It's hard to believe that I'm now 1 month from my due date. Jeez! It's flown by so fast. I will have to admit regardless of if this baby is a girl or a boy, it was by far the best pregnancy I've had - as far as a smooth sailing, stereotypical pregnancy. We had the one hiccup, but that was nothing compared to the others. I feel great and have for the most part keep the weight gain under control, I think mainly due to my gluten allergy. (Should I thank that too? lol.)
I am 35wks, 5 days, and had a doctor's appointment today. I had to have the strep B test done, but I'm sure that will be fine. I'm happy to report no "exams" till 37 weeks. I HATE those, then again I don't know any WOMAN who does. Considering the scare and stress I got yesterday(after I've talked to my attorney about some things I will post the WHOLE story.), my blood pressure was relatively normal: 116/68. Cyril loved listening to his "baby's" heartbeat. This time he told Dr. B and I that it sounded like rain. Spencer said one time that it sounds like someone is running. lol. Heartbeat was in the 150's and Peanut was moving, just wish it would stop doing that at the same time as a Braxton Hick contraction. Ouch!
I think the best part of the entire appointment was that I have lost 9lbs since last week. One can hope that the water weight has settled down and will stay that way till the end. I've been so annoyed this last month and a half because I gained 12lbs, no real reason behind it expect water weight. I was hoping that it was all baby, but then again I don't WANT to give birth to a baby that large. 9lb babies are big enough, thank you very much. lol.
I'm getting excited now, and can't wait to meet Peanut. Hope I didn't jinx anything by picking up a couple of girl clothes at some garage sales today. Fingers are crossed. ;)
God Bless
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Gluten Free Challenge #7
TIP #7 Natural Healing: Spice up your diet with anti-inflammatory herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric.
RECIPE #7
April 28, 2010
This savory and sweet sandwich is a wonderfully satisfying delight. It's also very easy to make - ENJOY!
Easy Monte Cristo Sandwiches
2 cups Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoon milk
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
12 slices gluten-free thinly sliced ham
12 slices gluten-free thinly slice turkey
2/3 cup strawberry fruit spread
powdered sugar for sprinkling on top
Yield: 6 servings
Heat oven to 375º.
Lightly grease an 8-inch x 8-inch square baking dish. Mix the Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix and the butter with a fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, add the milk, and stir with a fork. Put half the mixture in the bottom of your baking pan, then sprinkle on 1 cup mozzarella, 1/2 of the thinly sliced ham, then 1/2 of the thinly sliced turkey. Spread strawberry fruit spread on top spreading to within 1/2 inch of the edge, then layer the last half of the ham, then the last half of the turkey, then sprinkle on 1 cup mozzarella. Spread the rest of the baking mix on top, and bake for 30 minutes. When nicely browned remove from the oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Cut into wedges and enjoy.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
RECIPE #7
April 28, 2010
This savory and sweet sandwich is a wonderfully satisfying delight. It's also very easy to make - ENJOY!
Easy Monte Cristo Sandwiches
2 cups Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoon milk
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
12 slices gluten-free thinly sliced ham
12 slices gluten-free thinly slice turkey
2/3 cup strawberry fruit spread
powdered sugar for sprinkling on top
Yield: 6 servings
Heat oven to 375º.
Lightly grease an 8-inch x 8-inch square baking dish. Mix the Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix and the butter with a fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, add the milk, and stir with a fork. Put half the mixture in the bottom of your baking pan, then sprinkle on 1 cup mozzarella, 1/2 of the thinly sliced ham, then 1/2 of the thinly sliced turkey. Spread strawberry fruit spread on top spreading to within 1/2 inch of the edge, then layer the last half of the ham, then the last half of the turkey, then sprinkle on 1 cup mozzarella. Spread the rest of the baking mix on top, and bake for 30 minutes. When nicely browned remove from the oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Cut into wedges and enjoy.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
Gluten Free Challenge #6
TIP #6 Save Money: Soak, and then cook, your own dried beans in a slow-cooker. Dried beans are cheap, nutritious and gluten-free. Make a lot and freeze in small bags so cooked beans are always handy to throw in a chili or stew. They forgot to mention for soups too. This is what we have been doing, and I can attest that it not only saves money, but you can add your OWN seasonings and spices. You can rest assured that it won't be contaminated by "their" seasonings & spices.
RECIPE #6
April 27, 2010
This is a much easier recie than it looks, don't let the length of this recipe fool you. Everyone will love this tasty empanada with chipotle cream sauce. This is another recipe that can be personalized. Try filling the dough with any of your favorite pie treats, such as other meat and vegetable mixtures, fruits with sugar and cinnamon. Be creative and enjoy!
Cajun Spiced Empanadas with Chipotle Cream Sauce
Dough:
1 bag (3-1/2 cups) Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix
2 sticks unsalted butter, chilled
1/2 cup ice water
1/2 cup Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix for rolling
1 egg, beaten for forming the empanadas
Filling:
1-1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 small yellow onion, small diced
2 Anaheim peppers, seeded and small diced
1 Jalapeño, seeded and small diced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 lb. extra-lean ground beef
2 Tablespoons Cajun seasoning, preferably without salt
1 Tablespoon ancho chili powder
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/3 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup golden raisins
juice of 1/2 lime
Chipotle Cream Sauce:
1/2 cup light sour cream
2 chipotles in adobe sauce
1 Tablespoon Agave syrup (honey or sugar may be substituted)
Yield: Makes approximately 12-14 Empanadas
Empanada Dough Instructions: Cut up both chilled butter sticks into small squares and add to Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix. Using either your fingers or a pastry cutter blend the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse pea-sized crumbles, careful not to over blend so that the butter does not melt too much. Slowly add the ice water 1 tablespoon at a time using a fork to blend with the dough. When the dough just begins to come together use your hands to bring it together. The dough should not be too sticky or so dry it is falling apart.
Shape into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Set in fridge at least 1 hour or until ready to use. Dough can be frozen overnight and taken out and thawed the next day at room temperature or in fridge.
Filling Instructions: Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Add peppers and sauté 5 minutes, or until they begin to soften. Add garlic and sauté 2 min. Turn heat to medium-high. Add beef and coarsely crumble into mixture until well-incorporated and pea-sized. Add the rest of ingredients and sauté until all the juice has evaporated from pan. Take mixture off stove and allow to cool to room temperature (note: the beef mixture can be made a day ahead of time and held in the fridge until ready for use).
Making the Empanadas: Pre-heat oven to 375º. Roll out a long sheet of wax or parchment paper and dust lightly with Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix. Set dough on sheet and press down with hands to form an even round, then dust top with additional mix. Place another sheet of wax or parchment paper over and roll dough out until approximately 3/4-inch thick. Using a 4-inch round pastry cutter, or anything approximately that big in your kitchen, cut out circles. Place another, smaller piece of parchment down and dust with mix then set one circle down, dust top and roll out to 1/4 to 1/2-inch thickness. They will be approximately 6-inches in diameter.
Put two heaping spoonfuls of the beef mixture in the center of the dough. Using either a pastry brush or your fingers brush a small amount of the beaten egg all along the edges of the dough. Gently fold the dough over and match the ends together lightly pressing down to seal any open spaces. Press a fork all along the edge of the empanada and placed finished pastry on a well-greased cookie sheet. Repeat the above instructions for the rest of the empanadas. Dough can be pulled back together and rolled back out to yield more.
Brush the tops of each empanada with the egg mixture and place in oven. Cook 17-20 minutes or until dough is lightly browned, edges will be slightly more browned. Take out and serve with a dab of Chipotle Creme Sauce for dipping.
Chipotle Cream Sauce Instructions: Blend all ingredients in a blender at high speed until fully blended. Sauce can be chilled in fridge until ready for use; also makes a great dip for chips and vegetables.
Chef's Notes: If you have only one bag of Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix you can substitute Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix for the rolling and forming of the empanadas. You can also make the filling spicier by leaving some of the seeds of the peppers, but be warned - the sauce is pretty spicy! Or, for less spice, cut the spices, this is true for both the sauce and the filling.
The filling is entirely up to you! I love this filling because the raisins balance out the heat of the peppers and seasoning, but feel free to use turkey, pork, lamb, or even just sautéed vegetables! It can also be made vegan by simply substituting shortening for the butter and making an all vegetable filling.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
RECIPE #6
April 27, 2010
This is a much easier recie than it looks, don't let the length of this recipe fool you. Everyone will love this tasty empanada with chipotle cream sauce. This is another recipe that can be personalized. Try filling the dough with any of your favorite pie treats, such as other meat and vegetable mixtures, fruits with sugar and cinnamon. Be creative and enjoy!
Cajun Spiced Empanadas with Chipotle Cream Sauce
Dough:
1 bag (3-1/2 cups) Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix
2 sticks unsalted butter, chilled
1/2 cup ice water
1/2 cup Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix for rolling
1 egg, beaten for forming the empanadas
Filling:
1-1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 small yellow onion, small diced
2 Anaheim peppers, seeded and small diced
1 Jalapeño, seeded and small diced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 lb. extra-lean ground beef
2 Tablespoons Cajun seasoning, preferably without salt
1 Tablespoon ancho chili powder
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/3 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup golden raisins
juice of 1/2 lime
Chipotle Cream Sauce:
1/2 cup light sour cream
2 chipotles in adobe sauce
1 Tablespoon Agave syrup (honey or sugar may be substituted)
Yield: Makes approximately 12-14 Empanadas
Empanada Dough Instructions: Cut up both chilled butter sticks into small squares and add to Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix. Using either your fingers or a pastry cutter blend the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse pea-sized crumbles, careful not to over blend so that the butter does not melt too much. Slowly add the ice water 1 tablespoon at a time using a fork to blend with the dough. When the dough just begins to come together use your hands to bring it together. The dough should not be too sticky or so dry it is falling apart.
Shape into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Set in fridge at least 1 hour or until ready to use. Dough can be frozen overnight and taken out and thawed the next day at room temperature or in fridge.
Filling Instructions: Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Add peppers and sauté 5 minutes, or until they begin to soften. Add garlic and sauté 2 min. Turn heat to medium-high. Add beef and coarsely crumble into mixture until well-incorporated and pea-sized. Add the rest of ingredients and sauté until all the juice has evaporated from pan. Take mixture off stove and allow to cool to room temperature (note: the beef mixture can be made a day ahead of time and held in the fridge until ready for use).
Making the Empanadas: Pre-heat oven to 375º. Roll out a long sheet of wax or parchment paper and dust lightly with Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix. Set dough on sheet and press down with hands to form an even round, then dust top with additional mix. Place another sheet of wax or parchment paper over and roll dough out until approximately 3/4-inch thick. Using a 4-inch round pastry cutter, or anything approximately that big in your kitchen, cut out circles. Place another, smaller piece of parchment down and dust with mix then set one circle down, dust top and roll out to 1/4 to 1/2-inch thickness. They will be approximately 6-inches in diameter.
Put two heaping spoonfuls of the beef mixture in the center of the dough. Using either a pastry brush or your fingers brush a small amount of the beaten egg all along the edges of the dough. Gently fold the dough over and match the ends together lightly pressing down to seal any open spaces. Press a fork all along the edge of the empanada and placed finished pastry on a well-greased cookie sheet. Repeat the above instructions for the rest of the empanadas. Dough can be pulled back together and rolled back out to yield more.
Brush the tops of each empanada with the egg mixture and place in oven. Cook 17-20 minutes or until dough is lightly browned, edges will be slightly more browned. Take out and serve with a dab of Chipotle Creme Sauce for dipping.
Chipotle Cream Sauce Instructions: Blend all ingredients in a blender at high speed until fully blended. Sauce can be chilled in fridge until ready for use; also makes a great dip for chips and vegetables.
Chef's Notes: If you have only one bag of Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix you can substitute Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix for the rolling and forming of the empanadas. You can also make the filling spicier by leaving some of the seeds of the peppers, but be warned - the sauce is pretty spicy! Or, for less spice, cut the spices, this is true for both the sauce and the filling.
The filling is entirely up to you! I love this filling because the raisins balance out the heat of the peppers and seasoning, but feel free to use turkey, pork, lamb, or even just sautéed vegetables! It can also be made vegan by simply substituting shortening for the butter and making an all vegetable filling.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
Good Samaritans left?
After see that horrible article about the NYC Good Samaritan dieing after being stabbed helping a stranger. It broke my heart and made me so mad! What has happened to all the Good Samaritans out there? Do people not remember what GOD has taught us about being the Good Samaritan? Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, verses 25-37, are they that selfish or are they afraid?
It seems that maybe it's a little bit of both. Afraid for the legal consequences for helping someone. Last year or a couple of years ago out in California, a man was sued by a friend/co-worker, after they were involved in an car accident. She became paralyzed and sued him...saying he should have waited till help arrived. He said he feared that the car was going to catch fire and feared for her safety. I was shocked to learn that she won her lawsuit. My heart goes out to her, for the life changes, but what if the car had caught on fire - and she suffered 3rd degree burns all over her body. I think she would have sued him for NOT removing her from the car. Maybe she is that type of person. This is just one of many that I have heard thru the years...there is a law that is supposed to protect the Good Samaritan...but it doesn't always seem to work. Also people have been hurt or killed being the Good Samaritan because of the evil & greed of others. SO I can see the fear...but how do you explain selfishness?
