GratiTuesday-Grateful for almost 2 year old wisdom

Just a quick funny today with some back story.  My baby boy was born early, and has some other issues which have caused him to be a little developmentally delayed.  He’s almost 2, but is just now starting to really talk.  And, like he’s done everything he’s done he’s just taking off now that he decided to talk   He is non-stop lately and it’s great!  I have a new nickname for him, I’ve been calling him Yummy.  It’s short for Will-Yummy.  I just think he’s so yummy I could just eat him up, so I call him yummy.   

Today as we were coming home from the pool my son Gregory asked me, “Mom, why are you calling him Yummy lately?”  (we’re a nickname family, and all of the nicknames have a story, that’s why he asked)..

I answered him, while getting William out of the car seat and tickling him, “because, he’s just so yummy I could just eat him up!”

William responds, “No, no, no, no!  Be nice to everyone!” 

2 year olds are so cute.  That’s what I’m thankful for today

Menu Monday- 9/5

Is it September already???  Holy cow!  When did this happen?  With September comes visions of Sugar Plums dancing in my head   I have grave fears about my weight loss goals and the holiday season.  I love to bake and as it gets cold (which is so isn’t yet here in Houston) I tend to turn the oven on to warm me from the inside out, if you know what I mean.  So I’m already kind of thinking about some ways I can get through this season.  If you have any ideas that would be great.

I ended August with a total of 22.4 pounds lost so far   I’m looking forward to the 25 pound mark!  I am really starting to feel better, and feel better about myself.  I know for most of you, this isn’t what you want to hear, but it really is the exercising that’s making the difference.  I’m not going to tell you I love exercising because I don’t.  In fact, I miss my quiet time in the mornings when I just listen to George Winston on Pandora and do my Bible Study.  Starting my walks at 6am doesn’t afford this.  So I have to find other times to do it, and that will be a challenge as well.  But, when I haven’t been out for a few days and I DO get back out there it really does feel good.  for real.  I know what I eat really matters too, what I’m saying is, that doing just the eating part doesn’t do it.  I have to do both the eating and the activity part to see losses on the scale.  I will admit that, while I am not a runner, I do want to start running and my tendonitis in my ankle is really an inconvenience right now.  I’ll keep on trekking, though

My goals for this week are:

• Exercise 5 days
• More veggies
• Less dessert type foods
• Work on some upper body strength

Here’s the Menu Plan:

Monday:  Chicken Salad Sandwiches (didn’t make these last week)

Tuesday:  Beef Pot Roast

Wednesday:  TV Dinners for me and the babies, Mikey and the boys will eat at church

Thursday:  Drive thru something so I don’t have to dirty up my kitchen while I work on the wedding cake

Friday:  Fish Tacos 

Saturday:  Not sure, probably pick something up after the wedding

Sunday:  BBQ Chicken, Baked Beans, Fruit Salad

Supper Sunday- Green Smoothie

Did she say green?

Yes, I said green..

GREEN???

Yep.  And it’s yum.  I promise!

Green Smoothie
Makes 1 Serving, 4 Points+

Ingredients:
2 Cups Cold Water
1 Cup fresh spinach leaves
1 Package Vanilla Smoothie Mix from WW
2 Teaspoons Healthy Oil (I use Safflower because of it’s health benefits)
2 Cups Frozen Fruit

Directions:
Place all ingredients in blender in this order, and blend until smooth.  I promise it doesn’t taste like spinach…  or oil.  I eat/drink one of these almost every day.  I count 3 F/V servings for it, 1 low fat milk, and my 2 oils   Great way to start off with your good health guidelines   Try it- You’ll Like it!  (Yo Gabba Gabba)

Singing Saturday- Come Lord Jesus, Come

We went back to Bible Study this week, and let me tell you- my spirit was giddy as we drove into the parking lot.  I love bible study.  It is literally water for my soul.  And I love singing on the worship team.  This year I can’t sing for the devotional songs because my oldest has an online class in the morning on Thursdays, so I’m not able to get there early for practicing and sound checks.  But I still get to sing during lecture time and I’m so thankful for that.  Anyway, this week one of the songs we sang was Come, Lord Jesus, Come.  I love this song.  It often brings me to a state of worship that when I’m singing it up on the altar I have a physical response to the presence of the Holy Spirit.  I hope this will brighten your day today too.

