My first dinner out

My dad took the family to Black Angus tonight for dinner. Happy Birthday, dear step-mother!

I had one crabcake and 3/4 of my garlic mashed spuds and I was done. Done! I brought the rest of the food home, with a custard creme brule, for later.

The daughter couldn't have dinner with us tonight because she had to work. We drove out to the stable to pick her up from work after dinner and the husband jumped on Henderson (a bay gelding), went three steps and slid off. And here the daughter is riding her pony (a gray arab gelding) at a canter around the arena....

I'm going to weigh myself tomorrow for sh*ts and giggles.

Darr :)

Walking Steady or Walking Shakey

Went to Lowe's and Wal-Mart today to pick up a few things. I'm not a big Wally-World shopper, but I purchased some work pants for my daughter there several weeks ago and they did not pass muster. Return city, baby.

The beloved husband accompanied me. By the end of our 2-hour jaunt, I was sore, tired and feeling all shaky. I needed to eat!

I drank some water in the car and we went through the drive-through at Taco Time. Got home, and I ate the insides of a meat burrito, sans the tortilla. There was nothing in there except the meat and probably a pinch of shredded cheese. No cabbage or lettuce or tomatoes, etc.

The meat was really finely chopped and definitely could be added into a "mushy stage" food category. I think it was about 3 oz of meat. I ate 3 teaspoons of my refried beans and I was done, man! I know to stop before I get "over-full." I'll just save the beans for later and I tossed the tortilla. Now I want to drink some water, but I have to wait 30 minutes so that I don't "wash" all the protein away.

Got the walking in. Got to eat meat! My tummy is happy! Unlike yesterday when I ate a bite of salmon too fast and had my very first PB! I slimed and everything. Very nasty.

Darr

9/28 = 325

Fully clothed, end of the day, with clogs.

3 2 5

I am a happy camper!

Darr

Tuna

I ate a tuna scramble today and I dare I say, "It was freakin' heavenly!"

Tuna, eggs, tomato, onion and dill. I made enough for 3 servings. Ate one serving and felt all happy inside like I hadn't eaten in weeks. Oh, wait! I haven't!

Trade Joe's opens up a block away from my house tomorrow. Hummus, here I come!

Darragha :)

Oh, oh

I overdid it yesterday.
Cause I drove and cause I ate mushies a day early, I suffered ALL FREAKIN' night with HORRENDOUS gas pains and incision-site pains. I thought I was going to die!

Today I had 1 protein drink, some milk and that's about it. I pulled out a yogurt, but needed to take a nap before eating it, so I never did.

I slept all day today.

Darr

On an upswing

I feel better today. Less pain. More awake. Overall, I'm doing pretty darn good. I've found that a juice drink called "winter tonic" made with garlic and cayenne totally rocks my world. It is better than chocolate. It's full of carrot, parsley, beet and other lovely squished veggies and I like it. Having this juice has made this "last day" of liquids bearable.

330 fully clothed at the end of the day.
minus 2lbs for the clogs (have weighed them before)
minus 1lb for the clothing (t-shirt and cropped jeans)
minus 1lb for swelling and whatever liquids were in my system.

333 on the day of surgery
330 to 325 5 days later.

I "look" better, too. I have eyes again--not just black orbs surrounded by a sea of fat.

Darr

Five days out

The swelling is going down.
I ate sugar free Jel-O today.
I never want to see another cup of soup as long as I live.
I get hungry at 1am.
I would like to weigh myself, but don't have the energy to drive yet. (I go to the postal scale)

I have a 14cc band. Just found that out this morning. My first fill is 10/17.

Hooray.

Darr :)

A brief Banding of Darragha story

I have dieted all my life. Diets do not work. On 800 calories a day plus exercise, I lost only 16lbs in one month's time. It was time to take back my life. I decided to go the surgical route. Not a gastric bypass, but a lap-band.

I started the process last April, 07, hoping to have the surgery in July when I have 5 weeks off from the day job. As it turned out, I had the surgery September 19th. I parents and step-parents paid the 17,000.00 for me to have the surgery as my insurance doesn't cover it. I guess insurance companies would rather pay for the treatment of co-morbidities (diabetes, high cholesterol, etc.) than a fairly routine surgery that has nearly a 100% success rate for weight loss and the improvement of one's health.

I had the surgery done in Everett at the Northwest Weight Loss Surgical Center. What bloody fantastic people they are down there! One of my nurses used to be a member of Romance Writers of America and my surgeon's wife used to practice the same Buddhism I do now (for 25 years).

The before-care was almost spa-like. I had a nice robe and a heating/vibrating chair to relax in as I was hooked up to various IV fluids. Everything was explained to me, and I had lots of one-on-one time with the surgeon and anesthesiologist to have my questions answered.

