I have been doing a lot of cooking and baking for well for the past 8 years or so.. but just recently I’ve really got into the baking. I used to bake the odd time, I’d pick up pre-made cookie dough or cake and muffin mix and make those but recently I’ve decided why waste my money on those things when I usually have the things around the house to make my own from scratch!

So I’ve been doing just that. Not only baking things from scratch but I’ve really been on the hunt lately for new recipes to make for dinner for the family. I get sick and tired of the same things, so I’ve done really well finding new and yummy things to make! Yesterday I made this amazing Chicken bake. It was delicious, I never thought my girls would love it like they did… they both cleaned their plates. My hubby isn’t too big of a fan of stuffing which the recipe uses but he enjoyed it as well… I’ve decided to start taking pictures and sharing the new things I make with my facebook, so why not here as well? Here is a photo of Chicken Cacciatore I made from scratch, Mac n Cheese which I got the yummy recipe from Nancy and last nights Chicken Bake:

I will be adding a recipe section back again.. I don’t know why or how it disappeared but I figured it would be fun and that way if anyone else tries the recipes, or tweaks them or has any to share they can feel free to do so. I love making new things, and with a family of 6 different recipes and easy recipes are always welcome! :D

In other news Ava is doing amazing with her eyes. Her one eye is still a little red on the side but other than that they look fantastic. I can’t believe how straight they are and how much more confident she seems! It’s really a great great thing! I’m so glad she healed quickly, and really only had a rough day or two right after surgery. I’ll be posting before/after photos in the next few days… I just have a lot going on right now I haven’t had time. Tomorrow we are heading to my MIL’s for a turkey dinner as my hubbys older sister, husband and her 2 kids are coming into town.. we’ll be going there as well as his little brother, his girlfriend and their 2 kids so it will be a house full but will be nice to have all the kids together finally, for the 1st time…

Have a recipe you think I’d like, and my family would like? Please share it! Also, if you are in need of some auto insurance quotes take a looksie there! :D Have a great Friday night everyone!

If you are anything like us then you have LOTS of wires/cables in your home.. and while sometimes I use twist ties I find cable ties come in quite handy! I’m a huge fan of being organized, and while sometimes things get out of hand… I’d like wires/cables and things to always be out of reach.. especially with having 4 kids, although 3 of them know better and don’t bother with such things but our youngest will be crawling soon and would more than likely get into everything…

Today Kyla and I took Ava to her post op appointment with her doctor at the hospital. It went really well. Her eyes are perfectly straight, and healing great! She doesn’t have to be patched again until probably after our next appointment which is on Feb 2nd, so I’m hoping if she goes get patched again it’s not for the length of time it was before… I found 8hrs to all day everyday to be a bit much. But, we’ll see. She’s healing awesome, and the drops/cream is getting better to give her as I think she realizes they are helping her! Which is great.

I took Jordan to the public library on Saturday and signed out two books for myself. I think I will start reading them tonight. I got sTori Telling by Tori Spelling - which I’m starting tonight and I got the Michael Jackson one called “UnMasked” written by a Canadian who predicated in December 2008 that Jackson would only have 6 months to live and I think it was pretty much to the day from when he said it.. so that book should be interesting.

I’m not feeling very well, I’m tired and all the stress of the past few weeks have been catching up to me.. So I’m going to go to bed early tonight. I thought our fridge was acting up earlier, but luckily it wasn’t the temp was just turned right down… My SIL was having issues with her fridge the other day and I’m so glad we aren’t having the same issues with our gswf as she was with hers! I don’t think I need anymore stress right now.

Well Ava had her surgery. Friday morning we were out of the house by 630a.. Got to the hospital at 715a like we were supposed to. Checked in and headed to wait in the waiting area. They called, we went back and got Ava’s oxygen levels checked and her tiny gown on and again went to wait in the waiting area. They finally called again around 835a and we were taken back to the area where we spoke to the doctors and they took Ava back for surgery. Daddy got to carry her into the OR and hold her while they gave her the chocolate gas to put her to sleep, within 2 minutes he was back with me - who by the way started crying before they took Ava off my lap - I was a mess.

