One Week Into My New Life and...

I'm Doing GREAT!!!

I've been in bed almost every day since I arrived home. I'm recovering well. I only have occasional pain. I never had to use my nausea medication (YAY) and I've only used about half of my Oxycodone. I've been trying to use the Liquid Children's Tylenol as much as possible instead because I'd prefer something that doesn't make me loopy and knock me on the ground!

Right now, and for one more week, I am on a liquid protein and clear liquids diet. I discovered after surgery that my new baby stomach doesn't like the protein I was using for months before surgery (not yay since my Mom just bought be a 3lb bag of it!) I have something called IsoPure (a clear liquid that has 40 protein in it and leaves only 20 more for the entire day) that I split into 4 servings. The downside is that it was just over $3 a bottle. However, when this is 4 meals $3 is a great price lol! It's a bit like drinking vitamin water, but it makes your mouth dry like a dry wine would because of the whey protein in it. It's doable, but I'm glad it's temporary. The other thing I have is "Natural Flavored" protein powder. I wish I could say that it was unflavored as it advertises, but it tastes like Whey. I put it in some Butternut Squash Soup and was able to stomach that, but tried it in V8 today and almost didn't keep it down. If I have one bottle of IsoPure and one item with a scoop of the MRM then I am getting in the right amount of protein for the day :)

Next Wednesday (one day after my 2 week mark) I have my post-op appointment with my Dr.!!!! I am excited for him to see how I've been doing. Mostly I am excited for him to Graduate me!!! STAGE III!!!!! This is REAL food!!!! This is very exciting for me. I will be on 3 meals and 2 snacks (A NORMAL SCHEDULE FINALLY) and they will be SO GOOD! Some examples would be an egg beater omelet with pureed spinach and salsa for Breakfast; 2oz of cheese for a snack; Tuna with fruit for lunch; Pudding (or any dairy on my list) for a snack and then dinner. I have been trying to think of several things I can make for Tyson that I can easily make into a "pureed" or "soft" version for myself. Dinner is time for my last Protein and my Starch for the day. Chicken and Sweet Potatoes, Turkey and Mashed Potato with some Fat Free gravy (1 tsp), Salmon and Butternut Squash...

For all of you who know how much I love to cook, you can imagine how happy I will be to be back in the kitchen, discovering my new way of eating and discovering ways to eat what Tyson eats!

I can't have red meat (too hard to digest) but I can have fish, turkey, ham, chicken and tofu for now. All things I love!

Tonight I am going to attempt a night out. Since going to our weekly Bar Trivia is a sit on your but and very inactive activity, I think I will do well. I'm excited to get out and even more excited to see some friends (I'm getting lonely in this house!)

Yesterday (1 week anniversary) I took JB for a walk around the neighborhood. Turns out that makes for exactly a one mile walk so that was good! I felt like I could keep going and going, but didn't want to push it at one week. I'll talk to the Dr on next week about how much I can do!

PETS: My dog, JB, has been amazing! I was talking to a friend the other day about how amazing it is that he is so aware! He knows he cant lay on my lap. I can tell he can tell there is something different. He won't leave my side when Tyson isn't home. If I fall asleep he comes and checks on me. He nudges me and when I wake up he licks my face and goes back to his bed. This is quite funny, because he has never woken me up on purpose before! He is already such a docile dog, but he really is being super loving :)

Now my cat... Super Ultra Megatron (or Kitty as we call her) is wild. I don't mean actively wild. The first couple of days I kept having to stop her from coming and lying on my stomach. This is her favorite place to be since it's been so cold trying to conserve power in our home. After a couple of days of pushing her off of me, she decided she was going to boycot me all together! Like i said in my previous post, Tyson had set up the guest room downstairs for me. The cat went upstairs and had been spending ALL of her time up there by herself. She didn't want ANYTHING to do with me! As of yesterday, she has decided that she still loves me (or at least wants me around!)Now she won't leave my side again. Since she can't be on my stomach, she will just sit on my legs, arms and head!!! I don't mind, because she keeps wherever she goes plenty warm!!!

So, I am doing well :) One more week until I'll be off of Rest Mode and back in the kitchen!!!! I can't wait!!!

Well, off to do laundry so I have something to wear tonight!

Best of the Best,
Bonnie Rose