The knee surgery went well. The only problem was I woke up Thursday morning with a sinus headache and really couldn't do anything about it with the surgery coming. The nurses kept the lights off in my room and gave me some heat packs for my head. The anesthesiologist promised that what he was giving me would take care of it. I remember the first drug he gave me, my hearing went weird, then I got a funny taste in my mouth, then I noticed (out loud of course) that I still had a headache but didn't care... When I woke up the headache was gone.

 

Today I am Carl free - I realized that I really can't care for him today, though I miss him terribly, he is still at Dad and Judi's.

 

My plans for today are elevating my knee and starting my exercises. I am really encourage by how quickly I felt like moving yesterday.

 

MSN had an article on knee health today - I am marking it here since it was slow to load this morning.

As we were leaving the hospital they were on a Code Pink - they were checking everyone at the door due to a missing baby in maternity. Mom said it was probably a drill, the Legacy hospitals are big on drills. My one concern was that they had older women retiree volunteers doing the checking. If someone wanted to get past them they could. I am going to send a letter to the company indicating my concerns.

Knee day.

 

I was kid free most of yesterday. The plan is for my son to stay with Dad and Step mom. Yesterday Carl was nagging me to get moving. I would tell him they were coming to get him. He said oh and then a half hour later he would nag me to get moving so we would go. As my Dad was pulling in the driveway I told Carl he was making me crazy. Carl went out and told Dad that he (Carl) was making mommy crazy.

 

They loaded him into the van and took off - I barely got to kiss my son goodbye.

 

I then went off for my presurgery appointment, then I met my friend Ina Gebert for lunch. She works downtown - we took the streetcar across downtown to a little cafe owned by her neighbors - it was wonderful. I unfortunately can't remember the name - I will have to ask what the name was. I had a green salad with apples and hazelnuts and some cauliflower saffron soup. It was too good!

 

The one day I might ever want to take highway 26 from downtown to my home there is a landslide. I couldn't believe it. So I took another route home and stopped to look for some little Cars cars for Carl (he is collecting.) I happened to get to Toys R Us when they were unpacking the box. So I was able to get a few he didn't have. They are in the earning pile.

 

I then ran some more errands that needed to get done. I didn't like being in the house, it was too quiet without Carl.

 

Rich and I had a dinner out at Red Lobster. We are so predictable, we ordered the same as we always do. I do crab legs no butter, brocolli and a salad. Rich does the admirals feast.

 

So this morning I can't eat or drink and I have no baby to take care of. It is weird. Quiet.

 

He will be home soon...

 

I thought I would write a little update on family events.

 

Carl is slowly getting over his croup. He missed has last classes through Parks and Rec. He also stayed home from Weight Watchers with a friend. He coughs when he gets too active plus I do not want him to give this to other kids. He was really bummed about missing his classes and friends. It is really cool to see him start to make friendships. In one class there was a boy he liked to play with, another a girl and at Weight Watchers, another boy.

 

We have been working on his little Cars collection. He earns the cars by completing something that he has been having trouble with. So far we are working on lots of things. The only activity we are still having a major problem with is toilet training.

 

Cute Carl story - we took a friend (Misako) to the airport yesterday. She and I had been talking to him about when we were doing and where we were taking her and where she was going (Japan). When we got into the car, he conked out promptly and didn't wake up until I pulled into the driveway. The first thing out of his mouth - in amazement was. "Where's Misako?"

 

Grandma is doing well. She is off the meds that were making her so tired all the time, so she is doing the best since her heart problems started. She has energy, can hear and is happy. It is sad that it may only last a few months.

 

I am having surgery on my knee later this week. I reinjured it on Sunday so I am glad I am doing this. Carl is staying with my Dad and step mom through this little adventure.

 

We are now waiting for Rich's grades for the last term. It is still a very happy thing that he passed his first comprehensive on the first try.

