Butter

Something we have recently started doing is making our own butter. We crunched some numbers and figured out it was cheaper for us to buy heavy (whipping) cream, and make our own. It takes a little time, but it is so worth it,and really easier than you would think.You can do it in either a blender or in stand mixer (you could also do it with a hand mixer, but I would recommend having plenty of help around for when you hand gets tired). I do mine in the stand mixer.

Just pour the cream in and turn it on as high as you can, without it spraying out.

Just before it really starts to yellow and separate it will be whipped cream. If you were to add sugar at this stage you could frost a cake of eat it with fruit, unfortunately I have not learned to do this yet, but it is on my list!

You will let it keep mixing, turning it up as high as you can. I have also found that I have to stop and use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

It will eventually start to separate, and this is when you will see the white buttermilk and the yellow butter. Once you see this it is finished. (Make sure you wash your hands with cold water, so you do not melt the butter.) You will scoop out the butter squeezing out all the buttermilk. Place ball (or log or whatever shape you make) into cold water. Once you have all the butter out you can save the buttermilk for bread, pancakes, biscuits, cookies, mashed potatoes, and anything else you can think of.  Remove the butter balls from the cold water squeezing any excess buttermilk and salt. Most things call for salted butter unless stated otherwise.Keep in the fridge. It is fun to make and enjoy! :)

The Best Peanut Butter Cookies EVER!

Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 c          butter
1/2 c          shortening
1/2 c          honey
1 1/2 c       brown sugar
1 c             peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)
2                eggs
2  1/2 c      flour
1  1/2 tsp   baking soda
1 tsp          baking powder
1/2 tsp       salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter and shortening. Cream honey and sugar with butter mixture. Mix in peanut butter and eggs. Mix for 2 minutes. Slowly add in dry ingredients. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Spoon onto greased cookie sheet, and put into oven on top rack until the edges start to brown. Makes about 2 dozen. Enjoy :)      

Birth Story #1

James-Birth Story or Why I think every woman should give birth in a hospital numb from the neck down!

I really do not think that way. I really admire women who home birth and go all natural! I unfortunately, as you will see, do not have that option, but I am getting ahead of myself.
 Let me preface this by saying this is not for men, children, or women who have not had children or are currently expecting their first child.

I need to start my story at 26 weeks. I was home with husband after. Busy Sunday we went to church, did some cooking and cleaning. We were trying to make room in 1bedroom shoebox (apartment), about 450 square feet. As we went to lay down that night I was experiencing some off and on abdominal pain. After clocking them for about an hour I called my OB who told me to go to the hospital to get checked out.

(Many of you may be thinking why we were so concerned. Well, besides being first time parents, I had experienced two previous miscarriages. We were not taking any chances with this baby!)

I was put in a bed in labor and delivery, and hooked up to the monitors. The nurse also checked to see if I was dilating. Fortunately I was not dilated, but I was starting to efface. I was given a shot of Turbutaline to stop my contractions. It helped and a couple hours later we were on our way home. Little did we know how many times we would be repeating this.

I honestly have no idea how many times we went to the hospital, or how many shots I was given, but I do remember one night in particular. I was about 30 weeks along and we went in because my
contractions were so close together I could not catch a break. The nurse checked me, and I was
almost 100% effaced and starting to dilate. By the way my cervix does come down as it dilates. This
night a nurse asked me what kind of pain medication I was planning on using in the delivery room. I
 had told her none, I wanted a natural childbirth. She suggested an epidural, because of the amount of pain I experienced when I was being checked. My immediate thought was no way. My husband who had seen me in a lot of pain over the last month sweetly said maybe it was something I should consider. 

I was still considering it at my 38 week appointment when my doctor checked me and said I was 100% effaced, -1, and 2 cm dialed. He then said something that surprised, and scared, and excited me. He said "Let's induce this week." I am fairly certain after having contractions everyday for the past 12 weeks I would have let him open me up right there and get him out, but most women in that
situation probably would have. He said we needed him out because he was getting too big. I was very afraid by those words, but more relieved at the thought it would all be over soon. I went to the front desk and they were able to get me in the next morning.

Very very tired

Tuesday, March 3,  I waddled into the hospital at 6:30 am. They started my IV, and I almost passed out while the nurse was taking blood (no idea why, never happened before). At 8 am my doctor came to see me. He checked my progress 3.5 cm dilated, and he broke my water, to speed things along.

