Cam's New Lease on Life Journal (comments welcome!)

[Amy&Dan]

Cam, good job taking that pain medication last night. You are being very wise with that and pain free sleep is the road to recovery for you!

Hope court went well today and that you got through security!

That dinner sounds good, I used to make that a lot and need to again!

I always gain weight when I undereat, its not fair!

 

[toystoryduo]

How did the hearing go this morning? How are you feeling?

Sending lots of prayers your way, my friend!

 

[keenercam]

Cam, good job taking that pain medication last night. You are being very wise with that and pain free sleep is the road to recovery for you!

Hope court went well today and that you got through security!

That dinner sounds good, I used to make that a lot and need to again!

I always gain weight when I undereat, its not fair!

Amy -- That mix is one that I came up when I was (successfully) following the WW core plan. I still really enjoy doing pure protein & veggie mixes. I find them to be really filling, and it is so nice to make a batch of something like that and to have it for several meals without having to cook again.

How did the hearing go this morning? How are you feeling?

Sending lots of prayers your way, my friend!

Thanks, Tracy! Court went well. Getting through security was a breeze and the hearing went really well, though it is kind of sad to know a case that I filed 11 years and 7 days ago is over now. It turned out really well for the shareholders we represented and I am so proud of the work my team did over the duration of the case.

Physical therapy last night was so hard and my PT had to help me with leg raises by supporting my ankle because I kept getting charlie horse pains in my kneecap area. Apparently, the patella is suspended in 4 muscles that support it and with all the swelling in my knee, using my quad puts a lot of pressure on the knee "fulcrum". I was in horrible pain all night both in my knee and in my left hip (I may have been using the hip to compensate for the weakness in my quad) and I finally took medicine at 3:30 that left me feeling like a zombie when the alarm went off at 6:15. Oh, well, maybe I can sleep late tomorrow, which I haven't done since we were in Jamaica in April.


Thursday's food:

B: coffee
L: 100 calorie snack pack; ground turkey, onion & mushroom mix
S: WW cheddar twists
D: LC panini
dessert: devil dog

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Friday food:
B: coffee; apple
L: subway turkey & ham on 6" wheat roll w/veggies, dry
D: 2/3 primo sub
dessert: movie popcorn


Oh, and my WI this morning was wonderful!!! Down 2.5 pounds this week!!!! That is 8.9 total since May 28.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Cam, congratulations on the weight loss! That is awesome at anytime, but given what you have been through, its even more impressive.

I am glad your case went well, that must be a weird feeling that after so many years you are "done". That's a big chunk of your life! But you obviously did well and your hard work paid off. Glad you got through security easily. I had visions of you sounding off alarms with your hardware!

I hope you sleep better tonight and that your pain is less than it was. That just makes me wince to read about it!

Hang in there, enjoy Toy Story 3 and I hope you have a super weekend!

 

[toystoryduo]

Congratulations on your court hearing, Cam!!! I'm glad that everything worked out for you and your team!

Congratulations on your weight loss too!!!!

Did you like Toy Story? We loved it!

I hope you have a nice weekend, Cam.

 

[keenercam]

Cam, congratulations on the weight loss! That is awesome at anytime, but given what you have been through, its even more impressive.

I am glad your case went well, that must be a weird feeling that after so many years you are "done". That's a big chunk of your life! But you obviously did well and your hard work paid off. Glad you got through security easily. I had visions of you sounding off alarms with your hardware!

I hope you sleep better tonight and that your pain is less than it was. That just makes me wince to read about it!

Hang in there, enjoy Toy Story 3 and I hope you have a super weekend!

Thanks, Amy!! I feared I'd set off alarms, too, but the US Marshalls just hand patted my shoulders and arms and let us go around. I guess I looked trust-worthy, especially when I offered to let them hand-wand me.

Congratulations on your court hearing, Cam!!! I'm glad that everything worked out for you and your team!

Congratulations on your weight loss too!!!!

Did you like Toy Story? We loved it!

I hope you have a nice weekend, Cam.

Thank, Tracy! We LOVED Toy Story 3. I was sobbing at the beginning thinking of my very own Andy going off to college next year. And then, the last 10 minutes, OMG!! Not a dry eye in our family!

