Summer is here...

... finally!!! After work today I decided to mow the lawn. But, Fritz was watching me prep the yard and he made sure I was aware the he wanted to go out and play (eat lots of grass). Not only was he yelling at me, he was trying to pry the locked slider screen door open to get to his freedom. So, I caved and let the cats romp in the grass before I mowed it.

Two kitties chillin in the shade...

Zee enjoying the weather and long grass...

Fritz finally free outside with a full bell of grass...
Dutch enjoying a frozen cheeze & bacon filled bone...
Oh and look! Finally a normal sized strawberry!
And of course there is video of Fritz on the tail end of the first grasshopper hunt of the day...

Needed life changes

We all like to snack. We all enjoy our favorite foods. We all sit on our butts and watch TV. Well, that life style has finally caught up with me and now I might be paying the price.

Be warned! This post is about girly things so stop reading here if it freaks you out!

Ok, so those of you who really really know me know my periods are like clock work. It is February 1, break out the box of tampons it will be here today. Well... not any more. For the past 4 months my body has been playing tricks on me. How about we freak her out and come 2 days later this month, and then two days later than that next month... oh then 4 days later the following month. Haha, to really get her going let's come a full 7 days late this time! No, I am not freaked out about being pregnant each month for the past 4 months. That would be a blessing. I was freaking out that I had a tumor or something. Why do I always think I have a tumor?

So I finally went to the gyno after having to reschedule it a few times due to unexpected period arrivals. I had an ovarian cyst years ago when I was living in VA. I have been experiencing pain agian in that same ovary for about a year now. So, of course I go to the doc and this month there is no pain - story of my medical life. She didn't feel any cysts on this visit but wants me to call when I have pain so they can do an ultrasound to confirm cysts.

Then she tells me she wants to test some of my hormone levels and asks me if I have had any extra hair growth on my face or chest. Hmmm, is she questioning my gender cuz she just saw it... She is concerned that I may have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).

PCOS apparently is a vicious cycle of hormone imbalances - a chain reaction if you can imagine. Ovary produces cysts which cause abnormal levels of one not female friendly hormone which causes something in the adrenal glands to produce another hormone which causes insulin resiliance. So, long story short my hormones are trying to make it very difficult for me to conceive a child without medical intervention. If I do get preggers I will most likely have gestational diabetes, have a 45% chance of miscarriage and a barage of other "bad things". Not to mention that having normal diabetes is pretty much on the horizon.

Now, apparently if I lose weight I will decrease my chance of diabetes and increase my chances of having a baby. So, immediately I have been eating way better. I am starving at night, but it is worth it. I am currently looking for a dedicated gym partner. Any takers?

And let's not forget the other part of this. I have always maintained my view on medical intervention for pregnancy. I do/will not take any medications to prevent pregnancy and I will not drug myself up to get pregnant. I do not belive in medical intervention to get pregnant. If I am meant to have a child it will happen. So, I must do everything I can to get healthy, not only to have a baby but to live a long and healthy life. At 29 I never thought I would hear those words come out of my doctor's mouth.

Beer Can Chicken!

Beer can chicken is my new favorite way to cook the bird. What is beer can chicken? It is basically this:

Open a can of beer (cheap beer that your former roomie left in the mini fridge).

Insert the opened can of beer into the chicken's butt. Yes, put it there and let the chicken rest on the pan like this. I normally shove a plug in the chicken's neck to keep the steaming beer inside. I used an onion here.

Let the chicken cook in the oven at the recommended temp and time for roasting.

The tricky part is getting the beer can out of the chicken butt when it is done. I find it helpful to have an extra set of hands to hold the chicken as you push the can out from the neck part down and out the butt.

This is the most moist chicken I have ever had. I have made it a few times and each time it is so juicy! You don't taste the beer at all... just pure juicy chicken bliss. I rubbed olive oil, salt, and pepper on mine before cooking it just like I would do if I was roasting a chicken without beer can on the inside! Give it a try!

4 day weekend...

My mini vacation is over. We had some great experiences this weekend and I wish I had pictures to show. James' camera broke this weekend and I didn't bring mine with me. Our weekend started out by heading up to Boothbay Harbor, Maine for a visit to James' parents' sailboat. Yes, I did stay on the sailboat. It wasn't bad at all. We were just on the mooring a very short distance from the dock so I felt very safe. We did some geocaching between rain showers, had some yummy food, and were right under the fireworks display. The fireworks were great! I would do this again next year and might actually see about venturing out on the boat with sails up!

Sunday we got up early and drove from Boothbay to my parents' lake house in New Durham, NH - about a 3 hour drive. It was a pretty ride since we took some state routes through the states instead of taking the highway the entire way. It was nice to spend some quality time with James. We don't get to spend much time together while we have to be at work because we both work retail.

Monday we stayed home and did some chores. I had homework to do, James mowed the lawn... fun stuff. I had a dentist appointment Monday evening and then I had to go to school. I got home from school and James had set up the tent in the back yard, put out the citronella candles and set up the fire bowl. We went camping in our own back yard and had a blast! Just me, James and Dutch.

Tuesday we woke up in the tent to some light sprinkles so all blankets and pillows had to be immediately taken into the house. We did more chores on Tuesday and I got my car fixed. O2 sensor paid for by my extended warranty company and while they were fixing that they noticed that my strut was leaking... so the extended warranty company paid for that too! The Blodgetts and Josh came for dinner, we had some yummy food... and KILLER BUNNIES came back out of the closet! We haven't gotten together for games in so long and it was so fun!

Now back to work for a few weeks until vacation time is here. I can't wait until August 23!