Memories & Comfort Food!

Recently my mother-in-law gave me a used Bread Maker that she didn't need. I've wanted a Bread Maker for awhile, it's just one of those things though that you forget about...so tonight I made bread with it and made Tyler & I ham sandwiches with it when he got home from work. They were SOOOO good! Instantly I was taken back to when my family used to go on skiing trips. Sometimes my mom would make homemade bread and make sandwiches out of it to eat in the ski lodge. After skiing for a few hours, it was the PERFECT comfort food to get you revved up to head back out to the slopes...along with hot chocolate from the cafeteria!! Ah memories!

The other day I also used the machine to make pizza dough. I found a really good recipe here: http://www.recipezaar.com/My-Best-Ever-Breadmaker-Pizza-Dough-50101 it was so yummy and THICK! Tyler bought me a Food Processor for Valentine's (along with roses and a bear) that I've also really been wanting, and I found the best Pizza sauce recipe I've EVER had here: http://www.recipezaar.com/Homemade-Pizza-Sauce-22280 They don't say anything about using a food processor in the recipe, but I didn't want my sauce really chunky (from the tomatoes and onions) so I put it in my food processor to make it smooth (after cooking it for the 30 minutes).

Addy Mae

Addy's Favorite Things to Do:

*Dig in my purse when it's hanging on the doorknob
*Dig in the trash
*Eat dog food, and turn the dog's food & water dishes upside down
*EAT (she's never been a huge fan of baby food...she likes food that is more textured and chunky)
*Give Lucky (our dog) kisses and cuddle on the ground with him...and share her snacks with him!
*Play the Piano...luckily she likes to play pretty softly!
*Imitate...if you laugh at her, she has a very fake laugh that she does back at you. She also mimicks our actions. She also says "Mama" when she is sad or hurt, or when I tell her to say it. She says Dadda when she gets excited.
*Pull DVD's off the tower, pull books off the shelves, throw toys everywhere, and get into kitchen cupboards
*Making funny noises with her lips while she walk around the house...deciding which room she's going to make into a disaster next!!

Things That Make Her Laugh:

*EVERYTHING!! She laughs when I dance, laugh, sing, make funny faces, etc. She is SO entertained by everyone in her family, and occasionally is entertained by the little old ladies that LOVE to come over to her and see her smile when we go to the store...ANY store!

She:

* Can walk very well now
*Has 6 teeth (4 on top, 2 on bottom...Cayden was just getting his 1st tooth around now!)
*Can sip through a straw...she enjoyed a little of my slushie the other night!! (Cayden was a year old before he learned that)
*LOVES walks...which is good because while Shaylee is in school and he's in Joy school, we'll be going on LONG walks!

Addy will be turning "1" next month, on March 16th. I probably should have waited to post this then but I figured it's already been a long time since I posted pics of her and told what she's been up to!! Watching her grow is so different than it was with Cayden! Cayden was a very happy baby just like Addy, but walked sooner...at 9 months instead of 10 months...but other than that Addy has been developing very quickly! Enjoy the pictures!

**Something I forgot to add before...when I say "Come here" she laughs and quickly walks to me. When I say "what's in your mouth?" and put my hand up to her mouth, she opens her mouth and tries to spit whatever it is into my hand. She's always been extremely observant... seems she's managed to pick up good manners and obedience from that!? She cracks me up!

Looking Innocent...this outfit and the striped shirt below were from her Aunt Stephanie!

Going for the Trash Can

Permanent Marker...she's very good at taking lids off difficult things but luckily she just couldn't loosen this one! (I knew she had it because she was right next to me the whole time...I don't know if that makes it better though, lol)


"Playing Piano"


Addy liked playing Rockband!

I'm not sure what Cayden was doing but Addy watched patiently!

She was playing with Daddy's tie...then came back a minute later with it on! I was impressed to find out she'd done it herself, although then I knew that wasn't a safe toy!! She was so proud of herself and thought it was hillarious though!!

Our first big purchase together!

Okay, no more complaining. No one likes a whiner...not to mention after reading Cassidy's comment that she's broken several ribs at once before, I feel very fortunate that I'm normally such a healthy, accident-free person!

So on that note...this morning Tyler wanted to get up early and go look at vans, since we got our tax return (and being sick and hurt wasn't going to stop me from picking out my own van...since this was going to be my transportation more than Tyler's) . For us the best option was to buy a van for cash because like a lot of people right now, we don't want to make payments!! We'd been searching online for atleast a month...but all of a sudden when we finally have the money, we were having a hard time finding the good (and USED) vans. We ended up going to a dealership where Tyler knows a guy there, although unfortunately it was his day off. BUT, we were able to find a wonderful 2003 Chevy Venture, with 100,000 miles, that was in our cash price-range!! It's so clean inside, and Tyler took it to his work on the test drive, to check for leaks and have his work buddies help him make sure everything sounded and looked good in the van. All in all I am SO happy that we have a nice van that we feel good about, and that still has plenty of life in it, and even looks good. It's a relief to not owe anything on it, and have the piece of mind that we have a bigger vehicle to fit our growing family's needs!!

