and.the.limes.keep.rollin'

Spring Concert at Davis Hill

2011-07-10T23:49:00.000-04:00

Carter sang in this years spring concert (in the fall he barely sang :( ) Here he is doing his motions!

What

cute

almost

six

years

old boy I have!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Family Picnic at Davis Hill School

2011-07-10T23:40:00.000-04:00

Carter had a family picnic on a beautiful Friday night at his school. We brought our own hot dogs and pasta salad picnic while on of Carter's friends Dad played tunes for everyone! We really love the family feel of Carter's school. We have been told that the school accross the street from us doesn't have quite as much family things so we are bummed but we surely enjoyed our year at Davis Hill. Carter is really into hockey b/c of the Bruins playoff season and now he understands baseball more than ever before b/c of him playing T-ball.

Daisy enjoyed the bubble table and liked making "big" bubbles!

Carter and his friend, Will waited in line for their turn at the dunk tank. Their hair color and texture is so slose that I actually hugged Will instead of Carter right after I took this picture (How embarrassing for Carter! At least they are young and he knows me from T-ball and playdates!)

Cora truely is our freespirit and really tries to keep up with all of us! She is soooooooooooooo happy!!!!! And makes us all laugh!

Here is one of those moments when I wanted a picture of me being a mama b/c Cora had smudged her face paint on my arm.... we where sharing rainbows but you can't really tell in this pic. (Zoom Kevin, Zoom!!!!)

McRell's Memorial Day Camping Trip 2011

2011-06-06T23:18:00.001-04:00

So we made it up to NH for the annual McRell's Memorial Day Camping Trip!!!! The weather was hot! 89 degrees at the bank sign on the way up! Needless to say it was a "beautiful, sweat, sunny day" (Daisy told me this as we were inside the tent setting up the air mattresses and beds!)

Snow-gloo

2011-01-24T22:15:00.002-05:00

With the large amount of snow we have been getting and the freezing temps(it was -7 when I drove home from work this am) Kevin and Carter had the perfect canvas to make an igloo right out our back door! It is really cool with three tunnels going in and big enough for one kid to sit in! And we are getting more snow this week! Crazy!!!! But I am not complaining!

Buckley and Buttercup

2011-01-24T22:05:00.004-05:00

We have two new additions! We adopted two cats a week ago and they are getting lots of love and attention! Buckley is a 2 yo male that is truly a LOVE! As you can see he has stollen Daisy's heart and he is my shadow! Buttercup is a 1 year old "MissKitty"... she was recently fixed and we are working on getting her weight up but she is gaining already! She too is very sweet but has taken a liking to Kevin and sleeping in the doll bed in the girls room! Cora wakes up every morning saying her first sentence "I like that kitty!" We are such a kitty family! No getting away from it for too long!

Handmade Christmas: Day 6

2010-12-24T09:23:00.003-05:00

I love yarning (knitting or crocheting) around Christmas... snuggling up on the couch with my yarn and two needles (or one hook) is just wonderful! It keeps me warm, it can travel with me, and it grows from just a few tiny stitches to a big blob.... this a going to be a French Market Bag for my beautiful friend Jennifer. It just needs to be felted and then it will look better!

Handmade Christmas: Day 5

2010-12-24T00:34:00.004-05:00

Cut Out Sugar Cookies are a must around here every December!

My parents came out to watch the kids and they cut out the cookies together.

I frosted them with the kids 3 days later.

They still taste great!

Don't forget to wash your hands!

Here is our action plan:
1) I pipe out thick butter cream frosting to outline the cookies. Let is harden at least 4hours.

2) We mix a little confectioners sugar with a tiny bit of milk. Add desired food coloring.

3) Each kid chooses what they want to decorate... all the bells, trees, snowmen etc.

4) They fill it in with a spoon and spread with the backside of the spoon. It is like painting or coloring for them and they love it! Even Cora can help!

5) Last but not least..... lick the frosting bowls!

Handmade Christmas: Day 4

2010-12-23T21:30:00.003-05:00

Hurry! You still have time to make this one for

the post-man (or post-woman in our case)

Peppermint Bark-

1 bag of dark chocolate/ bittersweet chips
1 bag of white chocolate chips
peppermint extract
4 candy canes

Melt dark chocolate chips over double boiler (don't burn your hands when lifting up the bowl like I always do). Pour chocolate onto cookie sheet (not too big, mine was too big) and place in the fridge. Wash bowl (or use you dishwasher/ hubby like me!). Melt the white chocolate in the same fashion. Crush candy cane while melting white chocolate in zip lock bag with a rolling pin. Add peppermint extract to your liking (I used an estimated 1tsp). Make sure you start off with a little and add to taste! Pour white chocolate over dark chocolate on baking sheet... use an off-set spatula to smooth the best you can. Add the crushed candy cane to the top. press into chocolate the best you can. Refrigerate for 1 hour and break up. You can package in a cellophane bag with a bow or if you are lucky like me and score these vintage mason jars just throw them in there! Add a label and send off to your neighbor, friends, or post-woman!

P.S. The extra little bites are perfect for adding to a Christmas flavored coffee, whip cream on hot chocolate, or on ice cream. Have I mentioned my Christmas Spirit is "Eating really good stuff!" (per Carter)

Handmade Christmas Day 3

2010-12-16T23:23:00.002-05:00

Trim Your Tree!

As newly weds(2002-2005) we used to have an all blue, silver and white tree but things have changed..........

I have loosened up!

We have had three kids... moved to new homes.

In our condo when Daisy was starting to stand we only had our little tree on a table (2007)...

When we moved here(2008) to our old farmhouse that we love I wanted to add a little red to our tree. Cranberry garland and a few red ornaments we placed in front to kinda match the style of our home!

Last year (2009) we added birds thanks to Carter's love of watching the birds in our yard... we also started the hand made kid ornaments.... Kevin and I also broke the star that had been on top of our tree for 6 years in a row....

This year we have turned to a little more of an organic feel with a turkey feather and dried hydrangeas that I used in a fall arrangement and din't want to throw out! I also found some vintage bulbs at the Holden recycle center for free (YES FOR FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! more about this tomorrow!)... We also bought our tree at a local church where the proceeds go to fight hunger locally! One place they give to is a soup kitchen I worked at with my youth group when I was middle school age (love it when life comes full circle!). This was a better solution than cutting one down in a field and paying a ton of money for it! I also have a certain elf that LOVES to "keep" the tree! He loves to turn it on in the morning, fix and ornaments that move, and remind us to water it! He really is so helpful to have around... glad I can enjoy this time of year with him!

What is your tree like and how has it changed?

Handmade Christmas Day 2

2010-12-15T10:19:00.003-05:00

It is this time of year that we chose to make homemade treats! Here is why I chose to do this:

1) They taste so much better than store bought treats! I think it is b/c they are fresher and not wrapped in plastic for months!
2) I can employ those in my family that love these treats to help me (like Kevin making hummus for my annual cookie party! Look at this huge clove of garlic.... yum-o!)
3) It helps me portion control when I know how much butter, eggs, cream, sugar, etc. go into every dish!

Here are a couple things we love making:
Artichoke Dip
Hummus
"Life of the Party" Cereal mix (a secret recipe I just got from a friend)
Curried Chutney Dip
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Peanut Butter Balls
Rum Balls
Candy Cane Cookies
Sour Cream Twist
Christmas Tree Press Cookies
Pecan Praline Bars
Christmas Tree Bread
Christmas Stollen
Butternut Lasagne
Homemade Canneloni

That is just the start of the list! There are more things but I'll spare you the stress of them all!
Here is that secret recipe:

Life of the Party Cereal Mix
This appeared on the box of Life cereal when my friend at work was in high school (the 70s). It is sort of a lost recipe because you definitely canon find it on-line! I looked for over and hour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10 oz Life Cereal
3 1/2 oz French onions
3 oz Chinese Noodles
7 oz peanuts
7 1/2 oz stick pretzels
3/4 cup of butter
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp Tabasco Sauce

Mix snack and cereal ingredients in a large bowl. Combine sauce ingredients and pour over cereal. Put in large roasting pan and heat in 250 degree oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15min. Enjoy!

Handmade Christmas Day 1

2010-12-15T09:38:00.003-05:00

I thought I would help celebrate this Christmas season by posting 12 Days of a handmade Christmas.

Day 1:

Shutter Display

I saw this approximately 8 years age (I remember it from our early years of marriage) and have been wanting to find and old shutter so I could put it into action! After bartering at Brimfield Antique market multiple times and no luck I kinda gave up till I told my Aunt about it this October... she then introduced me to a pile of shutters that were old and crusty and had no home! After testing if for lead paint and cleaning it up I put hooks on the back of it and anchored it to the wall! It was perfect timing to display our Christmas card and mementos. I plan to leave it all year long so we can enjoy all those bulky things that fall off my fridge all the time! Thanks Aunt Barb for making this tiny 8 year long dream a reality!

kiddo updates

2010-10-26T14:38:00.004-04:00

This was an update I gave my lil' sister in Rwanda and I thought I would not let it get wasted in one single e-mail so here it is on my happy little blog... I also had these leaf pictures which kinda match the theme of ever changing. I am a big fan of thinking about seasons and the coming and going of themes in our lives. These were taken on a walk in Ohio with my Uncle Barry who adores my children! He has never been too much of a kid person but recently our visits with him have beenfilled with him spending more time with my kids than I ever could imagine! I love it! Sometimes feelings from our past leave (leaf) us and we have a renewed sense of love for something else! So here is an update on my kids... kinda raw (excuse the diaper rash issue please!)
Cora- has a bad rash, my diapers aren't working great anymore, I have fixed some of them but not sure what to do, she went down the BIG slides at the playground today with very little help from me!, she is starting to say phrases like "Some more" "I have a bite" "Mimi and Papa's" "me Yoda" (that is her plan for Halloween)
Daisy- went through a horrible 2 weeks of peeing the bed almost every night... arrggghhh! glad she has been dry for about 5 nights in a row now, her favorite movie is "Jezel" (or Enchanted), she is getting bored of Carter playing soccer and wants to run on the field too!, She is tall! I think she has grown an inch in the last month
Carter- is loving school!, When I ask if he had a good day yesterday he stated "Mom all days at school are great!", he is super excited about halloween and has had many battles with Daisy in the last 20hours or so of owning light sabers!, he too has grown in height... some of the pants i just got out for school are too short for him!, he has one more week of soccer then maybe will play basket ball at the Y this winter!

peace!

Daisy fulfills her summer dream...

