Merry Christmas to all my friends and readers

I want to take this oppurtunity to wish all of you and your families the very merriest of Christmas'.

I will be posting as many of my Christmas recipes as I can on my other blog, as time permits. I'm so far behind on both blogs it's unreal!

Christmas Cooking and Bundling Services

While on the surface many of the bundling plans seem too good to be true, they are in fact a major pain in the behind. A couple of years ago when AT&T was still SWB in the area they had a bundling plan that would bundle your phone along with a DSL internet connection. In the beginning, this saved me a fair amount each month but it did not last long. Soon I started noticing little added charges here and there, and while it still saved me a little money each month (no second phone line for dial up), I now have to pay a long distance carrier charge when I don’t make long distance calls.
This time around, they were offering to bundle a high-speed DSL with phone and a new fiber optic cable service. We absolutely hate Time Warner and on paper, this will save a good bit each month. While I fear the savings won’t last I was hoping the cable service with far exceed that of Time Warner. So we signed up.
There were so many people signing up for this bundle package up we had to wait two weeks for installation. We reluctantly agreed and counted down the days until we’d have DVR and a faster internet service. Finally, the day arrived for hook up. The installer arrived only about an hour late, not too bad, considering. He fiddled around for about an hour, then came in and reported that the order hadn’t been placed for some thing I’ve never quite understood what is and that he couldn’t do the install that day, but promised to come back the next day (Sunday) if he could get the order pushed though. Sure enough, he showed up bright and midday Sunday, but this time it seems the order wasn’t put in properly. He left with a promise that someone would call us first thing Monday morning with a new install date. Come Tuesday afternoon we were calling to find out what was going on. Of course, no one knew what the problem was nor did they have any answers for us. They said that they could come out for the next morning between 9 and 11. At noon we called to find out what the problem was. We were told we’d been pushed back and they would be out between 6 and 7 pm. I hate when people can’t call and tell you these things, leaving you hanging.
The problem is the install takes about 4-5 hours and if they didn’t come out until 6 or 7pm they were going to be in and out of the house and attic until rather late. Cindy has to be at work at 5 am these days, which means she has to get up at 3am. Having someone stomp around in the attic until 1am wasn’t going to be very conducive for sleep. So, I asked to speak to a supervisor, which they refused to do, nor would they give me a number. What they would do is transfer me to dispatch. Frustrated I agreed no knowing what dispatch could do to help me. Nevertheless, the man that answered in dispatch was kind enough to transfer me to his supervisor. I calmly explained out problems so far and asked if there was anyway he could help me clear all this up. He was very apologetic and asked me to hold while he checked to see what the problem was. A few minutes later, he came back on the line and said he’d have someone out within the hour to do the install and he was very sorry for the inconvenience.
The installer arrived, set to work only to inform us that the order still hadn’t gone through and he couldn’t do the install, but that someone would call us the following morning. However, they did disconnect our internet service, that part they could do without any hassle. Fast forward until today (Friday) I called again and this installation manager promised someone would be out first thing tomorrow morning and that there would be no more problems. I guess we’ll see how long it takes to get back on line. But if this isn’t published until after Christmas you’ll know we didn’t have any luck.
As far as Christmas cooking goes, I’ve made a lot more progress. I’ve made my nut clusters, caramel and peanut butter filled chocolate cups, my lower carb version of “Trash” or party mix as most call it. I made my sister cheese popcorn. I made my niece her yearly batch of peanut brittle. I made a batch of cranberry walnut biscotti that I still need to dip one end in sugar free white chocolate. I made a low carb version of snickerdoodles, which while very yummy taste nothing like a snickerdoodle, so I’m hoping to tweak it a little.
I will be posting recipes for all my low carb treats and if anyone would like my recipes for cheese popcorn or peanut brittle let me know. Neither are low carb and with the exception of a little nibble here or there I’ve stayed OUT. The brittle wasn’t a big problem for me, I did eat one little piece to make sure it turned out ok since it is a gift. But I had to get my sister to take the popcorn somewhere else, popcorn is a big weakness for me and cheese popcorn is about the worst!
Now if I can just get internet service so I can post everything!
Until then, I hope you’re all enjoying the countdown until Christmas and that you’re eagerly awaiting or already enjoying family and friends.
Like Paula Dean would say Merry Christmas from My kitchen to yours!

Christmas Baking

It's that time of year again, when everyone turns into a baker and sugary sweets come out of the kitchens of even those folks that don't cook. So as a low carber I've got to arm myself with low carb treats so I stay out of the carbivore's treats.

I started my baking this week, I got 4 loaves each of my Banana Nut Flaxbread and Cranberry Nut Flaxbread which I made in loaf pans instead of my normal flat baking pan. Oh my they were so pretty.

Then I started on cookies. My first effort proved to be so good, I'm going to have to freeze a good part of them or we will eat them all! They are Laura Dolson's Cranberry Walnut Cookies

Trust me they are addictive so be careful. I did make a few adjustments to the recipe. I added a full teaspoon of black-strap molasses (4 net carbs) and 1/4 cup of flaxmeal (I thought the batter was too wet and I wanted more fiber trace amount of carbs) plus instead of 32 cookies I got 47. The were not little cookies either.

These are a soft chewy cookie not a crunch crisp cookie. Much like my aunt Val's famous date nut cookies, but without all the carbs... yum!

My next venture is going to be chocolate nut clusters, a low carb version of party mix, almond cookies, and fudge then of course I have to make the carbivores in my life peanut brittle, caramel popcorn, and cheese popcorn. They are family traditions I've made for years. We decided not to make any of the other Christmas goodies, these are for specific family members.

So tell me what your making to hold off the tendencies to nosh on high carb holiday treats?

Getting ready for Christmas

I finally got my Christmas cards addressed and in the mail. The gifts are all bought but nothing is wrapped. Mom made her first batch of "Trash" what is now known as Chex Mix except we add a few more things in it and it's got a good dose of red pepper flakes too.

I've got several really ripe bananas just dying to become Banana Nut Flaxbread, and a stack of cranberries waiting to become Cranberry Walnut flaxbread. Since so many of my relatives have diabetes and so many well on their way, this year instead of my normal quick breads I'm making my flaxbread versions. I always make up tons of quick breads in mini loaves every year. Everyone gets a couple, home made candy, trash and Carmel pop corn. This year they will get flaxbread made in mini loaves, trash (too high carb to even fathom) s/f candy and jalapeno flaxbread.

I found a can of Lucky Leaf sugar/free apple pie filling that was fairly low in carbs, so I'm going to make an apple pie with a pecan or walnut crust. I haven't decided for sure which yet. And then put a nut crumble too on it. I'm also going to make cranberry cheese cake bars.

We will have both brisket and ham, broccoli rice casserole for the carbivores and squash casserole for us healthy folk. Bake mac&cheese for those that wish to carb load and spaghetti squash &cheese for those that don't. Mom's fruit salad, not one of those icky super sweet nasty jello things either. This is real fruit, apples, oranges, bananas, pineapple, coconut and pecans. I prefer mine without the bananas but this is to die for. I can't remember a Christmas without it. Relatives would beg my mom to make it for every gathering. It will be my one indulgences on Christmas and she makes it wish splenda these days. So although carby at least it's fruit with nothing icky added.

So it's two weeks til Christmas and I have lots of baking to do, presents to wrap and l all those little things you never remember until the last minute. But the tree is up, the cards are addressed and the gifts are all bought.

So where are you in your Christmas prep?

Another Doctors visit

Well I went to seem my new doctor yesterday. She confirmed that the rash is an allergic reaction to "something". What we may never know was her response. You see I've not changed anything, no new foods, no new soaps, creams, make up or other products. With the one slight chance that it might be the fabric softener. I've used this a few times before, but they were out of the one I normally use and so I got another brand. I guess time and new laundry will tell. Until them every time I get wet, warm or cold I break out in bright red dots all over my chest and arms. Quite colorful!

She's also running more blood test to find out about the elevate blood glucose levels. I'm so frustrated right now I could scream. I've worked so hard to prevent myself from developing diabetes. With my family history and my past eating habits it's a miracle I hadn't already developed it. But I've been eating low carb for the past 19 months and now my levels go up. But only after my blood pressure suddenly lowered? What's up with that? I'm not complaining mind you, I'm thrilled it's gone down. I was getting concerned, in fact it was one of the main reasons for my doctors appointment 2 weeks ago. It had been running borderline high for the 2 months before that. Now suddenly I'm averaging about 100/67 instead of 135/75 but my fasting bgls have gone from 100 up to 125-135 every morning.

And this after they just tested every hormone in my body...giggle Well life is suppose to be an adventure right, looks like I don't even have to go outside my own bod for it.

Take care, I hope you all are having wonderful fall/spring weather depending on where you live. We're having beautiful sunny cool crisp windy days. With temps in 50's and 60's. PERFECT!

NOTE: Just got an email from the doctor my A1c is 5.6 I'm so not a happy camper! That's way to high. Time to work harder I suppose. I refuse to go down the diabetic path ... regardless of genetics

I'm still among the living!

Just wanted to check in and let all my online friends know I'm still among the living. Thanksgiving went fairly well, with only a few turkey mishaps. I brined it for the first time this year and it was the tastiest turkey I've ever had, but the darn thing just wouldn't get done. I also went ahead and cut the turkey up into parts so it would cook faster, it worked for the dark meat but the breast just didn't want to cook.
All said and done I over ate, ate more dressing then I had planned, and ended up making a cake and eating more of it than I should. So we'll just say I failed the Thanksgiving test. But I have to keep reminding myself it's part of life. This is my new lifestyle and I can't expect to break a 40+ year old habits in one year. So next year I'll do better than this year.
Some things were on target. My golden nugget squash casserole was a hit and totally low carb, we only cooked one pan of dressing so there was none left over... very good thing. I made a low carb strawberry cheesecake bar dessert that was terrific. Much better than the Volcano cake that we also made (very high in carbs).
So now I'm having to fight the cravings, the habits of pigging out and eating high carb foods. My pattern has always been to eat crappily from Thanksgiving to the new year. Lots of junk, lots of homemade candy and treats. This year is going to be different.
So it's back in the saddle for me, and I'll try to do better come Christmas, but if not, it will only be a couple of days and then back in the saddle again.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your not beating yourself up for any "missteps" you might have made. We have to remind ourselves this is for life. I know there are high carb foods that I will allow into my life from time to time, while I'd like to say I can cut them all out, the truth is there are some foods I'm not willing to let go of, at least for now. My mom's dressing is one of them. There may be a few foods of your own, you're not quite ready to let go of. That's ok as long as we plan for them, jump back into plan once we've eaten them and not allow them to side track us.
So get those plans in place for Christmas, it will be here before you know it. And above all, enjoy the season, enjoy your family and friends and don't stress over silly things ( like rather the turkey cooks on time or not)!

Test Results

I can't believe it but I got a couple of emails from my doctor today. I just had blood work done yesterday and I have the results today! Anyway, the results are I don't have PCOS, which is what I expected in the first place but it's awful nice to know. But now I still don't know what's causing the hair loss, screwed up periods and all the rest of the symptoms that don't seem related to anything. Oh well, I've been living with them for years anyway.

My blood work showed my BGL were a little high yesterday, which is more than a little disturbing since I've not cheated in over a month, but my Ac1 was within normal limits, although I can't find it on the test results anywhere! All my other blood work was with in normal limits and my potassium which was too high last time was back within the normal range this time. So that's all good. She suggested that I check back in with Dr. Peterson within the next few month to see how the allergies are doing, but other than that all is good.

Now if I can just find a reason for my hair loss and weight stalls I'd be a very happy lady indeed!

How my doctors visit went.

Well as some of you may know, I had a doctors visit today. It took over a month to get the darn appointment and I've been dealing with a cold and allergies so long my poor eyes look like I'm at the end of a year long binder. Thankfully I don't drink but you couldn't tell it by looking at me.

We discussed the fact that while I love her being my doctor, I can never get in to see her when I need too. So we decided on another doctor in the same system and building, that she can confer with, that's new and doesn't have as busy a practice.

We discussed the allergies and she prescribed a couple new meds to try and see if either of them worked better than the Allegra or Claritin (neither of which works for me any more) and she told me the Nasonex doesn't work if I don't remember to take it...giggle I know I know but who remembers to use nasal spray every darn day?

We discuss the possibility of me having PCOS and she ordered a bucket load of test. Granted I really don't want to have a chronic illness without a cure, but to have a name to why I feel and my body reacts the way it does would be wonderful. I've been suffering with most of these problems for more than 10 years.

She's also testing for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and I didn't even mention how tired I am to her. I guess she wants to rule everything out. I've not done any research into CFS but I don't really thing that's why I'm so tired. I do need to get in and see the rheumatologist because the arthritis in my hands is getting worse and that might very well explain the tiredness.

Anyway, after taking 5 huge vials of blood and leaving me with barely enough to function on... I feel like I was attacked by a vampire, except the puncture mark is in the back of my hand instead of my neck, I was told that it would be at least a week before I get the results. I'm guessing more like two since the lab tech said one of the vials had to be frozen and shipped off to Utah. It takes a week when they do the darn blood work in their own lab.

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know how it went. I'm hoping for only good news.

To all those wonderful bloggers out there!

I just wanted to tell all those wonderful bloggers, whose blogs I follow, subscribe to and read religiously. I'm still doing so. Unfortunately, my computer has become a holy terror and I'm not able to post many comments. Please don't think I have forsaken you. I haven't. But all my nice little comments seem to end up in the netherworld somewhere. So please, keep up all the wonderful things you share, even though I'm unable to comment at the moment, I'm reading and supporting you the same as always!
Vikki (one of your biggest fans!)

Saturday Night

Saturday night was game night. This is something we try to do a couple nights a month just to make time to laugh, cut up and spend time with each other. The games stimulate the brain, meaning we have to use it a little and we really enjoy it. It doesn't really matter whether we play board games, cards, domino (we all love chicken foot) or even one of those dvd games, it's more about spending time with each other and laughing and having a good time.

I made chicken potpie for dinner,

and some Dark Chocolate Coconut Bark for dessert.

We played Deal or No Deal and a couple games of Truth or Crap... yeah but that really is the name of the game.

We laughed and cheered each other on and had a good time. Mom and I even split a small bag of microwave popcorn. Not too bad carb wise, about 5 net carbs. Over all a good night.

But this lead me to wonder, what do other people do to spend time with their families? If you have a few minutes, shoot me off a comment and let me know what your family likes to do to spend time together and relax.

What I've been eating

I wanted to share some of the dishes we eat on a regular basis. Some of these recipes are on my other site, some are just so basic everyone has their own recipes for them, such as bar-b-que chicken. No recipe is really needed and everyone makes it a bit differently. Bar-b-que chicken, turnips and jalapeno flax bread. Stir-fries are a go to meal. Quick, easy and a great way to use up those bits and pieces of veggies in the veggie drawer.

We really like the flavor combo of bourbon and apricot. It's great on both chicken and pork. Bourbon Apricot chicken with cabbage and green beans

Left over meats make great wraps for lunch. Left over steak makes a great fajita wrap in half a sheet of Joseph's Lavash bread with a side of coleslaw.

I recently created a chicken potpie recipe, it was so good I made a ground beef pot pie, actually it's like cottage pie with a top crusts.

Pizza night on Flat out bread.

Flax bread is a main staple for breakfast at my house. I make everything from Cinnamon Pecan to Banana Nut. Toasted with a little butter or cream cheese and I'm good to go all day.

With a cup of tea, the perfect way to start the morning

Frittatas make a great breakfast or lunch and super easy to make.

Spaghetti squash makes a great mac & cheese

And don't think I forget to feed my sweet tooth. While not an every week much less every day occurrence, I do have my arsenal of sweet treats.

Pound cake (Jennifer Eloff's Splendid Low Carb Desserts) with berries

Dark Chocolate coconut Bark

Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte with Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting.

Hot chocolate is the perfect way to end the day.

Checking in

I've been fighting a cold and allergies for the last month. For some reason I don't seem to be able to kick it, although I think mom and Cindy both had it about this long too. Anyway, I haven't felt much up to anything other than just getting done the things I have to get done each day. When I have felt a bit better I've been cooking, trying out new recipes and trying to prefect a few more.
I'm sorry I have neglected this blog, but I've been able to post a few new recipes to the other one. I hope to get to feeling better soon so I can keep up a little better. I will make a post of things I've been eating and get an update on how I'm doing as far as weight loss goes. I'm sure I've gained a little weight since I've not been able to eat as well as I should. I've not had nearly enough veggies and drank too much diet Dr. Pepper. Other than that I've not eaten anything "off limits" or high carb.

what the heck is going on?

I have to admit to feeling more than a little shaken today. It seem my normal safe life has been tilted today. In the wee hours of the morning we had a 3.o earthquake in the Midcities area (suburbs between Dallas and Fort Worth). Then this afternoon, the small town feel of my little suburb was shattered when two bank employees were shot during and attempted bank robbery! So my question is what the heck is going on. We don't have earthquakes in Texas. I want say they absolutely never happen, but good golly, the ground is supposed to stay still, and when did big city crime him my little hamlet?
I'm not naive enough to think that this is the safest little town in the world, and I know we have crime just like everyone else. But we don't normally have shootings in the middle of the day. In one of the busiest parts of town. We have things like burglaries, vandalism, convenient store and fast food robberies. We have drugs, a few gangs and domestic violence.
We just don't normally have mad men with guns running around shooting people.
All this together has rather rocked my little world. I guess it's not so little or safe anymore. :o(
They had to lock down the nearby schools to make sure the kids were all safe!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte

My friend Vikki Ann from over at lowcarbdiets.com forum came up with this recipe. I finally had a chance to give it a try tonight and it was FABULOUOS! I just had to share it with you. If you've ever made a 1 minute muffin this is very similar but very much a dessert.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER MICRO TORTE

1 Servingapprox 2 carbs depending on how much and what brand of the toppings you use.
cake:

2 tablespoon of butter or coconut oil

1 egg or 1/4 cup of egg beaters

1/4 cup of flax seed meal

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 teaspoon of baking powder

2 tablespoons of WF chocolate syrup

1-2 teaspoons of water
topping:

1-2 teaspoons of s/f peanut butter

2-4 tablespoons of WF chocolate syrup

Dab of whip cream
In microwave safe small bowl or tall cup works great; melt oil for 15-20 sec in mirco; add the remainder of ingredents mix well, I let mine set for a minute and had to add a teaspoon of water-you want a batter consistency; put plastic wrap over the top and poke a whole in it; micro on high for 1 minute.
You can put it in a bowl or just left it in the cup and spread the peanut butter, chocolate syrup and whip cream.
If you try it hope you enjoy, I am already thinking of variations; nuts, coconut. We are only limited by our imaginations.

** For my version I used cream instead of water. I added a little sweetzfree to make it a little sweeter. I added a tsp. crunchy peanut butter and cut the chocolate syrup to 1 tbsp.

My frosting was 1 oz cream cheese, 1 tsp peanut butter (crunchy) and 1 tsp. chocolate syrup.

Mac&Cheese

Monday is grocery day at my house, however we weren't able to go this week because we had company for a couple of days. So as it turns out come dinner time, we had 3 squash, 1/2 a white onion, and a couple of green peppers. Yeah I know not much in the veggie drawer. We were having pork chops and I was totally dying for some creamy mac&cheese. Only problem is I didn't have any milk or cream either...

