Fail.

Epic Fail.

My glucose test, that is.

Apparently, 140 used to be a passing grade.  Now, it's been lowered to 130.  My number?  132.  Seriously?  Seriously.  Monday morning I get to return to Quest Diagnostics (not my favorite place in the world) for 3 hours of sugar-crashing, blood-drawing fun.

The bright side?  I'm not anemic.  Just hoping I'm not diabetic as well.

Time will tell!

...what to wish...

I don't know what to wish for this year.

When I blow out my birthday candles, I don't know what to wish for. 

Last year's wish (& the year before that & the year before that...) has been granted.  And I don't know what to wish for!

So I'll just enjoy my birthday, probably more than I have in the past, and wish for something silly.  Like a pain-free delivery. 

Thirty is going to be a good year.

Merry, Merry!

As I sit here, putting off the lasagna I have to make and the cookies I have to frost, I am reminded of past Christmas blogs.  I am a notorious blog-writing downer on Christmas.  Remember 2008?  How about 2009?  I had good reason to be sad, that is true.  And even going back and rereading those blogs makes me cry.  I do still miss those babies, and all the memories I will never have with them.

But.

I can't help but smile when I know there's a 'but...'

This year I feel my baby moving inside me.  He's received Christmas gifts already.  I know his heart is beating strong.  I'm still an emotional basket case!  Sometimes I can't help but just sit and cry!  But I blame that mostly on pregnancy hormones. 

This year I am so thankful.  God has granted the desires of my heart.  If I didn't receive a single Christmas gift for the rest of my life on this earth, I wouldn't care.  The best gift ever will be arriving in less than 3 months.  I'm still amazed when I think about it.

Merry Christmas to you all!  And remember, while we're celebrating the birth of Jesus as a baby, He came to die for you and me.  He took the weight of our sin so that we could have eternal life.  And He's coming back some day!

:receipts:

Ahhhh, the gift receipt.  A great invention, indeed. 

But, like other great things (raises, help with dishes & getting a grade changed), it only works if you ask for it.  And for some reason, even though this is the season for gift-giving, no one asks me if I want a gift receipt!  And I don't know if it's preggo-brain or what, but I never remember to ask.  Just like I've never asked for a raise.  Or to get a grade changed.  I have asked for help with dishes before, and I'm happy to report I always get that help when I ask.

So I'll be giving several gifts this year that will not come with a gift receipt.  And I hate doing that.  I try to buy things people will like, but I do not consider myself a good gift buyer.  I never know what to get people.  I'll be informing my loved ones that if they need to exchange, I'll get them the regular receipt.  How lame is that?  Not to mention, there is more than one gift on most of my receipts. 

Way to make things difficult, Lynn.

Now, since I can't sleep, I'm going to go wrap John's Christmas presents.  Hopefully he won't need to return anything...

the goose is getting fat...

Christmas is coming, ready or not!

We've already had a few family Christmas parties.  Tomorrow is my work Christmas party.  Cookies are being eaten.  Present are being given.  Before you know it, it'll all be over!

I'm trying to stop and really enjoy the holiday...but there's just no time!  Tonight I got all our niece and nephews presents wrapped.  (I also did a load of laundry, washed the dishes and ate dinner!)  There's still a lot to do (including some shopping!), but I feel like I've made a decent sized dent for now.

The baby likes it when I finally sit down in the evening like I am now.  He starts moving and kicking, and I absolutely love it!  Heartburn/acid reflux is still bothering me, but the Pepcid does help.  I'm eating like there's no tomorrow...or rather, I'm eating like I don't have my glucose test this week.  Which I do.  Hoping for good results!

Merry Christmas and happy wrapping!

mishmash

I've decided 12 ornaments blogged about a year is the perfect number.  That way, there are more for next year! 

Yesterday was Christmas Program day at work.  Two programs, one 14-hour day, lots of yummy snacks and minimal crying (from the kids, not me).  All-in-all a very good day, but boy was I exhausted!  I'm taking a few minutes this morning to relax before I jump into my to-do list.

