To Catch A Hamster

Cats supposedly have nine lives. How many, I ask you, do you think hamsters have? In our case, at least two. My kids' little hamster Lucy escaped from her cage in the night, ate mouse poison, got stuck to a sticky trap (DON'T even flipping ask) and lived to tell about it. Bad ass, right?

Just when we thought things were about the get boring (hahahahahahaha), she escaped again. We still have no idea how, but she did. We noticed she was gone Thursday night last week. We turned the entire house upside down looking for her furry little butt. No luck. I figured she was gone for good this time. But the kids put food out for her and in the morning it was gone. Sooooooo we knew she was still around.

After a couple of days of seeing absolutely NO trace of her, we decided to pick up a live mouse trap at our local home improvement store. It didn't work. She didn't go for it. Two days later, but still no hamster. Things weren't looking so good for Lucy.

And then just when we were about to give up, we came home this afternoon from running errands and who should we see hiding out behind the dryer but our long lost little hamster!! Thinking and acting quickly like Chris Hanson from "To Catch A Predator", Kevin grabbed a shoe box and sprung into action. WARNING: THESE NEXT FEW PHOTOS ARE VERY GRAPHIC AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN











Success!!!! We are happy to report that Lucy was apprehended quickly and that no hamsters OR husbands were harmed in the process. We have a new and improved, escape free cage where Lucy is now resting comfortably with her sister Fat Phoebe. Reunited and it feels so good!!

Abby's Room

I have been waiting to post photos of the kids' rooms because they're not really done yet. They still need quarter round for crying out loud! I'm constantly changing and adding to rooms anyways, so I figured why not post a few!! I have plans for these rooms as far as how to make them more efficient - think storage. But anywho, here is Abby's room. Her room actually used to be Ethan's room. We switched them around last summer because it made more sense this way.


Bad picture quality! When you enter her room, this is what you see... usually with more toys on the floor, but I just cleaned! :) I'm planning on adding a band of material to the bottom of the curtain panels that coordinates with her bedding. And we still need to hang some more things on the wall.




Her bedding is from Target and the headboard is actually from Walmart online. We got such a great deal on everything!! The entire room was themed around the stuffed monkey you see on her bed. The very talented Sarah Mock aka Odd Dotty made Molly Monkey for her birthday and she adores it. I am thinking of ditching the little bookshelf in between the windows and doing white, floor to ceiling built ins on either side of her bed. Maybe like this?

You know how much I heart construction. :)


Her dresser which is about to be painted white. She has her own bulletin board for photos and drawings. Notice the disco ball. ;) Dance parties happen in here quite often!!


The incredible wall of closets. Sooooooooooo not sure what needs to happen to make this better looking. I've thought long and hard about opening them up OR taking the doors off and putting curtains up instead. I thought about painting them a differnt color?? I don't know what to do. Abby's clothes, etc are in the closet on the right. Kevin's entire drum set is in the closet on the left. Dilema.

So that's my little tour of Abby's room!! Have you made any changes to your kids' rooms lately? How do you cope with storage/closet issues without making the room look too cluttered? I'm open for any and all suggestions! I need all the help I can get!!

How Do You Measure Time??

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. It seems that the older I get, the faster time goes. Tomorrow is my son's birthday and it seems impossible that he could be turning ten years old. How did ten years go by so fast?? I remember like it was yesterday the day I found out that I was pregnant with him. I was twenty years old, newly married and living in a tiny apartment on the north side in the city. Kevin and I were young, broke and pretty unsure of how to provide for ourselves much less another person. But it's funny how things work out. I remember the first time I saw him and held him, the day we brought him home from the hospital and how scared I was, the first time he smiled at me and how it made me feel, the first steps he took, his first day of school, the first time he rode his bike without training wheels........ everyone tells you how fast it all goes by but you just don't realize it at the time!!



















