Complete Francisco Colayco Books

All signed by none other than, Mr. FJC.  So lucky!!   I have the kids workbook also but it's with my son in the Philippines.

Beast mode vegetable roast with herb dressing (LID)

Ingredients

Any vegetable of your choice
olive oil
provence herbs
rock salt
pepper

for the herb dressing:
provence herb
garlic - lots of garlic
olive oil
pepper
1 tsp hhoney
balsalmic vinegar

Procedure:

1.  Place all vegetables in a pan.

2.  Pour olive oil, provence herbs, pepper and rock salt.
3.  Roast in oven until ready.

Dressing:

Mix all ingredients and blend.

Beans and basil (LID)

Ingredients:

2 cups Bean sprouts
1/2 cup green beans
chili powder
ginger powder
rock salt (not iodized)
onion
garlic
olive or canola oil for sauteing
1/2 cup water
basil leaves fresh

Procedure
1.  Wash bean sprout and beans.  Cut beans into three parts.
2.  Heat olive or canola oil.
3.  Saute onion then garlic.
4.  Add chili powder, ginger powder and rock salt.
5.  Add green beans.
6.  Simmer.
7.  Add bean sprouts.
8  Simmer.
9.  Remove from heat.
10.  Add basil leave on top.

IF ALDUB Nation can, why can't we do it for the Philippines?

It has been two days since the ALDUB tamang panahon but we still can't get over that mixed emotions of overjoy and tears.  There have been comments and discussions around social media regarding the Filipinos getting together to impress  the world but why not do it for our country.  So, why do Filipinos easily got united for ALDUB.  Here's what I think.

1.  ALDUB is an entertainment that caught the hearts of a lot of people, Filipinos and foreigners alike.  Philippine politics is such a complicated issue that Filipinos would rather ignore than get stressed.  But this does not mean that we do not care about the Philippines.  We are all stressed out with politics, we just want some light entertainment that has lessons to learn and that is ALDUB.

2.  We all have enough of our day to day pressures in life, ALDUB is our escape.  Can politics help us ease these burdens?

3.  Tamang panahon was for a cause.  We are all sure that all proceeds will go  to the right recipients.

4.  National issues are quite huge and complicated, ALDUB is simple and easy.

5.  It does not mean we don't care about the country's issues, we are all just waiting for the "tamang panahon"  (perfect time)...and that is God's time.  God bless our country.

I still believe that Filipinos can unite if only we all put our hearts in one goal, focus on the lessons and act on it for the country's benefits, just like how we did in Aldub's tamang panahon.  I cannot say when, I cannot say how but for now, we have shown how it is possible to unite 55 thousand people for a cause, what more if the whole Philippines can do something for our beloved land.

Beetcarratoes in honey with provence herbs (LID)

This is my own experiment of an LID meal.  Beetcaratoes stands for beetroot, carrots and potatoes.

1 medium beetroot

1 carrot

1 medium potato

1 tbsp honey

1 tsp balsalmic vinegar

onion

garlic

canola/olive oil

provence herb

chili optional

rock salt to taste

Procedure:

1.  Chop the veggies.
2.  Fry the potatoes.
3.  Heat separate oil and saute garlic and onion.
4.  Add provence herbs as much as you want.
5.  Stir in the honey for two minute
6.  Stir in the balsalmic for two minutes
5.  Add carrots and beetroot.
6.  Add fried potatoes
7.  sprinkle chili as desired

Beetcarratoes

ALDUB Tamang Panahon

Once again breaking its own record, ALDUB nation did it again with a overwhelming 39.5 million for #ALDubEBTamangPanahon.  Today is a special day for the love team ALDUB and the whole ALDUB nation, and of course Eat Bulaga, the longest running noontime show in the Philippines.  This is the most awaited day that took place in the largest indoor arena in the world - The Philippine Arena in Bulacan, Philippines.

I would like to list down my most favorite highlights.

1.  The moment the whole Philippine arena was asked to put up their mobile phones in flashlight mode.  I had goosebumps as I watched the replay of eat bulaga on you tube.

