It has been a little while since my last post. I admit I have been busy. A week ago today I was in a car accident. I was sitting at a light (it had just turned green) and as the car in front of me pulled off, I was rear ended. I am okay, the van is still drivable and so far everything is alright. I am thankful to the guy who hit me.. I know that may sound strange to some of you, but really I am. You see I was not paying attention to anything behind me (he was) and didn't see what was coming. The guy who hit me saw the other driver coming and not slowing down, he then tried to leave enough room between his car and mine, as to not hit me. Thus the driver who hit me was pushed into me and bore the brunt of the whole thing. I was able to leave the scene unharmed, he was headed to the emergency room. So yes, I am thankful to the guy who hit me, his actions speak of integrity, it seems few have these days. We are looking into getting me a new van/SUV soon. I am just hoping it is not something so big that I look even more dwarfed!
Other then that I have been trying to keep the house up, and as many of you can imagine some days that task is easier then others.. especially when Hubby is home. Hubby home. I really like those two words together. My day is so much brighter when he is home. I enjoy every moment of it! In the past seven years ( our wedding anniversary is the first weekend in Feb.), I can say I have never liked to see him leave for work. I don't like being apart from him, when he is around my day is added to immensely. Not just because the work load is shared or that there is someone there helping me with the kids. It is something else, I can honestly say at times we are like a little old couple. Picture this: He is sitting in his recliner reading a book and I am sitting in mine doing the same. There is a quietness to the house as the kids are sleeping and just knowing we are there with each other is enough. I admit that the intimacy factor is not suffering a bit either. When Sport was here he said that being around Hubby and I was like being around two newly weds who hadn't figured out how to get out of the honeymoon suite. Sport also said that we were at least more discreet about it then others.
Hubby's birthday is this Thursday.. and we are going to celebrate with his family in N.Y. ! I am excited as it has been a little while since we have seen his family. It will be good to see them and celebrate with them as it is also his brothers birthday on Thursday. So off we go. I will try to post pictures and stuff later.
Well I have some packing and things to do.. so until next time dear readers.. Love much, Live fully and Forgive even when it is not asked for!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Kitchen Sink Soup.. and a Flat Bread
It is soup weather and I must say I enjoy making soup. I don't usually follow a recipe, nor do I write it down. But since I am making this one in a crock pot (a first for me.. I usually let it slowly simmer on the stove top) I figured I should write it down, in case I am asked later for it.. so here it is, a rare thing so enjoy!
I admit I am cheating on this one.. flat bread usually has no yeast or leaven.. I like mine with a little rise so I use pizza crust mix.
I hope you all enjoy the soup if you decide to try it.. Hubby and the kids really like it and if you are a vegetarian you can leave out the meat and substitute the chicken stock for Vegetable broth/stock. It is a hearty meal and quite filling.
Kitchen Sink Soup
- 1 qt chicken stock
- 1/4 cup medium pearl barley
- 1 (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes
- 1 small clove garlic
- 1 (15oz) can Navy Beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 (15 oz) can Kidney Beans (drained and rinsed)
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 Stalk Celery (chopped)
- 1 tblsp Onion Powder (or 1/2 cup chopped onion)
- 8 oz frozen peas
- 2 chicken breasts or three chicken tenders
- 1tsp each: sage, thyme and nutmeg or 1 tblsp poultry seasoning ( toss with the rinsed beans to help incorporate the dry seasonings into the soup)
- 1 tsp each salt and pepper
I admit I am cheating on this one.. flat bread usually has no yeast or leaven.. I like mine with a little rise so I use pizza crust mix.
Flat Bread
- 1 package pizza crust mix
- Natures seasoning season blend
- 1 tblsp olive oil
- 1 cup shredded cheese (if you want a cheesy bread)
I hope you all enjoy the soup if you decide to try it.. Hubby and the kids really like it and if you are a vegetarian you can leave out the meat and substitute the chicken stock for Vegetable broth/stock. It is a hearty meal and quite filling.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Adventures in Mothering.. with a POC van
Lately my Van has been giving me problems. Lets face it, the van has been around for 12 years. I don't know who had it first, or what they used it for, but when we picked it up it looked as if it had been used to rescue dogs. I admit that I chose the van. I really only concentrated on what was needed at the time. This was in 2007. Miniman was 16 months old I was newly pregnant with Bubbles and knew that we needed something that would fit three car seats and get us across the country as Hubby had just received orders that we were moving to Ohio. The van ran good, everything was working fine. So we signed the papers and off we went. Now almost three years later and just a few months before it is paid off, the van is looking more like a can.
