Elbow Deep

I have been sitting here staring at a blank page for quite some time now. I really have nothing to say wait a minute I have a lot to say I just don’t know how to put it into words that are coherent. I have been googling sinus surgery and recovery and was going to try my best at an informative post but all I did was make my anxiety and nerves even worse.


Today I am undergoing surgery to fix a deviated or crooked {as my doctor put it} septum. The inside of my nose is constantly swollen or the bone/cartilage is protruding or something and the right nostril side is almost completely blocked making it very hard to breathe and I also have a wonderful drip that is very annoying! {and disgusting I might add} Also my doctor is going to clean out the area of my sinuses that are chronically infected and remove parts of the sinuses to make them drain better/properly.

I am not so much worried about the surgery itself, mostly about the recovery and pain that I am sure I will be in afterwards. Although there have been several thoughts and visual images running through my head of my doctor elbow deep in my face. Good thing my conscious mind knows that is really not what is going to happen at least I sure hope not. Anyways… I am worried about undergoing anesthesia, about the pain and recovery that I am facing, about the two post op visits in which they will scrape out scabs that have formed {yeah that sounds like fun I know!} and about not being able to care for my children. Although I will have help, my mom and Brian will both be taking over child care duties; my dad and step mom will be taking them one day and my brother and sister in law are on the list for backup. Colton has become such a momma’s boy lately that I worry about not being around much and what he will think. I know it is silly but these are my thoughts right now. I love that he is so excited to see me when I walk into the room that he squeals and tries to get to me as fast as he can. I love the way that he buries his head into my shoulder and clasps onto me as tight as he can when I try to put him down. Yes I really honestly do enjoy these things. Lauren is such a daddy’s girl that I didn’t get that reaction from her as much as he did and Colton is quite possible our last baby {we haven’t decided} I know deep down that both of the kids will be just fine and that they will be taken care of I just worry.

I will try and update when I can. I am not sure exactly how much I will feel like blogging so I may be MIA for a few days.

Overjoyed

Alternately titled…Good News…Good Report…

We are four months out from the completion of the harness treatment and Colton is making so much progress. He is rolling over, crawling, pulling up on things, can stand unassisted for short periods and can walk when you hold his hands. I am beyond excited by all of this.

Yesterday we took Colton in for a checkup on his hip dysplasia. He had another round of x-rays and a physical exam and the doctor is very pleased with his progress. {insert a squeal here} The doctor said that his hips feel good on the exam and looked good on the x-rays.

He did say again that he will continue to follow Colton until he stops growing to ensure that his hips continue to develop correctly as he gets bigger. The doctor said that on occasion he has seen that the socket of the hip can shift without any warning and start to grow incorrectly. We go back in three more months and will be going on a regular basis for checkups since more times than not this happens without any other symptoms. After Colton reaches 2 the visits will be less frequent and then when he is in his teens even more less frequent unless he starts having issues. He also said to make sure that Colton gets lots of vitamin D to help his developing bones. I would like to do this in as natural of a way as possible and I know that during the warmer months sunlight is excellent for that and the doctor mentioned during the colder months to give him a supplement. I am also looking for ways to add it into his diet.

I was so relieved to hear the doctor say that Colton is doing well. I knew he was because I see what he does on a daily basis and how active that he is but hearing the doctor give him a good report made me feel so much better about the whole thing. I went into the appointment expecting a good report but there was this awful voice in the back of my head reminding me that every time I expect something to go one way I get smacked in the face with bad news. I could not be more overjoyed with the GOOD news that we received!!

Lately

Lately I have been extremely busy at work.  This is both good and bad.  :)  Good for my career bad for my blog.  But there are big changes for me coming up at work and I am super excited.  I am not getting a promotion... ;( but I am getting new digs.  We are opening a new location this summer and closing the one that I am currently at so my whole entire team will be getting a bright shiny new place to call home. 

Lately I have been exercising like a crazy woman.  Well not really crazy, I am not overdoing it, I am taking it all in stride and rather enjoying myself.

Lately I have been worrying about my upcoming surgery.  It is one week away.