Looking back on the past ten years and all of those firsts, I realize that years aren't really a good way to measure time at all. Years are just a way to keep track of all the beautiful memories and life that happens in between. I am so grateful for this time I have with him - to be able to watch him learn and grow into the amazing person he is becoming. I can only imagine what kind of firsts he'll have over the next ten years. Happy Birthday to one of the best people I know. I am so lucky you're my son. I love you, my little old soul.

It's A Beautiful Day

Who knew we could go from having snow on the first day of spring to an 80 degree day on the first of April?? Weird, but we're enjoying it!! The kids and I are on spring break from homeschooling this week and have been enjoying the lack of schedule. We went through all of their bedrooms and made piles to donate and piles of things to sell at our garage sale. It felt great to clean everything out!!

This afternoon we went out for ice cream and a little bike ride. Lulu is a bit apprehensive of her little bike with the training wheels, but I have a feeling she'll get the hang of it soon enough. Abby is an old pro and will probably be needing a bigger set of wheels soon. Ethan has taken to skateboarding thanks to Uncle Ben's generous donation of his old skateboard. He's pretty decent!!!







We're looking forward to Easter with our families in our home town this weekend. I am in charge of appetizers this time which is cool. I think appetizers and snacky stuff is my fave - besides dessert of course! I decided to make Roast Beef Roll-Ups and Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Dip. Both recipes are from the Pampered Chef 'Celebrations' cookbook. Here's a shady looking picture I took of the cookbook picture!!



Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Dip

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
6 bacon slices, crisped and chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1 tsp sugar
Lettuce leaves
Pita Chips for dipping

Mix cream cheese and ranch dressing together in large bowl. Remove seeds from tomato and dice. Reserve 1 Tbsp for garnish. Chop bacon and celery and add to cream cheese mixture along with tomato. Add sugar and mix well. Cover and refridgerate at least 3 hours to allow flavors to blend. To serve, line bowl with lettuce leaves and fill with dip. Garnish with reserved tomato. Serve with pita chips.

Roast Beef Roll-Ups

1 (8 oz) container cream cheese spread
3-4 Tbsp prepared horseradish
6 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
8 (6-7 inch) flour tortillas
1/2 lb thinly sliced deli roast beef (8 slices)

Combine cream cheese and horseradish in small bowl; mix well. Spread each tortilla evenly with 2 Tbsp cream cheese mixture. Top each tortilla with 5 tomato slices, 5 cucumber slices, 3 red onion rings and 1 roast beef slice. Roll tortillas up tightly. Wrap filled tortillas individually in plastic wrap. Refridgerate, seam side down, for 30 minutes. To serve, cut each roll crosswise into thirds. Place on lettuce-lined platter.

Happy Easter!!!!!

The Flu Shot - Are You Getting One?

I'm not going to lie, this new H1N1 flu virus scares me. Hell, the regular flu virus scares me. But I'm trying to decide what scares me more - the flu itself or the vaccine given to prevent it. Let me be clear before I go any further here that I am NOT anti-vaccine. But I'm not pro-vaccine either. With my first two kids, I went to the health department on time and got their shots without asking any questions. Why would I question vaccinations? It was just what you did. I had no reason to wonder why I was doing what I was doing - that was until my third baby was born.

As a mother, Olivia has made me question EVERYTHING I have ever done or will do from now on. From nursing to solid foods to sleeping to you guessed it, vaccinations. She made me wonder and worry about things I never had to before. I don't neccessarily think that's a bad thing. It all started the week after I had her. She was having a hard time nursing and I didn't know what to do. She seemed uncomfortable and would just scream and we didn't know why. She started getting this awful rash all over her which was very different from the normal baby pimples that happen to some newborns. I did some research and wondered if she was having issues with something I was eating. After many tears and lots of attempts, I completely gave up breastfeeding and switched her to Nutramigen hypoallergenic formula. It was awful stuff, but it worked for her. We were able to lay her flat without fear of a reflux episode and she slept over over an hour for the first time in her two months of life. She was content. I cried tears of joy. Do you have any idea how much crying you do when you're a mom?? Anyways, the rash even started to go away and she was this happy little baby I didn't know existed.

