Tummy Tuck Diaries- Day 2!

Hi everyone!!

I am happy to report, that the Tummy Tuck was a huge success! I am writing to you from a super secret fancy hotel location where I am being waited on hand and foot! The surgery itself was a pretty extensive. They marked me with a sharpy as if there was going to be a big shark bite out of my stomach.

I was so nervous and scared going in. Cried in the car after saying goodbye to Landon. Thank God my preacher met me at the plastic surgery office! We said a prayer before I went in.

Just before I went into surgery I had a little talk with Jesus, just him and me. I told him not to leave me. Guess what? He didn't. On to the surgery:

When they went in, they found my muscles had torn both vertically and horizontally. The only thing holding my intestines in, was a paper thin wall of muscle. Wow.

When I woke up apparently I said two things:

"Did they do it?"
and
"I feel like Rip Van Winkle!"
Yep. Even under sedation I still got the funny.

The pain is very similar to a C section so I really feel okay. Just taking the drugs and hunched over like a 99 year old grandma.

And...
Of course I am wearing my BYOG gown!!!
The Sunday before surgery I was like a whirling dervish of Christmas. Tree up, decorated, mantle adorned and gifts wrapped. Looks good though!

Thank you for your prayers, tomorrow I go home and I am sure to have culture shock. It's so quiet and dreamy here in my room in Beverly Hills!

Tummy Tuck Diaries-Day 1

Hello from the Top-Secret Luxury Recovery Hotel room of the Mrs. (This is the Mr. BTW) The procedure was a great success, and the Mrs. is feeling like a new bride whilst recovering in the lap of luxury. The moment she felt where her PPS (permanently pregnant stomach) used to be she was overcome with tears of joy. "So excited to have a flat stomach...no more agonizing over what to wear to hide it, or how to deflect the question 'When are you due?'" She is relaxing under a soft, warm blanket of Demoral.

Thank you for all your prayers, well-wishes and good ju-ju.

-The Mr.

Prayers! It's TT day!

The day is here. I am nervous. I am scared. But I am going.

Here's the words my preacher passed on to me:

"You are perfectly safe. There is no place you can go, no activity you can undertake, that is out of the reach of God. If you can imagine a loving God who is always working for our good- then God will be working for that good outcome before, during and after your surgery.

Jesus is in the room ahead of you. Jesus is in the room with you. Jesus is in the room after you're gone.

Amen to that.

Pray for smooth surgery, little pain, and me being as comfortable as possible. Love you guys. I'll be taking you with me, every step of the way.

Christmas Tea! Fun For Me!

Landon's preschool is affiliated with a beautiful church, and even though I am not a member, I have been vowing to go and take a look! I belong to another church but this one is a little closer.


I was asked to host a table at their annual Christmas Tea because the preschool director was running it this year! I was so honored! I wanted to use my Royal Crown Derby Old Avesbury set so badly! I knew it wold be beautiful.

I enlisted the help of my friend Katie, and together we came up with a Winter Woodland theme. I joked the table was sponsored by Marshalls! The vase in the center, amber colored with gold branches Katie found at Michaels. Then the peacock my mom had given me at the top, and birds and owls with gold beaks, also from Marshalls.

I loved using my birds nest ornaments with little gold eggs as place card holders!

It was a lovely event with gorgeous tea sandwiches (may favorite was the pumpernickel bread Christmas tree shaped cucumber sandwiches). We also had scones, clotted cream, and many other goodies.

What a fabulous time!

Tummy Tuck Countdown- The REAL before pics!

I am going to show you what my tummy looks like bare for two reasons:

1) I want to help anyone going through this to know they are not alone and I know the pain. I blamed myself. It was not my fault. My body never came back. There was nothing I could do. Hang in there, get it fixed.
and..
2) When I tell people I am having this, my skinny sweet Mom friends say they need it too! Hello? No you don't! If I could wedge this thing in a spanx and get a flat tummy I wouldn't care! This is beyond abnormal and I look crazy freaky. I know my Mom did not want me to show bare belly but I am not ashamed. I am being real.






Taking these pics I cannot believe I even considered not doing this!!! Monday can't come soon enough. I am ready to move on with my life and embrace the freedom of not having to wear black all the time. Of not wearing a yummie tummie tank top every day. Of putting on clothes because I like them, not because they are helping me hide my stomach. I will chronicle the journey and take you with me if you're brave enough to come.

Tummy Tuck-Give Me Something To Work With!

