Month: April 2020

Image

Sometimes things get worse before they get better

2 Comments

I type this post as I lay in bed awakening from a nap on this lazy Sunday afternoon. I rolled over and felt the urge to share my progress. If you read my previous post, you know on Monday, 4/13/2020, a nurse called to tell me I did not have COVID-19. SWEET! That news was relieving although I was not surprised. By Friday, 4/17/2020, I had spoken to 2 more nurses and my primary doctor because I was miserable and not feeling any relief in symptoms despite taking a full regimen of antibiotics and prescription cough medicine.

Esperanza plant. LPC

I want to be as perky and bright as the beautiful bells of my Esperanza plant… I’m not there yet. Yellow is one of favorite colors. The dress in the cover photo is one of only a few pieces of yellow clothing I own. Yellow is my go-to color when I want a pick me up and I need one right now more than ever.

I bought the Esperanza plant because it was planted all over the property of a beautiful house one of my best friends rented for us in Wimberly a few Father Day’s ago. Wimberly, located just outside of Austin, is considered the “Hill Country” and it has a woodsy, lush, and lazy charm. We spent the weekend with my husband and kids, my friend, her niece and nephew, and her parents.

I’m thankful to have pleasant memories such as those to dwell on and perk up my spirits. I think I’m on the way to the other side of this thing called bronchitis, but not without more medications.

Advair inhaler

I haven’t seen the likes of this device since my son, Caleb, was first diagnosed with asthma years ago. His medications have since evolved to different types of inhalers. I’m grateful Caleb’s asthma is under control, but because of his asthma, he would be considered high risk for contracting COVID-19. I worry about him as he goes to work at the Walmart near our home. However, he’s given personal protective equipment on his shifts and tells me he washes his hands often.

I never imagined one day I’d be taking the same medications Caleb used to for his asthma. I haven’t been diagnosed with asthma, but I have significant upper respiratory inflammation. I tend to be conservative with medication and prefer natural remedies where applicable, but I need some relief. I’m not sure if I’ve noticed a change yet since using the inhaler for 2 days. I do feel a little better as my doctor also prescribed another medication for the cough.

I’ve been telling myself it is necessary for me to take care of myself and I shouldn’t feel guilty because I’m sick. I do struggle with the demands of my job, especially when I’m not at my best. I took off work Friday afternoon and I’m still not sure if I will work tomorrow. I know my husband, Bryan, would prefer I take off another day. I will see how I feel in the morning.

The main things I’m doing right now to get better are listening to my body, taking my medications, drinking lots of liquids, continuing to eat healthy, exercising, resting, and being comforted by my loved ones. If you’re in a similar situation, I recommend this regimen for you too. As with this whole COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes things get worse before they get better. One day this will be behind us and the world will be better. I’ll be better soon too.

Image

Self-Care 101: Lotion Up

Leave a comment

Who else has dry hands due to the constant hand washing and hand sanitizing? And who else neglects to moisturize those hands after getting them all squeaky clean? With COVID-19, now more than ever we need to be vigilant about personal hygiene, but I’m not complaining. I’m here to remind you that self-care is as simple as lotioning up.

I’m guilty of washing my hands frequently throughout the day and then wonder why my fingers look like PRUNE STICKS hours later. I have no excuse either because I have lotions tucked away all over the house. I love the feeling of moisturizing my skin with a luxious, rich lotion after my nightly shower or bath. The lotion PLUMPS my parched skin back to life.

I’ve tried all kinds of lotions for my different body parts. The lotions/creams pictured are my favorite at the moment, but it could change next month. My full body is represented with these products from my lips (Eos), to my face (Andalou Naturals), to my to hands (Meyer’s Clean Day), to my body (Nivea), and to the heels of my feet (Shea Moisture Shea Butter and Vaseline).

I do have some other lotions not pictured. Anybody remember Avon’s Skin So Soft (SSS)??? My mom used to “sell” Avon products. I think she was more interested in getting products for her daughters and herself rather than “selling”‘ for a profit. When my mom was last in Austin over 3 years ago, she left me a tube of SSS for the hands. It’s in the junk drawer in the kitchen. Do lotions have a shelf life?

I’ve had a long history of dry skin. I’m no dermatologist, but I believe brown skinned people are more susceptible to dry skin. I learned early on from my mom the importance of skin moisturization although I didn’t really take it seriously for my face and hands until I was a young adult in my early twenties.

I love Olay’s slogan of “love the skin you’re in”. This one body is working hard to keep you strong, healthy, and alive. It’s magnificent, resilient, and efficient. Love it by keeping it healthy.

