Swimming!

Today was a great day! We went to parents' house for the afternoon. The girls went swimming and Alvin playing on their yard toys.

Erin floating

Emali floating

Alvin and Grammy playing

Grammy and the girls

Apple Cheddar Soup

Ingredients:

1/2 cup finely chopped oinion

1 tbsp butter

2 medium baking potatoes, peeled and diced

2 cups apple cider

1 tsp fresh snipped thyme or 1/2 tsp crushed dried thyme

1/2 tsp salt

Dash cayenne pepper

1 medium cooking apple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped

1/2 cup milk

2 tbsp all purpose flour

4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (~ 1 cup)

Garnish:

fresh apple slices

green peppercorns

Directions:

1. In large saucepan, cook oinion in hot butter over medium heat until tender.

2. Stir in potatoes, cider, thyme, salt and cayenne pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 mins.

3. Add chopped apple. Cover and simmer for 5 mins or until potatoes are tender.

4. In a small bowl, combine milk and flour; stir into soup. Cook and stir until bubbly.

5. Slowly add cheese, wisking until cheese is melted.

6. Divide into serving dishes and garnish with apple slices and peppercorns.

Reactions:

All three kids liked it, but Emali complained an hour later than she was hungry again. So, it was good, but not filling.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

3 oz of your favorite chocolate
2 tsp of hot chocolate mix
1 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups ice

Garnish:

Whipped Cream
Chocolate shavings or sprinkles


Directions:

1. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and melt in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir occaisonally while melting. Add hot chocolate mix and sugar, stirring until well blended.

2. Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup milk, stirring until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

3. In a blender, place remaining 1 cup milk, the chocolate mixture and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth. Pour into giant goblet and garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.


Note: It may take a few tries to get the chocolate to melt correctly if you choose to use a standard saucepan instead of a double boiler. Plan ahead.

Reactions:

YUM! - from all three

Lemon Slice Cookies

photo by: Frances Janisch for Parents Magazine

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup powered lemonade mix (pink)
1 egg
red food coloring
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp (pinch) salt
1/4 cup pink decorating sugar
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
1 1/2 cups powered sugar
2-3 tbsp. lemon juice

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, and lemonade mix. Beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy (about 3 mins). Add egg and 8 drops of food coloring; beat well. In a seperate bowl, combine flour and salt. Gradually add flour/salt mixture to previous mixture, beat until dough begins to cling.

2. Gather dough into a ball and shape into a log about 7 x 2 1/2 inches. Wrap in wax paper. Chill no less than 3 hours until it's firm enough to slice.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place decorating sugar in a shallow bowl. Brush outside of log with corn syrup. Cut log crosswise into 1/8th inch thick slices. Lightly roll edges of slices in the decorating sugar. Place on cookie sheets approx. 1 inch apart. Cut some cookies in half, if desired. Score the top of cookies with the back of a small knife to make them resemble citrus segments.

4. Bake for 8 minutes, until edges are firm. Let cool on wire rack.

5. Mix powered sugar and lemon juice; place in a resealable plastic bag. Snip a small hole in one corner of bag. Pipe icing onto scored lines and add dots to resemble seeds. Let stand until icing is set.


Reactions:

Alvin(2) and Erin(6) both devoured these every chance they got. Emali(9) liked them, but she said she'd prefer chocholate chip.

Spaghetti Pie

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 cup chunky salsa
1 cup garden variety spaghetti sauce
3 cups hot cooked spaghetti
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp butter or margarine, melted
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Cook beef or turkey in skillet until browned. Pour off fat. Stir in salsa and spaghetti sauce. Heat through.

2. Mix spaghetti, parmesan cheese, egg, and margarine. Spread on bottom of a greased 10" pie plate. Spread ricotta cheese into spaghetti shell. Top with beef mixture.

3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 min or until hot. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Let stand 5 min before serving. Cut into wedges.


Reactions:

All 3 kids (Ages 2, 6, 9) love it. Nothing was left over.

We have tomatoes!

I know. I know. My garden update will be tomorrow, like it's supposed to be. But I was just soooo excited to get 2 ripe tomatoes from our little garden. The girls cant wait to slice into them tonight at supper. Yummy!

See those 2 red ripe tomatoes??? Yay! Tomatoes!

