A shade from the past

Sorry about all the smudges in the pictures, there was a lot of glare in the dining room when I was trying to take the picture. I made these sillhouettes yesterday and today of my three little girls.

I took pictures of them each from the side, converted them to black sillhouettes, stretched them to the preferred size on my monitor and traced them each off onto freezer paper (it's been months and I still don't have a printer, so I improvise :P ). I cut them out carefully, ironed the edges onto the fabric I used as a "canvas", and painted them in. I wanted to use black, but I don't have any black paint on hand. And I'm impatient. So I did it in dark brown instead. Then today I stopped at D.I. (thrift store) and bought three 8x10ish frames for $1.50 each. I brought them home and used the same brown paint to make the frames match. (They're all different frames if you pay attention). Each picture has the girl's name and the year written on it. Then I stapled a pink ribbon to the back and hung them on the wall.

I haven't decided yet whether I'm sold on the pink ribbon, but I can easily change that if I decide to. It's interesting to me to see the similarities and differences in these sisters. If you look really close you can actually see Sabrina's eyelashes! I'm such a lucky mama :)

Temple Square

On Saturday our little family visited Temple Square in Salt Lake.  Michael's twin sisters Janice and Jennifer came with us.  We had been planning to go on Friday but changed our plans.  As luck would have it the weather was gorgeous on Friday, then pretty blustery a bit rainy, and cloudy on Saturday.  Oh well, we had a great time anyway!

(For those non-LDS friends, this is Temple Square)

In the upper left hand corner you can see the one bit of blue sky we saw the whole time :P
The gardens were beautiful, of course.  They still have some tulips out, though they're changing over to the next batch of flowers.

Touching the temple!

Make a wish! And pictures with Jan and Jenn.

Kate with a pair of Sister Missionaries, and reading about statues outside and dioramas with videos inside.  The technology is now a far cry from when I was little.  I remember the telephones where you picked up the receiver to listen to the stories.  Now there are touch screens and videos and all sorts of stuff!

The Christus.  I love this statue.  It has been ages since we've come to Temple Square (a shame since we live close enough to do it more often!) so this was like new to the girls.  They loved this circular room with the universe painted on the wall and the large statue of Christ.

This bench is out the door past the Christus and around a ways down the hall.  It just so happens to be where Michael proposed to me 10 years ago this July!  (We may be off by a few feet one way or the other, but this is pretty close to the exact spot.)

And this is the difference 10 years can make. :)

To finish up, here's the crazy picture I took this morning.  That is SNOW.  Tomorrow is supposed to be Field Day at school for Kate.  They were planning to do water games!  Perhaps she should wear her snow pants ;)

Sourdough Bread, take 1. Aaaaaaaaaaction!!!!

You do have to read the title in a movie producer tone of voice.

Today I finally gave sourdough bread a shot.  From scratch.  COMPLETELY from scratch.  In fact, a lot scratchier than  I initially intended!

I wanted to try a recipe for a kefir sourdough bread.  It's easier for your body to digest... and mostly I really like sourdough and I love my kefir.  It's my pet that does tricks! :P  This recipe is somewhat unique because instead of a culture you feed and tend to regularly you make the starter each time.  Basically I used some of my kefir (the cultured milk, not the actual grains) and mixed it with flour to dough consistency and let it rise overnight.  Then today I dumped that lump into the kitchenaid and added the other basic ingredients -- more flour (more on that later), salt, honey, olive oil... the usual.  This recipe also called for some yeast which I was hoping to avoid (bakers yeast can do a real number on some people so I was hoping to avoid as long as I was making sourdough -- more on that later too).  Mix the dough and allow it to double.  The rising process takes a lot longer this way, but the longer rise time is what makes it so much easier on your belly to digest the stuff.  So patience is a virtue, and all that.  The amount of yeast in this recipe (made 3 loaves) was equal to the amount that is called for in 1 standard loaf of bread, so the starter had to have time to work its magic too.  After the dough doubles, divide into thirds, shape, put in pans, let rise and bake.  Not too much different from standard, except that it takes longer for the rising.

This afternoon I went to mix the dough and discovered that I am completely out of flour.  COMPLETELY out of flour!  Yikes!!!  Thank heavens I have my wheat grinder!  Instead of doing about 2/3 wheat or spelt and 1/3 white I had to do all wheat flour.  I wasn't planning to start by grinding my own wheat!  But I do love my grinder and it worked out great.  Since I was using all freshly ground whole wheat flour I did have to increase the water in the recipe by at least double.  Otherwise it was all crumbs instead of a knead-able dough.  Seems to have worked fine.