We had 1hr and 30mins to wait they said so we ran and grabbed some food and went to wait in the waiting area. 1hr went by, 1hr 30mins went by and I couldn’t take it anymore I started walking up and down the hall way. FINALLY after 2hrs 5mins… Her doctor came over said she did great she was in recovery just starting to wake up they should call us soon. She said it took a little longer than expected because shes small. So we sat down again and WAITED. The doctor came back again and called us out into the hall - Ava had woken up and freaked out so they gave her medication to calm her down and it made her fall asleep again so again, we had to wait. It seemed like forever but I think it was about 20 minutes and the phone in the waiting room rang.. I was allowed to go back to see her. We had decided Daddy would go with her into the OR and stay with her while they put her to sleep, then I’d go back 1st to see her in recovery then we’d switch since only one parent was allowed at a time…. So he walked me down this really long hallway, that seemed to take 5 minutes to walk down and he waited right there.. I went in turned the corner and burst into tears. There she was in this metal crib, fast asleep with IV’s and stuff in her, and she looked soo sick or something. The nurse let Daddy come back too as she was scared for me and how I was reacting. I was fine I was just in shock to see my babygirl like that. She had a frown on her face and was just laying there. Daddy lifted up her head, the nurse was talking to her trying to wake her up and I just stood there in shock. Daddy was able to hold her after the nurse got her IV’S and her monitor on her feet shifted.. She answered us when we talked, she kept trying to rip her IV out and she asked for me. So I took over and held her… She drank a little bit so the nurse said she was going to move her and let the other nurses take her IV’s and stuff out so we could go home! By 1245p we arrived home

That was done.. We got her ready, she wanted her jeans on she did not want her jammie pants on … so we put her jeans on her lol… We also took her little tiny gown for a keep sake. I don’t know if we were allowed to or not, but we took it anyway! That day she didn’t open her eyes for 2.5 hrs and it was a little scary but after we got home, she just laid on my lap…. We gave her some motrin and she slept. Finally at 2pm she woke up, opened her eyes and asked if she could have some yogurt! I held her hand we walked into the kitchen and got some yogurt! She did great.

Later that night though she cried for hours. After 4 hours of giving her motrin we gave her some more but it didn’t seem to be working. The hospital called for a follow up chat, they told me I could give her tylenol and motrin together every 4 hrs. That did the trick. She slept from 713p to 8p and when she woke up she was happy as a clam and she was chatty, and giggly. All the other kids were alseep so her and I hung out until Daddy got home from his meeting… we let her sleep with us that night we went to sleep at 11p… she slept, although she was very restless and whimpered a bit throughout the night she did amazing!

Yesterday was a struggle giving her eye drops 4x, and cream at bedtime. It was hell, we have to give her drops 4x a day and the cream at bedtime. It’s heartbreaking - she screams and fights. That is one strong girl I tell you. I put photos on my flickr that I took with my cell from right after surgery so you can see how she was when I walked into the room… breaks my heart.

So she is okay now. She has her moments when her eyes hurt and she cries. But thats to be expected. I’ll never put any of my kids thru that again, if Jayden needs something done because of his eyes - he can wait until he’s older - that was terrible… So hopefully he wont need anything!! Anyways, I was searching google for stuff about Ava’s eyes and I just love the wikipedia site, mind you I found videos and pictures and I’m not impressed. Thankfully its over and done with, and we can put it behind us while Ava heals and has beautiful straight eyes again! :D

In other news seems like so many celebs are in need of drug rehab. How many celebs have died in 2010 so far?? Seems fishy to me such young people are dying from heart failure and such…. I’m so tired of hearing about drugs, alcohol and the hurt they cause and the death… I wish people would just get their acts together. Okay, end lonnnnng post!

Last night I was up until 4am… I was in the worst pain of my life. I’d rather give birth to 4 babies at one time without an epidural than go thru the pain I had to last night! It used to only happen when I was pregnant and it started when I was pregnant for Ava, and continued on when I was pregnant for Jayden. I really think I need to do some research and bring what I find into my doctor. I’ve mentioned it to him before and he would chalk it up to be being “air bubbles” getting into my stomach.. Well, that was no air bubbles. I was hunched over on the bathroom floor begging my husband at 3am to go to the corner store to get my liquid pepto because I’d already taken 4 pepto pills and they weren’t doing anything, I wanted something to coat my stomach.