Tummy tuck is scheduled. Mothers are flying in. Monday, December 7th is my day!! You wanted to see the tummy before? You asked for it! Okay. I know it's gonna be horrifying so I'll do it in stages. First, a picture of me, with my Yummie Tummy Tank on. Not great, but at least people think I am only 5 months pregnant instead of 7. Stay tuned to the end of this post to see the REAL before. I will be showing you the real, scary OMG BARE stomach FRIDAY. GET READY!

The PPS (permanently pregnant stomach) has really been hard. People asking when I'm due for four years straight, no clothes I buy look anything but MATERNITY, and I can't exercise because my back has no stomach muscles to support it.

I'm ready to start over, not with a perfect body (cause if that was the case I get the boobs done too, but it's a slippery slope), just a body I can work with. I want to work out, be in shape, lift my kids, run around and play like a loon, you know, all that good stuff.

I know the recovery will be tough, but you guys will be with me right? I'll just blog the pain away. If I can't blog I'll get the hubby to tell you I'm okay. I will prevail. I'll just be in a lot of pain first!

Okay here's me in clothes with my Yummy tummie tank top.



and here's me without it.



More of a difference in person than in the pics. Now you can see, I'm not just going in for fun, this is a PROBLEM. Doc says the worst case he's ever seen. How bad? Bare tummy pics tomorrow unless I chicken out!!!

Faith Filled Gifts Discount! Start shopping!

I love faith filled gifts. They have such beautiful things. My friend Heather had given this gorgeous ceramic cross to Landon when he was born. I want to get a pink one for Coco.

They also have many other styles.



Love these little "Now I lay me down to sleep" prayer....



and "Jesus loves me" ceramic tiles! Too precious!

Got you a little discount since you are a friend of the Mrs! Enter FAB at check out to get 15% off!

Nash- Vegas! Thanksgiving Recap

Nash-Vegas lived up to it's reputation. It was the perfect combination of wide open spaces, and gorgeous houses. Down home diners, and eclectic restaurants. Campy country and tradition.

Some highlights?

Franklin is the jewel of Nashville. Grand Dad and Mini Moo took us to a fabulous restaurant called "The Red Pony".



We dined on Tuna Tartare, shrimp grits with filet mignon, and sweet corn risotto. YUM. Franklin is the Darien CT, of Nash-Vegas. Look at how cute the main street is.



Other things we did? We went to a Hockey game and saw the predators get beaten to death, we went to the Aquarium restaurant and pet and fed Sting Rays (crazy!), and had Thanksgiving Brunch at the Hermitage Hotel.



Look at Baby Coco in her first taffeta dress, isn't she delicious? Thanks Grad Dad for a great time!!!

Current Status UPdate

Here's what I am putting on Facebook this morning:

"Flying in a dirty tin can for four hours with a screaming baby and a whiney 3 year old does not make a Happy Thanksgiving."

Yes my perfect children put me right on the edge. Over the edge. Forget it, I went down into a ravine ad never came out. Poor Coco was having ear pressure issues. She NEVER cries and ended up crying and NOT SLEEPING through the whole flight.

Landon is in a very whiney phase and cannot make his mind up about anything. We put on the Cars movie? Five minutes later he wants Mary Poppins. Ten minutes later he wants Nemo. Whine. Whine. Whine.

To top it off, our flight on American to LA from Nashville was the last flight out. You know what that means. The plane had been used 100 times before that day and the supposed "cleaners" had not cleaned the bathroom at all. You try squeezing yourself in a dirty bathroom with a three year old and having him NOT touch the disgusting surfaces. Don't get me started on the floor of the bathroom. OMG.

More on Nashville later when I am in a better mood!
PS The Count Down continues! Eight days until TT!

Tummy Tuck Countdown

Right before I had Landon we had a joke that hubby was trying to steal my thunder. he had to have his appendix out. We lovingly called his little baby Mike. Mike arrived and then Landon came. Heehee.

Well, tummy tuck is in less than 2 weeks and let me tell you, everyone and their mother is asking me when I'm due. It's now become comical. I can always feel it coming, and try to run away before the person puts their foot in their mouth but no. "When are you due?!"

I'm due Dec. 7th, is my new answer. Tummy tuck day! Maybe I'll name the baby too. I mean I have a due date and I'll no longer look pregnant! (unlike real pregnancy when the baby comes out and you still look preggers!). I think I'll call this baby Michaela. Like hubby's baby Mike but the female version.

So Michaela is due Dec. 7th.

Hey, I gotta laugh about it right?

Give me all the tummy tuck advice you've got!