If all the raindrops were...

Broccoli-Chicken Cups

Yield: 10-12 servings

2 tubes (10 ounces each) refrigerated biscuit dough

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided

1-1/3 cups rice cereal (*I did not use this)

1 cup cubed cooked chicken

1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

3 cups frozen chopped broccoli, cooked and drained

-Place the biscuits in greased muffin cups, pressing dough over the bottom and up the sides. Add 1 Tsp cheese and cereal to each cup.

-In a large bowl, combine chicken, soup, and broccoli; spoon into cups. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

These are delicious!! Oh my goodness!! Ridiculous good! Plus we had plenty of left overs for lunch/snacks and dinner last night. 

Haiden

Haiden and I went to the Mommy and Me class Wednesday! I always have a blast, watching Haiden watch all the little kids run around and play. He is still too small to play the games and sing the songs, but I help him out and he giggles and giggles! It's so sweet. Plus I think Haiden is a big hit with the instructors lol, they are always amazed at how big he is and how alert he is. 

We did a craft, like always. We used markers to color this star, which I think is a little like coffee filter material, and then we sprinkled water on it to make the colors bleed. Haiden actually held the markers and made all the coloring himself, I just made sure...as much as I could with his spazing hands...to keep the markers on the paper and not the table, and try to keep his other hand from grabbing the star to crinkle it. He used both hands, since we aren't wanting to force either on him, we try to alternate as much as possible. If you look at the star, you can see the circles from where he would slam down the marker out of pure excitement! However, when it came to sprinkling the star with water, Haiden wanted nothing to do with that, so I ended up doing most of that part. Even though Haiden is super young to do most of the activities, I think it's important to socialize him and get him used to figuring out things for himself, with a little help from mommy :D. 

As far as the eating solids goes, Haiden is doing amazing! The first try was decent, the second try (I just used rice cereal without formula) was an epic fail, eating only 3 bites. The third try, he was so aggravated from teething, that he cried and cried, but wanted to eat, so we stuck it out. When we got about half way done, he calmed down and finished eating with out any more tears. Then last night, he wanted to eat so bad, that if I didn't get the food in his mouth in time, his hand would go in and he would cry...I could barely keep up! And when his bowl was empty he cried, but he had already had his night time bottle, and I thought, 'if he eats any more he will explode!' We also got him a mini-highchair that sits on our dinning room table, which Haiden loves! I am just so proud of him, it's so hard to NOT compare your baby with all the other babies, and everything there is to read about babies. He still isn't rolling over, and it's hit or miss with him sitting up on his own, but he eats well, he is so good at holding his toys and switching them flawlessly from hand to hand. Plus he has been able to hold his head up with no problems, pretty much since he was born, as well as supporting his weight with his legs. Tummy time is getting to be more and more fun, which I'm thankful for, because knowing your baby needs to do something but he hates it and cries, is unbearable. It's all a give and take, he can do some things, but he isn't great at other things...no biggie. He is our blessing, and our miracle baby, so either way he gets kisses and hugs no matter what!!! 

Zach

Zach has had security detail the last two days, which means long days (4am-6pm). He is so exhausted, but super cute, when he walks in the door and can't wait to see Haiden! Haiden gets so happy and giggley, having been sick of mommy for about 3 hours lol. Zach can't wait for the day he comes home and Haiden runs to the door yelling, "Daddy! Daddy!" The two of them together, melts my heart. I can see so much of Zach in Haiden. And today, I have also been up since Zach got up...so a long day for all of us! 

PS. INTERNATIONAL DELIGHTS YORK PEPPERMINT PATTY CREAMER....AMAAAAAAAAAZING!!!

Dinner, Diet, Doing it right

For starters I've cooked a few delicious goodies this last week:

Makeover Chicken Cheese Enchiladas

(next time I'm going to try a vegetarian version of this) 

Yields: 6 servings


1-1/2 cups (12 oz) reduced-fat sour cream 
1 can reduced-fat, reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies (I used Rotel)
1 can sliced black olives
4 cups cubed, cooked chicken
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Mexican blend cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
12 fat-free flour tortillas
4 green onions, thinly sliced
*For a vegetarian option, I think I am going to try and use: 1 extra can of Rotel, and instead of chicken use mushrooms, corn and black beans. 


1. In a large bowl, combine the sour cream, soup, chilies, and olives. Set aside 1-1/2 cups for topping. Add the chicken, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese to remaining soup mixture.
2. Spoon about 13 cup chicken mixture down the center of eat tortilla; roll up tightly. Place seam side down in a 13X9in baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with reserved soup mixture.
3. Bake uncovered, at 350 for 35 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses; top with onions. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until the cheese is melted.