2.  The quick change of wally bayola - lola nidora to Duhrizz  to Rihanna.  Best.  Kalyeserye wit=ll not be complete without the Kalye's angels

3.  When some of the ALDUB songs were sang by the original singers and Tito Vic and Joey.

4.  Just Maine.  The simplicity of Yaya Dub.  The sophistication of Maine.  She entered the Philippine arena hanging in a jeepney.  So humble and down to earth.

5.  Of course, ALDUB....that hug...that hug saying thank you...hugging tight as if they are alone amongs the 55k people in the arena.

Someone asked me, what is the secret of ALDUB?  Without thinking, I said, "putting God first with humbleness and a lot of love" that is ALDUB.

My own version of itanong mo sa kin :)

#ALDubEBTamangPanahon set to break own record

As of this hour (9:23 p.m. in Dubai) Aldub nation has tweeted three (3) million tweets for

• #ALDubEBTamangPanahon

Although I cannot be in the Philippine Arena tomorrow, I am proud to be a part of another record breaking history!!!

Mistress movies

Today, i had a movie marathon.  Thank God I'm off :)  I watched two movies about mistresses.  Yes, mistresses.  Mistress as in the another one.  Mistress as in the other woman.  Mistress as in the marriage breaker.  Mistress as in the family wrecker.  Woaaah heavy!  Anyway, I watched these two movies - Etiquette for Mistresses and The Lover Affair.  I actually refused to watch these two films in the movie house because I do not like movies giving glory to mistresses.  But to my friends prodding and convincing, I watched at home since it is my off day today.

Etiquette for Mistresses is a movie about five types of mistresses.  The usual cheeky and rough mistress, the richy rich mistress, the true-love mistress, the perfect mistress and the newbie mistress.  All these five have different personalities but they were all in a sort of a network for mistresses.  The usual cheeky and rough mistress is Chloe (played by Claudine Barreto).  She is the typical mistress fighter who did come to the house of her lover only to find out that her lover has another mistress.  The richy rich mistress is the richest of them all because she is a mistress of a mall tycoon.  Because her lover is rich, she spends too much and is being spoiled of material things.  She is Charley (played by Cheena Crab).   Stella (played by Iza Calzado) is the true-love mistress because until the last breath, her lover chose to stay with her even fleeing abroad with his mistress just to hide from his wife and because he truly loves her.  The perfect mistress is Georgia (played by Kris Aquino) who also happened to train the newbie mistress, Ina (played by Kim Chu).  She states all the etiquette throughout the movie but in the end she said, Find the courage to leave him while you still can.  And of course, the newbie mistress who in the end chose to be unselfish and found her real love.

One common thing about them is they all dreamed to  be the first wife, which may never really come true because the first is always first in any angle we look at.  We cannot judge anyone but my opinion is  that mistresses should learn how to let go of their married lovers especially the moment they have learned that their lover is a married man, let go!

The Love Affair is about a married couple who is on their way to their 25th anniversary but the husband discovers that his wife is having an affair with his best friend.  Vince (played by Richard Gomez) is a surgeon who met accidentally, Adrianne (played by Bea Alonzo) who is a lawyer and who also just had her heart broken.  She was later on consulted by Vince to file an annulment of his  marriage with Trisha (played by Dawn Zulueta).  Adrianne and Vince had good times together naming their sailing team as "team sawi" (team heartbroken).  The weekly meetings and coincidental meetings made them closer to each other that made them fall for each other.  Adrianne became the mistress of Vince.  Trisha fought not only for her family but for her love of Vince.  Vince soon realized that he loves her more than Adrianne and decided to keep the family.  The tagline of this movie is "does getting hurt give you the right to hurt back?"

To answer the tagline, No, not anyone has the right to hurt back but human as we are we tend to retaliate every time we get hurt but the losing end is always our family especially the children.  The most important thing is the support both of the wife and the mistress.  Supporting the wife during troubled marriage is very important for emotional anchor.  She has to get herself back together to be strong for her children and to take back what is hers.  On the other hand, the mistress should have good support of friends and family who would tell her that she is loved.  Friends or people around the mistress should also be brave enough and bold enough to even hit her just to wake her up to the truth.  Just like what one of Adrianne's friends in the movie.  This I think made her decide to let go of the lover.  There is dignity in the wife holding on for the love of her family but there is also dignity in the mistress letting go of a lover.

