So...whats for dinner?

(((Debbie))) So good to hear from you and so glad you were able to post your story - I am glad it helped you to release some of your emotions.  I know blogging gives me an outlet and that's why I started my blog when I was first diagnosed.  I hope each day gets a little easier and you'll be able to smile when you recall all the beautiful memories of your sister.

Hugs and love,

Michelle

Debbie  Thanks for posting and letting us be part of your life.  HUGS for you and your family.  I hope the surgery for your husband is the answer and he will be done with his suffering. Stay strong, your family needs you.

Michelle  I think Boost or ensure makes a diabetic version.  I know a lot of my pts that didnt like the taste of these products would add ice and blend, and you could probably add some fruit to help mask the taste. For whatever reason, when I was having chemo, I craved the salty stuff, like chicken soups and dill pickles...not too many calories though if your trying to maintain weight. Maybe a good mac n cheese or your husband could try his hand at chicken alfredo...lots of good calories.

bobo When my daughter was small, I could just sit and watch her non-stop...every little milestone was never unnoticed, and then the same with my son.  I had opposites...my daughter was the mischeivous hurricane in the room and my son very calm and quiet (unless his sister got him going)

Lacey enjoy your son while you got him...good chance to make him some yummy food for recouping. And prayers to your family.

Husband cajoled me into going to a meeting with him last night, horse feed, goat feed, chicken feed etc...ugghh, with the promise of cocktails and dinner.  They served dinner but no! cocktails! Three hrs of feed talk and just a mundane dinner...he owes me!!

Carrie - yup, Kraft Mac&Cheese is on the yummy list!  Waldorf salad is also good and I will add some chicken to the leftovers from a couple days ago.  Hubby put enough mayo in it so I can add to it and it will be moist enough.

I try really hard to have 3 small meals a day and then add in a couple of treats like ice cream sandwiches or ice cream right out of the carton...lol  I like salty snacks usually but right now my mouth is too dry so I can't really enjoy that popcorn that would be my first choice!  Hubby made pancakes a couple of day ago and that was pretty good - he cooked bacon, too, which I enjoyed.

And I've eaten lots of watermelon.  It's out of season but still available and pretty tasty.  It may be my favorite food at the moment.

Watching pound puppies with DGD while the hubby and DD fetch the chicken.  LOL  Oops, water spill!!!

Debbie,

Oh I remember that pain so well. I didn't know that grief could be physically painful until my brother died when he was 29 years old. He has been gone now for over 10 years and I still think my aura includes shadows of sad. The pain is real, and though it lessens, there is a hole that will never be filled in the same way.

Take care of yourself. Post away. The process of writing can be cathartic, and we are all here to absorb pieces that are too much for you to bear.

*susan*

Laurie  My kids always liked the clay that you can bake, and we would get out the small stuff from the junk drawer like nuts, bolts, pennies, wall hooks etc and make funny "junk art"  You can also use play dough, but they wont keep. I think I still have some of the creatures on the kids bookshelves.

Debbie, I feel for you.  Can you find a support group in your town?  This is so much to bear on your own.  I wish that I could give you a hug.  I think of you alot.  I hope that your pain lessens in time.

Laurie, Here's a salt clay recipe.  I can cook!  We used to love doing this with the babysitter

http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Salt-Dough-Recipe.html

We also used to "grow" crystals, but I can't remember how.

Bobo, I forgot to tell you.  We are mad at Dodo.  We will have to make do as twins for now.  Do you want to be the smart, funny pretty or popular twin?  I used to qualify as the naughty twin, but now work keeps me out of trouble.  PS I want to be 6 minutes older than you.  I always wanted to be the older one.  Dodo sucked up all the food so that when we were born I was smaller and in an incubator, so was Dodo but she got out faster,  and I entered this world seeing her big fat .....er "self" in front of me. I think that this will work out much better.  Plus you are vegan, I am vegetarian since 16, although started eating fish 2 years ago, I know, I will have to stop.  Dodo is a carnivore *gasp* lol

I'm going to watch that talent show whatever it is, I've only seen it in a long time

For dinner Brussle Sprouts boiled and then salt and pepper and grilled cheese sandwich. And pomegranate seltzer water 

Oh, no, we are  much prettier than Dodo. 

