Cave Bitch

PSA: The Week is Almost Over!!

2011-02-23T21:27:00.003-05:00

Perhaps you're not panicky b/c you've actively participated in the week so far. Today started my week really. I went back to work after having unexpected (but normal, I'm told) side-effects from the Thyrogen Injections.

I was so excited to get back to work and take my mind off of everything, but am still having pain in my joints. Needless to say, I was ready to leave at the end of the day.

My normal-but-unexpected side-effects: blurry vision, sick stomach, MAJOR SLEEPINESS, joint pain, muscle aches. So, the best part is joint pain. When you TALK non-stop for 8 hours a day, having a sore jaw is not cool. Other than that, today was much much better than Monday & Tuesday. I mostly slept when I stayed home. I really barely moved b/c I felt so dizzy and discusting. That kind of drives me insane. I hate missing work.

Even though I was sidelined for a minute, I am grateful that I was able to opt for Thyrogen. The alternative is coming off of my meds for two weeks (full withdrawl) and that would be horrifying. Me after missing my medicine for 1 day = possible cameo on the 6 o'clock news. Choose your own adventure depending on the hormone mix: total chaos and hurt feelings for everyone crossing my path or menopausal meltdown before noon. :)

Next step is labs on Friday and waiting to hear back. As soon as this week is behind me, it's all downhill from here!!! I hope to try to workout late this week or early next week and get back on a normal schedule. I have lots of fun training coming up before I get ready to head to FL and don't want to miss a thing at work or at home. Yay!

Broccoli Toss

2011-02-23T21:24:00.002-05:00

How can you go wrong tossing together a few of your favorite things?

Broccoli + Kalamata Olives + Cherry Tomatoes + a little homemade dressing = HEAVEN

OH, for F*#&'$ Sake!!

2011-02-16T19:30:00.003-05:00

To sum up today by saying I am completely confused by my Dr. appointment and don't know how I feel about anything related to my recovery... would be an understatement. I will start by saying (again) that there are many who think Thyroid Cancer is "the good cancer". Why? Easy treatment (mostly), fast recovery and overall good 5 year survival rate. Fair.

At first, that outraged me. Then, I almost started buying in. I think partially because I was slipping into denial... after the fact? Yes.

There is a lot of maintenance and awareness that has to continue after recovery and thru treatment. I think I knew that in the back of my head (beware of symptoms, don't let lumps go, watch everything... blah, blah, blah.) But, I was not ready for my appointment today. I have moved on with my life and put big, bad cancer behind me. I am fine. Just fine. (This is what I tell myself and still believe is probably true.)

You know, I have not been upset about the possibility of foreclosing on my house, moving far away from my family, etc... I had a minor freak out and lots of tears over thinking about having a new Dr. Todays appointment was already NOT going to go well because of my anxiety about that. Then, I asked for a referral to someone in Tampa and my Dr. had to clarify...

Dr.: You're not even a year out from radiation, OR your diagnosis. You're moving?

Me: ...Am I missing something?

Dr.: It's possible to have residual cancer cells in your body. We usually do a scan or perform Thyrogen/blood testing a year out from surgery and sometimes and second radiation treatment is normal.

Me: --blank stares--

Dr.: Before you leave or I update your prescription, we need to see the results of your thyroid levels and do a Thyrogen test.

Me: ???!!! I thought I was OK!! Apparently I missed this day in school. I need to leave by the 14th!

Dr.: If you have residual cells, you'll need to do another course of radiation.

Me: ---wine. wine. wine. get me a glass of wine....---

Then I shuffled my way over to the lab where they took twice as many viles of blood.

Then I shuffled my way over to the office manager who scheduled my Thyrogen appointments for next week.

Next week I go for injections on Monday & Tuesday... blood tests on Friday. The week after I should hear if I'm clear (for this year - I get that now) and I get to move on with my happy little life and fly away to FL. Each year it will hopefully seem more routine and less surreal. After this year, it shouldn't mean as much as this is the first 12 months and reoccurance is less than 30% of the Papillary Thyroid Cancer population.

Ugh.

So here I am, revisiting the emotional side of cancer. The really hard part. No matter how easy the surgery, recovery or treatment - the thought of cancer, the realization of how fragile and short life is, the control it has over your time, energy, worrying and life in general... the emotional, mental weight of having the diagnosis - is the hardest thing to deal with.

I am resolving to just say "F it!". I am going to get my injections... maybe get a little dizzy, puke a little... push through the day and enjoy all of the time I have in CLE until I leave. I'm not worried about the results of the test - I won't even think about them.

Why?

They are going to come back clear.

Doc is going to write my script.

I'm going to fill it and pack it in my little suitcase and fly my ass off into the sunset.

Fuck you, cancer!! I'm so over you.

14: Mushroom & Bruschetta Smoothered Eggs

2011-02-06T09:45:00.001-05:00

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Day 13 - What a Week!!!

2011-02-05T11:54:00.005-05:00

Even thought I haven't posted much lately... I'm still rolling along! I'm officially 10 pounds lighter. Yippeee!
This week wasn't a good workout week as I just started the "on the job" training part of my new job. I've been on the phones, running around like crazy asking "new guy" questions and totally screwing up my eating schedule. :) It's been lots of fun, but I'm going to have to be more planful next week of my eating.
Also, I usually WOD 3 days a week and today is the first day I worked out. I tend NOT to look at what the workout is going to be so I don't make an excuse not to go... well... today was 5 rounds of squat cleans and jumping dips. Now I'm totally wrecked, but even more motivated to go shopping and make sure I have enough food to get through the week.
And then I have to make myself eat that food.
Yup - me - lost my appetite. I've been reading that it can happen when you cut out (refined) carbs and take in high/moderate protein. Since I'm WHOLE juicing greens everyday, the jolt of natural fiber keeps me full, too (and I am getting in a good 2 cups of greens in a "glass" of juice).
So, this weekend is all about shopping and cooking. I'm making some favories like Mark Sisson's Garlic Pulled Pork and Paleo Girls Meatballs and might try this Everyday Paleo recipe - minus the wine (to stay compliant to Whole 30). Can't wait!
Enjoy the weekend and stay tuned for the countdown - after this month I'll only have a few days before I pack for sunny, FL!!

Mama mia!

2011-01-30T09:31:00.006-05:00

Trattoria is my favorite spot in Little Italy, CLE. You can find this around the CLE area at Heinen's stores and it goes great on, well... EVERYTHING. :)

100% Natural. Ingredients: tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, basil.

Swamp Water

2011-01-30T09:31:00.005-05:00

In this order:

-1.5 cup water

-1 large bunch organic baby spinach (fresh)

-1/4 lime segment, peeled

-1 cup strawberries

-1 cup ice

Direx: Start on variable, moved all the way to 10. Flip to high. Blend for 60 seconds. Enjoy!

Fight Gone Bad

2011-01-29T21:49:00.006-05:00

Watch THIS.

For the past two weeks, I've been sporadicaly working out. Prior, I was going 3 days a week (like clockwork). I've worked out 2x per week, but on whichever day I could b/c of the class I was in and the weather. Lovely CLE snow dumps make it hard to get in the city.

Anyway, I was telling Jim that I was kind of day-dreamy on the way over to WOD today and was thinking about how it's been about a year since I (sorta) knew that something was wrong - yay denial! Then, I was thinking about Fight Gone Bad and how that was a big deal for me last year b/c it was when I just started feeling better... I want to do it on Bruce's eviction date - 05/20 every year.

And... what'ya know, I walk into the gym and we're slated to do Bodyweight FGB. Horrible! :) Now I'm laying on the couch, all hopeless like, debating... Dexter or early bedtime?

Try it, you'll like it!

Spicy Beef Stew!

2011-01-28T18:03:00.002-05:00

Here's what's on deck for dinner... off to the kitchen.

I know I've been bad about updating posts, but this week has been crazy. Chock fulla studying and going out. (Very outside of the recent routine.)

Back to normal this weekend... looking forward to a lazy Saturday AND Sunday. I will be back to update with pictures and recipes before Monday.

--------------------

01/29/11: Recipe update: of course I left out the potatoes and flour. You can thicken the stew by using tomato paste (just read the ingredients). As it turns out, I think that also takes some of the bite out of the stew... which wasn't intended.

So, the recipe modification isn't perfect. I think I will add a couple of anaheim chilies (fresh) and an extra jalepeno next time, maybe even just 1/2 way through cooking. On the other hand, it really did heat up nice. :)

Never fear! (Chow Hall Slop)

2011-01-26T22:26:00.004-05:00

I am still rolling along all compliant-like! This week has been back to back busy, so my postings have slowed down. I have to hit the sack, but I will be back to update you with the recipe for my Yummy chowhall slop shown above! Until then....

------

Here it is, easy-peasy:
1.5 lb ground grassfed beef
a few zuchinni, sliced
1 big sweet onion, diced
2 cans (check the ingredients!) diced tomatoes
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 big yellow bell pepper, diced
about 2 cups or one sm can of beef stock/broth
season with oregano, salt, pepper, onion powder, paprika - whatever you fancy

-brown off 1.5 lb grassfed beef
-once cooked, remove from pan with slotted spoon, set aside
-sweat out garlic, onion and pepper
-add broth and can of tomatoes, undrained
-add in sliced zuchinni and meat

Enjoy your slop!

Day 1 - 1/24/11

2011-01-23T21:14:00.001-05:00

WHAT?!

That's right. Day 1.

I am following the program and part of the rules is starting over if you default. I definitely had a pastrami sandwich at Corky & Lenny's that was the size of my face and then proceeded to have a few adult beverages.

Otherwise, I wasn't so bad this weekend. Before, if I "cheated" on something (like WeightWatchers or whatever other stuff I did) I would just ride the wave and go on a weekend-long food bender. Now, oh well - a bad meal and some drinks are behind me. Pick up where you left off and start with the very next meal. I just want day 1 to be totally compliant and today, I barely ate because the crap I introduced to my body made me so sick... plus, I watched Hoarders today - gross, gross, gross!!! I can't eat anything for at least 12 hours. :0)

My game plan this week is a strong start to the day: fast, grab & go breakfasts, at least 3 green "smoothies" (for the week) and getting to all 3 workouts.

Wish me luck! I've got 20 pounds left to lose!

18: Tips, Tricks and the Truth

2011-01-19T19:25:00.008-05:00

A few people have recently asked if I have any tips on how to do Paleo on the cheap. A couple of people flat out put down my diet not because of the restrictions, but because of what they perceive to be the cost of the food I'm eating.

As I often overshare, I will give you the flat-out truth.... It's really not that much more expensive!! However, I will not sugar-coat. In all honesty, if you're avoiding processed foods and switching to higher quality meats and veggies (fats, too - whoa they are a pretty penny!) you will spend more. You should expect to spend more if you're getting "better" food. But, to me, it's not *that* much more.

Here is how my budget breaks out round-about...

When I shopped exclusively at Giant Eagle, I would lump my diapers/wipes, paper products, shampoo - basically everything together and would spend about $180.00 every week on grocery trips. That amount of money is spent to feed and wash 5 people, 7 days a week and keep one of those 5 butts diapered up. :)

Now, I spend $180.00 a week at Whole Foods for 5 people. However, I do not buy my diapers, wipes or shampoo/detergent/etc. there. I did make a separate trip for all of that jazz at one time and spend about $90 a month. So, what I count as MY total "grocery" trip spending went up by about $90, 0r appx. $25 a week.

So, what is a family on a budget to do? Well, when I started worrying more about my lifestyle (working out/eating right and so on) I shut off my cable. BLASPHEMY, I know. But that's what I did. You might find a way to drive less or stay in more or eat out 2 less times per month. Whatever it is, if you want to make it work, you'll tighten up your belt somewhere else. I'm of the mindset now that I spend my $5 a month on my Armour Thyroid to help me get through the day and the $800 extra on my "preventative medicine" that's going to keep me alive to meet my Grandkids. Small price when you think of it that way... it's kind of like investing, right? ;)

I will say that there are some "staples" or bigger ticket items that you will need to buy periodically. When I buy those (coconut butter, good olive oil, large quantities of nuts) I will buy cheaper cuts of meats or more eggs to make sure my bill is still sitting around that $180 mark. Remember, even though you're not buying juice and candy and frozen crap, that doesn't mean you shouldn't watch your coupons or ads. You can stock up on a shit-ton of Steamfresh veggies or organic frozen fruit when they go on sale. Often, you can find roasts, bulk chicken breast or bulk chops BOGO at the "big box" stores. (Go ahead and take advantage of those deals in the beginning so you can swing it - wean yourself over to the markets and Whole Food type stores as you get in a routine.) You might also consider coughing up a bit of cash upfront and go in with someone on a side of cow or a pig. Watch prices on fruits & veggies... You will learn VERY fast what is in season/not in season. You can buy all different sorts of apples, for example... but one type (honeycrisp) can be $3.49 a pound and another (pink lady) can be $2.29 a pound. All of those things can save you money.

Also keep in mind, I have a curiosity for Raw Foodism. This is actually making life easy on me. I'm still eating protein at every meal right now. But, what I do is put together a salad or a whole food juice (using the Vitamix, juicing the WHOLE veggie/fruit - not discarding the fiber/flesh) and I grab a hunk of meat or a couple of eggs on the side. I have not officially been weighing and measuring, but if you stay in your "Zone RX" of meat portions, you're not going to be spending as much money on meat - which tends to be the expensive part of the bill. I am eating about 3-4 oz of meat at a sitting (or so my eyeball tells me). Also, all 3 philosophies (zone, paleo, raw) will tell you - eat VEGGIES and chill on the fruit. Typically, fruit is more expensive. Sticking to the plan as it was intended within itself will save you money.

I would say, until you have a system down and you make it your lifestyle, you'll feel the pinch (a little one). But, you'll establish habits and start networking to find the deals you need to get by and make it work sooner than you know it!

