Glynne - Why do you have to make so much at once or are you doing that to not have to cut them up every day? Just curious. I don't do much in advance generally. Today I did have to marinate the meat for tonight, but that's not always. I do plan my dinner menus ahead of time a week at a time, but one day is leftovers or pantry meals, another day is eating out usually. I don't go exactly by the planned days, but choose the day before what I think will work best and sometimes I have more meat than I really need so I then plan another meal for the remainder of the meat. That happens most weeks at least once. So sometimes my meal plans last longer than a week because of that or because we eat out more. Veggies are similar...I kinda mix and match them to whatever else I'm serving as some last longer than others. I realize you probably aren't eating meat right now, but was just wondering why you have to prepare so much in advance or perhaps you just choose to do that to save your time on other days. I have the book but have not followed the diet at all so I'm sorry for my ignorance about how it works but I'm wondering what makes the preparation so different from what I do now. I might want to try it sometime.

Hello again,

Mary ~ I guess I wanted to get some stuff made, so that when Sara gets here to pick up Maddie ~ between 6:30 and 7 pm. ~ (and lately, she has been staying longer to do a 30 minute run on the treadmill.) that there is something all fixed that just needs to be heated up. I am too tired to start supper from scratch at that time.

I guess it takes longer now because most all of the food is fresh stuff and has to be cut up how ever you want it to cook it or what ever you are going to do with it.

I have never had enough discipline to plan out a menu. There would just be stuff I could make each night. And often I would make a big pot of something or a casserole and we would eat that until it was gone, then I would make something else. I was lucky to have a family who would eat left overs.

It is a whole different way of life for us ~ we are trying to use as little processed stuff as possible. It is no meat, fish, dairy, eggs. Only fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds ~ only plant based things.

We asked BIL what things he uses. Since he has been doing it for a couple years now, we figured he would have it down ~ and maybe have come up with some short cuts. One thing that helped was to be able to use canned beans instead of having to soak the dried ones and go to all that trouble. Also, he said that he tried making his own hummus and didn't like it, so buys that. And we buy vinaigrette salad dressings instead of trying to make those ourselves. That was just going too far for me.

There are some things you just can't make ahead ~ like salads, I guess you could, but I prefer not to. Also the fridge is usually full, so no room to fix stuff like that and have room to put it in there until we're ready for it.

We have been eating things like:

Breakfast ~ a bowl of fresh spinach with fresh strawberries, mandarin orange sections and fresh blueberries. Sprinkled with some sliced almonds. Or, soaked oats with chunks of apple and some other fruit. Later on a plate of different fruits sliced up. We buy what is in season and then other stuff we like. Breakfast has been pretty consistently like that. I'm not sure it is ok to do the oatmeal very much, so I have been using that when we have to go somewhere in the morning and don't have time to mess with cutting up the plates of fruits.

Then later in the day a bowl of beans ~ I mix a can each of chick peas, black beans, light red kidney beans and a can's worth of edamame (frozen, shelled) ~ with some vinegarette dressing on it. It is so pretty ~ things are more appetizing to me when they are colorful. Since I would really rather be eating other (not good for me) stuff, I think it helps to make it look attractive. You could do any types of beans you want. That is just my concoction.

Other things we eat during the day, more fruits. A plate of raw vegies and dip or hummus.

For supper, I had made a pot of soup and then make a salad to go with that. The soup lasted for several days. I have tried two different soup recipes so far.

We have had the roasted vegetables before and really liked them. I thought I made a lot last time, but they kind of shrizzle up a little. Between the two of us, we finished off the whole pan (cake pan sized ~ the layer of vegetables spread out on the bottom of the pan).

I tried a bean burger recipe before, but was disappointed with that ~ it came out dry. Tonight I tried a recipe for a mock meatloaf made out of beans. I liked that a whole lot better. I think DH liked it too. Plus, I didn't have to fool around with making patties out of it. So we had that and some of the roasted vegetables and a dish of coleslaw. Then a bit after supper we usually have some kind of bowl of cut up mixed fruits. DH would have gladly eaten another heap of the roasted vegetables, but I had him eat the coleslaw to make the vegetables last for more meals.

Like I was telling DH and you sort of said it too ~ by making a couple pans of the vegetables or a pot of soup ~ rather it is one pan or more, I have to haul out all the same equipment, so I might as well do a whole bunch at a time. Yes, so that way, I will have time for other stuff on other days, and sort of give myself a break from fixing food.

I have never been a planner much, we each kind of got our own stuff and it was simple stuff ~ usually something frozen that we just heated up ~ a chicken pattie or a chicken breast, and some frozen vegetables. What ever struck our fancy that evening. I would occasionally cook a casserole or some kind of recipe from scratch when I was in the mood, but was usually too tired to mess with stuff like that.

Don't apologize for not knowing what is in the book. I have not read it all, just parts of it. But DH read it from cover to cover ~ like he was studying for an exam or something, highlighting and all. He was serious about doing this, so wanted to make sure he understood and knew what to buy, what was ok to eat and what not to eat.

He did kind of frustrate me about one thing ~ he said we could eat when we were out and about if it got to be meal time or we were hungry before we could get home. So, we were going to be out one day and I tried to research about what options were available at different places. I found a salad at McDonalds that didn't have meat on it (I guess if it did, you could just ask for them not to put the meat on it). He proclaimed that we were not going to eat processed foods. I think he just has it in his head that anything that comes from a fast food place is processed. I don't think salads would be considered processed.

This way of eating is a lot of work. Maybe I am making it harder that I need to, but it is new to us and I am still finding my way. Maybe after I have done it for a while it will come easier.

DH told Sara that she should do this. I said she could if he would cook all her stuff for her. BIL suggested this diet to me a couple years ago when I was still working ~ there is no way I could have done this at that time. And I don't think Sara could either. She has such a long drive and not much time at either end of the day. She does a crockpot sometimes, but that is about all she can pull off ~ trying to do stuff ahead of time.

You asked one simple question and you got a book ~ sorry. Hope what I shared was helpful.

Very interesting, thanks. It also sounds pretty tasty to me. Not sure I'd like spinach with fruit for breakfast but I do like spinach with scrambled eggs or in a smoothie now and then. Are you allowed eggs? I love fruit and veggies, oats and beans so I could handle that but I'm sure eventually I'd miss meat even though I don't eat a lot of it. Dh doesn't eat a lot either but wants some at both lunch and dinner. He prepares his own breakfast and lunch and when he makes his own dinner either from leftovers or some Asian frozen or boxed thing he's bought. Same with his lunch. I keep a little frozen veggies on hand for quick meals, but I prefer fresh so don't often use them.

How are your bs eating this way? One thing that puzzles me is I've always been taught to eat a little protein in the same meal as your carbs to slow down the rise of bs. Of course beans are protein but they are also carb.

These days seem so short and busy but one of these days I'll dig out that book and read it again. I remember it seemed interesting and I wanted to try it..might have for a few meals LOL,....but then forgot about it. Just too much change I guess and I know dh wouldn't like it. He doesn't care for beans at all but he would eat most of the other things you mentioned but would want meat too and he prefers a sauce with most of them, likes everything moist.

Mary, I think the carbs in beans are different from other carbs because of the high fiber. The body does not process them the same as other carbs. In this plan, beans are considered protein. People who are vegetarian or vegan have to get all their protein from plant sources. Here is a list of plant sources of protein.

http://yumuniverse.com/plant-based-p...rmation-chart/

When I read The End of Diabetes by the same author, Dr Joel Fuhrman, he said that you could have small portions of meat, but more like a condiment to the rest of the meal, like maybe small bits of chicken mixed in with the vegetables. I would miss meat.

