Grateful....an update

Just a quick update to let everyone know that Ronnie and especially Anna are feeling a lot better. Not perfect, and this is Ronnie's 4-5 week of terrible coughing (I've lost count) but there has been a lot of improvement.

Little Anna is slowly improving...enough that she is almost back to her normal HIGH level of "bouncing" around...she rarely walks...she dances...or bounces! Their coughs are worse at night, and the mucus from this is so thick that they gag....but there IS light at the end of the tunnel.

I am so grateful that my little ones are starting to feel better....I am grateful for all the hard work and help from my older girls....I am grateful that my dear husband has been safe driving these roads after 2 plus feet of snow...and another 6-10 inches expected tomorrow. I am so grateful for our home, our fireplace, gas stove....and electricity again! God is so good to us! Thanks to everyone who has been praying for my little ones...they are much appreciated!

Off to snuggle my little ones before bed...then to relax with my older ones while hubby tries to take a nap before working all night again....can't wait for his day off! God bless! ~Sue~

22 inches of SNOW! Storm of 2010

We have 22 inches of snow...more where the high winds blew it into drifts! It is SO beautiful here! Now....if my hubby didn't have to drive all night in the snow and wind! My children haven't seen this much snow...ever.....I remember the "blizzard of 1993"...and a similar storm in the late 70's in Pittsburgh, when we lost power for a couple days. Losing power for 18 hours has taught me a lot about myself....and made for some very cool memories as well! LOL

First, with 2 children coughing excessively with pertussis, now was NOT the time for me to lose electricity....I was worried about it getting too cold for them, but they were fine...and slowly getting better every day. I am also not usually a worrier, but I AM prepared. So, for our family...knowing snow was coming (they were only calling for 8-12 inches....not 22!)...I made sure we had what we needed. Thursdays or Fridays are our usual grocery shopping days, according to Ron's pay, so going to the grocery store on Friday morning was not unusual...but the incredibly long lines certainly were! For years, I've always been trying to be prepared for any emergency...plenty of food, a gas stove and/or a gas grill with extra propane...plenty of blankets, candles, flashlights and oil lamps available if needed....now, we keep firewood as well...and am I ever glad we do! Friday, as the first flakes started coming down...Ron finished splitting firewood and carrying in boxes of wood for us...and extra kindling as well.
This is just the beginning of the snow starting to coat everything...and (you can't tell but) those are robins in our tree! These silly robins came back a month early! I couldn't believe it!

The view looking out at my little front porch...notice the snow is almost up to the railing...and look how much is sitting on top! Sara's footprints are so deep....when I made her walk over to the neighbors to feed her cat, then up the hill to another neighbors to rescue guinia pigs and drop off a key...she looked so funny floundering thru the snow...I kept telling her "...when I was your age...." stories.

My deck....I am still amazed at how much snow is on top of my table and railings!

My poor trees bowing down to the ground...I hope they survive this heavy, wet snow!
Had to put this in there...homemade chicken soup with rice noodles....cooking a pot of homemade soup, boiling water for noodles and keeping the tea kettle on generated a lot of heat.

The front walk...to show how deep the snow is. (My mom is STILL in sunny Florida...and can't wait to see the pictures!)

The tree on the left is my hemlock that is now sideways, with lots of broken branches and the front right is my (sigh) beloved lilac bush....I so hope these two will spring back once the heavy snow is lifted!

~One of the interesting things I've learned thru this is that I THOUGHT I would love to live in pioneer times....now....maybe not. We had no trouble keeping warm, plenty of food and light...and activities to keep us busy, so they weren't the problem. My biggest concerns were my husband having to be out driving in the storm, my little ones bad coughs....and honestly, I was afraid of losing all the food that I have been stockpiling my freezers with for when Ron's job contract is up. Not knowing the future, we've been trying to at least stock the freezers and pantry...knowing that it will get eaten eventually...and trying to make sure we at least know that we will have plenty of food. I know, we are blessed...and that the Lord will always provide, but I also have felt Him leading me to prepare our family the best that I can and leave the rest to Him. I know, from my "Little House" books how they stored and preserved things...but if I don't HAVE to salt, or smoke my venison...I would rather freeze it. I imagined myself out in the snow with plastic laundry baskets full of frozen meat fighting off the raccoons and animals for my families food while my husband was gone braving the elements. LOL

So...I LIKE electricity! But....I and the children discovered that we DO like the phone not ringing...not being on the computer...the warm feel of doing dishes by hand and the fun of chatting together while working at chores...the warmth and comfort of a fire....the peace and comfort of quilts and yarn in our hands...and working together. Four whole GLORIOUS days without any outside commitments....we are all loving it! Hope you all are safe and warm tonight! In His love........~Sue~

My Wanderings in the Kitchen: Simply Yummy Baked Oatmeal

This recipe has become very popular last week when I had breakfast duty and before...it's very simple, delicious and a fun alternative to typical oatmeal. The great thing about this (that I plan to do soon) is you can add whatever you want! Raisins, nuts, apples, or if you wanted to go on a tropical twist maybe even half a can of crushed pineapple!

Baked Oatmeal

Ala

Meghan!

Ingredients:

3 cups oatmeal

3/4 cup brown sugar (you can use less if you dare!)

