Before I got sick, which is starting to feel like a lifetime ago, I went through 2-3 liters of vanilla a year. When I got sick that changed pretty abruptly. I had the same open one liter bottle for the last three years. It was half full a few months ago, and now it is gone.
The kids and I did a lot of baking this summer. They are now great helpers, able to follow recipes and happy to clean up, and I am having more good days when I can work with them in the kitchen.
We have 101 new cookie cutters, a bunch of good (some very messy!) recipes and a lot of good memories. They are learning life skills and I am learning to let go and give them the chance to play, learn, make mistakes, make wonderful creations - and clean up.
I just opened up a new one liter bottle of vanilla and am curious how long it will take to finish.
I also think it is finally time to replace my mint extract. I bought it in bulk during the good old days when it didn't seem to last a wink, and it sat so long that it isn't good any more. I am sure the children would enjoy being able to expand their recipe repertoire and I would love some chocolate mint brownies.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Procrastination pays off!!
I have a whole bunch of blood tests that I need done. Very few of them could be done through the local clinic. Most of them had to be done at the hospital, and not just one hospital but two hospitals because each one only does some of them.
I had approval for the tests at one hospital (SZ) and was waiting on the approval for the ones at the other hospital (EK) since Monday.
I was near the first hospital Wednesday (SZ) and decided to go on the wild goose chase trying to figure out where to go to get the tests done and what I was going to need to do. I found the office of the secretary at 1:03pm but of course it had closed at 1pm. I managed to find the lab manager who sent me to a different lab and in the end I found out the rules. The lab is open for draws between 8am and 9:50am Sunday-Thursday, the secretary is there until 1pm (exactly!) to answer questions and hopefully get test results eventually.
I decided yesterday and I was going to go today and do the tests, but this morning I was just too tired.
This afternoon I got approval for most of the tests at EK. One wasn't approved and when the doctor checked into why it was causing the problems we found out was because it had been incorrectly entered for the wrong hospital. The test is actually only done in SZ.
If I had gone to SZ this morning I would have had to go back next week anyway.
Now I have to figure out where to go in EK and if it is physically possible to go to both hospitals in one morning within the hours that the labs are open for outpatient blood tests.
It is worth a try!!
I had approval for the tests at one hospital (SZ) and was waiting on the approval for the ones at the other hospital (EK) since Monday.
I was near the first hospital Wednesday (SZ) and decided to go on the wild goose chase trying to figure out where to go to get the tests done and what I was going to need to do. I found the office of the secretary at 1:03pm but of course it had closed at 1pm. I managed to find the lab manager who sent me to a different lab and in the end I found out the rules. The lab is open for draws between 8am and 9:50am Sunday-Thursday, the secretary is there until 1pm (exactly!) to answer questions and hopefully get test results eventually.
I decided yesterday and I was going to go today and do the tests, but this morning I was just too tired.
This afternoon I got approval for most of the tests at EK. One wasn't approved and when the doctor checked into why it was causing the problems we found out was because it had been incorrectly entered for the wrong hospital. The test is actually only done in SZ.
If I had gone to SZ this morning I would have had to go back next week anyway.
Now I have to figure out where to go in EK and if it is physically possible to go to both hospitals in one morning within the hours that the labs are open for outpatient blood tests.
It is worth a try!!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Summer is a splash
My kids may turn into fish before summer is over. I need to find a way to get the sand out of the bottom of the pool though. The filter just isn't cutting it. We keep having sand storms and the bottom of the pool is taking the brunt of it. I can't keep my car clean either. It is just part of living in a desert country.
I have another consultation in the hospital I prefer to avoid on Sunday. I am sure it will be fine, I am actually less anxious this time than I was last time, but then again it is only Thursday.
My calcium levels are low now, but I am not so miserable with low calcium symptoms unless I do too much B"H. By evening I am a bit tingly and twitchy just from getting through the day, and I know my levels are low without blood tests, though I am a good patient and do them none the less since the doctors like to see numbers.
I am back to baking a bit. I forgot how easy it is even with my limited energy, especially with my new flour sifter! I sift three kilo (6.6lbs) of flour at once and keep it in a big bag in the freezer for easy baking. Jam squares take minutes to get into the oven and brownies are just as quick and easy. Swimming makes the kids hungry and their friends don't mind a treat either. Plus, I can sneak in whole wheat flour and pretend it is healthy.
It is nice having everyone home, though I am sure by the time summer vacation is over I will be more than ready to send them back. I still have to wash and iron all of their new uniform shirts, buy all of their school supplies and cover their books. Maybe this is the year I will manage to teach them to cover books. Any which way I am glad we have plenty of time to get it all done without pressure! Relaxed summers with happy kids are a real blessing.
I have another consultation in the hospital I prefer to avoid on Sunday. I am sure it will be fine, I am actually less anxious this time than I was last time, but then again it is only Thursday.
My calcium levels are low now, but I am not so miserable with low calcium symptoms unless I do too much B"H. By evening I am a bit tingly and twitchy just from getting through the day, and I know my levels are low without blood tests, though I am a good patient and do them none the less since the doctors like to see numbers.
I am back to baking a bit. I forgot how easy it is even with my limited energy, especially with my new flour sifter! I sift three kilo (6.6lbs) of flour at once and keep it in a big bag in the freezer for easy baking. Jam squares take minutes to get into the oven and brownies are just as quick and easy. Swimming makes the kids hungry and their friends don't mind a treat either. Plus, I can sneak in whole wheat flour and pretend it is healthy.
It is nice having everyone home, though I am sure by the time summer vacation is over I will be more than ready to send them back. I still have to wash and iron all of their new uniform shirts, buy all of their school supplies and cover their books. Maybe this is the year I will manage to teach them to cover books. Any which way I am glad we have plenty of time to get it all done without pressure! Relaxed summers with happy kids are a real blessing.
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