The Next Chapter - Vrginia Beach, VA

I'm a 30 year old single mom of 2. My daughter is almost 6 and my son is almost 4. I have always wanted to get a breast augmentation but never really thought about a Tummy Tuck...until I had the kids...I've never been "skinny" and I've struggled with up and down weight my whole life. Having large babies didn't help. My daughter was 10 pounds at birth and my son was 11 pounds at birth. Obviously both C-Sections. Since having my son I went from 290 and I'm down to 229 now and I've finally decided to go with the "Mommy Makeover" getting a full Tummy Tuck with muscle repair and a breast augmentation. My friends are very encouraging and supporting, my mom and sister not so much. (what does my sister know though? she's been beautiful and skinny her whole life, even after having her baby she fit into her jeans the very next day!). I don't desire to be "skinny" or "perfect" but I would like to improve what I have.

I go to the gym at least 4 days a week, sometimes twice a day but this stomach never goes down. It hangs about 3 inches past my waist line As you can see from this "before" photo. I cover it up by wearing my jeans/skirts up high and large shirts, etc. I'm tired of having to "hide" myself away. Over the past few months I've been so 'aware' of this extra skin and fat that just hangs here and it's consumed my every thought. When I'm at the gym I can feel it, throughout the day I'm constantly thinking about my appearance.

My biggest concerns with this procedure is not so much the anesthesia, I've been under before with other surgeries, but the recovery does make me nervous. I have some help but not much. Lucky for my my kids are pretty self entertaining between playing in the yard on the swing set and the TV/Internet. My daughter is also very helpful and likes to do things for her little brother so I'm hoping this will help get me through.

Nervous, anxious, excited, and a little bit scared but reading every body else stories and thoughts have definitely eased my mind. Thank you everybody!

Not really nervous as much as excited. This is my last weekend before surgery on Monday and I'm trying to make the best of it. I have Friday off work but will be in on Sunday to clean my office and finish up any last minute work details before surgery on Monday. Trying to get my house as clean as possible and picking up a recliner to borrow from my parents for the first week or two of recovery. Setting up a little table right next to the recliner that will have my meds and anything else I think I'll need within arms reach. Feeling pretty confident and prepared for the most part. I'll keep updating as time gets closer but for now I am super excited.

Well it's Friday. I am trying to enjoy my last free weekend before the surgery but I have a feeling it's going to be difficult. I was supposed to have off today but Tropical Storm Andrea decided to hit and they wanted me to come into work. Thus is the downside of working the Information Technology field. Always on call and considered "essential personnel". So here I am trying to not be upset and finish up some last minute things at work before I go out for 2 weeks.

So last night my sister and I got in a huge argument right in the middle of the dinner. She said my surgery is a waste of time and I'll always be fat so why waste the money. How's that for a sister? We've never been close or got along really well but that was just cruel. We weren't all blessed with her perfect genes where we could have kids then fit into our size 6 jeans the next morning. I have friends that super encouraging and say she's just jealous that I have my life together and she still lives at home with our parents and has no real world experience. I knew she would not be supportive but I did not expect her to be straight up cruel.

I don't want to back out of this surgery but having someone be so negative and say mean things like that is really hurtful and does make me think twice. Why am I letting her get to me!?