And during these few minutes of relaxation, I'm busy eating some delicious cookies that I was given as a gift yesterday.  This Mom at work makes amazing cookies, and I was so glad she gave me some!  They're almost gone.  :)

Now it's time to make a list and get going.  This stuff isn't going to get done on its own!

Ornament 12

Which is really not an ornament at all.  It's a candle that will be lit every evening until Christmas, as we remember an amazing boy who is enjoying his first Christmas in Heaven, while his family continues to suffer here on earth.  Tyler went to be with Jesus early this year.

Tyler's motto, "Never Give Up" has continued on as his family strives to honor him through the Tyler DeMarco Foundation.  To learn more about Tyler, the Foundation or how to donate, please click here!

Now grab some tissues and watch this video.  It's so worth it.

Ornament Number 11!

Our honeymoon was spent on the Carnival Miracle, and we got quite a few ornaments on that trip.  Some from the ports we visited, and others just from the ship gift shop.  I love the ship gift shop.  :)

This is a (very) small replica of our ship.  I remember it was so much fun, just being the 2 of us, our first vacation together!  I hope we can go back on that ship someday.

How many shopping days till Christmas?

My feet, knees and legs have been very sore lately.  I was just figuring it was all the extra weight I've been packing on.  But after only gaining one pound in four weeks, I know that's not it!  So what the heck is it?  Who knows.  I just keep having to sit down because my legs hurt almost too much to stand.  Of course, I did do lots of shopping today, then cleaning, then dishes.  But I still have cookies to make!!  I think I'm going to sit and unwrap the Hershey Kisses first, that way I'll get a little break before I even start.  :)

Speaking of shopping...I'm doing pretty well.  I think I'm almost done with John.  However, I did something really stupid today.  I bought him a gift that I already bought a couple weeks ago.  Whoops.  I'm blaming preggo brain.

We still have plenty of shopping left to do, but we want to do some of it together, and that's gonna be pretty difficult.  Our schedules conflict quite a bit for the next couple weeks!

Okay, cookie time.

Ornaments 9 & 10...otherwise known as the "I'm Caught Up!" post

This little beauty of an ornament was a gift from John's parents.  I absolutely love the comfy cozy feeling it gives me.

The blanket and book on the chair.  The dog laying on the rug.  The mug of cocoa with marshmallows.  The stockings hung.  The crackling fire.  There's actually a spot on the back where you hook a light right onto the ornament and it lights up the fireplace.  Love it!

And to make myself completely caught up, here's number 10:

This was also given to me by my in-laws.  He's missing his little carrot nose.  :(  But he's still so cute!  The light inside flickers like a real lantern, and I absolutely love it!

Phew!  Caught up!  Now my hope is to do one ornament a day until Christmas day.  As the days continue to get busier, we'll see how I do with that.  :)



Ornaments 7 & 8

I'm almost caught up!  :)

This first ornament was a gift to me from my Mom.  I love it because it's snowman-themed (I'm a little obsessed...) and because it's just so pretty.

It says Happy Happy Snowy Day.  Isn't it so cute?

This ornament was bought in California.  Can you guess where exactly?

It's a little blurry, but I think you can still make it out.  Reagan is John's favorite president, so when we were traveling to San Diego last year, we just had to visit his Presidential Library.  We had a great time, and I'm so glad we got to go.  We'd love to go back sometime!

Baby Update!

Today was my monthly visit to the OB's office!  I was quite worried that since I've been eating everything in sight, my weight gain would be astronomical.  But I needn't have worried.  I only gained 1 pound!  Officially 7 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight.  I can live with that, especially after the 5 pound gain last month.

Baby boy's heartbeat was 153 bpm.  It was a different nurse than I usually have today, but she was really nice and told me it was a very strong heartbeat!

My stomach gained 4 inches again.  Up to 25.  Seems strange to gain that much in size, but only a pound in weight.  Not that I'm complaining!!

Thankfully my blood pressure was back down around where it usually is. 

