Life List Progress!

I was just looking over my (incomplete) Life List 101, and happily realized I have made a tiny bit of progress on it. It  might not be much, but something's something.

• I have potty trained Mathilda. Yes that was on my Life List. Felt like it would never happen.
• I am now about 75% in the habit of washing my face every night. I'll admit, I still have lazy nights, but I'm doing so much better that I declare it counts as progress.
• I have learned how to crochet a little bit. I haven't done it in ages, so I may have forgotten what I learned - but I'm hoping it's one of those things that comes back to you.
• I believe I'm on two years in a row of enjoying my birthday. 
• We banned the children from watching television for a month last summer. However, we made many exceptions (movie nights, etc.) so I know we can do better. They will be thrilled to know they are in for a repeat this summer!                                                  
• I'm planning a big cross-country road trip with the kids for this summer. Maybe you've noticed that I've mentioned it once or twice?

I'd say I'm doing pretty good. I haven't looked at this list in a good long while, I think I need to refer to it more often. There's one more thing that I'm working on right now, which is that I'm sort of trying out being a vegetarian. Ironically, it was always me saying, "we should be vegetarians, we should be vegetarians," and Chris saying, "no." But then a month or two ago he decided to do it. And I've sort of been following suit. I say sort of because I have still been having a little bit of meat here and there. Today I had some turkey bacon, last week I had a burrito with a little bit of chicken on it. And I want to clearly state that I'm not heading vegan at all. So that means dairy products are still in my diet (and Chris's too). At this point I have no plans of removing the dairy.

Obviously this means I've had some major dietary changes, although I didn't eat all that much eat to begin with. I don't even really miss it at this point. I've been pretty much sticking to one smoothie a day, which gets me at least 3 servings of fruits/veggies in one drink. I've written about my smoothies before, but since then I've tried some different things.

• I'm no longer using the Agave syrup, because it's full of calories and the smoothies are plenty sweet without it. 
• I rarely put milk or any other liquid in them now. 
• Sometimes I use yogurt - Greek or regular, flavored or plain - but not always. 
• I still like frozen berries, but sometimes I mix it up and use fresh.  
• I often add an orange
• I recently started using frozen pineapple (I bought them fresh, cut them up in little chunks, & froze them) and that adds a lot of flavor
• Sometimes I add fresh spinach and/or cucumber
• I usually add 4 ice cubes
• I still usually add a banana

Because I've been trying different things, they're hit or miss. It's kind of tricky getting the right amount of spinach or cucumber. If I get it wrong, the smoothies end up tasting a bit on the sludgy side.Usually they are really, really good though. I've found that it works best (in my Magic Bullet) if I add half of everything - 2 ice cubes, half an orange, half a banana, etc. - mix it up, then add the rest and continue mixing it up. I should maybe try to up it to two a day to make sure I'm getting enough of my fruits and veggies. But I do also try to eat lots of leafy green salads, apples, and whatever other veggies we might have with dinner or whatever.

We've also been eating a lot of beans - something we never ate before. And we often eat meat substitutes, as I've written about before. Some of them are great, some of them are just okay. I've been shocking myself with my willingness to try new foods. And I've been liking most of them. I'm going to try to eat more eggs for protein. Basically I have a long way to go in getting my diet really balanced the way it should be, but I think it's going okay so far. I'm not sure how far I'm going to go with the vegetarianism, but so far so good. Like I said, I don't really miss eating meat at this point. And it might be fine with me to continue having a little big of chicken or whatever a few times a month. I don't feel any more hungry than usual. My skin, however, is in fairly wretched condition. I'm not sure what's going on, but I've read that sometimes people break out for a short time when they take meat out of their diets simply because of the detoxification process. Or it could just be a coincidence.

So anyway, just thought I'd give you all a little update. I think I need to start thinking about the next 50 or so things to add to my Life List!

Do you have a Life List? Have you made a lot of progress on it?

