And The Winner Is . . .

The winner of 
Brandilyn Collins book
"Always Watching" 
is Jessica Nelson. 


I'll get the book mailed
to you soon, Jessica!

The First Week

So I come home from the nutritionist pumped. Protein. I will concentrate on that. It takes protein to heal. I have a lot of health issues. Protein. Got it.

We eat out everyday for lunch. But I can make this work. Piece of cake.

The next day I ordered a grilled chicken breast from Bob Evans, affectionately called Uncle Bob's. I could have either potato or bread (according to my new food plan) so I ordered baby carrots and broccoli for my sides and wheat toast.

Protein first, then vegetables then starchy vegetable or grain, if I still have room.

I cut up the chicken breast into dime size pieces. I took a baby spoon along to give me the idea of how small the pieces need to be. I chewed each bite to the consistency of applesauce. I put my fork down between each bite. That wasn't hard because you feel stupid holding an empty fork for the length of time it takes to make that meat into applesauce.

Husband is a slow eater naturally. But he was finished well before I took my first bite of carrots. Cold carrots by this time.

I asked for a box to take home my broccoli and toast. They made a good supper with the addition of Yogurt, which I ate first. Protein first.

I didn't drink water during the meal or for 30 minutes after. (A habit I need to develop before surgery to avoid the pain of dumping syndrome.)

At the end of the first day I was not quite up to eating enough protein, in fact according to my SparkPeople page I had under ate calories, carbs, fat and protein.

Second day calories, fat and protein acceptable levels but carbs a bit low. No drinking with meals or for 30 minutes after.

Keeping notes per Dr. Wilbert's suggestion: Had gall stone pain that night. (Doctor thinks I have a stone that lodged outside the gallbladder - learned this after gallbladder surgery.)

Third day the protein powder arrived. I may have to take a bit of this for the rest of my life so am learning how to tweak it so it tastes acceptable without adding fat or sugar.  Calories low, carbs low, fat low, protein acceptable.

Fourth day went reasonably well except I was really hungry all day.  We had a dinner meeting in our home that evening. We ate late. I have a commitment to eat every 5 hours. No longer between meals. So I had protein and fruit at normal meal time. I can make this work.

By the time we ate around 9:00 I blew it. Not like before I started this new eating plan. But I did not chew my food into applesauce and I knowingly drank coffee and water which is soothing to me.

Sigh . . . this is going to be harder than I first thought but I am committed.

Seeing Things

A Message from the author:

Thank you for taking time from your busy day to stop by. I love company, especially people who love to read.

Speaking of reading, Seeing Things, my newest book, is in stores now!  Birdie (my lead character in this story) sees things others cannot, and I think you’re going to love her.

You can’t write a book about a woman who sees (and chats!) with Huckleberry Finn without explaining yourself. So I’ve recorded a new podcast  to give you the story behind the story. I had so much fun writing this book. I hope you enjoy getting this insider sneak peek. http://www.pattihillauthor.com/html/mediaplayer.html


The Blurb:

Birdie Wainwright isn’t concerned about seeing things others can’t. As a woman with macular degeneration, she considers the clarity and color of her visions a gift from God.

A splash of purple flowers on the sidewalk or mountainsides of edelweiss are welcomed diversions from the fog that covers her central vision. Besides, she has mountains to climb and tangos to dance—until a tumble down the stairs breaks her ankle.

Anxious to reconnect with her son and grandson, she accepts her son’s invitation to convalesce in Denver, miles and worlds away from her mountain home. And then, Huckleberry Finn comes to call. The line between reality and whimsy turns brittle. Faith is tested. And hope is reborn.


What Others Say:

"Who hasn't had an imaginary friend that used to talk to when they were little? Even now, sometimes the characters you create in your head are better company to keep than the real people you have to interact with on a daily basis. That's what life is like for Birdie as she finds that it's easier to communicate with Huckleberry Finn than with her son and his wife. That is a literary character that would be great to have a conversation with. I love how their conversations mostly consist of Birdie being able to confide and share her thoughts with Huck just sitting there listening. It's the best situation ever!

