The last day of April.....

Can you believe how fast this year is going by? The older I get, the faster time seems to fly...I'll be 30 next year...I can't believe it! Wasn't I just a teenager, flitting around with my friends in perpetual summer? *sigh*

Today, while Reagan and I were out and about certainly did not help me feel any younger either. Now, granted, my eyebrows need waxed and I was wearing makeup from last year when I was a little darker and I had on a very unflattering color of orange t-shirt....but what right did the little monster from the store have to call me "MA'AM"!?!??!!

Yes. The dreaded Ma'am. I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell. I wanted to tell him, you know, I'm not much older than you are! But then I realized, if I had started young enough, I probably could be his mother. Argh. The thought was not pleasing.

At any rate, I'm still losing weight and I'm thinking I should get a new fashionable haircut, some better make up, some crest white strips and a good wrinkle cover-up, along with some different color shirts! A nice shave on the old (extremely white) legs and I should look perhaps a LITTLE younger. Maybe, just maybe, I'll even go in for a pedicure and manicure. Say it with me now 'oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh'!

And just maybe, tomorrow, when the first day of May arrives, it'll bring with it a little sunshine and a nice LONG summer!

Update on Reagan

Gee, guess what? Reagan is sick again. I am beginning to feel like the world's worst mom ever. Yesterday she finished a 20-day supply of antibiotics from two weeks ago when she was sick with a respiratory infection..since then she's had the stomach flu and now has the respiratory infection again. Obviously, the antibiotics are not working and I believe she has developed a resistance to them.

On top of that, we're also doing her Ceron drops, pulmocourt and albuterol breathing treatments through her nebulizer and Rhinocourt nose drops..as well as conventional treatments like Vicks, VaporBath, humidifier and saline nasal spray.

We have yet another doctor's appointment this afternoon..luckily she isn't rattling as much in her chest..yesterday was awful..but inevitably she gets better before the doctor hears what I hear in her chest.

I think we're going to request a referral to an ENT, even though her doctor says they really do not like to get involved until the age 2--simply because allergy testing is inconclusive at this age and anything they do..such as removing adenoids, grows back.

At this point, however, I want to see them and get some other viewpoints. I do not want to put her on antibiotics again. And I was told by a nurse I know that going onto oral steriods would just depress her system more (although she is on an inhaled steriod).

We are still doing ongoing immune deficiency testing and she is due for more bloodwork in two weeks. She also has her 'well baby' (if she can ever get well) checkup next week for her 15-month appointment---she'll be well over 16 months and on her way to 17 at this point.

If she continues to get better througout the afternoon, I may wait to take her in until her checkup next week. Wish us luck and please keep Reagan in your prayers.

Veggggggggggggggggggggggggieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Reagan is so funny! She absolutely loves Veggie Tales...I swear, they are her favorite thing in life! When she wants to watch them, she'll go grab the DVD/VHS cassette and start pointing...as soon as they go on she screams "VEGGIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!" and she'll even sing along with the opening song at times. I get the biggest kick out of her! She goes around saying "Bob, Bob" and will even point out Bob and Larry if you ask! It just cracks me up!

That being said, here is my menu plan for the week, including some great veggggggggieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!



Monday: Chicken and Biscuits and vegetables from the freezer
Tuesday: Reagan and I may go out to eat!
Wednesday: Josh and Reagan can fend for themselves since they never eat what I leave anyway! ;) I'll be having soup and crackers and fruit at the office!
Thursday: Shepherd's pie and salad
Friday: Chicken Chimichangas with Green Sauce
Saturday: Potato Beef Croquettes and Broccoli
Sunday: Leftovers!!!

Breakfasts: Oatmeal, fruit, bacon, eggs, pancakes
Lunches: Leftovers
Snacks: Fruit-fresh and canned, homemade baked goods, cheese, vegetables

Mac and Tuna Casserole

1 package mac and cheese
1 can tuna, drained, flaked
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheese
parsley, optional
vegetables, optional (I used green peas!)

Prepare mac and cheese according to package directions. Stir in soup, tuna and milk (and any veggies you like!). Pour into 2 qt dish. Sprinkle with cheese and parsley. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Note: You can also skip the oven directions and cook this directly on the stove top..but use less milk!

Why is it.....

that everytime I read an article related to home or birthing center births, the so-called 'fact' comes up that midwives/home births/birthing centers have a much lower maternal and infant death rate? HELLO PEOPLE!!! Shouldn't the reason be obvious...first, more births (PERIOD) take place with doctors' help and in hospitals. Second, doctors and hospitals tend to take on pregnancies/births that range from everyday/normal to the most severe and complicated ones. Do midwives/birthing centers handle extremely complicated pregnancies? NO.

And again and again, I see 'statistics' showing that women are better off giving birth without hospitals and without doctors. If not for my doctor, Reagan and I certainly wouldn't be here.

I am a firm believer that God gives us the technology and resources we have in today's age, available for a reason.

Some updated photos!

What a week! It's been quite busy here with ongoing home projects so I haven't blogged as much as I normally do! I promise to correct that and will blog at least three times a week in the future! (Have some interesting topics to talk about!)

In the meantime, I leave you with these new photos of my gorgeous girl!

Reagan waking her 'brother' Porthos!

Reagan chillin'!

Reagan standing on her head! (Learned courtesy of her friend Catherine)

Reagan is so happy to be outside!

Where's Reagan!?

Reagan at playtime!

Reagan loves to swing!