2010-10-20T06:58:00.004-04:00

Daisy has been talking about riding a horse all summer. I finally made it happen thanks to our lovely friends. Daisy rode Acorn a couple Fridays ago and loved it. Carter actuallly rode fist b/c Daisy wanted him to but carter was too busy talking and being distracted... not Daisy though! She was really focused and loved it! I am not about to make her a horse lover but I do want to give her that option! I once LOVED horses and really enjoyed them too! Owning them... now that is another story! For now we will just take the pony rides as they come!

Cora even wanted a try! Silly monkey!

Cora is an artist...

2010-10-20T06:54:00.001-04:00

Cora has a new fascination with markers, stickers, crayons.... the issue is that she can't seem to find paper to go with her art supplies!

The Little Lady starts Preschool!

2010-09-13T20:38:00.004-04:00

Today was daisy's big day! And wow does she seem bigger b/c of it! She was very excited but didn't understand why she couldn't go till after lunch. She talked about it all morning!
Saying Good-bye to Cora was easy for her since it was now her turn to go to school after watching Carter go for a whole year. She was holding up strong even when we got into "Papa's" school. Then she melted...
until we found Nora to build a castle with! They love school together... Daisy told us at dinner Nora wore her orange outfit and she liked it! She sang the "get your sillys out" song, made a school bus (but not a real school bus) and went on the little potty! She was very excited and thinks she should go everyday!

Soccer Star!

2010-09-13T13:09:00.004-04:00

Carter started town soccer this weekend! He loves it! They actually played pretty well in 3 on 3 games. He started out being great defensively. He did get a goal but was tripped in the process and used his hand to push it further into the goal. He was so proud and jumping around and the coach on the other team gave him two high-fives b/c he was ecstatic! I am trying to just focus on the fact it was fun! And he really enjoyed it!

Apple picking

2010-09-13T09:38:00.006-04:00

On Labor Day we had the fall craving to go apple picking. We are big fans of Tougas Farms! So we headed there.

It was fun at first and we enjoyed tasting all the varieties!

Little Cora ate the biggest apple we found and it was a Honey Crisp which are the best!

For once the children posed for this picture without me even asking! It was their idea! This never happens and it made me so happy!
Then the meltdown started.... Daisy's legs were tired... Carter said picking all these apples was too much work and no fun... then Cora who was trying to keep up and walk started to be too tired and I had to carry her and the whole bushel of apples...

By the time we got back to the pumkin patch the kids were spent... Then we had a plan to get Apple crisp Donuts (my fav) and head home.... only to have Kev mention ice cream... and that was it!... D and C crying for ice cream with sprinkles no the less and a baby that was starving.... in an effort to save a few bucks Kev decided to go elsewhere to get ice cream... we bought three cider donuts and we went to the place at the bottom of the hill that was only 20cents cheaper for a small and extra for sprinkles... then Daisy had a conniption b/c even though she was raving about chocolate ice cream since Kev had mentioned it... she then changed her mind and wanted strawberry... Let just say it was a messy ride home with a screaming I want to now throw my chocolate ice cream that I don't want... naps for all when we went home!
But the apples are great! And so is this picture that the famous Mike Nyman took while fixing my camera!

Carter starts kindergarten!

2010-09-01T17:15:00.003-04:00

My baby started kindergarten today!

His sisters missed him and expressed this by being very naughty...
so much for D being better when she is oldest and gets more attention!

I loved that father and son matched for the big occasion!
Carter was very excited to see all the little kids and happy!
I don't think he realized all the kids were little like him after going to the High School for preschool.

Here he is showing off his little name tag he colored for the 1st day of school.

Lining up to go upstairs!

And the tears welled up! Hard to see him walk away from me all independent and excited! He said he had a good day but not as fun as preschool. He threw out his apple at lunch and then didn't have an afternoon snack (should have warned him about that). Somehow he got some animal crackers from the 5th graders (not sure how that came about?). And the most exciting thing is that I just finished my homework! All those papers to fill out and info to process.... mom can you come be my secretary? I need one!

PEI in pictures....

2010-08-19T04:32:00.007-04:00

Our trip was amazing! We really enjoyed it... the kids had a blast and were great in the car. On day two (driving from maine to PEI) Carter thought it was a bad idea. When we left he was said to go. We didn't get nearly the amount of sleep we normally need but we spent time with friends that we will never forget! I am very thankful for such great friends we have.... it has taught me a lesson in humility! Now we are recovering and heading out on another adventure this weekend. Although I might just sleep the whole time!

Strawberry Picking...

2010-07-03T04:09:00.004-04:00

We went strawberry picking with our MOPs group the middle of June and had a blast!
I dressed the girls appropriately for strawberry picking! Notice the shirts!

The next day we made jam! The kids loved helping and made a mess!
I just love making preserves! Not sure why but I do love it!
Daisy tried to help the clean up by licking the strawberry juice off of every spot on her body... she couldn't quite get it off her elbow though!

Cora woke up just in time for a couple licks of the ladle! We are enjoying our jam on homemade bread.... yum-o!

Carter's 5th Birthday

2010-07-03T03:41:00.004-04:00

Carter turn 5 a few weeks ago and we celebrated with a pool party at our friends house. We felt very grateful for the use of their home and pool! Even though it poured and thunder the first hour of the party. But as soon as it was over we were in the pool and having fun! Here Carter is with Austin his buddy who turned 5 in May! His mom and I remember having pregnant bellies together and now look at our big boys!
Daisy has a mean swing... softball is in her near future!

Cora just LOVES to swim! She has no fear of the water! The will walk right into it! Thank goodness Auntie B is a life guard!
Carter loved his gift everyone! Thanks you so much!Here is his awesome Star Wars Legos cake! (If I may say so myself) I made this inbetween three trips to the hospital with a mama being induced and finally her giving birth at 3am. I finished it after only a couple hours of sleep in time to take a nap before the party! Thank you for all the help everyone!
Needless to say we ended the day very grateful for the gift of being parents, having wonderful kids that are healthy and growing! And to all our family and friends that continue to support us and love us!

The Graduate!

2010-06-17T21:42:00.004-04:00

Our home has been busy since I came back from Haiti... I am trying to catch up! Carter Graduated from Preschool two weeks ago and we are so very proud of him as he grew in many ways. He was shyer than I thought he would be but that all changed this spring and he began to show his true colors a little more (my social butterfly!). There was a little incident where he "sneaked" away from a lesson to go back to the ice cream parlor with his little buddies... this didn't surprise me at all!Carter's special teacher Kerri was very sweet and he seemed to enjoy her. We are excited about Carter going to full day kindergarten next year. We will drive him to a another school in our town for the full day. I think it will give him more time to play, socialize and learn.... now I have to pack a lunch everyday! Yikes... Any healthy lunch suggestions?

For the summer we were adviced to help Carter with letter and number recognition.... I am trying my hardest to be laid back and just lead him. Not get all tense and frustrated with his lack of interest. We did buy him a Leapster for his birthday/graduation which seemed like a lame solution to the problem. But I think it has helped him a little. And he doesn't abuse his time with it. He especially loves being a Jedi and shooting the meteors with letters on them! Gotta love 5 year old boys and Star Wars!
This little girl just loves her big brother. She really does look up to him in the sweetest way. But she is also excited about her new adventures in nursery school next year!
Here she is trying to picture herself a year from now!

baby boy...

2010-05-20T02:29:00.005-04:00

early this afternoon we had a Mama bring in her baby that was born last Friday at the Heartline Women's Center. The baby was extremily jaundice, a little lethargic, had a temp. He hadn't eaten since the night before. Hi mama knew it was good to bring him back to Beth and Joanna (the midwives) who then brought him to Heartline Hospital to see Dr. Jen. Grace who is a wonderful nurse got an IV in the baby, bolused him with fluids while I mixed the antibiotics and found things. It brought back many memories of Kenny being sick which was scary but this baby seemed healthier, like we caught any infection he had at the time. We made him a makeshift bed out of a rubbermaid box so he could lay out in the sun (more like a cloudy sky- unusual for Haiti) for some sun therapy- this helps get rid of the jaundice. I sat with him in the sun and gave him his second antibiotic. Then it started drizzling. When I got inside we decided to feed him since he was awake and smacking his lips. He seemed to want to eat but wasn't doing a very good job swallowing. His mama came back and I tried to have her breastfeed him but he was tired. I went home to take a nap and when I came back Grace said he seemed worse... lethargic and had just vomited some breast milk. This was really worrisome so Dr. Jen and Grace took the baby to Miami with his mama and Beth. The baby is now on a ventilator and being aggressively treated. We are praying he makes the night. It is so hard in Haiti to not have the ability to accurately diagnose with no labs... you really have to assess, reassess and go with your gut sometimes. Dr. Jen was right about moving him since he was decompensating in the car on the way to the hospital. We are praying for good news in the morning. Will you please join me and send out a prayer for this little one?

Haiiti II...

2010-05-19T10:52:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone! I am here, safe, and with many friends. I worked mother hospital yester day which now consist of 12-15patients. They all need long term care or need follow up surgeries. Dr. Jen is trying to coordinate there care and get them what they need to be able to get home. It is a totally different place then when I left in February. It is quiet, calm, casual.... there is still a lot of love, friendship, and suppoert here for the patients. I spent most of my day playing with the kids, talking with the teenagers, and hanging out with the staff... giving a couple meds here and there. I even took some of the kids on the trampoline! I still LOVE the trampoline... and what a good workout! It was totally fun and I can still do some "tricks"... no back flips though. The kids are more cautious than me which is totally different than at home.... I am a cautious mother and they run circles around me! The change is nice... but I do miss my kids. In other Heartline news: the Women's Center is being moved and Joanna and Beth have been painting and even designed a birthing bed that carpenter made for them. The woman can squat on a self that is the head board that has a whole in is. I guess most Haitian women want to birth squatting. Jon McHoul is meeting with some gang/community leaders in BOston area of Cite Soliel to see what they want for the community and see where Heartline may fit in.... it maybe a new adventure for them. In this article you can read about the gangs and see what they are up to. It is pretty amazing to have an oppurtunity there. Well I am off to check on the hospital and then hang out, nap and work tonight! Love you all!

Truely Amazing!

