For My Mom

Love you!!!

Make sure you listen to Eric's comments throughout this video. He had me laughing the whole time.

Update

Ok I know it has been awhile since I last posted...I haven't been too busy to, I just haven't. I have started several, but have yet to post them, so I will just make a quick update. I'm puting it in list form:

1. Eric had a letter come in the mail about his security clearance at work. Come to find out he's a UK citizen. So were weren't sure if he will have to pay $1000 to renounce his UK citizenship or if he will just get his clearance.

2. We went to Utah for memorial day weekend to visit my life-long friend Nicole and her family.

3. Our car died while we were in Utah and we had to buy a new one while we were down there. (BTW, Baeya calls our new car the "American Idol" car)

4. We got to go to the Hogle Zoo in SLC!!!! Totally FUN!!!!

5. We came home to a mostly finished FENCE!!!! And it was completed last week!!! The kids and dog LOVE the new freedom.

6. ERIC GOT HIS CLEARANCE TODAY!!!! WOO HOO!!! Now we just need to get him to be a certified SRE

Lodging a Complaint with Star Command!!!

OK....Just a warning....this is a venter!!!!




So, when we bought our house, we added on a fence to the cost. We were told that we would have a fence by March....the weather was bad so it's understandable that there was no way a fence would be in. April we called and we were promised a fence by the end if that month. The 30th rolled around....NO FENCE....I was getting ticked so I called for about the third or fourth time. FINALLY some guys came in and put in posts.....

Posts are all we've had for THREE WEEKS. We have been calling every week and keep getting the run around; People telling us we will get a call back abd never do, people telling us we will get a fence by a certain day and that day passes and....NO FENCE...the latest news is that we were promised a fence by this last Tuesday and.....you guessed it!!! NO FENCE!!! Eric called ysterday with no answers given and I called today about an hour ago and I am just waiting for a response....don't worry...I'm not holding my breath....

Mommy Update

There have been a few of you that have asked for an update on my mom....She is doing well. Her surgery went well...the surgeon saw some lymph nodes that looked questionable but after a biopsy they found that they were fine.

She went to the Oncologist and she is to start Chemotherapy on the 30th and have it every other week three or four times. Then after a rest period she will start her radiation, five days a week for six weeks. She's doing well, but the doctor doesn't give her a whole lot of hope of keeping her hair. She says there are only two things she is bummed about....the prospect of losing her hair and losing her summer vacation....I am bummed for her. My poor mommy!

I LOST EVERYTHING!!!

So I thought it would be fun to change my blog.....I LOST ALL MY FRIENDS!!! I don't remember most of the sites, so if you would be so kind as to remind me of yours that would be GREAT!!! This'll teach me to try anything outside the box! LOL!!!

Those kids....

So, what happens when you get a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old together when mom's not paying ALL her attention to them?

THIS!!!

This was all instigated by him!!!

YUMMY YUMMY PASTA!!!!

I don't remember where I got the recipe for this but I have modified it a bit. This is a GREAT freezer meal of just a need a quick meal. I posted a picture because i have talked to a few people who have trouble cooking something they have never seen before. Since I modified it I don't know what to call it....maybe those of you who try it can help me out.


1 stick butter (you can also try the equivalent in Olive Oil)
1 packet Italian Dressing packet
2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
2 or 3 chicken breasts cubed OR any type of seafood (shrimp is pictured)
8oz cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
broccoli (frozen or fresh)

In a separate bowl, blend cream cheese and soup.

Cook broccoli.

Over medium heat, melt butter in pan. Add dressing and garlic. Stir till blended well. Add meat. When meat is fully cooked, add soup mixture. Heat. Best if served over broccoli and pasta.

Happy May?

This was taken this morning.....I know....makes me sick too!!!

Fun with Photoshop

This is a photograph

My Mom, My Hero

I just wanted to take a little of your time to talk about my mom. She has got to be one of the smartest most funny women I know. She's independent and vibrant. She can make anyone laugh with her charm. She's a nurturer, a friend, a mother, a grandmother. My mother is someone whom you can talk to and feel like she is actually listening to you because she wants to, because she loves you. She has been my beacon of light in some of my most darkest of times. Lost friendships, broken hearts, loneliness all seemed to be bearable with my mom by my side.

A couple of weeks ago, I got a phone call from her. Before telling me she made sure that everything was fine, not to worry. She told me she went into get her routine mammogram and they found a cancerous tumor. She was to have surgery to have it removed. Mom said that she would have to go through radiation therapy to make sure that all the cancer was gone.

The surgery went well, the tumor hadn't spread into the rest of her body, it seems they have gotten it all. Mom went to the doctor yesterday and found though that the tumor was advanced enough to have to have Chemo therapy. She goes in Thursday to see how much and how often she has to have it. My mother will lose her beautiful thick hair.

It KILLS me that I can't be there for her. She has been my best friend through everything that has happened in my life and now it is my turn to be there for her, I can't. I live 100s of miles away and have a family to take care of and with gas prices so high, I can't afford to drive. I feel guilty for not being closer. I should be there with my mother!!! I have decided that on her first day of therapy, I am going to shave all my hair. So since I am not close, I would like to ask all of you to keep her in your prayers and in honoring all mothers who are in the same battle as mine, wear something pink on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11th. I know that there are those of you whom don't like pink, but I ask you to do this from the bottom of my heart. Make a donation, buy a ribbon, get examined...I never thought it would effect my family.....

