6 Month Surgiversary!

Hey folks! Well, last week on Sept 5th was exactly 6 months from my surgery date. I weighed in at 178 and am super happy! Here I am on the exact day! 

  
 Here we are in Cancun a few weeks before-

 
 Weight loss has slowed down but I'm hanging in there!  

Anyway, staying with some friend we knew in Hawaii till our house is done being built. Looks like it may even be in November- ugh! Luckily we are in their very secluded basement so it totally works out! SOO grateful for them! 

Well, friends, I have met my new PCM, taken care of some medical business, attended a new spouse meeting and plan on attending the OSC luncheon next week. I am doing my usual thing of getting settled in and so far Maryland is an ok place. 
I managed to gash my foot and had to get a tetanus shot, which is proving to be mucho painful, but hey, what's life without a couple bumps in the road! =) 

Hope all is well, and hope to not be such a stranger in the future! 

Retail Shopping! Yay!

Can I just say that for a girl who had to shop plus sizes for 7 years, its soooo freakin' awesome to walk into an American Eagle of all places and button, yes, button a pair of size 14(largest size they have) jeans on! Whahoooo!!!  Here I am in a pair of their shorts!

I have always had a goal of being able to shop normal retail. I met that goal in May when I was able to fit into a size 16 pair of GAP Long and Lean Jeans(my fav jeans since high school). I'm now almost a 12 in those. I had to take those 16's and get them altered, because, my friends, $70 for jeans for one month is not cool. I wear my 14's but they are a bit big. I'm not quite a 12 yet, but they do button! Haha! =) (i'm obsessed with always having clothes that fit properly. I hate clothes that are too big.

But still, standing in the American Eagle dressing room and being able to fit THEIR size 14 was the best feeling! Wee! 


Then I went to Maurices(lack of shopping in my hometown of Lawton, OK) and found a super great buy. A skirt was marked down to $9. I was really hesitant to even try this type of look considering I have NEVER been able to pull it off with my ginormous belly hanging out. I knew how to pull it off, but I just wasn't sure if I was even a Large in Maurices sizes or if my shape was shapely enough to pull it off. So, I grabbed a top, and well, I was pleasantly surprised! 

I was pretty pleased with the result! Ahhhh...normal size retail....haven't seen you since I was first married. I love you, the end. Oh, these are the full body shots I promised! =)

Time flies!

Well friends!

Things are moving along. So far since the last time I've updated I have visited my brother and his girlfriend-

Visited my friend Cortney in Olney, Texas where we sang at her church in service then in a patriotic musical and also rode mules! -

I attended an 80's Birthday party which I didnt have clothes for but wore some borrowed accessories (this is my bro but without his awesome high socks)-

 
I also showed a friend around Lawton-

geronimos's grave at ft sill

oklahoma sky

lake lawtonka and letra in the background

wildlife refuge buffalo!

Also, here is a beginning stages pic of our house!-

I recently just returned from a short trip in Dallas, Tx to visit a friend and here is the most updated pic I have-

I am at 181 in this pic and as soon as I can take a full body shot, I will. 



I have been having a blast here in OK/TX but soon I will be in WA. But honestly, I can't wait for my own bed. Levi has been going bonkers too. Poor guy. -

Cant wait to see Joe either! But yay! We finally booked our vacation that we usually take for our anniversary in May but since he's in school we can't take till mid-August to Cancun! We have been twice before and LOVE it, so we are headed there for a week at the Riu Cancun which we haven't stayed at yet, but is an upgrade and I am soo excited!

Now I gear up to lighten my luggage for my leg to WA. And my dad's third knee replacement. Yep, he's getting a replacement, replaced. Please pray for him! 




Thanks everyone and hope the summer is treating you cool and well!






 

Traveling Fool

Alrighty folks- I'm in Oklahoma now for the next 4 1/2 weeks. I left VA on a plane to come here yesterday. Said goodbye to some great friends and buh-bye to my husband. I wont see him until mid August- BOO! I will miss him soooo much!!

 I had a great time hanging out with Ashlee and Kevin and also seeing some other friends to include some from high school that I knew and some friends from when i lived in Hawaii.  Its a small world don'tcha know?