Neither DH or I like sauces with our food. He likes gravy on mashed potatoes, that's it, and I use a mix for that since I'm making just a small amount for him. We do eat sauce with pasta. We like our meat and vegetables cooked plain. I don't buy many fresh vegetables because DH eats very little vegetables and they go bad before I can eat them all. I usually buy frozen.

Gayle, I think this food prep is overwhelming to you because you are not used to cooking like this. I make most of our meals from scratch so I do food prep like this every day and never think anything of it. I watch my soap operas from 12:30 - 2 every day, then at 2 PM I start dinner. That's just my normal routine. If I'm busy and don't watch my soaps, they are on again in the evening on another channel. DH would not eat leftovers, ever. It has to be prepared fresh each day, and it cannot be something I brought from the store heated up. He eats a lot more processed food than I do, but that's his lunch that he prepares himself, like canned stew and chili, ramen noodles, Mac and Cheese. I think you and I just live differently, as I have wanted to do craft things for years but I just don't have time to fit it into my life. You have always done these crafts, but never spent a lot of time with food prep. Neither of us is wrong, we're just different.

You're right that Steve doesn't know what processed foods are, because a salad, even from McDonald's is not processed food. It seems to me that the only way you would be able to eat out is if you went to a salad bar, unless there was a restaurant that specialized in vegetarian. Even then, most vegetarian includes things like pasta and rice, which you are not eating. Did you ever watch Dr Fuhrman on public television? He calls his food plan Nutritarian. It is a very healthy way to eat, and you have lost weight, so I think it's doing you good. I could eat that way if I were by myself, but I think I would have a bit of chicken once in a while, like in a stir-fry. Chicken is my favorite meat. I would miss eggs, too.

I wonder if Steve isn't feeling up to par because his body has not yet adjusted to this new diet. That could be possible, because you started this around the same time he had his stent. It might take some time for his body to get used to the change, even though it's a healthy change.

Love2garden, DH and I both get a pension along with our SS. If he goes first, I get half of his pension plus SS, but he does not get half of mine. I would have had to take a big cut if I wanted to provide for him, and my pension is small. I also have a small 401K. We don't use that at all. I think next year I am required to start taking something from it, even though I don't want to. I will have to look into ways I can avoid that. We don't need that money, at least not so far.

I didn't sleep all night, my arm and hand hurt so bad. I got up and took a Motrin and now the pain is going away so I guess I'll try to go back to bed.

Mary, I think I recall that you were a nurse and so was Gayle. Nursing can be a demanding job. I think that it would be very hard to work at that job into your 60s in a hospital setting. I would think a nurse in a doctor's office would be a different situation. Plus, working full time and raising children is not easy. I don't blame either of you for retiring early when you were able to make financial adjustments.

I was wondering if any of your pains started when you started the new diabetes med. I have been taking this med for a while, but my pain started around the time that I increased the dose. I had a lot of pain when I took Cipro and it took 2 years for that to subside after I quit taking it. This pain came on suddenly but feels like the same pain. Both the doctor and the pharmacist told me they didn't think the pain was from the Cipro, but it said in the package insert that severe tendonitis was a side effect! I think the medical people don't want to admit that a drug can cause some side effects. They just want you to take it and shut up.

Good morning GG's,

Carol Sue ~ yes, nursing is a demanding job, but I think any jobs where you have deal with people are not fun jobs. Unless you have the patience of a saint or something. I think most people are nice, but the few that aren't, make you dread dealing with any of them. I have heard my mom and daughter tell about dealing with people in the banking business. My daughter called me up crying a couple times because of her frustration at dealing with horrible people.

Mary ~ I was puzzled too by the thing you mention about always having to eat protein with the carbs to keep the blood sugar steady ~ I was taught the same thing. I should be checking my sugar at various different times to see, but I get busy and forget. The only one I can seem to remember to do routinely is the fasting one before I eat in the mornings. It has been consistently good since starting this diet.

Carol Sue ~ I think somewhere in the book, it encourages you to try to do the more restrictive plan for 6 weeks. That is what we are doing. At the end of that time, I plan to do like you tell he says to do with the meats and such ~ as a condiment with salads. I never really did eat lots of meat, but did use it like that ~ ham chunks, chicken chunks, tuna or imitation crab meat and shredded cheddar cheese on top of a salad. I figured I was getting in a little protein that way, and it made the salads look pretty and be tasty to me. I don't think a little bit that way is going to mess this up.

I'm sure DH will keep doing the strict way. He's kind smug about things like that ~ prides himself on his self control. Good for him, but I don't think I am a failure or a bad person if I can not be like him.

One day, I tried one of the smoothie recipes in that book. I didn't have the kind of lettuce it called for. Somewhere I found a web site that told about the different kinds of lettuces and what you could substitute if you didn't have that kind. One of the substitutions was to use the leaves from celery. So, I used that in the smoothie recipe. The recipe also called for frozen strawberries ~ the ones I had, I think were maybe freezer burned. Anyway the smoothie came out tasting awful. Maddie ate a couple spoons full and also said it tasted awful. DH tried it ~ I told him it didn't come out good. I don't think he thought it was very tasty, but he ate it all ~ kind of just to prove some kind of point. Kind of made me mad.

Carol Sue ~ have you been cooking for your husband for such a long time now that you have it figured out how much to make so there aren't any left overs? Just wondered. My daughter's husband (well ~ ex-husband who she let come back and live with her) won't eat left overs either. DD ~ since we started this diet and aren't eating some things, said to us ~ what am I going to do with my left overs now (she had been bringing them to us)? LOL. Forgive me for saying, but to me I feel like it is inconsiderate ~ especially in this day and age when both people are working full time, for the husband to demand of his wife, a brand new meal every day and refusing to eat left overs. Does he not think she is tired too? That would have been a reasonable thing I guess back in the day when mom's didn't work out of the home, but now, well.....I said how I feel. Sorry.

About the processed foods and other choices. I have suggested salad bars, and he seemed to think maybe that would be ok. But where does he think the stuff there comes from ~ I'm sure they dump it out of a bag. I suggested that we could eat at the hospital cafeteria as they had healthy choices there ~ salads and fresh fruit cups.

Actually, I think DH is feeling better on this diet. Before the stenting, he had had a colonoscopy with banding of hemorrhoids. “Going” to the bathroom was not too comfy, but after the first couple weeks, this diet has helped him “go” easier. In that way, it has been kind of life changing for him ~ his bathroom routine changed for the better, and he isn't going to have to take the medication the doctor wanted him to take, he is “going” nicely now, just by the change in his diet. So, he is real pleased with that.

Carol Sue ~ sorry you didn't sleep well last night and had pain. Hope you are feeling better now.

Mary ~ hope you were able to rest and not have too much pain.

Love2 ~ How are you and your DH doing today?

Well, I've played around too much on here, I'd better get off and do something. Hope you all have a nice day.

Here are pics of some of the foods I have made on this diet.

Gayle How colorful your meals look. In nutrition class I was taught to go for color for health and because the eyes also enjoy the experience.

Glad the diet is getting the entire GI tract working well for your DH.

DH is good to eat leftovers at times, but never thinks to look in refrigerator for them. He grabs bread and bologna instead. Hopefully he will limit his lunch meats with nitrates etc, but with decades of eating that way it will be quite a change.

Mary how is your pain today. You amaze me how active you remain inspite of health issues that would sideline me.

