Wednesday, December 29, 2010

January 2011 Meal Plan

Jan 1~ collard greens, black eyed peas, corn bread, and ham (or you can try Hoppin' John)
Jan 2~ Lasagna, flat bread, steamed green beans
Jan 3~ Spaghetti, rolls, sweet peas
Jan 4~ Chicken. rice with a cream sauce, mixed veggies
Jan 5~ on your own
Jan 6~ Tamales, Spanish Rice, cheese quesadilas
Jan 7~ Tomato Soup, Grilled cheese sandwiches
Jan 8~ Pizza
Jan 9~ Pot Roast, rolls, oven roasted potatoes and carrots
Jan.10~ Chicken Pot Pie
Jan 11~ Spaghetti, flat bread, mixed veggies
Jan 12~ on your own
Jan 13~ Coconut rice, Baked orange ruffin, mixed veggies
Jan 14~ Nuggets, sweet potato fries
Jan 15~ Pizza
Jan 16~ Chicken Lo Mien, egg rolls
Jan 17~ Spaghetti, flat bread, green beans
Jan 18~ Chicken and rice with a cream herb sauce, mixed veggies
Jan 19~ on your own
Jan 20~ Tamales, Spanish rice, taquitos
Jan 21~ Tomato soup, grilled cheese
Jan 22~ Pizza
Jan 23~ Baked Ziti, flatbread, sweet peas
Jan 24~ Chicken and Dumplings
Jan 25~ Spaghetti, flat bread, mixed veggies
Jan 26~ on your own
Jan 27~ Coconut rice, orange ruffian, sweet peas
Jan 28~ Chicken nuggets and sweet potato fries
Jan 29~ Pizza
Jan 30~ Pot roast, oven roasted veggies, rolls
Jan 31~ Spaghetti, flat bread, mixed veggies


No doubt you have noticed the surplus in spaghetti, Goosie LOVES spaghetti, Hubby LOVES pizza. So we will have it often this month. The tamales are also a regular staple.. as I quite enjoy those. I know that there is not much imagination in this months menu. I was honestly running a little short on time along with other things when I made it up. I would like in the coming year to try new recipes, different ethnic foods, and experiment in the kitchen as that is one of the things I enjoy. Check your frozen and dry pantries before going out and doing the shopping. If you get stuck for a recipe try http://www.cooks.com/. Other then that dear readers I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and will have a blessed new year!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Stuff and Other Stuff

I was going through pictures the other day, looking for ones to sum up the year. I realized that I haven't taken as many pictures this year as I have in the past. My trusty camera has not been at residence in my purse and when it has the batteries have been dead. Yes, I fully admit I still enjoy my point and click camera. There are still some things that I enjoy better then technology. Apparently everything I enjoy is out dated. My laptop, DS, Qwerty cell phone, MP3 player and yes I still listen to Cd's(much to Hubby's chagrin). I still enjoy writing in my paper journals as much if not more then here in my blog, and although with so many different knits to chose from I still enjoy knitting things on my own. Goosie is getting an American Girl doll for Christmas. I want to knit them matching sweaters or something. That is if my hands will allow me. My hands it seems are getting worse. I have both tendinitis and carpel tunnel, it's worse in my right hand then in my left. Go figure I am right handed. I enjoy the home arts as they are called, and hope that my children will enjoy them with me.
I can't help but but think of where I was a year ago today. My big-little family and I were celebrating with a friend and her family. It's strange sometimes how things change over the course of a year. There is such a distance between her and I now that it is admittedly painful. I am hurt and there is a part of me that wants more then anything to stop reaching out to make new friends. When I look back at all the friends I have had over the years.. I have grown close to some for a season; but when that season is over it becomes more of an acquaintance. I wish I knew how to break the cycle. I want to foster relationships with other women for longer then just a season.. any advise? Hubby was also hurt in the past by someone he considered a friend.. thus when it comes time for either of us to lean on someone, it is automatically the other. This is good and also bad. It is important for both of us to have friendship relationships outside of each other, so that we can grow as individuals.  Things can change allot over a year, and as individuals it is important that we learn to grow and change with them. In the coming year there will be more obstacles, trials and issues that will be dealt with. Hubby and I will celebrate our eighth wedding anniversary, our children's age's will change to 3,5 and 7. There is no telling what may lay ahead. I am thankful that I will walk the road with Hubby at my side and God carrying both of us at times.
Until next time dear readers.. I hope you are all blessed. And remember that scars are tougher then what was there to begin with.. so although you may get hurt be sure you don't allow yourself to harden so much that the love and friendship of other's cannot be felt.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Hard to write.. Hard to read.

