Diets

I saw my doctor today. He said that the goal now is to balance the medications I need against the harm they could cause my damaged liver. So he's going to keep me off Lipitor until the liver specialist weighs in on the prognosis. I talked with him about my struggle to lose weight. He gave me 5 sure-fire ways to lose weight:
1. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner...don't skip meals.
2. Don't eat anything after 7 pm.
3. Keep a between-meal snack at 150 calories or less...an apple, orange, grapes, 1/2 a banana
4. Don't eat anything you can buy from a vending machine except water or sugar-free gum. (That pretty much eliminates anything packaged!)
5. Don't eat out. (Boy that one's going to be tough to carry out.)

They all make sense but it sure is going to take a lot of self-discipline...and prayer.

As a sat waiting in his office I read an article about the effects of obesity on arthritis. That gave me even more reason to lose weight! I'm pretty depressed about the whole situation...now I have to find some way to deal with that...without eating.

Blogs R Us

I've found since I started this blog that I'm a very boring person and don't have much to write about. I've enjoyed surfing blogdom and reading about other people's lives and thoughts though. It's hard to think of interesting parts of my life when I know somebody out there will read it and think...that poor old boring librarian. Anyway...right now my mind seems to be focused on my liver. Why? you ask. I had gall bladder surgery in November and discovered I have cirrhosis! The drs. are still puzzled about the cause...running endless tests and putting me off month after month. They know it isn't caused by alcohol. I grew up with the belief that drinking was "from the devil"...mainly because my grandfather was an alcoholic who committed suicide. As I became an adult and realized drinking in moderation was no big deal...I was already on a lot of medication and couldn't try it anyway. So I'm a cirrhosis patient who has never had a beer or glass of wine! The doctors are talking of the possibility of a liver transplant down the road. It doesn't really frighten me...it seems unreal to even consider. I always thought I'd rather die than go through a transplant...but now that I'm going to be a grandma...I'm feeling differently. I've been researching liver disease on the web...not a good idea...it can be really scary! I guess blogging could be therapeutic though...I feel better already!

Being a grandma!

On New Year's Day, daughter Molly called with the exciting news! She and her husband are expecting their first baby in September. I'm so thrilled with the idea of being Grandma! Since then she's been sick a lot and hasn't enjoyed the pregnancy much yet. I'm hoping she'll soon start to feel better and really enjoy this time. I remember the thrill I felt when she first moved in my womb...it's such a life-changing event. Molly and I have always had a really close bond...it's probably because we're so much alike...we have similar interests and abilities...and even share a few things we wish we didn't. We're both a bit obsessive-compulsive and have a few of the same hang-ups. But the love we share is something I've always cherished. Now that we live in different states we keep in touch through lots of e-mails and instant messaging...thank the Lord for computers! I know we'll be making lots more trips to Michigan with the new arrival in September and the fact that our son and his wife have moved there too!


Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate. Psalms 127:3-5