On the Hunt

It's been tradition in my family that I make Thanksgiving dinner. Since I will be home for Thanksgiving this year, I'm cooking up a feast. There's a slight hitch in this plan though....this year, my Thanksgiving meal needs to be diabetic friendly. I didn't realize how hard this would be until I started searching for recipes.

Sure there's plenty of recipes out there for a diabetic Thanksgiving.......but I'm not sure I can make them--or how they would turn out if I did attempt to make them. Year after year, I make the same thing. Some people may call it boring, but when I'm cooking for a bunch of people, I want to know that I CAN make the meal well.

So, if anybody out there knows of any diabetic Thanksgiving recipes that are easy to make...please clue me in. For the past 10 years this has been my Thanksgiving menu:

Roasted Turkey

Stove Top stuffing

Green Bean Casserole-(the campbell's recipe)

Yams

Mashed potatoes-(with butter and milk)

Pumpkin Pie from scratch

Buttermilk Biscuits

Jellied Cranberry

Oh Happy Day

Yesterday was the official 2 month appointment.

4 shots, 1 oral vaccine, and baby Tylenol.

Now for the stats:

Weight--13 lbs even = 91st percentile

Length--24 inches even = 94th percentile

Follow

I have a decision to make. My head is thinking logically and telling me what is the safe and smart decision to make. My heart is pulling me in a different direction and telling me what is the daring and scary decision to make.

Times like these I struggle. I struggle to make the decision, often times waiting until I can't wait any longer. I tend to go with the safe and smart decision when push comes to shove.

Additionally, I struggle to trust God at times like these. I struggle to follow the path he prefers that I take. I struggle to not fight against Him, thinking I know better.

I struggle once I have made the decision. Wondering if it is the right one, wondering if it's what God wanted, wondering if maybe satan lead the way, wondering if I made a mistake.

If only I had a yellow brick road.

November

November is not a good month for me. Sure there's Thanksgiving, and I have a lot to be thankful for, but throughout my life, November has not been a great month.

1. My grandfather passed away suddenly this month in 1998

2. Byron "Butch" passed away suddenly this month in 2007

3. I failed at my job this month in 2008

4. I had major surgery this month in 2006

5. Veteran's Day is this month, and I know more people who've died in the military than who have lived to tell their story.

So all in all, one day of family, friends, and yummy food in a month of many tears and sadness.

Trouble maker

Of course the day after I post about the awesome schedule that ButterBall has put herself on, she changes it. She was up at 1am eating, then slept till 6am--when she ate 3 ounces, then took another 1 ounce at 8, then slept till noon, when she ate her first full 5 ounces of the day. *sigh*

She also skipped her poopy this morning and has no interest in being held--except, of course, when she's sleeping--which is also a change because she WAS sleeping in her pack n play 90% of the time.

And now? Right now she's happily chewing on her hand in between having conversations with the baby in the mirror.

Schedule

Baby has set a pretty decent schedule for herself:

8am--Wake up, eat 5 ounces, go back to sleep

11am--Wake up, eat 5 ounces, be active

1pm--Eat 5 ounces, go to sleep

4pm--Wake up, eat 5 ounces, be active

6pm--Eat 5 ounces, go to sleep

8pm--Wake up, eat 5 ounces, be active

11pm--Eat 5 ounces, go to sleep

4:30am--Wake up, eat 5 ounces, go back to sleep until 8am...when it all starts again.

So, she's eating roughly 40 ounces in a 24 hour period and sleeping for 14.5 hours in that same period. She's 2 months old today. She goes for her 2 month appointment next Monday...4 vaccinations--fun fun.

The Story

Why I'm Leaving Atlanta:

I hit a low about 2 weeks back. A really really really low. I was sick and I realized just how alone I really am here. My employers are great. However, after having some serious talks with them, I have decided that Atlanta is not where I need to be at this time in my life. I don't feel that I can guarantee the emotional and mental stability necessary for this job. I need my family and friends close by for support. Being in Atlanta while the majority of my family is in Michigan is not close enough. Maybe some day I will return to Atlanta but right now I need to be in Michigan.

The Plan for Leaving:

My employers are currently interviewing to fill my position. The rough time line for me leaving is within the next 6 weeks. I have agreed to stay and help them find a new nanny for the little Peanut. I know how important it is to find the right person and I don't want them to rush their decision because I need to leave. Additionally, I have agreed to stay and 'train' the new nanny for 2 weeks. This won't be so much a training situation as a "get to know the routine/house/job/city" situation. I am hoping to be home in Michigan for Christmas, but am mentally preparing myself for the possibility that it might not happen until the new year.

The Cost:

As I mentioned in my last post, it only cost me $100 to move down here. They paid for almost all of my expenses to move to Atlanta. Because I am the one who made the decision to break contract, I am responsible for all expenses incurred while moving back to Michigan. Most of the expenses are minimal, however, there are a few big ones. For one thing, I need a car. For another, I need a place to live which, in the area where I'm planning on moving to, requires first and last month's rent. Then there are connection fees for utilities, gas for getting back to Michigan, food when I first get there, food expenses while traveling, clothes for interviewing at possible jobs.

That is all for now. I have baby laundry to do and bottles to make for tonight. Have a good weekend ya'll.

Moving, Losing, and Fast Food

No plans on when I will be moving yet. Hopefully I will be back in Michigan before Christmas. I grossly underestimated how much the stress level in the house would increase with my planning to leave. Actually, it's the finding another nanny part that's stressful for everybody. We're all getting along well, and I have agreed to stay on until they find a suitable nanny/au pair for the baby.

