As I mentioned a couple of days ago, our friend Leslie invited me to do a Dream Dinner session. Basically it's a kitchen where you assemble meals to freeze. Take a few out each week to defrost and either throw them in either a saucepan or baking pan to cook and Voila! You have dinner with little to no fuss. I have always wanted to try a place like this and the experience was great. It took only two hours to assemble what came to be 36 servings. Some meals were three servings. Others were 6 servings. If you want to know more check out their website.
http://dreamdinners.com/main.php?static=index
I do think that some of these meals can be assembled more cheaply at home. But that is only if you have the majority of the spices and condiments that are used. If you don't already have those ingredients on hand, then this is really a great and inexpensive way to go.
Anyway, here is the first recipe review.
CIDER BRAISED PORK CHOPS
Description from the Dream Dinners website - Lean boneless pork chops are jazzed up with apple juice, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar and tart granny smith apples, then gently flavored with allspice and herbs. Simply sear the chops on the stove top, add the sauce and simmer.
These were delicious and super easy to make. Just like the description says. I browned the chops, poured in the sauce and let it simmer. It was done in 20 minutes. We served this with mixed veggies and mashed potatoes. We poured the sauce and apples over the pork and potatoes. Excellent. The sauce was both sweet and tart. A perfect complement to the pork. Definitely a fall meal that I would like to eat again and again. I am already on a search for a similar recipe so I can make this with the pork chops I have in my freezer. If I find one, I will of course share it.
I give this one 5 out of 5 stars.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Pasties...Mmmmm...
So looking back, our past weekend was greatly centered on food. This made me realize that I haven’t posted any reviews on foods/recipes in quite a while. So I should probably remedy that…..
About a month ago, I got it in my head that I wanted to make pasties. You know those delicious hand held pot pies that have been made famous by miners in both Cornwall and the UP of Michigan. I found the following recipe on Allrecipes.com.
Cornish/Finnish Pasties
INGREDIENTS
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups ice water
1 teaspoon salt
5 1/2 cups thinly sliced potatoes
2 carrots, shredded
1 onions
1/2 cup diced rutabaga
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 pound lean ground pork
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons monosodium glutamate (MSG)
1 cube beef bouillon
About a month ago, I got it in my head that I wanted to make pasties. You know those delicious hand held pot pies that have been made famous by miners in both Cornwall and the UP of Michigan. I found the following recipe on Allrecipes.com.
Cornish/Finnish Pasties
INGREDIENTS
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups ice water
1 teaspoon salt
5 1/2 cups thinly sliced potatoes
2 carrots, shredded
1 onions
1/2 cup diced rutabaga
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 pound lean ground pork
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons monosodium glutamate (MSG)
1 cube beef bouillon
DIRECTIONS
- Whisk together flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut shortening. Make a well in the center of the mixture, and quickly stir in ice cold water. Form dough into a ball. Set aside.
- Dissolve the bouillon cube in the hot water. Combine uncooked vegetables, uncooked meats, salt, pepper, monosodium glutamate, and bouillon.
- Roll out pastry dough into 6 x 8 inch rectangles.
- Place about 1 1/2 cups of filling in the center of each rectangle. Bring 6 inch sides together, and seal. Cut a slit in the top of each pasty.
- Place on dull, not black, baking pans. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 45 minutes.
- Makes 8 servings
I did make the following changes:
- I diced the potato is very small pieces rather than sliced.
- I omitted the carrots.
- I used all beef since I couldn’t find ground pork at our grocery store.
- I omitted the MSG
- I added Worcestershire sauce for extra flavor.
I made a double batch and found that I had a ton of filling left over. I made a third batch of just the dough and I STILL had filling left over. Something to keep in mind if you decide to try this recipe.
I ended up with about 20 Pasties. I froze the extras raw. We have made them a couple of times since then and we have found that they only take 50 minutes to cook if you pull it straight from the freezer. The same amount of time as any pot pie you would buy in the store but the flavor is so much better since it is fresh and homemade.
I give these 5 out of 5 stars for taste but 2 out of 5 for labor. They took quite a while to put together. But definitely worth it in the end.
Monday, September 21, 2009
I am so done with being pregnant
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want our little girl to arrive early. But boy am I more uncomfortable this pregnancy. My hips are killing me, I can’t get comfortable no matter what I am doing and I am leaking already. Ugh! Oh well. It’s really a small price to pay for such a rewarding gift in the end.
On a positive note, we are pleased to finally have a name for our little girl. Amelia “Mia” Grace. We can’t wait to meet her.
We are also looking forward to how Ana will take to having a sister. I know it will be an adjustment for her but hopefully all will go well. She has been absolutely adorable (duh!). She points to my belly and says “baby”. She will also kiss and hug the baby (my belly). It’s the only thing that she has never said no to when we ask her to kiss or hug the baby. If we ask for hugs or kisses for us it’s hit or miss if she wants to grace us with her affection. But when it comes to the baby, she never says no. I think we will take that as a good sign.
