Devanie.com

We woke up at 6:55 am which is about normal for around here. I had a friend that planned to go berry picking and we decided we would go together. Wouldn’t you know. I ended up going by myself, 3 kids, pregnant and alone. But don’t let all that fool you. We really did have a great time. We got out of the house at an amazing 8:23 AM and headed to southern CT to a cute farm with and Apple Picking orchard, a petting/feeding farm, an old county store and bakery, a snack stop, florist, pumpkins to choose from and loads of fun.

First we headed to the main building to look around. I snapped pics of the kids with some of the pumpkins. Then we bought our tickets into the farm. Threw quarters into the food dispensing machines and were on our way letting all the feedable animals lick dried corn feed out of our hands. We started with the goats, Sierra was timid at first and had to watch me do it. She was afraid they would bite her. So I showed her how to do it. Hailey was next and Sierra soon followed. Zach just smiled from his stroller that I let him standup in – It’s just perfect for my little boy. He can stand and be active, yet he’s not getting into everything and since he doesn’t walk yet and the carseat gets boring the snap-n-go stroller works perfectly – even when he starts walking this will keep him uprigh, fairly happy and in one spot.

We got to see a female long horned steer, goats, deer, sheep, a ram, pigs, chickens, other foul, donkeys, geese, some weird breed of something there was no sign maybe someone knows what it was, it looked, part cow – nose and color – part moose color and hump on shoulder back area, part horse – short black mane – and I had no idea what to call it. Maybe it’s something simple but I think we walked out calling it a COWmel. We also saw some shy sheep. They were very timid and were afraid to eat from our hands but if we poured it on the 2X6 below it they would carefully lick the food off. We headed out and washed our hands.

Then we went to the apple orchard by tractor pulled bench seats (Hayride without the hay). It took us way up over the top of a steep hill where we picked Fall Gala apples, since Gala are my favorite to eat and it’s got the easiest peel for kids to eat through. We also picked up a few that are good for baking and Sierra walked out with the BIGGEST apple they had seen(at least for the day) I’m sure it would have taken up 1/4 of the bag if we put it into the bag.

Zach thoroughly enjoyed his time in the apple orchard munching on apples and well that’s about all he did there. But he sure was cute.

After the apple ride we picked up cute little apple cider sip cups shaped like apples with the stem as the spout and an Apple Pretzel (with filling like apple pie) Which Hailey was very thankful for, she’s always very good at thanking me for things like that. We finished up the snack went back to the country store pulled in by the scent of freshly baked apple pie (But I didn’t buy one considering there’s noone old enough at home to share it with for 9 days – and we may try our hand at baking one) We walked out with honey sticks, apple cider and 2 itty bitty pumpkins Sierra chose orange and Hailey chose white.

We headed to a nearby Raspberry farm they had other things too but I went for the berries. So we each got a bucket with a holding strap around it and a pint container inside. It was a handy way to carry them around. Then we drove the car to the bushes Zach napped in the cool weather while the girls and I made a run up and down 2 rows plucking and joking about fake blood running down our fingers. Oh did I mention eating the sweet berries from the bushes as we journeyed. I think Hailey was doing more eating than picking. It was my job to make sure they were all filled to the top, so when we checked out we didn’t come back with empty containers and we would be able to pay for something. So I filled the other 1/2 of Sierra’s basket with berries and 3/4 of Hailey’s to the top.

$43 down and bunches of smiles, full bellies, apples for lunches, 3 pints of raspberries to dip in chocolate and the rest of the day to do it, we had a great time. We just really missed Daddy. But it was such a perfect sunny day, and I’d be happy to do it again anytime with Daddy around to enjoy it with us.

Maybe in 2 weeks when we need to get some big pumpkins for Halloween.

(Having trouble uploading pics right now, but have a TON and they will appear shortly WE HOPE.)

ITCH!

Ok so lately I have been trying to be Family Focused and positive in my blogs. Because it’s a family journal. However. When things happen to you it means more and you feel like writing it down.

I greeted the girls while sitting on the front lawn with Zachary this afternoon. The Septic guys came to pump the tank because the new owners want us to in Nathan’s words, “Take our crap with us”.

I had rainmaker irrigation come out and fix a drip that they caused when they replaced the backflow preventer for the sprinkler.

I called a moving company to set up a time to get an estimate.

I created a For Sale items list.

I cleaned a bazillion piles of mess made in the last 24 hours.

Changed 3 poopy diapers and 2 wet and 2 sets of baby clothes. I tell you he goes through clothes faster than the girls EVER did!