You'd think we bought a 2009 Cadillac Escalade or something, by the way I have to keep looking out the window to our carport to make sure that buying it wasn't just a dream!

I don't mean to complain... but make it stop!

Last night, the kids and I drove to pick up Tyler from work. On the way home I started to cough (that tends to happen with bronchitis) and all of a sudden I heard a "POP" sound from my upper left side where my ribs are. Then I started getting an intense stabbing pain everytime I moved, coughed, even breathed. We were going to stop at Michael's Craft Store so that I could run in by myself real quick and use my 40% off coupon on a big skein of yarn...and Tyler said we better go straight home. I told him no chance, and I managed to suck up the pain long enough to run through the store and get my yarn (I already knew exactly what I needed to grab). When we got home I called the E.R. We were just there a few days ago for Tyler's head so I wasn't surprised when the guy said that there is a 2+ hour wait right now. I talked to a triage nurse about my problem and she said she'd be happy to take a look if I came in tonight...but then I asked her what they could do if the rib was even broken. Basically they send you home with pain meds and tell you to rest a lot. I decided there was no point in going in. I've gotten used to breathing as shallow as possible because before this incident my ribs were already extremely sore...so that helps lessen the pain...and I've figured out that if I curl into a ball, or lean way over when coughing and hold my ribs, I can bear the pain...as long as I make my cough shallow.
Good news on the other hand...yesterday I was able to smell soap, and today I ate bean & ham soap and was able to taste it!! The antibiotics are clearing up the sinus infection!! Thank goodness...because I was going through taste withdrawals big time! Yesterday I was craving Olive Garden, and then as I drove by IHop I was craving the taste of pancakes...anything that has FLAVOR! One nice thing about losing my taste though...was that 2 days ago I was able to sit down with a big bowl of TOMATO SOAP and toast, and I could feel the warm creaminess of the soup run down my throat, it was just as I'd always imagined it could taste like! A little explanation on that...I HATE tomato soap. I watch people eat it on the tv commercials and it looks so incredibly delicious...but when I've actually tried it, it has always tasted bitter and nasty to me. It's the only dish I've ever eaten that I just cannot stand! But for that one day...when I was still pretty much tasteless...I was able to enjoy it. Good times!
Addy's stomach seems better...no more having to change her whole outfit 10 times a day thank goodness! Cayden's ear infections haven't been bothering him and I'm sure they are clearing up quickly with his antibiotics. Luckily Tyler has been a huge help over the last several weeks. Since there's not much else he can do for me, he's very willing to help get the house in order and take turns cooking meals! Thank you Tyler!

Accidents and more Relief!

Since I just wrote about my health, I'll include the rest of my family's interesting experiences! First off, right after I wrote my last post, Cayden came up to me crying because his throat and heart hurt. His Pediatrician was able to squeeze him right in. He has a throat virus but he couldn't hear anything wrong with his chest that would make his "heart hurt". He also found Cayden has ear infections...which Cayden never complained about his ears or head. He's now on an antibiotic along with me! Addy has had a very upset tummy to where I have had to change her about 5 times so far just today! Her 6th tooth has broken through, but the doc says he never links those two things despite what others say...he says she seems to have a stomach virus...no medicine for her. She is VERY cranky and has been sleeping very little the last couple of nights...I need to pick up some bananas today and some starchy foods for her tummy! Shaylee and Tyler are the only ones who aren't sick, but Tyler had some exciting things happen the other day...

Last Thursday, Tyler was at work and dropped a 10+ lb grate on his head...leaving him with a headache the rest of the day (he works in a lube center, down in the "pit"). Well then the very next day (around 4:30 p.m.), I get a call from Tyler that says "Hey, I hurt myself. I cut my head open and I'll call you as soon as I know which hospital they are taking me too". My mother-in-law was able to watch the kids (luckily her shift at work hadn't changed to evenings yet!!) and I found Tyler at the Shannon E.R. (we have two hospitals here). He had dried blood ALL over his face, his clothes, even in his ears. 4 hours later his forehead was sewn up with 4 stitches...the cut was only about 1 1/2 inches wide but that thing didn't want to stop bleeding, otherwise, he probably could have just been "glued" up instead of getting stitches. I told him he REALLY needed to take a day off...but he was back at work the next day...and luckily hasn't had any accidents since then (other than the usual cuts and burns he gets on his hands everyday from working).

I'm excited to go to Walmart tonight to get mine and Cayden's antibiotics (well, not excited about going outside...it's 26 degrees here). My ribs feel like someone is crushing them...and the wheezing and crackling in my chest is incredibly annoying and gross. I'm just happy knowing that after the long weeks of sickness in this house...it should soon be over...for awhile atleast!!