We had a pretty busy weekend. It started with me trying something new on Saturday. Our friend Leslie sent an invite to try Dream Dinners. It’s a place/program that she has used in the past for herself and another friend. Basically it’s a company that sells prepared (but uncooked) meals. You order from their monthly menu and then go to their kitchen and use their ingredients to prepare those meals. The meals are uncooked but pretty much ready to either throw in the oven or a pan. All you do is freeze and take them out to defrost. The price per serving ended up being really great (much better than eating out) and the meals sounded good so we decided to give it a try. It was a lot of fun and the food smells/looks fantastic…..and that’s before it’s even cooked! I already have 3 of the meals defrosting. Tomorrow we will probably have the Cider Braised Pork Chops, Wednesday – the French Fried Chicken, and Thursday – the Meatloaf and twice baked potatoes. After that we will still have 7 meals to eat. Most meals serve three. I did prepare two meals that serve 6. I feel very prepared for the next couple of weeks. And the 6 serving meals will be great if we have company after Amelia get’s here.
The rest of Saturday was spent with the peeps. They had fun playing with Ana as usual. Chris and his mom visited the Renaissance Faire that Terry and Nancy hosted on their beautiful piece of property in Monroe, WI. The faire along with a Shakespeare play performed after the faire, raised money for the Arts Department at Monroe High School. Terry and Nancy are very involved with the local arts scene are very supportive of the Arts in their local schools. They are truly amazing people.
Sunday was spent at Edwards Apple Orchard. My dad, Mary, Aunt Jane and my cousin Lisa met us there. We didn’t stay long but we stayed long enough to enjoy the beautiful weather while eating some apple doughnuts and drinking cider. Ana was able to visit the animals in the barn. Unfortunately, it seems that petting of the animals is no longer allowed so she wasn’t able to feed/pet the goats. We finished off the trip with buying our usual Apple Orchard products (soup, squash, apple butter, apples, etc…).
We then headed home where we made plans to meet the Jones’s at Red Lobster for dinner. It was a really nice dinner. The kids were great. Delilah was cute as always. Ana was pretty happy considering how tired she was. She was driving me nuts with kicking me under the table but other than that, she was really great. And the twins were a ton of fun. They entertained Ana and had her dancing in her high chair. Very cute!
All in all a very busy weekend but quite enjoyable.
On a positive note, we are pleased to finally have a name for our little girl. Amelia “Mia” Grace. We can’t wait to meet her.
We are also looking forward to how Ana will take to having a sister. I know it will be an adjustment for her but hopefully all will go well. She has been absolutely adorable (duh!). She points to my belly and says “baby”. She will also kiss and hug the baby (my belly). It’s the only thing that she has never said no to when we ask her to kiss or hug the baby. If we ask for hugs or kisses for us it’s hit or miss if she wants to grace us with her affection. But when it comes to the baby, she never says no. I think we will take that as a good sign.
We had a pretty busy weekend. It started with me trying something new on Saturday. Our friend Leslie sent an invite to try Dream Dinners. It’s a place/program that she has used in the past for herself and another friend. Basically it’s a company that sells prepared (but uncooked) meals. You order from their monthly menu and then go to their kitchen and use their ingredients to prepare those meals. The meals are uncooked but pretty much ready to either throw in the oven or a pan. All you do is freeze and take them out to defrost. The price per serving ended up being really great (much better than eating out) and the meals sounded good so we decided to give it a try. It was a lot of fun and the food smells/looks fantastic…..and that’s before it’s even cooked! I already have 3 of the meals defrosting. Tomorrow we will probably have the Cider Braised Pork Chops, Wednesday – the French Fried Chicken, and Thursday – the Meatloaf and twice baked potatoes. After that we will still have 7 meals to eat. Most meals serve three. I did prepare two meals that serve 6. I feel very prepared for the next couple of weeks. And the 6 serving meals will be great if we have company after Amelia get’s here.
The rest of Saturday was spent with the peeps. They had fun playing with Ana as usual. Chris and his mom visited the Renaissance Faire that Terry and Nancy hosted on their beautiful piece of property in Monroe, WI. The faire along with a Shakespeare play performed after the faire, raised money for the Arts Department at Monroe High School. Terry and Nancy are very involved with the local arts scene are very supportive of the Arts in their local schools. They are truly amazing people.
Sunday was spent at Edwards Apple Orchard. My dad, Mary, Aunt Jane and my cousin Lisa met us there. We didn’t stay long but we stayed long enough to enjoy the beautiful weather while eating some apple doughnuts and drinking cider. Ana was able to visit the animals in the barn. Unfortunately, it seems that petting of the animals is no longer allowed so she wasn’t able to feed/pet the goats. We finished off the trip with buying our usual Apple Orchard products (soup, squash, apple butter, apples, etc…).
We then headed home where we made plans to meet the Jones’s at Red Lobster for dinner. It was a really nice dinner. The kids were great. Delilah was cute as always. Ana was pretty happy considering how tired she was. She was driving me nuts with kicking me under the table but other than that, she was really great. And the twins were a ton of fun. They entertained Ana and had her dancing in her high chair. Very cute!
