day 1 of my *gulp* diet

Losing weight is one of my resolutions. And so here I go...I decided to start on this goal now because I need to A)stop having so much back pain, B) be able to fit into my skinny jeans, and C) buy a new wardrobe. But, above all, I just want to have more energy. This is the safest way to start (I believe) without hurting my back any further with harsh exercise.

Yet, I am reading a book called "Strong Women Stay Young" and it's based on a study of nursing home residents who underwent a strenth training program. And the results were phenomenal...many of the residents ended up getting toned bodies, became ambulatory without the use of a walking cane/walker, and felt overall better. I'm hoping that this may be an alternative to me becoming stronger without injury. However, I'm still in the midst of reading this book.

Many things have happened since I last blogged, however I'll have to backtrack on here tomorrow./****************************************** Sorry, Ramsay decided to hop onto the keyboard since he is fascinated with my flying fingers as I type. Better log off now before he hits the delete button by accident :/

Visiting Mom

My hubby and I visited Mom today at the nursing home, and I got there just in time to feed her her dinner. She continues to be a hearty eater, and that is a good thing. However, despite the Care Plan Meetings, communication with administrator and staff , and constant monitoring, things aren't still up-to-par. I know things will never be perfect. But doing one's job properly is a must. I had a discussion with the cafeteria worker on duty today because they just cannot seem to get things right in following Mom's dietary guidelines. First, they were giving Mom regular sugar instead of "Sweet N Low" (she's diabetic), and then they kept giving her milk despite the orders to stop doing so for one week. Now, it's them failing to give her a glass of water even though on her meal ticket it states that she is given milk, tea, and coffee. Their response was well she has a pitcher of water in the room. Well, if she could GET IT ON HER OWN, then I'd understand. But she cannot....but that's beside the point. The dietitician told me that Mom would be furnished a glass of water with each meal to ensure that she was getting enough liquids. And this was stated in front of the social worker, head nurse, activity director, and myself. So I told the cafeteria workers this fact, and the lady with the attitude changed her tune of trying to pass the buck to the CNAs. She doesn't like me much because she was part of the sugar/milk problem during the holidays. However, I just want the best for my Mom and the residents who are at that nursing home, and speaking up for them must be done. Dignity is what every person deserves, especially people who cannot communicate anymore. We must be their voice.



Other than that and the fact that Mom's arm had been bandaged due to her allergies once again, our visit with Mom went well. She enjoys being pampered when we visit. She gets her hands and face cleaned and massaged with lotion. Then I massage her hands and feet with lotion. She then loves when her hair is brushed. I love doing this because it makes her relax and I love to hear her giggle and smile when she is listening to me talk about what's going on in the world today or reminisce about memories we lived. Some days it's only my voice speaking, but on good days, she is talking to me. And those are the times that I wish I could bottle up and save forever.

It's Raining ....Kitty Litter?

Normally, Ramsay the Kitten meows and I take him outdoors so he can do his kitty business. And the world runs accordingly. However, throw in the factor of downpouring, nonstop rain and then chaos ensues. So we had to make a trip to the store. Kitty box-check, Kitty Litter-check check, Kitty Liners-check, check, check. Whew, finally when we get home. The litter box is constructed, lined, and filled, and what does our clever kitten do? He has fun with the box....the liner is torn to shreds and litter is flying all over the place. It's------playtime. By this time, my dh (dear husband) is exasperated. And I'm telling him to be patient. We can't blame a kitten who is well-trained to do his potty business outdoors. Thus, now I have a grey kitten who is covered in a pale dust of litter wondering why he can no longer play in the "fun box".As I type this, the little fellow is fast asleep tuckered out from playing in his own personal "moonwalk".

It's cold here in Texas. And our young kitten named Ramsay (after Gordon Ramsay the famous chef!) who is rather rambunctious, intelligent, and mischievous decided to cuddle up to our 80 pound Labrador/Border Collie Mix who just about jumped out of his skin when he felt his prescence. I took a few photos of them both because they looked so cute together. And they reminded me of the Lion and the Lamb. The Lion, of course, being my grey furball of a cat, and the Lamb being our lovable, oversized dog. I'll need to post them on here soon. Either way, all was well in the world for the time they slumbered. I love those moments when you can think ahhhh....this is what it's all about.