Then I decided maybe if I made myself throw up it would help… NOPE! Didn’t help in fact, the pain moved from just being beside my bellybutton on the right side of my stomach to also on the top of my belly button… It happens more when I eat certain foods like Hamburger - and I get mild cases of it when I eat fast foods. So I’m going to do research and take what I find to my doctor. That’s what my mom did when she found out she had lung cancer, she did research online brought her findings in online and the “pneunomia” they told her she had was in fact, lung cancer. I finally got a little bit of relief at 4am and was able to fall asleep. My hubby got up with the kids… I had made Jordan’s lunch for school last night - and he let me sleep in until I woke up which was at 1030a… I’m feeling much better today, But that is something I wouldn’t wish upon anyone, ever…. My gallbladder maybe? - that’s what I’m thinking?

So, tomorrow is the big day. Ava goes in for her surgery. We have to call the OR today between 230p-4p to get the time and find out how early before surgery we have to show up. I think at this time what I’m most worried about is her reaction to the anesthesia.. So we will see. I’m trying to go in with an open mind, and just be there for my baby girl. So if you pray - please pray for her. If you don’t like I don’t, then just please keep her in your thoughts. I’m sure she will do great but it would mean a lot to me!

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After going out and doing a bit of family shopping today I had to take Ava with me to our doctors appointments. She had a pre-op physical, and I needed to find out if I had a UTI or not… Turns out I do; thankfully I caught it right as it was starting so I got some antibiotics and had Ava’s appointment with her. Shes 100% perfect; and ready for surgery now. She weighs 29.5lbs now - shes an itty bitty little girly, and I just love her to death. She was so good the whole time; she was singing and playing the doctor and secretary just love her! I’m so lucky to have wonderful children, I really am!

While at the doctor I reminded myself I need to start getting going with the Wii. I want to go pick up some games for the Wii to get me started working out. I’m not interested in the bowling, or the tennis anymore.. I want to get active and all that… I’ve been writing about it for months I need to get my butt in gear and do it. Like I’ve said before, I’m not one to use crazy diets or pills like lipozene, thats not for me.. I want to get serious and really start getting my butt in gear so when spring/nice weather rolls around I’ll be more into going for jogs/runs/walks daily… this winter weather is really a bummer for any of that, so I can’t wait for Spring!

Having 4 children I’m almost a pro at pregnancy, at least I’d like to think so! Of course a good diet, regular exercise and going to regular doctors appointments are very very important during pregnancy; but so is ensuring you take a prenatal vitamin daily. I wouldn’t be able to some days, so I’d take a few flintstone chewables - because lets face is those prenatal vitamins are very small infact most look like horse pills… but keeping healthy and getting all the needed vitamins for you and your baby is very very important.

Well if you have read the entry 2 posts down you’d know Ava is having her surgery this Friday. I’m so not ready for it, but having it done sooner rather than later is better so although I’m terrified I am certain it is for the best. Tomorrow I have a doctors appt at 4p, I think I have a UTI so I’m hoping to get antibiotics for it.. Also Ava has an appt with our family doctor then as well for a pre-surgery physical and paperwork the doctor has to fill out for the hospital. I’ve told her she’s having surgery on Friday with the doctors but she has no idea what that means but she knows she goes back to the doctors soon!!

My mother in law is coming Friday morning when we go to the hospital shes going to stay here with Kyla and Jayden and wait for Jordan to get done school. I know her surgery is a day surgery and she only has to be there that day but I think we have to stay a while after surgery so who knows when we will be coming home. MIL is taking the day off work to come watch the kids…. that is a huge stress relief its self.

I have a few days left to get myself ready to be a “big brave Mommy!” and I’m confident I’ll be just fine, my focus is on Ava…. I just hope she isn’t in pain. My hubby dropped of 2 perscriptions yesterday that the doctor gave him that she will need for after surgery… So we’re already prepared for post-surgery… One was a cream and the other was eye drops.

I’m a worry freak what can I say… I know she will be fine, and everything will go smoothly…. It’s nice to have a place to vent though, I think to get my mind off of everything later when the girls take a nap I’ll go back on the hunt for Valentines gifts online. I love shopping online, theres a few people I’d like to click here and get that for but how do you give that to someone as a gift? (no not for Valentines day) just in general.. I’m not that mean, plus I only give to my kids and hubby for Valentine’s and they don’t need any of that!

There are so many different kind of acne face washes on the market today… how do you know what is the right one for you? I’d request samples from the companies or test them out somehow. I never used to get acne but being on this birth control that I am on - which oddly enough some people are on to get rid of acne - I get little break outs. Nothing too bad or anything, but here and there the odd time… They don’t last very long so I haven’t had to try anything, but if you get acne why not try out some acne face wash . . . There are home remedies also that work wonders!