Wow! So t has been over a year since I have written anything - not good! Today's post is about me... not my crazy boys.
A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I am thrilled that it has been caught early thanks to my yearly mammogram, but at the same time scared, sad, frustrated to name a few of the emotions. I am also very tired of having surgeries. I thought the 5 major abdominal surgeries in less than 3 years had me covered for a very long time... I guess that is not to be the case. I have had genetic testing done (negative), and MRI to check to see if there is anything else (negative) - both of these things are great! As I mentioned it has been caught early and is small - it is slightly invasive - but unless the surgery shows something more dramatic we are doing pretty well. At this time I have seen two surgeons and selected one, I have seen the radiologist & the medical oncologist. The plan is to have a lumpectomy next Thursday - I have to go in at 9:00 am, the first procedure will be at 11:00 and surgery will begin around 12:00-12:30. Assuming all goes well and they get everything I will begin radiation around the beginning of October and I will have to do that every weekday for 6.5 weeks. We will also meet with the medical oncologist again 2 weeks after the surgery to discuss what the surgery has discovered and what options are best for me taking into consideration the hepatic adenoma I had removed from my liver. Ideally they would like me to be on tamoxifen for 5 years. I meet with pre-op on Friday then we should be good to go next Thursday. The surgery will be a outpatient procedure. It is going to be a long road, I am so thankful for my mother who is amazing and helping us out, to friends and family and for all the prayers and positive thoughts.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Friday, June 21, 2013
So sweet!
In all the craziness that is our daily lives there are moments, brief glimpses if you will that we are doing something right... below is a message from a substitute teacher for Evan's Sunday School class last week...
I was in Evan's SS class yesterday and I just wanted to
share with you how incredibly kind and loving he was. We had a special needs child, Sean, in class
yesterday. Evan reached out to him
several times. It was really
amazing! Very special. You would have been so proud of him. I was for sure! And he said a precious prayer!
Hope your summer is off to a good start!
Kelly
On Wednesday nights early last year one of Avery's teachers remarked how sweet & caring he was - there were some of the children who would just cry and cry because their parents had left and Avery would take them toys and talk to them to try and make them happy.
There are also moments between the boys that just make my heart melt. Today I asked Evan to help Owen get his underwear & shorts on - Evan did that and pointed out the Avengers to Owen and Owen started shooting his Iron Man bullets and Evan just started giggling - so fun to watch!
I am so very proud (not all the time, but much of it) of the people they are becoming!
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
The things they say...
Evan "Mommy when I grow up I want to a Lego expert!"
Had to laugh yesterday... I took the boys to see a $1 movie and there was a life size poster of the new Lone Ranger & Tonto and Avery points to Tonto and says "Look! There is Captain Jack Sparrow!". They haven't seen the movies, but they have met Captain Jack Sparrow at Disney the last two years and they have gotten on stage with him to learn to be pirates. Thought it was hysterical that in different make-up, a different character he as still recognizable.
Evan's conversation this morning with Alex...
June 7
Had to laugh yesterday... I took the boys to see a $1 movie and there was a life size poster of the new Lone Ranger & Tonto and Avery points to Tonto and says "Look! There is Captain Jack Sparrow!". They haven't seen the movies, but they have met Captain Jack Sparrow at Disney the last two years and they have gotten on stage with him to learn to be pirates. Thought it was hysterical that in different make-up, a different character he as still recognizable.
Evan's conversation this morning with Alex...
June 7
Avery
loves to help me in the kitchen this morning he pushed down the press
on the French press coffee for me - he remembered he had to do it very
slowly. When he was done I told him he had done a great job and that he
was a good helper. He said "I actually is". Confidence is obviously not a
problem for him ;o)
At
dinner the boys did not like the zucchini fries but couldn't get enough
celery... who knew? Ya never know what will happen at mealtime.
February 28 via mobile
So sad awhen a trip to Trader Joe's by yourself seems like a vacation.
So impressed with my hubby, Alex Lind. I left him with three boys and come home to discover he had made green eggs and ham to celebrate Dr Seuss' birthday.
Evan "God is with me everywhere I go"
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Oatmeal pancakes
Oatmeal Pancakes
1.25 c rolled oats (I like the thick Bob's Red Mill ones)
1.25 c milk (any type - cow, almond...)