All in all a very busy weekend but quite enjoyable.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Ambrose Winston 11/1/2002 - 9/4/2009
Almost a week ago, we lost a very dear friend.
Our Boy. Our Puppers. The Dude. Ambrose.
Although I have lost loved ones in my life I fully admit that I was not as close to those loved ones as I was to our Ambrose. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t cried over the sudden loss of our boy. He was our first baby. Anyone who says that our pets are not like our children has either never had a pet and/or never had a child.
That being said, the grief that I have felt this week scares me as I know that it is only a fraction of what I feel if I were to lose a parent, my husband, or my child.
On top of my grief, it hurts to see Chris so upset. Ambrose was his boy more than he was mine.
To hopefully bring some closure for myself and maybe others who also loved Ambrose, I have written down all the things I hope he knew while he was still with us.
- I loved watching you bound around outside in the snow. If I could have I would have made it snow everyday just for you. You are the only one who may have loved the snow more than me.
- I loved seeing your face at the back door waiting to be let inside.
- I loved how you rarely barked to be let in. You just patiently waited. Trusting us to know when it was time to come in.
- I loved the way you would greet us when we walked in the front door.
- I loved the way you would dramatically pretend you were just too tired for the last leg of our walk. And then when we arrived home, you would run around outside and play with apparently tons of energy. Sneaky puppy. I am sorry that we didn’t have more walks so they could end that way.
- I loved the way you got excited if you saw me put on my tennis shoes or your dad or I grab your leash.
- I loved the way you patiently allowed Ana to climb all over you. You never complained.
- I loved the way you would sit under Ana’s chair and wait for her to share food with you. Which she always did. It never occurred to her to not share with her Boy.
- I loved the way you would sometimes purposely scare the crap out of Mauri and chase her upstairs.
- I loved the way you would torture Raven by sniffing his butt.
I loved the way you would force yourself in between our legs so we would rub your back and butt. - I loved the way you would push your dad over in bed so you could have more space. It didn’t seem to matter that we bought a king size bed just for you. You still wanted more space.
- I loved the times you blessed me with your presence on my side of the bed. I wish I had been able to stay in one position longer just so you could have stayed longer.
- And I loved the rare times you would force your way between me and your dad in bed so you could put your head on his chest and allow me the pleasure of petting your butt and back.
- I loved the way you always treated a trip to the vet or the groomers as a mini-vacation. You were never scared. Well sometimes you didn't want to be left at the groomers. But you were always happy afterwards.
- I loved seeing you prance around after you had been groomed. As if you were the most handsome puppy in the World. Oh, by the way, you were the most handsome puppy in the World. But you obviously already knew that.
- And lastly, I am so sorry that we couldn’t be there to hold you when you passed. I hope you knew that we loved you very much and had we been able/allowed, we would have stayed with you and held you till the end. I wish we had been given the chance to say Good-Bye to each other. That is the very least that a Puppers as perfect as you deserved.
Great, now that I am in a total mess of tears, I bid any reader Adieu. Hopefully my next post will be a happy one.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Boot To The Head!
We are sitting at the kitchen table. Ana is playing with her books, Chris is playing on his PC and I am doing bills. For some reason I say “Boot to the head!” and we both hear a little voice say “Ya, Ya!”
I apparently quote this line from Ti Kwan Leep quite often.
Proof that our little girl already hears and understands everything we say.
I apparently quote this line from Ti Kwan Leep quite often.
Proof that our little girl already hears and understands everything we say.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
So I was inspired to write this after reading Dear Abby. Yes, I admit it. I love her. Almost as much as I love People’s Court :-)
An ER nurse wrote in with rules for patients when visiting the ER. I can’t say I disagree with them…..but the last point made me laugh. Here are her "rules".
1. An "emergency" is defined as a life-threatening injury or illness. The average wait in an ER waiting room is 4 1/2 hours. After checking in, you will be seen by a triage nurse to determine the seriousness of your illness or injury. Patients who are considered "critical" will be treated first.
2. Please do not come to the ER with your entire family unless they, too, are sick or injured. People with communicable diseases may be sitting in the lobby, so you could be putting your loved ones at risk.
3. Once inside the examination room, the patient's blood will be taken and tests may be done. Getting test results can take time, especially if the ER is busy -- and no, you cannot eat or drink until those test results are back.
4. The ER discharges patients 24 hours a day, so plan accordingly. The hospital is not responsible for paying for your ride home, and you cannot stay in the exam room waiting for a ride to come for you. We must use the room for the next patient.
5. Above all, remember that our staff is here to help you feel better, not to inconvenience you. You are the patient -- so please be patient
I am not saying that 99% of ER staff isn’t there to make you feel better. I truly believe that they do care. But unfortunately there are those very few nurses and doctors out there that really don’t care at all.
I have been to emergency rooms a few times in my life. The visits have been either for myself or to take someone else. I can’t say any of the visits have been great but I also can’t say that any of them have been bad. Except for my last two experiences. They were enough to throw me off forever.