The Horse Next Door

Okay....I was in the living room minding my own business (while nursing a cold ) when all of a sudden I see a huge shadow in my window. It was a horse, and I had to do a double take just to make sure that I wasn't hallucinating. Yes, the horse had escaped from the neighbor's yard a few houses down from us. So I rang my sister to let her know. Apparently, the runaway horse has been enjoying his new found freedom since yesterday. Being fenced in isn't any fun regardless of whether you are an animal or a human. We all need to have fun and frolic in the pasture before life passes us by.

Resolutions and Soup

Beginnings can be exciting, scary, and even daunting at times (depending on the situation!) Yet, we all go through beginnings of some sort by choice or by circumstance. And now we find ourselves at the beginning of 2011 with so many possibilities. As with each year, I made a list that I believe outdoes Santa's. Now my choice is to either tackle each one or break each single one and carry it on to next year's list. I choose to tackle them...not all of them, but most of them.
The ones that are fun anyway. So here goes.

Resolution #1 is to write in a journal/blog. Thus, here's my entry. Yes, it's late, but I've been somewhat good in writing and saving my thoughts in Microsoft Word. It's a start if anything. Yet, I think blogs are much more flashier and audacious than the white screen of Word staring at me.

The first week of the year greeted us with joy and a floral surprise. I received the much anticipated cookbooks that my husband bought for me. He tried looking for them all over the place but we finally had to order them online. So now I'm the proud owner of Martha Stewart's Cooking School, Trisha Yearwood's second cooking book (I can't see the title from here), and One Big Table by Molly O'Neill. To avoid me going crazy and driving the entire household and immediate family bananas, I am tackling one cookbook at a time.

First one up: Martha Stewart. I successfully made the white stock and Tortilla Soup. And my husband loved it...despite the fact that he secretly dislikes M.S. but I think that will change as I delve deeper into the book. Making the stock was easy enough, but the aroma wafting into every room of the house was intoxicating. I felt like I was at my Mom's or my grandma's house. It was the scent of comfort food with a side dish of nostalgia of watching Mom and grandma at the kitchen table talking and laughing while we were kids and didn't realize that these memories would be oh-so-precious to us one day.

As for M.S., I think she is a sheer genius. She is onto something when she says that stock is the basis for good cooking. And being a meat and potatoes kind of gal who know loves and appreciates soup and stock...well, that's M.S. magic.

Last Week of Freedom

Monday: I worked in my classroom for the entire day ( my sis Linda helped me...thanks!!!!) For lunch, we ate at the sandwich shoppe with my sis Sylvia and my niece Amy. Then we headed back to the classroom to work some more. Unfortunately, we lost track of time so we rushed to the university for belly dance practice when we realized how late it was!

TUESDAY: I met my personal trainer for my workout session. Afterwards, I exercised for another hour. Then I visited Mom for awhile before heading back to the school to work some more on my classroom.

WEDNESDAY: I made the morning workout (late but I got there before the class began!!!) I visited Mom, and I went a tad off when I found her squished in her chair despite the fact that I had applied yards and yards of tape on the rungs of the chair. I got the chair adjusted for Mom before she headed to therapy. Then I voiced my disgust with the social worker, a janitor, and the CNA. Basically, I told them that I was going to apply more tape to the chair's legs and if anyone surpassed the rungs on the adjustment to make my Mom's legs stiff, I was going to buy two rolls of Duct tape and then that would be the end of their ignorance. The social worker felt awful about the CNA's incompetence and printed out a few signs to stop this occurence from happening again. I just wish that the staff at this place would provide the residents at this facility proper care and attention that they need. :(

It was a stressful day to say the least and I was crying like a lunatic in Mom's bathroom because I want her back home, where I know that she'll be safe and comfortable. I just wish that I had the means to do so.

I came to work and stayed for two hours before we were told that they were going to close the school grounds two hours earlier. NOT A GOOD THING WHEN I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO but I wouldn't change the amount of time I spent with Mom today.

THURSDAY: I attended morning gym class, visited Mom, and went to school to get some more cleaning done.

FRIDAY: I was not a happy camper today since I knew that it was my last day of FREEDOM. I cleaned the bathroom in the morning and then headed to the cinema. I watched "The Time Traveler's Wife", which was as wonderful as the novel! I cried my heart out though---emotional film it is! I then went to visit Mom and spent time with her before it was dinnertime. Then I helped her with her dinner before I drove back home. Once I arrived home, Leigh and I decided to go out for dinner.

SATURDAY: Nothing special to note (other than going out for dinner today.)

SUNDAY: Nothing special done today (as I am in a down mood since I don't want to go back to work tomorrow.)