Can't sleep...Don't know if its the grumbling stomach, the crazy amount of anxiety I'm having, or the sheer excitement that when I wake up I'll be headed to the hospital after many, many long months of preparation. It's almost 1:00am here in downtown Seattle. I'm 2 1/2 hours from home, laying next to my hubby in this hotel, my mom in the adjacent bed. This is so surreal! The thought of being put under anesthesia is severely creeping me out, but I keep dreaming of all the sexy high heels I'm gonna work it in once this is all over, lol. While Im seriously craving some good ol' Mexican food from LaFuente back home, I can't imagine it will ever taste as good as finally hiking up to the summit of Saddlerock will feel. Ahh, I love this city...Can't imagine a better place to start this journey. The Space Needle glistens just outside our window and it reminds me how much bigger this world will get once I'm a third my size. I will finally fit into the world I've forced myself into for all these years. But this city, unlike my hometown, is one you could lose yourself in. It will swallow you in a sea of hippies, coffee freaks, and computer geeks. It beckons to those free-spirited and ready to embrace change and uphold a lifestyle that is both healthy and efficient. They call it the Emerald city for a reason. From out of the vast ocean of green, pops a city that was never supposed to survive. Burned to the ground, it was rebuilt and emerged victorious. It overlooks the gloomy Puget Sound tonight, and all seems so peaceful and beautiful. The metaphor of this city is a tale I wish to claim as my own. An emerald in the rough if you will. Busy, but down to earth. Quirky, but smart. Healthy, but energetic and fun. Pretty, but full of gumption. Victorious in the face of adversity and ridicule. I will conquer my dreams...One pound at a time.

You could be a Writer, thanks for the post, you'll be fine, good luck!!

Thoughts & prayers for peace and a quick recovery. Good Luck!

Keep us posted.

Good luck to you! I am right there with you. Surgery in 3 and 1/2 hours!

CCornell87 & Gigi_Girl, Best wishes to you two for today's start of a new journey. Be positive and Keep the Faith. It wil be over and you"ll be recovering in no time now.

Your special day is here! May God Bless you two.

Just over 12 hrs banded and Im on my way! Only hangup was the Dr keeping me over night versus going home. Feeling a lot if tightness and some discomfort, so I think being here was definitely my best option to get going on the right foot. My BP and oxygen levels have been low, but are improving once I had my CPAP hooked to oxygen and finally slept awhile undisturbed. Pain caught up with me though since not requesting meds as I slept. Its all relative though...No pain, no gain right? Lol, or weight LOSS... I started this journey at 512 lbs!! As of pre-op right before I went under I was 467...45 pounds!! 300's, here I come!! ))

sounds like you're doing great! that's wonderful. keep in touch...

That's so wonderful for you! I am tearing up with joy for you! Haha. I have gotten of my anti-deppresant recently, so it's inevitable. But you are so brave and upbeat about everything. You inspire me. Good luck on your journey! I will be having surgery in about 3 weeks, so hopefully we can inspire each other.

Suzeeq from St. Lou