Outside Temp: 56 F (it was 84 today, but it was hard to tell through all the smoke. Ugh, I miss my clear Montana skies.)
What I cooked today:
Spaghetti Sauce: I decided early this morning that I was going to make dinner, if it killed me. So, I started the spaghetti sauce early (around 9am, which is early for me). Of course, I didn't have about 4 of the items I needed, since I haven't thought about cooking in so long. It turned out fine, but it could have been better. Oh well! There was dinner on the table and it wasn't burgers!
Update:
You know those days where you are running all day long? Yea, that was today.
I got the kids on the bus, and started. I worked for a little bit this morning, but got out of here by 9:30, which got me into town around 10am.
From there, I stopped at:
Walgreens - to return an item.
CVS - to use up my $10 cash back coupon from 3 weeks ago, before it expired
Hostess - to get bread
Wal-Mart - I was going to pick up Allen's glasses, but realized I needed his head. useless stop
Smiths - Groceries
Office Max - I got a dry erase calendar for Allen to keep track of homework, and a packet of pens for $0.50!
Scheels - to return Katie's volleyball shorts that were too big, and get Allen's socks, in black this time.
Target - Really good deal on Listerine
Albertsons - Detergent and toilet cleaner were on sale.
Hardee's (Carl's Jr.) - I had to eat sometime...
And, I managed to be on the road out of the Great Falls by 12:04.
Which got me home with just enough time to breathe, check my e-mail, say hi to Ryan, before I headed over to the school for our Web Design class.
School was over at 2:30, so Connor and I headed home.
Then I was back at the school at 5pm, to get Allen from practice.
And, finally, I went back to the school at 7pm to get Katie from her game in Harlowtown.
Dinner was on the table by 8pm.
Tomorrow, will be quite busy as well, with both Allen's and Katie's games in Stanford. But, at least that's only 2 trips!
Friday, September 14, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
September 13, 2012
Outside Temp: 51 F (high of 82 today... low of 32... like freezing.... hehehe)
What I cooked today:
Chicken with Fried Rice: I asked Connor the standard question... 'Chicken or Beef?' He picked chicken. When Allen got home from practice, and I started up the fried rice, and he claimed that it would help his aching muscles. Who knew?
Update:
This morning, when I got the kids up and ready for school, there was a small amount of grumbling, considering that it was 34 degrees outside. I don't know what they were complaining about, since it was 57 in the house... I mean, it was practically a sauna!
Of course, once they were all four on the bus, I crawled back into my electric mattress pad heated bed and fell back asleep. And I didn't even feel guilty about it!
When I got to the school, my superintendent was glad to see me. Apparently, he really, really didn't like covering my web design class while I was gone. I had to promise that I wouldn't leave him again. Of course, I neglected to mention to him that we had to go back out to Seattle again in December. Perhaps that will be far enough in the future that he'll forget that he didn't like covering my class for me.
What I cooked today:
Chicken with Fried Rice: I asked Connor the standard question... 'Chicken or Beef?' He picked chicken. When Allen got home from practice, and I started up the fried rice, and he claimed that it would help his aching muscles. Who knew?
Update:
This morning, when I got the kids up and ready for school, there was a small amount of grumbling, considering that it was 34 degrees outside. I don't know what they were complaining about, since it was 57 in the house... I mean, it was practically a sauna!
Of course, once they were all four on the bus, I crawled back into my electric mattress pad heated bed and fell back asleep. And I didn't even feel guilty about it!
When I got to the school, my superintendent was glad to see me. Apparently, he really, really didn't like covering my web design class while I was gone. I had to promise that I wouldn't leave him again. Of course, I neglected to mention to him that we had to go back out to Seattle again in December. Perhaps that will be far enough in the future that he'll forget that he didn't like covering my class for me.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
September 12, 2012
Outside Temp: 39 F (ahh, to be home in our nice cool state... Apparently, it was a high of 66 at home today. It's beginning to look a lot like... )
What I cooked today:
Nothing... we got home too late to make dinner. I'll have to think of something special tomorrow!