How am I supposed to teach my children and my daycare children about being Good Samaritans when we are all greeted with these kinds of people? Today though...was different. This morning gave me hope that there are still good people out there like me, who try to be or are the Good Samaritans.
I was having to run to Spencer's school, and on my way I saw a garage almost completely engulfed in flames. We pass this house every day going to and from school. I've seen the little old lady that lives there. She was the 1st thought I had. Is she okay? Does she know that her garage is on fire? And then I saw them. At 1st 3 men all surrounding her, comforting her, assisting her away from the garage and her home...to safety. Then I saw others, on their phones, calling 911. Then shortly before I pulled away, another comfort filled me as I said a prayer for these people, a police officer rushing to the scene. Here today in our small town, in Minnesota...GOD showed me that there are indeed people who are willing to still be the Good Samaritans, regardless of their safety.
GOD bless
It seems that maybe it's a little bit of both. Afraid for the legal consequences for helping someone. Last year or a couple of years ago out in California, a man was sued by a friend/co-worker, after they were involved in an car accident. She became paralyzed and sued him...saying he should have waited till help arrived. He said he feared that the car was going to catch fire and feared for her safety. I was shocked to learn that she won her lawsuit. My heart goes out to her, for the life changes, but what if the car had caught on fire - and she suffered 3rd degree burns all over her body. I think she would have sued him for NOT removing her from the car. Maybe she is that type of person. This is just one of many that I have heard thru the years...there is a law that is supposed to protect the Good Samaritan...but it doesn't always seem to work. Also people have been hurt or killed being the Good Samaritan because of the evil & greed of others. SO I can see the fear...but how do you explain selfishness?
How am I supposed to teach my children and my daycare children about being Good Samaritans when we are all greeted with these kinds of people? Today though...was different. This morning gave me hope that there are still good people out there like me, who try to be or are the Good Samaritans.
I was having to run to Spencer's school, and on my way I saw a garage almost completely engulfed in flames. We pass this house every day going to and from school. I've seen the little old lady that lives there. She was the 1st thought I had. Is she okay? Does she know that her garage is on fire? And then I saw them. At 1st 3 men all surrounding her, comforting her, assisting her away from the garage and her home...to safety. Then I saw others, on their phones, calling 911. Then shortly before I pulled away, another comfort filled me as I said a prayer for these people, a police officer rushing to the scene. Here today in our small town, in Minnesota...GOD showed me that there are indeed people who are willing to still be the Good Samaritans, regardless of their safety.
GOD bless
Monday, April 26, 2010
Gluten Free Challenge #5
TIP #5 Quick Snack Idea: Keep a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter where it’s visible and always handy to grab one for a nutritious snack. Fruit is always gluten-free and munching on fresh fruits is one of the most healthful ways to snack. If you like dried fruit, buy your own dehydrator. Then you can have safe, delicious dried fruit anytime!
RECIPE #5
April 26, 2010
This is such a great recipe because it's very simple and easy to make, but it's also full of great healthful corn and berries. The texture is delightful and they're hearty and delicious!
Blueberry Corn Pancakes
1-1/2 cups Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix
1/2 cups Pamela's Cornbread & Muffin Mix
2 eggs
1 TBSP oil
3/4 cup soy milk (substitute with regular milk or water)
dash of salt
basket of berries
optional: 1 ear of cooked corn cut off the cob (or 1 cup frozen)
Mix dry ingredients. Mix liquid ingredients and add to dry mixture. Pour 1/4 cup batter onto the pan, (sprinkle corn kernels into batter if using), then sprinkle blueberries onto baking pancakes. Flip when browned on the first side. Serve with blueberry or maple syrup.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
RECIPE #5
April 26, 2010
This is such a great recipe because it's very simple and easy to make, but it's also full of great healthful corn and berries. The texture is delightful and they're hearty and delicious!
Blueberry Corn Pancakes
1-1/2 cups Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix
1/2 cups Pamela's Cornbread & Muffin Mix
2 eggs
1 TBSP oil
3/4 cup soy milk (substitute with regular milk or water)
dash of salt
basket of berries
optional: 1 ear of cooked corn cut off the cob (or 1 cup frozen)
Mix dry ingredients. Mix liquid ingredients and add to dry mixture. Pour 1/4 cup batter onto the pan, (sprinkle corn kernels into batter if using), then sprinkle blueberries onto baking pancakes. Flip when browned on the first side. Serve with blueberry or maple syrup.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
Gluten Free Challenge #4
TIP #4 Snack Idea: Popcorn is a filling, gluten-free snack that provides 3.5g fiber per 3 cups of popped kernels. Sprinkle nutritional yeast (Red Star brand is gluten-free) on top for a unique flavor full of nutrients. We love having popcorn here, even the daycare kids love it as a snack, with some string cheese on the side for more protein. Sometimes I add fresh fruit too.
RECIPE #4
April 25, 2010
Try filling these simple and elegant dumplings with all kinds of delicious treats, vegetables, cheese, meat. You could even include some fresh fruit with sugar and cinnamon for a sweet treat. Test your imagination on this one.
Steamed Pork Dumplings
1 bag (3-1/2 cups) Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix including yeast packet
1/4 cup oil
1-1/4 cups warm water
1 pound ground pork
1 TBSP corn starch
2 TBSP soy sauce (be sure it's gluten-free, tamari sauce works well)
6 green onions, chopped
1 to 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes (to taste)
Yield: 24 dumplings Combine
Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix, yeast packet, oil and water (reserve a couple of tablespoons of mix for dusting dough later). Mix well to form dough. Let rise 60 minutes.
On plastic wrap sprinkle reserved mix and roll out dough to ¼-inch thick. Cut dough into 4-inch x 4-inch squares.
Mix pork with corn starch, soy sauce, green onions and red pepper. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons in the center of each square and fold dough over the top of the meat mixture. Place into lightly oiled steamer and steam 20 minutes. Cook in batches until all dumplings are ready to serve.
Serve with soy sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Chef's Notes: I used wax paper instead of plastic wrap and I used quite a lot of the Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix for rolling out the wrappers (an extra bag of Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix for dusting and rolling dough is handy to have on hand, or look for the new 4LB bag of Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix).
Have fun with different sizes and shapes. Try circles for a pot sticker effect, and even a wavy biscuit cutter for the traditional open top Chinese pork dumpling. When I steamed the dumplings in a traditional Chinese steamer over a wok, I kept a tea pot of water steaming to replenish the steam in the wok as it dissipated.
For a real wallop try adding garlic and/or ginger to the filling.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
RECIPE #4
April 25, 2010
Try filling these simple and elegant dumplings with all kinds of delicious treats, vegetables, cheese, meat. You could even include some fresh fruit with sugar and cinnamon for a sweet treat. Test your imagination on this one.
Steamed Pork Dumplings
1 bag (3-1/2 cups) Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix including yeast packet
1/4 cup oil
1-1/4 cups warm water
1 pound ground pork
1 TBSP corn starch
2 TBSP soy sauce (be sure it's gluten-free, tamari sauce works well)
6 green onions, chopped
1 to 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes (to taste)
Yield: 24 dumplings Combine
Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix, yeast packet, oil and water (reserve a couple of tablespoons of mix for dusting dough later). Mix well to form dough. Let rise 60 minutes.
On plastic wrap sprinkle reserved mix and roll out dough to ¼-inch thick. Cut dough into 4-inch x 4-inch squares.
Mix pork with corn starch, soy sauce, green onions and red pepper. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons in the center of each square and fold dough over the top of the meat mixture. Place into lightly oiled steamer and steam 20 minutes. Cook in batches until all dumplings are ready to serve.
Serve with soy sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Chef's Notes: I used wax paper instead of plastic wrap and I used quite a lot of the Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix for rolling out the wrappers (an extra bag of Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix for dusting and rolling dough is handy to have on hand, or look for the new 4LB bag of Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix).
Have fun with different sizes and shapes. Try circles for a pot sticker effect, and even a wavy biscuit cutter for the traditional open top Chinese pork dumpling. When I steamed the dumplings in a traditional Chinese steamer over a wok, I kept a tea pot of water steaming to replenish the steam in the wok as it dissipated.
For a real wallop try adding garlic and/or ginger to the filling.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Maternity Photoshoot #2
I met a great photographer,thru SimplyTC Photography, who agreed to take some maternity photos of me. Why do you ask, since I just had some done. I finally got up the courage to get some of me done both semi-nude or completely nude during this pregnancy. I am so glad that I did too. He didn't do anything crass, they are very sensual and amazing. I can't believe when I look at the proofs that these pregnant ladies in these pictures are me! This is one of the final pictures. He is a very gifted and talented photographer. I've seen other pieces of his work, and it still amazes me, that he was able to take beautiful pictures of me. I felt like a beautiful expectant mother, it was a moment that I was trying to have captured the last time in the other photoshoot. She was able to get it with the pictures with my kids and I...but not when it was just me...I'm not sure why. But I'm glad I went with my gut instinct on this and had Michael do them.
Some people will be put off by them I think because of the semi-nudity, but others won't. I did them mainly for me. Something that I can look back on and not only see the beauty in these pictures. But be reminded of the beauty and the power of GOD. I say that, because there is just something special about seeing an expectant mother. Knowing that GOD did that, HE gave us the ability to not only create life, but nurture that growing child with our bodies. Expectant mothers, seem to have this inner beauty that glows thru them....I don't know about other expectant mommies, but I have a hard time seeing that in me when I'm expecting. But I never seem to have that problem seeing it in other expectant mommies.
God Bless
Saturday, April 24, 2010
35 weeks
I'm 35 weeks today. I looked on the calendar and it's hard to believe that we are a little over 30 days away from meeting this little peanut. Judging from activity this morning, Peanut is running out of room in there fast. It felt like Peanut was trying to get out, with how active it was moving. Jessie couldn't get over all the movement. I have to admit this morning that there were more then a few of them that really hurt. Hopefully Peanut will be a little kinder to momma in the next couple of weeks.
Dawn loves feeling Peanut move, she keeps trying to figure out what each bump is. lol. She's been a stinker though too. She loves to tell me, that my belly looks like I swallowed a basketball, &/or my butt is big like when I was pregnant with Cyril. Spencer is freaked out by Peanut moving. He says my stomach looks like an alien in there. lol. Dawn & Cyril came to cuddled with me and "his" baby this morning. Cyril has become fascinated with my chest lately. He knows what they are for. He tells me all the time, that's "baby milk" This morning though was strange. He kept peaking at them, saying "Boobs for baby. Not for me. I'm a big boy." or "Nooo boobs for me." The 2nd comment reminded me of the line for the Seinfeld show "No soup for you." I hope this fascination will take a back seat after the baby is born. I would be embarrassed if he tries to do this "game" in front of someone other then family. He also kept kissing and hugging my belly, it was really cute. He told me that he was giving them to his baby butter. I asked him what will he do if it's a sister not a brother? He told me he hated girls. :( I know that's not entirely true since he loves his big sister. But I have to admit secretly there's a part of me that wonders how he will react if this baby is a girl not a boy.
Last week and earlier this week I was excited that my belly was finally getting at a point where my pants will stay up without the help of a belly band. Today though is proving that I'm still not quite there yet. I keep having to hike them up. lol. I don't remember having with the boys...it's kind of a nice feeling at this stage in pregnancy. But I'm starting not to be very comfortable in jeans, so I've been thinking of getting some maternity sweatpants/lounge pants and see if I'm more comfortable that way.
Jessie and I have NOT figured out names yet for either gender. We have the middle names figured out...or should I say I have them figured it out. If it's a girl then she will have his mother's middle name, just like Dawn has my mom's middle name. If it's a boy the middle name will either be after his father or my uncle. It would be really cool if the baby is a boy to have both of these men's names since they are 2 out of 3 most important men in Jessie's & my life. Guess we better get to figuring out a name. Cyril didn't have his name till I was about this far along in my pregnancy with him, and he was born 2 weeks later. I made a comment that I packed the baby book of names in my hospital bag just in case. Jessie looked slightly annoyed. lol.
God Bless
Gluten Free Challenge #3
TIP #3 Substitution Tip: Instead of traditional spaghetti noodles, use cooked spaghetti squash strands and pasta sauce for a nutritious, gluten-free, pasta-like meal. This came from the GIG group. What we do here at the Johnson household for spaghetti sauce, is we use GF tomato sauce, and season it with GF seasonings, till we like it. I also add sometimes GF diced tomatos, fresh cloves of garlic and onion too.
RECIPE #3
April 24, 2010
Everyone loves pizza, even those who don't eat cheese. Try baking the crust with a cheese-free pesto topping, olives and anchovies (if you like those strong flavors), or capers, olive oil and green olives. We also suggest making a double batch of pizza crust, par bake them all and then freeze the crusts you don't use right then. Later in the month when you need dinner in a hurry, simply pull the par-baked crust from your freezer and you'll have a delicious pizza in just a few minutes.
