Chicken Noodle Casserole & Pizza Chicken Pasta

Pizza Chicken Pasta
*1 (16oz) package of bow tie pasta, cooked
*1 (26oz) jar spaghetti sauce
*1 teaspoon pizza seasoning
*3 skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into cubes
*2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

~In slow cooker, combine all the ingredients, except cheese
~Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours
~Sprinkle cheese over top.  Cover, let set 10 minutes
~Makes 6 to 8 servings

Chicken Noodle Casserole
*1 (8oz) package noodles, cooked
*4 cups chopped cooked chicken
*2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
*1 cup milk
*1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

~In slow cooker, combine all the ingredients.  Mix well. Cover.
~Cook on low 3 to 4 hours.
~Makes 6 servings

Blessings in Diapers

The most expensive part of having a baby is the diapers and formula if you aren't breastfeeding.  When I was pregnant with Rylie, my friend Nichelle had just had her daughter Zayda and she had a friend that had worked at a grocery store and they had to throw out packages of diapers that got opened in shipment.  Nichelle was given these completely clean, unused but opened packages of diapers.  When Zayda outgrew a size of diapers, Nichelle gave us what she had left.  I was so grateful for her generosity and we had now had diapers from preemie size to size 3 for our baby girl that was on her way!!!  Now many of you know Rylie probably couldn't fit one side of her cute butt in a preemie diaper being almost 9 lbs. but I held on to them just in case.  Thanks to Nichelle's diaper gifts, we didn't have to buy diapers for Rylie until she was about 5 months old.

A couple months after Rylie was born, my friend Jessica had a tiny 5 lb. baby girl  and were quite surprised as they had no preemie clothes and no preemie diapers except for what they had been given at the NICU.  So I remembered those tiny diapers I was saving for something(just in case).  I was able to pass on the preemie diapers that Nichelle had given us, that Rylie could never wear and give them to Jessica for her tiny baby girl.  I was happy to pass the diaper blessings on!!

When I was pregnant with Liam we had gotten some diapers from family and friends and I had put some Target coupons to good use(can't let coupons go to waste) to stock up on diapers for our baby boy.  We probably had 4 or 5 packages when he was born.  A couple of weeks after Liam was born, my brother-in-law Philip had called to ask what diapers and wipes I preferred.  I thought this was a little odd but he then said that Bill's office wanted to throw us (a surprise for Bill) diaper and wipe baby shower.  I was very grateful for the offer, considering I hadn't met anyone he worked with yet in his new office and was surprised at all the diapers and wipes we had been given.  With the supply of diapers and wipes, we just now on Saturday had to buy Liam a box of diapers since he was born and still have wipes from the shower.  We are grateful for our diaper blessings!!

A couple months after Liam was born, my friend Lisa had a baby boy and I had some diapers that Liam outgrew.  Again, I was able to pass the diaper blessings on!!!

We are extremely grateful for all the diapers that have been given to our babies and I love passing the diaper blessings on!!! So now for any baby shower or baby present, it will have diapers included with their gift(diaper blessings).

Update on Liam's Ears

As I had written in the New Year post, Liam has been having trouble with his ears since October and he has been on several antibiotics with the longest span being over two months.  After many talks with our hospital pharmacist, he assured me that there is no harm to Liam's organs from being on the antibiotics this long but that eventually he would build up resistance to it and it just wouldn't work from him anymore.

On January 14th, Liam had his 9 month well baby check-up and a follow up on his ears. To my disappointment Liam's doctor had said that his right ear appeared "thick and was not draining."  He told me he was sending us to an ENT(ears, nose, throat) specialist and to keep Liam on the antibiotics til he has his appointment with the specialist.  So with a new prescription in my hand, I felt defeated but relieved we were seeking other options to make him better with seeing the specialist.

Liam's pediatrician's office said they would schedule the appointment with the specialist.  A few days went by and I hadn't had a call telling us when Liam would see the specialist.  When I called, it turned out the referral was forgotten and the nurse would call me back with the appointment.  Later in the day the nurse called to say Liam had an appointment on March 16th and that was the soonest because the doctor would be on vacation(go figure).  I told her I was concerned because that was two months away and that meant another two months on antibiotics for my baby.  I asked her to talk to the doctor to see if he wanted to see him again or if we were just to keep him on the antibiotics until the appointment.