I Think The Universe Is Trying To Teach Me A Lesson

Oh what a week this has been. 

The media had us Michiganders in a panic for days, expecting the blizzard of the century. No wait, The Blizzard of the Century. Schools were being closed and trash pick-ups were being canceled even before the snow started. Grocery stores were running out of milk, cars were crowding gas stations. The snow started Tuesday evening. Judging from my friends' status updates on Facebook, plenty of people were disappointed in the so-called blizzard and thought it was actually pretty lame when all was said and done. That's probably because they weren't out driving in it at 3:30 in the morning. We did get a lot of snow, but things didn't get as nasty as everyone had predicted.


So just as the snow really started coming down, I was feeling really sick and Chris was putting the kids to bed. Suddenly I felt really sick, and I sat up a little bit (I was laying on the couch) to reach for my bowl (I learned my lesson last time I was sick, I wasn't taking any chances of passing out again and finishing off my front teeth). And that's when things got nasty, but not nasty in the way you might be thinking. Instead of throwing up, I got really lightheaded and my hands started getting this tingly-numb feeling and pretty soon I couldn't move them. They were clenched closed so tightly they hurt (a lot!) and I couldn't open them. I started calling for Chris because I was pretty freaked out (that might be putting it mildly...) and the numb-tingly feeling started spreading throughout my whole body. Chris called my mom to come over and then he called 911. 

If you know me, you have to know I had to have been beyond terrified to let Chris call 911 for me. I don't want anyone going to all kinds of trouble for me, not even paramedics who have made a career out of helping people. Because I think that's for other people, people who really need help. Well this time I was one of those other people. And you know what, it's pretty scary being one of those other people.


So the very nice paramedics got to our house (and so did my mom - thank goodness she lives very close) and checked me out & I started feeling a little better. They asked me a bunch of questions and took my vitals and said they were okay and that it would be alright if Chris drove me to the hospital so I could avoid being carried out of the house on a stretcher and scarring my kids for life, and also so we could avoid a massive ambulance bill. They helped me out to the car and Chris drove me to the ER of the major trauma center in our area, figuring it would be the best place to get me whatever care I needed. If you live in metro Detroit you might have an idea what hospital I'm talking about and you might be laughing to yourself about what damn fools we were to choose this particular hospital. I was still feeling extremely sick and made Chris bring a bowl with us, which he was just so happy to carry around the ER. However, I was not about to be seen puking all over the place in public and I was in no condition to be sprinting to a bathroom, or even a waste basket. Sorry Chris. Even though I never needed the bowl, it made me feel better knowing it was there.


Despite the fact that the ER was very quiet that night, this was where the waiting and waiting and waiting portion of the evening began. By the time I saw the doctor my hands were getting better and I could move them with effort. The tingly-numbness was mostly gone. The doctor ordered a urine test, some blood work, and an EKG. I got an IV which helped and I felt okay enough to doze on and off while we waited and waited and waited some more. After the first IV bag was empty, some machine was beeping and beeping and driving us crazy for a long time so Chris went to pester a nurse to do her job, um I mean get someone to help. The nurse came in and saw my blood pressure had dropped to 70-something over 40-something, which, in case you're wondering, is really not very good. So she started up another bag of fluids. And then we waited and waited and waited. And then another nurse came in when the second bag had been empty for awhile and saw that my blood pressure and heart rate were okay and ruthlessly ripped my IV out. Perhaps she thought I was unconscious and wouldn't feel it. But no because then she really confused us and told me to get dressed and she'd be back in a minute with my discharge papers.


Hmmm. Okay. I got dressed and she brought in the papers which read "dizzy spell - cause unknown." And she started telling me drink lots of fluids, don't stand up too quickly, etc. Alright, but why did my whole body go numb and then there's the matter that I couldn't move. Because that's actually why I came to the ER. And actually something very similar happened to me just a couple months ago (when I fainted that time, my hands started to do the same thing) but this time was way worse. And I'm pretty sure we told the doctor all of this, did he not hear us? Was I being confused with another patient? What about my test results? Shouldn't some other tests be done? Was this because we don't have insurance?



