Friday, January 16, 2009

Zen

So, I haven't been so great with the blogging lately. It is all because of my New Year's Resolution to use my time more wisely. The good news is that I am succeeding - getting up earlier, working out on the WiiFit, eating healthy, knocking out the to-do list etc... but that has resulted in much, much less computer time.

Using my time more wisely has been paying off. First, I picked up another tutoring gig 2 mornings a week and that pretty much guarantees me 20 hours a week or more. Second, I have been menu planning and cooking up a storm. We have not eaten out or ordered take-out in two solid weeks. One of my favorite changes is that I now cook dinner in the afternoon and then pack it up and take it to tutoring with me. Turns out eating dinner or take-out at 10pm is bad for the waistline and the pocket book- who knew??? I have lost 8.2lbs, Sean is down 3.5lbs and we have saved hundreds of dollars - seriously. I've even scrubbed the house top to bottom - baseboards and ceiling fans included!

I am feeling good. Really good. Better than I have in a long, long time. I feel healthier, I have tons more energy, I am more hopeful and positive than I have been in months. I am not obsessing over our upcoming FET or infertility in general. I am really at peace with where I am right this moment. It is a good feeling; a peaceful feeling.

I am hoping this feeling lasts, because I will be starting my mock cycle when my period arrives next week. That should take a full cycle to complete and that will leave us staring down the last week of February. I may start my FET right away and I might not. Depends on how I feel and where my head and heart are. All my bloodwork done in December -karotyping, prolactin, and fasting glucose- was normal. That's about all on that front.

I thought I would share my favorite recipes from this week. It is from Bob Greene's new Best Life Cookbook. I tweaked it a bit.

Best Life Bean & Sausage Pasta Soup

1 can white beans (canned, rinsed and drained) *I did 2 cans
3-4 links Hot Italian Turkey Sausage - slit casing and crumble meat
1 bay leaf
1 large carrot
1 onion
Lots of garlic -minced
1 red jalapeno - seeded and chopped
1/2 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp sage
2 cups tomatoes - fresh or canned
2 cups greens (collard or escarole) washed well and broken into bite size pieces
32 oz reduced sodium organic Chicken Broth
1/2 box of Barilla Plus Elbow macaroni
1/4 tsp salt
Parmesan cheese to top soup

Add 1tbsp olive oil to pot- brown garlic, & onion and sausage. Combine all remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer 20 min. Cook pasta in salted water and serve soup over noodles. Parmesan cheese to taste. The original recipe calls for water instead of broth and does not include sausage.

Enjoy!

18 comments:

ashley said...

So nice to hear from you again and awesome job on the 8 pounds! Just you typing all you've been doing has made me want to get up and get motivated! Keep it up. Glad your tests all came back normal.

poppy.f.seed said...

wow, you sound great. I think I need a zen lesson from you! I've been working on similar things: eating better, cleaning house. Slowly.
Glad you are well!

bb said...

You sound like you are doing great and starting the new year off right! That is wonderful. Now I wish the no eating out could rub off on me, that would be so helpful. But sadly, I am weak.

piecemeal people said...

Wow! When you put it all in writing like that, they are truly momentous changes! Good job "getting your shit together," as we like to say...I'm proud of you!

Just Another Mother said...

I'm glad you are in such a good place right now. I think we get so overwhelmed with everything that we forget to take care of ourselves.

I'll have to try that soup recipe. It sounds yummy!

Meinsideout said...

Good to hear from you - I am so glad that you are feeling good.

Thanks for the recipes.

Anonymous said...

Just started reading your Blog. I wish I could be as motivated as you!!!

Leslie Laine said...

Sounds great! Your positive energy is good to hear - makes me think I need to get off this computer and get some stuff done around here! Ha! Thanks for the inspiration!

Lisa said...

Wow, listen to you! It sounds like you're doing so well!!!! This "year of hope" may just work!!

Lost in Space said...

Wow, Emily, you sound so wonderfully positive. What an accomplishment to achieve so much and feel so good about yourself. Truly impressive!! Congrats on the weight loss too!!

The recipe looks great - all except the beans part. LOL. I wonder how it would be without them.

Nicole said...

Glad to have you back! Can't wait to try the recipe.

As for IF, peace is a good thing. It means you are not defining yourself by your IF. That was a big one for me.

If you do the FET in Feb, it'll time out with my IVF #3. We can wait together!

Hope to hear from you soon!

Angie said...

Yay! Sounds like you have accomplished a lot....what a way to start off the new year! Finding peace with IF is so tough, good for you - you sound like you are in a really *good* place.

BTW, WTG on the baseboards & ceiling fans! Mine need serious attention ;-)

Sky said...

Wow! Good for you on the weight loss. I just started Weight Watchers (thanks to 2008's fertility meds and the 25 lbs. before that - YUK!) and I'm down a few pounds myself but now I'm even more encouraged!

bunny said...

it sounds like things are going well! congrats on the loss-- looser pants do a lot to make one feel better...

keep that positivity flowing!!

junglemama said...

Sounds delicious! I pray that this year God opens some amazing doors for you guys!

Caroline said...

I'm glad to hear that you are feeling great - keep it up!!

Jill said...

I can just feel the happiness coming from you. And, I'm just so glad for that. Great job on cooking at home-that is a really difficult thing to do! Keep up that positive spirit, Em! It is sooo you!

Petrucia said...

oh my goddess Emily! you sound like a new woman. I totally love cleaning and organizing my home, I feel that when I do that thoroughly, it's like it has some therapeutic effect as well. Great news on the tutoring gigs and the weight loss too!