Updates, Updates, Updates

Wow! I didn't quite realize how long it had been since I posted last.

Since my last post, I had my birthday and I'm now 35. Jon and I each had our yearly personal health assessments done by the University a few days ago and neither one of us scored well. I was diagnosed overweight with high blood pressure. Jon was diagnosed overweight with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high glucose.

The health assessment helped to serve as a wake-up call for me. My Mom has been going through various tests since the beginning of the year. She recently was diagnosed with high blood pressure and is temporarily on medication. Doctors also found a small blockage around her heart so she is going in for a heart catheterization on Thursday morning.

My grocery list on Thursday night was different. I sought only canned vegetables that were either "low sodium" or "no salt added". I bought unsalted pretzels, unsalted cashews, and unsalted mixed nuts. The soups I bought were all reduced sodium and so were the frozen dinners we eat for lunches. I was amazed at how few products are reduced sodium and how sodium crops up in so many every day foods.

I've started using a free web site to track the foods I am eating. The same site also allows me to track my weight and my activity. I've worked out twice so far which isn't stellar but better than nothing. I have a little card to keep track of my blood pressure. I'm very happy to say the last 3 times I've checked it that it has been decreasing and I'm now sitting in an acceptable range.

I'd better wrap up here. I have a few other things to do before it's time to get my shower and start rousing the troops for 8:30 AM mass. Today's after mass treat are homemade cinnamon rolls that I'll bake when we get home. I used no added salt and I used olive oil instead of butter or margarine to help moisten the cinnamon and sugar filling. I also added some heart-healthy oats to the filling.

Have a Blessed Sunday and a wonderful week!

Oh my!

My friend Sarah had a cute little "Mother Hen" picture on her blog that linked to a web site where you took a short quiz to find out what kind of "Mother Hen" you are. I answered honestly but my answer left me saying "Oh my!"

What type of Mother Hen Are You?
by Montessorimom.com: Educational Resource

The Mystery Sandwich

Having come down with the "crud" circulating the office, I left work after a meeting to head home. As I got closer to home, my tummy reminded me that I needed some lunch. Having already torn the place apart to find vegetable soup that morning which I left behind at the office, I decided that I'd go to McDonald's and get a fish sandwich.

I did not expect it too be so busy for after 1 o'clock but it was crazy. I waited patiently for my fish sandwich meal. As I came back from filling my drink cup, my sandwich slid down the little ramp, right through the worker's hands, and onto the floor. *sigh* After a few minutes, I receive a new sandwich and I'm on my way.

I sit down at the kitchen table to eat after getting everything out of the bag. I smell the fries and I smell fish. The patty seems different. After praying, I bite the sandwich. It tastes different than I remember, a little spicy but I still get a fish flavor with the tartar sauce. The texture of the patty seemed different, too. I ate my lunch but the patty is still bugging me.

My taste buds are out of sorts with being sick but the breading on the sandwich was distinctly peppery which I like peppery but that's not typical of McDonald's fish patty. I almost send Jon to McDonald's last night to get sandwiches to try and solve the mystery. Did I accidentally eat a chicken patty that tasted fishy because it was cooked in the same oil as the fish patties? It tasted too fishy to seem like that was the case but there is always that chance.

At this point in time, the case of the Mystery Sandwich is not solved!

The Red Rose Set

Now that Jon's room in the basement is complete, he has been going through some boxes in the storage area and deciding what remains in storage, what can be used elsewhere, and what needs to be given away. He found a box with a Red Rose Set in it. There are small cups with matching saucers, a few small bowls, two large bowls, and some dessert plates. Since the majority of the people that visit Jon's room are men, Jon didn't really want the Red Rose cups for coffee. I think the set is very pretty so I immediately brought up the box of cups so they can be washed and filled the box with mugs from the cupboard and took them downstairs. I haven't figured out what to do with the other pieces of the Red Rose Set although they might come to the upstairs kitchen so they are used.

As I look at this Red Rose cup, I first notice that I need to fill it with more coffee! Aside from more coffee, I long to know more about who had them, when they were used, where they came from.

After my battle with the "crud" (the nick-name we've given to this cold-like illness going around the office), I want to pick my husband's brain to find out what he remembers about the Red Rose Set.

How did I ever go camping?

Early in our marriage, Jon and I used to take frequent camping trips. Most of them were short weekend journeys but a couple of them were several days in length. After a "slumber party" in the basement last night, I'm trying to remember how I ever survived!

My birthday is drawing near and I'm going to be another year older but I don't think 35 is THAT old!

Since our basement room is now carpeted, I thought it would be fun for me to do a slumber party or indoor camping with Jonnie last night. Although I am ushering this morning, I figured Saturday night into Sunday morning would still be better than a week night.

I got out sleeping bags and the simple pads we use when we camp. Jon offered up the air mattress but I declined. Jonnie didn't want to use a regular sleeping bag so Jon did end up inflating his inflatable bed/sleeping bag combo. I put Jon's sleeping bag under me as a second pad. I climbed into my mummy bag and ended up unzipping it and using more as a comforter. Instead of using our camp pillows, I brought down our regular pillows (I used 2 pillows).

I should feel blessed that we were not camping outdoors because I had to get up and use the bathroom a couple of times during the night. We don't have our bathroom in the basement done yet so I had to come to the first floor which I'll take over using the woods any day!

I slept decent. I can't figure out Jonnie though. He's actually sleeping more on the floor and has his bed on top of him against a chair like a tent. My back is wishing that I'd taken Jon up on that air mattress!

I'd better wrap this up. Mid is doing much better and returning to normal which means he's pacing across my desk waiting for me to get up so he can sleep in my office chair.

Have a great Sunday and a Blessed Week!