Day 1 of the Whole 30.( No wine or cheese!)

     The unofficial start to Summer is here! And so I have started the Whole 30. This is the land of no wine or cheese. Lots of other rules,too, but these are the ones that scare me the most.  Today is day 1.  I'm pretty excited and not nearly as nervous as I should be.  It is only day one, though. I have 29 days left to regret publicly announcing this and hating the accountability!  The idea of a system reset is truly the most intriguing part of this. I am on so many prescription medications for my auto-immune issues that there is nothing but positive outcomes that can come from this.
     I'm going to try to blog every few days to share what I'm eating and how I'm feeling.  Hopefully, I won't end up rocking in the fetal position begging for wine & cheese.  If you see me doing this, send me home. Don't feed the crabby irrational cow in front of you wine and/or cheese.  I'm sure I will thank you for it, at some point.   This is how today shaped up....

Breakfast-2 eggs,(approved) sausage scrambled together.  Tomatoes. Fruit.

Lunch-tuna salad with homemade mayo in a romaine lettuce boat. Fruit salad.

Dinner-roasted spaghetti squash with kale and sausage. Also made homemade ghee!

     I'm totally full and have my meal plan for tomorrow.  Tentatively, Kale, Squash & sausage leftovers with a sunny side up egg & fruit for breakfast.  Sauerkraut , potatoes and sausage in the crock pot for lunch. Mexican for dinner, will be flank steak with chimchurri sauce and fajita style veggies!

     I am sticking to just lemon water for now.  I will probably have some tea before bed and make some unsweetened iced tea tomorrow.  I can not even think about drinking black coffee, so I'll just let it go for now! Until next time!

I don't want to be a miserable cow......

      I spent the better part of yesterday at the Endocrinologist and getting blood work.  I see a lot of doctors.  I take a lot of meds. Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Celiac's disease, depression, miserable cow syndrome and anxiety! Apparently, auto-immune diseases like me. The most recent hurdle I have had to add to my laundry list of auto-immune issues is hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's disease.  They all suck but this one plays a hell of a game on a girl's self esteem.  I am more tired, more depressed and have even less energy.  It sucks the life out of me.  My vitamin B & vitamin D are in the toilet and my Celiac's is just not cooperating. I see my primary care doc and my rhuemmy tomorrow.  I will run over the 3 new added meds with them and then tell them I want to try The Whole 30.  As with everything, better to ask for permission than beg for forgiveness.  Especially when the guys with the white coats and script pads are the ones who rule your world.  

     The Whole 30.  It's a little crazy. A lot of preparation and planning. No alcohol!  But it's only that hard for the first 30 days.  I think I can do that.  I can give myself  the dedication of 30 days.  I haven't read the whole book yet, I'm going to do that tonight, but the idea that in 30 days I could reset my system.  That I could potentially get off some of these meds. Reduce my swelling and pain! Sleep better! Feel better! Be less of a miserable cow! I have to!

     Moooo! Yes, I am a self-admitted miserable cow.  I have night sweats and day sweats.  Everything hurts.  My guts are all bubbley.  My hair is falling out.  I can't sleep at night and am exhausted all day.  My depression is one of the hardest parts.  It's difficult explain to people ( especially the brood of males I live with).  Not only do I feel like my body is failing me but my mind is turning its back on me too.  I realize that depression is not something that people talk about. It is so very, very real! I know from the sidelines depression looks like a situational issue. My situation doesn't lend itself to a sympathetic audience.  I am a stay at home mom with  an amazing husband and healthy happy kids.  I live the glorious life in mid-western suburbia.  I can workout, lunch with my friends and don't want for much.  And yes, I am still depressed. I am physically and mentally not well and I want to be all over happy and healthy.  I don't want to sacrifice one for the other.
No more miserable cow syndrome.

     In my endeavors to be less of miserable cow, I have been more and more intrigued on what food could do to help heal me.  I have been inspired and encouraged by an amazingly awesome friend and I'm going to do it.  I'm going to start the first 30 days of The Whole 30 before weeks end.  I'm going to read, prep and plan.  I will blog about it too. I'll share my honest opinions and experiences.  Maybe even provide some inspiration! If not, I'm sure it will be hilarious and scary!  I will also be dedicating myself back to my workout wifey and spending as much time as I can not hiding, not letting my head talk me out of the potential for healing and getting back at feeling good.  If you are interested,http://whole30.com/.

Take care of you......

Bullies suck.