2010-05-06T22:49:00.003-04:00

As I plan to return to Haiti in less than 2 weeks I was lead to read this story written by a former Notre Dame Academy religious studies teacher:

"Many years ago while ministering in Port Au Prince, Haiti, my friends and I wandered into a hidden room in the local hospital. Herein we discovered Haiti’s throw-away children lying still and mute in cage-like cribs. A single glance laid bare the rejected children, starving for food and affection. They ranged in age from infancy to ten years old, and they were alone, dirty, and wearing stained, filthy rags on a small portion of their bodies. They were rigid from lack of movement and their sounds were animal-like from a lack of communication. Large rats waited in prey in the corners of the room.

Never had I known a more pitiable place. One small baby moved each of us to tears. Her name was Immaculata and she was hydrocephalic. Her large head seemed five times greater than her petite frame, which was only a little more than bones. One could, however, detect a hint of a smile from the corner of her mouth, the only sign of hope in this devastating scene. I wept over Immaculata, much as I imagined Jesus wept over Jerusalem. As I begged God to have mercy on Immaculata, I imagined that if she lived in my city, adequate medical care would afford her both comfort and progress. Left here in this room, she would undoubtedly die. I prayed in utter desperation ---“please, please dear God, have mercy on this child.”

Years later, my godson Kyle was killed by an aggressive driver. He lived for 11 days and during that time, was cared for with incredible precision in the pediatric intensive care unit at a prominent hospital. Kyle fought hard for his life as medical personnel assisted him with every grace and technology known to humankind. Committed to honoring his memory, Kyle’s mom and I delivered a large teddy bear to every child in the unit that Christmas. As we walked through the halls, the coordinating nurse told us about a Haitian child in the unit whose name was “Immaculata”. I responded that I had once worked with a baby named Immaculata in Haiti, but that her situation was truly a hopeless one.

As we entered the very last room, a cheerful woman greeted us, calling me by name. She was obviously the child’s mother. Although I didn’t know her, she had recognized me from the publicity surrounding my work in Haiti. I looked into the bed and there was the unmistakable smile of baby Immaculata, now five years old. I was stunned into silence and awe. Here was Immaculata before my very eyes, in a hospital with all the love, affection and medical expertise I had begged God for so many years ago. A family that had seen the pictures from that long ago trip to Haiti went and found her. They had adopted her and she was living a mere twenty minutes from my home.

Why do I keep going back to Haiti? Because this is only one of the many experiences I have had that have entwined my life into the lives of the Haitian people and made all our lives better."

Written by Pam Reidy

I was blown away by this story and it literally brought to tears when I realize I am going to see this precious baby Kenny/Kenley, now 10lbs, and his beautiful mother DJenie. I love this picture because she has so much confidence! Becoming a mother at 15 doesn't make you a woman. But being loved, supported, educated and then making the right decisions for you and your baby make you a beautiful young woman Djenie! Can't wait to see your smile soon! (and hold that baby)!

Javonica....

2010-03-06T22:18:00.007-05:00

My favorite love bug from Haiti....

Her mom, Margaret, had Congested Heart Failure postpartum and after the quake. Margaret when she was more ill than when I saw her.

We are not sure why but for awhile she was on a Nitro gtt. When I was there she was Lasix, Isordil, Lisinopril and Lopressor just to control her high blood pressure and fluid status (pretty serious huh?). The ICU nurse in me wanted VS at least Q8hrs (maybe Q4) but she was healing and only getting VS and daily weights every morning. She was such a great pt.... jumping at the sight of me coming with the scale and blood pressure cuff. She also loved handing off Javonica to me every morning between 6-7am. Sometimes "baby J" was hungry and sometimes she just wanted to hang out and smile at us pale white Americans that wanted to squeeze her chunky, "I am the only baby in Haiti getting formula since my mom can't nurse me due to medications" thighs! A "crib" a nurse had made for Javonica prior to me.

I even gave her a bath the last day I was there... just hours before my flight to Ft. Launderdale. It was a beautiful moment to relax and be at peace with all I had done, seen and heard in Haiti.
I also dressed her in a dress I brought from home that was a hand-me down from my girls.
The sad part about this story is that Javonica is Margaret's 6th child and if Margaret has another baby she will probably die. Heartline is trying to find her a way to get a tubal ligation but this is very hard. Margaret knows this is best for her and wants it too. I think it is so sad that if she goes back to her village and is taken advantage of by a man (like most Haitian women are) and gets pregnant baby Javonica could no longer have a mother.... fixing Haiti seems so impossible in so many ways! I just have to pray that more people who have the answers get involved and help. Last thought of the day....

Laugh... it's good medicine!

*smaller pics are from Beth McHoul

Anntoinette Nassus

2010-03-05T10:28:00.003-05:00

This beautiful woman lied in the rubble after the quake for more than a week (I think 13 days). She suffered a left tib/fib (lower leg fracture) with an external fixator, a wound on her left leg with a skin graft, and a right below the knee amputation, and she was 7 months pregnant!!!!! She went to the USS comfort for her care and a c-section. Her little boy was named Aidan and she was nursing him (or at least we were trying to have her nurse him). We were told when she had her baby she rejected him thinking there was no way her baby could have survived. He was a miracle to her. She was the most vocal of our patients. She leaned to the dramatic side and liked causing a scene. Her husband was always by her side.... a very quiet, calm man meeting her every need and command :). I really had to remind myself when I interacted with her what pain she must have been through and would still endure. We had to pre-medicate her and take her out of the tarp area and into the clinic for drsg changes because it was too traumatic for her. I changed her dressings one day and found her graft site to be too oozy for our liking, she also had some tunneling to her upper pin of her x-fix. I also tried to remove the sutures from her amputation but she was so upset (I thought she would hit me- don't blame her) so I only did half. She was so hysterical she was saying "I hear my baby crying. He has a big mouth. I don't want to feed him now!" We we took her back to her cot she told the other patients and nanny's that we tried to kill her without anesthesia.... she sure was entertaining!

The next day we took her up to the clinic area and I help teach Alisha (a newer nurse) how to do her dressings and take out the rest of her sutures. She was much better this time.

I think I just learned to have more empathy for her. She really was a strong woman! Even though sometimes she wanted to scream, cry, make a scene and I am sure crawl under a rock and forget about everything she held it all together most of the time. She also had a strong faith, paticipated in church and she was so thankful! When I went to say good bye to her she told me "Merci Cheri!" and gave me a great big hug! It was worth all that hard work in the end to help ease her pain. She still has a long recovery learning how to walk after they take out he x-fix. Remember she has an amputation on the other leg. I can't imagine the pain she has to still go through. Thank goodness she is strong, has support and lots of faith! And a little baby boy to live for and give her hope!

Detached....

2010-03-04T10:33:00.002-05:00

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Today i am feeling a little detached from everything.... my kids, my home, my stuff and even myself. I feel very lost. Maybe it is because I am feeling more detached from Haiti and our patients. I feel I helped while I was there but now what? Yeah I can try to raise money for Haiti and pray for the people of Haiti. But that all seems so distant. I just keep reminding myself that the people of Haiti have had their whole lives change and they are not detached. Yeah they seem to have hurt and loss in their lives but they had a lot of hope, joy and love for each other, themselves and us taking care of them. And they were so thankful to God for his work in their lives. The first night I was there the pastor who did church every night at our hospital asked us to come out so they could pray for us. All I could make out was "Merci Senior!" (Thank you God) over and over. They were so thankful for us and that they were not forgotten by God. They were so real! I want to be like that and not forget about them but also be very real to those around me. Above are pictures of them worshiping God as they are laying on their cots and sitting in wheelchairs!

Emmanuel (God with us)

2010-03-03T11:25:00.004-05:00

On Thursday I was having a conversation with someone from our group (can't remember who) about how amazing everything was pulling together at Heartline. The staff volunteering together and making a real medical team was awesome! The relationships we had developed with the USS Comfort, Merlin, Double Harvest and Miami U Field Hospital were so beneficial for our pts and for us knowing we could help facilitate care we just didn't have the ability to offer like x-rays, ortho surgery, skin grafts, ventilators, isolets, etc. We were doing a lot of triaging and them sending pt's to the best possible place we could find for them. And We would trade with them and take pt's needing more long term care and physical therapy. It was so obvious to me that God was working in this effort. He was blessing the 20 years of hard work by John and Beth McHoul. Every time a more critical pt came in it seemed we had the right people on hand. Even I had walked into the clinic that day (just checking in... not to work) and everyone was like "oh your here.... we need an IV in a very dehydrated woman with Malaria" (for a little while they all thought I was the pediatric IV queen.... I am not... I just found it was easier to put IVs in these Haitian people that had no adipose tissue and were vasodilated due to it being 95 degrees) I ended up getting a #24 in her foot which was okay temporarily till we gave her some fluid. But honestly I think God was right alongside me helping me drop these IVs, medicate people, think outside the box and love these people beyond what I thought I was capable of.

So Later that night when I came into work and was getting report from the day shift we learned that two new pt's had come from the USS Comfort and they both had the name Emmanuel.... my eyes almost welled up with tears. Emmanuel Siede was an older man who had Malaria and an old stroke pre-quake.... his sister was his caregiver and amazing. Emmanuel St. Germain was a 3 year old with facial trauma... He was so sweet but also a regular 3 year old. He would jump on your leg while you walked by, dance with his little biscuits hanging out, fight you about taking his meds and putting cream on his face and he gave his mother a run for her money. But I felt like them being in our clinic was a reminder that "God is with us"! It was amazing!

a birth!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-28T09:57:00.005-05:00

The last 48 hours I have been itching to see a Haitin birth before I leave and see Beth McHoul (midwife) in action. After taking Jenny to see baby Kenley we went back to the hospital to have dinner and I was going to stay and watch Enchanted with the kiddos. Beth and I were walking back to the hospital and a little boy came and told us there was a mom who was getting ready to habe a baby!!!! I almost couldn't speak! We went in.... I took vitals and beth checked mom... 6cm with buldging bag of waters. We headed to the clinic and Beth's Birth Center. Carol and Mary (nurses who are sisters), Barbie PA, Dr. Jen on standby, Tara Livesay administrator and record keeper and me (along with husband and mama's sister) were all their. We changed to scrubs, made mom comfy, had her use the bathroom to empty her bladder, and I checked fetal heart rate with every contraction.... it was 8:20 or so. This was her third baby, other two births were in a hospital that doesn't exist anymore and they live right in the neighborhood but Beth had never met them. She normally wouldn't deliver someone she doesn't even know or done a prenatal on but with us all there she did! Mom was so graceful.... taking deep breaths and only making this clicking sound in the back of her throat with the strong contraction (a very Haitian thing to do). She labored squating, sidelying, on her back, the yoga ball for a little and the on all fours on the bed. I played Doula with Mary supporting her and I rubbed her back with olive oil, assited her to bathroom and helped monitor fetal heart rate. By midnight I checked her and she was fully dilated (yes I did a few internal exams with some coaching and then people following up in between!). We all decided we better make coffee in case this was a long night since co0ntractions were winding down. Beth and I went looking for coffee and her water broke. She ended up pushing on her back through two contractions and baby was born at 0100. Carol (a L&D nurse who hasn't worked for 8 years and had never delivered a baby) caught. I grabbed lower half of baby on the way out... came out to fast!!!! I felt that baby was a girl!!!!! She had a lot of secretions since she was born so fast Apgar at 1 and 5 was 8 but then she started nasal flaring and needing suctioning.... in seconds her color was poor so Melissa and Barbie (the baby team) started bagging and even did some compressions. We woke up Dr. Jen who also helped till baby's color was back and she was crying. It did scare Mama and she didn't want to nurses b/c she thought baby was sick. We encouraged her that baby was fine and needed to nurse to help deliver the placenta.... that took almost and hour. Baby weighed in at 8lbs 1oz. That is a large size in Haiti and Mama was all belly! The baby's name is Natale (I think). I helped sister shower mom and we took mom and baby to Heartline Hospital for the night. Then us girl crashed in bed at 0330. The whole Birth Team!