With Carl sick, I didn't stay for the meeting, just hobbled in for the weigh in. I was even, which really doesn't have me depressed. I ate a box of Girl Scout Cookies as well as other tasty things, plus TOM, so maintaining my weight isn't a bad thing. I am still 144 and 7 lbs from goal.

 

I bought the seasonal pass, which ends at the end of next month. I am going to make a big push to loose those last 7 lbs by then so I do not have to buy another pass!

Oasis 2004 Syrah - low cost - good wine (better of the two low cost wines)

 

Shale Ridge 2004 Syrah - also low cost and good

 

White Rose Vineyard Quiotees Lair 2003 Pinot Noir

 

Archery Summit Premier Cuvee 2004 Pinot Noir

 

Both Pinots were really good.

There are two more good articles that have come my way:

 

Kym Pokorny of the Oregonian has written a great overview for composting.

 

 

She includes lists what to compost and what not to compost. On her list of Don'ts were invasive weeds and weeds with seed heads. I am showing this to my mom. She insisted on putting some of her compost on her tomato plants in our yard one year, bringing us a nasty new weed.

 

Hopefully I will be able to screen the compost we have for the new plants this spring and use the article for the basis of the next years batch.

 

---

 

 

The next article I found on the Weight Watchers message board:

It is called "Why the Scale Lies" and it talks about why your weight can shift hour by hour within a day or day to day within the week.

 

I saw this in the Oregonian - I have met many of these people, fortunately both my Dad and Hubby are action oriented.

 

Father

 

My father knows the proper way

The nation should be run;

He tells us children every day

Just what should now be done.

He knows the way to fix the trusts,

He has a simple plan;

But if the furnace needs repairs,

We have to hire a man.

My father, in a day or two

Could land big thieves in jail;

There's nothing that he cannot do,

He knows no word like "fail."

"Our confidence" he would restore,

Of that there is no doubt;

But if there is a chair to mend,

We have to send it out.

All public questions that arise,

He settles on the spot;

He waits not till the tumult dies,

But grabs it while it's hot.

In matters of finance he can

Tell Congress what to do;

But, O, he finds it hard to meet

His bills as they fall due.

It almost makes him sick to read

The things law-makers say;

Why, father's just the man they need,

He never goes astray.

All wars he'd very quickly end,

As fast as I can write it;

But when a neighbor starts a fuss,

'Tis mother has to fight it.

In conversation father can

Do many wondrous things;

He's built upon a wiser plan

Than presidents or kings.

He knows the ins and outs of each

And every deep transaction;

We look to him for theories,

But look to ma for action.

I found the greatest cheese a few days ago (and only shared a little with my son - poor hubby didn't get any!) It was Ilchester Applewood Smoked Cheddar. We found it at Grocery Outlet - actually my son picked it out, but didn't really like it when we got it home. The cheese is very smooth and smoky - it was great. My son prefers his cheese Pointy - what he calls shredded cheddar. Funny Kid.

 

 

There was a great looking store featured on Good Day Oregon yesterday - I hope to make a visit next time I am on the East side of Portland:
Foster and Dobbs
2518 NE 15th Ave Portland, OR 97212
http://www.fosteranddobbs.com/

I have been working on my hummus recipe.

 

1/4 cup dried garbanzos
2 jalapenos
4 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon Tahini
2 teaspoon oil
salt

 

Quick soak the garbanzos by bringing them to a boil in water. Let boil for two minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let stand 1 hour. Drain soak water and rinse the beans.

 

Replace water and boil garbanzos for 1-1/2 hours. Put beans, oil, jalapeno. and pressed garlic into a food processor. I pressed the garlic first to make sure it is very fine and will blend. Blend until smooth. Add salt, lemon juice and any other seasonings to taste.

This makes about 3/4 cup. A serving size is 1/4 cup. It is 2 points and oil good oil a 1/4 cup.

 

I have been eating it with Tortilla Crisps. This is a filling really low point option.

