Domesticity.
Feeling very domestic today. Even wearing my apron.
Visited my doctor again and scheduled my iodine uptake scan for the end of August. They will be checking to see what's up with my enlarged thyroid: figuring out what to do next (remove part or all of it or just wait and continue to measure it) and assessing whether the nodules are cancerous.
For the scan to see my thyroid correctly I get to go on a special low-iodine diet before testing (from today through up until the day of the test).
Things I can eat: fruits, fresh meats & poultry, and some vegetables (no broccoli, spinach, or turnip greens) and no more than 2 cups of dairy products per day. There are a bunch of things that are spelled out that I can't eat - focusing on what I can. Had to laugh to myself as I walked out of the office thinking this is what I should be eating anyway - nothing like doctor's orders and diagnosed health-issue to get me going in the right direction.
Basically it means that I am going to have to put a bit (understatement) more effort into preparing our meals around here. This can be nothing but a good thing for all of us. I have already become certifiably addicted to our local farmer's market so we are set on that front. It's a darn good time of year to have to rely on fresh fruits and vegetables - picked up local cantaloupe, carrots, tomatoes, and butter lettuce today.
To start off on the right foot I roasted a chicken this afternoon and chopped up a bunch of vegetables for easy snack access. Can't remember the last time I roasted a whole chicken. Planning to have some for dinner tonight and use the rest for salads later this week.
To make my day of domesticity complete I received a fabric order in the mail. I am going to sew myself a skirt (for real Mom). Now that should be an interesting adventure.
And the photo today? Mint tea (simply a mint leaf + hot water) - something I picked up while visiting with Florence in Amsterdam last year.
I should be sleeping (it's almost 1:00am), but I just wanted to say that you have such a great attitude. That is what inspires us... not just your art, not simply your passion, not only your appreciation in the beauty of everyday life... but your amazing, positive attitude. Go ahead and smile. Be happy and truly feel good about WHO you are. Love ya, girl.
P.S. I'm praying for you & your thyroid.
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Oh and you got a nanaCompany apron? I'm really trying not to be jealous! ;)
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Nothing like doctor's orders. That's for sure. After my couple of diagnostic issues last August (for me besides the hypothyrodism it was also pre-diabetes) I've had to go through a whole new way of eating. And living. For me, doctor's orders have worked. 11 months later, I have lost 57 pounds by only changing what I eat according to the prescribed plan. I have learned to fall in love with new things. No more chocolate or candy for me. It works. Like you said, focusing on what you can eat rather than what you can't is a big plus. Keeping you in prayer. Many hugs.
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PLEASE get a second opinion on the thyroid. While many many women do have thyroid problems (including myself), surgery should not be the only consideration. It can really complicated things.
Ali, you seem very intelligent and I trust you have researched this from every angle. You seem to be somebody who might be into natural and homeopathic type treatments.
PLEASE research this out. I was so glad I did and got it under control.
Best of luck to you in whatever you choose to do.
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Good luck with your thyroid. I had to have mine irradiated twice! Keep us updated!
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I can't wait to see the skirt when you finish. Too cute!
Good luck with the diet and testing.
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Ali, I LOVE that fabric store you linked to. It has some prefect things for some baby bedding I am making! Thanks, and good luck with the skirt, I know you can do it!
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Good luck, Ali! You will feel so much better once all of these issues have been taking care of. Thinking of you.
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Been there done that just 8 months ago.....easy procedure....I have a Great doctor/surgeon. My thyroid was the size of a softball but the nodules we not cancerous. All is good now.....
Stay Positive!
Lynda
ps.....I waited 18 months...just procrastinated....no need.
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Good luck Ali,hope always for the best,have a wonderful day,hugs,Rosa.
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Ali, I just bought the same pattern to make the a-line skirt with the apron overlay! Can't wait to try it, though it's the most challenging pattern I've tried, as a beginning garment sewer (I mostly quilt). Good luck to both of us!
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Hey Ali,
I've got a goiter (that is such a funny word, isn't it?) and I have to get that scan once a year. Good luck to you. I know you will do just fine!
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You are a wonderful patient and I'm praying that all will be well for you. Take care and enjoy that Farmer's Market.
