homemade sunshine

it is well with my soul lyrics.

2011-11-22T21:36:00.001-05:00

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford

opened again.

2011-10-16T01:50:00.003-04:00

soon to have more posts. :)

super easy chicken korma. (crockpot)

2011-04-01T22:24:00.005-04:00

oh my, how easy can it get??

(all in the crockpot on LOW)
1 lb of chicken breasts
1 jar of TJ's korma sauce (use some water to rinse it out and add that)
1 cup diced yukon gold potatoes
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced onion
(add whatever you want here)

cook up some basmati rice.

cook up some peas.

voila!

amazing soup!

2011-03-16T00:19:00.002-04:00

this soup rocked our socks off.
please try it!!

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=394002

we used chicken better than boullion, whole wheat tortellini, fire roasted diced tomatoes, pesto in place of the basil, topped it with parm/romano...oh my WORD.
we were ooohing and ahhhing all through dinner.
paired it with some whole grain crusty rolls.
delish!

how is this for some "homemade sunshine" ??

2010-11-15T22:55:00.002-05:00

violet june. born 9~12~2010
yes, she was the negative pregnancy test that tim and i high-fived on.
oh my goodness...how happy we are that she was a *positive*!!

so now i have four kids.
yep.
FOUR kids ages 5 and under.
feel free to LOL.
we are. ;)

the butcher's market rawks!

2009-12-29T00:22:00.002-05:00

okay, i know that this blog has been lately about autism. i'm working on tagging things and such, but i'm super lazy. there. i said it. i've always been pretty lazy about things. ask my mom.

but tonite i'm just busting at the seams to tell you about my new job. it has nothing to do with autism...or eating organic food...or having babies. (on a side note...i *did* take a PG test today...you know, one of the new ones that actually spells it out for you?? it said "not pregnant" timmy and i high-fived. and then the realization that the belly fat i have gained sheerly equals the amount of holiday food i ate sunk in. oy! change the subject FAST!!)

okay, okay!! on to my new job.

well, my goal is to be on food network. to change the world with my culinary skills while not attending a single cooking class. (i'm seriously ADD)

so, today i got to work my first 8 hour day in a real specialty food shop. amen and amen. i was like...um...the guy in ratatouille that mopped the floors until someone noticed him??? yeah. that guy/gal. i swear those men think that only MEN know how to cook. i caught myself listening in on recipes and trying to put a word in. nope...nah. do they not KNOW that they have a food network star in their midst??? oh my.

and then i pestered the heck out of PJ...the main butcher. i'm not sure that he knew what he was in for when the boss man hired me. i asked question after question. "why do you cut this meat like this?" and "what's the difference between this cut and this one?" at first i thought he hated me. then he realized that i really am a spaz and he warmed up. pretty sure he's a spaz too. time will tell.

i tasted everything in the deli counter. EVERYTHING. my boss has no clue of my blog for good reason. not sure if i was allowed to do that, but honestly...how can i sell it if i don't know what it tastes like??? i dunno.

the rundown: everything is amazing. ah-may-zing. i would eat the egg salad on any given day. the pulled pork sammies are to die for. the cucumber and tomato salad will make you slap your mama. seriously.

come see me. i'm there 3-7pm and all day sat. you will wish that you had my reciept when i'm all famous and junk. ;)

elderberry syrup tutorial

2009-11-10T21:32:00.002-05:00

with the crazy h1n1 running rampant, i thought i would post an educational video on how to make your own elderberry syrup.
if you don't want to make your own, i would recommend sambuco l .

hope everyone is staying healthy this flu season.

not by power

2009-11-09T21:09:00.001-05:00

Zechariah 4
New International Version

The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees

1Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. 2He asked me, “What do you see?”

I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights.3Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

4I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I replied.

6So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says theLORD Almighty.

7“What^a are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

8Then the word of the LORD came to me: 9“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.

10“Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

“(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)”

11Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”

12Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”

13He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I said.

14So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to^b serve the Lord of all the earth.”

autism video

2009-11-06T22:04:00.002-05:00

this video is under a lot of heat. i personally think it is very educational and inspiring.

warning: it is intense and a few statements are purely based on percentages.

if this mama is knocked off her horse, she WILL get back up and ride. be very sure of that.

IEP's make me all teary-eyed.

2009-10-30T22:13:00.002-04:00

i will admit it.
they do.

my dream is to semi-homeschool these babies.
but for now...liam is in public pre-k. an inclusive class. and i adore the teachers. it's the best thing for us right now. i have a job and two little girlies to look after.

but oh my word, the IEP's.

they leave me reeling sometimes.

it's hard enough entrusting your own child to someone that you haven't known for more than 30 mins, but hearing that your child won't eat at school and hearing that i should send better food to school for his lunch? ouch. not that i'm blaming...i'm very new to this.

this is a kid who will eat a total of like 7 things. i am his mama. i KNOW what he will or will not eat. i send like 20 things in his lunchbox because i know this.

tough nite tonite. that's all.

oh he'll call your name, brother.

2009-10-23T00:52:00.001-04:00

promoting again. you know me. ;)

mommy guilt

2009-10-10T22:17:00.002-04:00

hopefully this post will help someone.

i try my best to be honest on this blog. i hate "sugar coating" and i hate fake responses to real issues.

that being said...

i want everyone to know that liam said today, "garland go play on the trampoline?"

this is a huge deal.

saying "trampoline" and involving g in it!

but there is still the mommy guilt.

jenny m. said it so clearly in her book. it never goes away.

did i make this happen to him? what did i do so wrong that he has to deal with that the rest of his life???

mommy guilt sets in.

and then...then! i remember that everything happens for a purpose.

i remember that GOD is omnipotent. i remember this.

having a special needs child...well, it's a challenge. but i'm ready and willing to meet that challenge head-on.

liam and i are STRONGER than this.

mommy guilt be GONE!

aaaand she's back!

2009-09-13T23:32:00.002-04:00

whew.
i went through a hard time there for a little while.
needed a break.
needed to clear my head and work through some insecurities.
it's hard sometimes when you put your life out there for others to read.
sometimes you just gotta put the whole thing on hold and grow some thicker skin...lol.

anyway, summer was a whirlwind and now we're getting into our fall routine.
school. new jobs. learning. laughing. growing.

my children are a handfull, but i've always liked having my hands full.

now that fall is approaching i am sure i'll be blogging a bit more.
i'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold weather...tend to hibernate in the kitchen or by the fireplace with my laptop.

i hope everyone had a great end of summer!
i'm off to catch up on some friend's blogs...xoxo.

easy peasy chicken and dumplins

2009-07-25T16:51:00.000-04:00

(this is my friend denise's recipe, not mine...i just changed/added a few things to it)

get a small rotisserie chicken
put in crockpot, pour over a carton of chicken broth
add in:
a couple of stalks of celery, chopped up
carrots (i used baby carrots...about a handful
couple tablespoons minced garlic or a couple of whole cloves of garlic
an onion, chopped in large pieces
salt and pepper

put on high for a few hours...remove chicken and let cool...pick the meat off and toss it all back in the pot with the broth/veggies.

now get yourself a can of whomp biscuits. (you know...the kind you whomp on the counter to open 'em?) you want the cheap buttermilk ones...not the layer ones.
take you pizza cutter and slice them into 6 pieces...or 8 if you want...or 10 if you want teeny dumplins.
toss the little pieces in a little cornstarch (couple tablespoons) and drop them into the pot.

cover and let it all cook for another 30 mins or so. chow down.

super yummo!!

(hide the biscuit can) ;)

how to save a life

2009-07-24T23:55:00.000-04:00

simple video.
no fluff.

i ALWAYS want to be the friend that stays up all night with someone...don't you?

stories are re-written every day.

i adore this song....

love it.

2009-07-23T00:22:00.000-04:00

i just love to see others playing third day songs.

(because they rawk and well...)

here's a super cute video by a guy who loves third day. i love seeing folks finding their groove. ;)

(hope ya'll don't mind...i'm just promoting..it's what i love to do)

keith green

2009-07-22T00:35:00.000-04:00

i grew up with keith green.

my parents played him all the time...you know...old school record players.

later on in life we had the blessing of becoming friends with melody. (his wife)

i remember the day he died. i bawled my eyes out.

still to this day, his songs touch me very deeply.

maybe it's because my dad plays piano so beautifully...maybe it's because music makes me happy.

i dunno.

but here's keith. at his best.

ain't no other man...

2009-07-21T00:01:00.000-04:00

obviously, i'm really into embedding these days.

another song.

yes, i realize that this is going to put me in the world of loving pop songs. i do. sometimes. oh, and i also love country music, christian music, booty music, rap music, classical music...you name it.

but c'mon. a girl singing about her man? yep. i'm a fan.

christina aguilera is so talented. i love watching talent.

oh, and i love my man.

cool video from another autie mama....

2009-07-20T00:26:00.000-04:00

watch and be blessed.

living with autism

2009-07-19T23:22:00.000-04:00

liam just woke up screaming.

he's 4.

now a typical 4-year-old would say, "i had a bad dream, mommy" or "my tummy hurts"

but not so for us.

we play the game of "what hurts liam?" and "wanna sleep in our bed tonite?"

sigh.

so, it looks like mama will be sleeping on the couch tonite. not that i'm complaining...our couch rocks.

but sometimes i just wish that kid could SAY what he feels.

he'll get there.

but for tonite, he's in his daddy's arms (a place that i LOVE) and tomorrow is a new day with new adventures...a day that begins in his daddy's arms.

we'll sleep when we're dead, right?

(that's my motto)

another song that has shaped me

2009-07-18T22:17:00.000-04:00

very old school.

but i'm a romantic at heart. this song always makes me get up and dance. every.single.time.

this song makes me happy. maybe because a girl i used to know called me "heaven" instead of "heather"

oh, and special thanks to my dear friend...shane ortiz...that opened my world into "the cure"

yeah, they look funny, but the words are perfect. (for a girl like me)

songs that have shaped me

2009-06-30T21:31:00.000-04:00

timmy and i sometimes have a "youtube" night where we search for songs that have really "shaped" us growing up.

i thought i would start a little posting of those every now and then.

the first song that i want to add is a song that has literally gotten me through many hard times in my life.

i'm a "feel music deeply" girl and i'm also a "feel God in nature" girl, so this song gets me every time.

(listen to it loudly...and yeah, i usually tear up at the "newborn's cry at birth" part and i most often HAVE to raise my hands at the "i believe" part. feel free to do the same thing. *wink* )

my tech friends...