In reading other recipes I think I can skip the yeast next time.  It looks like if I use more starter and allow a lot longer for the rise time I can skip the yeast.  I don't mind having a stronger sourdough flavor so I'm planning to give that a shot next time.  I just may have to set alarms on my phone so I don't forget to move the bread along!

These 3 loaves of bread came out a little bit flat.  They taste great, but they're probably more compact that they were intended to be.  I think part of this is due to the wheat flour vs. bread flour.  Also I kept forgetting that I was making bread so I probably didn't let it rise properly (either too long or not long enough).  It's a bit dense, but not unpleasantly so.  It smells divine and tastes so good I can't believe I"m eating wheat bread and LIKING it!!! 

Church Retreat Classes by ME :P

For those friends who are not LDS (aka Mormon) some of the terminology of this post might not make a lot of sense.  I'll try to explain a little as I go.

In about 6 weeks is our Stake Relief Society Retreat (meaning two days of classes, crafts, activities, etc. for women from a geographical area covering a few hundred? women of the same religion).  One of my friends is on the committee putting things together.  She has taken part in one of the classes I've done in the past teaching some hair clippie techniques and asked if I would be willing to do a class during the retreat.  So here I go getting ready! 

I'm going to be offering three styles of hair clippy.  Each style will be offered in three different colors.  Because each time I've done this before I've always been swamped they're putting a limit to 3 per person.  (I've had ladies sign up for a dozen or more and then it's crazy trying to get everything done within the time allowed).  Hopefully this will help it be a little more fun and relaxing than it has been in the past.  I always love it, but it wears me out!

Here are the offerings this time:

DRAGONFLIES! 
I've done these before and it's so fun to see all the little girls at church wearing dragonflies in their hair!  In the kit I include the antennae already shaped, though the instructions include details on how to make them yourself.  These will be available in lavender, red, or pink with brown swiss dots.

FLOWERS!
These are so fun and easy!  My next door neighbor's 7 year old son made some of these around Christmas time for his sisters :)  My 10 year old niece is a pro at these too.  They will be available in white, yellow, or pink with brown swiss dots.

BITTY BOWS!
These simple little bows get you started on basic bow making techniques.  They're adorable in bangs, little pig tails, or in that soft baby hair.  All kits include no-slip grip so these stay put even in those ultra fine infant tresses.  These kits will be prepared in pairs.  Colors available will be yellow, pink, and white.

Full color instructions will be available to work from at the event.  You are welcome (and encouraged) to purchase your own set of instructions to take home so you can make more since we have to limit quantities.  Grayscale copies of instructions will be available for only $2 per style.  Each person who orders instructions will also get the basic instruction sheet for covering alligator clips and using no-slip grip (including where you can pick it up cheap!).

Kits ($2 each) will include
*all the necessary ribbons for the style with ends already heat sealed so it will last.
*sturdy double prong alligator clip/s
*no-slip grip material

All tools necessary or recommended will be available for you to use at the event, as well as having an expert (that would be ME) on hand to answer your questions and show you how simple this can be!  SO if you live in my area, make sure you sign up at church!  I will probably figure out some way for people to purchase extra kits if they're interested.  I don't know if I'll have a sign up for it or just have people buy them there... if there seems to be interest I'll figure something out.

So that's what I"m up to right now.  Finishing up the photos and details for my third instruction set.  These take a lot of time and work to put together!  but I've had girls, boys, women, and ... well, not any men (yet ;) ) prove that they work! 

Totally Famous ;)

Yup, those are two of my girls :)


You Got a Problem?

I don’t see a problem. Now go. Let me finish putting on my make-up.

http://babiesmakingfaces.com/2010/04/09/funny-baby-photos-lipstick-fail/

What? Just Checking To See If I Got On BabiesMakingFaces

http://babiesmakingfaces.com/vote/page/10/

Appendix. (As in added on to the previous post. Ha ha ha)

Perhaps I should not be allowed to title posts while on pain killers.  Oh well.

I'm home.  I'm so happy to be home!  No more tubes up my nose, no more "soft food" unless I want it, no more scratchy blankies.  Though I do miss the adjustable bed and having someone on call for my any whim 24/7 ;)  Actually I only called a nurse in once and that was to lay down the law (very kindly) about them not allowing me to take my regular meds because a doctor hadn't approved them yet.  I wasn't about to go through withdrawals again because they didn't want to bother a doctor.  They were very nice about it and I got my meds within an hour or so.  And my daughters and sweet husband have been fantastic about helping me with absolutely anything any time, so I'm as spoiled as a girl could wish.  Mostly I guess I miss the adjustable bed.

