Saturday, August 25, 2012

Fiona Friday - Twins . . . and an update

Isabel very politely posed in front of the mirror, for me. I love "twin" kitty photos!

Update(s):

  • We have finally started spending the night at the new house. Yay!
  • We have internet service there. Woot!
  • My laptop is a piece of junk so it's nearly impossible to post from the new house (I'm in the old one, at the moment). Boo!
  • Hopefully, we'll have the desktop moved over within the next couple of days. We're moving the kitties to the new house tonight! Wahoo!
  • If I can find the time, I'll bang out some mini reviews, this week. But, we may have a hurricane shutting us down. Ack!
  • Then again, you never know which way those storms will turn. So, we might very well be just fine. Squeee!
  • We had coffee on our new patio, this morning. Too awesome for words!

Best news of all:

The second round of medical tests all came back *negative* for the nasty auto-immune disease!! Wahoo! I will still go to a specialist and pepper him with questions, but judging from my research, the pain and joint swelling I've been experiencing are probably diet-related, as in food allergies. Gluten is highest on the suspect list. I've gone gluten-free, this week, and have a massive amount of energy, all of a sudden. We'll stay gluten-free and pure. Let's face it; we probably should have done this years ago. Our diet improved when I began going to the gym and I did manage to lose 25 pounds in the past year, but apparently that just wasn't enough. Onward!

Books??

I haven't finished any books in the past week! But, I'm on the verge . . . hopefully, tonight. Since this is a book blog, it seems only right to toss in a book pic.

The first book I recall falling in love with:

Jiggers is the story of a dog who becomes lost during a blizzard. I think. I haven't read it in a few years. Note that I keep my copy in a plastic bag. This is not the copy I had as a toddler. When I realized I didn't have my childhood copy, I became a bit obsessed with finding one and eventually located it on eBay at a reasonable price. Do you remember the first book you fell in love with?


©2012 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble or its RSS feed, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos

22 comments:

  1. Yay for sleeping in the new house and for the wonderful news about your health!! I love the photo - when Milou was a puppy she was always fascinated by her reflection.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kathy! Aww, how sweet about Milou. Mine used to be afraid of their reflections but now they're okay with them. The only time Isabel gets freaked out is when I'm holding her and she sees a reflection of me holding her!

      Delete
  2. Love the twin kitties photo! And I'm so glad the tests came back negative - that's fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yay for all the good stuff! Especially the kitties in the new house. Good luck. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jenny! The kitties did remarkably well, in my opinion. They hid in the master bedroom closet for a while (not far from each other) and we kept that bathroom/closet area closed off most of the evening to help them feel safe. By late evening, they were ready to explore. I didn't get much sleep because I had cats climbing all over me, but they were relaxed, by then. It's gone much better than expected!

      Delete
  4. Fantastic news thus far, but I know that you would make the best of whatever came your way. Aren't our troubles like that?? What's that old saying..."If all of our troubles were hung out on the line, you'd take yours and I'd take mine." Somehow we adapt and grow with what we are given or handed and I love it when we rise above. I am just so happy for positive answers and the chance to make changes. Gluten free in this day and age can be done relatively painlessly. Of course the cravings are the pits....but you CAN do it! Here's a big shout out for you!!!!!!

    Yippee skippy for a successful move and even a bigger one for safety in a storm.

    Hang in there!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Gaye!

      Oh, I don't know. Just thinking about what was in store if I had that particular disease turned me into a total puddle. It's really debilitating. Now, I'm kind of at a place where I'm thinking, "What, if anything, can I do? Try to raise awareness about prevention?" It's a very modern and possibly preventable condition with the worst treatment *ever*.

      Yes, gluten-free eating is so much easier than it was even a few years ago! I don't really have any big cravings. It's more that I need to make sure we have the right foods in the house and don't get caught having to eat out. Husband found a great, inexpensive place to order gluten-free foods online so we can occasionally have things like brownies and we've got gluten-free cereal. It surprises me how quickly I adjust to better foods. I like good food! :)

      Thanks! Oh, the storm . . . we are to the east on the path, now -- the bad side. It's a good thing we don't have a computer in the old house, now. I'm much more productive without excuses to play on the computer and hang out with the cats. LOL So, hopefully if we lose two days of packing the remaining days will go quickly!

      Delete
  5. First off HOORAY FOR NO AUTO IMMUNE DISEASE :D :D :D Now I just hope that you start feeling better! Also, hooray for losing 25 pounds! I don't care if that doctor says it's not enough! It's 25 pounds and that's darn good :D Glad the move is going well and y'all are getting more settled :) Now just promise me that y'all will try to stay safe during this storm ok? We'll try to do the same :p Lovely Isaac, huh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Chris!

      I'm getting there. I really do think it must be at least partially diet related because I can get away with a meal or two with a bit of gluten or other suspect foods but I can definitely tell a difference the next day in energy level and pain.

      Oh, the doctor didn't say my weight loss wasn't enough! I meant the way we altered our diets wasn't quite strict enough. We're just going to have to be diligent. We really do both need to lose weight, so I think it's a good thing having to focus on our eating habits, remove things like gluten, sugar and milk products and bump up the fruits and veggies. It's really just healthy eating, anyway. :)

      Thanks, you too. I hope the storm doesn't hit you too hard. Since they've adjusted the path westward, it looks like you're right at the center of landfall. I was hoping it would go east so we'd be on the dry side, darn it! My biggest concern is Huz commuting to work in driving rain and/or insisting that we keep loading, even when it's pouring. I do think our new house is probably safer, simply because we don't have many tall trees around us and none are 3'-4' in diameter like those humongous oaks in front of the old house!!! The timing naturally has people freaked out because everyone's thinking of Katrina. You stay safe, too. Hope you're all stocked up on batteries and water, etc.

