081 Jimmy's Four Month Post Op Update

Yes! It's finally here! I know that you have been waiting for ever to find out about what Jimmy has been up to so I trapped him and got him to record a little four month update. I'm sorry if you are hoping it would be really long because it's only about a minute in length. Jimmy is even more full of energy now and I just can't keep him trapped for that long. So I hope you enjoy this little update and hopefully I will get back into posting more soon.

078 Tips for Success After Weight Loss Surgery

We are now past the three month mark and Jimmy is doing great! I really am proud of all that he has accomplished. I want you to have that kind of success too. So today I am sharing an article with you that I read on About.com which summarizes a lot of things that we have already heard from our doctor and other WLS friends. I hope you enjoy!

25 Tips For Success After Weight Loss Surgery

What to Do and What Not to Do After Weight loss Surgery

By Jennifer Heisler, RN, About.com Guide   •   Updated May 02, 2010

You will be making many changes to your lifestyle after you have weight loss surgery, which will include following your surgeon's instructions to the letter. Check out these 25 tips for success after gastric bypass surgery:

Know when to call your surgeon. In the weeks after surgery, you should call your surgeon if:

You develop a fever over 101 degrees

You have uncontrollable pain

You cannot keep fluids down

You are short of breath or have difficulty breathing

You notice dark or tarry (bloody) stools

You suddenly begin to bruise easily

Your incisions begin to leak pus or bleed heavily

You develop unexplainable severe leg pain

Don’t drink calories. Your caloric intake will be very limited after surgery, which should help you lose weight. Don’t work against your surgery by taking in liquid calories that provide no nutrition and slow your weight loss. Make every calorie count by focusing on protein, fruits and vegetables.

Avoid sugar. Sugar is the ultimate empty calorie. Sugar will make your blood sugar climb, cause hunger pangs, provide no nutrients and, for patients of certain types of gastric bypass, cause dumping syndrome. Avoid sugar and any foods that list sugar in the first three ingredients, whenever possible.

Avoid carbonated drinks. The bubbly nature of carbonated drinks, such as soda, can cause gas pain and increase the pressure in your stomach, which can be harmful to staples and sutures, especially in the months immediately after your surgery.

Don’t drink fluids immediately before, during or after your meal. It is essential that you reserve the small amount of space you have in your stomach for high-quality, nutrient-rich food. Drinking before and during your meal will fill your stomach with fluid, instead of food, and drinking immediately after your surgery can “wash” food out of your stomach, making you feel hungry sooner. Separate food and fluid by at least a half an hour, whenever you can.

Keep your follow-up visits. After surgery, your progress will be closely monitored. Skipping appointments may mean that a nutritional deficiency, surgical complication or other issues may not be discovered in a timely manner. Also, appointments are a good motivator for staying on track with your goals.

Don’t stop taking any medications without your surgeon’s approval. Many diseases can improve with surgery and weight loss, but that doesn’t mean you should stop taking your medication. Talk to your physician prior to stopping any medications.

Don’t snack. Snacking is a habit that can slow your progress and hurt your long-term success. Stick to high-quality meals and avoid junk foods. If you are hungry, have a meal, but don’t snack between meals.

Protein, Protein, Protein! Protein should be your primary focus when sitting down for a meal. Not only will it help you maintain your muscle mass while losing fat, but it will also help you feel full longer after your meals.

Skip alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is full of empty calories that provide no nutritional value. It can also contribute to stomach ulcers, which you are already at risk for because of your surgery. Weight loss surgery also makes you more sensitive to alcohol than you were before, so a little goes a long way.

Chew and then chew some more. Chewing your food thoroughly is essential to preventing nausea and vomiting during and after your meal. Large chunks of food can have trouble passing through the digestive tract after surgery, and if it gets stuck along the way, it can cause pain.

Avoid pregnancy for the first 24 months after surgery. Your body will be in high weight-loss mode for at least a year after your surgery. During that time, supporting you and a baby would be unhealthy for you and disastrous for a developing fetus. If you are sexually active, use a reliable method of birth control, and consult your surgeon before attempting to become pregnant.

Find a support group. There are more than 140,000 people having weight-loss surgery each year, so people who have walked in your shoes are not hard to find. Not only do support groups offer emotional support, but they can also provide advice on the wide range of changes you are facing as you lose weight. Support groups are available in most areas that have a bariatric surgeon and are plentiful on the Internet.