2009-06-17T22:27:00.000-04:00

can you please tell me how the heck to post a youtube video on here?
i have so many videos that i want to post, but everytime i try i get an error message.
(and don't laugh at me for being so old school)

my brave son

2009-06-16T21:24:00.000-04:00

we spent the afternoon playing in the pool at lifetime fitness today.
it was a perfect afternoon for it!

we dropped cora off in the childcare and tim and i took liam and garland swimming.

i have been teaching liam to swim and he's been getting it...but today he was amazing!
he'll be swimming on his own by the end of the summer, i am sure.

well, the pool has these huge, amazing, two-story water slides. like super tall and fast.

liam was dead-set on going down one.

well, we asked the guard and learned that he must go down on his own and he can't wear a life vest.
since the kid can't swim yet, and the water at the landing is like 4 feet deep, we decided no.

he kept insisting that he wanted to "go big slide" and so finally i said what the heck.
i took him up the steps, told the lifeguard at the top to hold his hand until i went down the slide and then to tell him to go.

i went down, and waited for him.

sure enough, a little screaming-for-his-life liam arrived at the bottom of the slide.
i caught him, he was bawling!!
terrified!
i asked him if it was fun or scary? he immediately stopped crying and said, "FUN!" and "Go big slide again??"

LOL!

so timmy took him the next round.
liam got turned around halfway down that time and was screaming again.

tim asked "fun or scary?" liam said "scary" and "all done big slide!"

we were seriously cracking up.

i'm sure he'll want to go again the next time. brave boy.

family day!

2009-06-09T15:38:00.000-04:00

tim and i both had the day off today, so we decided to have family day.
we went to sam's and then to the park. the kids had a blast swinging and sliding.

now timmy and i are in the kitchen whipping up some goodness for our grill nite.

i made a mustard potato salad with farmer chad's home grown organic potatoes (thanks for the csa box, jennifer!) and timmy is making a brine for our chicken before we put it on the grill. we're also having corn on the cobb - my fave. i love it especially right off the grill.
i think i should make a pitcher of sweet tea, don't you?
i can't wait for dinner! yummy!

family days are the best.

karate wasn't a hit

2009-06-01T23:47:00.000-04:00

at least for today.

we went through the evaluation with the teacher a few days ago.
liam was awesome.
he punched when they said to.
he kicked when they said to.

the teacher said "yeah" and "he'll do great in class".

i left thinking "why am i so scared of this? it will be GOOD for him."

well, today was the first day of class.

i KNEW it from the get-go that he wasn't in the mood.

BUT! i told myself that just because he's autistic doesn't mean we're gonna skip out on things.
i was pumped and ready to go.
i put the "i can do this" face on.

i had a plan.
tim was working tonite which meant i had both the drama queens in tow.
i thought to myself that we would park right in front of the place (glass front) and i would leave the girls in the nice cool van watching a DVD while i overlooked liam in his class from the window.

well...all the good spots were taken, we had to park half a mile away and poo-poo on my awesome plan.

okay...plan B.

i loaded the drama queens into our (amazing, btw...best huge bucks i've ever spent) stroller and headed towards karate-ville.

that's when the light REALLY went on.

liam HATED the uniform.
he was overwhelmed at the amount of people there.
he went into "melt-down" mode.

but i kept on.
i told myself, "who cares what people think...we're gonna DO this!"

so i pushed him.

i had a few moments when all (and i mean ALL) eyes were on me.

it was the kindof "eyes on me" where everyone looking at me turned away and pretended that they weren't just staring when i looked around the room for a caring face.

yeah, that kind of look.

finally liam said to me..."go home?" and i swept him out of there as fast as i could.

on the way home i bawled my eyes out and argued with God about quite a few things.

why liam? why me? why? why? why?

maybe i was just trying too hard to help him fit in?

maybe all he really wants is time at home?

i don't know the answers.

i wish he could talk to me.

i guess i just wanted to share this for all the autie mamas that read my blog.

i'm right here with you.

maybe we'll try karate again.
maybe it was just a bad first reaction.
maybe we'll never be into group sports.

time will tell, but i sure as hell tried.

just clownin' around

2009-05-30T11:03:00.000-04:00

new day, new adventures.

2009-05-29T23:24:00.001-04:00

can i just clear my head for a second?

having a "special needs" child is...well...it's just hard.

i went to liam's last day of school yesterday.
it wasn't a typical "last day of school" kind of thing.
he is in a "special needs" preschool.
i never thought i would be there.
never.
my best friends all have "typical" kids.
in all honestly, i didn't want to go.
i avoided it, and timmy shook me out of it and i went.

i wasn't happy to be there.
actually, i was looking out the window at the other moms who had what we call "typical" kids and i'll be brutally honest...i was jealous.

but then i stopped myself from this spiral that seems to happen.
i told myself that even *those* moms have issues.
mine just happens to be navigating the crazy world of autism.

and then i told my mind to just shut up and looked around the room.
what did i see?
well, it just so happens that there are plenty of rockin' moms that have a kid with "special needs".

i decided to step out of my comfort zone and introduce myself.

the response was amazing!

these other moms are JUST LIKE ME.

we are all navigating the world of "very different" and we all know the intense pain that comes along with wanting your kid to just "fit in".

i felt, for the first time in a long while, that someone understood me.
you have no idea what that feels like.

so while liam and his friend played together so happily afterwards, i met a new friend. a mama. just like me. and i came home on twenty thousand cloud nines.

new job training!

2009-05-22T22:19:00.000-04:00

so i started my new job today. well, kind of.
it was really just "training" and i had to bring all 3 kids along.
cora screamed the whole time.
i asked a few other moms how long it took for their kiddos to get used to mama working there...
"a few weeks" was the general answer.

i have never sat through a job training with a screaming baby on my hip.

it didn't seem to phase my manager. **shock**

i'll just say that if you're a mom and have to work...work for lifetime fitness.
the understanding and appreciation on a mom with 3 littles is just amazing.

time with my hubby

2009-05-19T21:23:00.000-04:00

so i read an article today about how it's so important to cultivate your marriage when you have children.

i used to laugh at those kind of articles because timmy and i have been best friends since the day we started dating. BEST FRIENDS.

now we are in the middle of toddler central and are both working...and both single parenting while the other is working.

i go to work at 8am...don't get home until 4pm. tim leaves as soon as i get home and doesn't get home until sometimes 3 in the morning.
we're like passing ships in the night.

on top of all that, we both spend countless hours making sure that liam stays on his diet and gets his multiple supplements a day while juggling 2 sweet little girls who are both still in diapers. we keep up with the house as best we can. we each are able to brave the grocery store alone with 3 littles.

it. is. exhausting.

all of that to say that we have realized that we seriously need some time together...alone.

time to reconnect.

time to just laugh and promise ourselves that this is only a season.

so, we're going on a DATE on thursday night!!!!!!

my sister (yay!) is coming to watch the kids and we're hitting the town.
timmy is planning the whole night...down to the restaurant and events afterward.
maybe bowling? maybe mini-golf? maybe playing darts at the local pub?

all i know is that i feel like a silly teenager thinking about this date night.

time ALONE with my hubby!!
my sweet, adorable best bud.

i sure miss his face these days.

dinner tonite

2009-05-18T18:08:00.000-04:00

the kitchen smells yummy.

i've got some TJ's seasoned wild turbot fillets broiling, some TJ's basmati wild rice medley in the rice cooker and i'm sauteeing some asparagus.

super simple, super tasty!

working outside of the home...and other ramblings.

2009-05-14T20:43:00.000-04:00

well, our income situation changed drastically this year and as a result, i was forced to get a job.
i'm a M-F nanny for 2 sweet kiddos...ages 20 months and 4 months.
the hours are pretty decent. 9am-3:30pm. so, at least i get to actually SEE my kids a few hours each day.
i'm thankful for this job, don't get me wrong.
the income has been greatly needed.
but let me just say that it has given me empathy for the mamas that have to do this all the time.
being away from my babies breaks my heart.

the good news is that i only have 2 weeks left and then i start my new job!
i will soon be an employee of the childcare center at lifetime fitness.
one of the great perks of the job is that you get to bring your kiddos with you!! YAY!!

we've been members at lifetime for a year now and it's like disney world. i swear.
it's also right across the street from us (literally) and just an amazing place.
my kids all beg to go.
so, i'm super thrilled about this new job.

in other news...
i'm about to put in our summer garden.
i have huge plan for canning and freezing all the yummy veggies that our little garden brings forth.
homemade dill pickles, salsa, tomato basil sauce.
the list goes on.
nothing like filling the pantry and freezer with home-grown goodness for the winter.

so far i'm planning on:
~tons of 'maters
~red and green bell peppers
~jalapeno peppers
~cukes
~squash and zucchini
~banana peppers
~peas
~okra
~pole beans
~watermelon
~cantelope
~herbs galore: basil, dill, cilantro, rosemary, thyme, parsley...etc.

i've had pretty good luck in the past with gardening, so i'm keeping my fingers crossed.

playin' in the dirt makes me happy. always has. ;)

television confession

2009-05-13T21:25:00.000-04:00

we have cable.
my kids watch their share of backyardigans, dora, diego...etc.

i like to say that i'm not a big TV person, but that's because we have a DVR.
oh yeah, i have my share of guilty pleasures...
LOST!, greys anatomy, the office.
that's pretty much it unless you count my reality TV recordings that i watch when i can: jon and kate plus eight (i hope they don't break up), the hills (blush), tori and dean (double blush).

what shows do YOU watch?

are you an anti-tv family?

all i know is that the season finale of LOST is about to start and i'm all giddy. eeek!!

moving...not moving...ugh.

2009-05-11T22:17:00.000-04:00

we have been in limbo about moving lately...liam got admitted to an awesome inclusive preschool just down the road.
i got a job at lifetime fitness (across the street) which means i can bring the kids to work and timmy can get a second job.

so...we're staying put for now.

good choice i think.

happy mother's day!!

2009-05-10T21:56:00.001-04:00

i hope everyone had an amazing day!

mine was...ummm...exhausting.

the kids were wild and whiney. timmy had to work all day and i had to make a trip to wally world -- always a BLAST alone with 3 littles. (rolls eyes)

BUT!

timmy came home from work with a toaster oven for me (i really wanted one) and also a beautiful yucca cane plant!! that man knows the way to my heart: cooking items and plants. i told him tonite that if he bought me a plant every friday i would be a continually happy woman. i think he *might* take me up on it. ;)

so today i have thought about when i was younger and literally daydreamed for hours about being a mama. now i'm here.

it's way harder than i expected, but good golly i am blessed!!

i have this thing called "insomnia"

2009-05-07T02:13:00.000-04:00

there are meds i can take for it, but i do not react well to meds.
as for natural stuff...
melatonin gives me bad dreams and night terrors, so that's out.
valerian doesn't work either.
tonite i'm up to the sound of the rain (so peaceful to me) and i feel relaxed.

maybe it's because my best friend is in town all the way from australia. love me some sara!!

maybe it's because the house is quiet.

i dunno. i like the night. my head is clear. my life feels normal without all the kids yelling.

i should go to bed, but i don't want to.
ugh.

i'm just like my dad. he can work hours into the night. i will continue to embrace it for now.

up to my ears in biomedical research.

2009-05-05T23:34:00.000-04:00

i swear that God gave me an autistic kid because i have a purpose in life.

hear me out.

that boy makes everything worth it.

today i got more speech out of him than i have in years. due to my research, hours on end cooking diet friendly food, never giving up.

he drives me.
he makes me stay up all night because i have a new thought that *might* just heal him.

i am on a mission. and when i get this boy healed (with the help of God) i WILL help others heal their own children.

i told God many months ago that if He would let him talk, i would teach him to proclaim His greatness.

we're getting there.

just watch.

what's going on in my kitchen this week....

