When Spaghetti Attacks

Uh Oh Momma......

Look at that face!!!  Gotta love this girl!!!

Who Cares If I Posted Late?

Is there really such a thing as being too late to post on being thankful?  No!  So, I am doing it two days after Thanksgiving and I am ok with that.  Not to mention that I left the house early on Thursday and arrived home late, followed by an early wake up on Black Friday and again not getting home until late.  Therefore the feeling of hopping online and posting anything or even just looking at the illuminating light of my laptop made me cringe, so enjoy this thankful post 2 days late :)  This year was spent with wonderful family and great memories but I was constantly thinking of last year.  Last year this was our Thanksgiving......

(aren't we lovely?)

Those two gentlemen in the picture with our family?  Those were Marines that we hosted for our Thanksgiving meal.  When we signed up for the Host A Marine program we thought it would be nice to have some guys over who haven't had a home cooked meal in a while and let them relax and watch football.  What we got was so much more.  These guys were amazing and we still have them in our lives.  Unfortunately, both of them are overseas right now fighting for our freedom and this year, there Thanksgiving was not spent at home.  I felt a pit in my stomach each time I thought of these guys and how much I wished they could be state side this year.  Not to mention back in my home.  I really do need to make them each a better apple pie sometime!!  Last year I made it and it went bad.  As I was making the apple part of the pie I didn't realize until later that my bowl I was using to mix had a crack in the bottom so most of the juices ran out of the bowl and therefore the pie was not the way it should be.  Anyways, wherever these gentlemen are this year, I hope they had a decent meal.  And please make sure when you say your prayers at night that you pray for all of our men and women over seas who do not get to be home this year.

And another memory I think of? Black Friday approximately  3 or 4 years ago with my amazing friend Julie.  We spent all of Thanksgiving with her family at a retirement home (she had an organization called KNOTS that was amazing, I will have to get into that one later), but it was a great day and that night at midnight, we headed out for my very first ever Black Friday.  We even got cool sunglasses......I miss my Julie!!!



No words needed

I think this is how I feel every day



Chicken Tortilla Soup

I said yesterday that I would be posting my embarrassing post but I have yet to take a picture of the outcome so I cannot post yet, hopefully tomorrow......yay!!  Until then, enjoy this super yummy recipe for chicken tortilla soup.  I made it a couple of weeks ago when it was still warm out but I am really craving it right now when my toes are freezing cold and the weather outside is frightful :)

What you need:

1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced yellow onion
1 minced garlic clove
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 (15 ounce) can of diced tomatoes
1 can of Rotel
1 (1 ounce) taco seasoning packet
6-7 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
10 corn tortillas
Monterey Jack Cheese (12 ounce package), shredded
1 cup milk

What to do:

In a large pot (soup pot), saute the carrots, celery, onions, garlic, salt and pepper in the vegetable oil.  When the onions are translucent and the vegetables are somewhat tender, add the chicken broth and bring to a boil.  Add the tomatoes, rotel, taco seasoning and chicken.  Take the corn totrtillas and quarter them, add them to the pot.  Let the soup boil for about 20 minutes and make sure you stir and scrape the bottom frequently so that the tortillas do not stick.  Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  Add the milk and simmer for another 8-10 minutes.  When finished, top with more cheese and some sour cream.  Green onions and crunchy tortilla strips would be good as well. 

Enjoy :)

Tired

I planned on a fun post, a post that embarrasses me but that will need to wait.  For  am one exhausted momma.  My oldest had a sleep over last night and at one point I found 29 empty candy wrappers scattered about my floor.  And because my oldest was having a friend over, my middle asked if she could have a sleep over with me.   How could I not oblige when her baby blues look right at me smiling?!  So, with Toy Story 3 in hand and bowl of popcorn we had ourselves a great night, we watched, we ate, we chatted like old girlfriends, it was great.  Then we tried to sleep......I think she slept.  But with a constant foot in my side and arm across my face, I didn't get much sleep.  So, I sit here wanting to talk about my latest adventures but all I want to do is cuddle up under my covers and wait for Monday to come.  However, that never happens with 3 kids, one who has had way too much sugar that it may not wear off until next week.  See you tomorrow everybody.

