVE NO PHONE ANYWHERE - not in pocket, purse, or shopping cart!^?$%*#



yes, I looked, and looked, backtracked all my steps 7 or 8 times, asked employees, customer service...even scanned all phones being held by everyone and anyone in the store that day... a week later check again, 2 weeks, on and on... whoever found it never turned it in so I consider it stolen. :/

Anyway -on to trying to get another phone.. after all I'm still being billed for service, so I need a new phone right? right.

For the past 4 weekends we have visited the AT&T store every Saturday - the day of to suspend service.. next week to see if we could get a replacement phone.. and have even called them and Tech support at least twice every week...



Nothing but the run around!



Can you believe that they told me there was NO PROMOTION I could receive b/c I had signed a new 2 year contract this past summer.. when I bought my (stolen) phone.. and that their cheapest phone in house would cost me $189.00!!!!!!!!!!!! I looked at it and it was a cheapO flip phone that didn't even have a color screen or camera... ummm NO THANK YOU! I need a phone to use with my laptop! no way I'm paying that much money for a junker!



Well this week David harassed them once more with a phone call and wasn't so nice on the phone with them.. after it was all said and done.. they were gonna give us 4 choices of phones for reduced rate of $299... Backberry curve, pearl or two others..I forget... but all compatible to use with my laptop.. still not a great deal - but a reduced cost..



So yesterday we drive over to Pt. Aurthur to the same AT&T store.. get in there wait our turn.. explain what Customer Service has promised us.. they look it up - AND NO DEAL! no notes anywhere to verify what we told them customer service had told us... urgh!



AT&T rep. tells me her hands are tied, she can't do anything unless they put in in the account notes so David uses his cell to immediately start calling customer service and tell them off and to get it verified and put on the computer b/c dang it we want to buy a phone today! It's been 3 weeks already we are not driving over here agian for a phone!



While David is on hold - he uses a computer on display at the AT&T store and looks up Sprint's phone number and tells me to call that number and just ask if they have any current promotions...



I stand there in the middle of the AT&T store and call SPRINT! on their display phone!

Tonya, who answered, told me that the same phone we are looking at (Blackberry Curve) is ON SALE for $149 and also will have a $100 mail in rebate - total cost to me for the new phone will be $49. I ask for info on rate plans.. and directions to their store in Beaumont..

sounds GOOD TO ME! lets leave!



I tell David Sprint's deal -loud enough the person on the other end can hear.. he tells them we are leaving they say HOLD on.. so he does all the while we are loading up kids and stroller in the van..

He is still on with ATT customer service... and they begin to pannic - yet giving him the hold on a minuite.. I guess typing it all up .. but bottom line they WON'T match the deal!

So we drive over to Beaumont to Sprint.

Breaking my contract will cost us $174 with AT&T... but I rather do that then pay them another $299 for a phone! yeah I really dislike AT&T now - Especially after today! I'm so glad we dropped their a$$ and went with Sprint.

We've never switched carries in almost 10 years... and they could care less about keeping us.


AT&T jerked us around 3 Saturdays in a row and were doing NOTHING to help us get another phone! nothing!



So worth it to pay the $174 to break our contract.. and go with Sprint's deal.. only $49 after rebate for same phone!!! we came out $76 ahead!

Not only did we get a GREAT deal on an awesome phone... it gets better -

I got to keep my same phone number! and the icing on the cake? Sprint participates with Upromise so now we get $50 towards Nora's college for the new service!!!

Best choice for us by far!!!

Still stinks that I lost my other phone...and all the contact info... but at least we got a GREAT deal on this one!





Love from Texas!

oh no I didn't.... Oh YES I DID :P

Hummm.... Bonnie... what is it that you did...? Today I climbed up on TOP of my dining room table..... and not only did I climb up on it but I took a PHOTO of myself too while I was up there!!!

I know... I know... excuse me where are my manners??? I should have warned everyone before posting a photo of myself like that.. oops. and I should have sucked in.. well it wouldn't have shown anyway.. b/c of the blousing shirt... oh well..

So the question is...why did I climb up on TOP of my dining room table today??? Well I started playing with a pile of mini 9 patches that started out looking like this..
I played some this morning before leaving for play group and then some more after I got home... and then some more after the babies went down for their afternoon nap...and well....just look!

Ta-Dah!!!!

need to get a little closer....

and from the other side

oh and I forgot to give credit where credit is due!!! these minis are from the swap I held all of last year... every 3 months I swapped assigned colors each round... limit of 10 sets of 10 per color each time.

Several of my wonderful swappers were so generous and included extras or what I call "leftovers" and thanks to all of them - these beautiful photo is possible.

(Notice the blues? I made blues that first round but none of mine were swappable b/ my sizes were off.. bad hostess bad! bad! but look at the ones at the top right in the 1st photo - those are all leftovers that my swappers gave to me!)

I think the most number of sets I ever made to swap was for the green group - I made 6 or 7 sets...? or was that the oranges?? I in no way, no how - made the most number of sets! Not even close!

Yes, that is right.... there are others out there who I call "SUPERSWAPPWERS" who swapped out 10 sets of each color each time!!! yep, 100 blocks of each... = 700 blocks they have...one swapper did 20 sets.... wow... her pile would make my 500+ look like spare change!!!!