About 8 years ago I needed to visit the emergency room while we were on vacation. Now I know that ER’s are usually busy. My injury wasn’t that bad so I expected to wait behind those with injuries and illnesses that were more serious. We were pleasantly surprised to find the ER empty of patients.
I was immediately put on a stretcher and left in a hallway. I was never taken to a room and yes, there were empty rooms. I checked. As I laid there waiting, no nurse checked on me. I would love to say that maybe there were just understaffed but that wasn’t the case. I was right next to the nurse’s station. There were 4 of them there. All deciding on what they wanted on their flipping pizza! Never once did they offer me water or even just reassure me that the doctor would be there soon. They completely ignored me even though I was sitting right in front of them.
About an hour later a doctor showed up to look at my injury, told me all was well and sent me home. During that entire time those 4 nurses kept chatting. They never acknowledged my existence. So I am sure that there are many ER staffs out there that truly care about their patients but I can assure that the nursing staff at this particular ER couldn’t have cared less.
My last experience at an emergency room was due to a miscarriage. It was very early in my pregnancy and it was my first pregnancy so I was scared and didn’t know what to expect. Upon arriving at the ER, the nurses gave me a room right away due to the nature of my situation. Unlike my last ER visit, the nurses were very kind and attentive. I have only good things to say about the nurses I had that day.
However the doctor was a whole other story. After numerous blood tests and ultrasounds the doctor attending me told me in these exact words “I don’t know why you thought you were pregnant. You aren’t. You are just having a bad period.” I have never had a “bad” period in my life and the two positive pregnancy tests that I had taken two weeks earlier were a pretty clear indication that I was indeed pregnant. So I left the ER absolutely distraught. We had been so excited about having a baby and on top of losing that I had the new idea in my head that maybe I was crazy. Maybe I was never pregnant at all.
I followed up with my doctor a couple of weeks later. He looked at my chart which contained all the lab work from my ER visit. What did he find? I indeed was pregnant. The ultrasound clearly showed that I was experiencing a miscarriage. That was 2 ½ years ago and to this day I don’t know why that doctor was such a bitch. I wish I had complained to the hospital or let her have it while I was there. It boggles my mind that anyone would find it acceptable too have such a horrible bedside manner.
So that is my rant for the day. Glad I got it off my chest....until someone gets me going again - LOL!
An ER nurse wrote in with rules for patients when visiting the ER. I can’t say I disagree with them…..but the last point made me laugh. Here are her "rules".
1. An "emergency" is defined as a life-threatening injury or illness. The average wait in an ER waiting room is 4 1/2 hours. After checking in, you will be seen by a triage nurse to determine the seriousness of your illness or injury. Patients who are considered "critical" will be treated first.
2. Please do not come to the ER with your entire family unless they, too, are sick or injured. People with communicable diseases may be sitting in the lobby, so you could be putting your loved ones at risk.
3. Once inside the examination room, the patient's blood will be taken and tests may be done. Getting test results can take time, especially if the ER is busy -- and no, you cannot eat or drink until those test results are back.
4. The ER discharges patients 24 hours a day, so plan accordingly. The hospital is not responsible for paying for your ride home, and you cannot stay in the exam room waiting for a ride to come for you. We must use the room for the next patient.
5. Above all, remember that our staff is here to help you feel better, not to inconvenience you. You are the patient -- so please be patient
I am not saying that 99% of ER staff isn’t there to make you feel better. I truly believe that they do care. But unfortunately there are those very few nurses and doctors out there that really don’t care at all.
I have been to emergency rooms a few times in my life. The visits have been either for myself or to take someone else. I can’t say any of the visits have been great but I also can’t say that any of them have been bad. Except for my last two experiences. They were enough to throw me off forever.
About 8 years ago I needed to visit the emergency room while we were on vacation. Now I know that ER’s are usually busy. My injury wasn’t that bad so I expected to wait behind those with injuries and illnesses that were more serious. We were pleasantly surprised to find the ER empty of patients.
I was immediately put on a stretcher and left in a hallway. I was never taken to a room and yes, there were empty rooms. I checked. As I laid there waiting, no nurse checked on me. I would love to say that maybe there were just understaffed but that wasn’t the case. I was right next to the nurse’s station. There were 4 of them there. All deciding on what they wanted on their flipping pizza! Never once did they offer me water or even just reassure me that the doctor would be there soon. They completely ignored me even though I was sitting right in front of them.
About an hour later a doctor showed up to look at my injury, told me all was well and sent me home. During that entire time those 4 nurses kept chatting. They never acknowledged my existence. So I am sure that there are many ER staffs out there that truly care about their patients but I can assure that the nursing staff at this particular ER couldn’t have cared less.
My last experience at an emergency room was due to a miscarriage. It was very early in my pregnancy and it was my first pregnancy so I was scared and didn’t know what to expect. Upon arriving at the ER, the nurses gave me a room right away due to the nature of my situation. Unlike my last ER visit, the nurses were very kind and attentive. I have only good things to say about the nurses I had that day.