2009-05-01T21:11:00.000-04:00

i did some meal planning today and here's what i've got planned for dinners...

marinated and grilled flank steak (free range from harrys)
twice baked potatoes
sauteed asparagus

crock pot veggie soup (i know it's warm weather now, but i'm a soup girl)
whole wheat rolls

lime chicken soft tacos with all the fab toppings
black beans and brown rice

southern veggie nite: black-eyes, collards, fried okra, squash casserole, sliced tomatoes, cornbread and sweet tea, of course!

hot and sour soup and homemade eggrolls

we will have plenty of leftovers for lunches and fend-for-yourself nights!
man, i love cooking.
it is so relaxing to me.
i could seriously spend hours on end at harrys and trader joes.
food rocks.

watch this...

2009-04-08T23:34:00.001-04:00

i'm back in the fight.
i want to educate.
most of all, i want my son healed.

this grabbed me (autism)

2009-04-08T00:51:00.000-04:00

i have been reading MOTHER WARRIORS lately and this bit hit home for me...

"I have had a chance to be reaquainted with God. Not the God you meet in your Sunday best at church, but the God you meet on your kitchen floor at three in the morning.

There is no Ronald McDonald House for us, no wing at Saint Jude's to offer help, or even hope. The parents of a child with autism are left to go the road alone.

I am my son's full-time researcher, biochemist, pharmacist, educator, doctor, nutritionist, and chef.

I control all aspects of his environment down to the smallest detail."

this was so true for me today.
dealing with medical doctors that want to put a band-aid on everything...and when i question that with the knowledge i've gained...well, they admit to doing what the "book" says.

*sigh*

we're grillin' tonite!

2009-04-03T17:09:00.000-04:00

timmy is out getting some charcoal and we're gonna light up the trusty grill to cook our super yummy dinner.

i'm a big fan of the cooking light magazine and this month's issue has some goodies in there.

tonite we're making grilled cilantro-lime chicken with tomato and avocado salsa. i'm also attempting homemade saffron rice...it can't be too hard right?
i picked up some spanish saffron at trader joes this afternoon...i need to google for a recipe.
sweet tea is brewing right now to go along with the meal. yum!

i'm also going to be making chicken and feta tabbouleh this weekend for lunches.

the other recipe that looked amazing is pasta with artichokes and fresh ricotta, so that will make an appearance one night with a mixed greens salad and some garlic rolls.

timmy has been asking me to make up a batch of turkey chili lately...and since it looks like another freeze is headed our way (sigh) i think chili sounds great. especially with my favorite recipe.

and while i'm on the subject of food...i have been craving fish tacos.
anybody have a good recipe???

babies don't keep

2009-03-21T22:09:00.000-04:00

not sure if i have posted this before, but i came across it tonite and it blessed me. made a few tears well up, actually.
enjoy!

"Babies Don't Keep"

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth
empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockabye, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

-- Author Unknown

"jeans don't keep you warm"

2009-03-14T22:52:00.000-04:00

i have said this phrase to tim so many times that he recites it to me when i'm wearing jeans in the winter.
but really! they don't!

i am so sick of the cold weather here in atlanta.
i'm done with it.

we got teased big time last week...kids in shorts...tanktops busting out.

and now i have chill bumps from the weather.

i know that i need to accept the fact that i don't live in hawaii anymore...cold weather is part of the deal here.

but good golly...cold weather and rain is the devil for a mama with three littles.

and no.
jeans DON'T keep you warm.

new background and new menu!

2009-01-24T11:30:00.001-05:00

it was time for a facelift on the blog and after a nice long break, i'm ready to start blogging again.

this entry will be short and sweet because i have a curly-headed two year old helping me. ;)

menu this week:

~oven roasted chicken, potatoes, green beans
~chicken noodle tetrazinni, salad, bread
~beef stew, bread
~good old spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

i'll be making extra stew and spaghetti sauce for the freezer divided into individual portions...you know, to save us from the drive-thrus.

pretty simpe stuff this week. i need simple these days. ;)

fall on your knees

2008-12-10T01:33:00.000-05:00

please tell me that i'm not the only one who tears up at the "fall on your knees" part in "oh holy night".

i swear. every. single. time.

"O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!"

no time

2008-12-05T01:54:00.000-05:00

none at all.
i mean really.
these babies take all of my time (as it should be) and lately i just don't have the time to blog.

bear with me.

there are so many things to share and just not enough time in the day.

but what i DO have time for is snuggling cora before naptime.

hearing liam try to say "my name is liam"

watching garland explode into a world of communication.

seeing liam try to keep up.

hearing cora whine because she's ready to be grown up.

watching my boy figure words and phrases out.

this life is nuts.

and i love every second of it.

sorry for the lack of posts, but my kids are to blame.
and i'm okay with that. ;)

my playlist

2008-11-17T02:39:00.000-05:00

i can't figure out how to post it. wah!

help???

everytime i try to post it, it goes to a generic one...

ETA: and i just erased my whole post from last night.

man, i am so technically challenged....

i'm surprised i've made it this far. lol.

ETA AGAIN: it is super hard to blog with a squirmy baby in your lap grabbing at the keyboard.

ETA AGAIN (wonder how many times i'll do this today): the wonderpets are kindof entertaining.

ETA AGAIN: so, the original post was about music. and how i had forgotten how much i love it. i listen to "blue's clues" and "the backyardigans" so much that i hardly ever have time to listen to the good stuff.

i have a really broad spectrum of music that i love (timmy makes fun of a few of the songs that i like...lol) because i feel like music is a reminder of where i've been, where i am right now and what i'm headed towards.

i like a song that makes me bust a good one. or cry really hard. or raise my hands towards Jesus. or fall on my face.

i like songs about love because i'm there. i like songs about heartbreak because i've been there.

i like songs that remind me of my friends. times spent together. travel.

my playlist isn't filled with only uplifting songs. nope. because that's not real life. i like to feel everything, so it's filled with my faves.

one of my co-workers said last night, "a life without music is meaningless" or something like that. i don't know that i would say "meaningless" but i sure have missed it for the past few years.

ahhh. glad to be back. can't wait to see what i've missed.

food food!

2008-11-14T13:43:00.000-05:00

eeeps! it's menu time again...my favorite day.

our csa box was filled with plenty of fall goodies this week...here is what i plan on doing:

tim smoked a HUGE brisket earlier this week (it was an add-in meal from last weeks menu) and it is amazingly yummy. we have a ton of leftovers, so today i have some in the crock pot on low with some beef broth. in a few hours i'll add some carrots, parsnips and celery and let it get just perfect. i'll serve it with some braised greens and some warm bread. slurp.

timmy has a hankerin' to use the rest of the brisket and make a big batch of cowboy chili on the grill (in a cast iron pot) so he will be doing that and i'll make a batch of jalepeno colby cornbread. (farmer chad, we love that cheese!) we'll have a tiny salad along with it...you know, just because. we'll freeze a few small batches for lunches and nights when i'm working.

i now have 2 big butternut squash, so i'm going to make butternut curry soup that jen posted a few days ago. it sounds amazing! plus a nice big salad with seasonal greens, purple peppers, carrots, celery and some homemade cheddar garlic croutons. drool.

we also got a beauty of a napa cabbage in the box. it is so pretty!
i'm planning on making Chinese Cabbage Rolls with a few variations on the stuffing using whatever veggies i have leftover in the fridge. i might use ground sausage instead of ground turkey. can't decide.
so we'll serve those babies with some brown rice, the last of the pickled veggies and of course, hot tea. chopsticks anyone?

the sweet potatoes with become babyfood this week and also snuck into some GFCF pancakes for my monkey boy.

and that wraps it up, folks.

i'd better get back to the kitchen!

regression? or not?

2008-11-13T02:25:00.000-05:00

i had a good face-to-face talk with my friend jennifer and also my friend kara today. also some folks at work and especially the hubby.

i was thinking that liam was regressing.

my mind was starting to get stressed about it (what is he eating that isn't right for him...etc) but i saw a new light today, if you will.

hear me out.

liam is actually PROgressing.

he is being a typical 3.5 year old in his actions and his will.

the past few days the kid has been sticking up for himself. passionately.

well, my mind immediately thinks it's the "autism" rearing its head. i label him. i think that he isn't capable of expressing what he really feels.

maybe, but just *maybe* he is getting it.

but this kid is fighting hard. fighting the battle of not enough words and too many emotions.

can i get an amen?

i feel that daily.

this kid is sensitive. so am i.

this kid rages against injustice. so do i.

this kid loves every person that comes in his path...as long as you don't push him for words. i am the same.

regression?

nope.

i don't think so.

i think we have a fireball on our hands.

this kid has it going on.

now to know how to fan the flame? that's the hard part.

oh goodness.

my heart is rejoicing tonite.

he's GETTING IT!!!

good days and bad days

2008-11-12T02:15:00.000-05:00

we have had a few of those "bad days" lately.

if any mama of an autistic child hears me right now, please say "amen"

i need it.

ups and downs...highs and lows.

i KNOW that is the deal. i KNOW IT.

but my friends, it is hard when you really *really* want to sleep and your precious first child wakes you with a desperate need for something....*something* that is not expressed with words.

i truly envy the mamas that have a child that wakes them with "i'm scared" or "my PJs don't fit right" or "i had a bad dream"...

because tonite our liam has us up and we cannot figure out why.

he doesn't have the words.
he wants to have them and feels almost ashamed that he cannot express what he feels.

i ran to his side tonite and all i got in return was a plea for "juice". maybe he was thirsty? was he really? or did he say that because that is all he knows how to say???

kids his age would just say why, but we're asking all the wrong questions and getting nothing in return.

nights like this leave me feeling helpless.

and then i wake up and remember that life is worth living.
and that my liam will one day...ONE DAY...have a voice.

oh mamas.
please keep my heart in your prayers because it is breaking tonite.

Father God, please heal my boy.

"parent's night out" is starting to happen!

2008-11-07T21:29:00.000-05:00

everyone needs a date night, right?

well, the first step in launching my preschool daycare is the wonderful "parent's night out"

what's that?

well, here you go...

