RAISING JOEY

Favorite Ingredient Friday- July 4th Edition

MY MOM’S WATERMELON FRUIT SALAD

Ingredients

1. 1 large watermelon (be sure it’s one that will lay & not roll around too much)
2. 1 cantelope melon
3. 1 honeydew melon 
4. 1 pound seedless grapes
5. Any other fruit you might want to add in!

Directions

-Cut watermelon in half (lengthwise)

-Take melon baller and ball out watermelon. Also cut cantelope and honeydew and use melon baller. Mix all the fruit in large bowl.

-My mom sometimes gets fancy and cuts watermelon rind into basket shape including a handle. Put as much of the fruit into watermelon as possible, save extra to refill watermelon bowl.

*There really isn’t an exact recipe for this, my mom has been making this for years and just “throws” everything together.

(I couldn’t find a picture of my mom’s, but I found a picture online)

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ROCKET POPS

Ingredients

1. package (4 serving size) cherry flavored jello
2. 1 cup sugar, divided
3. 2 cups boiling water, divided
4. ice Cubes
5. 2 cups cold water, divided
6. 1 package (4 serving size) berry blue flavored jello
7. 1 tub cool whip, thawed

Directions 

-COMBINE dry cherry gelatin mix and 1/2 cup of the sugar in medium bowl. Add 1 cup of the boiling water; stir at least 2 min. until gelatin is completely dissolved. Add enough ice cubes to 1 cup of the cold water to measure 2 cups. Add to gelatin; stir until ice is completely melted. Pour evenly into 16 (5-oz.) paper or plastic cups, adding about 1/4 cup of the gelatin to each cup. Freeze 1 hour.
-MEANWHILE, combine dry blue gelatin mix and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in medium bowl. Add remaining 1 cup boiling water; stir at least 2 min. until gelatin is completely dissolved. Add enough ice cubes to remaining 1 cup cold water to measure 2 cups. Add to gelatin; stir until ice is completely melted. Refrigerate 1 hour.
-SPOON about 3 Tbsp. of the whipped topping over red gelatin in each cup; top evenly with blue gelatin, adding about 1/4 cup of the gelatin to each cup. Freeze 1 hour or until almost firm. Insert wooden pop stick or plastic spoon into center of each cup for handle. Freeze an additional 4 hours or overnight. To remove pops from cups, place bottoms of cups under warm running water for 15 sec. Press firmly on bottoms of cups to release pops. (Do not twist or pull pop sticks.) Store leftover pops in freezer.

I found this recipe at Kraftfoods.com and there’s many other fun July 4th themed recipes there too!

*For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, go visit Overwhelmed With Joy!

Simply Adorable Blankets

I just saw this on Amy’s blog and wanted to share it with everyone. She ordered one of these blankets for her daughter Mayson and it’s too cute!

“Simply adorable blankets is the brainstorm of two mothers each with a daughter with Down syndrome. The focus is to show others the CAN DO abilities of these artists that is produced in their unique work.”

Wordless Wednesday- Eggs!

For more Wordless Wednesdays or to participate visit Wordless Wednesday’s Headquarters!

Meredith Vieira- All In A Week

All In A Week, recently Meredith Vieira’s son, Gabe, spent a week at Camp PALS as a counselor and she recaps her son’s week and what all he learned.

“You know, when I first got here, it was so easy to tell the difference between ‘them’ and ‘us.’ But by the end, I couldn’t distinguish between the campers and the counselors. We were all the same.”

‘The Children Were Meant To Be’

Another great article featuring one of the authors from Gifts, Stephanie and her daughter Megan. By Scotty  Bernard & Bucks County Courier Times.

Weekend recap & more

We had a wonderful weekend. Friday we went over to my in-laws house for dinner as usual and everyone played with Joey. We came home and watched the NY Yankees win (my hubby was happy!).

