Where DOES The Time Go?

I guess the saying is true...time flies when you're having fun (and as busy as a little bee!!) Who knew that in all of my fun, that my poor blog would be the one to pay the price. I know!! I know!! I still spend an awful lot of time on facebook, (farmville is my newest gaming addiction) keeping up with my day-to-day things, so why can't I come here to do the same? Maybe because my lack of time to scrap, and this blog's reminder of my passion being put to the side as other things have taken it's place.

For one, I've really started taking an interest in my health. Researching low glycemic foods, foods to lower blood pressure, and studying the effects different foods have on my body. In the past 3 years, I've gone from a size 20/22 to a size 10!! (It's amazing how just changing your diet the weight falls off...very happy about the results) In the past 6 months, I've incorporated an exercise routine, and even joined the YMCA. (My arthritis isn't hurting me nearly as much as before.) And did I mention I'm now incorporating MORE vegetarian means? (Gave up red meat & pork, but still eat fish, poultry and dairy) Eventually I may go total vegan, but for now, I'm happy.

Then there was a change in our family dynamic...my youngest son moved back home from Michigan this past February. It's been WONDERFUL having him back here...but now he's ready to move back to Michigan to be with his fiance', Felicia. (Our family got to meet her this past Christmas, and we just LOVE her.) It's been a bit cramped in this tiny house, but we managed just fine.

I've started spending time with my pastor's wive's father twice a week. (To give the family a little rest.) He'll be 99 in November and just the sweetest man you'll ever meet. Once upon a time he was a checker champion, so we spend a LOT of time over a game of checkers. (His philosophy is if you can win at checkers, you can win at anything life throws at you.) Once a week, he still gets on his tractor to cut the grass (even if now some of the rose bushes suffer from his deteriorating sight ::grins:) Smart as a whip, amazing sense of humor and loves the Lord. Just a delightful blessing to be around...and I consider myself blessed just knowing him.

My jewelry sales are up. I've sold quite a few pieces to several ladies at church, and even more at one of the local hair salons. Nothing that is considered a steady income, but enough to keep gas in the car (and these days, who could complain about THAT?!?)

And finally, after my success with the tomatoes last summer, I took the plunge to add MORE veggies to my gardening this year. (3 types of tomatoes, yellow sweet peppers) And then there are the flowers... (4 hydrangeas, 4 spider plants, 3 wild rose bushes, 1 schefflera plant & 1 fuschia plant.)

Of course, these are only the highlights...however, my time is up and I'm about to rush out the door.

A New Lifestyle...

Those of you that have known me forever know how long I have struggled with my weight and eating habits. I've never been one to eat breakfast, and most days (when I'd run errands) I'd skip lunch too and just have a really big dinner or have a late lunch and a late dinner. Sadly, the years of my poor eating habits combined with hereditary health problems, have taken their toil and have forced me to where I am now.

Being on a strict diet really isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'm still able to eat a lot of foods that I love, I just have to carefully measure everything and refrain from seconds. Still, it's manageable. I have already eaten breakfast and lunch and still have dinner and two snacks to go, so I'm not hungry at all right now. However, the hard thing for me is avoiding sweets. I'm addicted to sugar. At this very moment, there is a pecan pie, and two cream cheese coffee cakes sitting on my kitchen table screaming my name. I really really really want a piece, but know if I do, it could result in my sugar going to high again and another trip to the hospital...which I will avoid at all costs. It's not that I didn't have good care while there, but it was kinda lonely, and there wasn't internet connection. *giggles*

The doctor and dietitian both told me to keep a chart of my blood pressure, my blood sugar and my meals for each day. I didn't do it last night, because I was still learning how to use my blood sugar monitor, but have kept up with everything since I woke at 5:30am this morning. This is a sample of what my health journal looks like:

SATURDAY - Feb 15th, 2009

5:30AM - STATS

• BP - 129/81
• HB - 81
• Sugar - 212

6:00AM - Breakfast

• 1/4 c cottage cheese
• 2 mini banana nut muffins
• 1 1/4 c strawberries
• 1 c 2% milk (suppose to have skim, but not been to store yet)
• 2 Tbsp cream cheese (suppose to be fat free, will get at store soon)
• 8oz water

6:30AM - Medications

• 1 Omeprazole {generic for Prilosec OTC} Pill (Acid Reflux)
• 1 Metformin {generic for Glucophage} Pill (Sugar)

11:45AM - STATS

• BP - 92/68 (checked 3x's to verify top number)
• HB - 71
• Sugar - 257

12:20PM - Lunch

• 1/4 c tuna fish
• 1/2 lettuce leaf
• 6 grape tomatoes
• 1/2 c broccoli
• 1 c Raspberry Fat Free Yogurt
• 1/2 Ruby Red Grapefruit
• 8oz water

It's very weird for me to eat so much for breakfast and lunch. I'm far from hungry right now, but should have eaten a snack an hour ago, dinner around 6pm and then another snack about 9pm before bedtime. OH YEAH...that's something else...my sleeping schedule. I've never been one to have a normal bedtime. I would just sleep when the urge hit, or wouldn't sleep at all. Now I have to force myself to get in bed by 10-11pm, so that I can try to get between 7-8 hours sleep each night to promote a healthier lifestyle. It kinda didn't happen the last 2 night, cause I had been taking naps throughout the day for the past 3 days. So I'm making it my first goal for this week to stay awake during the daytime hours so that I can sleep at night.

My mind feels back to normal again, but my strength is taking it's time. I want to be up cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming the floors, doing laundry, working in my bathroom...but I'm soooo tired. Just getting up and walking to the bathroom, or fixing my meals exhausts me to the point I have lie down. I told Tommy I'm gonna clean the kitchen today, but he said not to worry over it and it would get done whenever...but just knowing the dishes are piled in the sink is making me crazy.