Summer Cooking

I bought Kielbasa on sale because... well it was on sale so I had to go hunting for a recipe to cook it that didn't include potatoes. So I started my hunting on allrecipes.com and came across this great recipe!!

Kielbasa and Cabbage

6 slices bacon
1/2 cup water
1 onion, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges
1 pound Polish kielbasa

1. In a large skillet, fry bacon over medium high heat until browned. Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings, and place bacon on paper towels.

2. Stir water, sugar, onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, and seasoned salt into drippings. Add cabbage, and gently stir. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Add kielbasa to the pan. Cook, covered, for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Crumble bacon over top, and serve hot.

Dinner was Delicious!

So tonight we had a BBQ. We had Blue Cheese Burgers (mine minus the blue cheese, add sliced cheese), baked beans, and BBQ corn on the cob. It was so delicious! I skipped the beans and had 2 corn on the cobs. We buttered them, sprinkled some garlic salt on them, roll them in alluminum foil and put on the BBQ for about 20 minutes. So good!!

So here is my favorite GI recipe so far:

Blue Cheese Burgers

1 lb very lean ground beef or ground turkey
¼ cup finely chopped onion
1 celery, thinly chopped
½ tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese or fav cheese

1. Preheat the broiler on high or prepare BBQ

2. Mix ground beef, onion, celery, Dijon mustard, oregano, salt and pepper in large bowl. Use hands to mix together thoroughly.

3. Divide mixture into 8 equal portions. Place 4 on a cutting board and flatten each.

4. Place crumbled blue cheese in the center of the 4 flattened patties.

5. Flatten remaining 4 potions and place on top of blue cheese patties. Mold together, enclosing crumbled blue cheese, and shape into 4 burgers.

6. Broil for 10 minutes or until cooked, turning once or BBQ

Serve on a lettuce leaf with tomato and dill pickle.
Replace the bun with a salad, red and green pepper rings, or baked sweet potato sticks.

Glycemic Index: very low
Glycemic Load: 0
Calories: 242
Protein: 34 grams
Carbs: 4 grams
Fat: 10 grams

Trying New Recipes

Ever since being told that I possibly could have PCOS I have been doing a ton of research online, reading books, and just getting myself educated on the condition. One of the biggest thing that everyone pushes is the diet. So I bought Glycemic Index Cookbooks and have been trying some of the recipes out.

I tried faux-potatoes because sadly I am not allowed to eat white potatoes any more (including french fries... I could die!) so I tried making the cauliflower potatoes. What a joke that was. They were not smooth enough and we added way too much fresh diced garlic and they tasted nasty. Scratch those off my list. We also tried Chicken Verde which was really good. All it needed was some tortillas... also which I can not have. Either way I would make it again and it is pretty simple to make.

Chicken Verde

1/2 cup cilantro
3 cups chopped onions
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 (10 oz) can tomatillas
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 TB. butter
2.5 Lbs diced chicken

1. Combine cilantro, onions, garlic, tomatillas (drained, set aside juice), salt and pepper in a food processor fitted with a chopping blade. Process until smooth. Add reserved tomatilla liquid and process until well blended.

2. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat butter and brown chicken pieces. Pour the cilantro sauce over chick and simmer, covered, about 1 hour, or until chicken is tender.

Glycemic Index/Load: low 1
Calories: 249
Protein 38 grams
Carbs: 4 grams
Fat: 9 grams

And the diagnosis is...

It's official. Today I found out, based on my blood panel and glucose test results, that I have Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome. I have been operating under the assumption that that is exactly what I had but now it has been confirmed. After a year of trying naturally, a year and a half of trying with Metformin and now an official diagnosis from my new OB doc, I am happy to finally have some answers and a plan.

Don't get me wrong, I am not excited about the diagnosis. I have already grieved for the loss of an "oops" or "it just happened" pregnancy but I am excited to be on a path to hopeful success in expanding my family. Dr. Weatherford seems to be the perfect match for us and our pregnancy journey. I met him for the first time on June 21st when Troy and I went in for our first consult. He seemed knowledgeable, listened to my input and concerns and gave great feed back. I didn't feel rushed and I felt understood considering he delivered the news about my first two pregnancies over the phone to me without even meeting me first. He took me in as an "established" patient to be able to send me to get labs to find out what was going on with me.