However the doctor was a whole other story. After numerous blood tests and ultrasounds the doctor attending me told me in these exact words “I don’t know why you thought you were pregnant. You aren’t. You are just having a bad period.” I have never had a “bad” period in my life and the two positive pregnancy tests that I had taken two weeks earlier were a pretty clear indication that I was indeed pregnant. So I left the ER absolutely distraught. We had been so excited about having a baby and on top of losing that I had the new idea in my head that maybe I was crazy. Maybe I was never pregnant at all.
I followed up with my doctor a couple of weeks later. He looked at my chart which contained all the lab work from my ER visit. What did he find? I indeed was pregnant. The ultrasound clearly showed that I was experiencing a miscarriage. That was 2 ½ years ago and to this day I don’t know why that doctor was such a bitch. I wish I had complained to the hospital or let her have it while I was there. It boggles my mind that anyone would find it acceptable too have such a horrible bedside manner.
So that is my rant for the day. Glad I got it off my chest....until someone gets me going again - LOL!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Another Semi-Annual Blog
Well it’s no big surprise that I haven’t posted in almost 5 months. Isn’t that my usual MO?
We have experienced a huge change since I last posted. And that would be that I am employed again. I actually received the job offer the week of my last post. I have returned to Hell. Hell being synonymous with my old employer. I guess I can’t give them total crap. They did send me to India for 3 weeks and I was able to tag on a week in London so I can’t say they weren’t generous in some ways :-) And really in the end I have found that the grass isn’t really that greener on the other side. It’s all what you make of it and how much importance you put on it. And if you know me, you know that work is never #1 in my life. It’s just a way to pay the bills and it allows us to do and enjoy the things we love. So it’s a job. It’s not too bad so far so I’m not complaining. Especially since apparently I started just in time. I will be eligible for Short Term Disability two weeks before this baby is due! Woo Hoo! We were so afraid of me having to take unpaid time off during my maternity leave. We can calm down a bit for now and know that we will have some income coming in for those weeks that I am home. Then we can move on to the new worry of affording daycare. But that’s for another day J
I am now 27 weeks pregnant. One week away from entering my third trimester. The time has gone by too fast. Yikes! The house isn’t even close to being ready. We have informed our peeps that visits will be non-existent until September so we can try to get our house ready for our new little girl. Yes, I am carrying on the tradition of most Beightley women by having another little girl! We are very excited. However, the poor thing doesn’t have a name yet. I feel like we need to decide soon. Just so I can stop referring to her as Biscuit #2 –Ha!
Poor Ana. She has no idea what’s coming. I hope she adjusts well to being a big sister. Lately she has been unbelievable crabby. A few new teeth along with a growth spurt do not go well together. But she is still our adorable little biscuit. She still doesn’t say a lot but has a few words. Our favorite is that she tells Ambrose “Hi Boy” all the time. Now lately everything has become “boy” but as far as I am concerned she is just talking about our puppers.
Speaking of our puppers….what a wreck. The poor dog. He has had so many issues the last 6 months or so. He had a few tumors on his snout and side that were removed last winter. Then a few months later, they found another tumor behind his eye. Fortunately, they are able to control that with steroids. But man, for a while there we were trying to prepare ourselves for a Pirate Puppers. Then a couple weeks ago, his OTHER eye started acting up. Fortunately, it wasn’t another tumor. It ended up being swelling and irritation from his conjunctivitis. So we had to put steroid drops in that eye too. THEN to top it off the poor dog also has a skin infection which is being treated with antibiotics. The last week or so he has been absolutely miserable. Fortunately he has been doing tons better the last couple days and it is almost back to his old self.
Well that is it for me today. I could go on and on about more boring stuff that no one really cares about except me. I would like to say that you will see new posts more often now. But let’s be real. You might get the next one after this kid gets here. But if I post before then, then hey, I have exceeded my (and most people’s) expectations….
Toodaloo!
We have experienced a huge change since I last posted. And that would be that I am employed again. I actually received the job offer the week of my last post. I have returned to Hell. Hell being synonymous with my old employer. I guess I can’t give them total crap. They did send me to India for 3 weeks and I was able to tag on a week in London so I can’t say they weren’t generous in some ways :-) And really in the end I have found that the grass isn’t really that greener on the other side. It’s all what you make of it and how much importance you put on it. And if you know me, you know that work is never #1 in my life. It’s just a way to pay the bills and it allows us to do and enjoy the things we love. So it’s a job. It’s not too bad so far so I’m not complaining. Especially since apparently I started just in time. I will be eligible for Short Term Disability two weeks before this baby is due! Woo Hoo! We were so afraid of me having to take unpaid time off during my maternity leave. We can calm down a bit for now and know that we will have some income coming in for those weeks that I am home. Then we can move on to the new worry of affording daycare. But that’s for another day J
I am now 27 weeks pregnant. One week away from entering my third trimester. The time has gone by too fast. Yikes! The house isn’t even close to being ready. We have informed our peeps that visits will be non-existent until September so we can try to get our house ready for our new little girl. Yes, I am carrying on the tradition of most Beightley women by having another little girl! We are very excited. However, the poor thing doesn’t have a name yet. I feel like we need to decide soon. Just so I can stop referring to her as Biscuit #2 –Ha!