So often I hear people complain about the service they get at a busy hospital such as UVRMC in Provo.  I have to say, I have been there MANY times and I love that place.  As much as anyone could love a medical institution, lol.   Any hospital will have bummer nurses, doctors, etc., but overall we have had wonderful care there.  I haven't felt like I was lost in the shuffle or forgotten or treated like an assembly line patient.  I have benefited from the experience of the practitioners and availability of medical equipment.  I didn't have to wait for someone to haul in a portable CT scanner -- they had one right down the hall! I had wonderful, caring nurses and fantastic doctors.  Kudos to the hospital!

(I'm going to spare you a picture of body parts this time :) )

The surgeon went over my procedure with me yesterday morning when I was finally conscious enough to know what he was saying.  Apparently the "slightly prominent" appendix wasn't hugely enlarged because it was leaking the bacterial secretions right through its wall into my abdomen.  Fortunately they were able to thoroughly flush out the area and it wasn't so severe that they needed to place a drain.  If I'd had a drain I would have spent a lot more time in the hospital.  The usual method is to pull out the appendix, give a dose or two of antibiotics via IV, keep the patient overnight to make sure the infection is under control, then send them on their merry way.  I fell between "usual" and "extreme".  That's great news, in my estimation, considering how often I land in the "extreme" category.  I got several doses of antibiotics via IV and will spend the next several days on oral antibiotics to make sure the infection doesn't attack the whole abdominal cavity.  That would be bad.

The pain isn't fantastic.  What pain is?!  But as long as I take it fairly easy and do some walking from time to time (they inflate the abdomen during a laparoscopic procedure and that trapped air moves around and can be quite painful, but movement helps work it out) and stay on the percocet I'm doing pretty well.  Despite a bad headache-free migraine yesterday afternoon on the way home (lost vision on my right, vomiting, dizziness, etc.  Nasty.) it has, in general, been not too bad.  I'm limited to lifting no more than 15 lbs until after my check up next week so no mega body building exercises today ;)


I'm really grateful I was in the right place at the right time yet again.  I feel very blessed.  Yes, I feel blessed even with two surgeries on my record within 6 1/2 weeks!  I'm feeling positive and happy (though some of that might be the percocet talking, LOL) and well taken care of.  I am so grateful for the help we've had from friends and family members.  I'm glad I had the laundry and dishes under control before this all happened so hopefully we can muddle through without having to spend the next month getting the household back in order again.

I am overwhelmed by love for my husband and my daughters.  To have a husband who drops whatever he has to help me out at times like this and truly worry more about me than about anything else.  It is something every woman should have, but sadly not all do.  I hope someday (in the FAR distant future, lol) our daughters are able to find their own angels like their daddy.  These girls have been so patient.  The run across the room to pick up something I"ve dropped, they run up and down the stairs to fetch things I've left behind.  Lizzie just accidentally bumped Sabrina's head and she ran upstairs to get some frozen coconut out of the freezer to put on the bump (she couldn't find the proper ice pack, lol).  Sabrina told her it was okay and she was okay so Lizzie gave her a kiss on the bump and put away the coconut.  It's all these little things together that overwhelm me by the love of my little family.  I couldn't manage through all this without them.

Okay, I'm going to give you a reprieve now and stop writing.  Percocet always makes me quite loquacious and right now the blogging world (well, both of you who read this, lol) is at the noisy end of my chattiness.  Lots of love to those who have been so helpful whether they're here or far away sending kind thoughts or prayers.  Thank you.  <3

Body Parts? Bah. Who needs 'em?!

The joys of hospital food.  This was my dinner after a whole day of no food at all: vegetable broth, jello cubes, and two little shots of apple juice.  Nummy.  ish.

So last night in the middle of the night I wasn't sleeping well.  Belly ache, ya know.  I tossed and turned for several hours wishing I was asleep.  Finally around 6:30 Michael got up to go to work.  I gave up on trying to sleep any more.  My belly just hurt too much.  I decided to take a nice hot bath.  After 20 minutes I was feeling a little bit better.  I got out, took two ibuprofen, and thought I'd go make Kate's lunch and might as well make a good breakfast for the girls.  I wasn't hungry.  As soon as I started walking around, though, those plans went out the window.  Too painful.  So I sat down and started texting my dear husband because I like to complain like that.

