Kicked off the tit...

Well I made a last minute decision to wean Bowen yesterday, I couldn't find our nursing equipment and had to give him a bottle. I told myself that if he took the bottle well and didn't wake up I would wean him. He took the bottle like a champ, fell right to sleep, he woke up once but I didn't count it because he just needed his pootie. So that was it. I was down to nursing twice a day and pumping once, so I have cabbage leaves on my boobs. Yes, you read that right, cabbage leaves. I read that they help with engorgement and drying up your milk supply. Even if they don't help with the milk, I'm keeping them in the fridge and they feel great on my ready to explode boobs. Yikes.

I am going to be sad to see my big boobs go, I really did enjoy them. What will take they're place is so small and limp that it makes my eyes water. But as I was drinking my second Diet Coke of the day without guilt, it was pretty nice! Well I hope I can sleep tonight...Benadryl is a drying agent, I think I'm going to take two and some advil and hit the sack.

Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to meeeee...

Yes today is my Birthday, 31 years ago today the wonderful and sweet Heather Lorien was born! Let's see I got to go pick out my own present from Jonathan, a pendant from James Avery, oh and some earrings too. Mom got me my tattoo and some new makeup, Bare Minerals, it's great. Then we'll finish out the day by eating at Mi Cocina, yum!
I LOVE birthdays, I'm not picky on whose it is, it's just a great and happy day! So, saying that what is your greatest birthday memory?
I think mine would be my 16th birthday, my mom and dad got me a convertible VW rabbit. It was SO COOL, I loved the orangey-red color and the black top. They totally surprised me by driving it in front of the house then luring me outside.

My favorite~!

Shauna posted her favorite recipe so here's mine, it's not fast but it's easy and GREAT!

Oven-Roasted Beef Brisket:
from Perini Cookbook

2Tbsp. Chili Powder
2Tbsp. salt
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. onion powder
1tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. dry mustard
1 bay leaf crushed
4 pound brisket
1 1/2 c. beef stock

Make a dry rub out of the dry ingredients. Season brisket on both sides. Place in a pan and roast uncovered for one hour at 350. Add beef stock and water to yield about 1/2 inch of liquid in pan. Lower oven to 300 and cover pan tightly for three hours or until fork tender.

I'm telling you this is the best brisket I've ever put in my mouth.

So last night Mere and Ryan came over to see Jonathan. Laine and Mere started coloring and in a little while I hear Laine say "but she's going to be mad" so I look over and see Laine with kitty whiskers and a kitty nose in green marker on her face, Crayola washable markers, mind you. So we all have a good laugh and I take a picture so I can get her in the tub to wash the kitty face off. You'll see above the kitty face.
Then we get in the tub and I wash her face. Wash, wash, wash, scrub, scrub scrub. I take a look and there is still a kitty face on her face. Icall Mere and tell her it's not coming off, we laugh. I get lotion, still a kitty face. I get fingernail polish remover, kitty face. Alcohol, kitty face. Call mere this morning and tell her her niece is going to school with said kitty face although it has faded a bit. Faded kitty face picture above. So, Aunt Meredith,I can't wait until your first child is born!

The first pic is of Jonathan's incision, I tried to move it down so it wasn't the first thing you saw but I couln't make anything on this dang blog work tight tonight so there it is!

Tortolini Soup

Ingredients:

1 carrot
1 zucchini
a little onion
1 can diced tomatoes
4 cans chicken broth
8-9 ounces of cheese tortolini ( I use frozen)
1 tsp. oregano
1tsp. parsley

Saute diced carrot, zucchini, and onion until soft. Add tomatoes, chicken broth and oregano. Bring to a boil and add tortolini and let boil for two minutes. Keep simmering for about 6-7 minutes and add parsley in the last two minutes of cooking. Sometimes I add more broth if I'm feeding more people or I add more veggies if I haven't eaten any that day. This soup is great with Bisquick Garlic and Cheese biscuits.

Cowboy Stew

This is great with sweet cornbread.

