Breaking out the Holiday Cheer.

Ok, I will admit sitting in front of the computer singing along to random carols and Christmas songs really isn't filling the world outside of my own with "Holiday Cheer", which is why I decided to spam my facebook page with links to the most wonderful Christmas songs.

On the intestinal front, things are far from wintery. I'm living my days feeling as if there were a giant red hot sitting on my belly. This is something I'm beginning to learn to deal with, as I'm running out of pain relief and have very little faith in my doctor of prescribing me anything stronger than OTC Tylenol. My biggest problem though with this is pants! I'm "ok" with the pain, if I can wear a dress or pj pants, something with a soft elastic waist or none at all. But neither of those will fly at work. So here's hoping something works, because I really would like to return to work.
I'm currently at 30mg of Prednisone, down from the original 60. *celebrate* It seems though, at about 40-50 my "Moon face" started getting worse, and I noticed changes in my neck and my chin..fatty changes. I've read that all of the symptoms go away within a week of ending Prednisone.
Now if I can just get my meals in check and my sewing machine fixed, I'll be a happier moon face this weekend.

There is just something beautiful about peanut butter cookie dough.

Peanut butter cookies themselves are such simple, yet delicious treats that it's hard not to give them some sort of respect. Unfortunately, after baking half a dozen and then eating half, I found out that I can't eat chunky peanut butter. I have never made PBC's without chunky peanut butter, and I'm not sure if I want to try.
I'm curious about working with ginger, it's a stomach calmer and I may eventually find a nomulicious gingersnap recipe just in time before Winter!

I'm sure Pizza Hut has wondered if I died, as I have not eaten out all month. Which is kind of a lie, I've had a couple meals brought in to me by the kindness of friends, and today I actually went out and ate at a restaurant, first time in over a month too! But other than that, I've been cooking up a storm at home.
The last biggest thing I tackled was a tweaked potato soup with turkey sausage recipe I found online. First was calf brains...hah..no, turkey sausage.

Onions with Worcestershire sauce - I would buy a candle if they could capture this scent.

All this while the peeled and diced potatoes were boiling. Notice, there is no accurate measurements, I just added as I thought needed. Rosemary & a lot of ground black pepper went into the pot of potatoes as well.

Once the potatoes were soft enough, I noticed I had too much water in the pot, so I drained it and added the onions and sausage.

Now the recipe I was following loosely online said to add mashed potatoes, and since I'm lazy and had the pre-made junk, that's what I added. *sssh* In the future, if I ever make it again, I promise to save a few potatoes for mashing. That an half a cup of milk, stir, keep on the heat until you want to eat.
It received raves from both Samaree & my sister. I too enjoyed it, but was only able to eat a bowl due to the spicy nature. So sad. Also to note for future making of this dish, I would add a full cup of milk and/or not drain as much water out. Yesterday, as I was packing up the remaining leftovers for my parents, I noticed the consistency was more mashed potato-y than potato stew-y.
And seasoned turkey sausage potato stew is much more exciting than seasoned mashed potatoes with bits of turkey sausage, I think.


Before going to get my bloodwork done yesterday I was on the hunt for a new craft project, something very simple that I could do at Michiana Hematology Oncology center. I like the idea of going there when my mom has to go there for her chemotherapy, that way I can keep company for a couple hours, and it's not really taking anything from, since I don't have much of a life at the moment.

I ran across these adorable bird ornaments, which were perfect because I actually have a 6 foot tall tree for this year. My first "grown up tree". However, I have very very very few ornaments. And I'm not really the type of person that is happy with throwing every ornament regardless of what it is up onto the tree. I like..themes.
Which is apparent in the 2ft tall Star Wars themed tree I have waiting in my closet.

I'm in a daze these days.

No seriously, if you see me out in public, try having a conversation with me. I feel like I'm in a constant drug induced stupor and talking only makes it worse.
Today I went out to grab a few groceries, and managed to do the whole shopping trip without a wheelchair. There were times when I felt stubborn and lightheaded and second guessed myself, and I pray to God I won't wake up tomorrow regretting doing so much today. It's a learning game, learning how much I can get away with that won't set me back. My biggest concern these days is just getting back in the groove. Apparently the whole ordeal took a lot out of me, my arms are currently aching from folding blankets today. I am the epitome of "out of shape", after 2-3 weeks of doing nothing but flipping the remote, I'm sure you can't expect any more.

