It has been a while since I have posted. So much has been happening and summer has gone by so very fast. Yesterday was the first full day of fall. Already!

I have had a very busy summer, even though a lot of it did not feel like summer activities.  We got our new pure-bread chocolate Labrador puppy Copper in June, the day after my birthday. July we travelled to Revelstoke to Arrow lake for camping to celebrate our 9 year anniversary. It was our first camping trip with Copper. August took us to Victoria for my sisters wedding. We spent a week visiting with friends and family.  August I also started a new job with interior health. I am excited and nervous all at the same time.  I have been working in private facilities since I began my career 4 years ago.  Also In August kamloops hosted a meet and greet with Shawn Johnson and Graham Wardle from the tV show heartland. Shawn Plays Grandpa Jack and Grahamn is Ty.  I had my photo taken with them and got their signatures. I also met a new friend waiting in line!  I took part in the ice bucket challange for ALS and we went spent the last week of August in clinton with family.

Our Garden did not end up doing well this year, either from not watering it regularly, i didnt have time to weed it as often as I wanted  , and then copper was using it as his toilet despite my vocal protests! But our fruit trees did great!!!  We got some wonderful juicy and large peaches and many many many pears.  We are all the peaches fresh or i added them to baking and food. The pears I mixed with apples and made apple/pear sauce.  I did get some good carrots, and peppers this year too.

September has been even busier. Almost all month I have been battling a chest infection and was on antibiotics but they didn’t seem to do much. I have also been  finishing off my orientation for my new job. it has been sporadic to get it in and finished with our really busy schedule.

Started off the month attempting to shave Figaro. He needed it badly, he was so matted and so hot and filled with dander.  It took me 8 hours though since I had the wrong shaver.

We puppy sat chris and Rae-Anne ‘s puppy steve, who is also coppers brother . We watched him over night and him and copper play so much! it was like having twins!

had a lovely visit with Claudia and Katie, We harvested the pears, went walking along the beach, had dinner and then the next day we went to breakfast and the farmers market. It was the longest I had left copper at home and We where gone about 4 hours.

I was finally able to do some low protein baking and canning. Harvesting what I could from our garden. I started to make my first few steps to regaining control of my levels and my pku diet. It has taken some hard knocks this summer and I have suffered from it.  I have had high levels most of the summer, not being eating a lot of low protein and eating out a lot. No baking, no tracking, no blood tests nothing. I have been having side effects and greatly suffering from depression. When I think back I think i began to fall off track in March. Since then it has been a downward spiral with my compliance and effort.  I have been battling with my depression and anxiety again with very high-tended side effects. My medications where increased and I have accepted and chosen to go to group therapy to work out some of my problems .  September was the month I chose was finally going to be my turning month and I was going to try to get back on track. It has not been as easy as it has in the past for me, and its been baby steps all month long. Focusing on habits, working on portion sizes, attempting to write everything down to see patterns and habits, and trying to increase my low protein foods again, as well as fruit and veggies. Trying to kick my bad rice and sushi habits.

We travelled back to Victoria again for another wedding. This time instead of being in the bridal party, I was the wedding photographer . I had my PKU Clinic visit on the way home from Victoria.

Last weekend I travelled to Vancouver with my one of my best friends Daphne to the Blake Shelton concert.  It was great!!! Opening acts where Dan and Shay, Neal McCoy and The band Perry. Then the big man himself whom I like to call god’s gift to country girls! Daphne bussed down from Edmonton on the Friday night. I picked her up Saturday morning at 7 am from the bus depot. Then we left kamloops at about 11 am, drove to Vancouver got there about 2, went for dinner at 5 , concert started at 7, over at 11, walked back to her brothers and left Vancouver at 12 am and got to kamloops at 4 am. I went to bed just before 5 am!  So Sunday was a rest day!

Monday Tuesday I did my evening orientation shifts and tonight I do my night orientation . Tomorrow will be a rest day and then I have a major challenge I am facing that will put my anxiety to the test. I am flying out Friday morning at 6 am to Calgary and then meeting up with Nicole and flying to Toronto for the CanPKU annual general meeting and advocacy training. I will be gone 2 nights 3 days ( and 4 plane rides) Back late Sunday night.  That will  give me 2 days before October starts and wow has it gone by fast.  I am really nervous. I have never flown before or travelled alone with out cole! If cole was coming I think I would be way more excited!! Right now I am worried and going through many “what if ” scenarios!

My goals for October include more frequent blood tests. I find doing them weekly keeps me accountable  . One of my bad habits is I will not do a blood test if I feel like my blood tests are high. I will tend to make an effort to drop them a bit before I do one. Right now I feel like I could be around 11 or 12. All the levels I did in August and for September have come back between 7 and 8.

My next goals are to bake more, focus more on eating different meals and mixing it up a bit. not eating the same thing everyday because it is so easy. I also need to cut back on mashed potatoes and rice.  I have no problem with my formula but I tend to drink it only 2 times a day. So I want to try spreading it out a bit more through out the day.  I also want to start making my own soups for fall and winter. I have some zucchini to use up and want to make some bread.  I am also hoping to increase my activity levels more, starting out small and not overwhelming myself. possibly walking Copper more regularly and maybe swimming too. My goal range for levels is 6 and under.  So we shall see how it goes.

That is what is new with me. I apologize for my lack of posting and activity on social media as of late. I am looking forward to things quieting down and getting back into a regular schedule again!