Yesterday I bought baby food for my kitten. Organic vegetable and tuna puree.  Yummo. 

I've done lots of research lately on the best diet for a kitten/cat. And I'm confused. 

At the orphanage, Kitty was eating a high quality dry food, so I bought some and she has been eating that. 

BUT then I was given info on a raw and natural diet for cats, which is far better for them than any processed foods. This website barf.com.au ( barf stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) says kittens can have raw meat and bones and vegetable matter. 

So then Kitty started having some liver and beef pieces which she kinda liked, as well as some dry food.

BUT then I read the official RSPCA feeding recommendations here kb.rspca.org.au and it says that kittens under 20 weeks should NOT have too much raw meat or liver. 

Oh lord, now I'm overdosing my kitten on Vitamins A and D.  

THEN I read this webite catinfo.com.au that states that cats should NEVER have dry food.  Its based on grains, way too high in carbs and not enough water and leads to lots of health problems.

So then I went to the shops and bought some high quality as-natural- as- possible wet food.  I looked at all the ingredients. Some of the cat food had cheese in it.   Really ? Cheese ? no thanks, put that one back.

 On the shelf was lots of milk for kittens too. Which I find amusing. Is that milk really from a cat? For a kitten ? Uh no. Its from a cow.  Why in the earth would a kitten want milk from a cow ?? 

I also bought some pureed baby food.  The BARF people say that kittens do need some fruit and vegetable matter but you have to be sneaky. So natural baby puree came to mind and I mixed it through Miss Kitty's fresh meat.  She loved it ! 

At the end of the day, I've decided that this kitten is just going to get a bit of everything. Little bit of grain free kibble that I found, little bit of wet food, little bit of veges, a little bit of meat and a bone treat on the weekends.    

Meanwhile, Miss Dog has been loving getting the left over meat that Kitty cant eat.  They'll be playing like loving siblings in no time.. *cough cough* 

update time

Its time for an update on my health goals y'all!

I'm doing quite well cutting out coffee. Most days, I have a weak white tea with no sugar in the morning instead. No coffee at all !!  I haven't had any withdrawal headaches which has been great but I've been SOO much more tired than usual. By 10pm, I'm dead tired.

Once or twice,  I have fallen and had a coffee during the day. ( I can really feel that buzz now!) But that's the only one for the day and I try to ensure that the next day is coffee free.

So far, so good.  I'm hoping I can keep this up when I go back to work. THAT will be the real test.

We have also been having fun enjoying smoothies.. We've had them probably every second day and I've researched some great recipes that I'd like to try out. The first green one I made was a spinach and banana concoction.  I didnt mind it but I dont think Mr Man was too impressed. ( He doesnt like anything banana.) On the weekend, Mr Man made a yummy ice cold pineapple smoothie..

Here's a photo of our sexy blender.

The last recipe I followed called for some raw cocoa powder.  I didnt have any. So I added some Cadbury's chocolate drinking powder instead ( ...is that bad?)

Still, progress is being made!  I am finding that the variety of frozen fruits, vegetables and supplements you need for great smoothies are rather expensive. I'm hoping to get one at a time and slowly develop my smoothies into creations of natural greatness!

In terms of exercise, I've found just walking around the house, doing housework andsome errands at the shop has been enough to cause a day of pain with my knee :(  I'm doing my physio exercises like a good girl and yesterday I got my sister's cross trainer to borrow and use. I'm going to dust it off and give it a whirl soon, I hope it will help strengthen my knee again.

have a great day !

xo Mim

Well its been three weeks so far since I hurt my leg. Three weeks at home. Now despite the painful knee and all that, it has been nice to be home. I've done errands and watched movies. I've read books and done housework. I've cooked dinners and folded laundry and had time to enjoy these things and relax. I've also been busy with appointments and paperwork.  I've also been bored and very frustrated to the point of tears at being stuck in the house and unable to do anything or move without pain.

But. I miss work and I wish I could go back.  I miss my friends and the babies and I miss achieving things and putting in a hard days work.

My knee is recovering slowly. Its weak. Ten minutes of walking and I feel like I've run a marathon. My leg feels like jelly and then the pain starts again. If I keep moving,  my knee will start to swell again. I've had a few sessions of physio so far which help.

But! Only, one more week before I go back to work, so I'm doing lunges and wall squats, trying to get my knee strong enough to do a day's work.  I'm also trying to not do too much walking, I'm taking the drugs and I'm putting ice and heat packs on my knee too.

One more week.

Introducing Miss Kitty

On Friday, we welcomed a new addition to our household!

This is Miss Kitty. She is ultra sweet, playful and affectionate..  ( As I type this, Miss Kitty is sitting on my shoulder, purring into my ear.)

About a week ago, Mr Man casually mentioned having a cat in the house in some random non-specific way. That put the idea in my head and the more I thought about it, the more I really wanted a kitten.