Lately I have been rejoicing that Colton is crawling.  Due to the hip dysplasia I could not be MORE ELATED that my little man is now all over the place faster than I can say "get back here" I was talking to another new mom who's little man is just a couple of weeks earlier than Colton and I was telling her how excited I was and I think she thought I was nuts.  :)  She was unaware of the circumstances. 

Lately I have been loving the beautiful weather we have had and taken full advantage of getting myself and the kids outside.  That was short lived for now since there is rain and snow in the forecast for at least the next week. 

Lately I have had even more of a desire to expand my photography.  I really want to take more formal classes to improve my skills. 

Lately I have been not eating meat and I have not missed it one bit.  All the vegetarian meals I have been cooking up have been delicious and leave me feeling great after eating.  I love not getting that so full I feel like I am going to explode feeling.  Part of that is of course due to portion control but the other part is due to all the goodness I am filling my belly with. 

Lately Lauren has been talking up a storm.  Her words and letters are forming and people who are not around her much can understand her easily.  I have always thought she spoke well but she has gotten so much better lately.

Lately Lauren has sprouted up.  Her legs have gotten so long. 

Lately several of my friends have announced they are expecting.  I am so not drinking that water!!!

Half Way There

This morning when I woke up and stepped on the scale I knew exactly what I wanted it to say but to my surprise it was better. Almost a whole pound better!!! I have been working my little tail off, quite literally I might add. Not only am I following a low calorie diet and logging/tracking everything that I eat or drink but I have also started exercising. WOW!! I never thought that those words would come out of my mouth and more shockingly…I have been enjoying it! I love seeing my hard work pay off on the scale and I have already started noticing a difference in my body. From doing the elliptical and walking my legs and booty are starting to firm up quite nicely. :) I have done some form of exercise, for at least 20 minutes every day for the last 10 days.

I still have a long ways to go to my ultimate goal but I am already half way there. To date since I started my weight loss journey this time around I have lost 30.8 pounds. To get to my next “small goal” I need to lose 14 pounds and I am right on track.

I am loving that the weather has warmed up here in the last week so that I can get outside and take the kids on walks. Colton loves to ride in the stroller. He either falls asleep or sits up and is looking everywhere. It is so funny to see his little head go back and forth so that he can look at everything we go by. I snapped some pictures of him on my cell.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Normally on St. Patrick's day I would be gearing up to make Corned Beef however since I am not eating meat this month I decided to do something a bit different.  This year I made a Root Vegetable Irish Stew and you will also notice that I have linked to the recipe instead of posting it here.  That's right...I have taken the plunge and started my very own food blog!  I will still post some recipes here but for the most part I am going to be posting them on my new site.  I will also be moving the recipes that I have hear and putting them on the new site to get it going as well as to try and keep them together as much as possible.  I hope that you will be joining me over there as well. 

I have been doing very well on the vegetarian diet and honestly I don't miss meat at all.  I thought it would be hard but it hasn't been!  I love being creative and trying lots of new things.  I have had a few hits and a few misses along the way but it has been fun.  I even think Brian is enjoying it and I have been surprised at how much of it Lauren is enjoying too.  Colton even has been partaking.  And I am happy to report that I am .8 pounds from being half way to my goal!!!  This is a big feat for me.  I have almost lost 30 pounds. 

The surgery center called me yesterday to get some details for my upcoming sinus surgery.  I am feeling anxious about this.  I know that it is necessary and that is very apparent as I cannot breathe out of the right side of my nose 90% of the time but the fact of having surgery still scares me. 

Colton has been a bit under the weather.  There is a stomach virus going around daycare and he caught it.  He has been in great spirits though and he has started crawling!!!!  He is so cute.  He will crawl a couple of steps and then he will scoot his knees up.  His new nickname may become "scooter"  :) 

Nom nom nom nom

Colton is quite the hearty little eater. I can't get the food in his mouth fast enough. He is finally starting to feed himself a little bit and is branching out from the pureed baby food to more of what we are eating for dinner. The other day I made Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili and he loved it. He ate quite a big sized portion. I was really surprised because it had cilantro in it, but then I remembered that I craved that all the time when I was pregnant with him. It should be a flavor he recognizes.

