Well, Sept 25 came and went. If Weston had gotten a transplant by that date, we would have had a chance at going home by Christmas. Since that didn't happen, we will be spending the holidays here. We are still figuring out all of the logistics of how the kids can spend the holidays together. My next "goal" holiday is to make it home by the time Ellie is born.
Adam has been busy learning to make cheese. He has always wanted to and it turned out pretty yummy. I supervised and decided that he needs to get a strainer because I wasn't all that thrilled with standing there holding a stinky bowl of cheese curds. I think he is planning to make cheddar when we go home. He just doesn't have room for it here. For now, he can stick with making mozzarella.
I have a new list of recipes to try in the coming weeks. Pinterest has been great for some friends and I to share everything from recipes to maternity picts. I LOVE maternity picts!! They are right up there with tutus, frilly bows, and matching kids.
We got an offer on our house yesterday-yippee! Unfortunately, it is too low so Adam counter offered but I doubt they will take it. I know God will send us the right buyer at the right time. The market is just so bad right now. This selling a house thing has been terrible and I don't ever want to buy or sell or move again.
And, last but not least, we found out number 7 is a girl! YAY! I would have been happy with either but I am excited because we actually had a girls name. Ellie will make her debut in January. The girls are over the moon excited-except Avery. She is busy learning to walk, avoid talking, and get into everything in between. We are still looking for a middle name for Ellie. I can't decide on whether we should name her Ellie or Elizabeth and call her Ellie. If we name her Elizabeth, the middle name choices are endless. If we name her Ellie, the middle names that go are just minimal. And Mae is not going to be her middle name.
We are in such a weird spot in life right now. It is like somewhere between a midlife crisis and traumatic stress. It is definitely not in those cookie cutter parenting books or any sort of book on life. There is no survival guide for how to deal with the unknown of your 5 year old needing a heart lung transplant or how to deal with waiting for the phone to ring every second and wondering if it is finally time. There is no "how to" for how to entertain a 5 year old in intensive care and no guide on how to not let seeing children die around you send you into a spiral of despair. We are learning quickly about the really important things in life and how the rest is just "fluff". No one tells you that you will lose the friends that can't handle everything you are going through but along the way, you will find the real friends you have always known you had. I am blessed with tons of wonderful friends out there who not only pray for us but listen to me vent, send me texts and emails, and through their funny blogs and posts, transport me into a happier place-even if it is just for a minute. For that, I thank you all.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Good potato recipe
I made these potatoes the other night and they were very yummy. I merged 2 similar recipes and these turned out great
A few pounds of the small red or white new potatoes
Olive Oil
Parmesan Cheese
Salt and pepper
Boil the potatoes until cooked through. Then, spray a nonstick cookie sheet with cooking spray. Take each potato and smash it with the back of a glass until it is just squished flat (thanks RR for that tip). Brush tops with Olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake at 350 for 25 minutes. About 20 minutes into it, add the cheese on top. They were a great twist on mashed potatoes and you could even add a little chopped bacon for a potato skin type smashed potato.
A few pounds of the small red or white new potatoes
Olive Oil
Parmesan Cheese
Salt and pepper
Boil the potatoes until cooked through. Then, spray a nonstick cookie sheet with cooking spray. Take each potato and smash it with the back of a glass until it is just squished flat (thanks RR for that tip). Brush tops with Olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake at 350 for 25 minutes. About 20 minutes into it, add the cheese on top. They were a great twist on mashed potatoes and you could even add a little chopped bacon for a potato skin type smashed potato.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
What's your number
Ever since Adam and I had our 4th child, people have thought we lost our minds. Somewhere, between going from 3 kids to 4 something changes. The world views you differently. Also, the only "logical" reason for us to even have a 3rd child was to try for a girl. Apparently, once we got our magical girl, our family was supposed to be complete.
