Dubai Miracle Garden and Butterfly Garden

Before I finally go back to work, today my flatmates and I went to the Dubai Miracle Garden.  This year, the Butterfly Garden also opened.  

The Dubai Miracle Garden showcases   varieties and flowers.  It is located in Barsha 3, Dubai in Dubailand.  Entrance Fee for the Miracle Garden is 30 AED.  The Butterfly Garden has three viewing rooms with butterflies and birds in it.  The entrance fee is separate for 50 AED.  It opens from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekends.

The entrance of Dubai Miracle Garden

Flowers

more flowers

Dubai Butterfly Garden

Butterflies like us

How to spot an ALDUB fan

ALDUB is a global craze.  If you are still not aware, well, where have you been sleeping, Snow White?  Okay, for your benefit, here is how to spot an ALDUB fan.

1.  An ALDUB fan wears a positive outlook just like Maine and Alden.  Who would not smile everyday with the joy they bring in Kalyeserye?

The HOLD sisters, most are ALDUB fans.

2,  An ALDUB fan is respectful.  Respect has always been taught in every episode of Kalyeserye where ALDUB plays a major role.  Remember that grandpa who wanted to buy a ticket for the Tamang Panahon concert?  He fell in long line for the ticket but the ALDUB nation allowed him to be prioritized as he is older.  When Maine, learned about this, he was given VVIP tickets.

3,  An ALDUB fan types fast. :)  This is proven by the record breaking tweets,  ALDUB nation keeps on breaking their records every week with the highest record of 41 M tweets for tamang panahon.

4.  An ALDUB fan is talented.  I can't count how many songs have been written for ALDUB by fans and how many sketches have been drawn.  All I know is that ALDUB nation's weapon is creativity.

one of the sketches I found on internet

I was so inspired I made a terracotta scent diffuser

5.  An ALDUB fan is LOVE!  As the love team ALDUB spreads love and belief in forever, we ALDUB fans are also loving and compassionate.  Spread love!

How to prevent boredom while in isolation

The RAI treatment for thyroid cancer requires a patient to be isolated in an all leaded room for a minimum of three days if it is done inpatient.  I was hospitalized for three days and was instructed to stay in my own room not sharing toilets with anybody.  So, what did I do to keep myself boredome free during the isolation?

1.  Smart TV and wifi.  This is a perfect match.  Strong wifi is a ++.  There are a lot of things  to browse on the net.  Good thing, the American Hospital Dubai has a well-equipped ablation room.

2.  Movie marathon.  Watching one movie takes about two hours.  In 24 hours, one can watch about 12 movies without breaks ha ha ha.

3.  Coloring book.  Adult coloring book are IN now a days.  It is a stress reliever and it brings out the creativity in oneself.

4.  Books.  Read lots of books.

5.  Pray.  Do not forget the most important use of your time, a conversation with God.

Post ablation whole body scan: The final step.

After one week from my RAI treatment, today I came back early morning to the Nuclear Medicine Department to have my post ablation scan.  I came early at 8:00 a.m.  I actually came earlier than the patient relation staff :).  When she came, I registered and paid the copay as this is insurance covered and I just had to pay for 5% of the total price.  I paid about 49 AED.  Then, I went to the PET/CT scan room.  I was given a gown to change.  removing the bra but keeping the panty on.  I was lead to the machine.  It was a huge machine.  I had to lie still on a very narrow bed.  I was strapped with cloth to prevent unnecessary movement.  First, the whole body scan and the last 20 minutes was the neck only scan.  It pays to memorize your prayers, as I was able to say my rosary, hail holy queen and memore.  I also sang few worship songs of course in my mind.  Then, had a conversation with God.  During the first part my heart was racing as i was covered with a plate about 2 inches or less away from my face.  I was catching my breath while hearing the technician saying, don't move, stay still.  As I continue my conversations with God, I slowly come to relaxation.  I kept my eyes closed by once in a while would open them.  This is the final stage of thyroid cancer treatment.  I praise God for the healing.  Now I am free!  I only have to maintain my levels and make sure that the cancer does not come back.  Fight like a girl!

