1/2 way done and a recipe!

Today is a good day. I'm half-way through my isolation period and the end is in sight. Even better- I'm officially allowed to go off my diet (not that I haven't been sneaking anyway). I've been craving lots of salty goodness so for lunch I made chili-dip. Thanks to my neighbor who had a couple key ingredients and was willing to doorbell ditch them for me. :o) Anyway, i thought I'd share it with you. This isn't a meal, more of a snack. And definately one you don't want to have all the time. But it's quick and easy and a great 'superbowl' or game-day food.

2 cans chili (whatever kind you prefer)
1 sm. can diced chiles
1 can olives (sliced)
1 brick cream cheese (I use low-fat or fat free, not that it matters)
a bunch of shredded cheese ( a cup, maybe more. The more cheesy goodness, the better).

You can do this in the microwave- I recommend a glass-type microwave safe bowl, or on the stove- med/low heat, or in a crockpot- dump and go!

throw it all in there and stir it up. Heat until melted gooey goodness. Serve with tortilla chips.

It's that easy. And it's that yummy.

Now I'm going to go eat and finish the last few chapters of Jodi Picoult's latest novel 'House Rules' which is FANTASTIC as always!

Not fun

125 mc of I-131. Found out yesterday that it's 10 DAYS of isolation instead of the 5-7 I was originally told. It's definately more than the 4mc I had a couple weeks ago. I was told to suck on lemon drops to avoid radiation sitting in my salivary glands. After a dozen lemon drops I couldn't suck another one. My tummy felt yucky all night last night and nothing sounded good to eat except a ham and cheese sandwich. I wasn't supposed to eat one, but did anyway. This morning my fresh strawberries taste funny. I'm not happy. The thought of another lemon drop makes my stomach turn. :o(
Also my bum hurts from sitting on my tail bone all day yesterday. It's hard not being depressed when you're 'STUCK'. At least I know it's not forever.

Marvel or DC

I've decided that I should be a comic book character. I just found out that I'll need the larger dose of I-131 and it's going to be administered on thurs. Don't worry, Gilbert is taking the kids to Boise for the week that I'll be in 'isolation' (sounds so much better that 'quarantined'). Anyhow, it got me thinking what a cool comic book character I could become. You know, a normal person living a normal life in a normal world when all of a sudden- a large dose of radiation turns me into.....

thats where I get stuck. Can't think of a good name or a good power either. So much for being a comic book hero. I think there's potential there, though. I mean, with all that the thyroid is supposed to do that it's not doing for me- I could definately use a super power. Don't you think?

Good thing I'll have several days to think about this while I'm locked in my house.

Logan Says:

Watching TV, switching between Jeopardy and the NBA Finals, a KFC commercial comes on showing mashed potatoes and gravy:

"Mmmm, that looks like LOVE!"

Not a big deal.

so.... my first dose of I-131 wasn't really a big deal. Meaning- I don't glow in the dark, I haven't felt sick, and my day has been uneventful. I'm glad. I don't know what I was expecting, but I know I didn't want to be sick.

I've spent the day on my bed. Watched 'Dear John' and 1/2 of 'Avatar'. I'm glad I bought Avatar (edited) because I KNEW my boys would love it, and they do. But it just isn't the same on my tiny little bedroom TV as it was in the theatre. As for 'Dear John'- still LOVE IT! if I can't find anything decent to watch tonight, I may watch it again. (mental note- gotta get the soundtrack)

The tech at the clinic where I was admistered my pill this morning told me to suck lemon drops all day. She said sometimes the I-131 damages the salivary glands if the radiation just sits there. In order to keep them clean she said sour hard candy is good because it makes you salivate a lot. Well, I've been sucking them non-stop and my tongue and the roof of my mouth are not happy about it. But it must be working because tonight Gilbert brought me a grilled chicken breast (read previous post) and it was DELICIOUS!!!!! Fresh strawberries on the side- YUM!

and LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of water followed by bathroom breaks and triple flushes. TMI? Well that's what they told me to do to dilute the radiation I emit through so much water intake.

Aside from bouts of boredom- I've had a pretty decent day of 'No Worries'. Blogged a bit. Sketched a little. Wrote some instructions. Took a nap. Just tried to enjoy a phenomenon that NEVER happens when you have kids-

R E L A X A T I O N !

Early celebration

You know what happens when you start to celebrate early? You find out the celebration is going to be much later than you want. I don't know this yet, but it's what usually happens. So as I sit, super excited about my icky diet being over tomorrow- I know in my soul that the Dr. will probably tell me to stay on it for another week just in case I have to have another treatment. Ugh.

