Finally Feeling Better!

I'm sorry I haven't been around for the last few days but I've had many doctors appointments, hair appointment and trying to get things done.

The steroids did the trick and I am feeling so much better! In fact my crohns is so much better I can see I have been suffering for a long time. There must be something to do with not getting enough Remicade.  I can't wait to see my Rheumatologist next Tuesday so that we can get a new plan on my treatment.

I'm still struggling with my eating and I've been all over the spectrum! I've been dating a lot of unhealthy foods! In fact I can really see how sugar and carbs make me feel. I'm not sure I'm ready to say that I'm ok with giving them up that I am sure that I want to be very careful in my food selections.  I saw Dr. Aygarko on Tuesday and I am down 50 pounds since April. It feels so good to be back at 377. I know I have a long way to go but I'm proud of what I have done since my scare in April.

Another thing I'd like to report is my lung function is getting better all the time. For a long time when I checked it with my little finger meter my oxygen level was at 88 or at 89. Now, consistently its at 93 and 94! So that is a very exciting thing for me and I can't wait to see my lung doctor next month. In fact I see my cardiologist next week and I hope he is happy with my weight loss so far and will give me a good report of not having to have gastric surgery.

I did have an interesting conversation with my neighbor Rae  the other night. She stopped over after work to go over what I'm doing to leave my weight as she was discouraged that her weight loss wasn't as good as mine. She had lost 6 pounds in three weeks which is nothing to be sad about but she felt like something was wrong. So we sat and talk for a while and I explained to her all that I ate and explain to her that reading the nutrition box found on foods was not enough. I showed her where the nutritional label could show no sugar but the ingredients listed showed sugar. She about flipped out. I explained to her that company had to reach a certain amount of sugar to show the product had sugar in the nutritional box.  She called me about an hour after she left to tell me that everything she had been eating had sugar in it. She was mad but she was determined. It is amazing that nearly everything has sugar and I believe all the sugar is causing obesity and diabetes.

There is an interesting video on Time.com entitled Ending the war on fat.  I encourage you to go out and watch it. Also in the June 23rd issue of Time there is an article entitled Eat Butter. It will blow you away. You may can find it at the library.

I'm really excited about tomorrow because I get to finally see the inside Downsize Fitness!  They are having open house so that we can see how the construction of the gym is coming along. I'm hoping to find out the actual opening day!  So stay tuned. I will take pictures if they will allow it.

Well, I'm going to close this off here and go start the laundry so I will catch you all tomorrow to tell you all about the gym. I am determined to get back on track today as my next goal is to see 360?

Slowly Getting Better...

I'm sorry I haven'y posted in the last few days.  Still not feeling the greatest but I was able to get my Dr. to call something in for me.  It is slowly giving me some relief.  I have never had such a crohn's attack so quickly after having my Remicade!  It is almost as if they forgot to mix the drug in!  I sure hope that didn't happen!  I'm sure all of this is because I'm not getting enough of the medicine because of insurance limitations and my weight!  Thank goodness I will see my Rheumatologist next week to find out what else can be done!

The maids came on Friday and it is so nice to have a clean house to enjoy for the weekend.  We did not cook and we both are sick of what the Chef has made so we just ate out!  Not good for the diet!

Pretty much all weekend long I had to stay close to the bathroom and I did get to stitch on my angel I'm making in honor of Jennifer who tragically died 20 years ago in a car accident.  It was one week after her high school graduation and the day before Father's Day.  She was the only child to Les and Penny.  Penny is like a sister to me.  Here is  picture of it so far:

 She is going to be beautiful!  I will post my work from time to time.  This pattern has a young girl ascending to this angel.  It's called "The Angel of Mercy" by  Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum. She is one of my favorite cross-stitch designers.  This one has a lot of beads and lots of metallic thread.  I can't wait to see her finished.  This is also a very good way to keep you from eating!  Do any of you have a hobby?  Please share with me!

