What a week!

We had a pretty crazy week, compared to the usual.  Alyssah has been battling a staph infection on the back of her leg, and I have been learning all I can about it b/c honestly it freaks me out!  She had what we thought was a bug bite that appeared last Tuesday, and by Thursday night/Friday morning I knew something was going on.  I was home with the kiddos Friday and we had a lazy morning putting up the tree.  Alyssah took her nap and when she woke up I knew I had to take her to the doc to get her leg looked at.  Thankfully they could take me as soon as I called and weren't very busy when we got there.  They had to drain it and she was put on antibiotics. I'll spare the nasty details ;)  They took a culture, and I delivered it to the hospital's lab.  Well, Monday I called the doc's office back b/c it was not looking better.  They did confirm she had staph, more specifically MRSA.  MRSA is the difficult to treat staph and only certain medications fight it.  Thankfully she was on a drug that was a good one against MRSA.  I took her back and they had to drain it again (insert terrible, awful screaming baby AGAIN) and they increased her meds.  It has been a looong week for us!  Her leg looks phenomenally better, praise God!  I have been cleaning like a mad lady to hopefully not spread it to Mark.  I hope we never have to deal with this again.

This is sweet baby's leg yesterday...and that is much improved!  Please pray that it continues to heal.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  We have lots of fun things planned.  I'm so thankful for my blessings :)  I have a lot!

I'll be posting Thanksgiving pictures soon.  I know I'm behind! ;)

The start of Christmas 2012

On Friday, we put up our tree.  The kids "helped" me...a few things were broken but at least they weren't important ones ;)  It was a little stressful but it's their holiday too.  I love experiencing Christmas through my children.  It reminds me of how simple, magical, and fun it used to be when I was little.  

I am also loving this Christmas more this year because I am having a good talks with Mark about Jesus.  I love that I get to share with him about our Savior's birth and the reason He came to earth.

We were talking about how much he loves Christmas the other night and he said he loved our tree and Santa.  Then I said "and Jesus' birthday!"  He said 'it's Santa's birthday too'.  I said, "really?"  He said "it's Jesus' birthday and Santa's birthday!"  I think I can work with that ;)  What sweet innocence!  I want to be more like that.

I hope everyone's week has started off well!  Mine has been pretty interesting.  More on that later!

Blessings!

Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

I have a new favorite soup, and thought all of you would like the recipe.  I hope you give it a try!  If you do, let me know how it turns out :)  I originally found it from allrecipes.com, but tweaked it a bit for my taste.

Chicken Tortilla Soup (my version):

You need:
-3 med. size chicken breasts
-2 cans of whole kernel corn
-2 cans of Rotel (mild or reg, but I used mild)
-2 cans of black beans
-2 cans of chicken broth
-2 lg stalks of celery
-2 Tbs of taco seasoning

1. Boil your chicken and then set aside to cool a little.
2. Cut your celery into small pieces and put in pot.
3. Shred your chicken and place in pot with celery.
4. Add chicken broth.
5. Mix in corn, Rotel, and black beans.
6. Add taco seasoning.
7. Simmer on low for about 45 mins to an hour.
8. Serve with tortilla chips :)

To make it less healthy, I know shredded cheese and sour cream would be delish!

Enjoy :)  Have a blessed day!

Lately

These two precious blessings are keeping me SO busy!  Mark is a typical 4 (almost 5!) year old, full of little boy energy.  Alyssah (months from being 2) is an extremely busy toddler who gets into EVERYTHING.  Some days I'm in way over my head but also very thankful for these sweet little lives that have been given to me!
We are having Thanksgiving with my in-laws Sunday, and I cannot wait!  I love the holiday season :)

Stay tuned for some yummy, easy recipes to come later this week!

Blessings :)

Halloween 2012

We had a fun Halloween this year!  A bunch of families at our church get together every year and have a Smores-n-More night instead of going door to door trick or treating.  We decided to help with that and join them :)  I loved it b/c us parents got to fellowship and have fun too.  It's also a lot less stress on us ;)  Here are the pics I took...

the "Incredible Smash" (He never calls him the hulk!) and my sweet little witch (She hated the hat.)

the Hulk and his Hulk pumpkin

me and my sweet babies

Some of my precious friends.  Love them!

Pumpkin Patch pictures

Here are some pictures from Mark's field trip to the pumpkin patch :)  I'm so looking forward to Thanksgiving.  What will all of you be doing??

Thankful moments

Hello November!  I just love November and December!  As a kid summer was my favorite time of the year, but it is most definitely this time of year that I adore!  I love looking back on the year and seeing its fruit and all of the many things/people I am blessed with.  I'll probably be posting several more of these kind of posts throughout November.  They will mostly be for me to remember but hopefully you will be touched by them as well.

As my husband and I tucked our sweet little 4 year old in bed last night, he began to pray.  We have been working on saying his prayers and most nights he still wants me to do it for him.  Last night, was by far the most precious one he has done.  He started thanking God for his school, toys, food, and then he just said thank you for everything! ;)  As he was ending his prayer, he said thank you for Jesus.  Thank you for Jesus who died so I can live.  I immediately started crying...wow!  Such sweet little words with huge meaning.  I am so thankful for his heart!  As a mother it is so comforting to know that things we teach Mark actually stay with him as he is beginning to form his thoughts about the Lord.  I know he will do amazing things for the Kingdom, and I can't wait to see where God takes him.

I hope all of you are reminded of all the good in your life throughout the month of November and always.  Have a blessed weekend :)

"The Lord is my strength and shield.  I will trust Him with all my heart.  He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.  I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."  Psalm 28:7 NLT