This was simple and amazingly delicious!

Peanut Butter Pecan Cookies

Yields: 4-1/2 dozen


2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1-2/3 cup peanut butter chips
1 cup chopped pecans


preheat oven: 350 
Combine: flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in 1 cup chips and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Top dollops with more chips.
Bake: 11-13 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes.

Hummus

1 15 oz can garbanzo beans
3 Tsp canola oil
1 Tsp Tahini
Lemon juice-to taste, the more you add the more acidic the hummus will be
1/2 clove garlic (garlic powder works just as well)
1/4 tsp cumin (I add almost 2 Tsp, because I love the way hummus tastes with tons of cumin)


Drain the beans but reserve the liquid. Add all the ingredients to a food processor or blender. If it seems too dry, add some of the reserve liquid. You can add more oil instead, but that will increase the calorie intake and fat. Taste and adjust adding more things here and there. 
This is one of the BEST hummus recipes I've found, there is a Mediterranean restaurant back home in Texas that makes the best hummus I've ever had, and this recipe is the closest to natural native hummus ever!!


I also made a nice gallon pitcher of Sustain energy drink, that is fructose free, and excellent way to really and truly re-hydrate yourself after a nice work out, or time spent out in this horrendous heat!


Tonight we ate an Amy's spinach and cheese pizza, and had a side of hummus and carrots! I'm glad to be getting back to being healthy with fun foods and snacks!


Continuing with being healthy, I've gone for a long bike ride and walk this week! I'm waiting to go to Zumba with my neighbor and have something else added to my working out.
- July 9: 
work out: walk
distance: 3.54 miles
calories burned: 258
time: 1:06:05


- July 6:
work out: road cycling
distance: 5.94 miles
calories burned: 173
time: 36:27

Haiden Eli

 

We have started to give Haiden solids. The first try was awesome, and super cute...the second time we were three or four bites in and he decided he was famished, so we had to stop. 
At the beginning of this month, his 5 month mark, we started putting a bit of rice cereal into his bottles with milk, to help get his digestive system ready for the real deal of just solids. 
This resulted in his first diaper rash from a few days of some epic diapers. 
I've asked for some suggestions, and received great advice for making this transition, hopefully we can come to some sort of eating schedule, since Haiden eats on demand as of now. 

Baby wipes

I recently found a recipe for homemade baby wipes (via Beth)...and I LOVE them!!

Here's what you will need:
- 2 containers, with lids (I used Rubbermaid: easy find lids; 7 cups/1.7L)
- 1 roll of select-a-size paper towel roll (I just used the cheap-o brand we had  laying around the house, and a more absorbent roll would work better, like Bounty)
- 4 cups of water (separated)
- A squirt or two of organic baby shampoo/wash
- generous spoonful (I used 2 Tsp) of coconut oil (the cooking oil/not the hair oil, found in the grocery store, whole foods, or a vitamin store)


-To start cut the paper towel roll in half with a large kitchen knife, this takes some sawing. Then in a mixing bowl, add 2 cups of water and a squirt or two of the baby wash. You will have to microwave the 2 Tsp of coconut oil, which I did for 30 seconds and then added 10 seconds and stirred until all the coconut oil was liquid. Add this to the water and wash mixture and stir. 
-Then take one half of the paper towel roll and place it in the container, add the watery solution to the container. Place the lid on the container and turn upside down for at least 5 minutes. 
-After 5 minutes, turn the container right side up and take out the paper roll center. It should be soaked all the way through and if you pull it from the diagonal and twist as you pull up, it should come up easily, and leave you with a starter wipe from the center to the  outside. 
-Repeat for the second container and half of the paper towel roll. 


I made these before we went to Texas a few weeks ago, and we just not ran out of one half of a roll, granted we have a boy so there is less clean up, but they are way cheaper than wipes and he has yet to get a diaper rash!! If you have an extra 5 minutes to make these, I think it's worth it! Enjoy!!! 

Declyn Chase Leopold

When we got to Texas this last month, we were welcomed with an amazing surprise...my nephew Declyn Chase Leopold was able to finally come home from the hospital after being born 10 weeks premature!! 

 Holding Declyn, he is finally home!!

Zach was obsessed! He wanted to hold Declyn, feed him, tickle him. It was adorable! This is the fist time Zach is meeting his nephew!