Indeed, holding on and letting go both take courage, strong will and decision.  

Pasta with tomatoes and bell pepper for busy people :)

Here is my pasta with tomatoes and bell pepper low-iodine recipe:

Ingredients:

Elbow macaroni (cooked al dente)
Tomatoes (lots of tomatoes)
Green bell pepper
garlic
onion
dried parsley or any other dried herbs without salt
rock salt as desired
Olive oil for sauteing

Note:  The amount of each ingredients depends on you.

Procedure:

1.  Prepare all the ingredients.  Chop the onion, garlic and bell pepper.
2.  Cook the elbow macaroni.
3.  Cut the tomatoes into quarters.
4.  Heat olive oil in a pan.
5.  Saute the garlic and onion.
6.  Add the bell pepper.
7.  Add the tomatoes.
8.  Simmer.
5.  Add the herbs and rock salt for flavor.
6.  Pour on macaroni.

Enjoy!

Preparing for my low iodine diet

In few weeks' time, I will be having my radioactive iodine treatment.  Before this, I have to eat a low-iodine diet.  I have been searching and researching about LID or low-iodine diet.  I have through many websites and some are contradicting.  So, I gathered most of what i have read and came up with my own personal LID do's and dont's.  But there is one very helpful site the thyca.org with recipes that I will be trying soon.

LOW IODINE DO NOT EAT!!

1. Seafoods.
2. Milk and dairy.
3. Milk chocolate
4. Egg yolks
5. Cheese

LOW IODINE ALLOWED FOOD

1.  Pasta and rice.
2.  Camote and potatoes
3.  All fresh fruits and vegetables
4. Unsalted nuts
5.  Fresh meats

For flavoring, I will be using rock salt and different herbs and spices.

Lhie's 3-veg in balsalmic tomatoes

Ingredients:

3 vegetables:

asparagus

baby corn

okra or lady finger

2 tbps balsalmic vinegar

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

minced garlic

tomatoes - cherry or grape tomatoes

salt and pepper  to taste (i do not use salt and pepper  but instead i use tarragon or any herbs)

Procedure:

1.  Cook the 3 vegetables in boiling water for two minutes.

2.  Heat olive oil in medium heat.

3.  Fry garlic.

4.  Add tomatoes.

5.  Add balsalmic vinegar.

6.  Simmer for three minutes.

7.  Add salt and pepper if desired.

8.  Add the three vegetables.

How to make a fancy finger rosary

These are the steps in making the fancy finger rosary.

Materials:  

1 Cross

15 beads

3 spacers(optional)

Nylon thread

STEP 1:  Tie and knot the nylon thread securely.

STEP 2:  Thread in the 5 beads for Our Father, Hail Mary(s)

and Glory Be (add the white spacer if desired)

STEP 3:  Thread in the 10 beads for Hail Mary(s)

STEP 4:  Knot securely at the end

STEP 5:  Cut the excess tie and glue the end to secure.

The finger rosary is finished.

Finger rosary

Guitar lessons, here I go again

I think I was bored.  Took my guitar again from the cabinet and started learning - Line to heaven.  About a year ago, I started learning guitar.  Sadly, it was stopped when our teacher went for good back home.  I know the basics but i do not have confidence in playing songs.  Any way, this is now my assignment.

One of the most popular bands in the Philippines during the 90's
One of my favourites...


Intro: D-A-G-A-(2x)
D       A                  G-A-D
Heaven knows I've done no wrong

D       A                 G       A
I only want to sing this song to you

D          A               G-A-D
Why did it had to end this way

D       A                 G       A
Only a fool like me could say to you




Chorus:
D                A                G
IF I ever had a line to heaven, I swear

     A
I'd call you there

D                A                G
If I ever had a line to  heaven I swear

Bm       A     G-hold
I'll be there tonight




D         A                 G-A-D
Where would I be withou you now?