Take care of your precious skin. It’s a simple action that goes a long way towards self-care.

What are your favorite moisturizing products?

Image

COVID-19 Chronicles: Test results are in

2 Comments

Personally, I find there is so much to be thankful for despite this unprecedented pandemic we’re all forced to deal with at varying capacities. In a previous post, I wrote I was built for this pandemic because as a breast cancer survivor, I’ve experienced the worst news of my life at this point. To top it off my mom passed away within 9 months of my diagnosis and my husband, Bryan, has a chronic illness that blind sighted us all. I’m not one of those people who walk around FLEXing my muscles, but I am pretty strong.

Alive is a good. Thriving is better. When times are hard, being alive might be all you can manage and you can be thankful for that. My heart goes out to all people who have lost their lives to this illness, and for their loved ones who’ve not only lost them, but who can’t properly bury them. My heart also goes out to those recovering. I send my love and light to them and pray they come out on the other side, even stronger.

I never thought I had COVID-19 because of my symptoms, BUT I’m relieved knowing my test results came back negative. The nurse called to deliver the news this morning. There is no doubt my body is actively fighting some kind of illness, but I’m a FIGHTER. I will win and it will pass. In the meantime, I listened to Bryan and took the day off work (most of the day) to rest and recover.

A special thank you to my community of family and friends who’ve sent me warm, kind, and thoughtful words and PRAYERS. I need as many prayers as I can get. I also thank all of the healthcare professionals for the sacrifice and life saving work they are doing every day for all of us.

Be well. Be safe.

Image

Foods that heal me

Leave a comment

I might be awaiting the results from the COVID-19 test I took on Thursday, 4/9/2020, but I’m not going to lay down and let this respiratory illness kick my butt. My husband, Bryan, helped cook our delicious Easter dinner, but I also want to share the meals I made this past week that have been helping me heal.

Easter Meal small plate April 12, 2020. LPC

I haven’t had much of an appetite today, but I made sure my family had a delicious Easter dinner. With the exception of the turnip greens and cabbage medley, these aren’t necessarily the foods that heal me, but cooking does help me feel better. And dinner was simple because I couldn’t do too much. I’m grateful Bryan stepped in to complete what I started. Ham, potato salad, turnip greens and cabbage, Mexican corn, and corn bread rounded out a delicious meal.

Chicken noodle soup April 2020. LPC

Chicken noodle soup does wonders for respiratory illnesses. I made this soup on Friday and this one BLEW my mind it was so good. It consists of my homemade chicken broth, roasted chicken, egg noodles(bought at an Asian Market), mushrooms, onions, celery, garlic, fennel, red pepper, jalepeno pepper, and spices including turmeric and ginger. Do I really need to tell you why this soup is so nutritious? If you don’t know, look up the amazing wonders of each of the ingredients I listed. I have a big bowl of leftovers to carry me through a few more days.

When you need a spoon and a fork for your soup, then you’ve done good. LPC
Triple berry yogurt parfait April 2020. LPC

Gut health is so important because it impacts so many other areas of health that you wouldn’t think are connected to your gut. I’m no nutritionist, but I’ve learned there are many benefits to probiotics. And plain, organic greek yogurt is my favorite food for probiotics. I defrosted about 1/4 cup of frozen mixed berries, added a dab of maple syrup, a packet of stevia, and topped with organic granola. This parfait certainly gave my immune system a boost.

Sausage, squash, spinach, and peppers medley April 2020. LPC

The nutritional benefits of powerhouse greens and fresh produce in general is almost endless. I strive to eat mostly plant based foods. I was craving spinach and remembered I still had some beautiful organic yellow squash to add. This dish also has red peppers which contain more Vitamin C than an orange, and onions, garlic, tomato paste, chicken broth, and spices. This could be eaten with rice, quinoa, grits, or with no side at all. It could also easily become a vegan dish by omitting the sausage, adding extra greens and/or squash, and using vegetable broth or water.

Mango orange green smoothie April 2020. LPC

Of course, I drink a daily green smoothie, but when I’m particularly under the weather, I load up on produce with high concentrations of Vitamin C. In this batch, which produced 3 mason jars of smoothies, I added 2 cups of dethawed mangos, frozen bananas, an orange, chia seeds, flax seeds, collagen powder, ginger, almond milk, and organic spinach. My appetite was low today, but sipping on this green smoothie in the morning ensured I was hydrated and getting some nutrition. Drinking out of my cute owl jar also made me feel better.🦉

Cod sauteed with spinach April 2020. LPC

My main two choices for hearty fish are cod and salmon. I buy them fresh in large packs at Costo, then I portion and freeze in ziplock bags. We were done cooking and eating our Easter meal around lunch time. For dinner, I ate half of the portion of cod pictured above. I needed a good source of protein and Omega 3s and this cod is packed with both.