But enough about me, let's talk about you for a minute. You should be listening to these girls.

They remind me of Patsy Cline mixed with the Softies.

And now I'm wanting to pump up my music collection, with some old stuff. Red House Painters and Beth Orton kind of stuff. I heard a song by Radiohead yesterday that I hadn't heard in 10 years and I want to hear it again.

In trying to recover..

I've learned a couple things:

•  Boiled chicken is awesome. There is just something about it, maybe I'm low on protein, but I am so happy that I invested $7 in 2 whole birds and that my parents gifted me a large stock pot in which to boil said birds. My meat intake is limited - no heavy, breaded, fatty, spicey, nothings! so I'm glad to be able to enjoy. 
• This is one of the few times in my life where I can let the house go and not be blamed for it. Sick people don't have to do dishes on a daily basis. Not to mention other things that while they do make me feel more human and better in a way, I now have a great excuse to not do them - not shaving my legs, wearing a pony tail for more than 2 days in a row *faux pas!* and becoming more familiar with the feeling of the couch and my buttox meeting while enjoying an all day Alfred Hitchcock film festival. 
•  I really am blessed with the parents that I have. No matter what my siblings think, and I am aware of how spoiled I am, even at 28 years old. I am so blessed, and even more so appreciative of their help through this time in my life. Not to mention all of my friends and my family. The cards, balloons, flowers, magazines, books, assistance around the house and home, coming over to mow my lawn for me, picking up my mail, dropping off juices, sneaking over milkshakes, making sure I have everything I need. I could very well bring myself to tears just thinking about the caring people I have in my life right now. Thank you guys <3  And I'm pretty sure that's not the medications talking. 
• And last but not least, even if I feel fantastic, does not mean I can go out on a shopping excursion!

My latest Dr. appointment left me with yet another prescription and a small shopping list of items to help relieve what I believe to be steroid related side-effects. One of which is itchy palms, and currently the most annoying, although small annoyance it is. I'm hoping in a couple weeks to say "Ah! Relief! And all I had to deal with was indigestion, mushrooms, and itchy palms!" Apparently having itchy palms is a sign of money coming my way.
The old wives tale is told "Left to leave. Right to recieve. Scratch it on wood to make it come good." Which really makes sense, because with all the doctors bills coming in, I am and will be having money given and taken away from me on an almost daily basis for the next couple months, I'm sure!

Movin' to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches..

That would be something I didn't incorporate into my shopping list today. Peach cobbler is something I'd like to make within the week, as I've got a fish fry dinner date with Samaree! soon, and my desire is to bring the cobbler. But that's in the near future, and making homemade mayonnaise is in the nearer future.

Hoping to be able to do it tomorrow, and I'll be following Julia Child's recipe. Also hoping looks aren't deceiving, because it "looks" like a very simple and manageable recipe. I ran into a problem this evening trying to complete my grocery shopping. There are items which my system cannot digest fully now, there are items which irritate my system, and then there are items that have been proven to cure my colon.
Tonight, I found that shopping for the simplest items, like bread for instance, isn't so simple anymore. Anything high fiber, I must stay away from, so going towards the whiter breads would seem safe, yes? Well, then I was raised that white bread was incredibly bad for you. Even though one of my favorite lunches at my Mawmaw's house was colby cheese on white bread with Hellman's mayo. There are just so many extra ingredients that I'm afraid to eat now, so I grab a loaf of Italian and a random bag of non-seedy dinner rolls. Later, mentally adding a bread maker along with a crock pot to my kitchen small appliances wish list.
And now I'm craving a cheese sammich.


I also harvested some mint from my back yard to overmintify my mug of mint tea, which feels smexcellent on my frequently upset stomach. I should go out tomorrow and pick some more for the freezer. Not to mention really get to wash my hair and do my nails. Hospital stays really chip away at your girly-ness.