I asked my doctor about my INSANE heartburn/acid reflux.  Honestly, it has been so bad lately.  Almost unbearable at times, and it wakes me up at night.  Apparently she had told me back at the beginning I could take Pepcid AC...but I forgot.  I've just been treating with Tums.  So today I'm headed out for some Pepcid!  She said I can even take it twice a day if necessary.  She also told me it'll only get worse from here on out!  Oh well, if that's my only complaint I think I'm doing pretty well.  No swelling at all, which I'm grateful for!

Okay, time for lunch out with John.  We actually have a few hours to ourselves today!

Ornaments 5 & 6

I'm trying desperately to catch up.  I hope to do another ornament post tonight, most likely with a baby update in between!

This ornament is very special for an obvious reason: it marks our first year having Christmas together as a family!

Christmas 2006, given to us by my Mom and Dad!  Sorry for the poor picture quality, I have to take the pictures without the flash, and on my camera that makes them blurry!

This ornament was probably one of the first 'destination' ornaments I ever bought.

(Again, sorry about the blurriness.)  My very first cruise was with my parents and little sister and it was amazing!  Our very first port was Nassau, and that's where I bought this pretty, glittery shell. 

Since then, I've been back to the Bahamas with John...I'll show you that ornament another time!  :)



You never know...

...what the day may bring when you work as a Program Coordinator at a preschool!

Ornaments 3 & 4

I'm a little ornament obsessed.  I like to buy ornaments to remember places we've been, as well as to celebrate special occasions.  This ornament was bought on a very special occasion, one of the specialist of my life!

Any guesses??

I (we) bought this ornament the day we got engaged!  January 13, 2006.  I was completely taken by surprise...I had no idea John was planning to propose!  We spent the train ride home making a wedding guest list.  :)

And speaking of the train...we bought this ornament the same day!

Another way to commemorate the day and the trip.  NYC is one of our most favorite places to visit!  And we always take the train, either from Poughkeepsie or Rensselaer.  Come to think of it, I think it's about time we take another trip there soon...maybe before the baby comes!



Ornaments 1 & 2

The first ornament I'm going to tell you about was the very first ornament that I put on the tree this year.  It's also our newest ornament...it was given to us 2 days ago by John's parents! 

In case it's hard to tell (it was hard to photograph) it says "Mommy to Be" on one side, "Daddy to Be" on the other, and "Expecting a Precious Gift" in the middle.  I don't think I need to elaborate much on why this ornament is special to me.  I will always remember this Christmas as a very happy Christmas as we anticipate the birth of our little boy in a few months!  I couldn't dream of a better gift.

This second ornament runs on the opposite side of the emotional spectrum.  I actually cried putting it on the tree, remembering the past couple years and how difficult Christmas was for me.

 This was given to me by my sister-in-law and brother after the loss of our first baby, and to me it symbolizes both our babies we lost, November 2008 and November 2009.  I still cry sad tears sometimes over those precious ones I won't hold this side of Heaven.  It's still hard to understand sometimes.  This was the second ornament I put on the tree this year, and even though it's sad for me, I look forward to the day when my kids are old enough to understand it's significance.

There!  That's out of the way.  I promise, no more sad ornament posts!  Stay tuned...and Merry Christmas!

And now for something completely different...

I think it's time to get off the food subject.  At least for a post or two.  :)

Sunday was Christmas tree day in the Nuzback household!  We made our annual trip to District 2 Firehouse while John did his annual complaining.  He wants a fake tree.  I want real.  I won again this year.  It's getting harder though.  I just can't imagine our kids growing up with a fake tree!

And really, he doesn't have too much to complain about.  I picked the second tree that we looked at!  I'm pretty easy to please, I just want real!  I love the smell of a pine tree in the house.

Sunday night I strung the lights around the tree, and tonight I did the ornaments.  It looks pretty good, if I do say so myself!

There are lots of ornaments not on the tree...because I just have way too many. But all our important and sentimental ones are up. I'm hoping to do what I intended to do (but fell a little short) last year: I'd like to post an ornament a day, and tell you the story behind it, or why it's special to me. I'm going to double up the first few days in order to catch up, and hopefully do all 25 days of December!