D       A                          G    A
Yet I have to make it through this life somehow

D     A                G-A-D
Only time will tell me so

D        A               G    A
All the things I need to know somehow



Repeat Chorus:

Bridge:
F#m7      G
How do I find the answer

   D                            A
To all the questions I've been hiding inside?

F#m7        G                   D
And all the fun and laughter we shared

             A    G-Hold
I'll have to set aside



Repeat Chorus: 2x

Lhie's Banapaloe smoothie

Lhie's Banapaloe smoothie

This is very basic.

Ingredients

1 apple peeled unless it's organic then do not peel
2 medium sized ripe banana
10 ml of aloe vera gel
water if desired (base, though aloe vera gel is already liquid)

Procedure

1.  Peel and chop the apple.
2.  Cut the banana.
3.  Pour in the ale vera gel to the shake and take container.
4.  Shake.
5.  Enjoy the smoothie.

Banapaloe smoothie

How to combat memory gap

I've had several general anesthesias in my life.  Twice when I gave birth via cesarean section and hysterectomy after that.  Then twice again recently just few weeks apart.  I have noticed deterioration in my memory.  There are times that in few seconds I cannot remember what i want to say.  Sometimes, i would like to do something but when I reached the area, i forgot what i was supposed to do.  This condition (after surgery) including some other conditions like easily gets tired, inability to concentrate or reduced arithmetic ability is called postoperative cognitive dysfunction.  There are a lot of reasons and studies why this happens after surgery.  Few of them as listed below.

1.  Residual effects of anesthetics, sedatives or pain killers.

2.  Metabolic effects of surgery.

3.  Pre-existing mental dysfunction.

4.  Posttraumatic stress disorder.

But the list and studies go on.  So, what do I do to combat my memory dysfunction?

During my recuperation, I have been coloring.  Yes!  Adult coloring book.  

Adult coloring book is the latest anti-stress reliever of adults (obviously) he he he.  It is very therapeutic that even doctors prescribe it to their patients.  The colors help in mindfulness, meaning getting more attentive and living in the moment and awakening experience.  Personally, it helps me release my anxieties especially knowing my diagnosis and it also rests my mind.  There are other things that can help combat memory gap.  

Check out my adult coloring book, The Animal Kingdom by Millie Marotta.  Lhie's adult coloring book 

One week post completion thyroidectomy

I just came from my checkup after one week of completion thyroidectomy.  It's a good news for my histopathology of the left thyroid is negative of cancer.  Praise God.  The next step will be the RAI or radioactive treatment.  Hopefully, injectables will be approved by the insurance.

Dr. Carmelo was so happy of the result.  He also said, "you have a lot of friends."  He also said that it is important to have a lot of friends for support.

He also discussed with me the preparation before RAI.

What to do before RAI?

1.  Five weeks before, all medicines will be stopped.
2.  Low Iodine diet, so no seafoods!
3.  Expect weakness and tiredness because the drugs have been stopped.

During the RAI, i will be inpatient for three days with all the amenities in the hospital including wifi so he told me to bring my gadgets.

The stitches have been removed and I feel well.  Actually, gained weight ha ha ha.

Finding my calcium

It's almost a week after my completion thyroidectomy.  One of the many complications of having a total thyroidectomy is low calcium level in the blood.  This happens when the parathyroids have been removed or injured.  The parathyroid glands control the calcium level in our body.  With total thyroidectomy, parathyroids are removed.  

After my completion thyroidectomy, the same night after the operation, I felt numb and the muscles in my thighs and eyes were twitching continuously.  I called the nurse and she informed the doctor.  A little later, the nurse checked my calcium level and it was low.  I was given two 600 mg calcium carbonate tablets.  Then, the next morning, my calcium was checked and it was back to normal.  The  numbness and twitching was also gone.

Where do I get my calcium then?

Calcium supplement

600 mg tablet once a day with vitamin D

                                                   Milk and cereals

banana has 5 mg calcium

a cup of okra has 82 mg of calcium

That feeling when...

