Week 13

I am out of the first trimester (according to some)! It is going by faster than I thought it would and faster than I need it to. I have a large project to work on and it is not getting done. We live in a three bedroom apartment and our two children are sharing a room and the third bedroom we are using as an office/storage. We were thinking of separating the two and putting the baby in with Jewel, eventually. I am a co-sleeper, which is easier for me at night while I am nursing. My nausea and exhaustion have been keeping me from doing more than the bare minimum, but I am looking forward to a little more energy and some nesting. I had a doctor's appointment this week, and my doctor allowed me an extra long listen to the heartbeat and a little squirming!

Cravings- Oddly my craving has been for drinks, now that I am not nauseous anymore I am craving the lemon water that helped me survive the first 12 weeks, and I am craving Cherry Coke (I Love It!!!)
Emotions- I cry about everything, and I do not think a day has gone by lately that I have not cried
Discussion Question- I will be having a c-section at the hospital closest to us which is about 20-25 minutes away (although when my water broke last time I think my husband made it there in about half the time) I unfortunately cannot do a VBAC because of some problems I had with my first, maybe some day when everyone is armed with I strong stomach I will share my birth stories.
I am looking forward to a little visit with my parents this week. While my husband is working the kids and I may slip down to Florida for a while. I hope everyone has a great week :)

Chicken Taco Pie

This is a recipe that my mother-in-law taught me, that her mother-in-law taught her, who learned it from a Mexican lady who used to live next door to her. From what I understand that Mexican lady taught Nanny to make this and she taught the lady how to make spaghetti. There are several ways to make it. I will tell you the traditional way, and then the way we like to do it sometimes.

Traditional: Take cooked shredded chicken (you can either boil some, or leftovers work great), and put in a pot with one can of red enchilada sauce and one can of green enchilada sauce. Season with an onion, salt, pepper, about a cup of shredded cheese and allow it to cook until everything is combined. Layer a casserole dish with Fritos, cover the Fritos with the enchilada mixture, cover with more Fritos and cheese. Bake until cheese is melted.

Easy: Many times we will just make the enchilada mixture and put it in a bowl with cheese (an possibly sour cream, tomatoes, green onions, and anything else you may want to add) and eat it like a dip with the Fritos. It works great this way in the crockpot!

Chicken Taco Pie

4-5 cups shredded chicken
1 can green enchilada sauce
1 can red enchilada sauce
1 onion (diced)
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup cheese
1 bag Fritos

You can adjust this to fit your family. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Week 12

I am 12 weeks! This is my last week of my first trimester... WOOHOO!

This week my fruit is a plum. Tomorrow I have a doctors appointment and I am so excited to hear that sweet heartbeat again! I wish I had something at home, so I could listen to it all day long.

Cravings- Mexican, mainly chips and salsa

Symptoms- My nausea seems to have subsided :)

Emotions- I have cried a lot this week, but Mother's Day has a tendency to do that to me

Week 12

Discussions Question- I have not had a doula, but I have a friend who is one, so if I ever did consider one she would be the only one I would consider. It has always just been me and my husband, but this time I have invited my step-mom and possibly my mother-in-law. I am not sure how it will go, but everyone seems to be excited.

Mother's Day

I am am going to share something that might be a little surprising.... I really do not like Mother's Day. I know I have two wonderful children (and another on the way), who remind me daily how special it is to be a mother. My mother passed away when I was almost 14. God took her home of a difficult battle with cancer, and I am glad to know she is no longer suffering. I am very grateful for the women that God has allowed to come into my life. My step-mom has been an incredible example to me through the years. She is a very godly woman, and her example in many areas of life is more than I asked could have ever asked for. I am so very thankful God allowed her to come into my life at exactly the right time, and guide me, despite my rebellious nature at the time. It was a hard lesson to learn, but I am forever grateful. Last year I honored several wonderful ladies in my Mother's Day Post. This year I want to honor my mother by telling her what I would say if I could talk to her.

My mom and me

Dear Mom,
   I miss you! If only I would have known before how much time I had with you I would have made those few year much more special. That is the why life is though. I am reminded by your memory how "Life is like a vapor," we never know when we will breathe our last breath. I try to remember that as I go throughout my day caring for your beautiful grandchildren. I know you would have adored them, and spoiled them, but I know you are enjoying your two in heaven. It is difficult this time of year knowing we cannot celebrate together, because while I have some wonderful people down here, there is a special place in a child's heart reserved just for their mother. I wish I could have seen you holding your grandchildren, playing with them, and spending time with them. I must admit it brings tears to my eyes when my friends post pictures of their moms holding their new babies, but I understand that you can watch over us better from where you are. I am very grateful to God for the years He gave us together and I treasure every memory. I am looking forward to making some of the same memories with my children. Thank you for loving me. I love you, mom! Happy Mother's Day.

I hope everyone takes time on Mother's Day, and throughout the year to spend time with those you love, and hold them tight, because our time on earth is short, and you never know how short.

Migraines

Migraines are bad enough without pregnancy, but when you add that element in....oh goodness! I do not think mine are as bad as some people get them, but mine are still debilitating. I have had two this pregnancy. The first once I could barely stand up because the pain had me so dizzy. I ended up going to the Emergency Room. They started an IV, gave me benadryl, and something for the pain. I will be honest I was a little out of it and do not have any idea what they gave me other than the knowledge that it was safe for pregnant women (the nurse told me it was something used to take the edge off contractions). It was terrible! I have never felt that way before. I felt very antsy, tired, shaky, and kind of out of my body. All I knew was I wanted to get out of that hospital as fast as I could, and never go there for a migraine again. For the second one I was determined to stay at home no matter how bad it was. It was worse than the first, I was vomiting, dizzy, shaky, and in incredible pain. There was a few things I did.

