Consequences stink

Sometimes consequences stink

My oldest wanted to buy a laptop this summer... My middle never mentioned wanting one...

We sat down, discussed ways to make money, made a plan, and had a probable outcome of a laptop by September one... He was so excited!

But consequences got in the way

First of all, he broke a window... That was $80. Then, he dropped my ipod and it broke... That was $300. So, he had to spend $380 all because of natural consequences... No punishment was needed from me. Life alone took care of it.

Consequences stink

A friend of our family decided to sell her ipad2 for $280. An iPad with the use of a Bluetooth keyboard is the perfect inexpensive laptop for a 15 or 13 year old... My oldest wanted this iPad more than life... However, he only had about $120. We had discussed way back in May that his parents would not be helping financially in any way. His actions would prevent him from buying the laptop and even the less expensive iPad.

My middle child heard about the iPad. She counted her cash and discovered over $350... She bought the iPad and the keyboard. She was so excited to have a laptop-like thingy...

I have tried to teach all three of my kids that ALL CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. The summer my oldest has learned this lesson on his own. He had a great summer. He earned over 25 merit badges, attended two scout camps, rode over 50 miles on his bike, went on a 50 mile hike through the mountains of West Virginia, had fun at the pool, got along great with his siblings... But he will not have a laptop for September...

Consequences....well, you get the idea.

sleeping

I am still sitting this bed at the sleep study... it was really comfortable last night. Last time I was here, I did not think that I slept well... but last night, I slept very well. I was in a dead sleep when Preston came in this morning... and I wanted to roll over and ignore him... of course all of the cords and wires prevented me from doing that!

I tried on several face masks. Some where huge, some only covered the nose... the one that I chose just had nose plugs... very small.... But, it was crazy - they were right. I slept great! I brought home my loaner machine and strangely enough, I cannot wait to sleep with it tonight.... I know, I am weird. But I will say I slept better last night with a mask on, four things attaches to my scalp, seven things attached to my face, two attached to my chest, two attached to my left leg, and two straps attached snuggly around my chest and gut.... completely weird...

Tomorrow I will head over to Wake Med Cary... I have a two hour appointment for all of my pre-op stuff... Do not know exactly what they will be doing - but really do not care! I am just ready for things to start working...

I started second guessing myself yesterday... do not get me wrong, not having the surgery has NEVER been a thought. I just think about whether or not the "smallest" of the surgeries is what I want... I know that slower will be better - I just want to insure that I lose 70-90 pounds... I want a huge change... and like most people I would like for it to happen tomorrow. I am going to continue on the road with the sleeve. Following surgery I will walk my butt off for two weeks, then move into the weight room... I will not be able to return to my LGN class until week 6, but I will return. I HAVE to, in order to achieve my goals, I will do it all.

Epiphany 2012 is in full motion.

"I do not have to do anything I do not want to do... and I do not want to be fat."

yay!

i have a date!

So, I had my final results appointment this morning... well, it started in the morning and lasted through 3pm...

I passed all of the tests with the exception of the sleep study. Thankfully, I will be able to have a cpap machine for surgery. They are going to give me a loaner machine.

After hearing my results, we had a long meeting about what I will be allowed to eat or should I say DRINK over the next three weeks! I have to admit that I was not very thrilled over all of the many... okay, FEW choices that I will have.

When I met with Dr Bruce, I requested to have the surgery tomorrow... he laughed and thought I was kidding - of course, then I told him that I stopped eating yesterday and had been on clear liquids all day just in case he had a cancellation for tomorrow - He thought that was funny and hilarious... however, there were no cancellations!

I will be having surgery on Thursday, August 9th around lunchtime.  I can not even begin to write or explain just how excited I am. I feel as though I will have a second chance with life starting next Thursday afternoon. It is crazy....

I am sitting here in the big bed at the sleep study... thinking about all I need to do before next Thursday... I start my "liver reduction diet" tomorrow morning. I did buy the cappuccino flavor and plan to make it with decaff coffee... I am hoping it will be halfway yummy... we will see. I will be eating/drinking about 3-4 times a day until Tuesday evening... then clear liquids only on Wednesday before surgery!

Here's to the new me... here's to shopping in regular stores... here's to sitting in plastic lawn chairs without worrying that they will break...