I firmly believe that everyone has a number of children that works for them-whether it is 0 or 27. Personally, it isn't really my business to judge anyone's number-not only because it is rude but I don't walk a day in anyone elses shoes. I don't know what other families deal with and I don't pretend to. When I was younger, I wanted 6 kids. In college, I wanted 4-2 boys followed by 2 girls. I think a lot about what changed after we had Sutton. Suddenly, our number changed. God showed us, by giving us Abby, that he meant for us to have more children. For those who don't know, Abby came to live with us the week after Sutton was born. We went from a family with 4 kids to a family with 5 kids in a week. It was in those moments of frustration that I realized God has a bigger purpose for all of our children.
It is very clear that Easton's personality (nurturing and loving) was made by God so that he could be Weston's number 1 fan. Weston's personality suits his illness. He is a fighter and a spit fire. He doesn't lt the medical staff ever get a moments rest. Emery and Abby are quite the wild pair. It is a total love/hate relationship but, at the end of the day, they are very best friends. Sutton is just a breath of fresh air. He is such a wild guy. He reminds me of how I think Weston would be if he wasn't sick. And, Avery-well she loves Weston and Weston loves her. Other than Easton, Avery is the next requested sibling to get to visit.
When I see how all of the kids help Weston be so strong and give him so much to live for, I cannot help but question the people who are shocked we are having another baby. I think it is odd the people that come out of the woodwork to give me their 2 cents but also the TONS of people that support us. I lost what I thought was a really good friend over having a large family. I don't really know how we offend people-especially those who I haven't seen in years. It isn't like 1 day I am going to drop all of the kids off at your house and say "OK see you later".
In all of my frustration over losing a "friend" and feeling sad, I have found so many people who love large families. We have felt such support and love from most everyone. That has definitely been a blessing.
So, what is your number? I know our number isn't 7-although I keep telling Adam I am not having anymore kids. I think our number is 8. Adam would have as many kids as I am willing but 8 seems like a great number.
I firmly believe that everyone has a number of children that works for them-whether it is 0 or 27. Personally, it isn't really my business to judge anyone's number-not only because it is rude but I don't walk a day in anyone elses shoes. I don't know what other families deal with and I don't pretend to. When I was younger, I wanted 6 kids. In college, I wanted 4-2 boys followed by 2 girls. I think a lot about what changed after we had Sutton. Suddenly, our number changed. God showed us, by giving us Abby, that he meant for us to have more children. For those who don't know, Abby came to live with us the week after Sutton was born. We went from a family with 4 kids to a family with 5 kids in a week. It was in those moments of frustration that I realized God has a bigger purpose for all of our children.
It is very clear that Easton's personality (nurturing and loving) was made by God so that he could be Weston's number 1 fan. Weston's personality suits his illness. He is a fighter and a spit fire. He doesn't lt the medical staff ever get a moments rest. Emery and Abby are quite the wild pair. It is a total love/hate relationship but, at the end of the day, they are very best friends. Sutton is just a breath of fresh air. He is such a wild guy. He reminds me of how I think Weston would be if he wasn't sick. And, Avery-well she loves Weston and Weston loves her. Other than Easton, Avery is the next requested sibling to get to visit.
When I see how all of the kids help Weston be so strong and give him so much to live for, I cannot help but question the people who are shocked we are having another baby. I think it is odd the people that come out of the woodwork to give me their 2 cents but also the TONS of people that support us. I lost what I thought was a really good friend over having a large family. I don't really know how we offend people-especially those who I haven't seen in years. It isn't like 1 day I am going to drop all of the kids off at your house and say "OK see you later".
In all of my frustration over losing a "friend" and feeling sad, I have found so many people who love large families. We have felt such support and love from most everyone. That has definitely been a blessing.
So, what is your number? I know our number isn't 7-although I keep telling Adam I am not having anymore kids. I think our number is 8. Adam would have as many kids as I am willing but 8 seems like a great number.
Monday, September 5, 2011
When life gives you lemons and limes
I am sure you have all heard be complain about the lack of sweet tea here in the north-let me rephrase-they have this bottled stuff that they call sweet tea. It is nothing like southern sweet tea. In fact, after a drink or two, it makes me want to throw up. Little Baby No Name is completely unimpressed.