Don’t take over-the-counter drugs without your surgeon’s approval. Over-the-counter drugs can pose risks after surgery that were not a concern prior to surgery. Pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen increase the likelihood that you will develop an ulcer. Remedies forconstipation shouldn’t be taken without physician approval, as constipation can be a sign of complications or a need for a change in diet.

Listen to your body. Don’t eat if you aren’t hungry. Just because the clock says it is time for a meal, doesn’t mean you should eat one. Learn to listen to your smaller stomach and only eat when your body wants you to.

• Avoid simple carbs.

•  Simple carbohydrates are highly processed foods such as white bread, pasta, sugar and white rice. The rule of thumb is this if it is white, it may be a simple carb. You are better off with more wholesome alternatives such as brown rice that contain fiber and nutrients that white rice does not. Simple carbohydrates can also elevate blood glucose levels, triggering hunger pangs and cravings.

• Exercise. From the moment you are able to after surgery, exercise. Even if you can’t walk far or for very long, get started. Your results will be better, and you will be encouraged by how quickly your stamina improves as the pounds shed. Walking also helps prevent serious complications, such as pulmonary embolus and blood clots, if you start immediately after surgery.

• Eat mindfully. No more eating while watching television. Focus on what you are doing when you eat, and stop the moment you feel full. Giving food your full attention will help you learn to say when and develop new healthier habits.
• Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water. This will help you feel more energetic, and it will prevent you from mistaking hunger for thirst. Many adults confuse the two sensations, so if you are well-hydrated, you won’t ever wonder if you are truly hungry.
• Surgery won’t fix your life. Remember that surgery is a way to lose weight, but it is not a miracle fix for every problem in your life. Being thin won’t make your children clean their room without being asked, it won’t fix a bad marriage and it certainly won’t make your nosy relatives behave themselves. Be realistic in your expectations of life after surgery.
• Say goodbye to caffeine. Caffeine is the most-used drug in the world, and it is a drug. Caffeine alters your mood, increases your heart rate and is a diuretic. If you drink caffeine, you will be working against your efforts to stay well-hydrated and increase your risk of a stomach ulcer.
• Find healthful coping skills. If you need bariatric surgery, the chances are high that you used food as a coping mechanism for stress. It is time to find a new way to cope, whether it is exercise, reading a book, talking to a friend on the phone or whatever works for you other than eating.
• Milk? Maybe. If you must drink calories, skim milk is an excellent option. Be aware, though, that many weight-loss surgery patients develop lactose intolerance after surgery, even if they didn’t have it before. Go easy on the dairy products until you know how your body will tolerate lactose.
• Kiddie meals and doggy bags. Restaurant portions are going to be massive in comparison to your needs after surgery. Plan on taking food home or ordering a child’s portion. If you aren’t sure you can resist joining the clean plate club, divide an acceptable portion away from the meal and have the server remove the rest before temptation sets in.
• Stop using straws. If you are going to drink, don’t use a straw. Straws not only allow you to drink too quickly, so you may end up with an uncomfortably full stomach, but they also allow air into the stomach that can cause serious discomfort.

_Sources Bariatric Surgery For Severe Obesity. Consumer Information Sheet. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. March 2008. http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/gastric.htm Jones,Nicolas V. Christou, MD, PhD; Didier Look, MD; and Lloyd D. MacLean, MD, PhD. " Weight Gain After Short- and Long-Limb Gastric Bypass in Patients Followed for Longer Than 10 Years."Annals of Surgery 2006 November; 244(5): 734–740.

073 Jimmy's Week Eight Post-Op Update Video

068 Another Hospital Stay

On Friday afternoon we went to a follow up appointment with Dr. Hornbostel because of Jimmy's trip to the ER the night before. Jimmy was still feeling very miserable from everything that he was going through. When Dr. H came into the room he told Jimmy he was admitting him to the hospital.

We were shocked. We knew Jimmy was sick but we didn't expect a hospital stay. Dr. H says it is because Jimmy is very dehydrated from the diarrhea and you can't really catch up because it is so soon after surgery and he can't drink large amounts. Number two it's because they need to keep a close eye on him and get his bowel, vitamins, and eating situations back on track.

So we went straight over to admitting.

