Every year I like to do a year in review post because it’s fun and helpful for me to look back on. I honestly forget about some stuff from earlier in the year until I’m compiling these! I’m a little late this time, but finally ready to recap 2021!
2021 was a huge, transformative year for me, mainly due to the two surgeries I had. Because it was a year full of a lot of change, it was sometimes difficult and confusing… but all of the changes were to better myself and my health, so it was mostly good.
So here are the “bigger” happenings for us in 2021, mostly in chronological order.
Jerry’s promotion
Jerry started training for Grounds in 2020, but OFFICIALLY got promoted in January 2021. This was super exciting for us. Better hours, better pay, and something he’d been interested in doing for awhile at work.
Transitions for Caleb
In February, Caleb transitioned from 100% virtual kindergarten, to hybrid in-person. It was a huge (and rough) adjustment for him. I got phone calls from the principal the first couple of days, but then he settled in fine. I also “argued” (advocated!) with several teachers throughout the year because they “grade” ridiculously. He also started taking piano lessons in March (he’s been excelling!), lost his first tooth in March (and then several more throughout the year), and started first grade in September.
Pink Zebra accomplishments
In February, I promoted from Consultant to Executive Consultant. That same month, I also earned Pink Sapphire status in just 7 months (you have a year to try and reach it). It’s a huge accomplishment that not many people hit, so I was very proud. In May, I promoted again to Manager. I held several Blend Bash parties at the beginning of the year too. In all, I had an amazing year with PZ, made tons of sales, and even made some “top” lists company wide.
Transitions for Holden
In April, we moved him from his crib to a toddler bed. He fell out a few times (not much of a drop, don’t worry), but otherwise adjusted really well! He also started Pre-3 in September.
Migraine happenings
In May, I ended up at Urgent Care for one of my migraines for the first time ever! It was one of the worst migraines of my life, sent me home from work early, and then eventually to Urgent Care. My Sumatriptan had been failing me for quite awhile though. Luckily, over the summer, I started to see a neurologist, and she switched me over to some new stuff, including Emgality, which has been a huge lifesaver. I was also able to wean off of Topamax, which was major and exciting for me. So… started out the year with pretty intense and frequent migraines, and ended it with less frequent and less intense migraines. Win!
Reinstated my book club / work changes
I have several book clubs, one of which is a Forever YA chapter that I ran at work for patrons 18 – 35. Well, book club got canceled at work due to COVID. Luckily, we have a Facebook group and kept in touch throughout. In May, we decided to just start it back up on our own, separate from work, and have been meeting almost monthly again. We’ve gone out to restaurants a bunch of times, and it’s been a lot of fun. One of the restaurants we’ve gone to twice has trivia nights and tarot card readings, both of which we’ve done and had a ton of fun with! Anyway, speaking of work, in July we finally opened our children’s room back up after a major renovation and expansion. That was fun and exciting, but also challenging. We also went from “COVID hours” back to regular hours in July.
Gastric Bypass surgery
This was the biggest, best, hardest, most amazing part of the year. On August 9th, after much anticipation, work, and waiting, I had my life-changing surgery, and I have been so happy with my decision. Most of you know, I actually started the process in January 2020! However, I quit that program during COVID because of an awful nutritionist. In February 2021, I started a new program through a new hospital, and it was a million times better. From February – August, I was so dang busy with surgery prep, appointments (many of which were repeats from my first program), and preparing for this major change. So yeah, 2021 was the year of surgery and all the prep work in advance! I had so many amazing moments, like getting cleared by the nutritionist, losing lots of weight pre-op (25 pounds!), finally meeting my surgeon (the only female bariatric surgeon in the area!), and just feeling encouraged and understood by this new team. Anyway, I ended up in the ER a couple of weeks after my surgery, which was scary (I was very weak and unsteady so my surgeon made me go DURING a follow up appointment), but it ended up being due to dehydration which can be common in RNY patients. I still struggle a bit with staying hydrated, and still have some unsteadiness, but I’m way better than before.
Fun traditions
My two besties and I started a new monthly “game night” with our hubbies! That’s been a lot of fun, because we never have enough time to see each other, and it’s been nice to get the guys to socialize too. More fun is that my musical theater adventures started again! My aunt and I have season tickets to our local theater (touring Broadway shows), but obviously hadn’t been to a show in over a year and a half. Well, they finally started back up in September! Our first show of the season was Cats (not a fan). Then when Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was here, my dad and I took Caleb for his first ever major musical! He got a little antsy, but overall liked it. Then the last show of 2021 was Pretty Woman. I’ve never seen the movie (!!!) but the show was amazing. To top if off, I found out that night while looking through the brochure that ADAM PASCAL WAS IN IT OMG! I’m a major Rent-head, so seeing him again in person was just incredible.