Saturday, we got up and didn’t do too much at first. Well, I went and got my eyebrows waxed & a pedicure. I wasn’t going to get the pedicure but since it’s getting rather uncomfortable to bend down and cut my own toenails, why not?! And I dare not ask my husband to do that for me… he is a saint though. I get unlimited backrubs and he’s awesome at getting me anything I ask for! Anyways, back to Saturday, after I treated myself, I stopped at Payless Shoes (they’re having a buy 1 get 1 half off sale!) so I bought a couple pairs of shoes for me and I got Joey the cutest sandals (which he won’t keep on!). I went home and we all got ready to go to a BBQ at my hubby’s co-worker’s house. From there we went to the Irish Festival to listen to my father in law play in his Celtic band (I can’t get enough of that music!!!).

Sunday, I don’t think we did much of anything. Joey was cranky with more teeth coming in and I didn’t feel too well. I think I did too much the day before and was paying for it, pretty much typical pregnancy pains, my whole pelvic area, hips & ribs were KILLING me. So I guess I can’t really call it typical since it hurt more than usual. I probably should have called my doctor. Thankfully I don’t have the throbbing pain I had yesterday more of a less dull pain today.  

This week is going to be pretty busy…

 Today- Nutritionist at noon and Teacher at 1:30

Tuesday- Speech Therapy at 1:30

Wednesday- Occupational Therapy 1:30

Thursday- Physical Therapy 1 pm

Friday- OUR DAY OFF! 

Something is telling me that I’m missing something this week but I can’t remember what! Oh well, thankfully next week isn’t as bad not to mention that Wednesday is the 4th of July so no one is coming that day!

I’m interested to see what all suggestions the nutritionist is going to have for us today to help Joey with his eating. It’s getting so frustrating that I can’t get him to take very many new foods. Heck, I couldn’t even get him to eat Jello for me the other day! It was almost like he was scared of it!

Speaking of being scared of something, I haven’t mentioned what Joey is terrified of… bubbles! You heard me right folks, BUBBLES! Of all the things of a child to be scared of! Don’t know why, I’ve never had them anywhere near his face to where he might have gotten them in his eyes or mouth, I just don’t get it. Is anyone else’s child scared of bubbles?!

Also, be sure to continue your prayers for Joey’s buddy Parker and also, I just read today that Evan also needs prayers. His mom posted today on her blog, The Road Not Chosen, that Evan became very ill over the weekend and is in the hospital. Please pray for both of these handsome boys to feel better soon!

Prayers Please!

Joey’s buddy Parker hasn’t been feeling too well. Be sure to say a prayer today for Parker, his mom Tammy and the rest of their family. You can get updates on Tammy’s blog about Parker. 

Also, to help with the cost of medical bills, there is going to be a concert by Stephanie Smith for Parker June 29 in American Fork, Utah. So if you’re in the area, please go and help out Parker!

More contests!

Over at Adventures In Babywearing, there’s a contest for a My Royal Heinie diaper bag with a matching changing pad from Stroller Mama. Head on over and check out this great contest!

Also, the fine ladies over at Five Minutes For Mom are having a 4th of July Contest with a great giveaway! They’re giving away a Krups Ice Cream Maker and a 4 piece set of Rosanna Sweet Dreams Bowls. Head on over if you’d like your chance to win!

Happy Birthday Delphine!

Today’s a very special day, it’s Delphine’s first birthday! Be sure you go over and visit her Mommy’s blog and wish her a very Happy Birthday today!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Deviled Eggs

Ingredients

1. 6 eggs
2. 1 teaspoon pickle juice
3. 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
4. 1/4 teaspoon prepared mustard
5. salt and pepper to taste
6. 1 teaspoon paprika

Directions

1. Place eggs in a pot of salted water. Bring the water to a boil, and let eggs cook in boiling water until they are hard boiled, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Drain eggs, and let cool. Once cool, remove the shell, cut the eggs in half lengthwise and scoop out the yolks.

2. Place the yolks in a medium-size mixing bowl and mash them. Blend in pickle juice, mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper. You may need to add more mayonnaise to hold the mixture together, but it should be slightly dry.

3. Carefully put the egg yolk mixture back into the egg whites but do not pack it. There will be enough mixture so the whites are overfilled. Sprinkle with paprika. Cool before serving.

*For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays or to participate to visit Overwhelmed With Joy!

Tires!

Wow, talk about having a guardian angel today… I went to go get the oil changed in my van for the first time since I bought it a few months back. Joey and I walked around the mall while it was getting done and the guy was so nice and called my cell phone to let me know he was finished.