We started discussing whether this was a hospital worthy pain.  It didn't fall in line with any of \my "usual" pains.  With how many ridiculous medical issues I've had I really didn't want to go see yet another doctor or visit the hospital yet again.  Suddenly I had a little "light bulb" blink on over my head.  The pain had centralized around my belly button by this point and I realized that sounded familiar.  I also was running a low grade fever and somewhat nauseous.  Not a great way to start a Monday morning in my estimation.  Finally (after some more consideration and prayer) I decided that I'd better go to the hospital after all.  So Michael wrapped up what he was working on and came home in time to help get the girls out the door to the bus.  And find (after nearly a dozen phone calls -- where WAS everyone today!?) someone who could  have Sabrina over for a while.

The ER is blessedly empty on a Monday morning around 9:00 by the way.  Though it still took quite a while to see a doctor.  Oh well, it was a great doctor who sadly we recognized and who recognized us from previous visits.  After a little prodding (OUCH!) the doctor was anticipating appendicits.  They did blood work, urine work (rule out an ectopic pregnancy), and finally a CT scan.  The radiologist didn't want to commit to appendicitis declaring the appendix as "borderline".  So I had to wait for the surgeon to come prod me too (OUCH AGAIN!!!) so he could decide if he thought it was worth it to do the surgery.  Lucky me, the surgeon's assistant came first, then the surgeon later (so that makes *two* more prods!).  The doctor didn't want to give me any more pain medication before the surgeon came so he could see how bad it truly was.  The surgeon was properly impressed when I nearly \kneed him in the chin when he pushed on the lower right quadrant of my abdomen.  Surgery was recommended though they said I *could* go home and give it a little more time.   No, thank you.

After that point (which had taken about 3 hours and included another round of phone calls to find someone to get Lizzie gathered up from the bus and pass Sabrina along -- anyone else singing "take one down, pass her around..." right now?  -- things sped up.  In about 15 minutes they were ready to wheel me off to surgery.  The pre-op holding area was empty and the anesthesiologist came right in.  Fastest getting-in-to-surgery ever!  I don't remember much after the anesthesiologist came (I love that "you'll feel a little dizzy and probably sleepy" medication he gives at that point).  I woke up in recovery before they even got the tube removed.  Kinda freaked out trying to fight the machine for a minute but they got it out and I fell back to sleep :P

My appendix was indeed pus-covered and the lymph nodes around it were enlarged as well so it was a good thing we just got the darn thing out.  Because of the active infection (appendicitis) I have to stay at the hospital over night.  I haven't had to stay over night since Sabrina was born!  After the girls had another pass-along (and another lovely helper sit at home so Kate had someone to come home to!) they were taken care of until their bedtime.  Michael was going home to meet the girls so he left.  A little while later he snuck back into my room.  They were delayed and he didn't want to go home and sit alone, so the sweetie bought himself some hospital cafe food and came back to my room.  While I was waking up I had muttered to Michael that I really wanted some bacon.  He got me some crumbled bacon from the cafe!  And a slice of chocolate cake :)

Finally he did have to leave to meet the girls and put them to bed.  So here I sit in my hospital room with a nasal cannula for oxygen, leg squeezers to promote circulation (love these things!), an IV to keep me hydrated and get in some antibiotics and three wristbands all up my left arm.  Getting to the bathroom only two steps away is no small feat, lol.  At least I have my mini to play with (and update you all more than you'd ever want).  I'm still picking away at my chocolate cake (really quite good!), ice water, and hulu running old episodes of "Royal Pains".  The pain is manageable.  I didn't even have to ask for any more medication until a couple of hours ago.  I've done some walking and did that okay.  As long as I stay still it really doesn't bother me too much (if only I had a fully adjustable bed at home!).  I think one of the blessings of that awful tonsillectomy two months ago is that this surgery is an absolute breeze in comparison!

Here's hoping that the recovery continues quickly and efficiently.  I should be home by about lunch time tomorrow ready to face the world -- at a snail's pace.  I'm determined to take it easy so I can not screw up my recovery.  I'm ready to be healthy :)

A big huge THANK YOU to those who have helped out and have offered help and prayers and well wishes.  It has made this experience much easier knowing there are so many who are willing to help us and support us in difficult times.  Now I'm going to try to sleep while my nose itches like CRAZY from this constant draft up my nostrils :->