Mom's gone :(

Well, I really loved having my mom here to help me out post-op. She has been wonderful, doing everything for me - and I mean everything. Plus, I had a good time with her. But she went home today. She was supposed to start back to school today, so she had already missed one day of pre-school week. If I was feeling bad, she would have stayed another day, but....

I'm feeling great. I am really doing very well. There's a slight ache in my stomach most of the time - it gets worse when I walk briskly - but that's it. I haven't had any pain medicine in a few days, so I can drive. I even slept on my stomach the past two nights! I do get tired more easily when I go walking, so I'm trying to take it fairly easy while still walking regularly per my doc's instructions. He wants me to walk at least 4 times a day, 10 minutes at a time which is totally doable. Sometimes I do stuff around the house or go shopping to count for my walks, and sometimes I walk the path around my apt. complex.

So my goals now, in addition to the walking, the breathing into the incentive spirometer, taking my temperature twice a day and taking my medications, are to get in my fluids and my protein. I've been doing protein shakes (think Slim-Fast),which are going ok. I'm supposed to do 3 a day as my meals. Slim-Fast high protein is my favorite so far, and my nutritionist told us that we could add 1/4 c. of Eggbeaters to it to make it creamier. I tried this, and it was good - plus added 6 g. of protein, which I needed. Our shakes are supposed to be about 20 g. and that one is only 15. So I think I'm going to keep going the Eggbeaters route - extra protein, better texture, and tasteless - that's a win, win, win as far as I'm concerned!

I can also add unflavored protein powder to strained creamed soups or oatmeal, which are allowed on my full liquid diet. But, as one of my favorite bloggers, Eggface, points out - unflavored does not mean tasteless. It means not chocolate or vanilla. So it does add a little bit of a taste. Worse, it adds a bad aftertaste. And I put it in my Magic Bullet to mix it up so it wasn't lumpy, and it made it really frothy which was gross. So I attempted this last night with some broccoli cheese soup and I Magic Bulleted it for a long time and it was really frothy and really gross. So then I tried a protein shake sample that I had that was supposed to be "Roadside Lemonade". Again, I hit the bullet too long and it was way frothy which made it gross. I had a little breakdown about getting my protein in. I tried some protein water a friend had brought me but couldn't get much of that down either. So, on my first day of full liquids I got in about 2/3 of my protein. Today at lunch I tried again - this time with potato soup, and I only bulleted it for about 2 sec. Much less froth, and this time I got about half of it down. I couldn't finish it, so I had some milk later to get the protein count back up. (my doctor wants us to drink milk - some drs. don't) Mostly I'm thinking, though - for right now, I'm fine with the protein shakes so why push this? The shakes are what my dr. recommends, I'm fine with drinking them, and it's way easier so........ maybe I was just bored. :) If I get really tired of the liquid diet, I may just have some soups as part of my liquids, which is ok, but not try to use them to get the protein in.

I have to be sipping pretty much constantly to get my fluids in, which is tough. But I'm working on it. My initial goal is 48 oz. and I'm hitting that every day, but my ultimate goal is 64 oz. and I'm not there yet. I don't know when I'm supposed to hit that 64.

I do find that I miss food some - it's all in my head, I know. Like when my dad brought my grandmothers to visit yesterday and they all had pizza for lunch. And I couldn't even pinch off a piece of cheese! I miss the food and the social aspect of being able to go out to eat - I know this is silly b/c I've only been home from the hospital 3 days. Still, I've been mourning it a little bit. But, soon enough I'll be able to eat again. Knowing that this is a temporary thing, and that I WILL be able to eat again is getting me through it. Also, knowing that most WLS patients go through this "head hunger" makes me feel more normal. It's hard for me not to want to just hit the FF button and be 6 months down the road - having lost a good amount of weight, and comfortable enough with what I can and can't eat to be in a good routine. But it will get here, I know.

My good friends in Richmond are coming over tonight to play game with me. Bless them! I'm off to make another protein shake.....