Click for a shopping list specific to this recipe.
Crunchy Pizza Crust
1 bag (3-1/2 cups) Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix
1 yeast packet (enclosed in mix)
1/4 cup oil
1-1/2 cups warm water
Optional: Add 2 tsp Italian herbs &/or 1/2 cup grated cheese to dough
Optional: Add 2 tsp fresh rosemary to dough
Dough makes two - 12 to 14-inch crusts, or 3 to 4 smaller personal sized crusts.
Combine Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix, yeast packet, oil and water (no eggs are used). With a Heavy Duty Stand Mixer mix on medium for 2 minutes. Cut dough into two or three portions (based on your desired pizza size). Spread one portion of dough per pizza onto parchment paper (do not use wax paper). Use oil or non-stick spray on dough and fingers to keep fingers from sticking when spreading dough into pizza shape. Let rise 60 to 90 minutes. With a pizza stone in the oven preheat oven to 375º. For a thinner crust, spread dough thinner again, after it has rested for the 60 to 90 minutes. Bake without sauce on the parchment paper on hot pizza stone for 15 to 20 minutes until pizza is lightly browned. If a pizza stone is not available you could use a cookie sheet under the parchment paper.
Pull lightly browned crust from the oven and dress with sauce and toppings. Return to oven and bake on stone until toppings hot, approximately 5 minutes. OR remove crust from oven after initial baking, let cool, wrap and freeze or refrigerate for later use.
To bake frozen or refrigerated par-baked crust: remove from freezer or refrigerator. Let thaw if frozen, or warm to room temperature. Dress with sauce and topping, With a pizza stone in the oven preheat oven to 375º, then bake on hot pizza stone until toppings are hot, approximately 5 minutes.
Pizza Ideas:
#1. Ready-made pasta sauces make a quick pizza sauce and come in a variety of flavor combinations.
#2. Try adding seasonings or cheese to the dough for interesting flavors.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
RECIPE #3
April 24, 2010
Everyone loves pizza, even those who don't eat cheese. Try baking the crust with a cheese-free pesto topping, olives and anchovies (if you like those strong flavors), or capers, olive oil and green olives. We also suggest making a double batch of pizza crust, par bake them all and then freeze the crusts you don't use right then. Later in the month when you need dinner in a hurry, simply pull the par-baked crust from your freezer and you'll have a delicious pizza in just a few minutes.
Click for a shopping list specific to this recipe.
Crunchy Pizza Crust
1 bag (3-1/2 cups) Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix
1 yeast packet (enclosed in mix)
1/4 cup oil
1-1/2 cups warm water
Optional: Add 2 tsp Italian herbs &/or 1/2 cup grated cheese to dough
Optional: Add 2 tsp fresh rosemary to dough
Dough makes two - 12 to 14-inch crusts, or 3 to 4 smaller personal sized crusts.
Combine Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix, yeast packet, oil and water (no eggs are used). With a Heavy Duty Stand Mixer mix on medium for 2 minutes. Cut dough into two or three portions (based on your desired pizza size). Spread one portion of dough per pizza onto parchment paper (do not use wax paper). Use oil or non-stick spray on dough and fingers to keep fingers from sticking when spreading dough into pizza shape. Let rise 60 to 90 minutes. With a pizza stone in the oven preheat oven to 375º. For a thinner crust, spread dough thinner again, after it has rested for the 60 to 90 minutes. Bake without sauce on the parchment paper on hot pizza stone for 15 to 20 minutes until pizza is lightly browned. If a pizza stone is not available you could use a cookie sheet under the parchment paper.
Pull lightly browned crust from the oven and dress with sauce and toppings. Return to oven and bake on stone until toppings hot, approximately 5 minutes. OR remove crust from oven after initial baking, let cool, wrap and freeze or refrigerate for later use.
To bake frozen or refrigerated par-baked crust: remove from freezer or refrigerator. Let thaw if frozen, or warm to room temperature. Dress with sauce and topping, With a pizza stone in the oven preheat oven to 375º, then bake on hot pizza stone until toppings are hot, approximately 5 minutes.
Pizza Ideas:
#1. Ready-made pasta sauces make a quick pizza sauce and come in a variety of flavor combinations.
#2. Try adding seasonings or cheese to the dough for interesting flavors.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
Gluten Free Challenge #2
Here is the 2nd day's tip & recipe:
TIP #2 Snack Idea: Make your own vegetable "chips" by tearing kale into small pieces or thinly slicing vegetables such as beets, sweet potatoes, rutabagas, parsnips or carrots. Bake at a low temperature (about 200°F) until crispy. Sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy!
RECIPE #2
But don't stop with these rolls. You can add homemade or store bought pesto to just about any rolls or bread for a delicious twist. Be creative, add pesto to eggs, toss over fried potatoes, spread it on your gluten-free sandwich bread and then fill with sliced meat or cream cheese.
Tuscan Style Pesto and Pine Nut Rolls
1 bag (3-1/2 cups) Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix including yeast packet
1/4 cup oil
2 large eggs
Water (to equal a total of 2 cups when combined with oil and eggs)
1 cup either freshly prepared or purchased pesto sauce
1/4 cup pine nuts, chopped
2 TBSP unsalted butter to grease muffin tins
Yield: approximately 20 rolls
Heat oven to 350°.
Prepare Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix according to instructions for Oven Baking preparation. Stir in pesto sauce and pine nuts and mix well.
Grease cups of muffin tins with butter. Divide mixture equally into muffin tins, filling each muffin cup 1/2 full. Let rise for 1 hour. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of roll comes out clean and rolls are lightly golden brown.
Chef's Notes: These were very easy and had a very light texture. I liked leaving the pine nuts whole rather than chopped as called for in the recipe, reserving some to sprinkle on top of the rolls before baking (and prevent the plastic wrap from sticking).
For the tallest, lightest rolls, let the dough raise in a bowl for 60 minutes and then form the rolls. One method, by using water on hands, lightly form small balls no larger than what fits below the top of the muffin pan. Another method is to scoop the dough into the pan and then smooth the top with a wet rubber spatula, again no higher than the pan top. Sprinkle the tops with the reserved pine nuts and use plastic wrap to let them raise again for 60 minutes before baking.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free. There are LOTS of hidden/sneaky words that used instead.
TIP #2 Snack Idea: Make your own vegetable "chips" by tearing kale into small pieces or thinly slicing vegetables such as beets, sweet potatoes, rutabagas, parsnips or carrots. Bake at a low temperature (about 200°F) until crispy. Sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy!
RECIPE #2
But don't stop with these rolls. You can add homemade or store bought pesto to just about any rolls or bread for a delicious twist. Be creative, add pesto to eggs, toss over fried potatoes, spread it on your gluten-free sandwich bread and then fill with sliced meat or cream cheese.
Tuscan Style Pesto and Pine Nut Rolls
1 bag (3-1/2 cups) Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix including yeast packet
1/4 cup oil
2 large eggs
Water (to equal a total of 2 cups when combined with oil and eggs)
1 cup either freshly prepared or purchased pesto sauce
1/4 cup pine nuts, chopped
2 TBSP unsalted butter to grease muffin tins
Yield: approximately 20 rolls
Heat oven to 350°.
Prepare Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix according to instructions for Oven Baking preparation. Stir in pesto sauce and pine nuts and mix well.
Grease cups of muffin tins with butter. Divide mixture equally into muffin tins, filling each muffin cup 1/2 full. Let rise for 1 hour. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of roll comes out clean and rolls are lightly golden brown.
Chef's Notes: These were very easy and had a very light texture. I liked leaving the pine nuts whole rather than chopped as called for in the recipe, reserving some to sprinkle on top of the rolls before baking (and prevent the plastic wrap from sticking).
For the tallest, lightest rolls, let the dough raise in a bowl for 60 minutes and then form the rolls. One method, by using water on hands, lightly form small balls no larger than what fits below the top of the muffin pan. Another method is to scoop the dough into the pan and then smooth the top with a wet rubber spatula, again no higher than the pan top. Sprinkle the tops with the reserved pine nuts and use plastic wrap to let them raise again for 60 minutes before baking.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free. There are LOTS of hidden/sneaky words that used instead.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Gluten Free Challenge...
Several of you dear ones have voiced the need to go Gluten free, or would like to add more of these recipes to your daily diet, but feel it's too hard. There is a GF challenge coming up next month. I guess apparently the month of May is GF month. There is a challenge for people &/or their families to go GF for an entire weekend (May 22d & 23rd). There is a blog & a fan page on Facebook(FB) that will give you daily tips for a period of a month, (April 22 thru May 21) and including recipes that you can do, to help make this transition easier. I will try to remember to post those here for you as well, and post our family reviews of the recipes. It's really not as hard as you all think. There are times that it's tough like the baked goods and that. But now knowing how good I feel, I don't want to go back. Here's tip #1
Tip #1: Try Something New: Quinoa is a high protein, gluten-free quick cooking seed. Add a teaspoon of butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon to a bowl of cooked quinoa for a nutritious, gluten-free breakfast. Personally I LOVE Quinoa noodles. They are very good.
Recipe #1:One Ingredient Cake
1 bag of Pamela's Chocolate Cake Mix
1 cup mayonnaise
1-1/2 cups water
Preheat oven to 350º. Mix all ingredients together. Pour into two lightly greased 8-inch round pans. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, may need additional baking time. Cake is done when a toothpick comes out with slight crumbs. For single layer sheet cake, use a 9 x 12-inch pan and bake for 25 minutes. For cupcakes, fill lightly greased cupcake pan (or use cupcake papers) with batter 2/3 full. Bake for 22 to 24 minutes. Frost with your favorite frosting.
Dark Chocolate Frosting
1 bag of Pamela's Dark Chocolate Frosting Mix
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, room temp/not melted
4 tablespoons water
Yield: 1-3/4 cups frosting for 1 cake.
Soften butter or margarine on medium speed. Add water and Pamela's Dark Chocolate Frosting Mix and blend together on medium for 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Scrap down bowl during mixing. If frosting is too thick, add more water one teaspoon at a time. Frost on cooled cake or cupcakes. Suggestion: Add decorative toppings* or chopped nuts.
Variations:
Mocha Frosting: Add 1 tablespoon freeze-dried coffee (dry form).
Chocolate Orange Frosting: Add 1 teaspoon orange flavoring* and 2 tablespoons orange zest.
Chocolate Raspberry Frosting: Add 1 teaspoon raspberry flavoring* or more to taste. Decorate with fresh raspberries.
Chocolate & Cinnamon Frosting: Add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or more to taste.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
God Bless
Tip #1: Try Something New: Quinoa is a high protein, gluten-free quick cooking seed. Add a teaspoon of butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon to a bowl of cooked quinoa for a nutritious, gluten-free breakfast. Personally I LOVE Quinoa noodles. They are very good.
Recipe #1:One Ingredient Cake
1 bag of Pamela's Chocolate Cake Mix
1 cup mayonnaise
1-1/2 cups water
Preheat oven to 350º. Mix all ingredients together. Pour into two lightly greased 8-inch round pans. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, may need additional baking time. Cake is done when a toothpick comes out with slight crumbs. For single layer sheet cake, use a 9 x 12-inch pan and bake for 25 minutes. For cupcakes, fill lightly greased cupcake pan (or use cupcake papers) with batter 2/3 full. Bake for 22 to 24 minutes. Frost with your favorite frosting.
Dark Chocolate Frosting
1 bag of Pamela's Dark Chocolate Frosting Mix
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, room temp/not melted
4 tablespoons water
Yield: 1-3/4 cups frosting for 1 cake.
Soften butter or margarine on medium speed. Add water and Pamela's Dark Chocolate Frosting Mix and blend together on medium for 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Scrap down bowl during mixing. If frosting is too thick, add more water one teaspoon at a time. Frost on cooled cake or cupcakes. Suggestion: Add decorative toppings* or chopped nuts.
Variations:
Mocha Frosting: Add 1 tablespoon freeze-dried coffee (dry form).
Chocolate Orange Frosting: Add 1 teaspoon orange flavoring* and 2 tablespoons orange zest.
Chocolate Raspberry Frosting: Add 1 teaspoon raspberry flavoring* or more to taste. Decorate with fresh raspberries.
Chocolate & Cinnamon Frosting: Add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or more to taste.
*Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.
God Bless
Thursday, April 22, 2010
MOPS-Mommy guilt talk
Today was MOPS meeting day. Yay!!! I look forward to those meetings all month. What's MOPS? Mothers of Preschoolers...it's for all moms with children 0-5 (pregnant moms too). It's a Christian based mother's group. We meet twice a month and the fellowship you get from the other moms, really fills your cup. Or at least I think so. It's hard to believe this year is coming to an end soon. I'm really glad that I was able to go today. I knew from our retreat this summer that the topic today was an important one for mommies everywhere, but as one of my closest, dearest friends and Coordinator for our group said, we were given several good "signs" that this talk was meant to happen, it's something that all moms whether we are Christian or not need to remember. It's been talked about for years, but somehow moms, including myself don't listen to that advice. And as we all know - when there is something God wants us to hear...HE keeps at us until we hear the message loud and clear.