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
2 cans minestrone soup
2 cans ranch style beans (or one of the big cans)
1 can rotel (can be mild)
a little corn if you want

Brown ground beef and drain. Add all other ingredients and a can or so of water. Let simmer for a while. Yum! This is a good soup to take to someone who has just had a baby or surgery.

Tomorrow, tortolinni soup.

Mandarin Chicken

Linda asked me to post some easy recipes, so here's the first one!

Ingredients:

Chicken Breasts
Can of Pineapple
Can of Mandarin Oranges
Envelope of dry Onion Soup Mix


Brown Chicken Breasts in skillet until done. I use about 3 breasts and season them with S and P. Add can of pineapple and oranges with juices to the skillet. Add dry onion soup mix. Let simmer for about 20 minutes. While the chicken simmers, cook rice to serve with chicken and sauce. This is really yummy for those who like fruity stuff.

Tomorrow, Cowboy Stew.

Cute Kids!

News Flash:

Jonathan actually broke BOTH bones in his leg, he has to have surgery. The doctor is going to put in a metal rod and screws. He won't get a hard cast after that he'll wear one of those walking boots, but he won't be able to walk on it. Please pray for him and his quick recovery. Please pray for me that I can assume some of his responsibilities with patience and ease.

Which do you want first, good news or bad news?

Good news is Mere and Ryan found a house!






Bad news is Jonathan broke his leg. More on that tomorrow.






Other news is I got a fat tattie! Oh yeah, and it really pissed Jonathan off. But that's not why his leg is broken.






None of these pics are very good, but you ge the gist. We go to the Orthopedic Surgeon tomorrow, we don't think he'll need surgery. He broke it riding a dirt bike his back wheel slipped on wet grass and the bike fell on his leg. He broke the tibia. Yikes.

I need to work so I can stay skinny.

See that's the problem with me and being at home all day. I have access to the food in my house, not that we have particularly fattening food but it's there wanting me to eat it. At school I have a snack in the morning and then I have a snack when I get home. I also eat fruit throughout the day (remember I eat so much because I'm nursing). At home I have fruit but I also have a veritable cornucopia of choice. In the summer it's not so much a problem because I LOVE summer fruit, I could snack on it all day. However when it's a choice between an apple or a bowl of Fruit Loops, it's cereal all the way.

Bowen is on the mend, I hope. He still sounds like a freight train when he breathes and still whines after he coughs but he's playing and smiling. Now I just have to get him to sleep and eat. By the way he is SO CUTE and SWEET! Sweeter than Laine ever was at her sweetest, he's a cuddler. I'm also thinking I can see two tooth blisters on his bottom gum, but I've thought that before and he it still toothless. His new sound since getting sick sounds like a dove, you know coo, coo, except without the c part. I hope he starts to sleep better soon, I'm tired.

Well Whiney Whiney Mcterten is calling, I'm off to whip out the boob!

The Circus arrived at our house at 4:00...AM

Yes folks step right up and listen to Bowen the Barking Seal! I knew something was wrong with him all weekend but I couldn't put my finger on it. Then he had trouble going to sleep and I heard him a few times crying but he always got himself back to sleep after 30 seconds or so. Then at the 4:00 waking, I heard it, the unmistakable barking cough. I went to get him and he sounded HORRIBLE. We quick did a breathing treatment, he cried through the whole thing which didn't do anything to help his breathing. I'm not a worrier when it comes to illness but croup is scary. The whole retraction breathing and whooping to get a breath, I don't mess around with that since Laine's trip to the ER for croup last fall. So, I'm at home today with a pitiful little boy.

Thursday's Random Thoughts:

I love sweet tea from Chicken Express.

Laine finally earned a sticker in her folder today after two days of playing during naptime.

I think I want to try Mystic Tan this summer and forget trying to bake in the sun.

I've worn my feelings on my shoulder this week, that's not normal.

Cinnamon Dolce Latte is the best drink at Starbucks.

If it was good for me I would drink Diet Coke all day.

There was some major Police activity at Albertson's today.

I think I'm ready for Spring.

Laine thinks Robin is having a girl.