I now feel I have come full circle... I feel my trip is complete. I also KNOW that being a midwife is exactly what I want to do!!!!! And I know I need to get home to see my baby girl do this: www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=516066023881

The whole deliver i kept thinking how this birth was like Cora's.... lots of people, all women except dad, third basby, quiet mom, bulging bag of waters, a few pushes, secretions after birth and needing some assistance (this baby more that Cora)... and a happy Mama at the end! This is why I feel so at home here. Man I am going to miss this place! Every day has brought a new chanllenge, a new joy and so much love and hope! It is all bittersweet! Now I am off to say good-bye to all my new friends and colleuges down here. I fly out at 5:30 with sisters Mary and Carol, meet their other sister in Ft. Lauderdale... go for dinner and get a hotel room, then fly to Boston at 12:30 noontime and see my family for dinner! Pray for a smooth transition and much rest! I am feeling good but want to catch up tonight before I see the kiddos! Thanks everyone for following my trip, praying and encouraging me!Carol "the baby catcher" and me the Doula!

circle of life in Haiti...

2010-02-27T03:49:00.001-05:00

Last night we took care of lots of new pt's off the Truck from Cite Soleil. One woman was a 59 year old women who's son had seeked out the truck b/c he had gotten out of jail after being in for 6 months and then he came home and found his mom wasting away. She had a big belly (? Hepatitis), lower extremity edema, rhoncorus lungs, upper arm the size of my wrist and a productive cough. Her HIV test was positive and she looked like she was about to die. Her son was really sweet taking care of her. We had her on Tuberculosis precautions with her own tent and mask (we wore N95 mask too!). We I was over accessing her, giving Tylenol for a temp and pain her son asked me for some sandals for his mother because she had nothing for her feet.... I was all teary and said to myself what your mom needs is a Morphine drip and palliative care.... so sad but beautiful to see him care and love his mom even in her delicate state.

One of our other patients from the truck team was a 10 hours old baby and his mama. She was having sever abdominal pain and had not yet nursed him and her neighbor found our team to help her. She had a boggy uterus and needed some postpartum care. Me and the three nurses I was woking with put our brains together to check her fundus, flow and perineum. It was fun! At 3am mom was tired from having baby at her breast all night!!!!!! (boys!) I told her it was okay to let us hold him and she could sleep, she was reluctant but then agreed. I sat in a wheel chair and rocked him... letting him suck on my little finger for almost 20minutes. He then fell asleep and looked so cute sinking into his blanket (wish I could load my pics!) It can't help to think the Circle of Life in Haiti never ends.... and with Heartline having Beth running her prenatal clinic and also the hospital I am sure they will continue to see this forever.... such a gift from above!

Gangrene...

2010-02-24T22:20:00.002-05:00

Today I worked in the hospital but became more of the clinic nurse. Putting in IVs, taking vitals, doing drsg changes, removing sutures and staples, and helping place cast. It was a very busy but very fulfilling day!

I have that stink stuck in my nose from a pt that was found on our truck run today.... one of my new friend's Barbie PA went out on the truck with Mike, a paramedic today. They brought back to the clinic a woman who had a cast placed maybe a month ago(?) but she didn't get it followed up two weeks ago like she was told. She must be left by herself to care for her children b/c she didn't want to stay the night and this must be why she didn't get follow up care. Maybe she is widowed... it breaks my heart to even go there! She said there was a wound under the cast and she needed it looked at. I helped Barbie and Mike cut the cast and get the drsg off. As soon as we cut into the cast we could smell the gangrene. YUCK!!! It was so gross! We ended up giving her Morphine and Ketamine to sedate her. She then allowed us to change the drsg. She has a very unstable tib/fib FX (lower arm fracture) that is so loose you could make her wave with out using her elbow. Kind of freaky. We gave her IV antibiotics, redressed the wound, put her in a half cast and will try to get her to Merlin tomorrow for evaluation for surgery. Her wound actually didn't look that bad but the smell was horrible. The reason I tell this story is to show you the people in Haiti need follow up care. You can't just cast someone in the field with a huge wound and leave them.... this woman almost (and may even still) loose her arm.

Heartline is one of the few clinics/hospitals that has a follow up program and in patient ward. We even give our patients cards with follow-up instructions and if they are from the slums we give them a date to return when the truck/ambulance is going to be in that area.

Another beautiful thing we have here at Heartline is excellent networking where we can take someone like "gangrene arm" women and send her to Merlin (a British hospital that does Ortho and Plastics cases. We send them pt's for surgery and then take a couple patients from them that just need inpatient things like meds, vitals and dressing changes and discharge plans. The USS Comfort will take our more general surgery patients and ICU pt's. We also have Miami of University that will take our emergent pt's like the boy yesterday.

We also have nannies from the orphanges that had most of their kids fly State Side. They cook, clean, bath, do laundry and care for the pt's. It is so cool to see the nannies still having jobs after the quake! And some interpret for us too!

But the most exciting thing is just to see that God has a provision for Heartline. We are all volunteers over-lapping and it is excited to see who God brings her next. We have a new team flying in and it should be neat to see how they fit in. I am off to bed soon after I shower!

Just one fun story... Alex was a little guy (6 but looks like Daisy size) who came to Heartline awhile ago. He had to have his middle and ring finger amputated from and injury in the quake. So now he looks like a "rockstar" when he holds up his hand..... so cool! Well once it is healed and he learns how to adapt like with it like that it is cool! The sad part of Alex's story is he lost his Mom and sister in the quake but he has his dad and his dad has him. In the past Dad has tried to braid his hair and he looked like Buckwheat. But today Dad took it out and a mom who was recently reunited with her daughter braided "Rockstar's" hair b/c he was going home today. It looked awesome! I had a little photo shoot with Alex today and can't wait to share those pics. Dad seemed happy to leave but it is bitterweest b/c they have a community here at the hospital. I am sure life will look different for them but they do have each other!

I love you and hope to update on the prenatal clinic I am doing with Beth before I work tomorrow! Love you all!

Tuesday... ah the day shift!

2010-02-23T22:55:00.001-05:00

I had a busy day to say the least.... Helped save a 3 yo having seizures and transported to the U of Miami hospital, I helped change over half the patient;s drsg for Merlin the British hospital that has plastic surgery and ortho services, I tried 5 angio caths (different IV than I am used to) and I had a 4 out 5 success rate!, I played with a few kids, taught one little girl how to use my camera (she loves it! She is 7 and is taking care of her paralyzed brother from questionable Guillian Barre Syndrome. She speaks great English since her dad is Haitian American and i told her about photojournalist and that when she grows up she should take pics and sell them to the newspaper) She loved the idea!, I changed a little girls drsg just b/c everyone else got to hav3e her drsg changed, I showed off my pictures of our family to the kids since they love my hair and I knew they would love Doodles. All teh boys were surpirsed by Kevin and acted surprised that I had a husband anbd they could tell he was tall! So funny! Anyway I am ex-hausted after little sleep last night. Under the mosquito net I go.... BTW hun you picked a great net! Love you all!

aftershock....

2010-02-23T06:04:00.001-05:00

I have been up since 0130 when I woke up with a cough and somewhat disoriented and then about 30seconds later felt an after shock. I am sleeping on the top of a bunk in the Livesay's home now. The Physical therapist that is here is woke up and asked if I feel off the bed and I said I was fine but we both ran down stairs to see if everyone else was okay. Everyone was fine and sleeping. I was so happy to be safe but now I am all worked up and nervous. And cannot sleep! I am not sure how big it was but it really was much scarier than I thought! The power went out after that so i went to bed but never slept. Bummer! It will be a hard day that is for sure... but it should be slow since our doctor is flying home this am and we just have a PA here. I can't believe that one little after shock affected me so much... I cannot even imagine what the Haitians experience when it happens... I am sure it is horrific for them. I am off to shower than off for dayshift at the hospital. The sun is rising so fast, the roosters are crowing.... it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Tour of PAP....

2010-02-22T15:12:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I was awoken in the middle of the day to find out the tour was going out to Port au Prince to see the area that was largest hit. I guess the epicenter is outside of the city but most the buildings that fell are in the city. The tour was pretty amazing.... building fallen in between two standing builds. The palace has fallen in the middle and I guess it sinks more everyday. across from the palace is amarket and then tent cities with port-a-potties. Nobody is to sure why but most of the government buildings are levelled. I don't want to get into the politics but it isn't very pretty here when you look at leaders that are in high places and only seek to serve themselves. But don't you think God is speaking when almost every building in a corrupt government has fallen and beuildings around them are standing. I was told by Ryan a nursing student here (working as a nurse and lived here last summer) that rumor has it every church he has heard of still has the cross in front of it standing.... isn't that crazy! The whole church building fell but the cross is still up? Amazing!

The president of Haiti called for 3 days of fast, confessing and praying for the one month anniversary of the quake. On Saturday we had a little boy come in that had a high fever, malria and hadn't eaten/drinken in 4 days due to the fast.... I mean honestly these people have nothing and now even if they do have food they can't eat it b/c their leader wants them to fast and confess? Very upsetting!

The other thing that hit me during the tour was when we got through the downtown area we drove along the coast and saw an area that smelled horribly. I had said to one of my friends "I guess no port-a-potties here!" and then it struck me that the houses here weren't tents they were sheets of metal and more permanent....this is a community that was like this pre-quake. The smell was so alarming and to think it is always like that! And I guess there are poorer communities we didn't see. It really broke my heart! The problems in Haiti arenot beginning they have been here forever!

Seeing hope in our patients is the thing that gets me through... one of our pt's "Collette" Sincere was the first woman to have a baby on the USS Navy Comfort. She lied in the rubble for 7 days with a broken pelvis, femur FX and 7 months pregnant. She came to Heartline Hospital where they just watched her not knowing what to do. They got her to the ship as one of the first patients and they recieved her weeks later along with her baby for rehab, continued pain control, antibiotics, help with breastfeeding and lots of support and encouragement. She is healing from three surgeries and is breastfeeding. As well as getting out of bed to the bathroom and wants to do it all by herself. I love that she has such strength, power and hope for herself and her baby. She is the most aware of germs and protecting herself. She wipes the toilet before she sits and uses hand sanitizer when she gets back in bed. It is so cute. The only thing she has problems with is the breastfeeding. The last couple nights she wanted a bottle for the baby and we had decided that was fine at night so she can sleep but she was wanting it more and more. As I was informed by midwife Beth we were to encourage her nursing baby Esther before a bottle so this morning I noticed she had leaked milk on her shirt and she asked me for a bottle. I told her she should nurse, it was "beyn for baby" (good for baby, my creole is horrible but I made flashcards and I am working on it... you should be proud mom!) I told her using mostly sign language that I fed my baby till she was 1 year and it is best for baby! See when Collette goes home she will have no formula and she will need her milk supply for her baby especially since Esther was a premie. Not to mention the antibodies to boost the babies immune system and protect the baby. Her reaction was still hesitant and then I told her MamaJohn (Beth) wanted this and she realized I wasn't going to cave. It was hard for me b/c she is trying so hard but I know she has such hope for her baby. She then put baby to breast and I was overwhelmed with joy that she made a choice to do the right thing. The daily bread verse today was "Hope does not disapoint." Romans 5:5. Totally feeling that today!

*I plan to post pics but need a cable... have to find one to borrow.

"We are the world... We are the children..."

2010-02-22T09:09:00.002-05:00

Saturday night we were coming into the clinic and we got report on the pts... I was orienting one of the nurses that flew in with me to the night routine and the pt's were all getting ready for bed. We passed 8pm medications to opur hospital pts. Those pt's have injuries so severe they cannot just be sent home, they need IV antibiotics, fluids, pain medication around the clock, aggressive physical therapy, food and water, drsg changes and learning how to live w/o arms, legs, and with casts, external fixators in place. They are all pretty complecated cases when you read their history... Not to mention the PTSD from being in rubble for up to 13days! Lossing parents, siblings, babies, and other loved ones.

Anyway after we did the first round on pt's the interpreters (which are two young men in med school in PAP that no longer exsists) were setting up their laptop and screens for a the evening movie... all the sudden I heard the "We are the world: 25 for Haiti" playing. All the 28 pt's raised their hands and started swaying them... I am left to wonder "Do they know that they are the world to many of us?" "They are the children that are loved by so many." "Are we willing to embrass them and help them know that?" "They are the children of a Father that loved them enough to give them the most perfect and never ending grace and love?" Somehow I think they do by knowing they have survived.... they quake brought horrible devastion to them but they are here in the world and we are also here in Haiti making them "our world".

I am so impressed with this clinic, all we are doing, the passion of so many I am working with even before the quake... it really is humbling to see. A nurse that had the day off yesterday came in and did pedicures on all the woman... trust me that makes you feel like you are "world"

Off to sleep... peace...

Update from Haiti

2010-02-21T14:35:00.002-05:00

When I walked to the hospital yesterday they were seeing pts that came off the truck from Cite Soliol. There was a baby that came that was 3lbs 3oz and was born 17days ago. Beth the midwife was trying to feed the baby some breastmilk and get some help from mom who was suffering from mastitis. The baby was lethargic but arousable. Beth handed him off to me since I wasn't on shift yet and said to try to work with him to drink from the bottle. Baby had periods of waking up and sucking and swallowing but then had periods of lethargy and apnea (not breathing!). I am not a PICU/Nicu nurse but I know that is not normal. I asked one of the nurses to talk to Dr. Brad and see about an IV and some D5 (fluids and sugar) to wake him up. He said no but wanted some vitals.... the nurse came back to get vitals and noticed the apnea and asked me what I really was thinking... "I told her I think he is going to die."... Next thing I know we were getting him resuscitated over on the treatment table... we gave him an IV, fluids, some chest compressions (heart rate was 60-80s), dextrose(sugar was 34), OGT, caffeine, Oxygen and lots of TLC. He was crying and starting to move after 15minutes of work... Thank God! The Dr and a nurse and PA took him to the U of Miami field hosp. at the airport. They got him in an isolet and on a ventilator for a short time. Baby is still alive this morning but we all wonder if he does survive what will happen to him. Many of us wonder what will happen to these kids with amputated arms and legs... will they be able to work when they are older? Will they live meaningful happy lives in now ruined country? We can't even go there and just hope for the best. If anything it helped us all feel more confident as a medical team and built some strong team spirit there.

After the baby we all went and had dinner and debriefed. Then I started actually working my shift and worked all night. It was fairly easy nursing in the hospital but difficult due to emotional issues of pts and the language barrier. I am off to bed and going to rest I am back at work tonight.

Bonjou from Haiti!

2010-02-19T08:23:00.003-05:00

I kinda get to sleep in today since I am working all night... not easy to sleep in here since there are helicoptors, radios, people singing and doing laundry. Someone is going to walk over and get me ar 10am so i can just hang out, meet the kids.... and get a feel for things before tonight. They asked if I wanted days or nights and I jumped for nights, I figure why not.... I think sleeping during the day will be harder that at home but I sis bring ear plugs. I was able to have dinner with midiwfe Beth and two other midwives... they are hoping for a birth soon but one mayb e a full-term mom that they think just miscarried. No baby heart sounds or placenta sounds and no movement for a day or so. So she should deliver soon or at least come back to the clinic on Monday. They asked if i wanted to come to a birth even if the baby was dead. I was like "I guess so.... somebody needs to be there." That will be difficult to say the least but even if I am not there for the mother I can be there for the midwives right? We will see what happens. That will be hard to say the least. Please pray for that mom and baby and prepare those that will be there when she delivers.

I just saw my fellow nurses off to their first day of orientation, I guess your first day is pretty overwhelming and then you just figure it out by day two or three. The hospital is now hold 40 patients and their families. Should be a busy day for them b/c they are send 7 pts home, going to Cite Soliel (a slum) to do drsg changes, find new people that need treatment and bring them back to the hospital.... I hope to go one day and check that out... don't worry they go with interpreters and a armored gaurd. BTW mom and all my worry worts... all buildings are gaurded by armed guards and the house I am living in has a 225lb Old English Mastiff named Larry! He is such a love to us though! I am off to take a shower and listen to Ray LaMontagne on my phone.... peace!

I am here!!!!!

2010-02-18T22:09:00.003-05:00

Hey all I am in Haiti and had the most amazing day! God worked wonderfully and we made it safely! We arrived to see many US Air Force people which was very comforting! We met John McHoul from Heartline and road in the back of the truck with the 1000 lbs of supplies we brought! We even left some home... We went to what used to be the clinic to unload and then off to the hospital and met the nurses, docs, PT, EMTs, PAs we will be working with. We then went and had dinner: mango!!!! (my favorite!), chicken, rice and beans I ate with mudwife Beth Mchoul and a couple other midwives! So good!!!! Then we came to the house we are staying in... It is a home of missionaries that have gone state side for awhile, we have electricity via generator, cold water (which is fine since it is hot and sticky), I have a queen bed to myself.... needless to say this is all way more cushier than I had imagined and I feel a little guilty. We drove by a few fallen buildings but nothing like the dowtown area that was really horribly destoyed... so we have been told. I saw a woman crocheting in the hospital and told her the purse she was making was "Bel"- beautiful in Hatian Creole. We studied on the plane. I will be working nights with another nurse!!!! So happy about that. They even have a cot for us to sleep if can at night. I don't really start working till tomorrow night but I will go hang out and play with the kids, learn the patients names, and the staff for awhile, I will come back and take a nap and be ready to work at 7pm... sounds familiar huh? Well I am signing off.... love you all!!!!!

Mama's make-up!

2010-02-09T16:21:00.003-05:00

Daisy has a habit of getting into my purse and finding "cream" hand cream and "lips" Burt's Bees... but a few weeks ago she found my lip stain.... that she then stained her hair with... what can I say she is my child after all!

Name Silhouette Pillow 101 class

2010-02-04T22:04:00.005-05:00

You are invited to my first ever "craft class". This is something I have wanted to do forever! Let me explain... In my effort to raise money for Haiti I am trying to think outside of the box and here is one idea:

I am having a class On Wednesday February 10th 7p-9p at my house in Holden, where you will come and learn how and actually make a Name Silhouette Pillow. These make great gifts and are wonderful for teaching little fingers to work with buttons. I will have all the materials for you here and ready. You will cut out the letters to make the name of your choice in the colors you choose. You will learn to sew a button, cut fabrics and use a sewing machine. The price is $30 and you walk away with a great gift. If you are interested e-mail me @ keylimecutie(at)gmail(dot)com. Thanks for you support!

send Sarah to Haiti...

2010-01-27T23:34:00.009-05:00

source

I have been extremely touched by the victims of the Earthquake in Haiti. I have also been touched by the outpouring of help that has reached this country that already had so many needs. From what I am reading it seems that some of the press has moved out (they were taking up half of the small airport) and now aide is flowing in slowly. Kevin and I have prayed, thought, talked and really feel like I should go help in a medical clinic. I became a nurse to help with medical missions but I have not been able to serve in this way up until this point. Kevin and I have such a peace about it and we are looking to find the right avenue for me to take. I have three options that may pan out for me:

1) I have been following the journey of Heartline Ministries as they have turned their women's clinic into a field hospital over the last 10 days. I am touched by them as they were there serving women pre- earthquake with prenatal checkups, parenting education, breastfeeding education and recently a birthing center. These are all passions of mine and I would love to work in their field hospital as they now are taking in over 100 patients every night. I would go to either help in their clinic where they bus people from the slums/tent cities everyday (up to 100 patients a day) or work overnight taking care of patients that have had procedures and need IV antibiotics, IV fluids and/or drsg changes. If I go work with them it may occur within the next 2 weeks or up to a couple months from now.

