“Mom of 5 (1 Plus Quadruplets), new pics! - North Carolina”

I'm a married, 37 year old mom of 5, and as the title says, I'm the Mom of quads. My skin was so stretched out so quickly, I see no other way to get out of wearing these "granny panties" for the rest of my life. So ready to be able to wear semi-fitted shirts, tucked in if I want to, with normal panties! Scared of recovery, but I figure at least I won't be changing diapers and washing bottles while recovering like last time : ) The quads are almost 5 and my oldest is almost 10.

Updated on 5 Nov 2011:
Getting closer everyday, and have told a few more people. Forgot to put my stats, I'm 5'2 and usually around 118 lbs. My sister (a pain mgmt. nurse) is coming to help me for the first 5 days and she's had a TT herself a year ago so I'm so grateful for that. Praying for a safe surgery and quick recovery so I can get back to driving and helping with the kids. Dreading the sleeping in a recliner thing and hoping to be somewhat back to normal by Christmas, which is only 3.5 weeks after surgery! Is that unrealistic? Just don't want to be hunched over shuffling around for all the family activities on Christmas eve and day. Also, my recovery after the quads' csection was awful. My incision opened up (think in part to me throwing up soon after in recovery) and my husband and friend had to pack my wound for over a month...sorry, tmi! It was so gross, hope NOTHING like that happens again. Anyway, good luck to all of you coming up soon! I enjoy reading all about you, though don't have time to get on and post much. 25 more days!

Updated on 19 Nov 2011:
Wow, time flies. I've been reading all your stories and they're so encouraging to me. 11 days left to go for me. It's Saturday and my preop appointment is Monday! getting more excited and nervous by the day. I've told a few more close friends and most have been very supportive. Still feeling like I'm going to be imposing on people and I don't like that. Hoping that i can drive within a week or so? Got a couple of the kids things that I'll have to miss ( Christmas musical and probably parade, gymnastics, dance) I guess they'll forgive me? I have not told the kids. At age 9 and 4, not sure how much they'd understand and I don't want to scare them. Thinking of not telling them until it's over. Thinking of all you tts coming up this week and those of you recovering!

Updated on 21 Nov 2011:
Well, had my pre-op today! Went quick...no bloodwork or anything yay! Got prescriptions for keflex,Valium, vicodin, and phenegran. 8 more days. He told me I was going to really be happy...I really hope so. Said he wants to put me on his poster in the office :) I guess he thinks I'm going to get great results so that makes me feel better. He estimated he'll take about 2 lbs off. Praying for all of you gals.

Updated on 23 Nov 2011:
Well this time next week I'll be minus some flab! Woohoo! Happy thanksgiving everybody!

Updated on 25 Nov 2011:
5 days to go! Went shopping last night...didn't get as much done as I wanted but there's always online shopping . Going to try to get Christmas decor out this weekend. Getting excited!

Updated on 28 Nov 2011:
36 hours and I'll be on the flat side ;)
Getting house and all the preparations ready. Started miralax last night..

Updated on 29 Nov 2011:
T minus 9 hours and counting! Going in the morning...leaving home @ 520. I appreciate your prayers please! Surgery @ 730am.

Updated on 30 Nov 2011:
Well, I made it! Surgery was @ 730, didn't get home until about 330. Couldn't get woke up. No nausea:) gave me a patch behind my ear. Dr said he'd never seen muscles so far apart. Had to do 3 rows of internal stitches. Will probably go back Friday. Will check in then. Haven't seen myself yet except a peek down @ belly button.

Updated on 4 Dec 2011:
4days post op. doing well. Have switched to Motrin during day and doing fine, had BM today yay! Not much of an appetite. 1 drain is hardly putting anything out so hopefully will come out Wednesday. Have been getting around, up and down unassisted. Still using Vicodin and Valium to sleep. Will update again after follow up on Wednesday and try to post pics. Hope all of you are healing well too!

Updated on 7 Dec 2011:
1 week post op today. Had 1 drain removed and other will be Friday. Dr says all looks well and since I'm off pain meds I'm free to drive! Will try to add pics soon, though still kind of gross looking I think ( belly button). Can stand up almost straight but feels really tight. Lack of energy still but maybe cause I'm not eating a lot...no appetite. Hope all is well with everyone else recovering!

Updated on 9 Dec 2011:
9 days post op. Adding a couple pics taken 5 days post. Had last drain removed today yay! Dr. said I looked more puffy today than 2 days ago so he aspirated (ouch) some fluid from my stomach but didn't get much. He told me I need to wear my binder tighter and come back in a week to be checked out again. Other than that, I'm doing good. Wish I could sleep on my side/stomach. No pain meds needed now but still can't stand fully straight. Soo glad to have those drains gone.

Updated on 13 Dec 2011:
Just added some pics from today, 13 days post op. Healing pretty well. There is still some leaking (sorry, gross) coming from the drain hole they pulled 4 days ago. Is that ok? The first drain stopped leaking that night. There's also 1 area in front of my incision that he's watching that doesn't have tape on it. He called it an epi something or nother? It's dark and crusty looking. I still can't stand fully straight and seem really tight as the day goes on and back pain...yadayada. Overall, pretty pleased so far. I'll go back to dr. on Monday so we'll see how that goes. Sleeping on side now, so yay! Just motrin every now and then and 1 valium at night to help me sleep. Haven't refilled Rx but may just to have it. Hope you're all doing great.

Updated on 4 Jan 2012:
Hi Ladies, I'm 5 weeks post today. Still feeling tight and slightly swollen below belly button. Just started rubbing some palmer's oil on my scar and belly button yesterday. Will try to add an updated pic soon. Ready to get back to zumba, but scared to mess something up. Our class is pretty intense and high impact. My husband has started Insanity and wants me to join in, but I can't even imagine doing that right now. So much focus on core. I had 3 rows of internal stitches on the inside to pull my muscles back together, so definitey don't want to bust them open! Hope all of you are doing well.

Updated on 12 Jan 2012:
So I'm 6 weeks as of yesterday! Went to zumba the other night and felt pretty good. Not sore, just tight and winded. I've added some 6 weeks pics. Go back to dr. on Monday so I'll see what he says. All is good : )

Updated on 16 Jan 2012:
So had my 6 week checkup today. I'll actually be 7 weeks in 2 days. He says I'm definitely looking better and less puffy, but still wear my compression garment. I can exercise, but no ab work yet. I'll go back in about 2 months for another checkup. He said he may have to go back in and flatten out around the lower/middle part of my scar but that would be at the 1 year mark and it would be in office. Overall, I have no complaints and so glad I did this.