Oh the things that happen when things get busy..! So much has already happened this week and we are just getting into the middle of the month! The meals are wonderful by the way! I recommend you trying some if you haven't yet. Today is the second snow day of the school year. The kids are excited of course and I am planning to make cookies with them later today. But on to all the catch-up. The last Sunday in November Hubby brought home a rescue dog. We named him Rufus and for the most part the kids were excited to have him. Rufus would listen.. to Hubby and I, but that was about it. This had me a bit stressed from the start. Let me stop now and say that I am not against rescuing animals. One of the best places to get a cat or dog is at a pound or shelter. Hubby and I had done it before we had children. It was a cat then, but that is another rabbit trail. Rufus was not a match for us. I had my doubts and hind sight being what it is, both Hubby and I feel guilty.
So no more suspense.. here is what happened. Goosie, Miniman and Bubbles were on the main floor of the house with Rufus and I had gone down to the basement to get a pizza from the freezer.  While I was down there I thought to change over the laundry and just before heading back up the stairs I heard it. Horrified screaming coming from the living room. The girls were terrified and Miniman was frantic to say the least. When I got to the scene Miniman was on the floor, Rufus was on top of him, Bubbles was at his hind-quarters and Goosie was across the room planted on one of the chairs.  I pulled Rufus off of Miniman and took him upstairs, and after shutting him in the bathroom went back down to tend to Miniman. I picked him up off the floor smelling saliva, urine and blood. I sat him down and gave him the once over. Admittedly I only saw the injury to his ear. So I cleaned that, called Hubby and told him that Rufus needed to go. I was in shock and can honestly say that I only wanted there to be one injury. But there was more. After cleaning Miniman's ear, he told me that his chest under his arm hurt. I asked him if we could lift his shirt. He helped me take it off. That's when I saw the worst of it. Miniman has scrape and bite marks on his left shoulder blade. When he lifted up his arm I could see into his little body. The bite had gone down to the muscle layer. I immediately made another call. My neighbor was home, and I asked if I could drop off the girls. I explained the situation as best as I could, and thankfully she agreed. Miniman didn't want to go the E.R.  with urine all over his pants and one could hardly blame him. I changed his pants and after dropping the girls off, drove to the nearest E.R., I didn't trust myself to go all the way to Children's hospital and was confidant that if the situation was too much we would be transported to the Children's hospital by ambulance.
After the initial once over, Miniman had to be x-rayed to make sure the bites had not breached the chest cavity and punctured the lung. Waiting for the x-rays to come back was horrid. Miniman was waiting to be medicated and I was trying to hold it together mentally. I tried singing to him a song I would sing to calm him down when he was a baby and not feeling his best. But that just served to choke me up more. So I prayed. " God, you gave me this beautiful boy. He is hurting and it is a pain I can't fix. Please give him comfort and peace through this. Make me the Mom he needs me to be right now instead of the frail one I am. I claim healing and wholeness and once again today I give my son to you. May you use him and this situation for your glory."  It was a silent prayer, and said quickly. Afterwards I felt and overwhelming peace invade me. Miniman calmed down also and for the rest of the E.R. stay he and I were emotionally better then we came in.  The x-rays came back and praise be to God, his lung wasn't punctured, although the bites were deep they didn't go beyond the layer of muscle in his little body.  Now it was time for the shots. Two of them, one in each little butt cheek. Miniman didn't want the shots, no one ever does. The nurses joked that his little butt was as tight as they had ever seen one.  Miniman wasn't lethargic by any means, He still didn't want to be there. Hubby made it to the hospital around this time, he left shortly after his arrival. Hubby did ask if I was okay to handle the situation on my own until he returned.  I let him go telling him with all confidence that I could handle it.
Miniman and I were left in the room again to wait. He was tired, the shock was starting to wear off, his shaking had stopped and his whimpering had quieted to a soft murmur. I assured him that he could rest. He said that he wanted to be cleaned up first. I didn't want things to take Miniman by surprise anymore that night so I talked him through it all. He told me that he was scared, that he didn't want to do it. I told him that being brave was being scared and doing it anyway. After talking him through every step Miniman would comply. It was after the second set of shots just before the clean-up started that Hubby returned. Miniman was velcroed into a papoose of sorts. He couldn't move his waist down and  I was holding his little hands gently above his head. He layed on his right side so that his damaged left could be looked after.  The nurse asked me to leave, telling me that many parents choose to because they couldn't handle the thought let alone the sight of their child being in such a state. I stood my ground. I told Miniman before we left the house that I would not leave his side, I would hold his hand through all of it and never leave him alone. So I moved to the other side of the bed. Hubby came through the privacy curtains, he assured me that things were taken care of at home and asked if I wanted to leave the room. I told him I wouldn't leave, I promised Miniman. I asked Hubby quietly to remind Miniman how strong and brave he was being. Hubby did, holding back emotions of his own. Thus the hardest part began.
The nurses hands were quick and nimble, I am sure I am not the only mom who wished the nurses hands were more gentle. The cleaning had to be complete or the risk of infection would be high. Dog bites are notorious for germs in so many bad ways. Miniman needed stitches, he didn't know what they were and I could see a bit of annoyance on the nurses face when I told Miniman that he was going to need them.  I let it pass, nothing was going to make me keep anything from my son. I told him that stitches are like band aids, they just stay on a little longer. I reminded him of the stitches that both Hubby and I had. Telling him that he would be the only guy in his class with stitches, and that the other kids would think he was brave and tough. He complied, although he complained after each of the nine stitches were placed and asked if it were the last one. We counted down each stitch with him. " Four more.. Two more.. last one buddy, you are so brave!"
After the stitches were complete, ointment was applied and Miniman became half mummy wrapped. Hubby left to pick up the girls and get them settled back at home. Miniman and I stayed in the room until he received his first dose of antibiotic. Miniman's eyes started drooping, his breathing had calmed to that of sleep and as I rocked him gently I sang him once again the song that had brought him so much comfort in his four and a half short-long years. Tears of relief fell quietly from my eyes and  although I could feel emotion tugging on my heart my voice stayed steady.  Miniman looked at me lazily and asked to go home. I assured him that we were going home soon. " No more shots?" he asked me.  " No more shots I assured him." He then layed his tired head on my chest and started to give in to exhaustion. After getting the release papers I bundled him up once again and headed out into the falling snow. I buckled him in and headed back to the house. Miniman was asleep by the time we made it to the house. Hubby had made it home with the girls and we started working on getting them settled for the night.
After getting the girls to bed, I called my mom. It was the third phone call I had made that night, and the first one that wasn't an emergency call.  There is something about calling Mom when your world gets turned on it's head. Although she is states away she still comforts me as if she is right there. After cleaning up, Hubby and I just held each other. Quietness enveloped the house and in the silence there was relief.
Miniman is doing better and better everyday. The day after was the hardest, but the following day he was ready for Preschool again. I took him and asked his teachers to keep an eye on him and watch for rough housing. They assured me that they would. Miniman has been diligent about taking his medication, and keeping things as clean as a four year old can. We are already thinking of getting another dog sometime in the future. We are thinking of starting out with a small one, allowing Miniman to pick it out of a litter. Moving up in size from there. I don't want him to have a fear or dislike of dogs or other animals. I want to foster the love of animals in his tender heart while things are still fresh. With much involvement on both mine and Hubby's part. Until Miniman is confidant on his own we won't leave him alone with a dog.  We will not foster fear however.. it is a fine line and we must find our way to toe it.
Well dear readers, I hope you and yours are doing well. Due to the graphic nature of dog bites I will not be posting any pictures, I am sure you understand. Miniman will have scars, but they will fade over time and unless he chooses to play a shirtless sport; no one will see them. Until next time dear readers.. I am thankful and I pray that you are also thankful for all of your blessings. Remember that even when bad things happen there are things to be thankful for. Be blessed!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

