ninjananny's Friends

We just got back from our Thanksgiving break visiting my brother and sister in law in Michigan. It was fun to hang out with them! We didnt do much, just wandered around a little bit and spent time together- a nice relaxed vacation. Probably ate too much.... but it was all healthy food, except for the sweets. Theres a great bakery/ cafe close to their place and my sister in law enjoys cooking and baking.

Anyway, its also nice to be back home and eating more like I am familiar with. Made a bulgur wheat/ cottage cheese/ spinach bake for dinner last night, which is going to carry forth as lunch today. Breakfast was a banana, a few almonds, a small piece of cheese and a slice of toast with peanut butter and jam. I get very hungry if I dont have a substantial breakfast! Havent yet decided about dinner.

I am also making some headway with my driving! Yippee! Its taking me really long to learn, but I figure that its better to take it slow, steady and regular than get frustrated because I am not learning quick. I had another lesson with a driving school instructor who was absolutely great- very reassuring but also firm. I do so want to be able to drive myself around by the time the baby is here- I would hate to be stuck at home and asking my husband to drive to the store to pick up things in the middle of the day. Fingers crossed!

We have just started shortlisting names for the baby. We are looking at names that are of Indian origin, but easy to pronounce, and also mean something  pretty. Also since my husband's last name is really long, we are sticking to 2 syllable or maybe 3 syllable names. Since the u/s showed a girl, we have a long list of girl names, of which Suha (meaning rejoicing) is at the top of our list right now. Just in case the u/s was wrong, we also have a couple of boy names up our sleeve- Arul meaning blessing or Skanda or Karthik.

Have a great Sunday all! Its beautiful weather out so we are off for a LONG walk!

Looks like I've got another busy quarter ahead of me.

Monday/Wednesday:
8:00 - 12:30: Work
1:30 - 2:35: Statistics
4:10 - 5:50: PC Networking 1

Tuesday/Thursday:
8:00 - 3:00: Work
4:10 - 5:25: Managing the Software Development Process
6:05 - 7:45: Technology-Based Ventures

Friday:
8:00 - 12:30: Work
1:30 - 2:35: Statistics

I'm excited because it's a little lighter course load than I had this past quarter. On the down side, that's 27.5 hours at work and not exactly alot of study/homework time. :/ We'll see how it goes. After the first few weeks, I may cut a work day from my schedule to make things easier on myself.

Our anniversary party was Saturday night at the local Country Club, food was great, company was wonderful and the decorations were lovely.  Daughter-law did the decorations and had a CD made of the story and pictures of our life together, had music from the 50's in the background.  It was fabulous, so well put together, I appreciate it so much. It brought tears to most every-ones eyes.  They had a tribute to Bills brother who was his best man and sister- in law who have both past on.  My sister-in-law was my best friend.  They were married 3 months after we were and their son was born 3 months after ours was born.  We vacationed together and stayed very close. They both had a horrible death, He had ALS and she died with MRSA after heart surgery.  It was awful, we had gone out to Arizona to be with both of them for the final weeks.  Terrible.  Before that we went out several times to visit when they were in good health and had a great time.  We both had big fifth wheel campers and spent time together camping during the summers when they came back east.

I didn't do well this week, went to lunch with friends a couple days, the party and we had our friends that came from Fl. for the party for dinner last night plus all the left over food from the party came home with me as we purchased it by the platter so everything was packed up for me to bring home.  I took half down to my sons and gave a neighbor some but till was a lot left here.  I thew out the mac and pot salad today as that doesn't keep more than a couple days.  It is getting under control now I don't like extra food in the house as it is to much of a temptation.   Someone gave us a fruit basket, Bill open the small bag of jumbo cashews then decided he couldn't eat them because of the lack of teeth on the top and left them on the counter.  I left them alone for a couple hours than had a few , a hour later a few more, took a couple days but they are now gone and I ate everyone of them.  Anyway I was 198.5 last Wed. and this morning I was 202.  Bad weekend and this week is not over yet, still have another obsticale to get though.  Hope I can at least maintain.  We will see

We are off to Ann Arbor, Michigan, tomorrow  for a week to visit my brother and sister in law for the Thanksgiving break! Excited about seeing them since it has been a while. While AA is a little colder than Providence, it still promises to be nice weather.

I am a little worried about making good food choices while I am there. We tend to eat out a lot since AA has a lot of good restaurants. Also, when I am in charge of my own kitchen, I tend to plan my meals to get in all the food groups and nutrients; and I have loads of fruit and veggies. It shouldnt be too bad, since both of them eat healthy and well by and large, but still a little worried about loss of control, I guess!

I am also not sure  I can keep in touch with my CC friends since I dont have a laptop. Its amazing how important my friends have become over a short few months- I will miss you all so much! But I will be back on Saturday, so it wont be too long!

Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Its a girl!

Had my 18 week ultrasound today! All's well with me and the baby!

We hadnt decided whether we wanted to know the gender, so the ultrasound technician said she would write it on a piece of paper and put it in a sealed envelope for us to destroy or open as we thought fit. We were thinking we would put it away for later, but half an hour later, we got home and couldnt bear it anymore! So we ripped open the envelope and there it was!

We could be mistaken of course since they say its easier to tell for a boy- but we have another u/s in two weeks to confirm since I am taking part in a study of cervical length and low birth weight

The rest of the family is overjoyed! I am happy, but I would have been happy either way!

The doctor was also very pleased with the baby's weight, heart rate and  development. My health and vital signs are also good. I was a bit afraid that he would tell me I have gained too much weight (12-14 lb in 18 weeks) but he said its all looking great.