The other day, we went to this produce warehouse of sorts. It is called Produce Junction and I can't really describe it. There are tons of local and imported fruits and veggies. Well, you can get bags of lemons and limes for a dollar each! That is right, 1 dollar for a giant bag. Well, we bought a bag of each and came home. I found hand squeezing all of those lemons and limes WAY too much work so we got a juicer. Just a cheap, 9.99 special from Target but it is an amazing little gadget.
I looked online for a good lemon/limeade recipe and didn't like any that I found so I came up with this. It is the perfect blend of sweet and tart-a little more on the tart side.
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup fresh lime juice (honestly, I ended up with about 1/4 cup more lemon/lime juice)
2 cups simple syrup (2 cups sugar, 2 cups water, and bring to a boil)
8 cups of water
Mix it all together and enjoy over ice. I might add some white peach puree next time for a peach lemonade mix or pureed strawberries for a strawberry lemonade.
The other day, we went to this produce warehouse of sorts. It is called Produce Junction and I can't really describe it. There are tons of local and imported fruits and veggies. Well, you can get bags of lemons and limes for a dollar each! That is right, 1 dollar for a giant bag. Well, we bought a bag of each and came home. I found hand squeezing all of those lemons and limes WAY too much work so we got a juicer. Just a cheap, 9.99 special from Target but it is an amazing little gadget.
I looked online for a good lemon/limeade recipe and didn't like any that I found so I came up with this. It is the perfect blend of sweet and tart-a little more on the tart side.
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup fresh lime juice (honestly, I ended up with about 1/4 cup more lemon/lime juice)
2 cups simple syrup (2 cups sugar, 2 cups water, and bring to a boil)
8 cups of water
Mix it all together and enjoy over ice. I might add some white peach puree next time for a peach lemonade mix or pureed strawberries for a strawberry lemonade.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Happy, Happy Birthday to you
Yesterday was Weston's 5th birthday. This marks the 2nd year he has had his birthday in the hospital. 2/5 of his birthdays-so, with my good math skills, I believe that makes 40 percent of his birthdays being spent in the hospital. Maybe I let it get me down too much but that is just down right depressing.
This week has been rough. Who the heck am I kidding? This whole experience is rough! Last week, we saw 2 babies die plus our 4 year old neighbor also passed away plus 2 that had emergency open heart procedures right out in the open (ok not in the hallway but in their glass pod where we could see). Yeah, that puts everything into perspective. The CICU is difficult. Difficult to stay in (there is no sense of day or night) but difficult to walk through as well. You walk down a long hall past 3 pods (4 beds each) of babies. You can't help but look at them and you can see anything that goes on with them. Then, you get to the private rooms. Weston is in the first private room. The doctor wanted him as close to the main desk as possible since he is such a wild spirit. Even though there are HIPPA laws and all of that, everyone knows what is going on with most of the kids here. We know if a family is having a particularly rough time because we see them crying in the hallway. Weston and Easton are the Mayors of the CICU. They know everyone and talk to everyone.
Today is my day at home with the kids. We went to Target (another outing accomplished with just me plus 5-no one lost-success). Shopping here is a lot different than back home. There are only about a million more people here and, let's face it, more than half look like they have been featured on Unsolved Mysteries before.
Avery is getting tubes on Wednesday-YAY! For those who don't know, she passed her newborn screening but has had an ear infection monthly since birth. When we went for her 9 month checkup (on her 10 month bday), the doctor said she had an inverted eardrum. We got an apt here and saw a specialist last week. I knew she needed tubes. This isn't my first rodeo. Anyways, they did a hearing test on her and she promptly failed leading the hearing test lady (fancy name huh?) to declare Avery couldn't hear anything we were saying. I had told her that from the moment we walked in. Adam and I both knew she couldn't hear. She barely babbles and somedays can stand alone while other days, she gets "swimmy headed" and can barely sit up. I am excited to hear her start talking and walking-not that we have any shortage of kids talking to us or running away from us.