They got him to a room quickly but had lots of trouble with his IV (he ended up having a pick line after two different IVs infiltrated) and labs. Finally after using the sonogram (not sonar like Jimmy thought) they got him all situated and started on his fluids and vitamins. Not surprisingly, his blood work said he was dangerously low on potassium so they have been working to bring that up the last two days.

They have also done some other tests, xrays, and listened to his bowels. After Jimmy pucked up the Barium they were attempting to use for one test, his bowels finally startedmoving. So I guess 20 minutes of pucking and dry heaving helped move things along in the bathroom department. One positive to come out of a failed test attempt.

After all the results were in, Dr. H came back yesterday afternoon to tell us the verdict. As the xrays from the ER and the fact Jimmy's bowels finally started moving proved there wasn't blockage or obstruction. Hornbostel believes Jimmy caught a very aggressive flu bug which caused the diarrhea and was complicated by the fact he was already constipated.

These things combined curbed his appetite (dropping his vitamins), caused diarrhea (lowering his potassium levels, and caused dehydration (which he couldn't combat because of the limited amounts he can drink in one sitting). That's why he ended up in the hospital. Just one big whammy. The good news was if he could keep stuff down and get his potassium up then he could go home on Saturday.

So here we are, waiting to see what his fate will be. Will we go home or harbor another night at Heartland? Only Dr. H knows.

* Thanks to everyone who came by to visit or bring us stuff. You are very appreciated and you made our stay that much easier! *

064 Post-Op Week Six Update

Here we are, everyone. It's New Year's Eve. Can you believe that another year is gone! As big as that all is, Jimmy has been marking his progress in much smaller units. Today he is sharing with you his Post Op Week Six Update. Find out how much he has lost and the latest things that have been going on--all in Jimmy's own words. I hope you enjoy!

062 Accomplishment of the Day

Today's accomplishment is that Jimmy was able to wear a shirt from 10 years ago for the first time in...10 years (almost)!

"Not Ashamed" from T.E.S.T.I.f.Y. Student Ministry from First Baptist Church of DeSoto, MO.

061 Merry Christmas & Congratulations

To all of our friends and family who follow the blog. Thank you for all of your love, support, and prayers this year. We truly couldn't do it without all of you backing us! You mean so much to us and we wish you the very best this holiday season!

I would also like to say, "Congratulations!" to Jimmy for the 105 lbs that he has lost since he started his liquid diet on Nov. 2nd! SO PROUD OF YOU!!! Total weight loss is a little higher but this is the most current number since Nov. 2nd.

060 Celebrate the Season

Jimmy and I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all that jazz! I hope you enjoy our Christmas card. I designed it myself! Today I also wanted to share with you an edited excerpt from a post I wrote on my long standing blog Life as a Minister's Wife.

So here it is...

Celebrate with Custom Cards and Support a Good Cause

Almost two months ago, Jimmy had weight loss surgery. This is an amazing tool to help him fight his life long battle with obesity. However, it is also a major life adjustment so 99% of my time has been devoted to helping Jimmy adjust and to making his whole surgery and recovery possible. 

With the other 1% of my time, I have been working on getting my own freelance graphic design business up and running. I am starting small with a website and selling some things on Etsy. In addition I have done some custom gifts for friends. I love it! It is relaxing and refreshing to be able to sit down and create something that I know someone else is going to love.

Plus, all the money I make from the cards is going toward paying Jimmy's surgery and hospital bills! So it's a great way to support a local minister and his family during the holiday season. If you are interested in seeing some of my designs/gifts, please visit Mustion Design on Etsy.com .

I hope you have a happy holiday season and a Merry Christmas!

Grace and Peace,

058 This Really Is Working!

Last night was our annual #WinningSM Youth Christmas party. We had a blast! We had snacks (ok, Jimmy didn't have snacks but I did) and we played a gift exchange game. Jimmy also gave his annual gift to one lucky youth. BUT the best part of all of it for me is that tonight I got to hear Jimmy say "I look skinnier" for the first time tonight!

It's one thing to see the numbers go down and down on the scale, and don't get me wrong we feel great about the numbers going down. However, it is a whole other ball of wax to feel those changes and to see them when you look at yourself in a video, photos, or the mirror. That's what happened last night.

We got home from the Christmas party and Jimmy decided he wanted to watch the video of him giving his gift to Adri. After the second time of watching it, he turned to me and said, "Hey, I look skinnier! This is actually working!" I wanted to say "Duh!" but I resisted the temptation. I just smiled and let him continue to enjoy his moment of realization and the funny video.