This was from MOPS international email by Ann Goade:
" As a mom I spend a lot of time focused on growth. I monitor my kids' weight and height. I study charts to check their mental and emotional growth. I take them to church and teach them Bible songs & stories to start them on the path of spiritual growth. And sometimes I have time to show concern for growth in my relationships. Is my relationship with my husband evolving or stagnant? Am I growing closer to my friends? The area where I don't often get to spend much effort is my own "mom" growth. When's the last time I did something just for me? Without feeling guilty about it? I used to think I should devote every moment to my family and not to myself. Then I heard a guest on a talk show say something profound. If we forget about ourselves and give all of our focus to our children, we teach them one of two things. One result is that we'll promote selfishness by giving in to them & they'll think the world revolves around them. As awful as that might be, the alternative behavior sounds worse. They might grow up to be just like mom, giving up their interests & never pursuing their dreams. It's taken years of practice, but I've found that I'm a better mom when I allow myself to grow. That way, when I step back into the role of wife & mom, I'm refreshed. " This was eye opening for me.
Another one from MOPS international:
"Taking "Mom Time" is not selfish...it's a part of your job."
Like the speaker asked us at the begininging of the talk: "What's different about the job as mom compared to an accountant?" One of the things that stood out to me is, we are always "on". 24hrs/7 days a week...from the moment we find out we are pregnant, it's like a switch is turned on. We are always trying to what's best for our children, so that they will be at their best. BUT if we don't allow ourselves to make sure we are taken care of, that our cup is "full", then how can we do that? We can't for very long.
But we can't go the opposite end either and not do the best job we can to nuture and raise our children. It's like being the tightrope walker in a circus. We need balance. The talk was very eye-opening and soul opening to me....it was one of the best talks of the year, if not THE talk of our year.
So mommies tonight if you are feeling that mommy guilt or the stress as a result of that guilt, remember this silent prayer she taught us today: "Guilt/Shame, I release you. You have NO power over me. In the name of God, be gone." If you want more information in regards to the speaker...let me know.
God Bless,
Carlena
This was from MOPS international email by Ann Goade:
" As a mom I spend a lot of time focused on growth. I monitor my kids' weight and height. I study charts to check their mental and emotional growth. I take them to church and teach them Bible songs & stories to start them on the path of spiritual growth. And sometimes I have time to show concern for growth in my relationships. Is my relationship with my husband evolving or stagnant? Am I growing closer to my friends? The area where I don't often get to spend much effort is my own "mom" growth. When's the last time I did something just for me? Without feeling guilty about it? I used to think I should devote every moment to my family and not to myself. Then I heard a guest on a talk show say something profound. If we forget about ourselves and give all of our focus to our children, we teach them one of two things. One result is that we'll promote selfishness by giving in to them & they'll think the world revolves around them. As awful as that might be, the alternative behavior sounds worse. They might grow up to be just like mom, giving up their interests & never pursuing their dreams. It's taken years of practice, but I've found that I'm a better mom when I allow myself to grow. That way, when I step back into the role of wife & mom, I'm refreshed. " This was eye opening for me.
Another one from MOPS international:
"Taking "Mom Time" is not selfish...it's a part of your job."
Like the speaker asked us at the begininging of the talk: "What's different about the job as mom compared to an accountant?" One of the things that stood out to me is, we are always "on". 24hrs/7 days a week...from the moment we find out we are pregnant, it's like a switch is turned on. We are always trying to what's best for our children, so that they will be at their best. BUT if we don't allow ourselves to make sure we are taken care of, that our cup is "full", then how can we do that? We can't for very long.
But we can't go the opposite end either and not do the best job we can to nuture and raise our children. It's like being the tightrope walker in a circus. We need balance. The talk was very eye-opening and soul opening to me....it was one of the best talks of the year, if not THE talk of our year.
So mommies tonight if you are feeling that mommy guilt or the stress as a result of that guilt, remember this silent prayer she taught us today: "Guilt/Shame, I release you. You have NO power over me. In the name of God, be gone." If you want more information in regards to the speaker...let me know.
God Bless,
Carlena
Brief scare.
If life hasn't been interesting enough for me, I got thrown a little bit on Tuesday. As you know I'm about 34.5weeks/8.5 months along, so we're getting closer to the end, but not close enough for baby. Well I've been having issues off and on for the last couple of weeks. I thought honestly that, I was just needing to go to the bathroom more, because it's the last trimester, which is what happens. Normal, right? Wrong.
Monday night was the last time I had felt baby move, granted this peanut just like his/her brother Cyril moves a lot less then their older two siblings did, it was unnerving when I woke up Tuesday morning, and realized that Peanut hadn't moved throughout the night. So I did everything I could think of within reason(I still had daycare kids, so it's not like I could lay down)to get this peanut to move. That's when I started wondering if my water was leaking. There were some signs that made me think that, with the lack of movement, and the Braxton Hicks (BH) contractions getting stronger, I was concerned I might be in some trouble or that Peanut was. So I waited till naptime, and called, the OB doctor agreed that I needed to come in.
So a good friend of mine, named Michelle held the "fort" down at my house for the daycare kids, and I went in. They did an Ultrasound (u/s), but it wasn't your normal u/s...at least it wasn't to me. Peanut had 8 things to do, in a half hour of time. If Peanut didn't, then I had to do some more tests, one of which was a fetal stress test. Thankfully Peanut did all 8 things in 15 minutes. That was a HUGE relief to me. Some of those 8 things are: Practice breathing (the tech looks at the stomach moving, to judge if baby is "breathing"), look at heart beat/rate, the baby has to move, and stretch. They also looked at the Aminotic fluid, everything was perfect for 34 weeks and it turns out that my inner organs, and the placenta are being the punching bag for this Peanut, that's why I can't always feel the movements.
The doctor ran more tests, and the final verdict was a UTI/Bladder infection. I didn't know that you could have one without having the traditional symptoms. But since they put me on an antibotic, things have been much better. He said that it was a pretty bad one, which matches with how long I've been dealing with symptoms. Felt kinda of dumb since this was baby #4, but I learned something knew that day.
Next week I'll see doctor again, which was supposed to be the last 2 week visit. Which I can't believe I'm at that point already. The only thing I hate of these last visits are the weekly to bi-weekly physical checks. One can hope he won't do that, right? ;) But it just means we are that much closer to meeting Peanut.
Goes to show you that no 2 pregnancies are a like, and even a smooth sailing one can suddenly give mommy to be some scares.
God Bless,
Carlena
Monday night was the last time I had felt baby move, granted this peanut just like his/her brother Cyril moves a lot less then their older two siblings did, it was unnerving when I woke up Tuesday morning, and realized that Peanut hadn't moved throughout the night. So I did everything I could think of within reason(I still had daycare kids, so it's not like I could lay down)to get this peanut to move. That's when I started wondering if my water was leaking. There were some signs that made me think that, with the lack of movement, and the Braxton Hicks (BH) contractions getting stronger, I was concerned I might be in some trouble or that Peanut was. So I waited till naptime, and called, the OB doctor agreed that I needed to come in.
So a good friend of mine, named Michelle held the "fort" down at my house for the daycare kids, and I went in. They did an Ultrasound (u/s), but it wasn't your normal u/s...at least it wasn't to me. Peanut had 8 things to do, in a half hour of time. If Peanut didn't, then I had to do some more tests, one of which was a fetal stress test. Thankfully Peanut did all 8 things in 15 minutes. That was a HUGE relief to me. Some of those 8 things are: Practice breathing (the tech looks at the stomach moving, to judge if baby is "breathing"), look at heart beat/rate, the baby has to move, and stretch. They also looked at the Aminotic fluid, everything was perfect for 34 weeks and it turns out that my inner organs, and the placenta are being the punching bag for this Peanut, that's why I can't always feel the movements.
The doctor ran more tests, and the final verdict was a UTI/Bladder infection. I didn't know that you could have one without having the traditional symptoms. But since they put me on an antibotic, things have been much better. He said that it was a pretty bad one, which matches with how long I've been dealing with symptoms. Felt kinda of dumb since this was baby #4, but I learned something knew that day.
Next week I'll see doctor again, which was supposed to be the last 2 week visit. Which I can't believe I'm at that point already. The only thing I hate of these last visits are the weekly to bi-weekly physical checks. One can hope he won't do that, right? ;) But it just means we are that much closer to meeting Peanut.
Goes to show you that no 2 pregnancies are a like, and even a smooth sailing one can suddenly give mommy to be some scares.
God Bless,
Carlena
Boys
It's been an interesting week for this momma of 2 boys. People always say that raising boys is a lot easier then girls. I'm coming to the conculsion that it's not any easier but just plain different. Girls and boys are different, no matter what anyone says, no one will convince me otherwise. They are born different, and no matter how much you nuture them the "same", boys are still going to be boys, and girls are still going to be girls.
For Cyril, I swear I'm going to start calling him my nature boy, or I have this nagging fear that one of these days, I'm going to find him outside in his birthday suit. The back yard neighbors have seen more of my 3yr old then I have EVER wanted them to see this week, and last week. On monday, I caught him pulling his pants down in the GRASS, trying to poop. Thankfully stopped him, but his reply was that "I'm not pooping on deck mom." Like everything is ok was his attitude. So had to have the conversation again, about where we need to use the bathroom, darn camping talk. Then on Tuesday, he comes in from outside, I asked if he had to go potty. "Nope, me did all ready" And before I could ask him where or when...you guessed it. He pee'd outside. He tells me though "Me just pee'd not poop mom...that's the rules." I'm at the point where I don't know if I should just die of embrassment, roll my eyes, or just laugh. I've wanted to all 3 this week. So again, we had the conversation about where to go the bathroom for both functions....how long will this last?
For Spencer, it's been still a pretty tough week for him, due to his allergies. Which in turn sends his sensory issues thru the roof. God has been very gracious with me, and giving me a lot more strength and patience to deal with it. I know that Spencer doesn't have control of how he feels sometimes, but it gets SO frustrating for me, I can only imgaine how Spencer feels dealing with it, but I hope last night gave him a fun time, and good memories. For Spencer and his Boy Scout den, they've been working on rockets the last couple of weeks. They were supposed to shoot them off last week, but it was canceled due to the windy conditions that particular night. That was a rough night dealing with Spencer when he found out it was canceled. So thankfully last night they were able to finally shoot them off. Wow!! Can these little rockets go far, when they are launched. I knew they could go high, but we lost track of several of them at different times, trying to see where they landed. I agree with one of the dads, next time if Spencer does this again, we are getting him one with a parachute. Those were much easier to follow then the ones without. We did end up losing one of the rockets last night, and last I heard it hasn't been found. Cyril LOVE chasing the rockets with his big brother and the other boys. I'm not sure what all the boys loved more, watching these rockets launch, or running to be the 1st to reach it when it landed. Spencer did get a little frustrated because he's not as fast of a runner as the other boys, but he still tried.
It was nice to spend an evening with just my boys last night. I need to do more of that I think. Dawn & I have been spending more mother-daughter time too, which has been really nice.
God Bless,
Carlena
For Cyril, I swear I'm going to start calling him my nature boy, or I have this nagging fear that one of these days, I'm going to find him outside in his birthday suit. The back yard neighbors have seen more of my 3yr old then I have EVER wanted them to see this week, and last week. On monday, I caught him pulling his pants down in the GRASS, trying to poop. Thankfully stopped him, but his reply was that "I'm not pooping on deck mom." Like everything is ok was his attitude. So had to have the conversation again, about where we need to use the bathroom, darn camping talk. Then on Tuesday, he comes in from outside, I asked if he had to go potty. "Nope, me did all ready" And before I could ask him where or when...you guessed it. He pee'd outside. He tells me though "Me just pee'd not poop mom...that's the rules." I'm at the point where I don't know if I should just die of embrassment, roll my eyes, or just laugh. I've wanted to all 3 this week. So again, we had the conversation about where to go the bathroom for both functions....how long will this last?
For Spencer, it's been still a pretty tough week for him, due to his allergies. Which in turn sends his sensory issues thru the roof. God has been very gracious with me, and giving me a lot more strength and patience to deal with it. I know that Spencer doesn't have control of how he feels sometimes, but it gets SO frustrating for me, I can only imgaine how Spencer feels dealing with it, but I hope last night gave him a fun time, and good memories. For Spencer and his Boy Scout den, they've been working on rockets the last couple of weeks. They were supposed to shoot them off last week, but it was canceled due to the windy conditions that particular night. That was a rough night dealing with Spencer when he found out it was canceled. So thankfully last night they were able to finally shoot them off. Wow!! Can these little rockets go far, when they are launched. I knew they could go high, but we lost track of several of them at different times, trying to see where they landed. I agree with one of the dads, next time if Spencer does this again, we are getting him one with a parachute. Those were much easier to follow then the ones without. We did end up losing one of the rockets last night, and last I heard it hasn't been found. Cyril LOVE chasing the rockets with his big brother and the other boys. I'm not sure what all the boys loved more, watching these rockets launch, or running to be the 1st to reach it when it landed. Spencer did get a little frustrated because he's not as fast of a runner as the other boys, but he still tried.