      So, this popped into my news feed yesterday, http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/news/id_10454/Parents-accuse-Lowery-Middle-School-of-allowing-bullying-of-deaf-daughter.html#st_refDomain=m.facebook.com&st_refQuery=&st_refDomain=www.facebook.com&st_refQuery=/. Read it! If you have a kids, were a kid, knew a kid, lived by kid or heard about a kid who went through middle school you know that it isn't an easy thing. Zits, periods, hair growing everywhere, peer pressure and the looming thoughts of high school are just the tip of what is going on.  That is on the small scale.  But on a grander scale, there is this, a bullied child.  Bullied because of hearing aids, her weight, the way she talks, etc. Why? Why is this OK? Who is raising these hate mongers to be so mean? Who is  letting them get away with it? Why?

     I can not wrap my brain around why this OK.  I can not fathom someone, not even a child, coming to me and saying I'm so depressed that suicide is an option.  All because some mean kids aren't being held accountable for their actions.  Where is the zero tolerance policy police for this? I can tell you where they are.  They are too scared to get involved. The people that are supposed to be in the schools to be a safe place for our kids to vent,when they need a voice, are scared.  They are scared to stand up to little Johnny's or Suzy's parents because behind the little bullies are even bigger bullies.  These big bullies,parents, come to the school and create such a scene that schools don't even bother to get involved.  It's absolutely unacceptable.

    The level of unacceptable behavior and actions , how they will be handled and repercussions for such, start at home.  I'm far from perfect parenting.  I have many screw-ups and mishaps daily.  There is one constant. The boys know, when you leave this house you are a reflection of us, your parents. So, you better carry yourself that way.  If you are going to be a jackass, do it at home ,so we can handle it. Not for all of God and country to tell me about it. I'm not Johnny's mom who thinks her kids can do no wrong.  I will make a scene but not on your behalf, but because you know better. I have never liked getting involved in the kids squabbles and he/she doesn't like me etc. That in mind,  I will be damned if I'm holding my kids to a standard of good moral and social high ground and little Johnny jackass is going to come to school and make everybody miserable.  Nobody has to accept this.  The only way that this is going to change is if parents all get on the same page.  

      What page? Where is this manual of perfect parenting ? Parenting manual?  There isn't one.  That's obvious... The more blatant fact that there isn't a manual for poor parenting either.  You have to give a damn.  You have to care about what goes on in the 8 hours your kid is at school.  You have to not want them to get A's for showing up. You have to let them fail. You have to show up to not just your 9 to 5 but the other job that you signed up for, for the next 18+ years.  You unleash your spawn out there. If they don't respect you or worry about what you are going to think, then what?  They won't care about who they disrespect and what happens as they trash through life.  They are unleashed on everyone else to be mean, rude, disrupt and wreak havoc for everyone else to deal with it.  Who wants that? Who has time for that? I don't. I also don't want that infecting my kids, their classes, their teams and their social lives.  Man the fuck up and start parenting your children so that we don't have to worry about the consequences of your child's behavior. 


     I'm going to step off my soap box, and promise something funnier and lighter next time.  Having said that, I do hope that someone, somewhere has this girl's attention. That there is a parent, a friend, a teacher, anyone who cares, to tell her that she isn't what these kids are doing to her. That it isn't her fault. That they are sorry the system is failing her. That it isn't fair but it will get better.  That their are going to be changes and they will see her through this.  Kids need that.  If you want good kids, 90% is showing up and being present. ( The other 10% is bribery, blackmail and fear. I kid!)  If your kids know you are there, you will love them in spite of and because of who they are and what they do, they will want to be good people.  They will want to do well, succeed and share that with you.  There is nothing worse than a disappointed parent. ( I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.  Like a dagger to the heart! ) If your kids respect your opinion of them, then they will respect the opinion of what they show others.

Take care of you.....

Re-Claiming, Re-purposing & Reality

"Don't call it a comeback
I been here for years
Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear
Makin the tears rain down like a MON-soon
Listen to the bass go BOOM
Explosion, overpowerin
Over the competition, I'm towerin......"


     A little dramatic with the LL Cool J Momma Said Knock You Out lyrics, ya think? Nah, there is no such thing as too dramatic, right?  I figure the first blog since 661 days ago, or if you prefer 1 year,9 months, and 22 days.  I will not bore you with a mid-western surburban Real Housewives of Ridiculousness type recap of what's been going on here . I figure we can start fresh and present and when something arises that needs a back story, I will fill you in. 

     Re-claiming. I read a brilliant article. http://modernloss.com/how-im-making-mothers-day-my-bitch/.  It was on point with the painfully honest hardship that women go through on the Hallmark holiday with the absence of a mother.  I know so many women that feel jealous, bitter, angry, put-off, put-out or just completely over the entire sentiment of it. Myself included. Until I read this. I asked my self, why are you being such a miserable cow? I know damn well why I'm being a miserable cow. I want to be mad at the day because I don't get the perks. I don't get to brunch like ladies with my mother and sister.  There is no forced family function where my boys are dressed in what I want them to wear,where they have to eat  an over priced 5 course meal with nana and not complain. Is that really that important?

