These are some things I have learned about Eric since we had children.
1. He had absolutly terrible eyes as a child.....and unfortunatly passed that onto our 2 beautiful babies.
2. He had large sickly tonsils removed at age 4....also passed on to Courtney!
3. Apparently quoting favorite movie lines in everyday conversation is genetic.....
4. Sleeping spread eagle is also genetic...he...he...
5. He is an amazing father!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
So tired.....
Well its 12:20am and I've just had another battle with Ms Courtney over her medication. I finally lost it tonight. This every 4 hour - waking her up - to take stuff she hates - with all the insuing crying and drama has left me in a rather broken place. I've had 5 months with no more than 3 hours at a time of sleep and the last 7 nights with virtually no sleep whatsoever - and what that has created is an emotional basketcase who is wishing for all this to be over RIGHT NOW! I can't stop crying because it feels at this moment like this is never going to end..... I know that this is a culmination of hormones, no sleep and maybe even PrePartum depression but I just want to be an understanding, patient and caring mother and right now I am none of those.
Lord, give me the patience to be the support Courtney needs right now - to be loving and gentle and slow to anger and please grant me some desperatly needed sleep. I cannot continue in these circumstances on my own - for I am failing and making this a more tramatic experience for her. Please give me a giant dose of peace and grace and as I accept your help may it overflow to every tough interaction I have yet to come with her. Please bring healing to her body quickly and draw us both closer to you as we realize what little control we truly possess. Amen
Lord, give me the patience to be the support Courtney needs right now - to be loving and gentle and slow to anger and please grant me some desperatly needed sleep. I cannot continue in these circumstances on my own - for I am failing and making this a more tramatic experience for her. Please give me a giant dose of peace and grace and as I accept your help may it overflow to every tough interaction I have yet to come with her. Please bring healing to her body quickly and draw us both closer to you as we realize what little control we truly possess. Amen
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Courtney's full of big things!
Well we are still waiting for our little munchkin to wake up from her surgery. We started with her tonsils and adnoids. Dr Cox came in about 20 minutes after he started and said everthing went great and that he took out some big huge tonsils. We both chuckled and said thank you. Then we waited another hour and Dr Feltis joined us to say her gallbladder came out just fine and didn't forsee any complications - but also that her gallbladder was large. Again I chuckled - sounds like she's full of extra large parts.
Then he went on to show us a picture he took of the rest of her abdominal cavity showing us a larger hernia on her right side and a smaller hernia on her left. Apparently it isn't super uncommon, but we decided since she was already out and going to be in the hospital for a time to have them repaired today at the same time. So, off he went to repair her hernias. Apparently the right one would have become symptomatic within a year and have needed to be fixed soon anyway, and the other one would likely have become symptomatic before she was a teenager.
We are so thankful for all the prayers and support we have recieved and Courtney would love to have any visitors who wish to come hang out at Children's in St Paul while she is here. Depending on her pain situation - she will be here till tomorrow afternoon or possibly Thursday. It has been a stressful day....but we are greatful to have had such skillful surgeons and look forward to Courtney being able to enjoy life without stomach pain and sleep better without the big huge tonsils!
Then he went on to show us a picture he took of the rest of her abdominal cavity showing us a larger hernia on her right side and a smaller hernia on her left. Apparently it isn't super uncommon, but we decided since she was already out and going to be in the hospital for a time to have them repaired today at the same time. So, off he went to repair her hernias. Apparently the right one would have become symptomatic within a year and have needed to be fixed soon anyway, and the other one would likely have become symptomatic before she was a teenager.
We are so thankful for all the prayers and support we have recieved and Courtney would love to have any visitors who wish to come hang out at Children's in St Paul while she is here. Depending on her pain situation - she will be here till tomorrow afternoon or possibly Thursday. It has been a stressful day....but we are greatful to have had such skillful surgeons and look forward to Courtney being able to enjoy life without stomach pain and sleep better without the big huge tonsils!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Ready for Home
So we are spending an extra four wonderful hours in the Dallas/Ft Worth airport......I miss the kids and just want to get home. The trip to Mexico was wonderful - we ate truly amazing food - slept on a king sized bed with a pillow menu we could request any pillow from - with our own butler at our beck and call. We also had a free mini-bar so you know Eric went through the candy and sparkling water like it was goin out of style. We both decided however, that we were ready to go home and get back to our life.