Emfit

I have mentioned before that the Danny Did Foundation was very generous and has provided our family with an Emfit monitor.  I also know I have had people ask exactly what an Emfit is.  So, I am going to tell you :)  First just let me explain a little bit.  The Emfit monitor is a device that goes under a persons mattress and will detect seizure activity that will then trigger an alarm.  Why might someone need a monitor while they sleep?  During the day if someone were to have a seizure, there would hopefully be someone around to see them having one and be able to help or call for help.  If it were to happen in their sleep, there is no one around and they can end up dying or suffering from severe complications.  This is not uncommon, it is far more prevalent than you may think.  Unfortunately children like Danny Stanton and Chelsea Hutchison.  And age does not always matter, ask the family and friends of Donna Evans.  The Emfit gives us all a better nights sleep.  I now know that if my daughter were to have a seizure in her sleep, I would be notified and be able to help her.  Now, lets get to the actual monitor.  The main part is the sensor that goes under the mattress. 

Please take note.  This part goes under the mattress, let me say it again for those whose brain is like mine, it goes UNDER the bed.  Ok, so I knew before I even had one that it went under but to be honest I was pretty darn confused after reading the instructions it came with. The monitor went off 5 times the first night and when I called the company to see what was happening, was my child really seizing that much?!  She seemed fine when I went into her room after hearing the alarm, I was confused.  After telling me what i could do, the lady asked me nicely if it was indeed UNDER the mattress.  I thought about lying at first..."are you kidding me?  Of course it is under, I know how to read!!!", but I told the truth and told her that the instructions confused me.  She asked what page confused me and it turns out that the page I read was removed from the instructions long ago because it was confusing people and she didn't know why mine still had that page in it.  So, I didn't feel as lame.  So, the picture above was after we put the sensor on top of her mattress cover and then proceeded to put a mattress pad on top of it and her sheets.  Needless to say, we could have broke the darn thing and I would have felt awful.  So, the sensor goes UNDER the bed which is where ours resides safely now.  Ok, so the sensor has a cord that plugs into a little box.  That little box contains all the settings and computer techy stuff (yes, I did major in computer techy stuff, how could you tell?......and if you are like me, let me point out that I am saying that with total sarcasm, yes, sometimes I need things pointed out).  How do I get off on so many tangents, lets get back to the Emfit........the box that attaches to the sensor is mounted on our wall and besides it containing the techy stuff, it also sounds the alarm when a seizure is detected and the lights that flash on and off let me know it is working properly. 

That blue light?  That was flashing in between the green and blue flashing together.  That meant that it was not detecting anyone on the sensor (which would make sense because no one was on it, I was testing it out).  It really is a brilliant piece of equipment and unfortunately not covered by insurance in the United States.  It is covered by insurance if you live in Canada and Europe, but not he United States.  I will be helping to get this changed one day!!!!!  Until then I was blessed by having the Danny Did Foundation come along side me and help me get one for my sweet girl.  I am hoping you never have to own one of these because that would mean you are suffering from seizures.  But let me tell you, if it ever does happen to you or your family, there is help out there.  There are a ton of people who care and who are making it their life's mission to get the word out on Epilepsy and help others who are affected.  I am honored to now say that I am an Epilepsy Advocate and will do all I can for my child and everyone out there who is living with Epilepsy!!!

So You Think You Can Dance

This past weekend I went  to my second annual So You Think You Can Dance Tour.  The show was amazing, I was not shocked.  And to top it off, we had amazing seats!!!!!  We were so close I felt like I could reach out and touch them.........I guess it was good for them that I wasn't that close, haha.  The show was amazing like I said before and we stayed after to meet them all, of course.  2 of the girls got to meet Dominick which was the ultimate and my ultimate was meeting Robert.  Oh Roberto, had I been 8 years younger and single without kids, we would totally be the best couple ever :)

