Hello-Goodbye

I just couldn't go away without one last post from 2023.  It has popped up on my FB feed that today is 12-31-23 or 123123.  Kind of funny and eerie all at the same time, and with the kind of year we've had, well let's just say, I'm glad it will be behind us.  We've lost friends, family, weathered, literal storms, and health issues-baby Max and myself, but we've also had good things like baby Max come into our lives.

Here's to GOODBYE to 2023...

and HELLO to 2024!

I'm ready for 2024, a new year, a new start, a new me (hopefully), and new hopes and dreams.  

I Have A Plan

I don't think I've shared this but I had a mammogram and bone density scan the other day and let's just say one of those came back not good, the bone density scan.  My mammogram was just fine, thank goodness.  You know every single year I have one and I am absolutely terrified of the outcome.  So many of my friends have faced breast cancer, losing one this summer from it.  I almost want to cancel the appointment the apprehension is so great, but if I don't have it checked I would worry more, so onward to boob squishing day!

The bone density thing I knew was probably going to not be good as it was down a couple of years ago but I did not expect my doctor to want to put me on more drugs.  His nurse called and said he wanted me to take Fosomax.  I've heard some nasty stories about the stuff and I immediately told her I wanted to research it first, but in reality I am NOT going to take it.  I am not going to go into old age with a counter full of pill bottles with the remedies more damaging than the cure.  I am going to do other things to offset it.  First of all I joined OsteoStrong recently.  OsteoStrong is a type of bone strength training that uses low-impact, high intensity exercises to help increase bone density and reduce the risk of fractures.  My doctor said my other hip has significant osteoporosis in it, much like my replaced hip, and arthritis.  I can work with that.  I am also upping my Vitamin D3 and Omega3's and drum roll please, more exercise.  I'm sure if I lose weight it will help too, so I have a plan.  

Oh, and my doctor, every time I go in there, tries to get me on like Ozempic or Mondoro to lose weight.  I am so leary of that stuff and really don't understand it.  Years ago there was a drug program out called Phen-fen that I took, lost weight, but of course, put it back on.  Not long after it had been on the market people started having heart issues, having to replace valves attributed to the Phen-fen thing.  I certainly dodged a bullet on that and I've TOLD my doctor about.  Plus there is a rare thyroid cancer with these new drugs and since I have thyroid issues, as did my father (2/3 of his removed) and my brother has, and my great grandfather having thyroid cancer I am NOT going to chance it.  

I asked my doctor why it works, the skinny guy he is (he's diabetic and a pencil thin man,)  and he said it basically makes you feel full, you don't eat.  Um, that's not healthy, to not eat.  You don't get your nutrition and the stuff causes your body to not poop right.  Hey, I've already got mine working just fine, I'm not mucking that up again.  

Back to my plan.  I am retired, don't have to be anywhere I don't want to, there is absolutely no reason I can not get on that damn exercise bicycle gathering dust in our bathroom and use it.  I have only one reason, I'M FUCKING LAZY!  So, that being said, I have decided that Monday's and Wednesday's I will ride the bike.  I'm not going to push, or have an unattainable goal, just get on and ride as long and as far as I can and build up.  I used to ride 5-10 miles a day.  Then on Thursday's I will go to my OsteoStrong and do my quick workout.  I think this plan will work, will fit into my life.  I thought the perfect day to start would be New Year's Day, and Monday is New Year's Day, that it would be the day to begin.  Although this morning I did get on to see if I could do it and you know what I did a mile, easily, well, sort of easily.  I recovered very fast, a good sign.  No, no excuses, I have an attainable plan and when I go to see Dr. K in a few months, hopefully, my weight and blood pressure will be down.  The bone density we will recheck in 2 years.  I'm willing to wait.  

I will keep you posted how this PLAN goes.

Christmas Wrap-up

Good morning the day after International Unwrapping Day!  Ha, the wrapping paper was certainly flying yesterday and Christmas Eve with the grands and cousins in the mix.  The looks on faces when they see what the have unwrapped, the sparkle in their eyes is unforgettable. Awesome Christmas this year.  We are all tired though but very content.  A year ago we were all on pins and needles with the impending birth of baby Max and his so very uncertain health future.  Now, here we are with him turning 1 year old next week and his future is so bright it is blinding.  He is such a happy baby and has brought so much joy to all of us, especially his big sister.  Oh, she loves him so.

Yesterday brought lots of laughter and utter exhaustion from opening all the presents and trying to play with ALL OF THEM AT ONCE!

Cousin time...

Granddad and grandson time...

oh and some typical little boy things like a black eye...(fell on a toy!)

So looking forward to 2024.

Yesterday the family came here for dinner.  Something I am trying to hold on to for a tradition.  Since my girls are vegan or vegetarian I have to really do some research to feed them and it was quite successful, except for the ham and desserts.  

A HUGE tossed salad...

Frozen green beans with onion...NO BACON!

I also cubed and roasted regular potatoes and sweet potatoes.

