Wait! Don't Faint! Yes, this is an Update!!

Oh... Where to start!  I can't believe it's been since April!  Sorry there were no updates during my second trimester.  Health wise, I was healthy, but I had a lot of things going on during those months!  I take an zantac every morning, so that nipped the heartburn and my nausea did go away completely!  Not much happened in May, except my birthday.  June is a different story.

(above) Carrie and I , Us with Bella's truck

I went to Seattle to visit Carrie and to finally meet Will.  It was a very good visit.  Just before we flew out there I got a call from back home saying mom took a turn for the worse and we weren't sure how much longer.  So, during this whole trip I did the best to enjoy myself while I kept my cell phone handy just in case.  I think the highlight of our trip was going on the "Twilight" pilgrimage!  We visited Port Angeles, Forks, and went over to La Push.  It was great!  We also went across the border to visit Victoria, BC.  That was awesome too!  I had a little trouble getting through customs because my i.d. wasn't current... but they let me through after all (btw, a week after I got back, I renewed my license pic!).  Similar problems with airport security too!  Who know that wt. loss could cause such problems!?

Mom did pass away on June 30th.  Too young in my opinion, but the Lord decided that she was ready and she came to terms and was also ready.  She will be missed greatly, especially now, since I am expecting my first and I so wanted her to be here for it!  It has been an emotional roller coaster for me since she past away.  We decided as a family that this was her last gift because it brought the whole family together.  Sam and Amber blessed their new baby Knight that same weekend she passed.  They weren't going to have hardly any family there, and then suddenly we were all there for that special occasion.  It's considered our bittersweet family reunion.  We didn't see any fireworks this 4th of July, but we were all together.

I was able to recoup and relax completely when Theron  and I made our yearly trip to Colorado.  His parents asked me what I wanted to do, and I replied, to just relax and do nothing!  We did visit Bryce Canyon on the way there.  It was beautiful!  So I had a week of beautiful sights, fishing at the lake, and relaxing in the Colorado mountains! 

Bryce Canyon... Beautifull views!

Part of the new roof...

A wallpaper boarder that matches the valance will be added
along the chair rail... my friend Lisa turned the lamp into
a tree!

The bears aren't staying... yay the crib is up... Lisa also
painted 6 little animal portraits to put up on this wall...

By the time we got home and settled, we realized that our Summer fun was at an end and we have a few things to concentrate on now.  Theron is putting up a badly needed new roof (we went with metal panels), the baby room is just about complete, and we finally installed a brand new ac unit.  I am training a new girl at work for when I go on leave and we are also in the process of finding a pediatrician and some kind of day care for Fiona.  We've decided that I will go back to work but only part time, 4 days a week.  And no more Saturdays!  I will take Wednesdays off so Theron and I can have at least one day off together during the weekday.  I didn't want to stop work completely because (1) I would miss working with the animals, and (2) the boss doesn't have an office manager to replace me... everyone else at the clinic is too new!  I figure he only needs me a couple days of the week, but not full time.

I am almost 32 weeks now and Fiona is growing like a weed!  She still as wiggly as ever!  Her new "trick" is finding mom's rib cage.  Not fun... poor thing is starting to get cramped!  She also likes to toss and turn at night when I toss and turn.  I am glad she is so active, it lets me know that she is doing well!  But I am tired of waiting, I want to be able to hold her already!  Patience, I know... she will come soon enough

12 Weeks and counting...

Much to my relief... and Theron's, my first trimester is almost over! I will officially be 13 weeks on Wednesday (14th)! I am feeling pretty good these days. My stomach is still a little touchy, but I think it will be this way for the duration. My appetite is mostly back to normal and my heartburn is sporadic. I still get bouts of nausea, but it's few and far between and I keep my pills handy just in case.

I was having cravings earlier, but they seem to have subsided for now. Now, my baby is moving up a little higher, and seems to have settled on my poor bladder. With my stomach being as small as it is, I am unable to eat a lot of food in a single serving. So I compensate by eating small high protein meals with a few carbs thrown in for good measure. And I am eating about every 2-3 hours. If I don't, my stomach will let me know. It either growls or gets upset (a little nausea... weird). It has taken my boss a little while to get use to seeing me eating something every time he turns around! He asked me the other day if I was able to use protein drinks to help with my protein requirements (about 80g/day). Any bariatric patient will tell you, after two solid weeks of only ingesting protein shakes, gets old pretty quick and you never want to see one again. So I answer my boss... I can but just the thought of those protein shakes wants to make me puke!

