Stirring Up Memories

This is one of my favorite recipes. It's easy, tasty, and uses up those cartons of white rice left over from ordering Chinese take-out quite nicely. Not that we have many left-overs of take-out anymore, with our big brood! I got the recipe from a dear friend many years ago when we led a small group for young married couples. They moved away shortly after she shared this recipe with me and I've always missed hanging out with her. Every time I make it, I take the time to pray for D & J and the path the Lord has them on. I recently re-connected with her on Facebook; so yesterday when I made it, I also dropped her a note telling her that I prayed for her and her family. Don't you just love how food connects us to wonderful memories and dear friends?!

Chicken Salad Casserole

2 c. diced, cooked chicken
1 can cream of celery soup (I use the 98% fat free)
1 1/2 c. cooked rice, cooled slightly
5 oz. can water chestnuts, drained and sliced thinly
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
3/4 c. light mayo
1 c. shredded cheddar
2 c. crushed potato chips, reserved

Combine all ingredients except reserved potato chips. Pour into a 9x13 that's been lightly sprayed. Sprinkle top with crushed chips. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until golden and bubbly around the edges.

This freezes great if you choose to double or triple it. Just be sure to NOT top with the chips till it's thawed and you are ready to bake it.

If you do freeze it, you may need to add more rice to balance out the moisture that builds up in the freezer.

So, what recipes do you have that stir up great memories?

Make Your Voice Heard!

This link will take you to a message that should concern us all. Whatever your own personal political leanings, you have a right (and in my humble opinion, a responsibility!) to make your thoughts and feelings heard on this very important issue. I cannot stay silent. I hope you don't either.

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 1890

US suffragist (1815 - 1902)

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

Martin Luther King Jr.
US black civil rights

leader & clergyman (1929 - 1968)

Another Gotcha Day!

There's another family, halfway across the world, who is reveling today in the joy of their new daughter in their arms. Another little girl has been given the gift of a forever family. Another momma has her arms and her heart permanently expanded to include one more precious little life.

Please, pray for The Dobbertin family. They are in China right now with Living Hope Adoption Agency, celebrating the excitement of this week's "Gotcha Day" and settling in to the business of attaching and bonding. If you want to follow their journey, you can start here with the first day that they got to hold their precious little Lindsey.

Drop them a note in the comments to let them know you came by. They could use the encouragement and the knowledge that they are being prayed for. One of the most special things about being able to blog my way through China when we adopted Li'l Empress was knowing that there were folks praying for us and for our kids back at home. I love being able to do that now for families that I know are traveling for their babies!

*Updated to add (Thursday p.m.): I just read their most recent post and Mom and Dad are weary and homesick. It's very hard to be in a foreign land, especially for such a big life event as an adoption. Won't you please head over and give them some love and support? They could really use it today!

*If you are pretty new to The Gang's All Here!, you can read about our trip to China for our Li'l Empress by clicking here, our first post from China.

Wordless Wednesday

Today is not my normal
Wordless Wednesday picture post.

Today, I want you to head over to
Love Without Boundaries.

See what my friend Mississippi Zen did
with this lovely picture.

You can help change the life of a child.

For more Wordless Wednesday fun,
head over to 5 Minutes for Mom.

***For the outtakes of this photography project, head over here - the cuteness factor is just the thing we all need for a mid-week recharge!

Not Just For Adoptive Parents

Over at No Hands But Ours they have a regular weekly feature of highlighting links and articles pertinent to the adoption community. I found this article to be very timely for this season of our journey with Li'l Empress.

But if I'm being completely honest, I also thought of the many young moms that I know and interact with regularly. There's some good stuff here, stuff that all of us with little ones can utilize to enhance our parenting relationships. I've spent a lot of years training my older four kids with many of these same principles; but the reminder was, as I said, timely. And very encouraging to my mission as their mom.

If you head over there, I'd love to know what you think about it. Even if you haven't adopted, let's talk about how you think some of these ideas might be helpful with the little treasures in your home?

Thanks Mom!

I got this recipe a while ago from my mom. She's an awesome cook, always so creative and not afraid to experiment. She introduced us to couscous and lentils long before they were trendy and some of my best memories of our time together center around her kitchen. The only time I can't eat something she's made is when she cooks or bakes with pineapple. Just can't stomach the stuff. And that is certainly no reflection on her. I'm sure that Aloha Chicken is delectable to most who try it. Just not me.

I digress.

So anyway, this recipe is one that she has mentioned several times and passed on to my sisters and I. I've heard lots of comments about it, raves really. I finally got all the stuff together and The Boss and I collaborated Saturday night to make it for dinner. We changed up the recipe a bit, so I've included the changes for you. I preferred to make it and let it slow cook in the oven, to avoid the last minute rush. And my skillet isn't big enough for the 10 chicken thighs needed to feed The Gang. Enjoy - it smells amazing while it's cooking and it was so tender it fell off the bones.

Plum Good Chicken Thighs

1 1/4 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/2 tsp Chinese 5-spice powder
3 green onions
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. chicken broth
1/2 c. plum jam
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

In bowl, toss thighs with 5-spice powder and 1/2 tsp. salt. From dark green end of onions, finely chop enough for 2 Tbsp. and reserve for garnish. Cut remainder of onions into 1" pcs. Set aside.

In 12" skillet, heat oil on med-high until hot. Add thighs and cook 10 min. until browned outside and no longer pink inside. Transfer to plate and cover to keep warm.

In drippings in skillet, cook 1" onion pcs. on med. about 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir in broth, jam and vinegar. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium and cook 3-4 min. or until sauce becomes syrupy. Return thighs to skillet and turn to coat thoroughly with sauce.

Changes I made:

• I doubled everything for the 7 of us.
• I used bone-in, skinless thighs. That’s what was on sale!
• I didn’t have green onions, so I sliced up, very thinly, a half of a large Vidalia. I put that in the olive oil and drippings and sauteed them till soft.
• Then we added the chicken broth, preserves, and vinegar and stirred over low heat till jelly dissolved and mixture boiled gently.
  
• We poured all of this over the chicken thighs in a 9x13 and baked it all for 1 hour on 325. In the last 15 minutes, I cranked the heat up to 400 to thicken the sauce a touch more.

Serve with a side of brown rice and green beans or broccoli for great complimentary flavor.

Say It Forward

I've skipped a couple "Say It Forwards" with all the doctor's appointments and stuff going on around here. But this week, I'm back to tell you about another of my loyal commenters.