We also have quite a few pumpkins coming along well. The girls just insisted that I update on them as well. Each pumpkin is shown with one of the girls' hand as a reference for the size.
Pumpkin 1

Pumpkin 2

Pumpkin 3

Pumpkin 4

Pumpkin 5

The girls are very excited that they are getting 'good stuff' out of the garden. They couldnt wait to show you all.

Emali and Erin with their tomatoes.

Vegetable Garden - Week Seven

Yes, I know this was supposed to be posted on Thursday. I'm a slacker. But, here it is. Better late than never.

The corn
The sunflowers

Our pumpkin plants and a baby pumpkin coming

The broccoli plants and some broccoli coming

Our tomatoes are starting to ripen!

Here's to the Heroes Petition

My friend Roni has created an online petition to try to get Anheuser Busch to included retired military in their Here's to the Heroes: Hero Salute. This program offers active duty a complimentary admission to a AB park of their choosing for one day, and includes up to 3 family members. Shouldnt our retired deserve the same respect?

You can read (and sign) the petition at: Here's to the Heroes petition There is an option to appear anonymous if you wish. Please, take a second to say you support your retired military too.

ABC's of me

Stole this from Andrea at My Chihuahua Bites!.

A. My air conditioner is set at: 70 or 72. Mostly it's set at 70 during the day, and 72 at night or when I leave for long periods of time.

B. My bedroom theme is: I dont have one. I dont want to spend enough time in my bedroom to require a theme. So, I guess if I have to pick, it'd be 'streamlined'.

C. The car in my driveway is: Currently, a 2006 Toyota Corolla. But we also have a 2007 Dodge Caravan and a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel.

D. My desk is: currently in the back of the truck in CT. Eric just got it for me. Up until then, I didnt have one.

E. The exact time I wake up daily is: I dont? Not in the summer anyway. During the school year I get up at 7:30am every morning.

F. The first thing I wash in the shower is: My hair. That way I can put the conditioner in it and leave it on the whole shower. Then rinse when it's almost time to get out.

G. My garage is filled with: Like Andrea, mine is full of everything but the car. The snowblower, the lawn mower, various packed boxes, car parts, etc. Sad fact is, it's a two care garage and I can barely fit my bicycle in it.

H. My house is: a mistake. I wish Eric would have never bought it. It's an albatross hanging around our neck and the reason we have to geobach. I hate it. I used to love it, now I cant stand it.

I. If you peeked inside my bedroom, you'd see: A pile of clean clothes on Eric's side of the bed I havent put away. A couple of boxes that I packed recently. Photos of my family on the walls. And a bright orange blanket on the bed.

J. My favorite juice is: any one that comes prepacked in a juice box. Makes life tons easier. Oh wait? You meant for me to drink? Gonna have to go with white grape and peach. Yum.

K. The best part of my kitchen is: the cupboards. I just adore the cupboards in my kitchen. They are this dark mahogany that I love. I'm going to be so sad when I have to leave my kitchen behind. It's the one thing I wish I could take with me everywhere.

L. The last person who visited my home was: Eric. Yes he counts because he doesnt live here. Beore that? Grandma watched the kids for the Home Laughlin tent sale. Oh, actually visit?? Yeah. Dont really want to go there. No one comes to see me. The last time anyone came to visit was the girls birthday party back in March.

M. The last piece of mail for me was: Insurance cards. So exciting huh?

N. My neighbors think I'm: well, that depends on which one you ask. Down the hill? She and I get along fine now. Up the hill to rear? Dont talk to them much. Wave every time they drive down their driveway though. Neighbor up the hill to the front? Cant stand her so I'm sure she thinks I'm a bitch. Which is fine, cause so is she.

O. If you opened my fridge, you'd see: leftover pizza, milk, eggs, juice boxes, sweet tea, random lunch meat, cheese, condiments of every kind. Typical house with 3 kids fridge.

P. My last house party was: See L above. March for the girls' birthday. (I really despise family drama)

Q. A quick meal I like to fix is: Pizza Hut?? In all seriousness, probably cheaters tuna casserole. Make box mac n cheese and add peas/tuna. Remember, I'm cooking for 3 kids. I dont get much variety.