Carol Sue your perseverance also amazes me. Your personality reminds me of my efficient daughter-in-law who is a CPA and so smart.
I've always tried to work toward becoming more efficient, but it is so foreign to my nature. Just trying to work on one area at a time.

DH enjoys order in the house. We share this former bedroom as I use desktop computer and he has desk on opposite wall where he ties flies for fishing. His side is so orderly and neat. Easy to see my side.

Our daughter who lives with us once used this bedroom with her sister. Twin beds and shared desk. Pat's side was neat with bed made and desk neat. Kit's was piled so high that at time her junk slid over to Pat's side and I'd hear the kids get in to argument.

Living with two neat people makes me try harder at leas some days.

I've been anxious about signing my real name on line, but am trying to put that anxiety behind me. Therefore, I'm admitting that my name is

Sandy

I was up in the night with Halo but I think it was only once about 2:30, I was a wake a while but finally did sleep. Knew when dh got up (he got up early to work in yard while it's cooler), but went back to sleep and didn't get up til a little after 9. Woke up very achy. It's basically all the time now but worse at times and Asa does help some. Sometimes (like this morning) I hurt so bad it is hard to walk...I have to force myself.

Thought I might be needed for babysitting but so far have not been called. Tonight we have our other gd's birthday party. It will be just grandparents and possibly one cousin for dinner at our dd's house. Her daddy is making spaghetti. In between now and then I plan to clean our family room. I did finally get the living room done yesterday. It seems to take me so long to get through the whole house anymore. I used to do my weekly cleaning in a day just a couple years ago, then went to one or two rooms (if a bathroom) a day, and now it's one or two a day but over more like 10-14 days. Part of the problem is we go out and when I get home I'm too tired.

Sandy - Thank you for sharing your real name! I don't mind either way but it does feel more like we know each other with actual names I think. I think it was Donna who always used to asked for a real name. I think it was because sometimes the usernames are hard to long and hard to type. I usually just shorten them. Having to live with very neat people would be difficult for me too...I'm not really sloppy (well by MY standards!) but am never totally neat and organized either. I like a place for everything and everything in it's place but I still allow for clutter here and there too if that makes sense. :dizzy: My office is the messiest place in our house aside from our son's room. That's a whole other story, but to be fair he has too much stuff and too little room. I wish I could give him a couple rooms. Sandy, you mention despite the pain I'm active..well honestly some times it is by sheer will ...I've always had a lot of pain and it generally just seems part of my life...so I force myself to go on.
I'm not bragging...I truly wish it were not part of my life but even as a child my legs ached.

Glynne - Glad your bs has been good and the fasting one is usually my worst so I think you're doing well. With the procedures done (colonoscopy and hemmorroids) followed by the stent, I think that's enough to make a person tired for a while. Dh had three surgeries over abt 6 months and I think that still may contribute to his fatigue. I know it would wipe me out. I enjoyed dealing with people in nursing...for me the hard part were all the rules, some seemed just silly not really important, and that we were always understaffed, and never enough time to get all the work done. I never felt satisfied with the care I gave because there just wasn't enough time in the day to do it and the charting. I didn't even mind the charting like many nurses do, but I like to do well at whatever I do and there just wasn't the time, so I'd work way over and then the administrators would get upset at me for that. They were sure I'd want comp times sooner or later...funny because at the time they told me that I didn't even know what comp time was!! When I worked days but got home later than my dh, my dh would prepare dinner. He even prepared Thanksgiving one year when I had to work. He's a pretty good cook esp of Asian type meals. For potlucks he often makes Chicken Pansit and gets raves. I prefer to do most of the cooking though...and right now we both are retired but in good weather esp he works much harder outside than I do inside so seems only fair. Plus I just enjoy cooking for him and our son...it's a labor of love for me and I feel so good when I please them.

Carol Sue - Hmmm...I had't actually thought about the diabetes meds causing me leg/hip pain. If the Glimepiride (Amaryl) is the cause, it didn't get bad til several months later as I started it in July. As I say, I've always had achy legs but usually not as consistent as it is now. This is the drug that made me gain ten pounds in the first two weeks though. I started Farxiga April 1st, so that was after the pain started. When it started I didn't think much about it...my different kinds of pain are typically cyclic ...and I just figured it was my time for leg pain, but then I realized it was different...not only was it lasting longer but also my Rt hip was involved. I used to have Lt hip pain but not in recent years...but again that was cyclic and felt like sciatica. Stretching helped it. So this is different. Stopping Simvastatin may have helped a little but not significantly. My hip is better although it is still hard for me to go up stairs...the hurting is only mild now so I'm not exactly sure why but it is still hard and I have to use my right arm to kind of pull myself up. I will find out how my cholesterol is next month and doctor will have to determine what I should do if it's high.

Our eating is more like you and your dh. Like you I'm used to the preparation. Only difference probably is that your dh seems to be pickier than mine. Mine has become harder to please as he aged but he usually will eat whatever I serve. He will eat leftovers but would not want the same thing very often.

Yes, beans have plenty of fiber...another thing I love about them! Still they are a carb even after subtracting 1/2 the fiber. As long as I could eat products that come from animals...like milk, cheese, eggs etc. and beans, I think I'd have no problem on a mostly vegetarian diet, but in time I would want a little meat. I like meat as you and Glynne mentioned, more like a condiment..in small amounts with my veggies. I do like potatoes though...I suppose you can't have white potatoes on this diet? Not sure I could give up potatoes entirely even though we actually eat more rice than potatoes. I like both but esp potatoes, but dh loves rice.

Trying to keep quiet again today as son again worked night shift and he is very tired these days adjusting. Hopefully this will be over soon. I do the more quiet things during his sleeping time and then vac after he's up.

Until next time..

Hello ~ back again,

I'm feeling better about this food thing tonight. I think getting all that food prepared yesterday helped. So that when Sara left here tonight, I could just put food on the plates, heat it up, make a coleslaw (use that pre-cut bagged stuff) real quick and it was done. Also, I kind of did things at different times. I had it in my head that I needed to load and unload the dish washer in the evening so it wouldn't be waiting for me in the morning. The last couple days, I haven't done it at night. I rinse stuff as I go, so I don't have to stand for long periods of time doing that. It makes that back/sciatic pain worse ~ standing for long times. And because I had prepared stuff yesterday, I didn't have to do as much today. Had more free time to enjoy.

I feel like I am starting to get the hang of this diet. I have some things we like and are pretty easy to fix and starting to get a feel for how long stuff lasts and sort of how much to buy.

I do feel a little guilty that I let Maddie play on the iPad and watch TV more than usual, but we read and played too, so maybe it will work out ok. If I feel better about stuff, I am likely to be less stressed and it will be more enjoyable for Maddie too.

Now the weekend off (from Maddie that is). Gotta go get groceries tomorrow.

Mary ~ I'm so sorry that you have so much pain and have had for such a while. Hope you felt better so you could enjoy your granddaughter's birthday party.

Sandy ~ thank you for sharing your name. Makes it seem more like we know each other ~ like Mary said. Your description of your daughter's bedroom ~ sort of sounded like my sister and I. I was the kind of messy one. Now, I like stuff neat, but don't always feel up to keeping up with it. Both DH and I are have areas of clutter. When it starts to bug us, we deal with it then.

Carol Sue ~ I agree with you about the food prep ~ it is new to me ~ well, not actually doing it, but doing it every day. I think it might not have been so overwhelming if it had happened a while before school got out or in the fall when school has started up again. I think it is the trying to do it while Maddie is here. Being torn between spending time doing that and letting her do the TV and iPad while I do it. I guess I feel guilty when I am letting her do those things because it is more than we had been letting her do it. Oh well, it is what it is. Also, DH used to be the one to play and entertain Maddie the most, but with his health stuff now, he is tired and it falls more to me now. So I think all these changes all at once is maybe what makes all of it overwhelming.

