What's Better Than....

Getting Lap Band with your amazing hubby
so you can become healthy together...



Having your BFF come and take care of you
and your kids while you recover...(all while she's
prego and drove all the way from Cali!)



and having her son and yours totally become
little buddies?


Perhaps the only thing better is getting a letter in the mail from the First Presidency granting you to get sealed for time and all eternity to the love of your life after waiting nearly 2 years!!

Recovery

After having a serious case of cabin fever we decided
to venture out to AZ Mills! Shopping is a great way to
recover!! :)
Btw, I think Giovanni looks like such a big boy in this
pic!!




Brittany's cutie patooty son, Kasen at AZ Mills


Well, I wanted to write quick and say that surgery went super well! Apparently I woke up during the surgery and scared the Dr to death, but besides that no mishaps! I was waaay out of it for most of the day Friday. Good thing my sweet hubby came to the surgery center or my poor friend would have never found our way home! lol.
I feel sore. I have 5 incisions- one of them is huge compared to the rest. I'm assuming that's where my port is. And I found they sew the port into your muscle so it's nice and painful too! Yaay! lol. But every day I'm feeling a little better, and it's totally awesome to see results so fast too! Good bye 7lbs since Friday! In total since my pre-op appointment that's a grand total of 17lbs in about 2 weeks, no complaints here!
I've been on a liquid diet since Friday and actually have no hunger what so ever, it's weird. I used to find myself thinking about food a lot, and I totally haven't been. Even today at AZ Mills I sat and watched everyone eat and I was totally fine. Just sipped on my Poweraid Zero!
I am so blessed to be surrounded with loving people. My bff, Brittany, has been amazing. She won't let me lift a finger and runs for my every need. In the 16 years we've been friends I've never been more amazed by her. Words are truly not enough to thank her for being so amazing. My awesome visiting teachers brought over an amazing dinner (according to my family- I'm on liquids until Friday) last night and visited for a few min. They are such sweet ladies, I'm so blessed to have them as friends. Everyone is calling to check on me and do anything for me that needs to be done, it's so nice to know how much people care. My sweet neighbor who took Giovanni for me last minute even though she has an at home daycare and refused my money, seriously saved the day, too!
I am also thankful for my loving husband who is so supportive and helpful, too. I'm so excited for him to have surgery so we can become healthier together! :)

Banded

This is the band that will be around my stomach. The long cord goes up to like my belly button area and then the port is where I will get my fills. The plastic on the inside of the band is what gets filled or lessened as needed.


I wasn't sure if I was going to blog about this or not because I haven't really told a lot of people about it AT ALL. But I decided I'm not ashamed, so I'm going to let you all in on what's going on in my life.

