Friday, December 22, 2017

Weight: 132.4
Macros: Cals - 1,753, Carbs - 194, Fats - 58, Protein - 104, Fiber - 31
Veggies/Fruits (goal 8): 6
Sleep (goal 8 hours): 7
Exercise: Yoga class

Yesterday's 6 V/Fs were lower than normal, thanks to some delicious Christmas treats--some chocolate truffles and an excellent homemade oatmeal-cranberry cookie. On the V/F stage yesterday were a honeycrisp apple, carrots, tomatoes, spring greens, more greens, and bamboo shoots.

Yesterday I was running errands all day and cleaning and decorating the house, so no afternoon walk. Last night's sleep was sufficient and mostly in the bed.

And that's all the news that's fit to print. :)

Today's Theme: "It was T.G.I.F. before Christmas!"

Ann, You are up early! It is 6:30 am here right now!

Weight 115.2, calories 1028. I have had problems at times with almonds being in the house calling to me to grab handfuls. Well, I bought them intentionally yesterday because they act as a laxative when I eat enough. And they did for the most part. I feel much better.

Yesterday my stitches were removed and I wore makeup (one week post-op)! I felt like I looked good enough to go shopping. The purple bruises are almost gone and the yellowish remnants are fading. My eyes are still a bit swollen but no one who didn't know me would know. And only one eye was glued shut this morning when I woke up instead of both. I'm starting to see the benefits of the surgery on my smoother eyelids. Good thing, as we are going to Boston today for DH's appointment, then the first of the holiday revels start tonight when we go out to dinner with SIL, BIL, and DSD. Weird putting makeup on as portions of my eyelids are numb. You don't realize how much you rely on feeling until it is gone.

Thank you Devon for the recommendation on Darwin's. I did order the introductory food. If she loves it, I'm willing to pay for it. Chiquita has been eating much better since I started giving her more "real" food. That plus socializing with her more seems to be making a big difference. She looked young and lively a few times yesterday. I took her for a walk for the first time since I returned home. At first she seemed uncertain because Duchess always set the pace and made her preferences on the path known but after a while, Chiquita was marching along ahead of me making it very clear where she wanted to walk. Nice to see her looking well again.

I made 4 dozen almond ball cookies yesterday and watched Miracle on 34th Street with DH yesterday. DS loves it when I make the cookies as it was first a tradition that my mother made them, and now I do. My mother wasn't very domestic, but she always made the pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving and the cookies for Christmas. She was a very intelligent woman with a great dry humor. She drank for about 35 years of her life after my father and brother died, but dried out for the last 15 years. We were lucky to have her move near us and be able to get to know who she really was. It is interesting that through all those years of drinking she retained her brain cells and was sharp as a tac****il she died at 86. I do miss her and her wit. But she would have a tough time in the current political climate. She was very political and a staunch democrat. She was my source for information about what was going on. She is truly rolling over in her grave over quite a few things right now.

On that note, I have to get ready to go to Boston and since the makeup routine is a bit lengthier than usual I better get going!

Have a fantastic Friday!

Good morning ! Snow here. Life is starting to settle into a nice routine as Atlas continues to become habituated to expectations. He cries at the door to go out, sits for his food dish, and walks the perimeter of our fenced in property with Sadie and me during daylight hours. (When it is dark, I want him out to do his business and then right back in, in case he needs to go out during the night...NOT play time !) He has slept from 10 PM through 5 AM in a dry crate, without a peep.

135 OTD today. We had a ton of pellets (50 forty pound bags) for our pellet stove delivered yesterday. Lowe's fork lift loaded it right inside our garage. It was supposed to snow over night, so I cleared an area in the back of the garage and unloaded and restacked the pallet in 45 minutes with NO BREAKS, so we could get both cars in. It felt fabulous, and while my arms are a bit sore today, I feel tight and fit.

A dog temperament rating scale Devon mentioned to me scores puppies on specific behaviors, tail position during performance of these tasks being critical. I have raised ten dogs from puppy hood and had no idea about this rating tool and the fact that neutral compliance in a puppy (versus confident Independence) is preferred. Atlas scored high in most categories, indicating he will be a challenge to train. I'm up for this, and Kairk will school me ! I'm thinking a dog behavior/training book would be a good way to ease into publishing books !

Raise those tails high and proud, and wag them exuberantly !

I'm sure my soul-dog, Darby (the Irish Wolfhound) and her tail would have scored about 1,000 on all alert/excited/ready-to-go/get-that-squirrel criteria. Seriously, that doggy was the most fun in the world.

Fortunately, out here in the woods and pastures and sinkholes she was happy as a clam, with plenty of room to roam, with deer and squirrels and groundhogs and armadillos to chase out of HER yard.

Every day, often twice a day, I walked her around the perimeter of our 25 acres on a leash. Not once in her life did she even cross the road to a neighbor's property without permission.

She was a GREAT dog. Loved her so much. Miss her badly.

Ann-TGIF C indeed!

Diane O.-Sounds like Atlas is growing up fast! In a good way!

Liz-I can identify with that. The Christmas cookies my grandmother made are so much ingrained in my Christmas tradition. My dad's mom (my still living gma who you hear me reference) was the stereotypical 1950s housewife. Up until maybe 10 years ago, she was the kind that never arrived at a part without some food in hand. She'd make homemade fudge and divinity and peanut brittle. Date balls and jelly jewel thumbprints. She always had Christmas eve. It's been difficult to watch her not only decide not to do this any longer, but almost act as though she never did. And my mom is just not that type. Neither was her mom, my mimi. But I have to remember all the other wonderful things my mom does do--like she's very sentimental and keeps every childhood ornament we ever made, and decorates to the nines. I guess the food is for me to carry on. Would your mom identify with democrats today? Oklahoma has always been a traditionally "Blue" state, which people are nowadays shocked by because of National elections. Goes back to FDR I think. A lot of older folks still identify as "Democrats" but then just don't vote that way anymore. It's a weird combo because Oklahoma is about as "Red" as a state gets, and yet until about 10-15 years ago everything state legislature wise was D.