Spinaches & Artichokes

After posting on facebook that I was making Spinach & Artichoke dip, I was hounded for the recipe!  Well, maybe not hounded...but several people asked about it.  So here it is!  This is pretty much my own recipe.  I had about five different recipes, and I picked what I liked best from each one!

Ingredients

2 cloves of garlic, minced

12 oz. cream cheese, softened (1 and 1/2 packages)

1 c. sour cream

1/2 c. mayo

1/2 c. Romano cheese

1/2 c. Parmesan cheese

10 oz. package frozen spinach

14 oz. can artichoke hearts

Mix first 6 ingredients together well.  Cook and drain spinach according to package directions.  (I just do it in the microwave, takes only minutes.)  Chop it up and mix it into the dip.  Drain the artichoke hearts then chop them also.  You can make them as big or small as you want.  I chop them pretty small so they go throughout the whole dip, as opposed to big chunks.  That's just how I like it.  So add the chopped artichoke hearts, and mix it all up. 

I bake it at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, depending on the size of the dish I use.  If I put it in a 9x13, 30 minutes does it.  If it's in a smaller dish with larger sides, it might take a little longer.  You can stir it partway through if you want.  I usually do.

Serve with tortilla chips, toasted french bread, crackers, anything really.

I meant to take a picture of the dip I took to my parent's house yesterday, but forgot until it was almost gone.  So I took a picture of the leftovers that had been reheated. 

Doesn't really look that appetizing here, but trust me, it was good!

the peanut butter ball recipe I didn't promise you...

...but I was asked for, so I'll share it!

This recipe comes from Mom, but I'm sure you can find it pretty much anywhere!

Ingredients

1 c. melted margarine

1 lb. confectioners sugar

4 oz. coconut, if desired (I don't desire...)

1 & 1/2 c. peanut butter

1 c. chopped walnuts (you can omit this also, I usually do)

1 c. graham cracker crumbs

1 t. vanilla

pinch of salt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1/2 stick parafin wax

12 oz bag semisweet chocolate chips

Mix first 8 ingredients until well combined.  (Let me just say here, I use butter, not margarine.  I like to be healthy like that.)  Let cool for awhile (about an hour?) in the fridge, then roll into small balls.  Place on wax paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for about a 1/2 hour.  Meanwhile, chop 1/2 stick of wax into small pieces (reallllly small for easy melting) and place in a small pan on very low heat until melted (or on top of a double boiler).  Add the bag of chips and place the small pan in a frying pan of water (or on top of the double boiler) until melted, stirring occasionally.

Using a toothpick, dip each ball into the chocolate and place back onto the wax paper-lined baking sheet.  Refrigerate briefly to set the chocolate, then eat, give away or freeze!

Makes about 80, depending on the size you make.  :)

the frosting recipe I promised...

Remember when I posted my sugar cookie recipe?  I also promised to post my frosting recipe when it came time to, well, frost!  And when I was at my parent's today and mentioned frosting some cookies, my Dad reminded me that I needed to post the recipe!  So here goes.  This is Grandma's frosting recipe, used on many delicious cakes, including my wedding cake!  And I think it's just perfect for sugar cookies.

First, put 1 lb. confectioners sugar, 2/3 c. Crisco, 1 t. vanilla extract, 2 t. almond extract and 1/4 c. milk in a bowl.  (I kind of do the almond to taste...the recipe really only calls for vanilla!)

Second, mix it all up.

Third...well, there is no third.  You're done!  Unless, of course you want to add some color!

Now, I realize these colors aren't very...Christmas-y.  But let me explain.  I did yellow for the angels, brown for the gingerbread men, blue for the trains (Thomas anyone?) and green (which is Christmas-y!) for the trees.  Some years I don't color the icing at all, and just use sprinkles.  This year, I'm doing both!

And voila!

Delicious sugar cookies.  How do I know?  I may have just eaten 6 of them.  But in my defense, I'm eating for two.

Before & After

Before:

After:

19 dozen, done and in the freezer.





