Once upon a hope........in Judiland

In honor of hump day.....I thought I'd share a few pix of....well....my favorite hump (or should I say...hub??) and I throughout my Lapband journey.....

I apologize if you already saw some of these. But, at least I'll be adding some text just to give you an idea of what these pictures and those moments meant to me....

Here's a picture of Carmen and I in May of 2006 at the wedding of my dear friend. Lapband was the furthest thing from my mind at this point. Although weight was at the height of my thoughts! Buying this particular outfit...as many people can attest to....sent me reeling. When I saw this picture, I was shocked at just how big I had got. However, I should have known well before that when every Size 20 I tried on didn't fit. I cried quite a bit about finding something to wear for this super special occasion since I was serving as Maid of Honor and I was the match maker of the union! At the last minute, I shut my eyes and purchased this outfit on line...having to buy a 3X was hard enough! I couldn't imagine doing it in a public place like a store. So, I did it in the privacy of my home. I was feeling hopeless amid the happiness I had for my friend.


Here's a picture of Carmen and I in Florida in April 2007. At the time, I was in the process of jumping through the pre-Lapband hoops. Right before we left, I had to run out and buy all new clothes for this trip. Even though I had spent a good deal of the winter on many diets, I had outgrown my size 20's from the summer before! That vest I had on was supposed to cover me up without making me sweat. What do I remember most about this trip? I was hot, I was overweight, I was uncomfortable and I was not too much fun. So, unfortunately, when I saw this picture....it reminded me of those feelings! I was beginning to feel some hope that my days of looking like this would soon be over....


And, here we are---at the very height of my obesity---2 weeks before my surgery, sitting in a favorite pub in North Carolina--July 2007. When I saw this picture--a few days before my surgery--I thanked God I was getting a Lapband! See that top I'm wearing? I had to run out the night before we left to buy that in every color they had! Yes...once again....I had nothing to wear. But, at least I had hope.


Here's Carmen and I exactly one month after my Lapband surgery--September 2007--at a friend's party. It was the first time in a very long time that I didn't have to run out and buy something new! I had a whole closet and attic filled with clothes I could finally wear! And, it was the first time in a very long time that I didn't cringe at looking at a picture of myself. I was definitely feeling better about myself and I knew things would get better and better! The hope was beginning to feel warranted.


Here's Carmen and I on Christmas Day 2008 right before the house filled with family and friends. It was a good day--I wore a pair of jeans that I didn't buy in the plus size department. All of that hope I had for all of those months manifested itself in the knowledge that I could LOOK and feel good for the first Christmas Day in a very long time....


Here's Carmen and I at a friend's party in March 2009. Yes...that's a new blouse in a size to be happy about! And, I absolutely loved finding it and buying it! The hope had turned to happiness.




And, the journey continues....with the hope that keeps me (and all of us!) going....

Living Hopefully Ever After in Judiland......