5:30-6pm parents drop kids off
6pm pizza dinner
6:30pm crafts
7:15pm clean up and PJs put on
7:30pm free play/wind down
8pm popcorn, juice boxes and a kids movie (different each time)
9:30-10pm parents pick kids up

i'm thinking of charging $7/hr for the first kid in the family and $3/hr for each kid in the family after that.

or maybe a flat rate of like $18 per kid.

i need some feedback on this.

is that too high? too low?

i'll start with one friday night a month and maybe work up to 2 depending on my helper status.

we will take kids age 3 mos to 10 years (11? 12?) with a limit on babies because they are much more time consuming.

i'm pretty darn excited about this and hope it is a success. i also hope it gets the word out to local parents that our doors are opening very soon for the daycare.

i just love kids and want to create a safe place for parents to feel good about leaving their precious babies somewhere while they reconnect.

it's a good thing.

wanna drop your kids off?

it's starting next month!!!

wanna help out? let me know!! i'm splitting the profits 60/40 with my helper.

easy way to make a few bucks and hang with me. you know you want to. ;)

food this week

2008-11-06T18:43:00.000-05:00

i love thursdays because i get to pick up my csa box, milk, cheese, eggs, meat and then take it all home and stare at it all afternoon trying to decide what i'm going to make.

i *really* enjoy cooking.
i guess it's just an expression of my creativity and also the chance to take care of others in the process.
and especially this whole "seasonal cooking" thing that i've been doing.
it's like a fun puzzle that i get to put together since we never know in advance what we're getting in our box...or what kinds of meat farmer chad has that day.

anyway, i planned my meals today and here's what we're eating...

THURS:
broiled asian tilapia, fried rice made with csa veggies and farm eggs, roasted carrots

FRI:
grilled cheese and TJ's roasted red pepper and tomato soup (tim works)

SAT:
country fried steak with milk gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, braised greens

SUN:
grilled sirloin steak, roasted parsnips, salad

MON:
black bean and sweet potato enchiladas, salad

TUES:
leftovers (i work)

WED:
leftovers (i work)

yummy. i'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

i also have a butternut squash that i'll turn into babyfood or just puree it and freeze in cubes to sneak into mac and cheese. ;)

i know i work for the company...

2008-11-06T13:51:00.000-05:00

...but seriously folks.

starbucks peppermint mocha twist really makes me giddy.

it is so good.

i LOVE the holidays!!

pickles, babyfood and my favorite "nightcap"

2008-11-03T14:29:00.000-05:00

is anyone else enjoying the fall as much as i am?

i've always been a warm weather person, but something changed inside of me this year and i am embracing the changing seasons.

maybe it's because i love God, my house, husband, kids, job and the fire that burns in my fireplace every morning and every night.

anyway, i've been doing some fun stuff in the kitchen lately.

getting this CSA box each week really challenges me to make the most of everything i get and not let anything go to waste.

we got a bunch of radish (radishes?) in our box last week and i'm not too fond of raw radish. or so i thought. it seems that farm fresh radish is much sweeter than the store bought kind. so, maybe i will love them from here on out.

i also had some leftover cucumber and purple bell pepper, so i sliced everything up really thin and made up a mixture of rice vinegar, white vinegar, water, sugar, salt, pepper, minced garlic and some dill.
i heated the liquid up just a bit to dissolve everything and then added my veggies.
pop it all into a sealed container and put in the fridge.
it has been in there for a day now and mmmmmm. yummy!!

the other thing i did this week was continue to make homemade baby food.
(soooooo easy i'm sure many of you already do this)

last week i roasted a free range chicken from farmer chad and timmy picked all the meat off of it while i was at work. (it still had the neck on!!)
we used the meat for a few things and then i used the rest for my babyfood concoction.

i diced up a few apples from the CSA box, added some shredded kale from the box and then the shredded chicken. i poured some apple juice (diluted) over the whole thing and poured it in my crockpot on low.
then i wrapped up the sweet potatoes that we got in our box in tin foil and put it in the same crockpot to get soft.
when the potatoes were done, tim scraped the insides into the pot and when it was all good and soft, i buzzed it up in the food processor.

to store it, i poured the mixture into ice cube trays to freeze in individual portions.
i'll pop them out into a ziploc freezer bag and keep them in the freezer for easy heat-up. cora LOVES it!!

now, onto my new drink concoction.

winter always makes me want a nightcap before bed.
something to warm my tummy and make me nod right off.

here is my newest favorite.

a shot of good brandy
a few pumps of starbucks cinnamon dolce syrup
fresh milk (about 3-4oz) (we get ours right from farmer chad's cow...cream and all!)

serve warm or over ice. top with allspice.

deeeee-lish.

anybody else cookin' anything good????

cooking at 3am??

2008-10-31T02:58:00.000-04:00

yes, that is what i'm doing.

why???

well, a few reasons.

my super wonderful hubby works his patooty off from 9am on friday until 2pm on saturday.
yes, right on through.
he takes a little nap somewhere in there, but Lord knows that he works his behind off to get that paper out.
this is the life of a wife to an editor.

i suppose i was born for it.

my dad did it. my grandfather did it. my great and great and great grandfather did it.

it's in my blood.

so what does a good wife do to show her support? (especially when she rarely READS the paper that he puts out??)

well, good golly, she cooks the whole crew a batch of homemade lasagna.

i mean, what brings people together better than that?

so, i'm up at 3am cooking a good batch and i'm loving it.

i used my regular recipe, but i added in spicy ground pork and some kale from the CSA box.

life feels better when i'm doing something to bless another person.

try it. you might like it.

apology

2008-10-30T10:19:00.000-04:00

hey folks,

sorry for the tone in my last post.

as jenny pointed out, i was quite harsh.

i tend to be very passionate, but also speak before i think sometimes. which makes my words come out harsh.

i am working on that.

anyway, i stand by what i posted, but should have delivered it a little softer.

there are plenty of people that i know and dearly love that don't believe the same as i do...and that's great! it is the spice of life.

so here is my humble apology and i'll chalk it up there with all of those other lessons i'm learning these days. ;)

a work in progress....

i do not debate

2008-10-30T02:15:00.000-04:00

yes, it's true.
deal with it.

i am way too busy for all of that nonsense.

debates are (IMHO) a way for people to show off.

not a fan.

i believe what i believe, and let me tell you honey...i have been around the block once or twice with this thing.

everyone knows that sarah palin is my girl.

love her. LOOOVE her.

don't come at me with "she has a special needs child why is she not home with him?"

bite me.
his dad is with him.
isn't that what you "women's rights folks" are preaching????

the whole "rights" thing only stems from a broken heart.

yes, we all have rights.
but do we do OUR PART to make sure that our "rights" are given to us for fair reason?
hmmm.

okay. so the point of this post is to give a simple message.

once again...i DON'T debate. (see my hubby for that kind of thing)

here is something that i just got from my dad,

it's a long read...be prepared.

Published and broadcast by Rush Limbaugh on Wed, Oct 29, the day of the Barack Obama 30-minute infomercial.

RUSH: Tonight, Barack Obama with his preinaugural address, a 30-minute television buy on some networks. I thought, ladies and gentlemen, I would precede this with a prebuttal to Obama, my own version of an inaugural address, if you will, or a campaign ad. It would go like this.

My fellow Americans, I come to you tonight a few days before an election only six days from now. These are monumental times. We face the worst economy since the Great Depression. People are losing their homes, their jobs, their businesses. Students cannot afford their college loans. Single mothers cannot afford day care; our schools are underfunded; families are growing broke paying for health care. And nobody seems to care, ladies and gentlemen. Nobody seems to represent the middle class. The question is whether we want another eight years of failed policies. I have traveled this nation. From the big cities to our small towns, I have talked to the assembly line worker in Detroit. I have talked to the farmer in Missouri, and working people of this country have had to bear the brunt of eight years of neglect, of policies that have favored the well off and the wealthy. It is time to change the course of the nation, to work together to bring an end to the division that exists in our nation. That's what this election is about: hope, change, the future.

And so it is, my fellow Americans, that I urge you to reject Barack Obama and his cynical campaign for president. I urge you to reject the policies and the wording of the charismatic demagogue. Barack Obama condemns the United States Constitution, our highest law, because it does not empower him to redistribute the income of the middle class and give it to people who do not work. Obama condemns our judicial system not because it's too liberal and too activist, but because it will not impose his left-wing policies by judicial fiat. Obama believes that the tax code should be used not to fund the legitimate purposes of government, but to massively expand the size and power of the federal government. It's time for change. It is time for the kind of change that has made this country great and the change we seek, the change that matters is change that expands our liberty, expands opportunities, expands wealth creation, and expands our horizons. It is time to celebrate capitalism, not demonize it. It's time to celebrate success, not punish it. It is time to ignite our economy, not smother it.

Barack Obama speaks the language of the socialist. Barack Obama peddles class warfare. He peddles human envy. This is not what American leaders do. This is not what would-be American presidents should do. This is the tactic of the authoritarian, to create animosity, to create anger, to create fear, all for the purpose of undermining the strength and the unity of our society. Barack Obama comes from a long line of ideologues who puts the interests of big government above the interests of the individual and the interests of the family. He seeks to replace the American entrepreneurial spirit with government regulations and mandates. James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, all embraced the principle that America was a different place because of its respect for the individual. They did not talk about the government redistributing wealth. They did not talk about the government punishing success. They did not talk about the government reregulating the economy. They did not say that paying more taxes was patriotic.

They believed, as our leaders have always believed, that government had limits, so that the American dream would have no limits. They believe that each human being is unique, that he or she has the ability to do great things if left alone to pursue their own interests. They believed that ordinary people could accomplish extraordinary things. They rejected outright the authoritarianism that Barack Obama represents. They each swore to uphold the Constitution because they loved it, not because they saw it as a way to take power and subvert it. Throughout our history, our leaders have understood that private property rights are key to the survival of the individual. If you take his property, you take his livelihood. If you take his property, you attack his spirit. From the day our nation was born, the preservation of private property has been considered a priority of law. Barack Obama wants to use the law to destroy private property. This is what he means, when he attacks businesses large and small, when he insists that there must be limits on what you can earn and keep and pass on to your family when you pass away. He wants the government to control your private property, your income, your assets.

In other words, my fellow Americans, Barack Obama believes that when you go to work each day, when you save some of your money, when you write your will, the federal government can and must be involved in all of those decisions. What would Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, and Reagan say about that? Jefferson and Madison would call it the abuses of monarchy. Lincoln would call it the abuses of despotism. Ronald Reagan would call it the tyranny of socialism. Our nation is built on the premise that the federal government has specific limited powers. It has important powers, yes, but they are restricted to certain activities. And the purpose of those powers is not to expand the authority of politicians and bureaucrats in Washington, but to organize society around the concept of individual liberty. The individual is not to be a slave to government, he is not to be an employee of the politician or the bureaucrat. He is to be respected and protected from government. That is why we have a Bill of Rights. It is why we have separation of powers. It is why we have states' rights.

For several decades, the left has attempted to destroy these protections. The left does not want to be hemmed in by the Constitution. They have sought ways to avert the legal limits the Founders placed on them and their ambitions, and, sadly, they have made much progress in this regard and they have placed all hope that Barack Obama will finally deliver them the victory over the American people they have craved. And make no mistake, my fellow Americans, a Barack Obama victory is a victory over the American people. And that is, in the end, what this election is really about. Will the American people remain free, or will they once and for all become servants of government? Will the politicians and bureaucrats in Washington be empowered to confiscate the hopes, the dreams, the finances, the property of the people as they see fit, any time they see fit, or will the people still be in charge of their own government and their own destiny? That is what this election is all about.

