I hate waiting!

This has been a whirlwind of a week.  I have been going through lots of tests to find out why we have been miscarriages.  I became anemic.  My doctor, to be safe, sent me to the ER to make sure I didn’t have a clot in my lung.  Well, no clot, but they found a nogule (sp?) in my lung that she said I should get biopsied right away.  So, I’m waiting on my doctor to recommend a good pulmonologist.  Then, on Monday, I had an HSG, which is basically an x-ray of my uterus and ovaries.  They found a “large mass” in my uterus.  So, we probably know what’s causing the miscarriages now, but I’m waiting for my doctor to tell me what we do next.

So, I’m freaking out.  2 masses in 2 different organs found in one week.

I finally heard back from my OB-Gyn this morning and have a follow-up appointment on Tuesday.  So, I have to go another weekend, not knowing what’s wrong.

So, I’m going to immerse myself in Jade and our potty training adventures.  Oh, and the petting zoo as a family.  That should be really fun.

Speaking of potty training, Jade pooped on the floor, twice, yesterday.  But, she tells me every time she has to even dribble her tickles. So, we’re in the bathroom about 70% of the day.  Ugh! I hate the bathroom!

Happy Birthday, Jade!

2 years ago today, my daughter was born.  I was scared.  I was afraid she would hate me.  I was afraid I wouldn’t know what to do and that I would hurt her.  Now, here we are, 2 years later, and she loves me, and she’s adorable and wonderful.  I am so happy!

Her party was a huge hit.  Yes, it was 50 degrees outside, and I had to bundle her up and cover up her pretty Minnie Dress, but she still had fun.

The cakes turned out great.  I made 4 1/2-sheet cakes to make 2 double-layer 1/2-sheet cakes.  I put a layer of strawberries between one of them, and just frosting between the other.  My wonderful husband drew on the Minnie Mouse face on the strawberry one and the 2 and Jade’s name on the other, and I colored them both in.  I made 2 dozen Mickey Mouse sandwiches. I made a pasta salad and a fruit salad.  I made a vegetable tray and a cheese tray.  I bought 2 platters and sodas and juices from Publix.  We had tons of food left over.

Everyone loved playing in the beach volleyball pit (big sandbox), and even though it was cold, everyone looked like they were having fun.

The party hats didn’t stay on well with the 15 MPH winds, but the goody bags seemed to be a hit.

Jade loves all the gifts she got from everyone and had a great time playing with the family and friends that celebrated with her.  Thank you so much to everyone!  We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends in our lives.

Now that that’s over, on to the next adventure.  I have officially entered the Orlando Chili Cookoff on March 3.  Mark your calendars to come vote for Beauty and the Beans and my Barracho Chili. More information to come later.

Prepping for Jade’s Birthday

My husband and I spent an hour or so making the party hats for my daughter’s birthday party next weekend.  We still have to put the ribbons on, but the Minnie ears and bows are on and they’re almost ready to go.  Now, I need a plan for the rest of the week, or I’m not going to get everything done without going crazy.

I’m making two cakes, a Minnie Mouse cake and a #2 cake, since there are 73 people scheduled to come to her party.  I hope that’s enough.  Plus, my husband is not letting me to do this the easy way. I have to make sheet cakes and then cut them to the design that I want.  This will not be easy, as it is my first time attempting this.  But, it makes it so that I can add strawberry filling to the birthday girl’s cake, since she loves berries so much.

My father-in-law is coming to town on Thursday, and I have to prepare his room and clean up the house.

I need to prepare the goody bags for the kids. It ended up being more cost effective to buy bags instead of make them, so that’s a little easier for me.

I’m making Mickey-shaped sandwiches for the kids at the party, plus a veggie tray, cheese tray, fruit salad, and pasta salad.  I was talked into just ordering sandwiches for the adults to eat.  But, I need to schedule out my week before too much of the week gets away from me.

So, instead of writing too much more, I’m going to stop this post and get to work. Next post will probably be post-party, so you can hear how it all went.

Made it through Christmas

Whenever anyone asks my daughter what she got for Christmas, she responds with “presents.”  She is so happy with her stuff and is just excited to open the gifts, it didn’t matter what was inside.  She was just adorable opening her gifts from the family and from Santa.  She loves playing with her new toys and looks adorable in her new outfits.

We had a good time.  On Christmas Eve, after making my husband’s Grandfathers 100+ family recipe for butter horns, I went over early to help Granny finish prepping for the party.  Jade and Jeremy joined me when Jade woke up from her nap. We had a yummy meal and a nice time talking with everyone, and Jade went crazy opening presents.