Have you had an MRI?  I kind of liked it.  The noises were funny.  Plus I was tired and almost fell asleep

You can be the petite one, the one who they say about, how did she get those tall girls, well 5'61/2, girls as sisters. Plus that slug Bedo, for the love of  God, someone get her off the couch.

You will handle it better than I.  I took 2 percocets after surgery, decided that I needed a beer too, and then cold pizza and fell down the stairs in the dark going after the pizza at 2 am, and fractured my eye orbit. I told my friends I was fine, fine, just fine, so go home! I was "slightly" stressed. Yippee! Two surgeries!

What is the next step for you?  I amThe flaky one.  I only pay attention at work

I'm enjoying the twins dialogue.  You two are funny.   

Debbie, I wish I had words that would bring you some comfort. 

About 5:30 I was hit with the realization that I wanted soup for dinner.  I got cannelini (sp?) beans, chicken broth and a package of ham cubes out of the freezer.  Emptied them into a pot and added a small can of diced tomatoes.  Let that simmer for 30 min. and added egg noodles.  Turned out to be a tasty soup.  We also had a yummy chopped salad with lettuce, grape tomatoes, cucumber, and avocado.  DH added chopped sweet onion to his salad and I added calamata olives to mine.  Dressing was wine vinegar and Hellman's light. 

I agree with Laurie... hilariously funny

And Laurie...your Facebook post about the ladybug naming cracked me up!

Maybe DS1 can hire Jacob to name the lady bug families in their new house.



So I discovered that having DS2 here after a fairly simple procedure, but one that required him to slow down for a change (for the sake of his eyes) is a great way to catch up on his busy life....and even find out a bit about who is he dating. Boys are often so measured in what they share.....thankful for tonight. And was careful not to ask too much.

We had Amelia's chicken vegetable soup and BLT's for dinner....with some roasted red pepper hummus and matzoh bread on the side since DH cannot pass that up when it hits the store shelves.



Going to the MO tomorrow with a plan to ask her about the possiblity of my getting off Tamoxifen. I doubt she would ever buy into my wish to do this but I just need to hear the numbers again since I did not really pay as much attention as I should have when this decision was being made last year, when I was a walking zombie working twelve hours a day and finishing radiation. The Tamox has so many awful side effects for me (not the least of which is that I cannot sleep, so am always exhausted) that I'd love to take a vacation from it to see what happens .So, we'll see how it goes.....

Carole -- never stop posting your menus in detail.  I love them.  I feel like I know you!

Laurie -- how I miss even the chance for a nap!  I remember trying to "earn" them.  I called it "running offense."  Actually I borrowed that phrase from my brother.

Bedo -- I have had MRIs -- like, 5 of them.  I am the dog that does not like them.  Your pizza story is not funny to me because right at the moment you fell, I remember I had a terrible headache

I ended up having little homemade pizzas on naan bread last night, with magic vegan cheese on them.  Long terrible non-treatment-related day ahead.  Laurie can I come over with my two and have a playdate instead?

xxx

Food this week has been varied. I made Bavarian pretzels to enjoy with some sausages from Carl's. The recipe indicated that you roll the dough into long snakes and then shape. Clearly my snakes were too fat since I ended up with shaped pretzel rolls. So now I know how to make pretzel rolls, which I do love. Last night, we let the Fish Family make our dinner. I had fish and chips, while husband had a combo plate of clams and shrimp. Way too many fries and we left more than half on the plate. I now order a medium cole slaw when we eat there. It goes from a small which is about 1/8 cup of slaw to a medium which is 2 cups! Needless to say, there is some in my fridge today.

Yesterday one of my husband's client brought us 10 lbs of cooked duck breast. These are leftovers from a Google lunch; where he works. May I say, this is a lot of duck. Tonight I will make a duck hash and we will have breakfast for dinner. I will also make a duck ragu so that I can freeze the duck for the future. I leave tomorrow for Portland, OR and the duck wouldn't be good when I return. I had planned a leek and potato soup for dinner. A vegan meal to lighten up our menu but that is not to be.

*susan*

Michelle, you have picked probably the best time of year to be in Phoenix.  The weather should be awesome.

Eric

Happy Anniversary!

Susan, I just wanted to mention that your post was so wonderful.  I do think it's my job to absorb what is too much to bear for my sisters here.  You just put it into words for me.  {{{}}}