Just to clarify, I know and love many nurses (and other medical professionals) and I respect what they do and everyone (except the IV ripper outer) was kind to me. But I do feel that I was blown off. I'm not a person who abuses the ER. I haven't been a patient in the ER in about 3 decades. I didn't ask for drugs. When I was told I had a "dizzy spell" I pretty much lost it. I was totally without shame by this point and so the sobbing began. Because this was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me, and I was (am) so afraid of anything like this ever happening again. Next time could be worse. What if Chris hadn't been home? What if I had been home alone with my little girls? I wouldn't have even been able to get myself off the couch and use my hands to pick up the phone and call 911. This was a maddeningly frustrating experience. And then we got to drive home at 3:30 in the morning, hoping and praying the whole way that our little car wouldn't get stuck in the snow.


So this is what I'm thankful for, because yes I'm going to put a positive spin on this so my friend Angela doesn't give me a hard time for being negative. I'm thankful (so thankful!!) that Chris was home when this happened. I'm thankful the paramedics came quickly. I'm thankful my mom was home when Chris called and lives close so she could come be with my kids. I'm thankful we won't get charged for the paramedics since they didn't transport me. I'm thankful I didn't puke all over the ER. I'm thankful the horrible feeling in my hands eventually went away and I'm now able to move and use my hands almost normally (they are still weak and a little stiff). I'm thankful we made it home safely without needing to call for a tow. I'm thankful Chris was able to get me an appointment with a neurologist on Monday. I'm thankful Chris made all the necessary phone calls because I really (no, really) hate making phone calls. I'm thankful my friend suggested I see her chiropractor husband on Friday and he was so nice and helpful and gave me hope by telling me that my spine is a mess (so maybe my brain is okay??). So now I'm just hoping somebody can tell me something to ensure this never happens again.


Maybe the universe is trying to tell me that I am worthy of being a priority to myself. I got so sick in November and passed out and never even went to the doctor because I'm fine. I'm a healthy person. No one need bother themselves for my sake. I don't have insurance, I'm not about to rack up medical bills. Well okay, I guess the universe was not satisfied with that response. Second warning, loud and clear. Although I'm a person for whom it's an effort to not constantly think of mortality, I now have this sudden clarity that something could happen to me. And that I really do need to take my health seriously. I want to be here for my kids. I have a lot I want to accomplish in my life (have you seen my Life List? And I'm just getting started!). So this is a turning point for me. I will definitely do whatever I need to do to make sure another episode like this never happens again. It's a pretty good motivator. Thank you, universe. 




 

Life List 101 Update

First of all, I've added a page for my Life List, you can see the link for it above (below the blog title and picture). I will update the page when I add new things to my list or accomplish anything on it. 

I've been reading Run Like A Mother, by Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell, to help get  me into the running mindset (so I can accomplish #3 on my list - Run A 5K). I also run in place in my family room while doing the Wii Fit. Stop laughing. I know it's so not like real running, but at least maybe I am beginning to train my lungs not to burst into flames. I'm planning to buy a jogging stroller, hopefully in the next month or so, and my friend Julie told me about a 5K in May that we could maybe do together. 

I have a few additions to my list. After I got through the first 34, I've been finding it more difficult to think of more things I want to add. 

Also, I want to encourage anyone reading this to go ahead and make your own list. Keep it private or tell everyone like I'm doing. But do it for yourself. It's a fun activity to get you excited about your life. (Wait a minute. Am I channeling Dr. Phil?) It'll make you think about what you want to get out of life, because cliche as it is, life is what we make of it. Make it something good.