      Delete
  6. I've been away too long! I didn't realize you were sick and worried about an auto-immune disease! I'm so glad to hear that's not the problem, but sorry it might be a gluten issue. Although, I have a good friend with celiac and she's done very well adapting to her new diet. If you aren't familiar with Gluten-Free Girl's website, check it out. She's a marvelous writer and is married to a chef. They've written a cookbook and Shauna has her own book. I love reading about their life in the PNW.

    I'm glad to hear the cats did well with their move. It sounds like you're all settling in nicely. I can't wait to see pictures of your patio and yard! Coffee outside is the best, don't you think? I love our Sunday mornings out on our deck. Especially now that we have a small fountain. Love the sound of a gentle stream, birds chirping, and the carillon bells in the distance. Bliss.

    25 lbs?!?! CONGRATS!!!! That a great achievement! After eating everything and anything this summer, Rod and I have put on the brakes. Time to get serious and start eating healthy meals again. Time to cut out the ice cream, beer, chips, etc. I'm terrified to step on the scale, but I really don't need to. My pants are telling me I've gained weight. I hopped on the treadmill yesterday and the day before and walked for an hour. It's been too hot and humid to exercise outside this summer, but that's no excuse, especially when I can walk inside. Like I said, it's time to get serious.

    Keeping my fingers crossed that you are safe during this storm!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Les,

      I know, we haven't talked in a long time. I just read some of your blog posts from the iPad, a couple days ago. Didn't have the energy to comment at the time, even though there was a lot to comment on! So far, it doesn't seem to be a big switch going gluten-free, as long as we can find the ingredients (which is turning out to be much easier than I expected). I do follow Gluten-Free Girl on FB.

      The cats are doing great! They're not used to the household noises and the garage-door opener sound terrifies Fiona more than anything, but I think it must have helped to bring in scents they're familiar with. We brought some of their poop and stuck it in the new litterbox! Seriously!! LOL

      We need to get a broom over here so I can sweep the patio -- haven't done that, yet, but once I do that I'll snap a pic or two. It's a bit of a mess at the moment. Coffee outside is wonderful. We sit and watch the birds flit in the trees. So relaxing.

      Yep, 25 pounds. I need to lose a lot more. I'm a fatty. Moving has kept me away from the gym for a month and I guess I'll have to find a new gym over here, although I'm planning to commute back for a couple days a week, at least for a little while. We still haven't moved the treadmill but when we get settled we'll be able to walk in our own neighborhood! Woot! So happy that we're in an area with sidewalks and leash laws, finally!!!!

      Thanks. Looks like we're going to be on the bad side of Isaac, but I assume that means mostly floody rains. We'll get to find out how good the drainage is at the new house. :)

      Delete
  7. I hope that you get the cats moved in with no problems. They can be funny when moving to a new place. When we moved, the cats were anxious in the new house for about a week, but then things got better. I also hope the storm doesn't hit you. We are getting a lot of rain, but are otherwise fine over here. It sounds like things are progressing nicely with the move!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We did get the cats moved in without problems, Heather! I'm very pleased. They hid in the master bedroom closet when we first brought them over, but by late in the evening they were exploring the master bedroom and even went out into the rest of the house a little bit. Yesterday, Fiona followed me into Kiddo's bedroom, where I'd made the bed and flopped on top of it to rest. She jumped up next to me, kneaded the quilt and chirp-purred up a storm. It was just adorable. She seems really happy. Isabel is a little more sensitive than Fi, but she seems to be doing quite well, too. The two of them occasionally go exploring together.

      One more week and we should be mostly out of the house! We'll have to leave a few things behind -- the renters are going to use our old queen bed, twin bed and breakfast nook table, but within a week we should be mostly unpacking instead of packing. Wahoo for that!

      Delete
  8. Anonymous9:13 PM

    Hooray for negative tests!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wahoo! Thanks, O Fizzy One. :)

      Delete
  9. Good news and great news! bummer about the hurricane, tho. I was wondering if gluten would be a culprit. BEST to you! and hope the kitties continue to get comfortable in their new surroundings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, apparently gluten. The cleaner I eat, the more it seems obvious when I eat something gluteny. It's a pain but such a relief by comparison with the alternative!

      The kitties *love* the new house! They're very happy. And, I still need to send you the new address . . .

      Delete
  10. My first book I loved was Nurse Nancy. It's one of The Little Golden Books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, how cool! I loved the Little Golden Books. Tootle was one of my favorites. And, Sambo . . . can't remember the full title.

      Delete
  11. Oh Nancy--how wonderful!!!! I'm sorry that you're going to have deal with food allergies and a gluten-free diet; I'm sure that's going to take some serious adjusting. But it sounds like quite a blessing compared to what you thought you were up against! *happy hugs*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Debi. Yep, it's a relief compared to what they first thought I had!! I'm okay with changing my diet. It's difficult on an everyday basis but I like good food, anyway! :) It's just not a very good idea eating out. Thanks! *hugs* back!

      Delete

Thank you for visiting my blog! I use comment moderation because apparently my blog is a spam magnet. Don't worry. If you're not a robot, your comment will eventually show up and I will respond, with a few exceptions. If a comment smacks of advertising, contains a dubious link or is offensive, it will be deleted. I love to hear from real people! I'm a really chatty gal and I love your comments!