Anxiously Waiting Are You????

Yes I've been a bad blogger. I admit it. I am updating the blog as we speak. Stay tune.....

UPDATES

I must tell you that dad has done WONDERFUL!!!! He hasn't had any pain, he's been walking, and watching what he eats and being satisfied quickly too. Of course he's ready for his first fill which should be any day now.

Today was the update for the pictures. It's been almost a month since his surgery and a little over a month since I took the last pictures before his surgery.

Here's the first one I did back in January.

Here's the one I took March 2nd.

I think it's working!!!!

Here's the front view I did back in January.

And here's the front view I took March 2nd.

I can see big changes here.

Below are the measurements that mom and dad have done. The 1st measurement one is January 25th, and the 2nd measurement is February 24th.

Dad's Starting Weight: 333 lbs.

BICEP: 1/25 - Left 16.13 Right 15.25 2/24 - Left 16.13 Right 16.00

CALF: 1/25 - Left 19.88 Right 19.38 2/24 - Left 19.00 Right 18.88

CHEST: 1/25 - 50.50 2/24 - 51.50

FOREARM: 1/25 - Left 13.63 Right 13.63 2/24 - Left 12.50 Right 12.50

HIPS: 1/25 - 55.75 2/24 - 52.63

NECK: 1/25 - 22 2/25 - 20

THIGH: 1/25 - Left 31 Right 31.13 2/24 - Left 30 Right 29.38

WAIST: 1/25 - 57.88

TUMMY: 1/25 - 57.63 2/24 - 55

BUST: 1/25 - 55 2/24 - 51.50

I will try to post these monthly along with the pics being monthly too.

Walking Side by Side

Dad and I went for a walk during a break at work. It was nice to walk with him and be able to talk about anything. The weather was perfect!!!

He's BACK!!!!!!

Dad came back to work today. It was so nice to have him back. His surgery was last Friday, February 6th, and it's now Wednesday, February 11th. So he only missed 3 days of work! He feels good, and he looks great! He stayed at work until about 3:00. So he's on the right path!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love you tomorrow!!!

Dad is suppose to be back to work tomorrow. YEAH! I get so much done when he's out of the office, but I just truly miss being able to talk to him just whenever even if it's a small detail.

Update: Dad is doing great! So far, so good! He walked 30 minutes on Sunday, and 30 minutes yesterday. He's already going at it strong!! :)

Dad Came Home

Quick Update: Dad was released from the hospital at 3:30 today! He's doing great so far!!!

Fun & Update

Well Shelby and I made it back to the hospital last night. I thought this pic was so cute.

Dad had went for a walk just before we got there and had gotten nauseated. The nurses were so good to him. He has just 3 cuts on his belly maybe 2 inches long each. He looked like he is healing well already.

Would you eat this??? This was his Beef Broth for dinner, along with the jello, and a fruit blend drink. Plus, sugar AGAIN!!! What is he using this for and people, he just had lap band surgery to lose weight!

Ok I think the drugs were kicking in because I got some funny shots of dad!

Shelby & her poppa, and poppa has jello coming out of his mouth.

View from dad's room at the hospital.

We could also see the building, that dad spent 21 years of his career at and I spent 7 years at. This is the Prospect Building and when A. G. Edwards was there.

The moon was beautiful from this view too.

Dad's room number below.

Update this morning: Dad had not checked out of the hospital as of 11. Don't know when he'll be released. He's doing really well, and I think he's just ready to get home. Will update more later.

Update on Dad

Sorry everyone! I had internet access in the surgery waiting area, but for some reason couldn't use blogger. I could check my email, but not access this. :( Then my camera died before I could take pictures naturally. So we didn't get any pics until after his surgery. I couldn't sleep at all last night, and I guess subconciously I was more worried about today then I thought. I've been going since 4:30 this morning so I apologize for a choppy post.

Update for this morning: Dad did really well in his surgery. Dr. Wellborn was able to do it laproscopic and that was VERY good news! Less recovery time. He has to stay the night in the hospital tonight due to his sleep apnea. He got in his room by noon. He is on a liquid diet for the next two weeks. He did get up and walk around the hospital around 1 or so. I had to go and pick up the girls (Shelby & Harley) from school today and Shelby and I are getting ready to head back to the hospital.

Enjoy the pics below. :)

Watching TV but still drugged....... I could've used some of that myself!

Me and Dad

Mom & Dad - Awwww!!!

I love this pic of mom and dad. You know she loves him!