35. Learn to play the piano. Just a little would be fine. We have this piano sitting in our living room, someone is going to learn how to play the darn thing.
36. Get on a vitamin regiment. Learn about what I should be taking and do it every day. I've been taking calcium supplements for a couple months now, but I know there is more I should be doing. 
37. Transform my bedroom into a restful oasis; a clean, tidy and organized place Chris and I can go to relax. As the only room with a door on our first floor (besides the bathroom), our bedroom is generally the catch-all where we shove everything extraneous anytime we're expecting company. I want it to be beautiful and peaceful instead. 
38. Get in a regular habit of rotating one-on-one time with each of the kids. We don't even have to leave the house, but it would be great if we did at least once a month or so.
39. Organize all of my photos, both digital and print. This is going to be a huge job, and when I'm done with my own, Chris's mom has tons of old pictures in her attic that I'd like to get in new albums. 


That's all I can think of for now, but I will be working on adding more. If you make your own list, I'd love you to share it with me. At least some of it. Please. I'm nosy, but I could also use some inspiration.

They Say It's Your Birthday

Actually Chris's birthday. And it was yesterday. He wanted to stay home all day and just hang around watching movies and stuff. So my mom and his parents came over for pizza and I made cake.

                                                         It looked pretty good in the pan.

While I am unfortunately not much of a cook, I do enjoy baking. Mainly because I love sweets almost to the exclusion of all other foods. So I had a box of chocolate cake mix, but I wanted to do something different with it, so I found this recipe for meringue-swirled chocolate cake on the Betty Crocker website. Well it was my first time making meringue, so let's just say it didn't look so pretty once I took it out of the springform pan. Nor was it quite as intact.

 

                                               This is what an overcooked meringue-swirled chocolate cake looks like.


I followed the directions exactly, but I guess I should have shaved about 10-15 minutes off the baking time. But it tasted good, kind of like a sweet, crunchy cookie coating. I think I'll try this one again another time, and maybe not forget about it until the oven buzzer goes off so that I actually check on it, to, you know, make sure it's not getting ruined.    

The kids put together a little routine for Chris, to the Beatles "Birthday Song". Can I just say I love that my 9-year old daughter has Beatles music on her iPod? We'll just ignore for a moment the rest of the crap she has on there.

 
My own birthday will be here in a couple weeks, and my birthday is always a depressing day for me. This year I resolve to enjoy my birthday. In fact I think I'm going to add that to my Life List - Enjoy My Birthday Every Year. I will prepare myself to have a great day. Okay I have some time to get myself hyped up, I'll do my best.

                                        

Life List: 101 Things I Want to Accomplish In My Life

I've written before about life goals, but I've been inspired by others to expand my list. I'm going to begin with the things on my original list and add to it.