It's not a secret that I'm overweight. It's not a secret that I have been for most of my life. Sure, there are times that I've lost weight but only to gain it all back plus some. I've tried everything you can possibly think of; weight watchers, south beach, jenny craig, alli, I've tried counting calories, counting fat grams, I've tried the Biggest Loser diet, and the list goes on and on and on. I'm tired of it. I hate being like this but it's HARD to change, right? Well, about a month ago Bry and I are laying in bed and I'm thinking about life, love, and the pursuit of happiness and all of a sudden I start thinking about if our insurance would cover weight loss surgery. Then I start thinking about how I would probably have to convince Bry into doing it with me (he's not had such good luck with surgery), but I couldn't stop thinking about it. I woke him up and talked to him and he says to call in the morning and see what insurance says.
The next morning I wake up and call. They tell me that it's covered 100% but needs to be pre-approved (I heart blue shield of CA!). So I look online find a Dr in the area and that is where our journey started. We thought for a while we wouldn't be able to do it, but we have been working with the BEST Dr and staff around and have worked with us to get everything we need to get approved.
We both decided to get lap band because it's less evasive and the recovery is a whole lot shorter. In fact, mine is an out patient surgery at a surgery center. Bry has to be in the hospital for his because of his sleep apnea they make him do it in the hospital. So he'll be staying overnight, but that's it!
Last Thursday I had my pre-op appointment and started my pre-op diet of only lean protein and protein shakes. It's not so much fun, but that's ok. I've not even had one slip up- so that's good for me! I've lost a total of 7lbs in the 6 days that I've been on the diet. I was originally scheduled for my surgery on the 22 but was called yesterday and asked if I could bump my surgery up to this Friday, the 16th! I was nervous to say yes, but I did! So I'm having surgery Friday and Bry will have his on the 27th.
I am so excited about this change in my life. What an amazing tool to help me lose weight. The thing that is so good about lap band is it's a much slower process so it's a lot easier on your body. We'll go in every 6 weeks to get fills or to take some saline out to ensure we're doing well with our weight loss. When I have the surgery they have the band and then there is a port that will be by my belly button and that's how they will do the fills.
I'm being super blessed to have my bff , Brittany, be totally self-less and come help me with my kiddos while I'm recovering. I'm so thankful for her support and love in this process. It's friends like that believe in me that I know will help me to reach my goals. You're the best, Britty!!
I'm not going to go into detail about how fat I am- just know the insurance company felt that I was in need of the surgery, so that says enough. When I weighed in at my pre-op appointment, Jen (the lady who works at my Dr office who had surgery herself and went from 285 to 127- WOW! Total inspiration!!) told me look at that number- now erase it from your mind because you'll never see it again!
I am so excited and I know that you, my good friends, will be there to help cheer me along. I am excited to embark on this new journey at the start of the new year. I'll keep you all posted with my progress, but you've got to help me with your support, sound like a deal?!

New Years!!

Where in the world did 2008 go to?! I can't believe that a new year has started! Wow! We rang in the New Year quietly at home watching Goonies, eating french dip sandwiches, playing with new Christmas toys, Natali painting my nails and doing my make up, and having some of the kids friends over! It was fun for all! Especially the Sonic run to get a chocolate cream pie shake... YUM-O!

I usually suck at resolutions but this year I want to try really hard at the ones I've made. This year I've decided that my resolutions are going to be... (drum roll, please!)

1. Do my food storage- I don't have food storage at all. Sad, huh? I guess I'm a tad bit overwhelmed but I know this resolution is so important. We've been told by our leaders for how long? Also, I know that it's a goal I'm supposed to be doing because Thursday night for Enrichment we're having a Food Storage night... I think it's a sign! ;)

2. Become organized- this one is so hard for me. I don't know where to start on this either, but it needs to be done. I started on the kids rooms already. Went through and got like 3 trash bags FULL of clothes that don't fit anymore. I know this is going to take a lot of work but I want to get it done so we can have a simple life. Not a cluttered one! :)

Also. as a family we have made the resolution to read the Book of Mormon this year. Already I have felt the Spirit so much stronger in our home by doing this every night before bed.

The one thing I can't believe about 2009--- it marks my 10 year high school reunion! Wow! Where did that come from?! Am I really this old? Yikes!!

Happy New Year! :)

Light Rail!

It was so crowded on our way out that Giovanni
sat on the steps!




On the way back we got seats right in front of
kids the same age as ours! It was a talkative
ride home!!


Eating lunch at Baja Fresh! What's up with
Natali's new smile? lol


Jen and I... I would have gone crazy attempting
this alone! :)



Cute kiddos!


December 27th the Valley Metro Light Rail opened up here in Phoenix. We had planned on taking it on the 27th with Jess and Adam and our kids downtown to go to dinner but when we were headed over they told us they stopped running at 8 and we'd be stuck downtown (no thanks!). So we jumped on and took it down a few blocks and came back! The kids loved it but wanted more! So, like the good mom I am I took them the next week to ride it all the way down and back! We got on where it stops here in Mesa and rode it all the way into down town. We got off and ate lunch then got back on and rode it all the way home. One way it's almost 2 hours, it was long but we had fun! The kids met some other kids and talked to strangers, it was a fun time had by all! ;)

Christmas!

All of us at the Train Park the day after Christmas!