P.S. - If you followed my posts about my parents' Africa trip and want to see some pictures, click here: Safari pictures or Mission trip pictures or, if you're short on time, Small sample of pictures

On the way home!

Mom and Dad arrive back in the states in about 5 hours!!!!!! I can't wait to see them again. I'm going to ride up to Dulles and surprise them at the airport.

Speaking of, I didn't post about their trip yesterday because I ended up being away from the house ALL day long. I got up, went to the store, made Shelly's Beef Fiesta Bites (Wow - so good), and headed up to an OH BBQ/Meet and Greet in Fredericksburg (more on that later) I came back into town and went straight to Capital Ale House to hear my friend's band, Sloth Loves Chunk. So I got home at 2 a.m. But here's the scoop on the A-team yesterday;

They arrived in London about 7 a.m. and spent the day touring. I hope they managed to get some sleep on the flight over so that they could enjoy their day. London is such a cool place! Then, about 10 a.m. London time (5 a.m. our time) they left for the U.S. They are scheduled to arrive at Dulles just after 2:00 this afternoon. The prayer topic for both days was safe travel.

Psalm 91:9-12
"If you make the Most high your dwelling - even the LORD, whi is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

So my prayers today obviously were for safe travel, continued stamina, and prayerful reflection for the team.

Welcome home, A-team!

The Carnivore!

So today, after an early morning game drive, the A-team hit the "World Famous Carnivore restaurant" (as described in their itinerary). Among other things, on the menu are zebra, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, and crocodile. All of the meat is cooked on a big open-air pit in the middle of the restaurant, and waiters walk around with the meat on swords, carving off pieces for diners. I can't wait to hear about it! It's a set price for an unlimited amount of food, so I'm hoping they tried lots of exciting things :)

Tonight the team left Africa on an overnight flight to London. I'm wondering how they're feeling about leaving - are they sad? ready to head home? excited about touring London? or too tired to feel anything? Thier prayer topic today was fly. (Seriously, I think the topics are getting a little weak here towards the end of the trip ;) ) I don't think that they want us to pray for the little bugs - yuck! - so I'm assuming that what they meant by that was for safe travel.

Psalm 18: 1-2
"I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

I prayed for safe travel today,but also that the team wouldn't be too tired to enjoy and take advantage of the more touristy things that they are getting the chance to do today.

Africa update

Ok, I feel terrible that I have missed two days of updating on the A-team's progress. Somehow my days just got away from me! I thought I had left their schedule in Charleston, but I just found it. So I've been praying for them in a very general way. They spent the last two days in Nairobi working with Franklin. (I don't know who Franklin is, btw) Tuesday it says they were working in the Mukuru slum, and yesterday just says ministry in Nairobi, so I don't know what exactly they were doing. Tuesday's prayer topic was slums, and Wednesday's was workshop.
I'm not going to post all of the verses from those days but Tuesday's verses were Romans 10:17 and Isaiah 55:11. Wednesday's were Acts 19:11-12, Zephaniah 3:14-21, and Isaiah 58:11. You'll notice several of those verses are repeats from before.

Today began the "touristy" part of their trip. They were scheduled to spend the afternoon at the Masi Mara Game Park on a safari and game drive and spend the night at the Masi Mara Safari Lodge. Tomorrow morning brings another game drive and the thing I've been the most excited about - I'll tell you tomorrow :)

Today's prayer topic was debrief as the team begins to process their trip.

Hebrews 4:14-16
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin."

Ephesians 1:15-19
"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation , so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."

Today I am praying that, as the team reflects on the ministry portion of their trip, they will see how God has worked through them. I also continue to pray for stamina and safety as they approach the two weeks gone mark. I can't wait until they get home!

I'm off now to my last pre-op class. Less than a week to go and I'm getting a little nervous about the fact that I'm about to make a FOREVER change......

