Um

I really don't know what to blog about right now. I could talk about W.W., but I don't feel like it. I am down a little bit more in weight (you can track me here).

The boys are growing like little boys will and learning new things every day. They figure out new ways to melt my heart and drive me up a wall all the time.

We're trying to get pregnancy, but I don't really want to focus on it too much. This is the first month we've tried to hit possible days and I've got sticks for my fertility monitor starting next cycle.

I've been crocheting a lot lately. Tim seems to have calmed down about it some (he felt it took up too much of my time for a while).  I guess since I really have nothing to say, I'll leave you with a picture of something I finished yesterday.

Big Grin

Week 1 of Weight Watchers down! Woo-hoo!

*

*ignore the lb-to-go part

Updates Updates Updates

Honestly, there's not much to update on.

The boys are doing well. At their 15/18 month appointment the doc said so. Trip is holding on to the 3rd percentile for weight and up to the 50th percentile for height. Jack is sticking to his 33th percentile for both height and weight. From the way they've grown to date it looks like they're each picking a side of the family and sticking to it. Trip looks like my side of the family and is doing our traditional male thing of being average height and thin. Jack looks just like Tim and is built so much like him (short and stocky and muscled). Trip is just a little behind in his speech, but everyone keeps telling me it's OK. It seems babies/toddlers prefer to focus on either physical or mental and Trip is really focusing on climbing. He can almost pull himself onto the changing table/dresser in his bedroom. What?!?!

It's been 4 months since I lost my Nugget. While the pain is still there, it's not too bad. I'm having some trouble with depression, but I think it has as much to do with my weight and my lack of happy-pills as it does my loss. Out of those three things, there's only one I can change at the moment.

My weight. Oh boy, is that a touchy subject right now. When I got pregnant last year (boy does that sound weird to me) I started putting on weight. I wasn't too concerned about gaining a little; after all, I was pregnant. Then I lost the baby and used that as an excuse to eat. What's a little grief eating between friends, anyway? Then I just ate. Now I eat because I'm bored, hungry (not really, I'm rarely hungry because my stomach is rarely that empty), angry, depressed...etc. I'm one huge bag of emotions and the way to deal with that seems to be eating. This isn't a new story for me, but instead a different chapter of the same lame story. Binge eating, Anorexia, now just constant eating; food and I have a rough history.

So I'm on the verge of starting Weight Watchers again. I say "on the verge" instead of just doing it because I have to make a full grocery trip before I can do this. And making a full grocery trip is something this is dependent on Tim either taking care of the boys or Tim going with us. This means Tim would have to take time away from building his precious shed (if you know me on FB, you may have seen a picture of his latest project).

Tim's shed. Ugh. We've had so many fights over whatever it is that's taking the majority of my non-child related focus. Whether it's blogging, gaming, crocheting, reading...whatever it is, it gets on his nerves. It takes my focus away from whatever it is he thinks I should be doing. The majority of the time we fight about my hobbies, it's because I don't want to drop whatever it is I'm doing to come "mark a board" or "hold a board" or "eyeball something" for him. You see, my husband is a work-a-holic of sorts. He's not so into his for-money job that he's there all the time, but he's so into keeping busy that he ALWAYS has something going on at home. If it's not rebuilding an old car (sold that project THANK YOU GOD) it's remodeling something. If it's not remodeling something it's building something new. He never sits still. And everything he does is more important than anything else going on in our house except for the boys bedtime (he gets very upset if he misses bedtime). For example, he can't bring the trashcan back from the street after the can is emptied (even though he walks past it) because he's too busy; he can't take his dirty socks upstairs (even though he goes upstairs at least 3 times a day) because he's too busy. OK...I could go on and on about this, but it's just pissing me off even more so I'm going to drop it here.

On the baby front...well...I'm not pregnant. And of course I shouldn't be right now. BUT I am off my birth control pills. First off, I started some breakthrough bleeding on week 2 of my last pack. Then on week 3 I started a full fledged period. I don't feel like messing with pills if they're not going to stop a period, so there. Plus, we DO want to add one more kid to the lot, so , yeah. But this month, I avoided all encounters with Tim until it was either wayyyy too early or too late to get pregnant (I hope).