Sorry that you also had pain that kept you awake. Hope the med helped ease it.

I've enjoyed that supper is out of the way, dishes can wait until tomorrow and I had some of the evening to enjoy and relax a bit. Thank you all for giving me a place to come and share.

Hope you have a good weekend. Happy Father's day to your husbands and sons.

Mary, from what I have read, the carbs in beans are processed differently in your body and do not effect blood sugar the way other carbs do and they also contain protein. That's why they always say beans are so healthy for you. I don't know enough about it to explain it, but I believe it to be true. And even though you're not eating protein as we know it, meat, dairy, seafood, some plant foods do have protein and if you eat those, you don't need the protein from the meat. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind or force my beliefs on anyone, just repeating what I have heard.

Sandy, I do not consider it inconsiderate for DH to want freshly cooked foods each day. It could be hot dogs, just not hot dogs left over from yesterday. It's how it's been for me all my life. My mother prepared a full meal every day, too. We never had leftovers because we were always hungry by dinner time and ate til the food was gone.

Gayle, I used to cook for 4 when the kids were here and now I cook for 2. I know how much to cook. When it comes to things like stuffed cabbage rolls or lasagne, DH will eat them leftover, but for lunch the next day, not for dinner. When I make things that make a lot I give the leftovers to my Step-daughter. In fact, when I make meatloaf I specifically make it much bigger than we need so I can give it to her. If they don't eat it for dinner her husband takes it for his lunch. They love my cooking. He calls me Betty Crocker. LOL But she doesn't cook like that, she does a lot of quick cooking foods. And they grill out a lot. My DIL hardly cooks at all. My step-son does most of the cooking because he gets home from work first and they also do a lot of grilling. They eat lower carb. No potatoes. Rice is brown rice and pasta is wheat pasta. Their dinner will consist of meat on the grill and a salad.

I can understand the frustration of doing all this prep and having Maddie for the day. I think you are doing great and your pictures look very healthy and appetizing I do not eat fruit, though, so only the beans and veggies looked good to me. DH would love the fruit plate. He orders a fruit plate often when we go out to eat. I could make a tray of roasted veggies and eat the whole thing myself.

I think most restaurants use the bagged salad, and I think it is still good. The bag keeps it fresh longer and they don't have to have someone cutting up all those veggies. The more people who handle your food the higher the risk, IMO The only problem is some of them have preservatives on them and they can be bad for some people.

I sure got long winded this morning. LOL I love food and love to talk about it.

Carol Sue ~ it was me that said the thing about feeling husbands were inconsiderate to ask for a new meal each night and not eat left overs. I didn't mean to cause any hard feelings or anything. I guess I was thinking more of my selfish jerky (ex) SIL and others ~ especially those when both of the couple are working full time. Please forgive me ~ I don't usually express such strong feelings about things. That one just hit a nerve for me I guess. And not because that has been my experience, but for others who go through that.

It is a nice sunny day here today (so far). Gotta head out after a bit to Aldi and where ever else the stuff we need is on sale.

I was kind of worried about the fruits on this way of eating. But so far, my blood sugars have been alright eating this way. I have kind of hit a stall though ~ darn. But I'm not giving up ~ it has got to move sooner or later. I even thought maybe my scale was broken ~ it has read exactly the same thing for 5 days in a row now. Not even varying by a 1/10 of a pound. I put on a pair of shoes just to test it and it did go up, so I guess it's not broken and that really is the number.

Hello Mary and Sandy. Hopefully I'll get back later.

Carol Sue I agree that the medical people would sooner blame us if we feel pain than to recognize that some medication DOES funny things beyond what they expect.

DH was taking pain meds after his tooth was pulled and did fine for 12 hours or so, but the med suddenly made him nauseous and feeling "funny" in his head. I took him with me when I went for massage and he sat a whole hour in AC waiting room for me. Still feeling "awful". Dry heaves and unable to think even tho over 4 hours after last med that was taken with food.

I believe he simply is more sensitive to that medication and if taken every 6 hours instead of every 4 he would have been fine.

He swears that pain is better than feeling so terrible, and he is probably right. He used to have a stomach ulcer that caused him to turn pale with pain but he couldn't take anything for it. Finally had over 1/2 his stomach removed and no pain since, but he does have attacks of low blood sugar at times. Surgeon said some have that after the stomach surgery he had.

I can't imagine being a nurse. Caregiving for our kids, grandkids, was not nearly as hard as it was taking care of Mom for years with Alzhimers was the hardenst.

Thank God, I have no diabetes yet, and hopefully as my weight drops, and diet keeeps improving, I'll escape. Scares me more than most issues.

Sandy

Woke up really achy again but not too bad now. I've weekly cleaned the family room and did my daily work except I still need to do a quick mopping of the kitchen/dining area. Dh and our son went to the Men's breakfast at church early this am. Then Dh put up wire fencing around some of his gardens because Halo has been digging in them. Dh and son trimmed our bamboo plant that had grown wild and son picked up all the trimmings and other weeds to have ready for debris pickup on Monday. Glad they did these things before it got so warm.
Now dh is headed for a place that sells bbq ribs he likes, as I think we are having a BBQ tomorrow. Hopefully they will decide for sure soon as I plan to go out and get the potato salad and beans and watermelon.

We had a lovely time at our dd and sils last night. It was just us and other grandmother whom they call Nana. Our gd was so cute...she got SO excited with every gift no matter what it was. She was very happy with her construction paper, and her brother excitedly showed her how some of the paper has sparkles. I picked that pad because of that, knew she'd like that. She was even more excited by the pretty duct tape!! :D LOL And the climax of the gifts...her parents gave her a pink ipod...Oh did she scream with excitement. Her nana gave her a Power Girl outfit and she put it on for pictures with her mom and dad acting like super figures in the background. It was very cute. My sil made his famous spaghetti and it was delicious! I had TWO servings. He told me there was ground beef, pork and chicken in it, and I could see fresh tomatoes, artichokes and olives. Very different and so good. They served it with a Caesar salad (bought blend). I also had a small glass of red wine and one slice of almond roca cake. Gained 3# overnight! Didn't even bother to take my bs last night but was no worse this morning than usual, even better than it was the morning before. I forgot my meds until after we got home though so probably spiked pretty high for a while.

Sandy - I react like your dh to some medications...like oxycodon, percocet and even regular codeine. These meds I have to go to sleep with otherwise I get sick.

Carol Sue - Well that's good about beans and I love them. If dh liked them more, we'd eat them a lot more, but I do eat them for lunch now and then. I also love grilled veggie sandwiches. Do you ladies have a Five Guys hamburger place? They make a really good grilled veggie sandwich. I've never tried their hamburgers because I always get it. Dh and our son don't care for their hamburgers, but once in a while I go there when I'm out on my own. It is not easy to find a GRILLED veggie sandwich. I always have them use mushrooms, onions, and green peppers...the mushrooms are like meat to me. I sometimes let them put one slice of cheese on top too. I should just make my own at home..just never think of it I guess.

I like the bagged salad too..esp for convenience and because the blends with the added ingredients are usually very tasty. The one we buy most often is the Asian blend. I like my salads with lots of things in it..not just lettuce although I so love iceberg lettuce..it isn't the most healthy but I figure with all the other veggies I add to it, it's ok. The one problem with bagged salads is up here at least there has been a lot of contamination from the field workers and people have gotten sick...usually e coli as I remember. Nasty stuff! For that reason I don't buy it often but sometimes it is just too convenient not to.