Poor Ana. She has no idea what’s coming. I hope she adjusts well to being a big sister. Lately she has been unbelievable crabby. A few new teeth along with a growth spurt do not go well together. But she is still our adorable little biscuit. She still doesn’t say a lot but has a few words. Our favorite is that she tells Ambrose “Hi Boy” all the time. Now lately everything has become “boy” but as far as I am concerned she is just talking about our puppers.
Speaking of our puppers….what a wreck. The poor dog. He has had so many issues the last 6 months or so. He had a few tumors on his snout and side that were removed last winter. Then a few months later, they found another tumor behind his eye. Fortunately, they are able to control that with steroids. But man, for a while there we were trying to prepare ourselves for a Pirate Puppers. Then a couple weeks ago, his OTHER eye started acting up. Fortunately, it wasn’t another tumor. It ended up being swelling and irritation from his conjunctivitis. So we had to put steroid drops in that eye too. THEN to top it off the poor dog also has a skin infection which is being treated with antibiotics. The last week or so he has been absolutely miserable. Fortunately he has been doing tons better the last couple days and it is almost back to his old self.
Well that is it for me today. I could go on and on about more boring stuff that no one really cares about except me. I would like to say that you will see new posts more often now. But let’s be real. You might get the next one after this kid gets here. But if I post before then, then hey, I have exceeded my (and most people’s) expectations….
Toodaloo!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Where to Begin...
Well a lot has happened since I posted last.
First off, we celebrated a HUGE day for the Picchi family. That would be Ana’s 1st Birthday!!! We can’t believe she is already one. Where has the time gone? And to think it will continue to go this quickly. It makes me a little teary eyed just thinking about it.
We kept the birthday party low key. Just me, Chris, Nana Mary, Aunt Lisa and Abuelito. And of course the guest of honor. We had cupcakes and ice cream. (Cupcakes that I must point out Chris and I made. Well, I baked some cupcakes from a box but Chris decorated them to create a caterpillar. It was super cute.) Ana opened presents and that was pretty much it. It was nice and it was so adorable to watch Chris and Ana open all her presents together. I will post some of my favorite birthday pictures as soon as Chris is done loading them up.
Now for the other big news. Ana is going to be a BIG SISTER!!!! Holy Cow! How did this happen? Well, I know exactly how (and when if anyone is interested) it happened but still. Let’s just say that our mothers were not kidding when they said it only takes once. This was not planned but we are super excited. I always said that I wanted two kids close together in age and it looks like we are getting just that.
I admit it took me a little while to be excited about our new little Solo Ranger (a nickname I will hopefully explain another time). I was shocked (proven by the three pregnancy tests I took before I would believe it). I’m unemployed and we don’t know where we will be financially when this little one gets here. It’s a little overwhelming to think about but we are working on it and should have a solution to report fairly soon.
And then of course I looked at my little girl and mourned the fact that our time alone would be short. I’m afraid that she will feel replaced and that I won’t be able to give her the attention she deserves. I know logically that she will be fine, that we will be fine. I know that every mom with more than one baby probably feels this way. But it doesn’t take the fear away and it doesn’t stop me from wondering if I can handle it. I did find a beautiful essay (author unknown) that made me feel better and that has helped the fear subside a little bit. I figured I would share it with all of you. Any ladies reading this may want to pull out the tissue…
Now I that I have written all this I guess not A LOT has happened. Just two really big things – LOL! Two really wonderfully big things…..
Till next time...
Loving Two
I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?
Then she is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.
I hear you telling me in your own way, please love only me. And I hear myself telling you in mine, I can’t, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.
You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.
But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying her as though I am betraying you.
But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.
More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.
But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.
I watch how she adores you as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you only differently.
And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There is enough of that for both of you .you each have your own supply.
I love you both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.
Author Unknown
First off, we celebrated a HUGE day for the Picchi family. That would be Ana’s 1st Birthday!!! We can’t believe she is already one. Where has the time gone? And to think it will continue to go this quickly. It makes me a little teary eyed just thinking about it.
We kept the birthday party low key. Just me, Chris, Nana Mary, Aunt Lisa and Abuelito. And of course the guest of honor. We had cupcakes and ice cream. (Cupcakes that I must point out Chris and I made. Well, I baked some cupcakes from a box but Chris decorated them to create a caterpillar. It was super cute.) Ana opened presents and that was pretty much it. It was nice and it was so adorable to watch Chris and Ana open all her presents together. I will post some of my favorite birthday pictures as soon as Chris is done loading them up.
