How to lose a week in one phone call

We just got home from a flying, middle of the night, trip to NM on Sunday. DH's dad ended up in the hospital with what they misdiagnosed as pancreatitis. What a mess.

The good news, he doesn't have pancreatitis. The bad news, if I could get a hold of the nincompoops at the ER there would be a body count.

FIL originally went to the ER for a nosebleed that wouldn't stop and now has three broken ribs from falling out of the hospital bed after being given a sleeping pill. They forgot to put the rails up. Whoops!

Right now he's still in the hospital, but should be released tomorrow to the nursing home for rehab. MIL is also going to the nursing home so she can get the care she needs.

We've had more ups and downs this week than a turkey has tail feathers.

Personally, I've seen more of my FIL's body than I ever wanted to see, worn the same socks for 3 days straight, changed clothes in the hospital parking lot at 4 AM while dodging the security guy and slept in the back seat of my car.

That housecleaning stuff I talked about earlier. Yeah, it didn't happen. In fact I came home to cat puke in the kitchen, dining room, and bathroom. I'm so glad to be home.

It's a new week

DH brought me this nest. It was once the home of a family of Orioles. I thought it was sweet of him to think of me when he saw it on the ground.

The job fair stunk or maybe I'm too picky. I don't want to do shift work at the dog food plant and I don't want to work in a casino. I'd really like to use my degree if possible. Something is bound to come along sooner or later. At least I'm working on being employed.

In the meantime, I guess I could clean house. Tomorrow I'll channel Donna Reed, Harriet Nelson, and June Cleaver and whip this house into shape. Since I don't have pearls, Mardi Gras beads will have to suffice. I have the apron and heels covered. Wish me luck.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful that I didn't get lost, rear ended or otherwise mangled in OKC (those folks drive like nuts).

I'm also thankful I found the building I needed over by the Capital without too much trouble.

I'm thankful that I was able to test for a job whether or not I actually get the job. Did that make any sense?

I'm thankful tomorrow there is a Career Fair in Clinton because I'm going to be there bright and early hunting a job.

WW update and other blatherings

The kids sent us this picture for Valentine's Day. She's getting chubby.

I hope everyone had a marvelous Valentine's Day. We were pretty laid back around here and didn't do much. Mom came over and had meatloaf and a WW potato recipe with us and watched movies.

In weight news I'm down another 1.4 pounds, putting me at 8.8 pounds lighter than I was on January 1st. Hooray! I really thought I'd gained from the week before. I'm so glad I was wrong. This first 10 pounds is being a booger to get off. When I think about the 30 pounds that needs to follow it, my head hurts. DH says he can tell a difference. Me, not so much.

Otherwise, there's not a lot going on. I'm still looking for a job and it's a little discouraging right now.

I hope everyone is having a happy Monday and looking forward to the remainder of the week.

Weight Watchers update and a recipe

I'm still plugging along. I lost 0.6 pounds bringing me to 7.4 pounds lost. It's coming off slowly, but surely.

Let me start by saying I love Hollandaise sauce. I love it so much I can eat it with a spoon. That's not a good thing at 13 points for 1/4 cup or 48 points for the whole mess. Not to mention what that butter was doing to my arteries. This is one of those things I crave and luckily WW has me covered.

Light Hollandaise Sauce
Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook 2006
Points: 1
Serving: 1/4 cup

1 large egg lightly beaten
1 cup chicken broth, fat-free, low sodium
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons lemon juice*
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Combine egg, chicken broth, and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thickened and starting to boil. Stir constantly. Bring to a boil for 30 seconds. Stir in lemon juice, butter, salt, and cayenne until combined.

* I bumped this up to 3-1/2 tablespoons to kill the chicken broth taste and it was yummy. My arteries and hips thank me. I love this on green beans, crab cakes, and for Eggs Benedict. Yum!

These two recipes were given at our local WW meeting.

Crunchy Reeses Pie
8 servings
3 points

12 ounces fat free vanilla yogurt, frozen
1 cup fat free Cool Whip
1 box sugar free chocolate pudding
1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1/3 cup Grape Nuts cereal

Combine ingredients and put in a sprayed pie plate and stick in freezer. Thaw slightly before serving.
************

Apple Crisp
3 servings
3 points

3 apples sliced
2 teaspoons Splenda
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 packet Cinnamon Apple Instant Oatmeal
3 tablespoons water
3/4 cup fat free Cool Whip

Slice apples into a baking dish. Sprinkle with Splenda and cinnamon. Cover and microwave for 3 minutes. Sprinkle with oatmeal and drizzle with water. Cover and microwave 2 minutes. Divide into 3 serving dishes.

I haven't tried these, but the time is coming. I'm ready for something sweet.

I hope everyone is continuing their weight loss endeavor. I know it's tough, but if I can do it so can you. Hang in there.

Baby love

We're back from loving on the grandbaby. Here's Peepaw holding Kelsi. Look at his hands. He said he'd be more comfortable when she was a little bigger and could do stuff.
Look at her hair. It's really curly when wet. It's long enough to come over her little ears. So cute!This baby doesn't have a care in the world. I caught her laughing.Meemaw and the baby. Meemaw wishes she'd stayed out of the sun when she was younger. Look at those wrinkles and sun spots. Mercy!
I held the baby enough that my arm is sore. LOL! She's up to 8 pounds now and has gained 1/2 inch. She's growing like a weed.

We visited with DH's parents a little bit. It's so frustrating when we go down there. I don't think his dad has any concept of time and we spent more time waiting than actually visiting and then he got mad when we had plans for dinner with the kids. DH was put out and that always makes for an interesting trip. Anyway.

I'd better get dressed and get busy. Have a happy Monday!

Thankful Thursday and where I've been

This week I'm thankful for my health. I have bad habits just like everyone else, but I'm working on them.

Weight Watchers this week was good. I came down another 3.6 pounds over two weeks. Remember we were canceled the week before.

Today I'm having fits. Nothing in particular is wrong, I just feel like throwing things and screaming. Do you ever have those days?

Anyway, here's what I've been doing. I found a thrifty artichoke that was painted gold and repainted it almond. I hung these little cross-stitched hearts next to the basement door. On my newly painted walls.I painted this wall and hung this stuff up. Seriously, plaster is hard to hang stuff on. I've been fighting with the quilt rack for a week. Today I got serious and used screws. DH is going to kill me when he figures it out. Everything else is hung with super sticky Velcro.Not satisfied with painting the one little area, I ended up repainting all of the woodwork in the hallway. Here's the telephone niche. See my little uranium glass lamp and the old flycatcher?I bought new-old china. It's not really that old. They quit making this pattern in 1985, the year I graduated high school. It's made by Royal Jackson and is the Celebrity pattern in platinum. I paid five bucks for the whole mess. Service for 8 with only 5 cups.Other than that I've just been puttering around.

Tomorrow we're going to NM so we can pick up a grandfather clock and snuggle the grandbaby. I could care less about the clock, but I need some baby time.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and has an even better weekend.