The next day as I was happily shopping with my babies, the phone rang.  The call was from Liam's nurse at the pediatrician's office and she was calling to say she had told the doctor about the wait for the specialist and reminded him of the length of Liam being on antibiotics. The pediatrician's decision was that he didn't want Liam waiting that long to see the specialist and he was sending us to Phoenix.

That same day I called and made Liam's appointment for Phoenix.  So on February 4th we will be taking Liam to see the specialist in Scottsdale. 

That's the long version of it!! I am relieved to being going to a specialist that probably has more experience with babies and we are crossing our fingers that he will only need tubes.  My worry is how, if he needs them, the doctor will get the tubes in.  I'm not a fan of sedating him.  Prior history with Rylie and sedation for procedures has made me nervous about it.  Hopefully we will be lucky and we won't have to go that far.

Kids Love It Cheeseburger Casserole

* 2 pounds lean ground beef, browned, drained

* 2 (10 ¾ ounce) cans of cheddar cheese soup

* 1 (20 ounce) package frozen crinkle-cut French fries

*In a slow cooker, combine beef and soup.  Mix well.  Top with French fries. Cover. Cook on low 6 to 8 hours.  Makes 6 to 8 servings.

 

Mommy Goes Back To School!!

So I decided after our busy year of marriage and baby that it was time to go back to school for my Bachelor's Degree.  It only took a few minutes after trying to study with two active kids to wonder, "What was I thinking?"  This week started my first of three classes for the semester, statistics!  Sunday night after working a 12 hr shift I had to take my first test.  While trying to test I had Liam pulling on the computer cord, sitting under my feet and Rylie banging away on the toy piano:) Love them!!! So after many interruptions I completed my test and came to the conclusion, it will take some better timing(staying up after the kids go to sleep or waking up early before they do) to get these classes done with my two adorable, active kids.  It sure is different with two instead of just one that I had during nursing school.

I'm sure some hours of sleep with be lost and maybe my sanity during this semester, stay tuned to see how it all works out with Mommy going back to school!!!

Busy Woman's Receipes

I found two great recipe books with few ingredients and little time standing over the stove. Hope you enjoy!!

Ravioli Lasagna

*1 (28 ounce) jar pasta sauce, divided
*1 (25 ounce) package frozen cheese ravioli, partially thawed, divided
*1 (16 ounce) carton small cured cottage cheese, divided
*1 (16 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
*1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

~In a slow cooker, pour ½ the pasta sauce and half the ravioli, mix well
~Spread ½ cottage cheese, sprinkle half mozzarella over cottage cheese
~In a small bowl, combine remaining sauce and ravioli. Mix well.
~Pour over mozzarella, spread remaining cottage cheese.
~Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese
~Cover and cook on low 4 to 6 hours.
~Makes 6 to 8 servings


Crunchy Breadsticks


*1 (8 count) package of hot dog buns
*1 cup melted butter
*Garlic powder
*Paprika

~Preheat oven to 225
~Take each half of bun and slice in half lengthwise
~Use pastry brush to butter all breadsticks.
~Sprinkle each breadstick lightly with garlic and paprika
~Place on cooking sheet and bake for 45 min
~Serves 6 to 8

9 months and Growing

9 months ago today I gave birth to Liam and boy how fast time has gone!!  He now weighs 19 lbs. 8 oz. and he is 28 inches long.  He is a fast crawler getting into all kinds of things that make mommy cringe and think he sure is different than his sister was at this age. I guess boys will be boys!!!

He is a happy boy, smiling and giggling all the time.  I think everytime he smiles I fall in love with him all over again.  He is very loving baby, giving many baby hugs and kisses throughout the day.  He stands on his own and cruises from the couch to his activity table or end table.  He loves to pull himself up and play.  He says, "ma ma, mum mum, da da, bo bo and ba ba."  He just started waving bye-bye.  Today at the doctor when the nurse was poking his toe for the anemia test, he started waving bye-bye to her.  I think he was thinking she should hit the road and leave him alone!! 

Liam loves his sister and she loves him.  He often starts to giggle at the sight of her and she always says, "Aww brother, you're so cute, I love you."  I hope they are always close even though I'm sure things will change as they get older.

For the past couple of months, Liam has been on antibiotics for his ears.  Today was a follow-up check along with his 9 month check-up.  I was disappointed to hear that his right ear hasn't not improved to his doctor's satisfaction and we have been referred to a specialist with the possibility of Liam having ear tubes placed.  I was crossing my fingers and praying that his ears would be better but I know it's best now to look at other options to fix them. I think for any mom, the thought of having their child go through any procedure brings a sense of worry. I will keep you updated once we know more.