Glynne - Glad things are getting easier with the diet and preparation! It has helped you enough that it seems to be worth the extra effort. I feel tired most of the time so understand how you must feel though esp with babysitting too. I'm not very good with the babysitting. I never feel I have to entertain kids...my kids were always outside playing if the weather was nice and usually entertained themselves if indoors. Often had friends here or went to friends houses too. I realize things are different now though. You can't let kids run free and they have to have play dates instead of just running next door. So occasionally if they ask or they are driving me nuts I do play a game with them. Depends on the kids though...some don't really seem to want to play a game with me and others do, some like me to read to them and others can't sit still long enough to even read a short book. Depends on what they are used to. The ones that like games and books are easier for me. The others just want video games and movies all the time. To me that is not as healthy but they screech if they aren't allowed and I've finally decided I'm not a mama, I'm a grandma and I tend to give them what they want, within reason, even though I don't necessarily like it. :dizzy: I can't stand the screeching. The ones who do that are getting better though as they are learning, I don't respond well to it. I tell them screaming doesn't do any good, it gets your nothing except maybe bed. If you talk, I will respond right away and try to please, help you if I can. See I don't want to be a mother and have to discipline, but yet I can't stand somethings so can't just be a doting grandma either! :dizzy: About the dishes, I completely understand...I used to always prefer to do my dishes in the morning. Sometimes I still do if there are not too many, but dh doesn't like it if there are dishes in the sink esp on both sides. So now I usually fill the dishwasher and turn it on before bed. I unload it in the morning or gradually throughout the day when I need something. Occasionally dh or our son even unload it. But I say as long as your dh is not against it, do what is easier for you. Esp if you have less pain and more energy in the morning. I say, it's only dishes...not a big deal..LOL that's what I've always told my dh. :D

Mary So glad you enjoyed time with family. Sorry you are achy, hope today is better.

My DH is like yours, he can't stand the kitchen to be messy and when I used to leave dishes in the sink, he would do them. Now that he has taken over the kitchen, he can suit himself and he NEVER leaves them.

We just got the Five Guys restaurant not so far away. DIL loves there, but I dreaded going because I don't like hamburgers much. Good to know your good luck with the grilled veggies there.

Gayle really amazing how we can adapt as you have with this new diet requiring so much preperation, and a struggle to change. Proud of u!!!

Carol Sue you mentioned stuffed cabbage rolls. DH absolutely will eat those for days on end so we always make a huge amount. Seem to get better with sitting and reheating doesn't hurt them a bit. We really need to make some soon.

We drive over an hour to the Art Gallery were DD has some of her paintings. The award ceremony is at 3:00 PM and we want to eat the Father's Day Dinner at the fantastic restaurant that is next door. Was hopping our youngest daughter could come too as she is also an artist. She woke with severe Migraine and won't be able to drive up to join us.

She has the most stressful job of working to gain funding for 20 mentally challenged people that she know so well from her frequent visits with each one. She is very protective of her people, actually clients, but much closer than that for her.

May each of you enjoy Father's Day and the first day of Summer.

Sandy

We have 5 Guys near us but have never gone there. DH more likes family style sit-down restaurants with a more varied menu. Some day we will try it.

Right now we are on a search to find out if a pet store in town has the dog food that Rusty likes. We have to go to Petsmart for it and that's too far to run every time he needs food, it's in a congested area. We have tried 2 other foods and he won't eat them, so we will give him what he likes. It says online that this pet store in town has it, but I thought I looked there one time and didn't see it. I hope they have it. It will save us a lot of traveling. I have a DH who is a picky eater and also a dog who is a picky eater. All of our dogs have been picky eaters. My step-son buys quality food for his dog, but when he's at our house he will gobble down any dog food we have here. Son doesn't like that, but that's how grandma's treat their granddogs. LOL Just like feeding sweets to the grand kids.

Sandy, my younger brother was mentally challenged and it was very hard to find people like your daughter who loved and cared for them just the way they are. Bless her.

The kids just left. We had a BBQ after church. It was fun even though I was kind of too tired. The kids brought meat and drinks and I got potato salad and beans, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon and apple pie. Dh bought some BBQ short ribs. They didn't look like short ribs to me but that's what he said they called them. They were like thinly sliced steak. Our son grilled beef and pork kabobs with shrimp (not for me), pineapple, and red peppers.
Joe received a back brace and a heating pad for his back, plus a GC for one of his favorite sports stores. His lawn mower was his gift from me. My washer was my Mother's Day gift. :D

Carol Sue - You can buy dog food online...some sites you can even have it auto shipped to you so you don't run out. You might find his brand. Picky people, people dogs ..whats the world coming too..

I'm too tired to type more...hope you all had a nice Father's Day.

Good evening GG's,

It has been a nice quiet day here today. I did some puttery stuff ~ mopped the bathroom floors and washed the bathroom rugs. Tomorow, maybe I can enlist Maddie's help ~ put her up on the counter to reach the high up part of the bathroom mirrors that I can't reach without a small ladder.

DH helped me order some things from Amazon, to help me with the food prep ~ things that will help there to not be so much strain on my joints. Electric can opener, knife sharpener, that cuisinart mini food chopper and a gizmo to help open ring top cans ~ have arrived. Awaiting a right angle knife (handle is at a right angle to the blade ~ supposed to be able to cut things with your wrist in a better ergonomic position to prevent strain/stress on the joint).

Cooked up another pot of the kale and white bean soup. We did grocery shopping on Saturday ~ I think I am getting the hang of how much to buy and what and when to fix things, so that it doesn't seem as overwhelming as it did at first.

We had heavy rain, thunder and lightening and high winds on Saturday. On our way home from shopping, the one road had many trees down along the right lane of the road ~ both north and south bound. It was passable, but cars had to kind of weave in and out going slowly. Thank goodness when we got home we didn't find a tree on our house.

Mary ~ sounds like your family had a nice time celebrating Father's day. Glad you all enjoyed. Hope you can rest now.

Carol Sue ~ Hope you can find the dog food you need for Rusty at a place closer to you.

Sandy ~ Your day sounds like it will be nice. The art show then the restaurant you all enjoy. Sorry your one daughter wasn't able to attend.

Gonna relax a bit now. Maddie's back tomorrow. I think with my food prep, I am better set for her.

Hope you all rest well and with less pain.

Looks as if we all had a lot of activity. Some with people, or weather, or pets, and always with food.

Gayle, You will really enjoy those special appliances to make your preparations easy. I really appreciate the jar opener!

The heavy winds and blown down trees make driving an adventure we can do without. Glad your trees at home stayed where they belong.

Pat had such a good time at the Art Gallery Reception with other artists talking about what they are so enthusiastic about. She was on her feet for hours and smiling and so happy. She loves talking about art, her kind or the kind she has never tried. She looked fantastic. Pink sleeveless flowing top over her slim black pants with chunky necklace, bracelett and earrings. She has great posture and looked even taller than her slim 5'4".

DH and I enjoyed seeing her have such fun, the places to sit were most appreciated but we had a good 3 hours standing, total. Left the house at 8 for Mass, then drove home, and later to Gallery, and got home 12 hours later at 8:00 PM Was so glad it was the longest day of the year and daylight for all the driving which was my job all day.

Carol Sue Finding the proper food for Rusty is a problem. Sure hope the local store has it or is willing too order it for you. Funny that your son's dog will eat whatever at your home. Grandma's privilege, right?

Mary, Family events are fun, but I agree also exhausting. Were you too tired to sleep last night?

