Bubble Wrap

We got a package in the mail from Auntie Kristi and it had bubble wrap!!!  The boys had a great time jumping on it and popping as much as they could as fast as they could.

Current Project

I finally sucked it up and cut the fabric for this table runner:

I think I did a good job of cutting fabric this time.  When I first started to sew/piece I though this would be my favorite part.  Turns out it is not!  I find it somewhat confusing and seriously nerve wracking because you only get one shot when you start that rotary cutter going.  Now that I have it cut I can start piecing it together...  Should be pretty when it's done!

Due to my lack of confidence cutting fabric I thought I would watch some YouTube videos for tips.  Wow are there some bad ones out there!  There are also good ones but seriously scary what some people think are good tips... I thought this one lady was going to cut off her finger every time she made a cut!

I think the only thing that will help me is more practice and maybe one other kind of ruler... Like a 12 inch square or maybe a 24 inch square?  Not sure yet.  The reason I say that is because I find myself using the cutting mat as a guide when I know I should only use the actual rulers to measure. 

Supper Tonight - Chili & Cinnamon Rolls

While I made supper the boys put together puzzles.  I think I heard "mommy, help me!" about a hundred times from Andrew.

I'm not sure if this is an "Iowa thing" or sort of a central mid-west thing but people around here always have chili and cinnamon rolls.  It's on the school lunch menus, fund-raisers serve it so I figured we needed to try it.

They look pretty excited to eat, don't they?

It was really good!  I just used those store bought cinnamon rolls in a tube (love them) and made my favorite chili using soy crumbles instead of beef (sorry Grandpa F.).  It is SO easy and SO good!  The boys had a few bites of the chili which was more than I expected so I was happy.  Gabe said if it didn't have "those green things" (chopped green chiles) he would like it more.  Andrew ate the top of his cinnamon roll... he gets that sweet tooth from me!  If you would like to try the chili (seriously it could not be easier) click here.

BFF

Hudsen came over on Saturday and spent the day.  Both Gabe and Andrew were so happy!  And the big boys were pretty nice to Andrew.

There was one incident where Andrew was trying to take Gabe's blanket from him and they were screaming and pulling on the blanket.  Hudsen jumped in saying "Andrew you can't have Gabe's blanket, Gabe I'll help you"... then it was 2 on 1 and was quickly over.

Talking to Dad

When Aaron was out of town we tried to Skype with him every night before bed.

The boys would get so wound up and excited!

Pecan

Andrew got a little beanie baby "Pecan" when he was in the ER after his seizure.  He is holding it in the picture.

Seizure & Recovery

I stayed home from work on Friday to be with Andrew because he was sick with a fever and the start of an ear infection and possible bronchitis.  He wasn't acting all that sick until after our nap.  He said his tummy hurt so I picked him up and he was HOT.  I didn't take his temp but gave his some liquid acetaminophen.  He threw that up within a few minutes so I broke out the acetaminophen suppositories (which I keep for just that reason).  He was really upset that I was going to put medicine "in your butt" (as I say) so I let him chill for a few minutes and then gave him the supp.  While giving him the supp. he twitched once and his eyes rolled a little so I quickly put his diaper back on and sat down holding him.  Almost right away he started having a seizure.  Muscle stiffness, jerking (tonic-clonic), loss of consciousness, the whole ball of wax.  I was in disbelief or amazement that this was happening.  Hard to explain.  Just autopilot.  Laid him on a blanket on the floor on his side.  Called 911.  Kenneled the dog.  Opened the garage door.  Made sure he was breathing.  Talked to him.  Checked his pulse. 

I took this picture right before I gave him the suppository because I couldn't believe how sick he was feeling.  I guess I was going to show it to Aaron?  I have no idea why I snapped some pics.

I didn't freak out because I know that fever seizures are benign.  I didn't freak out because I have seen seizures happen.  They are not fatal.  I didn't freak out because I knew we had a family history of these in Aaron.  I didn't freak out because I was praying for God to take care of Andrew.

The scariest part?

When he was completely unconscious after the seizure.  His pupils were fixed, non-responsive to light.  THAT scared me.  He did not respond to our voices.

The best parts? 