I know 5 4 women that are pregnant right now (one had her baby last week) totaling 4 girls and 1 boy so I've been super busy crocheting baby gifts. One of the blankets was originally started for my first ill-fated pregnancy. I finished it and gave it to Tim's boss & his wife. They're 41 and 42 and this is their second pregnancy...their first successful one. This was the hardest blanket to give away, but it seemed to be the perfect couple to give it to. No clue where I was going with this paragraph, but I'll share some pics:

Well, that really seems to be it for now. Oh yeah, teething sucks and the fact the boys' mouths are already crowded isn't making it any easier. The doc says they've more than likely inherited my omg-your-teeth-are-so-crowded-you-had-to-have-EIGHT-teeth-removed-to-have-enough-space issue. Yay. Hopefully the next time I post it will be to tell you how much I'm loving being back on WW (because I really do enjoy it once I get on it).

Bullets, Updates, and Explanations

• I just realized I hadn't updated on my weight loss.  To date, I've lost 6.4 pounds.  I haven't been sticking to my limits quite like I had planned, but I'm still slowly losing.  And in this race, slow and steady wins.  Plus, 6.4 pounds over 6 weeks isn't bad at all.  When I hit 8 pounds I'll update with pics!  :-)


• I have an HSG scheduled next Wednesday.  I am actually looking forward to this (mentally).  I feel renewed in the fact that I'm doing something!  I'm also getting my FSH level tested tomorrow.  The doc was hesitant to order the test until I explained that my mother began menopause in her mid 30's.  For the record I'll be 31 in July.


• I agree with everyone about seeing an RE vs seeing an OB/Gyn.  I am limited by my insurance, though.  The only RE that I've been able to find in my area does not take Tricare.  Tricare covers infertility testing and medication and right now that's what I need.  I don't feel that I'm getting the same kind of care and treatment that I would with an RE, but I'm satisfied for the time being.  My OB/Gyn is attentive and willing to do what it takes to get me what I need, and I love that.


• Only 3 more weeks until I begin the process of getting my braces!!!!

Update

Jury duty is done!!!!  By the end of my second day on jury duty, the parties settled.  Thank you!!!  It was so frustrating having groups of people bickering, wanting my eventual opinion, but not allowing me to ask questions or jump in on the arguing.  Grrrrrrrrrrr

Now I've got 115 blogs to read (that's after I've read at least 50).  Please forgive me if I don't comment or miss something important.  I still really do care!  <3

As far as W.W. goes, I've had a slight setback.  It was too inconvenient to stick to my diet while I was serving jury duty.  Since I was having to travel an hour away to a tiny little town every day, I would have had to pack a cooler with food and trust that it would keep it at a healthy temperature.  I couldn't do it.  So I have not lost any weight this week.  But I also haven't gained, so that rocks!

My cycle is proceeding as predicted in my fat lady post.  It's CD18 and it's looking pretty bleak.  But life goes on and so will I.

On a funny note, Mr. W is so annoyed with all of the "stuff" around our house;  He has decided that he wants to throw everything away.  We're getting really close to completing the remodel of our house and he wants to start fresh once we're done.  By "stuff" I mean, picture frames, dog grooming brushes/combs/clippers, earphones, candles, etc.  I seriously have a hard time not laughing at him (because he's serious).  I'm pretty sure that I am married to the most melodramatic heterosexual male that does not act for a living.  Hahaha!

Oh yeah!

I'm doing the happy dance!  I weighed in today and was very happy to see the results.  I've lost 3 pounds in the past week.  Hooray!!!  I told myself that I would be happy with 2...I'm even happier with 3!!!

This makes a total of 4.4 pounds lost in the past two weeks.  Only 15.8 more pounds to go.

I thought I'd post the graph showing how my weight has fluctuated since April 2007.  That's when I started WW for the first time.  I stopped WW when I stopped logging.  At least I never got completely back to my pre-WW weight.