By lunch time I sent my parents, my in-laws, and my husband to get some food because we knew it would be a while. While they were gone my nurse came to check my progress I was a whole 4 cm. I was disappointed! At 4:30ish when the nurse checked me again I was 4.5 cm dilated, so at this point I said go ahead and give me the epidural. It was put in place and they gave me this amazing button to 
press for a bolo :) The anesthesiologist told me to wait 15 minutes and press it, then I could press it as much as I wanted in 15 minute intervals. At the 15 minute mark I pressed it. I honestly do not 
remember how I felt at that point all I know is for about the next 10-15 minutes the anesthesiologist, 
a couple of nurses, and my family were all standing around my bed. Apparently the bolo made my blood pressure drop. It seemed to recover fairly quickly, and I was asked to not press it again unless I really needed it.
By about midnight my poor family had found, a couple of chairs, a couch, and even the floor to curl
up on. When the nurse came to check me I was 7cm, at least I had made some progress, but I was exhausted. I tried to get some sleep.


Shortly after my family got back from breakfast the nurse said I was about 9.5 cm and to call her if I felt the need to push. It was only about 20 minutes and I was ready. Everyone cleared out of the room except my sweet husband who was helping hold my legs and telling me he loved me. I was only about 2 or 3 pushes in when I noticed bright red blood on my nurses glove. I thought it was strange, but figured she knew what she was doing. (Let me pause right here and say if you are ever concerned about anything call your doctor,if he does not help get a second opinion.) I continued to push for a whole hour before he was crowning enough worthy of calling my poor doctor who had spent the night at the hospital waiting for me to deliver.



When he comes in so do several others. I pushed for another half an hour while two baby nurses waited, a tech stood near my doctor waiting to hand him anything he needed, my nurse was holding one leg, another nurse holding the other, and another nurse who was pressing down on the top of my stomach to help him make progress with my pushes. (Part of the problem is he was coming out slightly crooked, his head and shoulders where turned slightly) I am only a couple of pushes away from him being out when a nurse says "Can't you do anything to help her?" to which my doctor replies "No, it is too late." (This is not something you want to hear while in labor) A few more pushes and the doctor lays a purple baby on my belly. All I can think is how big he looks. I am so overwhelmed by the whole situation that I do not even realize that he is not breathing.

8 lbs 3 oz

As soon as he is laid down the nurse hits the call button and requests for the NICU doctor and the anesthesiologist to come quickly. They both come in the room not a minute later, but by that time James is screaming breathing on his own. My doctor has pressed on my stomach forcing my to deliver my placenta. I am still very out of it an unaware of what is going on. The NICU doctor begins to explain what I can expect from him and the baby nurses over the next few days, while the anesthesiologist is giving me morphine and another numbing medication. He is also telling me all the possible side effects.

10 days old

After about ten to fifteen minutes the room has calmed some. The only people left are the tech, my nurse, my doctor, and another nurse who was assisting my doctor. It is at this point I learned what has happened. It gets quiet and my doctor begins with the fact I will only be able to have c-sections from now on because of a Phase 4/ 4th Degree tear (also know as a vaginal c-section). I am not going to explain these if you are curious you may look them up, but let me warn you it is not pretty and mine was worse. It took my doctor at least an hour to literally put me back together. (I was later informed that if he had not worked as quickly as he did I would have had to have a blood transfusion as well). He also had to put two stitches where there was no numbing medication (Ouch!). Over the next few days I would discover just how bad it was and painful. I was basically given any pain medication I asked for. I lived on painkillers, ice packs, and iron pills. It would take three months for me to heal enough to where there is no pain, but I still have some issues today. 

33 Weeks

I cannot believe how quickly I got to this point. I still have so much I need and want to do! I am really trying not to overdo (which I do have a tendency to do). I also have to be careful because my husband has to work the midnight shift at his job for the next three weeks while another staff member is on vacation (the stress of him working that shift alone is enough to send me into labor). I am getting very big! I am probably about the size I was when I went into labor with Jewel.

33 weeks

I had an appointment today. I very nervously stepped on the scale, since my nausea has pretty much subsided I expected to see a up in my weight, which I did...... I lost two pounds. I now weigh two pounds less than I did when I conceived. My doctor is still not concerned because she is getting big.

I came home to James asking if I was going to go to the hospital to get her out. He is getting excited about his new sister, which makes this mommy very very happy. I made him a little chart where he can mark of days until my scheduled c-section. I am trying to explain that she could come earlier, but for now it seems to be helping.

I was amazed

This week my children have been sick. I have been trying my best at home, but with more and more symptoms coming I decided to take them to the doctor yesterday. My husband works 35 miles away, and has been in a mandatory training all week, so I called my sweet mother-in-law who teaches at a local Christian school. Fortunately, her schedule worked out yesterday that she had no more classes in the afternoon, so was able to take us to the doctor. I threw some clothes on myself and the kids (since sick days are usually pj days). She graciously sat in the doctor's office for 3 hours while they did flu and strep tests, and checked them over. They just have a virus, but told us some over the counter medicine they can take for their symptoms.