December Menu

I know of course that I am late in getting this out to you all and another post will let you all in as to why. This past weekend was busy for me. So without further ado here is a December meal plan.

Dec.1st through 4th you have been on your own so I pick up on the 5th.
Dec. 5th~ Breakfast for dinner/ eggs, ham or bacon, toast, southern hash browns
Dec. 6th~ Tamales; Cheese Quesadillas; Spanish Rice
Dec. 7th~ Spaghetti; flat bread mixed; steamed veggies
Dec.8th~ your on your own
Dec. 9th~ Sheppard's Pie
Dec. 10th~ Tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches
Dec.11th~ Pizza
Dec. 12th~ Pot Roast; macaroni and cheese; sweet peas
Dec. 13th~ Chicken Lo Mien; Egg Rolls and Chinese rice
Dec. 14th~ Baked Ziti; Flat bread; green beans
Dec. 15th~ your on your own
Dec. 16th~ Fettuccine Alfredo; Chicken and mixed veggies
Dec. 17th~ Chicken nuggets; Sweet Potato Fries
Dec.18th~ Pizza
Dec. 19th ~ Roast; Oven roasted potatoes; steamed green beans
Dec. 20th~ Coconut Rice; Coconut Chicken Curry and Lentil Puree
Dec. 21st~ Spaghetti; Flat bread and lima beans
Dec. 22nd~ Tamales; Chilies Rellenos and Spanish Rice
Dec. 23rd~ Breakfast / waffles, bacon or ham and Mandarin oranges
Dec. 24th~ Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese sandwiches
Dec. 25th~ you are on your own
Dec. 26th~ Roast; mashed potatoes with gravy and corn on the cobb
Dec. 27th~ Gyros
Dec. 28th~ Spinach and Beef Lasagna and flat bread
Dec. 29th~ Chicken Lo Mien,  Chinese Rice and Egg Rolls
Dec. 30th~ Chicken Barley Chili and corn muffins
Dec. 31st~ French toast, Ham and fruit


Recipes:
Spanish Rice     pay attention to the comments for seasoning the rice
Shepards Pie     I use frozen veggies instead of canned
Chicken Lo Mein   I made this last month and there was none left!!
Chinese Rice
Baked Ziti
coconut rice
Coconut Chicken Curry
Lentil Puree
Chilies Rellenos
Gyros   I will be making Chicken gyros as the lamb is a bit pricier.. unless someone can tell me where to find some!
Beef and Spinich Lasagna

 As always check your pantries frozen and dry before you go shopping. I will make a list soon and post it. I hope you are all doing well and let me know what you think of these meal plans! Be Blessed!!