Monday, March 30, 2009

My first completed quilt!!!



Last week, right before all that stuff happened with Madi...I had such a fun night with a bunch of ladies. We all brought our machines and made shaggy raggy quilts. They are so easy and so cute!

Here is mine. Now it has a home on the end of Madi's bed and I love having my very own homemade quilt to look at every time I walk by...plus Madi is impressed I made it...she watched me cut all the fabric for it.

Speaking of Madi...she is doing great. Her numbers are really getting in the area that they should be and you can tell she has more energy. She is such a sweet thing and is still not complaining at all...she likes that fact that Nick Jonas from the Jonas Brothers also has Type 1 Diabetes and we have read his story that is a lot like hers. Now she wants their CD.

I am on the lookout for a website or some program, so that for a meal I make I can type in the ingredients and it will tell me the nutrition facts...on night I may make chili or say a Tuna Casserole.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Madi + Diabetes

Things are finally settling down after a crazy weekend and week. Madi has been diagnosed with Diabetes but she reminds us or Ben that she is not sick. She is doing well and is back at school with the help of a wonderful school staff.
God works in mysterious ways! In my last post I told you about Michelle from thesweetgardenia. I just met her last Friday and then the next Friday she practically saved my child's life. We had gotten together on Friday morning, and I was tired and yawning and she asked why I was so tired. I said Madi gets up 4 times during the night to drink water and go to the bathroom. Well Michelle stopped by my house just minutes after school on Friday and while all the kids were playing Madi's drinking and peeing came up again. Michelle mentioned that is a sign of diabetes. Michelle is a Diabetic herself and suggested checking Madi's blood sugar. So while Michelle went to get her meter I was nervous, my intuition really had been making me think something was wrong and I called Steve who was down at the Braves Spring Training in Orlando. He said if I wasn't up for it to wait and when he got home we could take Madi to her pediatrician. Michelle said she wouldn't leave unless I checked Madi's glucose. So we made it fun and checked all the kids. Everyone was in the low 100's but Madi's read High Glucose over 600. Michelle said "Jeni you have to take her in right now". We are not from here but I had heard through the grapevine of a satellite clinic of the Atlanta's Healthcare for Children in Morrow and thought that would be a better place to go than our local ER. Michelle went with us and I owe her so much for helping me and willing to do anything for us we needed at that time. Madi was seen instantly and they said we need to be transported in an ambulance to the Children's Hospital downtown. Under the circumstances, everything was wonderful. The most kind people helped us in the clinic, we had four more on our ambulance ride and doctors waiting for us when we arrived at the hospital.
In the picture above...Madi insisted on wearing her jeans with her hospital gown on too...whatever.
Madi has done so well...I could not ask for a better kid! She likes to have her finger poked to check her blood. I think she likes knowing her number...it lets her know all is well I guess. She doesn't like her 4 shots she needs throughout the day but dealing with it amazingly, never fights getting them....doesn't even cry just a tear on a few of them.

Here is a picture of Madi when we were getting ready to leave the hospital. She insisted on wearing her knew t-shirt on her first day back to school too.
For all you moms out there...we were able to catch this early before any permanent damage was done.... she didn't even have any ketones in her urine when we got to the hospital. Signs just started showing up. We had gone on our cruise at the beginning of February and also had the vacation with Steve's family at the cabin and Madi never got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Looking back we also noticed at Madi 's last two basketball games she was not as much of the beast she usually was but didn't ever really think anything of it but in hindsight we do see things. Madi has always eaten lots of food and is still a little bitty thing but did loose 8-10 lbs. the last month. So we know it wasn't until after the middle of February when this started. You just have to watch and know their routines and I am so glad I did.
Steve's family came instantly to take care of Ben...THANK YOU Alicia! Teresa my mother-in-law came Saturday from Savannah and stayed with us until last night. She said the ladies in her office check into my blog time to time so THANK YOU for supporting Teresa so she could stay and help us too. Ben loved hanging our with his cousins in Macon and then having Nana totally spoil him here at home while Steve and I stayed with Madi at the hospital.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Vacation for one


Every year at this time Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando is home to the Atlanta Braves for a few months....and that is where you will find Steve. For years he has been wanting to go to the Braves Spring Training and finally his time has come. We were all going to go but a Spring Training game has higher priced tickets than what we pay for their regular MLB games, so the rest of us stayed back. Plus, I am happy my hubby can relax and enjoy the sun and traveling around to a few cities down in Florida following his team.
A funny story:
Last week while shopping at the Commissary on Ft. Gillem the craziest thing happened. While I was on the veggie isle another shopper stopped me and she asked me if I had a blog...I have never been stopped and asked that before. It was cool meeting someone so fun. So, my new friend Michelle, is now over at thesweetgardenia. It's a small world after all!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

happy st. patrick's day

The kids took festive green Rice Krispie Treats to school today.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Madi


Madi is a Momma's girl when just I am here but when Steve is around she is a Daddy's girl! She cracks us up at how much she likes sports and the knowledge she has of them too...more than some adults. Well right now Madi and Steve are driving down to Macon to go watch some of the Georgia High School basketball championships. Ben was not as interested just High School...he has already been spoiled with SEC college championship games and then Final Four games. He is wanting to go to the ACC college games downtown this weekend. I would even enjoy going to see Dickie V and Duke or N. Carolina play but all those tickets are $100 a piece so we are passing today and tomorrow. But I know Madi is thrilled to be going tonight with her dad!
A few weeks ago Madi asked us if Florida potties (porta potties) were called that because they were all made in Florida. Steve and I cracked up! This whole time she has thought they were Florida potties....now that is a little Georgia Bulldog for ya!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Skipping ahead

As much holiday decorating as I do, for some reason I pretty much skip right over St. Patrick's Day, I don't know why. The few things I have I just set out that day....so yesterday I was in the mood to decorate for Easter. We have had some serious spring weather the last 5 days...in the 80's and my kids have been wearing shorts to school. Last week we had our first 'snow day' ever and then yesterday I had to turn on the air conditioner?