It was nice to spend an evening with just my boys last night. I need to do more of that I think. Dawn & I have been spending more mother-daughter time too, which has been really nice.
God Bless,
Carlena
Monday, April 19, 2010
What a day!
Today is Monday. It's one of those Mondays that everyone gets eventually and it's the type of day people dread having. One of those days where I just wanted to crawl into bed and not come out. It started off great! The kids got up, got ready to go without to many issues - having done their bedtime routines helped a lot.
Then my daycare day began. The toaster wouldn't work, so I had to scratch what I had planned for breakfast and just do cold cereal...which really isn't that bad for them, just not on my menu plan. I couldn't get the vacuum belt on the vacuum, so it will not work. Miss O & Cyril thought it was awesome to watch me roll up the rug, shake it outside, get on my hands and knees to pick up the floor. :) Not really fun when you have a basketball attached to you. lol.
Baby E(11months old) was very crabby today, I don't blame the little guy because he's cutting all four eye-teeth, and at least 3 of them have blood blisters on them. :( So of course he doesn't want to eat or drink anything. Miss O & Cyril where kind of at odds today, part of me secretly cheered Miss O on because she needs to get more spunk and stand up to the other kids more. Mr. J & Mr. C came right around lunch time. All the kids got to play outside for longer then planned because some transformer blew which caused the power to go out...right at the time that I was starting to cook lunch. UGH! But Xcel was right on top of things, and got to it pretty quickly and we had lunch about an hour later.
Three out of the 5 kiddos take naps these day. Mr. J & Cyril are at that stage where it's better for them to not take naps...but some days like today it probably would have been a good idea. ;)
The two of them caused sooo much mischief during quiet time, I would have sworn there more then 2 of them. They destroyed the sensory table. All the rice is every where in the dining room, the play-doh is every where. And when one of the boys went off to the bathroom, the other followed. Next thing I know on my way to check on them I hear giggles. One of them (probably my Cyril) stuck play-doh down the sink. Thankfully I fixed that. Both boys had lots of time outs this afternoon. Mr. J told me he forgot his listening ears at home. Cyril said his were sleeping.
Then I caught Cyril trying to go to the bathroom outside AGAIN, but on the grass. He couldn't understand why he started to get into trouble...cause he wasn't going on the deck. SO I had to talk to him again about where we go to the bathroom.
Mr. C tried to bite his big brother twice, he bit Baby E and Miss O. I can't remember if he did get Cyril or not. lol.
If that wasn't bad enough of a day, Dawn & Spencer came home from school with MAJOR attitudes!!! Good Grief. lol. Did I mention that my feet are so swollen I can't get my shoes or sandals on? Now it's time for dinner, and I think we've earned me ordering pizza for them, or taking them someplace for dinner. I do not want to cook. Jessie won't be thrilled about it, but this momma-to-be isn't cooking tonight.
As the story book goes: It was a Horrible, No Good, Very bad day.
Tomorrow will be MUCH better...as long as it's not a full moon tonight. :D
God Bless
Carlena
Then my daycare day began. The toaster wouldn't work, so I had to scratch what I had planned for breakfast and just do cold cereal...which really isn't that bad for them, just not on my menu plan. I couldn't get the vacuum belt on the vacuum, so it will not work. Miss O & Cyril thought it was awesome to watch me roll up the rug, shake it outside, get on my hands and knees to pick up the floor. :) Not really fun when you have a basketball attached to you. lol.
Baby E(11months old) was very crabby today, I don't blame the little guy because he's cutting all four eye-teeth, and at least 3 of them have blood blisters on them. :( So of course he doesn't want to eat or drink anything. Miss O & Cyril where kind of at odds today, part of me secretly cheered Miss O on because she needs to get more spunk and stand up to the other kids more. Mr. J & Mr. C came right around lunch time. All the kids got to play outside for longer then planned because some transformer blew which caused the power to go out...right at the time that I was starting to cook lunch. UGH! But Xcel was right on top of things, and got to it pretty quickly and we had lunch about an hour later.
Three out of the 5 kiddos take naps these day. Mr. J & Cyril are at that stage where it's better for them to not take naps...but some days like today it probably would have been a good idea. ;)
The two of them caused sooo much mischief during quiet time, I would have sworn there more then 2 of them. They destroyed the sensory table. All the rice is every where in the dining room, the play-doh is every where. And when one of the boys went off to the bathroom, the other followed. Next thing I know on my way to check on them I hear giggles. One of them (probably my Cyril) stuck play-doh down the sink. Thankfully I fixed that. Both boys had lots of time outs this afternoon. Mr. J told me he forgot his listening ears at home. Cyril said his were sleeping.
Then I caught Cyril trying to go to the bathroom outside AGAIN, but on the grass. He couldn't understand why he started to get into trouble...cause he wasn't going on the deck. SO I had to talk to him again about where we go to the bathroom.
Mr. C tried to bite his big brother twice, he bit Baby E and Miss O. I can't remember if he did get Cyril or not. lol.
If that wasn't bad enough of a day, Dawn & Spencer came home from school with MAJOR attitudes!!! Good Grief. lol. Did I mention that my feet are so swollen I can't get my shoes or sandals on? Now it's time for dinner, and I think we've earned me ordering pizza for them, or taking them someplace for dinner. I do not want to cook. Jessie won't be thrilled about it, but this momma-to-be isn't cooking tonight.
As the story book goes: It was a Horrible, No Good, Very bad day.
Tomorrow will be MUCH better...as long as it's not a full moon tonight. :D
God Bless
Carlena
Saturday, April 17, 2010
33 weeks...
This past week has been an interesting week as far as the family goes and my pregnancy. I met with Dr. B this week, things are looking good. Baby is not longer directionally challenged. And Peanut's heartbeat was in the 140's. Movement is slowing down, but when it does move they are big movements.I only gained 1 pound in 2 weeks. He and I talked some more about my weight gain, and why the last huge jump really bothered me. He is still not concerned, because he said it's right within the limit he wants me to gain. I did tweak my daily food diet though. I discovered that even though I've been snacking on a lot of GF snack foods, and some breads. They can still be just as high as Weight Watcher points, so I need to be mindful of that, and plus this last month I really got away from eat the 7-9 servings of fruit and veggies, that I've been eating this pregnancy, which would explain it too. So I'm back to eating more fruits, veggies, and protein like before and it shows with the only 1 pound weight gain. I'm not starving by any means...wasn't before the pregnancy either. :) I'm back to drinking my water too, I've had to increase it because the swelling is here to stay I feel till the end. :(
The kids and I have been enjoying the gorgeous sunny weather the last couple of weeks and going on almost nightly walks w/the kids riding their bikes. Which helped too. Gotta get that vitamin D too. :) I swear Cyril is the typical little kid, he wants to be outside all the time. We've had to really keep an eye on him, because he loves to go out by himself, and ride his bike...or cause mischief.
On Wednesday he did something that I swear NEVER entered my mind of a kids doing. One of my daycare moms was picking up her girls. When all of a sudden Cyril comes in and tells me "Momma, poop". I assumed he had to go, so I told him too. "Nope, all done" I asked if he had flushed and washed his hands. "Not in there momma." By this point I was very confused, so I asked him where did he go? "Outside momma." Where outside I asked him. "Me -poop on deck." His eyes were shining with pride, and he had the biggest grin on his face. I did not believe for a moment he was serious. I figured out all of our children he'd be the one we see peeing outside on a tree. So I went and looked, sure enough, on the deck he did. Between the kids roaring with laughter, and me trying not to laugh, he beamed up at me with pride the whole time. I know it probably wasn't the thing to laugh, but I was speechless.
Now the deck is clean and disinfected. Hopefully the Clorox bleach will not destroy the deck...that would not be a good thing. Cyril and I talked about where it's okay to go to the bathroom and where it's not. But something tells me this won't be the last time we have this conversation....
God Bless,
Carlena
The kids and I have been enjoying the gorgeous sunny weather the last couple of weeks and going on almost nightly walks w/the kids riding their bikes. Which helped too. Gotta get that vitamin D too. :) I swear Cyril is the typical little kid, he wants to be outside all the time. We've had to really keep an eye on him, because he loves to go out by himself, and ride his bike...or cause mischief.
On Wednesday he did something that I swear NEVER entered my mind of a kids doing. One of my daycare moms was picking up her girls. When all of a sudden Cyril comes in and tells me "Momma, poop". I assumed he had to go, so I told him too. "Nope, all done" I asked if he had flushed and washed his hands. "Not in there momma." By this point I was very confused, so I asked him where did he go? "Outside momma." Where outside I asked him. "Me -poop on deck." His eyes were shining with pride, and he had the biggest grin on his face. I did not believe for a moment he was serious. I figured out all of our children he'd be the one we see peeing outside on a tree. So I went and looked, sure enough, on the deck he did. Between the kids roaring with laughter, and me trying not to laugh, he beamed up at me with pride the whole time. I know it probably wasn't the thing to laugh, but I was speechless.
Now the deck is clean and disinfected. Hopefully the Clorox bleach will not destroy the deck...that would not be a good thing. Cyril and I talked about where it's okay to go to the bathroom and where it's not. But something tells me this won't be the last time we have this conversation....
God Bless,
Carlena
GF Sloppy Joes
Last night my mom came over for dinner. Both of us had a craving for sloppy joes. So I went on to the GFCF forum board that I've recently joined, and checked out their recipes, to see if they had one that I could make. Low n behold they did. IT was very easy to make, and the best part was the kids liked it. I got thumbs up from Dawn, Cyril, and my mom. Spencer complained like usual, but even he ate it. I used regular hamburger buns for the kids, and we used Tapioca bread for mom & I. One of these days I'm gonna get brave enough to try making bread.
Here's the recipe, it's from the GFCF list founder, Brenda L. Olson.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp. of vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped (I didn't add it last night, but will next time)
1/3 cup chopped green pepper ( I didn't add it last night, but will next time)
1 lb ground beef
1 1/2 cup of Tomato Ketchup (We use Heinz because it's GF)
1 tbsp of Worchestershire sauce (We use Heinz)
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp of salt (We use sea salt)
1/4 tsp of black pepper
8 GF hamburger buns
Recipe:
Heat oil in large frying pan, set over medium-high heat. Saute onion & green peppers for 5 minutes if you are going to add them. Add beef to the pan. Cook, stirring till brown, drain off fat. Stir in ketchup, worchestershire sauce, sugar, salt, & black pepper. Simmer over medium-heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Serve.
We had enough left over, that I had left overs for lunch today, and it still tasted great.
God Bless,
Carlena
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Craving something sweet....
Well this week, I have had horrible cravings for something sweet. It's crazy how I can't seem to get enough sweets...maybe if I indulged in some, I'd stop craving them. I just don't want to add anymore weight to this body. ha! So anyways, I saw a recipe that sounded really good in one of my emails. Called Amish Bob & Andy pie. I adapted it so it would be GF, and I even made the crust GF too. It sure smelled really good, but Jessie and I don't think it tastes that good. Dawn loved it, Spencer & Cyril wouldn't even touch it. Here is the finished product.
I was bound and determined to have something sweet tonight. So I cooked up a Betty Crocker GF cake mix and am trying Pamela's Vanilla frosting mix....so far the frosting tastes great in the bowl. lol.
Here's the frosting in the bowl, ready to go. Not to bad tasting, very sweet.I think I made it a little to thin, now that I spread it on the cake. It just looked really thick when I was mixing it. The kitchen now smells like almond extract. Note to self remember to put caps back on things right away.
Just wish the cake didn't look so dense. I miss that about gluten cakes, they don't look dense like their gluten free counter parts. The Betty Crocker mixes taste in my humble opinion taste the same....just wish gluten free ones weren't so expensive.
Here's the finished product...it didn't turn out so bad...
Now where's a tall cold glass of milk when you want one....
Side note=I've finally joined the ranks of other bloggers who add pictures to their blogs. I finally figured it out. lol...guess I was slow to change.
God Bless,
Carlena
I was bound and determined to have something sweet tonight. So I cooked up a Betty Crocker GF cake mix and am trying Pamela's Vanilla frosting mix....so far the frosting tastes great in the bowl. lol.
Here's the frosting in the bowl, ready to go. Not to bad tasting, very sweet.I think I made it a little to thin, now that I spread it on the cake. It just looked really thick when I was mixing it. The kitchen now smells like almond extract. Note to self remember to put caps back on things right away.
Just wish the cake didn't look so dense. I miss that about gluten cakes, they don't look dense like their gluten free counter parts. The Betty Crocker mixes taste in my humble opinion taste the same....just wish gluten free ones weren't so expensive.
Here's the finished product...it didn't turn out so bad...
Now where's a tall cold glass of milk when you want one....
Side note=I've finally joined the ranks of other bloggers who add pictures to their blogs. I finally figured it out. lol...guess I was slow to change.
God Bless,
Carlena
Garage Season!
I don't know about you, with the coming of April not only does that mean Easter, but it means that garage sale season has officially started. I LOVE bargains. Since becoming a mom 12yrs ago, I have learned the value of these sales. I used to HATE them growing up, spending a whole day looking for bargains and etc. I love them now.