I had only two real concerns. I didn't want to bite my lips or tongue when the breathing tube was removed (and I didn't) and I had issues with the gas mask in the surgical suite. It made me feel terribly claustrophobic, so the nurse held it above my face. I think I took two or three deep breaths and I was out. I'd been reading my Romantic Time Book Review right before going into surgery and I believe, though I was trying to mentally chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as I went under, for some reason I couldn't get the name of Woodiwiss (a deceased author) out of my mind. Maybe her spirit was hovering about protecting me.

I awoke in the recovery room about an hour later--though I don't recall waking up the first time. I do recall "coming around" to my daughter asking me questions like, "What's your bosses name?" "Do you like the 12 new teachers in your school." And they were rubbing my feet. I liked that!

I spent about 3-4 hours in recovery. I felt desperate to sit up, walk around and stretch out in my own bed. When I tried to walk, I fell--but Nurse Galloway was right there with me. The gorgeous Melissa Smart (the insurance and scheduling person at the clinic) came and saw me, too. These are the nicest people down there!

It is now two days post surgery. My throat is really sore, and the right side of body (where the port is) is still swollen. The left side is way less swollen. The Lortab elixir for pain gives me insomnia, so I'm taking that for the pain, or Ibuprofen and benadryl to make me nap. I've been walking back and forth in the house 5-10 minutes at a time and since I am on liquids only, I'm making lots of trips to the lew.

Thank you all the people who purchased my book in lieu of sending me flowers. Thank you to my family for your financial and loving support, and thank you to all my friends who have been providing food for my husband and daughter while I recover.

Darr

The day I joined the band

In the OR

One of the nurses tells me about the trolley debockle in Seattle.

LOCALS in the US city of Seattle have enthusiastically embraced an unfortunate acronym for a new tramline, even if officials insist on ignoring it.

Work on the light-rail line in Seattle has almost been completed for what officials call the South Lake Union Streetcar (SLUS), but locals have taken to using the word “Trolley”.

According to seattlepi.com, more than 100 people have brought “Ride the S.L.U.T” t-shirts from one coffee shop.














Getting an injection in my leg. Ouch.
Dr. Abrams, the anesthesiologist saying, "My what a large neck you have." Hooray.

Me, catching up on some industry reading :)










I'm a bit too groggy to write the text for this right now, but I will! Please check back later. I'll post the "monitor photo" of my internal band, too. You lucky people.

Darr

I'll take my leave to Mooncusser Cove, now, darling

The official banding of Darragha takes place on 9/19/07 at 12:45 p.m. in Everett, Washington.

In lieu of cyber-flowers and well-wishes for my speedy recovery from tomorrow's surgery, please feel free to rock my world and yours, by buying my new release!

Buy your copy here.
Now. Please.

Thank you,

Darragha :)

48 hours away

I'm feeling a tad bit anxious this morning. My banding is two days away. This is my last day at the the "day job" for two weeks. I'm way overbooked with things for a Monday...and I am so glad I know how to chant.

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Darr

6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...BAND BLAST OFF

I am 6 days away from being banded. I've lost 16lbs since August 1st. My liver must be very happy to be smaller.

I am beginning to mourn the loss of:

toast

meats rolled up in pasty sold on sidewalks in Argentina (should I ever go to Argentina, of course. Damn that Tony Bourdain and his foody travel shows, any way)

I think that's about it.


I am beginning to kvell about:

getting there, getting it done and getting home
my first sip of chicken stock after being banded
the first time I slip my undies on and they fall off
having two weeks off from the day job to recover, heal, chant and "learn my band"
having two weeks off to recover, heal, chant, nap and write!

Band day approacheth. Eegads and little fishes, I'm excited!

Darr

Nope, this isn't me. I'm just using this spot as a place-holder for a n avatar on a character blog


This is the face of "Vesper" from Mooncusser Cove, available at Liquid Silver Books on 9/17.

:)

The Last Supper

My last supper--and in fact the first "big" meal I've had in 30 days, was chicken fried steak and eggs. Couldn't eat it all, either. Way too much food.

I think my new shipment of Medifast should be here by the 5th, which is the date I'm going to make every attempt to go "liquid" in full to drop 5-10 more pounds before my surgery. I can do anything for 2 weeks. I hope. If I start gnawing on car tires, I'll eat a chicken breast or a head of lettuce.

I walked farther and quicker than I've walked previously, too. Damn. I'm getting so fit. (insert laughter here).

Darr

15lbs!

It took 30 days of 800-900 calories a day, no pizza, no milkshakes and more willpower than I've mustered ever before...but I am pleased to announce that I've lost

15bls of the necessary 20-25lbs lost before surgery.

17 days out. Can I lose 5 more pounds in 17 days? Bets are now being taken.

Darr