Maine Mendoza aka Yaya Dub retweeted your tweet....

WOW FANTASTIC BABY!

The visit is over

It's my fifth day postoperative.  It is also the last day for Our lady of Guadalupe's visit in our flat.  For 26 days, we said novenas and rosaries for all our intentions and the intentions of others.  It has been a great blessing teaching us to pray and to wait on the Lord.  Learning how to depend on God and asking for favors through Mama Mary.

According to Catholic online:

Our Lady of Guadalupe - Guadalupe, Mexico (1531)

Patroness of the Americas
Feast Day in the USA - December 12th

The opening of the New World brought with it both fortune-seekers and religous preachers desiring to convert the native populations to the Christian faith. One of the converts was a poor Aztec indian named Juan Diego. On one of his trips to the chapel, Juan was walking through the Tepayac hill country in central Mexico. Near Tepayac Hill he encountered a beautiful woman surrounded by a ball of light as bright as the sun. Speaking in his native tongue, the beautiful lady identified herself:

"My dear little son, I love you. I desire you to know who I am. I am the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of the true God who gives life and maintains its existence. He created all things. He is in all places. He is Lord of Heaven and Earth. I desire a church in this place where your people may experience my compassion. All those who sincerely ask my help in their work and in their sorrows will know my Mother's Heart in this place. Here I will see their tears; I will console them and they will be at peace. So run now to Tenochtitlan and tell the Bishop all that you have seen and heard."

Our lady of Guadalupe image

My fifth day post completion thyroidectomy has been uneventful.  I was able to eat a normal diet, well actually more than normal - chicken, noodles, rice, fish, veggies and rice cakes. he he he  I praise and thank God for the continuous healing that I am experiencing.  Fighting until the end.  Fighting for victory.

Completion thyroidectomy day four

Day Four.  I have a pretty good day today.  I woke up the same time to take my Thyroxine early morning before breakfast.  Then, ate my all fruits and vegetables.  After that, i ate my breakfast, siopao.  After the breakfast, i took my calcium carbonate and one alfaclcidol.  They go together because taking calcium is nonsense if you don't take vitamin D.  they kinda complement each other.  At lunch, i took the Vitamin B complex for my laryngeal nerve palsy.  Cooked some champorado.  In the afternoon i took my Teveten Plus for the hypertension.

Siopao for breakfast

It was a good day except fro some muscle twitching again and weakness.  I did have some numbness but i just took a rest and I'm on my way to recovery...

And oh, my son sent me a recording of his piano lesson but i can't upload it he he he.  Anyway, here is the photo that he sent me on FB.  He always tries to scare me with these looks...cute huh!

I thank God that everyday i get strength from Him.  In Him alone, I will be saved. 

Turmeric tea and video message

How do I spend recuperation?  turmeric tea and a video message from my niece and my son.

How  to make turmeric tea

It's easy as one, two three.  Just peel about a thumb size of fresh turmeric.  Chop it.  Boil water.  Put the chopped turmeric in a mug.  Pour in hot water.  Instant turmeric tea!

Completion thyroidectomy: Postoperative day three

I'm on day three post completion thyroidectomy.  This is my second surgery in less than a month. The first one was right hemithyroidectomy that confirmed papillary thyroid carcinoma.  So, i have to get another surgery for completion thyroidectomy.  Comparing the two surgeries, the last one was far better than the first except for the numbness due to calcium depletion.  

Comparing the two surgeries postoperatively:

Right hemithyroidectomy                                                  

1.  Too groggy after the procedure.                                   

2.  I was able to urinate soon after.                                    

3.  My throat was too sore.                                                 

4.  I had choking with fluids.                                              

5.  I had to stay on bed for a long time.                             

6.  Lightheaded for two weeks.                                        

Completion thyroidectomy:

1.  Felt like had a few drinks - tipsy.
2.  I was able to urinate soon after.
3.  Sore throat but not much of pain.
4.  Able to eat soonest without choking.
5.  I'm up on day three coloring, etc.
6.  I'm on day three and not lightheaded.                                                                                      

7. Numbness and muscle twitching (due to                                                                                            
calcium depletion) have to deal with these                                                                                               lifelong with calcium and vitamin D tablets.