Don't take our word for it though. I am including the video so you can see for yourself how great Jimmy is looking, and so you can get a good laugh at how funny teenagers are when something unexpected happens. I hope you enjoy!

057 A Family Recipe: Tender Baked Chicken Breast

Stage 3 Day 2 Dinner: 1 oz. green beans and 2 oz. of
Grandma's Tender Baked Chicken Breast

Last night I was thrilled to be able to use a recipe that my Grandma Miller taught me when I was in college to make some amazing and juicy baked chicken breast. It was nice on two levels. Number one, I know that I don't have to scratch all the recipes that I have ever used before. Most importantly is Number two. It made me feel good to use a recipe my Grandma taught me--no matter how simple it may be!

Luckily for you there are no secret family ingredients included so I thought that I would share it with you. It's a great recipe to make for anyone who is allowed to have foods which are high in protein and low in fat. Plus the chicken really does stay tender and juicy so it reduces the risk that it will get stuck in the stomach of a bariatric patient and reduces the need for barbecue sauce or ketchup.

Please realize that this recipe is the version I reduced down for Jimmy and I to share because he now eats much less than before. Also in the picture above I have cut the chicken in tiny bite size pieces which aides with his digestion, and has the added benefit of helping him to slow down the pace at which he eats. So anyway...here it is!

Grandma's Recipe for Tender Baked Chicken Breast

Ingredients:

• 1 large chicken breast (we shared)
• 1.5 T Light Mayo (approx.)
• Mrs. Dash or other seasoning to taste (Mrs. Dash is great because it is low in salt but high in flavor)

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Place chicken on baking sheet and evenly cover it with a thin layer of the light Mayo (top side only)
3. Sprinkle enter mayo covering with Mrs. Dash
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until chicken breast is cooked through
5. ENJOY!

056 Eating on Stage 3 Day 1

Jimmy looked forward to Stage 3 Day 1 for weeks. Why? It's the first time he could plan meals with some amount of true eating freedom! So what did he eat? Well, I am going to show you that in a minute.

First, if you don't know what the heck we are talking about...

After bariatric surgery, you should go through a series of diet changes--our program calls them Stages. This will allow you to gradually get back to a "normal" diet and will allow time for your stomach to heal properly. Every program has different requirements and different diets. Read more about Jimmy's Stage 3 Diet. Please remember that although we provide you the information about what Jimmy's doctor has prescribed for him you should still consult your own doctor before starting any new diet or exercise program.

Drum roll please! (Seriously I almost started singing the 12 Days of Christmas in my head--bariatric style--as I started to write this next part. How funny!)

Stage 3 Day 1: Breakfast

This is the first time in six weeks that Jimmy has been able to eat a banana, which used to be a daily activity.  He was very, very excited about eating even half a banana! (slice of reduced fat sharp cheddar and half a banana with a dab of reduced fat peanut butter)

Stage 3 Day 1: Lunch

The plate on the left is Jimmy's food. He thought it would be funny to compare it to the plate of one of the teenagers we were eating with at church. (1oz of sliced Turkey from the deli, reduced fat sharp cheddar, 1 oz wheat thins which we found out Krystal really meant to be Triscuits. haha)

Stage 3 Day 1: Dinner

For dinner we had my homemade turkey chili. In this shot Jimmy is comparing what he used to eat in one serving of chili (the big white bowl) with what he is allowed to have right now (1/2 cup pictured in the yellow bowl).

I hope you enjoyed getting to see what Jimmy ate on the first day of his Stage 3 diet!

055 Gastric Sleeve Post-Op Week Four Update

Once again I was able to wrangle Jimmy in front of the camera to give you an update on how life is treating him. In his gastric sleeve post-op week four update, you can look forward to hearing about some differences in portion sizes and some updated weight loss numbers. There is a full body shot but I wanted to get a better shot of him doing the 360 degree turn but he is really tall and your kitchen is really small so I apologize about the quality on that one. Still we did try!

This week is also the very busy lead up to the Christmas holidays. I wish you all the very Merriest of Christmases and a Happy New Year. I look forward to telling you all about how our Christmas and New Year were different than in years past and hopefully about some new traditions we have started in the process. So many new experiences to look forward too!

Enjoy the vlog and come back to visit often.