Today, the kids and I went to a few, not as many as I would have liked but circumstances being what they are, we were able to go to a few. It's amazing to see the difference in Dawn this year as we kick the season off. She's really starting to grow into a nice young lady this school year. Last year, just like her brothers, asking at every garage sale if they could have a toy. This year, she walked around with me, helping to find bargains. It was a great teaching opportunity for me to pass on the "tricks of the trade" to her.
The ones we went to this morning, to be honest I was very disappointed in them, but really not very surprised. You always get at least of few of these types of garage sales in during the season. The person(s) hosting the garage sale are out for 1 thing, and 1 thing only. To make a profit, not to get rid of their stuff. We saw lots of clothing for the kids, but people were asking for prices way to high, in my opinion. For example, Dawn found the cutest layette w/hat for the baby. They wanted $2.50 for it. Which normally I may or may not have bought it for that price, but it has to be in great condition. This layette had stains, visible stains on the front. So I explained to Dawn, why we wouldn't purchase that outfit. We found a package of 4 onesies, the place was asking $4.00 for them. I wouldn't even look at it, because of that price. But since Dawn found it, it was a teachable moment as to why not. All 4 were stained, AND I can buy brand new 3 pack of Gerber onesies for $2.99...where is the value? I told Dawn that we do not buy onesies for more then 25-50 cents a piece, considering how inexpensive we can purchase brand new. I don't have a problem spending 2-5.00 on a complete outfit. But it has to be in good condition, no stains, no worn spots before I will consider buying it. Especially when I can go to the Target clearance sections and get equally good deals for items that are brand new, no stains, and most certainly not worn. Why would I pay more at a garage sale? I have been known to pay 5-8.00 for an outfit, but that's because the tags are still on, you can tell it's not been worn, and it's a name brand outfit like Gap, Old Navy, etc. NOT Target/Walmart brands, I will not purchase for those higher prices, because I can get them new on sale sometimes for those prices.
There was a baby swing that we looked at. It was in pristine condition, looked barely used. They wanted 25.00 for it. Did we buy it? Nope. For 5-10.00 more I can buy it brand new. The toys at this one place, equipment and etc. were very high. The kids especially Dawn were disappointed that we came away with so little, but like I told them. We are looking for bargains, and deals...if I can purchase something for a few dollars more brand new...it's not a deal. We set a budget when we garage sale...I want my money to go as far as I can get it. And like I told them, it's just the start of the garage sale season, we'll find great bargains...just have to be patient, know what we are looking for, what those items are normally worth brand new, and be willing to ask if they will take lower. (That will be hard for Dawn, since she doesn't like talking to strangers.)
Can't wait to see what bargains we find this summer. :D
God Bless & Happy Garage Sale season.
Carlena
Today, the kids and I went to a few, not as many as I would have liked but circumstances being what they are, we were able to go to a few. It's amazing to see the difference in Dawn this year as we kick the season off. She's really starting to grow into a nice young lady this school year. Last year, just like her brothers, asking at every garage sale if they could have a toy. This year, she walked around with me, helping to find bargains. It was a great teaching opportunity for me to pass on the "tricks of the trade" to her.
The ones we went to this morning, to be honest I was very disappointed in them, but really not very surprised. You always get at least of few of these types of garage sales in during the season. The person(s) hosting the garage sale are out for 1 thing, and 1 thing only. To make a profit, not to get rid of their stuff. We saw lots of clothing for the kids, but people were asking for prices way to high, in my opinion. For example, Dawn found the cutest layette w/hat for the baby. They wanted $2.50 for it. Which normally I may or may not have bought it for that price, but it has to be in great condition. This layette had stains, visible stains on the front. So I explained to Dawn, why we wouldn't purchase that outfit. We found a package of 4 onesies, the place was asking $4.00 for them. I wouldn't even look at it, because of that price. But since Dawn found it, it was a teachable moment as to why not. All 4 were stained, AND I can buy brand new 3 pack of Gerber onesies for $2.99...where is the value? I told Dawn that we do not buy onesies for more then 25-50 cents a piece, considering how inexpensive we can purchase brand new. I don't have a problem spending 2-5.00 on a complete outfit. But it has to be in good condition, no stains, no worn spots before I will consider buying it. Especially when I can go to the Target clearance sections and get equally good deals for items that are brand new, no stains, and most certainly not worn. Why would I pay more at a garage sale? I have been known to pay 5-8.00 for an outfit, but that's because the tags are still on, you can tell it's not been worn, and it's a name brand outfit like Gap, Old Navy, etc. NOT Target/Walmart brands, I will not purchase for those higher prices, because I can get them new on sale sometimes for those prices.
There was a baby swing that we looked at. It was in pristine condition, looked barely used. They wanted 25.00 for it. Did we buy it? Nope. For 5-10.00 more I can buy it brand new. The toys at this one place, equipment and etc. were very high. The kids especially Dawn were disappointed that we came away with so little, but like I told them. We are looking for bargains, and deals...if I can purchase something for a few dollars more brand new...it's not a deal. We set a budget when we garage sale...I want my money to go as far as I can get it. And like I told them, it's just the start of the garage sale season, we'll find great bargains...just have to be patient, know what we are looking for, what those items are normally worth brand new, and be willing to ask if they will take lower. (That will be hard for Dawn, since she doesn't like talking to strangers.)
Can't wait to see what bargains we find this summer. :D
God Bless & Happy Garage Sale season.
Carlena
Broccoli w/ Cheese Sauce
Earlier this week, I ended up having a HUGE craving for broccoli and cheese. Haven't had this in a long, long time. So I cooked up some chicken in a crockpot, which the kids love the chicken cooked up that way, baked some bake potatoes and made this recipe. I got it orginially from the Betty Crocker cookbook, I added more milk, and I think next time I might try to make it with regular cheese instead of processed cheese.
Broccoli with Cheese sauce
1 package (10oz.) of frozen broccoli spears, cooked and drained (I used the steamable kind) OR you can use 1 1/2 pounds of fresh broccoli.
6 ounces of processed American cheese, sliced (I used Velveeta cheese)
1/3 cup of milk ( I used 1% and I believe I used about 1/2 cup)
1/4 onion salt
Prepare Broccoli: Frozen: follow directions on package. Fresh: Prepare - Wash broccoli , remove tough ends of lower stems, trim off large leaves. If stems are thicker then 1 inch, make lenthwise gashes to each stem. Cook - Heat 1 inch salted water(1/2 teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of water) to boiling, and add broccoli. Cover and heat to boiling. Cook until stems are tender...12-15 minutes and drain.
Heat remaining ingredients over medium heat, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted & mixture is smooth 6 to 8 minutes. Add in broccoli OR pour the cheese sauce over the broccoli.
If you are going to use it as a topping like I did - highly recommend mixing the two together.
God Bless,
Carlena
Broccoli with Cheese sauce
1 package (10oz.) of frozen broccoli spears, cooked and drained (I used the steamable kind) OR you can use 1 1/2 pounds of fresh broccoli.
6 ounces of processed American cheese, sliced (I used Velveeta cheese)
1/3 cup of milk ( I used 1% and I believe I used about 1/2 cup)
1/4 onion salt
Prepare Broccoli: Frozen: follow directions on package. Fresh: Prepare - Wash broccoli , remove tough ends of lower stems, trim off large leaves. If stems are thicker then 1 inch, make lenthwise gashes to each stem. Cook - Heat 1 inch salted water(1/2 teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of water) to boiling, and add broccoli. Cover and heat to boiling. Cook until stems are tender...12-15 minutes and drain.
Heat remaining ingredients over medium heat, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted & mixture is smooth 6 to 8 minutes. Add in broccoli OR pour the cheese sauce over the broccoli.
If you are going to use it as a topping like I did - highly recommend mixing the two together.
God Bless,
Carlena
Split Pea Soup...
Dawn, my mother and I are the only ones that like this soup, but I'm going to post the recipe so that if others like Split pea, they can try this one. Dawn gave great reviews this time too, so that's always a good thing, when one of the picky eaters gives their thumbs up. I know that it's spring and soup is kinda of getting out of season, but I love to make up some when we've had Ham, since Easter was just last weekend...we've been on a ham kick this week. lol.
Split Pea Soup:
8 cups of water (I did 4 cups of water and 4 cups of GF Progressive Chicken broth)
1 pound of dried spilt peas( equals to about 2 1/4 cup)
1 medium onion chopped (equals to about 1/2cup)
1-2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 teaspoon of sea salt (can use regular)
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
2 medium carrots, diced up small to make about a cup (cut about 1/2inch)
2 medium stalks of celery (cut the same way as the carrots) - optional
2 cups of diced ham
1 ham bone
Combined all ingredients and cook to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer at least 2hrs or until smooth, stirring occasionally. If soup appears dry add more water or broth. Can use the crock pot, but coat the inside with cooking spray. Combine all ingredients and cook the crockpot on high 3-4hrs or low 6hrs.
God Bless,
Carlena
Split Pea Soup:
8 cups of water (I did 4 cups of water and 4 cups of GF Progressive Chicken broth)
1 pound of dried spilt peas( equals to about 2 1/4 cup)
1 medium onion chopped (equals to about 1/2cup)
1-2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 teaspoon of sea salt (can use regular)
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
2 medium carrots, diced up small to make about a cup (cut about 1/2inch)
2 medium stalks of celery (cut the same way as the carrots) - optional
2 cups of diced ham
1 ham bone
Combined all ingredients and cook to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer at least 2hrs or until smooth, stirring occasionally. If soup appears dry add more water or broth. Can use the crock pot, but coat the inside with cooking spray. Combine all ingredients and cook the crockpot on high 3-4hrs or low 6hrs.
God Bless,
Carlena
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Different roles...
It never ceases to amaze me, some of the roles that we as moms do each and every day. Today alone I was: Refer, Driver, cook, negoatior, nurse,teacher, sounding board, dictator & comforter.
I don't know about other moms, but sometimes it's so exhausting to be all of these roles, and sometimes it hurts to be so tough, when all you want to do, is be the soft place for your children to fall, each and every night. And not be the "meany". Cyril told me I was a "mean" mom tonight...I know why he said it, but it still hurt.
Cyril has been battling this wart on his little toe for months. Both my mom and Jessie have been getting frustrated with me, because I've been using my natural salve on it, refusing to bring him in to have it "burned" off by the doctor. They got mad because I did the same thing when Dawn got a plantar's wart on her foot. I told them over and over this was better because it gets to the root of the wart, unlike burning it off just treats the top. Think of an iceberg(wart). You only ever see the part that sticks out of the water(skin), but you never know how big the iceberg (wart) is underneath the water. This salve treats the entire wart down to the wart, kills it off and it doesn't grow back in that same spot again, unlike burning it - it can still come back in that very same spot.
Well removing it, can be tricky, remove it to early, and the root is left behind. Where it is on Cyril's foot it's a tricky spot, right on top of his pinky toe, so everything rubs on it. We had finally gotten it to the point where it was getting ready to "die". He put his boots on the wrong feet, it rub the wart the wrong way and it started bleeding. Cyril was so upset. So we got him home, cleaned it up. About to put a band-aid on it, when his pj's got it started again. SO I had to remove it, in order for the bleeding to stop and start healing without getting irritated. I felt horrible, because I needed Dawn to help hold him, so I could remove it. He was scared by the blood & I think he thought it was going to hurt to remove it. Now it's gone, and I can just be the comforter, instead of the nurse tonight. Hopefully we have gotten it all, if not I'll do the salve again, but I think we did. And in about a month, you'll never know that it was there. It's a great salve. (removes warts, moles and skin tags - love this product!)
I think it's time for us to share a bowl of icecream and chocolate syrup, to "comfort" the both of us.
God Bless,
Carlena
I don't know about other moms, but sometimes it's so exhausting to be all of these roles, and sometimes it hurts to be so tough, when all you want to do, is be the soft place for your children to fall, each and every night. And not be the "meany". Cyril told me I was a "mean" mom tonight...I know why he said it, but it still hurt.
Cyril has been battling this wart on his little toe for months. Both my mom and Jessie have been getting frustrated with me, because I've been using my natural salve on it, refusing to bring him in to have it "burned" off by the doctor. They got mad because I did the same thing when Dawn got a plantar's wart on her foot. I told them over and over this was better because it gets to the root of the wart, unlike burning it off just treats the top. Think of an iceberg(wart). You only ever see the part that sticks out of the water(skin), but you never know how big the iceberg (wart) is underneath the water. This salve treats the entire wart down to the wart, kills it off and it doesn't grow back in that same spot again, unlike burning it - it can still come back in that very same spot.
Well removing it, can be tricky, remove it to early, and the root is left behind. Where it is on Cyril's foot it's a tricky spot, right on top of his pinky toe, so everything rubs on it. We had finally gotten it to the point where it was getting ready to "die". He put his boots on the wrong feet, it rub the wart the wrong way and it started bleeding. Cyril was so upset. So we got him home, cleaned it up. About to put a band-aid on it, when his pj's got it started again. SO I had to remove it, in order for the bleeding to stop and start healing without getting irritated. I felt horrible, because I needed Dawn to help hold him, so I could remove it. He was scared by the blood & I think he thought it was going to hurt to remove it. Now it's gone, and I can just be the comforter, instead of the nurse tonight. Hopefully we have gotten it all, if not I'll do the salve again, but I think we did. And in about a month, you'll never know that it was there. It's a great salve. (removes warts, moles and skin tags - love this product!)