 After the WBS, asked permission to take a selfie

The PET/CT

Freedom!

Just a few hours after I woke up on day three of my isolation, the radiation level came down to 9 uSV.  Today is my freedom day!!  I was discharged by Dr. Yang but to be continued to be isolated in my own room.  Below are my "aquarium selfie" collection with my visitors.

my very entertaining nurse :)

My nurse

Ablation day 3

Indeed  it is a good morning for my radioactive level is down to 18.3. Praise God.  It was a funny night last night because code red was called for my room.  Meaning: FIRE!!! Ha ha it was just me using the hot shower.  Apparently, the fire detector in the room has been acting like that  so it is not the first time that this happened.  It's funny i was in the shower enjoying my night shower when suddenly my phon kept ringing endlessly.  How am i supposed to answer that? Ha ha ha I took my towel and covered my body, went out and there i saw the nurses looking at me through the looking glass.  They were telling me we had a code red. The steam! Anyway today could be my freedom ha ha ha

Radiation level on day two

This is day two and my radiation level in the morning was 99 uSivh.  At about 10 am,  was asked to lie down to check again and it went down to 69.97 uSivh. Not bad ha. More water please.

Ablation day 2

Woke up at 2:38 a.m. because the autoflush of the toilet has been flushing every 15 seconds.  I had to stand up and walk to the toilet to check if thereg  is any ghost ha ha ha only to find out that the platic for my trash was being detected by th autoflush.  Afte taking the RAI pill, i had tp flush two to three times to totally flush the radiation.  Wide awake until 4 am.  Then slept again til 7 am ro take myThyroxine.

Now on day two.  Yesterday was a breeze.  No adverse effects except for the headache due to the extended fasting i did.  Last breakfast was 8:30 a.m. only with boiled white eggs and orange juice. 

My first meal was back to regular diet but still no seafoods. Fair enough.  I sipped lemons and finally ate a regular diet.  Nom nom.  The meal is placed in a box.  All are in disposables and there is a special refrigerator for my food trash. It's called the decay storage (see picture of the brown cabinet below). This is a freezer thta is covered in a brown cabinet.  And oh, did i tell you the room is all lead inside the walls.  The nurses also covered all handles with plastic cling wrap even the mobile phones.

I had breakfast as in bug breakfast.  I also changed my beddings and cleaned my toilet.  I was also able to chat with my family back home. After cleaning my room,  i took a long shower and sat down to watch but suddenly i felt my heart beating fast.  Palpitations? I called the nurse and she told me to takr a deep breath.  I was ok after a few minutes.

Ablation Day: Step 5 RAI

I am now in the ablation room ohee American Hospital Dubai.  After my second dose of Thyrogen earlier, this is it.  Three hours after the last dose of Thyrogen, bloods were extracted.

About 3:15 p.m. i took the RAI tablet. It is a white tablet sealed in a gray bucket all lead covered (see picture)  There is a tube like straw that the technician puts in the bucket to pick up the tablet.  But when picking up the tablet, i had to do it myself as the technician had to stay far away from me.

So i picked up the tube and put the other end of the tube in my mouth with tablet sliding through the tube to my mouth and with water i pushed it down my stomach. The dose was 105.2 mCi.

Dr. Yang, the technician and the nurse were all outside my room.
I was instructed to lie down for 10 minutes to measure my radiation level.

The level was 163 uSV wohoooo....

Second Thyrogen injection: Step 4 to RAI

Had my Thyrogen injection at 9:30 a.m. today.  This is my last of two injections.  So far, so good.  Continuously praising God for all of this as i await for another victory.

First Thyrogen injection: Step 3 to Radioactive Iodine treatment

I came early to the ENT clinic today for my Thyrogen injection.  Guess what? The original presciption of the Thyrogen is missng and Pharmacy refused to release the Thyrogen kit without the original prescription.  After waiting and praying,  the beautiful nurse from ENT called me to collect my Thyrogen kit. So i came running and took the kit from the Pharmacy and went back to the clinic for my injection.