 

[keenercam]

Food Saturday:
B: 1/3 leftover italian sub; coffee
S: lite popcorn
L: pork roast
D: whole wheat pasta w/rotel; rotisserie chicken
S: apple


Food today:
B: lite yogurt w/almonds; apple
L: (PF Chang) 1 steamed dumpling; wonton soup; 1 lettuce wrap; kung pao chicken (1/2 order) w/1/2 order brown rice
S: 1/2 small movie popcorn, no butter
D: pork roast; canned corn

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm so glad that you loved Toy Story 3!! It was such a great movie! I can't wait to see it again!

How was the rest of your weekend? How are you feeling?

Have a nice Monday!

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, Tracy! We LOVED TS3 and I really do want to see it again. Every scene was so rich in detail that I'm sure we missed a lot. I think it is pretty impressive when a movie can bring your 22 year old and 17 year old to tears, too. As we sat outside the theatre waiting for the kids I was really struck by the diversity of the audience exiting that theatre. Every age group, pre-school to senior citizen and there were lots of teenagers including some who were dressed Goth and many punk rockers complete with spiky mohawks dyed green and groups of giggly teenage girls and teen couples obviously on a date. I think that says incredible things about Pixar's success.

Well, looking back on the weekend's food, I really didn't do badly at all, especially considering the options I passed on, including all sorts of junk food at 2 different movies, dessert at PF Chang's that my family had and I didn't, and even those point-friendly desserts I have in the house but just felt no need to touch this weekend. I just hope I can stay on track this week. Wednesday is Howard's birthday and I'll have to see what he wants to do for dinner, but maybe it will be somewhere I can fulfill my craving for broiled seafood.

Food today:
B: coffee, apple
S: yogurt w/almonds
L: leftover kung pao chicken w/brown rice; green beans
S: 100 calorie snack pack
S: pretzel crisps w/laughing cow cheese
D: 3 slices pork roast; corn w/ICBINB spray
dessert: devil dog

 

[Amy&Dan]

Cam, great job on the food this weekend! Man, I NEED your determination and will power.

I am so glad you liked Toy Story 3. I cannot wait to see it. I know I'll be crying, that was the first movie my son Matthew fell in love with and its very special to me. The fact he wants to see it at age 15 speaks volumes!

Again, great job with your food and I hope Howard picks seafood for his birthday dinner! I love broiled seafood too and its nice and rare for me love a healthy version of anything!

 

[goldcupmom]

Wow, Cam, your willpower is stunning....wanna share?

Kudos on the long court case finally being successfully ended.

Hope the leg pain is gone for good soon!

Have a great week!

 

[keenercam]

Cam, great job on the food this weekend! Man, I NEED your determination and will power.

I am so glad you liked Toy Story 3. I cannot wait to see it. I know I'll be crying, that was the first movie my son Matthew fell in love with and its very special to me. The fact he wants to see it at age 15 speaks volumes!

Again, great job with your food and I hope Howard picks seafood for his birthday dinner! I love broiled seafood too and its nice and rare for me love a healthy version of anything!

Oh, Amy! I hope you and Matthew love it. There are so many laugh-out-loud moments. I wish I could see it again tonight. BTW, Howard has, in fact, picked a seafood restaurant for his birthday dinner. I am so excited. The menu looks fabulous! I just have to remember the 'no butter' request on my broiled seafood.

Wow, Cam, your willpower is stunning....wanna share?

Kudos on the long court case finally being successfully ended.

Hope the leg pain is gone for good soon!

Have a great week!

Thanks, Julie!! I think your willpower may be inspriing me, so thank you! Yes, I am looking forward to knee pain being a thing of the past. I see the ortho again on Wednesday and I'll get a new brace. I am hoping he is going to let me bend the knee a bit, which means I might be able to drive again. I'll have to go get my handicapped driver tag in order to be able to park near an elevator at work and it will give me a bit of freedom, even though I do appreciate Howard driving me everywhere and being so helpful.

Our MAJOR landscaping, exterior home improvement project started this morning. The contractor told us it was mostly demolition work today. Can't wait to see what they accomplished.

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm with you, Cam....I can't wait to see Toy Story 3 again!

You are doing a great job with your food! Keep up the good work!

I love seafood! Glad you'll get to have some for your DH's birthday!

 

[keenercam]

I just realized I never got here yesterday to post my food. It was crazy busy at work and then last night after PT I was no in no shape to do anything but eat and go to bed.

Food yesterday:
B: coffee; yogurt w/almonds
L: green salad w/grilled chicken and Greek dressing
S: apple; 1/2 granola bar
D: 4 pierogies; 1 slice pork roast; 1 bite rotisserie chicken; egg beaters w/fat free cheese & salsa; Dr. Praeger veggie burger (WOW! that looks like a ton of food!)