It was a fun time to be away one last time before we have the baby - and it is always nice when it is totally paid for by someone else :) Eric worked hard for this trip and it was fun to go and celebrate his hard work with others who did the same. I will post photos of our grand adventure when we get back.
Now....back to reality..... late flights - crabby kids - Court's surgery in a few days - and me trying to figure out what to make for dinner! Ahhhhhh.... will be nice to be home.
It was a fun time to be away one last time before we have the baby - and it is always nice when it is totally paid for by someone else :) Eric worked hard for this trip and it was fun to go and celebrate his hard work with others who did the same. I will post photos of our grand adventure when we get back.
Now....back to reality..... late flights - crabby kids - Court's surgery in a few days - and me trying to figure out what to make for dinner! Ahhhhhh.... will be nice to be home.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Mexico
So Skills and I are in a beautiful resort in Mexico - truly amazing place. But.....I woke up missing the kids a bit. Eric decided to LogMeIn to Andrew's laptop and noticed that he was on it. Everytime he tried to open Notepad and tried to write him a note, Andrew would close it and continue his train video viewing. Then I decided to try and he was searching on Google. So I kept typing things in the Google search bar things like "Hi Buddy, this is mommy" "Andrew, we miss you".
It took about 6 tries, but he finally figured out I was trying to talk to him. Though our conversation was short and sweet - he said hi and that he missed us. Then said I'll see you on Thursday. Even though it was only about four exchanges....I was so proud of him for figuring it out and it was fun to have him communicate with us. I will enjoy this time away and relax - but I do miss my little man.
It took about 6 tries, but he finally figured out I was trying to talk to him. Though our conversation was short and sweet - he said hi and that he missed us. Then said I'll see you on Thursday. Even though it was only about four exchanges....I was so proud of him for figuring it out and it was fun to have him communicate with us. I will enjoy this time away and relax - but I do miss my little man.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Eric's New Favorite Dinner
So....our favorite restaurant is Kami Japanese Steakhouse in Apple Valley. It is by far the most expensive place we eat - but have found out that Wednesdays are buy one dinner get one free for the summer! Anyway, a fun date night for us is always the Hibachi grill and we love love love the food. So, since we have a new family member joining us as well as lots of medical bills for Ms Courtney I decided to find a few recipes of my own and try and recreate our favorite things from Kami.
Eric asked what was for dinner tonight and I said "It's a suprise!" and continued on with my madness. First I made the amazing dipping sauce that we eat with everything, then I made the fried rice, stir-fried veggies and lastly the chicken. We actually always eat the steak there, but chicken has been marinating in the fridge for a few days and needed to get eaten....so chicken it was.
I set the table - laid out all the food - and held my breath as he tried each of the items! SUCCESS....he ate and ate and ate and ate....just like he does at Kami. So, if any of you have joined us for dinner there - I shall put the recipes up here so you can have your very own yummy Kami food at home. ENJOY!
Japanese Steakhouse White Sauce - Chuck's Easy Recipe (to dip everything in)
1-1/4 cup Hellmann's mayonnaise *
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon paprika
dash cayenne pepper
Using a fork or a whisk, blend all ingredients together thoroughly until well mixed and the sauce is smooth. Refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to blend. Bring to room temperature before serving.
The sauce will NOT taste right if you don't let it sit overnight. And please don't try to substitute ketchup for the tomato paste! The water is needed to bring this to the right consistency.
I don't know how long this keeps in the refrigerator; I've kept it 7-10 days, but I always wind up eating it all before 10 days so after that - anyone's guess.
* Hellmann's is called "Best Foods" west of the Rockie Mountains. Use other mayos at your peril - many cheap brands make the sauce taste too much like mayo.
My Stir-Fried Veggies:
Start with a Tbs of butter and some olive oil in a med/hot pan. I used my cast iron skillet and it was perfect. then throw in your veggies - any fresh veggies will work but I had fresh Carrots, Green Beans and Shallots direct from the garden. Sprinkle with some salt and cook, stirring occasionally till they are cooked but not soggy. Then if you have any, I added just a small amount of Trader Joes General Tsoa Stir Fry Sauce. They were amazing.