The Thyrogen is in powdered form  kept in a vial.  This has to be mixed with saline to be ready for injection.  A little warming for the solution and the target has been set - the buttocks!  Waaaah.

Yes, Thyrogen is meant to be injected in the gluteus muscle (buttocks).   Thanks to my caring nurse it did not hurt much. I had to stay for 10 more minutes in the procedure room before they had to let me go.  After that, i went back to work normally.

Tomorrow, i will visit the clinic early to get my second Thyrogen injection.  I will come earlier because after the injectioni will be admitted for the RAI.

LID: Vegetable Manchurian

Ingredients:

carrots
cabbage
zucchini
potato
sprouts
green chili
capsicum

2 tbsp cornflour
1 tbsp pepper powder or chili powder
coconut oil for frying
non iodized salt if desired
1 tbsp sesame oil

Procedure:

1.  Chop all vegetables.
2.  In one bowl mix all vegetables, cornflour, sesame oil, pepper powder and salt.  mix very well.
3.  Form into balls.  do not add water as the vegetables have enough water to stick it together into balls.
4.  Deep fry in coconut oil.
5.  Make dip using white vinegar or balsalmic.

LID: Kimchi quickie

Ingredients:

Lettuce cut in bite size
garlic
onion

Seasoning:
1 tbsp non-iodized salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp vinegar
pepper powder as desired
1 tbsp sesame oil

1.  Mix all the seasoning ingredients.
2.  Pour on lettuce and mix with hands.
3.  Store in a bottle and keep refrigerated.

LID: Garlic and tomato pasta

Ingredients:

One head of garlic chopped
1 tbsp of garlic powder
onion
spaghetti cooked aldente
lots of tomatoes
parsley
provence herbs
olive oil
salt (non iodized) if desired

Procedure:

1.  Cook pasta aldente.
2.  Boil all tomatoes in 3/4 cup water with provence herbs until soft
3.  Heat pan and add olive oil
4.  Add onion
5.  Ad garlic mixed with garlic powder
6.  Add the softened tomatoes
7. Add salt if desired.
8.  Simmer until tomatoes become sauce.
9.  Pour on pasta.

enjoy!

I forgot to take picture of this as I have eaten it already.  :)

When sinners are called...

Jesus said, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance".   Today, i have attended the graduation and Lord's day celebration of the handmaids of the Lord Dubai.  The Lord's day is the final week and celebration of the 12-week program called the Christian Life Program (CLP).  The CLP is an integrated course intended to lead the participants into a renewed understanding of God’s call to them.  This is the entry program to be a member of the Couples for Christ community.   I belong in the ministry of the CFC Handmaids of the Lord, one of the family ministries of the Couples for Christ.  This is the ministry for single mature women, single mother, widow and those whose husbands are in prison.  

The mostly misconceived idea of serving in church is that church workers are "holy".  WRONG!  Most of us serve in the church because we are "sick".  We need healing, spiritual that is.  By serving in the church, we try to heed the calling of God to be like Him...holy.  It's hard but we keep on trying anyway.  When sinners are called, it means that the one who is calling is the healer, the doctor and the great God who makes all  things new and possible.  Today only proves that these new graduates of the CLP had heard the call.  It was a day of fun and praises, of sharing and receiving, and of course of supporting each other in this spiritual journey.  When sinners are called, we heed the call!

ENT follow-up visit @2 months postop

I went to see my ENT surgeon yesterday.  He checked on my laryngeal nerves through the scope and it was fine.  The thyroidectomy wound is healing well.   The scar looks fine.  I also had blood test for calcium level to knoe if i still have to continue my calcium tablets.  Now im just waiting for the nurse's call to inform me if ill continue my calcium tablet.  . Four days to go and its RAI.