2) I might go with Dr. Dan (an ENT doctor that is well experienced in 3rd world country medical trips) from Heritage Bible Chapel. He is talking about putting a trip together in the next couple of months.

3) We have a close pastor friend who might be in the works to pull together a couple doctors and nurses he knows and go on a trip in the summer.

I plan to choose one of these options so basically I will be going to Haiti in the next 6 months via one of these three avenues. I had texted Kevin and asked what he thought about me going, his reply was "I don't see a problem with that". After making sure he wasn't being his sarcastic self I was like "really????". I know I will miss the kids enormously but they have the opportunity to spend some time with Mimi and Papa, Grandma and Grandpa, and Kevin will take a couple vacation days, too. Work is fine with giving me a humanitarian leave for 2 weeks (amazing!!!!). So here is how you come in.... I need people to commit to praying for me and the planning I make for this trip. It is not easy to do these things alone and I know having an army behind me will help. Secondly, I need some funding. I have brainstormed a couple of creative ways to help support me and I will get to those.

Whatever money I raise that is over my cost for the trip and supplies I need to buy for the trip I plan to donate to Heartline Ministries since their directors have been there for 20 years I figure they know the best place to put the money and they have no overhead like so many other organizations.

Cora turns 1!!!

2010-01-26T22:10:00.007-05:00

Our sweet Cora turned one today. We celebrated her happy spirit, her never ending joy (well almost), her active energy and life she brings to our family. We also celebrated one year ago when she was born at home with three wonderful midwives, two sisters, Grandma and Grandpa and one special friend keeping us company. We thank God today for the plans he has for our lives. Cora was a big surprise but the best one I have had in my life so far! I hope there are more surprises like this (no more surprise babies though!) in my life... Here is my song for Cora. We had a very small celebration out to dinner and then back to our house with wonderful friends.
Carter and I had made Cora this caterpillar during naptime today.
And a fun new toy for the little one that Carter, Daisy and Mama are having lots of fun with too!

Carter's name suggestions for our new nephew...

2010-01-21T09:27:00.003-05:00

Last night in the car Carter came up with a name suggestion list for our nephew due in March:

Telephone poll
Star light flashlight
Aidan
Frankie
Firefighter

It was rather comical to say the least. And cute to think he thought these names would be awesome!

I was cracking up but not as much as I was later when I saw for the first time Kramer stuck in his tight pants!

Now I know official my sense of humor was squelched at a young age by not being able to enjoy Seinfeld. Must be why Kevin is much funnier that I. And Carter will be too!

Peace...

2010-01-16T00:09:00.005-05:00

source
Peace is the word I have chosen for 2010... and now I am puzzled... peace seems like such an intangible thing to me... knowing that people in Haiti are mourning the lives of loved ones, their homes cars, beds, etc. I want to do something but what? I am trying to remember that every little thing counts! And praying that those that are suffering are experiencing a peace that is beyond anything they have ever known. A peace from above.

TtV

2010-01-11T23:22:00.007-05:00

So my sister bought this cute vintage camera and thought she could take pictures through it's viewfinder but it didn't work with her point and shoot. But with my DSLR it made a wonderful creation.... I love this! The mix of old and new... beautiful!

10 foods I would like to eat more of in 2010...

2010-01-07T16:56:00.003-05:00

~ Brie Goat Cheese
~ Sushi (no bun in the oven or breastfeeding here)
~ Spinach Salad
~ Wild Blue beer
~ Pita Pizzas
~ Dark Chocolate covered Espresso Beans!
~ Smoothies
~ Fresh tomatoes from my garden
~ Homemade pasta
~ Shiraz Canernet

No I need to do a what I want to cook/bake more of in 2010 list!

our 2009 favorites...

2009-12-31T09:00:00.003-05:00

~a visit from Grandma Gedeon for Easter
~listen to Lady GaGa before everyone else did!
~road trip to Myrtle Beach... just our family
~making our own hummus
~the birth of baby Cora at home
~removing chemicals from our home and moving to a more natural lifestyle
~clothesline
~working out for mom and dad
~swimming lessons
~seeing U2 on mama's birthday!
~Carter playing soccer in the fall
~enjoying our share to Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm
~going to the beach with our cousins
~almost burning our house down but not!
~having a successful Sunflower garden
~composting
~making matching Christmas dresses for the girls
~knitting my first pair of socks
~taking pictures in Grandma's garden
~having Aunt Barb and Uncle Barry visit us in Massachusetts
~volunteering at CareNet
~hearing Daisy talk and think out loud
~mama learns how to make Nanny's Christmas tree bread
~seeing all of Carter's projects from school
~visit our friends and family on vacation in NH
~water tubing

Very excited to see what next year has in store!

sledding!

2009-12-29T21:24:00.005-05:00

The weekend before Christmas we got about 6 inches of snow that gave us just enough of a base to go sledding! Kevin ran the snow blower and then the girls and I ran out to enjoy the snow. I pulled the girls in the radio flyer wagon and they giggled, especially Cora!
Then Carter and i tried to have a snow ball fight but it just fell apart.
Then we broke out Grandma's toboggan and went on an adventure out at the sand pile behind our house! It was so much and I am so happy that I am free to this stuff this winter (no bun in the oven here!). Soon I will be snowboarding and trying to teach Carter! I am really looking forward to that!Here's to many more winter adventures!

Christmas Card out- takes:

2009-12-09T16:05:00.002-05:00

and the middle of the shoot Daisy used the potty and did this:

Christmas cookies...

2009-12-08T15:48:00.006-05:00

I had my 4th (or 5th Can't remember) Christmas Cookie Exchange this past Sunday and it was wonderful! I really had such a nice time and was able to swap my Candy Canes and Christmas trees for many different kinds of cookies. They are so yummy. The hardest part is to save some for Christmas and remembering to take pictures! This year was especially wonderful because Em was able to come (after all she is the Cookie Queen!) I did get one picture with her at the very end:

So I leave with many other images of cookies to make you Merry and Bright:

P.S. I am usually not a fan of store bought cookies but nothing is better with cocoa than Candy Cane Joe-Joe's from Trader Joes!

Thanksgiving...

2009-12-08T15:21:00.004-05:00

So recently I have fallen off the band wagon as "the mom who took the most pictures ever". But that's a good thing I think b/c my kids hated it. So this past Thanksgiving the camera came along but I really enjoyed the day and made some moments but didn't capture them all on camera. Here are a few from my parents house...

Carter is becoming that quircky little boy of the family that makes weird faces, farting jokes, and is annoying but soooooooooooooooooo cute and funny at the same time. I guess his humor is growing and we really enjoy it... well most of the time!

This little turkey wore the dress I knitted for Daisy when she was the same age Cora is now. I love this dress for many reasons and I think when they are done with it I will frame it and hang it in their room.

I love that we were able to catch the end of the parade on Tivo at 7pm at night. We don't have Tivo, cable and watch mostly VHS for our kids movies.... yeah things are a bit archaic here but we don't mind.

loving this...

2009-11-26T23:15:00.002-05:00

right now

Giving thanks...

2009-11-26T22:47:00.004-05:00

today was filled iwth many lovley moments to be thankful for...

~Baking yummy Cinnamon Buns for my family and sharing them with friends
~Harvesting our final crop (carrots) from our garden and bringing them to our Thanksgiving table.
~Sending the men folk off to WRHS football game.
~Cuddling on the couch with best friend that has many reasons to be thankful this year!
~Watching the Macy's Day parade pretty much interuppted (thanks to TIVO).
~Watching Daisy lift her legs up in the air while watching the Rockettes for the first time (brought tears to my eyes).
~Helping our friends enjoy this holiday.
~An Easy ride to Boston and walking into my parents house to receive lots of hugs!
~Meeting new friends.
~Being thankful that I didn't have to work even though they thought I should be there (arggh!).
~Pulling into the driveway with three sleepy kids and a quiet house!
~And being able to spend the evening with my hubby who is wonderful!

Wow and that is all in one day... what about the other 364 days of the year?

my Sweet Saturday threads...

2009-11-05T21:55:00.000-05:00

Sweet Saturday by keylimecutie featuring TOMS shoes

moving on!

2009-11-03T17:00:00.003-05:00

Cora is now eating what we have for dinner 50% of the time.... here she finished her whole plate of lasagna... she is so proud of herself!

Halloween...

2009-11-02T15:58:00.008-05:00

Introducing my Peter Pan "Clan"....

Peter PanTinker Bell

TigerLily

The Great Pumpkin Display 2009Carter's "house design"

My personal creation "a real scary pumpkin" Hahaha!

She is standing...

2009-10-20T09:54:00.001-04:00

We found Cora standing in the crib! She is such a big girl and so proud!

Monkey see, Monkey do...

2009-10-20T09:48:00.002-04:00

So here are my three little monkey in their Paul Frank Monkey shirts that I just happened to come accross at Target. I love them! And the kids do too! I had them all were them on my Birthday. It do feel like they are monkeys these days. As Cora tries to steal toys from Daisy, Carter crawls around like Cora and Daisy is now mimicking Carter's whines. It just one big circle. And I am a tired Mama! But blessed to see them grow, play, learn and love each other!

10 things as I turn 28...

2009-09-21T14:53:00.003-04:00

1) Loving the power I have over my bad habits.... this one is hard but I am learning that I am in control of my habits. They are choices as long as I recognize them to be that and make a better choice.

2)I am officially a soccer mom and a mama that has to get up early and send a kid off to school. It seems simple but I feel like I have grown older in the "mama world". More like a promotion.

3)I am so in love with my hubby! We really don't have much time together but the time we spend together I LOVE and think about when we are apart during the day.

4)Still trying to keep my sense of style.... I think when each of my babies turned 6 months or so I have gone out to buy a new wardrobe and reinvent myself... this time I am trying to avoid the reinvention and just be me.

5)I have been organizing my home since it is getting chillier outside and we are spending more days inside.

6)I am dreaming of ways to invest in the lives of some people that need encouragement, love and grace in this period of their life. Just haven't figured how to do that yet.

7)Loving to play with my children... since I have been about 8 months pregnant I have lost the daily routine of playing with my kids... yeah we have fun as we perform our daily duties but I really want to LOVE rolling on the floor and playing on their level.

8)I need to make two strategies: #1 How to survive this winter since last winter just about killed me except I had beautiful baby half way through and that kept me going- this winter, no baby! #2 How I am going to be a better gardener next summer since I sort of planted the garden and then ignored it the rest of the summer since the slugs and blite got to it.