I did have a little coconut milk in the fridge, I also had some left over spaghetti squash.... soooooooo

Vikki's Spaghetti Squash Mac&Cheese

• 2 cups spaghetti squash
• 1/2 cup coursely chopped onion
• 5-6 pepperoni slices, diced or a couple slices of crispy bacon
• 4 slices American cheese
• 1/3 cup milk (as I said I only had coconut milk)
• 2 tsp. butter, melted
• 1 lg. egg
• Parm/breadcrumb mix
• salt & pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. I simply but 1 cup of spaghetti squash in a small baking dish.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Spread onion and pepperoni over the squash
5. Layer on 2 slices of cheese
6. Add another layer of spaghetti squash (remember to season)
7. Another layer of cheese
8. Whisk together milk, egg and butter, pour over the squash
9. Top with parm crumb mix
10. Bake at 350 until hot and brown, about 20 minutes.
11. Let cool a few minutes to set up.

It was so good, cheesy and creamy. I got three good sized servings.

Halloween Safety tips

1. When it appears that you have killed the monster, NEVER check to see if it's really dead.

2. Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even just for kicks.

3. Do not search the basement, especially if the power has gone out.

4. If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they should not know, shoot them immediately. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. However, it will probably take several rounds to kill them, so be prepared. This also applies to kids who speak with somebody else's voice.

5. When you have the benefit of numbers, NEVER pair off and go alone.

6. As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell.

7. Never stand in, on, or above a grave, tomb, or crypt. This would apply to any other house of the dead as well.

8. If you're searching for something which caused a loud noise and find out that it's just the cat, GET THE HECK OUT!

9. If appliances start operating by themselves, do not check for short circuits, just get out.

10. Do not take ANYTHING from the dead.

11. If you find a town which looks deserted, there's probably a good reason for it. Don't stop and look round.

12. Don't fool with recombinant DNA technology unless you're absolutely sure you know what you're doing.

13. If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice, more if you are of the female persuasion. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you.

14. If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, kill them off them immediately. You'll thank yourself later.

15. Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog (you're already in trouble if you recognize this one), anywhere in Texas where chainsaws are sold, the Bermuda Triangle, or any small town in Maine. Also, California and Ohio are good spots to avoid this and every other time of year. I mean, the answer's in the question.

16. If your car runs out of gas at night on a lonely road, do not go to the nearby deserted-looking house to phone for help. If you think that it is strange you ran out of gas because you thought you had most of a tank, shoot yourself instead. You are going to die anyway and most likely be eaten.

17. Beware of strangers bearing strange tools. For example: chainsaws, nail guns, hedge trimmers, electric carving knives, combines, lawnmowers, butane torches, soldering irons, band saws or any devices made from deceased companions.

18. If you find that your house is built upon a cemetery, now is the time to move in with the in-laws. (It's a toss-up. We know.) This also applies to houses that had previous inhabitants who went mad, committed suicide, died in some horrible fashion, OR had inhabitants who performed satanic practices in your house.

19. (And perhaps the most important..) Always get out as soon as the scary music starts playing.

Holiday Saver

With Halloween just around the corner, so begins the countdown to the holiday season. There will be parties and gatherings. Food of every sort to be had in abundance. In other words, this is the hardest time of the year for anyone trying to lose weight. Well meaning friends and family will tempt you with all manner of tasty delights with the assurance that just a bite won't hurt you. Well believe me it can hurt you. One bite can easily lead to a second and third. Indulging in just a few simple high carbs foods can completely de-rail you. I speak form experience. One simple dessert can send you spiraling into non stop cravings and loss of control. Saying you will do better tomorrow doesn't always work this time of year when sugar filled treats are freely handed out like Tums at a chili cook off. Your best defense is to keep delicious, decadent low carb treats on hand, so you never feel the least deprived.
Where to find such tempting treats? Ahhh, I have the answer for you right here. Jennifer Eloff has saved the holidays for all of us. She's written a cookbook filled with the most decadent, mouthwatering, luscious desserts you've ever seen. There is chocolate candy, cakes, pies, and cookies sure please even the most finicky of eaters. Most of which your high carb friends will never guess are low carb delights.
How can you get your hands on a copy of this wondrous holiday saving cookbook? It's simple just click right here.
Can you imagine your delight as you walk into your next holiday gathering carrying this delicious cake,

knowing full well you can indulge guilt free?
Or how bout platter full of these yummy little pieces of heaven?

The best part is every dessert in this treasure trove of yummy deliciousness is less than 10 grams of carbs per serving with most being 6 or less. Tell me that is Fantabulous! Now thanks to Jennifer you can make your cake and eat it too… that is if all you non-low carb friends and family don't eat it all first!
It is my opinion that no low carber should tempt the holidays without first being armed with a copy of "Splendid Low-Carb Desserts". So what are you waiting for, get over there and take a look at this and all the other wonderful cookbooks Jennifer has to offer, I promise you will not be disappointed!

Fried Pie

I've made these several times. They are simple to make and you can use anything you like for filling. My first go was peach but I made pumpkin last night. So so good.

Fried Pie

• 1 low carb tortilla for each pie, I use the small tortillas 5 net carbs
• 1-2 tbsp of filling of choice ( this is pumpkin and pecan)
• splenda
• oil

Generously brush one side of tortilla with oil, I used coconut this

time, but I've used melted butter too.

Turn tortilla over on a foil covered baking pan.

Place filling in center of tortilla.

Fold up the both ends, then roll like you would a burrito.

Sprinkle or roll in splenda

450 until brown and crispy.

Let cool before enjoying!

Other fillings I've tried are peach, chayote apple, blackberry and cream cheese.

Squash Seeds

Fall is here and all the winter squash are hitting the produce stands and grocery stores. I found this lovely spaghetti squash at mine.
Spaghetti squash like a pumpkin give you double the pleasure. First there is the meat of the of the squash and then there is the seeds.

The first step is the hardest, Cutting the squash in half so you can roast it. Take your time and be careful.

Once cut use a large spoon to remove the seeds and the gunk from the

center of the squash. Now it's time to liberate the seeds. I find that you can sort of squeeze them out. Throw the gunk out and wash the seeds.

Lay them out paper toweling to dry.

Next lay them out on a cookie sheet and drizzle with oil, I used sesame

Season, here I used onion powder,cumin salt and pepper

Toss to coat and toast in a 350* oven for about 10-15 minutes.

Store in a zippy bag or bowl with a tight fitting lid. Eat like you would pumpkin or sunflower seeds. Yummo!

feeling better finally

After about 2 1/2 week of this nasty cold/allergy/crude, I'm finally feeling better. I've been back in the kitchen working on Chicken recipes as you can tell if you've looked at my other blog.
I've neglected this blog terrible but I just haven't felt like sharing much. Forgive me for that.