• The lemon water really helped with the vomiting, as well as crackers
• Something light to eat (remember you need to eat for baby)
• I made our bedroom as dark as I possibly could
• My sweet husband watched the children
• Tylenol (one of the few things we can take while pregnant)
• Sleep

It started about 5:30 am, and I was able to go to the couch by 4:00 pm. Also, of you can stomach caffeine helps, cokes and chocolate (we all know chocolate will cure just about anything). I would hope no one else has to experience migraines while pregnant, but if you do I hope these ideas help you.

Week 11

I am linking up with My Joy-Filled Life today as I share my update about week 11.

This week I have been told the baby is the size of a lime/lemon/plum. I use lemons all the time, so it has been fun to be able to hold one and know that is how big the baby is. My bump is currently at that stage where people think it is just a "mommy tummy" This week I even wore a shirt that said I love my bump and a guy asked me which one of my children (James and Jewel) was the bump. My sweet wonderful husband piped up and said "She is pregnant, so it is her bump from that baby!" I did not know if I wanted to cry of embarrassment or hurt him. I maintained my composure and just smiled.

Week 11

Food Aversions- Pink Lemonade, my husband offered me a sip and I almost lost my lunch.


Cravings- Chicken wings, Salad (big ones with lots of chicken, bacon, cheese, tomatoes, croutons, and dressing)

What made me cry- My son brought me a toy we got for him the day he had his circumcision, and asked what it was, as I start crying and trying to explain the story behind the little soft baseball rattle, I think he no longer knew what to do. When I finished the story he says "Mommy, you ok?" "I am ok," I said. To which his reply is "Umm, I go get daddy." Of course my husband just laughs, does anyone else have this problem? He seems to laugh about 75% of the time I cry over something :/

I am looking forward to the end of this first trimester! I know that in my second I will have more energy, and hopefully no morning sickness :)

Discussion Question: I am concerned about having a second c-section. I worry about my scar tissue, and the limits it will put on the number of children we will be able to have. I am fearful of the pain and healing, and the thought of not being able to pick up my other children. I Thess. 5:18 has always been a comforting verse for me it says: "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of Christ Jesus concerning you." I have to rest in the knowledge that God has a perfect plan for my life. It may not be easy, it may not be exactly what I want, but His ways are best! I have held onto this verse many times throughout my life, and it has been a comfort to me.

Cinnamon Rolls

I figured I would keep with the food theme I have had for the past couple of days. Being pregnant I think about food....a lot! Last night I dreamed about eating a cinnamon roll, so this morning I had to have one for breakfast. I went to about a dozen websites before I decided to go to one of my favorite sites for "copying" restaurant food at home copykat.com. I found a recipe for the dough I liked, but not filling or icing. You can go to Copy Kat you can find their recipe for the dough I used. Here are the recipes for the filling and icing.

Filling:
1 1/2 c melted butter
1  c  brown sugar
2/3 c granulated sugar
2 1/2 Tbs cinnamon (you can add more)

Icing:
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 c melted butter
1 c confectioner's sugar
pinch of salt
little bit of vanilla (about 1 tsp)

These are fairly easy, if you have patience to wait for them to rise. I tried to hurry them along, that is why there are no pictures. Hurried or not we enjoyed them, I hope you do too :)

Leftovers

Today I am linking up with the group 4 Moms of 35+ Kids, and they are discussing leftovers. These women are smart, funny, and I love reading their blogs! While I only have 2 (soon to be 3), their wisdom has given me insights to help my daily routines.
Smockity Frocks
Life in a Shoe
Raising Olives

If you have a husband like mine, who hates leftovers, you have to be creative. Here are some ideas I do with our leftovers:

Roast:
Stew
BBQ
Tacos

Chicken:
Tacos
Chicken Taco Pie
Pot pie
Noodle/rice soup
Salad

Steak:
Tacos
Hash
Kabobs

Potatoes:
Cheesy Potato Soup
Twice baked
Potato Cakes
BBQ Potatoes

Bread:
Grilled/ Baked Garlic Bread
French Toast
Croutons
Toast and make bread crumbs for any recipe
Bread is always nice to take to your local park and feed to the ducks, unless they are like ours and will chase you....then I do not recommend it.

These are just a few ideas. I would love to hear yours :)

Bread

The other day I mentioned that we make our own bread. We have a bread machine, my parents gave us, but i see them at thrift stores all the time. Here are some of my families favorite recipes:

my bread maker

Portugese Sweet Bread


1    c  milk
2      eggs
2 Tbs butter
1/3 c sugar
3/4 tsp salt
3  c  bread flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast


Honey Buttermilk Bread

1/2  c  water
3 Tbs  honey
3 tsp  butter
3/4  c buttermilk*
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 c  bread flour
2  tsp yeast

*We do not always have buttermilk on hand. I purchase it when I know I am going to make this bread and my sugar cookies. To make buttermilk: Place 1 Tbs of vinegar in 1 cup of milk and let it set for 5 minutes, stir. That is it (I love easy substitutions, especially when they are easy like that) :)


Cheddar Cheese Garlic Bread


1 1/4  c  water or milk
1 1/2 Tbs butter
3/4  c grated cheddar cheese
1/4  c  garlic powder
1 1/2 Tbs sugar
1 tsp  salt
3 1/2  c bread flour
2  tsp  yeast

You can add more or less garlic, it depends on what your family likes.

I was given the first and last recipe by my sweet step-mom, and the buttermilk one was found online at this website, which I love. I am sure you do not need a bread maker to make these recipes, but it does make life a little easier. I hope you family enjoys them as much as we do :)