Here's a small list of what I've been eating the past week:

Water- I can have juice, too. But I prefer Water.
Chicken- grilled on the Foreman. Very yummy- but not e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y. blah
Fruit- Strawberries- YUM!!! Still not getting old. Unless I get a sour one, then I'm grumpy. Also apples, bananas, dried apricots. tonight? fresh pineapple on the Foreman. Uh, yeah- you heard me. :o)
Pepitas- Pumpkin seeds. Roasted/no salt. they have a naturally salty flavor that lasts for a milli-second. I'm getting tired of them too.
Home-made bread. not in my home though, are you nuts? I have a wonderful friend who made me 4 loaves of wheat bread with non-iodized salt. it's so yummy.
Jam- apricot or raspberry. it's become my new condiment of choice. it's great on the bread. Pretty good on the chicken (unless you're just plain tired of chicken), and makes the nasty crackers I have taste a little less nasty.
Organic PB- decent, when you're hungry enough. Pretty good on granny smith apple wedges.
Brite crawlers. Y'know, the sour gummy worms. This is my sweet of choice right now- because I CAN eat them. And I don't have to share with the kids because it's one of the only things I CAN have.
Cream of Wheat- no milk. not too bad. I usually cheat and put a tiny bit of milk and add a little water. I know, I know. but as long as it 'looks' like milk I'm fooled.

Last night I made a yummy mixture of fresh tomato and grilled chicken. It was suposed to have zuchinni in it, but my zuchinni was bad :o( Tomato and chicken, sauted with some garlic and a little pepper- YUM! a slice of wheat bread on the side. Almost cured my craving for the O.G. Except the wicked heart burn I got from that tomato. Yowza!

So I'm planning a celebration of the Olive garden on Wed. night. It's a splurge- but I deserve it. That is unless my Dr. crushes all my hopes and dreams by telling my to stick with the diet. Oh, it will be SO SAD. oh well, there's always next week I guess.

Tomorrow I become radioactive for 24 hours. i'm interested to see if it messed with the car radio at all. I'll let you know.

i'm getting bored with my food choices. I know there's more i CAN eat out there- there's just not a lot that i WANT to eat.

Atomic Mom

Just got the call from the Dr. saying my TSH levels are high enough to start treatment. I'll go in early Tues. for a low-dose and a scan. then back on friday for another scan to determine if I need a large dose or not.
Thankfully on tues. I'll only have to be away from the kids and everyone for 24 hours. Whew! iIm hoping that's all there is and that I'm free and clear after that, but we'll see.

P.s. Mom, remember that maternity dress you had with the little symbols all over so we called you 'Atomic Mom'? I'm thinking of hanging yellow caution tape in front of the house as a half-joke! :o)

the good and the NOT so good

I finally decided to call my Dr. and set a plan in motion. I have one more big step in this whole thyroid cancer nonsense to go through and that's the I-131 (radioactive iodine). Although I want to be done with all of this I know it's going to be a pain getting everything ironed out to make it happen. I guess that's why I've been procrastinating.

So today I go in for my blood work. My Dr. thinks my TSH levels should be in a good place or close considering I haven't been on thyroid meds for over 2 weeks. I need to be at a 30 or higher. Normal is usually in the range of 4-6. Here's the part I haven't been looking forward to- the 'Low- Iodine Diet' BAH! I'm hoping my levels are good so that I don't have to do this very long. Everything is SO bland. And I have to cook from scratch. EEK!

At least I can have unsalted butter, non-iodized salt, and sugar to add a little flavor flav to things. but absolutely NO Dairy or Bread (unless I make it myself). Yeah, like that's going to happen. I think I'll be taking a trip to 'Sunflower Market' to see what I can find!

back to my Roots

Is a root canal considered surgery? Based on how I feel, I sure hope it is. If anything I would like to add it to my list of 'procedures' in 2010.

Had my first (and hopefully, ONLY) root canal this morning. It took 3 1/5 hrs. Apparently I have strong teeth so that made it tough. Also, I have TMJ, so that added to it. I've never had a "rubber dam" before but thought of Becca and her dental-assisting days while getting worked on. Not only was the time in the office not fun, but I feel like I've been hit my a truck in my face.
Since I'm no stranger to getting banged up at least I know I won't feel like this forever.

And to all of you who say a root canal is 'No big deal'- I think that's info. you should keep to yourselves. I was completely blindsided :o)

BTW- the kids are enjoying their summer vacation and freedom while Mom lays on the couch with not much energy for anything.