New camera fun

Favorite Ingredient Friday

SAUERKRAUT AND PORK ROAST

Ingredients
1. 3 to 4 lb. pork roast or pork ribs (either)
2. 1 lg. onion (chopped)
3. 1 tsp. salt
4. 1/2 tsp. pepper
5. 2 pts. sauerkraut

Directions
-Place meat in roaster. Place sauerkraut smothered over, salt, pepper and onions over top. 2 quarts water over. Bake at 325 degrees for 3 hours.

My mother cooks this every year on New Years, we've always heard that it brings good luck for the New Year. And we always serve it with mashed potatoes.

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

First video

OK! Here's my first video upload! Sorry it's so dark. I didn't think about the lighting in the room when I was taking it. This was taken tonight right before Joey got his bath and he was getting sleepy and was being so darn cute!

Photo and video editing at onetruemedia.com

New toy!

Well, my digital camera finally bit the dust. It still halfway works, but it keeps freezing up so I decided that with our Christmas money to get us a new camera. I've been wanting one that takes black & whites and also has audio with the videos so I can post videos of Joey, well I finally found the perfect one! Now I just need to figure out how to work the darn thing! So, coming soon... videos of Joey!!

Christmas 2006

Just a quick post on our Christmas. It was such a great day. Just a quick recap... we woke up and went over to Patrick's parents house, opened gifts, had breakfast, mom and I came back to our house to cook, took the food back to my in-laws, ate, then opened more gifts when Pat's Grandma, aunts, uncle & cousins came over.


"Merry Christmas Mommy & Daddy!"

"Is this for me?"

"Cuddles with Mommy!"

"Thank you Aunt Kerry!"

"Toys, toys & more toys!"


If you would like to see the rest of our Christmas 2006 pictures, go here.

Happy Christmas Eve!

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! Patrick and I just got back from Christmas mass. We left Joey at home with my parents. He wasn't in the best of moods to take to church, hopefully next year he will be easier to take to church with us.

Tonight, my parents, Patrick and I will be exchanging our gifts, then in the morning we're going over to Patrick's parents house to exchange with everyone over there, then have dinner with everyone. Then later in the day Pat's grandma, aunts and cousins will come over. BUSY DAY! I'll be sure to post pictures in the next couple days.

This is my first Christmas away from Ohio. It's really helping having my parents here. But I've never been away from my brother on Christmas. It's weird. I didn't think it would bother me as much as it does. Growing up, Terry was more like a father to me at times. He's 16 years older than me and was always not only a brother, but a wonderful role model to me too. I'm really going to miss him the next couple of days. Merry Christmas Bubba, I miss you!

The Lord works in mysterious ways

The Lord definetly works in mysterous ways... I was so upset yesterday about our car breaking down, and not being able to afford heating oil along with our regular bills. Well, today Pat recieved a hoilday bonus. It's enough toget the car fixed and pay for part of a tank of heating oil. Which I just called and it's $2.39 a gallon! Ouch! Well, at least we're going to have some extra money to help us!

In other news, Joey had a visit today from his physical therapist and his speech therapist, both is which went excellent! Joey worked very hard with his PT is reaching while sitting, attempting to stand and trying to get to the crawling position. He still has a long way to go with the standing and crawling, but he's getting so good with his sitting and reaching! His SLP was very happy with his speech progress. She said he's making all the sounds any infant should be making. She also said his eating his going great!

My parents are on their way to Connecticut from Ohio right now. They're somewhere in Pennsylvania and I'm going crazy! It's not been that long since I've seen my mom but I haven't seen my dad since October! I can't wait to have both of our families together for Christmas!

Also, I finally got my copies of Gifts! I don't care that they have flaws on them, I just wanted a couple copies of them to share with my family! yay!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Candied Nuts

-1 1/2 cups raw or roasted cashews, peanuts, whole almonds, and/ or pecans
-1/2 cup sugar
-2 tablespoons butter
-1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
1. Line baking sheet with foil. Butter the foil. Set baking sheet aside. In a 10 inch skillet combine nuts, sugar, butter and vanilla. Cook over medium-high, shaking skillet occasionally, until sugar beings to melt. Do not stir.

2. Reduce heat to low. Continue to cooking until sugar is golden brown, stirring occasionally. Remove skillet from heat. Pour nut mixture into the prepared cookie sheet. Cool completely. Break into clusters. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

*This was anther recipe I made last weekend to add into my cookie/ candy tins. Very easy and yummy!

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

figures

So, I spent the evening last night over at my in-laws house since Patrick had to work late, then he joined us after he got off for dinner. Afterwards, we packed up Joey in my car and Joey & I headed home. I thought Patrick was right behind us but then realized he wasn't and figured he probley forgot something had to turn around. WRONG! His car broke down! Keep in mind, he drives the better and newer of our two cars. I have a 1994 Saturn station wagon that I've been expecting to die any day now. He drives a 2002 Pontiac sunfire that has been driving like a top. Well, the top finally stopped spinning and fell over. So, now we have a lovely tow bill and whatever it's going to cost to fix the darn thing RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS! And I need to order heating oil and pay bills. Figures....

News video

This link was just emailed to me via the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress's list serve and it's a news video out of Manhattan from WNBC about the NDSS and a family in NYC.

25%!!!!!!!!

I was doing my usual online search of various articles on Down syndrome when I came across this one today. It's not the full text but you'll get the point. It's from the OB GYN news and the statistic is awful! Only 25% of women with prenatal diagnosis say no to abortion! Only 25%! There are so many families out there who would LOVE to adopt, why abort?! I had heard before that around 80% of babies with trisomy 21 were aborted but I had never seen it in writing and to do so hurts. Gaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Since I'm on a rant about abortion, I just found another article and the only thing I have to say is, you go girl! "Pro-Life Nurse's Refusal to Do Abortions Changes Chicago Hospital Policy" by Steven Ertelt. A nurse in Chicago refused to assist in the abortion of a 22 week old fetus with trisomy 21 and her decision helped other medical workers at the hospital who didn't know that they had a choice to participate or not.

Wordless Wednesday

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What a difference!

It's amazing the difference in Joey since his surgery last Friday. I always thought he was an alert little guy before, but now he's completely different. I didn't realize how much he couldn't hear. He never used to jump when there was a loud noise or wouldn't always turn his head when we called his name. Now he does! He's actually gotten so startled that after he jumped, he started crying! I just can't get over the difference!!!

Baking madness!

What a weekend! I spent literally most of it baking cookies and candy to give out. The list of people I want to give goodies out to almost doubled since last year so yeah, I was a baking maniac!

Breaking my arm stirring the fudge!!

Chocolates are a pain to make! Halfway through, I started making them all solid instead of decorating them!

I love spritz cookies! I only made a triple batch :) All together over 250!

Double batch of peanut brittle!

Triple batch of fudge... over 6 pounds!

Chocolate & Christmas chip cookies, double batch!

Not pictured, candied pecans & sugar cookies. I still have to decorate the sugar cookies so I'll be up late finished those tonight!

A good laugh!

My future sister-in-law made this and I love it! Check out Joey and his new moves!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Mom's Fudge

Ingredients
1. 3 cups sugar
2. 3/4 cup(1 /12 sticks) butter or margarine
3. 1 small can (5 oz) evaporated milk
4. 1 1/2 package (12 squares) Baker's semi sweet baking chocolate, chopped
5. 1 jar (7 oz) jet-puffed marshmallow creme
6. 1 tsp vanilla
7. 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions
-Heat sugar, butter, and evaporated milk to full rolling boil in 3 quart heavy saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil on medium heat until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees F, stirring constantly to prevent scorching, about 4 minutes. Removed from heat.

-Stir in chocolate and marshmallow creme until melted; stir in vanilla and walnuts.

-Spread immediately in foil lined 9 inch square pan. Cool at room temperature at least 4 hours. Cut into 1 inch pieces.

-Makes 3 lbs or 40 serving.


*This is the same recipe my mom has used for as long as I can remember to give out to family and friends around Christmas.

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

Surgery update

Joey's surgery went very well. His ears were full of fluid & wax but unfortunately, his ears canals are still too small for tubes. So the doctor cleaned his ears out and the audiologist did his hearing test. His right ear is still perfect, his left is good but not perfect. The audiologist compared it to someones eyes starting to go bad, but not needing glasses yet. So we have to go in every year now for an annual hearing test and maybe in the future, he might need a hearing aid.

He woke up just fine after his trip to the OR. He was so unlike most of the other babies in recovery. It seemed like all the other babies were crying and screaming. There was Joey, happy as can be, blowing bubbles at everyone who walked by. HE'S SUCH A TROOPER!

Joey's ENT is planning on scheduling another ear cleaning the same day as Joey's circumcision in April to do another ear cleaning and possibly then tubes.

Tomorrow

Well tomorrow is Joey's surgery. Hopefully he won't have to get the tubes. Hopefully, they'll go in and any fluid is no longer in his ears and he'll pass the hearing test. If that's the case, no tubes. If there's fluid, he will get the tubes and then they'll do the brainstem hearing test while he's still asleep. We have to be at the hospital at 6:30am which means we have to get up extra early! Which us luck tomorrow and be sure to say a little prayer for Joey!

Joey update!

Geez, I've been so focused on other things lately Ive not had a true Joey update post! He's doing so good! He's finally feeling better and back to himself after our little trip to the ER the other day. He's not liking to take his antibiotics very well though.

Did I mention when they weighed him at the hospital that he weighs 16 lbs 8 oz?!?! He's getting so big! He grew out of his 6/9 month clothes and is already in 12 month clothes!

I can't believe he turns 9 months old tomorrow. The months just keep flying by! Before I know it, he's going to be 1 year old!

He's doing such a goof job with his sitting. He sits up for about one minute now, sometimes longer. I had him sitting next to me on the couch last night watching TV and he was so excited just sitting there next to me. I wish my husband would have been home to grab a picture of it.

He's still not doing much in the way of crawling. He wants to so bad! He gets up on his knees then falls down and rolls over. He'll get it soon. His PT has been working on it with him.

Friday, we have another trip to the hospital but this time instead of the ER, we're going to the OR. Joey's ENT wants to knock him out since he can't see inside of Joey's ear canals and since he keeps failing his left sided hearing tests. The ENT wants to be able to get a good look inside of them, if there's fluid clean it out, put in tubes if needed and while he's still sleeping, have the audiologist do the brainstem hearing test. This will determine if he keeps failing the test due to fluid or an actual hearing loss. I'm hoping for the fluid well actually I'm hoping that if it was fluid that it's disappeared since his last hearing test and that he won't need tubes at all! But with the size of his tiny ear canals, I doubt it.

Wordless Wednesday

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