Relief?!

I have had the worst cough and cold for 5 weeks now! A week and a half ago I finally went to a walk-in clinic (even though I can't stand them) and waited the 2 1/2 hours to be seen because I couldn't function much more...since I spend most of my nights awake and coughing and not being able to breathe from my cold. The doc told me he couldn't hear anything in my lungs, even though I was coughing stuff up. He just told me to take Robitussin DM. THANKS DOC, my little sister already told me to take that! The DM did absolutely nothing for me, unfotunately. Finally today I went to a different walk-in clinic that my husband likes better. After 3 hours I finally got in. I was diagnosed with Asthmatic Bronchitis as well as a Sinus Infection. Now as soon as I get my prescription in to the Pharmacy, I'll finally start getting relief. I'm SO HAPPY!! One of the WORST things is that I haven't been able to SMELL ANYTHING for 2 weeks. I can't smell poopy diapers...cookies burning in the oven...NOTHING. Some might consider that a good thing...but what if I got something on me and I wouldn't know because I couldn't smell it?? Also, I can't taste anything unless it's really salty. I've still been eating regular food, but I've found that's pointless since it doesn't taste good...so I think I'll be eating a lot more soup. I had Campbell's chicken noodle today for lunch though and it wasn't pleasant (normally I love it)....I LOVE food and now eating has become more of a CHORE. I hope this antibiotic works quickly! Although I guess if I was dieting, this would be the way to do it! It's a lot easier to eat healthy when the food tastes just the same as the junk food, haha!

Oh and something funny...whenever Tyler & I pull cash from an ATM, we jokingly say to eachother "I won, I WON!!" ...well we do that now when we are waiting somewhere for a long time...so while I was at the Doctor's, I text messaged him and told him how tired I was of waiting...but that I was next so when they say my name I so want to scream "I won, I WON!"...he dared me but his dare came after I already got called in to a room. I have to say though that was the closest I've ever come to actually doing it...because I was sick and a little delirious from waiting so long so I wouldn't have cared that much what people thought!!

Goals for 2009

It's unlike me to post so many times in such a short time, but the last couple of days I've been thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. A year really does go by quickly so I've been trying to make my list as "accomplishable" as possible so that I don't get frustrated. I would like to get more physically in shape...and that is important, but I'm going to try not to focus on the "lose a little weight" type of goal!

1. BEEF UP OUR FOOD STORAGE!! - We have a very tiny pantry closet. It is also the only closet (beside bedroom closets) to put stuff in so only half of it is able to be used for food storage. We need to either buy some kind of cupboard or storage thing to put in our carport to put non-food items in so that there is more room in the "pantry" for food...or buy some kind of thing for in our dining room to put more food storage in.

2. a)LEARN TO PLAY MORE HYMNS ON THE PIANO! (not simplified hymns!) Today I opened my hymn book and started slowly plunking through "The Morning Breaks" on page 1. I figured that was a good place to start! It's going to be quite a process, but I am determined. Especially since yesterday my husband mentioned he's going to start again trying to learn to play the Simplified Hymns. After taking YEARS of lessons, I refuse to let my quick-learning husband pass me up! I need to buy all the Technic books to help me retrain my fingers to move quickly!!

b)TEACH SHAYLEE PIANO - This was quite challenging the last time I tried. I try to teach her to sit up straight and curve her fingers the right way which she absolutely hates, and then she hates repeating things so she isn't crazy about practicing the same things over and over til it's perfect! I'm determined to atleast teach her the first year or two though. Then after that maybe she'd listen to a real teacher more than me!!

3. a) SPEND MORE TIME CRAFTING, RATHER THAN FINDING MORE AND MORE PROJECTS!!! - This is hard to do...there are just so many free, fun, cute ideas out there so I love surfing the internet and bookmarking all the cute projects. The problem is, I have enough projects bookmarked right now to last me atleast two lifetimes, and I don't know how much crafting we'll get to do in the next life!! :-) So...I'm going to try to stick first to the projects I've already started or bought supplies for, and to ones that are for special occasions like holidays, birthdays... (such as the count-down calendars pieces I cut out 2 years ago but still haven't sewn them together because sewing machines intimidate me), and most importantly, projects that beautify our home!

b) TEACH SHAYLEE MORE CHALLENGING CRAFTS! - She gets frustrated easily...but I know that if I could help her concentrate on a craft that takes a little concentration, it might help her with her ability to sit still and focus. She loves choices, so I need to make a list of things she can choose to make, and give her the supplies and teach her how it's done. Like me, she needs things that don't take TOO long to make though because then she loses interest.

Well those are my top 3 goals. My other goals include keeping my house really organized, budgeting better, finding ways to enjoy the hot Texas outdoors more, and many more...but my top 3 are things I absolutely will focus on and remind myself of every day!