A-team leaves Gulu

I talked to Mom today! She called a few minutes before we left church, so we called her back and Kay and I both got to talk to her.  She said Africa was different than anything she would have imagined.  She said the people there were loving and proud - and that the little kids cried when they saw white people because they weren't used to seeing them.   She said that she missed talking to us.  She also said that most of their meals were goat and liver cooked over an open flame.  Yum.  I bet Mom comes back thinner than when she left....

I didn't get to talk to her about where she was now or what they had done today (when I talked to her, we mostly talked about how lucky I was to be hanging out with Abby), but according to the schedule they were going to church in Gulu this morning, where Rodney was preaching, and then flying back to Kampala.  So today's prayer topic was Rodney's preaching.

Proverbs 3:5

     "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding"

Exodus 14:13

     "Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again."

So today my prayer was that the team will continue to lean on the LORD and to trust in him in all that they do, including Rodney's sermon.

home visits

Today the A-team spent their last day working in Gulu.  They leave tomorrow for Kampala.  Today's prayer topic is home visits, so I assume that's what they're doing.

James 1:27

     "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Zechariah 2:10-11

     "Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion.  For I am coming, and I will live among you, declares the LORD.  Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people.  I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you."

Today also marks the halfway point of their trip.  So in addition to praying for the work they are doing, I am praying for stamina for the team.  Having been there a week, I can imagine that they are missing home and getting tired, but it still seems like a long trip in front of them.  

The baby will be up soon - Kay and Bruce have left to run errands and I'm baby-sitting.  I can't wait for her to wake up :)

Joe and Mary Spencer Chapel

Mom tried to call us on Kay's cell phone at least twice today, but unfortunately we missed her :( She said they were really, really busy but they were having a good time.  She sounded like she was missing us, too.

Today the team was dedicating the Joe and Mary Spencer Chapel, named in honor of a couple from Mom and Dad's church in Lynchburg.  Joe and Mary were that kind, wise older couple that every church seems to have.  If Mary Spencer said it, then you believed it :) Joe died a year or two ago, and Mary has moved to Charlottesville with her daughter.  They led my parent's bible study for a long time.  Rodney, who is the SOM team leader and former DCE at Rivermont, is the keynote speaker. So today's prayer topic is Dedication of Chapel.

Acts 19:11-12

     " God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them."

(yes, this is the third time this verse has appeared) (we must therefore consider it important)

Jeremiah 55:12

     "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

A-team in Gulu

Today Mom and Dad and the Africa team (A-team for short) are in Gulu, ministering at Kirombe, Koro, Villages, and IDP camps.  I don't know what any of this means :), but they are names that can be added to our prayers.  Part of today's topic was cut off as well, but one topic was workshop.

Psalm 32:7

     "You are my hiding place; you will protect me rom trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.  Selah"

Acts 19:11-12

     " God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them."

Isaiah 58:11

      "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisy your needs in a sun-scorched land and he will strengthen your frame.  You will be  like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

So today I spent some time praying for those places were they will be working by name.  I don't know what's going on there, but God does!  

Signing off from Charleston (where I finally arrived after all night on a train.  I did get a little bit o sleep because the guy across the aisle from me gave me his seat so that I could lie down.  Unfortunately, a little later some police boarded the train and escorted him off.  I think it had to do with drugs?)

Pre-Op Testing DONE!

So I went today and had my physical with Dr. Elliot, then I went to the hospital to do my pre-admission testing. I got asked the same questions over and over and over again, did a lot of waiting for a lot of different people, signed a lot of forms, and watched a computer slide show about my procedure. All they did for my pre-op testing at the hospital was take some blood (actually, they took a lot of blood for a lot of different things) and did an EKG. If something comes up abnormal, Dr. E's office will call me but I don't anticipate that happening.

Dr. E gave me my manual, which I'm ready to dive into and read thoroughly. But here's the most exciting thing - he said that since I had lost so much weight already

I DON'T HAVE TO DO THE LIVER SHRINKING DIET AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know if you can tell or not, but I'm pretty psyched about this :) He said if I could lose some more weight, that would of course be great, but all that he was going to require was that I not gain any weight in the next two weeks. Needless to say, I am one happy camper right now.

