Hooking as the mood strikes!

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Another ombre I just wanted to die for, with the butterfly buttons to really set it off.

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This is one of my favorite hats in a pink ombre. I found some cute little wooden butterfly buttons I can sew on the hat anywhere as well!

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One of the best things about this witch hat is finding different yarn types and colors to work with. My absolute favorite is self-striping yarns but you still have to be mindful that you can't have one color cover 50% of the hat, and then have the other colors stripe less because the stitch count increased.

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2-3 weeks post op

I still have to wear the compression garment until my next visit on August 2nd but it's not too bad. Nothing hurts though I feel a little stiff when I sit for work for a few hours then get up. My watch tells me to move after an hour of inactivity and I try to do that, but sometimes I have meetings that go over an hour then I have ton of stuff to catch up on. But otherwise, just feeling bloated still and in 'soft pants' either leggings or yoga style pants. I really cannot wait to get into jeans and no clue if I'll have to size down or not.

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Tummy Tuck Prep

I had read a lot of tummy tuck blogs/posts prior to this, but here is my list of things I did and didn’t need. I had the tuck with lipo but I was told I only lost like 1 lb of fat anyway.  I’m in my 40′s by the way.  I had Exparel pain management too. 

Power-life recliner: didn’t need it.  Was able to get in and out of my own bed (knowing the pregnancy ‘roll’ helped a lot!) and used pillows to keep myself in a flexed position

Walker:  Didn’t need it.  I had to walk around like a little old lady but did not need a walker.  Stool softeners: This would have been a good idea.  But I had Dulcolax (the butt kind) and Miralax (powered drink mix) which did the trick after surgery.  Shower Chair: An absolute must, as well as a shower helper person. You’re going to get tired, feel dizzy, etc.  Have some place to sit down during your first few showers.  Lanyard: If you have drains, this is basically a much when you try to shower.  My drains had little tags on them that a safety pin was linked through for pinning it to my clothing, and I just linked the safety pins to the lanyard for showers.  I had to knot it higher once it was on my neck otherwise it got in the way but it worked like a champ.  Juven: This was recommended by my doctor for healing but I’m taking it and it seems to help. Get the plain powdered it you want to mix it with anything, because although the fruit punch/orange were both equally ok for me, mixing it in juice absolutely overpowered everything.  Protein drinks: You need a lot of protein to heal and it helped me with general energy. I preferred the Slim Fast ones but anything should work.  An open-front article of clothing, like a robe: You will not want to be pulling things up and down over your drains nor pulling things over your head the first few days at a minimum. A robe that can be tied in the front is a great idea. I linked one I liked very much in another post.  Slip on/off shoes: Your feet will be out of range, wear something you barely have to look at to get on and off.   Compression garments: My surgeon bought 2 of the appropriate size and I went home with 1 put on me already, but 2 are important so you can be wearing one and cleaning the other. The surgery center gave me compression socks. I had a nice set from Marena Recovery that had eyehooks and zippers on either side, and an opening to use the bathroom.  You’ll be wearing this basically non stop for a while so 1 just won’t cut it.  Pain meds: This is a given, but get them before the surgery.  Put together a schedule, or a timer.  Take them on TIME.  Barf bag: I threw up in the car after surgery.  Your mileage may vary.  I think that’s everything. 

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Tummy Tuck day 5-6

Day 5 was about the same as the others but I tried walking more.  I keep going around the ‘short trail’ with someone else walking the dog (because he’s a big guy and I can’t risk him pulling me) so it’s about 15 mins of walking.  I have to resort to walking gently instead of my usual boot-heel style walk.  I’ll get back there eventually. I was still bent over like an old lady too.  Day 6 I had a follow up with the surgeon.  He was calling/texting me every day checking in as well. I was told I can start standing up as straight as possible now.  And the drains came out!  Oh I was so glad.  I didn’t feel the one on the right at all, I only briefly felt the one on the left a moment then it was out.  Didn’t hurt at all.   I’m still wearing the girdle, showering every day (heat is no longer a concern but I keep it lower than usual), applying Aquaphor and wrapping in gauze though. In a month I will start the scar treatment gel.  Still drinking the Juven twice a day, protein drink once a day as well.  Note:  Don’t try mixing the flavored Juven with anything.  It’s really overpowered in juice. Get the plain stuff if you want to mix it in yogurt or whatever. But I’ve tried both the orange and fruit punch in water and honestly neither one tasted any better or worse to me.  On Amazon the orange/punch packaets were like 15 dollars cheaper than all fruit punch though.  Weird huh. 

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Tummy Tuck Days 3-4

I was told I could take a shower on day 3. Bruuuh.  See ok, I’m lucky.  We have a large walk-in two person shower. My husband was helping me.  We had a chair. I almost passed out.  More about that in a sec.  I had a lanyard around my neck with the drains.  I suggest during a shower, knotting the lanyard up higher (above your boobs for real) otherwise they get all in the way.   I couldn’t get my arms up to wash my hair so my husband did it.  During this I started to feel woozy so I sat on the chair.  Nope. Put my head down and had to say ‘nope nope get me out’.  I wasn’t even facing the water stream since I was told that wasn’t good to do.  It was the heat! It may have been the same regardless because of the lipo bruising and giant incision and all that, but I think it was mostly the heat.  The next time I kept the bathroom door open, the shower door open (we can do that with ours without making a giant mess tho), cooler water and the bathroom exhaust fan on.  It went much better the second time. But chances are at some stage, you’re going to feel like passing out. 

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Tummy Tuck Day 2

I was wearing compression socks and a girdle from Marena Recovery.  Zippers and eye hooks on either side, knee length.  Was able to sit down to use the bathroom from day 1.  Exparel, all the way baby.  Was told to begin walking as soon as possible which I did at least 3 times a day just around the house.  Was bent over which gets super tiring. Even on Day 1 I was able to go up my stairs, and sleep in my regular bed.  Did not get a recliner.  Just used pillows to keep myself in an upright/flexed position.  I hate sleeping on my back though.  Tips:  Get Tums or other antacid, just in case.  I had wicked heartburn the first few nights.  You do NOT want to cough at this stage.  And good gosh do not sneeze, it’s awful.   Get a lanyard for when you get to shower to attach the drains to.  I had 2 drains.  Because I had no problems using the regular toilet, I did not need to get a ‘shenis’ or any other apparatus. 

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Tummy Tuck After 1 Week

I must say my experience after a full tummy tuck didn’t match any of the blogs I’ve read.  I’m at 1 week after the surgery and let me summarize the days.  I’ll also add some tips.  1. Day of surgery.  Was allowed to rest 1.5 hours after I woke up with oxygen.  Normally it’s 1 hour but I was just too tired.  I was moved, helped to stand up, had a snack, got dressed and went home.  For the love of god, make sure your surgeon uses Exparel!!!!!  It’s like 350 dollars, JUST DO IT.  TIPS:  Highly recommend getting an open front robe for the next few days. This one on Amazon was fantastic.  Definitely wear shoes easy to slip on and off.  I wore these.  I can’t even tell you how much I love these sandals.  Obv depends on season but easy on, easy off, and they stay on your feet and don’t ‘flip’ Have a barf bag.  I warned them that I have nausea with anethesia and had a ‘scope’ patch but I still barfed in the car.  Get some protein drinks.  My favorite were the Slim Fast ones.  Protein really helps in healing and it honestly gave me more energy during the day.  More on day 2. 

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Oliver, the ragdoll cat, kept scooting around on the floor under the dogs bed

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Classic black witch hat, I have to pay attention to dye lots for these. I also made a bunch in red 

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This one sold but I really should have kept it for myself, bah