Called our realtor about a few things

Talked to my sister to give her reference information for her work.

Made 18 PB&J sandwiches

Ate about 5,000 calories before 3:00

Blogged

Emailed

Took out some more bulk trash and talked to the Bulk trash pick up committee(3 people picking up the trash) because they were leaving our metal items behind.

Blogged again.

Thought about dinner

Now after sitting on the lawn for 10 minutes waiting for the girls I have THIS

It Itches. I think it’s a spider bite. It’s in a very bad spot don’t you think?
Even if I put Band-Aid anti-itch (Rhuli Gel) Gel on it It would wear off fast because I’d have to work on dinner.

Plus I’m still under the weather with Bronchial Pneumonia.

But The kids are happy, progressing, and Sierra is the exact opposite in class than Hailey. Sierra gets things done before anyone else in the class. Hailey was always a thinker and much slower due to her perfectionism. And Sierra can breeze through her 5 pages of homework in 1/2 hour when it would take Hailey 1/2 hour each night to do 1 page 5 days in a row! Their teacher must think they are total opposites by now and wonder How does that family do it??

Household Meal Preparation time saver TIPS

If you pack Lunches Check this TIME SAVER out!!!

You’ve seen those Smuckers crust free frozen sandwiches right? The ones that are about $3-4 for 4 PB&J sandwiches?

Well.

I get the kids in one morning and scurry through 2 loaves of bread cut them with my Cut N seal Circle cutter freeze them and it save a lot of hassle in the morning just to make 2 sandwiches. Instead of a mess everyday. It’s one mess that with 2 kids lasts about 2 weeks or more. As for the Crust, that’s fun to save to talk a walk and feed the ducks, if you are very careful to not get PB&J into it you can dry them to make breadcrumbs for other recipes.

Instead of putting them all into one back and finding a sandwich bag each morning you can package them singly and put them in a larger bag. Since we use our Wonderbread Sandwich containers instead of wasting a bag everyday – we do not need to single pack them and they pop out of the bag off the other sandwich easily.

Perk to having frozen PB&J is that when they go to eat them for lunch they have defrosted into a good sandwich, not squished into moosh.

Haven’t had one complaint yet.

ANOTHER LUNCH IDEA

I also pack frozen waffles and pancakes. I toast them in the morning and they love having breakfast foods at lunch time. For Syrup – most packaged frozen waffles have their own containers So I send those(if we eat them at home we just use the bottle of syrup and save the individual containers), or the ones from McDonald’s – if I have any extras.

ANOTHER GREAT Quick Food Prep TIP:

When I get my Chicken or Ground beef home from the store. I cook it immediately or within a day add the seasonings I want like taco, sloppy joe, or plain – for beef stroganoff, taco soup, encheladas etc.

I pre-shred my chicken for things like BBQ chicken pitas and chicken salad – that way I don’t have to do it everyday and I have a bunch of pre-preped homemade meals ready to go in 5 minutes or less!! This way you also have your dinner ready for the evening. You can also refregerate some freshly cooked meat in plastic containers for later in the week.

Then I grab my Food Saver tight sealing thing-a-majig and package them up. That way I don’t have to worry and waste time later. One time will do. I do this about once a month. And I get my when they have really really good Sales or Buy in Bulk. You can also use zippered freezer bags and let ALL the air out when you seal it but use it within the month – they do start tasting funny even in freezer bags. If you choose to use a plastic container to freeze fill it to the top so there is no space for freezer-burn and use quickly too.

Save yourself frostbitten fingers by removing the step where you take your chicken out of a huge pack of frozen and only need 2 pieces. Or trying to use a bif knife to saw thouch a pack of hamburger.

Hope this helps someone!

Bronchitis or pneumonia???

On top of my morning sickness, cravings, extreme weight gain and being near 4 months pregnant tired, I have been very sick for the past week at least. It’s 3:53 in the morning and it just dawned on me. I have one of these illnesses. I have had a couple asthma attacks because of it and My chest is wheezy almost constantly. If I do much physical activity I cough and cough. I’m very congested and get little relief from pregnancy safe sudafed and airborne tablets. I’ve had to use an inhaler to open up my constricted bronchioles, I’m calling the doctor tomorrow before I get any worse. Hopefully I can get an antibiotic. Last time I had this it lasted a month. I pray it gives up soon. Any tips on feeling better soon would be greatly appreciated.

Working in the basement dust trying to throw out trash and pack boxes hasn’t helped any.

