before/after comparison picture added ----> 3 weeks post-op

Hello everyone! I am 31 years old. I have 3 beautiful children ages 6, 5 and almost 2. Once our family was complete, I decided to get healthy and I am proud to say that I have lost over 80 lbs. I am currently 155 lbs and was over 250 lbs at my highest pregnancy weight so definitely a big girl! Three pregnancies coupled with the weight loss has left my stomach in not the best shape and no amount of exercise is changing it. Believe me, I have tried! I weight train 4 days a week and do cardio 6 days a week and the better shape I get into, the worse my abdomen and breasts become. I stumbled across this website not too long ago and have become obsessed with reading about people's stories. About 2 weeks ago I decided with 100% finality that I will be getting a tummy tuck. After thinking about it a lot, I feel like if I am doing the tummy tuck, I may as well do the breast augmentation at the same time and get it all over with. (I hope this is the right decision!)

I have been in contact with a few clinics in Vancouver, BC and the cost is going to be between $15,500 - $20,000. YIKES!! I live in a remote community at the other end of the province so it is going to be very expensive to travel as well. Thankfully my husband supports me and encourages me to do whatever makes me happy. I still am having a hard time swallowing that I will be spending this kind of money on myself. Makes me feel kind of selfish but deep down I know I deserve it, know what I mean? My next step is to decide upon when I will be getting the surgery. It is a lot more complicated then the average story because like I mentioned, I have to travel a great distance to have it done. Right now, I am considering October but in reality, January 2013 would probably work best for my Mom (she would be watching my kids) but I don't want to wait that long! :( Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! Why can't anything be simple!? lol

I have had a BUSY day...I spoke with my family members about an appropriate time to have the surgery and October seems to work!

Being the planner that I am, I immediately contacted the clinic where I am planning on going to and tentatively scheduled my consultation for October 17 with the surgery to take place the following morning. OMFG!! I am so excited, nervous, scared, anxious, doubtful... you name it, I feel it. Simone, the super nice coordinator at the clinic, said that she will phone me in June to get a final answer on if I am indeed going ahead with the planning of the surgery. If so, they will require a 25% deposit at that time.

My cousin (who I will be staying with post-surgery) told me that she will be taking some vacation days from work to be my nurse for the 10 days I am out of town... THANKFUL and GRATEFUL are the two words that I cannot repeat enough.

I can't believe this is all going to happen! and now the waiting game begins.... ;)

After much consideration, I have booked an earlier consultation with my Dr. at the end of July. I was supposed to have my consult the day before the surgery in October (due to travel distance) but I am too nervous and have too many questions that I decided it would be best to go sooner.

So, I will be meeting my Dr. and deciding what I am going to have done on July 31st. :)