054 Gastric Sleeve Diet Stage 3

Today marks four weeks out from Jimmy's gastric sleeve weight loss surgery! We are so excited because he is doing really, really well AND he gets to start his Stage 3 Diet on Sunday! He won't have his month appointment for a couple more weeks (due to the holidays) but when he does we will let you know what Dr. Hornbostel and everyone else had to say. So I know that everyone really seems to love and be fascinated by what Jimmy is allowed to eat and what he is not. I am including his whole Stage 3 diet below. Be aware that some of the foods Jimmy was allowed to eat before are being phased out for healthier options now that he is allowed a wider variety of foods. Don't miss that because I guarantee Jimmy won't! I realize this diet may be different than the one prescribed by your surgeon. All bariatric surgical programs are different. Talk to your surgeon before changing your diet or exercise program. This diet was prescribed to Jimmy by his surgeon (Dr. H) and nutritionist (Krystal).

Jimmy's Post-Op Stage 3 Gastric Sleeve Surgery Diet
What is the Stage 3 bariatric diet?
It is a soft diet that consists of foods high in protein with no added sugar and minimal fat

Recommended Foods:
Meats/Eggs/Cheese/Dairy/Legumes - These foods are high in protein, consume them first at meals. Meat should be lean, moist, tender and must be chopped or ground. Make sure your body can tolerate fish and poultry before trying to eat beef and/or pork.

• Skinless chicken or turkey
• Baked or grilled fish and shellfish
• Lean ground beef or pork (if tolerating poultry and fish well)
• Thinly sliced deli meats such as chicken, turkey, roast beef, or ham (these should be purchased at the deli counter so they will be lower in salt and preservatives)
• Meat, tuna, or egg salad prepared with light mayonnaise
• Meatless burger (vegetable, bean or soy based)
• Well cooked beans: black, garbanzo, kidney, lima, navy, pinto (including low fat refried beans), etc.
• Cheese (reduced fat)
• Eggs
• Creamy peanut butter (less than 5g of Sugar per serving & may be used in small amounts to add protein to foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, and/or protein drinks)
• Skim, 1% Milk, or soy milk (containing no more than 20g Carbs per serving)
• Yogurt - Low fat or Fat free (must be no sugar added and have less than 20g Carbohydrates per serving)

Protein Supplements - It is still very important that you consume between 40g to 60g of protein a day. This requirement will never go away.

• High Protein nutritional drinks as allowed on Stage 1 and Stage 2 diets (must have a minimum of 15g Protein per serving and less than 20g Carbs per serving)
• Powdered protein drinks may still be used
• Protein bars (containing at least 15g protein per serving and no more than 20g of Carbs per serving)

Vegetables - Vegetables MUST BE COOKED until very soft and prepared with minimal fat. Do not eat skins.

• Asparagus
• Beets, Broccoli, Cauliflower
• Celery, Carrots
• Eggplant, okra
• Lentils, beans as listed above
• Mushrooms, onions, peppers
• Spinach, sugar snap peas
• Squash, any kind
• Turnips
• Green beans or wax beans
• Tomatoes, no skin
• Potatoes, white or sweet (no skins, no fried potatoes)

Fruits - All fruits must be canned or frozen (except ripe Bananas). Do not eat skins or peels. Canned fruits must be packed in its own juice. Frozen fruit should have no sugar added.

• Apricots, peaches, pears, crushed pineapple
• Applesauce (no sugar added), mandarin oranges, fruit cocktail
• Frozen honeydew melon, cantaloupe, seedless watermelon
• Canned or frozen mango, papaya, cherries

Starches/Oils/Misc. Foods

• Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat (no sugar added)
• Cold Cereals (containing no more than 5g. of Sugar per serving)
• Fat Free or Low Fat Soup
• Whole Wheat Crackers (Triscuits - updated 12/17/12 as of Jimmy's meeting with Krystal)
• Whole Wheat toast, melba toast
• Sugar Free Pudding
• Sugar free ice cream or frozen yogurt. Avoid sherbet.
• Oils - olive, canola, soybean
• Margarine (trans fat free), butter, sugar free jelly
• Herbs, Spices, Salt, & Pepper