I walk back into the place and he says, “Did you know that your tires need replaced?” And I said, “yeah, but I want to hold off until this fall that way they’re better for the winter.” He went on to let me know even if I didn’t get them replaced at their store that they need to be done asap because my front passenger tire had a chunk missing out of it and would likely blow in the next couple weeks if not sooner. He gave me an estimate and I left. I went to another place to get another estimate and see what that place said. The guy said the same thing that the tire was very dangerous. So needless to say, $450 later, I have 4 new tires but it was worth it!

Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesdays, go here.

Mr. Speaker meet Cole!

Here’s a short clip of Washington Representative Kathy McMorris Rodgers introducing her son, Cole, to congress!

Time Travel Tuesday- Cooking Experience

This week for Time Travel Tuesday, we’re suppose to write about our first cooking experience or a memorable cooking experience. I can’t remember my first cooking experience but I do remember back every year for Christmas my parents and I would make homemade fudge (here’s the recipe!) to give out to our family & friends.

My earlier memories of this, I was actually too little to get too close to the boiling candy but I remember sitting there while my parents took turns stirring the fudge with a wooden spoon that my Great Grandfather made. After the fudge was finished and put into the proper foil pans to cool down, my mom would give me the wooden spoon to lick clean. Once I got old enough I would help stir the fudge even though my arm would get tired after just a minute or two.

And now that I’m on my own, I make this same fudge to give out to family and friends here in Connecticut.  I can’t wait until Joey is old enough to sit on our kitchen counter while I make the fudge and to give him the spoon to lick afterwards!

For more Time Travel Tuesdays or to participate, go to My Life As Annie!

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Father’s Day to my husband, Patrick! You’re the best daddy ever!

Joey & his Daddy after eating Cold Stone Ice Cream.

We’re off for the day to go to church and spend the afternoon with Patrick’s family. Have a wonderful day especially to you Dad’s out there!

A Special Wedding…

From KUSA, A Special Wedding For A Special Couple. Written by Kim Christiansen.

You’ll need a tissue for this one… I love weddings! Check out the video too!

FORT COLLINS - If you cry at weddings, this is one that requires extra tissues. The love story involving Tiffany and Taylor will touch your heart.

Like many couples, they met in college. Both were attending East New Mexico University in Roswell when they met at a dance.Taylor says he looked into Tiffany’s eyes and “A light in my heart started to bloom bigger and bigger.”On Valentine’s Day, Taylor got down on one knee and proposed. When Tiffany said yes, Taylor says he knew that light would never leave his life.

I’ve been tagged!!!

Amy over at the Flege Farm tagged me a couple days ago so here it goes…

1. Where is your cell phone? in my purse, I think…

2. Relationship? married

3. Your hair? needs washed

4. Work? Joey, housework, need I go on…

5. Your sister? I wish I had one…

6. Your favorite thing? hmmmm… chocolate malts! (at least that’s what I’m craving right now)

7. Your dream last night? I can’t remember

8. Your favorite drink? Dr. Pepper

9. Your dream car? a brand new one

10. The room you’re in? computer room

11. Your shoes? bare foot!

12. Your fears? snakes, spiders, heights

13. What do you want to be in 10 years? in a home we own!

14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? Joey and Patrick

15. What are you not good at? exercising

16. Muffin? blueberry

17. One of your wish list items? a larger place to live!

18. Where you grew up? Ohio!

19. Last thing you did? wrote a Joey update on my blog

20. What are you wearing? t-shirt & shorts

21. What aren’t you wearing? shoes

22. Your pet? fish & a turtle (back in Ohio)

23. Your computer? Dell

24. Your life? busy

25. Your mood? calm

26. Missing? my parents & family in Ohio

27. What are you thinking about right now? finding a crib for Leah on Craigslist or at a tag sale

28. Your car? 2004 Dodge Minivan

29. Your kitchen? blue & white

30. Your summer? pregnant and hot

31. Your favorite color? purple

32. Last time you laughed? today

33. Last time you cried? yesterday

34. School? I wish I could finish

35. Love? The most… Patrick and Joey

I tag Heather at Flaugh’s Flaws, Jaymi at The FlipFlop Mamma and Michelle at Elliot’s Expeditions.