My Weight Chart:


It's kind of funny to me that my "goal" weight is 40 pounds above what I weighed when I was 18.  It's 25 pounds above what I weighed when I met Mr. W.  But my goal weight is where I will be healthy and will look really good.

Beef Fried Rice

Beef Fried Rice

POINTS® Value: 4
Servings:  4

Preparation Time:  5 min
Cooking Time:  10 min
Level of Difficulty:  Easy

Ingredients

• 3 scallions, thinly sliced


• 1 Tbsp fresh ginger root, peeled and minced


• 1/2 pound extra lean ground beef (5% fat or less)


• 1 tsp five-spice powder


• 1 10 oz package frozen mixed vegetables, preferably an Asian mixture, thawed


• 2 cup cooked brown rice


• 1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce


• 2 tsp hoisin sauce


• 2 tsp Asian red chile sauce

Instructions

1. 
   
   Spray a large nonstick wok or high-sided nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over high heat. Add the scallions, ginger, and garlic; stir-fry until softened, about 1 minute. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 3 minutes.
   
   


2. 
   
   Add the five-spice powder and cook until fragrant, 20 seconds. Add the mixed vegetables and stir-fry 2 minutes.
   
   


3. 
   
   Add the brown rice and stir-fry 2 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce, hoison sauce, and chile sauce. Stir-fry until heated through, about 1 minute.
   
   

Rollin' in the...

Well, it ain't dough, but it sure feels like it!

As promised, here are my "before" pics.  This is at 163.8 lbs (74.45 kilos).  My goal is to get down to 145 (about 66 kilos).  I am currently in a size 14.








And here's how I looked less than 5 years ago.







You can click on any of the pictures to view them in a larger size.

***FOR THE RECORD***

I am very aware that I was too thin in my old pictures.  I am anorexic (I say am because I feel it's something that doesn't just because you're able to gain weight) and was suffering with it when those pictures were taken.

Baked Potato Soup

Baked Potato Soup

POINTS® Value: 5
Servings:  6
Preparation Time:  15 min
Cooking Time:  70 min
Level of Difficulty:  Moderate
 
This satisfying soup replicates the great flavor of a baked potato topped with the works except we've used healthier toppings like turkey bacon and reduced-fat versions of sour cream and cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 bulb garlic clove(s), large, 1/4-inch-slice cut off top


• 3 pound potato(es), rinsed, pierced with a fork (about 6 large baking potatoes)


• 6 slice uncooked turkey bacon


• 4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth


• 1 1/2 Tbsp thyme, fresh, chopped


• 1/2 tsp table salt


• 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground


• 6 Tbsp reduced-fat sour cream


• 6 Tbsp low-fat shredded cheddar cheese


• 6 Tbsp scallion(s), sliced

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400ºF. Wrap entire garlic bulb tightly in foil; place garlic and potatoes in oven. (You do not need to put them on a pan; they can go right on an oven rack.)


• Bake garlic until soft when squeezed, about 45 minutes; remove from oven and let cool. Continue baking potatoes until tender when pierced, about 15 minutes more; let potatoes stand until cool enough to handle.


• Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned, about 6 minutes. Place bacon on paper towels to drain off any fat; chop bacon.


• Unwrap garlic and squeeze pulp from bulb with hands into a large saucepan. Peel potatoes and add to saucepan; mash with a potato masher until smooth. Gradually stir in broth, thyme, salt and pepper until blended; place saucepan over medium heat and cook until hot, stirring occasionally, about 5 to 10 minutes.


• Spoon about 1 1/3 cups of soup into each of 6 soup bowls. Top each with 1 tablespoon of sour cream, 1 tablespoon of cheese, 1 rounded tablespoon of bacon and 1 tablespoon of scallions. Grind fresh pepper over top if desired.

Lovin' it!

I love my new food scale!  I used to have a crappy little non-digital scale, and it sucked.  Plus, I broke it.

To pic or not to pic?

This weekend (whenever Mr. W and I get to the store) I'm going back on Weig.ht Wa.tchers.  I did this last spring and lost 17 pounds!  For you metric ladies, that's 7.7 kilos!  Now I've gained back almost ever bit of it.