I was too wound up and it was 1:30am before I finally could fall asleep. Sure am grateful to be retired and able to sleep in today.

Sandy

I got up at my usual time (about 9 am) but dh said it was too late to go to the gym. It's the same time as usual but I guess because of the summer type weather he wants to do things around here instead. So doesn't look like we'll be going to the gym much until fall cause I am not willing to give up my sleeping in. Funny thing is he just sets up the sprinkler and then goes to sleep in his recliner til I get up. :) I plan to use my walking tape today and also ride my bike. I also have weights so I could really do most everything right here. It's just laziness or fatigue that keeps me from it usually.

Sandy - Yes I was exhausted last night...not just the BBQ but I didn't sleep well the night before..MAYBE 4 hours...not enough. But I did sleep well last night and only got up once. Glad you got to go to the art gallery. Your dd sounds lovely. I am sure you are very proud of her. Glad you could sleep in after your long day.

Gayle - Glad you found the things to help you in the kitchen. Your joint issues are probably another reason all that chopping is hard on you...I'm sorry I never thought of that. I'm fortunate not to have that kind of pain. The doctor thinks I have arthritis in my rt hip and the other doc said I might have it in my left knee but otherwise I don't think I have any. At 72 I know a lot of people have more problem that way. Anyway glad things are getting easier with the cooking. Our son and dh did the cooking yesterday...that sure helps but still the standing and walking taking things out and bringing them in wears me out even now, even though I enjoy having the kids here. I did have a little help with that too though. I used paper plates this time thinking I was saving time but then realized I had to rinse each one off for recycling so really didn't make much difference! :dizzy:

Dh is hanging my new shade today. I'm waiting for him to call for my help.
We are planning another trip and were so pleased to learn this am that we can get a room an a nearby (to our destination) AF Base. That will save us a lot of dollars. Don't want to talk about where and when here, will share that later privately but were so happy to hear that I wanted to share it now.;) Praying the day we leave I won't be hurting.

Carol Sue how are you...hey that rhymes!!:D Did you find the right dog food?

Mary, I found the dog food online but most places want $6.99 shipping for a $15 bag of dog food. When we first got him I checked the pet store in town and didn't see it, but didn't ask. We went there yesterday and asked. They said they have more dog food on the other side of the store because they ran out of room. Such poor store management! They had it, but were out of a lot of the flavors and only had 1 bag of the one we wanted. It almost looked like they are going to stop carrying it. If so, I found another place that has it. It's 20 miles from us, but we go by there every couple weeks so it wouldn't be out of our way. Tomorrow, Rusty has a vet appointment so I will see if the vet carries it. They are not listed online as one of the places that have it. He still isn't eating as much as usual. Maybe because DH keeps feeding him deli turkey.

I also think that so many other people have worse problems than I do and I should be thankful it's not worse.

Love2garden, my step son is very strict with his dog because he wants him kept lean for hunting. He does not allow anyone to give him any human food. The only exception was when John was a baby, after they took him out of the highchair Jag would eat all the food that had dropped into the seat. LOL Anytime anything hits the floor the dog scarfs it up before anyone can stop him.

Gayle, I always have to give jars to DH to open for me. Have never found anything that helps. If something happens to him I will have to quit buying jars. Let me know how your gizmo works.

Carol Sue ~ I have a thing for opening jars ~ it has worked pretty well for me. Here is a picture of it ~ it works on several sizes of jars. I can't remember where I got it ~ maybe Walmart?

Gayle, I have one of them. I got it at Goodwill. It didn't help me, but maybe I'm not using it correctly. I try so many things. I have those rubber things that grip the jar. My mother used to run hot water over the lid and tap on the lid with a knife. I have tried those things and occasionally they will work. I get so frustrated that sometimes I just want to smash the jar with a hammer. LOL

This morning I was still half asleep when I heard a woman talking on the radio. I'm not sure what the subject was, but she said that a lower calorie vegetable based diet promotes longevity.

Today, Rusty goes to the vet. I can't wait to see how he acts around other people such as other customers and also the vet and vet techs. He mostly doesn't like men. The vet we used to go to for Pupper was a woman, but when we called the same place for this appointment they said it was "Dr Davis" and I didn't ask if it was a man or woman. DR Bendix owns the clinic but other vets work for him and they come and go. I hope he behaves. We mostly want them to check his incision from being neutered and get his name on record in case we need them in an emergency. They don't like to take emergencies unless the animal is a patient on record with them. There is a 24HR emergency vet in the next town but they are very expensive. Like going to the ER instead of the doctor.

Yesterday we took Rusty to the store. I went into the store and DH stayed in the car with Rusty. He just looked out the window watching people go by, didn't bark at anyone, but might have if they approached him. He had been in a house that was over-run with dogs and I don't think he's accustomed to people.

Mary, I ate a half cup of lentils at lunch time yesterday and before dinner my blood sugar was 95. It hasn't been below 130 in months. I can't say it was the lentils, but that was all I had for lunch and they didn't raise my blood sugar. It could also have dropped because I didn't eat anything else.

A restless night, some pain but mostly just couldn't sleep. Got up and decluttered the bathroom shelves at 2 am, back to bed at 3 and finally fell into an off and on sleep sometime after 4 am. I'm still tired, but trying to get going. Need to figure out what to get my gd for her birthday. Her birthday is today but her party is the 27th. May try to call her at some point today when dh is home. She isn't real responsive but still might think it's fun. She isn't really talking yet, mostly just makes sounds, but knows what she wants and lets you know. They are testing her and may put her in a special education class like her brother.

Last night we went to a restaurant we thought was new to us. As we got close, dh started thinking we'd been there but couldn't remember whether we liked it or not. Turned out to be like a Panda Express. The food was ok, but not great, we probably won't go back. I'm sick of Chinese, Mexican, hamburgers ...I yearn for a place that serves good healthy food that is tasty but light, not so much fat or sodium. There don't seem to be many restaurants like that. I also do not want to have to eat salad every time I eat out.

I have trouble opening jars too but think in my case it is simply that I'm so weak. Glad dh still has a lot of strength. Fortunately I don't buy much in jars...peanut butter and occasionally peaches and pickles...that's about it. Do have lots of condiments in bottles but they are usually easier to open.

Almost too sleepy to type...going to try to exercise..maybe it will wake me up...more likely make me want to take a nap. LOL

Mary Sympathy offered for sleepless night. Sometimes I wonder if we still have "cycles" of weeks of energy and a week of restless no energy. Last week I was so pleased with how much I moved, accomplished lots and we had so many days going places.

Today, inspite of walking the furthest distance this morning (in couple years) I have not been able to do much else. I did sleep well last night, however.

CarolSue Blood sugar good sounds hopeful. I love lentils and am glad to know.

How did Rusty do at the Vet?

Gayle I also have one of those devices but my hands are small and arthritic so jar opening is possible with machine only.

I agree that finding a restaurant that serves healthy food that isn't expensive would be great.

New Panera Bread opens about 12 miles from here on the way to Pharmacy and to Church. DH loves their soups and sourdough bread. He is so pleased. They do have tasty soups.

The wonderful food we had Sunday had a bad side effect. I began itching all over as if ants were crawling over me for hours. Nothing seemed to stop the itching. Finally fell asleep after 2:00 am. Hate to blame the food but can't figure what else it could have been. Perhaps some kind of flavor enhancer like MSG that used to be used so much.

