Here Goes - Calgary, AB

Hey girls. Real Self has become my goodnight read. I am scheduled for a mommy makeover (more recently described to me as a rack and rake!) on August 23rd. I paid today so it's officially official. Until this payment it felt like I could, and would, cancel. I am 38 years old and, thanks to a great girlfriend, your stories, and my doctor's amazing staff, I am sooo excited for this experience. I have three boys ages 14, 8 and 4. I also have a wonderful husband who is 100% supportive and having a bit of fun with my belly before it's gone. He is happy with my body but I'm not. I'm looking forward to swimming with my boys instead of covering myself up. I'm excited to not have to tuck in my skin or sit and have my underwear roll away. I'd like to buy a belt. I want to throw on a t-shirt and not look pregnant. I want to do Zumba and not have to find workout clothes to hold in the "stuff". It's all so much work. I'm ready.

It's interesting... I've never really looked at other people's figures before. I just know what I don't like about mine. But ever since I've been researching this procedure I look at people differently. I think I'm trying to figure out what I am going to look like afterwards. To find a person with my future body. It freaks me out a bit that won't recognize myself. I'm really stressing about having boobs. I've never even purchased a real bra before. I live in sports bras. I was so flat in junior high I remember it made me feel better to pretend boobs were a name for just another fat roll ;) A fat roll I didn't have. *laugh

The pain I'm worried about it the muscle repair. I have a 7cm separation all the way up to my rib cage. It has been taking a toll on my back and my vertebra has started to fuse due to the lack of core strength. It was actually my physio therapist who suggested this was the only way I was ever going to correct that. The (hopefully) yummy mummy look afterwards is the fun part!

I've weaned myself from coffee (felt like a three day hangover). I hate to admit I'm literally hooked. Well, no longer. I'd like to rid my body of things like that first.

So, I have this mega list that I've compiled, with the help of real self members, regarding items I should pickup before surgery. I spoke to my PS staff about it and they said I won't need anything on there except maybe a leg wedge that they can lend me, a binder which they already gave me and a naturalpathic stool softener (they said sometimes the real stuff cramps a person up which is not fun). Otherwise, supposedly, they stay in such close contact that they dish out stuff like nausea meds, scar tape, bruising stuff etc as I need it. I hope they are right! Big question... Is a toilet seat riser truly needed? What about a shower stool? Girls, what could you not live without??

So, I'm stressing today. I've come down with something. So far it's mild sore throat, sore left ear, pain behind my left eye etc. My colds often turn into sinus infections. I have two weeks to get better on the natural stuff only! Vitamin C, oil of oregano, extra sleep and cold FX. Anyone have any other suggestions? My PS has his office closed until August 19th so I am not able to get advice from him right now. I don't want to risk starting antibiotics without him giving the go ahead but by then it will be too late. Because of my work, if this gets worse and then postponed, I will have to wait until January :(

I'm self employed but very busy over the Christmas season... October on. It's good that I have control of my time but since I can't know how quickly I'll recover I feel like I am putting some of my business growth on hold. I'm looking forward to being past this part and moving forward again so a delay would be really frustrating. What will be will be.... However, that doesn't mean I can't put up a good fight!