 Come, Lord Jesus, Come (All Who are Thirsty)All who are thirstyAll who are weakCome to the fountainDip your heart in the streams of life!Let the pain and the sorrowBe washed awayBy the waves of His mercy
As deep cries out to deep
(We sing)

Come Lord Jesus come (3x)
Holy Spirit come (3x)
As deep cries out to deep (2x)

The perfect popsicles for toddlers :)

I have found the perfect popsicles for toddlers.  I am not usually one who will buy the expensive popsicles, but I bought these when I was going to be out of town, and they are perfect for little ones!

They are slow melt- I have no idea how they make them melt slow, but they really do- and they are the perfect size for the littles.  Because of the slow melt technology they don’t make much of a mess at all.  The other day we were out of these and gave the babies regular popsicles…  Oh MY>  So, if you’ve been avoiding giving your littles popsicles because of the mess…  give these a try…

See- perfect size

Thoughtful Thursday- Awesome God

I’m just amazed by God right now.  I’ve said a thousand times that you can’t be a Christian and be in the foster/adopt world without seeing God.  It’s just not possible.  You all know our adoption story pretty much now.  We watched God work in BIG ways through our process.  There were several other places our daughter was “supposed”to go that all fell through so she could be with us.  I truly believe that God always meant for her to be with us.  We never felt like we were babysitting, or like she belonged anywhere else.  We always felt like she belonged with us …  And we believe that our son, Will (named for being the physical will of God in our lives, and also after my very close friend and my dad) was born at exactly the right moment to make things happen for Shea to stay with us.  He was even born early, and we do not think that was an accident We went from being told after court our daughter would be leaving us within the next 2 weeks to go live with the family CPS chose for her to FOUR DAYS LATER being told she was staying with us and we won a bonus baby in the bonus round LOL.

I would not trade one moment in the valley because we would not have see God’s work so clearly.

Now one of my best friends has gotten her foster care license.  I’m so excited for them, and scared too.  The foster care world is a cruel place.  But I mean what I said above, and that is what I hope I can convey well to my friend as well.  She’s already had a piece of the valley with 2 placements falling through..  but now she’s about to receive her first placement.  And it’s a doozy!  THREE at one time!  This will be the ride of their life, but if they watch for it, I know they’ll see God.  In fact, I’m pretty sure they’ve already seen just a touch of what HE can do

I have another friend who has had a foster child for about a year now.  They recently went into court in a very similar situation to ours.  They went in knowing CPS was not going to recommend their foster daughter stay with them.  They asked all of their friends and family to pray a similar prayer to what we asked for- God’s will, and that if the people in the court room tried to direct this child in a place other than where God wanted her, that God would intervene.  He did.  He showed up BIG.  And they are now beginning the adoption process!

If you feel a tug in your heart to foster, consider it.  Know that it will not be an easy ride.  Maybe even still after the adoption.  You may end up with a child with a difficulty like SPD, or something like I did.  I can’t promise you much, but I can promise you it will be exciting.  And, I also know that if you look for God, no matter what the circumstances, you’ll see Him.  It doesn’t always turn out the way we want, but it turns out the way He wants.

Wordless Wednesday- Peaceful Path

GratiTuesday- My Husband’s voice :)

Just a short blip today- because you’re probably all going to think I’m silly

Today, I’m grateful for my husband’s voice.  You see, whenever I hear his voice I still get butterflies in my stomach!  We’ve been married over 15 years now, and I still have the same flutter flutter.  I could just be in the other room and hear him answer his phone.  He doesn’t even have to be talking to me  

I know, it’s silly, but I just love him.  What about you?  What is the one thing about your husband that after all these years still makes you flutter?