I've been wanting to designate a blog just for Declyn after everything we went through to see him get here safely. And now that he is home, and we are finally settled back in NOLA, I figured now is a perfect time (as long as Haiden stays asleep!)

The story/ordeal begins with my sister calling me, to tell me she keeps laughing and "wetting her pants"...I immediately freak out, of course, and start asking her all these questions about whether she thinks it is actual urine, or not. Since my water broke in a very anti-climactic dribble for hours before they had to go in and re-break my water, I thought it could be something genetic and Morgan's water had broken; she's not just peeing herself! So after a three-way call with our mom, Morgan decides to go to the hospital ER, just to be on the safe side. Meanwhile I am literally freaking out, running all over the place, trying to decide whether or not I should be packing. Two hours later I get a call from Morgan, saying her test came back undecided as to whether her water broke and she was being admitted to the hospital to be monitored. She is beginning to get nervous because she is potentially going into labor 10 weeks early. I decide right then and there to finish packing up the car, and Haiden and I head to Texas May 1st at 10pm. I drove all night long, talking to Morgan about what is going on, and since her phone was on the verge of dying, I had to be the go between for my mom (who was taking Morgan's graduation trip with our aunt to California, since Morgan was pregnant and didn't want to travel), my dad who had to work in the morning and was at his second job (the winery), Kelsie who was studying for finals and having a minor freak out about possibly not graduating, and Zach who was waiting up until Haiden and I made it safely to Texas. 

Luckily, Haiden slept the entire trip and we made it to College Station, Texas, at 5:30am, and went straight to the hospital where Morgan had been moved into Labor and Delivery. At this point, we found out her water had broken but she was not in active labor (no contractions), and was going to have to be on bed rest. She thought she would eventually be able to go home and do the bed rest there, but I figured since her water broken, she wasn't going any where, for a long, long time. The nurses told us that they would do everything in their power to stop any active labor from happening. Morgan had a 48 hour window of 'who know's', and if she still hadn't gone into labor by then, then this was most likely going to be a long trek, in bed, waiting until she became full term...or went into active labor and they couldn't stop it.

This was all a scary waiting game, Morgan was due July 25th, and here is was May 2nd, and her water broke. Now, there is no scientific knowledge for what eventually makes a woman go into labor, but we think there may have been a stress factor to Morgan's early labor. She found out a few days before that the nannying job she had for over a year, was letting her go June 15th and not wanting her back after the baby was born. This made our entire family furious, because of the way they handled the situation and because of the stress it would put Morgan under, while she was pregnant. Plus, our mother had just left for Ohio and California for a week, Kelsie was graduating in a week and a half, and since mom was gone, dad had to work full time at his government job and then at the winery afterward; luckily, I was able to be with her. But on the third day I was visiting her, I was told by some mean nurse that I could no longer come up to the hospital because Haiden wasn't allowed, unless he was Morgan's baby. This ordeal caused Morgan even more stress since literally no one else was able to come up and visit, our dad was the only one in town and he was too tired after working all day to come up and see her, until the weekend. I asked to see the superior of this nasty nurse, and she came in to tell me, there was nothing she could do, rules are rules and I had to leave. So I again asked...well at this point I was furious, to see the next up superior. At this point Morgan was in tears, not wanting to be left alone and not wanting the drama added to an already stressful situation, she was telling me to go ahead and just leave. The mean nurse was telling Morgan to calm down and that she didn't need to be upset because it wasn't good for the baby, I seriously almost punched her, I was fuming!! If they didn't want to make Morgan upset, they should have just left the issue alone. So after an hour or so of waiting, and me refusing to leave, the Head of Nurses for the hospital came in the room and said that the reason there was an issue was because the night before I had fallen asleep in the chair watching TV with Morgan; mind you, she hadn't been sleeping at all (which is hard enough when you are being poked and prodded every hour or so) and she finally had gotten a good nights sleep. I told the Head Nurse it was an accident, and that there was no one who could be here with Morgan and no one at all to watch Haiden, and he was still so young, he chilled in the bed with Morgan or was in his stroller...not like a toddler running around being in the way and reeking havoc. She said that she understood, and maybe if I had "visiting hours" that would work, so the nurses had an idea of when I would be there with Haiden. And so it was decided that I could only visit Morgan from 2-5 every day. I wouldn't pump though until about 4:45 so I could stay an extra half hour or so :) 

Since Morgan's water broke unexpectedly, I spent the rest of most days running errands for Morgan and seeing people while I was in town for who knew how long. I had already been planning to leave NOLA that next weekend to come to Texas for a week for Kelsie's graduation and be back in NOLA for Mother's Day, but now I had no idea how long I would stay. I didn't want to leave and have to turn right around and head back in case things turned for the worse. 