1.  I knew both deputies and the Sheriff by name.

2.  I knew one of the ambulance crew well.  I LOVE small towns!

3.  He cried when we got in the ambulance.  His cry.  His sound.

4.  Dr. Gerges was the ER doc.  He knows Andrew.  He is compassionate and smart.  He knows I am a pharmacist and speaks to me as a colleague.

5.  Pastor Raether was there with me.  I wasn't alone.  He made Andrew smile and laugh before he left.  We prayed.

I took this picture with my phone at the hospital after everything was "over".  He was resting and it felt so good to hold him.  He was clinging to me.

We were home in under 4 hours and he was completely back to himself.  Crazy!  I would just look at him running around and feel this sense of lack of understanding.  He was just having a seizure.  He was unconscious.  How can he be acting normal now??  Thank God!  He knows and He understands... all I can do is give thanks and praise.

I took this photo Saturday as my silly kids ate their lunch on top of the dog kennel.  Whatever works!  They were healthy and eating and not fighting so who am I to argue? :-)

Sick Day

Both boys have been under the weather.  Gabe is on the upward swing but suffice to say it has been a long week!

Thankfully I had the day off from work today so we didn't have to do anything at all!  We made a little fort in the living room and the boys had fun in it for about 5 minutes until it was destroyed.

A nice smile but those eyes tell his story... not feeling well!

This boy on the other hand wears his sickness well.  He was put on antibiotics and nebulizers this morning but was no worse for wear throughout the day!

I found this cute hat at Casey's of all places.  He puts it on and says "ooo-ooo, aaah-aaah" like a little monkey.

Gabe was in bed sleeping a little after 7 tonight.  Crazy!  I sure hope he feels better tomorrow and can go to school.  He was mad at me today when I told him he had to stay home from school again.

Gabe, the local celebrity

 Gabe's preschool class uses iPads in the classroom and they had a big article in the paper about it this week.  Here is the picture of Gabe!  Click here to see the full article.

Our Andrew

Andrew was sick a few weeks ago and he and I took a nice long nap on the couch.  Note the puke bucket and towel, just in case.

He had all his electronics out just like dad does.

Christmas 2011

A nice spread of Christmas presents

After the Christmas Eve service

one of the rare family photos.

EAGER to open presents!

Gabe opening his first present.  He thought it was going to be a watch but it was an ornament.

Posing with his new 'Autobot Arc' for his Transformers.

Church Christmas Program 2011

A big crew of kids and an even bigger crowd for the Christmas program.

Holly (our babysitter's daughter) speaking her part about offerings that were given to God in Old Testament times.

Holly again... you can see she has her cell phone in her pocket, such a teenager!

Me and Andrew.  Andrew was reading the program to see what song was next.

He kept leaning over to look at the kids and saying "go up there?"

Gabe and Hudsen in the middle.  Such cute kids!

The 3 girls singing, Kylie, Carlie and Keagan.

Gabe walking in followed by Hudsen.

Cookies & Lefse

It was a tradition with my mom to make sugar cookies with us every year for Christmas...  One of my favorites!  So here I am with my boys carrying on the tradition.

Helping Andrew with the sprinkles.

Notice the blue frosting on Andrew's cheek... he ate a lot of frosting!

Can you tell which ones Andrew made??  We saved those ones for him.

Keri that I work with found me some Lefse at the Goldfield Cheese Mart in Goldfield Iowa.  It was really good, just like my Grandma used to make!

Gabe LOVED it...

So did Andrew!  True Norskies.

...more gooey s'mores....

OK, this one is called 'white chocolate s'mores gooey cake bars'.  With a name like that how could they be bad?  I linked up to this recipe on pinterest.  If you want the recipe click here.

These were RICH.  These were DELICIOUS.  However I can complain that the white chocolate chips that I could buy at HyVee in Humboldt were NOT chocolate.  If you could find real white chocolate chips I think these would be amazing, fantastic, etc....  So let me know if you find some of those, OK?

A few tips for making these:

1. Be sure your foil covers up the whole pan

2. Use non-stick foil

3. Bake at maybe 300 instead of 350.  The top browned way too quick on mine.  I took them out after about 21 minutes at 350.

4.  Use a plastic bag or plastic wrap or something to squish your top layer out on then just flip that over and put it on - there is no way you could squash it out on top of the marshmallows and you can't squash it out on the counter top because it just gets stuck.