I posted earlier that the A/C doesn't work in the back and neither does the heat. There is a wire problem and the battery has been replaced almost every six months. And when it rains the smell of wet dog permeates.. although I have done everything I can think of to get rid of the smell. I am sure the next person who gets the van will use it as a work truck. You know the trucks that you really don't care how they look or what all works in the back so long as the front gets heated/cooled and it runs well. I sadly think that is the future of my minivan.
In the last week I have had more issues with the van. Last Wednesday Hubby went out to warm u the van for me as it was frigidly cold out and I needed to get Miniman to school. When Hubby closed the sliding door, the glass shattered. That's right it shattered. All the dark pieces on the snow covered ground looked like some kind of explosive aftermath. Hubby was fine and uninjured..but then there was the call to the Insurance. The deductible to pay and glass service to schedule. I was able to call my friend N and she thankfully helped me get Miniman off to school and then pick him up a little later. Everything was scheduled and taken care of by the time Hubby got home from work that night. Then comes this week. There is new glass in the sliding door.. but now the battery has decided to die. Once again it is when I need to get Miniman to school. Hubby was able to give the van a jump from his car, and after that I was good the rest of the day. Then comes this morning. Hubby told me to park the van in the garage hoping that if it not left out to the weather the battery might keep it's charge. He checked it this morning as I we getting the kids ready and the van started just fine ( I even heard it). He let me know that the van started and then he was out the door for work. About twenty minutes later it was time for me to get the kids off to school. The van wouldn't start. I couldn't find the jump pack in the garage (you know the one that will jump your car if there isn't anyone around to help you). I waited a bit and then called Hubby at work. I let him know that the van wasn't starting and that I might need him to come home. After hanging up with him I decided to see if I could charge the battery. I have a battery charger in the garage, but the outlets are all at the front of the garage by the door. I then put the van in reverse, and pushed yes pushed the van it's length and was able to get it into position for one of the outlets. I then once again called my friend N to see if she could help me get the kids to school. After N had her three on the bus she came over to help me out. By the time she got there I had been able to charge the battery up enough to get it to start. N took Goosie to school and I took Miniman. All of this happened before 8:45am. What a way to start the morning. The heat no longer works in the back of the van, the window has been replaced, but the rear view mirror fell off this morning. I am ready for a new vehicle! The van has been very useful and has taken us many places. Hubby think's he will be coming down with orders soon (I say think's because nothing is in writing yet) so we will once again be moving. The van will be paid off in March or April I would have to look at the paperwork to see when. As soon as we are able to get the title.. we are going to trade in. It has been a good van. It took us from Idaho to Ohio, to New York and South Carolina. It has been reliable..but I am ready for something newer without so many issues. Hubby is ready for me to have a new van too!
On another note Hubby had a dream the other night and when he told me about it the conversation went something like this:
Hubby~ I had a dream and I don't think you are going to like it.
Me~ What was the dream (my interest was piqued as Hubby doesn't usually remember his dreams)
Hubby~ I dreamed we had another baby and that your boobs got so big you needed a second breast reduction.
Me~ yeah, that was a bad dream. I thought we agreed that if we did have another baby we would bottle feed instead of breast because I already had the surgery.
Hubby~ So that doesn't scare you?
Me~ No, it doesn't.. if you told me that I was Pregnant with twins THAT would scare me!
To follow another rabbit hole.. we are starting to reinforce manners with the kids. Miniman used to say "I farted" and then laugh uncontrollably. Now he says excuse me. I didn't know how much it had sunk in until he was sleeping and right after he farted in his sleep he said excuse me! I had to walk out of the room!!
Be blessed dear readers and until I write again next time, remember that in life the only person you can change is yourself and if you don't feel like changing.. don't complain that things never change!
I posted earlier that the A/C doesn't work in the back and neither does the heat. There is a wire problem and the battery has been replaced almost every six months. And when it rains the smell of wet dog permeates.. although I have done everything I can think of to get rid of the smell. I am sure the next person who gets the van will use it as a work truck. You know the trucks that you really don't care how they look or what all works in the back so long as the front gets heated/cooled and it runs well. I sadly think that is the future of my minivan.