Menu Plan Monday

After this weekend, I'm not sure I ever want to think about food again. Nevertheless, here is my menu for this week:

Monday: Lunch: Baked potato with cheese and a side of vegetables; Dinner: Baked chicken and vegetables from the freezer
Tuesday: Lunch: Pasta salad; Dinner: Stir-fry
Wednesday: Lunch: Soup and fruit salad; Dinner: Roast, potatoes, carrots
Thursday: Lunch: Tuna salad sandwhiches and salad; Dinner: BBQ Sandwhiches and vegetables from the freezer or pantry
Friday: Lunch: Vegetable-Beef soup and biscuits; Dinner: Hashbrown casserole and grilled meat from the freezer
Saturday: Lunch & Dinner: Various leftovers; clean out fridge day
Sunday: Lunch: Out; Dinner: Various leftovers; clean out fridge day again

Breakfasts: oatmeal, bananas, pancakes, cheese, eggs
Snacks: strawberries, bananas, oranges, string cheese, baby carrots, frozen peas and yogurt

Yep, I'm pretty sure this is the hardest menu plan I've ever had to make..food...blech.

Just a quick note...

Well, I think the stomach flu has finally made it's rounds and we're all recooperating, Josh included. Luckily it seemed to be only about a 12 hour bug, although Mommy seemed to have gotten the worst of it! (Oh well!) We're still dealing with bouts of naseau and of course, weakness and soreness..but we'll get back to normal eventually!

Josh and Reagan are taking naps while I attempt to do the massive mound of laundry..I swear almost every towel in the house was dirty along with most of the blankets, sheets and a good pile of clothing! And I think we've gone through every glass too!

My mother in law and father in law were sweet enough to go pick up some groceries for us to help get us through the next few days...let's hear it for Ginger Ale and Saltines! WOOHOO!

I hope you're all having a fabulous weekend!

And the Circle of Life continues....

Many, many years ago an event happened. I will not go into all of the details. It is sufficient to say: we were young, stupid and a little out of control. The important part of the story (at least in relation to this particular story I'm about to tell you) is that I threw up in my best friend Stacy's bra (among other places, such as my car, the steps to our apartment, etc, etc, etc).

This morning I woke up to Reagan throwing up and, well, explosive diahrea (poor, poor kid). This evening, the throwing up continued...and, much to my chagrin, the circle of life also continued and she threw up in MY bra.

There is nothing quite like having warm, sticky, smelly bodily fluids, along with chunks of partially digested banana, cascading over your skin. It's quite enough to make you want to thrust everything from you and run at breakneck speed into your shower.

However, being a mom, I held my baby close and told her it was going to be ok...while she puked down my bra a second time. Now, if that isn't true love...what is?

Families, marriage, respect...

I'm reading an incredible book, which, by the way, is not on my book list for this spring..oops! The book is My Heart's At Home by Jill Savage. I'm only a little way into the book and I have to say it is so empowering.

Jill says that the book is geared toward helping women become 'intentional moms'. The life lessons she provides are real, honest, down to earth and can be translated into our daily lives easily. She offers practical advice about making our homes a safe haven in today's world and by doing so, we are making over ourselves into those 'intentional moms' she speaks about!

Last night I was able to put one of her lessons into practice and much to my amazement, it worked incredibly well! Jill emphasizes the fact that homes need to be places where we feel respect, but it's usually the one place where we let our guards down enough that respect slowly oozes away from us. That has definitely been true in our house.

At bedtime I went in to tell Josh that we had forgotten Pritsha's (our cat) birthday. He glared at me in fustration and muttered some ill-mannered phrase. It hurt, because while it wasn't important to him, it was important to me and he could have chosen a better way to respond to me. Instead of lashing out in anger as I normally would have which would have resulted in a huge argument and dissolved into us acting like children, I simply said 'Josh, I really feel disrespected when you act like that towards me.' He was quiet for a moment and said 'I'm sorry.' He didn't ask for my forgiveness like Jill suggests, but this was a huge step forward for us--I didn't react in anger, and he apologized! Amazing! I can tell it made such a huge difference to me! I went to bed very happy instead of seething and carrying it over to poison the next day.

Then something else happened! I asked him if we needed to do something (turn on the heater for our daughter--I'm always cold..he's a much better judge of temp!) and he said 'No. I don't think so.' Then he said, 'Good idea, though!' WE WERE BEING POLITE! Normally, being polite is the furthest thing from the conversations that occur in our home! I was so ecstatic!

It just takes a simple step forward and you can make such a huge difference in your home life. I'm eagerly looking forward to more of Jill's insights into building a firm foundation for our family!

Monday, Monday.....

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...I'm in a food mood................... (ok when am I NOT in a food mood?? I'm a Southerner..it's inherent!) At any rate, below is my list for the week!

Monday: Leftovers from Sunday-chicken, potatoes, coleslaw, beans and mixed veggies
Tuesday: Sandwiches, soup and fruit salad
Wednesday: Meatloaf, mashed sweet potatoes and green beans
Thursday: Salmon patties, brown rice and veggies
Friday: out to dinner
Saturday: out to dinner
Sunday: Roast, potatoes, carrots and a dessert of some sort

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK--- I AM SUCH A BAD MOM--I completely forgot Sunday was Pritsha's birthday!!! SOOO BAD!!!!!! I have to make her a tuna cake and sing Happy Birthday tomorrow! Poor sweetie, no wonder she kept meowing and nudging me all day!!