Hydration (water and teas) and sleep are a couple of other areas I’m also focusing on. I might be sick, but I’m doing all I can to get better. I’m looking forward to feeling better really soon.

What are you cooking this week? What are your favorite healing foods?

Image

COVID-19 Chronicles: I took the test

2 Comments

I’ve had a nagging cough for about a week. The cough has been accompanied by aggressive heart palpitations. I’ve been teleworking at home, which means business as usual – meetings all day whether virtual or conference call. The cough has been such a pain, causing me to not finish my sentences without interruption.

I doubled down on the over the counter medicine. For a little while, I thought it was doing something. Then, it got to the point where the cough was interfering with my daily activities such as talking. People were asking me if I was ok. I could see and hear their concerns. My husband, Bryan, wanted me to take off work a couple of days, but I didn’t.

“It’s probably just allergies”, I said more than once to different people, knowing full well I was tested for allergies a few years ago and tests came back negative. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t be sensitive to certain pollens in the air, the doctor had said. It is spring time.

Last Monday, I was miserable, then Tuesday, barely a cough the whole day but my mid-section, all around, was sore. The cough persisted again on Wednesday, progressively getting worse as the day went on. I decided to end my work day early to get some rest. The over the counter medications helped me sleep at night, but the cough and heart palpitations returned with a vengeance on Thursday.

I assured a member of my team that I would likely call my doctor Friday morning if nothing changed. We said our goodbyes for the work day. But I knew nothing would change so I decided to see if I could schedule a doctor’s appointment online. I think everyone else’s concern increased my concern. I’m one of those people who prefer to tough it out, but I could admit it was time for something to be done.

On the online portal, my responses to the questions about my symptoms directed me to call the clinic. I spoke to an after hours nurse at about 6:30 pm or so. Again, I could barely finish my sentences. She trouble shooted some symptoms and said it sounded like I had a bad cold and not COVID-19, but my symptoms warranted a call with the triage nurse. The triage nurse asked me a series of questions. No, I didn’t think I had a fever, but I haven’t been able to check because the sleeves for our ear thermometer are on back order.

The triage nurse gave me the option of seeing a doctor via telemedicine that evening or waiting to see my primary care physician the next day. The pain in my chest, cough, and heart palpitations were becoming unbearable. I knew I had to see someone that evening. My telemedicine appointment was scheduled for 7:30 pm, 40 minutes from then. I could expect a call from another nurse before I met with the doctor. I texted my siblings so they could be aware.

A nurse called me at 7:15 pm, asking me more questions. She assured me the doctor would be calling in a few minutes and that he did. By the time I spoke to the doctor, I had already spoken to 3 nurses and explained my situation each time. He asked about a fever and posed more probing questions about the cough and heart palpitations. He indicated I probably didn’t have COVID-19. He put me on hold for a couple of minutes, came back, and said he would prescribe stronger medication for the cough and a ZPAC. He also said he wanted me to go to the clinic to get the COVID-19 test.

At that point, I decided not to panic and was relieved about getting stronger medications. The clinic was right around the corner and so was my pharmacy. My husband and I put our masks on….pictured and courtesy of my daughter who said she ordered 6 masks (for fashion she said…???) a few YEARS ago (I question her sense of time). I may circle back around to this in a different post. When I’m better, I plan to sew in an extra layer of fabric.

Eerily, there were barely any people out in the shopping center comprised of several businesses, including the clinic, restaurants, and a gym. I was able to walk right up and check in with the lady in full protective gear sitting outside of the clinic. A man was ahead me. We were both instructed to wait. I could wait in my car or outside. I elected to wait outside.

My state of mind was calm, yet I almost couldn’t believe with all that was happening, this COVID-19 would hit so close to home. I was waiting to take the test. I told myself this is a precaution since I have a cancer history. Three of the four people in my household are in the high risk category, including myself. It was still very surreal. The test was brief – a cotton swab swiped in each nostril. I heard the nurse say I should get a call within 24 hours, but I realized later I didn’t hear the rest of what she said about the notification.

Today is Saturday and I still haven’t received a call with the results. I’ve never once panicked. I really don’t think I have COVID-19, but I won’t know for sure until I get the results. I think my immunity has been down from a cold I had in February. I checked online to see how long it takes to receive COVID-19 test results and it showed 2 to 10 days. On my online chart, I could see the doctor diagnosed me with “bronchitis”. In the meantime, my cough hasn’t gotten any better, but I did start the prescription medications yesterday.