Soak oats in milk for 20 mins
½ c wheat flour
1 T dark brown sugar
1 t baking powder
½ t salt
I typically sprinkle in some cinnamon
Mix
1 T butter
1 eggs
1/4 c applesauce (without sugar)
Mix oat mixture with dry mixture then add in butter &
eggs/applesauce.
Use about ¼ c of mixture on hot griddle or pan.
I love to add fresh blueberries, apples and/or red raspberries with
this or in the winter I will use dried craisins or dried blueberries and rehydrate
them and add them – also great to make an cinnamon apple topping for them. I also typically chop up walnuts and include those - the boys even love them in there. I
love these even plain
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Avery "Mommy, I love you all the way to Pluto. That's a dog." Ha! Even though my poor little guy is sick and miserable, he is still making me laugh.
Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a Super Spy! Evan told me as he dressed himself all in black - because you know that is what Super Spies wear!
Evan today in the van talking to Avery... Avery can you please sing a different song. You are annoying me! I had a hard time not laughing out loud!
Ok... in theory... Evan is set for next year. He will be attending IB Cotswold Elementary! He will be provided transportation. I am to receive letter #4 stating all of this. Now all of this may have been avoided if they would have listened to me when I asked did I really need to register him due to the fact he has been registered with CMS since he was two because of speech... and they insisted yes it was different... but that is why he had 2 numbers... gees people! Anyway thankful that it is hopefully resolved now and we can enjoy this wonderful holiday weekend!
So the holiday weekend wasn't so wonderful... Evan got sick late Saturday afternoon and was coughing the entire night, Owen woke up screeching in pain - Alex starting packing us up around 2:00 am, but we got Owen quieted down so we stayed. Alex attended the sunrise service with his father in the rain while the boys and I stayed in our room. When he returned he, Avery & Owen went to hunt for eggs in Laura, Bill, Diana and Tim's room. Then they continued on and went to brunch while Evan and I stayed in the room and watched tv/read. Owen climbed up on the bed with Evan at one point and I said he needed to get down and Evan told him that he didn't want to make Owen sick - sooooo sad & soooooo sweet!
We have cancelled part of our vacation - we were going to go down to String Break then on to Disney World then to south Florida to see family & Ellen. We have already cancelled String Break due to the doctor agreeing with us that the dirt/dust would be horrible for the boys right now who are all fighting this nasty virus. Plus the thought of having a night in a tent (or 3) like we had in Winston-Salem is terrifying!
Wanting so much to make this a special day for Owen - it isn't every day that you turn 2, but with everyone sick, we will just have to see what all we can do. We were going to have a family plus a friend party on Saturday and I am thinking we will need to postpone it also. I have explained to Evan we may need to cancel it, but that we will still do it - just at a later date.
Owen is potty training - yesterday he manged to go poopy in the potty TWICE! We celebrated with chocolate ;o) The things in life that excite us these days - ha!8u'
Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a Super Spy! Evan told me as he dressed himself all in black - because you know that is what Super Spies wear!
Evan today in the van talking to Avery... Avery can you please sing a different song. You are annoying me! I had a hard time not laughing out loud!
Evan how are you feeling?
good
are you up to going to karate tonight with daddy?
no, i am sick - cough, cough
Just now… he saw the box from Nana that is now empty and asked what
had been in it. I told him the vitamins she had sent and some books. He asked
what kind of books and I replied a few for me to read… then he got all poutyand asked if she had sent him any… I said not this time… and he replied, but
she always send me books… why not this time???
Ok... in theory... Evan is set for next year. He will be attending IB Cotswold Elementary! He will be provided transportation. I am to receive letter #4 stating all of this. Now all of this may have been avoided if they would have listened to me when I asked did I really need to register him due to the fact he has been registered with CMS since he was two because of speech... and they insisted yes it was different... but that is why he had 2 numbers... gees people! Anyway thankful that it is hopefully resolved now and we can enjoy this wonderful holiday weekend!
So the holiday weekend wasn't so wonderful... Evan got sick late Saturday afternoon and was coughing the entire night, Owen woke up screeching in pain - Alex starting packing us up around 2:00 am, but we got Owen quieted down so we stayed. Alex attended the sunrise service with his father in the rain while the boys and I stayed in our room. When he returned he, Avery & Owen went to hunt for eggs in Laura, Bill, Diana and Tim's room. Then they continued on and went to brunch while Evan and I stayed in the room and watched tv/read. Owen climbed up on the bed with Evan at one point and I said he needed to get down and Evan told him that he didn't want to make Owen sick - sooooo sad & soooooo sweet!