1 stick of butter, softened (or melted since we don't have a microwave:) )

2 eggs

2 cups milk

2 heaping teaspoons of baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons of flour if it's a little too watery

Optional: cinnamon, vanilla, apples, raisins, crushed nuts, crushed pineapple

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease a 13 by 9 pan

2. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and if it's a little too watery, just add a half a cup or so more of oatmeal

3. Dump into pan and bake for 30 minutes and let sit to set

Voila! Here it is:

Growth...

I read a wonderful truth in my devotions this morning:

"If you endure chastening God deals with you as a daughter, for what daughter is there whome a father does not chasten? Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness." Hebrews 12:7 & 11; 'daughter' is my addition.

We will never stop growing and being molded by the Lord and it's not usually a easy process. When the Lord chastens it is humbling and bitter sweet...but He in His abundant love and mercy brings conviction and then growth because of how much He loves us.

I need thee every hour; stay thou nearby; temptations lose their power when thou art nigh.

I need thee, O I need thee. Every hour I need thee. O bless me now my Savior, I come to thee

I need thee every hour; teach me thy will; and thy rich promises in me fulfill.

Pertussis...

Ok...it's official...it is pertussis (whooping cough)...Anna is 'whooping', so I guess we are 'quarantined' for a week or two....please pray for Anna. Thanks! ~Sue~

"cough" update...

Pediatrician report after checking Anna this morning...could be RSV or Pertussis (whooping cough) for BOTH Ronnie and Anna...has to run it's course....3-6 weeks all together....sigh....this is a very LONG winter. Thank you to everyone for the prayers....now to get ready for some snow. ~Sue~

The cough that never ends....

All a sick 5 year old girl could need....hot elderberry tea, her "pink bear", tinkerbell fleece blanket her Grammy made her and her cat....who is glued to her side. Now, after almost 17 years of parenting, and almost 10 years of studying and researching natural health and nutrition....I really don't go to the pediatrician all that often. They have seen my 2 little ones more in this past year than they have in their whole lives. When there is a possible breathing issue....I tend to be more cautious.

This cough has been very strange....it has not followed any typical pattern of illness I've ever encountered....no fever, starting with a dry cough...then turning into a 'wet' cough...progressing into a stuffy head and horrible, choking cough....that lingers for weeks. Anna is following the same pattern that Ronnie did (who is still coughing). I had him at the pediatricians office 2 weeks ago, and was told it was a virus. Why am I taking Anna today, then, you may be wondering....because I'm worried about her breathing....she seems to have trouble catching her breath. I'd rather be sure.

In the meantime, we are loading up on vitamin c, elderberry, ALJ (for resperatory)...lots of homemade broths, probiotic kefir smoothies....all hoping to ward off pneumonia and a trip to the hospital....and praying for Spring to come early! LOL Right now, Pittsburgh is expecting 6-8 inches of snow by Saturday night....so it doesn't look like Spring is around the corner just quite yet! But, there ARE signs....Ron saw 5 robins in the yard yesterday....so they are returning from the south. Will update when we see what the pediatrician says.

Please, pray for our little Anna! And, for the coughs to LEAVE our home! :) Thanks!

~Sue~

My Wanderings in the Kitchen: GF Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Sara and I are having lots of fun trying some new recipes when we help in the kitchen. There have been desserts, yummy lunches, new breakfasts and lots of creativity. :) I'll be posting a few of my favorites from the past weeks and Sara will be sharing some of her recent recipes.

There were some hit recipes and I had a great time making them in between the 'typical' weekly breakfasts of oatmeal, cream of rice, etc. I also made a fabulous new dessert last Tuesday night that was scarfed down in three days flat. :) Here is the recipe and interactive pictures below....I am learning the art of 'tweaking' recipes to fit our needs and use what we have so I will include what we used in each recipe.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Gluten Free and Flourless

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. Butter

1 c. Brown Sugar

1 can crushed pineapple (it called for 12 slices of pineapple but we only had crushed in our pantry) don't forget to drain it like I almost did. :)

8 egg yolks

8 egg whites

1 1/2 c. sugar (we used natural)

1 1/2 c. tapioca, corn or potato starch

1 tsp. Baking Powder

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a small pan or microwave and mix in the brown sugar

2. Pour the butter/sugar mixture into a 13 by 9 baking pan and spread it evenly (I recommend using a little more butter and sugar to make it more even)

3. Place whatever type of pineapple you use over the butter/sugar mixture

4. Beat the egg yolks and sugar until very creamy (set aside in a seperate bowl because you'll need the mixer again)

5. Beat the egg whites until they are stiff but not dry

6. Fold the egg whites carefully into the egg yolk and sugar mixture

7. Fold the starch and baking powder in carefully

8. Pour the batter over the pineapple in the 13 by 9 baking pan

(My lovely assistant/gabby girl extraordinaire!)

9. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until a knife can be stuck into the middle and come out clean

Here comes the good part...okay, so it would be a little while until Mum, Sara and Ronnie came back from dance/basketball so, not wanting it to get stale, and having a boatload of dishes, I left it in the pan in all it's golden beauty....

We let it sit until dinner is cleaned up and Mum looks at it and says, "Uh...Meghan, aren't you supposed to flip it upside down?" Whoops! I think my face was as red as a tomato. I was praying it hadn't stuck from sitting so long in the pan....it scarcely stuck at all! And what did stick was swiftly picked out of the pan and enjoyed by my younger siblings. :)

So here is my finished Pineapple Upside Down Cake...it would've looked prettier with slices but oh well. It is SO good...the crust is light and airy and though the texture is different than the typical 'gluten' recipe, it's very good and even my Dad enjoyed it. :)