Back in the saddle again

Okay so I promised that I would update you on what been happening with me since my last post forever ago!!  LOL.  I don't know why I'm so bad at this game, but I am.

Here is a picture of the tattoo that I got in honor of my Aunt and then a shadow box I made of her.

 So my Uncle came out in April and borrowed my car for his new adventure.  This is how you know that you live in a really little town.  I have needed a second car exactly two times since he has borrowed it. LOL  He is coming out for Thanksgiving (YAY) and will be bringing the car back.





May:  I had my first knee surgery.  My right knee was worse so it went first.  I had a lateral tendon release and arthroscopy to clean out all the destroyed cartilage. What you see in the picture that looks like shredded chicken is actually my cartilage. On to physical therapy

June:  I had physical therapy 3 days a week for 4 weeks which kicked my ass and hurt so bad, but was so worth it.  I also started supervising visits between biological parents and their children that were in foster care as part of my internship for school.  I continued to do this even after my internship was over because it meant so much to the family I was supervising.

July:  NH and I decided to start selling baked good at the farmer's market as a fun summer time project.  We did pretty good and had a lot of fun!  Here are some pics from that.  Turns out I'm a pretty good cupcake decorator and I might have a few paying gigs coming soon!!  WOO HOO

Also on July 17, I had SI (sinovial joint) injections in my back to help with my L5-S1 disc bulge and desiccation.  I found out this year that I have arthritis in not only my knees but two places in my back T11-T12 and L5-S1 and it will only get worse as I get older.  However, the extremely painful injections that I had to endure have alleviated my pain almost completely (Thank you Jesus!!).  This is a huge step for me, since I have been in pain for 17 years.  I am hoping to make it atleast 9 months before I need another injection!  On July 21st I had my second knee surgery on the left knee. Same procedure followed by physical therapy.  Woo, blah!  LOL

August:  I got a letter from my insurance company stating that they reviewed my case and they ACCEPTED my appeal for a breast reduction!!  YES!!  But I only had until Sept 10th, 2011 to get it done. So before getting approval to take time off work I booked my reduction for Sept. 1st.   I met with the plastic surgeon and he said that he was going to take about 1050grams from my left and 750 grams from my right, which should make me about a D cup.  Yes you heard it right only a D cup.  LOL

So in Sept my Mommy flew out for my surgery and on the first I had my breast reduction and they took 3.82 pounds total, they wanted to take more but it would have left me uneven (which I already was and that was not the goal).  So after being in the recovery room for a couple of hours, I got to go to the hotel and sleep, ask Mom and NH the same questions over and over again and ask for the same food every time I was hungry which happened to be fried cheese sticks and fresh veggies with ranch dip.  LOL 

I have had to wear a sports bra 24 hrs a day for the last 6 weeks, but my boobs look great and I feel one hundred times better!!!

At the beginning of this month I was given a low blow by the doctors I found out that I am insulin resistant, which basically means that my pancreas produces too much insulin all the time and if I don't get it fixed it will burn out and I will become diabetic.  I was also diagnosed with poly-cystic ovarian syndrome (google it) which is mostly the reason I can't lose weight and I carry the majority of my weight in my midsection.  So now I'm on Metformin for that and I am working on totally changing my lifestyle.  I did learn that is probably the culprit for my miscarriage so that actually made me feel just a little bit better.

This past weekend, I wanted to test out my new improved body and NH and I went to Chicago with a friend and participated in the Title9k (which is about 5.5 miles) and I finished in 1hr 40 mins!!  I have to say I'm super proud of myself!!!