CHICAGO ROCKS!

Well, I may be a little biased, but let me tell you why Chicago Rocks!

The Chicago White Sox played the Minnesota Twins in a tiebreaker game. Winner goes to the playoffs and are the AL Central Division Champions!

Well, just minutes ago, the Sox beat the Twins, 1 - 0 and are the 2008 American League Central Division Champions!

So, that means that the Chicago Cubs are the NL Central Division Champs and the White Sox are the AL Central Division Champs!

The City of Chicago has to be celebrating BIG time, man I wish I was there. I think the whole neighborhood heard me cheering when they won! It has been 102 years since BOTH teams were in the playoffs. The playoffs are going to be that more interesting this year!

I am a die hard Cubs fan and will be rooting for them, but my family has a secret. My grandfather was a closet Sox fan and part of my family are Sox fans. This will make things interesting!

GO CHICAGO GO!

Today is a Good Day!

Look at what came today.

Sven and I are so happy, now we can get rid of the awful Charter HD box!

Weigh In

Today was my first week back on Weight Watchers. I really did not think that I did that great, I could not get back on track, so this week:

I LOST 1.8 POUNDS!

Man, it feels so good! I hope next week is just as good. Unfortunately, I have to rely almost all on my diet since I can't exercise. It may be a slow process, but I am doing it on my own terms!

I have my second procedure tomorrow, I am having an Upper Endoscopy, here is what is entails:

Upper Endoscopy

The digestive system

Upper endoscopy enables the physician to look inside the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine). The procedure might be used to discover the reason for swallowing difficulties, nausea, vomiting, reflux, bleeding, indigestion, abdominal pain, or chest pain. Upper endoscopy is also called EGD, which stands for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (eh-SAH-fuh-goh-GAS-troh-doo-AH-duh-NAH-skuh-pee).

For the procedure you will swallow a thin, flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope (EN-doh-skope). Right before the procedure the physician will spray your throat with a numbing agent that may help prevent gagging. You may also receive pain medicine and a sedative to help you relax during the exam. The endoscope transmits an image of the inside of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, so the physician can carefully examine the lining of these organs. The scope also blows air into the stomach; this expands the folds of tissue and makes it easier for the physician to examine the stomach.

The physician can see abnormalities, like inflammation or bleeding, through the endoscope that don't show up well on x rays. The physician can also insert instruments into the scope to treat bleeding abnormalities or remove samples of tissue (biopsy) for further tests.

Possible complications of upper endoscopy include bleeding and puncture of the stomach lining. However, such complications are rare. Most people will probably have nothing more than a mild sore throat after the procedure.

The procedure takes 20 to 30 minutes. Because you will be sedated, you will need to rest at the endoscopy facility for 1 to 2 hours until the medication wears off.

At least I don't have to do the prep like I did last week. But last night, I had a nightmare that I was having this procedure done and I started gagging and I suffocated. I think that means I am a little nervous. Wish me luck!

Metropolis

So, this summer Sven and I drove to South Carolina and we made a pitstop in Metropolis. Here are some pictures:

GO CUBS GO!

THEY DID IT! THEY DID IT! THEY DID IT!

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!

WE ARE NL CENTRAL CHAMPIONS!

WOOHOO!

20 Questions

I stole this from Jen over at Eggs over Medium

20 Questions

Using only one word answers:

Your hair? frizzy
Your mother? wise
Your father? great
Your favorite thing? cows
Your dream last night? none
Your dream/goal? cure
Your favorite drink? diet coke
The room you’re in? messy
Your ex? forgotten
Your hobby? jewelry
Your fear? falling
Where do you want to be in 6 years? home
Where were you last night? bed
What you’re not? athletic
Muffins? chocolate
One of your wish list items? jewelry
Time? slow
Where you grew up? chicago
The last thing you did? shoopping
Favorite weather? crisp
What are you wearing? jeans
Your favorite book? none
Your TV? new
Your pet? cats
Your computer? mac
Your mood? pain
Missing someone? yes
Your car? 2005
Something you’re not wearing? socks
Favorite store? none
Love someone? absoulutely
Your favorite color/shade? red
Last thing you ate? turkey
Your life? mystery
Your friends? some
What are you thinking right now? not
What are you doing at this moment? sitting
Your summer? good
Your relationship status? great
What do you do when you can’t sleep? tv
When is the last time you laughed? before
Last time you cried? last night

Clinch?

I am excited today!

The Milwaukee Brewers lost last night, so with a win today, the Cubs can clinch the NL Central division. Toooo excited!