Comfy Denim is the mom-extraordinaire over at Notes from the Laundry Pile. She's enthusiastic, witty, and sometimes down-right droll. But what I appreciate the most about her comments week after week (beside the fact that she keeps coming back and reading my stuff) is that she is such an encourager. Whether it's me or another commenter, she's another one of those gals that just keeps pointing back to Jesus. She's passionate about Him and it shows through when she's writing about home-schooling, parenting, or just regular life.

Notes from the Laundry Pile is actually one of the first blogs I ever read, outside my group of "actual, physical" (real?!) friends. And when I finally, a year later, started my own blog, she was right there, reading and commenting away. We've had such fun bantering back and forth over the last year, and recently we got to connect on Facebook too. Trust me, her interactions are just as sweet and uplifting there, too. And I think she has forgiven me for not knowing who she was when she first requested to be my friend. I mean, who'd have thought that Comfy Denim wasn't her real name?!

So, if you have never ventured out to the Laundry Pile, jump on in. I promise, there's nothing stinky or nasty going on in that laundry pile. It's all freshly washed and smelling fine. You might have to pitch in and help with some folding, but the chat will be worth it. I promise!

Oh, and Comfy? Don't forget
to get your Loyal Commenter
badge over at 5 Minutes for Mom.
Display it proudly, you've earned it!

Dear Elboh

Dear Elboh,

My name is Li'l Empress. I just discovered the wide, amazing world of television. My mommy has this neat little box that has lots and lots of colorful buttons. And sometimes, she pushes those buttons and your sweet furry red face comes up on the big black box on the counter. I always know it's you because of your big hair and funny voice. Sometimes Mommy lets me watch you and your friend, Dorothy. I especially like it when you sing and wave your arms all around and dance. It makes me do my happy dance. Mommy gets all sniffly when I dance to your music. I'm not sure why. But sometimes, when she's really sniffly, she scoops me up and gives me big hugs and kisses. Don't get me wrong, I love it when Mommy hugs and kisses me. But sometimes it makes me miss what you are saying. I don't like that very much and I squirm pretty hard to get down again.

That's all Elboh. I just wanted to say that I found you. I like you very much and I wish you were on all day. Do you think your Mommy could help you do that? You are great and I think you should have an "All Elboh, All Day" channel. Dorothy can come too.

I love you Elboh.

Li'l Empress

Wordless Wednesday

Mmmmm, what's this?

Sure, I'll try it.

Mmmmmmm, that was yummy!

Li'l Empress's first peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
The kids have decided that she's REALLY an American now!

For more Wordless Wednesday fun,
head over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

Red and Puffy Does Not Become Me

I've been fairly absent these past few days, largely because the Li'l Empress has been having some sleep issues again. And when Baby don't sleep, Momma don't sleep. When Momma don't sleep, not much of value or consistency gets done around here. Dishes, laundry, and something resembling dinner. Not much else to speak of.

We are fairly certain that the sleep issues of the recent days are just some "left-overs" from the testing that she had done last Monday. Most of her wakings were startle-type wakings, with the accompanying fearful cries and difficulty in settling back in. It was hard on both The Boss and I, especially that she was quite adamant in her preference for Momma over Daddy. It was hard for him to feel as if he could do nothing for her, and it was hard for me to let him try to "power through it" with her. My arms were aching and my head was pounding many a moment, and I was glad for the relief. But it was hard to hear her fighting the comfort he offered.

Thankfully, that short season seems to be over and she's sleeping well again. When she does wake, it's not in terror and she settles nicely. The bags under our eyes are smaller and no longer gray with exhaustion.

Just in time for me to wake up with a red and puffy eye today.

Sunday I noticed what felt like a sweater fuzz or cat hair on my upper eye-lid. It was itchy for some time before I could actually remove it and for the rest of the day, my eye felt watery. Yesterday, by lunch time, I had to concede that this irritation was no cat hair. By dinner, I could no longer keep my left eye open. I called the doctor. I was in bed, completely wiped out by the headache and pain in my eye by 9:35.

This morning, my eye looks like something from a horror movie. Or at the least, a really bad medical show. The upper eye-lid is swollen almost shut and the lower eye-lid is red and weeping. I won't turn your stomach with other details of the debacle that has become my left eye. LadyBug's eyes started watering just looking at me.

Red and puffy does not become me. For the life of me, I can't figure out why they call it pink eye.

Yes, I typed this with one eye shut.
Which took about six times longer
than normal, with a gazillion errors.
But I couldn't sleep anymore
and I've been up since just after 6.
The doctor can't see me till 8:45.

*Edited to add:
Yup, it's definitely pink eye.
With a "pretty significant glandular infection"
in my upper eye-lid, just for kicks.

Wordless Wednesday

Sometimes, even a big boy needs a Boo-Boo Bear.

For more Wordless Wednesday fun,
head over to 5 Minutes for Mom.


Edited to note:
Dr. D is fine with me posting stuff like this.
He's very light-hearted,
and laughs at himself easily.
Plus, no other ice-pack
really fit the crook of his nose
and he found that itself amusing.

The End of The Very Big Day

We got home yesterday around 2. Li'l Empress took about an hour and a half to calm down, after crying the whole way home from the outpatient clinic. She spent most of the afternoon strapped in to her high chair watching Barney, coloring and brushing her teeth with her new toothbrush - all so she can't hurt herself from wobbling and weaving around the house! The wobblies and woozies will likely last till this afternoon at the latest.

The process of sedating her went as expected. The hardest part was how freaked out she always is by every dr. office we go to, and this time there were medical personnel all over the place. They gave her Versed to calm her nerves, and she got really loose, giddy, and silly on it. That was fun, but short-lived. The trauma of getting a good vein and being held down will thankfully be masked from her memory, as a side-effect of the Versed. The Boss and I, however, will have that sad memory for a while, I'm sure. It was actually very difficult to participate in the process. The worst thing was when she was finally done fighting the meds and she was falling asleep. Her little voice croaked out, in a teary little whisper, Shaggy's name. Oy! What a drama queen - but she got us and we both lost it with that one!

The tests themselves went very well. The full summary will not be available till next week, but the initial report from the ABR was excellent. The left ear was tested on the four most necessary frequencies for speech and language development and results came back NORMAL! The right ear was tested both with the sound device used on the left ear (similar to headphones) and with the bone conductive apparatus. With the bone apparatus attached (therefore bypassing the "air waves" of the ear canal), the four frequencies came back NORMAL! However, without the headphones, the loss of hearing is considered "profound." It's great news, as that means that there are working, developed parts inside the right side. That is not a surprise, as we know that there is no opening from the outside to the canal. Once the CT scan is read and interpreted, we'll know what the internal workings are that will determine future actions (hearing aid, constructive surgery, etc.) and how developed they are.

From the time she woke at 12:30 till about 2:45, she was VERY agitated, irritable, and down right MAD at us. She calmed down in time for the kids to get home and I'm thankful they didn't have to see her like that. It was very hard to watch, and very hard to know what to do for her. At first, it was kinda funny, to see her so mad and almost drunken in her responses (and very, very loopy!). But then it made me really sad. And she totally got us again in the recovery room, when her first coherent word was again a tearful "Shaggy." This girl really loves her big brother! That, or she thought maybe he'd swoop in and rescue her from all those mean people torturing her!

She stayed fairly calm and occupied right through dinner but by 7 p.m. had reached her threshold for the day. She lost her ability to cope and just melted down into a screaming puddle on the family room floor. She kept kicking her feet against the floor and swinging her head back and forth. Didn't want anyone anywhere near her for what felt like 15 minutes. I checked the clock and the whole thing really only lasted about 5 minutes. It was very hard to calm her enough to start her night time routine. But, when I heated her bottle and finally snuggled in with her, she was out in less that 15 minutes, only 2 1/2 ounces into the bottle. I'm so happy to say that she slept 12 hours straight and woke considerably happier. She's still loopy and wobbly, but is happy to munch her cereal and drink her juice with Elmo and Big Bird for a while.

Thanks all for your prayers and support and encouragement. We have so much more that we've learned about this process in recent weeks. If any of you want more information, please feel free to ask. I've tried to boil down this stuff to the basics and the most important stuff, but it still feels overwhelming to me most of the time. I can imagine that it's a lot for all of you to digest given that you aren't living it daily. I'm very grateful that, for a long while, this will be the last BIG day of Li'l Empress's medical journey! And after reading these long posts, I'm betting that you are too! :)

A Very Big Day!

Okay, so I left ya with a bit of a cliffhanger last week. My sincere apologies! When I wrote the teasers into that post, I forgot that I was hosting my cousin for three days, or I would have written the conclusion to the story and scheduled it for posting while I was occupied with my company. We indeed are still anticipating a Very Big Day for our Li'l Empress on Monday, and we request your prayers to cover us for the Very Big Events of the day. Here's a run-down of the Very Big Day and what we know about the goings on. It's a long one today, so hang in there if you can!

Tomorrow, at 8:30 a.m. Li'l Empress is checking in to the outpatient radiology lab of CHOP's satellite services in King of Prussia. She will be sedated for a 2+ hour series of tests.

The first test they will perform is a CT scan of the right side of her head, looking for the mechanics that may or may not be in place for her right ear. We know that her outer ear is not fully formed (Microtia), and that the canal is not opened to the outer ear (Atresia). They are hoping to be able to see what has developed (and in what stages) in the inner workings of her right ear. This will help determine future courses of treatment for Li'l Empress, regarding reconstruction, bone anchored hearing devices, and so on.

The second and lengthiest part of the test will be an Automated Brain Response (ABR) test. Because her behavioral-based audiograms were inconsistent and inconclusive in her left ear over the course of the last 5 months, this test is necessary to determine what level of hearing loss (if any) she has in her left ear. One of the inconsistencies was that she responded to the stimuli too quickly the last time, showing us that she was anticipating the reward before hearing an actual noise. There were other, more technical issues that I'm still learning about and trying to understand. It's very common for the behavioral-based tests to be inaccurate in children under two. And our Early Intervention team will be doing play therapy with her each month to re-train her to respond to stimuli only when the stimuli are present, among other great things they will help her with!

This ABR will pump noises into her left ear (and if they find anything in the CT scan to suggest it, they may try to test the right ear too) and the audiologist will watch her electronic impulses respond in her brain. Picture little lights sparking up on an electronic map when you push the corresponding buttons. Simplistic, but a good word picture for what the techs will be doing. This test will also be used to determine future therapies, services and treatments for our girl as she grows. It will also give them a base-line to count upon in the event that her hearing changes in her life time.

Finally, we've been told to expect the Li'l Empress to be quite lethargic, loopy, dizzy, moody, and/or sad or mad for quite a while after the test. In fact, they told me to pretty much clear my calendar for all of Monday and most of Tuesday. Many moms even strap their little ones into the high chair or another kind of seat and let them veg out in front of the tv to prevent injury. Given how energetic and happy and bubbly she almost always is, this will be hard to watch!

There are always risks associated with sedating children, and we carefully weighed all our options when the doctors and audiologists presented us with the information. I'm so thankful for the CHOP staff who took so much time to answer my questions and give me details to research on my own. I had one nurse manager comment that she's never had a mom question the types of meds used to the same extent that I questioned her. I find that a bit frustrating and a little sad, but I know I am definitely pretty high on the "need to know" spectrum when it comes to my kids' health. I am no longer surprised by the things other moms don't question. I sincerely wish we could have pursued the non-sedated route for at least the ABR, but I know Li'l Empress well enough to know that I would not be able to guarantee a full two hour nap in a foreign setting under unusual circumstances. She's too much of a creature of habit right now.

So please pray for The Gang tomorrow. Specifically pray for my Li'l Empress - she is at the tail end of a nasty cold and we have been advised that there is a chance that they will not do the tests. While I know that's the safest thing for her, I'm also really ready for her to have them both and be done with it already. The anticipation and suspense is hard on this momma's heart. As always, thank you for the love and support you all have offered along this journey. In this blogging community, and in the sub-community of adoptive blogging moms particularly, I have found such empathy and encouragement. I appreciate knowing you all will hold us before the Father on our Very Big Day!

Wordless Wednesday

Sister Love

For more Wordless Wednesday fun,
head over to 5 Minutes for Mom.

Li'l Empress Rocks!

We've had a couple busy weeks here, full of doctor appointments, evaluations and adoption-related stuff. It's been a while since I've shared an update and we've got lots that we've learned that we're still trying to process. I'll start with the most recent stuff first, and follow up later this week with more information related to the Very Big Day coming up for Li'l Empress on Monday, the 16th. (How's that for a teaser for ya?!)

First, I am happy to report that Li'l Empress had a wonderful 6-month post-placement visit with our social worker last week. Despite the fact that our house absolutely REEKED (more on that later!), we chatted for two hours about Li'l Empress and her adjustment to our home. We covered motor skills, sleeping issues, eating habits, language development, medical treatments, sibling relationships, and so much more. It was fun to brag on my girl to a captive audience for a while. Especially since everything that we talked about was something that had a mostly positive report to it. She is adjusting remarkably well and we don't take any of that for granted. I was especially excited about how well Li'l Empress occupied herself with her crayons and a picture of Tigger at her high chair while we talked. Those crayons have been a life-saver for helping Mommy get something done at least once a day!

The Boss came home that night and we finally pressured him into an all-out search for the source of the nasty smell. It seemed to be coming from our basement, so he geared up and headed down. He found it. A squirrel had somehow caught itself in a vent pipe leading out of our furnace to the outside chimney. And died there while awaiting a rescue. A slow and lingering death from the smell of things. Not a pretty sight. Or smell. It took two full days for the stench to clear out of here!

Last week, we also took Li'l Empress for her 18-month well-check. Of course, that meant more shots (part of the program to get her immunizations back on track for her age). Doctors are NOT Li'l Empress' favorite people, and she was quite happy to hang out on my hip for the entire visit. Daddy came along for moral support, but she's such a Momma's girl right now that she spurned his attentions for most of the morning. As a special treat, The Boss took us to a local Chinese buffet for lunch where our sweetie amazed us with her capacity for downing fried rice. Nothing clingy about that girl in the face of an all-you-can-eat buffet!

Yesterday, we had a lovely morning interacting with the gals from our local Early Intervention team. Now, I know my girl is a charmer. I know she's quick, and smart, and incredibly adorable. But these ladies left my house so smitten with this child that I could still hear them chatting in the driveway about "what a fun evaluation that was" and "how perfect it was to start the busy week" with a visit to such a "treasure." And that's not the best part of the whole morning.

The best part was how amazed they were at her ability to communicate both verbally and non-verbally. They were also impressed with her emerging language skills. While they played with her, they were putting her through a round of tests. Seems our girl is testing completely age-appropriately or better at every level. The services of Early Intervention will still be provided because she is hearing-impaired, but they will only need to come out on a monthly basis. It will be more about giving me information and training on how to better train our family to accommodate her hearing loss and create a good listening environment. They will also use play therapy to train her how to respond to the behavioral-based hearing evaluations that she will have every 6 months or so until she's school-aged.

I took the opportunities presented to chat with them about her story, our parenting style and our faith. I mean, they asked, right?! So I shared, weaving the Lord into all I said, and giving HIM the glory for the wonder that is Li'l Empress. It was so amazing, and I'm very grateful to the Lord for the chance to point four more gals to the face of my Jesus. How could they NOT see Jesus when they hear about my girl and all He's done to get her here to the Gang?! Finally, I ended the morning by "interviewing" each of them about their educational backgrounds and their journey to the positions they hold today. I could completely see their love for their work just shining through and I loved learning about the team that will walk with us for the next 4 -5 years while Li'l Miss is receiving services.

Finally, I got a call this morning from CHOP giving me the run-down of events and procedures necessary to prep Li'l Empress for her Very Big Day coming up on Monday. But the kids just came in the door from the bus and Li'l Empress just woke up from her nap. So you'll have to check back in later for the details on the Very Big Day. Coming soon. I promise!

Keeping Informed!

You may have noticed, if you are a semi-regular around here, that there is a button on my sidebar for a site called Politics for Moms. If you haven't clicked over there to see what it's all about, today is a perfect day for you to do so. The site is run and written by a dear friend of mine, who is a godly, well-spoken, and well-informed woman. She is crackerjack smart and well-grounded in the Word. In the years that I've known her, she has gained my deepest admiration and highest respect for the thoughtful, insightful way that she lives her life and pursues her faith. I say all that not to flatter her (she knows how much I love and respect her!), but to assure you that I can highly and unreservedly recommend her site as a source of solid information about today's political climate from a conservative, Christian worldview.

Today's post is highlighting an important issue that we all need to examine carefully. Please, go there now and inform yourself. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is too important to American parents to ignore. Please, keep yourself informed and act accordingly.

Sleep Cycle Issues

I am tired. I am bone-tired. And I imagine that The Boss is even more tired than I.

Li'l Empress is in a new and challenging stage. For the last two weeks, she hasn't slept later than 6:40 a.m. - even after being up till 10 p.m. last Friday night when we had "Wii and Popcorn Night" with the cousins.

Making matters even more challenging is the fact that her sleep cycle seems to be stuck at a certain point. That point being 12:30 a.m. Almost every night for several weeks now, she has been waking and crying at the same time, give or take a ten minute window. The Boss usually hears her before I do and together we hover between deep sleep and semi-consciousness, trying to decide if this is going to escalate to full-blown crying that requires parental comfort. Those nights that she whimpers and falls back to sleep quickly, The Boss is right on her heels back to Dreamland. I, however, take longer. In order to keep my brain from fast-forwarding to the coming day and its obligations, I have a litany of hymns and Psalms I recite to calm my spirit and set my mind to rest. It's a trick I learned in junior high school when I was stressing over upcoming tests and projects. I was always stressing over some school-related event or another, it seems.

On those nights that parental comfort is required to soothe her back to sleep, we are now at the stage that we can just go to her and comfort her without starting our night time routine all over from scratch. Believe me, that was a hard fought battle and I'm grateful for how far we've come. Also noteworthy is the fact that we no longer have to pick her up and rock her in our arms to soothe her back to sleep. Daddy can go in, roll her over and cover her up and just rub her back slowly till she drifts off. Again, there are a couple things to be grateful for here. First, that she allows Daddy to comfort her is another victory. She has become quite the "Momma's girl" as of late and often spurns Daddy's attentions or comfort in other parts of the day. Second, now that she doesn't require being held, I'm grateful my hubby is tall enough to lean over the side of the crib without having to open and close it, thus making the return to sleep a soundless venture. Plus, when I'm the one leaning over the side of the crib to soother her, I'm developing bruises and sores under my arms from the crib rails. Yes, I am that short. So, yes, I am grateful for this stage of comfort giving.