I have completely lost my train of thought.....what was I saying?  Oh yes, oh Roberto.....oh wait, no, I think I was moving on from that.  Anyways, I am super excited for this next season to start so that I can go on the tour and stalk meet the amazing dancers again.  Oh, and the highlight of the night?  Courtney!!  Cass loves Camp Rock and Courtney was one of the back up dancers.  Since she watches SYTYCD with me, she knew who Courtney was.  She would pick her out every time the movie comes on.  Demi Lovato who?  Not that she doesn't love Demi but she kept picking Courtney out dancing behind her, lol.  I told this to Courtney (well, after I was laughing with my Aunt and totally snorted and she told me she totally heard that, lovely, thanks genetics) and she was so touched and told me to tell my lovely girl hello for her.  Oh the squeals that came from my girl!!!!  It made her night!!!!  Ok, that is all, I am now headed to Target to super size the pic of me and Robert and frame it on my bedroom wall :)

Talk About It

Today I am in a funk.  For some reason my mind keeps going to families who have to bury their young children.  No parent should ever have to bury their child.  I think it is the holidays coming up and thinking about the Stanton family who will not get to have their son Danny with them.  It just breaks my heart into a million pieces.  Let me say it again.....NO PARENT SHOULD EVER HAVE TO BURY THEIR CHILD!!!!!  No, there is not a cure for Epilepsy...yet.  I am hoping that sometime in the future there is one, but there is technology out there that can get the person who is seizing help during that seizure.  And the parents of Danny are making sure that each family who needs one, gets one (through their Danny Did Foundation).  And guess what?  We were one of those families.  Every night I get assurance when my sweet girl goes to bed.  I tuck her in and turn on her monitor.  I know that when I hear the alarm, that I need to get to her and be by her side.  Without her monitor, I would sleep right through her seizure and God only knows what could happen, and it can happen, just ask the Stanton's. 
I know that many people don't know what to get others for Christmas and a lot of people are looking for unique gifts and for gifts that make a difference in the world.  Danny Did did not ask me to say this but I feel so strongly about it and love this foundation so much.  So, this is my idea........donate.  Yes, it really is that easy.  Donate in someones name, donate in your name, donate in the name of a child who suffers or for their families.  In doing this, you will be giving the ultimate gift to those in need and potentially helping aid in saving lives.  And if you cannot donate, please take the time to get educated.  Would you know what to do if you saw someone having a seizure?  If the answer is no, you need to find out.  I didn't know what to do until we were in the hospital with our child wondering what on earth was going on.  That to me is too late to figure it out.  And please take the time to watch this video.  This is Mike Stanton, Danny's dad.  To be able to walk through grief and help others at the same time is amazing to me, they truly are heroes to me!!!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

If you haven't been to My Baking Addiction yet, I suggest you do.  She is always posting super yummy recipes and these cookies were one of her many fall themed recipes.  They are soft and yummy and taste unbelievable.

What you will need:

2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter; softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup pure pumpkin puree
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried cherries, roughly chopped (I used craisins and didn't shop them and they were spectacular!)

What to do:

Preheat oven to 350.  Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.  Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a medium bowl.  Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large mixer bowl until light and fluffy.  Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract; mix well.  Add flour mixture; combine until all ingredients are  incorporated.  Fold in white chocolate chips and dried cherries.  Drop by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets.  Bake for 12-14 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.  Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

*12 minutes was way too soon for my cookies, they were really not done in the middle.  I think more along the lines of 14-15 minutes.  My oven cooks hot too.*

Enjoy :)

Friends

For a couple of weeks we had a teeny tiny visitor in our house.  I first thought this was going to be a nuisance who would leave a pee trail in my dog free home but the little rascal turned out to be a perfect fit.............

Meet Jewels everyone.  She belongs to a very dear friend to me and they had to leave super quickly for an unexpected trip.  So, we got to have a little visitor come and stay with us.  She doesn't bark and loves to snuggle on the couch.  Oh and did I mention that her family never lets her on the couch to snuggle so we completely ruined their dog for them?  But the thing is so small and the weather was chilly and I thought she needed warmth, so I let her up and she would snuggle between me and the couch, it made me want another baby, ha.  She left on Halloween night but I swear she was hesitant to go, she looked back at me like she knew she was going back home to where she wasn't allowed on the couch anymore..........yes Daniela, if you are reading this, I still say your dog loves me more :)  Not to mention that our baby misses her tiny nap friend :)

Squeaky Shoes

A guy that Will used to work with gave us an extra pair of shoes that they had for their daughter.  They were brand new with tags on and super cute.  They were way too big when we got them so we put them away in her closet.  Well, the shoes are the perfect fit now and everyone within ear shot will hear her coming.