Now for the other big news. Ana is going to be a BIG SISTER!!!! Holy Cow! How did this happen? Well, I know exactly how (and when if anyone is interested) it happened but still. Let’s just say that our mothers were not kidding when they said it only takes once. This was not planned but we are super excited. I always said that I wanted two kids close together in age and it looks like we are getting just that.
I admit it took me a little while to be excited about our new little Solo Ranger (a nickname I will hopefully explain another time). I was shocked (proven by the three pregnancy tests I took before I would believe it). I’m unemployed and we don’t know where we will be financially when this little one gets here. It’s a little overwhelming to think about but we are working on it and should have a solution to report fairly soon.
And then of course I looked at my little girl and mourned the fact that our time alone would be short. I’m afraid that she will feel replaced and that I won’t be able to give her the attention she deserves. I know logically that she will be fine, that we will be fine. I know that every mom with more than one baby probably feels this way. But it doesn’t take the fear away and it doesn’t stop me from wondering if I can handle it. I did find a beautiful essay (author unknown) that made me feel better and that has helped the fear subside a little bit. I figured I would share it with all of you. Any ladies reading this may want to pull out the tissue…
Now I that I have written all this I guess not A LOT has happened. Just two really big things – LOL! Two really wonderfully big things…..
Till next time...
Loving Two
I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?
Then she is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.
I hear you telling me in your own way, please love only me. And I hear myself telling you in mine, I can’t, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.
You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.
But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying her as though I am betraying you.
But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.
More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.
But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.
I watch how she adores you as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you only differently.
And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There is enough of that for both of you .you each have your own supply.
I love you both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.
Author Unknown
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Two Puppies Make Twelve
If you know me, you know that I am slightly obsessed with Jon and Kate Plus Eight. I say slightly because I don’t watch in regularly. I just like to watch it when I happen to catch it and LOVE to talk about it. It’s like watching a train wreck. I admit to finding solace in watching it. My life will never be that crazy. We will probably have one more kid and that’s it. Maybe a third if we are in a good financial place. We will never have eight. Anytime my life seems a bit hectic I just watch this huge crazy family and everything is put back into perspective.
But that’s not the point of my post. I just saw a commercial for the newest episode. Apparently these crazy people thought it was a good idea to add 2 new puppies to their family of ten. Excuse me? The mom’s a borderline psychotic neat freak – there is no way she’ll be able to handle the mess one puppy creates let alone two. The dad is too laid back to really care for and train two puppies. One of the twins is so jealous of her younger siblings she is desperately close to coming unhinged - just what she needs is two puppies that will take even more attention away from her. And although the sextuplets are mostly darling they are 4 years old! They will torment those puppies for about a week and then forget that they exist! The only hope these poor puppies have is the other twin Cara. But really she is only 7 or 8 years old and probably won’t be interested for very long with all the other distractions in the house.
So tell me why would a family this large with such young children think it’s a good idea to get puppies????? Of course all of us viewers know the real reason. Ratings - pure and simple. Disgusting. Those poor puppies will be ignored and will eventually end up in a shelter. Shame on the Gosselin’s for bringing these puppies home. Shame on TLC for agreeing to make a show about it. And SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on the breeder or shelter that sold these puppies to this family.
Well I’ll get off my soap box for the day.
On a much happier note, I have another Trader Joe review.
Vegetable Samosas – These are fantabulous! They taste just like the Samosa’s that I had in India. I might say they are better because they have the perfect filling/pastry ratio that I didn’t get in India. Two of them are worth three WW points which isn’t bad at all. A perfect snack! – I give these 5 out of 5 stars
But that’s not the point of my post. I just saw a commercial for the newest episode. Apparently these crazy people thought it was a good idea to add 2 new puppies to their family of ten. Excuse me? The mom’s a borderline psychotic neat freak – there is no way she’ll be able to handle the mess one puppy creates let alone two. The dad is too laid back to really care for and train two puppies. One of the twins is so jealous of her younger siblings she is desperately close to coming unhinged - just what she needs is two puppies that will take even more attention away from her. And although the sextuplets are mostly darling they are 4 years old! They will torment those puppies for about a week and then forget that they exist! The only hope these poor puppies have is the other twin Cara. But really she is only 7 or 8 years old and probably won’t be interested for very long with all the other distractions in the house.
So tell me why would a family this large with such young children think it’s a good idea to get puppies????? Of course all of us viewers know the real reason. Ratings - pure and simple. Disgusting. Those poor puppies will be ignored and will eventually end up in a shelter. Shame on the Gosselin’s for bringing these puppies home. Shame on TLC for agreeing to make a show about it. And SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on the breeder or shelter that sold these puppies to this family.
Well I’ll get off my soap box for the day.
On a much happier note, I have another Trader Joe review.