R. My favorite room of the house is: My kitchen. See K above.

S. The shampoo brand I use is: Herbal Essences. I love it.

T. My largest television is: a 52 inch rear projection. Yes, a HUGE, HEAVY TV. But I love that thing.

U. Under my bed you will find: My cat. Baccarra's favorite place to hide is under there. So that's pretty much all that's under there.

V. The last time I vacumed was: Sadly, on Friday. I'm such a slackass.

W. Looking out my window I see: Nothing. It's 11:30 at night. It's dark out there. If it was daytime, I'd see the deck, the deck furniture and grass.

X. I wish I had Xtra: Money. Doesnt everyone wish that though?

Y. My yard is: My nemesis. I hate mowing grass ya'll. And we have over an acre to mow with a PUSH POWER! A freaking push mower. I'm soooo glad I was able to hire it out recently for a decent cost.

Z. ZZZZZZzz my bedtime is: Whenever I fall asleep. I am constantly battling insomnia, so it can vary from 9pm to as late as 4am.

Yes, I know it's been a while.

Due to a very rude person, I stopped posting on here. She will one day get what is coming to her and I hope I'm there to laugh in her face.


Anyway, I just dont have it in me to catch up on everything that's been going on since the last post. I just want to hit on the major development. Alvin had an MRI of his brain and orbits. The results came back with a few gliomas (tumors) and hundreds of UBOs (unidentified bright objects) all over his brain. According to the neurologist, "His brain lit up like a Christmas tree." Because there was cerebelluar involvement, she is concerned. Normally they dont see these UBOs in the cerebellum. His entire speech development center is also involved. Both with the UBOs and with small gliomas. She has pretty much said we'll be lucky to get a few more words out of him, but he most likely is never going to talk. He may surprise us, but it's not looking hopeful.

They are going ahead with the 'idea' of it being neurofibromatosis, but he has to have a few more things in order to be clinically diagnosed with it at this early age. Ya'll, that's NOT a good thing. According to my NF mentor, being diagnosed under the age of puberty normally means they have a more severe case of NF.

Just as a background, the most common effects of NF1 are:
Visual impairment/blindness
Optic gliomas
Lisch nodules on the retina
*Seizures
Headaches
*Brain tumors
Blood vessel defects
Learning disabilities
Mental retardation
*Macrocephaly (oversize head)
*Speech imparments
High blood pressure
*Cafe au lait spots
Fibromas
Scoliosis
Early or delayed puberty
*Digestive tract issues: pain, vomiting, chronic constipation or diahrea
*Delay in learning to walk or talk
*Short stature
Severe itching
Cancer
Pseduoarthrosis (false joints)
Bone deformities of the legs

Those effects marked with an * denote issues Alvin currently has. So you see, we're dealing with something that could potentially have a severe impact on Alvin's life. No, he hasnt been clinically diagnosed with it. He's not old enough and we havent been to the optometrist to see about the lisch nodules. If Alvin does have lisch nodules, then he'll meet the clinical definition for a child under puberty. Problem being, the nodules dont normally show up until after the age of 4. So, the neuro is saying to treat him like he does have NF1, because of all the markers so far, and if need be, wait til he's older to get the clinical diagnosis.

Ya'll I'm scared. I'm upset. We go back on Monday to the neuro to talk more about these gliomas and UBO's and to talk more about how to help with Alvin's other issues.


PS, to the bitch: Cant fake MRI results bitch. Get a clue before you spout your mouth off.

Yes, I know it's been a while.

Due to a very rude person, I stopped posting on here. She will one day get what is coming to her and I hope I'm there to laugh in her face.


Anyway, I just dont have it in me to catch up on everything that's been going on since the last post. I just want to hit on the major development. Alvin had an MRI of his brain and orbits. The results came back with a few gliomas (tumors) and hundreds of UBOs (unidentified bright objects) all over his brain. According to the neurologist, "His brain lit up like a Christmas tree." Because there was cerebelluar involvement, she is concerned. Normally they dont see these UBOs in the cerebellum. His entire speech development center is also involved. Both with the UBOs and with small gliomas. She has pretty much said we'll be lucky to get a few more words out of him, but he most likely is never going to talk. He may surprise us, but it's not looking hopeful.

They are going ahead with the 'idea' of it being neurofibromatosis, but he has to have a few more things in order to be clinically diagnosed with it at this early age. Ya'll, that's NOT a good thing. According to my NF mentor, being diagnosed under the age of puberty normally means they have a more severe case of NF.