When Barack Obama says that he will make sure you do not lose your home, that you will go to college, that you will receive free health care, that you will have child care, that you will be free from want, free from desire, free from need, he repeats the lies of past authoritarians who have made the same claims and the same promises and who have delivered nothing but poverty, misery, and hopelessness. Obama represents an ideology for which there are no limits on power. He wants to lead a different kind of government, one in which there are no limits to how much it can confiscate from the people, he wants to lead a movement in which the individual is crushed under the weight of the many. And Obama, like others in the past, speaks of democracy as he pursues anti-democratic goals. As his mentor Saul Alinsky taught, you must use the language of the middle class in order to destroy it.

So I come to you, my fellow Americans, with a simple message. If you believe in the principles and the institutions that have made this nation great, that have given more liberty and prosperity to more people than any other system on the face of the earth, that have created the most tolerant and giving and successful society in human history, then I urge you to reject the candidate who rejects these and our principles. If you want to leave your children and grandchildren and generations yet to come a country that is as free and hopeful and magnificent as the country you live in today and that your parents and grandparents left you, you will reject the candidate who rejects individual liberty, private property rights, and the Constitution. Do not allow a charismatic demagogue to change our great nation in ways that will diminish it. You have your destiny and America's destiny in your own hands, you, not the media, not the pollsters, not the pundits, you will decide this election. You will decide if you want to live in America or someplace that you won't recognize in a few years. You will decide if the principles that have served this nation so well will remain our governing principles.

This election, only six days away, is the most important election in our lifetime. Everything is at stake. We know this because Obama has said so. He has thrown down the gauntlet. He is running against our history. He is running against the system. He is running against our liberty, and so it is that I ask you on November 4th, next Tuesday, vote for liberty, your own and the nations. Vote for opportunity, your own and your children's. Vote for America. Vote for McCain-Palin. You will hear Obama tonight say that we have been talking about the same problems for decades and nothing has ever been done to solve them. This may be the most accurate statement Barack Obama has made, or will make, in the campaign. We have been talking about the same problems for decades. The problem is that for most of these decades, the people who have been fixing them have made them worse. It's not that we have done nothing to solve these problems.

We have done everything the left promised would solve these problems, and not one of the problems is solved, unless Republicans achieve a majority and govern as such, and then we get welfare reform. And then we get balanced budgets, and then we get tax cuts, and then we get prosperity, and we get good national security, and we get safety. But at those times where Democrats are strong enough in Congress to blunt a Republican president, or run the whole show themselves, they look back over 50 years and they see the same problems, and we have addressed those problems and we have fixed those problems per se, and yet the beneficiaries of the solutions are still as angry and unhappy and miserable as they were 50 years ago when the liberal Democrats began the fix. It makes no sense to let them keep fixing things when all they do is break them.

END TRANSCRIPT

You can listen to it here if you prefer: A Prebuttal to Obama's Infomercial

back to basics

2008-10-25T21:14:00.000-04:00

i just don't understand why so many people don't "get" that what our country needs is to get back to basics.

i mean, like what our forefathers believed in.

hard, honest work.
true belief in God.
dedication to family.
honesty with friends.
selflessness.
pure acts of kindness.
taking care of the orphans and widows.
freely giving as freely we have recieved.
not killing those who cannot speak for themselves.
living within our means.
buying locally.
supporting artisans.
bartering instead of racking up debt.
using our skills for work instead of working meaningless jobs.

i could go on and on.

change is good, but sometimes a certain kind of change is detrimental.
to our country and to our lives.
to the future generation that we are raising.

back to basics is what i believe.

we're heating our home mostly with fire this winter, so i spent the evening gathering firewood from our yard...and teaching the kids how to gather pinecones for kindling.

i also bought some from a pastor that lives in the woods behind us.
yes. in the woods.
he and his wife have lived on that land for 45 years.
they married when she was 14 and he was 17.
they had five kids.
they built their own amazing log home overlooking the lake that they fish in.
she runs a country cooking restaurant and he helps her there.
he also pastors a little church and sells firewood on the side.

i have struck up a friendship with this man and i have to say that they live simple, love much and are two of the happiest people i have ever met.

i was telling him how we want eight kids and hope to maybe have a farm one day and he gave me the best compliment that i've heard in a long time...

he said that the day he first met me, he went to his wife and told her that he met a young lady that reminded him *exactly* of her when she was my age.

back to basics folks.

you will be the happiest you have ever been.
just watch.

painting party! you in??

2008-10-24T23:30:00.000-04:00

okay, so we have a huge playroom, garage and a pretty high stairway that needs painting.

"why?", you may ask.

well, because in january we will be opening our doors to local kids in the form of a Christian daycare/preschool!

yes, it has been in the works for quite a while and i am happy to announce that "Liam's Garden" will soon be a real deal.

I will only be taking on two kids that are liam and garland's age to begin with.
(big picture: socialization for liam with typical kids)

we will offer mostly homemade 90% organic food, a field trip every friday, a preschool curriculum, plenty of outdoor and free-play time. we will be having therapists coming in every afternoon to work with liam while the other ones nap.

it is *very* exciting!!

however, there is a lot to do and not enough time before i need to start advertising.

so, i'm proposing a painting party.

you show up and paint...we provide snacks, beer, wine, good company and maybe even a few episodes of "the office" to keep us all entertained. ;)

the paint will be no-voc, so preggos are welcome too.

shoot me an email or post here if you want to be involved.
the date will be a sat night...likely late november...TBA.

kaleo

2008-10-21T01:36:00.000-04:00

oh my goodness. this puppy.
he is so well behaved...so far.
he is the *perfect* fit for our family.

tim and i have fallen in love with the little guy.

so have the kids...i mean, with some rules.
they are learning not to hit him with pillows.
and that sometimes he likes to take a little nibble at their ankles.

but they love him.
liam and kaleo spent quite a while bonding today.
liam was in fits of laughter.

tim and i just enjoyed it and looked at each other every now and then when we saw a little "connection".

it's kindof like having another newborn, but waaaaay easier.

this morning timmy let me sleep in because i was up with babies all night. (good man)
when i finally emerged from the bedroom i saw tim on the couch with kaleo all snuggled up in his arms.
i think they made a connection.

i know, i know...pics are really needed here...and we have them. i just need to find the time to upload them and post.

for now, just be jolly with us that we have a new family member.

he is so much fun!!

visit from brother-in-law!

2008-10-19T00:36:00.000-04:00

yay!

we get the honor of hosting tim's brother, brian, for breakfast tomorrow!

oh how i love to cook a good breakfast for a guest.

here is the menu:

~sage ground sausage, diced sweet onion and diced potatoes...all sizzled up together
~eggs sunny side up (from my dear friend katie's own chickens!)
~grits with raw cheddar cheese from our local farmer
~OJ spritzers
~french press coffee

who else is coming?
i'll set you a plate. ;)

the CSA box

2008-10-17T23:57:00.000-04:00

okay, bear with me while i ramble a bit.

do you support your local farmers? i mean the ones that really put true sweat and blood into their crop like your great-great-great grandpa did?

they are few and far between these days, but they are out there.

support them for crying outloud!

okay enough of that. ;)

in my box this week:

~head of some kind of green (guessing bok choy)
~head of another green (no idea but it was tasty)
~head of red leaf lettuce
~head of romaine (?) lettuce
~2 sweet purple peppers (beautiful, BTW)
~a few apples
~an acorn squash

did i miss something jen?

okay the plan...

i used the greens tonite. they were amazing. see the previous post.

i am planning on making an acorn squash soup to be served with multigrain rolls that were donated to us. but i'll add some broccoli that needs using and top it with our fresh raw cheddar from farmer chad.

the two heads of lettuce will be used with the two purple peppers to make a simple salad.

the apples will be sliced to go along with the yummy raw cheddar as a snack.

this food tastes so good because i know where it came from.
yes, it's a little pricey, but i love love love supporting local farmers when i can.
they have a dream too, folks and they are living it!
plus, we really cannot take the chance of pesticides getting into liam's system.

i hope you enjoy my weekly post on the box because i love planning it out. :)

love...H

dinner friday

2008-10-17T17:10:00.000-04:00

well, timmy is working a long one, so it's just me and the kids tonite.

i decided that i needed to start cleaning out all the leftovers in my fridge and pantry, so here is what i came up with...

we had some leftover (tim-grilled) ribs in the freezer that i needed to use up.
so i tossed some root veggies (baby potatoes, baby carrots, onion) into the bottom of my trusty crockpot. added a few shakes of s&p, some garlic powder, a few oz of veggie broth. i topped the veggies with the thawed ribs and it's cooking away on low.
smells yummy!!

i'm also going to make some braised greens since we got a ton of them in our CSA box this week. i'll sautee them up with some crushed garlic, onion, s&p, dash of hot sauce and some EVOO.

speaking of my CSA box, i'm going to start a weekly post of what i got and what i plan to do with it. should be fun.

i'll do this weeks post maybe later tonite...if i get around to it. ;)

what's on your plate tonite??

quick cleanse

2008-10-15T14:15:00.000-04:00

cleansing is good for the soul...it's also good for the body. ;)

i've been feeling a little sluggish lately and like my system is getting bogged down with allergies and icky stuff, so i'm doing a quick cleanse.

i'm starting with one day...tomorrow. just a quickie.

i may continue it a few more days, but i tend to set these mile-high goals for myself and then crash and burn.

so, one day.
baby steps and all.

i'm doing the arden's garden cleanse. you can buy it premade at harrys (which is what i did) or you can make it yourself.

anyway, i'll let you know how it goes.

wish me luck!!

the trampoline

2008-10-15T01:37:00.000-04:00

oh my goodness.
we are so blessed.

our neighbor, who happens to be our landlord, just GAVE!! us a trampoline for liam.
yep. just gave it to us.

for some kids this might be just a fun thing to have, but for US it's a form of therapy for our sensory-seeking little man.

let me tell you about today...

i held liam off until the two littles were napping because there isn't a net around the thing and liam is sure to bounce his sister right off, so i waited.
well, the time came and i let him loose.
friends, this kid spent 3 hours out there this afternoon.
THREE HOURS!!!

he would bounce and bounce.
when he got tired he would lay there and look up at the trees.
a few times i even caught him singing praise songs while running around on it.

there is nothing. NOTHING. that will bring tears to a mama's eyes faster than seeing her son loving life and loving God at the same time.
he was singing "HOLY HOLY HOLY" and then crashing down on himself while laughing his guts out.
i stood on the porch and cried tears of thankfulness and complete joy.
i saw my son in a place that he was free. FREE!
free from the stress of not being like others.
free from the burden of not being able to talk and relate.
free from everything.
he was praising God because he felt great joy.

thank you, silvia.
your gift has touched our hearts on so many levels.
and now our boy has an escape.
an escape that is much needed.
and we are SO grateful.

first pic of KALEO (our service-dog-to-be)

2008-10-13T20:40:00.000-04:00

he will be coming home to us in just one week!!

we have never seen him before and my sister just posted this pic on my facebook.

isn't he precious??

liam is going to be thrilled!!

grace

2008-10-09T04:26:00.000-04:00

when you see a mama with lots of littles, please do not ask her if she knows "what causes that".

because likely, that mama already has enough on her plate.

likely, that mama is working her butt off to help support her family.

likely, that mama takes great pride and joy in the littles that you see as a burden.

likely, that mama is feeling the need to be perfect in a broken world and is doing her very best to shape and form her babies in the way God has called her.

are there exceptions to this? yes!

but is it something that you need to make her feel less of a woman about? no.

grace is a wonderful thing.

it is what God gives us every. single. day.

verses about grace

my hubby, the hero.