9)I want to get back to the basics of cooking... homemade bread, homemade sauce and meatballs, etc.

10)I want to preserve memories in many different ways... photographs, scrapbooks, and making some home movies!

Carter started Nursery School!

2009-09-19T15:19:00.006-04:00

The morning was kinda chilly and to early for my liking but we were all up and at em' to send this sweet boy off to school for the first day ever! Daisy was kinda upset and just sad to see him go! As we talked about it all week she said we needed to find a "kitty backpack" so she could go too! I just love this picture of her saying good-bye!He is going to the Nursery School program at Whachusett High School where Kevin went to high school and Kevin's dad works as a maintenance guy on the evening shift. We refer to WRHS as Papa's school. The kids are sort of familiar with going there with Papa for security on the weekends and helping in the shelter during the ice storm. Anyway Carter himself was not nervous at all! He was very excited to meet new friends and see his friend Maddie from church who goes there also. We quickly found his cubby and his friend Maddie greeted him and helped him find his name.... so sweet. And then he just fit right in giving us one little wave good-bye. He is getting so big and strong. I just can't even believe it! No tears were shed though, I did keep it all together and enjoyed my girls the rest of the morning. Oh boy are we going to have fun together w/o buddy around... tea parties here I come! And when we picked him up he had lots to say and tried to sing some new songs for us! He really hasn't been much of a singer up to this point so hopefully he'll grow in that area this year. Here are a couple thing he made:

His correspondence tube for Mama and the teacher to send notes in!

And spinnies (as he called them). Thursday was a harder day for me 'cause Kevin wasn't here and I have strep throat but we made it just in time.

kissing cousins...

2009-09-14T17:27:00.003-04:00

a passionate kiss from Carter to Guiliana...and the most priceless reaction ever!
they'll hate me for this in a couple years

Inspired by Time...

2009-09-11T17:46:00.004-04:00

Have you all seen the Time magazine featuring Ted Kennedy? It is beautiful in the sense that the pictures are gorgeous (no I didn't actually read that much of it) but I read the pictures (of course and loved it)... It inspired me to take even better pictures of my children doing everyday things around our house... Soon they will be out of our house and I will want to remember them and the moments they spent here... So here is a small impromptu "photo shoot" of Carter doing one of his favorite things... reading the Sunday comics (just like his daddy) but like me he likes his Mama to read the strip out loud to him... see the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree now does it? And maybe if he becomes a famous politician I will have beautiful pictures to share with the world!

keeping me busy!

2009-09-11T16:47:00.003-04:00

Cora is now crawling (well has been for a couple weeks).... this makes for interesting times at home! She goes all over the place and fast now! She is hard to coral anywhere and even hold. It seems like she just won't sit still! This is making it hard for me to get anything done!

Eric Carle Museum....

2009-08-26T22:45:00.004-04:00

today (wow two post in one day! and this is about something we did today not three weeks ago!) we went with our friends Henry and Nora (and parents) to the Eric Carle Museum in Hardwick... it was a beautiful drive and the kids were pretty good... except Carter at the park but we won't mention it!... I have been wanting to get there for a long while and was really happy we went... the kids loved the movie about "The Very Hungry Catepillar" and they loved the open hallway to run in... there were books everywhere for them to read but the very best part was making our own art to take home... we had a wonderful time!reading area

Daisy and Nora looking at a book together

running in the hall... I love Daisy at the bottom of this one... sometimes I think we should never fo out into public... but then we do and we all survive!

learning how mixing color make new colors... even Cora liked this exhibit!

Daisy loved the painting

and the turtle she found in the play area

look who's sitting up!

Daisy found the Black sheep from "Brown Bear, Brown Bear"

the boys are being some sort of Super Hero!

All in all it was a wonderful day but now I am all blogged out... Peace!

Ohio....

2009-08-24T23:32:00.007-04:00

We had a wonderful visit out to Ohio to go to My cousin Brian's Wedding Reception... and to visit with close and extended family! It was a wonderful time... here are some pictures...

We went to the Cleveland Zoo with Aunt Barb, Aunt Cyndy, Melissa and her boyfriend Mark... we even went to this awesome dinosaur exhibit.... it was like a walking into Jurassic Park... well sort of but not so scary....

Cora at her first Cheerios!And was held by lots of family!

We went for ice cream....Picked corn from Great Grandma's garden...

Took some pretty pictures...
but most importantly we hung out with this special lady....the kids were great for the ride out... just a few new car toys and they were fine.... you just never know but it was definitely doable... we will have to do it again!

inspiring....

2009-08-24T16:47:00.003-04:00

love this because you never know what you'll find on Cora's bum!.. Pamper... BumGenius.... Gdiaper... she even wore one of Daisy's pull-up the last two hours home from Ohio.... Oops! needed to do laundry...

a day at sea....

2009-08-10T14:41:00.003-04:00

Kevin and I had the chance to get away for a night and do on Uncle Rick and Aunt Wendy's 36ft sail boat... It is down in Fairhaven, MA and we took a day sail across Buzzard's Bay... the wind was light and we cruised at a slow speed (our mas was about 5.9 knots)...

Kevin was captain and steered for a little bit! It was soooooooooo relaxing and amazing! Here Uncle Rick and Aunt Wendy are working as team to get the sails in...
It was a wonderful time and we actually look like we belong in this summer season (ie. we have a slight tan!).... Thank you once again Wendy and Rick! We really enjoyed the day!

July 4th...

2009-07-23T22:13:00.005-04:00

preparing a special red, white and blue treat:

fireworks in a small town:

a special Birthday:

a visit to the park:
fireworks in the big city:

still kickin'....

2009-07-01T21:52:00.003-04:00

I made this for Jen Greene (now Reynoso) years ago... I think I actually mailed it out to her in Idaho for Christmas in 2002... I know because I remember my new patient husband letting me order a whole sack of buckwheat hulls on-line for those pillows (shhhhh.... I still have some in the basement)... David (Jen's lovely husband) so kindly sent me this picture last week of her traveling with her Cowgirl pillow to Texas... so cute! So what "Sarah favorites" do you have kickin' around still?

Strawberry jam: from field to jar to table...

2009-06-29T09:08:00.005-04:00

a princess party...

2009-06-25T15:51:00.004-04:00

Daisy was able to attend her friend Princess Kylie's birthday party this past weekend.... I got her all dressed up which she is enjoying more and more everyday!... She was glued to my leg thinking I was going to leave her at Steph (Steph watches her while I sleep during the day)... Needless to say we had a wonderful time and Daisy was very pretty.... since the party she has had lots of fun making "printet" (princess) art from all the stickers she got... and we have been praying hard for Kylie and her big brothers as they adjust to life back with there mom.... and we are praying for Steph and Wes as they adjust to a quiet home after 10months of loving and caring for these children... this is definitely a time to model the grace and love of Christ but it is not easy! Please join us in covetting them inyour prayers!

Ocean City trip

2009-06-23T11:02:00.005-04:00

We went down a few weeks ago to visit my brother and his wife and their kiddos. We went to the beach two days in a row (what a treat!). Here are a couple pictures of our time on the beach:

best buddies

Daisy and "GanPA" Grandpa
look how big Cora is getting!
twins Auntie Tina and Genevieve!
Ladder Ball tournement

rides on the boardwalk
Carter and me on the Ferris Wheel- no fear here!

My Dad built a fire and we had yummy smores'.... but they sure were messy!

Carter turns 4!

2009-06-21T21:23:00.005-04:00

Today was a rainy but very exciting day! Carter turned four and we had a sheep party!
Carter (and our whole family) have fallen in love with all things sheep due to my parents buying us a CSA share to the Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm. So the day was filled with a sheep hunt to help Little Bo-Peep (aka. Daisy) find her sheep:

Carter opening some AWESOME gifts: (thanks everyone)And sheep cupcakes:

the sheep movies:

balloons:

and family:

all in all we had a beautiful day! We celebrated our little guy getting big! And celebrated the father's in our lives.

Here you go Keith and Al! I updated the blog.... just for you!

big eater...

2009-06-10T21:53:00.003-04:00

We started Cora on some cereal tonight....
I really don't look forward to this because it can be time consuming but she really stares at us when we eat... and she is ready to cut down a feeding which means... time for solids!

knowing that my other two couldn't eat just cereal I added some bananas...
she hated the bananas (me too!)...

fingers are much better!

Cinco de Mayo

2009-05-27T23:20:00.004-04:00

(I know this is old)

Our biblestudy celebrated Cinco de Mayo with dinner and Cerveza (with limes of course!)... we had wonderful time of fellowship and fun!... and then we got to biblestudy! we had 20+ people in our house... for those of you who know our house you know how much of a party that was! Love my awesome $2 banner?... I loved it against my wall color.... saving it for next year!Daisy and Nora are 2 and learning to share together!... now that is something to celebrate!

Bumbo

2009-05-27T15:42:00.002-04:00

Cora is getting soooooooooooo big! And so fast! I love the Bumbo becuase it gets her up and in the action with the rest of us. Daisy has been interacting with Cora so much more recently and the Bumbo has helped this.

I have been a "BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD" blogger

2009-05-27T15:03:00.003-04:00

Hang tight while I try to catch you up in the happenings of our little family:

We spent a whole day our at the Shearing Day for the MVFF... for Christmas my parents have given us a Spring 2009 CSA share to the Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm (MVFF)... basically we get a share of the wool from their spring shearing in the form of ready to dye yarn... I have been told it is expensive, beautiful yarn... this whole idea is from the genius brain of Susie the fiber farm's farmer/modern day shepard... she has a blog and this spring we watch anxiously while the goats were having their babies and now the sheep are... they even have a lamb cam set up so you can view the nursery... our visit to the farm (which actually moves to the Hudson Valley for the winter) was fabulious...
their shearer was a wrestler in the past... he was amazing... our kids loved the sheep getting their "hair cut"
baby goats enjoy the shelter from the visitors...Daisy was not to sure of the sheep and goats at first but by the end of the day all she wanted to do was watch them get their hair cut..Grandpa showing Giuliana and Carter the goats (yes even D&J and the family came up for the visit)
some of their beautiful yarn was for sale... I snagged up some sock yarn for a small summer project to carry around with me...there were demonstrators their showing how the weave with yarn and spin yarn from the wool...

we had a mini party for Guiles and Genna since we missed out on their Birthdays...
Carter chased the chickens and finally petted one....
and this little girl found her thumb earlier that week but at shearing day she declared it her best soothing tool (besides Mama of course!)

a scary thing...

