And so week 26 of pregnancy has already crept up on me and it halfway done. We had a painter come today to give us an estimate to paint the baby's room. The room is currently a very soft pink color and I don't think Baby Boy Byram would appreciate it. Prior to us moving in, it was a little girl's room and we never got around to painting it. I called several painters in order to have them come to give us an estimate. Some of the companies I spoke with had a 3 or 5 room minimum or a $1,000 minimum. There were some companies that I left a message with the secretary or on answering machines and they never called back. Surprisingly, a few were from the Gwinnett County verified home services guide. It is basically a guide that recommends companies who exhibit exemplary service. Um, I don't consider not calling prospective customers back exemplary service. But maybe I just expect too much!
It has been quite rainy down here in GA. Almost every day there is some percentage of rain as well as tons of clouds. Definitely not pool weather. My mom, Dana, and the kids are coming next week so hopefully it will clear up so that they can at least head to the pool a few days. They will be here for almost 2 weeks and then I will be heading up to New York shortly after. I am excited to see what Gramps thinks of the baby bump that I am sporting!
Apparently, my pelvis is angry. I have been pulled from work for a week and I have been told to lounge on the couch with my feet up until I go back to the dr next Thursday. It seems as though Baby Boy Byram has caused some extra stretching and splitting of my pelvis and has made some tendons a little on the peeved side. This is not something I was aware that could even happen. My ANM at work asked my why I couldn't just get something normal like hemorrhoids. I told her that I would much rather have those as well. Sitting, standing, rolling over, walking, getting dressed, climbing stairs, etc is beyond painful at this point. I have started to sleep on the couch because I don't move nearly as much on there than when I am in bed. It seems as though the dogs are not too heart broken about this. Phoebe sleeps in my spot, head on the pillow and all. Lulu generally likes to curl up at the foot of the couch and I think she likes having me all to herself.
Please visit my friend, Lauren's blog. She just started it and it is very good! Here is the link: http://mysensationalgirl.wordpress.com/ Here is to some sunshine in the coming weeks! I hope everyone has a great weekend!
"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow." ~Gilbert K. Chesterton
"Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you." ~Langston Hughes
Friday, July 12, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
The Sausage Suit
I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July! Every year, I say that I am not a fan of the 4th of July. Deep down inside, I think that is a lie. The memories I have from early childhood and the 4th are not good ones, so I that is why I say that I am not a big fan. But, the memories that I have from later years are much better. The happy memories that I have are family get together's in the backyard or on our deck with Gramps grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, sitting outside really late with the small kitchen tv perched on a plastic patio table playing the Twilight Zone marathon until the fireworks came on. Then, we would sit and be able to see the Macy's fireworks from our yard, but we would have the tv on for the effect of the music. No 4th was complete without the crazy Italian family whose yard backed up to ours having one of their parties. Neal, who thought he was am opera star, would belt out Whitney Houston, Cher, and every Italian song he knew on his Mr. Microphone, but our favorite was the Happy Birthday medley he would grace us with for his brother, Sal's birthday. It just so happened that his brother's birthday was July 4th. The deck in their back yard would be his stage and everyone would be sitting in the yard with all eyes on him! It was all fun and games until he would start screaming at mother and grandparents in Italian and cursing at them - all of this while still on his Mr. Microphone so half of Maspeth could hear him. We would all just sit and laugh, thankful that there was at least a fence that separated us. We won't even talk about what their poor dog, Rocky, endured. We were always trying to figure out ways to help the dog escape that insanity!