The good news is that the squeak part can come out of the shoe.  The bad news is that she loves the squeak part and if it doesn't squeak when she stops her feet, she gets ticked.  It may be annoying to some but I still find them super cute :)

Epilepsy Freedom Walk 2010

I cant believe it has taken me this long to write about the amazing time we had at our first ever Epilepsy Walk!  I partly blame it on my computer being down for a while but ti has been back up for a good week so I can rightly now blame it on my lack of brain cells I seem to be having lately.  Seriously people, the other night we went out to dinner and as we were walking out of the restaurant  had that brief second of "oh my gosh, where is the baby", which I then realized was in my arms.  Perhaps I can blame the fact that she wears this squeaky shoes everywhere lately so I am used to hearing it when she is walking beside me so to not hear them made me think she was not with me.  Then again, I really should be blaming the lack of brain cell usage.  Ok, enough scattered talk, lets get to our walk.

Cass and I were accompanied by my Uncle Bill, Aunt Mickie, Aunt Kathy and both of my cousins, both named Jessica.

It was a chilly rainy day in Pasadena, CA but they didn't stop people from coming out.  I think they said ti was close to 1,000 people who were there.  After registering we were able to go to different booths and for Cass to make some crafts.  We got a lot of great information, from finding out about something called SUDEP (sudden unexplained death in Epilepsy) to new meds that are out.  One of the defining moments, as far as Cassidy goes, was when she was going to take her picture with a seizure rescue dog.  She is very intimidated by dogs, I don't think the dog attack and 18 stitches in her face at age 3 helped that fear whatsoever.  But, when she saw the dog, she knelt down and hugged it around the neck and smiled for the camera.  Who is this child?!!!  I wanted to cry!!!!  Soon after that, some people from the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles stood up to speak.  And they introduced the chair for this years walk.  For the second year in a row, Greg Grunberg was the chair of the walk!!!  He is not just an actor, his son has Epilepsy.  He said some inspiring words and then we were off to walk.  It wasn't a long walk but it was inspirational to me.  At one point there was a group of people standing off to the sides cheering everyone on and when they saw our shirts, they yelled "Go Team Cassidy!!!!"  They spotted Cass and asked if she was Cassidy and after telling them yes, they yelled "woo hoo, go Cassidy!!!!"  Her smile was priceless.  The walk may have been small but the strides we made were mighty!!!!!!!!  I hope more can join us next year.  Until then, be inspired and talk about it!!!  Spread the word and lets make a difference!!!

Meet Danny

This is Daniel George Stanton, also known as Danny.  He was born on March 2, 2005.  At 2 years old, he had his very first seizure.  His parents made sure that he got the proper medical attention and were told, as we were, that children can have unexplained seizures with no known cause.  He ended up having more seizures, mostly in his sleep.  On the morning of December 12, 2009 his parents found his lifeless body in his bed.  After trying to revive him, neighbors trying to revive him and the hospital staff trying to revive him, he was pronounced dead.

This is not the first or the last child who will die in this way.  There is a term for this, it is called SUDEP, Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy.  While I was at the Epilepsy Walk there was a booth with numerous stories of beautiful children and teenagers who have died in this way.

I know you are thinking the same thing I am, something has to be done about his!!  But how?  I have always stressed that just talking about it, letting people know about it, can make a huge difference.  I had no clue about Epilepsy until I was sitting in the hospital next to my 7 year olds bed wondering what the heck happened to her.  One moment she was sitting on my lap getting ready to go on a fun trip with grandma, next she was seizing in my arms.  Why?!!!  After being released from the hospital, I was a nervous wreck.  I slept on the floor of her room and with every movement, I was at her side.  Needless to say, I never slept.  We tried buying a baby video monitor, but what good does it do if you are asleep, her seizure wouldn't wake me up.  Something has to be available out there!!!

