On our way back from San Antonio, we stopped in Buda to explore the Cabela store built there a few years ago. I wasn't aware you could take your camera inside to snap photos, because most retail stores frown upon doing things like that, but it was quite the sight to be seen. First, the place is enormous. After researching online, I found out it is 185,000 square feet of homage to outdoorsmen & women. Like I said, ENORMOUS. We only went to check out their camping gear, since we're going on our camping trip in a few weeks, but walked away with only two small things.
Aaron got a pocket knife, similar to this one.
I got a pair of Life Is Good Snuggle socks. You should feel these things!!
We didn't see anything else there that we couldn't buy somewhere else, for much cheaper, so we just soaked in the cool parts of the store (like their live coy pond) and headed back to Round Rock. Once home, the boys went up to Lowe's to buy some wood to make their own homemade bird house, and I took a catnap. They also ended up building a robot, from the leftover pieces of wood, and Z has been carrying this thing around with him everywhere.
Measuring.
Sanding.
Showing me how these two pieces look like "fast forward".
A man & his power tools. Hotness.
Wood shavings on the dog.
Not bad, for their first time, AND making it up as they go along!
Painting the birdhouse will come next, maybe towards the end of this week. I'll post final pics when it's done.
Yesterday was back to work, and also when I picked up my mail from over the weekend. In it, there was a bit of bad news -- my blood work results from back in December. A bit of history ... I went to see a doctor back towards the end of last year, just for preventative maintenance of sorts. I have some pretty awful family history, as far as heart health, cancer, and high blood pressure are concerned. The doctor was kind enough to take a blood panel to ease my mind, because I suspected I might be heading down the same path as my late aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I thought it was only natural to be concerned, with all the heart problems I've endured alongside my Dad since 8th grade, and this doctor agreed. (First one, mind you. Everyone else I had seen or spoken with in the past dismissed me as "too young" to be worrying about this sort of thing.) So, the results came in, and alas, I have been stricken by the family curse. My cholesterol is pretty high, even though I workout, I watch what I eat, and my blood pressure appears normal each time it's taken. Sigh.
The plan of action is to put me on an aggressive supplement regimen for the next 90 days. I will be taking 500mg of Niacin, three times a day, as well as 1000mg of Curcumin with Bioperene, twice a day. Both of these supplements are known for their positive effect on cardiovascular health, and my doctor is trying to rapidly bring down my LDL cholesterol levels. They didn't say anything about modifying my diet, or increasing exercise, but I think I will do both anyway. I will cut out meat as much as possible, if not altogether, as well as dairy, for the next 90 days. At the end of 90 days, the doctor wants me to take a fasting blood test, so we can check for progress. I hope this regimen pays off, as I don't have any interest in being cursed to a life-long commitment of cholesterol meds, beginning at the ripe old age of 34.
Aaron sounded surprised at my results, and promised to cut out any of the pasty-white vegetarian jokes. I told him I won't make our dinners at home be vegetarian, but we might be eating a lot more lean protein, rather than roasts and salisbury steak, smothered in gravy & onions. My Dad sounded pensive, as if he's hoping I don't become him (cardiovascular-speaking), and my Mom sounded worried. My sister said she never really thinks about her cholesterol, but maybe now she'll go have it checked, as well as she thought I sounded like I was taking all of this "rather well". What else can I do? I'm trying to remain positive, and looking at it as a blessing that I found out now. Hopefully, it will mean I don't end up like my Dad's sister, having a heart attack in the kitchen in my mid-40's.
So, aside from that crappy news, and the Niacin-headaches I'm fighting off, life is still well & good. Aaron's still getting acclimated to his new job, and looking forward to our impending spring break trip. Z is fighting off a cold, but we kind of expected that with all the time he spent outside in the cold wind this weekend. I stayed home sick from work today, because I woke up feeling like ass, but it's diminished as the day has gone on. I caught up on all my recorded DVR shows like Intervention and Scrubs, I added more music to my iPod, and I napped. Eating has been a challenge, because nothing really sounds too good, but I have to have food to take my supplements. Note to self: eating soup while blogging is entirely too difficult.
Three things I'm grateful for today:
1. Quiet.
2. Warning signs.
3. Intuition.
Hope everyone is having a fair week so far. Friday is only 3 1/2 days away, kids. Peace & pastries.
3 comments:
I'm sorry to hear that you've got these concerns, but I'm SO glad that you caught them early. Much love!
I'm so glad you caught that early! Good on you! No more cheese for you, but other than that it sounds pretty painless. Keep me posted about how you're doing!
No more cheese is painful in itself - what do you mean woman?! ;) Having to not eat certain things that make life enjoyable is hard for me. I heart good food. It's been tough, but I've been very disciplined so far! Dropped almost five pounds in a week, too. That should help.
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