I found the relationship between Birdie and her son and his family to very interesting to the story. I felt that this relationship is the epitome of elderly parents and their children who aren't sure how to take care of them. Their reactions and attitudes towards each other were very realistic and it touches at the heart for those who have been in this situation. What I liked best was how the author portrayed Birdie. She's not shown as a cranky elderly person who thinks that her way is the best way. She loves her grandson very much and wants to make everything right for him. Her relationship with her son is rocky and is even more so with his wife. However she tries to do her best to keep the peace even though it's very difficult for her.

My only complaint is that it's very slow for about halfway through the book. It takes a while to really get into the story. It's not boring, there's just a lot of that you have to see through Birdie's eyes first before delving deeper. This book is not a fast read, but it's one to savor. I feel that it will touch many readers and pull some heartstrings. Perfect for a lazy fall's day." ~~Deborah

"I was drawn into this story as though Birdie were a close family friend! From the very beginning, she captured my heart and I had to stick with her through her struggles and triumphs. I will recommend this book to many and plan to give several as gifts. Macular degeneration is a dreaded condition, and Patti depicted the life with it very well, but also encouraged us all to live life with whatever disabilities we have...to find love as it comes to us! Birdie is my new hero...thank you Pattie for sharing her with us! I do hope we will see more of her :-)" ~~Glenda J. Bell


My Take:

This book fits with my passion "Why We Need Girlfriends." A Bible study book I'll be talking about another day.

The family relationships in the book are great. Healing between family members. Grandmother and grandson bonding.  But the group of women with failing eyesight that band together do more than the doctors or family for Birdie. Girlfriends are friends who stick closer than relatives.

Seeing Things made me laugh out loud, which is common in husband's family, but not in mine.I can't recommend this story high enough.


Purchase The Book At:

http://www.christianbook.com/seeing-things-patti-hill/9780805447514/pd/447514?event=AFF&p=1030088&    

Or Get A Signed Copy:
http://store.signedbytheauthor.com/1466.html

The Psychologist

The next step in my weight loss journey was the psychologist appointment. I had four choices. If I already had a psychologist I was working with, I could have my pre-ope evaluation with that one. Otherwise the surgeons office gave me a paper with three choices of psychologists they work with.

When I Googled them I found that Jeffery R. Wilbert, Ph. D. specializes in weight loss counseling. http://www.fattitudes.com/

I was surprised and pleased that he answered his own phone.  I told him I was holding a paper from Premier Metabolic and Bariatric Associates with his name on it. He made a joke and the ice was broken.

The appointment:

The doctor did not look so jovial when we met for my appointment. So I was glad I had witnessed that side of him earlier and was more at ease with his stern demeanor.

His plan is called Empowered Eating for surgical success:
Responsibility~~Mindfulness~~Purposefulness~~Competence.

First the doctor asked me a ton of questions. Then I filled out a questionnaire and then we talked some more.

I signed a ten point Weight Loss Surgery Behavioral Contract, and initialed each point.

Sigh . . . this might be harder than I first thought but I am committed.

Dr. Wilbert sent a recommendation to my surgeon that I was prepared.

Lost Mission

Athol Duickson

About the author:


"I'm honored that you're here . . .
. . . because it means you want to know a little bit about me. Let's start with the first thing most people ask: what's up with my first name? It's an old family name, brought to the new world from a little town in Scotland called Blair Atholl, (which is between Pitagowan and Aldclune). My family dropped the second "L" a few generations back, and being Americans
we mispronounce it, saying "eighth-ol" with the accent on the first syllable.

 Please visit my blog, where I write about the things most on my
mind these days. If you want to get in touch, please drop me a line or leave a comment on the blog. I'd love to hear from you!"  http://www.atholdickson.com/blog.html


The Blurb:

A billionaire driven mad by grief.

A pastor in love with the wrong woman.

An illegal immigrant desperate to feed his family.

Only Lupe de la Garza can save them from the ancient evil lurking in a lost mission’s ruins, but it will take an act of  faith beyond all human power.


