Monday, October 07, 2019

10-7-2019 Monday--9am

Good morning!
Hard to take a photo with the sun in your eyes to show you the right tree is almost half brown now this morning...
...but I am not complaining because it is so nice to see the sun after many days of clouds and rain.
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Before I forget!  The craft hauls!!  First Leah's.  Seems she has plans I don't know about--LOL!  Got quite a few more items than she showed me in texts.
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The punches and dies. 
Cling stamps.  (I knew about all of these.) 
More stamps.  Leah might be wanting to work on Halloween cards this month, you think? 
Finally, embossing folders.  The hard to see one that I knew about on the left is a Christmas tree. 
I am still waiting for several from my haul (super cheap so probably coming from China or Taiwan), but I'll show you what I have received so far.
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Two turn-around stamps and a turn-around jig. 
And Chriistmas and birthday dies. 
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Okay--Wednesday--Dr. Blom, rheumatologist appointment.
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First of all I really liked her.  No diagnosis yet.  She said there are several types of arthritis and autoimmune diseases.  I asked about the Rheumatoid arthritis that doesn't show up in the blood tests, but she said RA is usually symetrical and mine isn't.  In the meantime, she asked me to take Aleve twice a day to see if that can help with the swelling (still have some in knees and ankles, too).  She sent me to the lab to have 12 vials of blood drawn for what looks like 19 more tests.  Said we will have a lot more to talk about after all my test results come back.  (I go back on the 24th.)
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I told her about going on the Keto diet and she immediately told me to stay on it.  When I was telling her about Leah's going on the carnivore elimination diet she said--you should try that and smiled.  She knew all about the Keto diet apparently.  Said we will talk more next time but stay on Keto.  So that is what I am doing.
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BTW--Dagan asked his cardiologist in Minneapolis before he started on Keto and they said to go ahead.  Leah's doctor okay'd it for her, too.  Three different doctors (all younger) from three differnt clinics.  And my rheumatologist was the most positive and enthusiastic of them all.  
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Now I know my vegetarian, vegan, and WFPB friends might think this is dangerous and crazy.  I don't blame you.  Sounded pretty extreme to me at first.  Especially since I have been 95% vegetarian (aiming for 100%) for over a decade.  But I see how obviously it has helped Leah.  Her knees stopped hurting in only a week or two--before she lost more than a couple pounds.  Her lifelong battle with asthma seems to be gone!  She lost 30 lbs in the 6 months she was on Keto and now 25 on the Carnivore elimination diet in 5 weeks.  She has more energy (but that took months) and her sinuses are so much better.  Honestly--being vegetarian didn't do anything for my health all these years...so there's that.  ??
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I know I will be talking more to Dr. Blom about it.  I think every person is different and I do think some of us might just have bad reactions to carbs.  I know there are better carbs and worse carbs...and there are arguments pro and con for so many diets.  Well, I'll have more information when I go back for all these additional test results.  I hope.  In the meantime--I'm still on Keto.  I seem to have been slowly getting better over the past month or more.  I am taking the Aleve regularly now because she asked, but there are cons to that, too.
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Meanwhile...back at the ranch...LOL!
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Leah came over Thursday night but we never worked on the bullet pages.  She helped me with some computer stuff, we double-checked measurements for the table and cabinets in the corner of the sutdio, and we made a decision on which dye ink pads we would like to collect.  We have a lot of odd ink pads (metallic, distress, etc) but my only set of very old Archival regular dye ink pads from the 90s that have turned absolutely yellow with age...
...well, they really need to be replaced.  
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I had bought up a few brands of black ink pads to compare quite a long time ago but we never did make a final decision.
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Well, we finally did!
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Simon Says Stamp brand.
 Memento was the second choice.  I'll check and see what colors there are to pick from and watch for sales/deals.  Already knew we liked the SSS ink pads because I already had just gone ahead and purchased two different reds for Christmas cards.  :)
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We were going to work on the bullet pages this coming Thursday...but looks like Leah also has plans to make Halloween cards--LOL!  ;)  So, we'll see what she wants to do when the time comes.
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Friday I worked all day washing winter clothes from the bins and packing away summer clothes...and my hand held up pretty decently!  :)  I can almost make a fist some days the past few weeks.  Not a tight fist, but the best I've had since beginning of June.