I have a dentist appointment and I'm not sure that I can make it yet!  I hate to cancel again.  They are going to fill a small cavity and take off and replace a crown so there is no way of knowing how long I will need to be there and it makes me very nervous!

I see the Weight Management Dr. tomorrow.  She is not going to be happy with me but we are going to have to work something out.  I have no problem giving up sugar and artificial sweeteners, I would like to have maybe a Dove's Dark once a week.  I can give up pasta, potatoes, bread and rice for the most part but why can't I have a treat once a week.  I hope to get some answers tomorrow.

We are having the Chef at least one more time, Especially since I'm having this flare-up!  So we'll see how the next 2 weeks go.

Well that is all for today!  Still laying low in the weeds.  Surely I will get to feeling better soon!

It Must Be Crohn's!

I'm getting sick of this!

I did get some laundry done and I did wash some pots and pans and folded some clothes.  I even picked up.  I also called and emailed my Rheumatologist for some help.  Of course she left town at noon and won't be back for a week!!!  Her assistant is going to talk to another Rheumatologist about prescribing me a steroid pack to take.  Pray that don't make me come in!  I'm not sure I can make it!

Frankly this is confusing me.  This new diet is suppose to help inflammation but apparently it's not!  Maybe it is the lack of grains?  I don't know.  I just know I can't live this way!  I guess Stacey's divorce, worrying about her and my grandson and worrying about myself is taking it's toll.  I don't know!  I know I'm just miserable!  I also have a colonoscopy coming up on August 7 and I'm way past due and I'm worried about it and this doesn't help!  I just had my Remicade!

I have to tell you all that I am contemplating letting the Chef go!  Not sure I'm ready to cook but as of this morning my scale is saying I'm 382 lbs.  I'm down 45 lbs from my 427 in April.  I must be doing something right!  My intentions was to let her go when I got back into the 370's.  Remembering I could cook dinner at that weight.  My body is weak because of the time I spend off my feet and not exercising.  Downsize Fitness is having their Open House on July 26 so I presume they will officially open shortly after that!  Another reason why I have to get this issue I'm having to stop!  I'm ready to get stronger.  I'm ready to live again.

So...what to do?  Mark's commission sucks right now so we are paying for the chef out of our savings.  We've hit our savings $7,000 helping our daughter and not sure how much more help she might need till she gets a job and her own money flow going.  Surely I can do this again!  Prayers for direction please!

Well I must hit the hay.  I have a few things to do in the morning and I hope they don't call me into the Dr. office for some help!  It just seems when it rains it pours!

Sick!

Well I had a good day Sunday. I almost got all the lunch is cooked up but I was missing a couple of veggies. I know that I can get them done before we actually need them. I did however, ruin my knees and ankles, but they have recovered.  I was also able to get some stitching done on my angel which made me very happy. The biggest thing that happened on Sunday I was I was able to get back on track. That felt good and showed me that I can't turn it around and it doesn't feel bad.

On Monday, that was a different story. I woke up feeling okay a little gas in the tummy but figured that would pass after a while.  Boy was I ever wrong! I spent nearly all day long running to the bathroom. I had to cancel my dental appointment, my appointment on Tuesday went Mark L. and I talked to Anna about what was going on just in case I had to cancel her on Wednesday. I'm not sure if the new heart medicine is causing this or I have picked up a virus. Saturday night I was cold which was out of the normal for me and again today I had chills around noon time.  I have managed to stitch this evening , so that's a good thing.

I wish I had more to report or talk about but nothing's really going on. I just don't feel the greatest and I'm about ready to hit the hay. I have found a very interesting advertisement/article  in the Reader's Digest. I'm planning to share that with you all in the next few days.

Please pray that whatever is going on will stop and I can get back to life. I did have another good day even though I did not eat very much at all.

Thanks for your prayers!

Still Struggling To Get Back...I Won't Give Up!