In all honesty, I was a stop/start Paleo Adventurer here for quite some time. I think it realistically took me a couple of months (all together) to get my routine nailed down.

Another question I get a lot is "how do you feel?" Simply: GREAT!

On a more specific level: I have more energy. I don't get the 2:30PM slump anymore. I am starting to get to a point where I have some sort of endurance. (I might not call it that yet - it's more like a get-up-and-go that I didn't have there for a while.)

Some unexpected "side effects" of this diet? First and foremost - libido. Holy smokes & I'll spare you the details. Secondly, clear skin. A few others I didn't expect? Sometimes I actually feel like I have to make myself eat! I'm on day 18 and have lost about 8 pounds already. I know I've restricted calories quite a bit by default of the types of food I'm eating and I feel satisfied. What I crave is changing as well as the way food tastes. Last and best of all - I can get up in the morning! When I rest, I REST. There are a lot of times that I don't even dream.

Other questions asked - more specifically about Whole 30. I love it. You can find the "rules" for the challenge on the Whole 9 website. There are a few resources out there that you can reference for free. I think the "big 3" for me are Whole 9, Robb Wolf and Mark's Daily Apple. They all share the same basic idea of what Paleo is to them, but Whole 9 takes the strict, no non-sense, no cheats approach to beginning changing over to Paleo. I think that's what would work best for me, so I went by "their" rules.

As far as nutrition for the athlete and increasing carbs/fats/etc., I don't want to steer anyone in the wrong direction. I am by no means an endurance athlete or a nutritionist. I will say, when I feel a combination of feelings of: A) I'm GASSED! and B) I just can't chew anymore!! I increase my fats. I would direct you to Robb Wolfs page & podcasts for more in-depth information. There's also lots to dig into on the Journal (CrossFit Journal) if you subscribe. Additionally, I think I remember Robb getting into it more in his nutrition series (articles). Those you can find on Performance Menu.Com.

Whew! That was long. Hopefully I didn't bore anyone to death.

Main points:
-If you're going to fork out money, skimp somewhere else - not on your health.
-You pay more to get more.
-The health benefits are FREE! No meds!
-Savvy comes with time.
-Combine ideas that work for you - there's lots out there for free.

Strawberry Icecream

2011-01-17T19:46:00.002-05:00

I love my Vitamix!

In this order:

-1 cup Almond Milk

-1 tsp vanilla

-1 pound frozen strawberries (we were a little short, so rounded out with mangoes)

The original recipe calls for added sugar. Skip it. Start on variable 1, move to 10, flip to high and smoosh everything down with the tamper until it has the consistency of icecream.

Kids loved it! Since I don't do much sweets, a 1/4 cup was a perfect little treat.

16: What's Your Game Plan?

2011-01-17T18:31:00.007-05:00

Losing weight, kicking habits, trying to turn over a new leaf... however you slice it - lifestyle changes are hard. Changing your eating habits can seem daunting, but with the right perspective and some motivation - it can be done.

I lost a TON of weight after the first two babies... not so much after Henry b/c life got away from me. But, I could have made it work if I were a little more motivated. I'm having a lot of success this go-around with sticking to working out and avoiding grains, dairy and legumes... so in true-to-Missy form, I've been wondering - why the heck didn't I just buckle down and do this sooner?!

Well, really who cares. I'm on the right path, so really I should be asking - how do I keep this going. I thought back to when I successfully dropped about 50 pounds after having Sydney (re-donkulous, by the way).

Here's what stands out:

-Be Prepared: Make food ahead. Plan for parties - pack for yourself or bring something you can eat. Have snacks handy.

-Say No: Don't make excuses that you had a non-compliant day because someone offered you food. You're the only one that's going to take credit for your success; you should own up to your self-control as well.

-Switch it Up AT LEAST Weekly: It becomes a hobby or a project almost to plan meals and set out to try new things. It is time consuming during the first few weeks. However, if you are eating the same things over and over again, not only are you going to get bored, but you are probably not getting a great enough variety of nutrient-dense foods. That could mean trying a different cut of meat, spice mix or vegetable... or a totally new recipe/way of preparing things.

-Make it easy/Mix & Match: This goes hand-in-hand with making food ahead. For example, make a plain or rotisserie flavored pork roast ahead... One day have it with Salsa Verde on top, another day dice it up and stir fry it.

-Last but Not Least: GET OFF YOUR ASS. 3 days of gliding around on an eliptical isn't going to cut it either. I was just chatting with the hubby about this. I was pretty flippin' aggressive after the kids. I worked out sometimes twice in a day or at least 1 x per day, 5 days per week. I'm still getting into the swing of things, learning what my new limits are with my crazy hormones and all, however, I could probably add a couple of strictly strength/skill work days on top of my 3 WODs. What better way to tackle that than kettlebell skill work date nights with the hubby? Stay tuned on that, I'm sure I'm going to turn into a fitness guinea pig here with that one.

So there you have it. Nothing you've never heard before, surely.

**For Your "Try Something New"** Check out the link to Everday Paleo on the left sidebar for inspiration as well. I go there every once-in-a-while to check out recipes and she recently posted a Chili Verde recipe, which is kind of funny because of my recent taste for Salsa Verde. :)

15: Green is the New Black

2011-01-16T09:46:00.002-05:00

I made Jimi & I a green smoothie to go with our eggs. Here's what you need for two heaping servings:

1 cup water

1.5 pears quartered

3 big sprigs kale (rip the leaves off the stem)

A slice of fresh ginger

1 cup frozen mango chunks

If you have a Vitamix, put everything in the blender in the order of the recipe... start at Variable 1 - move to 10 gradually. Flip to "high" and blend for 60 seconds.

As you all know, the greener the better... When you first start juicing, start with mixes of veggies and fruit. You can gradually swap out fruit for veggies in your recipes.

**Click on the links in the recipe for more info. on the health benefits associated with the foods in the recipe.**

14: A Little Unexpected...

2011-01-15T18:39:00.002-05:00

Sooo... spaghetti sauce is now... orange?

I used the Vitamix to put together some sauce and was just winging it. My goal is to use the whole food of whatever I throw in there. Turns out not seeding/scraping down tomatoes is going to take away from the red color of the sauce.

Needless to say, we had orange sauce today. :) I threw in leftover cherry tomatoes and two whole beefsteaks, a clove of garlic, a tblsp or two of olive oil, oregano and pepper to make the sauce. I didn't really cook it. I had a pound of grassfed beef browning off on the stove and threw it on top after I turned the heat off just to warm it a bit. So, without the meat it would have been raw. For noodles, run some zucchini over a mandoline and zap in the microwave for a few seconds (about 45) just to soften a bit.

The kids didn't really say much about the sauce, which was nice. I might throw a date or two in to sweeten it a bit next time. I could tell it was a bit tart for the kids.

Alright - I am off to read my new "cook"books. I am a bit tired. WOD today was a fun one and has me a bit sleepy early tonight. I will say, I've been feeling so good lately, when I got home I almost bundled up and went for a run. Sitting here now, I'm glad I didn't b/c I am zapped. Since I'm 1/2 way through the challenge and have (mostly) everything under control, I will probably add a couple of runs in-between workouts over the next few weeks.

Time to start spiking the activity to shave off a few more pounds.

12: Almost 1/2 Way?

2011-01-13T20:42:00.007-05:00

It's kind of irrelevant at this point. I had some moments during the first few days where I was thinking of all the things I would eat (and drink) when my 30 was up... I had a bunch of "slumpy" days all strung together and finally started to pick up some energy after a few horrid workouts.

Today was really good. I didn't wake up hungry, I did a pretty good job during the WOD today and didn't curl into a ball and slip into a coma - I'm blogging! I also think, this is much easier than I thought in the first place. In fact, I am going to take it a step further and see how much raw food I can get in (within the Whole30 guidelines at first, including protein.) Then, who knows? A primarily raw diet? A little on the Vegan side - Gluten Free, surely.

I think all of what I have been reading (and seeing in documentaries) is finally sinking in. I might have gone through a post-cancer freakout rebel stage for a minute there: drinking and eating like garbage. Not that I'll never treat myself again - I'm not living without beer forever, however, I have a different motivation to watch what I stuff down my piehole these days.

And - in other news - my Vitamix is coming soon!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAAY!!!

It's late on a WOD day and I have two new books on my Kindle, so - night all. I will keep you posted on progress. I think a half-way weigh in would be fun. Again, it almost doesn't matter b/c I feel great and am already fitting into some pants that I haven't been able to get on in a while. I'm guessing I'll land around 7-10 pounds down.

We shall see!

11: Popeye Chicken

2011-01-12T20:01:00.003-05:00

Here's an easy one: Steamfresh Cauliflower, steamed asparagus, grilled chicken with spinach & mushroom saute.

I had a box of frozen spinach I wanted to get rid of. Here's how I threw it together:

Sweat out 1 clove of garlic (minced) and 1 shallot (diced) in a TBSP or so of olive oil.
Throw mushrooms in there to cook.
Toss in the spinach (squeeze out excess moisture first)
Sautee until warm.
Salt/pepper to taste.

Throw it on top of chicken and tell your kids it's how Popeye eats his chicken - it worked for me!

Enjoy.

10: Date Night

2011-01-11T20:42:00.005-05:00

Last night was a great night. I was disappointed that I missed CrossFit (the roads were CRAP). I did get to snuggle up to my hubby and I treated myself to a date. They are my new love.

While you "should" avoid dried fruit and have fresh fruit in limited quantity, I just said F*$K it. I do what I want and it was HEAVENLY. It's like biting into an oversized raisin, only full of honey.

Yum and yum.

Check out a "date" story here.

Day 11 dinner post up next!

9: Middle East Feast

2011-01-10T19:13:00.003-05:00

Dinner was: Tomatoes tossed in Lemony Lebonese Dressing & Middle Eastern Cumin Meatballs.

Changes to the recipes?

For the meatballs, use almond meal instead of breadcrumbs - or - nothing at all.
Beef - grassfed!
Also, I subbed olive oil for the vegetable oil, of course.

The kids scarfed up every bite. I am full, but the meatballs were sooo good, I could eat 3 more!

Enjoy the recipes!

9: Primal Palate?

2011-01-10T19:07:00.003-05:00

Part of lunch today was just some veggies tossed with olives, oil and vinegar... Day over day I can sense changes in the way food tastes. Mostly things like salt REALLY standing out, fruit seeming so so sweet and veggies having the brightest, yummiest flavor.

Probably a result of eating clean and a little bit of buying organics/shopping at whole foods.

Yum, yum, yum!

8:1 Bowl-O-Sprouts

2011-01-09T09:49:00.002-05:00

I love Brussel Sprouts. I had a bowl with my hard boiled eggs this morning.

I have become a believer in "breakfast is the most important meal of the day". I think most people believe that because they've been told over and over again... But think about it.

What are you putting into your mouth at breakfast time? Most folks have cereal or oatmeal and it's loaded with sugar and additives and lacks actual nutrients. Then it gets washed down with some overly-processed beverage or flavored, sugary creamer & coffee... not a good start to your day.

You've seen some of the "breakfasts" I've had. Not your typical breakfast food - with the exception of eggs. Who cares? You're sitting down to fuel your body for the most important part of your day.

There's a site I used in the past called Nutrition Data to see what is in whole foods (vitamins, minerals, etc.). They've now added glycemic index and inflamation factor as well. Very interesting.

Next time you're cozying up with your box of cereal and cows milk, plug in a Paleo breakfast and take a peek at the nutrition data (example here) of the food you should be eating. Very interesting... and might get you to think differently about the foods you choose at breakfast time.

7: BLT Chicken Salad

2011-01-08T19:32:00.004-05:00

Talk about getting creative the night before grocery day!

Chicken Salad:

leftover chicken breast diced
2 tblsp paleo mayo
tsp chopped parsley
tsp chopped green onion
pinch salt/pepper
1 piece bacon crumbled
1/4 cup sliced cherry tomatoes

Put it on top of a bed of lettuce served with thinly sliced cucumber, a chopped egg and some olives.

About to dive in.

Enjoy!

7: Resting? Resting? 1-2-3...

2011-01-08T16:40:00.005-05:00

Today was surely NOT a rest day. I actually took a couple of lashings to tell you the truth. The WOD today was BRUTAL (partner WOD). I was matched up with a seemingly normal girl. Very sweet. Very cute. Teeny, tiny. Skinny.

When the clock started - she fricken turned into an ANIMAL. :)

It goes like this: 10 rounds for time. 1 round = 10 Burpees + 100M Row. First for you, then for your partner. Yes, that means each of you do it 10x!! I barely got to rest between rounds b/c this chick was killing it. I left Lakewood and drove over to the East Side to pick up my kids (Jimi had to stop in at work for a minute). Jim asked if I was OK because I was "red and yellow". It's really a miracle that I did not meet pukie today.

We went out to eat for Hanky's Birthday lunch at Texas Roadhouse. You'll be excited to know that you can get "naked" chicken or they will steam your veggies and not add the butter sauce. I did get a "naked" sweet potato too and devoured almost everything on my plate. I really needed the calories.

Once I save up enough money for my beloved Vitamix, I will be drinking whole juice or making vegetable soup or salsa. (Yeah - the Mr. said "go for it - you deserve it!) Raw, loaded with nutrients and delish. I canNOT wait!!! That's really what I needed after today.

I still have not bought groceries. Tomorrow it is. I hope to score a couple of awesome recipes while I couch surf tonight. Luckily the kids are so sleepy - they're napping all at the same time. I think the CrossFit Gods are smiling down on me - they know I need the rest.

I wonder how much of my menu next week I can get turned over to raw food.

Stand by!

6: I'm Going Through Chaaaannnnggeeesss...