In a little bit, I'm headed off to catch the train to Charleston...I'll be reporting in from down there, keeping up with the prayer schedule for Africa.

OH! I can't believe I almost forgot this - my mom called me today!!!!! I missed her call :( but she left me a long message. She said that they made it to Gulu and the need down there was amazing. She said they were all really tired. It made me miss her again, but I was glad to hear from her. I'm sure she'll call again while I'm in Charleston.

Africa team on the move

Today the Africa team flies to Gulu for some ministry work there. Gulu is in the northern part of Uganda, near the border with Sudan. It's also near the border of Sudan and the Congo, which are two countries currently at war. If there were reports that the situation there was dangerous, then the SOM (Sports Outreach Ministry, the group that sponsored this trip) team was going to cancel this part of the trip. As of yesterday, when Mom talked to Kay, the trip was on. I trust the SOM team that they won't put them in danger, still it's hard not to worry. There have already been 20-some Americans killed in this conflict. Today's prayer topic is illegible, so based on today's itinerary and the verses below, I'm "declaring" it safety.

II Thessalonians 3:1-5
"Finally, brothers, pray for us that the mesage of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one."

Jeremiah 51:46
"Do not lose heart or be afraid when rumors are heard in the land; one rumor comes this year, another the next, rumors of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler."

Proverbs 18:10
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

Obviously my prayers today focused on safety for the team. I know that the team, while appreciating those prayers, would rather I focused on prayers for their ministy. And I did pray for "the message of the Lord to spread rapidly and be honored". Still, selfishly most of my time was spent praying for their safety.

A report from Africa!

Mom called Kay (my sister) today from Africa! She said that travel went smoothly and that they were having a great time. She was really enjoying the Good News Team that they were working with, and the kids that she had met. Kay said she sounded really good. So I'm excited that they're safe and doing well.

Today's schedule called for more ministering in the slums of Kampala. The prayer topics were slums and workshop. (The schedule didn't mention what the workshop was)

Isaiah 58:11
"The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

Acts 19:11-12
"God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them."

My prayers for them today began with prayers of thanksgiving for their safe travels and their ministries so far. I also prayed for strength for the team, that their strength would be "like a spring whose waters never fail" Then I spent some time praying for miracles to happen in the lives of those the team is ministering to.

I'm looking forward to more updates from them!

"Slums"

Today's Africa prayer topic was slums. My sister made fun of the prayer calendar because something like every other day the topic was "slums"

Proverbs 2:6-11
"For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones."

Colossians 2:1-3
"I want to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

I haven't heard anything from them yet. I'm trying not to worry - I'm sure they just haven't had the time to send us an update. Still, I hope to hear from them soon. So my prayers today centered around safety for the team. However, I did also pray for the people who live in the slums of Kampala, where they were working today with the Good News team. My prayer for them today is that "they may know the mystery of God" and that Mom and Dad's presence there helps them come to that understanding.

I checked out of my classroom today - I am officially no longer a kindergarten teacher!!

Happy Father's Day!

I can't talk to my Dad this Father's Day, since he's on his way to Africa, but Happy Father's Day to him anyway!

I had a great day today -went to church, went to the gym, then two of my friends from Charlottesville came up and we went out to lunch and I unloaded bunches of my Kindergarten stuff on them since I don't need it anymore :)

Mom and Dad should be landed in Africa by now, according to the itinerary, although it is after midnight there. Today's prayer topic was long day.

Psalm 41:2
"The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes."

Jeremiah 24:6-7
"My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart."

My prayers for them today were for patience and endurance, but focused mainly on safe travel. I'm anxiously awaiting our first email update so that we know they have arrived safely!

Tomorrow I will finish packing up my classroom and say good-bye to that huge chapter of my life.... I'm looking forward to it!

And they're off!