At her two month check up, I politely declined her vaccinations. Despite pressure from our doctor, something told me it was the right thing to do. I was concerned at how sensitive she must be due to the reactions she'd had with her diet so far. Thank God I didn't do it. At age four months, after giving Olivia a bottle and laying her down to bed she had her very first seizure. I cannot put into words what an absolutely terrifying thing it was to witness. After vomiting what seemed to be her entire feeding, Olivia's eyes rolled back into her little bald head and she paled to a color that I have never seen a living human being turn. She was limp and unresponsive and so cold. We didn't know what was happening. By the time we got to the ER, she seemed much better. They checked her vitals and sent us home, thinking it was some sort of stomach virus not knowing it was actually a seizure. I slept next to her crib (sleep isn't the word I would use) that night. Little did I know, the horror we'd just witnessed would surface again.

Olivia has had five seizures in her three years of life, the most recent one being last December. I pray every single day that it was the last one she'll ever have. It's not something I will ever get used to seeing or forget or get over and the image of it will haunt me probably forever. (I try not to live in fear, but I wouldn't be honest if I told you I didn't worry like a crazy person every time she got sick!) Olivia underwent lots of testing to determine the cause of her seizures and we never found one. The term mitochondrial disorder (google that if you're curious as it would take me quite a long time to explain) was thrown out there by her peds neurologist and we did some testing that was in conclusive as far as that went. So we still don't know and maybe we never will. And we still haven't given her one vaccination. Does that bother me? Yes. But right now I still feel the risks far outweigh the benefits for her. That doesn't mean I don't worry about my decision and it doesn't mean I won't ever vaccinate her for anything.

That being said, I still have to think really hard about this upcoming flu season. I can't figure it out. Either we're all screwed or the media/government has done a great job of trying to scare us all to death. I haven't decided which one it is yet. For most people, the decision to get a flu shot is black and white. You either get them every year because you think they work or you take your chances not getting the shot. I guess everyone is taking their chances if you think about it - either by getting the flu shot and hoping it doesn't have any awful side effects or not getting the flu shot and hoping you don't get sick. I guess it wouldn't bother me so much if people knew for sure if the shot actually worked. I am curious how many people who have never gotten the flu shot before are getting it this year. Will you get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available? What chance are you taking this season???

Little Mermaid

We had a fun family birthday party yesterday for Olivia. My parents, grandparents, brother, Kevin's mom, his brother & twins were all on hand to help us celebrate. Olivia decided on a mermaid theme since she loves them right now. I was able to find this adorable costume on ebay used for a really great price!!


Doctor Lulu in the house.... she loves her new doctor kit!

Olivia was so excited for her party!!! Here are a few pictures!!!


Happy Birthday to you, Lulu!


She loved it!


Blue frosting = blue tongue!


Yummy!!!!

I really took the whole mermaid/under the sea theme and ran with it, which was super fun. We had fish tacos, lime cilantro shrimp skewers, chips & salsa, shell pasta salad, pineapple dessert salad and "seaweed" spinach with tropical fruit salad. The kids had "sushi" (I took white bread without the crust and spread cream cheese on it with celery and lunch meat and rolled it up like sushi!), goldfish crackers and blue fish jello jigglers. It was an amazing spread!!! I was also really brave and made the cupcakes from scratch this time!! We had coconut cupcakes with buttercream frosting and key lime cupcakes.


Blue frosted coconut cupcake and key lime cupcake

Here are the recipes in case you'd like to try them!!!

Key Lime Cupcakes with Lime Frosting

MAKES 12


Recipe by Buttersweet Bakery

September 2008
Ingredients
CUPCAKES
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel
1/4 teaspoon neon-green food coloring
3/4 cup buttermilk
FROSTING
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
CUPCAKES
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line standard muffin pan with 12 paper liners. Whisk both flours in medium bowl. Beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add sugar; beat to blend. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then next 3 ingredients (batter may look curdled). Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions. Spoon scant 1/3 cup batter into each liner.
Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan; cool.

