We're off to See the Wizard!!

I have been dreaming of a boob job and tummy tuck since I was 5 months pregnant with my oldest child; he just turned 17! I have been seriously planning for about a year, anticipating surgery next spring when I was able to pay off some debt that I acquired during a long, drawn out divorce. Surprisingly, I was able to do it a year before I expected! I spent (literally) 5-6 hours a day researching doctors, facilities, procedures, videos and thousands of before and after pictures! I made an appointment for a consultation on Friday, March 7th in Tampa, FL which is approximately 3 hours from where I currently live, but only 45 minutes from my hometown and family. I will be staying at my sister's house until the drains are removed to make the commute to the post op visits a little easier.

I am a realist; I've had three kids, HORRID, wide stretch marks, and a lot of flabby skin on my belly. I went from a solid 34C pre-pregnancy to a 38DD after my last pregnancy; partially because I gained about 45-50 pounds. When my last child was six years old, I lost the excess "baby weight" and gained deflated boobs and flabby belly. I am proud because I have developed a much healthier lifestyle and maintained it for over six years.

I have always been ok with who I was and what I looked like. I figured it is what it is and I was just kind of stuck with it. My ex-husband was completely against the vanity of plastic surgery. After he was out of the picture, I decided that I was ok with who I was and what I looked like but I could be really happy with it with a few nips and tucks. :)

I went in for the consult to meet Dr. William Welsh. However, a female doctor came in and met with me. I was not impressed. Her cell phone rang 4 different times in the 6-7 minutes she spent in the room with me. She seemed condescending, rushed, and even rolled her eyes when I said I had a "list of questions". I was extremely disappointed in what she said she could/couldn't do. She said that she would only go as high has half of my belly button and that it would cause a "little lip" at the incision sight. I decided that maybe I didn't want to do this after all. When she left, I told the coordinator that my appointment was with Dr. Welsh and that I was not interested in moving forward with the other doctor, who did not even bother to introduce herself to me before she started flapping my boobs and squishing my stomach.

She awkwardly smiled, left the room, and returned with Dr. Welsh. He was wonderful! In the first few seconds, he made me feel comfortable, explained everything in a way that was easy to understand and he instantly eased my worried mind! So I booked the surgery date to coincide with my kids' visit to their dad's for spring break, paid the fees, and even completed the pre-op to save me from making another 3 hour trip back before the surgery.

I am VERY excited, VERY nervous, and VERY ready to get it done and start the recovery process! The minute I signed the paperwork, my heart started beating faster. Part of my brain kept saying "why am I rushing into this?!" The other part of my brain said "you've wanted this for 17 years! You've researched! You've planned! You've saved! You've become obsessed with pictures of bellies and boobies!"

Deep breath.

Surgery is scheduled, deposit is paid, pre-op is done. Now I have to prepare my kids to be at their dad's for 10 days, pack "vacation" bags for me and my boyfriend to stay at my sister's, grocery shop so when I come home I will have more than corn dogs and oreos (that would be my boyfriend's menu), and grocery shop for the days that we are staying with my sisters...oh and did I mention that we are in the process of buying a business 200 miles south of where we currently live, so I've got that and a major move to "think" about at the end of this year! It's all very good things going in my life but there's SO much!! :)

Deep breath!

T-minus 15 days to OP! I. Can't. WAIT!!!!

Just wanted to give a few details on my current "stats". I have three boys; 17, 16, and 12. My pre-pregnancy weight was about 130, which for my height was "ideal". When my youngest was 6 (I was 30 and realizing my age) I was creeping up on 200 lbs. It really got my attention! I lost 40ish pounds and have kept it off for 6 years.

I could probably get by in a 36C but the gushy booby skin would probably flap out over the sides and top. (Yum) I am doing 300cc silicone implants and I am a little concerned that they're not going to be quite as big as I want. Both consults said they wouldn't do anymore because I have plenty of breast tissue left and in order to do the lift, they need to be able to remove some of the skin and that wouldn't leave room for a larger implant....or something like that. I don't want ginormous tatas but I want them to be big enough for people that know me to have to wonder "did she get a boob job!?" :)

I'm pretty calm at the moment. I think I have enough to keep my mind occupied with a career change and long distance move on the horizon. But I did have a moment of panic last night when I thought about my belly being sliced and diced and nipples being cut off and sewn back on....

Today is the beginning of the last weekend before surgery! Spring is in the air...or maybe it's nesting. I have been cleaning like a crazy woman; closets, drawers, cabinets, floors, I even tackled the laundry room! Partly, because it really needed to be done. Mostly, because it keeps my mind busy. I have my bags packed (staying at my sister's for 7-10 days due to the distance from my house to where I chose to have surgery), making menu plans and grocery shopping lists today. I've been awake before 5am every day this past week. I usually sleep till about 6:30. I swear it's the same feeling that I had when I was about 37 weeks pregnant. It's like the Queen is coming for a visit and I'm preparing. Ha!

If you've been following my story, you know that we are in the process of buying a business 200 miles south of where we currently live, which is about 15 miles from where I'm having surgery - super coincidence. We received acceptance on our offer two days ago and will be going down tomorrow to finalize contracts! SO MUCH GOING ON! So many good things!! I said all of that to say that the business aspect is helping to keep my nerves pre-occupied from the impending surgery. But, I also think that SO much going on in my mind has made me exceptionally tired. I plan to have everything done this weekend so that I can do nothing and rest Monday and Tuesday to be ready for Wednesday!

THANK YOU to the ones that have posted positive stories and encouraging words to me. It has helped tremendously to calm any hesitation that I have experienced.