Thankfulness.

Did you know you can choose to be thankful?  Even when you don't really feel like it.  Take this for example.  I wrote that post at a time when I may not have felt very thankful, but I chose for my attitude to be one of thankfulness.

This year, I definitely feel like I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.  I've been blessed far beyond what I deserve.  This year, as opposed to the last 2 years, I truly feel thankful.  If I were to list what I'm thankful for, the list would never end.  God has brought us joy in the morning, joy that I honestly thought might never come.

As I laid in bed last night, feeling the little kicks and spins of our baby boy, I couldn't help but smile.  It's been a long journey for us.  I know so many other people have journeys much longer than ours, but for us, it was long.  And now here we are.  There are days I still almost can't believe the blessings of the past few months.  Sometimes I feel like I won't believe this baby is ours until I hold him in my arms.

Today, just as that day exactly 2 years ago, when I lost my first baby, I am choosing to be thankful.  Sure, it's much easier today.  But there will be days ahead when it's not so easy.  And I hope that in those difficult days, I will choose thankfulness always. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!  May you enjoy the love of friends and family today, and find many things to be thankful for!

chicken

First, find yourself a nice bird.

Be sure to remove the wrapper.



Please be sure to empty out the nastiness.

There, nice and cleaned out.

Pick your poison(s)...

...and spice it up!

Chop some lemons and garlic...

...and shove 'em in!

Ready for the oven!

Bake for about 2 and a half hours, or until that little white timer pops up.

Have your husband carve the bird, then enjoy with mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls and broccoli!

aw, sugar.

This has been one busy week.

Hence, the no blogging for (almost) a week.

Today has been a day of great accomplishment.  I finished up my registering!  We are registered at Babies 'R Us and Target.  There are still a couple things I want to register for, but that's for another day.  I'm glad to have that huge chore behind me!

The only other thing I wanted to accomplish today was baking sugar cookies.  And bake I did!  My oven was on for 4 hours and my cookie sheets deserve a break!  (As do I...)  I made 3 batches of sugar cookies, one right after the other.  In total, 21 dozen cookies.  That's 252, if you're wondering.  All for my freezer.  The crazy annoying thing about sugar cookies is that there is no break.  I was on my feet the entire time, mixing, rolling out, cutting out, popping in the oven, putting on cooling racks...repeat, repeat, repeat.  And repeat again.

Cookies I have left to bake: hershey kiss, peanut butter balls and chocolate crinkles.  I so hope I'm done with the sugar cookies (except the frosting part).  They are by far the most stressful.  Lucky for me, they also freeze the best.  :)

And just because I'm too tired to get up off the couch and get in bed, I'm going to share my sugar cookie recipe with you.  They're SO YUM.  And please note, it's Aunt Iva's recipe.

Sugar Cookies

1 c. butter

1 & 1/4 c. sugar

1 egg

1 t. vanilla extract

1 t. almond extract

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 c. milk

4 c. flour

Mix all ingredients, in order, until, ya know, it looks good.  And don't be a hero.  Use your Kitchen Aid.  Otherwise, you'll have very sore arms.  Especially if you make 3 batches in a row.  (I haven't always owned a Kitchen Aid!  I know from experience!)

Now that the dough is ready, plop some of it down onto a floured surface.  A huge wooden cutting board is the best thing.  But my Mom owns that, not me.  So just find something that works.  I probably start with about 1/3 of the dough to make sure it all fits on my 'surface'.  Flour the dough well, and roll out with an (also floured) rolling pin.  Make sure that your dough is rolled out exactly even, no thin or thick spots.

Ha!  That's a joke.  My dough is always uneven.  Who cares.  It works.  I think it's supposed to be about 1/4 inch, but mine varies greatly.  Do what you can.

Cut out with cookie cutters into whatever lovely shapes you'd like.  I put parchment paper on my cookie sheet, just to make it easier, and then transfer the cookies to the sheet.  Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.  Depending on the size of the cookie, of course.  Make sure all the cookies on the sheet are approximately the same size, thus approximately the same bake time.