2009-04-30T22:42:00.003-04:00

when you are missing a cloth diaper and you can't remember if you used it or not... after embarrassing yourself by e-mail people to see where your missing diaper is (soiled or not) you find it rolled up into a ball in the diaper holder where it belongs..... not sure if the whole situation was scary for me because my brain just couldn't think where it could be or just the thought of baby poo sitting in Kevin's aunts lovely bedroom under the bed or something!... or being stuck under a seat in the van in 90degree heat... yuck!... other than that we are LOVING cloth diapers and just installed a clothes line so we can dry them in the breeze and sun...

Rebekah's Junior Prom...

2009-04-29T16:22:00.002-04:00

Sorry things are slow here but since I have been back to work it seems everything is going rather slow... Just not enough hours in the day... in a revolt against feeling like i just can't do it all I woke up on Friday after sleeping all day while my Mom and Dad watched the kids for me... I decided quickly to give into the beautiful day and head to Boston to help pretty this girls up (not that she needs it or anything)... after being stuck on the Pike at the toll in Red Sox vs. Yankees traffic I made it there just in time to play make-up artist.... oh what fun it was and the kids loved it (Daisy even got a lipstick kiss on her cheek)... throw another sister and some fish and chips and a stop at a work related BBQ Kevin had and then a quick trip home... I regretted it while garage saling at 7:30 the next morning but hey this only happens a few times right?... I wish I could find the cute picture of her getting ready for my senior prom... she was eight and had dressed up for the occasion.... my how time flies!

for the love of Pyrex...

2009-04-29T16:01:00.002-04:00

a new Rutland yard sale find...
someday I will have a whole set...
once my Brimfield budget can handle it!

While watching Babe...

2009-04-14T15:56:00.002-04:00

Carter: "Mama I want two dogs!"

Me: "Go call Dad and tell him." (this is always my response to the dog thing because I would get one in a heart beat but Kevin is not really a dog person and says Carter has to be 8)

Carter: "But Mama I want two dogs for the sheep."

Me: "What sheep? We don't have any sheep?"

Carter: "Well why not?"

Me: "Now you really need to call Dad!"

a little bummed....

2009-04-13T15:38:00.002-04:00

I am slightly upset that I am going back to work the same day as Dunkins' official Iced Coffee Day (the 21st)... iced coffee is a sure sign of summer for me and going back to work just in time for summer is totally NOT cool! But just an FYI all 16oz iced coffees 50cents and 10% of the proceeds go to Homes for our Troops. Honestly I think they should go toward support groups for coffee-holics!

Easter Celebrations

2009-04-12T21:25:00.005-04:00

we had a wonderful Easter weekend with my Grandma visiting... on Friday we colored eggs and made cutout cookies... this morning we started with the kids finding their Easter baskets... they both got rain boots that we desperately need this time of year...Daisy *HEARTS* candy....
and today we all had Easter dinner with my family... I tried to keep things simple but beautiful... it was however freezing today but thank the Lord there was the perfect amount of sunshine... it made for some wonderful pictures... we did make it outside for an Easter egg hunt... Daisy's dress was a remake of a dress I wore when I was two... it was given to me by my mom and it had a stain on the front that I couldn't get out... so I cut it apart and made a new dress using the cross-stitched birds in the new dress... I love the way it came out and I love the color because it draws out her blue eyes... we took a couple four generation pictures... I love this one! all in all we had a wonderful time and were sad to see grandma go!... At least we will see her in August just in time for home-grown corn.... yum-o!

what I have been up to...

2009-04-02T21:08:00.002-04:00

I have been working on our new laptop and it is confusing because I am not sure where to keep my photos... so i haven't been blogging as much... so I have been a little MIA... I have also been working on my maternity leave to-do list (I go back to work in less than 3 weeks)... and distracted by this....

Before:After:
airbrushing in photoshop.... so much fun! I am taking a photo editing course through SisTV and I mostly want to work on lighting but I am learning way more than I ever thought and I have airbrushed myself to have flawless skin!... I love the process and love looking younger but don't worry I won't waste to much time on this because I am off to scrapbook for the weekend with Marissa! Yeah!

I just don't understand...

2009-03-29T22:50:00.005-04:00

How do kids learn that pink is for girls and blue is for boys? I have never told Carter this but he definitely knows it... I bought these magnets at Target and LOVE them so much!... we are huge Mr/Mrs fans in this house... so we put these up the other week and the next day Carter organized them "Mr"s on on side and "Mrs"s on the other... all without my encouragement... the only thing I am wondering is how did he learn this and why is Mr Messy with the woman?... (Even though I know he is pink)...

the sunshine is making me....

2009-03-27T16:02:00.001-04:00

lazy....

happy...

thankful...

creative...

at peace...

hopeful...

and ready to tackle our yard in the morning....

letting it hang out....

2009-03-25T16:04:00.002-04:00

Cora often has a hard time waking up for her last feeding of the day... here she is still sleeping after trying to get her to wake up... I put her down to get my own midnight snack... and came back to find that chunky thigh hanging out... (she'll hate me for this when she is older but I also hate going to bed after 11:30 everyday!)

we are home...

2009-03-23T15:03:00.004-04:00

after a 10 day vacation to Myrtle beach with a few little detours there and back we are home...

however we are little overwhelmed with laundry and an empty fridge... I know most of you understand...

if you love Worcester..

2009-03-11T11:52:00.001-04:00

Please go here and vote for your favs!

Fondue Fun!!! (and pain)

2009-03-08T21:48:00.003-04:00

a week ago we had planned a fondue lunch for our dear friend Jennifer to kick off her 40th birthday month!... I had planned and gathered everything for cheese, oil and chocolate fondue... when it came for the big day I knew that open flames on a table with toddlers was dangerous and said a little prayer for our safety... well God answered that prayer because the dish the oil was is broke right after I carried it to the table... thank God we hadn't lit the sterno yet... the only injury was a fairly bad burn to my right index finger... I was so grateful that our house wasn't burning down that I really never felt any pain till later that night... my finger, though it has been a bit of a handicap with three children to get dressed and into car seats, is healing very well and we are still very grateful for God's hand in the whole thing! that night I asked Kevin how I was going to sleep in my bed knowing that we could have been homeless that night... he simply stated that I had to realize that God really does want us here and to open our home to others because He could have taken it away in that moment... I drifted off to sleep thinking of the summer and our plans for entertaining, growing our garden and watching the kids play outside.... a week later I am still shocked by how shaken I was but God really blew my mind... here are few pictures of the chocolate fondue experience which was the most fun!

a new outfit..

2009-03-08T21:29:00.004-04:00

I just had to splurge(used a gift certificate we had so not a true splurge) and get this new spring outfit for Cora because I am kinda sick of all the pink... she wasn't the happiest model but she still looks supper cute!

finding spring....

2009-02-27T17:07:00.004-05:00

new inspiration

daffodils

50 degree temps

a new style

anti-snow ballet slippers

and smiles from this little face

Late post: President's day at the Botanical Gardens

2009-02-26T21:56:00.003-05:00

On President's Day we went to the Botanical Gardens at Roger Williams Zoo with Mimi and Papa and Uncle Scottie...

it was so nice to be in a temperature that you didn't need a coat and felt the sun on your face...

Daddy even kept his glasses on the whole time... Daisy and Carter like the water and the fish...
I liked the carnivorous plants and Orchids... Daddy like the tall cacti... then we went and rode on the old carousel...
it was really cool and such and enjoyable day...

Daisy turns 2!

2009-02-24T15:14:00.007-05:00

We celebrated Daisy's birthday all day with friends and family.

It started with pancakes with Jelly( her favorite food right now) on it. She was a very unhappy Birthday girl to start out with so she didn't end up eating much...But by the time the Cupcake Party came she was very excited and had a wonderful time!

Grandma read "If You Give A Cat A Cupcake" to the little girls and Carter and Henry...

Then they colored cupcakes and added stickers and jewels...

Then we ate Mac and Cheese and PB and J sandwiches...
Cora was dressed for the occasion in her cupcake shirt thanks to Marissa!

Then we decorated our cupcakes with bright frosting colors and sprinkles

We sang to Daisy and then dug into those long awaited cupcakes!
We finished the day at Mimi and Papa's play Wii with Uncle Sean and Aunt Emmie... that was loads of fun but we were exhausted by the end of the day! It was really nice to spend the day with Daisy and give her some attention. She has been really working us hard with all her two year old antics but today was a day to look at the positive and she how cute she really is... she was well behaved and enjoyed every minute of her party! Something I never expected. Which brings me back to having the highest hopes for my children and not having fear that the bad days will last forever... I have hope that there is good to come tomorrow! Now we are off to start potty training!

Happy heart Day....

2009-02-14T22:57:00.004-05:00

here are some "love"ly images for your Valentine's Day

Carter and I made heart sugar cookies for bible study a couple weeks ago... they were yummy!

love the fact that he figured the easiest way to frost the cookie was to dunk it!

today we made a healthy Valentine treat- Watermelon Popsicles...

taste better than you think!

and for dinner I made Strawberry Filled French toast with sausage and OJ (for dinner)

since I slept till almost 10 this morning and missed breakfast altogether... everyone was very forgiving and enjoyed their Valentine breakfast for dinner!

someone's almost two!!!

2009-02-12T16:14:00.003-05:00

Can you tell?

This photo shoot was hard and long... very little things keep this girl still, let alone happy. She is a little crazy and has her own mind. She likes to do exactly what you are telling her not to do. I snapped a couple good ones and I am busy editing them... then I want to get them printed before she is a year older and much better behaved. Then what would be the point of all the hassle for a good 2 year old photo shoot?!?!?!

we like our girls pink and polka-dotted...

2009-02-11T15:35:00.001-05:00

future scrapbooker!

2009-02-07T14:52:00.003-05:00

Daisy got a kick out of watch my Cricut cut out letters last night... Marissa came over and we spent another (yes, the third in a row) Friday night scrapbooking... this time we were at our house since i just felt like staying home with the baby and it was cold!... Daisy got her first taste of scrapbooking and loved watching the Cricut do its magic!... I finished some journeling and did4 pages... not to bad since I had two nursing breaks!

back to creating...

2009-02-06T12:34:00.002-05:00

I am trying to get back into my creative habits... first order of business is finishing Cora's blanket... here I am nursing the babe and knitting... Kevin thinks I am crazy!