Morgan had a friend, Chelsea, who was planning one of Morgan's showers for June 1st, come up to the hospital almost every day in the morning, and we made plans to do a belly cast and fun stuff while Morgan was tied up in bed. At this point, they were still letting her get up and go to the bathroom, but bed rest the rest of the time. I thought this was strange, because when my water broke, I wasn't having contractions and was only dilated 1 cm, and they wouldn't let me out of the bed at all. 

  Morgan playing with Haiden in the hospital while on bed rest. 

Morgan's belly cast! I was jealous since I never got around to doing this with Haiden. At this point she was supposed to be on bed rest with no bathroom privileges, and we maaaay have gotten in trouble because we had her stand up to do this, and then riiiight before we were finished, the nurse walked in and "yelled" at us...so the bottom got a bit wrinkled, but it turned out great!! 

Mom finally got back into town around May 11th, and so far Morgan was still on bed rest with her water leaking the entire time, but there still hadn't been contractions yet. She did pass some clots, which the nurses told us was normal since she was bed ridden, but it freaked the bajeebus out of me!! May 12th, was Kelsie's graduation and it was super nerve wracking, since our entire family was heading to San Marcos for the event, and if anything happened we would all be hours away! Morgan was super bummed she couldn't go, as was Kelsie. I texted Morgan the entire time, keeping tabs on her, and we Skyped the graduation with her. When we got home we headed to the hospital to check up on Morgan, and everything was still going good. Kelsie opted to stay in San Marcos and finish packing up and saying goodbye to her college friends and sorority sisters; she planned to come home on the 15th of May. 

Morgan was so restless, and having mini-break downs about how much she just wanted to go home. She is not used to just sitting around and is always on the run, so this was torture for her. It was all just a waiting game, trying to at least get her to 37 weeks, and she was admitted at 27 weeks. Zach was missing us like crazy, and Haiden was becoming a demon, not being used to not having his schedule and night rituals. Everyone was getting stressed out and worn out. May 13th, was Mother's Day, my first Mother's Day and we spent the evening in the hospital with Morgan.

Mom brought back an Eeyore (Morgan's favorite Winnie the Pooh character) from Ohio for the baby, and Haiden loved him! Check out mom's shirt! hahaha

May 15th, I had just woken up when I get a call from Morgan saying, "I'm getting ready to have an emergency C-section." I freaked out and said, "Tell them to wait!! I'm on my way!" Meanwhile, mom was hurrying to finish typing an email saying she had to leave work, I called Debbie, my mother-in-law and asked if she could meet me up at the hospital since I didn't know if I was going in the room with Morgan or not, and someone needed to watch Haiden. I called dad and told him to leave work and head to the hospital. And I told Kelsie to leave San Marcos and come home asap, luckily she was already on the road a ways. Debbie met me up at the hospital and took Haiden as I rushed into Morgan's room right as they started to wheel her back, and I asked what was going on and asked if Morgan and the baby were ok. They said, she had started to have contractions earlier in the morning and that the baby was breech (upside down) and since Morgan had already been leaking fluid for over two weeks, and her body hadn't replenished enough, they wouldn't be able to turn the baby around on their own, plus his heart rate was dipping. 

Morgan said she was ok, and looked super calm. They made her drink this "nasty" black muck as she was being wheeled out, and she choked on it and was gagging on it...at that point I saw how scared she was and I started bawling. Here was my little sister, having a baby, only four months after me and having to have major surgery!! They said it should take an hour and we would be able to see her, but it seemed like forever. Mom got to go in the room with her and be there for her for the surgery, meanwhile forgetting she had the camera and didn't take any pictures. Morgan was so loopy she was making mom nervous because she would go in and out, and squeeze mom's hand and then go limp, along with talking gibberish. Almost two hours later mom came into the waiting room, to tell us (dad, Kelsie, me, Debbie, Dana (my sister-in-law), Haiden and Dan (the pastor at our church), that Morgan was in recovery and Declyn Chase Leopold was born and doing well, and we would be able to see them in a while.