Mark had to work this morning and my niece Meredith and her partner Shannon came over.  It was a stressful visit since it's been a year in a half since I've seen Shannon.  I just can't stand her after what she has put Meredith through.  But you know sometimes you have to do what you have to do!  I guess the thing that really irked me was Meredith has gone on and on as to how much she has changed.  Bull!  When Patrick went down for his nap, she wanted us to be very quiet.  Bull crap!  She even asked Meredith if she could run our bathroom exhaust fan.  That is something she did once that burned Mark up because it just sucks the a/c out.  The list could go on and on but I won't bore you to tears!

After they left Mark and I had a BBQ sandwich and a little potato salad.  Then we both took a nap.  While Shannon and Meredith were here my best friend sent me a picture of us with some other friends celebrating her birthday.  The picture shocked me and it made me cry.  I've been so sad ever since!

It's a old picture, out of focus but that's me in the purple shirt.  What happened?  I'm telling you it shocked me!  I was so small!  I don't have very many pictures from this time period.  In fact I think the only ones I have is when I was a child.

It hasn't helped that I have gotten off track and I'm beating myself up!  Last night for dinner we had a rib-eye, baked potato and salad.  I feel like crap this morning!  I hope that today will be the day I don't crater and I can get going.  One thing is for sure.  I sure feel the carbs and sugar!!!!  I know some of the intense cravings I have been having helped me get off track.  I can't wait to see Dr. Agyarko again!

I wanted to stitch like crazy after dinner but for some odd reason I had some chills and I'm tired.  I need to get a lot done tomorrow.  I need to get lunches made for Mark and I and possibly some breakfast muffins.

Here is a recipe that I have been promising to share:

Ingredients:

1 large head of Cauliflower cut into bite size pieces (approx 6 cups)
6-8 strips of bacon cooked and crumbled (Cooked in oven at 400° for 20 mins)
6 Tbs chopped Chives
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup Sour Cream
2 cups Colby Jack Cheese ( may use cheddar)
8 oz container sliced mushrooms

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°
In a large pot boil water and cook Cauliflower for 8 - 10 minutes, drain and let cool.
In a large bowl combine sour cream, mayo, 1/2 of crumbled bacon, 3tbs chives, 1 cups of cheese,mushrooms and cauliflower and mix well... place in baking dish and cover with remaining 1 cup of cheese and rest of bacon crumbles. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted. top with remaining 3Tbs chives and serve.
ENJOY!!!!


We love this recipe!  It is how we survive not having potatoes.  I would not bat a eye in serving this to company!  I hope you will try it!!!

I did label this post so that you can find the recipe again!

Praying that tomorrow will be a better day and I get back on track!

I'm beat! Physically and Mentally! !!

This has been a whirlwind kind of a week. on Tuesday I met with Anna and we had a great session and then it was off to meet some old family friends for lunch. We had a great time visiting and just talking each other to death.  I did have a great time but came home tired.

On Wednesday I met with the new heart specialist in regards to my atrial fibrillation and he was able to prescribe a new medication. Let's hope it works! Wow I was in the office they brought to my attention that my records stated that I had congestive heart failure. I can't tell you how much I flipped my wig over this one! Once I left there and had a good cry I started calling doctors to find out who put that in my charts because I was confident my heart specialist did not. Upon further investigation it is looking like the original cardiologist that I had to fire when I was in the hospital the first time is the culprit.  How I found this out was after to call to my attending physicians, I called the hospital and spoke with a young lady in regards to my records.  In telling her my story she interrupts me to tell me she knew who I was because she took care of me during my stay. What a small world. We talked about all that happened and she gave me instructions on how to get my records and encourage me to do so. She also agrees with me that most likely the evil doctor is the one he put that in my records which really pisses me off because all he did was an echocardiogram and tell me I was gonna die everyday. It didn't help that on Monday I paid that dumb ass Dr.'s Bill and cried all day. So it's off to another battle.

On Thursday I had my remicade and last night we had to go out and buy a car for our daughter he was going through a divorce. Can I say she really was married to an ass! Y'all know me well enough to know that I usually don't think this way or act this way but I'm just tired of problems over the last week or so. The computer problems, the home security, helping our daughter with attorneys fees, now a car, my own health issues and this weight, I'm about at my wits end!