On to some more pregnancy "woes". Every year, Sam and I join the swim and tennis club that is associated with our subdivision. Sam uses the tennis part and I use the swim part. What is it that you need when you go swimming? That's right, folks. A bathing suit! Not too long ago, I made the trek to Old Navy to find a swim suit. They didn't have any maternity swimsuits, but they did have some tankinis that can be used for maternity. There is some rouching on the side that makes it rather easy to accommodate a growing bump. Normally, I am a small in a swimsuit. Silly me thought that I could get away with some small suits, but also grabbed mediums in the same suits - you know, just in case. With delusions of grandeur, I tried on the first suit in small. I should have stopped when I realized it was really difficult to get it on. I am not sure if anyone is familiar with shoving sausage meat into its casing, but it kind of went like that. I can only imagine what the people next to me as well as the dressing room attendant must have thought was going on in the dressing room with all the grunting, huffing, and puffing going on in there. And that was just getting it on. The harder part is getting it off. As I stood there with one arm stuck over my head and the other arm papoosed into the suit, I really thought I was going to have to take a walk of shame out there to ask someone to cut the suit off. You would think that I learned my lesson the first time, but the second suit looked like it was cut differently and was a little more forgiving. Yeah, not so much. With more grunts, puffs, and tugs, I succeeded in getting the first suit on. I broke out into a sweat once I realized that this suit was the same exact cut as the last and it was going to be just as bad getting it off. Well, it ended up being worse because now I was all sweaty. The suit actually made a squeaking noise as it rubbed up against my skin! At that point, I thought Crisco or scissors were my only hope. I took a deep breath and begged God to get this suit off me in one piece and without dislocating an arm or a shoulder or an elbow. I promised that I would not try on another small anything, ever! My prayers were answered. Oh what a relief it was to see that the next size up slid on with ease! Oh what an embarrassment it was to leave the dressing room more than 45 minutes later with my face beet red, panting, hair in a point, and covered in sweat. All of this because I was too stinkin stubborn! I managed to leave the store with 2 tankinis and I even ventured going to the pool. Needless to say, I learned my lesson!
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and staying cool! The countdown is on until my family comes for a visit. I can't wait!!!!
"Think of stretch marks as pregnancy service stripes." ~Joyce Armor
"A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside... when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone." ~Author Unknown
On to some more pregnancy "woes". Every year, Sam and I join the swim and tennis club that is associated with our subdivision. Sam uses the tennis part and I use the swim part. What is it that you need when you go swimming? That's right, folks. A bathing suit! Not too long ago, I made the trek to Old Navy to find a swim suit. They didn't have any maternity swimsuits, but they did have some tankinis that can be used for maternity. There is some rouching on the side that makes it rather easy to accommodate a growing bump. Normally, I am a small in a swimsuit. Silly me thought that I could get away with some small suits, but also grabbed mediums in the same suits - you know, just in case. With delusions of grandeur, I tried on the first suit in small. I should have stopped when I realized it was really difficult to get it on. I am not sure if anyone is familiar with shoving sausage meat into its casing, but it kind of went like that. I can only imagine what the people next to me as well as the dressing room attendant must have thought was going on in the dressing room with all the grunting, huffing, and puffing going on in there. And that was just getting it on. The harder part is getting it off. As I stood there with one arm stuck over my head and the other arm papoosed into the suit, I really thought I was going to have to take a walk of shame out there to ask someone to cut the suit off. You would think that I learned my lesson the first time, but the second suit looked like it was cut differently and was a little more forgiving. Yeah, not so much. With more grunts, puffs, and tugs, I succeeded in getting the first suit on. I broke out into a sweat once I realized that this suit was the same exact cut as the last and it was going to be just as bad getting it off. Well, it ended up being worse because now I was all sweaty. The suit actually made a squeaking noise as it rubbed up against my skin! At that point, I thought Crisco or scissors were my only hope. I took a deep breath and begged God to get this suit off me in one piece and without dislocating an arm or a shoulder or an elbow. I promised that I would not try on another small anything, ever! My prayers were answered. Oh what a relief it was to see that the next size up slid on with ease! Oh what an embarrassment it was to leave the dressing room more than 45 minutes later with my face beet red, panting, hair in a point, and covered in sweat. All of this because I was too stinkin stubborn! I managed to leave the store with 2 tankinis and I even ventured going to the pool. Needless to say, I learned my lesson!
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and staying cool! The countdown is on until my family comes for a visit. I can't wait!!!!
"Think of stretch marks as pregnancy service stripes." ~Joyce Armor
"A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside... when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone." ~Author Unknown
Monday, June 24, 2013
Crumb Catchin' Cleavage
Cheers to the start of Week 24! While we definitely don't want Baby Boy "B" to make his appearance anytime soon (um, I am soooo not ready), it is a relief to know that he is at the point of viability should anything occur. He is so very active in there and I think there is a possibility that he has confused my bladder with a trampoline. Triple B loves to kick a ton and I think Josh Brown needs to look out because the NY GIANTS might have a new kicker in a few years! Poor Phoebe had her head on my lap the other day resting against my belly when she got a good, hard kick. She looked at my stomach as though there was an alien in there. It didn't stop her from putting her head back in the same spot, though!
