he's fine

For those of you wondering about my dad... his surgery was successful and he's recovering as well as expected. It was a huge relief to hear that, the last week has just been really emotional for me and it's just so awesome to have that behind us finally. They think he should be able to come home within 4-5 days... although I understand the pain will be there awhile. Thanks again for all the prayers, comments and concern.

graham wafer granola

Does anyone else have a mental block when it comes to making breakfast? Partly it's our crazy schedule (e.g. absolutely no schedule) that makes it difficult. Tech Guy leaves at 9:00 for work and the boys and I straggle out of bed at the same time. I feed the boys whatever is available at the moment, which usually happens to be cereal, toast or Eggo waffles... then I feed myself sometime before 11 (usually) although some days I forget altogether. I know when Buster starts kindergarten in spring, I'll have to get a little more serious about a schedule, but for now this works. I do not like eggs & pancakes and it's just a little hard to cook something I don't like, but since all three of my "boys" love it, I will cave in and make it Saturday morning when Tech Guy is home. But one recipe that's fun & yummy actually is a hit with all of us...

Graham Wafer Granola

3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup honey
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups large flake oats
2 cups graham wafers, coarsely broken
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 cup raisins or chopped fruit (optional)

Heat oil with honey to thin consistency. Add vanilla and salt. Combine remaining ingredients, except raisins. In a large bowl, toss with honey mixture to coat lightly. Spread 1/2" deep in cookie sheet. Bake at 275* for about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally to toast lightly and evenly. Stir in raisins. Cool and store in covered containers.

an update

It's been great hearing your thoughts on the new look! I was looking for a sleak new retro look, and it was a pleasure working with Darcy @ Graphically Designing - she delivered exactly the package I was looking for. Go ahead and look around her site, she has some incredible designs...

An update on my dad - he went into surgery at 8:00 this morning, about 2 hours ago. So hopefully in an hour or so he'll be out and everything will be okay. I just feel so far away right now (6 hours), and it's looking to be a long morning... thanks for thinking of our family & for all the prayers - it means so much!!

to my readers...

I just wanted to take the time to thank you all for thinking of our family lately and for the prayers. I haven't had a lot of time to personally respond to your comments, but it does mean a lot. My dad had his angiogram yesterday finally, and they did find a blockage... so now he's booked for a triple bypass on Monday. I guess I'm kinda scared about it all but I know I need to leave it in God's hands. Many people have had similar surgeries and gone on to lead perfectly normal lives, but it's so different when it's your own dad!

Buster finally came home yesterday - he was gone since Monday (!) so it was great to have him back. Noodle just hugged and hugged him, wouldn't let go... he kept saying, "I missed you! I missed you!" So we're back to the wild crazy household of boys... and we're loving it!

thankful

Today, I'm thankful for a lot of things. I'm thankful my dad is okay, for now. I'm thankful that I've never had to spend a lot of time in a hospital, either with myself as a patient or a family member. I'm thankful I can cook, and that I don't have to eat hospital cafeteria food very often. But most of all, I just realize how blessed I am, with loving supportive family and no major health issues to deal with. What I didn't mention earlier, was that my dad-in-law was also going through surgery at this time. He's been in horrific back pain all summer, and with Canadian health care the way it is, it would have taken 2 years until his name would top the list for surgery. So he headed off to Ohio to have a bulging disc repaired. The surgery was a huge success and he is virtually pain-free! So I'm thankful for that too... and it's not even thanksgiving yet...

going away

I know I mentioned earlier that my dad's in the hospital... well, tomorrow I'm flying out there to see him. They figure he has a blockage, so in the next day or two he'll have an angiogram and they'll decide from there whether they need to put in a stent or do a bypass. Tech Guy's sister and her hubby were here on the weekend, so they took Buster home with them for 4 days. And friends are helping with Noodle while Tech Guy is at work. I'll be gone for 2 days, leaving tomorrow (Tuesday) morning and coming home Wednesday evening. So please pray all goes well, I'm hoping they don't have to do the bypass, but whatever it takes to get my dad up and running again!