I plan on chronicling my journey here, for the world to see.  The question is, would you want to see pictures?  I'm contemplating having Mr. W take front, rear, and side view pictures so I can see exactly how far I've come.  Granted my body is not pretty and it won't be supermodel hot even when I get to my goal weight, but it's only a body.  Of course the posts would be password protected, but of course just about anyone who asks can have the password.  But they would be bathing suit-ish pics (as if I had a suit that fit..HA!).

So tell me what you think...pics or no pics?

I tried to add a poll, but could not.  I've really got to sit down and figure out this whole wordpress and CSS thing.  Grrrrrr

Massaman Curry Chicken

This is one of my all-time favorite dishes.  Yummy!!!!  (I couldn't find a picture that accurately represents this recipe.  And I eat it too fast to even think about grabbing my camera.)

***edit***
Substitue light coconut milk for regular coconut milk.  Serve 6 instead of 4 (easily possible).  Including 1 cup of Jasmine rice, the recipe is 9 points per serving.
***edit***

You should be able to pick up a can or container of massaman curry paste at your local Asian market.  The curry paste makes the dish so make sure you get the right kind.  Red, yellow, and green are the ones I usually find easily, but it's worth the search for the massaman curry.

Serves 4

Ingredients
1 onion
1 T peanut oil
2 cans coconut milk
2 T massaman curry paste (more or less to taste)
1 tsp Thai fish sauce (nam pla)
1 T light brown sugar
8 oz tiny new potatoes
1 lb skinless chicken breast, cut into chunks
1 T lime juice
1 T fresh basil, finely chopped (or 1 tsp dried basil)

1. 
   
   Cut the onion into wedges
   
   


2. 
   
   Heat a wok until hot, add the oil and swirl it around.  Add the onion and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes.  (I used a 16" high sided frying pan.)
   
   


3. 
   
   Pour in the coconut milk, then bring to a boil, stirring.  Stir in the curry paste, fish sauce, and sugar.
   
   


4. 
   
   Add the potatoes, and basil and simmer gently, covered, for about 20 minutes.
   
   


5. 
   
   Add the chicken chunks and cook, covered, over low heat for another 5-10 minutes, until the chicken and potatoes are tender.
   
   


6. 
   
   Stir in the lime juice.  Serve at once over Jasmine rice.
   
   

This is almost better the next day, reheated.  I guess it gives the spices all time to blend and absorb into everything.  Since Mr. W doesn't like this (or any other curry) I usually eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner until it's gone.  Delicious!

a note about the fish sauce.  the recpie actually calls for 2 tablespoons.  i use much less due to the strenght of the fish sauce.  if you have a brand new bottle that has yet to seriously sit and get stronger, you can use more than 1 teaspoon.  use with caution.

Corn and Crab Bisque

This turned out WONDERFULLY!!!

Corn and Crab Bisque

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Ready In: 45 Minutes
Yields: 8 servings

***edit***
Substitute half & half for the whole milk.  This recipe is 4 points per serving.
***edit***

"Fresh corn cut from the cob and crab meat come together in this hearty, creamy, and easy to prepare bisque that's spiced up with cayenne and Cajun seasonings."

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/4 cup butter


• 3/4 cup onion, chopped


• 3 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth


• 3 cloves garlic


• 2 bay leaves


• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper


• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning


• salt and pepper to taste


• 4 ears corn, kernels cut from cob


• 1/2 cup heavy cream


• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour


• 1/2 cup milk


• 16 ounces fresh lump crab meat

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in onion; cook until soft and translucent. Pour in chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Stir in garlic, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir corn into boiling broth. Simmer about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low.


2. Remove 1 cup of soup, and set aside to cool slightly. Then pour into a food processor. Pour in half-and-half. Puree for 30 to 45 seconds, and set aside.


3. In a small bowl, stir together flour and milk. Slowly stir into simmering soup. Stirring constantly, simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Then stir in pureed mixture.


4. Reduce heat to low, stir in crab meat, and cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes.


5. Sprinkle with cheese and serve with crusty bread! Enjoy!