Ethan's haircut

Ethan got his first haircut at a barbershop. I ususally cut his hair, but since we moved I can't find the clippers. We went to my friends uncle's shop.

my favorite!!!

You Are Garlic

Of all the spice types, you are the most universally loved. You get long with pretty much everyone, and you leave a lasting impression. You adapt yourself well to situations. You can fit in or stand out, depending on what you're called on to do.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatspiceareyouquiz/">What Spice Are You?

What a Weekend!!!

This last weekend was probably the best weekend we have had (weather wise) in about six months. It was warm and sunny! We got to work in our yard and go on a couple of walks. We went to the park across the street from the temple. Keysha wanted to make friends with anyone or anything that passed.....

My First Baby

Here you go mommies - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about you and your first baby.



1. Were you married at the time?
hee hee hee, yes two months

2. What were your reactions?
elation and disappointment that people didn't have a more positive reaction

3. How old were you?
24

4. How did you find out you were pregnant?
I had taken a test two days before I missed my period and it was negative. I just knew I was so three days later during a commercial break from American Idol I took another test and it was positive. I brought it out to Eric and said: "you're going to be a daddy."

5. Who did you tell first?
Eric

6. Did you want to find out the sex?
YES

7. Due date?
October 11th, 12th or 13th

8.Did you deliver early or late?
4 weeks early

9. Did you have morning sickness?
umm little bit

10. What did you crave?
ha ha ha...sweet tarts and slurpies


11. Who irritated you the most?
Does anyone remember? HA HA EVERYONE

12. What was your child's sex?
Famly

13. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy?
I lost about 10....i was sick most of the pregnancy.

14. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy
I had infections galore and in the first trimester placenta previa (sp).

15.Where did you give birth?
Deaconess Medical Center

16. How many hours were you in labor?
Too many to count.

17. Who drove you to the hospital?
Eric...he got lost on the way even though we had been there several times before.

18.Who watched?
Dr's Nurses Eric and my mommy

19.Was it natural or c-section?
natural

20. Did you take medicine to ease the pain
Yes Please!

21.How much did your child weigh?
7 lbs 2 ozs

22.Did your child have any complications?
Her lungs didn't open right away and she had to be in NICU for about an hour.

23. What did you name baby?
Baeya Rose-I wanted a Belle or Bella and Baeya is the way you SAY Bella in Spanish

24. How old is your first born today?
3 going on 14



Okay mommies, re post this as "My first baby"

Beef Braciole

I got this recipe from a show from Food Network called Good Eats. I made this for my in-laws. It was really good. I didn't use fresh herbs, as it calls for but I think it still turned out pretty good! Amazingly enough it was pretty easy to make.

BEEF BRACIOLE
3 cups tomato sauce
1 1/4 cups flavored croutons
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
2 eggs 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary
1 teaspoon finely chopped thyme
1 clove garlic
1 pound flank steak, pounded to 1/4-inch thick
Olive oil, for brushing
Salt and pepper
Vegetable oil, for searing

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the tomato sauce in a 9 by 13-inch baking dish and place in the oven to heat.
In a the bowl of a food processor mix the croutons, cheese, eggs, herbs and garlic until it forms a paste.
Brush the pounded flank steak with the olive oil and season generously with the salt and pepper. Spread the filling evenly over the meat. Roll tightly and tie with butcher's twine.
In a large saute pan heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and sear all sides of the rolled meat.
Remove from the pan.
Add to the hot tomato sauce, cover with a tin foil tent so that the foil is not touching the meat. Braise for 35 minutes or, up to 3 hours.

wordless week

Keysha Fosburg

This is the new baby in our family. Her name as you can tell from the blog title is Keysha. She is the biggest sweetheart!!! Keysha is a year and a half blood hound mix. It seems that she was abused and malnourished as a baby. She has also been in at least 5 homes. I happened to have found her at "adopt a pet day" at Petco. I was just naturally drawn to her. I brought her home and the family immediately fell in love with her. It seems that she loves the kids....especially Ethan! I took him to bed tonight and when I didn't come back downstairs with him, she had to go up and investigate where he had gone. When she was satisfied that he was in bed she finally came back down. I think it might stem from the fact that she had a litter and none of the pups survived. The lady that I adopted her from said that she stayed with her babies till the very end never leaving them. I think she might still posses those maternal instincts. Any which way you look at it so far she is perfect for our family and we hope that we will have her for many years to come.

Like Father Like Son

This is how I imagine my boys!

I feel myself slipping and I can't seem to catch myself. The nights are getting longer with each hour I stay awake. There are things on my mind but everyone has those times of their lives. Is it fair that I have had those types of nights for over a year now? I want to cry but the tears just don't come. My soul wants to scream in agony, but my body is numb. I am tired but sleep evades me. I love my husband, but I don't want to be near him. I am sad and angry, but don't know what about. I try, but seems that everything I do isn't being done. I ask for help, but no answer comes....am I asking wrong? Am I not hearing what I need to?

My Son

My son today found his favorite chill spot in the house. He usually gets in my way while I am in the kitchen doing anything so needless to say, I was alittle suprised when not only my son wasn't under my feet but I didn't even hear a peep. This is how I found him.






This is the view from our backyard at sunset....