Its a happy day here!

I am puzzled about my behavior this past week.  I haven't even kept track past lunch for several days.  I have been on a sugar binge.  I don't get why I do this - I can talk to others of you who are struggling and know what to say and believe it!  I REALLY DO - believe it!  And I am so honored that people seek out my comments and advice.  Why is it that sometimes I go through a period that seems to fly in the face of everything I know to be true and that I seem to be undermining my very own words and advice? 

I do have one thought on it.  Lately, I have looked into the mirror and seem to see a MUCH older woman than I am.  My skin is so saggy and loose - even on my face - and my arms are batwings, bigtime!  I think what bothers me the most is the looser skin on the face - it makes me look a lot older which is a disappointment after all this work.  I keep hearing that the skin will not go back at this age - and I don't want to undergo any plastic surgery. 

Jack, God love him, thinks I'm beautiful no matter what!  Always has... I am so lucky - but he thinks I have probably lost enough weight!  He doesn't want me to get any thinner.  Gosh!  Never thought I'd ever even consider that possibility!!  LOL!  But I am thinking that may be true.  I think I need to concentrate on some weight exercises to build muscle and hopefully, fill out the loose skin a bit?   I know I've been bantering this idea back and forth for a while - I need to get motivated to do it!   I've been very lazy the last couple of weeks - I don't want to fall back into depression again.  Gosh I should be singing from the rooftops! 

Don't get me wrong - I am thrilled with my progress and will NEVER go back (this sugar thing is just a minor setback, I'm sure!) - But I am ashamed to not be as happy as I thought I'd be.  I jump back and forth with feeling great about it all, and then down again!   Does anyone else have this problem - after losing? 

Still maintaining my weight at 200 grams under goal so very happy with that. Its Teds birthday today so will have to cook him a special dinner tonight.

We have had two days relief from the heatwave but it is coming back for the next two days, we have extreme fire warnings for today and tomorrow, so just have to be ready and hold our breath, it is really scary when it is like this and we spend our day scanning the horizon for signs of smoke as the bush comes right up to our boundary at the back and is very close on two other sides. It is really weird as we usually dont have to worry till Jan/Feb.

Anyway on a lighter not our garden is looking really lovely as the heat has brought everything into full bloom early. It makes all the work well worthwhile

Crustless pumpkin pie

Ingredients

28 oz pumpkin 3/16 cup sugar (use 1.5 cups Splenda) 1 cup egg beaters 1 tsp vanilla (alter to your liking) 1 1/2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice OR 1 tbsp cinnamon, .5 tbsp nutmeg, and .5 tbsp ginger (alter to your liking) 1 tsp salt 11 oz nonfat evaporated milk

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together in large bowl (NOTE: do not use sugar, use 1.5 cups Splenda - this sugar equivalent is just in place for the correct calorie count, as the Splenda database entry is inaccurate)
   
   
2. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes
   
   
3. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

Placemark to use recipe while traveling.

Athens Phyllo

==========

Here's a modification of South Beach recipe:

133 g (6 (9" by 14")) sheets whole-wheat phyllo dough,

thawed[146695]
1/3 cup Splenda zero calorie[101167] I used 3/4 cup per HG recipe
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
15-ounce (1 can) pumpkin puree[11424]
9 tbs (3 large) egg whites[114538]substitute
.25 c (1 large) egg yolk & white sub[100773]
382.8 g (12-ounce 1 can) FF evaporated milk[1097]
2 tablespoons sugar-free maple syrup[95194](15)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract[2052](4)


Instructions
Position rack in middle of oven and heat oven to 350°F.

Stack phyllo sheets on plastic wrap or waxed paper; cover

with a barely damp towel to prevent sheets from drying out.

Lightly coat 9" pie plate with cooking spray. Lay 1 phyllo

sheet in the pie plate. Coat sheet with cooking spray,

making sure to spray edges. Repeat with remaining sheets,

rotating each slightly in the pan to form a circle. Fold

and crimp edges.

Place a piece of parchment or waxed paper on top of crust.

Weigh crust down with pie weights or dried beans and bake

until edges are lightly golden, about 10 minutes. While

crust is baking, combine sugar substitute, cinnamon,

ginger, salt, cloves, and nutmeg in a medium bowl.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer at medium speed,

beat pumpkin puree, egg whites, and egg yolk until well

blended. Slowly add milk, maple syrup, and vanilla, beating

until blended. Add spice mixture and blend well.

Remove pie weights from crust. Pour filling into crust and

bake until tester inserted in the center comes out clean,

45 to 50 minutes. Remove pie from oven and cool at room

temperature to set. Just before serving, top each slice of

pie with 1 to 2 tablespoons whipped topping and chocolate

shavings (if desired).

This is a South Beach recipe that I modified by adding 1/2

cup more sweetener and substituting eggs and using FF milk. Makes 8 servings at 126 cal each with A rating.

Note that I couldn't find "phyllo dough" but found Fillo Dough at Whole Foods Market; however, Wahlmart is supposed to have the latter now that I know what to look for.

Okay, this is me starting over again. The story of my life. Up, down,  up, down, up, down. If I count the number of times I've started over this year it must be around 11 or 12. But here I am again, like an ant trying to climb Mt. Everest.

Today is my birthday! I woke up to lots of messages and phone calls from family and friends. Made my day!

Plan for today: Its a beautiful day so I am going to walk, walk, walk! I have a class in the afternoon, but I am going to show them a movie today, so its an off-day for me.

Lunch at our fave sandwich place and dinner at our fave French restaurant!