And Rhodes rolls, the frozen ones are VEGAN!  I was trying to jump the gun on the rise process a couple of years ago and bought the heat and serve ones but those are NOT vegan.  So back to the frozen and really they are quite easy.  Also on Instagram Christmas Eve I saw a quick video where a guy took the frozen ones and made focaccia bread!  WHAT!!!!!  I tried it with a small pan and O M G, so easy and good.  I took a square glass pan (at the back of photo), greased the pan (spray PAM'd it) and put 9 frozen rolls in it.  They were placed with all the others to rise over a couple of hours and when ready to cook I drizzled olive oil (olive oil from Italy, Bramasole as in Under The Tuscan Sun I ordered) and then plunged my fingers in the dough to make all kind of huge dents.  Then I sprinkled coarse salt and Italian seasoning (you could do any kind of seasoning) and baked at 350 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes!  OMG, so SOOOOOo very good.  They just slide out and on a plate or platter and you pull apart and eat.  I am never going back.

Now here we have apple pie.  I bought a pre-made crust, as I do a lot.  I had other things to do.  Anyway I did NOT do my research here and figured out it had milk in it so it was not vegan friendly.  It was yummy though.

On to cake.  I had a strawberry cake mix in my pantry with a can of whipped strawberry icing and I got a great idea.  I made the cake in two round pans and when cool I spread strawberry jam on the bottom layer and then I added a small container of Cool Whip to the whipped strawberry icing and put a layer in the middle then iced the rest.  It was of course kept in the fridge until time to serve.  SO very good and light.  

In my down time I am either reading (40 books this year) or back to an old love, counted cross-stitch ornaments.  This one I thought was going to be fairly easy because so few colors, but oh no, not so.  Absolutely so intricate you can not imagine and time consuming, but I will finish.  I've finished 3 so far this season and plan on continuing until my hands say stop for awhile.  The arthritis in my hands is a beast.  I tried to do some last night but my hands were so tired from making salad and cutting up potatoes that they just kept cramping.  I had to stop.

It's A Grand Life

All I can say is this has been a YEAR!  Today I just want to enjoy the pics of my grands and daughters.  I have been truly blessed.  The video is Max ALMOST crawling Thursday night while our unofficial daughter, Rachel (B's bestie from her school days) and I watched the kiddos.  Gosh, he was almost there and yesterday he DID IT!  There is a video but I can't seem to get it from my phone to my computer.  It's in a text message and I saved it but it's too big to send to post here.  This is the next best thing.  This little kiddo is progressing in leaps and bounds and I would bet he crawls in a couple of months and then starts trying to walk.  He will be a year January 4 and what milestones he has accomplished.  

The month of December has been extremely busy for my kiddos and their babies with all kinds of functions.  Thursday while I was grand-sitting this one got to ride in a carriage at Woodward.  I'm sure she was on cloud nine as she is so in love with any kind of horse.  She is going to LOVE her Christmas present!!!

Friday night A's choir sang at Cain's for the Jacob Tovar Christmas Spectacular.  It was all ages so she got to go and see her grandad do his dance thing.

There has been a lot of cousin time too.  They are all having such a fun time, especially Max...lol!

Last night they went to Mass at Holy Family and for the second time R got to join them.  

Then it was off to Roppongi for ramen noodles, Min's favorite.  Even Max got to sample some of the noodles.  He is still in a struggle phase of trying to eat some but is getting better every day.  All in good time, all in good time.

These girls, more like sisters than cousins.  

Man, it is times like this when I so wish my mother could have lived to enjoy the grands.  She would have reveled in the joy that they are.  

Progressive Cocktail Party SUCCESS

The first stop of the progressive party was our cabin.  Each host house is responsible for a cocktail and others bring appetizer food.  I am not imaginative or talented in the cocktail world so I did prosecco with little ice balls of orange juice and cranberry juice.  That took a special ice cube tray thing, patience and time to freeze, the to UN-STICK the buggers!  It was pretty and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Food, SO MUCH FOOD!

And lots and lots of people.  I think I counted 59 in total in our cabin alone.  They tend to drop off later in the evening, usually by imbibing a LOT!  We had the porch door open too with a roaring fire in the fireplace.  Everyone just loved it.  Most stayed in the breakfast room and on the porch.  Being the first cabin the temperatures had not dropped too low yet which made it comfortable outside.  

On to P Kae and Darrell's lovely cabin.  They had a cabin they hosted last year but have since purchased one across and down the road from us.  They've been mad in the process of updating it and it is just beautiful.

On to cabin #3, Rita and Kevin's, where they live full time.

As you can see, the alcohol is taking effect!

Cabin #4, Dave and sweet Kim.  Such a fun place but I was wearing down and cold, as you will see later.

Last but not least, the dessert portion of the evening.

Our final destination, and not too soon, Heather and Ian's.  

I honestly never made it to eating any dessert because I was having such an issue with my acid reflux.  In fact, I was up till about 2:30 am dealing with it over and over again.  Made for not much sleep, but worth it!

Done, finished, OVER for another year.  It was great fun.