So where am I right now? Afraid to even look at the scales. Everyone in this house has been sick for weeks so we've relied way to much on take out, not a good thing at all. My sleep pattern is all off again, grrrrr I hate this so mom and I have not been keep up with our exercise. Basically everything has been on hold.
But I've managed to get in a few good recipes during the last few days. I made a yummy chicken soup, prefect for warming up the bod and the spirit. A fabulous Chicken Potpie and Chicken Tetrazinni using Spaghetti squash. I made pumpkin flax seed that's not too pumpkiny but oh so yummy.
What's next? I don't know but I've got left over pumpkin in the fridge so maybe some pumpkin soup? Pudding? maybe even a cheese cake.
Also, I want to do a review of Jennifer Eloff's Splindid Low-Carb Desserts cookbook very soon. This is definitely a cookbook you're going to want before you start planning your holidays.

So I've got lots I want to get done in the next few days, so come on back and see what's going on and don't forget to check out my recipe blog
Have a wonderful week!

low carb Fried "Apples"

One of my favorite things at Cracker Barrel is their fried apples. Of course with all that sugar there is no way I can have them any more and still keep my blood glucose levels low and steady, the whole idea behind low carb eating.
But if you're like me and you miss fried apples or apple and cinnamon for that matter, don't despair, there is a solution.
Simply pick up a couple of chayote squash the next time your at the grocery store. I've heard jicama will work too, but I've not tried it. I'm sure everyone has their own version of fried apples, this one is simply mine. But I kid you not, if you can tell the difference than you have a much much more sensitive palette than I.

Low carb Fried "apples"

• 2 chayote squash, peeled and chopped
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1-2 tsp. cinnamon ( start with one and add more if needed)
• 3 tbsp. erythitol
• 1/2 tsp. stevia plus
• 1-2 tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
• a dash each, cloves, ginger, cayenne pepper and salt
  

1. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat.
2. Add chayote and saute' until nearly tender.
3. Sprinkle with salt and add spices and sweeteners.
4. Once sweeteners have dissolved they will begin to thicken, add ACV and let simmer on low until chayote are tender and sauce has thickened.

Serve warm with dinner or over low carb ice cream. This could also be used to make an Mock apple pie, crisp or added to flax bread for an apple cinnamon bread. We totally enjoyed it as a side dish with roast and cabbage.

Chicky Wrap.

Last night I made Tuscan Chicken Soup and I had left over pre-cooked chicken. So today for lunch I

made me this delicious Chicken wrap and some cole slaw.

Chicken Wrap

• Pre cooked chicken
• onion
• red pepper
• green pepper
• mushrooms
• spinach
• baby swiss cheese ( I used 2 slices which was just at 1 oz.)
• 1 tbsp. butter
• Mayo
• 1/2 Joseph's Lavash Bread

Melt the butter in a small skillet, add onions, pepper and mushrooms. Saute until everything is tender crisp. Add spinach and chicken let simmer a few minutes. Meanwhile, spread mayo on Lavash bread. Place two slices of baby swiss on top of the mayo. When the spinach has wilted and the chicken is hot, spoon on to the lavash bread. Roll up and serve with a cup of simple soup, cole slaw or your favorite veggie sticks for a fabulous filling lunch!

I added a little salt, pepper and powdered garlic to mine just after the spinach went in. But you can easily season how ever you like.

The great thing about this wrap is I could have made it with left over roast, ham, bbq chicken, or whatever I had in my fridge. I got plenty of veggies and a nice warm sandwich to boat. I love Joseph's Lavash bread and I can get it in front of the deli counter at Wal-mart or Netrition.

Progress is made in baby steps

If there is one thing that living a low carb lifestyle has taught me, it's that progress comes in baby steps. If you get in too big a hurry to loose the weight, then your going to end up doing something wrong, cutting back to far back on carbs, not getting enough veggies, or maybe just not being consistent enough for your body to keep up. But if you take it slow, let your body do things on it's own time, then slowly the weight will come off. You will settle in to a place where it all comes natural, where your happy with what you’re eating, you lose your hunger and cravings. A low carb way of eating will just be the way you happen to eat, not a diet to loose weight.

I’m settling into my new plan and things like keeping my journal are slowly becoming second nature. My decision to eliminate veggies from my counts has been a good one for both mom and myself. When you only count the foods that are not meat, veggies or fats, it makes keeping track much quicker and easier. And since Mom has lost 10 lbs and cut her day time insulin from 70 units to 20, and her night time insulin from 70 to 45 and I have lost 11 lbs, all in just 17 days, I’d say it was working very well for us. On top of the weight loss and remarkable improvement in mom’s diabetes, we just plain feel better; we’ve stopped picking up take out or going out and started cooking for every meal. Something we had gotten into the bad habit of doing. I’m able to go to the grocery store for the first time in over 5 years. We exercise every morning for at least 15 -30 minutes. We laugh, tease and in general we all feel much happier and healthier.

I know that the weight loss will slow down. I’m prepared for that and completely ok with it. This is a lifestyle not a race to see who gets to the end first. My body will let go of the fat on it’s own time, so I’m just going to relax and enjoy the ride to a new healthier, slimmer me.

As the bible so eloquently states;

To Every Thing There is a Season - Ecclesiastes 3. 1-8

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the
heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

a time of war, and a time of peace.

I intend to Let God and my body take care of the rest.

Busy Bee

Well this week I've been busily cooking away. Our local Tom Thumb had chuck roasts on sale this week. So I made a bee line and bought two gorgeous roasts and had several more ground into hamburger. While I was there I was able to score a huge jicama, a beautiful eggplant, and chayote squash.

Once home the ground meat needed to be worked up. I ended up with 3 packages of taco meat, 2 packages of stuffed pepper meat, 2 pizza kits, and 2 packages of lunch sized burgers. Not to bad for $20.

Tuesday we cooked a big pot of cabbage ( a whole head), squash ( yellow and zucchini) sauteed in butter with onions, Eggplant Alfredo and Jicama with lemon ginger sauce. So the week of side dishes is taken care of. I took a bowl of baked beans out of the freezer for Cindy.

I made Lemon blueberry flaxbread yesterday, along with roast beef stir-fry for dinner. I "riced" shirataki noodles and cooked them right in with the veggies and meat. It was just too good. I ended up eating too much, thankfully it was really low in carbs, but still over eating isn't a good thing.
I've been keeping up with my daily exercises and the trips to the store. Man am I sore, but it's a good sore, and the bonus is I lost 3 more pounds this week... Yeah!!!!

This and That

Our local (round the corner) Tom Thumb has chuck roasts on sale. So up we go, pick out several for grinding in to ground meat and a couple really pretty ones for pot roast.
As I walked in the door ( pushing my wheel chair), I was struck by just how odd Fall is here in North Texas. There sitting right inside the door were big, round, green watermelons that look like they had just ripened over the weekend and beside them, great big, round, orange pumpkins.