So the plan is to get my period, up my Metformin meds to 2x a day instead of only once, and get on Clomid. This will help me with ovulation and getting pregnant. I have read a ton blogs about other women's experiences and I know that this isn't a quick fix. I am sure I have many heart breaks and disappointment in my future but for now I am just excited to know what path I am on.

I know for sure that I am not excited about the monthly exams I am going to have... but I am hopeful that it will be all worth it!

Some days good... some days bad...

Some days I don't even think about what happened in March. I don't think about the loss and the part of me that just hasn't quite healed yet. Then there are days like today, Mother's Day, which I have been nervous about. I know some people don't think that this would be a hard today for me as I never even got to hold my child but it reminds me of what I almost had and what I lost.

I woke up this morning and went to church with my family. Troy went to brunch with his family. This is the first holiday we have celebrated apart. When we got to Subway after church I got a phone call from Troy. Deby is pregnant. He was so overjoyed on the phone. My reaction was not what he was expecting. I merely said "oh ok, I have to go I am ordering." and that was it. Moments later the tears welled up in my eyes.

I want to be happy for her. I want to be over joyed for the neice or nephew that I am going to have. My first reaction is tears. And soley for selfish reasons. I am happy for her. I am happy for our family. I am happy. But can everyone understand that I need 2 minutes to be sad!

Some days good... some days bad...

Charlie's Eye Surgery

See the white spot in his eye? That's glaucoma and cataracts.

I had been in denial for some time about the severity of Charlie's eye. At first it was only a small defect and you couldn't really tell unless you were looking closely but after time it got worse and worse. He hasn't been able to see out of his left eye for some time but once the glaucoma set in and he detached his retina it was time to take some serious action.

We went to an animal opthamologist (who knew they had them for dogs!!) and she confirmed that something had to be done about his bad eye. She explained the options and we opted for it to be removed. We knew he was in pain since it was swollen and starting to water a lot more than normal.

So we decided to have his eye removed and I scheduled the surgery. Dr. Wade was Charlie's doctor during his ER stunt yet I still have not met her. She is a wonderful doctor over the phone, updating this concerned mama along the way. When it was time to schedule the eye removal I knew that I wanted Dr. Wade to do the surgery if she was qualified and available.

So last Thursday Charlie had his surgery. He had to spend the night, which I hate but I had to keep telling myself that it was the best place for him to be while he was in recovery.

Charlie at work with his soft cone on.

I had prepared myself for what my dog was going to look like with no eye but I wasn't quite prepared for the healing process. Troy picked him up the next morning and brought him to my work so I could see him. I wanted to cry. Half his face was shaved, red marks from the shavers, and bright blue stitches through his eye.

I am battling guilt really bad right now. I look at his face and think "did I do the right thing? Why did I let this happen?" Charlie is in pain and I made it happen. He looks so funny right now all shaved. I become strong and then I will take a long look at him again and start to cry all over again. In the long run I know that we are helping him. His headaches will stop and when it is all healed he will be back to normal and won't be in any pain anymore. Getting to the healed part is what I am having so much trouble with. I just want him to feel better already. We have to put an ice pack (aka bag of frozen peas) over his stitches and he hates it. I look into his eye and he just looks scared and in pain and it just breaks my heart.

Mama loves you baby!

I just want Charlie to be ok already. When will this process be over? My heart is just hurting so badly. I can't imagine the day he goes to heaven. I tear up even thinking about it. This dog is seriously like my child and I dread the day that I have to make the decision to let him go.

I love you Charlie Brown.

Angels Home Opener

Yesterday we went to the Angels Home Opener. It was a lot of fun. When we got there, traditionally too early, there wasn't anyone manning the parking booths and one of the lanes was wide open... so we just went in and set up our site.

It was so cold during the tailgate party. When the sun would come out for just a moment we would gather in the sun to soak it up. The food was good, the company better and it was so nice to see the family.

It always amazes me how many people approach Steve and Amy to use the bathroom in their trailer. There must have been at least 7 people who approached us. I guess being intoxicated helped them have the guts to do it. It doesn't help that we are right next to the A which is very near to the port-a-potties.... which always have long lines. Amy says if they have the balls to ask to use it she can't bring herself to say no.

Even though the Angels last night it was nice to see the family, hang out with Jared, Joe and of course my husband. Plus I love the giveaways. Last night was a landyard and a XL t-shirt. Next Tuesday we are going to the game with Cassandra and Andrew for the fleece blanket giveaway.

Each day I get better. Some days I have sad days and some days I don't even think about our loss. We will keep trying. I know God has a plan for us. It just wasn't our time.