Foods to Avoid

• Soft bread (it can make a dough ball that could plug up your stomach)
• Rice
• Spaghetti and other pastas
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Raisins, prunes, and other dried fruit (these are too sweet)
• Granola and other Cereals with nuts
• Raw fruits and vegetables, salad
• Nuts and Popcorn
• Chips and crackers (other than whole wheat crackers)
• Tough or chewy meat
• Whole pieces of corn or whole peas (puree before eating)
• High fat foods (butter, margarine, oil, regular mayonnaise, sour cream, cream cheese, salad dressing, whole milk, half and half, ice cream, cakes, cookies, pies, other desserts, bacon, and sausage)

Serving Size: 1/4c. - 1/2c. (2 - 4oz) of food, 3 - 4 times a day. NO MORE THAN 1/2c AT A TIME! Focus on eating foods containing protein first. Avoid drinking with meals and for at least 30 minutes after meals. Drinking with meal or directly after meals can cause Dumping Syndrome. Continue to drink a minimum of 6c. of fluid daily (see Stage 1). Avoid Fruit Juice or limit it to a maximum 4oz. per day (100% juice with no sugar added). 

Duration: Follow this diet for Weeks 5, 6, 7, & 8 following the surgery or until your doctor advises differently (this diet begins 1 month after your surgery)

052 Please Pass the Fiber

Today I want to keep it short but valid. DON'T FORGET YOUR FIBER! I realize that every bariatric program is different but there are a few things that they all have in common. They should be low in calories and fat and high in protein.

What most people don't realize it that the increase in protein in your diet can cause some major constipation! It's important that you talk to your doctor about what kind of fiber they would like you to take. Our program recommends Benefiber. However, there has been some kind of recall on Benefiber so it is next to impossible to find at a reasonable price due to the shortage. Go figure! So some of our friends have recommended we try Miralax instead.

The important thing is that you are taking a fiber which works for you because prolonged constipation can lead to some serious conditions such as blockage. Constipation can also reduce your already low appetite and cause nausea. None of these things are fun so don't forget your fiber!

045 Post-Op Week Two Update!

Good Morning! Good Morning to you! As those of you who follow us on Facebook already know, Friday was the two week anniversary of Jimmy's gastric sleeve WLS! It is so unreal that it has only been two weeks because it feels like forever (and then sometimes like no time at all--go figure)!

Anyway, to celebrate this momentous occasion I took Jimmy in to the weight loss center to weigh. He lost another 21 lbs since he weighed last Wednesday! That's a total of 73 lbs lost since Nov. 2nd, 2012!

I will let him fill you in on the rest as he has recorded a Post-Op Week 2 Update VLOG for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

044 Mind Hunger

"It's all in your head." You've probably heard that about a million times! I know that I have. Usually when people say that I just roll my eyes and sigh because they just don't get it. However, there are times that I would have to agree with them.

On occasion your brain reads things in peoples words and actions that aren't there. There are also the times that it tells you to do things out of habit. Or maybe you are really bored and your brain starts telling  you that you are sleepy but as soon as you quit whatever you are doing and start something else you are suddenly wide awake.

The human brain is an interesting organ. The mind is even trickier. Today I am sharing a video with you about the struggles Jimmy has had determining whether he is actually hungry or if it's just something his brain is telling him out of habit. I hope you enjoy!

042 A Nice Surpise

It has been a little while now since Jimmy has been in to work in the office. The church has kindly approved 3-6 weeks for his recovery time but I know that he is hoping to be back soon.

Jimmy loves his job and I think that he really misses socializing with his co-workers. When we were out the other day, we decided that we should stop by the church office so that Jimmy could say "Hi" to everyone. I think that they were surprised to see that he was as up and active as he is (Thankfully, Jimmy has had very limited pain and/or gas/bloating and he has been able to be up and active in small amounts).

We were surprised when we walked into his office and found this...

An anonymous note left for Jimmy on his computer screen at work.

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

It's really awesome and encouraging to know that people are thinking about you and praying for you. It was a sweet and touching moment. Thank you, whoever you are. It's nice to be reminded that we are not alone and that we can do all things through Christ!

Until next time...

041 Gastric Sleeve Stage 2 Diet

Morning. Morning. I hope you have been staying up on everything that has been happening around here lately. If not then feel free to read back a little to get caught up or to find out what the heck I am going on and on about :) Anyway, if you have been following Jimmy's journey then you have probably been wondering what exactly this Stage 2 diet I keep talking about really is. Well, today I am going to tell you!