A return to running
In October, Caleb, my aunt, and I participated in a virtual month long running challenge. It was a fundraiser for a cancer center, and the goal was to run 1 mile a day (or 31 miles in the month). Caleb absolutely took to running and loved it from the first day! As many know, I used to run before I had kids and lost a bunch of weight, and even ran a half-marathon. After I had the kids, I gained weight and quit running… but I’ve always wanted to return to it. This running challenge was hard but also rewarding and fun. I’m still not exactly able to run like back in the day (I do jogging intervals, more or less), but hopefully one day. ALSO, Caleb ran in his first race ever on Thanksgiving morning with Jerry and me. We ran in the annual Turkey Trot, which was also MY first race ever back in 2021. I stayed behind and mostly walked and let the boys run ahead. Caleb ran the ENTIRE 2.5 miles without stopping or walking once! Jerry had a hard time keeping up with him, and I’m excited to get Caleb in another race this year.
Nose piercing
This was the year of transformation for me, and I decided to finally get my nose pierced as kind of a reward for losing weight, and because I’d wanted to do it for awhile but was always too chicken. I booked the appointment in July, and had it done in October. I love it, and will be switching my stud for a ring as soon as the piercing studio allows (they’ll only pierce you with a stud, and you have to keep that in for about 6 – 9 months).
LASIK eye surgery
In November, I did another huge life-changing thing, and got surgery… AGAIN! However, it was LASIK eye surgery, which was so easy and fast that I can hardly consider it an actual surgery. I could finally say goodbye to glasses, which I’d worn since 4th grade. Another decision that was scary but satisfying, and that I do not regret at all!
Makeup lesson
Another change for the year! I went to a one-on-one makeup lesson at a local salon, and it was amazing! I’ve only ever worn eyeliner and eyeshadow, and knew nothing else about makeup. However, after my LASIK (which meant no longer having glasses to hide my face), I wanted to learn how to properly use makeup, especially for my skin (like foundation and concealer). I also started to care more about myself and my appearance this year than I ever have before, thanks to both of my surgeries, and I thought I’d feel more confident using more makeup, and properly. Before my surgeries, I often felt ugly and unworthy, so I just didn’t care and didn’t make much effort, but I’m glad to be turning that attitude around these days. Anyway, the makeup artist taught me an everyday basic routine (I bought most of the products she used) that I now do several days a week (when I have time in the morning). She applied everything while explaining each step and product. I watched in the mirror and could ask questions at any time. She put me at ease and changed my whole outlook on makeup! She color matched all of my skin stuff (I was always too intimidated), and taught me how and why to use moisturizer, foundation, concealer, bronzer, blush, mascara, setting powder, setting spray, and new eye techniques. I feel a lot better about myself on the days I’m able to do this new routine! I also went back there a few weeks later for my first haircut in 2+ years! The hair stylist helped teach me how to curl my hair properly, so I’m going to work on that this year hopefully, as well as trying new makeup looks.
Lost weight
In total, I lost 89.4 pounds in 2021! I lost 25 pounds pre-op (including 5 during my pre-op liquid diet), and 64.4 post-op. I still have a long ways to go and a lot of work ahead of me, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come already. It’s so easy to look at what you still need to accomplish, and forget about what you’ve ALREADY accomplished… so I am choosing to be proud even though some days feel discouraging!
8/4/21 (start of the liquid diet) vs 12/28/21. 68 pound difference. First picture is so embarrassing and cringe, but I purposely took it as a “before” photo, so it’s not my best or most flattering picture ever. I wanted to be able to tell the real difference later on down the road, so I went with ugly. LOL
What a year!
2021 was a lifechanging year for me, and the most transformative year I’ve probably ever had (probably tied with 2012, actually!). The biggest things were obviously my bariatric and LASIK surgeries, because they completely transformed my appearance, but also my mindset. I will forever remember this year as the year of surgery, self-improvement, and personal growth. Honestly, I looked like an entirely new person at the end of the year than I did at the start of the year. While I still have a lot of weight to lose, and still need to do A LOT of work on my self-esteem and self-love, I have already improved and changed by leaps and bounds. I’m excited to see where I am by the end of 2022!
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