After 17 years of waiting...

Hello beautiful people! I am a 38yo mother of two, my oldest is 17. I had her the day after my 21st birthday and she is the best birthday gift I have ever received by far! I was always thin, but gained 45lbs w/ my pregnancies, leaving me with stretched skin and stretch marks, plus a big gap between the muscles.

Life has had so many ups and downs... I always felt like I was disfigured with this wrinkly belly and have been very self-conscious about it. I felt it was holding me back in life, although truthfully it has never really stopped me from anything, including finding love. I think most dudes don't really care that much (and if they do, we are better off without them). What has bothered me most is I have been asked "when are you due?". Ugh. Just the worst. And it's just the way my belly sticks out with the muscles being apart and all. I have obsessed over this procedure for years and been so desperate to get it done, but circumstances did not allow it until now. In the meantime I have done a lot of work on myself, spiritually and emotionally, and feel I now accept my body, sometimes even love my body. 

I'm now married and I work from home, so the timing is perfect. Recently, I was even questioning if I really wanted to still go through with this! (I do.) So now it's 2 weeks from today, it's getting real! But I feel prepared, my expectations are super realistic, and I have a great support system. I am grateful for all my belly has done, it has been the first home of my two beautiful children, but I'm ready to let it go and feel a new sense of confidence with a belly that matches the rest of my body. If you are still reading, thank you for following my journey! Let's do this!

Here is a before pic, will post some of side view as well. It's mostly skin, and they said the muscle repair will be quite extensive all the way up. Hope I have everything I need, been purchasing this and that from recommendations in other people's reviews. 13 days to go!

Can't believe it's here! Feeling some nerves but also as prepared as I can be. Cleaned today, got my recliner set up, cooked some soup and rice, got my meds...all there is left to do is get there! Last few before pics :) wish me luck!