I think it's time for us to share a bowl of icecream and chocolate syrup, to "comfort" the both of us.
God Bless,
Carlena
GF Scalloped potatoes & Ham
Last night I was so nervous, I took on a recipe from the Betty Crocker cookbook and adapted it so that it would be gluten free. I was really nervous about it. There was a recipe for this, in a GF cook book that I have, but this one from the Betty Crocker cookbook is so easy to make. And to be honest it turned out really well, and even though Cyril wouldn't eat any of it, it's almost gone (serving for 6 people). And to be honest, I like it so much better then the stuff out of a box(gluten kind)....I can't imagine if the gf version was good, how the original one wouldn't be either. It's super easy to make as well.
GF Scalloped potatoes & ham:
2 pounds of potatoes (6 medium)
3 tablespoons of margarine or butter (we use butter)
3 tablespoons of flour (Used Bob's redmill All purpose baking flour, can use regular gluten floor if you want)
1 teaspoon of salt (we used sea salt)
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
2 1/2 cups of milk
1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
1 tablespoon margarine or butter (again we use butter)
2 cups of diced ham
Prepare the potatoes: Clean, peel potatoes. Then take a food processor or grater (that has the slices on it) and slice your potatoes into thin slices.
Heat 3 tablespoons of butter in the saucepan over low heat till melted. Blend in the flour, salt & pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly, remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for 1 minute.
Arrange potatoes in greased 2-quart casserole dish in 3 layers, topping each of the 1st two layers with 1/2 if the onion and 1/3 of the white sauce. Top with remaining potatoes and sauce. Dot with 1 tablespoon of margarine or butter. Cover and cook either at: 325 degrees in the over for 40 minutes or 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Then uncover and cook until potatoes are tender (will be between 60 - 70 minutes). Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Like I said this is the 1st time I've adapted a recipe to be gf and I'm really happy with the way it turned out. Mom even said it reminded her of what my grandma made when they were younger. She said that scallop potatoes and ham was her favorite dish growing up. SO for me to hear that, it felt great!
God Bless,
Carlena
GF Scalloped potatoes & ham:
2 pounds of potatoes (6 medium)
3 tablespoons of margarine or butter (we use butter)
3 tablespoons of flour (Used Bob's redmill All purpose baking flour, can use regular gluten floor if you want)
1 teaspoon of salt (we used sea salt)
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
2 1/2 cups of milk
1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
1 tablespoon margarine or butter (again we use butter)
2 cups of diced ham
Prepare the potatoes: Clean, peel potatoes. Then take a food processor or grater (that has the slices on it) and slice your potatoes into thin slices.
Heat 3 tablespoons of butter in the saucepan over low heat till melted. Blend in the flour, salt & pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly, remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for 1 minute.
Arrange potatoes in greased 2-quart casserole dish in 3 layers, topping each of the 1st two layers with 1/2 if the onion and 1/3 of the white sauce. Top with remaining potatoes and sauce. Dot with 1 tablespoon of margarine or butter. Cover and cook either at: 325 degrees in the over for 40 minutes or 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Then uncover and cook until potatoes are tender (will be between 60 - 70 minutes). Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Like I said this is the 1st time I've adapted a recipe to be gf and I'm really happy with the way it turned out. Mom even said it reminded her of what my grandma made when they were younger. She said that scallop potatoes and ham was her favorite dish growing up. SO for me to hear that, it felt great!
God Bless,
Carlena
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Easter Sunday
This morning is was to a beautiful sunny sunday, that the family and I woke up to. No matter what day it is, it's always makes the day feel better when you wake to sunshine, but to have it on this most holiest day, makes it even more special.
Jessie was up earlier then the rest of us, getting some last minute things done. And got the ham in the oven and etc, ready for lunch later in the day. It was so fun seeing the kids having to go look for their baskets in the house, and then go for an Easter egg hunt around the back yard. I love how the Easter bunny put some eggs really high for the older two to get, and left some lower for Cyril to get. Cyril found his easter basket in the rocketship outside, Spencer found his hidden in the linen closet and Dawn found hers in one of the cabinets in the daycare closet. (Or I may have the older two's switched.) Either way it was fun watching them, and I got some great pictures of it all.
The kids and I attend Easter Service at the Calvary Community Church. Since Pastor Larry left our old church, I haven't felt the same in going....not sure why, I just don't. It makes me sad though, because the congreation is a good one. And Pastor Densie and Cheri have been wonderful in support especially this year with Uncle Greg and etc. Anyhow we went to the service, not sure if it was something that the kids and I would feel welcomed being there or not. The kids have always fought me in regards to going to church in the morning, and I've let that deter me this past winter a lot. A lot more then I should. Surprisingly the kids loved the service there this morning. They loved how warm we were greeted when we walked in the door and etc. Spencer told me he actually wanted to come back there for service...was he serious? It would be wonderful if the kids truly mean that. So we will go back there again for service, and see where it takes us. If this is truly the church that GOD has in mind for us, then this is where we will end up for now.
Lunch with mom was great. There was a person missing today, and that felt a little different. It wasn't quite the same without uncle greg there, so I'm glad that we had meal at our house this year, so that it wouldn't be so hard at her house without him. It was a great meal that was 98% gluten free. The only things that had gluten in them were the dinner rolls for Jessie and the kids, and the apple pie, which is Jessie's favorite. But we served Ham, gluten free gravy, green beans, potatos, shrimp, asparagus, and for dessert I made jello w/ homemade whip cream and spice cake w/white cream too. It was a very filling dinner, and surprisingly very easy to make gluten free. We talked about the resurrection eggs and started a new tradition this year.
Jessie and Dawn feel alseep in various parts of the house, Cyril is on a HUGE sugar rush, that at any moment he will crash, Spencer isn't too bad this year in terms of easter candy consumption, and Dawn still has 99& of hers. lol. Mmmmm about peeps is all I can say. :)
We are behind in coloring the eggs this year, so we will do that later today. Mom was a little disappointed that they weren't done yet, but yesterday was a bit of a lazy afternoon for me....if I'm honest.
All in all it was a very enjoyable Easter holiday with our loved ones. I hope that yours was just as enjoyable.
God Bless,
Carlena
Jessie was up earlier then the rest of us, getting some last minute things done. And got the ham in the oven and etc, ready for lunch later in the day. It was so fun seeing the kids having to go look for their baskets in the house, and then go for an Easter egg hunt around the back yard. I love how the Easter bunny put some eggs really high for the older two to get, and left some lower for Cyril to get. Cyril found his easter basket in the rocketship outside, Spencer found his hidden in the linen closet and Dawn found hers in one of the cabinets in the daycare closet. (Or I may have the older two's switched.) Either way it was fun watching them, and I got some great pictures of it all.
The kids and I attend Easter Service at the Calvary Community Church. Since Pastor Larry left our old church, I haven't felt the same in going....not sure why, I just don't. It makes me sad though, because the congreation is a good one. And Pastor Densie and Cheri have been wonderful in support especially this year with Uncle Greg and etc. Anyhow we went to the service, not sure if it was something that the kids and I would feel welcomed being there or not. The kids have always fought me in regards to going to church in the morning, and I've let that deter me this past winter a lot. A lot more then I should. Surprisingly the kids loved the service there this morning. They loved how warm we were greeted when we walked in the door and etc. Spencer told me he actually wanted to come back there for service...was he serious? It would be wonderful if the kids truly mean that. So we will go back there again for service, and see where it takes us. If this is truly the church that GOD has in mind for us, then this is where we will end up for now.
Lunch with mom was great. There was a person missing today, and that felt a little different. It wasn't quite the same without uncle greg there, so I'm glad that we had meal at our house this year, so that it wouldn't be so hard at her house without him. It was a great meal that was 98% gluten free. The only things that had gluten in them were the dinner rolls for Jessie and the kids, and the apple pie, which is Jessie's favorite. But we served Ham, gluten free gravy, green beans, potatos, shrimp, asparagus, and for dessert I made jello w/ homemade whip cream and spice cake w/white cream too. It was a very filling dinner, and surprisingly very easy to make gluten free. We talked about the resurrection eggs and started a new tradition this year.
Jessie and Dawn feel alseep in various parts of the house, Cyril is on a HUGE sugar rush, that at any moment he will crash, Spencer isn't too bad this year in terms of easter candy consumption, and Dawn still has 99& of hers. lol. Mmmmm about peeps is all I can say. :)
We are behind in coloring the eggs this year, so we will do that later today. Mom was a little disappointed that they weren't done yet, but yesterday was a bit of a lazy afternoon for me....if I'm honest.
All in all it was a very enjoyable Easter holiday with our loved ones. I hope that yours was just as enjoyable.
God Bless,
Carlena
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Maternity photos - results.
I don't know if I'm just very judgemental of myself or I'm just at that critical stage every pregnant woman gets too. We got the pictures today, and while I love most of them of the kids and I. To be honest, I don't like the ones of me at all. I'm starting to wish she had done them in black and white, because maybe I would have liked them better that way. I posted quite a bunch of them on my face book page so that people could see them. I posted the ones that mom and Jessie agreed with...mom even though can't take really good photos anymore, can spot really good ones, or catch things that are out of place, what would be a good pose, what's more pleasing to the eye/camera and etc. So I'm glad I showed her them.
I feel bad saying I don't like them, because the photographer worked so hard, and did a good job. I just don't think I was that great of a subject/model to use.
God Bless,
Carlena
I feel bad saying I don't like them, because the photographer worked so hard, and did a good job. I just don't think I was that great of a subject/model to use.
God Bless,
Carlena
House - long post
As many of you know, last May we moved into a house, we lived in apartments for the last 5-7yrs. I was renting a townhouse when Jessie and I met, but there is nothing that comes CLOSE to being in a house. It's been wonderful having the space for the kids and the family in general to stretch out. I don't think I'm the only one that loves having the large back yard that we have to play in either.
I have loved having a garden last summer, and look forward to having it again this summer. Yes, there is a TONS more maintenance being in a house then an apartment, but honestly, the benefits for us outweigh the negatives. They are time consuming, but I have loved every minute of it.
When we entered the lease last spring it was the intention of us entering a contract for deed (C4D) for the house this year. What is a C4D you ask? Basically you purchase the home from a seller without the traditional mortgage, the seller is your mortgage company. This is usually a great opportunity for people like Jessie and I who are not able to go the traditional route and take out a conventional mortgage. You put a small down payment on the house, usually 5-10% of the asking price, and you enter in to a contract for a period of time, at the end of that time, you will then have to get a conventional mortgage to finish purchasing the rest of the house. The time that this C4D goes is between the seller and the buyer. I have seen it as little as 2 yrs and as long as over 20yrs(which I personally wouldn't recommend going that long). The buyer gets all the perks of "owning" the home as any other buyer, and the seller does not retain any of those perks. The advantage for the seller is that if the buyer defaults, he/she not only gets all the monthly money the buyer has paid, but the deposit as well. There are negatives for the seller as well, but I'll get into those later if you want.
For our situation, the seller, our landlord, already knowns how we take care of the house, we have been tentants in the house for almost a year. I feel like we've been taking good care of the house. Granted there have been a few times that he has gotten annoyed with us, because we haven't immediately taken care of what he asks, but it is done in a reasonable amount of time (Usually within the week/weekend). (Heck - take the shoveling off part of the roof this past winter. There were several times that I went up there and got it done, because he wanted it done, and Jessie was gone away at work. I know, I know I shouldn't have because I'm pregnant.) So for him the risk/cons are really: the risk of us defaulting on the loan. NOT destroying the property. He knows how much we love this house.
So a couple of weeks ago, we had mentioned that we wanted to talk more seriously about the C4D option, since the government has that 1st time homebuyers credit of $8,000.00 which we wanted to use as PART of our downpayment. So we met with him and we came away with several mixed emotions. That 1st meeting he/the landlord was not prepared at all. Which everytime he has come over he's always prepare, and very critical about the smallest thing out of order. So that took us back by surprise. And then last weekend Jessie met with him, and was blown away. The man asked for 20% of the asking price down as our down payment. WHAT!? People - that's 30,000 dollars. If we had 30grand, we wouldn't be looking at a C4D, but a conventional mortgage. Needless to say we will not be doing the C4D.
We came away with a lot of mixed emotions. I'm not sure what or how Jessie felt. But I was floored and angry about this, not to mention sad and disappointed. If the man didn't want to do a C4D - all he had to do was say he changed his mind. We would be disappointed, not left with the feelings that we have now about the whole situation. So we now could careless, if we get this house or not. We will stay for another year, because the weekend that we would need to move out of the house, is the same weekend the baby is due to arrive. So moving this year is really not a good option.