Just as a background, the most common effects of NF1 are:
Visual impairment/blindness
Optic gliomas
Lisch nodules on the retina
*Seizures
Headaches
*Brain tumors
Blood vessel defects
Learning disabilities
Mental retardation
*Macrocephaly (oversize head)
*Speech imparments
High blood pressure
*Cafe au lait spots
Fibromas
Scoliosis
Early or delayed puberty
*Digestive tract issues: pain, vomiting, chronic constipation or diahrea
*Delay in learning to walk or talk
*Short stature
Severe itching
Cancer
Pseduoarthrosis (false joints)
Bone deformities of the legs

Those effects marked with an * denote issues Alvin currently has. So you see, we're dealing with something that could potentially have a severe impact on Alvin's life. No, he hasnt been clinically diagnosed with it. He's not old enough and we havent been to the optometrist to see about the lisch nodules. If Alvin does have lisch nodules, then he'll meet the clinical definition for a child under puberty. Problem being, the nodules dont normally show up until after the age of 4. So, the neuro is saying to treat him like he does have NF1, because of all the markers so far, and if need be, wait til he's older to get the clinical diagnosis.

Ya'll I'm scared. I'm upset. We go back on Monday to the neuro to talk more about these gliomas and UBO's and to talk more about how to help with Alvin's other issues.


PS, to the bitch: Cant fake MRI results bitch. Get a clue before you spout your mouth off.

Time flies...

So, it's been a very busy and interesting weekend. The kids and I went to Pittsburgh to the zoo again on Friday morning. They had an absolute blast. Erin loves the cats. Her favorite is the tiger. Emali, once again, wanted to spend the whole time in the shark tunnel. Alvin's favorite? The train ride. He LOVES it. He kept making the 'toot-toot' sign. (Ie, pump your hand up and down like you're pulling on the train whistle's rope). He didnt want to get off the train. I really need to find an actual train to take him on.

Alvin on the train. He loved it.





Friday night Eric got in around 8pm. The look on Alvin's face was priceless. He got all excited, then stopped and looked at me and the girls. Like "Are you seeing this too?" He got all excited again when he realized it wasnt his imagination. Eric spent the rest of the evening playing with the kids while I got homemade pizza rolls in the oven.

Saturday we got up bright and early to head to Beaver Falls, PA to a place called Meiter's to pick up a hitch for the van. Then we came back home for a little while and then it was off to Grandma's. We spent most of the rest of the day at Grandma's. I couldnt tell you what all we did after we got home. We just did so many odds and ends this weekend, that I dont remember when some of the littler ones were done.

Sunday. Oh Sunday. We discovered we had a leak in a pipe, so we had to drive to Home Depot (yet again) to get supplies to fix it. Then I spent the afternoon cleaning up while Eric attempted to put the hitch on the van. Let me just say this, if the framing bolts dont want to come off, you cannot MAKE them come off. So, after HOURS of trying to remove the bolts required to put the hitch on, Eric gave up. He's taking the van to CT and going to remove the bolts at the hobby shop on base. Then we got ready and headed to Columbiana to see the fireworks. Alvin just loved the ones that went BOOM! but he spent most of his time trying to find the train. Since you could hear it, but not see it. After the fireworks, we went home and let the girls play with their sparklers.

Eric and I in Columbiana waiting to watch the fireworks.

The girls and me waiting for the fireworks to start.

Alvin playing with a light up thing we got the kids.

Today. *sigh* Today, we finished up the 'honey do' list and said "goodbye" again to Eric. It's only been a few hours since he left, and already there is a void. He completes the family. We miss him terribly while he's gone and we cannot wait for an end to this geobach.

FYI, if any of you milspouses out there are considering a geobach, DONT! Do whatever you can/it takes to stay with your spouse. Trust me in this.

Vegetable Garden - Week Six

So the garden is doing very well. I'm actually very amazed at how well it's doing. What started out as a "Who cares if it grows?" has really turned into a nice garden. Unfortunately, it looks like our peas have run their course. We didnt get many peas from them, but we did get some. That made the girls very happy.

The tomatoes
Our pumpkin plants. Apparently 3 was a bit too many.

A tiny little pumpkin starting

The broccoli

The sunflowers

The corn