However, the hard part of it all is that the longer The Boss is in with Li'l Empress, the more time my mind has to engage and start reviewing the coming day's calendar and "To Do" lists. Slow and plodding hymns and Psalms recited over and over don't cut it after about 10 minutes of listening to see how The Boss is faring. He's in rubbing her back and shushing her. I'm in our room planning tomorrow's dinner and plotting a quick trip to the library between loads of laundry and nap times. I'm crafting blog posts. I'm writing bulletin announcements in my head. By the time he comes back to bed, I'm ready to jump up at 12:50 a.m. and pump out a grocery list and update my freezer inventory.

It's a sickness, I get that. It's also made my days very challenging and very long. My prayer life has been reduced to "Dear Lord, please help that child sleep just a little longer tonight to get over that 12:30 hump." Or, "Jesus, please shut off my brain. Now."

So you can imagine my dread of this weekend. The time change that all mothers of toddlers dread has now become this looming event. It is keeping me awake and stressing over how to handle it. I am proactively trying to wrap my brain around how to sneak some extra sleep into my weekend. I'm forecasting the week coming and trying to decide what to cancel and move around to accommodate changes in the nap and bedtime routine. I'm missing sleep over missing sleep.

It's a sickness. I know. And now I'm wondering, just who in this house has the sleep cycle issues that need to be fixed?!

Wordless Wednesday

The living room is starting to come together! All the patching, painting, and trimming out is done.


The curtains are up. We're working on a solution for tie-backs, as the original ones are too short.


We've even begun to hang pictures.


I still have to shop around for some thermal, room darkening blinds.

For more Wordless Wednesday fun,
click over to 5 Minutes For Mom!

Hard Day for Eagles Fans

It is a sad, ugly day for Eagles fans all over the country. The roar of frustration in the air over Philly is almost tangible. We are in mourning here at The Gang's house.

Late breaking news is that Brian Dawkins, quite possibly the heart and soul of the whole Eagles franchise, has signed a five-year deal with the Denver Broncos.

While we certainly wish this godly man the very best in his new career path, we are incredibly sad for our own loss. Not only is he a passionate player who leaves EVERYTHING on the field, he was very active in local charities and was a great role model of integrity and "family first" for thousands and thousands of fans. For my boys.

And the man can rock the tats. I'm just sayin' . . . .

Sunday afternoons of Eagles football and hanging with my gang just won't be the same.

I'm a Loyal Commenter!

Thanks to the gals over at 5 Minutes for Moms for their very kind and effusive words in today's featured "Say It Forward"(today's post). I am honored to be chosen as a Loyal Commenter; and I'm so happy to be included in the fun here at 5 Minutes for Moms. It's been a great experience to connect with so many moms and learn from many of them on such a broad array of topics. How exciting to be part of a community that seeks to honor the Father through equipping moms and encouraging them to use their skills and gifts in their marriages, their parenting, and their local communities!

This week, as my part in the "Say It Forward" fun, I want to publicly thank Heidi at God's Grace In Practice. I've had the pleasure of meeting her in person now, as we are both "CHOP Moms" - our little ones see the same ENT and audiologists. She's as sweet and kind in person as she always is in her comments to my posts. We share a deep faith in Jesus Christ and I have always appreciated her honesty and her thoughtful perspective, both in her comments and in her own blog.

Her blog is a great mix of practical parenting, frugal living, and journeying through the mazes of parenting a special needs child. In the months since her "Little Boy Blue" was born, she's also become an active voice in the world of parents who blog about their experiences with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. As a fellow mom to a special needs child, I have learned a lot about services, therapies, and advocating for a child. She's also posts some yummy recipes occasionally, and you all know how much I love new recipes! An added bonus for me is that her blog is just down right pretty. I love all the calming colors and patterns. Even though I just met her once in person, I see just how perfectly it matches her temperament.

Please, take a minute to click over to Heidi's blog and tell her that The Gang's Momma sent you. You'll like what you read there, I promise!

Major Milestone

Baby BlueEyes was completely excited to inform me this morning, as I stumbled out of my bedroom bleary-eyed and seriously under-caffeinated, that his room "totally weeks, Mommy."

Seems the salad and broccoli from last night's dinner worked its magic. Seems he spent most of the early morning hours warming himself in the noxious fumes of his favorite body function. Seems that needing the F@breeze treatment to refresh his room is an important milestone to his smelly little 7-year old self. Seems joining the ranks of his older brothers (excuse the totally intentional pun!) is a goal he's longed to achieve.

This morning, he gleefully achieved it.

Heaven help me.

Wordless Wednesday

Looking back . . .

September 25, 2008
Getting ready to shop in Guangzhou

February 25, 2009

Singing "Hallelujah" at breakfast

For more Wordless Wednesday fun,
head over to 5 Minutes for Moms!

Game Review

Recently, I won a Build-A-Bear game for the Wii gaming system. I was elated: the older boys had spent Christmas money stocking up on "boy games," replete with Lego light-saber violence and football madness. The little ones were easily frustrated by the complicated maneuvers that these games required. It made for some ugly debates about what to do on Family Nights.

From the moment that package arrived, we have been entranced! (At least, those of us who are easily amused by bright and shiny colors and adorable stuffed animals come-to-life have been entranced!) So far, everything I've experienced about this game is delightful. The music is light and cheery. The choice of animals is varied. The narrator's accent is lilting and lovely in its British tones. The directions are simple to understand and easy to execute. The plots of each little adventure are fun and the challenge of unlocking puzzle pieces hasn't lost its intrigue yet. I am the least gaming person you are ever likely to meet, here in the blogosphere or in person, yet I still found my game time fun and not too stressful or inane at all. Yes, I said inane. I, for the life of me, do not see how people can spend hours upon hours playing a game on a tv or monitor. I find it numbing. Except when I'm riding a pogo stick through the Build-A-Bear countryside, dodging shrubbery and jumping over roadblocks. Then it's all good. Really. It inspired not just a couple giggles from all of us to watch me ride. I mean, to watch my bear ride.

I haven't played the game yet in both modes, as my LadyBug really wanted me (I mean my bear!) to participate with her cute little bunny in the Adventure mode. But I've had the pleasure of watching my kids and my niece and nephew have a barrel of fun in the Playground mode. And I did get over to the "store" to deck myself, I mean my bear, out in a snazzy little outfit earned with my winnings in the wild dash on the pogo stick. I rocked that little number, I must say. I mean, my bear rocked her outfit. Sorry, got a little caught up in the excitement. I can't help it really, it's contagious every time the game is on. The music draws me in, the narrator lulls me to deep and easy breathing, and that pogo stick calls me. It calls me. I mean, it calls my bear. Yeah. My bear.