My Fried Rice
3 Cups Cooked Rice
Some Butter
1 Small Onion
1 Egg
Soy Sauce
Cook some white rice so it is slighly harder than you would normally make it. Let is sit. I used enough for 3 servings. Then add some butter to a hot pan and saute one small onion. Once cooked add the cooked rice and mix with the onion. Then move the rice to the outside of the pan making a hole in the middle of the pan and put the egg there - scramble it and cook the egg - then mix it into the rice. Now take your soy sauce and just drizzle once back and forth over the pan - not too much - but enough to make it light brown.
Eric's New Favorite Chicken
2 Lg Chicken Breasts
Italian Dressing
Oil for the Pan
Trader Joes or other favorite Stir-Fry Sauce
Marinate Chicken at least over night in your favorite Italian Dressing. Then slice the raw chicken into strips for better cooking. Put some oil in a pan and saute the chicken until cooked then add some of your favorite Stir-Fry Sauce for some extra flavor.
Eric asked what was for dinner tonight and I said "It's a suprise!" and continued on with my madness. First I made the amazing dipping sauce that we eat with everything, then I made the fried rice, stir-fried veggies and lastly the chicken. We actually always eat the steak there, but chicken has been marinating in the fridge for a few days and needed to get eaten....so chicken it was.
I set the table - laid out all the food - and held my breath as he tried each of the items! SUCCESS....he ate and ate and ate and ate....just like he does at Kami. So, if any of you have joined us for dinner there - I shall put the recipes up here so you can have your very own yummy Kami food at home. ENJOY!
Japanese Steakhouse White Sauce - Chuck's Easy Recipe (to dip everything in)
1-1/4 cup Hellmann's mayonnaise *
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon paprika
dash cayenne pepper
Using a fork or a whisk, blend all ingredients together thoroughly until well mixed and the sauce is smooth. Refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to blend. Bring to room temperature before serving.
The sauce will NOT taste right if you don't let it sit overnight. And please don't try to substitute ketchup for the tomato paste! The water is needed to bring this to the right consistency.
I don't know how long this keeps in the refrigerator; I've kept it 7-10 days, but I always wind up eating it all before 10 days so after that - anyone's guess.
* Hellmann's is called "Best Foods" west of the Rockie Mountains. Use other mayos at your peril - many cheap brands make the sauce taste too much like mayo.
My Stir-Fried Veggies:
Start with a Tbs of butter and some olive oil in a med/hot pan. I used my cast iron skillet and it was perfect. then throw in your veggies - any fresh veggies will work but I had fresh Carrots, Green Beans and Shallots direct from the garden. Sprinkle with some salt and cook, stirring occasionally till they are cooked but not soggy. Then if you have any, I added just a small amount of Trader Joes General Tsoa Stir Fry Sauce. They were amazing.
My Fried Rice
3 Cups Cooked Rice
Some Butter
1 Small Onion
1 Egg
Soy Sauce
Cook some white rice so it is slighly harder than you would normally make it. Let is sit. I used enough for 3 servings. Then add some butter to a hot pan and saute one small onion. Once cooked add the cooked rice and mix with the onion. Then move the rice to the outside of the pan making a hole in the middle of the pan and put the egg there - scramble it and cook the egg - then mix it into the rice. Now take your soy sauce and just drizzle once back and forth over the pan - not too much - but enough to make it light brown.
Eric's New Favorite Chicken
2 Lg Chicken Breasts
Italian Dressing
Oil for the Pan
Trader Joes or other favorite Stir-Fry Sauce
Marinate Chicken at least over night in your favorite Italian Dressing. Then slice the raw chicken into strips for better cooking. Put some oil in a pan and saute the chicken until cooked then add some of your favorite Stir-Fry Sauce for some extra flavor.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Court's Big Day
Well - its official - Courtney will be having her tonsils, adenoids, and gallbladder removed on August 3rd. Though I am really not looking forward to all the pain and fear she will experience with some major surgery, I do look forward to her being able to eat again without stomach pain and to be able to sleep in the same room as her and not want to strangle her for snoring. My prayer requests would be that she would feel peace about it as she is quite scared right now, and for a quick recovery.
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