She brought us home, and my husband was already home. My husband and I took the kids to the store. As we took a detour through the electronics section (for my husband) an employee turned to me to say something. She said, "Oh, you have two beautiful babies, AND one on the way! I think that is great!" I did not know what to say at first. I am more used to dealing with more negative comments, which sadly I have been hearing since I was pregnant with Jewel. I was blessed by this compliment by a stranger who was seeing us all at our worst.

 I wish more people thought the way she does. Sadly our world does not value the blessings of God, we live in a country who according to the 2010 census are only having 1.8 children per family. We are not even reproducing enough children to replace ourselves. We value things that have price tags, like cars, homes, iPhones, vacations, clothes, so many other perishable, temporary items. Children are invaluable, they are precious, they are certainly not temporary, and they are blessings from God! Thank you God for using this lady to bless our family! :)

31 weeks

I am sorry I disappeared for a while. I was trying to do a post about my first birth story (or why I have to have c-sections), but since we still do not have a computer I was fighting with the iPad and it just made me mad. I also wanted to include a picture, but the iPad will not let me do that either. Oh well.

I passed my glucose test! They had to take my blood pressure twice that day, once before and once after my test. My blood pressure was so high before my test because I was so nervous that they were concerned about having to watch me for preeclampsia. My weight has finally reached my pre-pregnancy weight. Although, I had to make a trip to labor and delivery because of some contractions I was having and according to their scale I have lost 2 pounds, so I guess we will know for sure at my next doctor's appointment on October 8th.

I will go back to my hospital visit. I had contractions that were pretty strong coming every 3-4 minutes for about 4 hours (2 hours longer than I am suppose to wait before going to the hospital). I really do not like all they do to you at the hospital. I am not effacing or dilated, which is wonderful, I had a small very fixable problem that was causing my contractions. I went home on bed rest for the weekend followed by light duty until my next doctor's appointment (8th). Thankfully I have learned my limits, and do my best not to over do it. Fortunately, I have a wonderful husband and mother-in-law who are always right there if I need them, and are willing to help at those times I do over do.

I am excited to be so close to the end! On Friday I will be 32 weeks,which means the beginning of my 8th month. Where did my pregnancy go! I feel fairly good, not as much nausea, although my indigestion, getting up to use the restroom a million times, and soreness is in high gear. I am looking forward to meeting baby Belle, but I will honestly miss being pregnant.

My children have been enjoying feeling/watching her move, and give her hugs and kisses daily. It makes a mommy's heart happy to see their sibling love. The other day my son told me his Girl-girl (that is what he calls Jewel) and his Belle were his best friends. Oh yah, I cried!

I am really excited because one of the sweet ladies in our church is throwing me a baby shower. I have never had a baby shower before. I am looking forward more to spending time with the great ladies in our church more than anything. We have a wonderful wonderful church!

I hope to update more often, but with projects, toddlers, contractions, and general pregnancy I am not sure I will. I will try to finish my birth story and do at least one more update. My c-section is scheduled for November 20th, but I had my son at 38 weeks 2 days, and my daughter at 38 weeks 4 days, but I know every pregnancy is different. I have a 3 day stretch in November that I am praying she comes, so we will see :)

Week 25

This week the baby is the size of a head of cauliflower. When Belle is moving and kicking she feels a little bigger than that. I am enjoying everyone getting to feel her move and squirm. My kids love to kiss my belly! My two toddlers play so well together I am a little concerned that they will not be so welcoming of a new little person into their group.

Emotions- I have cried most recently just from fatigue. While I am closing in on my third trimester, I usually had the most energy during my 4th-7th month. I have a few nesting spells, but mostly more fatigue than anything.

Cravings- Bacon! I am trying not to over indulge, but it is just so good! ;)

Discussion Question- Let me share first what was going on, and then I will tell you what was said. I was in labor with my first son. I was about four or five pushes away from him being out, after 25 hours of labor, an hour and a half of pushing. The only person I have allowed in the room is my husband. He is standing next to me, there are two nurses waiting for the baby, my nurse who is holding my leg, another nurse holding my other leg, another nurse pushing on my stomach, a tech, and my doctor. I am extremely tired and trying to push with all the might I have left. It is at this point my doctor (who is of course just standing there) decides to announce to the room that he "would never do this", and sweet husband says he would not do it either. At the moment all I could think was right now, really are we having this conversation right now! Now looking back at all that happened I am sure he was trying to lighten the mood, but at the time it was not so funny.

I will post an update after my doctor's appointment and my glucose test. That stuff tastes nasty, but my current prayer is just to keep it down!