I had my monthly ob visit on the 29th. It was a special visit. Putting the yearly exam aside that I had to endure, I was able to hear my baby's heartbeat! It was awesome! I am not very emotional (as most of you know), but I almost cried! I was also much relieved at this visit. I love my ob/gyn doc. She is very understanding and knows my condition well (including the bariatric part). Apparently, it's not very common to treat pregnant bariatric patients. The nurse that we had talked to prior to our official dr. visit has no such experience at all. We were reviewing the list of test that will be needed and when they will be administered. She mentioned the glucose test for gestational diabetes. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the gastric by-pass surgery, I will give you a quick lesson on dumping syndrome. A part of the intestine is re-routed and re-attached to the new stomach pouch. Because of this, sugar is no longer safe for us to ingest. When the sugar goes into the stomach, it hits the intestine too fast and causes severe cramping/vomiting/diarrhea/nausea. It pretty much makes you bed ridden for the rest of the day. No more sugared drinks, cake, candy, ice-cream, etc. All bad, unless you can get it in sugar free. Anyhow, I tried to explain this process to the nurse. She replies that a lot of women get sick. Theron and I just looked at each other... she don't get it... I try to explain again... then she asks, "well, can you drink a coke?" I say yeah, a diet coke... she says, no it has to have sugar. I say, again, ... I can't have sugar... Then she says, well discuss it with your dr. then. Ok.

So I stress for the following two weeks when I see the doc again. I talked to her about my concerns for the test. Bless her heart. She says, well she's just a nurse... she only knows regular pregnant women. LOL. My doc said there was an alternative (fasting blood glucose test), and there was no reason for me to get sick. Especially since I am at minimal risk because I don't even eat sugar! Normally at this clinic, patients rotate with all the doctors so that patients are familiar with them when it comes to delivery time. Apparently I am special. My doc has requested that I have all my appts. with her. I ask why and she said because I was a"unique" case. Yay me for being different again at something! That's ok though... I don't want another situation like the nurse thing. My next appt. isn't until the first of May.

We were at the in-laws for general conference. It was nice to get away a little. We listened and watched conference on the computer (Conway doesn't have the BYU station yet), and the boys went to the priesthood session. It was a very enjoyable conference. I just love listing to both Pres. Monson and Uchdorf. They tell good stories and occasionally gives us a good laugh. A lot like Pres. Hinkley! I only mention conference today because I wanted to share an experience that I had. It has been a long time since the spirit has moved me to tears. I blame my hormones some, but the topic hit home because it was something I have yearned for so long to experience and it is finally coming true. It was a talk given by Elder Foster of the Seventies. He talked about a mother's love and the impact it has for all of us. What a sweet topic to preach.
A couple of quotes I took to heart, so that I will remember these words when I need them.

"Brothers and sisters, in a world where everyone is granted agency, some of our loved ones may stray for a season. But we can never give up. We must always go back for them—we must never stop trying. Our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, has issued a plea for us to go rescue those of our loved ones who may be lost... We never know when a heart may be turned. We never know when a soul may be weary and worn out by the world. When that happens, it seems our children almost always turn first toward Mother..."

"As in all things, the Savior set the perfect example in the love He showed for His earthly mother. In the final, most pivotal moment of His mortal life—after the anguish of Gethsemane, the mock trial, the crown of thorns, the heavy cross to which He was brutally nailed—Jesus looked down from the cross and saw His mother, Mary, who had come to be with her Son. His final act of love before He died was to ensure that His mother would be cared for, saying to His disciple, “Behold thy mother!” And from that point on the disciple took her unto his home."

It was pressed upon me how important our calling of being a mother is. Again the spirit moves through me as I review this talk and the special meaning and encouragement it gives us. Let us all follow Jesus's example and remember our mothers and remember who we are as mothers!

The Newest Nunley!

Well, Here's the good news! We are expecting our first child! These are our 6 week ultrasound pics. We were also able to see a little heartbeat going a mile a minute! Our due date is October 22. We also have our names picked out. Though Theron forgot the boys name, I gave him such a hard he hasn't forgotten it since. While we were going over names I asked him to offer any names he liked. He gave me the name "Myron". I just stared at him. Then I explained it was too old fashioned. That's when he said it was his mother's father's name. Like I said, old fashioned! Needless to say, he is not allowed to come up with any new names!

Our girl name will be Fiona Asenith, and our boy name is Evan Steele (Theron was thinking Elvan when he forgot the name... he needs to lay off the sci-fi books!) I also have a theme picked out for the nursery. It's going to be a jungle theme with baby animals, like tigers, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, etc. I think the colors are gonna be green and purple (good unisex colors!).

I haven't been sick, yet. Though I went off the prilosec (on it because of weight loss surgery), my stomach reacted by producing tons of acid. Hence I have been experiencing stomach pains and nausea. It's more tolerable when I take a chewable anti acid. I am already feeling better!

My next appointment is on the 29th. I will update then!

Same 'ole, Same 'ole

Happy Valentines Day! I received two dozen fancy red roses on Friday, and had a lovely dinner at a fancy restaurant tonight. It has been a good weekend. It helps that I didn't have to work at all and Theron took off on Saturday! We hardly ever get a day off together, so it was nice!

Our sunbeams are doing great! We had a breakthrough today... no one cried when their parents left them. A major improvement! I was beginning to wonder if it was ever going to work out! I still have one child who steps into primary and instantly bawls, so mom has to instantly carry him off. Someday he will come to class!

Work is the same for the both of us. My kids don't talk so I don't have any silly antics to report and they don't go to school, so there is no drama to report. All they do is eat, sleep, bring in mud from the backyard, an occasional hairball, and the occasional trash can raid... I know, my life is exciting...

Theron has taken on a new project. I more or less volunteered him, but he was happy to do it. My receptionist at work is having a tough time with her youngest, the 12 year old. She is divorced from an alcoholic who is off again, on again... always in between jobs, so he doesn't always pay, etc. Anyhow, Matt is having a ton of trouble in his math class and she has no clue how to help him. She doesn't have any money to pay for a tutor. So, I volunteered Theron , knowing how good he is at math. And I also told Theron not to take any money from her. So it's our little service project. They had their first session last Wednesday, and he'll be going over their every Monday. Matt seems to respond well to Theron and seems to like him. We will see how things go in a couple of weeks.

I think that is all there is to update... I keep this updated in case something else happens!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone! It has been a quiet one for me. I woke up with
Theron at 3:30 this morning to exchange 1 present to each other, and we will open the rest with his parents next weekend at new years! Since he had to work today, I am in charge of cooking the turkey and the fixins! He will get home by 4 to carve the bird then we will have the feast. It doesn't feel much like Christmas since I am by myself most of this day, but I am glad I have my four legged companions!

It started snowing last night, so it was real nice waking up to a White Christmas! I can't remember when the last time we had one... several years ago! Enjoy the pics!

Continuing with my list of 'Because I lost weight...' I thought of a few more things to add:
1) I can see me collar bone! Wasn't sure if I even had one...
2) Movie theatre seats are more comfy... it's nice not having to squeeze into them...
3) I am not embarrest at the gym... nothing like an overweight person looking out of place at the gym.
4) I can look straight down and see my toes... amazing!
5) A guy at work flirted w/ me... This was pointed out to me by a co-worker... I was just being nice to the guy but my friend assures me that he was flirty... kinda funny I think...

Because I have lost weight...

I can't tell you how proud I am of this picture. It was a long hard road to get here. We both had worked hard! I am going to make a list here of all the things that have changed or is different in my life since I have had surgery.

I don't know where to start... and there is no particular order...

1) I have lost almost 120#. This was never possible without surgery. My Dr. and I have tried. I've spent my whole life trying!

2) I no longer have to worry about future health problems that accompanies obesity. For example Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, cancer, high blood preasure, etc.

3) My body is much more comfortable to be in. I am more flexable and agile. I hope this makes sense... I also have more stamina. This showed the most when we were in Colorado earlier this year. Usually the higher elevation makes us short on breath. This year we felt like athletes. We walked everywhere and hiked and was never out of breath. It was a great feeling.

4) Since we feel healthier, we find ourselves doing healthier things. For example... we hardly ever use the elevator... the stairs are more fun! It doesn't matter anymore how close our parking spot is at the store... we don't mind walking the extra distance.

5) At restaurants, we don't have to worry if we fit in the booth. They use to be really tight, or we can barely squeeze in them. Or the chairs were just plain uncomfortable and small. Now, most booths seem a little too big!

6) Shopping is such a joy now. Each year in the Fall we go to Branson and go shopping with Theron's parents. Gloria and I use to be similar in sizes. This year, however, I tried shopping in the same stores and nothing fit! Ha Ha, what a great fealing. For the first time ever, I am not limmited to the little tiny section of "Womens" or "Plus Sizes". I can walk into a clothing store now, and go anywhere in the store I want!!

7) I can be a lady and cross my legs. That has never happened before!

8) Clients will see me at work and a few of them claim they didn't recognize me until I said something to them. It's hard to beleive that my wt. loss was enouph to change my physical apperence. The thin person, that I always knew who was hiding inside me, finally came out.

If you have never been overweight, you may not understand what I am trying to say.

9)I am eating healthier and eating less. I am unable to eat high sugared foods (ice cream, desserts, etc.) or foods high in fat. They can physically make me ill. Stomack cramps, vomitting, etc. But that's ok. Splenda has become my best-friend. There are only a handfull of foods that bother me now that I didn't have a problem before... For example... scrambled eggs are not nice to my stomach, this includes omletts. Now eggs cooked any other way are ok. I know, weird. And breakfast meats are no longer kosher for me either... must be the fat content...

10) About a year before my surgery, I had a humiliating experience. I am sure just about every obese person has experience this. I was kicked off a carnival ride because I couldn't fit in it. It's a fear I have had everytime we go someplace that has rides. 'Would I be able to fit?' 'What would happen if I don't fit the ride?' It finally came true. From then on, I swore off rides. This killed me because I loved the rides. There wasn't any ride I wouldn't go on. Three months post-op we baught season tickets to Silver Dollar City. No longer did I have to worry if I didn't fit. I was able to enjoy myself!

11) Similar experince in flying. The seat belts never fit, I had to ask the flight attendant for an extension. I would receive it, after she used it to demonstrate how to use the buckle in their opening flight speech. Plus, I always thought that the chairs were realy small. Now the chairs seem quite roomy and my buckle fits fine, and then some.

12) Why is it cold all the time. Oh yeah, cause I lost almost all of my insulation when I lost my weight. One of the few downfalls... I am constantly cold, but it's well worth the discomfort!! I am glad that I have electricity and can use my electric blanket in bed at night!

13) I lost enough weight that I had to pull my car seat up so I can reach my pedals again. That was kinda weird...

14) We need to buy new temple clothing... And by next summer I get to have a whole new Summer wardrobe. By then I would have gone from a size 26/28 to a 10... maybe an 8 by then!

15) I am hopefull that we get pregnant this year, one of the main reasons for having the surgery.

16) With Theron haveing the surgery also, I think this life changing experience has brought us closer together. We understand what the other is going through... that is priceless.

17) I think I look younger.

18) I have lost a total of 55.75"! And I am still losing!!

I will add more as I think of them... but I think this is a good start!

One Year and 255 lbs. Later!

Our Official 1 Year Post-Op Pics:

Well, time has flown by! Our lives seem so mundane and routine, that I didn't think we had much to report on. We went for a weekend trip in Branson in the fall. We missed the pretty colors by about a week, but it was still pretty there. We had a chance to take pictures at the same place this year as we did 2 years ago. The difference is amazing!

Branson, 2009 (9 months post-op)

Branson, 2007 (1 yr. pre-op)

I found out recently that Mom and Dad are selling our beloved childhood home. It came at a shock at first, but I have been expecting it to happen. The house is just too much for one person, who is hardly there anyways... 30 years of memories soon will be sold to some stranger. I was able to go back there last weekend to salvage some items and get some pics of the old place. Matt... You better take care of mom's china!! Dad is moving into the new apartments as we speak, to a place next door to mom's place. That will be nice for the both of them.

Congrats to Amber and Sam on their upcoming first born! Good luck to the both of youkk! I visit with my Dr. next week. Hoping I will the the go ahead for Theron and I to start trying again.... Wish us luck!