Vegetable Samosas – These are fantabulous! They taste just like the Samosa’s that I had in India. I might say they are better because they have the perfect filling/pastry ratio that I didn’t get in India. Two of them are worth three WW points which isn’t bad at all. A perfect snack! – I give these 5 out of 5 stars
Monday, February 16, 2009
Amtrak Train Hits Teen
That was a link on the Chicago Tribune website today. Why is it always worded that way? As if the train acted with intent or negligence. Last time I checked trains pretty much had the right of way. And they are pretty hard to miss. It’s idiot people who purposely or inadvertently walk or drive in front of them. So really the link should have looked something like this: “Dumb Ass Teen Walks in Front of Train”. Idiots.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Trader Joe – The Other Man in My Life
I love Trader Joe’s. Love, Love, Love Them! So I decided to give a review on a couple things that I recently bought there. I expect that you will see more of these reviews in the future since I can’t seem to stop shopping there.
Chicken Chili Lime Burgers – I was made aware of these by a post on a Weight Watchers message board a few months ago. Although I am not a big fan of ground chicken I figured it would be worth a shot since there were a number of people who guaranteed that they tasted fantastic. What lying sacks of crap! These burgers are absolutely disgusting. Unless of course you like the flavor of fake lime flavored foam. So I highly do NOT recommend buying these. I’d rather plan my day to fit in a huge 9 point sirloin burger instead of a disgusting 3 point piece of Styrofoam. – So needless to say that on a scale of 1-5, I give these burgers a negative 3.
Eggplant Parmesan Cutlets – Oh wow. I saw these and thought that they would be a great last minute meal when I didn’t feel like cooking. Oh my, oh my, oh my. What a buy. I don’t remember how much they cost but it really doesn’t matter. I would probably pay a hundred dollars for a box of these. Well maybe not that much but you get my point. These are so flavorful that no marinara sauce is needed. Just pop them in the oven, cook until brown and crispy and serve with some veggies and maybe a meatball or two. In the words of Rachel Ray – DELISH! - On a scale of 1-5 definitely a 5.
Chicken Chili Lime Burgers – I was made aware of these by a post on a Weight Watchers message board a few months ago. Although I am not a big fan of ground chicken I figured it would be worth a shot since there were a number of people who guaranteed that they tasted fantastic. What lying sacks of crap! These burgers are absolutely disgusting. Unless of course you like the flavor of fake lime flavored foam. So I highly do NOT recommend buying these. I’d rather plan my day to fit in a huge 9 point sirloin burger instead of a disgusting 3 point piece of Styrofoam. – So needless to say that on a scale of 1-5, I give these burgers a negative 3.
Eggplant Parmesan Cutlets – Oh wow. I saw these and thought that they would be a great last minute meal when I didn’t feel like cooking. Oh my, oh my, oh my. What a buy. I don’t remember how much they cost but it really doesn’t matter. I would probably pay a hundred dollars for a box of these. Well maybe not that much but you get my point. These are so flavorful that no marinara sauce is needed. Just pop them in the oven, cook until brown and crispy and serve with some veggies and maybe a meatball or two. In the words of Rachel Ray – DELISH! - On a scale of 1-5 definitely a 5.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Money Hungry Mama
Today I decided that if I could can my daughter’s laughter I would make a fortune on E-bay. She was in rare form today. Breaking out into laughter for seemingly no reason what-so-ever. She produces this wonderful combination of squeal and laugh that would make a Royal Guard smile. It’s fabulous. Note to self: Take Ana to London so she can try to make a Palace Guard smile. Then I could sell the picture of a laughing guard to the tabloids! Sweet! My daughter is totally going to make me rich.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
I'm Baaaaaaack....Hopefully
I spend plenty of time online reading other people’s blogs but never update my own. Seriously. I am such a slacker. So yet again, I am hoping to take up my cyber pen in the effort to entertain my friends and family with my not so witty ramblings on life and parenthood.
I am also thinking about changing the name of the blog. The Impending Picchi is no longer impending. She has planted her stake in this world with a great show of authority. So surprising when her parents are so quiet and meek….yeah right.
With that being said, I am holding a contest…”Name My Blog”. There will be a fun prize for the person that provides the new name for this blog. I only ask that the entries not be too offensive – My goal is to let Ana and any future kids read it some day (like when they are 18). So it would be safe to say that I will not name the blog Picchi by Injection.
When coming up with blog names, remember that this blog will pretty much contain everything from stories about the Biscuit and Ambrose to reviews on books, food and recipes. Heck, I might even share my Not So Super Secret Jambalaya recipe.
So bring on the entries….And cross your fingers that this time I might actually become a regular blogger.
I am also thinking about changing the name of the blog. The Impending Picchi is no longer impending. She has planted her stake in this world with a great show of authority. So surprising when her parents are so quiet and meek….yeah right.
With that being said, I am holding a contest…”Name My Blog”. There will be a fun prize for the person that provides the new name for this blog. I only ask that the entries not be too offensive – My goal is to let Ana and any future kids read it some day (like when they are 18). So it would be safe to say that I will not name the blog Picchi by Injection.
When coming up with blog names, remember that this blog will pretty much contain everything from stories about the Biscuit and Ambrose to reviews on books, food and recipes. Heck, I might even share my Not So Super Secret Jambalaya recipe.
So bring on the entries….And cross your fingers that this time I might actually become a regular blogger.
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