Catching a Snow Day Nap

The Sickies

As in most households across America, we have been facing a case of the sickies this past week.

Last Wednesday when I brought Devin to the Pediatrician for an asthma check, we found out that not only was his oxygen level a little low (95%) but that he also had a double ear infection to the point that his ear drums were nearly bursting. The child never complained or had a fever!!! Of all the ear infections we have gone through (and trust me there have been A LOT) this has never occurred! I had noticed (off and on) that Devin would tug at an ear, but never the same one~ now I see why, or say "huh? What did you say mommy?" but I really didn't see a need to take him to the doctors. Now I know better! I felt like such a bad mommy! Anyway, he seems to be doing better now that he is on antibiotics and doubled up on his asthma meds for the remainder of winter.

Sunday night I started coughing and when I went to bed I noticed that my chest hurt A LOT and I was having a hard time breathing. This was still bothering me Monday so I went to the doctor's. I have costrochondritis. That's basically a big fancy name for an upper respiratory infection of the breastbone and/or ribs area. Laying down makes the chest hurt more and breathing harder. I started a steroid dose pack yesterday and am already feeling a lot better this afternoon. Plus I have been resting a lot by sitting up in the recliner~ that definitely helps!

Erick has had an off and on cold over a week now. We had thought it was gone but on Sunday he started coughing again too. He is still coughing and all that other "fun" stuff (pleghm, dizziness, and tiredness).

Erick and I have been home resting yesterday and today. Tomorrow is Erick's day off and it looks like Devin and I will have a snow day so that will be a bonus day of rest!

*Here's to hoping the sickies leave us soon!*

Another Recipe

Sorry for all the recipe posts lately, but this one is definitely worth acknowledging! I came across this recipe on Babycenter's "Cooking for Your Family" board.

This Apple Chicken is so sweet smelling, just like an apple pie! I wish you could smell it cooking right now, through my laptop! Anyway, here is the recipe:

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts or you can use tenders if you like smaller portions
1 can frozen apple juice concentrate or about 1 to 1 1/4 cup 100% apple juice
1 Tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
2 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup water

Preheat the oven to 425 deg f
Place the chicken in a glass baking dish in a single layer.
In a small saucepan bring the apple juice, honey, cinnamon, and lemon juice to a boil. Mix the cornstarch with about 1/2 cup of water; add to the apple juice mixture to thicken. Pour the apple juice mixture over the chicken to coat well. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 45-60 minutes or until the chicken juices run clear.

You can also peel, core, and slice some tarts apples and add them to the pan just before baking.

Oh you are in for a serious treat if you make this one, plus the kiddos love this one too!!!!

That was a Hit!

Tonight I decided to try a recipe that I saw Rachael Ray make on my last snow day. I knew this one was going to be a hit with both of my boys, and man was I right! I definitely recommend this one for families with little ones at home. EVERYONE will love it!

Its an easy recipe to follow. For the most part, I followed the recipe (I am notorious for changing up recipes). I used all ingredients that I had on hand, so that meant ground turkey instead of sirloin, and all sharp cheddar cheese with pizza cheese blend on top instead of swiss.

Here is what the final product looked like:
Devin told me, "Good Job Mommy! You a good cook!" He ate it right up.
Final Note * I am not a fan of mustard and found the mustard in the meatballs a bit overpowering (although no one else noticed) so next time I will use 2 Tablespoons of mustard instead of 1/4 cup.

~

Survival

Holy Smokes!

My boy has grown a full inch in the last week or two!!!

Now, at 2 years 8 months and 2 weeks old,

Devin Michael is

3 feet 3 inches tall
36 pounds

Not so little anymore....
~

Devin-ism....with a warning!

May contain TMI for some...... :)

This morning as I was getting ready for work, I grabbed my feminine products from the drawer in the bathroom. Devin asked me, "What's that Mommy? Cheese?"

(As in string cheese I guess, haha!)

So I told him, "No, its not cheese. Its a woman thing." Not really knowing how to explain that to a 2 year old!!! He accepts this answer just fine and off he goes.

As we were leaving I double check the lock and he says to me, "You need to go back and get something Mommy?"

"Nope I have everything Devin."

"You have your phone Mommy?"

"Yep."

"Your woman thing?"

"Yep, all set Devin. Let's go!" as I am chuckling and grinning....my little goober!!!

I am glad someone is looking out for me!!! I just wonder....how many people at his school now know I brought my woman things with me today???
~

Catch-Up

Did you miss me?

~I am still here. I have been busy. We have had company this week. My 19 year old cousin, Hana, is here spending some time during her winter break.

~On Wednesday we had a snow day. There wasn't a whole lot of snow, but the timing of the snow was poor and there was an issue with ice/freezing rain too. We (me, Devin, and Hana) stayed in relaxed, and played all day. Poor Erick had to work outside in the "loveliness" of New England winter.

~ Hana came to my school and volunteered her time in a 4th grade classroom on Thursday and Friday. She also offered to babysit Devin this evening (Friday) so we took her up on it and went on a child-less trip to BJ's and then out for an ice cream (it's only 25* out tonight!). What a romantic date, huh? Anyway, Hana enjoyed herself and Devin LOVED having her here (as did we). She may make another appearance during her spring break. It's a win/win for all of us!!!


~We continue to work on Devin's potty training. He is doing alright. At school he has been having 1 to 2 accidents a day, so far. At home one day he will be dry all day and then the next he will have a few accidents. It will all fully click in due time I guess!


~Here is a picture of my boy. (Don't mind my mess in the background or the quality- it was taken on my cell phone!)~cheese!

This is what long week-ends are all about....

This morning we had the chance to spend some leisure time together. It was a lot of fun to just hang out and not to be in a rush to get anywhere.

Devin and Erick were playing on the floor. It was so cute that Devin was copying Erick~ he wants to do everything that his Daddy does!! He just adores him!
It looks like they are telling secrets or something here!!!
Then Devin made this "present" for me out of his new Bristle Blocks he got from Grandma and Papa for Christmas.
My silly, goofy boy!!!!
~