Dagan was going to come over after work on Friday to help me do some other seasonal switching over here but his car was smoking on the way to work!  Had it towed to a garage and will find out this week what is wrong with it.  Cars!  :(
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 Saturday Ian came over for Gramma Day.  
He wanted a movie day and it was an afternoon Gramma thoroughly enjoyed, too. 
We were waiting for Mama to come to pick him up.  I wanted a picture of his monster knees sweat pants! 
I didn't even realize that his hoodie had a Darth Vadar mask attached to it!  LOL! 
We had a great time!  Here's a little video of our waiting for Mama conversation.  I think Ian was getting a little tired. 
That rash on his cheek was almost gone for a couple weeks and then returned again when he came home throwing up sick from school last week.  ?  Anyways, it is going away again with the cream.
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Oh, and when Ian arrived that day I got SOOO excited to see the covey of partridges!!  Right there in the afternoon!  Here I had thought I would be telling you today that I hadn't seen them for weeks.  This is a different covey--six of them--larger--more confident--stick around when they visit.  Must be one of the two I fed last winter.  :) :)  
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They came back at dusk, too!
Sorry the pictures are a little blurry.
I think I was too excited to see them and didn't wait for the phone's camera to focus--LOL!
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Then last night after dinner Dagan and Ian came by to help me with making a couple trips to the garage and back.  We moved all the patio furniture, three bins of summer clothes, and three fans to the garage.  
We brought in the two humidifiers, the brown rug to put near the patio door (for the shovel I didn't need to bring in...yet), the little round table, and a bag of winter clothes that were missed.  Ian carried a small patio table both trips out and he pushed the cart on the way back in one time and carried the little table another time!  He even helped Daddy plug in the living room humidifier for me behind the TV cabinet.  He was a big help!  :) 
Was a productive day!  I feel prepared for winter now.  
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Okay, I have been working on this blog post for so long that it's going on 1pm so I could get a picture without the glaring sun.
You can see how much the one tree has changed (can click to enlarge)...but not the other two--LOL!  I wonder if they are going to prepare for winter in their usual right to left order again this year?  I'll try to remember to take pictures.
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So, today--I am washing the last of the winter clothes from the garage.  I've been watching the few things I wanted to see on Hulu before I cancel.  Got the 99cents a month for a year deal on Black Friday last year but don't want to keep Hulu at full price.  I just didn't watch it that much.  And I can rent The Handmaid's Tale on Netflix DVDs.  That was my main interest in Hulu.  Sure it may take months after it airs until I get to see it, but I don't mind.  I'm patient.  ;)
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The sun is actually shining today--whoohoo!  So it's up to 58 degrees (14 C).  More and more sparrows are showing up for bird seed since it got colder, too.  Annie and I are happy with more birds, for sure.  Dagan will have to make a trip to Fleet Farm pretty soon for bags of bird seed.  :)  I was worrid there for a while I might not need any.
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That's it from here for now.  Have a studendous week!  :) :)  Chat again soon.
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"Whatever our individual troubles and challenges may be, its important to pause every now and then to appreciate all that we have on every level."
Shakti Gawain

13 comments:

Rita said...

My comment to get your comments in my inbox. :)

Far Side of Fifty said...

Hope the blood tests revel something, I always like to know a cause! Glad you have it under control for now and I say eat what ever foods make you fee the best! What cute pants and hoodie!! I like all your stamps and embossing folders too!~ :)

pearshapedcrafting said...

Leah did do well with her craft haul! I'm sure you will have fun using some of them! Ian is such a cutie when he is thinking! I love the monster knees! How great that the partridges are back - Annie will enjoy her Winter! It sounds as though you are organised for Winter too! Hugs, Chrisx

DJan said...

Such an uplifting post! So many stamps and dies to work with, and such a cute video of Ian. And I'm glad to hear you are getting better, a little at a time, but still! The right direction, for sure. :-)

Jon said...

It should be fun making the Halloween cards (my favorite time of year!). The months are flying by and I've already seen some Christmas stuff in the stores!

I always enjoy seeing your partridge visitors - and those monsters on the sweatpants knees are really funny.
I'm glad you've prepared for winter - - I need to do the same thing. It was 90 degrees two days ago, and today is rainy and 59 degrees!!!

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Great news Rita about your new specialist Doctor (and so supportive). Hope you continue to write what your change to KETO eating. Projects on the go, more neat supplies coming in or already arrived. You and Leah are ready for every occasion. Great to have Ian and Dagan bring the winter things in and the summer things out to the garage. Annie has her 'bird watching' TV again.
Hugs.
Joy

Divers and Sundry said...

I'm glad your rheumatologist appointment went well and that she was supportive of your keto diet. I'm sticking with low carbs and not seeing much change in my sinus issues yet, but I'm hopeful. My 5 prunes a day for bone health takes up 24 grams of my daily 50 gram allotment lol

Your gramma time sounds enjoyable :) and I love the sweat designs. The partridges look like they'd be a lot of fun to watch. You are ready for a cozy, comfortable winter :)

Bonnie said...

Good news about your new doctor! I'm sure you felt like they were taking all of your blood but all of those tests can be really helpful in diagnosing what is going on. It is great to hear the Keto diet is making a difference for you. My daughter-in-law has been on it for a few months and swears by it. Love the video with Ian! Isn't it nice to be all winter ready. But of course that doesn't mean winter has to come too soon!

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

I hope the blood test show something because it can suck when all is normal but we are not. Ian is so adorable

Janie Junebug said...

Interesting about the doctors being so enthusiastic regarding the diet changes. I love the monster knees. They're adorable.

Love,
Janie

Dee said...

Dear Rita, I've been a vegetarian now for 41 years--no beef, etc., or chicken or fish. I'm not a vegan however. I can't imagine suddenly eating as a carnivore. And yet, it's true that being a vegetarian hasn't seemed to help me stay healthy. Lots of illness since 2006. So I'm going to do some research and some hard thinking. Peace.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Who would have thought a pesky squirrel could have sidelined me for over three days. It sure sidelined ME. Otherwise I would have been here sooner.

Then I got back online just in time to learn there was going to be a hard freeze tonight. I spent the entire day cutting back my herbs and getting the ones I could lift into the house. The others I covered tonight with sheets.

I spent $5.99 for the Christmas tree embossing folder and I couldn't get it to work properly. It cuts off about half way through. I hope Leah has better luck than I had. I know she got a better price deal. I got mine at Michael's.

I hope your Keto diet works. I am starting to rethink my vegetarian ways because I don't think I am getting enough protein. Good luck with your diet and I hope it is working for you, especially if the doctor approves it. Have a super week.

Harvest Moon by Hand said...

Look at all those fun craft supplies to start using and experimenting with! Happy to hear that your doctor approves the KETO diet since it is improving your health. Looks like you'll be having a lot of bird visitors this winter. Read there may be more snow than last year. I thought we had a lot last year...so it will be interesting to see what this year holds for us.