Sue
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Ali, you inspire me in so many ways! I appreciate your attitude on this. Health problems, particularly those that require dietary restrictions, can be so difficult, and you are just moving forward and handling it, and I need to take a lesson!
Thanks for sharing yourself with us. I've been reading your blog for awhile, and it's so good getting to know you.
Melissa
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Good for you. :)
I love the fact that you really get on the Farmer's Market front. I love fresh veggies too. I'm sure the local farmers appreciate you too. :)
I've found that I enjoy steaming vegetables as well as eating them raw. Steaming keeps the flavor and I don't think you lose as much of the nutrients as cooking them tends to do. Just a thought. :)
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I know this is quite delayed, topic-wise, but I wanted to say thanks for the inspiration to go Bold with color. A short while ago you were talking about the amazingness of orange and I totally agree! I have always liked orange but never scrap booked/worked with that color. So when my eyes landed on a bright and cheerful orange Kolo book in NYC I hesitated then bought it. I kept thinking I could have gotten one of the "safer colors" but am so glad that I didn't after putting together my mini book! Thanks for helping me see how awesome orange is!
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Unrelated to thyroid issues: Ali, where did you buy your butterfly stamps (used in the Kit for a Cause book). Interesting to see the butterfly trend picking up steam in products. What is the backstory on your Kit for a Cause? It's fabulous!
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Ali, have you read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver? It's an amazing read.
I want to thank you for posting the thyroid info. It was a total lightbulb moment for me, and I'm now getting tested.
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Good for you for taking this all in stride! I thought the story of how you found out about it was amazing. And even more amazing is how well you are responding. Go, Ali!
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thought this would make you laugh...
my mom was diagnosed with hyper (hypo?) thyroidism and hashimoto's disease, had a biopsy, and ended up having her thyroid removed because the biopsy came back unclear. (no, don't worry, that's not the funny part!) turns out she didn't have cancer, but is now on replacement hormones to account for her missing thyroid.
so... the doctors tell me that I need to be checked for it, because it commonly runs in families (and in women)... and... here it comes... i PASS OUT during the blood test.
here they were, looking for thyroid problems, and they end up with a mental patient. ;)
that was about four years ago... since then, i've had a baby... and many more instances of passing out due to needles and blood -- augh!!!
best wishes as you work to figure out what's going on and get your body back on track!
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Good for you for taking this all in stride! I thought the story of how you found out about it was amazing. And even more amazing is how well you are responding. Go, Ali!
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love, love your column today...love anything domestic. there are plenty of us who are still preparing full on dinner meals for our families and it's so great to see someone as cool as you roast a chicken! here's to eating right. through adversity a greater seed of blessing blooms, and perhaps with these medical issues you are moving into areas of your life (domestically, emotionally,
spiritually, etc.) that you have never gone before.
oh, btw, the photo of your tea is way cool!
ali, thanks so much for sharing your creative life as well as your daily. it has really caused me to view daily moments in a different hue.
oh, and one more thing, (i don't know if you really read all these posts) but at the begin of summer we added more health to our diet and i found Kid Favorites Made Healthy by BH&G at the library. it was a good start to help with our four kids meals. just a thot.
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I am quite addicted to our local farmers market too! For some really good healthy recipes I have a few favorite places to check out. cookinglight.com and foodnetwork.com (At Food Network go to Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger, Everyday Italian, 30 Minute Meals, Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller). The Food Network has great resources and you can print off recipes that you want to try out. Best of luck...I find it interesting how God works. Just a few posts ago you were writing how you needed to make healthier meals for Simon and now God is saying Mommy and Daddy could benefit too. You're going to be a great example for Simon....have him help you in the kitchen...it gives kids ownership of what they're going to eat. There's alot of "kids in the kitchen" recipes on Food Network too....Bon Appetite!
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I love how positively you are approaching this whole thing.
Thanks for inspiring me to look at things differently
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Ali...I was totally smiling as I read your post because of the way you were describing things. Nothing like a gentle "nudge" in the right direction, huh? :D And you have such a wonderful farmers market there. So lucky! Someone else already mentioned it, but "Kid Favorites Made Healthy" by BH&G is practically a bible around here...it really helped with the transition with my kids. And I love that skirt!
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