Here is a video I took of him on my phone eating puffs.  Sorry that it is sideways, I keep forgetting the way that I need to hold it. 




He is just getting so big!!  I can't believe that he will be 9 months old on the 23rd. 

Irish Soda Scones

Another St. Patty's day recipe for you.  I am loving making so many new things this year.  These are my first attempt at making a scone.  So easy!  I have no idea why I was intimidated before.  I made these twice because the first time I was almost finished and realized we were out of raisins. So I baked them off anyways.  :)  They were just as good without the raisins.  Anyways I see a lot more scones in my future. 

In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.

Add the softened butter into the dry ingredients and blend using a pastry blender until the flour mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add the buttermilk, ginger ale, egg and raisins.  Stir with a fork just until just mixed.

Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and gently knead the dough until the dough comes together.  It should be lumpy so don't knead it too much.  Overworking it will cause the resulting scones to be tough instead of tender and flaky and then you will have an Irish Soda Biscuit instead of a scone!  I know this because Brian apparently thought that I mixed it up a bit too much.  Both batches I made he said weren't really "scone" texture.  Then he tells me that he really has only had a scone once and can't really remember. 

Form the dough into a giant ball and pat down.  Using a sharp knife, cut into the dough like you would a pie until you have about 8 even sized pieces.  Or more if you want to make each piece smaller.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.  .

The scones should be golden brown and if you insert a tooth pick it should come out clean. If you want you can brush them with melted butter immediately after you take them out of the oven.  I didn't because I wanted to cut out some extra calories.  :)  Allow to cool to room temperature

Irish Soda Scones

recipe adapted from browneyedbaker

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup cake flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
1½ teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup ginger ale
1 egg slightly beaten
1 cup raisins


Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Add the softened butter into the dry ingredients and blend using a pastry blender until the flour mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add the buttermilk, ginger ale, egg and raisins.  Stir with a fork just until just mixed. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and gently knead the dough until the dough comes together.  It should be lumpy so don't knead it too much.  Overworking it will cause the resulting scones to be tough instead of tender and flaky and then you will have an Irish Soda Biscuit instead of a scone!   

Form the dough into a giant ball and pat down.  Using a sharp knife, cut into the dough like you would a pie until you have about 8 even sized pieces.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.  The scones should be golden brown and if you insert a tooth pick it should come out clean. Brush them with melted butter immediately after you take them out of the oven.  Allow to cool to room temperature.

I know I have been posting a lot of recipes lately.  I just can't help it!  Irish food is so fun to make and to eat.  :) 

Chocolate Stout Donuts

I am channeling Homer Simpson with a beer and donut concotion, in honor of one of the most important men in my life.  My husband Brian is a huge Simpson's fan and a huge beer fan so much that our dog's name is Guinness!!!  :)  And since Brian's birthday was yesterday and St. Patty's day is coming up next week I thought no time like the present to make these yummy chocolate beer donuts. 

Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt; in a large bowl and set aside. Combine egg, egg yolk, vanilla and sugar and beat until  fluffy. Add in milk and beat to combine.

Add in beer and beat to combine.

Slowly add flour/cocoa mixture and mix until fully combined. 

In a small bowl combine butter and chocolate chips and microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring after each, until completley melted. {took me about 50 seconds}

Gently fold in chocolate mixture to dough until fully combined.

Transfer donut batter to a pastry bag or if you don't have a pastry bag you can improvise.  What I do is take a bowl and put a ziploc bag down inside of it and sort of wrap the bag around the bowl as if you are going to turn it inside out.

Fill the bag with all of the dough.

 Seal and then simply snip off one of the bottom corners and viola you have a homemade pastry bag and it works perfect!!

Here is my awesome donut pan that I got for Christmas from my brother and Mollie.  This is the first time that I have gotten to use it and I am in love!!!  :)  I see lots of donut baking in my future. 

Pipe dough into donut pan. Pipe once around each well with enough pressure on the pastry bag to fill the well ¼ of the way up. Bake for about 4-6 minutes.

 

Let cool completely before dipping into the chocolate glaze. 

 You can leave them plain.