While much of the country is experiencing cooler weather, trees that are just starting to turn color, birds migrating and other early signs that Autumn has come to call. Here the air conditioner is blasting, my grass needs to be mowed and could use a good watering.

Which all led me to think, do seasons overlap this much in other parts of the country, or the world? Who came up with all these symbols for fall? Did they really have colored leaves, acorns and apples falling all over their yards? Were their scarecrows really decked out so cute? Why isn't a big fat raindrop a symbol of Autumn too? That's what it does here, rain, rain and more rain until all the leaves drown and just fall off all at one time.
So tell me about Autumn in your neck of the woods.

Icebox soup a tribute to my Nanny

As I was putting together this soup, I was thinking about my wonderful grandmother and all the things I learned from her.

She grew up in the first part of the 20 century and was raising a family during the Depression. She could create anything from next to nothing.

I have a pair of my fathers baby shoes she sewed for him out of an old pair of my grandfathers wore out overalls. The souls were cut from the tongue from my grandfathers work boots. She used whatever fabric scraps she could find to piece quilts to keep her family warm.

As each of her 15 grandchildren were born, she made cloths for them and every Christmas she made matching dresses and shirts for all of us. Our Christmas present from her and my grandfather was always a granny gown for all us girls and jammies for the boys. The highlight of every Christmas eve was when we opened the packages and all ran squealing to put on or new granny gowns; which we wore for the rest of the night. I'm sure the boys weren't nearly so heart broken as we girl were, when it got to be too much for her and the granny gowns stopped. But you ask anyone of use granddaughters about Christmas with Nanny and they will tell you about the granny gowns.

We all looked forward to summer when we all got to go spend a week with Nanny and granddaddy. My dad had 3 sisters, each of them had kids within a year or so of each other, 3 different times. My aunt Marie and Uncle Fred had a spare and had the oldest and youngest in the older group, so there for 5 of them.
Each group got to spend a full week sometimes two. We all waiting with great anticipation for our time to go hangout with our cousins and spend time with our grandparents.

They didn't have much but it was always so much fun! She had dolls and toys all stored in the spare bedroom. Our room. She made all the dolls had underwear made from the foot of an old sock with holes cut for the legs and then sewn together over the shoulders. Nanny hated naked baby-dolls. She passed this trait on to me. All the baby-dolls in my classrooms were required to be dressed before putting away, and several of them had Nannyware. :o)

When I was 7 my grandfather passed away and the big summer visits stopped. They were afraid Nanny couldn't handle us in big groups by herself, she had had a major stroke and heart attacks before I was born. So we went two at a time for a few years.

She was an amazing woman and I miss her dearly. Even after her health had deteriorated enough that she needed to live in a nursing home, she still set up quilting bees with the ladies there, taught crocheting, helped set up activities and led outings. She was very very active until the last 6months of her life, and lived on her own until the last 2. She was 90 when she passed away on a cool Sunday morning in October.

While Nanny could bake anyone under the table, she wasn't a particularly good cook. This recipe if you call it that, is one I got from spending weekends with her. She simply called it soup, but the rest of us called it Icebox Soup. Simply stated, whatever was in her fridge went into the soup pot. You might find ham, turkey, chicken, beef or all the above in your bowl. Sometimes there was corn, mac&cheese, spinach, beans or okra floating in it. The only negative thing I remember about staying with Nanny and Granddaddy was this soup and her mashed potatoes, which I later found out were turnips...giggle (I really like turnips now)
I have found that with the right ingredients Icebox soup is very very good and a great way to use up little bits and pieces of left overs. Nanny never threw out anything, with prices like they are now, I'm finding making this soup for lunch, very wallet friendly.

Icebox Soup

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• any little pieces of raw veggies you have left in your veggie draw
• tbsp butter or oil of your choice
• Chicken or beef stock, water, wine or whatever liquid you like
• Left over beef, pork OR poultry ( unless your like Nanny and like them all mixed up)
• Left over veggies
• Seasoning of choice if needed

Method:

1. Saute onion and garlic in butter or oil. Add any bits and pieces of raw veggies you have on hand. I had a zucchini nub, 1/4 of a red pepper and 1/2 plum tomato. Saute until tender.
2. Season. I only used salt and pepper because the meat was already seasoned.
3. Add whatever meat you have left over, I used left over taco meat Saute a few minutes.
4. Add stock, water, wine or whatever liquid you've chosen to use. I used chicken stock and a little red wine I had hanging out that needed to be used. Let come to a boil and then lower to simmer.
5. Add left over veggies turn off heat and let set just long enough to heat veggies. You DO NOT want to over cook them.
6. Ladle into your cup or bowl top with grated cheese, fresh grated parmesan, dollop of sour cream or whatever will go well with your combo. I used a little shredded Mexican blend.

This is great way to re-purpose left overs into something completely different and absolutely delicious. The trick is just cook until everything is hot. Most of your ingredients are already cooked. You just want to gently heat them. No one wants a big bowl of over cooked, mushy, bitter vegetables.

So fix you a nice bowl of Icebox soup and think of all the fond memories you have of your grandparents.

Capella flavor drops

Thanks to my friend Jeri Kay, I ordered a couple of bottles of Capella flavor drops to give them a try. Here's the blurb off their page about the drops:

Our Products
No one compares to Capella's Flavor Drops! With over 50 unique flavors, all containing NO calories, carbs, fats, sweeteners or preservatives, it’s no wonder why our customers tell us we’re the finest and most unique product on the market. Capella Flavor Drops are perfect for virtually any application: Diet Shakes, Oatmeal, Pudding, Espresso–based drinks, brewed Coffee and Tea, Martinis, Smoothies, Italian sodas, Desserts and more.
* Capella Flavor Drops are PURE Flavor, without sweeteners. * Add flavor to already sweetened ( pre-sweetened ) beverages without adding additional sweetness. * Flavor Drops are stronger than extracts, requiring only drops to flavor. * Flavor Drops will NOT change the consistency of your recipes since only drops are required. * Flavor drops is NOT a syrup, and contains NO fat, calories, or carbs.