Weight: 180something.

Big news today is 4D ultrasound. I get to get a peek at baby.

I feel like if I say this here, I'll find that some (most?) of you are the same way. I internalize other people's problems too much. I've always thought this was caring and a good quality, but I'm beginning to realize it's draining and maybe depressing. I worry about my friends and family all the time. And most of the time it's stuff I cannot control at all. How do you balance that? I spent over 2 hours on the phone with a friend who's had a very rough fall. She needed to talk and I was glad to listen. But it can be draining. I did get some major wrapping done while talking!!

So the saga of our Florida trip continues. DH's brother had a firm cruise scheduled for right after New Year's, and then we were flying up (instead of New Years) on Mlk weekend. Then we decided we could take stepkids for pretty cheap so we were going to do that. Well last night DH's bro calls to say someone can't make it on the cruise so rather than forfeit the trip, he'd just give it to us. Wow. Sounded great (although we were both sweating taking more time off work****il I remembered the restrictions cruises put on pregnant women. No sailing after 24 weeks. Well crap. I was a little bruised that rather than be upset or "oh well", DH immediately turns to the kids and asks if one of them could go with him. My initial reaction was kind of hurt. I sulked a little last night but now I've had time to think about it and it's not fair they miss out on a FREE cruise because I can't go. And maybe it's perfect that DH have time alone with his older kids before we add a baby. But honestly then I don't want to fly by myself and meet them in Florida afterwards. That seems like a lot of work and the plans have changed.

BB, I'm not surprised that your friends share their problems with you as you are a very compassionate person, but the drain is difficult.

Salutations!

Stopping in as I sprint to the weekend! Wishing merriment to you all. I had more sweets than I needed yesterday.

Ann, I know how much you and DH enjoy good writing. Have you seen any of Susan Grubar's essays in the NYT's about cancer? That subject isn't my usual cup of tea but her point of view is refreshing and I enjoy her writing style.

I'll post a couple of links. But, I'll include one of my favorite lines from an article where she was reviewing Cancer Humor books: "Xanax is white, Zofran is blue, Steroids make me want to throttle you." Makes me giggle every time. Oh, and "Thank you for the taco casserole. It worked even better than my stool softeners."

Cancer Humor and Immortality at Midnight

Paula, maybe you and DH would like, too? No problem if you don't. I rarely read the topic and usually with fingers splayed across my eyes so I don't have a clear view.

Peace and Hope, Hug your peeps and pups.

Shel

I live those cancer jokes, Shel. We'll check out her stuff.

Greetings Maintenance Mavens

141.5 today. Not sure what the drop was about but I will gracefully accept it. Dinner last night was 1/4 of a restaurant hamburger that DH brought home from lunch. Quite good and satisfying even with warm lettuce heated in microwave. It sure kept me from evening nibbling. (as did a couch nap).

Liz, glad Chiquita is doing better and liking the new food and feeling friskier. Dogs adapt. Interesting about doing makeup without sense of touch. Enjoy the day out shopping. Are you seeing any changes from the clinical trials?

Hey Diane O, love hearing the puppy stories. I wish I had done that testing on Tesla as a puppy. She has calmed down some from her wild days but still has trying times. I have not trained her as I should have and it shows. DH has taught her to "drop it" when she wants to take her toys out into the yard. Not allowed. The nice new neighbor lady has three little dogs who snarl and bark hideously and Tesla likes to join in if she is out. Creates quite a disturbance so we have to get her in which can be a challenge.

Oh dear BB, having to pass on a cruise. Nothing to be done but just "go" with it as you need to work on the Nugget. Wishing you a good "scan" today. And I hear you about the grandma treats. I had forgotten but my grandmother used to make divinity and also a white fudge using sour cream. So good. I became the cookie maker when she couldn't' anymore and was cool with it, but I never could get the divinity right. In a few years you will be teaching your daughter how to bake which will be so fun.

Ok I seem to have a new mental heath issue. Its called "kmartaphobia". It involves dread of going to any big box store around the holidays - especially local kmart which has ancient check out equipment and usually only one poorly trained checker working at a time. I need to get wrapping supplies but can't stand the thought of that scene. Whine Whine Whine.

Hey Shel the cancer humor sounds like a good thing. Any humor for that matter. I told DH your "show and tell" story and we both laughed "I made it myself". And how is the new driver doing?

Ann oats and cranberries count as a fruit or veggie!

Yesterday I bout a wine carrier bag as a gift that says "wine is like duct tape - it can fix anything". I think its true. Ditto chocolate.

Yesterday I was at our gallery buying some hand woven items as gifts for our hostess at Christmas when who should walk in but our hostess herself! I had to shield what I was buying by putting my body between her and the purchases being wrapped up! Gives me a funny story to tell at Christmas.

Well my only thought for the day is to try to enjoy the holiday instead of stressing over it. Cheers. Diane S

Good question as to whether the trial is helping. The intent is that it stops the progression of the disease (doesn't reverse it). His disease progression has been slow since the beginning. I can look back and assess changes from one year to another, but 6 months is a little short (that's how long he has been in the trial). In other words, I'm not sure.