Susie has informed me that the uterus is quiet this morning. I replied Ms. Uterus is accumulating strength for the big exit.  The countdown continues.

As I listen to Zen chants I imagine itty bitty flying hearts and rainbow pacifiers.  Susie is calm and so is baby.  

Great day.  New Pope to be announced within minutes  Local time Rome: 8:00 pm.

Congrats Pope Francis I.  Wishing you a very healthy long life.

Back to baby watch.

Nada. Countdown continues.

I am waiting for my daughter Susie to give me the go-ahead to board a plane and exit east to MA.  Grand baby #6 is due somewhere between now and the end of the month. We don't know if we are pink or blue yet.  Mom and Dad want the big surprise. I want to know what color to paint the baby's bedroom walls. They do not.

There are three older siblings ages 7 - 11 who are anxious to meet the new arrival.  The dog - not so much.  Tia the Pom is oblivious to the situation. There are the Great Grandmas, Uncles and Aunts, a slew of cousins and of course Grandmas and Grandpas.

I need/want/wish/hope for another Granddaughter. This baby girl will even up my 'Grand' count to 3 and 3.  I have secretly carried a pink teddy bear adorned with a pink tutu since last July when Susie made the official announcement. I've been wearing pink for a month.  My toenail polish is pink with pink sparkles.  I've eaten pink cupcakes, pink cotton candy, pink malted milk balls and the drink of choice is a Shirley Temple.  Even my lipstick is pink.

On March 10, Susie had her weekly appointment.  The Doctors and Nurses at the OB office know that Susie and Matt do not want to know  the baby's sex.  They have been surprised with the end result for the last three births.  The files are stamped with 'top secret'.  The tech (new guy)  who was in charge of Susie's ultra sound announces "Yep, he looks fine. All is well"  Susie's heart sunk.

Not because she has a boy on the way into the world.  Not because she now gets to paint the walls blue.  Not because my quota will be 4 & 2. Not because she really wanted pink sparkly ruffles.  Not because of a lot of  - things.

She is upset because her last big surprise is no longer a surprise.

Moral of the story:  Read the file.  At all costs, people, read the file.

How can I reward myself if I once again failed.  I attended a beautiful baby shower for my beautiful cousin.  Nothing but pink from wall to wall.  Nothing but sugar from floor to ceiling.  The trophy of the afternoon consisted of pink cake frosted with pink icing sprinkled with white edible pearls.  The dessert table sported pink cotton candy, pink and white malted milk balls, pink Hershey's kisses pink jelly beans and pink gummie bears.  Thank all that is heaven that I do not eat gummie bears.

Is it a true failure.

Yes.

Pink cotton candy. My ultimate downfall.  Pink Champagne Cupcakes.  My ultra ultimate downfall.

Maybe next Lent I can try for a sugar free penance.

Thank goodness I cannot tolerate gummie bears of any color.

I can't believe I started this 2 years ago.

I'll start again tomorrow.

Monday, Monday...

I just made the most wonderful lettuce wraps.  Romaine lettuce, sliced turkey, a smear of mayonnaise and a squeeze of Jack Daniels Mustard - spicy southwest flavor. 

Saturday's dinner featured a plate of baked asparagus smothered with 3 different melted cheddar cheeses, (white, mild and sharp) a sprinkling of onion and bacon bits topped with a dollop of sour cream.

Sunday's dinner featured the tenderloin side of a large porterhouse steak and a salad.

So far so good on the Atkins Diet.  I only embarked 2 illegal foods this weekend - cressant rolls with Sunday dinner (those tiny cressants that equal about the size of a half dollar, and 2 chocolate martini's with Fridays shrimp feast).

This weekend's workouts where unusually difficult. I need to watch this as I think I was energy low due to the no sugar/no carb rule going on now.

So continuing on the no carb/low carb path...

Today:  Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, snack: celery with cream cheese, lunch: lettuce roll-ups and dinner is once again a mystery - if I eat at all.

Yes I might skip a meal.  Last Wednesday I came home from boxing and ate a good hunk of salmon lightly fried in butter.   Neither could I fall asleep nor stay asleep.  

This weekends entertainment included 2 movies: Death at a Funeral (Chris Rock) and a fabulous foreign film, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I did spend 6 hours on the Cleo book and it is more fun than a vase full of Crayola Colored Pencils.

Thanks for reading,
MiSquared @ 145.5

Day 2.

I survived Ash Wednesday. No problem.  No jumping off a cliff. Last night I worked out the traditional 1 hour of cardio boxing at the LA Boxing facility.  I'm dong well with about a 95% workout of my usual 110%.

The boiled eggs with horseradish were devine and the tuna salad was so tasty. Recipe to follow below...

Today I repeated both meals but did add 3 oz of fresh squeezed orange juice to the vitamin supplements (calcium, salmon oil and Lsyne for the immune system ). Night supplements repeats without calcium and no OJ at night.  OJ is not recommended on the Atkins induction phase but the oranges are in the house and I enjoy this treat. Once the oranges disappear from the counter I will not have any more and see if the weight loss differs.

 The news confirmed the bombing of the oil wells in Libya.  We had a dusting of snow this morning.  The drive to the bus was beautiful with the snow covered trees and bushes.

 In addition to the eggs and tuna tonight I will have chicken breast and a small salad.

The tuna recipe as promised...

2 cans white albacore tuna, drained rinsed and squeezed dry.
Celery and onion.  There is no set amount of these - just chop as much or little as you like.
Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning - approx 1 teaspoon.
2-3 Tablespoons of Hellman's Mayonnaise.

 Mix and chill.
 For the purpose of this Atkins diet - the recipe boasts 1 carb  for 1/2 the recipe.

Thanks for reading,

 MiSquared @ 148

The Big Day!

Well oh well, here it is the big day.  Ash Wednesday. So far the oil world is blowing its own self up.  The weather is this/much warmer than last month.  I need a haircut badly.  And I overdosed on sugar yesterday.  The last hurrah if you please.  Four paczi or at least 3.5, 2 handfuls of M&M's and a 3 Musketeer candy bar. If I see another grain of sugar anytime in the next 7 weeks I'll die.

Today is the first day of the big sugar toss.  The Lent  oath included a strict following of the Atkins diet, red meat once a week (preferably Saturday nights), only tuna, turkey and eggs, salad, certain veggies and lots of water. So in light of the first day of Lent, the food list included 2 boiled eggs with horseradish, 4 oz of tuna salad, mixed with celery, onion and mayonnaise, and the grand finale - salmon saute in butter.

The very  last item on this Lenten List is the hardest of all.  The promise of blogging each and every day at least one sentence whether it be good or bad, happy or sad.

 So a very happy belated birthday to my darling granddaughter Grace.  Here's looking forward to the next very beautiful 9 years.

 Thanks for reading,
 MiSquared @ 150