According to Jeri you can make your own s/f syrup using the Capella drops. Since the floor in my pantry is half full of s/f DaVinci syrups I thought I'd try a couple because they would take up much less space and because they had some interesting flavors.
So far I've only tried the drops in water, I just got them yesterday. But I have to admit I really like the two flavors I've tried.
The pear sold specifically for water is very refreshing, I added the 4 drops recommended plus 2 drops of sweetzfree to a glass of ice water. It was an unusal flavor but it really did taste like a pear. And it made for a very enjoyable glass of water. Next I tried the strawberry cream, and reminded me of a piece of s/f lifesavers strawberry cream candy. It was ok in water but I think it would be excellent in a cup of Hood milk, yogurt, ice cream or protein shake. I can hardly wait to give the rootbeer float and vanilla cream a try.
I just thought I would share this find with you. If your looking for something to use for flavor, but you don't want the added sugar or sweeteners these are perfect. If you just want to try something different, then maybe Blueberry cinnamon crumble or graham cracker is what your looking for. They have 54 flavors plus the water flavors.
If you try them or have used them let me know what you think. I can't wait to try them in other things.

Cream of tomato soup and grilled cheese sammiches

As a kid and own into adult hood one of my favorite comfort food combo's has always been a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of Cambells cream of tomato soup. What's not to like? The sandwich is ooey gooey cheesey on the inside and buttery toasty on the outside. The soup is rich and creamy with the addition of sweetness to off set the saltiness of the cheese. You ladle up the soup in a big cup set in the middle of your sandwich plate with your grilled cheese cut diagnally into two toasty triangles. The best part is dipping the sandwich in the soup. Oh my goodness makes me all warm and cozy just thinking about it. I decided that since I'm not counting veggies on my new plan the soup would be doable IF I made it myself. Never having made tomato soup I figured the simpler the better so I grabbed a big can of tomato sauce. What goes better with tomatoes than basil, so I grabbed it too. Into the pot went the tomato sauce, the top sprinkled with basil. Cambells soup is sweet and since I wanted to relive that comfort food from the past, into the pot went a few drops of sweetzfree ( cambells is to sweet so I didn't add that much sweetzfree) as it started to heat I added a cup of Hood's count down milk. Oh imagine my delight when it turned the exact color of Cambells and a finger dipped in the pot told me it was perfect. I let it heat through while I toasted a couple of cheese sandwiches made on Joseph's Lavash bread. In less than 20 minutes I had soup and sandwiches ready for mom and I and they were absolutely wonderful. The lavash bread toasted up wonderfully buttery and just slightly crisp with lots of gooey stringy cheese. Perfect for dipping in the soup. MMM MMM Good!
Forgive me, I got so caught up in make and eating, I forgot to take a picture. Next time. There's at least another bowls worth of soup in the fridge and I always have lavash and cheese.

First full day on the new plan

I have to say it was fantastic. I'm motivated again. I'm excited and energized. I ready to tackle the challenges a head to find that thinner me.
Yesterday, I got up at 1:15-1:30 am. Yep sleep pattern is steady but on a whacked out time table. Dr. Stevenson gave me some tips to get it where I want it. It's just going to take some time.
Anyway, I got up at around 1:30 am and headed to the kitchen for what I call meal 1. Yummy pork roast and a big bowl of cabbage. New counting system is 0 carbs. Several glasses of iced tea sweetened with splenda (liquid) and stevia also 0 carbs.
At about 5:30 I had a couple of cheese sticks and a ounce of roasted almonds. That set me back a whopping 4 net carbs, but it held me until 8:30. Had a cup of coffee with cream and a slice of Cranberry Orange flaxbread with cream cheese, with mom. We just kind of hung out at the kitchen table over our coffee and bread and talked. Something we don't do nearly enough.
Round about 12:30 I made grilled cheese sammies and cream of tomato soup. Oh my gosh it was so good! It was like having the real thing, only better. I will post my simple recipes next. But believe me it's next to nothing. So I had a great big cup of soup and sandwich for lunch ( another 6 carbs). The creamy tomato soup was very filling as well.
Then just before bed I had 1/2 a chocoPerfection bar.
I drank around 32 oz of iced tea, 48 oz vinegar water and a couple small glasses of Diet Dr. Pepper. ( ok I tried but I have cut down from 4 liters, not too bad right?) The bloat is just about gone, my bgl's are in the 80 but my bp is up. Not what's going on with that, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye on it.
I also got in about 25 minutes of core, resistances and flexibility exercises in. And boy am I sore after just 2 days of this. But it's a good sore...giggle
So that' my first Full day on my new plan. I know it's early but it does seem to be working for me. The test will be to see if I can break through this stall.

Sleep study follow up

Well I had my follow up appointment yesterday, and everything seems to be what I expected. Dr. Stevenson, says that they thought my pressure could come down a little, but that if I was comfortable where it was, we could just leave it. YES!!!! I really didn't want to have to change it.
Being on medicare and all their nit-picky rules meant I didn't get my new machine yesterday while I was there, but rather have to have them deliver it today. Tell me that makes in since?
One odd thing though, Dr. Stevenson didn't mention it, but when I went to order my new machine, the tech there told me it's a V-pap. Which is specifically for central apnea patients. Central apnea being your brain forgets to tell your lungs to breath. So the machine will have to stimulate my brain some how or other. My concern is that Dr. Stevenson didn't say anything about central apnea, nor did my doctor from before. So I guess I best call today and make sure there isn't a mistake.
If I do have central apnea, that means it will most like improve as the weight comes off, but I will never be without the machine. If I don't, then there is no reason to pay the extra money for a machine with bells and whistles I don't need.
Time to make a phone call.
But yeah! I get my machine today.

Some changes

I started my new low carb eating plan in May of 2007. By October I had lost roughly 60 lbs. Since then it's been up and down never going below my lowest. I'd like to say I'm great at counting and recording all my meals and watching my counts like a hawk. I'd like to but then I'd be lying. I've cheated, gone completely out of control, and skimmed by. But even when I'm doing great. Keeping my carbs low, drinking all my water, avoiding diet cokes, seemingly everything I should be doing. I just can't break that number on the scale.

So, I've decided that since I'm not losing anyway, I'm going to make it easier on me. From now own I will cut my carb count down to between 10 and 20. BUT I'm no longer counting any carbs from non-starchy veggies. Yep your read that right, in my book veggies are now free foods. Of course I'll still not be eating potatoes or other starchy foods. But in my book they aren't veggies anyway, they are starches.

When I was a kid growing up, we had a protein source, a starch and a veggie at almost every dinner. Corn and potatoes did not count as vegetables. My mom called them starches, just like rice and pasta. So to me that's what they are, not vegetables at all, just merely starches.

My reasons for doing this are simple. 1) I'm lazy and this will mean less to count. 2) This will ensure that most of my carbs come from healthy nutritious non starchy veggies. 3) It just seem wrong to me to limit vegetables. I know some people say we could live without them, but what kind of life would it be with out cabbage, okra, salad greens and spinach? Not a life I want to live anyway.