 

I do try different oils in the blend - the nummy Red Ridge Farms Olive Oil, grapeseed oil and flaxseed oil. All work well.

 

I found the Tahini at a lot of places - I bought it at Winco, but it is available at most grocery stores in the peanut butter section.

 

Here are the producers websites:

Tahini - bought at Winco

 

Olive Oil - bought at New Seasons

 

Flaxseed Oil - bought at New Seasons

 

Grapeseed Oil - bought at Big Lots

this one is a little harder to track down... The Brand is Called Tuscan Sun, it says it is imported, though not from where. The company is the California Olive Oil Corporation out of Salem MA. ?

 

Found this in the Oregonian:

 

 

Fats are still fat
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

With some food companies' hoopla about their products being made trans-fat free, you might think they're more healthful, even "lighter."

But trans-fat free doesn't mean fat-free; the offending trans fats have simply been replaced by another form of fat. And all fats contain the same amount of calories: 9 calories per gram of fat, or about 250 calories per ounce.

 

If the new fat is high in poly- and monounsaturates, your food may still be caloric, but it's theoretically better for your arteries and heart. But if the food company replaced the trans fats with saturated fats, it's kind of a wash nutritionally. Check companies' Web sites for nutritional information.

  
 
-- Barbara Durbin

Things are not great in my corner of the world. My Grandma is very sick, my son needs some serious (in my mind) dental work and I am having surgery on my knee.

 

The test results for my grandma are back – she has cancer in her colon and has 6 months to live. This is devastating to all of us. It is so hard to see her so sweet and strong and know what is in store for her. Just thinking about this is painful. All I can do is try to help make her last few months as wonderful as possible. So I am keeping my eyes open for interesting and tasty foods that will work on her clear liquid diet, I bought some jigsaw puzzles she might like and will keep her surrounded by flowers.

 

Carl has gotten sick once again before his scheduled filling appointment. He woke up last night with a barking cough that has me worried. We are going to the pediatrician and have called the dentist. Since he will be anesthetized, he can’t have anything going wrong with his respiration. I wouldn’t be so worried about postponing again, but one of his teeth does not look good.

 

In the midst of all of this, I am scheduled to have surgery on my knee. What has me discouraged is that I am sure I will feel worse after the surgery and it will take a lot of work to feel better. I am still also blue about loosing the baby and my cat dying. I really miss my friends in Colorado…

 

There are a lot of things that suck in my life right now. I am working to look at the good things to keep me going through the bad.

 

Good thing – Rich is doing really well in graduate school. He passed his first comprehensive exam soundly, and is doing well in his classes. Though Carl and I miss him terribly during his crunch time, he makes an effort to put some time in every day with Carl (even if it is playing for 15 minutes in the morning.) He hasn’t forgotten me either.

 

Good thing – I am going through all of this a lot lighter than I was a year ago. Since I lowered my food intake with my lower activity level, I am still loosing a little bit. I will admit I did have a bad food day yesterday (chips and Girl Scout cookies – nothing in moderation.) We will see how badly on my next weigh in. Ok stop that, I don’t want to turn this into a back-handed good thing.

 

Good Thing – Carl is for the most part a healthy kid. I am sure he will lick this quickly and I am going to make sure he is healthy for the next dental appointment even if I have to keep him in the house for a week before hand. He doesn’t have a toothache yet, so that is good too. It is expensive, but we will be able to pay for it (a really good thing).

 

Good Thing – I am here to be with Grandma for these last few months. My son is here too – he is a big joy in her life. My family is rallying too – my Dad and Step mom are there to help (Judi got on her knees and wiped down the #$% white kitchen cupboard doors for me!) They have offered to take Carl and me during the days of my recovery.

 

There is a line from Moonstruck that has been an inspiration:
Cosmo Castorini: A man understands one day that his life is built on nothing, and that's a bad, crazy day.
Rose: Your life is not built on nothing! Ti amo.