Unfortunately, they are playing the St. Louis Cardinals, their biggest rivals. Yes, I live in St. Louis, but born and raised on the North Side of Chicago, so I am a Cubs fan. I will admit the Cardinals are a great team, but we deserve this!

When I first moved here, everyone and I mean everyone, tried to get me to be a Cardinals fan. They would say "you are in St. Louis now, so just be a Cardinals fan" or something along the lines of the Cubs stink, they haven't won a championship in 100 years, just start rooting for the Cardinals. Sven even throws the fact that the Cardinals have won X many championships and the Cubs haven't won one in a long time. All I say to that is, I lived in Chicago and rooted for the Cubs for 27 years, you just expect me to forget all that. I think not! If you moved to a new city would you instantly start rooting for that team?

I admit that the Cubs haven't won the big prize, but I am loyal. And this year they really have a shot!

So, at 2:55, I am going to be glued to the TV with my Cubs hat on, rooting on the Cubbies!

Go Cubs Go!

It's done!

Thank you everyone for the good thoughts.

I had my procedure today, everything went well.

Yesterday was hell! The prep for my procedure was absolutely the worst. I never want Gatorade again, I am so sick of it! By 2:00 pm on Thursday I wanted food. Not that I was hungry for it, I admit I was craving it, but that chewing sensation is what I really missed, so I ate ice cubes. It helped!

Sven and I had to be at the center at 7:30 am. Now, I am not a morning person at all and this was hard. I could not bring valuables with me, so that meant no rings, and NO makeup. Oh man, that was hard, I hate leaving the house without makeup on. It was scary Beckie this morning!

I was wheeled in for my procedure and given oxegyn (the kind that goes up your nose, it actually tickles) and drugs! I don't remember anything that happened, just being wheeled back into recovery and asking for Sven. I came out ALOT better this time. I think it is because they steadily decrease the medicine so you wake up better. The nurses at the center were so nice, I am actually looking forward to seeing them again next week, for my other procedure!

Then I was awake enough and cleared to go home. But, we didn't go straight home. Oh no no. I stopped eating at 9:00 pm Thursday night and I was hungry, so we went to McDonalds, I was craving a Big Mac and Fries, oh it tasted so good, then I slept most of the afternoon away, Doctors, Svens and my Moms order.

So, now I am feeling okay, I still can't drive til tomorrow (so I can't drive my forklift yet, dang it :)) and I can't make any life determining decisions or sign anything yet.

Since Sven declared me a good patient, we had Chinese for dinner and he is getting me ice cream later! I know, I know not Weight Watchers good, but come on I have to makeup for lost time :)

So, everyone have a good weekend and I am off to enjoy my ice cream.

Thursday.

Today is going to be a rough day.

Well, first I went to a Weight Watchers meeting. I don't what it is, I knew that I had to get back on track but going to the meeting was hard. I knew I gained some weight, but it wasn't as bad as I thought.

Now, on to the rough part of the day. I am having a outpatient procedure tomorrow and I have to follow a clear liquid diet. Which means I am eating Jell-O, eating/drinking chicken broth and drinking Gatorade all day. Fun huh?

As soon as I came home from Weight Watchers I tore into one of the four dishes of Jell-O. Yes, Sven and I made four dishes of Jell-O. Well, I just finished it and OMG!, I am still so hungry, I want food and it is only 12:40. Oh, how am I going to last the whole day. Sven says he coming home with Ribs and Fried Chicken and eat in front of me. Sooooooo not nice! It is almost 1:00 and the second part of my detoxifying is about to begin, I won't go into details, but it isn't fun!

I am really nervous about the procedure. They are going to sedate me and the last time I was sedated, I didn't come out of it very well. And also, I don't think Sven is going to be with me when I wake up, so I am not liking that.

I just hope that things go smoothly! Think good thoughts for me!

Barbecued Pork

I have been really bad and have not written much, I admit I don't always think I have things to talk about.

While I think of things to talk about enjoy this Crockpot recipe. This another one of me and Sven's favorite!

Barbecued Pork:

2 lbs. boneless pork top loin
1 c. chopped onion (this is optional also)
3/4 c. diet soda (this is optional, we have stopped using it)
3/4 c. barbecue sauce (use your favorite kind. we use a new flavor every time we make it)

Combine all ingredients in a crockpot. Cook covered on high for 5-6 hours or until meat is very tender. Drain and slice or shred pork. You can serve it on a bun for a sandwich, over rice or over a potato.

And if you are on Weight Watchers, it is 4 points for one cup.