My eating has gotten way off track since Wednesday and I am having a hell of a time getting back. So far today I'm doing well I'm just really tired. I apologize for not getting out here everyday but I could not get my writing juices going. They're not going that well right now...LOL!  Right now I'm so tired I'm trying to dictate this on my phone and having a hard time keeping my eyes open. It really must be the carbs that I've had and the last couple of days because I just don't feel well. A good test about what the doctor is doing and I have been to believe she's on to something that is big. I feel a little drugged but I'm sure it's the hidden sugar that I have had over the last few days.

We should pick up Stacy's car this evening I'll be back out Saturday evening with a clear head and more things to say. I know these things will pass but I really could use a break from it all right now. Helping my daughter it's worth it because she's such a beautiful person inside and out and I want the best for her and our grandson.

See y'all Saturday evening or first thing Sunday morning!

Struggling And Fighting!

We had a busy 4th!  Meredith did get here till about 12:30 and we visited a little and then we grilled some hamburger patties on the grill.  Mark and Meredith ate theirs on buns with chips but I just ate the patty wrapped in lettuce with all the trimmings and No Chips!

Mark and Meredith moved our 50" flat screen from the media room to the living room and then she helped Mark hook up our new 55" for the media room.  It is a LED and the old one was a LCD and boy did it heat the room up.  Hopefully we avoid having to have to put a new big a/c in the house to accommodate all this equipment!

I made them some baked beans to go with some potato salad and brisket that we picked up last night for today.  I made me a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, red onion, avocado and some chopped up brisket with olive oil and red wine vinegar!  YUM!  For dessert Meredith and Mark had watermelon and I had strawberries!  I hate watermelon.  I know I'm weird.

We did watch a movie or better said, they watched the movie and I played on my phone.  I would have stitched but my lamp was bothering Meredith.  It is bright.  It was one of the new Star Trek movies.  I hate Sci-fi!  After Meredith left Mark watched a newer James Bond movie and I got interested in the last part of it.  After it was over we went and fell into the bed.

This morning I got up and it was my hope to get the blog written and get to my stitching but it didn't happen.  I got caught up looking for some gifts on the Vera Bradley website.  Marked fixed us some eggs, ham and cheese for breakfast and  then he took another one of the media chairs that my weight broke.  Hopefully I won't break another one.  Both of the chairs that broke had been heavily used for the last 4 years and the ones we are sitting in now have hardly been used.  I'm hoping and praying that the other two will make it back soon!

We did get some thunder and strong rain showers this afternoon and I did fall asleep for about a hour.  For lunch I had left over ribs and some pinto beans and tonight for dinner I had chicken, green beans and some pinto beans.  Mark watched a couple of movies while I worked on a menu for our chef.  Not sure that I'm liking this a whole lot now.  She use to send us some choices and all we had to do but pick.  She knows that I am doing low-carb and look what she sent:

Hi Laura,
 
Not sure if you can have some of these sides...just change if you can't have carbs.  
 
1.  Chicken Tikka Masala with Brown Basmati Rice, Roasted Curried Cauliflower.
2.  Shrimp Etouffee, Brown Rice, Spinach  or Romaine Salad w/Berries, Feta, Almonds and Raspberry Vinaigrette 
3.  Stuffed Peppers w/lean beef or turkey topped w/Tangy Tomato Sauce or Brown Gravy or Fire Roasted Salsa? Pepper Jack Cheese Mashed Potatoes
4.  Shrimp and/or Scallops w/Angel Hair Pasta, Diced Tomatoes, Garlic, Basil, EV Olive Oil; Caesar Salad
5.  Beef Stroganoff w/Whole Wheat Spiral Noodles, Steamed Broccoli w/Lemon Zest
6.  Chicken Enchiladas w/Green (salsa verde) sauce?  Rice and Beans? 
7.  Seafood Gumbo (crab, fish, shrimp, want okra?); Brown Rice, Want a salad or other Veggie?
8.  Chicken Teriyaki, Veggie Fried Rice, Mini Veggie Eggrolls 

Amazing!  What did she miss?  No rice, no pasta, no potatoes, no bread, no suguar!  Brown rice? No. Brown Gravy? No.  Mashed potatoes? Hell No!  Angel Hair Pasta? Oh NO!  Spiral Noodles? NO!  Chicken Enchiladas?  Made with what? NO!  Veggie fried rice? Come on Antonette!  Where is your head?  Mini Eggrolls? NO!