I'm sad at the prospect of not getting the house anymore, because it fits our needs SO well...but I know now that this isn't the house and/or the timing isn't what GOD has in mind. Otherwise things would have worked out without a hitch. Just like how this house, fell into our laps last spring when we started looking. It's still disappointing...but there is a reason why that GOD will show if HE so chooses.
So now instead of a housewarming/meet the baby party in the early part of June, it will be just a meet the baby party. Which isn't all that bad either.
God Bless
Carlena
I have loved having a garden last summer, and look forward to having it again this summer. Yes, there is a TONS more maintenance being in a house then an apartment, but honestly, the benefits for us outweigh the negatives. They are time consuming, but I have loved every minute of it.
When we entered the lease last spring it was the intention of us entering a contract for deed (C4D) for the house this year. What is a C4D you ask? Basically you purchase the home from a seller without the traditional mortgage, the seller is your mortgage company. This is usually a great opportunity for people like Jessie and I who are not able to go the traditional route and take out a conventional mortgage. You put a small down payment on the house, usually 5-10% of the asking price, and you enter in to a contract for a period of time, at the end of that time, you will then have to get a conventional mortgage to finish purchasing the rest of the house. The time that this C4D goes is between the seller and the buyer. I have seen it as little as 2 yrs and as long as over 20yrs(which I personally wouldn't recommend going that long). The buyer gets all the perks of "owning" the home as any other buyer, and the seller does not retain any of those perks. The advantage for the seller is that if the buyer defaults, he/she not only gets all the monthly money the buyer has paid, but the deposit as well. There are negatives for the seller as well, but I'll get into those later if you want.
For our situation, the seller, our landlord, already knowns how we take care of the house, we have been tentants in the house for almost a year. I feel like we've been taking good care of the house. Granted there have been a few times that he has gotten annoyed with us, because we haven't immediately taken care of what he asks, but it is done in a reasonable amount of time (Usually within the week/weekend). (Heck - take the shoveling off part of the roof this past winter. There were several times that I went up there and got it done, because he wanted it done, and Jessie was gone away at work. I know, I know I shouldn't have because I'm pregnant.) So for him the risk/cons are really: the risk of us defaulting on the loan. NOT destroying the property. He knows how much we love this house.
So a couple of weeks ago, we had mentioned that we wanted to talk more seriously about the C4D option, since the government has that 1st time homebuyers credit of $8,000.00 which we wanted to use as PART of our downpayment. So we met with him and we came away with several mixed emotions. That 1st meeting he/the landlord was not prepared at all. Which everytime he has come over he's always prepare, and very critical about the smallest thing out of order. So that took us back by surprise. And then last weekend Jessie met with him, and was blown away. The man asked for 20% of the asking price down as our down payment. WHAT!? People - that's 30,000 dollars. If we had 30grand, we wouldn't be looking at a C4D, but a conventional mortgage. Needless to say we will not be doing the C4D.
We came away with a lot of mixed emotions. I'm not sure what or how Jessie felt. But I was floored and angry about this, not to mention sad and disappointed. If the man didn't want to do a C4D - all he had to do was say he changed his mind. We would be disappointed, not left with the feelings that we have now about the whole situation. So we now could careless, if we get this house or not. We will stay for another year, because the weekend that we would need to move out of the house, is the same weekend the baby is due to arrive. So moving this year is really not a good option.
I'm sad at the prospect of not getting the house anymore, because it fits our needs SO well...but I know now that this isn't the house and/or the timing isn't what GOD has in mind. Otherwise things would have worked out without a hitch. Just like how this house, fell into our laps last spring when we started looking. It's still disappointing...but there is a reason why that GOD will show if HE so chooses.
So now instead of a housewarming/meet the baby party in the early part of June, it will be just a meet the baby party. Which isn't all that bad either.
God Bless
Carlena
Friday, April 2, 2010
Maternity Photoshoot.
I didn't get a chance last weekend to post about how the photo shoot went. I almost backed out at the last minute and didn't do it. Because at least 1 person tried to talk me out of it. But I felt bad for the photographer if I did. I'm so glad that I prayed about it, and went thru with it.
The place was way out in the country and I mean way out in the country. I knew that Becker was a little town spread out, boy was it spread out! lol. I'm so glad that Jessie came with the kids & I. He was able to find it no problem, and he helped keep the kids entertained for the last part of the photoshoot. She lives on a farm and yes, with farm animals. Our kids were in Heaven. Especially Dawn...I think there were at least 5 cats out there.
The 1st part of the shoot went surprisingly well, considering it was with the kids. Spencer was a little bit of a stinker, but he did work with us for the most part. Dawn I think, had a blast, she seemed to get into the photo shoot as much as I did. She surprised me and asked if the photographer (Erin) would take a picture of her and Spencer together. Cyril of course was very shy of Erin, it took almost the whole 2hrs to have him warm up to her. (He's so shy of strangers) So I hope she got come cute shots of us. Jessie wouldn't do any photos, which was disappointing, but not entirely surprising. It would have been fun to have some of the shots with him in it.
I didn't do any nude ones, because I wasn't comfortable doing them with the kids so close (even though they were outside.) We did some bare belly shots, which we used a drape to cover up, which was fun. She gave me a great compliment which made me feel good. There were a couple of shots that I forgot to have her do, and didn't remember till afterwards. :( But I think she got some great shots. I'm getting nervous and anxious about them...it's funny the longer I go without seeing them, the longer I start picking things apart about how I should have stood different, wore something different, and etc. Judging by her pictures that she had displayed she is a good photographer, hopefully I was a worthy enough subject. Then again, I think all pregnant women feel that way, unless they are the model type pregnant women, and we all know who those women are. ;)
Either way, I'm glad that we did the photo shoot, it's something I have always wanted too do, but let others talk me out of it before. And since this is the last baby, I think it was a fun way to document that with the kids. So hopefully this weekend, we will get the photos. Another neat thing, she is putting them on a CD and we will get all the rights to them. She offered to have some printed up for us, and I think I may have her do that for at least one of them. There's 1 shot where I'm hoping and praying really hard that it will turn out. It's with all 3 of the kids & I, we were sitting on the floor. I'm not sure if you could tell I was pregnant in that shot or not, but it was fun a shot. We actually got Spencer to lean into me, like Dawn did on the other side of me. Cyril was in front. So we'll see.
Being patient is getting very hard. ;)
God Bless,
Carlena
The place was way out in the country and I mean way out in the country. I knew that Becker was a little town spread out, boy was it spread out! lol. I'm so glad that Jessie came with the kids & I. He was able to find it no problem, and he helped keep the kids entertained for the last part of the photoshoot. She lives on a farm and yes, with farm animals. Our kids were in Heaven. Especially Dawn...I think there were at least 5 cats out there.
The 1st part of the shoot went surprisingly well, considering it was with the kids. Spencer was a little bit of a stinker, but he did work with us for the most part. Dawn I think, had a blast, she seemed to get into the photo shoot as much as I did. She surprised me and asked if the photographer (Erin) would take a picture of her and Spencer together. Cyril of course was very shy of Erin, it took almost the whole 2hrs to have him warm up to her. (He's so shy of strangers) So I hope she got come cute shots of us. Jessie wouldn't do any photos, which was disappointing, but not entirely surprising. It would have been fun to have some of the shots with him in it.
I didn't do any nude ones, because I wasn't comfortable doing them with the kids so close (even though they were outside.) We did some bare belly shots, which we used a drape to cover up, which was fun. She gave me a great compliment which made me feel good. There were a couple of shots that I forgot to have her do, and didn't remember till afterwards. :( But I think she got some great shots. I'm getting nervous and anxious about them...it's funny the longer I go without seeing them, the longer I start picking things apart about how I should have stood different, wore something different, and etc. Judging by her pictures that she had displayed she is a good photographer, hopefully I was a worthy enough subject. Then again, I think all pregnant women feel that way, unless they are the model type pregnant women, and we all know who those women are. ;)
Either way, I'm glad that we did the photo shoot, it's something I have always wanted too do, but let others talk me out of it before. And since this is the last baby, I think it was a fun way to document that with the kids. So hopefully this weekend, we will get the photos. Another neat thing, she is putting them on a CD and we will get all the rights to them. She offered to have some printed up for us, and I think I may have her do that for at least one of them. There's 1 shot where I'm hoping and praying really hard that it will turn out. It's with all 3 of the kids & I, we were sitting on the floor. I'm not sure if you could tell I was pregnant in that shot or not, but it was fun a shot. We actually got Spencer to lean into me, like Dawn did on the other side of me. Cyril was in front. So we'll see.
Being patient is getting very hard. ;)
God Bless,
Carlena
31/32 weeks
It is hard to believe that I have reached this point in my pregnancy. Tomorrow I will be 32 weeks/8 months...we according to the children have 57 days till the due date, and 63 days left till school is out, but who's counting? lol. These days I can't tell if Dawn and Spencer are more excited about school getting out, or the upcoming arrival of their new baby brother/sister. I think for Spencer it's school to be honest. ;)
Jessie has NOT spilled the beans about the gender of the baby. He did confess to me that he told his folks around the end of February, but I completely understand why he did that, and I'm not mad about that. People tend to be amazed that he can keep such good secrets, it can be both a good thing and a bad thing. But he loves to give me surprises. lol. My loved ones that were there at our wedding, do you remember the suprise at the exchanging of the rings? My point exactly.
Anyways, back to baby. Yesterday I saw Dr. B and for the most part everything is looking good on baby's part. Baby I think is a little directionally challenged...which isn't a good thing if it's displaying this while in utereo. (We have a family history of family members not being able to handle directions very well.) lol. Baby is head down, but instead of being head down in the traditional location, it's head is pointed towards my right hip. Hopefully it will straighten itself out soon. My blood pressure was slightly up, which was concerning to me, but not to the Dr. B. I was ticked as a hornet when I discovered my sudden weight gain. 11 lbs in 22 days since the last time I saw him. Which for some is not a big deal. But when you are on the larger side, that becomes a HUGE deal. Especially since I've done so good over all keeping my weight gain at a very slow and steady pace, so I'm not sure what caused it. I know that I did succumb to tempation, and eat some Girl Scout cookies. ( It's hard to resist when Dawn & I share the same favorites, not to mention she's a girl scout! I had all those boxes tempting me. lol) I didn't get too sick, but I think that's due to the pregnancy. I've heard that some women can eat a little bit of gluten when they are pregnant and are fine. But I DID NOT eat enough to gain 11 lbs, but Dr. B isn't to concerned yet...
Baby's heartbeat was strong, it was nice to see it's active heart rate. The last few times it's been in the 130's and yesterday it was in the 150's. Dr. B said we do need to keep an eye on my sudden water retention, and there were some other concerns too, but he said they will keep an eye on it, and thankfully all the test results came back fine, so nothing to raise alarms with...just need to start slowing down and taking it easy, he said. I'm doing to much and he thinks that's why I've been feeling the way I've been feeling, and experiencing some of the stuff I've been feeling....can I slow down though? lol.
We are only less then 60 days away, and there's still SO much to do. :D
God Bless
Carlena
Jessie has NOT spilled the beans about the gender of the baby. He did confess to me that he told his folks around the end of February, but I completely understand why he did that, and I'm not mad about that. People tend to be amazed that he can keep such good secrets, it can be both a good thing and a bad thing. But he loves to give me surprises. lol. My loved ones that were there at our wedding, do you remember the suprise at the exchanging of the rings? My point exactly.
Anyways, back to baby. Yesterday I saw Dr. B and for the most part everything is looking good on baby's part. Baby I think is a little directionally challenged...which isn't a good thing if it's displaying this while in utereo. (We have a family history of family members not being able to handle directions very well.) lol. Baby is head down, but instead of being head down in the traditional location, it's head is pointed towards my right hip. Hopefully it will straighten itself out soon. My blood pressure was slightly up, which was concerning to me, but not to the Dr. B. I was ticked as a hornet when I discovered my sudden weight gain. 11 lbs in 22 days since the last time I saw him. Which for some is not a big deal. But when you are on the larger side, that becomes a HUGE deal. Especially since I've done so good over all keeping my weight gain at a very slow and steady pace, so I'm not sure what caused it. I know that I did succumb to tempation, and eat some Girl Scout cookies. ( It's hard to resist when Dawn & I share the same favorites, not to mention she's a girl scout! I had all those boxes tempting me. lol) I didn't get too sick, but I think that's due to the pregnancy. I've heard that some women can eat a little bit of gluten when they are pregnant and are fine. But I DID NOT eat enough to gain 11 lbs, but Dr. B isn't to concerned yet...
Baby's heartbeat was strong, it was nice to see it's active heart rate. The last few times it's been in the 130's and yesterday it was in the 150's. Dr. B said we do need to keep an eye on my sudden water retention, and there were some other concerns too, but he said they will keep an eye on it, and thankfully all the test results came back fine, so nothing to raise alarms with...just need to start slowing down and taking it easy, he said. I'm doing to much and he thinks that's why I've been feeling the way I've been feeling, and experiencing some of the stuff I've been feeling....can I slow down though? lol.
We are only less then 60 days away, and there's still SO much to do. :D
God Bless
Carlena
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