Grandpa

My grandpa, who has Alzheimer's, was taken to the CCU by ambulance early Sunday morning.  He had been vomiting at home and telling my grandma that he felt like he was dying.  We found out that he is in kidney failure and he has been sick for a long time, so it has effected every organ in his body.  His kidneys were not filtering out toxins in his body so it just effected every part of him. We didn't know anything was wrong with him because he has Alzheimer's.  He is not able to express those types of things and he sleeps about 22 hours a day and he hasn't really looked well for a while any way.  He is on a ventilator.  He also has a balloon pump regulating his heart because it is too weak, probably from infection.  He underwent dialysis yesterday, which helped.  He had some urine output and his creatine and potassium came down.  The doctors said it is very early to tell still and that he is very sick and anyone that wants to see him should do so now.  His prognosis is poor.  We went to see him yesterday and he just did not look good.  I am very sad and very worried about my grandma and my Dad and my uncles.  It is very rough on our family and although we knew he had a disease, it is still hard to prepare for this.He started showing signs of dementia probably before 2001.    He was at our house on Thanksgiving and he looked pale and didn't talk much or eat much, but that has been so normal for him lately.  He also went to a regular doctor appointment last week and the doc said he looked good.  It was just a surprise.  Before he left our house on Thursday, he was commenting that I was "gaining a lot of weight just in the middle".  He asked when the baby was due and if the baby was kicking.  He said when I felt kicks to let him know so he could feel them, too.  Just sad.

Checking it out!

Another busy day!

We took my friend Scott, who is in nursing school with me, one of our pumpkin pies.  He is also a fire chief.  We thought it would be fun for Ryan.  Ryan did enjoy getting in the truck and he did enjoy pushing all the buttons, but he was also pretty grouchy.  He has been so Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde for the past week or so!  I looked it up online and they call it a 'spirited child'!  HA!

We also went to our newst consignment place, Stellie Bellies, which is maternity/kids, and got Ryan a new bedroom set (not furniture).  See, we had registered for bumble bee stuff for the new baby, but then Sean had a great idea!  Why don't we buy Ryan a boy set since we do know he is a boy, and give the gender neutral rabbits to the new baby!!??  What a great idea!  So, Ry's room is less gender neutral now and more boyish, and new baby will get his Bunny Meadow stuff.  The last picture is a messy spare bedroom, soon to be another nursery!  We have a lot of work ahead of us, and I am excited! 

We also got our Christmas tree.  $20 at Wal-Mart!!!!!!!!  It's 5 1/2 ft.  I think that's a great deal!  We NEVER put up a tree this early.  I have always thought it weird to do so, but we did this time since we are leaving for AZ on the 15th and won't be back until the 29th.  Any way, after getting all of our Chirstmas shopping done during Black Friday, getting our tree and decorations up, getting our yearly family photos done, and ordering our Christmas cards, we are basically done and I am liking it.  Only thing left is making Christmas cookies, which we be the start of a new tradition (if they turn out tasty, that is).  I think I will get on the start-Christmas-the-day-after-Thanksgiving bandwagon.  Christmas is my favorite holiday and that means I just get to enjoy it longer.  And note:  It is a REAL tree.  We don't do the fake variety..........that's no fun!  And then there isn't the smell of pine!  Ahhhhh, I love it!  Oh and can you find the 'spirited child'!???!!!  Told you he is fuss bucket!

Holiday

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our family and friends being at our house.  We did the Turkey Trot in the morning, which was fun, but a lot of walking for me!  I got crampy!  Today we survived our first Black Friday.  We went to Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Kohl's, Sam's, Family Christian Bookstore and Target.  We got some incredible deals and really enjoyed ourselves.  We also went to Honeymoon Island this afternoon with Pappy.  It has been a great holiday and it's not even Saturday!  I don't have to return to school until Tuesday and I have been off since this past Tuesday.  :)  Then 2 more weeks and we are off until January 10th!  I LOVE this time of year.  God bless!

Pumpkin pie

This is our fourth year hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our house.  It also marks the fourth year of making our HOMEMADE pumpkin pie.  We use our pumpkin from Halloween and then puree it.  I have to say it is pretty fabulous!  We are baking it right now and it smells so good.  We also do the turkey, gravy, dressing and rolls.  Then everyone brings over a dish.  I will even pull out Weesie's (my grandma who passed in 2005) china, which makes it very special for me.  I am looking forward to starting our day off doing the Turkey Trot in the morning, going through the Black Friday ads and having family and friends over for dinner.  Oh and this will be our first time ever doing Black Friday shopping!!!!!!  Any tips!?  While all of this is wonderful, don't forget to give Thanks.  I am extrememly thankful for my family and friends, my health, for the oppurtunity to become a nurse, for a great pregnancy and a healthy little baby, and for a roof over my head and food in my fridge.  Above all, I am thankful for our loving, merciful, forgiving Lord.  "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.Psalm 107:1  I hope you all have a very blessed day!  OK, now here is the recipe of pumpkin pie goodness.  :)

2 C pumpkin pulp puree
1 1/2 C heavy cream
1/2 C brown sugar
1/3 C sugar
1/2 t salt
2 eggs and yolk of 3rd
1 1/2 T pumpkin spice
2 pie crusts

Bake whole pumpkin or halved 350 degrees until tender. 