Can you tell I just lost it.  Lately she has only been preparing grilled or baked meats and veggies!  Good ones!  So I had to go looking on low-carb websites and blogs and Pinterest to find some recipes to send to her.  I pay her $350 every two weeks cheffing fee!  She needs to be figuring this out!  The last time she delivered food she suggested tacos and use lettuce cups as tortillas, Stir-fries without any rice!  So WTH?!!!!

Sorry, but this really did make me mad.  I'm really having a tough time with all of this.  You don't eat certain things for 57 years and then go through a major change easily!  Now you know my age!  Dang!  So set the record straight...I just turned 58!  LOL!  My mind says I'm 20!  So...

Tomorrow I want to stitch!  I want to relax.  However the maids are coming on Monday at noon and Mark has to put the other TV into the cabinet in the living room and I really need to cook some food for our lunches this week.  Hopefully I will get enough stitching done that I will be satisfied.

This journey continues....

Happy 4th of July!!!!

I'm sorry I didn't get out here like I promised.  I had my security people in my house all day and my internet was up and down all day long.  Last night I just got too interested in starting a new cross-stitch project and when it start looking like something I will post pictures.

Our anniversary was not what I had dreamed it to be.  It was special to me because it fell on the same day of wedding 28 years later.  I wanted it to be special.  We did nothing.  On Sunday we went out and Mark bought me 2 new pairs of shoes that I desperately needed.  We also had dinner at a fabulous restaurant Fogo De Chao.  It was perfect.  We ate too much!  It put me on a guilt trip!

On Monday I decided to not eat till I got hungry.  Of course this came in the Dentist's chair getting my teeth cleaned but when that was over I had to go get money our of our bank and deposit it into Stacey's account.  I was so hungry that I went through Whataburger and got a specialty burger.  After that guilt of having bread, I called Mark and told him that I had blown it and we were going out for enchiladas for dinner.  Well...luckily we didn't.  I was able to get my wits about me and I could see that bread was the worst thing that I ate and adding mexican food would make it worse and make me feel more guilty.  We stayed at home and ate a delicious meal that the chef made.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday my breakfast was hit and miss and so was lunch.  It was hard to deal with the hunger when it came but I stayed true to the guidelines that the Dr. gave me.  I guess the guilt that I feel is not eating at proper meal times.  I've got to get it on track so that I don deal with this intense hunger and the guilt which makes me want to give up.  Food is a battle isn't it?

I'll write about my day later on.  My company has arrived so I will have to cut it short.  I hope all of you have a blessed day celebrating our country's birthday, our freedom and remembering all the men and women who have fought and are fighting for us!!!

Got Internet!

This has been a horrible time fighting with AT&T and my Home Security Co.  But this afternoon I got my Internet back and hopefully will have our Home Security hooked back up!  I'm going to spare you any more gory details but getting mine back caused my neighbor to lose his!  I also had to cancel a major Dr.'s appointment only to find out my Security Co. did not have Internet in my area.  I will not ever know why or how today a call to AT&T to get on the schedule for a install that today within a hour and a half a technician would be at my door!  But last Friday?....don't need to remind you!

I had AFIB today among all of this.  I was on the phone most of the day and tonight I'm just tired!

Tomorrow is just waiting for the alarm people so...I will get out here and tell you the other stuff as this topic bores me and I'm sure it bores you!  I do have some to share about the journey so that is where I will spend my energy to catch you up and then we can get going on a daily basis once again!

Sound good?

Sleep Well!