So, thank you to 5 Minutes for Giveaways for the great game package. We are loving the sweet innocence of the Build-A-Bear for Wii and the giggles it elicits are all music to my ears!

New Button on my Sidebar

You may have noticed a new button on my side bar. It looks like this:

Nursery Murals

There is a unique new opportunity for you to cheer the hearts and minds of medically or physically challenged kids in hospitals across the country. And you won't believe how simple this opportunity really is.

Please, take a moment to go here and learn a little about it. Then click on the button and follow the link to learn even more about this great company. Thanks!

Say It Forward

I had grand plans to schedule this post in advance, but I got derailed with a 24-hour bout of strep. I'm fine now, thanks to antibiotics the size of a horse hoof and plenty of rest on the couch while The Boss took over and played Mr. Mom last night. He even grocery shopped, bless his heart! And if my blog is seeming especially prolific this week, it's due to the "Winter Vacation, Interrupted" that I mentioned earlier this week. While The Boss was painting and Li'l Empress was happily engaged in yelling at the television screen while her brothers played Madden and Lego Star Wars, I snuck in several writing opportunities. This one got stuck in the draft pile. Better late than never, I always say!

"Say It Forward" is a blog carnival, hosted by 5 Minutes for Moms every Friday. The sole purpose is for bloggers to honor and thank their most loyal commenters. As much as I love encouraging and building up others around me, I am thrilled to participate in this event.

Today, I want to publicly thank my blogging friend, Aus from The Aus Side of Life! for the regular and entertaining comments he leaves here on my blog. Actually, Aus is another blogger whom I have not yet met in person. I think he found our blog while we were traveling in China, linking to us from another blog that I frequent. I believe some of my comments to this mutual "blogger friend" prompted him to check us out here at The Gang's All Here! I'm not sure, to this day, if my comments incensed or inspired him, but he shows up around here almost every time I post. His comments are encouraging, empathetic, and often very informative. I have thoroughly enjoyed our interactions, and his blog (written equally by he and his wife) is an interesting perspective on parenting and seeking God's will for their family.

One interesting thing that you need to know is that Aus and his wife have successfully raised three biological children to adulthood and are now raising two little girls whom they have recently adopted from China. Although I often feel as if we are "starting over" with a 7-year gap between our Baby BlueEyes and Li'l Empress, this couple REALLY has started over. At a time when most couples their age would be winding down the brunt of their daily parental duties, they heeded the call of God on their lives and opened their hearts and their home to their new daughters. Currently, they are seeking the Lord for His Will concerning yet another adoption! I highly encourage you to check out their story. It's a great read!

So, Aus (and Mrs. Aus), thanks for your regular commentary here on my blog. I'm so glad you hopped through the links to follow our journey. I have learned a lot from your parenting experiences and I really appreciate your encouragement and support along the way.

Slow Cooking Soup

Here's a recipe for a soup that I've been crafting for my Gang. It comes from a recipe in an old Giant Foods newsletter around the New Year, for Pork Roast With Cabbage. I've surfed their archives but have been unable to locate the original recipe. If it sounds tempting to you, please contact me and I'll share the original gladly.

On New Year's Day, The Boss always craves the somewhat regional traditional dish of Pork and Sauerkraut. He's really the only one who loves the dish, so when this new take on the old recipe came to my in-box I was really interested. The cabbage was fresh (as opposed to pickled) and served as an almost-Italian-flavored side dish. It did not disappoint. It was truly delish. Even The Boss's craving was satisfied (well, somewhat) with the offering on the table.

As I was eating, my culinary wheels started spinning.

"This would be an excellent base to a hearty beef soup!"
"Add a little of this, a lot more of this, and wow, this could be a great slow-cooker soup!"

And off I spun, into culinary creative bliss while my family chattered on around me.

Well, this Sunday night, I took out the massively-discounted stewing beef I had stashed in the freezer. I chopped and diced. I cried over my onions. And the house filled with the most amazing smells ever. Thank you, Giant Foods - you have sparked the creation of a new culinary masterpiece! (I know, I'm so humble, aren't I?!)

Beef and Cabbage Soup

1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 c. chopped sweet vidalia onion
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 - 3 cans (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, unseasoned (to preference)
6 - 8 cans (14.5 oz.) beef broth, fat free and low sodium is best (to preference)
2 tsp. dried basil
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. dried parsley
1 very small head of green cabbage, coarsely chopped
(or 1/2 a medium head)
1 1/2 - 2 lbs. stewing beef, cut into bite-sized pieces

*I say "to preference" because it really depends
how hearty or how "broth-y"
you like your soup to be.

1. In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil on medium. Add onions & garlic and heat through till tender. Add tomatoes, broth, and spices slowly and heat through.
2. Pile in the chopped cabbage and stir well. Turn up heat to medium-high and allow to come to a gently boil. Immediately turn heat down to low and transfer to slow cooker when cool enough to handle.
3. Add stewing beef and turn slow cooker on to low. Allow soup to simmer in crock pot on low for at least 2-3 hours before serving. Be sure beef is cooked all the way through. This might take 4 hours if you choose to add the full two pounds of meat.
4. Serve with a coarse, dark rye or pumpernickel bread or a hearty Italian bread. Might even be yummy with "cheese on bread" - your favorite flavorful cheese melted on a hearty bread. Careful that the flavors don't overpower your soup, though.

I think the next time I make it, I may add some chopped carrots and maybe even some cut green beans for color. That's the wonderful thing about home-made soups: you can change them up for your family's tastes and it's really, really hard to mess up a good soup! Good luck and as always, let me know what you think if you make this one. I'm particularly interested in hearing what changes you make for your family!

Wordless Wednesday

Going Green
1st coat

Lovingly (and meticulously!)
painted by The Boss

*Edited after reviewing some of the comments: The less-than-loving look here on The Boss's face is due to the fact that I'm snapping a picture of him while working. I was in his space, after all. It is not a reflection of how he feels about this or any project we undertake! He, in fact, does love to paint and work on our home. It gives him such a sense of satisfaction and pride in ownership. Just so you all don't think he's being dragged into this re-do unwillingly!!