Dad's YUMMY lunch - jello, grape juice, and chicken broth...... The weird thing is he had 4 sugar packets on his lunch - UHHHHH??? What's he going to do with the sugar? Seriously????

Dad watching TV and trying to sip and take his time eating. I think he might've been hurting some too in this pic. He doesn't know if it's his incision or the place where the lapband is.

As tired as I am, I was shocked that when mom took my picture it turned out to be decent a picture!

I will update more later tonight or first thing in the morning. zzzz........ Dad is suppose to go home tomorrow, but I'll keep you updated.

Praise the Lord, my dad made it and now the fun begins and the memories!

Night Before....

Dad is anxious & nervous about tomorrow. Can't say I blame him. I'm a little nervous and anxious myself. I've watched my dad struggle with his weight since I was 10. This is a blessing come true. I'll try to put together a slide show over the next few weeks to a song that I think is so fitting with all my dad has gone through all these years with his weight. I am still so excited to know this happened so fast once we switched over to Aetna health insurance at work this year.

Here's a funny: I left my house tonight at 9:30 p.m. to spend the night at mom and dad's. I was there by 9:50. Felt like old times. I wanted to say "I'm home by my curfew!" like it was a long time ago. My curfew was 10:00 until I graduated from high school. Also, I was more then 5 minutes early which made me on time. :) Dad's thing has always been if you're not where you need to be 5 minutes before the due time, then you're already late. :)

Here are a couple more before pics. Mom took these last week. Say good-bye to the old Jim and hello to the new in 8 months or so! :)

1 Week & Counting!!

Well today is 1 week before surgery. I cannot wait!! I'm hoping St. Vincent's will have high speed internet so I can update after his surgery and throughout Friday night. I must admit I'm nervous because I love my daddy so much that I don't want anything bad to happen. God will protect him and guide his doctor and it will be a success!

So I leave you with this verse.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3

Before Pictures/1000 Calories

Well I promised you people that I would get some before photos on here. What I'm planning to do is take a new picture each month. I got a little creative today and decided to make a big line for measuring and a little guy to mark where he's at on the line.

This is the side pose. I hope in a year you'll see a different color on the line. :) The next color is blue. So as he loses weight you'll see more of the line and the colors I chose.

This one is more up close so you can see the little marker I'm using.

A front pose.

Dad can only have 1000 calories a day up to his surgery date. This is day 4 and I asked him how he was doing. He did great Monday and Tuesday, and then yesterday he kind of got out of kilter due to being at the doctor's office all day. He went to see Dr. Wellborn yesterday and he had to see him, a nutrionist, and one other doctor. His appointment was at 11 and he didn't get out of there until after 3:30. Which means he pretty much missed the usual lunch time, but he did stop by the cafeteria and had a really healthy afternoon lunch, but couldn't count the calories. Today seemed to go smoother for him. I'm so proud of him. Next week I want to take one or two days and try this 1000 calories out to just see what it feels like. I'll keep you posted.

Go Daddy!!!

So the journey begins.....

I am helping my dad with setting up his blog. My dad is embarking on an incredible journey to lose weight. His destination after this? Havasu Falls of course! My dad loves the southwest and Havasu Falls is the one place he has yet seen. He uses pictures of the falls as his motivator. This is no easy task. The total round trip hike is 20 miles to 24 miles. I know my dad will accomplish this goal. I believe in him. Look at the gorgeous view that he will get to see!

My dad has struggled with his weight all his life. He does really well when he is focus, but throw a stress wrench in there and it's all over. So here's the good news! My daddy gets to have the lap band surgery February 6th. I am soooooooooooooo excited about this that I can barely contain my excitement! I truly believe this is the one tool that will help him, along with the support groups, and of course my mom and I being his cheerleaders all the way! I am committed to helping my dad because he has always done and continues to do so much for me and supports me in decisions I have made and will make. I will be attending some, if not all the support group meetings so I can help encourage him at work and even outside of work.

Starting today dad can only have 1000 calories per day until February 5th. Not sure what all will happen the day of or after, but I or dad will be keeping you up to date along the way. Can't wait to see what he will look like this time next year! I will post a before pic here soon.

So join in the journey. Drop a positive comment here or there on his blog. Follow this blog too (see right)! Put on your walking shoes, cause baby we're doing this!! :) I think you'll all join me when I say "GO FOR IT DAD! You can and you will do it!"

PS - The song you're hearing "Eye of the Tiger" is a song that I can remember not only from watching all the Rocky movies with dad, but a song he used for his own walking and to motivate him while he walked. I had to put it on here. Plus some other motivation music that I picked out.