2008-10-08T01:44:00.000-04:00

what do YOU love about your hubs?
i am *so* impressed by mine lately that it seems wrong not to share.

he does ALL of the laundry and puts it away.
he does the dishes most nights.
he grills better than bobby flay.
he sees my stretch marks as a true sign of parenthood/adulthood and never makes me feel less of a woman because of them.
he gets me.
he begs me to have more babies.
he works his butt off at his job and then comes home to watch the kids when i go to work.
he finishes the 3-task list i leave for him when i'm gone. (and he's proud of it)
he tells me i'm beautiful every. single. day.
he tells me i'm an awesome mama every. single. day.
he plays with the kids and meets them on their level.
he bought me a minivan for crying outloud.
he is hot and strives to keep himself that way.
he encourages me in my dreams and will work extra to make them happen.
he loves his mama.
he knows how to save money and inspires me to do so.
he lets me explore my dreams.
he calls me to ask if there was something that he forgot about today.
he wants to grow old with me.
he was as excited about me the day we started dating as he is now...and tells me that often.
he saved himself for me and let me have the security of being with him without baggage.
he loves our babies.
he wants to adopt.
he wants to foster.
he is not fake and is easier for me to read than a book.
he is a true father and husband, but he's also a true man of God.

i love my hubs.
kiss your hubby tonite and remind him why you are so crazy about him.
he'll love it, i promise!

i need some GFCFSF crackers...

2008-10-07T09:51:00.000-04:00

...for liam.
garland has been wanting crackers lately and i simply cannot give them to her and not have a proper substitute for the boy, ya know?

something resembling a ritz or something like that.

any tried and true suggestions from my fellow GFCFSF diet mamas??

liam will be so grateful. ;)

all about GOD

2008-10-07T08:10:00.000-04:00

got questions?

this site is an amazing resource...

all about God

sorry for the quick entries these days, but things are CRAZY busy in this household lately. however, God has been revealing many things and i want to pass them along.

i have a few longer posts mulling around in my head...

the biggest one on my mind is about carseats since i spent over an hour properly installing ours yesterday. (yikes) stay tuned....

love, love.

i read about this in the sunday paper today...

2008-10-05T22:32:00.000-04:00

very cool story and very cool idea.

what a smart girl!

faithful fish

proof that leading a God-lead life brings blessings

2008-10-04T23:11:00.000-04:00

i am so amazed.

in the past WEEK we have been given:

~2 loaves of bread
~a bag of oatmeal cookies
~a huge cedar chest delivered to our door
~a beautiful handmade watercolor painting of 2 adult trees and 3 baby trees (fitting, yes?)
~a box of clothes
~a bunk bed and 2 mattresses
~a few toys
~a blue weimaraner service dog
~handmade necklace for liam and handmade anklet for garland
~free softdrink at mcdonalds (for ME just b/c the guy liked our kids)
~food for our freezer
~an offer for free babysitting
~pumpkin bears for the older two and a pumpkin outfit for cora
~free firewood

i'm blown away.
seriously folks...start living your life in the way God intended you to live and you WILL be blessed.

take the blessings and pass them on. it's contagious.

thanks be to GOD for His amazing gifts....

did you pray for your children and your spouse today?

2008-10-03T22:27:00.000-04:00

the power of prayer is so amazing.
how much effort does a prayer take? not much.
how much effect does a prayer have? countless effects.

think about the ones you love that are being shaped and formed each minute and zero in on the areas that YOU see a need for change.
don't harass them.
don't make them feel small.
PRAY for them.
and then sit back and watch what happens.

i have been making an effort to do this lately and the changes i have seen in such a short time are amazing.

you will be amazed too.

don't know where to start?

here ya go:

for children

for your spouse

may you be blessed in ALL walks of your life and experience GOD in everything that you do.

amen.

MOTHER WARRIORS!!

2008-10-03T00:19:00.000-04:00

oh yes we are!!

i am so excited about jenny mccarthy's new book.

read it!!! feel it!! let me know what you think.

i am putting it off (to my dismay) because i need to get into it and feel it...like i do...and i just don't have the luxury of down time right now. that's okay...it will happen!

here is another fellow "autie angel" mama's review:

granolachic

if you have a family member with autism, a friend with a child who is autistic or are interested in autism at ALL then run and get it. get it and read it. let the stories and words seep into your being and then begin understanding why autie mamas do what they do.
support us.
we desperately need you.

much love...

YES! YES! YES!!!! (autism service dog)

2008-10-01T21:38:00.000-04:00

folks, i cannot believe the news i have for you today!! ( i actually found out about this a few nights ago, but wanted to pass it by tim before i announced it)

my sister has pulled some strings...payed some hard-earned money out of her own pocket and now we have a 3 week old blue weimaraner
( http://www.blueweimaraner.com/ ) due to arrive at our home in just 3 weeks!!!
(weims are very close to our heart...i have had 2 of them before)

we will start the training process shortly after he arrives to get him certified as an official service dog (complete with a vest and everything!)
he will become a part of our family. goes where we go.

we have already named him.
his name is "kaleo" (kah-lay-oh) which is hawaiian for "called" or "to be called" which if anyone on here knows me, you will remember that i grew up in hawaii and hope to move there again someday. a place very near and dear to my heart.

so, sweet kaleo will arrive in 3 weeks and liam will be blessed with a gift that is so completely perfect for him.

we will begin the fundraising process in a month or so for the training and certification, so i'll keep you all informed on that. i need to look into tax deductible options for contributions which i am sure will take some time.

thanks for listening because i am beside myself with excitement!!!!

GOD IS SO GOOD!

a day in the life (true story of 09/24/08)

2008-09-24T23:47:00.000-04:00

12:15am - set my alarm for 4:00am, go to bed.

4:51am – my cell phone wakes me up…”heather where are you?” quick realization that I’ve slept through my alarm “I’ll be there in 10 minutes!!!”

5:02 am – arrive at starbucks “heather your shirt is on inside out” crap.

5:03 am – shirt on correctly, bust our butts and somehow manage to open on time

5:30 am – Ding! “welcome to starbucks, what can we get started for you?” repeat 5 or so times directly afterwards.

6:15 am – loud crash outside. I run out and realize there has been a huge crash just outside our store. I run to the scene and help one of the drivers out of the passenger side. The driver’s side was completely busted in and she’s bleeding. I yell “CALL 911” to my co-worker and escort the lady across the intersection to our store. It’s still dark out and cars are whizzing by. She is in shock. Another man stops and helps the other lady. I bring her up to the patio and my co-worker rushes out with the first aid kit.

6:45am!! - ambulance, fire truck, police etc arrive and we run back inside

6:50am – Ding! “welcome to starbucks” steam milk, pull shots, pour coffee, sell oatmeal “hope you enjoy your day”

7:00am – backed up traffic = cranky customers…try to keep a smile on.

7:15am – another couple of co-workers arrive and butt heads over everything. I diffuse petty arguments left and right…proving that I am, indeed, a mom.

8:00am – my shift supervisor and I have a misunderstanding. She snaps my head off. I secretly want to dress her in steamed soy, but instead ask if we can discuss the issue politely when we aren’t in a rush. Agreed.

8:15am – my pits remind me that I have forgotten to put on deodorant. crap. Ding! “welcome to starbucks” repeat a million times. Seriously.

10:45am – shift supervisor realizes on her own that she misunderstood and she apologizes. I forgive. Hug. Run out the door.

11:00am – kiss my babies, kiss my hubby. Chat on the phone with kel.

11:15am – I nurse cora while checking a few emails. Tim showers.

11:30am – toss kids around, put on a load of laundry. I ask tim if he’ll grill some chicken tonite. He says yes and pulls some out of the freezer to thaw.

11:45am – kiss tim and send him off to work

11:50am – feed kids lunch while singing “oldmacdonald” countless times at their request

12:00pm – change THREE poopy diapers. Put cora down for a nap.

12:30pm – tidy house up and make a mental note of the projects to get done today

1:00pm – mother’s helper arrives. I send her down to play with the kids. They are thrilled and I say a quick prayer of thanks that they are bonding. Life is looking up. I relish some alone time upstairs and make myself a quick lunch.

1:10pm – begin to unwind.

1:15pm – CRASH! I hear liam screaming bloody murder and run to the scene. He has a knot the size of a golf ball between his eyes and he is in out of control panic mode. “oh Lord oh Lord!” he has fallen off the swing in our basement and hit his head square between the eyes on a table. It’s huge and bruised already in the 0.5 seconds it takes me to make it to him. I access the situation, cannot get him under control, he starts to try to fall asleep and I do my best to keep him awake. Change another poopy (cloth) diaper. “Father God I need You”

1:20pm – I call tim to come home

1:30pm – we head to the nearest urgent care. They don’t accept our insurance. Crap.

1:35pm – head to urgent care #2…it’s no longer urgent care. Crap.

1:50pm – arrive at urgent care #3. Exam. Tears. MAJOR meltdown. (it’s hard when you’re 3 and you are scared, in pain and you don’t have the ability to express what you feel)
“keep an eye on him. If you see any of these signs go directly to the hospital. I think he is fine”

3:45pm – stop at the train shop to pick out a treat for such a rough afternoon. He is happy. “Thank you, Lord.”

4:00pm – send tim back to work

4:05pm – load all three kids in the van plus the mother’s helper to take her home. Drop her off and tell her not to worry, it wasn’t her fault. (she felt awful)

4:20pm – get some fries all around and a coke for me for heaven’s sake!

4:22pm – realize that the tank is on empty (sigh)

4:26pm – get in the 24-car long gas line and wait.

4:45pm – still waiting

5:15pm – still waiting. Cora starts to fuss. Call tim and ask if there is a better option since I need gas for liam’s vision test first thing tomorrow. He says he’ll take the van tonite and wait. “you’re awesome…thanks”

5:16pm – head home

5:30pm – feed the kids dinner

6:00pm – tim arrives home and I take cora in our bedroom to nurse, we both fall asleep.

7:00pm – CRASH! Garland is screaming. She has pulled the baby gate that I put on our bedroom door onto herself while trying to find me.

7:05pm – (yelling to tim) “I CAN’T DO THIS ON 3 HOURS OF SLEEP!!!!” I snap. It has just been all too much. (and really I got 4 hours and 36 mins of sleep, but it sure felt like 3 when I was yelling it) I retreat to the laundry room (???) to gather my brains.

7:06pm – tim comforts garland in a sweet daddy way

7:07pm – “tim, I really need to just get in the shower for a bit and collect myself.” he agrees.