Physical therapy last night was so painful and I kept breaking out into a cold sweat like you get right before you faint. Tomorrow night, I'll start therapy in the pool, which should be a bit less painful. My PT is so thrilled with all the work I've been doing on my own to build up strength and range of motion. Even my dr. commented this morning that Anthony was really glad at how fast I am progressing. I just wish I didn't end up crying in the bathroom during the night because of the pain. But it will all be worthwhile. He said the next 2 weeks the pain will be brutal and urged me to use the Dilaudid and call him if I need more. He even said I should work from home if necessary to be able to take the Dilaudid if I need it. We are planning to go to DMV tonight to get my handicap tag. I am hoping to be able to drive myself to work starting soon even if Howard and I have to switch cars (Max is tiny, so I'll have to see if I can even get my leg into the driver's seat. LOL!).

I have a new brace that lets me bend my knee from straight to 60 degrees. I was supposed to only be able to do 30 but the dr said my progress is so advanced that I can start at 60 and if it is too painful, can dial it back to 30 degrees for a while. I also had xrays this morning to check the graft. It is huge!! I was shocked. But it looks perfect and the spacing in my knee is perfect so they don't have to go back in and shave any of the bone to level it, thank God, and the space looks like the cartilage growth is probably right on target.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Food today:
B: coffee; light yogurt with sliced almonds
L: green beans; Dr. Praeger veggie burger
S: apple
D: We're probably going to Cheesecake Factory for DH's birthday dinner since the seafood place's menu isn't suited to the kids' tastes. Howard and I will do that another night. I am hoping to get my favorite dish at CF and bring leftovers for lunch tomorrow and dinner tomorrow night. I won't even feel guilty for splurging if I do that.

 

[goldcupmom]

Great news on the graft & the brace.

Enjoy CF tonight. I havent been to one in years & afraid of going!

 

[wtpclc]

Hate hearing how painfl PT is! Thrilled that you are doing so well, though, adn that all is healing well. Have awwonderful diner tonight!

 

[keenercam]

Great news on the graft & the brace.

Enjoy CF tonight. I havent been to one in years & afraid of going!

Thanks! I can relate, Julie, but since it's Howard's birthday, I'll make the sacrifice. LOL!! I keep telling myself I have to be strong and bring home 1/2 of my entree. Avoiding the cheesecake for dessert won't be a problem at all, though.

Hate hearing how painfl PT is! Thrilled that you are doing so well, though, adn that all is healing well. Have awwonderful diner tonight!

Thanks, Carrie!! I am always worried about waking up Cali with getting up so much or that she might hear me whimpering and get upset. I'm just glad Howard can sleep through it all. I think I'll go back to using the ice & compression machine after PT and that might help some.

 

[toystoryduo]

That is great that you are making so much progress with the PT! I'm sorry to hear that it leaves you in such pain though. I'm praying for you, Cam!

Have a wonderful time at Cheesecake Factory tonight!

 

[keenercam]

Well, I totally blew it at CF last night but it was well worth it. Actually, I could have done so much worse. We didn't order an appetizer, but I ate way too much bread. No butter, though. I got my favorite entree for dinner which is 1500 calories! LOL!!!!! I brought half of it home, though and I'm having some for lunch and some for dinner both times with a green salad.

For dessert, I ordered fresh cut strawberries and only ate 2 with some whipped cream. I brought the rest of them for a snack today, but threw away the rest of the whipped cream. When we had Howard's birthday cake, I had 2 practically see-through slivers.

Oh, well. I may not have done great, but better than I might have otherwise.

Today's food plan:
B: coffee
S: light yogurt w/almonds
L: leftover thai chicken pasta
S: strawberries
S (before PT): veggie burger; pretzel crisps
D: egg beaters w/salsa & fat free cheese

 

[Amy&Dan]

Cam, anyone who can eat fresh strawberries at CF instead of cheesecake is on the road to success! I am very impressed. And to have such a tiny amount of birthday cake is also very impressive. I think you did great!

It always blows me away to see the calorie counts at restaurants. No wonder we are an obese nation with the way we eat!

I am so sorry the pain is so bad with PT but you have the right attitude. Have you given any thought to working at home so you can take the painkiller regularly? Hang in there, you are doing great and being a real trooper!