Well, Mom and Dad left for Africa this morning. I talked to them right before they left. They had gone up to McDonalds to get Mom's Coke (which they do every morning) and the manager knew they were leaving for Africa today so he gave them a free breakfast ;) Um, yeah. They go there a lot. My mom loves her fountain Diet Coke. I don't know what she's going to do without them for the next two weeks... They had to be at the church to leave at 10 this morning. When I talked to my mom, she said they had to be at the church in 25 minutes (They live 10 minutes away. 12 minutes tops) and Dad was pacing the floor.

They hadn't been gone 2 hours when I wanted to call Mom! My gym's new facility opened today and I went over there to swim and WOW. It's amazing. Huge and fancy and unbelievable. I was thinking that when I left I needed to call Mom and tell her about it and then I realized....I can't talk to her for two weeks. Sad :(

Their flight leaves D.C. around 6:30 tonight and they fly overnight to London, then on to Kenya tomorrow and from there to Uganda. They will be traveling for something like 40 hours!!!!!!!! So, today's prayer topic is travel.

Psalm 20:4-5
"May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God."

Romans 15:5-7
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

My prayers today were for things to run smoothly with the travel arrangements and for endurance and patience for the team. I don't know most of the team very well, but I know my dad is very calm and patient - when he's in charge. He's not in charge here so if something goes wrong and he's not the one fixing it, that could be hard for him. (He and I share this trait, by the way) But a trip that long is stressful on everyone, even if things do go well. They will need God's endurance for sure.

Bye, Bye Kindergarten!

Ok, off topic already but I just glanced at the ticker at the bottom of my page and it said only NINETEEN days until surgery! Yikes!

Today was our last day of school. The kids had a half day and I put them on the bus without any tears. :) I worked in my room for a while, but it's not all the way packed up yet. I'll have to go back on Monday and finish it up. Still, it's weird to think that I'm not a kindergarten teacher anymore. I've defined myself that way for over 7 years now... The hardest part for me was having to turn in my computer. This is bizarre because I hate my computer. I'm still better about those people forcing me to use a Mac. My wonderful tech woman made me some DVDs to give to my new computer guy that she says will make my new computer look just like my old one. Still, handing in that computer with all my pictures and videos of sweet Abby knowing they're going to be wiped away before I can see them on a new computer was the one thing that choked me up about this day. I know, it's strange. what can you do?

My parents leave tomorrow for a two-week mission trip to Africa! I have their itinerary so that I can follow them wherever they go. They also left a prayer calendar with voices to read and topics to pray for them each day. It started today. I'm going to try and post the verses and topics daily both as a reminder to me and as a way of documenting their trip from my end. I would love your prayers for them as well.

Today's topic was Preparation and verses were:

Philippians 2:2-5
"....then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped"

Galatians 5:22
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..."

Ephesians 4:1-6
"As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Based on the leadings of these readings, I have prayed for team unity and humility to follow God's leading wherever it takes them. Even if takes them to being chased by men with spears or to being kidnapped. My parents aren't worried. My dad says that he can outrun several of the people on the team, so there's no need to worry about the spears. And he tells me not to worry about feeling guilty if he gets kidnapped, I can't pay the ransom and they get killed. He says, "If you don't have the money, you can't pay it." He's so practical. :)


(By the way, for those of you rational thinkers who are wondering how I'm posting if I turned my computer in, my mom is letting me borrow her laptop while she's in Africa. Is she a great mom or what?)

I cried when I said good-bye to my parents tonight. (just a little bit) You would think I would be old enough to handle it, wouldn't you? But I talk to my mom every day and it's going to be very hard for me not to talk to her for two weeks. My poor sister is going to have to listen to a lot, although I normally talk to her almost every day as well. Plus, going to Africa is kind of scary. There's a big war going on near where they will be, and several Americans have already been killed. So I'll be glad when they're safely back home.

I'm off to bed now - WITHOUT SETTING MY ALARM CLOCK. How cool is that?