Wake Up, Sleepyhead!

If the thought of this for breakfast doesn't excite you enough to get out of bed then I don't know what will!
I've never been a huge fan of oatmeal. With my new health quest I wanted something healthy and easy for breakfast and one recipe that fits the bill is oatmeal. Not just any oatmeal, but steel cut oatmeal. Steel cut oatmeal is minimally processed and has a much different texture than quick oats. It is chewy, much like brown rice, and tastes a bit nutty. It does take longer to cook (about 30 minutes) but besides stirring a couple times you do not need to hover near the stove top as it cooks.

I made 4 servings (which is 4 cups of water and 1 cup of uncooked oatmeal). Becca and I had a bowl each and there was enough for me to put a bowl of leftovers away for another time.

I added walnuts, real maple syrup (a bit goes a long way), and sliced bananas. It was heaven in a bowl and I was full all morning. There are so many possibilities. You could add honey, raisins, pecans, apples, dried fruit, or whatever your heart desires.

I had the leftovers for lunch yesterday. I added a couple splashes of milk, stirred, and microwaved for about two minutes (stirring once between). I again added the walnuts, maple syrup, and banana. It was even better the second day! I wonder if I could ever tire of this deliciousness?!

What is your favorite oatmeal combination?

Tuesday's Topic

On the radio today I heard that our state is trying to pass a bill to make it illegal (with big fines) for organizations such as PETA to taken hidden footage in livestock areas.

It was said that these videos do a disservice to farmers. That most of the videos are edited and "staged". Someone went as far as to say that these PETA workers coming in with hidden cameras are a risk to the animals and may spread disease going from farm to farm.

I could say a lot about this but want to hear your comments. Is the government trying to slide another issue under the rug instead of fixing the problem? Is PETA making a mountain out of a molehill?

Back on Track

I've turned over a new leaf this past weekend food wise. I'm getting back to real food (i.e. not from a box or drive thru) and trying for a goal of 60% raw...though that is going to take time. My husband isn't up for too much of a change (yet!) so much of our suppers will be more normal fairs with my food experiments being for lunch and breakfast.

I loaded up on healthy food at Super Target and have a stocked fridge and pantry for this coming week.

Saturday night I made BBQ chicken breasts, loaded baby red mashed potatoes, and broccoli salad.
The broccoli salad was a new recipe and delicious! We are big broccoli fans in this house and I had just found a huge bunch of organic broccoli at Target for $2.99 so it was the perfect day to make this dish. I can see myself eating this dish for a light lunch many times a week and it makes a perfect side dish! My husband didn't sound too thrilled when I mentioned having broccoli salad but even he went back for seconds.
Broccoli Salad
1 1/2 c. fresh broccoli
3/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 c. finely chopped onion
3 T. mayo
2T. white vinegar
1 T. sugar

Mix first 4 ingredients in large bowl. Whisk last three ingredients together in small bowl and pour over ingredients in large bowl. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

I've been feeling better this weekend. Not exactly more energetic but less bogged down. I'm hoping I see more of an improvement everyday as I continue my healthier eating.

This morning I had a green smoothie and some Greek yogurt. For lunch I had a lunch date with one of my cousins but we chose the healthiest option in town: Subway. I loaded up on veggies on the sub and had half for lunch and half for supper. I also snacked on fruit, drank lemon water, and had tea. I had the leftovers of the broccoli salad as well (and it tastes better the second day!).

Two days in and I'm feeling better?! Can't wait to see how I feel later this week! :)

Tired

I decided to take all the children along to Jacob's chemo appointment today. After all, it was just the Vincristine that he was receiving, which take less than a minute to administer. Even with waiting for doctors and nurses and labs I assumed we would be out of there in about an hour or so. I was wrong.

First it took two full hours to meet with the doctors, have labs drawn, and finally receive the Vincristine. Just as the nurse was finishing the chemo another nurse arrived to tell us that Jacob's Hemoglobin was down to 6.1 and that he would need a transfusion. Drat!