So, I signed up to get these weekly updates regarding what is going on with each week of my pregnancy, what changes I might notice in my own body, what is going on in terms of how big the baby is getting, etc. Well, I really had to laugh on about week 16 when the update stated that I might notice something new occurring. My stomach might now start to stick out further than my breasts. Hmmmm. Interesting. Let's just say that the Wonder Bra and Chicken Cutlet bra inserts have been staples in my wardrobe for as long as I can remember. Without them, my stomach has always stuck out further. And I would not exactly classify myself as having a pooch! So, this, my friends, was nothing new to me!
I did have something new to discover, though. This strange thing that tons of other people had on an every day basis. Cleavage. I quickly discovered the purpose of cleavage. It is to catch crumbs while you eat. Although, not just crumbs. Half potato chips, chunks of cookies, chocolate chips, granola, bread crust, hunks of bacon, and I think there was even a grape in there once. I would get home from work and get undressed to get in the shower only to find a buffet in my bra. Which, word to the wise, if anyone is looking for a good maternity bra, I heeded the advice of my BFF and picked up some Genie bras at Target. They are pretty much a stretchy, very comfy sports-like bra.
Shockingly enough, I miss the days of going braless. I am not a fan of these 2 things that have made a home above my belly. I have heard nasty rumors that post-pregnancy, they can be described as tube socks with a tennis ball in each. Lovely! Here's to hoping that, by some miracle, this does not happen to me.
With all that being said, this is obviously a very small price to pay for this miracle that is growing inside of me. Only 16 more weeks until we meet this little fella! Too exciting!
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. Today is my mom's last day of school which means that the troops will be coming down for a visit! WooHoo! Can't wait for lazy days by the pool, cooking with my mom and sister, and shopping with the gals!
"Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I'd have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle." ~Erma Bombeck
"I begin to love this little creature, and to anticipate his birth as a fresh twist to a knot which I do not wish to untie." ~Mary Wollstonecraft
"Everything grows rounder and wider and weirder, and I sit here in the middle of it all and wonder who in the world you will turn out to be." ~Carrie Fisher
So, I signed up to get these weekly updates regarding what is going on with each week of my pregnancy, what changes I might notice in my own body, what is going on in terms of how big the baby is getting, etc. Well, I really had to laugh on about week 16 when the update stated that I might notice something new occurring. My stomach might now start to stick out further than my breasts. Hmmmm. Interesting. Let's just say that the Wonder Bra and Chicken Cutlet bra inserts have been staples in my wardrobe for as long as I can remember. Without them, my stomach has always stuck out further. And I would not exactly classify myself as having a pooch! So, this, my friends, was nothing new to me!
I did have something new to discover, though. This strange thing that tons of other people had on an every day basis. Cleavage. I quickly discovered the purpose of cleavage. It is to catch crumbs while you eat. Although, not just crumbs. Half potato chips, chunks of cookies, chocolate chips, granola, bread crust, hunks of bacon, and I think there was even a grape in there once. I would get home from work and get undressed to get in the shower only to find a buffet in my bra. Which, word to the wise, if anyone is looking for a good maternity bra, I heeded the advice of my BFF and picked up some Genie bras at Target. They are pretty much a stretchy, very comfy sports-like bra.
Shockingly enough, I miss the days of going braless. I am not a fan of these 2 things that have made a home above my belly. I have heard nasty rumors that post-pregnancy, they can be described as tube socks with a tennis ball in each. Lovely! Here's to hoping that, by some miracle, this does not happen to me.
With all that being said, this is obviously a very small price to pay for this miracle that is growing inside of me. Only 16 more weeks until we meet this little fella! Too exciting!
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. Today is my mom's last day of school which means that the troops will be coming down for a visit! WooHoo! Can't wait for lazy days by the pool, cooking with my mom and sister, and shopping with the gals!
"Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I'd have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle." ~Erma Bombeck
"I begin to love this little creature, and to anticipate his birth as a fresh twist to a knot which I do not wish to untie." ~Mary Wollstonecraft
"Everything grows rounder and wider and weirder, and I sit here in the middle of it all and wonder who in the world you will turn out to be." ~Carrie Fisher
Thursday, June 6, 2013
An Elephant in the Room
So there seems to be an elephant in the room. And that elephant would be me. When I originally found out I was pregnant, I thought that I would blog about it constantly. But, as you can tell, I haven't. I figured that I would fill my lovely readers in on the details of it, but I have failed at doing that. This post is not going to contain all of it. Just a few of the tid-bits!
Sam and I decided that we would give fertility treatments another shot before moving on to adoption. We purchased a package deal because we were told it might not work on the first try. Knowing that I had more than one shot with this dr (we switched from the awful place we used last time!), I think I was more relaxed and that is why, surprise!, it worked on the first try. Will we be doing it again? Provided that everything continues as planned and I am snuggling my healthy baby boy come October, no. This will be our one and only. No, there will not be any miracles. Nothing is more frustrating than when people say, "Well, you never know. Stranger things have happened! My cousin's cousin blah blah blah blah....." I don't want to start getting into the biology with people and tell them that it is really impossible on our own to do this so I just nod and smile. But you heard it first here, straight from the horse's mouth - we are one and done. Biologically impossible to happen on its own.
Pregnancy has not been an easy feat for me. There have been a whole lot of issues in terms of morning sickness and migraines. I am finally feeling a whole lot better and really starting to be able to happily enjoy the miracle that has been growing inside me. Someone helped me find the right words the other day because I hated to say that I did not like being pregnant. That was not the truth because I liked the fact that I had a little human growing inside of me, but I hated how I was feeling. So, the best way to put it is that I LOVE being pregnant, but I hate the negative side effects. Who would love non-stop gagging, random vomiting, blinding headaches, constipation, bloating, uncontrollable gas, you name it, I had it! Not many would say they loved any of those aspects of it. And if you do, I call bull.
I am not asking for sympathy by any means what-so-ever with what I am about to write. Based on my past, I have always been thin. Putting on weight was always an issue for me. Like I already said, not asking for sympathy at all. But there are some things that people don't warn you about with pregnancy or that you have been warned about but you think that it will never, ever happen to you. There are several "birth boards" on the internet and there is one that I used to frequent quite often. In the very beginning, people were complaining about the fact that being pregnant in the summer kind of stinks because you get overly hot and clothes are uncomfortable and when they wear sundresses, their thighs chafe and being pregnant will only make the chaffing worse. Thighs chaffing? What is this thigh chaffing that you speak of? My thighs don't touch. Guess this is something I will not have to be concerned with. Well, it all happened literally overnite. I got in the shower one nite after work, and there you have it. Lo and behold, there was chaffage. Definitely not a feeling that I enjoy nor am I thrilled that it occurs just about every time I take a step. As of right now, my weight gain is still in the single digits (barely) but apparently, it is enough to cause a chafe chafe here and a chafe chafe there when I walk. Again, not asking for sympathy. Just making fun of myself.
I hope everyone is enjoying the summer sun! Don't forget the sunscreen! Also, for the safety of our furry friends, please remember that even in the shade with the windows rolled down, it is WAY too hot to leave your pups in the car even for 5 minutes!
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time." ~John Lubbock
Sam and I decided that we would give fertility treatments another shot before moving on to adoption. We purchased a package deal because we were told it might not work on the first try. Knowing that I had more than one shot with this dr (we switched from the awful place we used last time!), I think I was more relaxed and that is why, surprise!, it worked on the first try. Will we be doing it again? Provided that everything continues as planned and I am snuggling my healthy baby boy come October, no. This will be our one and only. No, there will not be any miracles. Nothing is more frustrating than when people say, "Well, you never know. Stranger things have happened! My cousin's cousin blah blah blah blah....." I don't want to start getting into the biology with people and tell them that it is really impossible on our own to do this so I just nod and smile. But you heard it first here, straight from the horse's mouth - we are one and done. Biologically impossible to happen on its own.
Pregnancy has not been an easy feat for me. There have been a whole lot of issues in terms of morning sickness and migraines. I am finally feeling a whole lot better and really starting to be able to happily enjoy the miracle that has been growing inside me. Someone helped me find the right words the other day because I hated to say that I did not like being pregnant. That was not the truth because I liked the fact that I had a little human growing inside of me, but I hated how I was feeling. So, the best way to put it is that I LOVE being pregnant, but I hate the negative side effects. Who would love non-stop gagging, random vomiting, blinding headaches, constipation, bloating, uncontrollable gas, you name it, I had it! Not many would say they loved any of those aspects of it. And if you do, I call bull.
I am not asking for sympathy by any means what-so-ever with what I am about to write. Based on my past, I have always been thin. Putting on weight was always an issue for me. Like I already said, not asking for sympathy at all. But there are some things that people don't warn you about with pregnancy or that you have been warned about but you think that it will never, ever happen to you. There are several "birth boards" on the internet and there is one that I used to frequent quite often. In the very beginning, people were complaining about the fact that being pregnant in the summer kind of stinks because you get overly hot and clothes are uncomfortable and when they wear sundresses, their thighs chafe and being pregnant will only make the chaffing worse. Thighs chaffing? What is this thigh chaffing that you speak of? My thighs don't touch. Guess this is something I will not have to be concerned with. Well, it all happened literally overnite. I got in the shower one nite after work, and there you have it. Lo and behold, there was chaffage. Definitely not a feeling that I enjoy nor am I thrilled that it occurs just about every time I take a step. As of right now, my weight gain is still in the single digits (barely) but apparently, it is enough to cause a chafe chafe here and a chafe chafe there when I walk. Again, not asking for sympathy. Just making fun of myself.
I hope everyone is enjoying the summer sun! Don't forget the sunscreen! Also, for the safety of our furry friends, please remember that even in the shade with the windows rolled down, it is WAY too hot to leave your pups in the car even for 5 minutes!
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time." ~John Lubbock
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
What A Surprise!!!!
Isn't this a shocker?!?!?!?! I have a big huge announcement to make. It is the reason why I have not blogged in a while. I have loved doing Pinterest Projects, but honestly, I do not have the time nor the energy or even the desire to continue with it. I am still trying things from Pinterest, and I will blog about them, but doing them once a week and feeling the need to blog about it was taking the fun out of it. My personality consists of one of avoidance. If I feel pressure to do something, I avoid it. This is why Sam is the one who pays all of our bills, schedules most appointments, and makes follow up phone calls. I just don't like to do it! So, that, my friends, is my big huge announcement. I will not be doing Pinterest projects anymore.
On to other important things. An update on my fabulous, courageous sister. Dana is finished with her chemo and her radiation. It was very difficult for me to sit from afar and hear what she was going thru. The past few weeks were not an easy road, but she handled it with grace and with an extremely minimum amount of complaining! Most of our conversations consisted of her asking me how I was doing!!! Between my mom, Dana's mother-in-law, her sister's-in-law, her friends, and her husband, Dana has had a great support system. I knew she was always in good hands and there would always be someone looking out for her. Unfortunately, just about every bad side effect that comes with chemo and radiation struck Dana. And a stomach virus on Easter wiped out Dana, Brian, and Matthew. Christina was the only one who was spared. Therefore, I think she is the guilty party and poisoned everyone so she could eat all of the Easter candy! She is extremely smart, you know!
My nephew Matthew and my Gramps both celebrated their birthdays on March 30th. Matthew is 2 and Gramps is 91!!!! Christina turned 5 on April 12th and Dana is turned 29 (again) on April 10th. To me, this was a very special birthday. It was a day to really celebrate Dana and reflect on how lucky we are to have her in our lives.
I hope you are all doing well. The reason why I had not been posting, aside from the pressure from my Pinterest project, but because I knew that I would want to blab about our new little miracle that will be joining us on October 16th. I wanted to wait until the time was right and we found out that everything was going as planned. But, I will write more about that in later blogs!
“There are days when I think I don't believe anymore. When I think I've grown too old for miracles. And that's right when another seems to happen.” ~Dana Reinhardt
“Of two sisters one is always the watcher, one the dancer.” ~Louise Glück
"A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost." ~Marion C. Garretty
On to other important things. An update on my fabulous, courageous sister. Dana is finished with her chemo and her radiation. It was very difficult for me to sit from afar and hear what she was going thru. The past few weeks were not an easy road, but she handled it with grace and with an extremely minimum amount of complaining! Most of our conversations consisted of her asking me how I was doing!!! Between my mom, Dana's mother-in-law, her sister's-in-law, her friends, and her husband, Dana has had a great support system. I knew she was always in good hands and there would always be someone looking out for her. Unfortunately, just about every bad side effect that comes with chemo and radiation struck Dana. And a stomach virus on Easter wiped out Dana, Brian, and Matthew. Christina was the only one who was spared. Therefore, I think she is the guilty party and poisoned everyone so she could eat all of the Easter candy! She is extremely smart, you know!
My nephew Matthew and my Gramps both celebrated their birthdays on March 30th. Matthew is 2 and Gramps is 91!!!! Christina turned 5 on April 12th and Dana is turned 29 (again) on April 10th. To me, this was a very special birthday. It was a day to really celebrate Dana and reflect on how lucky we are to have her in our lives.
I hope you are all doing well. The reason why I had not been posting, aside from the pressure from my Pinterest project, but because I knew that I would want to blab about our new little miracle that will be joining us on October 16th. I wanted to wait until the time was right and we found out that everything was going as planned. But, I will write more about that in later blogs!
“There are days when I think I don't believe anymore. When I think I've grown too old for miracles. And that's right when another seems to happen.” ~Dana Reinhardt
“Of two sisters one is always the watcher, one the dancer.” ~Louise Glück
"A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost." ~Marion C. Garretty
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Happy New Year!!!!!
Happy New Year to all of my Fabulous blog followers! Here is hoping that 2013 will have lots of wonderful surprises for everyone, but most importantly, I hope that Dana regains her health. She has a cold at the moment and if she still has it on the day her surgery is scheduled, the surgery will have to be postponed. So please say your prayers and send positive vibes for Dana to lose those sniffles so we can all get the answers that we need to be able to cope with whatever lies ahead for us.
Christmas was good. I had off Christmas day, but had to work the days that surrounded it, so we didn't get to do too much celebrating. I was off for New Year's Eve, but worked New Year's Day, so I was in bed and asleep at 9:30. That was until the fools 2 houses away set off fireworks from 11:50 until 1 am. I was slightly cranky when I woke up in the morning but I wanted to make sure that I started off the New Year with a positive attitude so I quickly turned my mood around. Sam's mom was here for both Christmas and New Year's Eve and Day, so that was really nice.
It was hard being away from my mom, dad, Dana, Gramps, Brian, and the kids. This was for more than 2 reasons. One, Christmas is the anniversary of my Grammy's death and two, because of Dana's health issues. I am hoping to be able to get up there at some point soon.
On to my Pinterest projects for weeks 28 and 29. The first project is not mine. It comes from my co-worker Kim who is crafty and has a love of Pinterest! She was my Secret Santa and she gave me some Gingerbread Truffles and they can be found on this yummy blog! They were little white chocolate coated globs of goodness! Kim did such a great job making them, it looked as though she bought them. Delish!
My second Pinterest Project is mine and boy am I glad I tried it! It is a homemade cheese danish. The recipe is located at this nifty blog here! As usual, I tweaked a little here and there. Instead of 2 packages of cream cheese, I used 1 1/2. I also used a pan that was a little bit smaller because I wanted to make sure that the bottom layer came up the sides of the pan. There are no words to describe the deliciousness that came out of the oven. And the smell was out of this world! For the next few days, every time I went into the fridge to get something out, I had to cut off a tiny sliver to snack on. All I have to say is try this recipe. You will not be disappointed!
So blessings again for a happy and healthy New Year to you all. My resolution this year is to stay true to my heart, stand up for what I believe in, and love like there is no tomorrow.
"We will open the book. Its pages are bland. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter in New Year's Day." ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Christmas was good. I had off Christmas day, but had to work the days that surrounded it, so we didn't get to do too much celebrating. I was off for New Year's Eve, but worked New Year's Day, so I was in bed and asleep at 9:30. That was until the fools 2 houses away set off fireworks from 11:50 until 1 am. I was slightly cranky when I woke up in the morning but I wanted to make sure that I started off the New Year with a positive attitude so I quickly turned my mood around. Sam's mom was here for both Christmas and New Year's Eve and Day, so that was really nice.
It was hard being away from my mom, dad, Dana, Gramps, Brian, and the kids. This was for more than 2 reasons. One, Christmas is the anniversary of my Grammy's death and two, because of Dana's health issues. I am hoping to be able to get up there at some point soon.
On to my Pinterest projects for weeks 28 and 29. The first project is not mine. It comes from my co-worker Kim who is crafty and has a love of Pinterest! She was my Secret Santa and she gave me some Gingerbread Truffles and they can be found on this yummy blog! They were little white chocolate coated globs of goodness! Kim did such a great job making them, it looked as though she bought them. Delish!
My second Pinterest Project is mine and boy am I glad I tried it! It is a homemade cheese danish. The recipe is located at this nifty blog here! As usual, I tweaked a little here and there. Instead of 2 packages of cream cheese, I used 1 1/2. I also used a pan that was a little bit smaller because I wanted to make sure that the bottom layer came up the sides of the pan. There are no words to describe the deliciousness that came out of the oven. And the smell was out of this world! For the next few days, every time I went into the fridge to get something out, I had to cut off a tiny sliver to snack on. All I have to say is try this recipe. You will not be disappointed!
So blessings again for a happy and healthy New Year to you all. My resolution this year is to stay true to my heart, stand up for what I believe in, and love like there is no tomorrow.
"We will open the book. Its pages are bland. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter in New Year's Day." ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
"Dana has cancer." Those were the 3 words that my mother said to me on November 9th that made my heart beat so loud in my chest that I could no longer hear what she was saying. I felt as though the wind had been knocked out of me and the room was getting smaller and smaller. The shock was so great that I could not even cry and I could see Sam's mouth moving asking me what was wrong, but I couldn't hear a word he was saying. All I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears.
While my mother was on the phone with me, the doctor was telling my groggy sister the same news. It made my heart hurt. This was a feeling that I had felt only one other time and it was when my mother told me that my Grams had passed away. This was a feeling that I hoped that I would never feel again, but less than 4 years later, I was feeling it again. She was having surgery that day and something didn't look right. What was supposed to be a short procedure ended up taking hours.
They gave Dana a preliminary stage of 1B cervical cancer. I did exactly what I told my mother and sister not to do. Shortly after hanging up with my mother, I started to search on the internet and find out what her treatment options are and what her prognosis would be. The doctor was very hopeful that it was caught very early on. I flew to NY so I could be with Dana and my family while we tried to process all of this as we were all unsure about what the next road would lead us.
After we had all "accepted" the fact that Dana had cancer, she had to have a PET scan. It did not reveal what we wanted it to. It seems as though the cancer has spread to some lymph nodes. Again, this was news that made me feel as though I had just been hit over the head with a baseball bat. This changes her staging and her treatment. Now we are not exactly sure what we are facing. My faith is rocked, I am angry, frustrated, wondering why we have been handed something else to deal with. My heart is aching all over again and the stress and waiting is killing me. Dana seems to be handling all of this a whole lot better than I am! She will have surgery again in January which will give us the answers we need and to find out what treatment she will be getting to fight this. Dana is a fighter. She is a red head and is filled with courage and strength to beat this.
So there it is. I said it. My sister has cancer. And it sucks. Big time.
Dana is just like Martha Stewart, although not as snooty, much prettier, much younger, and much better hair. But cooking wise, you would not be able to tell them apart. I know Dana would be very disappointed if I did not include some of my Pinterest projects, especially my big Pinterest FAIL! So, I will write about weeks 26 and 27. Now I know I said that I would get better about writing, but I was so angry last week, I did not want to blog.
Pinterest Project Week 26: Also known as my epic FAIL! Here is the blog I got it from. I am not really sure what went wrong here. It could have been that the pineapples were old, that they should have been pineapple tidbits instead of chunks, or that I just don't like angel food cake! The choice that I am leaning towards is the whole not liking angel food cake thing. Another thing, I did not follow the directions very well. It said to use a 9x13 pan and I used a bundt pan. When I mixed the pineapples into the mix, it frothed up the way it was supposed to, but the chunks just sank to the bottom of the bundt pan. The pan was not big enough, either I don't think because it kind of baked over. I let it bake for the proper amount of time, but it was still wiggly, so I cooked it for some additional time. When I took it out, it smelled good. I let it cool completely and then I took it out of the pan. What a mess! The chunks all sank to the bottom (which only reaffirmed the fact that I needed to use the tid-bits) so the top of the cake was stuck to the inside of the pan. I tasted the little bit that I was able to salvage and that was when I realized that I had never had angel food cake before. I am sure that if you like angel food cake and follow the instructions, you will enjoy this cake.
Week 27 was a success! This is something that I whipped up today because I was not feeling well and my co-worker, Mandy, was nice enough to work for me today so I didn't have to go in. My throat has been on fire and I have a ton of post nasal drip. My throat is froggy and my voice is almost completely gone. I have been eating a ton of soup and for lunch, I thought if I had one more spoonful of soup, I would hurt someone! So, I made some homemade mac and cheese in the microwave. The recipe can be found at this great blog here! I used some mini farfalle pasta and of course extra cheese. The water in the mug will bubble over, but this is not a bad thing because when I wiped it up, it cleaned the microwave really well. I can see lots of tasty opportunities with this. Think bacon and all different types of cheeses! Yum, yum, yummy!!!!!
With only a week away from Christmas, I hope everyone has a wonderful week of preparing and enjoying time with your families. Thankfully, I have off Christmas day, but will be working on Christmas Eve. Better to be working than to be a patient in the hospital, though!
"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." ~Andy Rooney
"Isn't it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for - I don't know what exactly, but it's something that you don't mind so much not having at other times." ~Kate L. Bosher
"Great little One! whose all-embracing birth
Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to Earth." ~Richard Crashaw
Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home. ~Carol Nelson
While my mother was on the phone with me, the doctor was telling my groggy sister the same news. It made my heart hurt. This was a feeling that I had felt only one other time and it was when my mother told me that my Grams had passed away. This was a feeling that I hoped that I would never feel again, but less than 4 years later, I was feeling it again. She was having surgery that day and something didn't look right. What was supposed to be a short procedure ended up taking hours.
They gave Dana a preliminary stage of 1B cervical cancer. I did exactly what I told my mother and sister not to do. Shortly after hanging up with my mother, I started to search on the internet and find out what her treatment options are and what her prognosis would be. The doctor was very hopeful that it was caught very early on. I flew to NY so I could be with Dana and my family while we tried to process all of this as we were all unsure about what the next road would lead us.
After we had all "accepted" the fact that Dana had cancer, she had to have a PET scan. It did not reveal what we wanted it to. It seems as though the cancer has spread to some lymph nodes. Again, this was news that made me feel as though I had just been hit over the head with a baseball bat. This changes her staging and her treatment. Now we are not exactly sure what we are facing. My faith is rocked, I am angry, frustrated, wondering why we have been handed something else to deal with. My heart is aching all over again and the stress and waiting is killing me. Dana seems to be handling all of this a whole lot better than I am! She will have surgery again in January which will give us the answers we need and to find out what treatment she will be getting to fight this. Dana is a fighter. She is a red head and is filled with courage and strength to beat this.
So there it is. I said it. My sister has cancer. And it sucks. Big time.
Dana is just like Martha Stewart, although not as snooty, much prettier, much younger, and much better hair. But cooking wise, you would not be able to tell them apart. I know Dana would be very disappointed if I did not include some of my Pinterest projects, especially my big Pinterest FAIL! So, I will write about weeks 26 and 27. Now I know I said that I would get better about writing, but I was so angry last week, I did not want to blog.
Pinterest Project Week 26: Also known as my epic FAIL! Here is the blog I got it from. I am not really sure what went wrong here. It could have been that the pineapples were old, that they should have been pineapple tidbits instead of chunks, or that I just don't like angel food cake! The choice that I am leaning towards is the whole not liking angel food cake thing. Another thing, I did not follow the directions very well. It said to use a 9x13 pan and I used a bundt pan. When I mixed the pineapples into the mix, it frothed up the way it was supposed to, but the chunks just sank to the bottom of the bundt pan. The pan was not big enough, either I don't think because it kind of baked over. I let it bake for the proper amount of time, but it was still wiggly, so I cooked it for some additional time. When I took it out, it smelled good. I let it cool completely and then I took it out of the pan. What a mess! The chunks all sank to the bottom (which only reaffirmed the fact that I needed to use the tid-bits) so the top of the cake was stuck to the inside of the pan. I tasted the little bit that I was able to salvage and that was when I realized that I had never had angel food cake before. I am sure that if you like angel food cake and follow the instructions, you will enjoy this cake.
Week 27 was a success! This is something that I whipped up today because I was not feeling well and my co-worker, Mandy, was nice enough to work for me today so I didn't have to go in. My throat has been on fire and I have a ton of post nasal drip. My throat is froggy and my voice is almost completely gone. I have been eating a ton of soup and for lunch, I thought if I had one more spoonful of soup, I would hurt someone! So, I made some homemade mac and cheese in the microwave. The recipe can be found at this great blog here! I used some mini farfalle pasta and of course extra cheese. The water in the mug will bubble over, but this is not a bad thing because when I wiped it up, it cleaned the microwave really well. I can see lots of tasty opportunities with this. Think bacon and all different types of cheeses! Yum, yum, yummy!!!!!
With only a week away from Christmas, I hope everyone has a wonderful week of preparing and enjoying time with your families. Thankfully, I have off Christmas day, but will be working on Christmas Eve. Better to be working than to be a patient in the hospital, though!
"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." ~Andy Rooney
"Isn't it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for - I don't know what exactly, but it's something that you don't mind so much not having at other times." ~Kate L. Bosher
"Great little One! whose all-embracing birth
Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to Earth." ~Richard Crashaw
Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home. ~Carol Nelson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)