FROSTING
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp Lime zest
1 tsp vanilla ext
1/8 tsp salt
16 oz powdered sugar
3 Tbsp lime juice
1 to 2 Tbsp milk

Beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, lime juice and milk, beating at low speed until blended and smooth.

Coconut Cupcakes

Ingredients

3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
5 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk
14 ounces sweetened, shredded coconut

For the frosting:

1 pound cream cheese at room temperature
3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 1/2 pounds confectioners' sugar, sifted
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In 3 parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in 7 ounces of coconut.

Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Fill each liner to the top with batter. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and cool completely.

Meanwhile, make the frosting. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on low speed, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla and almond extracts. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth.

Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining coconut.

Checkmate!!

A fun summer activity for developing thinking skills??? Chess!!! Ethan and Abby are learning (and me too!) how to play and so far it's pretty fun! I was always intimidated by the game, thinking it was too hard and had too many rules and things to remember. It does. But, I think it's challenging in a way that's good for my overcrowded brain!!



I bought this chess set originally from Target - not because I knew how to play, but because I thought it would look cool sitting on the coffee table in our apartment when we lived in the city!! It made the move from the apartment, to the old house and then to this house. We never really brought it out because there were little pieces and no one really knew how to play. Then one day a few months ago, Ethan came across it in our closet and took some interest in learning. So I decided to get a book!!



Thank goodness for Usborne books! This is a great one even for adults who want to learn to play chess. It explains all the pieces, the moves they can make and even has little tests throughout to help you visualize the game. So we had a couple of practice games this afternoon - I am hoping this will help with some of the squabbling we have going on (Ethan and Abby). It seems like all of the sudden my kids aren't getting along with each other!! :( We may be starting our fall curriculum for homeschooling VERY early if this keeps up!! So maybe chess is the answer? Or boarding school?? Ha ha!! Just joking.... sort of..... here they are playing nice with each other for five minutes.


Abby planning her move...


Ethan checking the book....


A practice game...


So anyways, that's what we've been up to. My tooth is finally feeling better! I was able to get into the endodontist early last Thursday and they ended up finding that I had FIVE roots instead of the normal three. So five years ago when I had that first root canal, they never saw two of the roots and sealed them off! So needless to say after being covered up that long, there was quite an infection there and it was no wonder I was in so much pain. I am very lucky that it didn't spread!! I have to go back Tues to have the crown put on, but other than that I hope I am done with dental work for awhile. Yuck!

And yay! Kevin is off ALL next week for vacation! We have been looking forward to it and this week has seemed so long. We're planning on doing a few fun things here in the Chicago area and then heading up to Madison to visit Kevin's brother Matt, his wife Tricia and their twins. They have a beautiful new house and we're excited to spend time with them!! We'll also be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary on July 4th! Very surreal that we've been married that long. Time goes so fast!! I am hoping to post a blog about our relationship with some old pictures, wedding pictures, etc. Just to be all nostalgic and stuff!! So watch for that one!

So that's what's up around here! I hope everyone has a very safe and happy 4th of July!!

It's Potty Time!

I did NOT think I would be blogging about this so soon, but I am so proud!! We have been putting Olivia on the potty here and there since she was about 16 months old ust to get her used to the concept. We talk about it and I just bought the VERY annoying Elmo's Potty Time DVD for her last week. She watches it all the time and talks about using the potty. So funny!

So this morning she had to boo boo and I tried sitting her on the potty, but she wasn't having it right then, so we just kind of moved on. Then tonight after dinner, she was saying how she had to boo again. So Kevin just took her up and she DID it!!! I know it's premature to be this excited and she is just 20 months old, but we are so happy! Yay, Olivia! Time to go get us a potty chart, stickers and some tiny littles skivvies!