Update:
We are home!! Woo hoo!
We headed out of Seattle around 7am this morning, and with the time change, we rolled into the house around 7:30 this evening (we had to stop in town for milk, since we were totally out!)
The drive was totally non eventful (especially since I DIDN'T hit either of the two deer that jumped in front of the car... I was being very aware!) Ryan chatted the entire drive, while Patrick and I talked about new projects for the business, new technologies coming out, plans for the future and stuff like that. After 12 hours in the car (with no Internet!), what else do you do?
We had to laugh when, at one moment we were listening to the radio, and I realized not only what the musician was saying, but what he actually meant. Which then lead into the discussion of how on earth I could explain such inappropriate innuendo to my son, if he happened to hear the song, and start to sing along. Oh goodness, I was flabbergasted. I know that there were plenty of songs during my generation that pushed the 'innuendo' button a little too much, but as a mom, it's really hard.
I'm not big into the 'banning' of music (or pretty much anything) in our house, so I'm not about to say the kids can't listen to the radio. So, I usually tend to be up front and honest about exactly what the artist is saying. This has lead to a few really red faces (one particular song used the phrase 'menage a tois', and so I explained what this was... oh boy, that was fun!). But, I would much rather have the kids know what they are saying, than to sing along happily ignorant (while other people are laughing).
Anyway, we arrived home without a solution, but I'm sure at some point (in the probably near future, since the song was quite popular on the radio), I'll be explaining yet another inappropriate innuendo to my (almost) 14 year old son. Hopefully, I'll have a few days to come up with an explanation... other than 'go ask your father.'
What I cooked today:
Nothing... we got home too late to make dinner. I'll have to think of something special tomorrow!
Update:
We are home!! Woo hoo!
We headed out of Seattle around 7am this morning, and with the time change, we rolled into the house around 7:30 this evening (we had to stop in town for milk, since we were totally out!)
The drive was totally non eventful (especially since I DIDN'T hit either of the two deer that jumped in front of the car... I was being very aware!) Ryan chatted the entire drive, while Patrick and I talked about new projects for the business, new technologies coming out, plans for the future and stuff like that. After 12 hours in the car (with no Internet!), what else do you do?
We had to laugh when, at one moment we were listening to the radio, and I realized not only what the musician was saying, but what he actually meant. Which then lead into the discussion of how on earth I could explain such inappropriate innuendo to my son, if he happened to hear the song, and start to sing along. Oh goodness, I was flabbergasted. I know that there were plenty of songs during my generation that pushed the 'innuendo' button a little too much, but as a mom, it's really hard.
I'm not big into the 'banning' of music (or pretty much anything) in our house, so I'm not about to say the kids can't listen to the radio. So, I usually tend to be up front and honest about exactly what the artist is saying. This has lead to a few really red faces (one particular song used the phrase 'menage a tois', and so I explained what this was... oh boy, that was fun!). But, I would much rather have the kids know what they are saying, than to sing along happily ignorant (while other people are laughing).
Anyway, we arrived home without a solution, but I'm sure at some point (in the probably near future, since the song was quite popular on the radio), I'll be explaining yet another inappropriate innuendo to my (almost) 14 year old son. Hopefully, I'll have a few days to come up with an explanation... other than 'go ask your father.'
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
September 11, 2012
Outside Temp: who knows.
What I cooked today:
Nothing. Again.
Update:
Clinic in Seattle today.
Ryan woke up at 7:30 this morning, even though we didn't need to be at the clinic until 12:30. So, he spent the morning in bed, watching cartoons (I didn't mind the Tom and Jerry or Micky Mouse, but some of those cartoons are just plain annoying.) I debated between getting up and going back to sleep, but the annoyance of cartoons kept me awake.
Patrick was able to work for the first few hours, and then we headed over to clinic. We got labs drawn, then ate at the cafeteria, then waited for our turn (which always seems to take forever.)