7:45pm – emerge from the shower a much better mom…seek garland out and give her some really fun mama time to make up for the snap in my behavior. Try to ice liam’s head again.

8:05pm – put older two kids to bed with kisses and snuggles

8:10pm – tim informs me that he’s put the chicken back into the fridge and brings me a grilled cheese sandwich, cut just the way I like it and a mug of beer. He instinctively retreats to the playroom to watch TV so I can unwind without the TV blaring. “thank you God for my husband”

9:00pm – tim emerges from the basement asking…
TIM: “why do they call them ‘separate corners’ anyway? I mean, aren’t all corners separate?”
ME: “I have no idea, babe. Good question”
TIM: “I mean seriously. It’s a boxing term. What are the guys gonna do…retreat to the SAME corner, snuggle and then go back to beating the heck out of each other?”
ME: “well, hon. That’s kindof what WE do.”
We bust a gut laughing. Like really laughing hard.
TIM “I love you babe”
ME: “love you too”
We toast with beer mugs and comment on how crazy our life is these days.

what's for dinner? CHILI NIGHT!

2008-09-23T12:06:00.000-04:00

in honor of the crisp air we've been getting, i thought i would make up a big batch o' chili to kick the season off right! yum!

now folks, i have experimented with quite a few chili recipes in my day. some very complicated and some easy as pie.

my favorite is about the easiest thing you'll ever make and it is so tasty.

my mother in law's chili recipe.

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
1 can of bush's best chili beans
1 can of hunt's seasoned diced tomatoes for chili

brown up your ground beef and onions. drain. add other ingredients and let simmer.

now, to be honest, i've been known to add some crushed garlic in the beginning and sneak in some pureed veggies too. but that's just between you and me.

we like to top our chili with shredded cheddar, sour cream and fritos. put the hot sauce out too just in case it needs a little dash.

happy fall!

honesty. and heartbreak.

2008-09-23T01:06:00.000-04:00

i promised myself that when i started a blog i would be real. it is *so* easy to candy-coat things on here and i'm not about that. never have been.

so here is a glimpse into the real world of heather altork.

i have been running this journey with so much passion it consumes me.

and then there are times that i let my guard down and the reality sets in and my heart breaks into a million pieces.
i had a quick 'reality moment' tonite that has me in tears and i feel so weak.

what do i do when kids make fun of my sweet boy?

how do i make them see that he has all of his feelings, he just can't express them?

what about when he's a teenager and other kids do things that he can't? like sports and prom?

and sleepovers. dear Lord, if he's ever invited how am i sure that they won't just use him as a form of entertainment?

my heart breaks tonite.

this road is hard.

i am *so* willing and ready to travel it, but GOD!!! it is hard.

a mother's love is something that i will probably never understand completely. it fuels me. it pushes me beyond limits i never knew existed.

please teach your kids about autism. help them understand. help me surround my precious boy with friends that will fight for him. he needs it.

thanks for letting me cry. i know you all care it's just the cruel world that i'm worried about.

got a busy life?

2008-09-21T23:26:00.000-04:00

this might help.

i found this in a magazine and it is free and very user friendly. i'm not affiliated, just wanted to pass along a great time management tool..

cozi

just pretty cool

2008-09-20T01:10:00.000-04:00

i just have to share this.

over the past month or so i have had a scripture verse running through my head about all the work i'm putting into liam and getting him in the right place.

the stress level has been high about that because truly we NEED to get him as much help as possible while he is young enough to let is seep into his being. there really is a "window" there for autistic kids under the age of 6. i know this. i research my head off. i sacrifice sleep. i work weird hours. i tell myself that it will all be worth it in the end...and i really believe that, by the way! and yes, it DOES come naturally. anyone who has a kid knows what i'm talking about here. i'm not just some supermom...you would do it too. ;)

BUT! i have been reminded by God at least 20 times a day that "not by might not by power..." and i have relaxed for that moment, re-focused and plowed ahead. He does this for me because He knows me so well. i mean, He made me, right? of course He knows me.

well, i put this 'bible verse of the day' gadget on here so that each day i *at least* get a daily dose of God's word to help me along. i put it on here 2 nights ago.

what is the verse for today?

Zechariah 4:6
September 19, 2008
He said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."

out of all the verses in the Bible...this verse pops up on my most stressful day lately? um, yeah.

God meets me. where i'm at. all the time.

i think that is more than "just pretty cool" don't you?

guess what i just discovered? (autism, dogs)

2008-09-19T22:29:00.000-04:00

so i was doing some research yesterday and came across a few places that train dogs to be a companion for kids with autism.
i was *very* intrigued because we want to get liam a dog eventually.

well, in my research i discovered that if we were to get liam a companion dog (it's expensive, but you fundraise for a year or so for it) then he is allowed BY LAW to bring that dog to SCHOOL with him as emotional support!!!!! and not only that but also into any public place.
can you believe that?
is that not the coolest thing ever?

i sent out a few emails and it looks like we might start the process soon.

these places TRAIN a dog (of your choosing) to protect and guide your child gently by introducing the child to them in the beginning and using the child's scent as a training measure. they basically set it up so that the dog becomes a part of your family...goes everywhere liam goes...sleeps with liam...etc.

liam could have a best bud with him at all times!!!!

*so excited*

update on liam (autism)

2008-09-16T00:51:00.000-04:00

we are making GREAT advances!!!

supplements:
~intraKID http://tinyurl.com/6mbnyz one capfull once a day
~Flora Restore DF http://tinyurl.com/6fsdtm once a day
~topical glutathione twice a day
~topical B12 once a day
~detox suport by intagrative theraputics 3 times a day
~GSE by citricidal http://www.pureliquidgold.com/ twice a day
~cod liver oil http://tinyurl.com/57xze5 1/2 tsp at night
~melatonin for nights when sleep is an issue 500 mcg at a time

medications:
~Nystatin 1/4 tab once a day to fight yeast

our doctors:
~dr m. hank sloan http://tinyurl.com/622ob4 (our DAN doctor) DAN = defeat autism now!
~Vaishali Kute, MD http://drkute.com/ our ped
~Dr. Alan Weintraub, MD our deveolpmental ped only used for official diagnosis...which he is great at!

our therapy:
~speech therapy at children's healthcare of atlanta 1x week
~eating therapy at children's healthcare of atlanta 1x week
~occupational therapy at children's healthcare of atlanta 1x week

still to come:
~in home therapy once a day
~added supplements
~hippotherapy http://www.americanequestrian.com/hippotherapy.htm
~ABA in home http://autism.about.com/b/2006/05/02/what-is-aba.htm
~PLAY therapy in home http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_therapy
~HBOT http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbaric_medicine
~a dog!! http://tinyurl.com/6zrfjt
~typical preschool (with a helper)
~swimming lessons (he looves the water)

special diet:
~GFCFSF diet (gluten free, casein free, soy free)

update on liam's life:
~liam is the happiest kid i have ever met.
he has all of his emotions, he has great eye contact, he sings his ABC's and old macdonald perfectly. he pushes his sister when he's mad and uses strong words to express his feelings.
this kid will amaze you...he is one of a kind and if you get the pleasure of being a part of his life then you are pretty darn blessed.

supplements/ special diet: $400/mo
therapy $800/mo
hearing your kid say with his own words that he "bonked his toe" PRICELESS!

my super yummy beefy veggie soup

2008-09-09T22:19:00.000-04:00

i made a big batch of this and have been eating it all week. it's so easy that i thought i'd share since we're entering "soup season". nothin' like a hot mug of soup to warm your autumn soul.

~1 lb organic free range ground beef
~1 onion, diced
~EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
~2 cloves crushed garlic
~container of TJ's beef broth (the kind in the carton)
~a cup of diced potatoes
~a cup of precooked brown rice
~a packet of TJ's frozen organic veggies (peas, carrots, green beans, corn...)
~a large can of TJ's whole stewed tomatoes w/ basil, undrained
~couple splashes of worchestershire (i have no idea how to spell that)
~couple splashes of soy sauce
~salt and pepper to taste

brown up your meat w/ the onion, EVOO, garlic...drain fat.
add meat and all other ingredients to the crock pot, breaking up the tomatoes and simmer all day long.
add more beef broth as needed.
simple and delish!

guess who came into my starbucks today while i was working?

2008-09-05T15:26:00.000-04:00

LUKE WILSON

that was fun. :)

youngest preacher!

2008-08-25T23:50:00.000-04:00

too cute not to blog about!

oh my goodness!

http://apostoliclive.com/play.php?vid=492

The apostles creed

2008-08-25T00:04:00.000-04:00

"I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen"

i was thinking about this tonite and googled it.

well, as i was reading it i was caught by the phrase "He descended into hell"

wait. what?

has that always been in there? i grew up reciting this and i never once saw that?

what does that mean? Jesus went to hell? i'd love some comments on this one because i am a little taken aback by the fact that i never realized the weight of that phrase until NOW.

i'm going through a time of getting to the roots of my belief system and this caught me off guard for a second.

i guess it threw me off a little that i've recited something plenty of times before and never even explored what it meant.

off to google a little more...

my lasagna recipe

2008-08-22T12:36:00.000-04:00

(since jennifer wants it)

it's really more of a method than a recipe, though. and i use very untechnical terms. ;)

sizzle up a pound of free-range organic ground meat (i use turkey, but you can use sausage or beef or ground chix...)
while the meat is browning, add whatever raw veggies you have in your fridge to the food processor and buzz it up.
(i usually use squash, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, green beans, onion, celery, any variety of bell peppers, spinach, a couple cloves of garlic...anything really.)

add a little EVOO to your ground meat and add your buzzed up veggies. sautee for a few minutes.
add 1 can undrained diced tomatoes, 1 can tomato sauce, i small can tomato paste, 1/2 a can of pureed pumkin (not pumpkin pie filling! be careful! and no, you can't taste the pumpkin), a splash or two of red wine, few sprinkles of red pepper flakes, italian seasoning (basil, oregano, parsley...), and a bay leaf. plus salt and pepper to taste.
let this sauce simmer as long as you can...the longer it simmers, the better it tastes.
i like to start it early and then put it in the crockpot on low to simmer all day long, adding a little veg broth if it needs it later in the day.

now, mix together one large container of small curd cottage cheese,2 eggs and some parmesan cheese. add a little italian seasoning to that also.
(here is where personal preference comes in...use ricotta if you like it better. sometimes i do half ricotta half cottage, but most always i just use cottage. you can also add silken tofu in the mix and you won't know it's there)

i use whole wheat no boil noodles. use your favorite.

spray your baking pan.

layer this way:
1) sauce
2) noodles
3) sauce
4) cheese mix
5) mozerella cheese
6) noodles
7) cheese mix
8) sauce
9) mozerella cheese

cover with foil. bake at 400 for 45 mins. remove foil. bake additional 15 mins until cheese is browned and bubbly. remove from oven and let sit for 10 mins before serving.

enjoy!

fun times with liam today!