2011-01-07T21:14:00.005-05:00

This week was a little rough. Not because of cravings - I am completely committed and motivated. It was rough because I did not expect a full-on au-natural detox. I started getting "slumpy" around Tuesday. Wednesday was a total bear. I was COMPLETELY gassed at CrossFit on Thursday and probably put up some of the worst scores ever for the WOD. I didn't even do the cool down because I felt my body whithering up. Still adhering to the plan, I came home and showered and went to bed.

Often, you just need REST. So I rested.

I woke up this morning feeling a lot better. The alarm went off; I didn't hit snooze. I felt sharp and with it - I wasn't hungry/foggy or even that sore. (Legs are sore, but everything else is back to normal).

Jimi and I just watched Food Matters. Very good. If you have not been exposed to raw foodism or alternative cancer treatment, it probably would seem a little outlandish to you. They spend a good bit of time on those topics. I am completely interested in both - especially raw foodism, which I have been reading about/dabbling in intermittently since I was diagnosed with my cancer.

With that being said, I highly recommend watching it.

It sparked a conversation about how I might be rounding the corner and coming off of the worst of the unexpected detoxing. Jim said he is suprized at how fast there has been a change in my skin and hair already. If ya'll don't already know: I take thyroid hormone EVERY DAY. I am not even 30 and have hot flashes and crazy uncontrolled "cycles" and all the other fun skin problems and greasy hair that comes with hormone issues. It's annyoing to simultaneously feel like a 16 year old and a 55 year old at the same time.

Anyway, while much has improved with the switch to Armour Natural Thyroid. But, I did revert to some teenage looking breakouts on my face and greasy, frizzy hair. When Jim said that to me, I looked back at the pic from this morning and thought - yeah - not only no cramps this time around but no major breakouts, either.

We're on to something!!

It's amazing that I'm shy of a week of healthy eating and I'm noticing such big changes. I think the deflated energy and fatigue have much to do with needing to replenish after this initial flush. Probably a bit of an increase in fat and a greater variety in "color" of the veggies I'm eating will help improve. All of that, plus the raw food talk in the movie, had me longing for a Vitamix again.

Never fear Foraging Friends! I am eating my animal derrived protein. I do believe I need it and will continue to eat it. However, whenever I'm on a "kick" (which hopefully turns out to be the norm this time) I make it a point to eat 1 raw food every meal. That could be the veggie, a piece of fruit - whatever. No one ever told me to do that - I just know I feel better when I do that. This movie was talking about increasing your raw food intake (not needing to go totally raw) to reap huge benefits, including aiding in the repair of your immune system. That's big time for cancer people. And I can say cancer people because I am one. :)

That's all for me. We have depleted the food supply here at the Marino home and I must buckle down to make the grocery list! I might also put together a quick presentation for the Mr. on why we should spend $500 on a "blender". Wish me luck on that one!

Party on Wayne... Garth?

2011-01-07T06:14:00.001-05:00

Don't be jealous of my sleep-mullet! Last night, I took a shower and crawled to bed. I barely made it.
I've cut calories (mostly sugar/grains) and have been working through some serious fatigue. Luckily I have an awesome hubby who has stepped in to make sure I get enough rest. Today is Day 6 and I feel a lot better already this AM.
Now on to tame the mane!

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4&5: Too Sore to Blog!

2011-01-05T21:58:00.001-05:00

Don't worry, today was a compliant day! I stayed a little late at work and just wanted to vegetate when I got home because I'm so flipping sore. I'm still on leftovers and didn't have the motivation to get creative, so chicken and zucchini for lunch, it is. I just wish I had stuff to make salsa. That would help make it a little more interesting. Tomorrow is a workout day, so other than this, you probably won't hear from me. I have to sir down and meal-plan for the weekend and next week. You'll hear from me Friday.

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3: The Good & The BETTER

2011-01-04T19:40:00.008-05:00

Another super day!

I took some tips from Whole30's Success Guide and really planned out my whole day of eating since it was the first day back at the gym (they give tips on pre & post workout nutrition). I can tell you that I feel a lot better than I usually do after a workout that landed after a hiatus! Unfortunately, I can't really post the guidelines I followed b/c I do not want to get my ass sued off - so if you're interested - buy the guide. You can also do your research. There's a lot out there online for free that you can find.

I will say, lunchmeat is discouraged, except Applegate Farms is "ok in a pinch". I was in a mad rush this AM and grabbed a few almonds, a few rolls of turkey and a salad (leftover from dinner) for breakfast. The turkey was really good. You can find it at Whole Foods.

Back to the workout... Why is it, everytime I'm at Bill's & Staci's Gym, I read the whiteboard and try to simplify the warmup or WOD? I think they've traumatized me. The Warmup read: 75 each - plank jacks, squats, mountain climbers (4 count).

I somehow, in my mind, get it to say: 75 total. :)

I did do all of the reps. It's been so long since I've done a WOD, my shoulders were burning just from the warm up. For the WOD: I learned one-armed swings. It wasn't too pretty at first, but after practice, I'll get it together. Another cool thing? I used 25 lbs for one-armed swings when I just moved up to 35 for two-armed swings. Yippeee!

So that's the Good. The better? I feel like a lot of things in life are just coming together, calming down and it's almost peaceful. When you go through such huge changes (moving so far away, etc.) there's a lot to be worried about and a lot to be excited about, too. I'm at a place where I feel like we're not only doing something we want to do - but supposed to do as well. Even with so many questions out there around the house, what Jim's going to do, where we're going to live... it seems like everything is just going to work out.

Also, you all know how much exploring I've done since I've been with the company I'm with so far. This time, I don't have new guy jitters. I am nose-deep in training and taking it all in. While I am naturally nervous about exams and such, I feel at ease overall. I can't tell you how many times folks stop by to check on me or drop whatever they're doing to give me full-on coaching when I ask a question. It really feels like - how could I fail when I have such awesome support and am surrounded by so many talented people?

Well, enough mushy stuff... Good luck on your Whole30 tomorrow! I will be trying to drum up recipes for the scraps I have left in the fridge. I'm thinking some kind of chicken salad with the extra "quick & dirty chicken" I made.

More later - night all!

Don't Wait Up for Me Tomorrow!

2011-01-03T22:09:00.001-05:00

I'll be back at the gym in the evening and my meals are going to repeat a bit until I do my mid-week cooking. See you soon!

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2:3 Quick & Dirty Chicken, Green Beans, Leaf Lettuce Salad

2011-01-03T18:54:00.003-05:00

Quick & Dirty Chicken

6 Chicken Breast (tenderized - no chemicals, good ol fashioned beat down!)
4 slices thick cut bacon
2 large portobella mushrooms, sliced thick
1 large vidallia/mayan onion, sliced
To taste: onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, black pepper

Cook off 4 slices of thick-cut bacon in a skillet (Whole30 approved or fresh from the farm)
Drain most fat - leave a couple tablespoons behind
Cook off onions and mushrooms until tender
Sprinkle both sides of chicken with spices. Add back a tablespoon or two of bacon fat - throw the meat in the pan. Cook one side, flip ONCE, cook until juices run clear.

Quick, easy and my house smells like bacon. What more could you ask for?

2:2 Chicken Tortilla Soup, Fresh Broccoli & Cucumbers

2011-01-03T18:53:00.002-05:00

Basic recipe here. Watch the ingredients on the tomato cans... and no dairy garnishes if you want to be compliant! I had frozen turkey stock from Thanksgiving that made this super yummy.

2:1 Hard Boiled Eggs, Spicy Mustard, Cauliflower Salad

2011-01-03T18:52:00.003-05:00

The easiest breakfasts are leftovers!

Zoom in on those PERFECTLY yellow yolks... Let your eggs rest in an ice bath after hard-boiling. The green ring around the yolk is a sign of overcooking. "Just right" yolks are creamy, almost buttery - not mealy and dry. It makes a huge difference and only takes a few minutes!

1:3 Tri Tip Roast, Cauliflower Salad, Leaf Lettuce Salad

2011-01-02T19:50:00.003-05:00

This roast recipe was easy and delish! I made a few cuts into the roast before putting it in the oven and shoved some garlic cloves in, just for good measure. Very flavorful!

You have the Cauliflower recipe below. For the salad - greens and whatever other veggies toppings you like... I do a quick dressing for by dumping in 1 part oil, 3 parts vinegar and a tablespoon or two of lemon juice. Add whatever seasoning you're in the mood for (or my recent fave - minced shallots) shake and pour!

Day one is over! I did end by snacking on some pineapple - it tasted so sweet. Only a few meals under my belt and already appreciating fruit like I would have a Death by Chocolate Cake yesterday. :)

29 days to go!

Cauliflower Radish Salad

2011-01-02T16:14:00.002-05:00

Here's a recipe I found online and made it compliant. You can find a "ranch dressing mix" recipe here. Leave out the buttermilk powder of course... When you use it, it will be a bit concentrated, so it is to taste.

The storebought mayo is a no-go as well. Find a recipe here.

For the basics of the recipe, follow this link ---> YUM!

1:2 Spicy Chicken, Salad, Squash

2011-01-02T13:34:00.001-05:00

Artichoke, olives and balsamic vinegar made this one stinky and flavorful salad. Stuffed!

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Mile Marker

2011-01-02T10:48:00.004-05:00

OK - The Whole30 Guide discourages weighing/measuring/etc, but I find that motivating. I am not going to go into the nitty gritty - I think that's a good point to be made - pay attention to your performance and how you FEEL.

For example - before Bootcamp, I gained a bit of weight (I graduated High School a whopping 102 pounds/size 2). Anyway, I was 130 pounds and around a size 8. After Bootcamp, I was 133 pounds and a size 3. Totally solid. Weight doesn't tell you everything.

Goals for me these days: to feel good, be able to hang with the cool chicks at CrossFit (a pullup perhaps?) and gain a more control of my energy levels. That's one thing about being on Thyroid meds that I am told will always be out of my control. I say that's crap.

Here are my milemarkers:
Depending on the pants: Size 10-12
Weight: 162ish (eep!)

The last CrossFit milemarkers I can remember:
FGB: 234 points
Deadlift: 115lb (Most other lifts I had only done in chipper WODs and probably can only snatch, clean, jerk - 45lbs. Now is the time to set some PRs.)
Kettlebell: I did finally move up to a 35lb bell and could overhead swing.

Here's another thing - life has been crazy for the last 1 year +. I think I've stuck to "getting back on track" for about 2 weeks max, about 40 times. (Haha, not good.) This time, I have at least a 10 week period of knowing what's going to happen at work, I'm totally in remission and thyroid levels regulated... the house is done. No excuses.

1:1 Eggs, Broccoli, Olive Oil

2011-01-02T10:31:00.002-05:00

100MEDIA_IMAG0366.jpg
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Whoa, that was a lot of broccoli! Tip for those that will be trying the Whole 30 this year, download the Whole30 Made Simple - Success Guide. Make sure you're getting the right serving sizes (which are probably a whole lot more than you are used to).

Gotta get some more colors in with lunch - should be easy... Off to Whole Foods with the fam today.

Three Months Later...

2011-01-01T16:55:00.007-05:00

Life has been out of control busy with holidays, interviews, travel, and putting the house up for sale...

You've missed a lot (due to my lack of posting) so here's the super skinny:

Health: we're all well. I'm in maintenance for my hormone treatment and feel pretty normal. Armour has allowed me to lose weight (when I'm working out and not eating like a pig) and my hair stopped falling out. Yay and yay.

Holidays: Thank God they are OVER.

Job: I interviewed for a job in Tampa (with the same company) and will be moving down in the Spring - now we're in the middle of trying to sell the house.

Before the craziness of interviewing & flying to FL and back, I was doing really well with diet & working out at CrossFit Cleveland. That all came to a screeching hault when S hit the F.

You will be pleased to know, it's back on. I start back at CrossFit next week and will be trying out some new recipes - like this one.

I'm in the middle of reading The Paleo Solution - woo hoo! and I will be starting Whole 30 on Monday. The time is right - I'll be in training for work. It will be weird, but a good thing to start and end work at the same time everyday and have a lunch hour (what?!). A perfect time to get my eating and working out on schedule before I go back to being a Supe and have to flex my schedule again. Once I get in the swing of things I'll be able to stick to it. 2010 was a crazy year of ups & downs and I seriously had a hard time finding my footing.

I'm super-motivated and will have the time and energy to make it happen this year, though.

Speaking of time... I finally had the time to upload some photos of the kiddies from the Holidays.

Click here for pics - Enjoy & stay tuned!

Updates: The Good, The Better and the Great!

2010-10-02T19:46:00.004-04:00

So - today was nuts. I've been on the run since about 5:45 this morning... making this short b/c I plan to continue the running around!

Here's the short & skinny:

I've been on Armour Natural Thyroid for less than a week and feel like I notice differences in my energy/fatigue levels. I have tons of energy, actually and am feeling like a monster during workouts!
Working out - I'm entering the 4th week of CrossFit Cleveland Wests Executive Program and loving it. It's the perfect on-ramp for me to get back into working out.
I'm officially NOT radioactive! Yay! My radiation card expired on 9/4. Feel free to hug me - you won't go sterile! (haha)
Kids - AWESOME. We promise we're going to get a camera. Just waiting for a little extra money - these cancer bills are NEVER ENDING.
CrossFit 440: We had a "grand opening" and ran FGB5. We had a fantastic turnout and are working together to plan exciting things for our business & clients. Now that we have the summer and all of the craziness behind us, we are going to dig in and focus on 440.

I have a couple of new recipes that really turned out, but not a lot of time to post them. I'm gutting out closets and the basement (since upkeep on the home was put on hold in order to devote energy to kicking Bruce's Ass). I promise to set aside some time to post soon.

Desiccated Thyroid Extract - Sounds Like Fun, eh?!

2010-09-18T11:36:00.003-04:00

It is fun, in my book!

I had an appointment recently where I spoke with my Doc about switching to a natural thyroid replacement, instead of staying on Synthroid. There are a lot of Doctors who take sides on this issue and won't let you switch - my Doc says - Go for it! Just take your medicine either way, that's my concern. The other cool thing about him - I ask a question - he answers it and spends all the time with me I need. *Love him*

Part of coping with the "after Cancer" part of life is learning your new emotional boundaries. I've found that I am better off NOT going online and read all about ThyCa Survivor's experiences with maintenance drugs/weight loss/hairloss/weight gain, etc. However, the hair loss had me poking around a bit as well as the total mental/energy crashes that I get at any interval of the day with no warning... Also - I have a handy dandy P&O (period and ovulation) tracker on my cell and have noticied my periods have shortened drastically, from 28 to 22 days. While my thyroid hormone levels may be a ways away from "regulated", I'm feeling lots better and can start to ask, "is this because of the medicine or is this going to be the new me, really?"

I found a few folks who started posting stories of feeling tons better, returned energy, a stop to hair loss... the list goes on... when they switched to something they were calling "Armour". Turns out - this is a brand name of a natural thyroid supplement derrived from animals. While my Doc says, there's nothing right now to prove that either has better results for regulating/simulating thyroid function, I say - hell - if it makes me feel better - if it is effective enough that I can fool myself to feel better - why not try it?

In my poking around, I found that there are two components of thyroid hormone T3 & T4. In short, T4 is prominent and then your body converts some of it to T3. People who have trouble converting , or that have lower levels, tend to have the tiredness/fatigue/difficulty losing weight. Additionally, the hair loss as I'm finding now, can also be a side effect of Sythroid. Yipee! :0)

I gave some more blood to check levels and I'll be getting my script for natural hormone containing T3 & T4 next week. I'll be sure to keep you posted as to if I notice a difference or not. My experience on Syntroid hasn't been bad at all so far, but I think there is room for improvement for me... I still don't feel quite like myself and I'm ready to try this out.

Wish me luck on the new meds & I'll tell you how I feel after a month or so. Check back before then - we've got lots going on this & next month!!

PS - I'm not a Doc, and I don't pretend to be one on TV. I only believe that you should ask questions and work at feeling as best as you can WITH your Doctor. You can't rely on everything you read online, but the info. you come across may be a good conversation starter that leads to you feeling better!

We're still alive out here!

2010-09-14T23:40:00.003-04:00

I can't even describe how busy we've been... b/c I don't have time! :0)

I wanted to let you all know we're doing VERY well. I have lots of energy and things are turning around. My hair loss slowed down almost as soon as I blogged about it (probably was residual to being hypothyroid for such a long time previously)

Here's the rundown: work is extremely busy. We've been going out/travelling almost every weekend. Syd is loving and excelling in school, Quinny is still bouncing off the walls and Hand is finally learning how to get a word in over here. :0) Life is nuts, but in a good way.

Also, I started at CrossFit Cleveland today in their Executive Program. It's 3 days a week for 6 weeks. I think it will help me to get back into a routine and learn more about CrossFit in general. It sounds odd that I would go to another gym to some people, but that's another aspect of the community that I love - the willingness to help. Many are willing to help or open their doors to everyone else in the community without batting an eyelash. Bill R. runs an on-ramp type class on our off days that I've always been interested in. This time the timing worked out perfectly and here I am - a little sore, but really looking forward to learning more on Thursday!! After one class I'd already recommend it to anyone in that area. It's an open environment for learning and feedback on proper form and technique as well as a totally effective way to get in a workout.

Well, sorry so long between posts and for not posting pics... Blame Jimi for breaking the camera! I'll try to be more consistent on the updates or at least the funny kiddie stories over the upcoming weeks.

Sweet dreams, ya'll!

"The Good Cancer" - 3 Months Post Surgery

2010-08-21T23:14:00.002-04:00

I feel like I need to give myself a dose of my own "Marino real-talk" medicine... I am losing a lot of hair and it's OK because I am alive.

There. I typed it and I still don't believe it.

You all know I have the most unruly, crazy mane and it's a feature I like (even though I'm not really talented at taming it)! I've always shed tons when I brush or wash it, but after surgery noticed that a lot more hair was coming out than usual. Knowing that this can happen (did slightly after my c-sections) and that I have a ton of hair to spare - I did not panic.

Well, a week or so ago, I was thinking of getting a bang trim and started feeling like my bangs were thinning out or maybe a bald spot was showing up from parting too much... I tried changing my part, putting my hair to the side, even pinning back my bangs... at this point, I found that my hair was thinning all over on the top of my head.

Last night, I was in a full panic when I took the picture (left) and it's pretty obvious, there is a wider-than-normal part and a lot of scalp showing... You know what that led to...

On your mark, get set - internet scavenger hunt... BEGIN! *This type of behavior is warned against by both my surgeon and my endo, btw*

I found that I'm pretty much screwed for a not-so-hot minute. I'm finding that the number one reason for female hair loss/balding is due to thyroid disorder. You can lose hair if your thyroid hormones are too low or too high. This made me feel a bit better as I always thought it was only due to hyperthyroidism and I am happy with my current dose... I don't want to be taken down. I've, for the most part, had a lot of energy - amongst other things getting closer to normal (hot flashes, cycle, dryness - skin, mouth, & otherwise, appetite, dull tastebuds coming back, etc.).

The encouraging thing about it possibly being due to hypothyroid is that I was hypo for a long time. I really only started feeling "good" about 3-4 weeks ago. Maybe the hair loss/damage is winding down and as I further level out, my hair will start to grow back (although, everything I read says - hang in there - it really takes at least a YEAR to notice!!!!).

I feel better getting this out and committing to "OK, we've got a problem" so I can move onto "now what". For the last week, I've been trying to convince myself nothing is wrong and it's torturous.

So friends, forgive me if I experiment with funky parts and clips and look away if you notice a patch... I can deal with the stretchmarks, scars and cellulite, but something won't let me accept my hair falling out. Hubby McGoodPerson is "just happy I'm alive" and I feel like a jerk for being so bent out of shape (lots of hours in front of the mirror and crying has taken place.) I want to tell myself - you're not vein - wigs are expensive - you're upset because you're practical! But so is not the case. :0)

In good news, I am slowly losing weight, which is also a sign that my dosage is right - or close to right... Also, I am working out 2-3 times a week, which is a huge jump in activity for me since my diagnosis. Finally - I'm going to get to do Fight Gone Bad - woohoo!

More updates later... I've been putting in wicked hours at work, so I've been trying to stay off of the computer and get out with the kids when I am home. I'll keep you posted on my next appoingment and hopefully will have some lighter stuff to share inbetween.

If you don't hear from me for a minute it's not because I've gone Brittney or anything - I'm just a busy gal.

Love, Me.

Revelations!

2010-08-11T05:06:00.003-04:00

The beginning of a difficult conversation with a tot:

Quinn: Mom, girls and boys are really the same only girls tuck in their private parts.
Me: Well, that's not really true...

Oh boy.

Re-donk-u-lous

2010-08-10T20:12:00.004-04:00

I saw the Endo today... he was very nice when he was telling me I was actually feeling bone. My neck bones that I couldn't feel before b/c my thyroid was in the way. What I didn't tell you all is that I've had pain throughout my neck and shooting through my jaw and ear... my throat is tightening can be painful from time-to-time (similar to that of when I was first diagnosed). So, I left then Endo to go to the Urgent Care, figuring I had an ear infection.

Well, I was not delighted to be referred to a dentist for TMJ.

My (internal) reaction, "TMJ, how about WTF?! Really?!"

My actual reaction, "Bwah ha ha ha ha ha! Go figure!"

What is known about my big mouth: I had a cleft palette repair and years of nightmarish gear in my face (and a horrid wisdom tooth extraction experience). I grind my teeth and my jaw has been known to pop at times. So, this is to be expected, however, it did throw me off a bit as I've never had a flare like this (so sore!) and I still have yet to be formally diagnosed.

I think the worst that would come of this is the annoyance of not feeling so well and occasional pain along with some sweet head/mouth gear. I'm most excited about the mouth gear photo possibilities and, of course, the muscle relaxers and pain killers. I'm hopeful for the possibility that I might have to have surgery to reposition my jaw - thus rendering me unable to eat - and then in return I can finally lose these final stubborn 20 pounds.

And *scene*.

Life, in general...

2010-08-08T16:08:00.005-04:00

You've got the skinny on vaca - it was too much fun, therefore: too short. New recipe - check! Onto the nitty gritty...

The business is probably the most interesting topic - we're doing well. Somehow (with Jim's passion & dedication, even through everything going on) we've been able to at least break even each month. That might not sound fantastic, but we've put a bit of money into equipment as we started so modestly. We love, love, love our clients and as we grow, we are becoming quite a CrossFit family. I've taken on the role of "Relationship Manager". For now, I'm handling inquiries, setting up free consulatations and such. In the future, I hope to be planning and holding events as well. All very part time, of course, so I am slowly working up to fully taking over there.

Most exciting is that we are able to expand into a more dedicated space within The Gorilla Pit. Painting, hanging our "fabricated just for us" pull up bars (they are sooo nice!) and moving in some other gear for the clients will be going on over the course of the week. As I get better adjusted to my medication, I am sporadically working out. Ultimately, I hope to get my Level I cert and start training as well. It might not be a choice soon as Jimi will be doing some travelling for work.

Speaking of adjustments - my Synthroid is up considerably from where I started, but it can take up to 6 months to be close to normal again. I surely have moments right now where I slump or even am hyper... I've twice forgotten to take my pill and it set me back 2-3 days each time. I can't wait to get it all settled so I can really get back into working out and hopefully lose some weight! Why can't removing your thyroid make you skinny?

Other than moments, I am feeling tons better. I'm still on supplements trying to regulate and restore my Vit D/Calcium levels. There are days I wake up with the "tinglies" as I call them... My hands & feet will feel like they are asleep, but a little more painful than just pins & needles. It's not anything more than annoying and it's starting to happen less & less, which is good!! My post-radiation sensitivities are starting to fade, all except for the sense of smell, which is a bit of a blessing. I have quite a dog-nose and it can be a curse.

Work updates - I am busy! A lot of you out there have been scolding me about work, but I am starting to dig into some projects I've been trying to start for a long time - so, while I'm busy, I'm enjoying what I'm doing and it takes my mind off of things at least. In other work news, I ended up not applying for the job I was so excited about because of recent developments with Jim's upcoming travels and the question of what is really going on in my neck. It's best we see these things out and wait for next time, which is possibly soon anyway. Making that decision was heart-wrenching. I feel like I was broken up with or something. :) I have some things going that will keep me busy until the time is right and I have to just focus on that.

One of those things - did you all know Quinny goes to pre-school this year?! I'm so pumped for him. It's going to be wacky for us as one will need a ride to school, one to pre-school and one to the sitter. What we really need is a nanny! (Maybe a manny!) That's not going to happen, but I can dream, right?

Well, enough about all that. I hope everyone is well. I also want to put it out there that I'm sorry I haven't been good about returning calls... When I got home from the hospital, family and friends I haven't seen/talked to for years and years all were reaching out at once. I truly believe it's part of why my recovery was so fast & easy - the prayers and visits helped me to be positive and have something to look forward to. Now that I'm trying to find my new normal, I just can't find the time for everyone - I'm swamped it seems in all areas of life. As I figure things out, I'll be better able to manage my "me" time and will be more available.

I will continue to provide updates here and eventually get back to everybody soon. Stay tuned for Tuesday. I see the Endo, hopefully to be told I'm just fine. More then!

Armenian Chicken

2010-08-08T16:00:00.002-04:00

This chicken was perfect on the grill and was still moist after it was heat up for lunch. I found the recipe on Food.Com (formerly Recipezaar). Follow it exactly and you will not be disappointed! I grilled zucchini and peppers to have with it. Simple, vegetable sides are best with this. Enjoy!

Philly & NJ

2010-08-08T15:45:00.002-04:00

The kiddies most enjoyed the Adventure Aquarium in NJ. It's pretty big and super nice, although, we went on Friday during the day and it was pretty darned busy there. They had two very big touch pools. Above is Henry touching a shark!

Syd & Quinn at the beach exibit.

They had an ENORMOUS dive tank. There were full-sized sharks (hammerheads, leopard) and sting rays. You could sit on stadium-style seats or stand next to the glass. The kids were facinated. Sydney even jumped back from the glass at one point when a huge ray came swimming right past us. So cool!

You know we stopped at the Rocky Balboa statue outside of the art museum.

Henry boy and his Daddy. The two are practically unseparable! We thought we were going to do more in Philly, but it was so hot and the kids were losing it, so we skipped the Franklin Institute. I really wish we found time for that, but we still had a blast just kicking around, checking out the city for a while.

Sesame Place

2010-08-08T15:31:00.002-04:00

As you can see from the "stroller parking" area above, this place is no joke. You have hundreds of ladies in all stages of pregnancy, screaming tots, babies, diaper changing station LINES, crying, snotting, the list goes on... I will say, it was all worth it. The kids had a blast and so did we. There was a ton of water play type areas which was most perfect for the summer weather.

The parade may have been the best part... All the characters come out to sing and dance on the Main St...

Even Henry behaved as I may have if I were in the presence of one of my most beloved celebrities. It was overwhelmingly cute - I felt a little choked up there for a minute. ;0)

Sydney meeting AbbyCadabby.

Sydney and Quinn properly freaking out for the parade floats. So much fun!

It's been a minute, no?

2010-08-07T19:48:00.003-04:00

Holy moly, I've been busy lately! That's mostly a good thing as I have energy most of the time and I'm not sleeping 12 hours a night.

Since I'm back in the full swing at work and taking on more responsibilities with 440 - this site has been on a brief hiatus... not that things haven't been happening, though. I will update on vacation, kiddies, recipes, 440 and the like tomorrow.

I didn't want anyone to have to wait any longer on the newest neck concerns... I am going directly back to the Endo on Tuesday to get checked out. I am hoping that what I found is just part of my neck I never noticed before - because before, I wasn't obsessively feeling myself up all day long. :) It could be anything/nothing/who knows.

I don't even know if it's possible to have something reappear this close to a scan - although, the first time I found something, I had the "I just knew" feeling. I feel the same way now. It's hard to measure if I'm not feeling like myself because I'm not even on the right script with Synthroid yet - still in adjustment phase... So the symptoms I'm having could be from anything.

Anyway, my Doc is fantastic and would most likely skip right to doing another FNA right there in the office. He may just tell me to keep my hands to myself and stop being crazy - he is known for dealing out the real talk straight up honest style. That's exactly why I like him so much.

Fingers crossed... Check back Sun/Mon for updates!!

Grassfed Skirt Steak

2010-07-11T20:11:00.003-04:00

Grassfed Skirt Steak
Originally uploaded by missysioux

I went to the North Union Famers Market on Saturday - what a great market! There was everything - even a little raw food booth with dehydrated kale chips.

Anyway, I was excited to get my hands on some grassfed beef from local farmers. I whipped up a super-fast and easy skirt steak & basil sauce dinner. Except for the olive oil & spices - everything was from the market. (You can buy both there, though!)

For the Skirt Steak: pat dry and sprinkle with salt, pepper, white pepper and garlic powder - to taste. You can grill or cook off in a skillet to desired doneness. I always go MedRare, which was about 6 minutes a side for me this time, due to thickness. Although... a couple of the thinner pieces ended up around Medium, so you have to watch.

For the Basil Sauce: in a blender or food processor - blend the following: 1-2 cloves garlic, 1 cup basil, 1/4 cup olive oil, pinch salt, pinch pepper, cayenne pepper to taste.

Spoon basil sauce over steak and proceed to indulge in multiple mouthgasm bliss!

Enjoy!

Super-Fast Souvlaki!

2010-07-05T14:43:00.002-04:00

Souvlaki - minus the rice and pita = paleo delicious! The sauce isn't pictured b/c I like to cut up the meat before I drizzle it on... The meat seems to absorb more when it's cut up.

Dude... that's raw!

2010-06-27T18:16:00.002-04:00

Long story short - I bought this book today and I was meant to have this book. I had a gift card (Thanks Auntie Mo!) that I was hanging onto and meant to get another book, but kept on picking this one up... its a newer hardback and out of my price-range, but I got it anyway - the guy at the counter was like "whoa, this is expensive" and scanned some sort of coupon for me! I only paid $12 or so out of pocket and here we are...

I thought that raw would fit right in with Paleo... minus the little bit of soy (miso paste) and the whole - no meat thing... but, meat can be grilled up and slapped next to anything and I can omit the miso and surely I won't be buying a food dehydrator just yet. :0)

The book is gorgeous, full of things I would actually eat and I can't wait to start tearing it up, raw food style (and learn more about raw eating altogether). With all of the farmer's markets going on, it would be a shame not to try. I'm going to aim to try at least one new recipe a week. I'm pretty much already eating a bunch of raw food every day, so I don't know how I would set a raw food goal, esp. since I'm not going to cut out meat...

Stay tuned! I will post pics and the names of recipes, but b/c of copyright purposes I can't/won't be posting recipes to accompany.

YAWN. Off to fold tiny, little clothes and get ready for the week. I have this sinking feeling it's going to be a llloonngg one. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong and set me straight on the positive path!

Great Aunt Missy-Sue

2010-06-26T20:57:00.003-04:00

dinner!
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Flank Steak, Minute Zucchini Salad, and berry salad... you cannot go wrong!

Berry Salad:

Toss any combination of fresh, washed berries into a med sized bowl. (Slice up large berries, like strawberries.) Toss with juice of one lime. EAT.

Flank Steak:

Pat dry with a paper towel on both sides. Sprinkle black pepper, garlic powder and salt (if you must) and either grill or cook on a griddle (with about a tsp of olive oil at 350) until it just starts to firm up... about 5-8 mins on each side for MedRare... Let rest for 10 mins. Slice against the grain. EAT.

So today was SPC CrossFit's Amazing Race... of course, I am in no position to be trying to do 5 mini-WODs in one day yet. I hope I'm up to speed for the next one (I hear another may be planned for this summer?!). I tried to run 5 errands today and almost fell over when I got home. Jimi came back just in time... then he dragged me around half of Lake County and now I'm completely whipped.

We had to leave the beach after just 1/2 an hour b/c I was such a wreck. Jimi prolly thought I was being a whiny baby b/c the sand/rocks were really irritating my feet like they never have before. Remember now, I've spent the better part of my life either barefoot or in combat boots in the summer. I have pretty gnarly feet. Would you believe I got home and had little blisters on my heels? I wonder if my meds make me more sensitive to heat or if I've just become a softy after being a baby factory for the last 6 years. No clue. But, I am not a happy camper.

I was thinking today (as I was guilt-ridden after drinking an Americano and immediately falling asleep thereafter and being of no help wrangling children) I'm kind of like the Gram or Great Aunt that gets dragged around to all of the summer cookouts. You plop the poor thing in a lawn chair - in the shade if you're nice - give her a plate of food - and hope she doesn't die before you get her back home... Really, I always think - let the poor lady bask in the air conditioning for one more day. Today, I was Great Aunt Missy. Just plopped there, trying not to melt away or die before I got back home.

I did make it here, just in time to make an amazing meal. I will be heading into Week 3 of Paleo (allowing 2-3 "cheat"meals a week - in all honesty, though, 2 of them so far were veggie subs - love me some veggie subs!) and I'm getting faster & faster at whipping stuff up and getting creative with what I have in the fridge. Also, the creation of Tasty Paleo couldn't of come at a better time. There's a ton of great chefs on there!!

With that, I bid farewell for the evening... Tomorrow will hopefully be a lazy Sunday. I have laundry to fold and I am committing to at least walking 2 miles if I can't muster the energy to jog or swing a kettlebell around. Gotta do something to get my blood moving - I'm starting to feel like jabba-the-hut!

Great Aunt Missy, signing off!

Wait a minute... did all of that stuff happen to me? Yeah, it totally did.

2010-06-23T20:35:00.008-04:00

I do not know why, but this is my favorite breakfast lately. Hard-boiled eggs with brown mustard and a salad. YUM. Below are a couple of the recipes I have tried recently linked back to TastyPaleo.Com (Sorry for the delay for those who've asked!)

BLT Bites
Cucumber-Tomato Salad

Also, for Mom - the Paleo Girls Sauce & Meatballs. Goes great over spaghetti squash ya'll!

In other, very popular, much inquired about news in which I will answer in Q/A form:

How are you feeling?

Tired as all hell. My medicine is either a) taking the full 4-6 weeks to work or b) not the right dosage. Other than that: better than ever!

Have you asked for a higher dosage?

Begged. Have to wait for first round of blood tests mid-July. Poop!

Did you get the results of your scan?

Are you going to call?

Why?

I think no news is good news and I would probably have to wait for more tests & god knows what if I need more treatment, anyway. I'm happy thinking everything is fine. Also, it probably is fine, so... there. :0)

How are you feeling?

You already asked me that.

Oh sorry - are you feeling ok?

I'm fine.

:0) Cancer is kind of like being pregnant with the frequency of that question... only - I don't get the reward of a baby at the end and I'm still fat. LOL Don't stop asking though, it doesn't bother me. It actually bugs me when I feel like people forget... while I might be cancer-free (still unconfirmed, but feel that way) I have a long way to go to get to a normal state. I can get tired or foggy... I also just realized that my sense of taste is WAY off. I read online that it could be from the radiation pill. Estimated time til normal? For some 6-9 months!!! WHAT??!!

In weight loss news... I'm slowly on the losing end, but I've been REALLY good. Only a few cheats here and there and trying new foods/recipes all the time. Also, I have not worked out a whole bunch b/c I'm back to being extremely tired. You all know I can crank out two workouts a day when I'm not falling apart from exhaustion... can't wait to get back to being me. It's almost been a year since I started having issues (colds/surgery/cancer/more surgery) Re-donk-u-lous. I never fully lost the weight after (we lost) "Baby 3" and had Hank.

I'll tell you, being pregnant for 13 months straight, getting sick, finding out you have cancer and then trying to get back to "normal" is crazy. I just had this post-marathon blues moment like - well, what now?

Focus on family, getting healthy and just rocking out in general.

That which does not kill me, makes me a SURVIVOR.

Week 1: Keepin it Honest Update

2010-06-18T06:06:00.004-04:00

6/18 - 155.8: That's 4.2 down (in week 1 alone!!!) and 25.8 to go...

Includes a "few" going away beers and a slice of pizza at R&J's send off on Saturday.
First week on Synthroid. Not too shabby... Go Go Paleo!

I have about 10 pounds left of post-surgery weight to shimmy off...

This week's goal - 3 CrossFit workouts to help it along and GET STRONGER, and a run or two to relax and burn off some energy.

Up today: yesterday's workout that I missed.

Five rounds of:
5 Dumbbell deadlifts
5 Dumbbell hang cleans
5 Dumbbell push presses
5 Dumbbell squats

Increase the load each round.

See you on Whiteboard tonight!!

How to Beat Cancer in 4 Easy Steps

2010-06-16T22:05:00.005-04:00

1. On iPOD, play - Heart: Crazy on You; Kanye: Stronger, Deftones: Bored & other songs of the like - ALL THE WAY UP.
2. Sprint from telephone pole A to telephone pole B.
3. Jog from telephone B to telephone C.
4. Repeat for approximately 1.5 miles or more.

Tips:
1. Choose a day other than garbage day - (F me!)
2. If the motivation & anger should strike ON garbage day (as mine did) start with back to wind.
3. Cool down completely before re-entering home. Concerned husbands become panicked when cancer-patient wives stumble in, disoriented, mumbling things like: "mosquitos. puke. heart isn't beating. might poop my pants".

Cave Bitch, signing off.

Broccoli Salad

2010-06-14T22:05:00.008-04:00

I can't even begin to quantify how much of this stuff I eat in the summertime! If you are not on a Paleo diet, you can cut down the tartness of the recipe by adding the sugar (or honey) it calls for. Whisk 1/4 cup into the mayo mixture. Although, I don't recommend it. Find my version HERE.

I also did a "Not" Potato Salad a while back when Jimi was Zone-crazy. To make it paleo, you can just do 2/3 cup paleo mayo i/s/o splitting up the 1/3 & 1/3 between mayo and sour cream.

Let's face it, cover almost anything in mayo and you're golden.

Recipes & Tips

2010-06-13T21:23:00.003-04:00

Well, I wore myself out completely today and didn't take a nap (fought to stay awake!) all in hopes of crashing early tonight and being able to get up early for work tomorrow. I will be attempting my first stretch of 40 hours this week - what?! (I know.) The keys for me this week are going to be: planning and establishing a new routine.

The kids are starting summer activities, Jimi has class, I will be getting into the routine of when to take pills, when to eat and getting back in the swing of things at work. I thought to help keep a visual pulse on things and remain successful, I'll keep a list of things that are "already ready" on the front of the fridge. The worst thing to do is not have anything or stand there with the door open, subsequently making a bad choice. Not that there's too much in there that I can't have - just that I need to balance my meals so I'm not eating all day long. Now I can see what's there and if I need to get to prepping so I don't run out of choices as the week goes on.

If you didn't see already, Robb Wolf tweeted about Tasty Paleo, a recipe sharing site for Paleo Recipes. It's free to join. I encourage you to join and participate. I am going to use it to share my recipes and try other foragers' creations! I'll let you know when I come across something great, of course.

I made a couple of new things today that were pretty good. (Links to recipes below.) They were super-fast, super-light and easy. I think Jicama is an aquired taste since it's a little earthy and has a texture similar to a waterchestnut... The chicken packets are basically steamed chicken so the flavor is very light as well as the dish. Don't forget some to add some good fat to the meal and if you have a Paleo BBQ recipe you use, it would go perfect on the chicken. I haven't tried any to promote yet, so you're on your own there. :)

Jicama "Hot Fries" and Pineapple Chicken Packets

That's all from me today, ya'll. I'm whooped and have my work cut out for me tomorrow!

Summer Harvest Chicken Salad with Paleo Mayo Recipe

2010-06-13T13:29:00.003-04:00

Paleo Mayonnaise – found on Caveman Forum.Com
(I only had stone ground mustard and it worked great.)

This was my first batch of Paleo Mayo and it is yummy! It's a bit yellow-green b/c I used extra virgin i/s/o light olive oil, but it's great.

Ingredients:
•1 large egg
•1 tsp dijon mustard
•1/2 tsp salt
•1 tbl raw apple cider vinegar
•1 cup light olive oil (I guess you can use extra virgin, but your mayo will probably be yellow/green and taste very olive-y)

Directions: Whiz everything but the oil in the food processor for 30 seconds. Then while the motor's still running start adding the oil - but BE CAREFUL. At first, only put it in 1-2 drops at a time. After you've got 10 drops in there, start pouring it in by the 1/2 teaspoonful. Then add by the tablespoon. And finally when you have a little less than 1/2 cup of the oil left, you can start just pouring it in a thin stream. This made a thick creamy mayo! Keep in an airtight container in the fridge.

Summer Harvest Chicken Salad
Time-saver: you can use leftover, seasoned chicken that you cooked off for this salad (curry chicken goes nicely with this recipe). It's hearty enough to eat on it's own, but you should add a little veggies to this meal. (Scoop up with romaine leaves or do lettuce wraps with it.)

Ingredients:
•2/3 cup paleo mayo
•2 tablespoons lemon juice
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
•2 cups diced cooked chicken
•1 red apple, cored &,diced
•1 cup red seedless grapes, halved
•2/3 cup sliced celery
•½ cup raisins
•1/2 cup chopped nuts or slivered almonds

Directions:
•In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
•Add the chicken, apples and celery.
•Toss to coat.
•Cover and chill.
•Sprinkle with nuts just before serving.

Chicken Sausage with Tomatoes and Roast Veggies

2010-06-12T16:51:00.002-04:00

Dinner
Originally uploaded by missysioux

This took about 40 minutes and might only take about 30 on the grill...

The veggies are a big mix of "things I had to cook before they went bad". The broc/cauliflower and carrots were from a snack mix (already washed/chopped) and then I dumped in some zuchinni, sliced mushrooms and red peppers. Drizzle with olive oil and mix with your hands to "coat". I added a salt-free dry seasoning for a little extra flavor. Pop that in the oven at 375 for 35 minutes.

For protein, we used organic chicken sausage from whole foods and simmered it in water for about 20 minutes. (You can do these steps while your veggies are in the oven) After you cook off in water, you then:
-Dump the water and brown off for 10
-Dump in 1 can of organic, no salt added fire roasted tomatoes and cook for an additional 10 minutes

And since I was in the mood for something sweet, instead of fruit, I steamed up a bag of frozen corn. (Takes 5 mins.)

All in all, quick, easy - organic - mostly Paleo (some would argue on the corn) yummy, kid-friendly meal.

Enjoy!

Re-Brand Yourself.

2010-06-11T20:18:00.005-04:00

We've already talked about how cancer has divided me into an "old me" and a "new me" and made me realize that I had bulldozed through a lot of things... Lately, it's shown me, going hand-in-hand with that, I haven't done a lot of things. Things I didn't know I wanted to or could do, maybe... other things that I know I should have been doing.

It's crazy when people are told by their doc that "they are going to die if they don't change XYZ" and then all the sudden, they have the motivation to do whatever it is they need to do "not to die". I guess, in a watered-down way, that's what I'm going through now. Only, my doc never said that, I just have it in my head that I have to start living. As we're about to turn our clients on to at 440: "Don't just live. Thrive."

I have had a lot of time to mull the internet, read, think about what I could/should/would have been doing to not "just live", but really enjoy my life... With my new life-long project of living without a thyroid and all of the JOY that brings, I know it's time to really get serious about my health.

So, I started thinking about new me and old me. Old me is still there, of course, it's all still me... but, what is going to stop me from getting BK and eating pizza and skipping out on workouts? What is going to keep me there when the terror of this cancer experience fades further & further away and I don't care anymore? What is going to drive me to strive for balance in my personal & professional life so that I can enjoy and be successful in both?

Me.

I have to redefine me. When I want to take a shortcut, or feel like checking out, I have to say to myself "I don't do that".

So here I am. I am labeling and defining myself. A mom. A wife. A CrossFitter. A Paleo adventurer... A cavebitch.

Do cave bitches eat grains or fast food?

No.

Do cave bitches flake out on CrossFit?

No.

Do cave bitches get so caught up in their work that they miss out on their family? Do they slack off at work and lose focus on their career?

No.

Cave bitches are all about balance, nutrition, excercise and just holding it down in general. Cave bitches plan ahead and they speak to what they believe in.

Cave bitches don't make excuses.

And - Cave bitches surely DO NOT QUIT.

So, welcome to the new me. I am officially waging a war on EVERYTHING. And, I will continue on to WIN the aforementioned war I have waged. :)

Ugh.

2010-06-11T08:03:00.005-04:00

I hate myself for joking about being glamorous yesterday. I had the WORST night sleep and the most VILE morning ever. I feel like garbage.

I will say, that whole "eat & drink your weight in laxatives" experience deserves a place next to:

My 3 c-sections
Bootcamp
Jim being in Iraq

Ok, maybe the last one is a bit dramatic. But, it was horrific enough (even for me) to spare you the details. And you know that I always share the details.

Also - in addition to my previous post on Synthroid... I want to make sure that others taking Synthroid don't feel like I'm dismissing their experiences with side-effects or weight gain. All I wanted to get across was not to be discouraged before you even start. Choose a healthy lifestyle, stay positive and work with your doc. It can be so disheartening to not see much positivity out there around a drug that you HAVE to be dependent on for the rest of your life.

Things don't always come up roses, but I feel you have to start out ready to tackle it instead of being defeated before you start treatment. We'll see how it goes for me! I feel 10 pounds lighter today, but that's probably the laxatives. Ha!

UGH!

Poop Juice!

2010-06-10T17:48:00.002-04:00

poop juice!
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Here goes - down the hatch!!

The Glamorous Life of a Cancer Patient

2010-06-10T15:10:00.006-04:00

The rest of my day will go something like this:

Nap
Clean house with sister
Drink a glass of laxative
Drink a glass of water
Take two laxative tablets
Drink a glass of water
Drink more laxative
Try not to sneeze or cough too hard! Gross.

Tomorrow is my first full body scan. I hear the scan itself takes 40 mins or so and I cannot move at all during the test. I hope I don't fall asleep and jerk awake or something dumb. That would happen to me... then, I'd have to start all over again. :0) I am not sure how long it takes to get results back, but it seems to me that I would hear mid-week next week.

I just got a weird call from the office yesterday that my Vitamin D levels were low and that I needed to take 50,000 IU of Vitamin D per week for the next 6 weeks. They said they would be mailing the script home. Now, is that a pill or IV infusion? I have no idea. Looking online, it seems that it is available in pill form. Doesn't your body just reject a certain amount of it after you take too much? I don't get it, but will find out more when it comes in the mail, I suppose.

More on what Vitamin D does for your body HERE. (A lot more than I ever knew, of course!)

Will keep you posted on all of that. Hopefully, some of my weight issues will resolve with the help of the supplementation (and when some of my energy returns, I can jump back into CrossFit).

While I did have the hardest time losing the weight after Henry, it was slowly coming off. Before all of this I got down to 146. I am now at 160 (holy crap!) and had to buy 2 pair of "hold me over fat pants" for work. Not having a thyroid, just recently starting my Synthroid 2 days ago, emotional eating before surgery and now a vitamin D deficiency have all been working against me maintaining (during this time of inactivity).

I will say that a lot of I've read online (user reviews) says that you WILL gain weight - a lot of people 60-80 lbs... there are a lot of other complaints as well. Here's what I will say about that to anyone who might stumble upon my blog or this post: forget it. Write your own story. Those people might be excercising and eating perfectly and still gaining weight, who knows? Maybe they're on the wrong dose of Synthroid. Maybe something else is wrong or they are a closet double-cheeseburgler. :) Then ask yourself this - are there message boards out there asking people to "tell us about your super-great experience with this drug and tell us about how much weight you've lost!!". No is the answer. There is not. This is why your doc tells you to stay off of the internet.

I am not going to give into the hype and really believe that I can have a normal, if not better life, once I'm all adjusted on my meds and get back into a healthy routine. So far, we've overhauled the fridge and are eating organic & paleo. Too easy for me after that suck low-iodine diet! So, hopefully things go as positively as I am willing them to go and you will find some inspiration here that you can follow along as the next leg of my journey unfolds.

Well. Onto the rest of my glamorous day! :)

It's all a blur...

2010-06-08T09:01:00.004-04:00

So, Blogger has be intermittently working for me all weekend... as well as the hotel WiFi, so I didn't get to post how the end of the week went and what's ahead. Not much goes on for me on a daily basis - sleep, vegetating, dreaming & hoping that when I get to start my meds they bring me out of this sleep coma!!

I'll start with Friday: I got up, got the kids ready, got myself ready, stopped at a couple of stores and checked in to the hospital (radiology). For whatever (annoying) reason, I had to go to the lab (more blood!) to get tested for pregnancy. Seemed rather rediculous at the time as I have had my tubes tied. The most annoying part is someone jumped up when they said my name, so I thought there was another "Melissa" on the list... then, 20 minutes later after the wait cleared I noticed - they took my spot. I had to wait ONE HOUR for results! Grrr! After they came back (negative, of course) I went back to radiology, met with the Dr. in charge and the nurse there for my "counseling" and pill. They told me at that time that I would have to come back in 1 week for my first full body scan. ???

Me: I figured I'd have to have one, but my Doctor didn't say anything about that.
Nurse: I just got off of the phone with him and he does want one; he also wants you to come in.
Me: Call and make an appointment come in?
Nurse: No, just drive over right after you take the pill and see him.
Me: (freaking out to self - what could be wrong?!!)
Nurse: BTW, here is information on going to the pharmacy and buying horrible stuff to clear out your bowels for your testing.
Me: YAY! (Not really yay)

So then, she has me sign a whole bunch of forms, probably saying if my arm falls off, I won't hold them liable or whatever... she goes into a closet that has a big "Radioactive Material" sign on it and pulls out a little glass vial with a grey pill in it. I take the pill and I'm off to see my Endo!

When I get there, there is a little dispute at the desk on whether or not I should be there and the office girl pulls me back to a room to let me know I have to come back in 5 weeks.

Me: Can I go that long without medication? I'm already comatose and rapidly expanding. I feel like a drunk whale.
Office Lady: I'm going to give you a sample of Synthroid that you can start next week.
Me: YOU'RE MY HERO!
Office Lady: We're clearing you to go back to work
Me: (Thinking to self - hopefully I don't fall asleep or have an accident before all this crap on Friday!!)

I am totally ready to go back, I just hate the thought of being at work not fully on my game. I will have to learn a new skill: NOT over-doing it. It's a good thing though. I am pretty much going crazy laying around all day and just being there and getting in the mindset of normal life will help me get back in the swing of things.

So, then I left for the hotel. It was very nice, new, comfy and I was bored & withdrawing from the kids after about 6 hours! I left the hotel on Sunday afternoon, came to my in-laws (as I still can't be by the kids until this evening) and have been vegging out here since then. Tonight, I get to see my babies and will get ready for my first day back at work.

It's kind of a lot to take in, but I have a lot of great things going on and a life I want to get back to, so I'm ready! Wish me luck!

You're Glowing!

2010-06-03T22:26:00.003-04:00

Yay! Tomorrow is the day... I am going to the hospital tomorrow to take my RAI pill and then become a recluse for the weekend. :0) I spoke with someone in radiology today about the pill/what I can & can't do... etc. It seems that there is a whole lot of information all over the place that is conflicting, however, a few things I've heard over and over again (including from her): I cannot be around the kids (kissing/holding/etc - impossible with my kiddies, esp. the baby), I cannot be around babies or pregnant women (at all), what isn't absorbed by my remaining thyroid cells will be excreted (tears/saliva/sweat/pee, etc.) so I have to change my clothes a bunch since I WILL be sweating (hot flashses - yay!). My Endo does not want me with the kids until after day 4. There were other things that I read like: I can't use my computer, if I bring books and touch them I have to throw them away... that stuff is untrue.

Here are the rules as posted on ThyCa.Org:

-Minimize contact (less than 3 feet or 0.6 meter for more than 1 hour each day) with everyone for the first five days, and with small children or pregnant women for eight days.
-Do not sit next to someone in an automobile for more than one hour.
-Sleep in a separate room and use separate bath linen and launder these and underclothing separately for one week.
-Wash your hands with soap and plenty of water every time you use the toilet.
-Rinse the sink and tub thoroughly after using them.
-Use separate eating utensils or disposable eating utensils. Wash eating utensils separately for one week. Do not prepare food for others.
-Flush toilet 2-3 times after use for two weeks after discharge.
-Males should sit when urinating to avoid splashing for one week.
-Discuss with your doctor how long you should wait before starting a pregnancy after your treatment (usually at least two months for males and six months for females).
-If you are breastfeeding, it should be discontinued, but can be resumed for subsequent childbirths.

Here is what they say about visitors in the first 24 hours:

It is strongly advised that there be no visitors for the first 24 hours following radiation. We encourage you to use the telephone to communicate with your friends and family. If you receive visitors, a maximum visit of 30 minutes is allowed only. Visitors must wear gloves, protective shoe covers and a gown before entering the room. The amount of space between your visitor and you must be a maximum. This means your visitor must sit at the entrance of the door with you at the other end of the room. At the end of the visit, your visitor must dispose the gloves and shoe covers in the garbage located in the room and place the gown in the hamper. Visitors may not use your washroom or eat or drink any of your food. Pregnant women and children under the age of 18 may not visit during your hospital stay.

Sounds crazy, doesn't it?! I think the precautions around time near others varies with dosage and I am receiving a "moderate" dose... I will be following Dr's orders.

Also, I was told that I would be getting a card to keep in my wallet for 90 days as I would set off alarms at the airport and what-not due to the residual (very small, but detectable) radiation. Totally weird.

Another thing that I am waiting to hear back on... (not-so-fun-news)... I called to make a follow up appointment with my Endo and was told that I might not be coming back for 3-4 weeks to get on thyroid hormone. (What?!!!) I would imagine I would be getting released to go to work then and I am a little worried as my symptoms can only get worse. I am going to be falling asleep on the ride in and can't even imagine what life would be like going further down hypothyroid lane. We'll see what pans out as I have not heard back yet. Since everything is so dependant on "blood levels", nothing is planned more than one step in advance. That part is a bit frustrating, but I'm staying positive because things do seem to be moving along nonetheless.

More tomorrow from the hotel!

A few of my favorite things...

2010-06-02T23:24:00.007-04:00

Weight gain, fatigue, fogginess, down-the-stair crashes... Moodiness, dry skin and constant hot flashes... Low iodine diet and the boredom it brings... these are a few of my favorite things!!! When my joints ache... and I have a puffy face and I'm feeling sad... Then I just think of my favorite things... and then I still feeeeeeeel, well... BAD.

Ha, ha ha! What is wrong with me? I don't know. Anyway, I got the call from the Endo that I am Hypothyroid enough to take the RAI pill (I knew that, I feel like CRAP!). I didn't know there was an additional step, but they told me today that they would "call it in to the hospital". Someone (not sure who) will then contact me about coming in to take or get the pill. I don't know if I take it while I'm there or how long it normally takes to get an appointment or if it really is even an appointment.

My hope is to injest the pill by Friday and hurry back to my endo.

Today, my knees started to HURT. Not just achy, but really painful and I have muscle aches everywhere - boo! I am really looking forward to starting my thyroid hormone pill and getting back to a somewhat-normal state and eliviate these symptoms.... I guess I was never really normal in the first place, so, we'll do what we can.

I'll keep you posted. I was up on my feet a lot today b/c I was on pins & needles waiting for the phone call, so I am super-tired right now.

Also, sorry as far as food pics go. I am doing an AWESOME job (haven't cheated) on the diet... I've even gotten creative a couple of times. I just kind of float around from task to couch, task to couch and haven't been good at snapping and posting as a result. Today I made a Rachel Ray Chicken Club Slider recipe and just left out everything I couldn't have... There was a sauce that went on it that was a homemade avacado ranch. Since I can't have sour cream, I just left it out and made it an avacado "ranch" spread and it was REALLY good anyway. I did miss the bacon and hotsauce that was called for, but it was good and a nice change of pace from grilled chicken & veggies.

I have NO idea what I'm making tomorrow - probably simple stuff. I'm going to pack a cooler for the hotel and get the fridge in order so Jimi has lots of grab & go stuff to feed the kids as well as try to do laundry tomorrow.

That's a huge day for me in this state, so you might get a short & sweet post or have to wait until Friday for more news.

Hang tight & know that all is looking good so far :)

Happy Hank

2010-06-01T23:46:00.001-04:00

Happy Hank
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Sunshine!

PSA: I am a lazy piece of you-know-what couch surfer!

2010-06-01T23:34:00.001-04:00

Hang tight, all! I have been in a state of cyclical napping... no complaints as it may mean I can take my RAI pill soon. I have missed lots of calls, texts and emails b/c of sleep (and just juggling normal stuff) and it's hard to get back to everyone.

You don't have to stop trying though... it's helping me to know you all are sending your love! I'll keep you posted - supposed to hear back from the Doc tomorrow on my bloodwork/treatment.

Now that I've said that, it's back to SLEEP for me.

YAAWWNN...

Day 3, Meal 1: Banana Bread... sort of.

2010-05-31T09:42:00.002-04:00

Banana Bread... sort of.
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Steel cut oats, cinnamon, honey, 3 walnuts (chopped) and a small banana.

Doesn't really fit with Paleo, but I needed a treat.

Day 2, Linner.

2010-05-30T22:13:00.003-04:00

Low Iodine FEAST!
Originally uploaded by missysioux

I gorged. But, the family is AWESOME and totally thought of me for the cookout. MIL made "free" ribs - they were plain, but cooked perfectly, so who even needs sauce? (Sorry Sweet Baby Ray - we shall meet again another time.) I also had a few strips of dry-rubbed chicken (no salt seasoning mix), plain corn cob, "undressed" fruit salad and I made veggie skewers that had a homemade dressing on them.

I finished everything on my plate and promptly fell asleep. We went to a friend's house for company a little afterward and I could hardly keep my eyes open.

Holy smokes. I'm going right back to bed.

Leftovers tomorrow!

P.S: When I'm off this stupid diet, the first thing I want is Jeni's Goat Cheese and Roasted Cherry Icecream. I saw it at a health food store today and almost cried.

Resources

2010-05-30T10:45:00.004-04:00

A Thyroid Cancer Story - Sounds familiar... minus the second surgery and meeting the president part. ;0)

ThyCa - Low Iodine Cookbook

Light of Life Foundation - Low Iodine Cookbook

LI Cookbook for purchase - Noreen Gilletz

Thryvors.Org - Low Iodine Diet Resource Page & Recipes

Day 2, Meal 1: Garden Scramble

2010-05-30T10:17:00.002-04:00

Garden Scramble
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Egg whites, tender-crisp veggies: broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, red peppers and seasoning. Served with an orange.

I'm going shopping - online!

2010-05-30T08:41:00.001-04:00

Look at this cute online spice store... they give you recipes for every salt-free spice mix as well as price them appropriately to what herbs are included in the mix.

Cool!

Banana Snacks

2010-05-29T22:16:00.002-04:00

Banana Snacks
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Banana, little smear of pure peanut butter (Heinen's sells just plain ol ground up peanuts) sprinkle of granola.

This would be so much better with ice cold milk.

But, it's good none-the-less.

Meal #3 - Chicken, Steamed Veggies & Peaches

2010-05-29T18:36:00.002-04:00

Dinner
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Chicken: dry rubbed and cooked off in coconut oil. Corn cobs & Zucchini - steamed. Fresh peaches from Whole Foods.

Yum!

I had a sweet-tooth, so I dipped my chicken in some honey. Not too shabby. It all took about 15 minutes (mostly cooking the chicken). I grabbed a couple of packs of ziploc steamer bags from the store... the corn cobs & zucchini each took 3 minutes to steam.

Another thing I learned today: some store-bought chicken and frozen veggies have salt/broth added (injected or sprayed on) for flavor or to plump up the size. If you have to watch your sodium or just want to be healthy, make sure you read ALL of your food labels.

We are going to start to shop at Whole Foods for the summer. Since Syd will not be in LatchKey, that will offset the cost. Once school rolls around, who knows? But, every little bit counts so that's how we'll shop for now!!

Out to get some fresh air. I'm especially hot-flashy & tired this evening, but want to spend time with the hubs before I pass out for the night. *Yawn*

Meal #2 - Meatballs, sauteed veggies, salad.

2010-05-29T13:39:00.002-04:00

My phone deleted the pic before I posted it and I didn't know until I ate all of my food! Anyway, I rolled some meatballs up (seasoned with Ms. Dash only - no breadcrumbs, etc) and cooked off on the stovetop. After they were done, I sauteed 1/2 red pepper and two oversized baby bella mushroom caps (sliced). On the side - salad with olive oil and seasonings.

I'm actually pretty stuffed!

Meal #1 - Egg Whites & Tomatoes

2010-05-29T12:47:00.003-04:00

egg whites & tomatoes
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Gallopin' Gourmet Spices (no salt) from Whole Foods, 3 egg whites (no milk), sliced tomatoes. Drizzled with a little olive oil. I had this with about 3/4 of an organic orange and 1/2 of a pink lady apple.

Henry & I shared the fruit.

Not what I was dreaming about eating today, but not bad for not really thinking ahead! I think I'll rough chop some garden veggies to have on hand to steam for a quick sec tomorrow and have those in my egg whites.

I am thinking, until I am fully up-to-speed, I may allow myself oatmeal for ease-of-prep as the more hypothyroid I get, the harder it will be to keep up with the diet. I have some oats and honey that I might have to dream up a plan for an upcoming breakfast.

Do you know, my bad habits have me reaching for ketchup, Frank's (oh, how I miss you already!) and any other condiment I can find - NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING has NO SALT. (Salt is not the devil, here - iodized salt is. But labeling will never be able to tell you if it's iodized or not. So, if it says "salt" and it's processed - it's OUT.)

Since my attempt at Paleo was short-lived and never "perfect" (never 100% compliant and worked in plenty of cheat days) this is already proving to be a great opportunity. For all of you who are having trouble sticking with a Paleo Diet, just think of me! Pretend you have Thyroid Cancer and the erradication of your disease depends on you sticking to this diet.

It's working for me so far! (Ha, ha!)

Wish me luck!

Low-iodine, radiactive iodine, and yes to beer? Oh my!

2010-05-28T16:09:00.005-04:00

Some excerpts from the ThyCa Site:

Purpose: The purpose of a low-iodine diet is to deplete the body of its stores of iodine, to help increase the effectiveness of the radioactive iodine scan or treatment. The premise is that when the radioactive iodine is administered, the thyroid cells will “suck” up the iodine, because the body has been so depleted.

There is an "avoid, limit and OK to eat section" on the site that I'm not going to repost. It's basically safe to eat everything fresh and made at home to avoid iodine and that's what I'm going to do. Since we were Zone/Paleo for awhile there, I really don't have grains at home and I don't plan on baking AT ALL, so I'll be going grain-free as well. The dairy-free part is probably the hardest part (cheese! sour cream! egg yolk! dislike!)

Jimi and I went to Whole Foods today to make sure there is a variety of fruits & veggies in the house. It should be interesting to say the least.

As I'm going through this diet and starving myself of iodine, the last of the remaining thyroid hormone in my body will be depleted, making me hypothyroid. Yay me - the symptom list is 1/2 a mile long! :( I'm already showing early signs (temperature irregularity - I'm hot flashing like CRAZY!) and I get fatigued extremely easily. It's really early, yet, says the surgeon and it is only going to get worse, but it is the goal so the RAI pill is as effective as possible.

Although, the diet is so restrictive that I am hoping to avoid the weight gain that comes along with going hypothyroid... I've already put on a couple LBs as it is.

Did you see I could have beer though? Woot!

So, the appointment went pretty fast and covered this:

My tumor/cancer was/is in the early stages and seemed to be localized to the one spot - Bruce.

It's still recommended that I take the RAI pill, which my Endo will dispense. I can take it once my levels of certain hormones are at the right level in my blood.

I see my Endo on Tuesday to see where I'm at and maybe get a guesstimate on what is to come... then I can tell you all about isolation and the weird rules (like flushing the toilet 3 times) that I will have to follow during treatment.

I'm on my way!!

Also - Anyone recommend a yummy spice mix that does not have salt or iodine in it? Check the one that you use (your favorites) and post to comments if you think I can use it. I think there are going to be a lot of homemade dressings and dry rubs in my near future - starting with dinner tonight I'm on the diet.

Getting Ready for Friday

2010-05-25T21:31:00.004-04:00

So, as many of you know (the fam) I didn't want to ask too many specific questions about my cancer, it's staging, etc when I found out/met with the surgeon. I know that there is really better information after it is removed and looked at "in person" and I am ready to ask all the tough questions now - Go Barbara Walters!

I found this helpful article online and I think I'll ask for a copy of the report, if not - at least I'll have all of my questions scripted out in my little book.

Last Friday, the doc came to visit me when I woke up and said to make an appointment for this Friday... When I asked if I should call my Endo to schedule an appointment yet, he said he would update him that the surgery went well and we'll discuss it at my appointment. It seemed fine then, but I keep mulling over it thinking:

Did it look worse than they thought?
Could they be thinking about changing around my treatment plan?
He probably wants to wait for the pathology report to come back before he releases me... what does that mean?

Who knows. Luckily, I'm so tired, I don't have much time to worry about it but in-between naps. And, Jimi is going to take the day off of work to be with me. Good news or bad, I won't be sitting at home alone all day.

For the record... my treatment plan was suppose to be as follows:

Surgery
RAI Pill - (endocrinologist)
Start thyroid hormone management

There are some people with thyroid cancer that has spread and is more "mature" so they do external radiation (from what I've heard/researched). I was told, it's pretty likely mine is spreading already to my lymph nodes, but should be able to be erradicated with the RAI pill.

I'll let you all know Friday if anything changes and what the doc says about where I'm at so far.

New Glasses

2010-05-25T12:31:00.001-04:00

New Glasses
Originally uploaded by missysioux

I got out for a minute to pick up my new specs. Love them, now back to napping - UGH!

Helping Hands

2010-05-24T19:53:00.002-04:00

Helping Hands
Originally uploaded by missysioux

This ones for you kid!

Love right back at you 440!

Think Happy Thoughts...

2010-05-24T10:12:00.004-04:00

A fellow CrossFitter told me about a thread on a message board where CrossFitters were writing names on their hands during WODs to offer support and positive thoughts and I got to thinking: the support of my friends, family and CrossFit Community are what have gotten me through to today, really! I then thought, how do I explain that and how the positive thoughts/feelings have impacted me? In that thread, another person asks, "how does this help? what are you trying to accomplish?". I guess it's something that is hard to explain as well as understand.

I set off to the wide world of the internets to research! I was a little appalled to see that here is an entire subculture of people who are against the promotion of positive thinking for dealing with health issues/disease. I'm not going to get into all of the funny-business, but I believe that it is important and I believe that it helps. If anything, you need a support system to get you through the fight and if you're nasty and depressed and horrible - no one will want to be there. Besides, depression is a catalyst for a whole host of health issues. It's also been shown that people who are negative, attract more negativity. Who can get better like that?

Anyway - while you shouldn't be "celebrating" cancer (you do need to be real - be informed - do your research and ask questions throughout your treatment) you need to stay positive, motivated and strong enough to fight.

I know I've got an Army behind me and I am not afraid to forge on down whichever dark, twisty road it may take me on because I know they are there.

And to you, CrossFit Friend, thank you for reaching out and letting me know you'll be doing your WOD today with my name on your hand - it means the world!

Article on Stress Management - Mayo Clinic

ER Visit

2010-05-22T15:13:00.010-04:00

Hypocalcaemia. I don't have it and that's a good thing!

Before I left the hospital, the Doctor told me to get on calcium supplements with vitamin D (2,000MG/day). If I had any issues with tingling in my fingers, face or toes, take an extra dose of the calcium, then call.

(Your parathyroid glands are located behind your thyroid. They are tiny & finicky and if they are bruised or just in a bad mood from surgery, they can poop out a bit or go on strike. They control calcium in your blood & bones.)

So, that happened yesterday (the tingling) I called. The Doctor on call sent in another prescription for me of even a little more vitamin D. Next steps: if symptoms persist, go to the ER to have blood drawn and possibly calcium given by IV...

A few hours later, my hands, feet and face were still tingly, so I went up to the ER. Luckily, my levels are "normal" (on the low end, but OK) I was not admitted or put on an IV of calcium. The tingling is still there, but hopefully will dissapate as I am able to absorb more of the calcium as these other pills get to work.

I had blood drawn twice while I was up there and now officially qualify as a human pincushion! I have bruises and holes on the tops of both hands, inside of my arms... it doesn't even phase me anymore to have blood drawn. So weird.

