Cooking with Craig and other things

I got good news from the doctor on my eye thingy. It's just a Chalazion. And what's that? Well a Stye is an infected eyelash follicle, and a Chalazion is a plugged up oil gland. So I got some drops to help prevent infection, and am to use warm compresses to help clear the clogged gland.
It's been bitter cold here. Currently 4 degrees out right now with a high in the mid 20's. So even though the snow's gone for the moment, it's too damn cold to do anything outside yet. So, we're working on puzzle #6, walking every day, (indoors) and yesterday, Craig made a final batch of broth. In a large pot, he put the last Turkey carcass, and bags of veggies he'd saved. Things like trimmings of Broccoli, celery, onions, carrots, etc. Let it all simmer for a few hours, and double strain and put into freezer containers.
And this is some good stuff! Would be wonderful as a soup base except we're not much soup people, so he'll use it to make rice, mashed potatoes, and anything that he can substitute water for.
And for dinner yesterday, he prepared baked pork cutlets over stuffing. But instead of plain stuffing, he added a can of pinto beans, corn, onions and salsa. It was great! And today he's using some leftover Turkey to make his Turkey Rice Casserole. And we'll use some of this broth for the rice!

I passed my tests!

Yep! Made it through my physical, so I'm good for another year! Now these results compared to last years, are fairly close. This year my sugar and white cell count are normal, where last year they were just slightly off. But this year my bad Cholesterol is a bit high. But remember what we did through the holidays? And my over all Cholesterol is about the same as last year 228. It's a little high, but with my HDL so high and my Triglycerides good and my ratio good. I'm fine. And everything else is a-okay!

And we did a lot of walking yesterday. Trying to get back on track for our weight loss.

And now I'm off to work!

It's Thursday

Sorry for the lack of posts, but it's winter here, I work, and life's a bit of a bore right now. I've started puzzle #6, another difficult one. And yesterday, had to eat dinner early, and no evening cocktails. This morning I'm having blood tests for my yearly physical. And no eating or drinking 12 hours before. I never had a 'family' doctor before, but every since I started on blood pressure meds, the doctor I see for those now wants a yearly physical. So a couple of months before my 'tests', I try to eat real good and exercise to have better results. I know, I shouldn't change my regular habits, for tests, but that's how I am. And besides, Craig and I are trying to lose a little weight, so it's a 2 fer reason. And as a reward for being so good, this weekend we're eating out! Ummmm Smokey Bones ribs sound good, don't they?

Craig's test results

First, I want to say Craig is going to be okay.
I haven't posted earlier, because I was scared.
When we got home from the hospital, I got a chance to really look at the pictures of the polyps. One of the polyps looked a lot different from the rest. Most were smooth rounded balloon like thingys, but one looked knobby and hard.
I thought, "this doesn't look good".
Craig didn't look at the pics the whole week. On Sunday, he stumbled on them under a pile of papers. I think he didn't want to see them. His first words were, "this one doesn't look good".
I responded that it could be the angle of the camera, or the lighting, and reminded him that they were quite small, and the doctor said they were probably benign.
I could tell he wasn't convinced. We didn't talk about it after that. So, I didn't post because I didn't know what to say.
But today the surgeon called. He had 3 polyps that are pre-Cancerous.
That means, they not Cancer, but not normal either.
Which means he's lucky to have been checked when he did!
He's okay, but will need to be checked again in 3 years.
And like I've said to you all.............