As fast as these 9 months have gone, I have enjoyed every minute of it (yes even the sleepless nights)! I thank God everyday for my happy, healthy boy and I love being his mommy!!!

Rylie Says What?....

If anyone has small children you know they can say the darnest things and pay attention to what's going on around them more than we might think.  So I wanted to keep track of Rylie's little comments on her world...

1.  Me: "Rylie what's your baby's name?"  Rylie: "Baby's name is brother."  Me: "Rylie your baby is a girl."  Rylie: "I know mama but she looks like brother, see brother like you."(She shows Liam her baby)

2. Rylie: "Mom I think brother likes me."  Me: "Rylie brother loves you."  Rylie:  "Yeah mom but brother likes me too."

3.  Me:  "Rylie did you take a nap at school today?"  Rylie:  "No mom, I don't like to take a nap at school."  Me:  "Rylie you need to take a nap at school so you don't get tired."  Rylie:  "Mom Miss Martha needs to take a nap."(her preschool teacher)

4.  My mom took Rylie and Liam one night while we went to a friend's wedding. Ry was very upset that we were leaving, here is Granny and Rylie's talk:
Rylie: (wiping tears)  "Granny, I have a problem."  Granny: "Rylie what's your problem?"  Rylie: "Granny mommy and daddy put me in my car seat and now I have a problem."  Granny: "Rylie mommy and daddy had to go out for a little bit and when you wake up they will be here to get you."  Rylie: "Okay Granny so I'm going to sleep so when I wake up mommy and daddy will be here."

5. Me:  "Rylie you need to cross your legs and sit like a lady."  Rylie:  "Mom I'm not a lady, I'm Rylie!"

6.  Rylie:  "Mommy I want a smoothie please!"   Me:  "Rylie you are sick and threw up, we should save the smoothie for another day.  We are going to go get some soup."  Rylie:  "Mommy I don't want to spit up anymore(throw up), I don't want any soup, it will make me sick.(she puts her hand on her belly)  Smoothie will make me all better Mommy."

It's crazy how my baby girl is turning into a little lady so fast!! Stay tuned for some more Rylie conversation!!!

A New Year!

Sorry I haven't blogged since before Christmas but is was a busy holiday down to the last minute.  Yep my plan to stay ahead of Christmas totally went out the window, with me being at Wal-mart Christmas Eve at 4:00 in the morning to get last minute stocking stuffers and food for the Christmas Eve dinner I had planned before needing to be at work at 6:30!!!  It all came together and we had a great holiday with our family and friends.  After seeing our living room covered in toys, I do understand why my husband said I went overboard, but it was all for the kids!!! We'll see if I can be a little more modest next Christmas, but I doubt it!

To update on Rylie and Liam...Rylie is getting tall like her mama and we are checking into dance class this week for her.  Everyone tells us to start with ballet, but Rylie loves to shake it so to speak and I could see her in ballet class shaking her hips from side to side when the teacher wasn't looking.  So we are looking for a tap/jazz class for her.  Liam is almost 9 mo old and he has decided he is tired of crawling and wants to walk.  He now pulls himself up and tries to move from one thing to another without falling.  He is making me nervous for sure.  Liam has had some trouble with his ears and has been on a few different antibiotics to clear up ear infections.  We have a follow-up at Liam's 9 mo check-up and we might be sent to a specialist for ear tubes.  Crossing our fingers we don't have to go to that measure but we want him to be comfortable and don't want to risk his hearing with all the ear infections.

This year we have lots planned.  I am going back to school for my Bachelors degree, which I am wondering what I was thinking with two kids and a full time job but I'm determined to get through.  We are taking Rylie to Disneyland for her 4th birthday, we have lots of surprises in store for her.  It makes me feel like a kid again, all giddy and excited for her.  Bill might have to go back to Wisconsin again for 3 weeks of training if the radiology part of Epic gets moved up,which means 3 more weeks of me home with the kids and crazy dog alone.  I love my babies but our dog is about 150 lbs. he plays tug-a-war with me every time I try to get him outside.  I usually lose!!!  During one of the Wisconsin trips I plan to tag along so we can visit family and friends in Chicago!! I haven't been there before so I'm excited but I hope it's warmer when we go!!  Bill is also planning on going back to school for his Master's in the spring.  So with all of that we are also hoping to get our back yard done and finish decorating the house.

We hope everyone has a wonderful blessed and healthy New Year!!!