This week has been rough. Who the heck am I kidding? This whole experience is rough! Last week, we saw 2 babies die plus our 4 year old neighbor also passed away plus 2 that had emergency open heart procedures right out in the open (ok not in the hallway but in their glass pod where we could see). Yeah, that puts everything into perspective. The CICU is difficult. Difficult to stay in (there is no sense of day or night) but difficult to walk through as well. You walk down a long hall past 3 pods (4 beds each) of babies. You can't help but look at them and you can see anything that goes on with them. Then, you get to the private rooms. Weston is in the first private room. The doctor wanted him as close to the main desk as possible since he is such a wild spirit. Even though there are HIPPA laws and all of that, everyone knows what is going on with most of the kids here. We know if a family is having a particularly rough time because we see them crying in the hallway. Weston and Easton are the Mayors of the CICU. They know everyone and talk to everyone.
Today is my day at home with the kids. We went to Target (another outing accomplished with just me plus 5-no one lost-success). Shopping here is a lot different than back home. There are only about a million more people here and, let's face it, more than half look like they have been featured on Unsolved Mysteries before.
Avery is getting tubes on Wednesday-YAY! For those who don't know, she passed her newborn screening but has had an ear infection monthly since birth. When we went for her 9 month checkup (on her 10 month bday), the doctor said she had an inverted eardrum. We got an apt here and saw a specialist last week. I knew she needed tubes. This isn't my first rodeo. Anyways, they did a hearing test on her and she promptly failed leading the hearing test lady (fancy name huh?) to declare Avery couldn't hear anything we were saying. I had told her that from the moment we walked in. Adam and I both knew she couldn't hear. She barely babbles and somedays can stand alone while other days, she gets "swimmy headed" and can barely sit up. I am excited to hear her start talking and walking-not that we have any shortage of kids talking to us or running away from us.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Week 2-here we go
This week, things have settled down a lot. I am still one thousand percent sure that we could never survive long term in an apt in the city, but we are making the best of it. There is a nice wildlife refuge close and we have taken the kids walking many nights. I survived taking them to Kmart alone-SUCCESS!
Homeschool officially started a bit tonight. I tested Easton's spelling level and (drum roll and trumpets please), he tested at a 5th grade 2nd month level. We knew he would test well but had no idea he would test that well. He is going to be part of an autism study (no, he isn't autistic) at CHOP. They needed non-autistic children to take part (and get paid) and part of it is an IQ test. Adam and I are really looking forward to seeing those results. Adam swears Easton is smarter than some of the adults he knows-hahahha. We have become CHOP's research family. Anytime there is a research project where they need a little child, they come find us because they know we 1) have lots of little ones and 2) will say yes. The new baby is already enrolled in a research project about how the brain develops between birth and age 3. In exchange, we get money to travel up to CHOP (which we will combine with Weston's monthly visits after transplant) and they pay for our hotel and food.
Yesterday, Adam and I took the kids to a craft festival/farmers market in a neighboring town and then to Linvilla Orchards for peach and apple picking. We are trying to find fun things in the city for the kids to enjoy before the weather gets too cold. Weston has been busy making his list of things he wants to do when he leaves the hospital. His number 1 thing is go to the beach and number 2 is go to a fair and ride a ferris wheel.
On the transplant front, I have no news to report. We don't get to find out everytime they get a call about a possible transplant match but we do know that they have had a match for a heart a few weeks ago and a set of lungs about a month ago. Weston needs the heart and lungs to come from the same donor so we will keep praying. Hearing that he got some offers made me feel better. It made me feel like we aren't just sitting around in the CICU for nothing.