So, until July 25th, I will be in OK and a little in TX. Then I head to Washington State. Lacey is where I'll be, but since my family from Korea are visiting, we will be touring and sight-seeing. 

Then on an unknown day, I will fly somewhere, who knows where, but after a vacation with Joe, will eventually end up at Fort Meade, Maryland.

Currently its 101 degrees in OK and i'm loving it. Yes, no humidity and i say its PERFECT! WAAAY better than Ohio or VA weather. Nope, dont like that humidity thing. 

Anyway, this is short once again- bye until next time! =)

Here is a cute pic of my friend Krystle preggo with her second baby which is a girl!!! Yay!

 

Petersburg, VA

Well, I am settled here in Petersburg, VA and getting used to our third floor furnished apt. Its a pain walking Levi up and down the stairs but i get used to it more and more everyday.  

This apt complex has tdy furnished apts and is very pet friendly so that is how we ended up here. So far the weather has been up and down. one day its 90 and one day its 55. I guess I'm used to it, but I figured my June weather would be of normal temperament.  

Yesterday I was in an out and about mood so after a trip to get a much needed pedicure, trip to the Exchange(anybody else noticed they changed the names officially from PX/BX?), and commisary, I went to the dog run with Joe and Levi and we met a couple who moved here from my hometown of Lawton, Ok! Way cool! She even went to high school there! Not the same as mine, but I can forgive her for that! =) 

Then after that, I went to the gym and met two other great ladies! One just moved here from Germany and one from Ft Polk, LA. Poor girl! Haha! Crazy enough, she had weight loss surgery over two years ago and is post plastic surgery as well, and she looks great! I never would have guessed! 

Anyway, I'm so glad I got out yesterday and was able to meet a couple of ladies. Even though I'll only be here for a week more, we can still hopefully get together before I head out. 





 Some pics of our adventures lately-

Petersburg National Battlefield

Entrance to tunnel to "the crater" at Petersburg National Battlefield

Petersburg National Battlefield and Blanford Church

"The Dictator" at Petersburg National Battlefield

Richmond Squirrels Baseball Game

 

Shrinking and Traveling

So, because of my nomad-ish lifestyle, I haven't updated in awhile. Here are some updates-

Called my friends Ash and Kevin who live in Newport News, VA and asked if it was ok to stay with her for a couple of weeks. She obliged, thank God, so, I thanked Christina for letting me stay with her and closed my chapter in Dayton.

I drove to Virginia to stay with Ash(one hour away from Joe at Fort Lee).  I was able to book an apt for a few weeks in Fort Lee though, so that I can spend some time with Joe before I head off to Oklahoma and Washington to see family and waste time. I will get to attend Ash and Kev's Baby Shower here in VA as well, so I am super excited! Did I mention Joe and I introduced them at our wedding? Kev was Joe's roommate once and Ash, I knew from OU. They got married and now have procreated! Yay! =)  

Here are some pics of my shrinking if you were wondering-

           

9 weeks at 196.4

10 weeks and 1 day at 193.2

                                                                                                        

12 weeks at 189.3

I feel like I am definitely changing!

Home Alone

Well, last week went by fast.  Monday, April 30th, we finally had our walk through to clear base housing. I hired a cleaning lady who guarantees a pass.  She was awesome.  We were clearly meant to meet each other because her daughter has been contemplating weight loss surgery(WLS) for a few years now and apparently having met me spurred her on to help her daughter make a more educated decision. She's on her way this summer to getting surgery. Im soo happy for her!  Its things like this when you realize that God always places people in your life for a reason! I am soooo happy I had surgery and wouldnt change a thing! 

As of May 1st I was at 197.4 which puts me at about a 38lbs loss. Yay!(I usually weigh in on Monday, but Monday, as mentioned, was a crazy day) So, I will weigh in again, tomorrow. (also, I usually weigh in on my weight watchers scale but I accidentally forgot to keep it with me, so I will be weighing in at the gym or wherever until I get it back umm....who knows when! haha). 

Here's me in the mall- 

since I was trying on clothes right before this, I figured I'd just take advantage of the full length mirror.  These jeans and top I purchased a few weeks ago at GAP. LOVE GAP and am soo glad I can officially fit back into their jeans in store. YAYAY!

