Mixed Episodes, Rapid Cycling, and Irritability

Criteria for Mixed Episode as described in the DSM-IV TR:

A. The criteria are met for a Manic Episode and for a Major Depressive Episode nearly every day during at least a 1-week period.

B. The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.

C.  The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition.

Criteria that has been met by me the past week:

Manic Episode symptoms:

a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood

more talkative than usual 

flight of ideas, or subjective experience that thoughts are racing

distractibility

Depressive symptoms:

depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (feeling sad or empty) or observation made by others (my mother in law)

markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day

weight gain or increase in appetite nearly every day.

hypersomnia

fatigue or loss of energy

feelings of inappropriate guilt (delusional)

diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness 

Tomaillo Chicken with Black Beans

OK folks, this was a really good one.  So yummy!  I of coarse added my own spin to the recipe.  The recipe said to serve this dish by putting the bean/salsa mixture on the plate and placing the chicken on top and serving with warm tortillas.  I said No Way and made them soft taco style.   So I added some sour cream, corn and I put the cilantro right in with the beans and salsa.  This one was a hit with the whole family.  Matthew didn't eat his tortilla, but he ate all the chicken inside.  Oh, I also used regular chili powder instead of ancho chili powder.  I didn't reserve any of the salsa either and since I doubled the recipe for the family, I used 2 cans of beans yet I still only used one jar of salsa.  It turned out just right, but next time I think I"ll try making the tomatillo salsa from scratch!

Tomatillo Salsa (salsa verde)

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

½ teaspoon ancho chile powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

Whole fresh cilantro leaves

Warm corn tortillas

 

1.     Season chicken with chile powder and salt.  Heat pan over medium high heat until hot; lightly spray with vegetable oil.  Add chicken; cook 8 - 10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, turning once.  Remove chicken to cutting board; tent with foil and let stand 5 minutes.  Slice chicken into strips.

2.    For beans, add all but 2 tablespoons of salsa and black beans to same pan; cook about 2 minutes or until heated through.  Spoon bean mixture onto serving plates; top with sliced chicken ad reserved salsa.  Garnish with cilantro.  Serve with warm corn tortillas.

Ruff, ruff, ruff, grrruff, ruff

So I honestly liked those sandwiches so much that I made them again for dinner tonight.  Yummy!  In other news... a mystery was solved today.  My neighbor has a yappy little Jack Russell Terrier who loves to bark.  They leave him outside a lot of the time so he barks a lot of the time.  My bedroom windows are about 20 feet from the fence where this dog barks.  I was lucky enough to buy a house with new dual pane windows.  As long as the windows are closed it's not too bothersome.  However, it is summer and the nights have been nice and cool enough to sleep with the windows open.  Until 7am and the dog starts barking.  He doesn't just bark once or twice or for a minute then stop.  He barks constantly.  

Back to the mystery part.  I have been wondering how the owner can stand to listen to the barking all day long.  Tonight we were playing in the backyard with a little net and birdie thing the kids found in the garage and the birdie went over the fence.  Adam and the kids went over there to get it back.  Apparently it is just one old guy who lives there alone and can hardly hear.  So although it doesn't help my situation any at least now I know why the owner lets the dog bark all day.   

From Adam's experience talking to him tonight I'm not sure talking to him about the dog would do any good so if anyone has any suggestions feel free to leave a comment.  I have tried sleeping with ear plugs, but I don't like the feeling and I won't wear them when Adam's gone because I feel I need to hear the kids.  I have also thought of cutting a hole in the fence, reaching through and putting a muzzle on the dog every night.  I don't think that will work.  I also thought of slipping some of my meds into a treat and throwing it over the fence.  The problem there is if it hurts the dog I would feel bad.  I don't want to hurt him, I just want him to shut up.

As promised...

Turkey Panini with Onion-Cranberry Marmalade



4 slices ¾ inch thick bread

vegetable oil

4 slices Havarti cheese

4 ounces thinly sliced deli mesquite turkey (6 slices)

Onion Cranberry Marmalade (see below)

¼ small Granny Smith apple, cut into eight thin slices



1. Lightly spray one side of bread slices with oil; arrange bread, oil side down, on cutting board. Top two bread slices with half of the cheese, turkey, marmalade and apple slices. Top with remaining cheese and bread slices, oil side up.

