My recovery story :)

Hi!!!! I am a 32 year old wife and mother of 2. I'm 5'0 and weigh 125lbs. After having my last baby who is now 18 months old and being stretched out of proportion, I have decided that its time to find myself physically again. I have severe abdominal muscle separation, an umbilical hernia and some loose skin. I needed to get my hernia repaired so I decided that I would just get everything done (with the addition of lipo of the flanks) at once in an esthetically pleasing way. My PS did my BA in 2004 so after consulting with other PS, I decided to come back to him for my TT.

I am really looking forward to not looking like I am 5 months pregnant. I wear large clothes to hide my severely distended belly. It has really taken a toll on me. I have felt really depressed over it and sad for my kids and husband because I didn't want to go to the pool with them last summer and my poor husband has to hear me cry and complain about nothing fitting nicely over my pregnant looking belly. I'm 10 days pre op and I feel like I'm so unprepared. I'm not buying anything special or renting any helpful chairs or beds. My PS didn't give me a list or stress the importance of medical supplies. I might put in a call tomorrow to find out what they are sending me home with. I work in an office that is primarily a sitting job, do you think I will realistically be okay to return to work 2 weeks after surgery? I can take more time off if I need to but my initial plan was 2 weeks. I'm so excited yet soooo nervous for the recovery! I will update frequently and upload some before photos to document my journey. Thank u for reading!

So tomorrow is exactly 1 week until my surgery. My son has a bad cold and I'm so afraid to get it. I don't think I can be sick for surgery. I'm crossing my fingers that I can stay well. I also just realized that I am going to start my period the day of or the day after surgery. Oh boy will that be fun! How am I going to deal with that one? I bought my arnica to start taking. No one said anything about bromelain at my PS office. Should ibe taking this too to help with healing? I posted a before pic from the side. I look pregnant :(

So I got to thinking today... I'm really going to enjoy summer this year! The last time a rocked a bikini was 6 years ago and the only time between then when I felt great at the pool was when I was pregnant. You don't have to suck it in when you are rockin' your baby bump. I got all giddy just thinking about it. Reality had not set in that I am really going to do this! I posted some more pictures that I took tonight. My first picture that I posted was from a year ago. The ones with the short grey/black shirt is from today.