...yep... I did... I did. *giggle*giggle* I was taking photos of the colorful blocks and caught my reflection and just for fun too my own photo a couple times... and THEN BLOGGED them!!! ........and probably never in a million years would I have shared photos of me like THOSE.. usually I'm just a head shot kinda gal...

but I have great news to share - may as well share here with my online friends..

my insurance company APPROVED my surgery!!!

I'm still waiting to get the final details, but one day either THIS coming Mon, Tue or Wed.. or the first 3 days of the following week...I'm having a breast REDUCTION surgery!!!

My heart is pounding just tying this! aak!! I don't know why suddenly I'm so scared about it. (I started last October trying to push to get it done) and have wanted this for evah!

I can't wait to finally BUY clothes that fit MY new BODY! shirts with buttons! and maybe a coat that really fits too?! and buy bras! bras that really fit!!! I was last measured at a 36 FFF... yep three F's! and that was before the twins were born... but finding a cup size for a 36 measurement is IMPOSSIBLE... so I've been hanging out of to and sides and underneath sides..OUCH of the largest bras I can find in stores.. usually a 36 DDD...:( So you can bet I'm lookin forward to throwing those away - perhaps a bra burning!?!?! LOL

and yesterday upon receiving the news... I immediately called my step mom and Dad.. they are on stand by to come down from Kentucky to help take care of the babies...when ever I get the finalized date **crossing fingers that I find out tomorrow**

So in case you don't see me on line in a week or so - that's why... until then I gotta get busy cleaning house and doing laundry! My Dad and step mom will be here as early as this weekend! aak!!!! and the guest bed is covered with fabric!

Oh and one last thing to share.. :)

I don't have photos from tonight.. but before David got home from work.. I got down and played for over an hour down in the floor with the babies... superman flying, tickling...and of course hiding under my quilt with them under there too giggling and having a good ole time!!! aaahhh I'm gonna miss that for the next few weeks while I heal...

==============and for any HGTV quilter's board members - here is a important Fat Quarter Bingo Update Announcement=================

I had planned to send email invites according to groups from last year's bingo... send Group A for a week and reply.. then group B and so on..for a month and then afterwards.. post a sign up for new players on board..but be patient with me... it didn't happen this month (January) but I am hoping to start the email invites in February..depending on my recovery.. mostly if I do the surgery this coming week or the next...so please everyone be patient OK? just a little longer I promise! This year's game is sure to be bigger and better than any of the previous 3 years ;)

Love from Texas!

Good News - woo hoo, a wish come ture

Oh this is so cool!!! Notice anything different???? Yep, today I gave my blog a much needed update! and how about that header photo!!! WOW, I have even impressed myself! :P

With an software update of some sort (it said I needed it so I clicked OK) and about an hour of my time, wallah! I'm so pleased with my blog! For quite some time I have been wishing for a few "minor" changes. Like "label" listing and photos of the kids in the sidebar... and on and on...and thanks to a link that Crazy'boutquilts shared on one of her comments on Nickilee's new blog - I was able to go snoop around and learn some new tricks!

I'm not done yet... and I have seemed to have lost my lists -blogs, UFOs, and other stuff... but with time I will get them back ;)

Oh - and just in case you are wondering where the link is... http://magicwithblogs.blogspot.com/
This was SO SUPER helpful! I wish I had known about it ages ago!!! And I made all my changes in less than an hour. Imagine what I will come up with later on when I have more time to play around! ;P

Love from Texas! ~bonnie

PS - Something new is a blog list of my HGTV friends over on the sidebar. And something awesome, is that it arranges them in the top 5 that have made recent updates on their blogs! Isn't that cool!!! Go visit them and tell them I sent you. ;)

News

for readers who read both of my blogs- the following is a cut and paste :) ~bonnie


Good News, Great News, not so good news, & Bad news:

first the good news: Paul Thomas slept 7 straight HOURS Friday night! I went to bed the same time as the babies around 9:30pm after they were in their beds.... and Paul Thomas didn't not cry out until 4:30am!!! WHOOO HOOOO!

now, some not so good news: That same night, Nora was up twice :( with coughing and fever. I don't think she even knew I was by the bed trying my best to get her to take some Tylenol and although I didn't get the thermometer to know for sure the number, her head was extremely HOT - thankfully by morning it was gone.

and are you ready for the GREAT NEWS!!!??? Paul Thomas slept ALL NIGHT Saturday night and last night too!!! Could we be moving on to a new stage in life? I sure hope so!!! :P

and now the Bad news.... I sadly regret to tell you, last Thursday while David was playing in the floor with the kids after arriving home from work... he rolled over and SMASHED our digital camera and BROKE it! :( It was in his pant pocket with some keys - I know, I know...

Thankfully, it does still take photos but I have no idea what the photos look like until I upload them to the computer. Reminds me of the old fashioned way of taking photos - looking thru the viewfinder... *sigh*

Looks like we will be shopping for Camera number FIVE soon - as we can NOT live without taking photos! I hope to purchase one before our trip home to Kentucky so I can read all about how to use it before then.

So my question for the day is: Do you have a digital camera? If so what kind? What do you like/dislike about it??? We've only owned Cannon's in the past, but I'm open to other brands. Leave me a comment and tell me ;)

Love from Texas! ~bonnie