Homeschool officially started a bit tonight. I tested Easton's spelling level and (drum roll and trumpets please), he tested at a 5th grade 2nd month level. We knew he would test well but had no idea he would test that well. He is going to be part of an autism study (no, he isn't autistic) at CHOP. They needed non-autistic children to take part (and get paid) and part of it is an IQ test. Adam and I are really looking forward to seeing those results. Adam swears Easton is smarter than some of the adults he knows-hahahha. We have become CHOP's research family. Anytime there is a research project where they need a little child, they come find us because they know we 1) have lots of little ones and 2) will say yes. The new baby is already enrolled in a research project about how the brain develops between birth and age 3. In exchange, we get money to travel up to CHOP (which we will combine with Weston's monthly visits after transplant) and they pay for our hotel and food.
Yesterday, Adam and I took the kids to a craft festival/farmers market in a neighboring town and then to Linvilla Orchards for peach and apple picking. We are trying to find fun things in the city for the kids to enjoy before the weather gets too cold. Weston has been busy making his list of things he wants to do when he leaves the hospital. His number 1 thing is go to the beach and number 2 is go to a fair and ride a ferris wheel.
On the transplant front, I have no news to report. We don't get to find out everytime they get a call about a possible transplant match but we do know that they have had a match for a heart a few weeks ago and a set of lungs about a month ago. Weston needs the heart and lungs to come from the same donor so we will keep praying. Hearing that he got some offers made me feel better. It made me feel like we aren't just sitting around in the CICU for nothing.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
1 week here
I meant to post some last week but the internet at the hospital hates most websites that are useful including blogger, facebook messenger, and a few very necessary kids clothing sites. This has been a rough week for everyone involved. The kids had never visited an apartment/townhouse/or anything of the sort before so they keep calling our apartment a hotel. They have no concept of neighbors being so close and talk to every single person that walks by our apartment. If they are inside, they stand at the window and wave. They are the 5 man welcome crew.
Weston is doing well but it hurts his feelings when all of the kids visit and then they all leave together so we are limiting group visits to twice a week. We are still figuring out an extra few days for Easton to go to the hospital. Adam and I are trading out more so that has helped tremendously. He has gotten to go on a walk around the CICU and take a real bath so those things lifted his spirits!
There is a really nice town close to our apartment called Media. I joke with Adam that it is where all of the sane people in Philadelphia live because it is a nice size town with lots of shops but nothing overwhelming-EXCEPT the 2, 2 story Targets that are just amazing. The YMCA there offers a homeschool group, dance classes for the girls, karate and swimming for the boys, and all sorts of arts and cooking. Because they work closely with CHOP, we will be able to enroll the kids in some of the activities for free. We also found Easton a Cub Scout group in Media. I hope this will help him make some friends.
Speaking of school, we will begin formal homeschool next week. We are doing things a bit differently this year because of our situation here in Philly. For Language, Phonics, and Bible, we enrolled Easton in Abeka Academy. They video stream and online teacher teaching. We are also going to use a few new multi-age texts. I am hoping to get a few years out of these books and involve the other kids more. I am going to use Spelling Power for Spelling. For Science, we will use Apologia. I really love Apologia. The books are bright and full of beautiful pictures. I got the lapbook cd to go with it so I am hoping for Easton and Weston to make more lapbooks this year. Lapbooks are 1 thing the kids really love. We are going to try Story of the World again for History. Now that we have done a year of homeschooling, I don't feel nearly as overwhelmed so I think Story of the World will be a good fit. The 2nd week, Easton will be making a mummy out of a whole chicken. I believe Adam will be helping more with that. We are using A Reason for Handwriting for printing and I believe Easton will start cursive this year with Abeka. Easton's Abeka won't arrive until later this week so I will know more then. For Math, we reluctantly bought Saxon again. Saxon is a great, hands on program but you constantly repeat what you just learned. It made Easton very frustrated but he loved the hands on elements.
We also ordered the K4 curriculum from Abeka Academy. Adam and I struggled with trying to decide whether to start Weston in true Kindergarten or have him take another year of preschool. Weston is very smart but with everything going on, I think another year of preschool will be great. There is no need to make him grow up faster than he already is. His birthday is in September so it is no big deal to do another year of preschool. I have read lots of studies saying that boys, especially, benefit from starting school a little later.