And there will be no fancy accent walls or faux finishes or other embellishments. We have two huge matching bookcases that are crackle painted with this green and a lovely off-white that will flank the huge window, and a patterned couch. That's enough eye-candy for me! I prefer the "less is more" approach to my decorating and we've already done the accent wall thing in the family room . . .

For more Wordless Wednesday fun,
head over to 5 Minutes for Moms!

Winter Vacation, Interrupted

This past weekend, we had a Friday/Monday combination of days off from school. We had planned to head to visit some old friends for a four-day winter break, but viruses interrupted those plans. So we hunkered down at home and made some alternate plans. The kids were deeply disappointed, however. No alternate plans could fix that. We allowed them to be frustrated and sad for a bit, but worked at redeeming the time with some other distractions.

So, Friday night we made a spontaneous taco dinner party. The kids and The Boss all took turns with the Wii and everyone went to bed way too late. Saturday, we treated the kids to a Valentine lunch at "Cheeburger Cheeburger." True to all the hype we'd heard from friends, their burgers were yummy and the shakes were amazing! Li'l Empress was quite moody for the first half hour we were there, but settled in nicely and enjoyed her diced turkey and the occasional french fry and squished grape. I wish I'd have thought to bring my camera - the delight in her eyes when I let her try my shake was truly a "Kod*k" moment. Her little eyes got big, her eyebrows shot up and she pronounced it amazing with a hearty, "MMMMMMMMMMM!" while trying to swallow and take in more all at the same time!

After a not-so quick stop at H*me Dep*t (nothing is fast with 5 kids in tow!) for paint and supplies, we came home and The Boss and the boys patched walls and moved furniture for the Living Room Re-Do. Since Li'l Empress had a seriously abbreviated nap in the car, we managed to get all the kids to their rooms and the little ones off to dreamland early after exchanging inexpensive little gifts The Boss and I had scored on a quick trip out during nap time on Friday.

The Boss and I celebrated Valentine's Day with a little finger foods feast I assembled and watched an episode of ER that I'd DVR'd a while back. It was too late to start a movie, and it's a good thing we didn't pay for one. The Boss fell asleep by 10:10 on the couch. I followed suit a good bit later and we both woke around 11:45 with stiff necks and cold feet.

Sunday was spent with more patching and sanding by the menfolk. The Boss and I have a system down pat now for home improvement projects. I do the design and decor planning. He does the physical labor. I do the baking and cooking of yummy meals and snacks that will keep his gas tank full and happy. I used to help with painting, but apparently I'm not quite meticulous enough for his standards. And, in true introvert form, he really likes to work alone in the space. He can even work for hours in said space with NO MUSIC. Whatever! So I whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookies after lunch. After dinner, I chopped and diced and simmered a yummy soup for Monday.

The ceiling got prepped and painted on Monday. It's undoubtedly the worst part of any home improvement project, what with all the craning and stretching and straining. But it's already made a dramatic difference in the light and bright of the room. Enough of a difference that I'm wondering if the previous owners EVER painted the ceiling in the 30 years they lived here? I can't think about that too long, it's just gross to think that they never cleaned or refreshed the paint there. Ugh.

So, the first coat of green is up already and I'm chomping at the bit to dig out the boxes of prints, framed pictures of The Gang, and other decor I've had in storage for the past 4 years. I can't wait to take out my curtains and wash and iron them. I'm actually excited about shopping for thermal blinds for the huge window and picking curtain rods. And I'm currently hatching a plan to re-do the outdated brass lamps we've been using. I think I see some sandpaper and faux finish in their future! But shhhh, don't tell The Boss. That's another one of those "menfolk" projects that he has declared requires a meticulous touch. Which I apparently don't have. Humph!

No Hands But Ours

I'm so excited to tell you that The Gang's adoption story has been added to the list of family stories on the site, called No Hands But Ours. If you remember, several months ago I shared with you about the launching of this site. It's serving as a clearing house of sorts: sharing stories, resources, links and other helpful information to parents in the special needs adoption community. It's an honor to be included in this group of moms who are working so hard to change the lives of children all over the world. Some of the stories here will make you weep with the awesome power of love and Our Father's incredible attention to the details of each story. He is mighty to save and each of these stories proclaim that clearly!

To find our story, go to the "Family Stories" link. Because we were so recently added, we are right at the top for now. If our story doesn't pop up quickly, search on the left sidebar by clicking on "Microtia" and you should find us there. You can also search by blog name if you choose.

While you are there, won't you consider dropping an email to the gals who run the site and let them know what you think of this new venture? I'm sure they could use the encouragement of the Body of Christ!

A Quick Note

I'll be doing my "Say It Forward" soon. Just wanted to pop in and say:

Happy Valentine's Day to you all.

Trying to figure out how to keep yesterday's post about No Hands But Ours at the top for a few days. . . . Suggestions anyone?!

Feeling Crabby Today!

Li'l Empress woke us at 4:45 a.m., restless from the sounds of the howling winds. Baby BlueEyes came in and slept on the floor by my side of the bed at 5 a.m. Shaggy couldn't sleep so he got up early to take a shower. (I know, how WEIRD is that?!) Li'l Empress failed to ever fall back into deep sleep and spent the next few hours whimpering and occasionally crying out. As a result she and I have spent most of this morning crabby with each other and stumbling around the house with our eyes at half-mast.

Finally, at 11 a.m. I couldn't take it any more. I bundled her up and headed to the grocery store that borders my neighborhood. It was 1/2 hour venture, mostly just a chance to get out and interact with someone who wasn't whining at me OVER NOTHING IN PARTICULAR! Plus, we needed formula and salad for dinner tonight. Before I left, I called in an order to the Chinese restaurant in the same plaza as the grocery store. They have a wonderful lunch special with very generous portions and I needed some fried rice.

Apparently, so did Li'l Empress. She ate all the pineapple that came with my entree, more than 1/2 of the pork-fried rice (onions and all!); and she STILL managed to suck down more than 1/2 of her bottle. That's after eating 1/3 of a turkey and cheese breakfast omelet! I am happy to report that she is sleeping soundly in her crib, bundled up like a little caterpillar in its cocoon, with the humidifier up high to block the sounds of the 50 mph gusts outside her window. And with a little Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi in me, I'm feeling like myself again. A slightly caffeinated version of myself, but who's gonna complain about that today?!

