After hearing rumors the past week or so, I got a phone call yesterday afternoon from 'the nephew'. He tells me that Wednesday (as in tomorrow), he will be packed and heading back to his home state because he feels he needs to take care of his mama. Now it's very nice that a child would want to take care of his mama, I'm not knocking that at all. But I don't think it is as much as him taking care of his mama, as his mama taking care of him. I asked him if he plans to get an apartment near his mother, and he knew the ones I was referring to. Interestingly, he tells me "I'm going to stay with mom until I find a place." I wonder if he knows that his mother has told everyone he is NOT going to move in with her, even for a short time, with a bird and a dog. The last time he stayed with her 'a short time', he never left, and his bird and dog destroyed her apartment. I did call and update my little brother as his wife checks in on our sister and does things for her. He had not heard about the return of the nephew and isn't real happy he is coming back... but the good news would be if he does make it back and moves in or nearby to take care of his mama, the little brother's wife won't get 4 calls a day (without fail, he says) for things the sister wants. The nephew can do the grocery runs, the listening to the complaing, the taking to doctor visits, etc. Part of me feels sorry for my sister, and part of me feels sorry for the nephew. I did tell the nephew that I am sorry that it didn't work out here for him, but on the positive side, he did get some things taken care of (truck fixed up, new tires, etc.) that the son-in-law took care of for him and let him pay him back by working it off. He did get his own place to stay in for awhile. He did get set up on food stamps and insurance and other things that he had no clue how to get. So there are some positives along with the negatives. He's lonely and homesick. I get that. He was calling his mother every night and she would tell him (I imagine, as she tells me every time I talk with her) how bad she was feeling, that she fell out of bed again, or her ribs hurt from falling, etc. Of course he feels that he needs to come take care of her. I just pray that he makes it back safely. I'm not too sure he can on his own, but he says he has GPS so if he doesn't run into any medical anxiety issues, he should make it back ok. I am praying for safety for him, even before he starts out. And I am sorry it didn't work out for him here. But instead of wanting a new life like he said when he came out, he really wanted someone else to take over responsibility for him, taking care of his needs. During the call he says that he wants to thank us for his birthday dinner (back in December, before Christmas) because we acknowledge it and made a big deal of it, and for all the gifts he received for Christmas. And he told me he loved me, so I guess that means I am still his favorite aunt, in spite of everything. I do wish him well and pray that while he was out here, he learned some things that he can apply to his life back home. I imagine the quarantine played a big part in his struggles here as well. I know it plays a big part in our lives no matter what we do.
Hubby and I weighed in yesterday for our first week of this new meal plan. I lost 4.6 pounds; hubby lost 4 pounds. Not bad at all for the first week. Of course we didn't follow it to a 'T', but pretty much did. I'm still fixing some foods that we are not to have, but smaller portions. Can't see wasting food if I've already opened it. Like mashed potatoes. mmmm I love mashed potatoes and corn, and I love mashed potatoes and broccolli. For lunch yesterday I fixed cubed steak with a heaping tablespoon of mashed potatoes for each of us - along with broccolli and cauliflower mixture. And it was good. I have no idea what to fix today... yeah, some times I end up cooking lunch as I would dinner. But for dinner I created a new recipe - rather, I revised a recipe I saw.... using riced cauliflower the recipe called for mozarella cheese - of which I didn't have... but I did have parmasean romano cheese... so I used it. Add egg, Italian seasoning, salt... and bake until it is all melted together. The it called for Alfredo sauce, of which I didn't have any.... so I chopped up chicken on the the top and added more cheese...then added salsa on top of that (it called for Buffalo sauce)... and baked some more... oh yeah, it was good. But too cheesey for me. There are leftovers for lunch today and then I'm done with that recipe for awhile. Yep, that cheese was too fattening to use, but I used it up. Will have to watch it close to lose weight this week. But I did lose an inch off my belly, which is my main goal anyway.
I believe that God wants each one of us to live healthy, happy, and productive lives. I've always been pretty much healthy but am looking to this new meal plan to straighten out some numbers that need to be dropped (cholesterol, gluclose). They weren't out of whack, but were moving up. I already feel like I have more clarity and more energy, even after one week. I feel like I am able to do more things now than I did before. And that's a good thing. I even worked out some with my weights yesterday. Haven't gotten it moved to the garage yet, but will soon. I made space for it in the garage yesterday when hubby left for an errand. He hasn't noticed yet I moved the treadmill (all by myself!!).
Just checked my phone.... the youngest son text'd after I went to bed last night... his call from the nephew said he was leaving today. Must have gotten packed up sooner than planned. I wonder what all he is taking for all of us have given him so many things to get him set up in the condo - dishes, pans, etc. Is he leaving it all for the roommate or taking it with him. Will find out tomorrow. If the roommate needs some things, I'm sure we all still have enough extras that we can pass on to him.
I have been thinking a lot lately about my health. I'm grateful to God that I am healthy, but that can always change in a moment's time. I don't know the plans He has for me, whether it is to live long and healthy, or to take me home in a moment's time. I was thinking of my great granddaughters yesterday, how I long to have a relationship with them. I want them to remember always great-grandma - aka Oma - loved them so much, that I would get down at their level and play with them. Of course one at four months is too young... two are out of state.... one is up north, and the other is in south. Some things are not in my control... but I am trusting God that He will help me build that relationship I crave with each one. I often think of a comment my daughter made to me when her children were young. I was down on the floor playing with her children and she commented she never remembered her grandmother getting down on the floor to play with them. And I couldn't either.
So for no other reason, I want to be healthy and able to 'get down on the floor' to play with the little ones. I want to make the memories my children never had with their grandmother. I want to live. And I thank God that He has given me that desire to change how I eat, how I view life. I'm not perfect, but it is truly 'one day at a time'.
Have a blessed day!
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