Leaving My Wandering Ways

Keeping Tabs

Glimmering Girl — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:26:40 +0000

I don’t mean to be complaining, but I am still feeling yucky. I do have another doctor’s appointment tomorrow, on the 23rd, the 27th and the 29th. I am a little worried that I will end up in hospital soon. But in the meantime, I will keep following up on all their concerns, doing all the tests that they want and keep good tabs on my baby boy.

Update

Glimmering Girl — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:03:00 +0000

I am feeling kind of yucky today. I just feel tired, short of breath and kind of headachey. I hope this is not a sign of things to come. I don’t want to spend the remainder of my pregnancy feeling a general feeling of yucky.

I had some tests done yesterday and I had some more today. So hopefully I will have good news from that. (or at least no bad news anyway)

Looking up

Glimmering Girl — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 02:32:16 +0000

Well today I got some good deals on used furniture. I spent about $180 and got some bunk beds for the girls, a hide-a-bed couch for the living room, a play pen, and a stroller. On Monday another really nice leather couch for the living room is being delivered and a 4 in 1 crib and a bunch of baby boy clothes has been promised to me. I am so relieved. We are set now. We needed so many things and I was stressing on how to get them all. Things were wrecked in our move and I suddenly found myself needing things for our home. I needed somewhere to sleep for the guest who is coming to help Wandering Aengus with the girls when I am in the hospital. I needed better beds for the girls, because their room is too small for all those beds and the toddler beds have been destroyed anyway. I needed somewhere for the baby to sleep and I needed some more clothes for the baby. In one short day, I got all of that taken care of. I love it when things come together like that.

Pina Colada Oatmeal

Glimmering Girl — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:51:34 +0000

I decided to try a treat for breakfast this morning and I invented Pina Colada oatmeal. The kids LOVED it and it smelled heavenly.

In the rice cooker, I put:
2 cups oatmeal
4 cups water
1 packaage instant coconut pudding (vegan as far as I could tell)
1 can of pineapple chunks.
Sweeten to taste

When it was done, it smelled just like a yummy pina colada and it was a huge hit with the girls. They have been loving all the new ways I have been trying oatmeal lately.

Thought

Glimmering Girl — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:05:24 +0000

Just a little thought, knowing that my blood pressure is up and that there is a good chance I could end up in the hospital very soon is doing nothing to bring my blood pressure down. Now, I am rushing around trying to make sure everything is ready for any emergencies that may occur.

Prenatal Appointment

Glimmering Girl — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:30:04 +0000

Well, I had a prenatal appointment this morning. And, my blood sugars are up, my blood pressures are up and we are apparently probably going to be on the fast track for this little one. I am going to be on insulin and blood pressure medication. I am a little panicked. I have tests to schedule, U/S to schedule, and things to do. Not the news I was hoping for. Since we only just moved recently, I am NOT ready for this little guy. But with all my previous pregnancies hospitalization followed soon after my blood pressures going up. I am going to be on blood pressure medications and insulin. On Monday we are going to go out and buy a crib and get some stuff for the house for if I get hospitalized again and some stuff for me. I was really hoping to have at least another month before my blood pressures started going up.

Relief regarding homeschool

Glimmering Girl — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:05:28 +0000

One thing that I have noticed about our homeschooling this year is that we have done better than I thought we would. I was really worried that with the move and the delays caused by it, we were going to be really behind and then with the baby coming, I really figured we would have to do work all summer to keep up. But truthfully all the pressure I put on us was pointless. We worked so hard that we are actually ahead of where I wanted to be. Even with the baby coming and the inevitable time off that will entail, we are going to be done early. We will have lots of time to do unit studies and fun things which makes me happy. The only thing we will have to be working on during the summer is math, but I am good with that because it is such a weak point with Lilly that I would rather keep it fresh in her mind all year through. I am going to do some unit studies and some field trips and fun things during the summer just because we like it. But I do feel a lot better about where we are now.

Once Again

Glimmering Girl — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:35:15 +0000

Once again a headache has taken me out. I am barely functioning with the pain this time. Ugh, this sucks.

Baby stuff, homeschool and yummy food.

Glimmering Girl — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:08:38 +0000

I got more done on the nursery today. I was sorting through clothes and picking out the bags I was going to take to the hospital and puttering away at it all. I am feeling more confident that we will have it all done in time now. I did realize that I am going to have to shopping for some baby clothes, but truthfully picking out clothes for my new baby to wear is NOT a chore. LOL

I realized today that Lilly and I are doing REALLY REALLY well with our homeschool schedule for this year. I am going to have time to do unit studies and to take time off when I have the baby. I am so glad. The only thing we will have work on over the summer is math, but that is NOT our strong suit and it will be good to keep it fresh in her mind.

I made a kind of yummy breakfast bar this morning. It would be really really good with nuts in them too.

For supper I made a version of Pasta Puttanesca. I made it a little spicy and it was really really good. Even Lilly had two servings. MMmmmmm . . . yummy!

Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Bars

Ingredients:

3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup sugar or sweetener of choice
1/2 cup almond milk
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 cup raisins
3 cups rolled or quick cooking oatmeal

Steps:

1. Mix all ingredients together and press into a 8 x 13 pan. Bake 15 – 18 minutes, or until done. Cut while warm but don’t move until cooled. These were a little soft in the middle and VERY TASTY!

Pasta Puttanesca

pasta, any long variety of your choice
1 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 – 2 tbsp capers
3/4 cup pitted brine-cured olives, chopped (use a combination of black and green)
12-ounce jar roasted red peppers, diced
2 large cans diced tomatoes
1 tbsp olive brine
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste

Cook the pasta in plenty of rapidly simmering water until al dente, then drain.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the garlic and sauté until over low heat until golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the olives, roasted peppers, tomatoes, capers, olives and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to low, and add the brine and tomatoes.

Cover and simmer for at least fifteen minutes.

Combine the cooked pasta with the olive sauce in a large serving bowl.

Season with salt and pepper, and toss together gently. Serve at once.

Random Thoughts

Glimmering Girl — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:18:18 +0000

I am making headway on the nursery. I have it mostly empty except a few boxes we have to go through. I am relieved about that. I am hoping to have the crib in the next couple of weeks.

I am loving how much stronger this babies kicks and movements are than my girls were. He is so strong and definite in his kicking that it actually hurts sometimes. LOL It gives me confidence in him and his health. It makes me wonder whether he may be bigger than the girls were.

I love on how I reinvented leftovers and used them three days in a row in different ways. The first day I made a pasta sauce, the second day I used the sauce added spices, beans and veggies and turned it into a quick veggie chili type dinner. The third day, I made a cornbread and put over the leftovers. It was sooo yummy. (Although for my personal tastes, I would make the cornbread less sweet, but that is how Aengus likes it.