1. Become a foster parent. I've wanted to do this for years. When my kids are a little older, I'd love to provide a safe and loving temporary home for little kids. 
2. Participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day. I think this would be such a great experience, but I need to enlist a friend or two to do it with me and help me raise funds because I really hate asking for money.
3. Run a 5K. Sounds pathetic, I know, but this would be a challenge for me and I really want to do it.  
4. Get LASIK eye surgery. Originally I also had "get contact lenses" on my list, but I did that in 2010. And I hardly wear them because I'm lazy. I'm still glad to have them for those times when I don't want to be wearing glasses. But it would be lovely to lay in bed at night and watch t.v. and not worry if I'm going to wake up laying on a pair of crushed glasses.
5. Live somewhere outside of Michigan. I don't know if I'd ever want to permanently re-locate, but I would like to live someplace outside of the mitten for awhile, preferably someplace where months of endless winter don't suck the life out of me.
6. Scuba dive. This one scares the crap out of me. I don't know if I could overcome my fear of spontaneously combusting from oxygen to the brain or something. (boy, am I my mother's child or what?) But I think it would be totally surreal to get an up-close view of life under the sea. I will at least snorkel. I can totally handle that. I think.
7. Take my kids on a major, life changing trip. My real dream is to take a family round the world trip, like my idols at sixintheworld.com did. They inspire me, as does this family . 
8. Volunteer in a third world country. I'd love if we could do this as a family someday, when the kids are a little older. It'd be great if my youngest was past the eating anything and everything she happens to see on the floor no matter where she is phase.
9. Master sewing. I'd like to be able to follow a pattern and make clothes. I don't quite aspire to be like my friend Hilary who can sew the most amazing things, like turning her husband's dress shirts into the most adorable dresses for her girls, but it would be nice cause I'm totally jealous. 
10. Learn to crochet or knit. I want to do this one this year. I need something to do with my hands while I'm watching t.v. or riding in the car. I just need someone to teach me because I don't think I'm one of those people who can pick it up from watching You Tube tutorials.
11. Go on a zip line. This one scares me too, but I think I could do it. Maybe a little Valium beforehand would do the trick. Kidding. (probably). There's one at the Grand Rapids Zoo, which I know isn't as exciting as zipping through the rain forest, but it might be more my speed.
12. Master French. French was my favorite class in high school, and I started out as a French major in college, but transferring colleges a couple times got my classes screwed up and I switched to Psychology (smart move. not.). I want to speak fluent French and understand it when I go to France someday.
13. Ride a bike again. I haven't ridden a bike since I was about 11 years old. But my aunt is giving me her bike and I'm totally going to ride it this year. I better get a helmet though cause I'm not exactly known for my grace and athleticism. I see family bike rides in my future.
14. Be in decent enough shape that I'm not mortified to be seen in public in a bathing suit. Don't worry, not a bikini (scared you there for a minute, didn't I?), that will never happen without the aid of cosmetic surgery. It's sad that the most comfortable I've been in a bathing suit in the last 10 years was when I was pregnant. Cause then it's cute to have a huge belly.
15. Go on a trip with friends. No kids. That's for Chris whose reading this and thinking, go ahead. You and the kids go ahead and take a trip with friends, what are you waiting for?
16. Go back to Jamaica where we went on our honeymoon. That was the plan for our 10th anniversary, before Chris lost his job and then almost died of a ruptured ulcer. Fun times, 2008.
17. Go to Prince Edward Island and see all the sights from Anne of Green Gables, one of my favorite series of books as a child.
18. Take a family road trip across the entire U.S. As a kid I traveled from Michigan to Arizona and California and back again a few times, but I don't remember much of it. I'm probably nuts but I just think it would be so much fun.
19. Buy a camper. Then we could take it on our cross-country trek. And lots of other places.
20. See the pyramids in Egypt. Maybe I helped build them in a former life because I have wanted to do this for as long as I can remember.
21. Get in the habit of meditating daily. I need this to calm my busy mind.
22. Take a mother/daughter, mother/son trip alone with each of my kids. Even if only for a night or two.
23. Get in the habit of washing my face every night. Again, I'm lazy. I don't wear much make-up though, so it's not totally disgusting. Just a little disgusting.
24. Get braces. The sooner the better.
25. Publish a book.
26. Potty train Mathilda. oh wait, how'd that get on here?
27. Do something fun on New Year's Eve. We need to break our tradition of boring nights in on NYE.
28. See a play on Broadway. 
29. Go back to Arizona and California and see where I lived as a kid.
30. Go cross-country skiing. 
31. Try out being a being a vegetarian for awhile. Not a vegan though. I need my cheese and ice cream, thank you very much.
32. Ban the children from watching television for a set period of time, like a month or three. Notice I didn't mention anything about the parents.
33. Learn to draw. This is another thing my mom can do but somehow never taught me. Maybe it was the poisonous lead...
34. Teach my girls to sew. Well Connor too if he's interested. Which he's not because girls do that. And girls are like so gross. But I'm totally equal opportunity and all. Once I figure out what I'm doing, I'd like to pass it on.

I'm going to continue this next time. I better quit before I fall asleep on my laptop. Which is not as uncommon as you might imagine. In the meantime I'll be thinking of more goals to add to my list.