While they were waiting for the blood to arrive I took the kids down to the cafeteria for some lunch. We arrived at the transfusion room and waited another hour and a half for the pre-meds and blood to arrive. After all was said and done, I spent six hours in a tiny room with three children. Jacob wasn't able to leave the room during his transfusion and he wanted me to stay with him so it was an experience trying to keep everyone entertained. Luckily, there was a television that kept them busy for about five minutes and Child Life did bring in a train set and Barbies to play with. By the time we left the hospital at 4pm (having arrived there at 10am) I was exhausted and still had a two hour drive home ahead of me.

Back home I was blessed by my husband who watched the kids so I could soak in a bubble bath. I am now about ready to head to bed and know I will be asleep soon after my head hits the pillow.

It's not just today that tired me out. I have been exhausted for weeks. If I didn't know any better I would think I am pregnant (which I'm not). I'm just that tired. At my checkup last week I spoke to the doctor about it and he ordered several blood tests, testing for things such as Lupus and other auto-immune disorders. The tests came back fine. The bad thing is that these tests aren't always conclusive, and other disorders (such as Chronic Fatigue) don't even show up on the tests.

I know a lot of it has to do with stress. I've had my fair share of it the past several months. I realized today (actually, I realized it last week at the doctor's office when I stepped on the scale) that my eating habits have become horrible. I've been eating when stressed. Eating too much. Eating the bad stuff. Eating too much fast food and greasy food. Or as I told the doctor: shoving my face full of food.

It has to stop. Or else I need to buy a whole new wardrobe and get an electric scooter just to get around since I am tired. My goal this weekend is to stock up on healthy food and detoxify my system starting tomorrow. Even going full force for a few days should show me if my diet is contributing to my fatigue. I planned a menu and shopping list out this evening and even ran across some delicious looking recipes. If it ends up being a success I shall share the recipes and my story with you all.

But for now I'm off to bed. Did I mention that I'm tired?

Dare We Hope?

Has Spring truly sprung here in the mid-west?! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is here to stay. The past several days have slowly turned our world from white to hints of green.
Today it reached 60 degrees so I opened the windows and let some fresh air in. I hung clothes on the line for the first time this year and breathed in the scent of freshness I took them down and folded them.
The kids did what they love to do and what they missed out on for many, many months. The swing set is always a big hit for the boys.
Becca keeps busy on her bike and working on masterpieces on the sidewalk.
I worked in the garden beds while the kids played. My raised beds need some repairs as some of the wood is rotting. Once we (rather, my husband) gets that fixed I can get to planting some cold weather vegetables, one of the kids favorites being radishes. Because of having a raised bed the soil thaws much quicker than the ground and stays warmer than ground level soil so I am able to start planting earlier than normally.
We've been enjoying walks, sunshine on our faces, and peaceful days that feel *normal*. What more could one ask for?!

Tuesday's Topic: Celebrities

Hearing about celebrities spiraling out of control (such as Charlie Sheen) brings up the question of if fame and fortune is to blame or if this type of behavior is prevalent in all of society but only brought to light more often in celebrities. Can anyone in the spotlight live a "normal" or "wholesome" life?

Home At Last

Jacob and I arrived home around 2pm on Saturday. How good it is to walk in the door of our house...I always feel my shoulders instantly relax and Jacob perks up and gets back into the mode of playing and being himself. Even with the noise, fighting, and everyday stresses it is much more relaxing being here than at the hospital.

It's odd how quickly our life has changed. Not just the cancer but the whole system of things. Before Jacob's diagnosis I had never been away from Joe overnight (and only away from Becca overnight when I gave birth to her little brothers). Instantly they had to adjust to their mama and brother being gone for 10 whole days after Jacob's surgery, and now several nights out of the month. They have adjusted but it's still strange. In all our years married Ben and I have only been away overnight from each other once when I babysat our niece one night and then only when I've given birth. Again...it's weird. It does make you appreciate all you have at home when you are away from everyone for days at a time.

Jacob is doing well. He has settled back into his routine. No nausea. He's a bit more tired but I think that is due to the cold that he still has. He (and I) are glad to have several days at home. He will be receiving out-patient chemo the next two Fridays and then we will be admitted again on April 1st. Ahhh...to sleep in our own beds for the next several weeks is delicious!