~~RESULTS ~~

Bronchial Pneumonia
and Asthma combined

I was prescribed an Albuterol Inhaler I’d always used my moms in the past, living in Nevada with a Mom with Asthma were grounds to sustain an asthmatic child.

About 3 weeks ago I bought a Primatene Mist inhaler because I had a sudden onslot of 2 asthma attacks (it helped then)-and squirted funny and yucky and awkward yesterday.

I was also prescribed Amoxicillin. I should be in tip top shape soon as this morning sickness and Bronchial Pneumonia blow over.

Telling the sex of your baby through old wives tales.

I didn’t answer every question on the list http://www.childbirth.org/articles/boyorgirl.html

Congratulations!

You have a 45% chance of having a boy.
And you have a 55% chance of having a girl.

And Here’s Why…
You are carrying the extra weight out front, so it’s a boy.
The hair on your legs is growing faster during pregnancy, so it’s a boy.
Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. You are having a girl.
Dad-to-be is gaining weight right along with Mom-to-be, which means that you’ll have a boy.
The maternal grandmother doesn’t have gray hair (dyed or natural), so a girl will be born.
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy, so you are expecting a girl.
You are not looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a girl, because girls steal their mother’s looks.
Your chest development has not been very dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a boy.
Since the sum of the mother’s age at conception and the number of the month of conception is even, it will be a boy.
Your urine is a dull yellow color, so you will have a girl.
You are craving sweets, which means that it is a girl.
Your nose hasn’t changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
You have been craving meats or cheeses, so it is a boy.
Your baby’s heart rate is below 140 beats per minute, so it’s a boy.
You must have orange juice every day, so it’s a girl.
You are not having headaches, so it’s a girl.
Your belly looks like a watermelon, so it’s a girl.
You show the back of your hand, so it’s a boy.
You use the handleof a mug, so it’s a boy.

I took it a second time answered things a little differently

Congratulations!

You have a 38% chance of having a boy.
And you have a 61% chance of having a girl.

And Here’s Why…
You are carrying the extra weight out front, so it’s a boy.
The hair on your legs is growing faster during pregnancy, so it’s a boy.
Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.
Dad-to-be is gaining weight right along with Mom-to-be, which means that you’ll have a boy.
The maternal grandmother has gray hair, so a boy will be born.
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy, so you are expecting a girl.
You are not looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a girl, because girls steal their mother’s looks.
Your chest development has not been very dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a boy.
Since the sum of the mother’s age at conception and the number of the month of conception is an odd number, it will be a girl.
Your urine is a dull yellow color, so you will have a girl.
You are craving sweets, which means that it is a girl.
Your nose hasn’t changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
You have been craving fruits, so it is a girl.
You must have orange juice every day, so it’s a girl.
You are not having headaches, so it’s a girl.
Your belly looks like a watermelon, so it’s a girl.
You show the back of your hand, so it’s a boy.
You use the handle of a mug, so it’s a boy.

Third times a charm right??

You have a 33% chance of having a boy.
And you have a 66% chance of having a girl.

And Here’s Why…
You are carrying the extra weight out front, so it’s a boy.
The hair on your legs is growing faster during pregnancy, so it’s a boy.
Girls are carried high. You are going to have a girl.
Sleeping in a bed with your pillow to the north indicates that you will be having a boy.
Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. You are having a girl.
Dad-to-be is gaining weight right along with Mom-to-be, which means that you’ll have a boy.
The maternal grandmother has gray hair, so a boy will be born.
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy, so you are expecting a girl.
You are not looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a girl, because girls steal their mother’s looks.
Your chest development has been quite dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a girl.
Since the sum of the mother’s age at conception and the number of the month of conception is an odd number, it will be a girl.
Your urine is a dull yellow color, so you will have a girl.
You are craving sweets, which means that it is a girl.
Your nose hasn’t changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
You have been craving fruits, so it is a girl.
You must have orange juice every day, so it’s a girl.
You are not having headaches, so it’s a girl.
Your belly looks like a watermelon, so it’s a girl.
You show the back of your hand, so it’s a boy.
You use the handle of a mug, so it’s a boy.

You are here to read about my life. I am sharing what goes on. In sickness and in heath until death separates a computer from me

Some material may be unsuitable to sensitive readers. But because it is MY life and you are the one reading it’s your choice to read or not.