Menu Monday- 8/29

Much better  WW week for me- hopefully it will show on the scale!  I did get out and exercise 5 days this week, some days biking, some walking.  I’m having to table my quest to run for right now because I have a touch of tendonitis in my ankle.  Got let that heal up a bit before I try to run again.  Which is part of the reason for some of the biking   I also did my first organized run on Saturday- the Duck Run, which I walked, but at a faster pace than I usually walk- 3.9 mph instead of 3.4.  It was a lot of fun, and my friend who walked with me and I are going to try to make one organized event a month.  I’m excited about that.  Maybe by say, November, I’ll be able to run a 5K   We’ll see!  I also had a trip to the Chiropractor in this week (who told me of the tendonitis) and he also said he’s concerned about my upper body strength.  So, I’m going to have to sprinkle in something to improve that as well.  Any ideas you’d like to share would be great!

This week my goals are:

• Exercise at least 5 days (this is getting a little more complicated because we start schooling again this week)
• Better plan my lunches instead of “free for all”-ing it and having to make up the difference at dinner
• Up my water intake

Here’s the menu plan for the week:

Monday:  Chicken Noodle Soup

Tuesday:  Burgers and Fries

Wednesday: Black Bean Salsa Chicken for the adults, Pizza Rolls for the kiddos

Thursday:  Pork Tenderloin in the Happy Pot, Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Veggies

Friday:  Spinach Quiche

Saturday:  Snack Dinner

Sunday:  Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Supper Sunday- Coffee Creamers

I love me some cream in my coffee…  But I don’t love the junk that’s in the flavored creamers, and often they’re too sweet for me anyway.  Well, I was super excited when I found some recipes for homemade creamers!  I adapted a couple a little to better fit into my WW lifestyle and the recipes are below.  I haven’t tried the other recipes on that page yet, but I plan to.  Super easy, and good

Cinnamon Strudel Creamer
Svg Size:  2 TBS= 2 Points+ WW

Ingredients:
1 Cup Whole Milk
1 Cup Half and Half
4 TBS Real Maple Syrup
1 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tsp Almond Extract

Directions:
Whisk together milk, half and half, syrup, and cinnamon in a medium sauce pan.  Cook over medium heat just until mixture begins to steam, and then remove from heat.  Stir in extracts.  If desired pour through a sieve to eliminate cinnamon particles (I don’t mind them so I skipped this step)  Allow mixture to cool and store in a glass container in refrigerator. 

Pumpkin Spice Creamer
Svg Size: 2 TBS=2 Points+ WW

Ingredients:
1 Cup Whole Milk
1 Cup Half and Half
3 TBS Pumpkin Puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 tsp Pumpkin Spice
4 TBS Real Maple Syrup
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Directions:
Whisk together milk, half and half, syrup, and pumpkin puree in a medium sauce pan.  Cook over medium heat just until mixture begins to steam, and then remove from heat.  Stir in extract.  If desired pour through a sieve to eliminate cinnamon particles (I don’t mind them so I skipped this step) Allow mixture to cool and store in a glass container in refrigerator.

Singing Saturday- Let it Rain

Great song to prepare your heart, or bring you to a state of worship.  Also a good one for soaking.  Hope you enjoy

 

Let It Rain

Let it Rain, Let it rain

Open the floodgates of Heaven

Let it Rain

Family Time Friday- Wunderlist

If you’re like me and you have about a 1,000 to do lists in 15 different places, for different groups, you may be interested in Wunderlist.  A friend of mine recently told me to check it out to manage my tasks, and I’m so glad she did!  This is awesome!  You can have separate lists for different things.  For example, I have my Six List, a list for the HOA duties I have, a list for household improvements I want to make, a list for homeschool tasks etc…  You can even date your items to remind you if they need to be done by a certain time.  Best part- it’s FREE!  And, you can sinc it on your computer, on the web, and on your phone!  I just love this, and thought you would too!  Check it out and let me know what you think!