The light in all of this is that whether or not I have COVID-19, I will be okay. I’m grateful I was seen by a doctor so quickly. Taking the test was also quick and painless. In a situation like this, I’d rather doctors be over cautious than not. I’m also very thankful that I decided to get this nasty cough checked out and that I have quality health insurance because I know many people don’t.

I’ll keep you all posted on the results. Unfortunately, my husband has been feeling sick today too. I’ve been coughing a lot so it was bound to happen. He decided to sleep downstairs. I pray my kids won’t get sick. Today, I started wearing my bandana as a mask in the house. Although it’s difficult, I’m going to try to get some rest so I can get up to view our church’s Easter service online before my husband and I cook our Easter meal. I also plan to do some cleaning and more resting after that.

If you celebrate, how will you be spending Easter this year?

Image

Cooking in the midst of ‘shelter in place’

Leave a comment

I was made for this pandemic. As a breast cancer survivor, I believe I’ve already faced the most horrific news anyone could bare. And I survived it along with treatment. As the bread winner in my household for a couple of years, I’ve been diligent about planning our grocery shopping and meals within a budget. We will survive this COVID-19 pandemic.

I’m not gonna lie: it is a little unnerving to see empty shelves at the grocery store. There’s certainly a new normal of buying what you can find. Grocery shopping is like a scavenger hunt now. The brand of flour I like is not on the shelf. In fact, there is no flour on the shelf, except at Costco. Items that you take for granted are gone. Lysol wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, kleenex, hand sanitizer (I barely used the stuff) are the highest commodities right now. Of the items noted, last week I was only able to find paper towels.

Our Grocery Cart at Costco 3-31-2020. LPC

Our grocery shopping strategy was different for April. I decided to do most of my shopping at Costco having gotten a peak at the grocery store shelves in our neighborhood stores. Empty shelves is the theme. I have the storage capacity to stock up on freezer items and pantry staples, so I took advantage. We purchased extra food. I do this type of shopping every month, so it’s not new to me. I’m just thankful I can do it.

For those who follow my site, you know I mostly cook homemade meals. Our household budget doesn’t allow much room for eating out, so we’re not missing much with the restaurants being closed for dining. However, I’m sad for all of the people who have lost their jobs, especially those in the restaurant and hospitality industries. There are many people who have lost their jobs in other industries also.

Chicken salad on naan. LPC
Sunday dinner 4-5-2020: Chunky potato soup and chicken salad. LPC

In uncertain times like these, I hone into doing what brings me joy such as cooking. I love feeding my family. My son asked me last week to make chicken salad. He actually wanted me to buy canned chicken. I was like, “NOOOO!!! Are you kidding me! I don’t make my chicken salad with canned chicken.”

Since I was craving a version of my potato soup with my homemade chicken broth, I decided to kill two birds with one stone. I put a whole chicken in a large pot with water and added aromatics such as garlic, onion, parsley, celery, and spices. I let that boil for almost 24 hours. Then I removed the chicken from the pot, shredded it, and added the shredded chicken to a dressing of mayonnaise, chipotle mustard, pickled jalepenos, yellow bell pepper, diced celery, a dab of relish, and spices.

For the soup, I roasted 2 russet potatoes, broccoli, and carrots. In a stock pot, I sauteed onions, celery, fennel, yellow bell pepper, garlic, in olive oil. I sauteed about 2 tablespoons of flour in the mixture with a pad of butter. Then, I added my fresh chicken broth. I diced up the roasted vegetables and added them to the pot along with fresh parsley. I let that simmer a bit then added about a half cup of cream. I let it all simmer while I did some step aerobics.

Codfish sandwich and homemade french fries. LPC

My daughter’s school was providing free lunches to families a couple of weeks ago because school was out and they didn’t know what to do with the food. At that time, the schools were planning to reopen on 4/6/2020…so they thought. Although my daughter didn’t want to go because she doesn’t like their food, we made her go with us anyway. We explained that there is no shame in getting free food, especially since the school didn’t know what to do with the extra. We went about 2 days. There were other families too.

If you have no other options for food, I can see how this would be a valuable resource. My family ate the food both times that we went. However, we opted to not return. Other families need it more than we do and I’m conscientious of feeding my family more healthy options. I did greatly appreciate the fruit. The bun pictured on my fish sandwich is from one of the school meals. It took a matter of minutes to saute a small portion of cod to make that fish sandwich. It was so good!

In uncertain times such as these, I’m safe, surrounded by the people I love, and have endless options for cooking delicious and filling meals for my family. And I’m full…in more ways than one.

What do you plan on cooking this week? How are you coping?