2. Heat grill pan over medium low heat 5 minutes. Place sandwiches onto pan; top with grill press. Cook 3 – 4 minutes or until grill marks appear and cheese is melted, turning once.

Onion Cranberry Marmalade:

Pour 2 tablespoons hot water over ¼ cup sweetened dried cranberries in prep bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in sauté pan over medium heat; add 1 cup thinly sliced onion. Cook and stir 5 minutes or until onion softens and begins to caramelize. Add 2 tablespoons cider vinegar; stir to loosen browned bits from bottom of pan. Add 2 tablespoons orange marmalade, cranberries and any liquid from soaking. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat; cool slightly.

Turkey Panini with Onion-Cranberry Marmalade

What can I say... yummy!  I got this recipe out of my new Pampered Chef cookbook called Cooking for Two or More.   I have decided to blog about my adventures in the kitchen.  This recipe was really easy to make and tasted delicious.   Now as my friends who know me can attest to I don't follow recipes very well.  In this case I didn't have a Panini press so I used a George Foreman Grill.  I also used fresh baked bread out of my bread machine instead of the multigrain bread it called for.  I don't like Havarti cheese either so I used Colby Jack since that's what I had.  I'll post the original recipe below for everyone.  

The recipe is to make 2 sandwiches so I made them for me and Adam and for the kids I just put cheese and turkey.  Matthew loved it.   Angela is Angela so who knows.  Me and Adam both loved it.  At first he thought the apples were weird, but then he liked it.   I really like the crunchy apple and sweet onion cranberry marmalade.  It was really easy to make, too.   The marmalade took less then 10 minutes then it's just a matter grilling the sandwiches.  

Angela Soldano 4/12/1907 - 3/16/2005

I was trying to fall asleep last night and thoughts of my Nana consumed me.  Me and Adam were discussing the possibility of getting a new toilet for our bathroom.   This may not seem like the kind of discussion that would foster warm memories of your great grandmother, but let me explain.  

My great grandparents lived in San Jose for as long as I can remember.   Since they were the oldest we would all travel to them for holidays.  I remember one holiday, I'm not sure if it was Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, whatever.  We all arrived at Nana and Dede's house and right away my Nana was telling everyone "go to the bathroom".  At first I was baffled, but then she started to explain "I just got a new toilet, go see it".  She also kept stating "I paid $100 for that toilet".  I'm not sure if she was proud of the great deal she got on the toilet or if she thought $100 was outrageous for a toilet so she wanted to be sure and get as much use out of it as possible.

My Nana was such a character.  I remember the first time she met Adam.  She took him aside and told him "if you hurt her, I will kill you".  And Adam believed her.   I would have loved to know her in her "hay day".  I can only imagine how spunky she was then considering how spunky she was at 90!

She gave a speech at my wedding.  Nobody knew she was going to say anything, but right after my dad gave his she stood up and said "wait a minute I have something to say".  "Sarah, you go home to him and don't go running away back home." Or something like that.  I remember it wouldn't have made sense to most people there, but I knew exactly what she was talking about.  She had told me before that after she married Carl Soldano she didn't want to be married to him anymore.   She went back to her parents and told them that she didn't want to be married any more.  They told her "too bad" and sent her back.  They remained married 'till death do them part.  Now my Dede sits at Creekside in San Pablo waiting for the day they will be reunited.  He turns 101 this month (17th).  Happy Birthday Carl Soldano.

Duffel Bags

I have happened upon a new obsession.  Duffel bags.  I have been making duffel bags the past few days.  I made this one for my nephew Jax who is turning 1.  I also made one for Adam, but he says it looks too much like a purse.  Whatever!  I have also figured out that I can make 2 bags out of 1 yard of fabric and 1 yard of lining.  If I get lucky and find some cool fabric in the dollar bin then I can put one of these together for about $4.  That's awesome.  Plus I can embroider anything I want on them.   I think I know what everyone's getting for Christmas this year...