Make a Mosaic

There is a cool program on the Huggies website that lets you create a mosaic of your photo. Try it out.

Show of Solidarity

One of the teacher's that Leopold works with had back surgery and has to wear a neck brace. As a show of solidarity, one of the teachers cooked up this attire for all the teachers to wear. The teacher with the real neck brace said they “all look like retards!” I thought it was funny.

ER visit last night but hopefully now on the mend

I was in the ER until 2 am with Motor Boat. His fever was high and not breaking. He was also having some respiratory distress. Of course while we are waiting in the ER he is acting as if he had never been ill (even with a fever of 103). He was making faces at all the people sitting near us, making them laugh. His Chest X-ray showed what appeared to be a viral illness with no pneumonia. He had been vomiting but was able to keep some Pedialyte down in the ER so they let us go home. I'm always worried when he throws up like he does that he will aspirate. It takes him a bit to recover sometimes. He was running fever this morning but the Motrin worked and his fever broke. I knew when we brought him home that his immune system wasn't up to par for community acquired illnesses. It seems that every couple of weeks he gets some virus. Hopefully his immune system will get built up. I know daycare is not the place for him. He would never be well.

Shark Mop

Another product that lives up to the hype. I bought this Shark Mop off ebay. This thing is amazing. I had just mopped the floors the day before and then ran this over the kitchen floor last night and look how much more it got up. I just thought my floors were clean. This mop got down into the cracks that I didn't even realize were in the tiles. I bought it on ebay for about $60 and free shipping. It was a refurbished one but works great. They are $80 on the website plus $16 for shipping. I received mine in 2 days from ebay. I'm not sure how long it would take from the website. I just wanted to share how great this thing works. There is an adapter for steaming carpets but I'm sure a carpet shampooer would be a better choice for that job. It may be good for spot cleaning a carpet.

Check out the steam coming out of this thing. Like I said, I had just mopped the floors and this is how much cleaner it got my floors.

Making Sushi

As many of you know I have developed quite a love for sushi. I decided to try my hand at making it myself tonight. It turned out really good.

All of ingredient were cut into thin strips. I used cucumbers, carrots, avocado and smoked salmon. Making the rice was the tricky part. It isn't just regular, ole' rice. I found a good sushi rice recipe and used it and it turned out really good. There are a bunch out there. I then laid the nori out on the bamboo rolling mat. Be careful opening the nori package. I accidentally ripped the nori when opening the package.
Next, I spread out the rice leaving a border (it will fill out when you roll it). It helps to have your hands wet so the rice doesn't stick to them. Then add the filling on one end.

Next, I started rolling making the roll tight but not squishing it.
After it is rolled up you then carefully squeeze the roll inside the bamboo roller gently to keep it from unrolling while cutting.
Here are the finished rolls. It is best to let them sit a bit before cutting them. Also, use a very sharp knife (I found that a serrated one worked best) that is wet for cutting.
Here's the finished product. They were delicious. This is way cheaper than buying the sushi rolls but is some work. But, I had fun doing it. I will be trying some different recipes in the future. This will definitely not be my last time making sushi.
Now, go make some sushi!

Public Service Announcement

I cannot believe that I'm a nurse and I've been weighing myself the wrong way all these years. A friend sent this to me in an email so I'm taking it as my responsibility to spread the word on the proper way to weigh yourself. I love the new number. Weigh yourself like this and enjoy your weight.

A Cowgirl and her Friend

Yellow Bird's friend came over to play today. Nothing beats a good friend. What always amazes me is that these two are the same age. Yellow Bird is off the growth charts one way and her friend the other way. God makes us so different. Viva La Difference!

Squealing with Joy

We are having so much fun with Motor Boat. His personality has always been amazing, even as a baby. I remember him being intubated and on the ventilator and still just a happy, little guy. His winning smile is what drew everyone to him. Well, he is only blossoming into his personality more and more. I was trying to get a video of him drumming on the coffee table but as soon as he saw the camera the above video occurred. What a ham he is! As I'm playing this back right now he is squealing right along with it.

Pomp & Circumstance & all that Jazz

Yesterday was my graduation. I graduated in December but they only have the ceremony once a year so yesterday was the day. Obtaining my Master's in Nursing was quite the adventure and I'm more than glad it is over but there are always things to be learned from the journey.

Here are some of my friends from the program. I could NOT have done this without them. We supported each other tremendously. I made some lifelong friends. Before graduation.
Squat, don't bend. They kept telling us to squat and not to bend when we were hooded. It became a big joke. The professor that hooded me was very short so I had to squat quite a bit. Not easy to do in heels.
I was hesitant to participate in the ceremony. Having graduated in December made the whole thing anti-climatic. But, the kids wanted me to and I'm glad I did. It was a good example to them. They were so excited and kept telling me how proud they were of me. They were with me through all of it.