LID: Squashkra (squash okra) mash

Ingredients

any herb powder (provence, thyme, parsely etc)
mustard seed powder
ginger powder
garlic powder
a little bit of chili powder
pepper
okra
squash

egg white (if desired for keeping the squash together)

Procedure:

1.  Steam the okra/
2.  Boil the squash.
3.  Mash the okra and squash together.
4.  Add all herbs and powder etc.
5.  Add egg white to keep them together
6. Mix
5.  Heat olive oil in pan.
6. Scoop a spoon of the mixture and fry.

LID: Chicken lettuce wrap

Ingredients:

2 chicken breast marinated with LID sauce (using balsalmic) and cut into cubes
carrots cubed
bean sprouts
cucumber cubed
onion
garlic
chilli powder

iceberg lettuce

Procedure:

1. Marinate chicken overnight.
2.  Cut chicken into cubes.
3.  Cut the vegetables in cube or small size.
4.  saute onion and garlic
5.  add marinated chicken
6. simmer.
7.  add carrots
8.  add bean sprouts
9.  add a little chili powder
10. Simmer.

To enjoy:  Place the cooked chix and veggies on lettuc and top with cucumber.

LID: Pasta asparagus in balsalmic sauce

Ingredients:

one pack Pasta cooked aldente
asparagus
baby corn
carrots
tomatoes
chicken cut into cubes
dash of salt not iodized
garlic
onion
olive oil

For the sauce:
honey
balsalmic vinegar
olive  oil
chilli powder
garlic powder
pepper
provence herbs
parsely
fresh tomatoes

Procedure

1.  Mix all the sauce ingredients and stir very well.  The amount of each ingredient is as desired.
2.  Boil chicken with a dash of salt (not iodized) and some herbs.  Cut into cubes.
3.  Saute garlic and onion in olive oil.
4.  Put in the cubed chicken.   Stir fry with the sauce.
5..Add the rest of the vegetables one by one, add the asparagus last.
6.  Simmer for two minutes.

Full blast Low Iodine Diet: Step 2 to Radioactive Iodine therapy (RAI)

In the past week, i have already prepared myself for the LID and this week I am going full blast low-iodine diet in preparation for my RAI-131 ablation therapy.  I will be receiving 100 mCu on 17 November 2015.

Why go on LID or low iodine diet?

For the radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) I-131 to be effective,  a low iodine diet is recommended two weeks before the I-131 administration.  RAI is iodine, so for this treatment to be absorbed by the remnant thyroid, the body should be iodine hungry.  Being on low iodine diet gives a  more successful treatment with radioactive iodine.

For more information, visit thyca.com:

Radioiodine therapy

The main instruction of my doctor is NOT to eat seafood mainly.  When I was told by the nuclear medicine specialist to research on the preparation, I searched the net and found that the following should be avoided when on low iodine diet:

• seafood
• egg yolk
• potato skin
• iodized salt
• dairy

Otherwise, be very careful with foods with added salt, not necessarily sodium.

Sugared cashews

Sugared cashews

Cup of Cashew nuts
cup of water
one tablespoon sugar

Procedure:

1.  Soak cashews in water.
2.  Remove water.
3.  Pour sugar and cover all cashews add more sugar if not enough or if desired.
4. Bake in oven at 250 F.
5.  Turn once in a while.

Enjoy!

LID veggie fritters

Low Iodine Diet Veggie fritters

Ingredients

1 medium zucchini
1 medium sweet potato
1 medium carrot
1 medium potato
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp ginger powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
canola oil for deep frying

balsalmic vinegar + any herbs and pepper for dipping

Procedure

1.  Peel all the vegetables especially potato as potato skin is high in iodine.

2. Using the peeler, scrape all the vegetables and put them in one bowl.

3. Chop the parts that cannot be scraped with the peeler into small cubes.

4.  Mix together with egg, a little pepper, onion powder, ginger powder and garlic powder.  Alternatively, use onion, garlic and ginger.

5.  Heat canola oil and deep fry the fritters to your desired size or shape.

Enjoy with balsalmic dip.