Preheat oven 425 degrees

Mix sugars, salt, spices.  Beat eggs and add.  Stir in puree.  Stir in cream.  Whisk until mixed.  Pour into shell.  Bake 15 mins, then reduce temp to 350.  Bake 40-50 mins.  Cool 2 hrs.

This is enough filling for 2 pies.  It really is easy! Oh and don't forget vanilla ice cream or Cool Whip. :)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!

Cheesy Beef Enchiladas

1 lb ground bef
2 jars (16 oz each) salsa
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
10 flour tortillas

Brown meat and drain.  Stir in a cup of salsa and a cup of cheese.  Spread 1 cup of salsa in 13 x 9 baking dish.  Place 1/4 cup meat mixture in center of each tortilla and roll up.  Place tortillas seam side down on salsa.  Top with remaining 1/2 cup salsa and 1 cup cheese.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 mins. 

This was a very easy recipe and so tasty and very filling!  We got mild salsa for Ryan and so he loved the dish.  Also, you won't use the whole 2 jars of salsa.  We have lots of leftovers, too.  :) 

Cabin in Keystone Heights, FL

It was so nice to have a fireplace! Ryan said "HOT!" about 50,000 times over the weekend!!! :)

Sitting in a grown up chair!

We stayed in a cabin at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park (yah, what a mouthful!) for the weekend.  It was so relaxing, peaceful, quiet and the weather was great - 70s during the day and 40s at night.  We had about a 3.5 hour drive.  It's in between Gainesville and Jacksonville.  Friday night we were FREEZING!  We couldn't figure out how to get the heat to come on!  We also had quite a time with cooking our steaks and potatoes that night.  Saturday we went hiking and took Ryan to the playground.  Saturday night we decided to go out to eat!  We did figure out the heat for a restful night's sleep on Saturday.  It was great that Pappy got to come, too.  Ryan had a blast and enjoyed running around with all the extra space he had and he loved the cabin.  I enjoyed the family time and some really good time with God, as well.  Nature is such a wonderful place to really feel close to the Lord.  We are back home now and Ryan has been sleeping all day.....almost the whole drive home and since we got home! xo

Happy Veteran's Day!!!!!!

Take your vet out for a free meal at Chili's, Applebee's or Golden Corral.  :)

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!

Texas Chili

3 lbs ground beef
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz) water
1 t Tabasco
3 heaping T chili powder
1 heaping T oregano
1 haping T cumin powder
2 onions chopped
garlic to taste
one t salt
one level t paprika
1 t cayenne powder
1 doz red jalapeno peppers
4-5 dried ancho chili pods
2 heaping t flour
8 oz kidney beans
8 oz pinto beans
1 grn pep
crushed tomatoes
whle tomatoes
tomato paste

Sear mt until grey.  Then add tomato sauce and 1 cup of water.  Add other ingredients.  Simmer for 1 1/4 hrs.  Add flour mixed with water and simmer add 30 mins. 

So, we didn't find red jalapenos and used grn instead.  Also, we didn't find dried ancho chili pods and really don't even know what those are!  The recipe did not say a size on the crushed or whole tomatoes, but we got pretty big cans and also used full cans on the beans instead of halfing them.  Let me just say it's SPICY!!!!!  We didn't even let Ryan taste it.  It was good for us, but this morning maybe not so much for me!  lol  You can always use less jalapenos or even none at all.  We topped with grated cheddar cheese and talked about how we wished we had Fritos or saltines, too!  With our weather being in the 50s, it was a perfect dish.  It made a good amount so we have some in the fridge and the remainder in the freezer. 

Recipe by US Senator John Tower from TX

Omelet Salad and Duggar rolls

Sean and I made up the omelet salad and the name!!!  :)

8 eggs
1 can diced tomatoes
1 grn pep
1 onion
swiss cheese
salt and pepper
1/2 t paprika, chili powder and parsley
butter and oil

Scarmble eggs with cheese.  In separate saucepan saute onion, grn pep, diced toms and spices with olive oil.  Simmer 10-15 mins.  Put eggs in bowls and then add the sauce mixture.  Enjoy!

DUGGAR HOMEMADE ROLLS


1/2 c. shortening

1/2 c. sugar

1 t. salt

2 pkg. yeast

2 c. flour

Combine first 5 ingr. in large bowl & cut with pastry cutter.

2 eggs beat in 2 c. measuring cup, fill cup to 2 cup mark

with hot water. Pour over dry mixture.

Slowly add:

3 c. flour

Cover. Let Rise 20 min. in warm oven. Pour onto floured surface.

Knead. Flatten with hands into large pizza shape. Cut with pizza cutter into16 slices. Roll up from wide end to point. Place in greased pans leaving space for rolls to double in size. (can shape like crescent or lay on side where swirl shows.) Cover. Let rise in warm oven at least 20 min. Remove from oven. Preheat oven. Preheat oven to 375. Bake 20-30 min. depending on how dark you prefer. Immediately brush with 1 stick (1/2 c.) melted butter. (Everyone’s favorite Roll’s!)

Yields 16 Rolls in 2-9”x13” pans

I had never made rolls before so I had a bit of a time kneading and shaping, but the hubby helped me.  VERY STICKY!!!!

ROAR!