Hi old friends (and new ones, too)

Some of you may or may not remember me. I am just now recovering from a full tummy tuck on Dec. 21. I have a little more than ten more pounds to go, and am moving full steam ahead to get it off. I am not going to a COD, but am going to do it on my own.

Katie, Boo, Lori, Deets, HeatherPP, other Heather, Julie Marie, and any of my old friends - how the heck are ya? Any of you still around? What's everyone up to?

Hello Stiesta...........we have not yet met. It's wonderful you are back.......and please, do tell.......how was the tummy tuck? It must have made your holidays a bit miserable. I was just talking about one in a different thread. I would love to have one.......but I am so uniformed and scared.

Hi Nicole, nice to meet you, too!

As far as the TT goes, on the whole I'd say it's not been too bad. I stayed at at a plastic surgery recovery spa for three days, and that was absolutely heaven. Coming home was not too bad - DH was there to take care of the kiddos. Christmas day is kind of a fog - me sitting in a chair watching them open presents is about all I can say for the day. Slept through most of it.

The drains are the WORST part of the whole thing. I ended up paging my surgeon new year's eve because one had popped the stitch holding it in and it was sliding out - and very painful. He had me come to his house (as he was in the middle of a new year's eve party) and pulled the drains right there on his couch. So embarrassing for me, but such a great guy to do that. Once the drains came out, I was a new woman.

The only other complication I have had is my incision popped open at about four weeks out (I'm almost six weeks out now). It's pretty gross looking, but a very superficial wound. Dr. says it's just going to take time to heal - one of the potential complications you can have. I'm pretty swollen still, but have no more loosey-goosey skin or stretch marks on my stomach. It's possible that at some point in my life I may wear a bikini (and I never thought I'd say that!)

Anyway, way more about me and the TT than you probably wanted to know, but I feel like I researched this and researched it, and there are just some things you can't know about until you do it (or until you meet someone like me - ready to share the real deal!).

Stiesta - So good to see you, and so glad to hear you're doing well! And so timely with the TT story, definitely not TMI! Now we need you to stick around and update that avatar!

Definitely NOT TMI for me. Thank you. I tease DH all the time that I am going to get one. Now, here's a bit of TMI for you...........I told him if I ever decided to get a TT that he should totally support me on it, cuz it would make me more confindent in bed...and it would probably make me want to "ride top," more often

why do you think my DH was so willing to pay for one?

Oh, Christie, how cool! I was just thinking about you a few days ago, remembering that your DH said he would give you a tummy tuck with his Christmas bonus. I was wondering if you ever did it. I am green with envy right now while I suck in my jello-belly. I am so glad to see you! Did you get your house sold?

LOL, that is awesome!!!

We never met but Hi I am Barb. I am glad that you are here.

Stiesta! Yay! Glad to see you back! I'm on a roll with the exclamation points! Check out my website for the newest goings on in my life! Everybody here is probably getting sick of me talking about it! But I'm a one topic girl lately! Unless we're talking about moobs though!

Okay-I'm done . . . .

JM......everytime I found out I was getting a baby........and I say 'getting,' because I truly believe all babies are put into families by God, whatever means He uses to get them there are irrelevant..........that was all I could talk about, think about, dream about..............of course, I had not yet heard of moobs....LOL. Don't apologize for your excitement and anxiousness......it's adorable!!!! All expecting mothers are like this

First off, JM, all I can say is WOW. You are going to make one heck of a mom. That is such a neat story - gave me chills reading all about it. She looks absolutely beautiful. Love the name, too. Congrats!!!

Katie, old friend! Yes, our house FINALLY sold after eight months. We closed on it right before Halloween. Probably the most stress I've ever had, but thank goodness it's gone. The Boston market tanked even further, so it makes me so glad to be rid of it. And, yes, DH ponied up for the TT. He's a good man. He told me that he would do anything if it made me feel beautiful. I so love him!

It's good to be back - I've got to get going and get these last few pounds off. I feel like I paid all this money and I need to look GOOD! Gotta have something to show for this pain! You gals look like you're rocking the WL world - it's inspiring!

You know we want pictures, right?

Christie--WOW!!! It is great to see you and hear that things are going great for you in sunny San Diego. I am thrilled for you on the sale of the house--I know how hard that was for you. You are a brave woman for the TT--not sure I could endure it. Yes, we want photos!! You were already so gorgeous--I can't even imagine now--you're gonna kill'em at the beach this summer. Congrats on EVERYTHING wonderful going on with you!

JM--I finally got to see the room--school computers block everything good! It's adorable--she is so so so lucky!! Can't wait to hear the news that you are on your way to get your hands on her.

Soon as the doctor okays me standing up straight, I'll take some afters (I have some before's). I still have to walk hunched over because of the split-open incision - which is a HUGE pain and so embarrassing. I see him on Monday and am hoping he clears me to start standing. I have forgotten what good posture is like.

Boo, good to see you, chickie!