So adios for a couple of days...

three years

Today my baby boy is 3. You may wonder why I call him my baby... well, he is just that. Those of you who had your first 2 kids close together will understand a little. You see, my oldest wasn't a baby very long. No sooner had he turned 2 than he was suddenly big brother. No more rocking to sleep, no more bottles, pacifiers or snuggles. Part of the problem was, I was determined to help him grow up, not realizing in my "new mommy" state, that babies do that quite fine on their own... The other part of the problem? He's Mr. Independent and never has been that cuddly, lovey type. So along comes September 20, 2005 and I'm heading in to the city (an hour's drive) for my scheduled 8 a.m. Cesarean. The Dr. comes to talk to me, and comments that she believes we'll have a red-haired child. Which, of course, is preposterous because neither I nor Tech Guy has red hair. We proceed with the surgery, which goes well, other than the fact that I thought I would be permanently paralyzed after the spinal... but I digress... And the little baby that emerged at 9:30 that morning had red hair. I kid not. And to me, red hair, at least the dark auburn type or the strawberry blond type, is beautiful... yet I never dreamed I would be the mother of that hair! But what I never realized is the personality that emerges with that hair color. Noodle has always been intense. He screamed for the first 7 months of his life - colic, they all said. "Nothing we can do, he'll outgrow it." I took him to doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, switched him to the bottle, switched him to goat's milk... and nothing helped, until one day 7 months later, I realized he didn't scream so much anymore. But he carried that intense, yet sensitive, live-life-to-the-fullest attitude. He is also my cuddle-bug. I still rock him. No, he doesn't have a bottle or pacifier anymore, but he does have a blanky. He's still my baby. And you know what? I think he will always be...

chicken packets

In case no one's noticed yet... I could live with one kind of meat in my freezer - chicken! It's yummy, it's healthy and it doesn't make you feel like you ate 5 meals in one. For living in a community... actually province that is made up of beef farmers, it's almost a sacrilege to say you don't dig beef. But honestly? I don't. I like my prime rib at The Keg about once a year, and that's absolutely all I crave in the beef department. But chicken! And today while cruising around Amanda's gorgeous site, I came across this incredible recipe called "Chicken Packets". And you know what? I'm going to post the recipe here, just because I like to be able to find it later... but please visit her website - an experience in itself!

Chicken Packets

2 cups cooked, chopped chicken

1 (3 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened

2 tbsp milk

2 pkgs refrigerated crescent rolls

2 tbsp butter, melted

1/3 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 350*. Spray rectangular baking sheet with Pam. Mix chicken, cream cheese, and milk in a large bowl. Unroll crescent rolls. Each tube will contain 4 rectangles of dough with a diagonal perforation. Press along diagonal perforation to seal together. Spoon chicken mixture into the center of 4 rectangles. Place the other 4 rectangles over the filling and pinch the edges together of seal tightly. Brush each packet with melted butter and coat with breadcrumbs. Bake at 350* for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 4 packets.

P.S. I actually added sauteed mushrooms and it was delish! This recipe is so cool because it looks like you slaved for hours making it, but actually it's the easiest thing I've ever made! And it would be great as an appetizer if you made each packet about 1/4 the size. Enjoy!

thought for the day

Be careful about reading health books... you may die of a misprint!

pudding cake

Shortly after we were married, we were invited to dinner at friends of Tech Guy's parents. Our hostess served us an incredible dessert called Blueberry Pudding Cake, and of course, being a new bride, I asked for the recipe. I actually did make it a couple of times, but eventually forgot about it. Until this summer... when I got the idea to try it with fresh peaches.... Mmm...