(In case you’re wondering, no, I’m not being paid to tell you about this   )

Thoughtful Thursday- Sensory Processing Disorder

My daughter has been diagnosed with SPD, or Sensory Processing Disorder.  What this means in a nutshell, is that her Sensory system is all out of whack.  There are many faces of SPD, some are more extreme than others, and some are more difficult to manage than others.  Many children will have different areas present themselves.  These areas are: tactile, auditory, olfactory and oral defensiveness, as well as proprioceptive and vestibular dysfunction.  My daughter has some auditory, olfactory, proprioceptive and vestibular.  What this means is that what works today to calm her might not necessarily work tomorrow, or in 5 minutes for that matter.

Often her sensory issues will present themselves in behavior problems.  This is particularly difficult, because, it isn’t completely her fault that she’s acting this way, but I can’t allow her to continue the bad behavior either.  This leads to frustrated momma and child.

Lately she’s been on what I call a “Sensory High”, where she’s been extremely overactive.  When she’s on one of these, she’ll act out constantly during her awake times.  She’ll also tell me that she hurts- my back hurts, my toe hurts, my eyes hurt…… etc…  everything hurts at one moment or another.  Her clothes have to sit on her a certain way, and often the seatbelt will be particularly bothersome to her.  We can be driving along and she will suddenly burst out in a scream because her seatbelt is bothering her.  Try that for distracted driver!  It’s difficult to deal with at best.

The acting out is bothersome, but the worst part is that she often goes for danger.  Sunday morning at 4am I heard the back door close.  I got up to see if one of the older boys was letting the dogs out or something and my 2 year old daughter was in the back yard back by the trees!  Talk about a heart attack!  She never went back to sleep.  When she’s on a high, often sleep doesn’t happen like normal.  Before I knew what was going on with her I would jokingly say that the only child proof room for her was a padded cell.  This is, unfortunately not far from the truth.  She’s almost 3 and still puts everything in her mouth, and often times it’s something yucky.  I’ve learned to let go of most of my fears of her eating something bad because I just can’t watch her constantly.  I’ve got to give it to God and do the best I can.  And she’s fast.  Whatever she’s doing, particularly if it’s something she’s not supposed to, she’s super fast. 

All of these things make us on constant alert with her, and that’s hard.  It’s exhausting.  It’s frustrating.  I feel like a terrible mom.  A Lot.  But the absolute worst part-

My daughter will often go days without peace.  You know when you see your child playing by themselves and there’s just a peace about them?  You know when babies sleep how they look so peaceful?  Often she will not have that.  Even when she’s sleeping her eyebrows are raised, her body is tense. It’s awful.  I mean just awful.  I can’t do anything to give her that peace that she needs so much.  I can only try the things the therapists recommend.  And what works today might not work tomorrow.  What works tomorrow might not work later that day.  It all depends on what sensory system is being set off.

I know there are times when I’m out in public with my daughter and people are staring because she’s acting out.  I’m sure they’re thinking one of two things- either that kid needs a spanking, or geez that mom needs to take a chill pill!  That too depends on the day. 

There is nothing more defeating than not being able to help your child.

So, I do what I can.  Of course we pray constantly that God will heal her heart.  We are grateful that she doesn’t have other lasting consequences of the drug exposure.  And, I try to have the conversation with her often that I love her even when we’re having a bad day.  Today I decided to start something new for just she and I.  I told her I will love her always and forever no matter what.  Then I told her to put her finger to mine and we’ll say together, “Always and forever”…  That will be our sign that no matter what, through thick and thin, we’ll always be there for her.  I also tell her that I love her just as much when she’s disobedient as I do when she’s obedient.  Yes, she’s 2.  But I’m telling you this kid is S.M.A.R.T.  and she KNOWS what I’m saying. 

So, if you think about us, say a little prayer for us that we can find some consistent ways to give our daughter a little peace in her heart.