Anyway, Joe began his drive to Virginia that same day and I am staying with my fabulous friend Christina until further notice of what I'll be doing next. Friday, we are throwing a baby shower for our friend, Tiffany, so this week should be fun getting ready for that. 


Friday, I got to help celebrate a friend's birthday at Olive Garden for lunch and at the Base Club for dinner. We had a load of fun all day and will treasure those times. Yesterday, I went with my friends Cathy and Matt and we saw Avengers. I liked it and can't wait for the next one!  


Well, I am missing my hubby and scrambling to get last "see ya laters"(no goodbyes)in with friends. Its always sad, but always a treat to know that everywhere I go, I meet the most amazing people. So grateful for the people God puts in my life.

Guess I haven't Changed!

My friend Mary reminded me about the Myers-Briggs Personality Test. I thought maybe I had changed, but nope, I'm the same as I was when I first took it in high school.


Here's a description of me according to Wiki- 


According to Myers-Briggs, ESTPs are hands-on learners who live in the moment, seeking the best in life, wanting to share it with their friends. The ESTP is open to situations, able to improvise to bring about desired results. They are active people who want to solve their problems rather than simply discuss them.

Yep, me in a nutshell. =)

Moving on with life beginning now, again

Alrighty friends! I'm trying this again!

A few things about me as of April 15th, 2012. But if you are reading this, you should know a few of this stuff already! =)

1. I, Cyndi, am an Army Wife(like my blogger address states, haha)

2. J is my amazing husband of 6 years(almost 7!) who plays GIJoe every now and then. He took a break though and was allowed to attend The Airforce Institute of Techonology to get his Master's Degree and now he's finished! Yay! 

3. I have an awesome chihuahua named Levi who is my little buddy and friend. Trust me, he's awesome!  He's obviously cute too, as you see. =)








4. We are in the process of heading out of Wright-Patterson AFB otherwise known as Dayton, OHIO, right now(typical Army life). Just finished painting everything back to white primer-its makes it more real we are leaving.  This consists of us moving out of this house on base on April 30th, Joe leaving to Virginia for three months and me.....well, I'm, not quite sure! SO far, my dear friend Christina has opened her home to me to stay with her till mid May. After that I have no clue!
    We JUST started the process of buying a house and to our surprise we decided to build a new home! Yay! =) It will be in Odenton, Maryland near Fort Meade, Maryland where we are stationed next and we will move there at the end of August and looks like this! But without the stone unfortunately.

Here's a shot of what I kitchen will look like.

It'll be a really great house for us and I'm very excited! I just hope that this all works out! They have to accept the offer, etc. You know the drill! But as new homes buyers, it is scary to sign our life over! Just pray that whatever is supposed to happen, happens! 


5. A lot of my friends who used to live here in Dayton have left to their new homes in different parts of the world. It was sad for me, but I'm soo happy for them! I look forward to the "pcs" feel I always get when I move somewhere new. Its sort of a high if that makes any sense! For those who don't know, we have lived in many places in the 6 years we've been married. These places include Fort Worth, Texas- Lawton/Ft Sill, Oklahoma- Fort Gordon, Georgia- Hickam AFB, Hawaii and WPAFB/Dayton, Ohio.  This moving thing has gotten easy for me! Actually, I like it! But, it doesn't make saying my "see you laters" any easier to my military friends. (insert sappy  and sad episode of "Army Wives" here.)

6. I recently had surgery. Bariatric Surgery to be exact. I had the Vertical Sleeve to be more specific. March 5th changed my life for the healthier and on the govt's dime. Thank you Uncle Sam! I feel great and have lost around 35 pounds, blood pressure medication, and some heel pain. I'd say that's pretty awesome. I feel great and am soo happy I made this decision to get healthier. 

Before:

Two and 1/2 Weeks After:


















                                  April 15th, Five Weeks 6 days:

I can definitely say the surgery is working! So far so good, everything is going well. Thanks for everyone's prayers, and for being there for me. I really appreciate all my friends and family! 

7. I love God, I love life, I love being spontaneous and I love my little family. With this military lifestyle I have learned to appreciate every little thing and every person in my life. God has blessed me so much!


That's it for now, but hopefully I will update often and make this a habit! =)