Blueberry (Peach) Pudding Cake

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (sliced peaches)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup milk
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

Topping:
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 cup boiling water

Toss fruit with cinnamon and lemon juice; place in 8" square baking dish. Combine flour, sugar and baking powder. Stir in milk and butter. Spoon over fruit. Combine sugar and cornstarch; sprinkle over batter. Pour boiling water over all, slowly. Bake at 350* for 45-50 minutes or until cake tests done. Serves 9.

Pouring the boiling water over the top creates a slightly crisp, glazed effect that is truly delectable.

wordless wednesday

and the winner is...

Today I'm 27. It's such a non-number, it's not a milestone, it's neither old nor young. But it's my age and I have to live with that number for the next year.

The exciting part is, though, that today is the ending date of our 50th post giveaway! Are you ready? The winner, picked by the grubby hand of my own 5 year old son, is... Ticia! Email me with your address and we'll pop that book in the mail to you. Congratulations!!

a hard look

This week has been a tough one for my dad. He has spent most of it in a hospital bed, wondering what is wrong with his heart... I don't remember my dad ever in a hospital before. Growing up, he was always moving, always working, always fixing... and I realize now that time doesn't stand still, that my dad is 73 and he does have a bad heart, always has. And that one of the 2 people in my life who have always been around, is quite sick, and won't be around forever. And what hits the worst is that I haven't appreciated my dad enough. I've taken for granted all he's ever done, and stomped on it and focused on what he hasn't done... I feel so ashamed...

falling in love

Every year when summer is ending, I feel a little sad... there's so many things I had planned to do, so much sunshine I had planned to absorb... So many picnics and hikes that didn't happen. And through it all, I've taught myself to hate fall. I don't know why else the idea of fall has always left me with a feeling of loss, of dread, of thoughts of the cold months ahead. But this year is different. The smells, the colors, the looking forward to long days in a cozy house - they all hold an appeal to me like never before. Today I got out the Chariot again and took the boys for a walk. Buster is so big & independent, he walks & explores on his own, but Noodle loves riding along and exclaiming about his discoveries along the way. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and the smells of BBQ and burning leaves wafting across our paths... it was perfect, idyllic... and this time I'm not sad...

i wish...

Are you always finding stuff online that you like, and you're thinking, "I really wish I had a place to put all my wish lists in one"? I found about Wishpot from one of my favorite blogs - Simple Mom. It's a great way to keep track of all those items you stumble upon and would like to store in an easy-to-access place. You can also browse for friends - don't forget to visit my page and add me as your friend.

I can't wait to get my family on & simplify Christmas this year!

pizza pizzaz

Last night Tech Guy had Fire/Rescue practice, so it was just the boys and I for supper and I decided to experiment a little. I had several 8" pizza shells in the freezer, so I got a couple of those out and thawed them. I've made this recipe for Gourmet Chicken Pizza before and we loved it, so that took care of one pizza. The other one I decided to try and replicate my favorite pizza from a local restaurant.

House Pizza

Pizza crust
Pizza sauce (this is the kind I use)
Black Forest ham, sliced thin
Cooked shrimp
Green Pepper, diced
Black Olives, sliced
Onion, slivered
Oregano
Mozzarella cheese

Spread pizza sauce generously over crust. Cover with ham; sprinkle on remaining ingredients and bake at 375* for 15-20 minutes.

cinnamon rolls

For years I've fought with what to make for breakfast when we have guests. I've made Blueberry French Toast, which is good, but not exactly the favorite fare for Tech Guy and the boys. I've tried to dress up pretty much anything I can think of, and all that ends up happening is me with frazzled hair in the morning, frantically trying to get it all on the table in time. (Have I mentioned I'm not a morning person?!) So I always end up going back to the basics - cinnamon rolls. I make my cinnamon roll dough in my bread machine, usually forming them in the evening, letting rise in the fridge overnight and baking fresh for breakfast. This is especially handy when you have guests, you don't have to scurry very hard in the morning, but you get the "fresh from the oven" taste. This past weekend was no exception - with company coming out of the woodwork, it was a breeze to whip up a batch. The recipe came with my bread machine and was designed for butter rolls, but makes a mean cinnamon roll:


Cinnamon Rolls

2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 3/4 cups bread flour
2 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup water
1 egg
7/8 cup milk (7 oz.)
1/4 cup butter

Measure into bread machine and start it on the Dough setting. When dough is complete, roll out into large rectangle. Spread generously with butter or margarine, brown sugar and cinnamon. Sometimes I add chopped pecans as well. Roll up and cut with string. Fills a large commercial-sized cookie sheet. Cover with plastic wrap (GLAD Press 'n Seal works best since it doesn't stick to the food) and let slow rise in fridge overnight. Take out 1/2 hour ahead or let warm slightly in oven. Bake at 375* for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Ice with powdered sugar icing or cream cheese icing.

********************
Powdered Sugar Icing

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 - 2 1/2 cups icing sugar
2 tsp vanilla
Milk or cream
Mix softened butter with icing sugar and vanilla. Add milk and mix until thick enough to spread.

********************
Cream Cheese Icing

8 oz cream cheese, light or regular, softened
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 - 2 1/2 cups icing sugar
2 tsp vanilla
Mix softened butter and cream cheese until soft and creamy. Add icing sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla.

P.S. Another great icing recipe can be found on Pioneer Woman's site. It's a little richer but definitely worth a try!

in the life of us

Earlier in the week, some friends of ours from out of town phoned and wondered if they could stay for a few nights this weekend. We were delighted, but through the week when I was so sick, it was questionable whether it would work. Once I got on Penicillin, I started to feel worlds better & the day our company was to arrive, I hired someone to come in and clean (my house had been run by the males of the household for too long...). I also managed to get the ductwork professionally cleaned, which hadn't been done post-construction and was long overdue. Our friends arrived and it was great to catch up again and let our kids play together... Then yesterday some other friends phoned for a place to stay as well, and even though we only have 2 bedrooms we said yes and actually made it all work! 2 bedrooms, 6 adults and 5 kids ages 7 months to 5 years! We slept downstairs with the boys (old sofabed and foam mattresses on the floor) and our company used our room and the boys' room. It was a blast, but I do think we'll pursue framing out at least one bedroom downstairs shortly...

Yesterday and today Blake complained of earache so I took him in instead of going to church this morning... he does indeed have ear infection & is on antibiotics as well now. One of his tubes has come out, but the other is still halfway in, and that's the ear that's infected.

weight loss

I have finally discovered the ultimate weight loss program. It's not easy, it's not fun, but it's extremely effective! Try having strep throat... there are 3 levels of insurance that you will shed pounds:

1. You have no appetite. None. Even if you normally eat everything in sight (like moi).
   
2. If #1 doesn't stop you, and you insist on taking a bite, you will be rewarded with the sensation of 100 knives attacking your throat.
3. If that still doesn't stop you? The food that goes down will taste absolutely like rotten cardboard.

My clothes are actually loose on me. After 3 days!!! Let's hear a weight loss story to beat that...

update

Just a quick update on life around here... Sunday night's fiasco turned out to be strep (they think!) for me and a viral sore throat and fever for Buster. So the last 2 days have been flat in bed, an aunt was kind enough to take Noodle for the day today, and Tech Guy was home yesterday because of Labour Day. I've never been in such agony - pretty much everything hurts and I just about scream when I swallow... So I probably won't be posting much, it's all I can do to type these few words...

Off to bed again...

a keeper

Last night was a nasty one... I didn't sleep much all night - I had the Mother of All Tummy Aches, which absolutely refused to budge no matter what I tried. Then when I got up in the morning, the entire rest of me ached... head, shoulders, back. Icky and feverish, wishing maybe to die... Do you know what Tech Guy did? He made breakfast for himself and the boys (I don't remember in 8 years of marriage that he ever made a meal before!) and surprised me with a plate in bed!!! Pancakes and eggs! You know, I think I just might keep him around awhile...