Shortly after she was diagnosed we started going to meetings at a foundation called the Epilepsy Alliance of Orange County.    Their monthly meetings brought in neurologists and specialists to speak with parents and patients.  Before attending your first meeting, they recommend taking Epilepsy 101.  While taking that class, amongst numerous other things we learned about something called an EMFIT.  It was a monitor made for the bed that would alarm if the person with Epilepsy had a seizure in their sleep.  This is exactly what we needed!!!  Where do we get one?  Can I have it delivered first thing tomorrow morning?!  Oh, it cost how much?...............

Needless to say, the EMFIT monitor is not cheap.  But it is necessary.  We were told that the EMFIT is covered by insurance over in Europe because it is seen as a necessity for people with Epilepsy.  But not here in the United States.  So, we would have to pay out of pocket.  We are a military family with 3 small kids, how are we going to be able to afford this monitor?  We ended up putting it at the back of our minds, constantly wondering how long it could take to raise the money, we need this monitor!!!  Not only for our peace of mind but for the safety of our child.

That's when a friend of mine, whose little girl was recently diagnosed as well, told me about the Danny Did Foundation.  She said that they can help us financially with getting an EMFIT.  This seemed too good to be true.  I went to their website and read Danny's story.  I was heartbroken!  I was scared, could this be my future?  After composing myself and after a few prayers, I e-mailed the foundation.  I let them know a little about Cassidy and asked if it was true if they could help.  The next day I got a phone call from a man named Tom.  He is Danny's Uncle.  We talked a little about Danny, Cassidy and he made sure I knew all about SUDEP.  He told me that they would be willing to help me get an EMFIT.  I was overwhelmed.  I wanted to roll up in a ball and cry.  Never have I come across such genuine, kind hearted generous people.  They have turned their heart break into something wonderful.  They could have easily gone under the radar undetected, mourning the loss of their sweet boy.  But they haven't.  They care about people living with Epilepsy.  They want to see them survive and live the type of life Danny most certainly would have.  Pleas,e take the time and go to their website.  Read Danny's story and find out how you can help!

November is Epilepsy Awareness month.  One of the things that the Danny Did Foundation is doing is raising money for the cause.  They are asking 2,000 people to donate $25.  Can you decide to make coffee at home instead of get it out in town?  Can you decide to make more meals at home instead of buy out?  Do you have any extra change lying around that you can turn into cash?  These little things can make a difference and instead of being satisfied with your morning latte, you can have the satisfaction of helping people affected with Epilepsy.  Lets help our children grow to see their future.  Please, help in any way you can.  Post this blog to your page, whether you have your own blog or Facebook, Twitter......anything.  Lets get the word out!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Day Late

But who cares when cuteness abounds?  Our Halloween was fun and tiring, no really, I really felt like I was 80 and wanted to be in bed at 7!!!!!  We  started out with super yummy blueberry pancakes for breakfast, followed by apron wearing and cookie baking, I will talk about the cookies on another post soon.  Not too long after my mom came down and we hit up the consignment shop near the beach.  As some of you may not know because I have never divulged my secret obsession here, but I love roosters in my kitchen.  Not too over the top where people start thinking an intervention is needed, but I love them and find a place for them in my kitchen.  Well, the consignment shop had some off white china that had a cute rustic vintage like rooster on it.  So, I bought me a pitcher.  I could have gone all crazy and bought the napkin rings, plates, coffee cups, but I didn't, I kept it to one pitcher.  It is super nice, come on over and I can pour us some juice :)  Ok, back to Halloween.  After the consignment shop we came home and dressed the little ones in proper Halloween attire.

Yep, those are my little darlins.  Later we switched Hayley from duck feet to her pink squeaky shoes, more on that in another post yet again, but the squeak was very fitting......and we knew where she was at all times!  After the girls were dressed and ready our good friends came up and went trick or treating with us.  It was hard to get a picture of the whole brood, but my dear friend thought this was her idea of fun for us.....

It wasn't so bad when we were together, it was when we were separate that we got looks.  Thanks Daniela, love ya :)  All in all, it was great Halloween.  How could it not be when spent with friends and family?