Ears update

We had to be at the hospital yesterday morning at 6:30, so besides having to get up that early, everything went good. The ENT said Joey’s ears were worse than what he was expecting. Unfortunatly the tubes couldn’t be placed (again) but he got one heck of an ear cleaning and the doctor placed wicks in his ears to help them heal better. He also prescribed Cipro ear drops. Unfortunatly one of the wicks already came out this morning but there’s nothing we can do. I take Joey in on Wednesday for a follow up with the ENT.

I do have to say that Joey enjoyed playing with the paper that covered the examination table before he went back to the OR…

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A wonderful post!

This link was just sent to me and I wanted to pass it on to everyone. The Suburban Christian writes about Father’s Day Reflections: Special Needs, Special Love. His son Elijah has a little something extra too Al and his wife Ellen also have a blog called Team Hsu that focuses on their family, go over and check it out!

OR quickie!

Joey goes into today for tubes (if they’ll fit) and an ear cleaning! Prayers please!

Progress!!!

Finally! This morning, I got Joey to eat something besides cereal… scrambled eggs! The little booger has refused them in the past everytime I’ve tried, well this morning, I cooked them nice and fluffy and put them through the food processor and it worked! He LOVES them! I have a feeling today is going to be a good day!!

New blog!

For those of you who haven’t seen this one yet, Mrs Wibbz’ Wobbly Ways is written by Mrs. Wibbs and features her husband and beautiful children, one of which, Thomas has a little something extra

Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesdays or to partcipate, go here.

Father’s Day Giveaway!

The fine ladies over at Five Minutes For Mom are hosting 2 Father’s Day Giveaways!!

 The first is for Rocketfish™ Twister Wireless Laser Notebook Mouse.

“The Rocketfish™ Twister is a unique, portable mouse that switches from a flat, travel-friendly shape to a curved, ergonomic design with one twist. So Dad can slip this convenient, wireless mouse in his pocket or slide it into his notebook case and then easily pull it out, twist it into shape and be ready to go.”

And the second one (which I know my hubby would absolutely LOVE) is for a 4 disk DVD set by the Rolling Stones called The Biggest Bang.
“The Rolling Stones have teamed up with Best Buy to release the new Rolling Stones DVD box set, The Biggest Bang. This exclusive 4-DVD set offers two full-length concerts, two documentaries, new music and rare tracks, as well as a behind-the-scenes look from the Stones’ recent tour, A Bigger Bang.”

Head on over and check out these great contests!!!

Time Travel Tuesday- Vacation Memories

Today’s Time Travel Tuesday’s theme is vacation memories. For me, it’s hard to pick out one certain vacation. I was very lucky that my parents took me all over the eastern side of the US. The only time I’ve been west of the Mississippi River was when we went to New Orleans. I went on my first vacation when I was only 3 months old to Florida- yes my parents even took me to Disney World-doesn’t every 3 month old need to go :)?

But today, I think I’ll think back to a trip to Florida when I was a bit older. I think I was in the 4th grade. My parents, my brother & his wife, my cousin Carrie, a family friend and I all went down for a week. We stayed at my Grandparent’s rental which is a hour from like everything in Florida. We went to Disney, Daytona, and Cape Canveral just to name a few places.

The reason this is such a memorable trip to me, is that it’s the only vacation that my brother and his wife went on with us. You see, he’s 16 years older than me so he was grown and out of the house by the time I was 3. I loved playing at the beach with my brother, riding rides at Disney with him and just getting to spend that much time together.

One memory that sticks out in my mind is when we went up for a ride in a hydroplane, you know one of the planes that takes off and lands on the water. We took a tour over a huge lake and some of the canals. It was a beautiful ride seeing all the nature from above, we even saw a couple alligators from the plane! After the plane ride when we were all getting out of the plane, I almost fell in the water but who was there to catch me, my brother. I wish I could remember more from the trip but heck, this was almost 15 years ago, I’m just happy and grateful for such a wonderful family vacation!

For more Time Travel Tuesdays or to partcipate, go to My Life As Annie.