all fixed up after big babies!

it is hard to put into words how differently I feel now that my body looks the way it "should." it is priceless to feel attractive again at 38, after feeling badly about my body for most of my thirties.
I am so proud to have been able to carry twins to full term, and to have had another big baby all naturally after that, but my body really did get wrecked in the process! I wish I could have been one of those women that didn't mind my post-pregnancy body, but I was always bothered by how I looked, especially my stomach that frequently got looks and comments. there is nothing worse than getting asked if you are pregnant when you are not! and omg, I hated having to laugh and say something like, "no, my stomach just never quite bounced back afterwards," and feel so humiliated and gross.
there is no denying that getting this surgery done was selfish and expensive, but for me, it has been a game-changer! i haven't done many things in my life that were truly just for me, and this experience hasn't always been easy, but overall, I am thrilled with the outcome.

nearly four weeks after my surgery, I am very happy with the results!
I haven't been cleared for exercise yet as I am still working my surgeon to resolve a seroma at the top of my stomach (this has involved multiple visits to his office to numb/drain the pocket), but overall, I feel amazing!
for me, the sweet spot was about 2.5 weeks- I started to drive again, my husband and I started to have sex again, and I generally felt "normal.". I am still swollen and sore by the end of the day, but I am very happy with how far I have come in just 4 weeks.
I love my new boobs, and my new waistline & flat tummy! I still wish my scar was lower, but I was able to find a couple new bikinis (!!) from Victoria's Secret & athleta that are high enough to cover my scar (see photo).
I am massaging 2-3x daily with vitamin e and mederma, and am hopeful that the small amount of lumpiness & puckering on my scar will rescue with time.
I can't even put into words how happy I am that I went through with this (incredibly expensive, initially very scary & uncomfortable) surgery. I haven't felt "hot" in a long time, and now I am exponentially more motivated to get back into shape so that my legs & but match the rest of my body!

it really is amazing how I feel a little bit better each day since surgery. I am starting to feel almost normal, except for when I sneeze (holy sh!+ it hurts to sneeze!). today was a busy day with my kids (my husband is out of town for the first time since my surgery) and after all day with a 3 year old, plus my kindergarten-age twins the rest of the day, I am pooped.
I still haven't driven the car, but I have been off narcotic pain meds since post-op day 10 (just Advil for pain & swelling now). I think I am ready to drive, and I have been doing most of my normal stuff around the house, with the exception of lifting. I'm also squatting more than bending at the waist if I need to pick something up off the ground. getting up from sitting or laying down is still a little tricky, too.
I had an appointment with my surgeon yesterday, and he was pleased with how I am healing. one breast is still high, and I had a small (one x two inch) seroma at the top of my stomach that he drained a few cc's of fluid from. I was dreading that so much, but he numbed the area and it didn't hurt at all. he also told me to begin scar treatment, so I have started with mederma, and I think I will add vitamin E into my routine also.
I am still really swollen, and i am really disturbed about the "ken doll" phenomenon. eww. so gross.
overall, I am loving my new body- it is a huge upgrade from what I had two weeks ago! I am most disappointed about how high my scar is, but as with the swelling, and my one way-too-high breast, I am trying to take the long view, and hope that a few months from now all of these little issues will have improved. only time will tell!