Before I get into that, I wanted to stop and say a HUGE THANK YOU to my Mom (Janice) who came up and stayed with us for the whole first week after Jimmy's surgery. Mom being here took a ton of stress off me and allowed me to be able to go to work (since I have limited vacation time) and know that there would be someone at home to help Jimmy (and keep him in line :) . Things really would have been a whole lot harder without her around. Thanks, Mom! You are greatly appreciated and we couldn't have done it without you!

Mom and me enjoying our time together!

Jimmy's Post-Op Stage 2 Gastric Sleeve Surgery Diet
This includes everything that Jimmy was allowed during his Post-Op Stage 1 diet (Refresh Your Memory Here) plus the following foods/drinks:

• Eggs (poached, steamed or scrambled & may add melted cheese for protein)
• Cottage Cheese (nonfat or 1%)
• Yogurt that does not have fruit chunks in it (must be no sugar added and have less than 20g Carbohydrates per serving)
• Fat Free of Low Fat cream soup (strained--no chunks) or Fat Free Tomato soup
• Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat (no sugar added and thinned with skim or 1% milk)
• Sugar Free Pudding
• Applesauce (no sugar added)
• Mashed Potatoes, sweet or white (thinned with milk but may add melted cheese for extra protein)
• Sugar free ice cream or frozen yogurt. Avoid sherbet.
• Sugar free jello
• Sugar free popsicles
• Herbs, Spices, Salt, & Pepper
• Creamy peanut butter (less than 5g of Sugar per serving & may be used in small amounts to add protein to foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, and/or protein drinks)
• Protein drinks (a minimum of 15g Protein per serving and less than 20g Carbs per serving)
• Powdered protein drinks may now be used.
• Skim or 1% Milk
• Soy Milk (less than 20g Carbohydrates per serving)
• Tomato juice, V-8 juice, Diet V-8 Splash. Avoid V Fusion products
• A Maximum of 4oz. Fruit Juice per day (100% juice with no sugar added)

Serving Size: 2 - 4 Tablespoons (1 - 2oz) of food, 3 - 4 times a day. NO MORE THAN 1/4c AT A TIME!

Duration: Follow this diet for Weeks 2, 3, & 4 following the surgery or until your doctor advises differently

Krystal and Dr. H said that Jimmy will move on to the Stage 3 Diet on December 16th barring any unforeseen issues. His One Month Post-Op appointment is scheduled for Thursday, December 27th.

*Please keep in mind that every surgical program is different. You need to follow the instructions given to you by your doctor. Please consult your doctor before starting any new diet or weight loss program*

040 Post-Op Week One Update!

Jimmy and Krystal at Jimmy's first Post-Op
Appointment on November 21, 2012.

I can't believe it's already been over a week since Jimmy's gastric sleeve WLS! Can you?! I mean seriously, where does the time go!

Anyway, life has been hectic around here with the surgery and Thanksgiving and family. So I feel like I am running a little behind. So let's take two seconds to catch up a little...

Jimmy's surgery was on Friday, November 16th. He came home from the hospital on Saturday, November 17th. His first post-op appointment was a little early because of the Thanksgiving holiday so it was on Wednesday, November 21st. At this appointment he met with the lovely Krystal (Nutritionist) and Dr. Hornbostel. They cleared him to move on to his stage two diet. Which meant that Jimmy was able to have mashed potatoes for his Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, November 22nd. *Whew* Now I think we are up to speed.

Today, I am sharing with you Jimmy's Post-Op Week One vlog so he can tell you what's going on in his own words. I am also posting the really short video he recorded the day after his surgery because I forgot to post it earlier (sorry about that).

Hope you have fun watching this update!

Grace and Peace,

039 Our Thanksgiving

Your patience has been rewarded! The internet is back up and running and I am home from work to upload the pictures of our Thanksgiving! Jimmy has his first post-op doctor appointment this week and the surgeon cleared him to go on to his stage two diet just in time to have some mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving. I will talk more about the Stage Two diet next week. For now, here are the pictures from the Mustion Thanksgiving. Hope you enjoy!

We celebrated my sister's 20th birthday. With her favorite pumpkin pie.

She opened her present from us...

It's Brave!

She also got body wash from Mom & Dad.

Jimmy eating his first stage two meal: 1 egg, scrambled.

Same pic Instragrammed.

Jimmy's Thanksgiving dinner -- Mashed Potatoes with Velveeta.

Yes, they had to be thinned with milk before he could eat them.