Saturday, January 22, 2011

Baking Day!!

This all this fuss this week with my diabetes
and the struggles it bring to my
day, every day

I really wanted to bake. 

I know it should sound completely not normal for a diabetic
to enjoy baking since
99.9%
of things you bake are full of sugar, but I 
LOVE
It. 


Normally, as you see I bake cakes. Just so happens
I don't actually enjoy eating cake all that often
unless it is carrot cake. then YUM!!

But I read the blog sixuntilme.com
everyday now. 

I LOVE HER! She really helps us diabetes feel like we aren't alone. 
And we're human. 


If you have diabetes, love someone who has diabetes, or
are just curious
check her out!

Anyways, she baked a banana bread and posted it. After
looking at it and longing to make some more bread
I decided i'd give it a try today. 

After trying to squeeze baking it in before breakfast
I had to stop and eat and then 
run to the store
ZERO brown sugar in the house. 

So this is how it turned out!

I had to enlarge it, so sorry for the fuzziness. 
This is what I did:

Ingredients:

2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1tsp Baking Soda
2 Eggs 
1tsp of Vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
about 4.5 Bananas (they were all
bruising and hubs won't eat them)
One spoon of homemade applesauce
1/4 cup Brown Sugar 
1tbsp Butter
2/3 Cup Oatmeal (I just poured it in until it looked good. )
1/4 tbsp Nutella (just used a spoon)

I preheated my oven to 350 degrees. I melted the butter with the brown sugar in the microwave.
Then I put the bananas, vanilla and eggs in a big bowl together. (When I put the bananas in I broke them into pieces before putting in bowl to help mash them) I mashed until only small pieces of banana left. Measured dry ingredients in mixing cup. Poured the flour mixture in the wet mix. Added applesauce and oatmeal in . Mix until combined. Sprayed the bread loaf pan and dumped it in.

I then put nutella on the top and popped it into the oven. My nutella was still firm from being in the cupboard so i waited until it had been cooking for 10 minutes and swirled it around once it was warm

I cooked this together for 45 minutes. First 10, then swirl the nutella, then 35 remaining. 

Ate it= AWSOME. 

If you want MORE fiber, then you could add wheat germ to it too. :) 

Have you found a recipe and modified it to meet your dietary needs?
Let me know!!!:)

Stay warm!
-CK-

Friday, January 21, 2011

Illness- Try 2

So, as I said and didn't finish writing yesterday, 
I was very mad and upset. 


Mad being, Mad at the Insurance Companies who feel it is 
okay to charge people, who like me
cannot live without insulin because our body doesn't make it anymore. 

Not only in 2011 have I learned,
late of course
that my work insurance is being increased almost by $$$$$ bucks a month
but, after being told my coverage hasn't changed at all
just the amount covered
(But don't worry Cassie, VF(work place) has taken most of the 
burden of the payment increase to make it more
affordable for you) HAHAHA 

Can anyone have the right to say "more affordable" to 
a Type-1 Diabetic?

Any Type-1's out there reading this, because I bet you too
are laughing. 

My whole life, is, has been, will be
Money. 

Money to go to the doctor
Money to track my blood sugars 3-4x a day
Money for the endless supplies it takes to DO that.
Money for my two types of insulin I must take
to function, to live, to help my pancreas break down the sugars in the food
I eat. 
Money to go to the doctor when I cannot figure out why my numbers
aren't reading what they should.
Money that gets given to the darn insurance companies for less
coverage on my insulin because unlike a normal medication
mine is not only tier 2 but also monitored and I can only have so much
with me at a time. 


I pray for a month I don't have to have the pharmacist check the actual medicine
in the bag she wanted me to pay for
because time and time again, I am given
the wrong medicine, 
the wrong kind
the wrong dose
or the wrong formula for what I have to take. 


Uggh.. sorry for the downer of posts but I feel better
getting this off of my mind and put into words. 


Do you not want to hear about diabetes? Do you have some medical frustration you have?
 Say it. Do any of you deal with the stressed of how "affordable" heath care is for us?

Let me know!!!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

::Caution:: VENTING ON ILLNESS

For those of you who don't want to hear(well read)
the truth about how I feel, then stop here. 

If you aren't sure you want to hear what it is like
to will with an illness you cannot control
than stop reading.


I'm just cautioning you. 






So.. 

I'M SOO MAD. 

For those of you, which I adore, that read this, and are not family
you may not know that in 2007 I was diagnosed with
an illness I would never get a break from. 
For the rest of my life, I will have to take injections
to make my body work how it is supposed to. 

I started getting really sick. First what I remember is
I was getting leg cramps in the middle of the night.
waking up to them, was just horrible.
Then I noticed my skin was really tight and dry, 
especially when I had just finished eating. 
Then I remember bad headaches, that would last a really long time. 
I remember starting to drink one or two extra drinks a day,
then when i'd get home from classes (I was in college at this time)
and make a pitcher of koolade (however it is REALLY spelled.)
and drink the entire thing in minutes. 