 Add a bit o'green for St. Patty's day.

Or you can't go wrong with sprinkles! 

Then enjoy these delicious Chocolate Stout Donuts. 

Chocolate Stout Donuts

recipe adapted from bakersroyale

Ingredients:
2 ½ cups flour
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
 ½ cup sugar
¼ cup dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter
3 ounces of chocolate chips
1/3 cup almond milk
½ cup dark beer {Guinness Extra Stout}

Directions:

Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt; in a large bowl and set aside. Combine egg, egg yolk, vanilla and sugar and beat until  fluffy. Add in milk and beat to combine. Add in beer and beat to combine. Slowly mix in flour/cocoa mixture.  In a small bowl  combine butter and chocolate chips and microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring after each, until completley melted. {took me about 50 seconds} Gently fold in chocolate mixture to dough until fully combined.

Transfer donut batter to a pastry bag {or ziploc} and pipe into donut tins. Pipe once around each well with enough pressure on the pastry bag to fill the well ¼ of the way up. Bake for about 4-6 minutes.

Chocolate Glaze
don't skip this amazing Glaze!  It really makes the donut!
Ingredients:

¼ cup butter
3 ounces chocolate chips
¼ cup white chocolate chips
1 tablespoon of Guinness
1 ¾ cup powdered sugar
3-4 tablespoons of warm water

Directions:

Combine butter and chocolate chips in a double boiler or a bowl over simmering water. Stir constantly to melt. Add 1 tablespoon of Guinness and then the ½ cup  powdered sugar, then 1 tablespoon of water. Continue adding powdered sugar  ½ cup at a time alternating with the rest of the water a tablespoon at a time.

Place cooling rack over a baking sheet. Dip top of donuts top with sprinkles, or green sugar if desired and place on cooling rack to dry.

For My Wonderful Husband

Today is a very special day in our house.

Happy Birthday To My Amazing Husband Brian!!

I am married to a man who is anything but ordinary.  He is an amazing husband.  An exceptional father and just an all around wonderful man.

I am so blessed that you are in my life.  You make me a better person.

Looking back over the past several years my heart is filled with so many of those "little moment" memories and I cherish each and every one of them.  I have loved watching you be such an amazing dad and I am so thankful that I get to share in this experience with you.

You make such a pretty, pretty princess. 

  Lauren is such a Daddy's girl and it makes my heart smile to see the way that you interact with her and how she has you wrapped around her little finger.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

O'Lucky Cupcakes

 It is March and that means St. Patrick's Day is up and coming.  This is such a fun holiday and there is SO MUCH FOOD associated with it.  I have several things that I have been working on in the kitchen and of course I will be making my Corned Beef.  YUM!  I can't wait.  {except I just remembered this morning as I was dreaming about my corned beef that I am doing a vegetarian challenge and won't be able to eat my corned beef.  :( well maybe just one meat meal won't hurt.}

I got the idea for these cupcakes from Betty Crocker but I thought that making the cupcake green would be so much more festive!!

O'Lucky Cupcakes

Ingredients:

2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 small box White Chocolate instant pudding mix
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoon green food coloring

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. prepare cupcake tins.

In bowl, combine flour, baking powder, pudding mix and salt with a wire whisk or a fork

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and mix until completely combines. Slowly add flour alternately with buttermilk. At end of addition batter should be smooth. Once you have completely mixed everything add food coloring. 

Scoop batter into cupcake tins, fill about 3/4 of the way full and bake for 13-15 minutes or until cooked through.  You can test by inserting a tooth pick and if it comes out clean they are done. 

Frost Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

1 package cream cheese softened
1/4 cup butter softened
4 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Mix cream cheese and butter until smooth.  Mix in vanilla and powdered sugar {one cup at a time}
Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.

Garnish with green decorative sugar and lucky charms cereal!!

The addition of the buttermilk and the pudding mix really make this cupcake a sponge cake texture.  It is a bit thick but really delicious!!

These are really delicious and nothing kills a diet quite like cupcakes.  I did indulge however I was still within my calorie limit or the day.  I can't help it that I love to bake & I am not going to let a silly old diet stop me. ;)