Sandy

Good evening GG's,

Had a nice day yesterday. Grandson Corbin came over to bring some sneakers for his mom ~ she has been running on the treadmill each night when she comes here to pick up Maddie before she goes home. Corbin had worked the early shift (local pizza place) and was bored and also trying to escape their squaking parrot. So, he decided to stay with us and visit until his mom got there. He started out standing up, then sat on the floor, then layed down on the floor ~ eyes getting heavy. Then he switched to the recliner and was a goner. He slept right through mama running on the treadmill. While he was awake, we had a nice visit. Being a busy kid ~ school (he will be a senior when school resumes in the fall) and working part time ~ picking up even more hours during the summer, we don't get to see him very often any more. I secretly loved it when he didn't have his drivers license yet and needed me to take him to work. I knew that wouldn't last though. He is such a nice kid ~ just awesome (I can't help it, I'm biased) LOL.

Been fighting a headache all day. I haven't had one in a while. I think it is because I bought some reading glasses yesterday ~ the ones I had broke and I can't see to read without them ~ and I got the wrong strength. I finally got a new prescription from the eye doctor, but need to pick out a frame. I have looked at one place and made notes, but haven't had a chance to go to a couple other places. Will do that on Thursday when grandpa and Maddie are seeing the weekly $1 family movie. Then hopefully decide soon so I can get my regular glasses back.

Sandy ~ I think you might be right ~ that we have some kind of cycle that affects our energy and sleep too. I have times ~ seems to happen like a cycle where I don't sleep well, then will go a while and sleep ok. I have read that sleep and other things are affected by the phases of the moon. Sorry you got the itches after your meal and that you weren't able to get to sleep until late. Hope that passes soon.

Mary ~ sorry that you also were not able to sleep well. Hope you are able to find some places to eat that will have more of what you have a taste for. Were you able to maybe take a nap and get refreshed a little?

Carol Sue ~ How did Rusty do at the vet? Glad you were able to find a closer place to get his food.

Well, almost time to start fixing DH's supper. Hope you all have had a nice day and praying for a good nights rest for you all.

When we first got to the vet's office, I got out of the car and started walking toward the building while DH got Rusty out of the back seat. He had his leash on. Then I heard DH yell "Carol" and turned to see DH chasing Rusty across the lawn. This vet is on a major 4 lane highway! I yelled for Rusty to come to mommy and he did, thank God. He was very calm while he was getting examined and I was surprised, but the vet was a woman and so was the tech. He tends to like women more than men. They said he needed a booster shot for distemper and gave it to him, with DH being reluctant. He doesn't even like shots for humans. After we got home, Rusty became very listless and is just lying around, not eating, drinking, etc. We are worried. It's possible that this can be a side effect and he will be OK, but after what happened with Pupper, we're scared. I will call them when they open, but I'm sure they will say it's just temporary, or they will tell me to bring him in and charge me again. I know for a fact that DH will never let him get another shot. By law, he has to have a rabies shot, but the other shots are up to us.

Gayle, I also use those store-bought reading glasses. I have used +2 for a long time. The last time I bought them I coudn't remember the number and I bought +2.5. They are noticeably a little stronger and I have had an occasional headache but didn't make the connection. I remember that you are prone to headaches. I hope you get your new glasses soon and don't have to depend on the readers.

Corbin sounds like a very nice kid. Teen years can be difficult for some but he sounds like he's responsible and dependable.

Love2garden, I too get a lot of all-over itchiness and I blame it on my psoriasis. Sometimes I take a benedryl to help me sleep. I have scratched my leg during the night and caused bleeding, it gets so irritating. Also, sometimes I put hydrocortisone cream on my legs. If you ate out, it's very possible that something in the food caused the itchiness. I hope you feel better now.

Last night I found a very interesting article about exercise that all of you might be interested in reading. It made me want to get on my treadmill for a walk, but it was late, so I didn't. LOL

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercis...lin-fat?page=1

By the way, DH decided that he is going to spray Round Up on the hill behind our house and kill everything rather than weed whack it this year. That means the forget-me-nots and buttercups will be gone. I am OK with this because I know that doing that weed whacking is really hard on him lately. His son would do it, but DH won't let him help. Stubborn. He goes over to his son's house to help him with things all the time, mostly fixing electrical work. He sprayed the hill several years back. It will go down to bare dirt. Then the next year he will get some fast-growing grass seed and scatter it up there. It will take several years before the weeds and overgrowth come back. I asked him to try to leave the forsythia bushes and he said he will if he can avoid spraying them. It looks so pretty in the spring but so terrible once summer comes, and keeping it cut down keeps the groundhogs away. Let them live in the neighbors yard.

Rusty is starting to get back to normal.

Carol Sue ~ so glad Rusty is getting back to his old self. I wonder if he got a scare when he was on the run ~ and scared because he sensed you guys were scared. So glad he listened to you and didn't get out in that traffic.

We went to the gym today finally. I walked the track ten min, arm bike six min, and three weight weight machines. I forgot to watch the time, and ended up waiting a few min for dh to finish the track. He says he walked 30 min
so perhaps I quit a little too soon again. I was tired though. Then I went to Target to get a gift for my youngest gd. Wanted a Little Pony...but they are changing them and I didn't like what I saw so just got a real little one and also got her a Barbie. She likes to comb their hair mostly. Then we went to get gas at Costco but didn't shop there, and stopped at Winco for a few groceries. Dh went in and I sat in the car because I was so tired and I think I dozed off for just bit. I slept about 7 hours (interrupted but still good for me), last night but I don't think it made up for the previous nights with so little and I'm very tired. I am very thankful though that my legs do not hurt badly so far today.

Funny thing I did yesterday and just realized this am...yesterday before lunch I had a very very good bs..85!! That's the lowest I've ever been. Couldn't figure out how it happened. Well this morning I realized that I had taken one of my dinner med along with my am meds yesterday! Just caught it today. Then last night I guess I took it again as it was in both trays...am and pm. I've corrected it so won't do again but it sure helped. I remember my previous doctor saying I am taking a low dose of that one, so don't think it would hurt to take it twice a day. I'll mention it my current doctor next time.
I wish I'd taken my bs this am but I forgot. Very curious what it would have been.

We got our new bedroom shade up the other day...think I forgot to mention. It looks really nice. It's an odd color...not quite a gray, not quite a brown but somewhere between. I think it's perfect for our bedroom, so glad I finally got replaced the old one.

Carol Sue - Glad Rusty obeyed you! If Halo doesn't get too far, she will usually obey and come back, but if she gets across the street and on, she just ignores me. Glad he is getting back to his old self again. I don't think Halo even knew when she got her shots, she was just so pleased with all the attention from the vet. I also think there was a treat involved if I remember correctly;) She'll do most anything for food.

Carol, when dh sprayed Round Up, I thought maybe it made Halo ill. Not sure but she threw up a few times during the next day or two. Could have gotten into something else, but made me wonder. He didn't spray it on the grass but still she may have gotten into it. She tends to have a sensitive tummy.

Sandy - Is the itchiness gone. Sorry you had to pay for your good food that way! MSG does cause trouble to some. I have a two red spots (bites?) on my lower lt leg that itch like crazy! I'm not out a lot but did go out and pull some weeds the other day,...that time of year I guess.

I am behind on so much this week...need to get to it..

Mary Good that you got some exercise and even better improved sleep.
Funny mixup on meds, glad it wasn't a real problem. Shade sounds good, and so necessary in a bedroom

Yes the itchiness is gone but I'll be sure to ask if they use MSG next time. The red spots that itch sound like some I got one evening outside. Some people do no attract mosquitos but I must. Hate to go out even with long pants when it gets toward evening.

Carol Sue How scary about Rusty, and thank God he obeyed you. Hope he is ok now.