This week went better than I thought - I was down .8 lbs! This brings my total weight loss to 43 lbs - 7 from goal!

 

I was surprised because I had two bad days. My days in general are getting more active and that helps. Seven lbs to go!

We did things a little different this week - we drank a white wine!

 

Anne Amie 2005 Riesling

It was light and not too sweet - it was really nice on the almost warm afternoon we had.

 

Falesco 2005 Vitiano Caberet-Merlot-Sangiovese

I found this at Costco while looking for some under $10 wines. It was rated a 90 so I gave it a try - Rich loved it. We will have to get more the next trip to Costco.

http://www.joycesfinecooking.com/weightwatchers.htm
http://www.recipecircus.com/recipes/awsum34/
http://p067.ezboard.com/bkellysweightwatcherrecipes
http://www.dietfacts.com/
http://saksfamily.no-ip.com/crockpot.html
http://www.stormpc.com/ww/index.html

 

http://www.freewebs.com/loggies_mom/index.htm
http://www.calorieking.com/
http://www.hussmanfitness.org/index.html
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
http://www.extrapounds.com/index.htm
http://chicken.lotsofgreatrecipes.com/
http://www.fitday.com/
http://www.freewebs.com/irishtrish/myweightlossjourney.htm

My Grandma went into the hospital today for tests, ok one specific test. We stopped in to see her. We are worried she is not. She is 97... I made a high res print of the best of the MeeMees boys collection. Hopefully we can visit her tonight.

 

I am going to see the doc later this week - they want to schedule surgery, but I want to see and decide.

 

Still no word on the Comprehensive exams Rich took - plus he is in finals now.

 

Thats all for tests.

 

 

Patricia Green Cellars 2004 Estate Pinot Noir

I did not get to taste this since someone drank it all before I could get even a taste!

 

Barossa Valley Estate 2003 Shiraz Spires

This was under $10 and a nice full bodied table wine. It stood up to the tacos we had that night!

Great is the road I climb, but the garland offered by an easier effort is not worth the gathering.
- Propertius

My attitude is much better today. My knee is feeling a lot better, and I am back on the weightloss track.

 

Two things helped with the weightloss attitude. One neighbor mentioned how I was inspiring the block to get in shape and called me skinny (it has been a while since that has happened.) The other was my stepbrother called to let me know he had started Weight Watchers (3 weeks and lost I think 12 lbs) and wanted some advice. Both these conversations really helped with the 18 point life I am currently leading.

 

-----

 

My husband did a real absent minded professor thing this week. Monday were the comprehensives for his PhD program (physics.) He has been preparing for them for a while. He took the day off work and asked for some special foods for his lunch. He got up early and drove to the university early to do final preparations. Forty-five minutes before the test is to start I got a call, he had forgotten his calculator, would I please drive it in to town? So Carl and I rush around getting clothes on and finding the calculators. We are driving into downtown at the height of rush hour - not fun. Surprisingly it didn't take us too long. Rich was waiting at the agreed spot on the street for me with a fat free Latte - what a guy.

 

----

 

I heard from the pathologist - I will need surgery. I am thinking of getting a second opinion. I also had to reschedule Carl's dental work - he has the tale end of a cold.

My weigh in was not a happy experience. Even though I cut my points a little, I was still up .2 pounds. Granted that wasn't much, but it was discouraging. I just wanted to go home, my knee was hurting and I wasn't happy, but I figured that was when I needed to stay.

 

Carl had a good time. He is starting to make friends there - there are three other boys about the same age, as well as many other little kids at the meeting. I like seeing him make friends.

 

I bought some of the Fiber One bars - chocolate of course. They are good - really chocolatey. They are going to be an addition to my weekly purchases.

 

So I am resolved that I will need to cut my daily points a little more, and be even more careful with my eating since there isn't much activity I can participate in. I also need to research what I can do to help mend my knee. I still haven't heard from my doctor.