New bikes! Awesome!!



The view coming down the stairs!



In front of the HUGE tree in Scottsdale



My little Christmas presents!! :)

Our Christmas was an amazing one this year. It was so fun shopping for the kids, teaching them about the 12 days of Christmas and Secret Santa, and most importantly hearing my kids on a daily basis add in their prayers how they were grateful for this time of year to celebrate our Savior's birth. My babies knew the true meaning of Christmas this year, and it wasn't the big, fancy gifts under the tree, it wasn't what we were going to get it was the Spirit of Christmas and it was felt so strongly in our home.
This year we were the recipients of a Secret Santa. My kids were absolutely thrilled. When I opened the door and saw the box on our porch tears came to my eyes. Secret Santa, if you are reading this, thank you! You helped to bring the magic of Christmas into our home. I was overwhelmed that someone would think of US to give Secret Santa to. Our kids were so thrilled and wanted to find out who it was so they could thank them. It was too cute. And such a gesture that (unknowingly before hand) our family needed so much! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Bry and I were talking about Christmas traditions this year and both of us realized that growing up our families both did the 12 days of Christmas for another family. We thought this was a great tradition and this year started it with our own family. It was so fun seeing our kids get all excited when they would run back to the car yelling "I rang it, I rang it. GO FAST!!!". I'm pretty sure our identity was compromised but it was still sooo fun! The best part was when we were telling our kids about it they decided they wanted to use the Christmas money they saved for each others gifts to use on the 12 days of Christmas. Wow! Maybe my kids do get it after all?
Christmas Eve was spent with Adam and Jess exchanging Christmas gifts, baking cookies for Santa and tidy-ing up the house so that Santa could come (Santa doesn't come unless the house is clean!). We also did the traditional opening of our first gifts, I made SnapFish picture books for the kids and Bry, they loved 'em! We also all had fun watching where Santa was at! At one point Natali was taking out the trash and came in crying saying she heard Santa's bell and was worried he wouldn't come because she wasn't asleep. I told her not to worry, I text Santa and asked him to go to some different houses first. She was all good with that! :)
This year all of our Christmas stayed in the garage until Christmas Eve so the kids never saw it. How did I manage that, you might ask. I told them that Santa sent us cameras to install in the garage and that if they opened the door and peeked it would send a text message to us and to Santa. I explained the door had a sensor on it that would sense who's hand it was opening it... that Santa sure is technical! The best part is, they totally 100% believed it! Go me!! :)
Christmas morning was awesome! I was the worst one, totally couldn't sleep at all Christmas eve, even thought about waking the kids up at 2, then at 3:30, then at 4, and then finally I HAD to wake them at 7:30... I just couldn't take it any more! They were so excited with all of their gifts! It was a successful Christmas! We didn't have much time before we had to go over to Bamba's (Bry's Mom) so the kids took a quick ride on their new bikes and we hustled to get over for breakfast! Before breakfast we opened gifts with Bamba, Tia Onan, Makenzy, and Baby Nate it was so fun! The kids got spoiled rotten, and Bry and I made out pretty well too! PJ (Bamba) gave Bry and I the most incredible pictures of our kids. A lady she works with sketched them. They are sooo cool! I LOVE them!
After presents we ate breakfast and then we had to run (it was like noon almost lol) to my parents house! This Christmas was super special for my parents because for the first time in a long time they had all 3 of us girls home for Christmas with our families. There was 16 of us total. My kids got spoiled once again and had so much fun playing with cousins they hardly see! By the time we left our van was PACKED from both Grandma's, Papa, the aunties and the uncles! I'm still trying to sort through it and put it away in an organized fashion! I will tell you, from my parents I got all the stuff I need to start canning! I'm sooo excited! :)
This Christmas was our best yet. I feel so blessed we got to share it with our family and friends who are like our family!
OH! One last note, I totally didn't send out my Christmas cards, but they are coming, I promise! lol! I'm a total slacker and made more Christmas presents than I should have this year and am in recovery! But they will be sent out by Friday! :)