I let the cookies cool for about 2 minutes on the cookie sheet, then the rest of the way on wire racks. 

Store in airtight containers.  These freeze very well. 

In a couple weeks, when I start removing them from the freezer, I'll give you my frosting recipe.

Now, it's time for bed.

Hand over the gun and no one will get hurt!

Having lost 2 babies during pregnancy, there are definitely parts of having a baby that I thought I may never get to experience.  Sure, there are many parts I may not want to experience: sickness, nausea, stretch marks, swollen feet, braxton hicks, labor & delivery!  But the good surely outweighs the bad here.

Just having a baby belly (which I must say, I'm rockin' pretty well right now) is something I've really looked forward to.

I think a baby shower is high up on the list of fun things during pregnancy for a new Mom.  And I've got to say here, it's really not about the gifts.  At last not just about the gifts! 

To me, a shower is more about the celebration of a new life coming into the world.  What better reason to celebrate?!?

Yesterday my sister and I spent hours in Babies 'R Us with a scanning gun, picking out adorable little things for our baby-boy-on-the-way.  (And when I say 'our', you all know I'm talking about John and I.  The other people in Babies 'R Us?  They might have gotten the wrong idea...) 

I'm probably about half done registering.  Pretty much all the big stuff, and some other things are on the list.  I'm going to finish up at Target where I'm not so overwhelmed!  I even put very big stuff, that we're planning on buying ourselves, because near the end of my pregnancy we'll get 10% off anything left. 

Well, I need to go put a chicken in the oven, then finish up a big project I just started before John wakes up!

And here's the picture I promised...

22.5 weeks.  And yes, that is my bathroom, missing a strip of molding.  It's been missing forever.  Maybe we'll get that up before the baby comes...



Jessica vs. Mariah

There is all this hoopla.  And I don't get it at all.

To read the Yahoo article, click here.

Apparently Jessica Simpson's brand new single from her yet-to-be-released Christmas album is stepping on Mariah Carey's toes.

I'll admit, I listened to the new song, "My Only Wish."  (I didn't have to listen to Mariah's, I know it by heart and sing it at the top of my lungs when it comes on 98.3.)  There are definite similarities in the lyrics and instrumentals.

But honestly?  No comparison.  Sorry Jess.

Mariah's song, "All I Want for Christmas is You" has been around for 16 years.  Mariah herself, even though I'm definitely not a huge fun, has much more star power and longevity than Jessica.

And I don't like to say anything about people's voices, because I know it's just a preference thing...but I really can't stand hearing Jessica Simpson sing!  It just sounds fake to me.

So is there really an issue here?  I don't think so.  What do you think??

Five Question Friday!

 It's Five Question Friday Time! True, I haven't done this in awhile. But I'm usually working! So here goes! 1. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?  Physically painful, I would have to say my miscarriage.  :(  Seriously, it was like I was in labor.  I even got to the point where I was counting the minutes between intense pains.   Recovery from surgery (about a year previous to that) was painful, but I had some yummy pain meds.  So it wasn't quite so bad!
 2. How much sleep do you get at night?
 

That completely depends on the night!  I used to stay up till 10 or 11, then get up by 5am.  So 6 or 7 hours.  But since being pregnant it varies.  Some nights I'm in bed by 9, which give me 8 hours of sleep.  In the first trimester I was in bed by 7:30 some nights.  No joke.

But the problem now is I wake up every night.  More than once a night.  So I have no idea how much sleep I get, but it never feels like enough.

I know, I know.  This is just the beginning!

 3. How long did you believe in Santa Claus? How did you find out that he does not exist?  

I honestly don't think I ever really believed in Santa.  At least not that I recall.  And I certainly don't remember finding out that he didn't exist.  I'm going to have to ask my Mom about this.  I think Santa was just kind of down played in our house.  As far as I know, I always knew it was my parents who bought the presents.  And ate the cookies and milk I always left out.

(Why did I leave out cookies and milk if I didn't believe in Santa?)

Now I have to decide what to do with our kids!  Suggestions anyone??