I headed outside with the kids this morning to the bus stop. I heard and saw a noise in the bushes and the girls saw the raccoon. It was very sick. And there was a pounded down grass/weed trail around it. The girls got on the bus. I went inside to call a safe removal company. I figured some vet would want to save the poor raccoons life. I asked some passers by and the AT&T guys sitting in their trucks across the field what they would do. I tried the local animal control company which directed me to the Police just like the neighbors and phone guys suggested. The safe removal guys would have charged us to take wildlife. After a while a police officer showed up at my house to “assess” the raccoon. He hadn’t moved more than 2 feet and squealed and whimpered and cried and still hardly moved. He was tripping over his 2 front legs and burying his nose in the grass. He was hurt but there were no open wounds. I wanted to believe it was just a mommy having babies, but it wasn’t that fat. It acted more like it had arthritis. The policeman investigated and said he had seen it before. They just get old and sick. This one was sick. He called the Senior officer out to bring his shotgun. NO! NO! NO! I thought! THIS IS NOT! NOT! NOT! What I had hoped would happen with the poor little guy. I wanted him to be saved and helped. The officers said that animal control doesn’t take in wildlife they just take in cats and dogs. And when they are sick they need to be put out of their misery. I wondered if I should let him squirm around and die on his own, but I let the Law do what Law decides. Raccoon is now in heaven.

I got a video camera out just in case something mis-fired and caught the action from afar.

I see wild police videos all the time and it sometimes it helps incriminate someone. Besides the officer went out and shot without telling the other 3 guys and myself to Move away and later he picked up the bullet casing about a foot away which could have hit one of the onlookers. So the video could have been proof to something disastrous.

Scarred for life from their childhood teachers.

When Nathan was in elementary school he asked his teacher if he could go to the bathroom during a spelling test she said no and as a result he had an accident in the middle of his spelling test. His teacher just didn’t listen.

Friday instead of wearing her cute purple rose pants she came home in red sweat pants. When I asked her what happened she told me the same story that happened to her Daddy so many years before. Nathan came home and told his story to her and she told her story to him. She said she asked her teacher if she could go, she said, “no”.( Mrs. R likes to say they just went as a class) But you know as a kid – for me – everyone could have gone to the bathroom but it wasn’t till just after that I actually had to go and I must not have been the only kid in the universe that didn’t always have to go on demand. So Poor Hailey asks the teacher and ends up having an accident of her own during the test.

I think I will tell her if that urge ever comes again she should risk missing a word on her test and just get up and go! Even if it means a trip to the principal. However my point comes down to the piece of paper I pulled out of her folder this evening. She got 104% on her spelling test! She did that well with piss dripping down her legs, I can imagine how she will do in the real world! Way to go Hailey! Your test scores are awesome. Next time don’t go for the extra 4 % if it means you are going to be the “stinky pee pee pants” in school. You can definitely live without the extra credit. 100% is awesome too!!

Love these days.

My Enchiladas

I watched Paulas Home Cooking on TV and thought her blueberry coffee cake looked easy and yummy, but I din’t have blueberries and Peach Melba sounded better anyways. It was a HUGE success! The kids ate it!

Peach Melba Breakfast/Dessert Cake
1 Can Refrigerated Grand Buttermilk Biscuits
1/2 C Dark Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 stick butter melted
1/2 C quick oats
3/4 C frozen raspberries defrosted
3/4 C frozen peaches defrosted and cut up
1/2 C sugar

Whipped cream

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Generously grease a 9-inch square baking dish. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well with a fork. Separate biscuits cut each biscuit into quarters, and dip each piece in melted butter and coat with brown sugar mixture. Arrange in a single layer in baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the oats.

Combine fruit and sugar in a bowl and toss to coat. Spoon over oats and biscuits and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup oats. Drizzle remaining melted butter on top. Bake for 23 minutes or until cake is golden brown and center is done. Cool for 15 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream if desired.

Food Networks recipe

Granite Steps Country Blueberry Coffee Cake
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (12-ounce) can buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Generously grease a 9-inch square baking dish. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well with a fork. Separate biscuit dough into 10 biscuits. Cut each biscuit into quarters, and dip each piece in melted butter and coat with brown sugar mixture. Arrange in a single layer in baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the oats.

Combine blueberries and sugar in a bowl and toss to coat. Spoon over oats and biscuits and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup oats. Drizzle remaining melted butter on top. Bake for 20 minutes or until cake is golden brown and center is done. Cool for 20 minutes. Serve warm.

Here’s Hailey’s 2nd grade self portrait. I’m not sure where her long bangs come from, but she thinks they are there.

Here’s Sierra’s Kindergarten Humpty Dumpty. Sierra has always been VERY girly, she loves to dress up and wear pink – not so much play with dolls and barbies, but I think she is on her way to keeping womens rights alive and kicking. Even if our arms grow out of our heads.