Despite what my now husband then boyfriend would tell me, my now Sister In Law
since I lived with her, she would notice and tell me, I didn't care. 
I had classes to finish, finals to take and more nursing classes were far more important
than my health anyways. 
I promised Austin( now husband, then boyfriend, hehe) that
once his sister (my roommate) graduated, as she was that month
that I would find a doctor in Dubuque (We went to the University of Dubuque)
and go see what is going on. 

As a nursing student I thought by knowing what I did that this is serious
and probably the signs of diabetes, but DEFINITELY didn't want that title.

So as I was working, going to school, packing up to move after school was out, 
Val graduated from UD and the next Monday I went to the first of TOO MANY
doctor appointments.

They saw me for the first time, took blood, checked blood sugar, 
told me to pee in those stupid cups, 
after all that and lots of waiting, they told me I had to go to 
the endocrinologist's office (Internal Medicine) because their meter
wasn't reading anything for me but it appeared I might have diabetes. 

I drove across Algona to the doctor's appintment and I balled my eyes out in my car
calling Austin. 

I don't remember those words exactly but I bet it was something like, 
Me- Kid?
Austin- Yeah, how'd it go
Me- (balling my eyes out) Can you come here( GAVE DIRECTIONS)
He met me there, and we went in. 

Met Dr. Iverson and he tested some blood and such again before I actually met with him. 
He then after waiting, He gave me the dreaded news, 
As I sat there, crying, holding Austin's hand
He told my I have
Type -1 Diabetes. 

I KNEW what this meant. This meant LOTS of needles, shots, doctor appointments
and the feeling that I will be sick forever. 




Little did I know, being in college with my parents insurance wasn't even 
the HALF of it. 



(Currently, writing this I'm balling my eyes out. I will continue this sob of a story
later, when I can compose myself to write more.)

For anyone that stayed listening (well, reading)
this, THANK YOU.

-Cassie-




Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Drunken Berries or Drunken Cassie?

All day while at work all I wanted
was fruit. 

FRUIT FRUIT FRUIT. 

Then when thinking about making homemade pizza for dinner I 
thought of these!!! 


Recipe: Drunken Nutella Berry Tartlets!

1 package of sheet pizza dough
about 1 cup frozen berries or fruit(microwave
for 1 minute and pour over alcohol of choice
until its kinda soupy)
Nutella
Honey

What I did was: First I microwaved my frozen berries in a bowl for about 1 minute. I then poured SkinnyGirl Margarita over them so that they were swimming in it. Next, I cut the pizza dough into squares to fit my pan(24). I placed them in the circles. Next I spooned in Nutella with my (clean) fingers in each cup. (Hubs doesn't like berries so i put more nutella in his). On top of the ones
without berries, i dabbed a little honey in them for sweetness. I then put my berries in each cup along with a little of the juice. I also poured a little juice in the hubs' too. 

They looked like this:

Then after preheating the oven to 350 (My pizza was in the oven so I just kept it at that)
I then put my tarlets in on the top rack. I think they were in there for about 11-13 minutes. 

I took them out when the tops of the dough was brown. 

Use a mini spatula or if you don't have one a small fork to get under 
and lift them out. 


TRUST ME, THEY WERE DELICIOUS!!!


Cooked they looked like this:
I served them on our heart plate!:) 

Aww..


While we had date night on OUR couch,
eating homemade pizza
with the dog at our feet
while watching
Sparticious on Blueray!!!


Did anyone else watch that show?


I know it's pretty sexual but was much better in the middle and end of the 
season. 

hehe


Have any of you tried any Quick and Easy recipes lately? 
If so, Tell me what your Favorite
homemade snack is?

Thanks for stopping by!

-CK-

Monday, January 10, 2011

Bad Mom: Good Mom

For anyone who reads this, 
I've been a BAD MOM. 
I'm sorry i've neglected you. I make sure to read my favorite blogs of course,
but when it comes time to write mine, eh, i find some more blogs to read. 
Well I am BACK! Or at least trying to. 

Here at the Kimler Residence we have stayed pretty busy. Mostly busy with our
ADORABLE, BEAUTIFUL YOUNG VIBRANT DAUGHTER!!!
Lucky for me, she was labor-free but cute nonetheless. 

Imagine you and I meeting for coffee, hot tea or perhaps a nice glass of 
Pinot Grigio,
You ask me what I have been up to, hows the hubs, what's life like these days and then you
ask about the girl that wakes me up every am for her potty break or at night time when she wants to be cuddled. I show you these!

Enjoy my friend!

 *While we eat dinner, she sits pretty on her (safety) blanket and waits for us to finish eating. Such a good girl


 * This is me snuggling with the hubs and she wants to join, You'd think she'd be an over sized canine like feline. I promise, she's 100% Canine.



 * I do Laundry and ask her to sit and this is what she did. Sits right behind me while I fold our laundry. Then i throw a favorite toy of hers, and stupid mommy, she jumps right on top of the nicely stacked clothes. Oh Well, no need to cry over spilled clothes right?