The next day we went and picked one out and paid for it. But a few days later, that fell through (dodgy pet store, don't even get me started! ) and I was really disappointed.  I was really looking forward to it.

After that, Mr Man was determined we would find me a kitten no matter what it took.

But it was tricky, you see. Because its not kitten season. No pet stores had them. A lot of people were selling adult cats but not kittens. It seemed futile.

I had pretty much given up, when Mr Man texted me and said DONT GIVE UP!

So I hopped in the car and went to the local animal shelter around the corner.

And that is where I found Miss Kitty! She had been brought in, unwanted the day before and needed a home.

She's eleven weeks old and we love her. We think she may been a little neglected in her former life, she loves being close to us and meows if we leave the room and she cant find us.  We've tried not to leave her alone for too long.. in other words, Miss Kitty has been very spoilt since she arrived home!

Welcome home Miss Kitty xox

Well. I have been totally re-inspired about healthy living lately.

I stumbled upon this blog – thewellnesswarrior.com.au, followed by this one – crazysexylife.com.

Two fabulously inspiring women who have both fought off cancer through healthy eating and living.

I read the e-book, I read some posts, I read some truths and it all really encouraged me to change my ways for the better. You only get one life don’t you.  I don’t want to be tired and sick and not at my best for mine. Not for me, not for my partner, and not for my children.

So.  For me, and my health and my life, and my relationships, I’m making some changes.

I’m trying NOT to go crazy.. I’m going to make small changes one at a time so I don’t crash and burn.

Today, we bought a blender. Its gorgeous. Its silver and black and flashy and I just took it out of the box and its now sitting on the kitchen counter.  Because you see, you need a blender for all those fresh and tasty juices and smoothies.  This unexpected and spontaneous purchase was fun. I’m excited!

Now, first on the list of changes is coffee. No more coffee for this little one. I am going to have one cup of tea with no sugar in the mornings instead, and herbal teas during the day. ( and yes, I know, I’m still having caffeine in black tea. Just let me get through the first week, and then we’ll talk more kay?)

Secondly, I’m going to make myself (and Mr Man if he wants) at least one healthy smoothie per day. I bought lots of greens and fruit today. And if you mix it all up with some coconut cream, apparently it tastes pretty good. I still have to go buy some kale and some stevia . ( I had to google both those words to find out what they were. There is no shame in Google.) 

Thirdly,  I have to try and drink lots more water.   If I could surgically attach a water bottle to my hip I would. 

Now I would include exercise in this. Excerise is the bomb! It is good for you in about a thousand different ways.  But unfortunately, I’m still recovering from dislocating my knee. My bearded but strangely attractive physiotherapist tells me I need to wear my blue leg splint for another week at least so my knee can heal.  I can only walk for about 15 minutes before my knee starts to throb and swell.  So exercise will have to wait for another week or so unfortunately.

I also really want to start YOGA.  Being a highly sensitive person, I’m prone to anxiety, stress, frustration and general emotional breakdowns for no good reason.  I have a feeling that yoga is for me. I have a yoga DVD all ready to go!

I’m going to do this and I’m going to feel great for it J

everything to gain

Today I’m trying to remind myself that I matter. 

What I feel matters. What I think matters.  My needs matter.

And sharing, communicating, opening up doesn’t have to make me feel vulnerable and scared and hurt.  It doesn’t have to end in tears.

I am already enough.  I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Things could have been different.  How I felt could have mattered more growing up. I didn’t have to feel that I wasn’t good enough almost every.single.day.

But I did. For too long.  And damm it, damm it, deep deep down , its still there. 

the food we eat

Over the past few days, I've thought a lot about the way I eat, after reading and discovering a great 'healthy life' blog called Pay Now Live Later. (Check it out at paynowlivelater.blogspot.com). I also watched an informational video about the Primal/Paleo way of living and eating, which you'll also find on this blog.

 I think its quite obvious that the most influential factor on our health and bodies is what we EAT and cant really understand why doctors dont see the link. I'm sorry, the results show that you have *insert horrible disease here*.  WHAT DO YOU EAT???

Anyway, that's one of my thought processes this week.

I love the idea of eating only food which has five or less ingredients. 

and not eating ingredients that you cant say ?

 Great idea, because otherwise what is it that you are putting into your body exactly ?? 

 And that is the truth. Which means that every single thing you eat or drink is one or the other. 

Doesnt it?

SOOO true

Fun with Miss Dog

Miss Dog spent the day at the vet yesterday. She now has a row of stitches on her lower abdomen, no reproductive ability and we are $700 worse off.   Miss Dog has strict instructions, she’s not allowed to run and jump for at least 5 days. Preferably ten.  This is laughable. If you knew Miss Dog, you’d be laughing right now.