Gayle How is the headache now? What can you take to help the headache pain? I simply take tylenol, but after my periods stopped, I rarely get those migraines that NOTHING helped. Had to sleep them off between throwing up and diarrhea. Really a problem when our kids were babies and I was only one taking care of them. We survived.

Today's massage also included a special massage for my jaw that is hurting, possibly TMJ but seems strange to hit at this stage of life. She did a great job helping that area relax and no pain right now. We'll see after I eat supper, but hopefully.

Went shoe shopping, but only pair that "almost" fit, cut into my ankle so they stayed at the store.

Watered pots, front after I got home. We've had rain, but not enough.

Sandy

Love2garden, be careful about that jaw pain. That was my only symptom when I needed my open heart surgery.

Mary, Rusty doesn't go on the hill where DH sprayed the Round Up. His tie-out won't reach that far. We don't know if the Round Up is going to work because he used it in a sprayer that attaches to the hose. That makes it easier to spray, but the water dilutes it. The weeds look a little wilted but don't know if they will die. Also, it might rain tonight which will wash it off. I can't remember how he sprayed it last time.

This morning when I let Rusty out I saw something in the yard that looked like a turtle. I called to DH and he came out and it WAS a turtle. I had DH move it over to a flower bed so Rusty wouldn't get near it. DH came back out about 10 minutes later to take a picture of it but it was gone. So don't let anyone tell you that turtles are slow. We looked everywhere. The only place it could have gone was onto the hill where the high weeds are.

Carol Sue Round up takes a while to fully destroy weeds. When I sprayed some vines it was day 4 before they totally died.

Scary to think that jaw pain was your only symptom. How long did you have it before going to doctor?

I planned to go to Dentist when he returns from the beach after the 4th to see what the 'bite Wing x rays" show. He can make a device that I can wear at night to protect my teeth at least.

Symptoms of TMJ seem to fit when I went to the Mayo Clinic site, and the massage did ease it some. Still, scary to think of the alternate you experienced.

Babysitting this am. Got about five hrs sleep but feel ok. The kids brought their own bacon, so dh wanted to make pancakes for them as they usually want them. Didn't have enough pancake mix. I made some from scratch for them. Only one kid wanted pancakes and he didn't eat them.:?: LOL That's the way it goes sometimes.

Except for the kids, nothing much going on. Going to try and get some housework done.

Love2garden, I had heard that jaw pain could be a heart symptom. The first time I didn't get in to see the doctor for a couple weeks. That time I just needed a stent. The second time I went to the ER. After 5 days of testing they decided I needed cardiac bypass surgery. I have never had a heart attack or typical heart pain...chest pain, arm pain, etc. Just the jaw pain and fatigue, and just not feeling well.

Mary, that's the thing about kids. They sometimes can't decide what they want to eat.

I went for bloodwork today for both my cardiologist and my PCP, so now I wait to hear the results.

Good evening GG's,

Ran some errands while grandpa and Maddie went to the $1 family movie. I was looking at a couple places for a glasses frame I liked. Now I have to narrow it down and see which place has the best deal on them.

Had PT this afternoon. Not as sore as I was when I came home from it on Monday. It is helping I think ~ that sciatic pain doesn't seem to come as often and when it does, doesn't seem to last as long. Thanking the Lord.

Thunder, lightening and heavy rains late this afternoon. There was one lightening that almost seemed like it was right outside the kitchen window. Maddie said it made her feel like her arm tingled. I was making supper ~ I stopped because Maddie was in need of a lap to crawl up into.

Got a text from my friend, poor lady and her husband were in a car accident. Her husband just had a scraped knee, but the car that hit them hit right on her door. They took them to the ER and checked them out. She didn't have anything broken, but is hurting pretty badly. She was already hurting ~ has had back surgeries that have not relieved the pain ~ it keeps getting worse so that she has to ride in a wheel chair sometimes, because it hurts too much to walk. So now she is hurting even more. I feel so bad for her ~ she called me when she got home to let me know how she was and ask for prayers. You could tell she was almost ready to cry. Poor lady.

Carol Sue ~ hope you get a good report on your lab work. How is Rusty ~ has he gotten back to his old self? About turtles moving faster than we think ~ When Maddie was little, I took her for a ride in the stroller. We went to this little pond in the neighborhood. There were turtles up on the grass ~ sunning themselves. I thought we would roll on over there and see them ~ we never got anywhere near them ~ they saw us coming and took off running and got back in the water. Those turtles sure weren't slow. :dizzy:

Mary ~ when you have your grandchildren, are they with you all day? Maddie is like that with food sometimes. She will say she wants something, then just eat part of it. She likes these little taquito things ~ she has been liking that every day. Yesterday, she said she didn't like that one ~ it was too spicey. Came from the same box. Before this diet, we just ate what she didn't want, but now it goes to waste. :(

Sandy ~ glad that massage helped you to relax and feel better. Hope that your jaw pain is not like Carol Sue's was. I had headaches like you described ~ when my kids were little and sometimes nothing would help them. They too kind of went away when I hit menopause. The ones I have now I think are allergy (from things outdoors) or the atmospheric pressure. I take one plain Tylenol and one that has the caffeine in it. If I catch it right when it starts ~ that usually takes care of it. If I wait, then it doesn't always go away. Even then ~ these aren't anything like the ones I had when the kids were little.

Almost bed time. Hope you all can rest well tonight.

Before I post anything, I want to say that my PC was acting up again this morning, so if I disappear, that's why. DH is going to call the guy and see if there's a warranty on the repairs he did, but he's really leaning toward getting a new one.

Gayle, I will pray for your friend, that she gets some relief soon. Poor lady. Hopefully the pain from the accident is just sprains and will go away in time.

When we are going somewhere, I am constantly telling DH to look out for that car, or this car and he always says, "If they hit me it's their fault." but he is not taking into consideration that no matter who caused the accident, injuries can last a long time. I guess I'm a back-seat driver, but sitting in the passenger seat.

My elbow and arm have been hurting pretty bad lately and I might have to get another injection when I go to the doctor. It's funny, but during the night I noticed that it was hurting less and less. I thought I was just holding it in a good position for no pain, but this morning it's great. Just a bit of pain. The pain depends on how I move my arm. I quit taking anything for it, as my cardiologist warns me against most OTC pain meds.

The only thing I did different was take a Kelp capsule. I won't know what my thyroid is doing until I see the doctor about my labs, but sometimes I feel better when I take the Kelp because it contains iodine. I don't see any connection to the elbow pain, though.

Everyone have a nice day and a good weekend, in case my PC crashes and I don't get back here.

Rough night...slept one hour then woke up in bad pain in my right foot and lower leg. Took some ASA Back & Body but couldn't get back to sleep...finally thought well I'm just going to sleep in so took some Benedry about 4 am...still couldn't sleep...finally dropped off after 7 am and slept til 9:30, but lay in bed til about 10:30. My legs are still hurting but not as bad. I haven't taken anymore meds. Don't like to take it so often. I was asked to babysit...and turned them down at least for now. Won't be surprised if they don't ask again later. Will see how I am then. Dh says he'll help but he gets tired or busy with something and doesn't watch them, plus they come to me for most things. I feel bad saying no but think I did the right thing. It wouldn't be good for me or them right now.

I've been eating too much again and my weight has jumped up to 168.5 again....just go up and down. Trying to be more careful today. Funny thing, my bs is better. :?:

My house is a mess...need to get to it today as we will have the kids here tomorrow and I hate a dirty house even if it's just my kids.

No time for personals, sorry. Hope you all have a good day!