All in all, I thank God for the healing.  I am currently recuperating and hopefully be back on my feet stronger and healthier in preparation for my radioactive iodine treatment.

Completion thyroidectomy

Just got home after my completion thyroidectomy on 4 October 2015.  This time the left side was removed.  I continue to praise God for the second operation was uneventful and of course successful except for the sudden calcium level drop that lead to upper and lower extremity numbness and muscle twitching. The sudden drop in calcium level was corrected with 600 mg two tablets of calcium carbonate.  All went well and I am now home recuperating.

Thank you for all your prayers.

  

And the fight goes on...

Tomorrow, 4 October 2015, Sunday, I will be once again going under the knife for left hemithyroidectomt to complete the surgical excision of total thyroidectomy.

My dear readers, if you pass by this blog, please utter a prayer for me as I continue to fight this battle.

For the victory!

God bless us all!

Taking pleasure from God more than ALDUB Part 2

How to find pleasure in God

To find pleasure means finding happiness and satisfaction.  In a difficult situation, anxiety always sets in. Fear of the unknown and sadness come hand in hand to block our sight of God.  All these are products of lack of trust in God and his power.  

The power of God the Almighty is immeasurable.    When I found myself facing a battle with illness, I cried out but never questioned His plan.  I cried out because of the pain.  I cried out because my heart was blocked with temporary darkness.  I thought that i will never feel God's love anymore.  But by  His grace and by tapping His P-O-W-E-R, I once again found my pleasure, my joy and my all.  

Prayer.  According to  St Therese of Lisieux , "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God."  Even if we question God, even if we blame him and even if we cry out loud, these are prayers.  Anything from our heart and mind that we tell God is a prayer.  When anxiety strikes in, I would pray more.  When I travel while going to work, i pray.  I guess that is what you call pray unceasingly as 1 Thesalonians 5:16-18 states Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus..  “For though we are always in the presence of God it seems to me that those who practice prayer are present in a special way, for they see that He is watching them” St. Teresa of Avila.  

Offering. "God, this is for you, because i cannot take it anymore."  These were my words when I found out I have cancer.  I offered all my sufferings to him especially going through another operation and radioactive treatment.  There are a lot of pain and discomfort, but it gets less when I offer it to God because He carries the burden with me.  

Witnessing.  Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now. (St. Teresa of Avila).  A witness is a person who sees and has knowledge of an event as in witnessing a crime.  Being a witness of Christ means we see and gain knowledge about the events of Christ's life by studying Christ's life and applying what we have learned and thereby seeing the face of God. 

As I go through this battle, i willingly and gracefully share Christ's cross and in doing so, I feel and become witness of His own sufferings.

Encouragement.  The encouragements of my brothers and sisters in the Couples for Christ community have been tremendous.  My small group of leaders (we call upper) came in the night after my confinement.  I was still having difficulty with eating and swallowing.  Guess what?  They brought a lot of food like noodles, spring rolls, soft drinks, etc.  What a way to encourage?  My eldest sister even told me to recover fast so I can eat my favorite food.  See, encouragement really works!

The best encouragement I got is every time my son would do well in school.  He sends me his picture everyday and his projects in school.  

Revamp.  Being in the Couples for Christ Handmaids of the Lord community,  I have learned to be persevering in my prayer.  Those who persevere, prevail!  I knew that in my where-is-God moment, i should be more persistent in communicating with Him through prayer. 

My recent suffering has given me more room to revamp my prayer techniques.  I literally have prayed unceasingly, trying all sorts of novenas and all kinds of healing prayer that friends would send via social media or cards.  

During my recovery from surgery, I have been doing creative praying.  One of these is coloring and drawing on my daily bible reading (bible alive and in His steps).  This helps me in memorizing and understanding the keywords of the bible verses of the day.

praying at the rooftop by the pool  

                                              

Taking pleasure from God is worth more than the excitement we get from the ALDUB love team.  While ALDUB taught us to believe in forever, God is telling us about eternity!