 4. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?

John and I saw The Town recently.  I'm pretty sure that was the last movie I've seen in the theater.  It was decent, I suppose, but there are always parts that I think could have been left out and the movie would be just as good, or maybe even better.

I can tell you the next movie I'll be seeing!  Harry Potter #7, Part One!

 5. What do you wear to bed?

Comfy pants and a long sleeved t-shirt.  No socks or I'll overheat.  We even have the radiator in our bedroom turned off for just that reason.  In the summer, shorts and t-shirt.   

Update

I had an appointment on Tuesday, and it went well!

I gained 5 pounds.  In 4 weeks.  Acceptable, because that still only puts me 6 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight, due to all the weight I lost in the beginning.  But still.  Five pounds seems like a lot.  Ah well.  I'm trying to eat healthy...for the most part.

When she measured my stomach it was 4 inches bigger than 4 weeks ago.  Twenty-one inches.  The last visit there was a 4 inch gain as well.  At some point I'm assuming it'll grow less than 4 inches per visit...or else I'm most definitely having a line backer!

The baby's (should I just call him John?) heartbeat was 147 bpm.  He was moving all over too, she kept having to move the doppler thing to find him.  Just when we'd get a good solid heartbeat he'd be off and wiggling again.  Silly boy.

My blood pressure was a little high.  For me, at least.  Mine is usually very low, and the top number was in the 130's.  My midwife didn't seem worried, so I'm not.

Let's see...I think that's it!  The only pregnancy issues I'm having lately are just annoying ones: I can't get comfortable at night, or when we're just on the couch watching TV.  My back hurts.  My body is so sore by the end of the day.  I wake up all night long!  Heartburn is a killer.  But those are all so minor when I feel those little baby movements!  I think that will definitely be what I miss the most once I have him!

I need to take a picture and post it...maybe today!

Happy Anniversary

Today John and I celebrate 4 years of wedded bliss.

Well, ya know, for the most part!

Our wedding day was amazing.  Everything I could have hoped for.  We had a wonderful honeymoon too.  Coming home (but not to the home I had for 25 years previous!) was a little traumatic, but after a day or 2 I was settled in.  We also had to give away a day in those first days after our wedding.  Not easy.  But we survived.

Fast forward to anniversary number one.  We spent it at Niagara Falls!  I had never been there, and we had an awesome time.  Amazing hotel suite, overlooking the Falls.  Definitely a trip to remember...especially the part where I beat John in miniature golf.

Skip ahead another year to one of the absolute best days of my life, November 10, 2008.  We found out we were expecting our first baby!  Obviously, it didn't end well, but I have fond memories of that day: wrapping up the pregnancy test for John to open and hiding it from my parents when they unexpectedly stopped by.

Add another year, and we're brought to one of the worst days of my life.  We were in San Diego with John's family when, on our fourth anniversary, I got a horrible phone call that said all my ultrasounds and blood work were pointing to one, and only one thing.  Impending miscarriage.  Thanks for the anniversary gift.  Couldn't it have been on a different day?  We all know how that ended.

Now, November 10, 2010, I'm 22 weeks pregnant with our son.  Sometimes I look down at my belly and almost can't believe it's real.  Even though this anniversary was spent working, and at an evening training...I couldn't be happier.  Even though I've barely seen John at all today, that's okay.  They (whoever they may be) say good things are worth waiting for...and wait we have. 

I thank God for my wonderful husband who has been there to support me through all the ups and downs, even when my wacky emotions don't make sense to him.  I thank God for my son, who literally gives me a whole new outlook on life already.  And I thank God for carrying me through the years, even when I didn't feel like I could go on.

Happy Anniversary John!  They only get better from here!  <3

Focaccia

After a beautiful day of snow falling yesterday I was in the mood for yummy food.  I make a big steaming pan of baked ziti, and it really hit the spot!  I also decided to try something new in the bread maker, thanks to my friend Catie!  She talked about how much she liked to make Focaccia bread, so I decided to try it.