 * Our beauty of a girl. She LOVES her balls, and any toys. We are teaching her colors and shapes of her toys. I know i know... colors and shapes? Yep. Next we are told to teach her her numbers by using flash cards. Line up here for our Kahuna to do your next years taxes. Much kid Much Kid. (I hope)


 *Around the holidays I was pretty sick, first with a nasty kidney infection, ER visits, multiple doctor's phone calls, and EXHAUSTED. This is the product of me sick and Kahuna comforting. Not to mention I then had the stomach flu for a few days.



While I was sick with my very painful, uncomfortable and not enjoyable kidney infection
we were looking in the market for a new car for me
as working with clients in and out of my car, that being a two door
almost made it impossible for my 
limbs to stay attached. 

Each time a client got in and out of my car, I would have to 
MANUALLY 
help them out. 

Say 6 clients throughout the day,
in and out
of 3 stores each
 one with a walker,
three with bad backs
one with a knee brace
and one who is just well...mobile.

Yep, that weight on my shoulders and back were getting old. 
Don't worry, my wonderful Chiropractor was able to reap the benefits of 
my job/car.

I found what I'd call, if I were to have one. 
DREAM CAR
and 
DREAM COLOR!!

So we drove to Cedar Rapids, 
me sleeping in the passenger seat, and my lovely hubs driving
to trade in my sweet Cavalier (flip flops and all :( )




For this BEAUTY. She's not BRAND new
( Come'n smart bloggers. Two twenty-somethings, new (old) house, two student loans,
Type-1 Diabetic, medical bills, LIFE

But she is new to us and we LOVE her. 
Meet My HHR!!



We had a great holiday with both of our families. We are so blessed to have so many that love and care for us. Who help us in so many ways, and who love us regardless. 
I know this is belated, but we hope you all had a GREAT new year and hopes
that 2011 Bring MANY MANY more great moments. 

-CK-

Sunday, December 5, 2010

.house.Thanksgiving.work.adding to the family....

.busy. is what we are these days..

Oh yeah.. in case i'm a bad blogger and forgot to show you
here's the new Kimler home



Sorry for the estranged owner of this blog that i(or well we) are.
We found ourselves busy trying to move, unpack, find things
of course that are lost with the hussle and bussle
of moving. We are finally settled into our new home 
At an attempt to try and unpack quicker we decided to hold the 
Kimler's Thanksgiving here at our home.

WHOA!!

That is my idea of a deadline! Well good news is we made it. 
We were able to unpack, hang clothes, figure out a large array of new home
fixings..... well Grandpa, My Father in Law and my dear husband fixed:
Toliet-not properly attached and sealed
Pipes in Basement- just about 5 out of every 10 pipes seems to be leaky at some point
Electrical- countless outlets fixed to three prong, added, rewired, installed (FINALLY have a bathroom GFCI outlet.. well heck ANY outlet is great)
Dishwasher- well sadly we still have a problem with it not draining, but
THANKFULLY it still works. 
Fridge- UGGHH lets just say moldy/nasty/broken/missing/inefficient fridge finally got replaced by 
THIS beauty!

Yep!! Energy Star, Bottom Freezer.. EXCELLENT!! Thank you Santa!!


Instead of gifts to eachother, We settled on getting an item we need for our house.
So this is where this Cyber-Sunday/Monday two day Best Buy Sale got us!!
I asked the lady if she can do something about the price she couldn't so i got it
for $150 CHEAPER online. LOVE IT..


After Thanksgiving we have found ourselves busy with work, 
upcoming family coming into town!!! YAY
Christmas time and well.. I'm show you a pre-view of our day today..


ADDING TO THE FAMILY!!!


.....

Hopefully.....











Snowflake!!


We are only looking but adding a member to our family excites us very much 

We have been looking at adopting a dog in our area and are hoping to meet our match.


I'll fill you in soon!!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

MOVED!!!!

We closed on our house on October 29, 2010

The first closing date was October 26th 2010. 


Lots of work.

Lots of Packing.

Lots of figuring what else needs to be done. 

Stressing over other items that need to be done.

Figuring out times to do ALL of the above. 


Breathe..
Try to sleep...


Pack and MOVE.

Yes, My brain literally stopped functioning i'm sure. I am now starting to remember things.
I am now writing my name correctly, with a C not a K. 
I am worn out.

Being a homeowner is great, expensive, and definitely

exhausting.


I will post updates, photos.. everything..

Also, for my readers, all 4 of you, I need advice on what do to on a
budget or with items around my house
to decorate. Plenty of stuff,
just many many white walls, and more space that i've ever had. 

OKay, now Sleep.

Sorry i've abandoned you. I'll try to get better after i get this MASSIVE amount of work done this weekend!

Thanks to everyone who helped us move, we are seriously so GRATEFUL for you in our life!

Tracy, Gary, Val, Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Betty, Chris and Dan.. THANKS THANKS THANKS!!!

-Mrs. Kimler