Dad and I got to go in the recovery room and see Morgan first, she looked pale, but good. She was already in pain and they were switching out her sheets from the surgery. She wanted to see Declyn so bad, but she wasn't going to be able to see him until the next day, when she could get up out of bed and walk around, since they couldn't wheel her entire hospital bed into the NICU and Declyn couldn't come out of the NICU because of the risk of germs. Morgan then told us that she would have to have C-sections from here on out if she had any more kids, because Declyn was so small, upside down in her uterus and way up near her rib cage, that they cut her uterus vertically instead of horizontally. 

After we all got to see Morgan, we were ready to see Declyn, so we went down to the NICU hand washing station to wash up, only to be told, Mom and Dad and Morgan were the only ones allowed to see Declyn alone. Everyone else had to wait to see him with Morgan, because Morgan had to know who was seeing the baby and only blood relatives were allowed to see him...pretty sure Kelsie and I are blood relatives to our sister!! They gave Mom and Dad these bracelets to let them go in and see him, without Morgan having to be there, which they couldn't take off until he was out of the hospital (why we couldn't have gotten them, is beyond me, I still don't understand that rule).

< Here is the first picture of Declyn Chase Leopold, my nephew!!
Born: May 15th, 2012
Weight: 3 lb 8 oz
Length: 15 1/4inches 
Due: July 25th, 2012

Declyn had to undergo UV light treatments twice over the course of three days for jaundice. Most babies are born with a slight case of jaundice, Haiden was, but most preemies have to undergo the UV light treatments.

Morgan having skin on skin time with Declyn (2 days old) and seeing him for the first time.

He was on Oxygen for only two days, which was a relief, but still needed a feeding tube through his nose.               

Declyn with the Oxygen tube in his nose and the feeding tube is in his belly button.

Once he was off Oxygen they were able to remove the tube from his nose 

and replace it with his feeding tube.

 

Since Declyn was born premature, there is a support group through the hospital, called Preemie Prints, and Morgan was now a part of that group. Morgan had met one of the ladies' in charge of the club while she was on bed rest before Declyn was born, and they gave her an awesome goodie bag, with preemie pacifiers and onesies, as well as some preemie literature. Morgan also gets free photography for one year for Declyn and here are some of the first pictures she got done, via Preemie Prints! ^

Because it took so much out of Declyn to be moved around, and he was burning tons of calories just to be held, Morgan was only allowed to hold him once a day, for a few minutes. After he gained more weight and was finishing his feedings he was able to be held longer, and eventually Morgan was able to hold him and feed him every feeding.

 Declyn got an eye infection while in the NICU, which they still aren't exactly sure why he got it, but it cleared up after a few days and didn't end up being a big issue. 

This is the first time I'm getting to see Declyn and I am amazed at just how small he is, the pictures from the day before didn't do him justice...he is so super titty bitty!! Declyn 2 days old

             

 

This was Declyn a day or two before he came home from the hospital. In order to come home he had to be jaundice free (which cleared up after the first few days), not be on Oxygen (he was off Oxygen by May 17th), have the feeding tube out (his tube came out June 10th), and he had to be able to finish every drop of his bottles, which he was fed 8 times a day, as well as finish them in a timely manner (under 30 minutes). He came home June 20th, after spending a little over a month in the hospital's NICU. He weighed 5 lbs 15 oz, and was 18 inches long. When we got to Texas June 19th around 1am, no one was home...well my mom and dad were, as well as our aunt and grandpa, but I didn't want to wake them up. I called Kelsie and she said she had watched a movie with friends, and was on her way home. Morgan said she was up at the hospital visiting Declyn, because it was a 24 hour service for her, since she was the mommy...I thought this was a bunch of malarkey, and thought she was out hanging with friends. I ended up calling my aunt, who had just gotten into bed and she came out to greet us and finally meet Haiden. I would come to find out that Morgan had in fact been up at the hospital, spending the night, getting everything ready for Declyn to come home the next day and surprise us!! (Well everyone else knew what was going on, and it was a surprise for the Angello clan...I started squealing and bawling I was so surprised and happy that he was finally able to come home!!) 

Aunt Megan, now a double great aunt, meets Declyn (and Haiden) for the first time!

On June 27th Declyn had an appointment with an eye specialist, in Houston, to make sure his retinas were attaching properly, this is a common issue with preemie babies, and everything looks fine. He also has a hernia, which is also a common problem that preemies encounter, and it should end up healing on its own. 

So far so good. Morgan had her 6 week check up and is doing very well, her stitches came out a week after her surgery and she is healing up nicely. Declyn is finally home and doing well, almost two months old, and still over two weeks from his due date :)