Friday, March 2, 2012

I spent last week with my daughter in Jacksonville, she has a cat and I thought the problems I was having was just my allergies acting up. I was wrong. After I got back home I was in bed for 4 days. Still not 100 % but getting better.
I have been focusing on what I need to do to get OASIS up and running. I blogged about it before, and you can check it out here. http://bariatricstyle.blogspot.com/2012/02/chasing-my-passion.html

There is so much to do when trying to start an organization. I have a meeting with SCORE http://www.score.org/ on Monday which is an organization that provides mentors to help people who want to start a business. SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.
I am really looking forward to this meeting.
This Saturday is my 51st birthday. I can't believe how much has changed in the last 2 years.
This picture was taken right before my 49th birthday. It was my "before" picture. One of the pictures I had taken when I decided to have weigh loss surgery. Right after this picture was taken I was placed on oxygen 24/7. That same year I was admitted into the hospital through emergency 7 times with an average stay of 10 days each time. I know I am smiling in this picture but the truth is I was far from happy. I was at 400 pounds here. I was diabetic, I had sleep apnea, COPD, and asthma. I couldn't walk to my mail box.

The next picture was taken on New Years Day this year. 200 pounds lighter. No longer diabetic, no longer on oxygen, no longer having to use a CPAP machine, no longer taking 23 different medications a day.
In this picture the smile is real. I love my life, I love myself, and I have found my passion. I am active and healthy, ( this cold that I have had the last few days would have put me in the hospital again before my surgery).
I am thriving rather then fighting to just survive. So, Tomorrow I will turn 51... and I couldn't be happier.