This afternoon after the kids finished their homework, Madi asked to watch TV and Ben asked me to sit out back with him. So I opened the french doors to let the fresh air in the house and then I sat on the porch and stitched while talking with Ben who was swinging on the hammock. Boys are so sweet!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Green Bread


Back in 2002 when we moved to Germany, we lived next to one of Steve's co-workers, and his wife Leah and I hit it off from the start. Leah had never heard of Gooseberry Patch, so I loaned her a few of my beloved cookbooks. Well a few months later she brought us a basket full of baked goodies for Christmas. She had stuffed a loaf of the yummiest green bread in there. So of course I called her up to thank her and also asked for the recipe. She laughed and said she got it from me. I told her it wasn't from me but then she said it was out of one of my Gooseberry cookbooks. So even though it did come from a cookbook, I consider it a recipe from her. It's really called Christmas bread but I make it all year round and think because it's green it's really fun for March too.

Christmas Bread

1 yellow cake mix
3 1/2 oz. pkg. instant pistachio pudding
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup water
1 cup sour cream

Mix well and pour into 2 greased loaf pans.
In a small bowl mix together 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon.
Sprinkle mixture on top of bread, press firmly into bread before baking.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 min.


Last week our school celebrated Dr. Seuss. Everyday the kids did a fun activity and read lots of Dr. Seuss books. On one of the days a few of us moms went in to cook Green Eggs and Ham for the kids. In Madi's class there are 4 of us moms who are the usual that show up to help. There is Lauren's mom Lamona.


Madi's 1st Grade class. We have been so lucky to be zoned to such a wonderful school. Plus look at our class size...in a public school. But with all the budget cuts, our school has to drop one teacher at each level, so class sizes for next year are expected to be about 20 instead of 15 or 16. At least we had 2 years like this.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Cute cute cute!

The second I saw this idea I knew I had to try it. It's called a bandanna skirt. No pattern needed! Thank you V and Co. You can click here to see her tutorial to make one. I think it's the cutest.



I took a picture of Madi yesterday before school. She even wore green crocs to match.














Tonight we went to Bruster's for dessert. It was PJ day...if you came in pj's you got a free waffle cone.


Yummy....mint Oreo for both.


Look at these big kids who showed up for free ice cream...what a hoot!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Old Pioneer Woman

After dinner tonight, Steve was laughing at me because I had to patch Ben's jeans and then look what I made for Madi to wear tomorrow. All this after I had to (in a very southern voice) boil a chicken and pick it off the bone, for some delicious chicken salad to put on some soft wheat rolls. Now I am fired up and ready to make all kinds of stuff for Madi. See those pieces of material hanging too...for some cute matching ribbons for pigtails tomorrow.

While all this Women's work was happening, we had on Steve's Wi-Fi radio. Have you seen these? It runs off our wireless Internet. You can pick up over 10,000 radio stations from anywhere in the world....we even tried Iran. Plus you can type in a person (Beyonce') or a band (Beach Boys) and it will play all their music...you just can't pick which of their songs. Totally neat and blows my mind with the technology!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Time

I finally made some 'time' to make some cards. I love the look of newspaper used on paper crafts.
Most of the time I do not purchase something unless it's on sale. But a few weeks ago while up at Lenox Square Mall I got to peek in Pottery Barn, I couldn't resist that classy candle with an 'H' monogrammed on it.
Here is a link to my favorite song by Thriving Ivory:
It really got me excited for my long run today. I love the words in the beginning of the song "I want a sunburn to know that I am alive" Let me tell you I am SO feeling my legs after my 6 MILE (and proud of it) run!!!!! I am feeling alive. I love life.
Now I am off to a nice hot bath and then sitting to stitch while watching Lost.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Another fun weekend

My friend Susy who I meet while living in Wiesbaden, Germany, came through Atlanta this past weekend. We laughed at how after 2 1/2 years all the kids look the same just so much bigger. We soaked up each others company and enjoyed dinner at California Pizza Kitchen downtown at Atlantic Station. It didn't take long at all for the kids to warm up to each other. While eating dinner, Susy and Mark and Steve and I sat at one table while all the kids sat at their own...it was so much fun for all. Susy and Mark are now stationed at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. Mark has a TDY down in Florida, so they all went to take advantage of the Air Force flipping the hotel bill while they enjoyed Disney World and Sea World. Wish Steve could get a TDY down there.

My birthday isn't until next month, but Susy surprised me with an early treat. She spoiled me with Paula Deen goodies, a yummy caramel candle and of course Lindt chocolates and some new gummies to snack on during some of my long runs. It's next month when we are meeting up again in Nashville....I am doing the half marathon and Susy is doing the full marathon. Susy has been raving about these new gummies by Luna. You eat them in the middle of a long run to give you some extra umph. Thank you Susy!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

SNOW in The ATL!

Not only does it not snow in Atlanta but it really shouldn't happen in the month of March. Yesterday we were in the 70's and now look at today. It's fun watching CNN and the Weather Channel and their fun comments because both of those are based here in Atlanta. This is our first snowfall and probably our last this year. Our kids don't even have 'real' winter coats but they had fun playing outside.
Steve gave the neighbors across the street a good laugh when he went out to help the kids roll snow in hopes of making a snowman.



Ben and Madi came in to warm up by the fire before heading back outside.



Everyone was starved after playing, so the kids voted for pancakes for a nice warm snack.