Shopping - First Time Since Surgery

I decided to venture out yesterday to do a little bit of shopping. My daughter tagged along and I think I ended up spending more money on her than myself. But I did find a few things for me: a couple pairs of earrings, a t-shirt, some dress socks, a new blouse and .... a new pencil skirt!  

Although I've always liked how pencil skirts looked on other women, I only ever bought just one for myself even though I've tried on many.  I don't know why I continued to try them on, maybe I hoped they'd look different the next time or the next but they never did. I'd sit down in the dressing room (because it needs to look just as nice sitting as standing) and see that bulging abdomen in my lap and remember, "Ah yes, there's the reason I don't buy these. Blech." 

You know, when you have a big belly or extra skin and wear an article of clothing like a pencil skirt, the mid-section will stretch so halfway through the day when you get up to walk away from the desk there's this stretched area of the skirt and IF it looked slightly decent before, it doesn't any more.   

Even with the one I did buy some time ago, I only wore blouses that I didn't have to tuck in and/or hid my belly.  I refused to wear it any other way.
  

And with slacks, do you think my shirt or blouse was tucked?  

Nooooope, never.

Now (new one below), 1) I can wear it without being so self-conscious 2) I can actually tuck in my blouse and 3) it looks nice and flat even with the slight swelling with the blouse tucked in.

Side View - Flat Abs to the Right

Side View 2 - Flat Abs to the Left (swelling is a teeny bit more noticeable in this photo)