In the last week I have had more issues with the van. Last Wednesday Hubby went out to warm u the van for me as it was frigidly cold out and I needed to get Miniman to school. When Hubby closed the sliding door, the glass shattered. That's right it shattered. All the dark pieces on the snow covered ground looked like some kind of explosive aftermath. Hubby was fine and uninjured..but then there was the call to the Insurance. The deductible to pay and glass service to schedule. I was able to call my friend N and she thankfully helped me get Miniman off to school and then pick him up a little later. Everything was scheduled and taken care of by the time Hubby got home from work that night. Then comes this week. There is new glass in the sliding door.. but now the battery has decided to die. Once again it is when I need to get Miniman to school. Hubby was able to give the van a jump from his car, and after that I was good the rest of the day. Then comes this morning. Hubby told me to park the van in the garage hoping that if it not left out to the weather the battery might keep it's charge. He checked it this morning as I we getting the kids ready and the van started just fine ( I even heard it). He let me know that the van started and then he was out the door for work. About twenty minutes later it was time for me to get the kids off to school. The van wouldn't start. I couldn't find the jump pack in the garage (you know the one that will jump your car if there isn't anyone around to help you). I waited a bit and then called Hubby at work. I let him know that the van wasn't starting and that I might need him to come home. After hanging up with him I decided to see if I could charge the battery. I have a battery charger in the garage, but the outlets are all at the front of the garage by the door. I then put the van in reverse, and pushed yes pushed the van it's length and was able to get it into position for one of the outlets. I then once again called my friend N to see if she could help me get the kids to school. After N had her three on the bus she came over to help me out. By the time she got there I had been able to charge the battery up enough to get it to start. N took Goosie to school and I took Miniman. All of this happened before 8:45am. What a way to start the morning. The heat no longer works in the back of the van, the window has been replaced, but the rear view mirror fell off this morning. I am ready for a new vehicle! The van has been very useful and has taken us many places. Hubby think's he will be coming down with orders soon (I say think's because nothing is in writing yet) so we will once again be moving. The van will be paid off in March or April I would have to look at the paperwork to see when. As soon as we are able to get the title.. we are going to trade in. It has been a good van. It took us from Idaho to Ohio, to New York and South Carolina. It has been reliable..but I am ready for something newer without so many issues. Hubby is ready for me to have a new van too!
On another note Hubby had a dream the other night and when he told me about it the conversation went something like this:
Hubby~ I had a dream and I don't think you are going to like it.
Me~ What was the dream (my interest was piqued as Hubby doesn't usually remember his dreams)
Hubby~ I dreamed we had another baby and that your boobs got so big you needed a second breast reduction.
Me~ yeah, that was a bad dream. I thought we agreed that if we did have another baby we would bottle feed instead of breast because I already had the surgery.
Hubby~ So that doesn't scare you?
Me~ No, it doesn't.. if you told me that I was Pregnant with twins THAT would scare me!
To follow another rabbit hole.. we are starting to reinforce manners with the kids. Miniman used to say "I farted" and then laugh uncontrollably. Now he says excuse me. I didn't know how much it had sunk in until he was sleeping and right after he farted in his sleep he said excuse me! I had to walk out of the room!!
Be blessed dear readers and until I write again next time, remember that in life the only person you can change is yourself and if you don't feel like changing.. don't complain that things never change!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
You Are Priceless.. and so am I
Tomorrow morning I am giving a talk about postpartum depression. There are many women who have experienced depression at some point. There are also those who feel guilty about experiencing depression at what should be considered a very happy time in their lives.
I was 24 when my Goosie came into the world. Hubby and I had been married 18 months when we welcomed her into our hearts and home. She was so small and helpless. I had already planned on breastfeeding, and was looking forward to the experience. As happy as I was shortly after bringing her home I thought about running away. It went through my head many times that both she and Hubby would be better off without me and that I was only holding them back. I stayed and felt all the more depressed. There were times I felt as if I were just and utter with opp
osable thumbs. I mentioned it to my Dr and was told that I might be bi-polar. I wasn't given any medication. As time progressed my depression had highs and lows. Some of the lows were pretty low. There was a time I thought of jumping out of a 7th story window, other times it was to over dose on Hubby's medication. Then there were the other thoughts. The ones no one wants to admit having. Actually hurting my child. I still thank God I never did. During my first bout of Postpartum depression we moved and I had to start the process of making new friends, meeting a whole new set of people and on top of that Hubby wanted another child. Goosie was 6 months old when we started trying to conceive again. Miniman was born when Goosie was 22 months old. I was still Depressed but had gotten used to the cover up. Smiling because it was expected, tears many thought were of happiness, laughter to cover up the pain. I knew how to act..I had been acting for a long time. It is one thing that women are good at. The cover up can be so convincing that we even start to believe it.