2008-08-21T23:53:00.000-04:00

he loves the photo booth thing on the mac. it was a fun afternoon. i told him to do what i did and surprisingly he DID!!
garland was pretty freaked out by the whole thing...as you can see in the last pic. :)

late night with cora

2008-08-21T03:17:00.000-04:00

i love it when i get to spend quality time with one of my kids...even if it is at 3am. lol.

sorry it has been so long...

2008-08-18T23:34:00.001-04:00

...since i've done an update.

things are busy busy busy in the altork household and although there are many blog posts in my mind, there is very little time to get it accomplished.

i WANT to blog about...

~our vacay to st augustine (fabulous! i love my inlaws!)

~the food that we're eating on busy days to just get by (has anyone tried the zaxbys 'lil nibblers? darn those things...they tempt me more often than not)

~my sweet cora who melts my heart with her smile and the fact that she looks *just* like me as a baby tears my heart to bits. and the fact that i'm not nursing as much as i would like and well, that bothers me. we're working on that.

~my garland, precious only middle child (for now), who adores her older brother so much that she SCREAMS when he leaves her immediate vacinity and mirrors me to an extreme when she's hungry...and she has a rat tail for hair that i refuse to cut.
oh how i love to cram bows into that curly rat-tailed hair.

~my precious and special liam who has been officially diagnosed with autism and all the gut-wrenching feelings that tag along with that...along with the joy and beauty that comes with being blessed with the opportunity to raise a "special needs" child. oh the wonders of that boy! he kills me each day with the canned phrase "i want ME a HUG" and "i NEED me a kiss" and proceeds to climb into my (overtired) lap and smooch me right on the lips. how can anything else compare to THAT???

~my hot hubby who is somehow managing being a SENIOR EDITOR of a newspaper along with keeping the kids 3 days a week so i can work. how does he do it folks? HOW??? i love that man.

~my job at starbucks which i love but it pulls me out of bed at 4am too often.
i run this phrase though my head a millon times a day..."it's for the kids...it's for the kids" which is *so true* because the only reason i'm working is to cover insurance for this family. and i LOVE it. we are making it work within our means and that feels great to us!

~the fact that my toes and eyebrows need serious attention

~the discovery that the woodstock goodwill rocks...seriously buying everything from there from here on out. goodness.

~the new house. love it. LOVE IT!

and on a side note, if anyone can tell me how to get liam into an inclusive preschool for less than $1000 a month, i'm all ears. goodness.

that's all i've got tonite folks.

stay tuned.....

dreams really CAN come true!

2008-08-07T00:42:00.000-04:00

a little background:

i have an adopted korean sister, laryssa, whom i have never seen as anyone other than a blood relative. she rocks and we love her to death!!!

i have *always* wanted to adopt and tim has been hesitant while still wanting many more kids.

we have both always wanted a large family, and we have been *so blessed* with the ability to get pregnant on our own, however, pregnancy is hard for me. not complicated in pregnancy at all, but just tiresome, hard on my body and not what i want to go through 5 more times, you know??

slowly, i have been resigning myself to the idea that a big family is not in our future because i only want to have *maybe* two more biological children. (yes, i understand that 5 kids equals a large family to most, but large family to us means 7 or more kids...probably eight!!!)

well, tim told me the other night that he is very open to adoption!!

*squeal*

and that he thinks the next child (or TWO) should be adopted to give my body a break from it all.

OH MY GOODNESS!

you have no idea how excited i am. NO IDEA!!!

we discussed maybe adopting up to 3 kids along with 2 more biological kids.

i feel like i have a new calling in life! seriously. it has put a bounce in my step that i always knew was there.

of course, we have a lot on our plate right now with liam and we won't start the process anytime soon, but my goodness i'm giddy about it.

i'm thinking ethiopia? vietnam? locally? who knows.

just wanted to share.

praise GOD for allowing dreams to come true. even dreams that we have set on the altar.

God is GOOD. (all the time)

new menu

2008-07-27T22:18:00.000-04:00

i'm going a little trader joes crazy lately.
it's a great place to shop, my sister works there, it's right around the corner so it's easy to work in a shopping trip after work and well, everything is easy and good for you! can't beat that!!

our meals in no particular order:

~TJ's tilapia citronette that we never made last week. it has roasted veggies (asparagus and carrots) and instead of plain quinoa, i picked up a pack of TJ's "harvest grains blend" which has couscous, orzo, baby garbonzo beans and red quinoa. i'll cook it up in the rice cooker with some organic broth, EVOO and kosher salt

~TJ's mandarin orange chicken, organic jasmine rice, sauteed bok choy with garlic

~TJ's cabernet beef pot roast cooked in the crock pot with TJ's baby confetti potatoes (a mix of red, white and purple potatoes), TJ's french green beans sauteed with garlic.

~TJ's flame broiled turkey meatballs simmered in timmy's homemade BBQ sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, big salad

~grilled buffalo burgers on whole wheat buns, TJ's hawaiian style BBQ chips, sliced seedless cucumber, red bell pepper and carrots with TJ's tzatziki dip

lunches are pretty much always leftovers.

breakfast is our daily smoothie which i have discovered is awesome with TJ's coconut milk and starbucks matcha powder...it's just dried green tea and has a big antioxidant punch! i also make sure to sneak in organic spinach and half an avocado. it's a great meal first thing in the morning and the kids love it.

menu this week

2008-07-21T23:05:00.000-04:00

lots of quick fix meals this week because we're so busy.
i'm only planning 4 meals a week since one of us is gone 3 nights a week lately.

(TJ's = trader joes)

meal #1
TJ's ham, caramellized onion and gruyere pizza, caesar salad

meal #2
TJ's tilapia citronette with grilled asparagus and sliced carrots, quinoa

meal#3
homemade lasagna made with ground turkey, goat cheese, whole wheat noodles and my "special sauce" which includes tons of veggies and even pureed pumpkin!, TJ's garlic naan (we prefer this over garlic bread these days)

meal #4
kung pao chicken and broccoli over brown rice, TJ's coconut curry chicken stix

my babies

2008-07-09T23:54:00.000-04:00

we had a great 4th of july and there is nothing better than dressing your kids alike and taking pics.

enjoy!

made me chuckle

2008-07-07T14:38:00.000-04:00

a game of tag...

2008-07-06T03:49:00.000-04:00

for my dear friend jen...

1. Were you married at the time? Yes.

2. What were your reactions when you found out you were pregnant? i was at my SIL and BIL's house and headed out to target early in the AM to get a test. it was glaringly positive. i remember looking at my reflection in the bathroom mirror and seeing myself as a mama.
i ran upstairs and shoved it in tim's face. he went nuts. it was one of the best moments in my life.

3. How old were you? hmmm. 27?

4. How did you find out you were pregnant? I took a test because i was off BC and obsessive about knowing if i was. i wanted to make sure i wasn't. haha. well, let's just say i was surprised!

5. Who did you tell first? tim. and then brian and linh. (sil and bil)

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

7. Due date? april 1 2005. april fools day!

8. Did you deliver early or late? 7 days late

9. Did you have morning sickness? nope. just major food aversions.

10. What did you crave? taco bell bean burritos...hold the sauce.

11. Who irritated you the most? no comment ;)

12. What was your first child's sex? Boy

13. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 20lbs?

14. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? nope

15. Where did you give birth? valley, alabama

16. How many hours were you in labor? 46 loooong hours

17. Who drove you to the hospital? timmy

18. Who watched? tim, laryssa, mil, mom, dad (dan and fil were outside the door)

19. Was it natural or c-section? natural forcep delivery

20. Did you take medicine to ease the pain? uh yeah. at 36 hours. i was climbing the walls.

21. How much did your child weigh? 7 lbs, 4 oz

22. Did your child have any complications? no

23. What did you name him/her? william (liam) baxter

24. How old is your first born today? 3

our menu 7/5 - 7/11

2008-07-05T21:01:00.000-04:00

TONITE: grilled korean bulgogi beef, jasmine rice, sauteed mix of broccoli, carrots and snow peas

SUN: leftovers (i work)

MON: homemade pizzas: one veggie, one meat, salad (we never had this last week)

TUES: chicken cacciatore over brown rice, salad

WED: leftovers (tim works)

THURS: red snapper piccata, orzo with zucchini (didn't have this last week either), corn

FRI: fried chicken, potatoes au gratin, green beans

when is the last time you pulled an all nighter?

2008-07-02T04:23:00.001-04:00

i'm headed out the door for work.
it's 4 something in the morning and i've been awake since 6am yesterday.
tonight my kids decided mommy needs zero sleep....the fun events of the wee morning hours even included a trip to wal-mart for some rice milk...since, well, we were out and *someone* can't sleep without it.
yawn.
let's hope i survive my morning shift at starbucks.
sheesh.
i think the last time i did this, i was in labor.
need sleep. need sleep.

heart ramblings

2008-06-24T01:32:00.000-04:00

i stay up way too late every night.
why?
well, for one reason, i have a nursing baby that will awaken me even if i sleep, so i tend to take every opportunity while she's sleeping to get some personal time.
this happens from 1-3 am most nights. so. i'm up late. always.

i have a crazy life.

my kids are so close in age and that is starting to wear on me.

dear Lord, i wouldn't trade a single one of them, but goodness it is hard. so very hard.

my sweet liam has major developmental delays which adds quite a few challenges to the mix of raising babies.

i will have a lot more to say on that issue, but for now...

let me just say that life is interesting these days.

i am head over heels in love with my hubby, but we seem to be playing tag team with the working and watching over our little "arrows". it is hard to find time to just connect. i know that many of you out there understand.

i want to brag on him tonite because he took it upon himself to schedule a babysitter for us tomorrow nite so we could have a date. a real live date!!

we so need this. big time.

i have absolutely ZERO clothes that fit. (no idea what i'll wear on the date...)

my eyebrows have needed waxing for probably 6 months now and my toes? lets just say that pedicures aren't exactly on the top 10 of things that can happen when you have a million babies and zero time.

but! folks, i'm happy. shaggy eyebrows and all.

my heart hurts sometimes and i feel a little too "grown up" a lot of days and overwhelmed every single day, but goodness i'm blessed.

i am completely in love with my babies and my hubs hung the moon.

hard times are always going to be there...it's just a matter of getting though them with a smile.

i still have that ability and for that, my friends, i am grateful. late nights and all.

our menu this week...

2008-06-22T04:08:00.000-04:00

we do have family coming in town this week, so the menu is a bit extra.

but anyway...

here we go...

tonite: my parents are in town and treated us to a seafood supper...yum! i had grilled grouper.

sun: ham and cheese paninis for timmy, tuna salad wrap for me at work.

mon: tim works late...i'll make a little pot of black beans and rice for me...maybe some homemade guacamole too.

tues: pork and cilantro sausage (hormone free!), homemade mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread

wed: homemade pizza, salad (i have the BEST recipe for homemade pizza crust...ask me!)

thurs: broiled fish of the day (i get whatever is fresh and on sale at harrys farmers market), my friend denise's orzo w/ zucchini, prairie rolls

fri: grilled turkey burgers w/ fixins on whole wheat buns, sweet potato fries, pickle spears

sat: timmy's awesome ribs on the grill, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans