Food Fanatic Friday!!!

The recipe I am posting today was the dessert I made for our Easter feast. It was a hit, and Jeremy and I ate on it for 2 days following Easter. It was fabulous! Sounds and looks super sweet, but it was just perfect :)

Chocolate Brownie Reese Cup Trifle

1 package brownie mix
1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
1/2 cup water
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
6 Reese Cups (chopped)

Directions
1.Prepare brownie mix according to package directions and cool completely.
2.In a large bowl, combine pudding mix, water and sweetened condensed milk. Mix until smooth, then fold in 8 ounces whipped topping until no streaks remain.
3.In a trifle bowl or glass serving dish, place half of the brownies (broken pieces), half of the pudding mixture and half of the 12 ounce container of whipped topping. Top with 1/2 chopped Reese cups. Repeat layers.

Refridgerate at least 8 hours before serving. Enjoy!!

More Questions For Macy!

I love asking Macy questions! Today I decided to ask her some strange/silly questions.




Here are her answers....



How old were you when you were born? I think like 16….ummm I don’t know.

How much would could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? A short piece of wood.

Who is your weirdest relative? Grandpa Mark

What is the first thing you do when driving a car? Stop

Would you rather be stuck in a locker overnight or stuck in an elevator for a week? Stuck in an elevator for a week.

What do aliens look like? Ummm…..like, like…..kinda like weird faces.

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, then why is there a song about him? Ummm because they like songs about it.

If a cow laughed, would milk come out its nose? Yeah!

Why did the chicken cross the road? Because everyone wanted to eat him.


Check back Friday for my Chocolate Brownie Reese Cup Trifle recipe!!! YUM!!!

Food Fanatic Friday

Do you have any special Easter traditions? Here is a recipe that Jeremy and I will be making with the girls on Easter Eve. We know McKenna won't understand yet, but Macy sure will!

Easter Cookies

You need:
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300.

Instructions:

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden
spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He
was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to
drink.
Read John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His
life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush
the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by
Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that
the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He
wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are
formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God' s eyes of
those whose
sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons (you don't want them too big or it
won't work, so I'm told) onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that
each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give
each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb
was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66. GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.
Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.
Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the
first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9

Cookies can be left on a very very low temp..like 250 degrees. and be ready
in a couple of hours...when surface of cookie looks dry and cracked....they
are ready to eat!!!!!

These cookies are quite sweet but tasty!

HAPPY EASTER!!!!

One Word Wednesday!

Stylin'

Woof! (Yes, Big Mac is wearing a dog harness, and Macy is leading her around, lol!)



Talented (This is my mother....and she is going to kill me for posting this pic)

*While she was preparing the salad (hands busy), I wrapped a blanket around her head and took her pic*

Whoa!!!!!

Proud!

CODE BLUE! (And yes, that was two words)

Time-out :(

EKG, ECHO, Heart Monitor, etc, etc, etc.

Cardio Appointment...DONE! I'll be honest...I was very nervous this morning. Not "vomit" nervous like I get every time Macy has to go under general anesthesia, but very nervous. Someone asked me why I was so nervous this time as compared to last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, etc. Those years were just following her open heart surgery she had at 20 months. I knew it was too soon to need another surgery. But over this last year, I started watching Macy's heart friends go through additional surgeries, and realized that this could be the year. This could be the year I hear those words....those words every heart parent fears....that there is enough concern that there needs to be some sort of intervention...SURGERY.

Macy was a big girl today! She wasn't scared at all...which she shouldn't be since nothing they did hurts her. Still, I was so proud of her. She laid so still as they placed leads all over her chest for her EKG. She laid still again for the 30 minute ECHO they performed on her heart. She watched TV, and asked the technician lots of questions about what she was looking at on the screen. It was so adorable! She once again won over the hearts of staff at cardio-pulmonary and got to go to the staff room to pick out a special toy!

We met with Dr. Hubbard who told us that Macy's ECHO looked good enough for now, and that nothing needed to be done right now. She said that Macy has mild-moderate leakage around her pulmonary valve, and a slight decrease in flow to her lungs. She said that this all will progress as she grows, and will lead to another heart surgery.

I asked her about a new procedure for kids with Tetralogy of Fallot (what Macy has). This procedure places a melody valve in place of the pulmonary valve in the cath lab. A cath is done by going in through the femoral artery in the leg. Macy has had 2 heart caths in the past so they could get a better look at her heart prior to her surgeries. With this new procedure, they are able to place the valve without ever opening the chest. This would be FANTASTIC!!!! It would definitely reduce recovery time. Dr. Hubbard said that it is very new, but they are making quick strides in the procedure, but that not everyone is a candidate. She said that Riley Hospital is prepared to start these procedures, but have not yet. So I guess when time comes for Macy to have her next surgery, we'll take it from there. Please pray that when the time comes, Macy is a candidate!

After telling me that no surgery was necessary, she did inform us that she wanted Macy to wear a 24 hour heart monitor. We have never done one of these before, so I was a little curious as to why she wanted this. She said they simply want to check her heart rhythms and see her highs and lows of her heart rate. I asked her whether there was something in her EKG or ECHO that prompted her to do this, but she said it was just routine. Therefore, after 4 hours spent at Riley, we were headed home, heart monitor and all!!!!

Macy doesn't mind it a bit! And not only is Macy wearing a 24 hour holster, but so it her baby :) Dr. Hubbard said I could take it off of her before school in the morning so that she doesn't have to wear it there, although I think she would probably love it. She flashed 3 of our neighbors this afternoon to show them her wires, in addition to flashing the 2 men from Stanley Steamer who came to clean our carpets this afternoon. And yes, the baby's heart monitor was made from and old Ipod :)

We have had a very busy, tiring day! Girls are sleeping, and Jeremy and I are relaxing in bed already. I am feeling so blessed right now for another year before heading back to cardiology :) Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers today!

Have a great weekend!!!!!

Top 10 Guilty Pleasures

I thought I would share with you my Top 10 Guilty Pleasures! We all have them....mine might just be a little stranger than most!

1. My Mini-van....I said I would never own one, but I was wrong. I own one and I LOVE it!!! I love the smooth ride, I love the power-sliding doors, I love roominess, and I love the DVD player. I love it!

2. Chocolate Milk...I love it with brownies, cookies, and breakfast! It can't be white milk mixed with chocolate syrup...it has to be REAL chocolate milk. Yum!

3. Chapstick...Ask my any day of the week, any hour of the day.....it's in my pocket! If I don't have pockets, it may be tucked in my sleeve. I even, once, carried it in my bra....oh yes I did!

4. Mrs. Curls...A small, hole in the wall, ice cream shop in Greenwood, IN. When I'm feeling spunky, I stop by and grab a corndog, breaded mushrooms, and a chocolate shake. Mmmmmmm!!!

5. Facebook...yes, I am somewhat of a Facebook stalker. I love to checkout friends' pics, status, and info! I am on daily!

6. Dancing Movies....If it has dancing in it, I love it! Dirty Dancing, Footloose, Save The Last Dance, Step Up, Flashdance, etc. LOVE THEM!!!

7. The Twilight Movies...At one point I had completely boycotted the books (because EVERYONE was reading them), and then I gave in and saw a movie, and I am obsessed! November can't get here soon enough!

8. Prince....Yes, the artist/singer. I love his music! Jeremy calls me a closet Prince fan, but I guess everyone knows now! I love Prince!

9. My Baby Blankie...Ummm, yes, I still have my baby blankie. It has a few holes, and the silk it falling off, but I still have it! Jeremy especially loves it when I pull it out of my carry-on on airplanes :) You SO wish you still had your baby blanket too!

10. Naps...I loved them in high school, I loved them in college, I loved them when I was pregnant, and I love them now that I have two rambunctious little girls!

Leave a comment and let me know what some of your guilty pleasures are!

Vacation and Appointments!

No Food Fanatic Friday today, I just need to catch up! Where have we been.....busy and on vacation. Last week was Macy spring break, so we took off early Friday morning and headed to Gatlinburg, TN. It was wonderful, beautiful, scenic, fun, and did I mention WONDERFUL! We went with our friends, Jon and Hannah, and their son Liam. The 6 hour trip down was full movies, chatting, laughing , snacks, snoozing, and a few tears from the little ones who were trapped in their carseats.



We toured a few museums...Ripley's Aquarium and Stars Cars Muesum. We headed into the Smoky Mountains on Saturday to see some old cabins and waterfalls. It was intriging and gorgeous!!!! We also have a blast at Ober Gatlinburg on Sunday! Not only did we visit great places, but we hit a breakfast house and some great restuarants for dinner :) It was a blast!!! I am already trying to plan another trip :) In medical news, Macy had a check-up with Dr. Hainline. He is our metabolism doctor at Riley. He thought she looked great! He was happy with her weight gain, medicines, and diet. He said the main thing to focus on for the next year is how she adapts to kindergarten. He will be writing a letter to her school about her medical issues, that will also state that she requires a morning and afternoon snack (due to her ketotic hypoglycemia), and that she may need additional time at lunch to finish her food since her diet is a priority. He was definately in agreement with my plan to pack her lunch myself. We need to make sure she is eating the right foods and the right amounts. We were so happy with he told us that he is going to wait for more lab work until fall!!! Yay!!!!!



Next Thursday we have our annual cardiology appointment. Jeremy will be taking off the day to go with us. We are having an EKG and ECHO. After those we will meet with Dr. Hubbard to discuss the results. We are anxious and nervous. We know another heart surgery is coming, we just don't know when. The older she gets, the more nervous I get for these appointments. One thing that is giving me some peace is that I watch Macy on a daily basis. I know her energy levels are super. I know that she continues to grow. I have never seen a cynosis episode. I pray her tests reflect how she appears on the outside!!! Please pray for great news on Thursday!!!


Have a wonderful weekend!!!! Hopefully we will be enjoying some warmer weather here in Indiana!!!