Medical, Driving.

As most of you know, on Saturday Matt went into the hospital with hip pain, he was X-rayed told nothing wrong and sent home with a few pills. This morning, Tuesday, he suddenly was in even worse pain and couldn’t walk at all. Ambulance came and they had to virtually carry him outside our door to the stretcher. This was shortly after 9. I followed on about half an hour later and we spent the rest of the day in emergency. However, the doctor who eventually saw Matt today was a different kettle of fish, he really went to town on his examination of Matt and then ordered another X-ray, a CT scan, bloodwork and a urine test. We actually got home around 8:30 pm but, this time, we had an answer. Matt has two hip replacements and the one of the left side is around 12 years old. It is, apparently, now shedding miniscule pieces of plastic off the joint socket and this is what is causing the pain which means that, unfortunately, he is going to have to have a new hip. At least a day’s bed rest, other than going for tests, meant that he was more mobile and able to make it home OK. So, now we have to contact the orthopaedic surgeon who did the job in the first place to arrange for a new hip. I guess Matt won’t be doing too much more bowling this season. He won’t be too happy about that. So… at least we now know. I hate to tell you what I have been thinking about the doctor on Saturday. Thanks everyone for all your support.

Today was the first day I have driven for a long time, I went down for my diabetes bloodwork this morning and then later driving to the hospital. I couldn’t have chosen nicer weather, it was snowing lightly and the roads were snowy and slippery although it wasn’t deep or anything but certainly necessitated slow and careful driving. Trouble is, an awful lot of people don’t seem to know this. I wasn’t as happy driving home in the dark as it was difficult to see the road markings. However, we got home OK. That reminds me, another odd thing. Around 6 ish I started feeling a bit shaky and asked if they had a blood sugar monitor I could use. Couldn’t be done because I wasn’t registered as a patient. However, the nurse brought me some orange juice and later I went and got myself a sandwich. Yes, I had had lunch, there is a Tim Horton’s in the hospital so I had a good lunch. I was bad and had a donut for dessert too.

Having made do with a sandwich myself, here is a Weight Watchers recipe for Yakitori Chicken which I something we both enjoy.

Ww 7 Points - Chicken Yakitori (Kebabs)

By mariposa13 

• Servings: 4

 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons mirin
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of all visible fat, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 8 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• skewer

Directions

1. Make sauce: bring soy sauce, mirin, sugar, ginger, and garlic to boil in small saucepan.
2. Cook over med-high heat until sauce thickens, about 5 minute.
3. Remove from heat, set aside.
4. Spray grill or broiler pan with nonstick spray.
5. Thread chicken, bell peppers, and scallions on to skewers, alternating the ingredients.
6. Grill or broil kebabs 5-inches from heat, frequently brushing with sauce, until veggies are tender and chicken is cooked through.
7. Serve with the rice.
8. 7 Points for 2 skewers and 1/2 cup rice.

Have a great day

Duck Story, Higgs Bosun, Surgeon,

Senility is creeping in, I forgot to mention to you that our super told us about a duck that was nesting right in the front yard of our apartment building. I had a look and couldn’t see her,  but the super pointed her out, she is pretty well hidden. But what a very odd place to nest. I am told there is a pond about 5 minutes away, I didn’t know of it and I have no idea where, but its going to be a long walk for her and the ducklings across fairly busy roads. I just decided to use Google Maps and I cannot find a pond very close to us at all so I cannot imagine what she is going to do. Her feathers certainly looked a bit like the picture, but I really don’t know one duck from another. I don’t want to take a photograph as I figure it might disturb her.

There’s been a lot of excitement in scientific fields about the Higgs-Bosun particle which they think has been found. I hadn’t a clue what they were talking about, but I found this video in my How To Geek Newsletter yesterday and thought I would share it with you in case you are as confused as I am http://tinyurl.com/84jh86w. Doesn’t explain it all but it does make some of it a lot clearer. I particularly like the snow analogy. I thought about a snowball travelling along and picking up more snow as it went along.

For a number of years I have been telling myself I didn’t need another hip replacement, at least three years, but I finally gave in and asked my doc for a referral to the surgeon. I figured that would take a while, but got a call yesterday to go in and see the surgeon on Monday. That shook me. Maybe its because we are regular customers!!!! Problem is I am concerned about our vacation, I don’t remember what the recovery time is. Will have to see what he says.

I thought this looked like a refreshing Italian salad full of taste.

Shrimp Panzanella

From EatingWell: May/June 2010

This fresh-tasting panzanella (Italian bread-and-tomato salad) is made with shrimp, olives and plenty of herbs. You’ll need olives packed in flavorful brine to make the dressing. For convenience, buy shrimp already peeled and cooked. Sometimes the best-tasting precooked shrimp is sold frozen. Soak in cold water for 10 minutes to defrost. Recipe by Nancy Baggett for EatingWell.

6 servings, about 1 3/4 cups each

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and halved
• 4 cups 1/2-inch crusty multigrain bread cubes, preferably day-old
• 1 pound coarsely chopped peeled cooked shrimp 
• 4 large ripe but firm tomatoes, coarsely chopped
• 2 large green, red and/or yellow bell peppers, diced
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
• 1/4 cup sliced pitted Kalamata olives, plus 1/4 cup olive brine
• 3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 3/4 teaspoon dried
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 4 cups mixed salad greens

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Drizzle 2 tablespoons oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Mash garlic into the oil with a fork to infuse it with flavor; discard the garlic. Stir bread cubes into the oil until lightly coated. Bake, stirring every 5 minutes, until very crisp, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely.
3. Combine shrimp, tomatoes, bell peppers, parsley, chives, olives and olive brine, vinegar, thyme and the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl. Season with pepper. Let stand for at least 10 minutes to blend the flavors.
4. Toss the croutons with the shrimp mixture and serve the salad over greens.

Have a great day