What Others Say:

"In the late 1700’s, a Franciscan monk dreams of establishing a Catholic mission in California, to bring the love of Christ to the lost Indians who live there. In modern times, a beautiful Catholic woman from Mexico crosses the U.S. border illegally to bring the love of Christ to the lost people who live in the same area of California. Though they lived hundreds of years apart, their stories are inextricably, powerfully interconnected. Lost Mission is a deeply moving tale of pain and guilt and revenge – but mostly, it’s a tale of love. Just when I think I have this writing thing figured out, along comes a book that blows all my carefully learned “lessons” out of the water. Athol Dickson’s style is all his own, and it’s completely captivating. I was drawn in to Fray Alejandro’s world from the first page. I felt his deep desire, his passion for Christ, his pain when his mission didn’t realize the success he’d hoped for. The way Dickson smoothly transitioned from Alejandro’s time to Lupe’s time was beautiful every time. And Lupe also became larger than life for me, a real person with a deep and overwhelming desire to spread the love of God. In fact, every character in this book drew me in to their individual stories, and I loved the way they intertwined with one another. If you’ve read Athol Dickson’s previous books, you already know you have to read this one. And if you haven’t, Lost Mission is a terrific introduction to this talented author’s work. Buy the book. Read it. You won’t regret it." ~~ Ginny Smith


"Some novels are like freeways. When you need to get somewhere in a hurry, they are the way to go. Dickson’s works are more like an old state highway that passes through every little town along the way. Here you see and experience all the great characters and places you would have missed had you not come this way. Believe me it’s a trip worth the time" ~ Tim George

My Take:


Athol Dickson definitely has his own voice. I was first caught up by his writing style and then a bit perplexed by it as we flowed back and forth between worlds two centuries apart. Persevering is well worth it. As I set the book down I think of what I have learned about the human condition and the wars that are fought in the name of God, by both sides. I think about how everything we do impacts others, even for many generations.

God bless your day and thank you for stopping by.

Last Week's Winner

Our winner for Maureen Lang's book  LOOK TO THE EAST, is Crystal Miller. The book is on it's way.

Book Contest: Just a reminder that we are featuring Brandilyn Collins book  Always Watching. The contest is extended through next week

(Book Contest weeks are from Monday through Sunday. A new book review is posted each Monday which may or may not have a contest connected with it. See the Book contest information on the side bar.

For this week's contest leave a comment on any of my blog my posts this week or next along with information how to get hold of you if you are the winner.

God Bless your day and thanks for stopping by.

Nutritional Therapy

The visit to the Nutrition Therapist was very informative. Not just a formality for me.

Since I was concentrating on eating vegetables I wasn't getting enough protein. Chewing meat takes so long and has so much fat in it that I am getting more interested in the protein powder that my dietitian talked to me about.

She gave me a sample of UnJury chocolate powder with 20 grams of protein, 0 fat and only 4 grams of carbohydrate. I tried it in a cup of coffee when I got home that day. Doable, but I might need to doctor it up a bit.

I went to www.UNJURY.com and ordered three cans, chocolate, unflavored and chicken soup.

The dietitian taught me how to up the protein content of my food using the unflavored protein and how to survive on trips with the pre-packaged protein as per the sample she gave me.

She went over my medicines, vitamins and other supplements. I was getting too much Vitamin A and not enough calcium and she told me what form I needed. [Calcium Citrate]

Everyone who lives in Ohio needs to take vitamin D in the winter months. And my lifestyle requires more of it. I didn't know that.

Traveling with husband in his plane Charley is part of my life. So is eating out every day for lunch. I am learning acceptable things to order at Bob Evans. And find I have to bring much of it home in a carry-out container.

I am tracking my food on SparkPeople  http://www.sparkpeople.com . I can see each day if I have consumed enough protein. And I can see the balance with protein/carbs, and fat.

Now that I can't drink during meals and for 30 min after I have a struggle getting my water consumed. I also track this on SparkPeople.

When the order came from UnJury I started using it as a breakfast replacement as it is considered a liquid and I don't have to quit drinking until lunch time.

After the surgery I will need chewable vitamins so I went shopping for those and will soon start taking them daily.

I may need to order the chewable calcium because so far what I am finding is calcium carbonate which the dietician said is hard to digest and causes constipation. Plus I already get enough of that kind with TUMS. I'm not sure I want to take a power in addition to the powdered protien, but I may not have a choice. Still looking for chewable Citracal or generic.