I was really comforted, though, by the way everyone at the ER treated me. The triage nurse got me back to a room right away and had a phlebotomist waiting for me, the PA came in to talk to me 3 times and called my Dr. directly to make sure all the bases were covered. It did kind of hit me at that point, though, that I am a cancer patient. Before, I heard the "good cancer" routine so many times that I started to almost shrug everything off like it was nothing.

It's not nothing, but so far, things are going as well as can be expected. My body is adjusting to the medication a little better today (I don't feel woozy and only a little bit tingly in my toes) and I am starting to get into a little bit of a routine at home.

I am going to get a little sunshine in today - it's so nice out. It will also help get my calcium situation in order. I hope you all are going to get some fresh air today, too - it does miracles!

Flower Delivery...

2010-05-22T14:33:00.002-04:00

100MEDIA_IMAG0028.jpg
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Haha! Thanks Jen & Ryan for the laugh!!!

Love you two, too!

A toast. My box. The station. The End.

2010-05-22T01:03:00.003-04:00

Dear narcotic pain reliever, I raise my 1/4 cup of minty fresh goop to you! Prune juice was not enough, perhaps a granola bar or two in the AM will?

In more funny, but not really funny, "it's-actually-kind-of-depressing-news" I had to buy a pill organizer today to keep track of my meds. I feel like an old lady.

Who's gonna bedazzle this thing for me?!

Finally, for your viewing pleasure - my "station". Here is where I keep my water, sanitizer, books, ice pack, granola bars... and my "bell". Since I can't yell yet, and we couldn't find a bell, Jimi left me with a wooden spoon and a lid - just in case I may need something tonight.

Janky, yet functional. That's just how we roll. And we are rollin' along just fine so far!

Incision

2010-05-20T21:05:00.002-04:00

100MEDIA_IMAG0020.jpg
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Remember the one ghost in Beetlejuice who smoked and it seeped out of her neck? That's what I look like!

Epic Jimbo

2010-05-20T11:07:00.002-04:00

100MEDIA_IMAG0015.jpg
Originally uploaded by missysioux

The view: not too shabby!

Have you seen me?

2010-05-20T10:15:00.002-04:00

Have you seen me?
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Last Seen: Melissa's neck.
Aget at disappearance: 28
Gender: F
Identifying marks: I'm shaped like a butterfly and riddled with cancer.
Last seen wearing: ??

It's almost time!!!

Distracted...

2010-05-19T14:17:00.003-04:00

I did not finish the laundry, nor did I watch Rome. I did spend a lot of time with Sydney "beautifying" before I am bed-ridden. :) Get ready folks - I'm about to be B.O.R.E.D. I will answer your chain emails. I will take really cheesy FB Quizzes. Most importantly, I will sleep - which will give you a break from my silliness.

Here's one to get things started!

I am: getting ready for surgery tomorrow - DOWN WITH BRUCE!

I know: i am a lucky gal.

I want: to drink copius amounts of dark beer when i feel better. :)

I wish: i could spend more time at CrossFit 440

I hate: seafood - blech!

I fear: my kids getting hurt

I smell: hair products - me and Syd just had a "makeover day"

I crave: sweets. never did before. maybe it's bruce. ;)

I search: for matching socks. too many kids with their tiny little socks!

I wonder: if i'll win the basement makeover sweepstakes! lol

I regret: nothing. i am me because of my choices - including the poor ones.

I need: to lose about 30 pounds!

I love: the crazy things my kids say.

I ache: for cheesecake! it even rhymes!

I care: about my reports - i have the best team at !

I always: laugh at inappropriate things. can't help it.

I believe: i have cancer for a reason.

I dance: in the kitchen with the kids - a lot!

I sing: out of key, surely.

I don't always: hang on to things. things are things.

I fight: for what i feel is right.

I write: about everything. it's theraputic.

I win: most of the time. i'm competitive. 2nd place, it's just the first loser you know. ;)

I lose: when I'm being nice and i let other people win.

I never: mow the lawn.

I confuse: my hubby on a regular basis, i'm sure.

I listen: to and value advice.

I can usually be found: in the kitchen or at work.

I am scared: of people I love deploying or getting sick.

I am happy about: my hubby & kids. they are the best!

How could I forget?

2010-05-17T08:40:00.001-04:00

yardwork
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Jimi put up a Gazebo for me so I can go out into the yard during my time off. It will be screened in. This way, I won't burn to a crisp if I fall asleep out there while he's at work and the bugs will leave me alone.

;0) He's the best.

Recap Remix!!

2010-05-16T19:59:00.006-04:00

So, life has been busy and THAT is the understatement of the century... Here are just some recent highlights of things that I haven't been blogging about lately (we did have an awesome dinner with Mom, that I didn't get any pics of).

There are more pics on Flickr. You can click on my link on the sidebar to see more.

I'm all ready for surgery and treatment! I brought a little notecard book to the *F* Cancer Party and got lots of encouraging and hilarious pictures and comments. And - my Aunt made me these TOTALLY SWEET t-shirts!! Some of the favorite comments include, but are not limited to:

Hurry back to 440, we'll miss your snatch while you're away! (Which is a weightlifting move)
Have you ever seen an elephant with cancer hiding in a tree? No you say? That's b/c he's hiding!
I had a friend who got cancer. He was 30, but he died. I'm sure you can beat it though. (LMAO)
At least it's not AIDS.

You guys are the best. I already find myself leafing through it when I'm having one of my "moments" and I will treasure the book FOR-EV-ER.

In other exciting T-Shirt news, our 440 shirts are almost complete (design stage is wrapping up this week). They should be printed and available for sale shortly - we'll let you know as soon as they are in!

Another gift I received was this can of lychee and some noodles & chopsticks. I'm going to save them until I can make a lychee martini (as suggested). Can't wait to try it!! Also, one of my other loves - beer - mmmmm. Since I have a significant amount of time to catch up on reading, I thought I would learn more about it and maybe make a list of beers to try. Your suggestions? I like darker beers, but am reading about smoke and sour beers and would like to give them a taste as well. All this after treatment, of course!

Since we didn't hold a WOD on Saturday, Jimi ran one in the park today. It was PERFECT out and the kids got to participate a little. Sydney was harassing Jen, "come on! your the last one! you need to start running now!" Awesome.

YAY! Nunny and Kathy graduated this weekend as well. We went out to see them graduate (well, I was taming a tantrum when he walked across stage) but, it's always great to get out to Kent and see the college kids in their natural habitat. ;0)

The *F* Cancer party was a hit!! Some thought it was a fundraiser, but it wasn't so I'm sorry if I left that to the imagination. I just wanted to get out and see everyone before I get closed in the house for some of the summer. It was a BLAST and I could not have asked for a better time, friends or family. I also got to meet some super-cool folks that I didn't know before. Thanks everyone for the laughs and good company!!

On Monday we (Shanna & I) took the kiddies to the Zoo. The dinosaur exibit was pretty darned cool! The kids pretty much lost interest after that, but all was well. We went to Shan's for lunch and playtime, which was just perfect.

And finally - last weekend was Dom's Bday Party at the FarmParks. I finally found the cord to the camera, so I'm a little behind on posting pics. The kids had a crazy-good time there. The cutest thing was a pair of billygoats that they were feeding dandelions to. Too cute!!

I think this week will be a lot of Spring Cleaning and running errands in preparation for the next leg of my little journey. I don't know if there will be much posting, however, I will be taking my phone to the hospital and will tweet-as-we-go to keep you posted. You can find my 3 most recent tweets on the sidebar of this blog and/or follow me on Twitter if you wish. Also, Jimi will have his phone on to update if you want to call him. Just email/text me before Wednesday night if you need his number.

Love you all!

One of my favorite pictures...

2010-05-16T18:56:00.001-04:00

Zoo!
Originally uploaded by missysioux

No explaination needed. ;0)

Cancer: it's like a Pedegg for the soul

2010-05-15T08:49:00.004-04:00

I was thinking yesterday, how do I explain how having a cancer diagnosis has changed my perspective - or given me perspective for that matter? It's difficult to put into words the things that I have been going through and the way that it has already changed me.
Most of you know that thyroid cancer is very treatable and I have a high likelihood of walking away from surgery and treatment cancer-free. I've been told by a lot of people that my cancer is "the good cancer" and I believe that to be true as well, but it's still cancer. I worry about it coming back - or my kids being predisposed to it -I have to actually step up to the plate and start taking care of myself. And now, I have another doctor I will forever follow up with and take a pill everyday to regulate, well, me. Getting a diagnosis like this is mostly a mental battle, but in this one - I've already come out a little better than I had gone in...
I thought, well, it's made me less uptight in a way - but more in others. It's made me appreciate certain things more and now I realize that I am a sterotypical "don't take care of myself Mom". It's a reminder that I have such a huge group of awesome, encouraging, loving people around me who are really here for me if I'd (ahem) just call - which I'm so bad at because "I'm busy".
Most of you who've known me for a while know that I have mellowed out a ton over the past few years... it took a lot b/c I was the crazy everything-has-to-be-done-a-certain-way type person. I have a plan for everything (and a binder and a folder and a notebook) :) I didn't like when things didn't go according to plan, etc, etc... It helps to get things done, to a point, but can be derailing if you don't learn to deal with the cards you have in hand when things don't go according to plan.
I had a moment with someone, probably about 5 years ago, that helped me stay on the path of not being so uptight. This wise friend said, "Ask yourself - is this going to matter in 5 years?" That little question changes how I frame almost everything. Almost nothing in your day-to-day life is going to matter in 5 years (things I was uptight about anyway) and just asking myself that was like a huge burden was lifted.
This all sounds really stupid writing it out. However, I had difficulties around the "leaving the nest" time and I just wanted to do everything "right" so I could take care of myself and be successful. I was so caught up in my little checklists and goals and mini-goals and God knows whatever else that I drove myself, and probably a lot of people around me, totally nuts.
Anyway, this little question set me up to be much more calm and took stress out of my life (that I was creating for myself).
Cancer, however, has expanded on that and totally opened my eyes.
I still grapple with, I guess I would call it, getting to the next thing. Onward and upward!! That probably describes me well at work and at home. While it's a good thing to be motivated, it's not a good thing to bulldoze through life, which now I see I was guilty of at times. I have had a hard time enjoying the little moments in between each event - whether that's from dinner to bedtime or quarter to quarter.
I don't think this experience will change me completely. I like me. I will always be super-moto and aim to be better at being me, but now I know there is so much more to me that I need to get to know. I know that I want to steal all of those little moments with my kids that I was breezing over before by shooing and shuffling them through my little itinerary everyday.
So, that's how I got to the PedEgg...
Cancer has been able to come in and smooth out some of those rough edges... the rough patches... a leave me behind a little softer and feeling kind of - fresh! It's human to want to know or find a reason that things happen to some and not others... I think that's exactly why I have this illness - it's a call to slow down and enjoy friends, the little moments I can steal with my kids and hubby and a reminder that I have to take care of me - or I won't be able to take care of those around me... which is really what is most important to me in all of my roles in life.

Got your thyroid!

2010-05-11T22:32:00.004-04:00

So, Jimi and I are on the couch watching Nurse Jackie (we have no cable so we're just starting on Season 1/videos), indulging in our sick sense of humor, and Jimi reaches over to do "got your nose"

...then immediately does the same thing to my neck and shouts "GOT YOUR THYROID!!"
...then a look of horror comes over his face as he anticipates me bursting into tears - at which point I laugh until almost crying.

Says Jimi: wouldn't it be funny if your Doctor did that?

*Love him*

pump up the jam!

2010-05-08T15:10:00.001-04:00

pump up the jam!
Originally uploaded by missysioux

Don't be jealous of their sweet dance moves!

Fierce Dino

2010-05-08T00:06:00.001-04:00

Fierce Dino
Originally uploaded by caseybot

How adorable is this? I have to get these for the kids!!

No Cancer!

2010-05-07T21:20:00.001-04:00

No Cancer!
Originally uploaded by missysioux

This mug rocks, but not as much as coffee rocks - or Karla rocks, for that matter.

Woot!

Cancer Cocktail

2010-05-06T22:11:00.003-04:00

Cancer Cocktail
Originally uploaded by missysioux

My MIL rules. I have already juiced 1/2 of the spinach, kale and apples. The romaine is gone and I will be smashing some blueberries with breakfast tomorrow. Yum.

With every glass I juice, I'm trying to use less and less insulin-spiking stuff (apples/carrots/fruit) and get greener and greener. I'm finding that a wedge of lemon really cuts down the bitterness in the greens and then you can use just a few pieces of fruit (partial apple, 1/2 dozen small strawberries, etc)

Todays concoction was DELICIOUS. It looked like swamp water, but it was oh-so-tasty.

About 3 cups fresh baby spinach
About 1 cup fresh kale
About 1 small head of romaine
6 small strawberries
1 wedge of lemon
1/6 apple

Might not have been the best thing to slam right before a lifting day (oofah!) but it did give me the little kick I needed from my afternoon slump.

PS. I really want this mixer. It allows you to use the whole food for juicing (my "Juiceman Juicer" spits out the skin, stems and seeds) Maybe I'll be able to save up for it since I'm not going to be driving around or going out much this summer. I could only imagine the concoctions I would come up with!!

CrossFit

2010-05-04T18:31:00.003-04:00

CrossFit
Originally uploaded by missysioux

I'm going to get to go to my hubby's class two nights this week and I'm super pumped! I need to get out of the house a little and sweat out some of this kale juice.

For those of you who are curious about CrossFit and all of the benefits of joining a CrossFit gym, check out our site or the Main Site.

People are sometimes afraid to try it, but it can be scaled to anyone's fitness level and you get a trainer to walk you through everything. I like to go to hang out with super-stellar folks who aim to kick ass at everything. It's motivating. Hopefully, it'll motivate me to NOT eat another cupcake within this span of 24 hours.

Hey, at least I'm off the cheesecake this week and I've started juicing. ;0)

Links:

CrossFit after cancer