     Nope. I reclaim my Mother's Day and the whole damn weekend.  I get to run a 5k with my family, my sister and nephew! We get out of my grocery getter heading to the starting line , Our walk up music is Uptown Funk & I'm happy.  We get pelted with color and smiles. It's awesome! The boys spend the rest of the weekend being at my disposal. Housework and laundry is on them. Daily chores still maintained and no pity parties thrown on my part.  I'm making this weekend count. I claim it for me. I get to eat too much, drink too much, yell at sports on tv and laugh until we cry.  I get to do that with my friends and my family! I feel bad spending too many Mother's Day being that miserable cow! I have so much to relish in and be proud of! "Celebrate the person you’ve become not just in her absence, but because of it. Don’t just get through the day –- own it, for fuck’s sake. (Sorry, mom.)"

     Re-purposing.  The amazing articles just keep finding me. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/07/in-praise-of-women-who-give-all-the-f--ks_n_7234890.html.  If you are offended or put off by the F-word, this is not the article for you. In actuality, if you are offended by the F-word, the B-word, C U Next Tuesday and any or all words in that category, I am probably not for you! On we go.  Not giving a fuck.  I am so good at that.  I like to not give a fuck about people, place, and things.  I like to not give a fuck about the celeb-retard who popped out an 11 pound spawn and posts a nude selfie 22 minutes later ,with her flat stretch mark-less body!  I'd like to not give a fuck about Lupus and the other chronic invisible illnesses that effect mine and my families life.  I don't give a fuck if you don't like me. I'm not for everybody and that it really o.k. with me.  

    What I do want to give a fuck about is taking care of me.  I want to give a fuck about making time to run, get stronger and love my body when it feels healthy enough to do so.  I also will give a fuck about honoring Lupus and the other chronic illnesses that effect me. It is o.k. to stay in bed for a day(or four). To let myself heal and recover and not feel guilty about it. ( That's a lot of fucks to give. ) If I fail at giving a fuck with all of the other things there is one thing that I will stay true to.  I will give as much as I can to my family. Not just the biological ones or the ones I claim as mine.  But also the ones that I shut out, close off and keep at arms length. If we have shared a meal, had a drink, split a piece of gum or suffered in uncomfortable silence together, I will give a fuck about you.  As long as you return the favor.  "Give all the fucks you want. You'll be better for it."

     Reality.  I love reality, said no one ever.  I really don't want to spend May 11th melancholic and lonely mourning my mother.  I really don't want to dread every Mother's Day because the imminent looming of the anniversary of losing her is always there.  I really do not want to replay the phone, the night, the day or even the years following.  I really want people to understand chronic illness and the hell it plays on mental health.  I really don't want to be the one to explain to anybody how or why my mother is no longer here.  I really want to ask her, what the fuck, mom? Why? I really want to give up the guilt, the internal mental abuse I plague myself with. I really want a do-over.

   Reality bites.  I'm aware.  I am also going to share what I realized this weekend.  In reality, she has showed me, in her own,way all weekend that she knows. Whether I wanted to recognize it or not.  Friday while having HopCat for lunch, I had an Angry Cow (ha) burger while Little Red Corvette played.  Quickly followed up with Momma Said by Lenny Kravitz. Nice one!  Later when I was getting my mani/pedi a little girl sitting next to me noticed my Lupus pin. She told me about how her mommy had Lupus too.  Her mom came and sat next to me.  She showed me pictures of the edema in her legs that comes while she waits for her kidney transplant. She also is suffering from infertility issues too, since being diagnosed.  Little much mom, but I get your point.  Hanging with my mother shucking sister and laughing in sheer hysterics at Lip Sync battle.  Even with the Les Mis reference, it was much needed. Yesterday, when I thought I had hit the proverbial wall. I was ready to lose my shit and go hide under my covers.  I turned on the TV, to drown out noise, and Overboard was on.  As if that was needed, come on!  

     I dragged my ass out of the bed and came down to the land of the living.  I found the littles helping the hubs squeeze lemons for lemonade.  The middle was still doing laundry. The oldest was photo shopping Drake into our family picture ( I really am getting what I deserve with that one). The hubs gave me the atta-girl hug I needed and put me to work.  Meds have to be filled,lunches have to be made and Mother's Day to be celebrated. Amazing food, over flowing wine, the best company and a full heart.  The reality is that losing my mom sucks. I suck at grief. I suck at other people's grief even more. But I do this really well. I just want to do it to the best of my ability. I want to know that i'm doing o.k. and as long as I keep it together, I will notice when you point it out to me.

Take care of you....