So that's the way I'm going to play it from now on. With things like dairy, nuts and seed are anywhere from 1-4 net carbs per serving, or 1 serving of lavash bread being 4 net carbs. This new plan will make it impossible not to get the bulk of my carbs from veggies and that's a good thing right?

I'm so hoping this will work, but the only way I know to find out for sure is to put it into action. So far so good, but I only started yesterday.
Yesterday I had
Breakfast 1: Pork roast ( I know but I just wasn't hungry)
Snack: an ounce of roasted almonds (2)
Lunch: ChocoPerfection bar (2) and 1/2 ounce of walnuts (1) I've almost never eaten a whole bar at once before. But it was just what I wanted. Not the best lunch but it's what I had.
Dinner 2: A bowl of left over chili ( new system net carbs 2) with cheese ( 1) sour cream (1) and lettuce (0) lavash bread chips (4)
So I stayed down to 13 carb + veggies. The chili had squash in it, plus I had a good bit ( at least a cup) of romaine lettuce with it.
Not exactly what I was hoping I'd eat, but I know my carbs were low and I drank a ton of water and tea, no coke at all and even got my 30 minutes of strength training in.
This morning I started my day out with a bowl of cabbage and more pork roast... nummy nummy We'll have to see where I go from there, but if I can stick with my plans for the day, I should have more veggies, and better carb choices, at least that's what I have planned.

Christmas Prezzies

Just thought I would show you how my new plan to create a recipe book for family this Christmas is going. Here's one of the recipes. I sure hope it doesn't come out too fuzzy.

Hurricane Ike and Vikki's favorite Breakfast

My heart goes out to all those that lost so much this past weekend. While many in Houston, Galveston and other Southern Texas cities struggle to put their homes back together after the devastating winds of Ike ripped through last Saturday, other find themselves homeless, helpless and having to start over. I send up my prayers for them, and wish there was more I could do.

We were very fortunate to have been spared the heavy rains and high winds that had been predicted for this area. We got rain and a little wind, but nothing like had been predicted.

We were able to get through to all our family both here in the Dallas area and those living in East Texas where high winds ripped up trees, downed power lines and damage roofs and out buildings. Thankfully everyone was ok and no one sustained too much damage.

While there is no getting around the devastation done this weekend, it did blow in cooler weather. We have had temps in the 80 most days, a far cry from the near 100 degree temps we were seeing.

Which brings me to one of my all time favorite breakfast, which I was able to enjoy yesterday for the first time since April. It's been much to hot to enjoy this tasty breakfast of toasted Cinnamon Pecan Flax bread, spread with cream cheese and big cup of Chai tea with cream and a tbsp. of coconut oil. Very very filling, just over 5 grams of fiber in a slice of bread. The cream and coconut oil in the tea are very satiating. This breakfast has always kept me going for hours, and I was very happy to get to enjoy it again.

So tell me, what will you be enjoying now that cooler weather is just around the corner?

Sleep Study

My sleep study was last night. I have to say it was one of the most miserable nights of my life. The bed was sooo uncomforable. The poor tech was used to a different set up and couldn't quite get all the electrodes attached to me to work. She started about 9:30 to get me set for bed and it was after 10:30 before the lights were turned off with a good night. I was so sleeping after having taken my Trazadone about at 8: 30, I dozed in and out the whole time she was trying to get me set. Then things were not hooked up right, or not working and they kept coming in to reattach things, turning on lights and awaking me until after 12:30. By 3 my back had had all it could handle and I was awake. She told me I needed to go just 45 minutes more to complete my study. I got up and went to the bathroom(down the hall)just to get out of the bed and walk a few minutes. She told me it wasn't necessary to got to sleep, but I needed to be hooked back up and wear my mask. I knew I had no way home before 6 am so I layed back down and prayed I could go back to sleep at least for a while. Next thing I knew it was a few minutes after 6 mom was calling to see if I was up. Thank you God for such a blessing.
I got up, unhooked myself and went to the bathroom to try and clean some of the goo off me. I went back to my room, got dressed and my tech showed up with my after study paper work. I couldn't wait to get out of there. I was so tired and so sore it was unbelieveable. My first study was a breeze. This one was horrible. But it's over! I have my follow up with Dr. Stevenson on Wednesday, at which time I should get my new bi-pap. That part I'm excited about, but boy am I glad this is over with.
The good news is it looks like my pressure might be lower. Of course from where I started the only place to go was down.

never forget

Tuna patties

Today I made a quick and simple lunch of tuna patties and bacon green beans. It took only about 2o minutes it was tasty, filling and something different.
Tuna Patties

• 3 cans tuna, drained well
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 2 tbsp. Carb Counters Instant Mashers

Just mixed it all up, pattied them out in silver dollar sized patties and fried in coconut oil. They were crispy on the outside, moist and yummy on the inside.

I cooked a couple of cans of green beans cooked in bacon drippings. One of my favorite ways to cook green beans. The left over beans will be ready for another meal when I want them.

Next time I will double my tuna patty recipe and see if they hold up in the fridge. These would be perfect to nosh on when your hungry or to even pack in a lunch.

Update on Mom

We'll we finally got some answers for mom. But they sure we're what we were looking for. As most of you know, she's slowly suffocating because she has a heart valve that's just given out. It needs to be replaced.

When they were running all the tests to find out if she were healthy enough for the surgery, they found she has Pulmonary Hypertension. So the search for the cause began. First of, did she have sleep apnea, one of the major causes of P H. So off she goes to see an specialist in sleep disorders. They found she had a slight case and gave her a cpap. But the PH didn't improve. So then it was blood work, an echo,cat scan, and and a few other things. The only thing they found was that she really needed to get the valve replaced soon.
Next they sent her off for an MRI and more blood work. She got all the tests down except the MRI, they bruised her up pretty good trying to get her in, but it was too small. They finally got it reschedule at a different place last week, and she saw a rheumatologist to see check for lupus.
This week she saw the number one Pulmonary Specialist in Texas. Well all the test were in and after 6 months the answer is.... the weak valve is what is causing the PH and they will not do the surgery because of the PH and her weight.
This latest super specialist ( that's what her Cardiologist and Pulmonologist call him) says he thinks he can get her through it. It will be very risky, but if he can find a doctor that will do the surgery, he thinks he can help her pull through.
He had a meeting with the doctor he has in mind this evening, and mom is suppose to call him back again tomorrow. All prayers, will definitely be welcomed and deeply appreciated.
He told her not to exercise too much, nothing that would exert her to the point of panting or gasping. Of course at this point just going to the bathroom can cause that. But she needs to keep moving as much as she can.
Anyway, that's where we are right now. Thank you for all the prayers up to this point and any your willing to send up on her behalf now.