We met with the GI (intestine) and Transplant team first. He is stable on the meds we have now, and he's not loosing weight (which would be a problem.) They would like to see him gain a little bit, especially since he's eating much more now than ever before. Our plan is to discuss decreasing his TPN in December, if he has gained anything between now and then. (the long, long term plan would be to decrease his TPN each year, until either becomes mal-nourished, which would indicate that his intestine can't absorb enough to sustain him, or he gets off the TPN entirely. But, this is a decade long plan, and we all know how plans go with Ryan)
After GI and Transplant, we met with his Hematologist (blood) about his blood issues. He has a random clotting disorder, which we blame for his loss of intestine in the first place. She is pleased with his current levels and thinks we are doing just fine. She will see us again in 6 months, but until then, she'll just get labs drawn and check them out, but we don't need to see her in clinic, which is convenient.
And then we were done. We had a nice dinner out, and then headed back to the hotel, where Ryan has run around like a banshee for the last few hours. He is ready to get back home to the wide open spaces. And I'm looking forward to being able to open my back door and let him run in the backyard, without me having to run around with him.
Tomorrow will be another long drive home, but at least we know that Montana is at the end of the drive, and that always makes it a little easier!
What I cooked today:
Nothing. Again.
Update:
Clinic in Seattle today.
Ryan woke up at 7:30 this morning, even though we didn't need to be at the clinic until 12:30. So, he spent the morning in bed, watching cartoons (I didn't mind the Tom and Jerry or Micky Mouse, but some of those cartoons are just plain annoying.) I debated between getting up and going back to sleep, but the annoyance of cartoons kept me awake.
Patrick was able to work for the first few hours, and then we headed over to clinic. We got labs drawn, then ate at the cafeteria, then waited for our turn (which always seems to take forever.)
We met with the GI (intestine) and Transplant team first. He is stable on the meds we have now, and he's not loosing weight (which would be a problem.) They would like to see him gain a little bit, especially since he's eating much more now than ever before. Our plan is to discuss decreasing his TPN in December, if he has gained anything between now and then. (the long, long term plan would be to decrease his TPN each year, until either becomes mal-nourished, which would indicate that his intestine can't absorb enough to sustain him, or he gets off the TPN entirely. But, this is a decade long plan, and we all know how plans go with Ryan)
After GI and Transplant, we met with his Hematologist (blood) about his blood issues. He has a random clotting disorder, which we blame for his loss of intestine in the first place. She is pleased with his current levels and thinks we are doing just fine. She will see us again in 6 months, but until then, she'll just get labs drawn and check them out, but we don't need to see her in clinic, which is convenient.
And then we were done. We had a nice dinner out, and then headed back to the hotel, where Ryan has run around like a banshee for the last few hours. He is ready to get back home to the wide open spaces. And I'm looking forward to being able to open my back door and let him run in the backyard, without me having to run around with him.
Tomorrow will be another long drive home, but at least we know that Montana is at the end of the drive, and that always makes it a little easier!
September 10, 2012
Outside Temp: don't know... it was humid here, with a few little drops. But not as much rain as I expected.
What I cooked today:
Nothing... eating out is expensive. Eating out in Seattle? Really, really expensive. I think I'm looking for a Subway or McDonald's, just because it will be cheaper than eating at the places we have been eating. Or better yet, go with real food from the grocery store..
Update:
We woke up early this morning (6:00, which is really early for me!) and drove over to the hospital. We were checked in and in Pre-Op by 7:00. The surgeon and anesthesiologist came by and got history and consents and we discussed what was going on.
By 8:00, he was back in the OR and I was in the cafeteria getting breakfast.
I got paged a few minutes after 9:00, and the surgeon said he was all done, with no problems! With a central line placement, they go from a location on either the right or left side of the chest. The catheter is tunneled up into the neck, and then drops down a vein on either side of the neck into the heart. The surgeon said that he ultrasounded both sides, and the left side was very narrow and thin, but the right side looked good (the line we just pulled out was on the left side). The right side is actually much easier.
I was called back to recovery around 10:30ish. He was a little groggy, but very happily took a Popsicle and wanted to watch cartoons. By 11:30, we were done and they were signing our discharge paperwork, and by noon, we were back in our hotel room!
We weren't sure if they would discharge us after the procedure, so we were prepared either way. Patrick had some work to do, so while I was at the hospital, he arranged for us to have the room at the hotel for two more nights. That way, if we had to stay at the hospital, he could stay in the hotel and work. We were lucky in that we were prepared either way.
Ryan (and I) took a few hours once we got back to 'rest'. That means that I slept, while he watched tv. Then the 3 of us went out for dinner. We walked around the University Village (which is just a shopping center right next to our hotel), had a good (albeit expensive) dinner and then played at the Microsoft store. They had about 6 XBox 360's set up, so Ryan just ran over to one, loaded up a game, and was happy as a clam. Patrick spent about an hour (perhaps 2) talking with one of the sales guys about something technical. And I pulled up a chair and waited. And waited. And waited.
We finally came back to the hotel, where Ryan enjoyed having access to Cartoon Network (which I absolutely hate, by the way). I'm totally grateful that we don't have to stay in the hospital. It's a little weird, thinking that he just had minor surgery. But I'm grateful.
Tomorrow, we have a clinic appointment in the afternoon. We probably won't be done with clinic until about 5ish, so, we'll stay tomorrow night as well.
To top off our awesome day, I heard that not only did Allen's Junior High Football team won their game against Geraldine/Highwood. But, I heard that Allen scored a touchdown!! Woo hoo! I hate that I missed it, but I'm so proud of him. He was flying high when I talked to him on the phone and the only downside is that he had homework to do once he got home. Oh well, even football players have to do their homework.
What I cooked today:
Nothing... eating out is expensive. Eating out in Seattle? Really, really expensive. I think I'm looking for a Subway or McDonald's, just because it will be cheaper than eating at the places we have been eating. Or better yet, go with real food from the grocery store..
Update:
We have a new central line!!
We woke up early this morning (6:00, which is really early for me!) and drove over to the hospital. We were checked in and in Pre-Op by 7:00. The surgeon and anesthesiologist came by and got history and consents and we discussed what was going on.
By 8:00, he was back in the OR and I was in the cafeteria getting breakfast.
I got paged a few minutes after 9:00, and the surgeon said he was all done, with no problems! With a central line placement, they go from a location on either the right or left side of the chest. The catheter is tunneled up into the neck, and then drops down a vein on either side of the neck into the heart. The surgeon said that he ultrasounded both sides, and the left side was very narrow and thin, but the right side looked good (the line we just pulled out was on the left side). The right side is actually much easier.
I was called back to recovery around 10:30ish. He was a little groggy, but very happily took a Popsicle and wanted to watch cartoons. By 11:30, we were done and they were signing our discharge paperwork, and by noon, we were back in our hotel room!
We weren't sure if they would discharge us after the procedure, so we were prepared either way. Patrick had some work to do, so while I was at the hospital, he arranged for us to have the room at the hotel for two more nights. That way, if we had to stay at the hospital, he could stay in the hotel and work. We were lucky in that we were prepared either way.
Ryan (and I) took a few hours once we got back to 'rest'. That means that I slept, while he watched tv. Then the 3 of us went out for dinner. We walked around the University Village (which is just a shopping center right next to our hotel), had a good (albeit expensive) dinner and then played at the Microsoft store. They had about 6 XBox 360's set up, so Ryan just ran over to one, loaded up a game, and was happy as a clam. Patrick spent about an hour (perhaps 2) talking with one of the sales guys about something technical. And I pulled up a chair and waited. And waited. And waited.
We finally came back to the hotel, where Ryan enjoyed having access to Cartoon Network (which I absolutely hate, by the way). I'm totally grateful that we don't have to stay in the hospital. It's a little weird, thinking that he just had minor surgery. But I'm grateful.
Tomorrow, we have a clinic appointment in the afternoon. We probably won't be done with clinic until about 5ish, so, we'll stay tomorrow night as well.
To top off our awesome day, I heard that not only did Allen's Junior High Football team won their game against Geraldine/Highwood. But, I heard that Allen scored a touchdown!! Woo hoo! I hate that I missed it, but I'm so proud of him. He was flying high when I talked to him on the phone and the only downside is that he had homework to do once he got home. Oh well, even football players have to do their homework.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
September 9, 2012
Outside Temp: no clue... humid here in Seattle...
What I cooked today:
Nothing... lots of fast food and junk food!
Update:
We survived the drive out here to Seattle, without any incident. Patrick and I chatted the whole drive, and Ryan just sat in the back, playing with his IPad and reading books and chatting away with himself. He is really, really good on these drives!
He's already asleep for the night, which is good since we are scheduled to check in to pre-op around 6:45... in the morning! At least we're on Pacific time, so it's actually 7:45 for my body... I get to sleep in!
I'm a little bummed that I'll be missing Allen's game against Geraldine tomorrow afternoon., but Grandma and Grandpa said they would cheer for us.
What I cooked today:
Nothing... lots of fast food and junk food!
Update:
We survived the drive out here to Seattle, without any incident. Patrick and I chatted the whole drive, and Ryan just sat in the back, playing with his IPad and reading books and chatting away with himself. He is really, really good on these drives!
He's already asleep for the night, which is good since we are scheduled to check in to pre-op around 6:45... in the morning! At least we're on Pacific time, so it's actually 7:45 for my body... I get to sleep in!
I'm a little bummed that I'll be missing Allen's game against Geraldine tomorrow afternoon., but Grandma and Grandpa said they would cheer for us.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
September 8, 2012
Outside Temp: 55 F (a little warmer today, up to 88, but no complaints... I'd really like some rain.)
What I cooked today:
Burgers and Green Beans: We had a lot going on, so I didn't get started on dinner until about 9pm. Once we get back from Seattle, I'm totally going back to having a schedule, so I won't be wondering at 7pm what on earth we are having for dinner.
Canned Peaches: We got 24 lbs of peaches from Bountiful Baskets last week. I let them ripen on my kitchen table for the first two days, and they were perfect. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to do anything with them, so they've been in my fridge (hopefully not bruising) for the last few days. Today, I finally had time to can them. (of course, I HAD to get them done today, since they may not have lasted until we got back). I ended up with 9 quarts of canned peaches. I think I might open up one can next week, just to confirm that they taste good. I figure we'll have them with dinner or lunch or over cottage cheese... yum!
Update:
We spent most of the day relaxing, since tomorrow will be spent in the car for a thousand hours (okay, not really).
I had some things to take care of, such as my canning of my peaches, but otherwise, it was kind of relaxing.
I made sure all the kids had their homework done, and we have schedules for next week all set. I hope that there are no problems while we are gone.
Wish us luck!!
What I cooked today:
Burgers and Green Beans: We had a lot going on, so I didn't get started on dinner until about 9pm. Once we get back from Seattle, I'm totally going back to having a schedule, so I won't be wondering at 7pm what on earth we are having for dinner.
Canned Peaches: We got 24 lbs of peaches from Bountiful Baskets last week. I let them ripen on my kitchen table for the first two days, and they were perfect. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to do anything with them, so they've been in my fridge (hopefully not bruising) for the last few days. Today, I finally had time to can them. (of course, I HAD to get them done today, since they may not have lasted until we got back). I ended up with 9 quarts of canned peaches. I think I might open up one can next week, just to confirm that they taste good. I figure we'll have them with dinner or lunch or over cottage cheese... yum!
Update:
We spent most of the day relaxing, since tomorrow will be spent in the car for a thousand hours (okay, not really).
I had some things to take care of, such as my canning of my peaches, but otherwise, it was kind of relaxing.
I made sure all the kids had their homework done, and we have schedules for next week all set. I hope that there are no problems while we are gone.
Wish us luck!!
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