With the whole quitting the job and moving thing, I have realized just how much I gave up to come here. For one thing, I don't have a car. Secondly, I have no furniture. And then there's that whole finding somewhere to live thing. Strangly, the thing I'm least worried about is finding a job. It cost me a whopping $100 to move here. It's going to cost me an easy $10K to move back. Obviously I didn't major in math.

I've lost 8 lbs. and 5.5 inches in a month. And to celebrate, I had Wendy's for dinner. Nice huh?

Can't Hack It

Well, Atlanta isn't for me. I'm heading home to Michigan. More info to come.

How Interesting Am I?

I shamelessly stole this from Judy. All of the phrases in italics are true about me.

Appearance:

- I am 5′4 or shorter.

- I think I'm ugly.

- I have many scars.

- I tan easily.

- I wish my hair was a different color.

- I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color

- I have a tattoo.

- I am self-conscious about my appearance.

- I have/ I've had braces.

- I wear glasses. (Or contacts.)

- I'd get/have gotten plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free, scar-free.

- I've been told I'm attractive by a complete stranger.

- I have had more than 2 piercings.

- I have had piercings in places besides my ears.

- I have freckles.

Family/Home Life:

- I've sworn at my parents.

- I've run away from home.

- I've been kicked out of the house.

- My biological parents are together.

- I have a sibling less than one year old.

- I want to have kids someday.

- I have children.

- I've lost a child.

Embarrassment:

- I've slipped out a "LOL" in a spoken conversation.

- Disney movies still make me cry. I love Disney!!

- I've snorted while laughing.

- I've laughed so hard I've cried.

- I've glued my hand to something.

- I've laughed till some kind of beverage came out of my nose.

- I've had my trousers rip in public.

Health:

- I was born with a disease/impairment.

- I've had stitches.

- I've broken a bone.

- I've had my tonsils removed.

- I've sat in a doctor's office with a friend.

- I've had my wisdom teeth removed.

- I've had serious surgery.

- I've had chicken pox.

Traveling:

- I've driven over 200 miles in one day.

- I've been on a plane.

- I've been to Canada.

- I've been to Niagara Falls.

- I've been to Japan.

- I've been to Europe.

- I've been to Africa.

Experiences:

- I've been lost in my city.

- I've seen a shooting star.

- I've gone out in public in my pajamas.

- I've pushed all the buttons in a lift.

- I've been to a casino.

- I've been skydiving.

- I've gone skinny dipping.

- I've played spin the bottle.

- I've crashed a car.

- I've been skiing.

- I've been in a play.

- I've met someone in person from the Internet.

- I've caught a snowflake on my tongue.

- I've seen the Northern Lights.

- I've sat on a roof top at night.

- I've played chicken.

- I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

- I've eaten Sushi.

- I've been snowboarding.

Relationships:

- I'm single.

- I'm in a relationship.

- I'm available.

- I'm engaged.

- I'm married.

- I've gone on a blind date.

- I've been the dumpee more than the dumper.

- I have a fear of abandonment.

- I've been divorced.

- I've had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.

- I've told someone I loved them when I didn't.

- I've told someone I didn't love them when I did.

- I've kept something from a past relationship.

Sexuality:

- I've had a crush on someone of the same gender.

- I've kissed a member of the same gender.

-I've had sex with someone of the same gender.

- I've had sex with more than one person at the same time.

- I am a cuddler.

- I've been kissed in the rain.

- I've had sex outdoors.

- I've hugged a stranger.

- I have kissed a stranger.

- I have had sex with a stranger.

Honesty/Crime:

- I've done something I promised someone else I wouldn't.

- I've done something I promised myself I wouldn't.

- I have lied to my parents about where I am.

- I am keeping a secret from the world.

- I've cheated while playing a game.

- I've cheated on a test.

- I've driven through a red light.

- I've witnessed a crime.

- I've been in a fist fight.

- I've been arrested.

- I've shoplifted.

Drugs/Alcohol:

- I've consumed alcohol.

- I smoke cigarettes.

- I smoke pot.

- I regularly drink.

- I've taken painkillers when I didn't need them.

- I've taken cough medicine when i wasn't sick.

- I've done hard drugs.

- I've been addicted to an illegal substance.

- I can't swallow pills.

- I can swallow about 5 pills at a time no problem.

Mental health:

- I have been diagnosed with depression.

- I shut others out when I'm depressed.

- I take anti-depressants.

- I have had an eating disorder.

- I've slept an entire day when I didn't need it.

- I've hurt myself on purpose.

- I'm addicted to self harm.

- I've woken up crying.

Death:

- I'm afraid of dying.

- I hate funerals.

- I've seen someone dying.

- I have attempted suicide.

- Someone close to me has attempted suicide.

- Someone close to me has committed suicide.

Random:

- I can sing well.

- I've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant.

- I open up to others too easily.

- I watch the news.

- I don't kill bugs.

- I hate hearing songs that sacrifice meaning for sake of being able to rhyme.

- I swear regularly.

- I am a morning person.

- I paid for my mobile phone ring tone.

- I'm a snob about grammar.

- I am a sports fanatic.

- I play with my hair.

- I have/had "x"s in my screen name.

- I love being neat.

- I love Spam.

- I've copied more than 30 CD's in a day.

- I don't know how to shoot a gun.

- I am in love with love.

- I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.

- I laugh at my own jokes.

- I eat fast food weekly.

- I believe in ghosts.

- I am online 24/7, even as an away message.

- I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.

- I am really ticklish.

- I love white chocolate.

- I bite my nails.

- I play video games.

- I'm good at remembering faces.

- I'm good at remembering names.

- I'm good at remembering dates.

- I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.

Update

Well the cocktail of medications seems to be working. Hopefully I'm still okay tomorrow so I won't have to be hospitalized. And yes, I'm still homesick