There were I am sure many who found my friendship difficult as I was a needy friend. I wanted to feel accepted, like I was someone because I felt so worthless on the inside. There are still times I look at my now body and am disgusted. I don't like what I see. Even though most of it is just extra skin.. and I know that I should feel good about it because all that extra is from bringing three of the most important people into my life. It still feels ugly and makes me feel all the more undesirable. After three kids am I still suffering some form of depression? It's rhetorical, the answer is yes.
I am still depressed, I still put on the happy face many times a day. I don't think I am giving all that I could to Hubby or my children. I love them with all of my heart and cannot bare to think of life without them. I cringe to think of their lives without me. While on an admission kick I will admit that I have known about my depression for sometime and that I have not sought help in the matter. I am well aware of how detrimental this is to my entire little family. I am also planning on talking to my Dr about it, I have an appointment tomorrow. I have posted what I hope to be a helpful link to those of you reading who have experienced depression or know someone who is or has experienced it. Although I am studying to be a Pharmacy Technician I must tell you that modern medicine is only a temporary fix to a long term problem and unless you are willing to step up, take responsibility for your feelings and start doing something about them the depression may never go away. Please if you are experiencing depression talk to someone and get help. If not for your own sake for the sake of your families. You may be feeling that you aren't worth much, but to those who love you.. you are priceless. http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/depression-pregnancy.cfm
I was 24 when my Goosie came into the world. Hubby and I had been married 18 months when we welcomed her into our hearts and home. She was so small and helpless. I had already planned on breastfeeding, and was looking forward to the experience. As happy as I was shortly after bringing her home I thought about running away. It went through my head many times that both she and Hubby would be better off without me and that I was only holding them back. I stayed and felt all the more depressed. There were times I felt as if I were just and utter with opp
osable thumbs. I mentioned it to my Dr and was told that I might be bi-polar. I wasn't given any medication. As time progressed my depression had highs and lows. Some of the lows were pretty low. There was a time I thought of jumping out of a 7th story window, other times it was to over dose on Hubby's medication. Then there were the other thoughts. The ones no one wants to admit having. Actually hurting my child. I still thank God I never did. During my first bout of Postpartum depression we moved and I had to start the process of making new friends, meeting a whole new set of people and on top of that Hubby wanted another child. Goosie was 6 months old when we started trying to conceive again. Miniman was born when Goosie was 22 months old. I was still Depressed but had gotten used to the cover up. Smiling because it was expected, tears many thought were of happiness, laughter to cover up the pain. I knew how to act..I had been acting for a long time. It is one thing that women are good at. The cover up can be so convincing that we even start to believe it. There were I am sure many who found my friendship difficult as I was a needy friend. I wanted to feel accepted, like I was someone because I felt so worthless on the inside. There are still times I look at my now body and am disgusted. I don't like what I see. Even though most of it is just extra skin.. and I know that I should feel good about it because all that extra is from bringing three of the most important people into my life. It still feels ugly and makes me feel all the more undesirable. After three kids am I still suffering some form of depression? It's rhetorical, the answer is yes.
I am still depressed, I still put on the happy face many times a day. I don't think I am giving all that I could to Hubby or my children. I love them with all of my heart and cannot bare to think of life without them. I cringe to think of their lives without me. While on an admission kick I will admit that I have known about my depression for sometime and that I have not sought help in the matter. I am well aware of how detrimental this is to my entire little family. I am also planning on talking to my Dr about it, I have an appointment tomorrow. I have posted what I hope to be a helpful link to those of you reading who have experienced depression or know someone who is or has experienced it. Although I am studying to be a Pharmacy Technician I must tell you that modern medicine is only a temporary fix to a long term problem and unless you are willing to step up, take responsibility for your feelings and start doing something about them the depression may never go away. Please if you are experiencing depression talk to someone and get help. If not for your own sake for the sake of your families. You may be feeling that you aren't worth much, but to those who love you.. you are priceless. http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/depression-pregnancy.cfm
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Year in Pictures Review
Thank you to all my friends and family for a wonderful 2009! There were good times and some that were not so good! Children grow up too fast and there are too many times we are all caught without a camera, but know that in our hearts we will always remember the moments that make our lives more liveable. So here's to 2009, and welcome in 2010 and all the wonderment it will bring (lets all just hope we have our cameras)!!! Oh and be sure to pause the other music player that is usually on my blog!
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