I set her up in the lounge room first thing in the morning. Toys, blanket, water, barricade so she can’t leave the lounge room, tiny play pen in the corner. I sit at the dining room table with my work.  She sniffs around the whole room. She grabs at my dressing gown and starts trying to pull it off me. She grabs my notebook and starts to chew the paper edge. She grabs my scarves from the hat stand and starts to chew on them.  She knocks my water bottle down off the table and starts to chew on that.

She continues to smell everything around the room and then comes back to jump up on me.  She wriggles her head under my arm to reach the laptop and starts sniffing the keys.

Now I’m trying to get her in the play pen, she goes nuts, playing. She barks and me and takes off, running into the bathroom. She grabs a sock from the floor and jumps into the bath. I’m hobbling behind her, yelling.

Its been ten minutes since Mr Man left.  Great start.

I pull her out of the bath with lots of resistance and hope that her stitches are still intact. I finally get her back into the play pen where she looks at me mournfully.  I’m sorry. Miss. You aren’t allowed to play. What an awful thing to say to a puppy.  Now she is curled up in her corner, resting.  That’s better.

Ten minutes later she’s up at the table again trying to pull down whatever she can find. I take her outside for a walk. She drags me and my stiff braced leg around the yard. Sometimes she comes close to me and whacks the back end of her 25kg body against my leg. Ouch.   Right, back inside to do it all over again.

*Sighs* its going to be a long day. 

it struck me...

I’m writing this on Friday. On Monday, I dislocated my knee at work. To be more accurate, I dislocated my left patella.  So pain, ambulance, long wait, xray, brace, crutches later, I’m home for two weeks.  I can’t drive yet because I cant bend my leg enough to physically get into the car.

I’ve watched movies, finished my book, been to the doctor, organised paper work, referrals, Work cover forms, emails, phone calls etc. And I’ve done some laundry, reorganised the pantry, vacuumed etc. Just a little.   All the while, Mr Man has been telling me NOT to do anything, and to REST MY LEG. Which is fine but I want to do things, and I’m stubborn sometimes and the pain isn’t that bad.  I’ll be fine. ‘Little Miss Independent’ somebody said.  Hmmm.  

Anyway, I’m over being stuck at home. Over It. . . So last night I announced, tomorrow is Friday. I’m going to try and drive.  I want to go here and get this, I want to get this, I want to leave the house.

And Mr Man gently but firmly suggested that I don’t. That I have to stop and let my leg heal and maybe next week I can drive.  That it won’t get better if I keep using it.

“I should have taken the week off to look after you’ he said.

I replied. “ I…… don’t need taking care of…  I’m fine! .’

 ( which is SO typical of me.)

Mr Man, stopped, turned around, looked at me straight in the eye and said

 “Let me take care of you’. 

And then he said it again, stopping at each word in emphasis.

‘Let.  Me. Take. Care. Of  You’.

And then it struck me. It really did.  I have to let Mr Man take care of me.

 I have to let him love me.

Me being a stick in the mud stubborn and independent is robbing him of being able to love me in this way. And that’s not fair.  

That’s the beauty about love.. its about wanting to be looked after as much as wanting to look after.  I want to take care of Mr Man as much as I love how he wants to take care of me.

So, I’m home today. I’m not going anywhere. I haven’t done any housework.  

I have rested my leg as much as possible.

And you know something else ? Mr Man is right. 

For the first time, I Googled my injury.  And the physio injury page on Dislocated patellae states that:  the most fundamental component to recovery is that the patient rests sufficiently from ANY activity that increases their pain until they are symptom free. 

Well. There you go.

I love you Mr Man. 

I'm not a tree

Well it’s been a few weeks, it really has. I got busy. And stressed and lost my ability to cope at work it seemed. And I got sick. Twice.  First I had a bad cold which knocked me down and stole my voice.  I recovered. Then I got a stomach virus which knocked me down again. I wasn’t happy at work. I was stressed in the traffic and at home?   I loved being home but I had this big black cloud of UNI hanging over my head. I couldn’t relax. I knew that I should be doing uni every night after work, and on weekends. And I would feel so stressed and guilty when I didn’t.    I was spending a lot of time on uni and that didn’t leave much time for anything else, or anyone else. And it just wasn’t working. Something had to give.

So I stopped uni. I just stopped. I threw it out of my mind. I emailed the uni and said I’m out for a while. Maybe I’ll enrol in November. Maybe I won’t.   It just wasn’t worth it. In three years’ time, I’d rather have a strong happy relationship, than a degree. I’d rather have a job and have my emotional and mental sanity, than a degree.  I’d rather have close friends and family, than a degree.

And now?  I feel so much better.  I work all day knowing that when I get home, I can relax, I can breathe, I can enjoy my home and Mr Man. And the weekends are even better. We do stuff. We socialise. We work on our house, our future. I continue to breathe and relax and that means, come Monday? I’m ok. I’m ok for the week. And THAT is a beautiful thing.