On Christmas morning, Jade woke up at 3 a.m., and didn’t fall back asleep until 4:30 a.m., only to wake up again at 7 a.m.  So, we opened presents and then headed over to my Sister-in-law’s house to open presents with my husband’s family.  Jade again loved opening presents, but wanted to play with toys that weren’t her own more than anything over there.  We spent the rest of the day playing with the new toys (while I packed) and flew out to see my family that night.

Jade travels well, so that was good.

We celebrated Christmas with my Mom, Dad, and sister and family the next day, complete with a big turkey dinner and more presents. The following day was my sister’s birthday. It snowed, ruining her big plans, but we still had a nice time spending the day with everyone.  And, because they won’t be able to fly down in 2 weeks for Jade’s birthday, they threw a party for Jade the following day.  So, we were there 3 days and we had 3 parties.

Finally home and things are not normal at all.  I have to get in gear with getting Jade’s party ready. Plus, we’re having company over for a bowl party on Monday.

And, to make matters worse, Jade starts school on Tuesday.  I AM SO NOT READY FOR THAT!  I know she is, but I’m not.

Well, I am making 3 dips and cooking the veggies so the kids can eat them for the Early-bird’s party at a friend’s house tonight, so can’t write any more.  Next couple posts will be about Jade’s birthday.

Not a lot to say

I know I’m a few days late with my weekly post this week, but I’ve found I don’t have a whole lot to talk about right now.   I’m a bit down and not feeling it, but I want to let everyone know that I’m still here and thinking of you.  I have been very busy too, with baking, and company, and fun with my wonderful family.

I made my husband’s grandmother’s date nut cookies and a batch of sugar cookies this week.  I also made my father’s famous peanut butter balls this week.  I made a trip out to Lakeland to see my old work friends. We made our annual trip to Hollywood Studios to see the Osbourne Lights as a family this week. We celebrated Christmas with Jeremy’s Dad’s side of the family. And, I lost another baby this week.  I guess you can say it has been a very busy week.

Ok, yes, I did just say that, and now you know the reason why I’m just not feeling it, sitting here exhausted (physically and emotionally).  It’s my 2nd miscarriage in 100 days and I am devastated.  It happened this weekend, and so I’m waiting until morning to be able to call the doctor to get in to see what is going on.  It is such an emotional roller coaster to be so excited to find out your pregnant at the beginning of the week, only to lose the baby at the end of the week.  And, to go through that twice in just 3 months is not something I wish upon anyone.

I am trying to be strong in front of Jade.  Do you realize how very sad it is for your adorable almost-2-year-old to say to you “What’s the matter, Momma?”  It makes you just want to cry even more.

My husband is the greatest, but he has no clue what to do for me.  Hell, I don’t even know what to do for me! I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I don’t feel like doing anything. I don’t want to be around anyone. I feel like such a failure.  But mostly, I’m scared that I’m not going to be able to have another child, just when Jeremy finally agrees that Jade needs a sibling.

I know this is not the upbeat, fun story that my loyal readers expect to read about and I’m sorry for bringing you down with my sadness.  I promise. Give me a couple of weeks, and I’ll be back to my normal self.  My daughter’s 2nd birthday party details will be coming soon. The invitations went out and I will be getting excited about it as soon as we get past this week.

The Potty

I talk to my daughter about the potty all day.  I ask her at regular times if she wants to go use the potty.  She uses it as a game with me.  When she wants more of my attention, she’ll tell me she has to go potty, but when she sits down, she never goes.  My husband is home for 1 hour (sometimes 2) of her waking time in the evening, and almost every night, she goes potty for him.  I have a feeling, if this girl is going to be potty trained, her father is going to need to be home more, because she just won’t go for me.

I am so proud of her, either way.  Tonight, he was getting her ready for bed, and she asked to go potty, and tinkled on the potty!  She is such a big girl, for not even being 2 years old yet!

Here’s my dilemma.  I don’t want to move her to a big girl bed yet. I want her to stay in the crib.  But, if she gets potty trained and starts to want to get up and go potty.  Well, how do you deal with that when they’re still in the crib?  What do I do?  If we move her to a bed, she’ll be in our room every night, and I’m not ready to deal with that yet.  So, do we just keep her in diapers at night until I’m ready for her to move to the big bed?  Am I holding her back by doing that?

Please comment if you have any advice for me. Although, she may take months to potty train. I’m just being very optimistic because she amazes me at every step.  Why not with potty training as well?

Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 cup All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter cut into small pieces
• 1 cup Pumpkin Puree
• 1/2 cup Evaporated Milk
• 1 whole egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup raisins Optional

Directions

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.

Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender until it is fully incorporated.

In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg, and vanilla.

Pour pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture.

Add raisins. Fold gently until mixture is just combined.

Pour into a greased muffin pan.

Bake for 25 minutes. (20 minutes if you’re doing mini muffins).

Allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then remove and allow to cool.