We have cancelled part of our vacation - we were going to go down to String Break then on to Disney World then to south Florida to see family & Ellen. We have already cancelled String Break due to the doctor agreeing with us that the dirt/dust would be horrible for the boys right now who are all fighting this nasty virus. Plus the thought of having a night in a tent (or 3) like we had in Winston-Salem is terrifying!
Wanting so much to make this a special day for Owen - it isn't every day that you turn 2, but with everyone sick, we will just have to see what all we can do. We were going to have a family plus a friend party on Saturday and I am thinking we will need to postpone it also. I have explained to Evan we may need to cancel it, but that we will still do it - just at a later date.
Owen is potty training - yesterday he manged to go poopy in the potty TWICE! We celebrated with chocolate ;o) The things in life that excite us these days - ha!8u'
Sweet Potato Oven Fries with Avocado Dip
Sweet Potato Oven Fries with Avocado Dip
(This is AMAZING!!! Can't wait to make it again)
Ingrid Hoffmann
Total Time:
45 min
Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min
Yield:
6 servings
Ingrid Hoffmann
Total Time:
45 min
Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min
Yield:
6 servings
Sweet Potato Fries:
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, cut into 4-inch long and 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick fries (I used one purple and one red - so pretty & yummy!)
2 tablespoons olive oil, or more as needed (I just poured a little in - enough to coat)
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon chili powder (I used chipotle chili powder)
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
Coarse ground rock salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Avocado Dip, recipe follows
Directions
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside. (I did them on my Pampered Chef large stone - no foil - and highly recommend this as some of the reviewers said theirs got soggy on the foil)
Place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl and toss with olive oil until the sweet potatoes are coated. Add the paprika, chili powder, coriander, salt, and pepper; toss to distribute evenly.
Arrange the coated fries in a single layer on the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes on the lower rack until the sweet potatoes soften. Transfer the pan to the upper rack of the oven and bake 10 minutes longer, until fries are crispy. Serve with Avocado Dip.
Avocado Dip:
1 avocado, see Cook's Note* (I used 1.5 of the small ones)
1/3 cup mayonnaise (I used organic - may try with Greek yogurt next time)
1/3 cup cream cheese
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped.
2 scallions, white and light green part only, chopped (I forgot to add these - it was a bit crazy here!)
1 lime, juiced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Place the avocado, mayonnaise, cream cheese, jalapeno, scallions, and lime juice into a blender or small food processor. Blend for 1 minute or until you have a smooth paste. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve as a dip for the Sweet Potato Oven Fries.
* Cook's Note: We find that Hass avocados make the smoothest and best tasting Avocado dip.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ingrid-hoffmann/sweet-potato-oven-fries-with-avocado-dip-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, cut into 4-inch long and 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick fries (I used one purple and one red - so pretty & yummy!)
2 tablespoons olive oil, or more as needed (I just poured a little in - enough to coat)
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon chili powder (I used chipotle chili powder)
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
Coarse ground rock salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Avocado Dip, recipe follows
Directions
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside. (I did them on my Pampered Chef large stone - no foil - and highly recommend this as some of the reviewers said theirs got soggy on the foil)
Place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl and toss with olive oil until the sweet potatoes are coated. Add the paprika, chili powder, coriander, salt, and pepper; toss to distribute evenly.
Arrange the coated fries in a single layer on the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes on the lower rack until the sweet potatoes soften. Transfer the pan to the upper rack of the oven and bake 10 minutes longer, until fries are crispy. Serve with Avocado Dip.
Avocado Dip:
1 avocado, see Cook's Note* (I used 1.5 of the small ones)
1/3 cup mayonnaise (I used organic - may try with Greek yogurt next time)
1/3 cup cream cheese
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped.
2 scallions, white and light green part only, chopped (I forgot to add these - it was a bit crazy here!)
1 lime, juiced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Place the avocado, mayonnaise, cream cheese, jalapeno, scallions, and lime juice into a blender or small food processor. Blend for 1 minute or until you have a smooth paste. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve as a dip for the Sweet Potato Oven Fries.
* Cook's Note: We find that Hass avocados make the smoothest and best tasting Avocado dip.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ingrid-hoffmann/sweet-potato-oven-fries-with-avocado-dip-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)