As much as I hate to admit it, there are a few things I love about Philadelphia. The very best thing about Philly is the fruit cart. Don't worry-I was scared at first too. Who eats fruit out of a tiny cart??? Well, the answer is, everyone who knows where to get good, cheap fruit! I am going to post a pic next time of how much fruit you get for 4 dollars. It is amazing. You could not buy fruit and cut it up for less than you can buy it from the fruit cart. My 2nd favorite thing is Trader Joes. LOVE LOVE LOVE this store. 19 cents a pound for bananas EVERYDAY. Great, great, great. And, last but not least, now that we have kind of settled, I have found some great homeschooling oppoortunities for Easton. This year may end up consisting of lots of unschooling because of all of the fun things we have found for him. I hope you all have a blessed Sunday!
Weston is doing well but it hurts his feelings when all of the kids visit and then they all leave together so we are limiting group visits to twice a week. We are still figuring out an extra few days for Easton to go to the hospital. Adam and I are trading out more so that has helped tremendously. He has gotten to go on a walk around the CICU and take a real bath so those things lifted his spirits!
There is a really nice town close to our apartment called Media. I joke with Adam that it is where all of the sane people in Philadelphia live because it is a nice size town with lots of shops but nothing overwhelming-EXCEPT the 2, 2 story Targets that are just amazing. The YMCA there offers a homeschool group, dance classes for the girls, karate and swimming for the boys, and all sorts of arts and cooking. Because they work closely with CHOP, we will be able to enroll the kids in some of the activities for free. We also found Easton a Cub Scout group in Media. I hope this will help him make some friends.
Speaking of school, we will begin formal homeschool next week. We are doing things a bit differently this year because of our situation here in Philly. For Language, Phonics, and Bible, we enrolled Easton in Abeka Academy. They video stream and online teacher teaching. We are also going to use a few new multi-age texts. I am hoping to get a few years out of these books and involve the other kids more. I am going to use Spelling Power for Spelling. For Science, we will use Apologia. I really love Apologia. The books are bright and full of beautiful pictures. I got the lapbook cd to go with it so I am hoping for Easton and Weston to make more lapbooks this year. Lapbooks are 1 thing the kids really love. We are going to try Story of the World again for History. Now that we have done a year of homeschooling, I don't feel nearly as overwhelmed so I think Story of the World will be a good fit. The 2nd week, Easton will be making a mummy out of a whole chicken. I believe Adam will be helping more with that. We are using A Reason for Handwriting for printing and I believe Easton will start cursive this year with Abeka. Easton's Abeka won't arrive until later this week so I will know more then. For Math, we reluctantly bought Saxon again. Saxon is a great, hands on program but you constantly repeat what you just learned. It made Easton very frustrated but he loved the hands on elements.
We also ordered the K4 curriculum from Abeka Academy. Adam and I struggled with trying to decide whether to start Weston in true Kindergarten or have him take another year of preschool. Weston is very smart but with everything going on, I think another year of preschool will be great. There is no need to make him grow up faster than he already is. His birthday is in September so it is no big deal to do another year of preschool. I have read lots of studies saying that boys, especially, benefit from starting school a little later.
As much as I hate to admit it, there are a few things I love about Philadelphia. The very best thing about Philly is the fruit cart. Don't worry-I was scared at first too. Who eats fruit out of a tiny cart??? Well, the answer is, everyone who knows where to get good, cheap fruit! I am going to post a pic next time of how much fruit you get for 4 dollars. It is amazing. You could not buy fruit and cut it up for less than you can buy it from the fruit cart. My 2nd favorite thing is Trader Joes. LOVE LOVE LOVE this store. 19 cents a pound for bananas EVERYDAY. Great, great, great. And, last but not least, now that we have kind of settled, I have found some great homeschooling oppoortunities for Easton. This year may end up consisting of lots of unschooling because of all of the fun things we have found for him. I hope you all have a blessed Sunday!
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