If your over 50, get checked

Craig update

Well, I finally got Craig home.
This was Craig's first Colonoscopy. I've had two.(both clear) My dad died at 59 from Colon Cancer. He was diagnosed at 53. Took out a tumor the size of a baseball.
I went to a doctor at age 43 for a Sigmoid. He said my dad could easily have had polyps at 43, so he wanted a Colonoscopy over a Sigmoidoscopy.(the first looks thru the entire large intestine, the second only the lower third)
So, I've been on Craig to have one since he was 50. But he keep putting it off. Our insurance wouldn't cover much of it with our large deductible and co-pay. Then he had a customer whose husband died last fall of Colon Cancer, also at the age of 59. I finally got him to schedule it. But it still wasn't easy. His family physician thought the test was over done, but referred him at his request. Then at his consultation, the doctor, not seeing any symptoms, wondered why he wanted it done.
But finally agreed to do it.
Well......
We arrived at the out patient clinic at the scheduled time, 1 1/2 hours early. They checked him in, filled out all the paper work, and took him to a waiting room where he put on one of those real bad gowns.
They hooked him to an IV and we waited for his "turn".
They came and said the doctor was ahead of schedule, and would take him early. That's always good news! In and out as fast as possible!
So at 1:30, I went to the lounge to wait.
And wait I did.
My last Colonoscopy took a total of 1/2 hour. From the time I left Craig, till he was back at my side.
An hour later, I was wondering what was taking so long.
An hour and a half later, I was freaking out a bit, thinking what is going on, is there something terribly wrong?
And of course, I can't ask the little old volunteer lady for help, she doesn't know anything.
So I keep waiting..........................................And all these horrible thoughts go thru my head. I know, I'm a little compulsive about time schedules.
And finally......at 3:15......., I get the call to come back.......
I get see the doctor. Surprised, he says, "we found a lot of polyps! ( I just knew something had to be going on for as long as it was taking)
5 to be exact. All very small. We'll send them to the lab, but I believe they'll be benign".
So..... Craig should be okay, and he'll thank me for "forcing" him to see a doctor.
Hopefully the tests will be okay.
He kept saying all evening,
"I can't believe I had 5 polyps?"
"I don't have a family history"?
I remind him, his dad died at 43 from a heart attack,who knows if he had any. And genetics is only one of the ways. He could just be a freak of nature.(hehehe)
And to all my readers out there, remember, Early detection is the key to catching this horrible disease! Colon Cancer is the easiest to cure when caught early, and even easier to prevent if caught earlier! Not all polyps become cancerous, but all Colon Cancer is from cancerous polyps!
So if your 50 or over, Get checked!
Oh, I was gonna post pics, but I got a lot of negative feed back on that idea. (not to mention, Craig said absolutely NOT!) So If you are a twisted type and want to see them, e-mail me. They're really cool!

Craig's turn

Well, on Tuesday afternoon Craig goes in for his first Colonoscopy. He hasn't had any symptoms, but you are suppose to get one after a "certain" age, and Craig is way past that! hehe. And I finally convinced him to do it. (I'm gonna owe him big time for this!)
My dad died of Colon Cancer at 59. He was diagnosed at 53. So I've had 2 Colonoscopy's already! (one at 43, and then 49)
Craig has a customer whose husband just died of Colon Cancer, also at 59.

So tomorrow we'll be out of the house most of the day. He can't eat anything the day before the "procedure".
So today, it's eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow you may.....oh wait, that's a different story. Any way, today he's fixing a favorite of his, Wet Burritos, yummy!
Tomorrow, to keep his mind off food, (and the upcoming procedure) we're going to the big city of Detroit, to do some shopping.
Need to get new water filters for the motor-home for the up-coming season, and some roof cleaner and sealer at Camping World. We'll also hit the Ikea store. If you've never been to one, check it out! I also want to look at 3 new RV's I've seen on the web. But just look. Couldn't possible afford a new one, but it is fun to look.

And to ease Craig's anxiety about his "procedure",
I found this video on You Tube.

Click the arrow twice to start the clip!



I'll let you know how he did!

I'm gonna live!

Well, at least according to my physical! I made it another year. I aced my blood tests!!
Actually, I had the same results I've had for the last 3 years. All my blood tests were basically the same. The odd points are......
one part of my white blood cell count (neutrophils) is always just a touch low. My doctor feels it is because I never get sick,(no colds or flu or anything) and I have such a strong immune system.
And my sugar(glucose) is always just a touch high(101, where it should be below 99). He doesn't have a clue why.

My HDL is way high(79, when it is suppose to be between 30-60) but that is very good!
High HDL protects you from the bad cholesterol.

And my bad Cholesterol is normal(124, should be between 60 and 130). My Triglycerides are real low, and my ratio is excellent!
So even though my over all Cholesterol is 219, my doctor says don't worry.

And my liver enzymes are normal, which is a surprise considering how much I drink!
So, I'm good for another year!
Bring on the wings! And another cocktail!