And if those diversionary tactics weren't enough to thwart a Mommy-Daughter melt-down, this delightful snippet surely would have done the trick. (In case this link doesn't work, and it just might not!, you are looking for the Thursday, Feb. 12th posting called "Always Check Your Children's Homework.")

I'm just glad I swallowed the Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi before I read it. That would have really made me crabby :)

Wordless Wednesday

Looking back . . .

A few words, if you can indulge me for a second.

This week we celebrated Li'l Empress's 18 month birthday.
And in a few days, we will mark 5 months since we met
our sweet little dumpling for the first time.
I can't remember what our home or our hearts
were like before that day.

I'm a blessed woman.

For more Wordless Wednesday fun,
check out 5 Minutes for Moms and join in!

Scrumptious Casserole for You

Tonite's dinner is a big family favorite. The recipe was originally from my sister-in-law, over at My Little Nest, many years ago. We've tweaked it and altered it for our growing family and our preferences. I have mentioned it before but never actually shared the recipe. So, for those of you who are feeling a recipe rut, give this one a try and let me know what you think. I'm pretty confident that you'll love it as much as we do!

Chicken Chalupa Casserole
makes 1 9x13 casserole dish
or a deep 1 1/2 - 2 quart casserole

Ingredients:
1/4 c. diced onion
1/2 c. sour cream
3/4 c. milk
2 cans cream of chicken soup
8-10 flour tortillas, quartered
4 chicken breasts, browned and chunked into bite sized pieces
2 c. shredded cheddar, Monterey, or Mexican cheese blend

Optional add-ins:

• 1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (14 oz.) diced tomatoes, seasoned or plain
• 2 cans (4 oz.) diced chiles, drained
• 1 can (6 oz.) olives, drained and chopped
• 1 can (7 oz.) mushrooms, drained and chopped

Instructions:

1. In large bowl, mix together the onions, sour cream, milk, and soup. If adding in the optional ingredients, do that now, too.
2. Pour a small amount of this "sauce" into a lightly sprayed casserole dish. Just use enough to coat the pan and prevent sticking or burning.
3. Place 1/3 of the tortillas onto the sauce. Follow with a layer of 1/3 of the chicken, 1/3 of the sauce and 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat these layers two more times, and end the layers with cheese on the top.
4. Bake for 45 minutes, uncovered. Top with additional cheese if it needs it. Bake another 15 minutes uncovered, till bubbly.

This casserole is excellent with guacamole and salsa on the side. I've made it so many times that I had to really think through things to see if this recipe is still how I do it. With a few minor changes, it's really still how I do things. (I delete the sour cream in the sauce and use it as garnish instead. And I use the seasoned diced tomatoes with chiles and onions in them to save me as step.) Throw together a salad and toss some chips into a bowl and you have a scrumptious Mexican-style feast for your family!

Because You Asked For It!

Recently, a couple friends commented on Facebook that they'd like my oatmeal cookie recipe. It's a staple here for The Gang; and I make them sometimes several times a month. As creative as I often get with cooking (making up?!) main dishes, I almost never mess with a good cookie recipe when I find one. This is one of those times. The ONLY change we ever make to this recipe is to use cinnamon chips when we can find them, in place of chocolate chips. Enjoy this treat - from The Gang's house to yours!

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
3/4 c. butter flavored shortening
1 1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 c. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 c. oats, uncooked
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. chocolate chips (or raisins or cinnamon chips if you can find them!)
1 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

• Preheat your oven to 325.
• Cream together the shortening and sugar. Add eggs, milk and vanilla and beat all till creamy.
• Combine remaining dry ingredients (except chips) in a separate large bowl. Add dry ingredients slowly until all of it is just blended.
• Stir in chips by hand. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes.
• Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.

Say It Forward

5 Minutes for Moms is hosting another fun blog carnival every Friday. This time, it's so that bloggers can honor and thank their most loyal commenters. As much as I love encouraging and building up the moms around me, I am thrilled to participate in this event.

Today, I want to publicly thank my blogging friend, Stephanie over at Salzwedel Family Adventures for her regular comments and input here at The Gang's All Here! I've never actually met Stephanie in person, but I can always count on her for an encouraging or compassionately commiserating comment (whooo hoooo! check out THAT alliteration!) on my posts. Whether I'm bemoaning the 900th load of laundry for the week or pouring out my heart on these pages, she is consistently upbeat and consistently points us both back to the Word in her comments. Her blog is also a great read. Her journey to see God's will for their family is inspiring. You really ought to check her out. Thank you Stephanie for your encouraging words!

I'm so excited to join this Friday carnival of encouragement. Why don't you join the fun and see who deserves your kudos today?!

Wordless Wednesday

Sweet baby kisses

Exploding into giggles

Blowing raspberries

For more Wordless Wednesday
sweetness and fun
head over to 5 Minutes for Moms!

February is the New January

I am feeling the buzz of excitement and the roar of projects and "to-do" lists in my ears. My heart is pumping and the adrenaline is rushing through my veins. It's the first full week of February. Everyone is at school, at work, taking naps, and following our regularly scheduled programming. I can smell the opportunities for cleaning and organizing. My fingers are tingling with the anticipation of handling labels, bins and storage containers. My eyes are scanning corners and spying dust bunnies under couches. My shoulders are aching to heave and lift and purge the house of extra. No closet will be left un-touched. No shelf is sacred. Not even the bookshelves.

Be afraid. Be very afraid!

I have declared a fresh start. I am blissfully knee-deep in plans to take apart my house, one room at a time. With or without the help of the rest of the Gang. Corners will be attacked. Curtains will be laundered and pressed. Trim will be wiped down. Windows will be washed. It won't stop there. (I laugh out loud as I type that, because we all know, they will be helping. By hook or by crook. With the bribery of the Wii or special meals. Whatever it takes. And I do mean, whatever it takes! They KNOW they aren't safe when I make my declarations. Isn't that what weekends are for?!)

Paint swatches are stacked on the island counter. Furniture is pulled away from the walls in the living room. Splotches of spackle dot the walls. The Boss is catching the fever. Boxes of stored curtains and living room decor are being sorted, tallied, and mentally (and soon, oh so very soon, physically) inventoried. I am head long into ideas for re-vamping, re-purposing, and re-inventing the living room. With the momentum I gather, I plan to pull The Boss and the rest of the Gang into my pile of rolling stones and de-moss us all! From the living room re-do, I hope to roll the rolling stones right into the dining room.

February is the New January. I am woman. Hear me roar!