Of course, I left my recipe book at work.  So I browsed a few recipes online and made a basic dough: 

• 1 cup warm water
• 3 T. olive oil
• 3 c. bread flour
• 2 t. salt
• 6 t. Italian seasoning
• 2 t. active dry yeast

I ran it through the dough cycle in the bread maker which is such a great invention!!

Once it was finished I took it out, gave it a good punch, then pressed it out onto a greased cookie sheet.  I left lots of pretty little finger indentations, too.  For about 40 minutes I let it rise near the kerosene heater.  Then I drizzled some EVOO on it along with some fresh garlic and shredded parmesan and romano cheeses.  Oh yeah, I added some kosher salt too.  Into the oven (450 degrees) for 15 minutes.

And tada!

It's delish!  Already more than half gone.  And, wonder of wonders, John likes it!! 

If (when!) I make this again, I'll use just regular grated parmesan.  I think I'd like that better.  Besides that...no complaints here. 

I also thought about making it a sweet thing...I'd have to omit the Italian seasoning and maybe put brown sugar and cinnamon on the top...

The possibilities seem endless!

Random Ramblings...

Yesterday I bought 10 pounds of potatoes.  Today, I will peel, chunk and cook them.  Then I'll mash them up with butter and milk, transport to my parent's house and enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal.  With all the fam.

I also began my Christmas shopping yesterday.  On a very small scale.  But I saw something (for the kids, of course) and couldn't resist purchasing.  I'm always shopping last minute.  I really hope that's not the case this year.  I'm going to try hard!!

Today I made and ate a waffle and a glass of milk.  Well, the milk was from a carton.  The waffle was homemade.  From a mix.  You know what I mean. 

The sun is finally shining, it seems the rain is gone for awhile.  Yesterday I saw two rainbows.  I could cry as I look at a rainbow, knowing that it is God's promise to us.  God's promises feel so real to me lately.  I know they're always real, even when they don't feel it...but lately they really feel it.  And that's a good feeling.

Happy Birthday to my Zoe today.  She's 7.  Or 49.  However you want to look at it.

Happy Thanksgiving!  Even though, unless you're a parent, sibling or niece/nephew of mine, you're most likely not celebrating today...I'll eat some turkey for ya.

Big Brother Birthday

Today is my big brother's birthday.  In honor of him, I'm going to tell you a story.  About him, of course.  And me.

While growing up we were pretty much forced to be 'close', simply because we had the same friends.  And the home schooling thing too.  Now?  We really are close.  Sure, we love to pick on each other...but it's all in love now.  I can't really say that it was all in love when we were younger...

Dave loved to practice his karate moves on me.  One of the many 'big brother' annoyances growing up.  Also, if I was baking or cooking, he was always pestering me and stealing bites.  I don't remember a lot of really bad stuff we did to each other, we just annoyed and got on each other's nerves a lot.

So this one day I was baking.  I can't remember if it was a cake or cookies, but it was something requiring frosting.  Dave was constantly annoying me by coming in and sneaking his fingers into the frosting.  Finally, I'd had it.  I took a big spoonful of what looked like frosting, and lovingly handed it to him, in a nice, sweet, sisterly way.

I'll never forget the look on his face when his mouth swallowed up the spoon and he got a big, fat taste of Crisco! 

Looking back, I'm sure he can laugh at that moment.  But I don't really think he laughed then.

So happy birthday big brother.  I honestly couldn't ask for a better big brother, and I love you very much!

Trick or Treat!

I had a few very special Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween!

There was this scary adorable Lion!

(with her Mommy)

There was Buzz Lightyear - with an impressive wing span!

And, of course, Thomas!

And next year, we'll be adding another one to the mix!

Happy Halloween!

Even though I've been very lazy this fall (with good reason, I believe!) and haven't gotten out any harvest decorations, I'm definitely feeling in the mood today.  I love handing out candy to cute little trick-or-treaters.  I love the excitement that next year we'll be dressing up our little boy.  And I love making something special for those extra-special trick-or-treaters!!

And, yes, eating some for myself too!

Happy Halloween!