I love any opportunity in which I can encourage education in my children. They wanted to try on my regalia so I let them. Aren't they cute. Motor Boat wasn't so sure of the hat.

Future graduate Sasha.
Future graduate Yellow Bird.
Hook 'em. Now me and my man are both officially UT graduates. We sang the Eyes of Texas and everything.
The little loves of my life.

Random Thoughts

We live in a very blessed country. We have more possessions than we know what to do with. A friend posted something about this on her blog. She is at a conference at another church that is huge with escalators and the works. She was struggling with how much do we need. Her church is doing some major renovations to their sanctuary. She questioned the necessity of this but in the end decided to trust her church leadership. Now, this is the attitude to have.

I struggle with this issue also but on a more personal level. Why do we need the big fancy houses, cars, etc. Does a family of 3 really need 6000 square feet even if they can afford it? I fall into this. Sometimes I think I want a new house but mine is almost paid off. What could I do with that money for God if I don't pour it into the bigger and better house.

I'm doing Blackaby's Called and Accountable study right now. He says it is important to keep your life in a position of being able to go if God calls. I wonder if I'm there. If God called could I go? Or, would all my worldly possessions keep me trapped into my paycheck that I couldn't just follow Him.

There is so much of a push for material wealth, even in the church. God says he will provide our needs, not make us rich by man's standards. Living in this country we are rich. If you are reading this then you have a computer or access to one. You probably have a roof over your head with more than one room, food spoiling in your fridge, and more clothes in your closet than you could ever wear. I know because I do.

We need to present our best to God but what He wants more than a fancy building is the best of our hearts and service to Him. I think we build the fancy buildings to attract the world to Him. It is important that we win the lost. The world has so many distractions that if we are going to be visible we must make ourselves "nicer". But, it seems that all the stuff gets in our way of serving God. The more you have to maintain the more time it takes to maintain it. I don't minimize numbers, numbers represent souls. It just seems that church use to be simpler. There was a simple church building for worship. Now, it takes a mass group of people to keep churches going.

With Leopold in church leadership, I see how much time we spend (and require our leadership to spend) on things that don't have eternal value. We are to make the service of our church leadership joyful. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you. We seem to have some thought that our church leaders answer to us. We have an attitude of I voted you in and I'll vote you out. This is how our country runs with its political leaders, not the church. The elders are accountable to God and God alone. If they lead the congregation astray then they will answer to God for that. It isn't that we are mindless creatures but that God set up Godly authority in our lives. Submission to that authority is part of our relationship with Christ. If we have rebellion in our hearts then our relationship with God will suffer. This rebellion can take on the form of simply not trusting their decisions and wanting explanations for what they have decided. How much time do we require of them in explaining what they feel the leading of the Holy Spirit? What if we think the Holy Spirit is telling us something differently? Sometimes it is hard to submit when you don't agree with or understand what they have decided. I've been there. But, what I've learned is that there is so much that goes on that I don't know and don't need to know. I cannot handle it and sometimes it truly isn't any of my business. It is better to leave it in the hands of those men called of God to handle it. They owe me no explanation. I will focus on my relationship with Christ and not get wrapped up in leading the church. I will pray for my leaders and their protection from those that want to hinder and harm them. Maybe it is easier for me to trust their decisions because I see the time spent in prayer seeking God's leading. Trust me when I tell you they spend much time in prayer. They do not make their decisions on whim.

So, let's trust them. Let's submit to them. Let them lead and spend time in prayer not in defense of their actions. Let them spend time with their families and not require them to be at the church everytime the doors are open. Let them serve in joy and not regret that they ever took on the role of elder. Let's pray for their protection as they will assuredly come under Satan's attack. Let's pray for their families.

The word submission use to be an ugly word for me. It meant I had no power or control. God has the power and control and I will trust that to Him. Godly submission isn't mindless. It is an act of worship to our Creator.

I didn't intend for this to get this long but one thought led to another. So, enjoy!

Leopold preaching

We are without a pastor at church so the Elders and Youth Minister have been taking turns preaching. Today was Leopold's turn. He wanted us to answer the most important question ever, "What will you do with this man called Jesus?" It was a very good sermon even if I am a little biased. So, what will you do with Him? He is asking.

Cute-a-saurus

This isn't a post about Motor Boat's eating (although he is doing very well). I just thought he looked so dang cute I couldn't resist posting it. I love the bib and he is definitely a cute-a-saurus.

First Annual Kite Festival

Our town had a kite festival today. It was a weekend of first annual events for us. We got out there late and the Professional Kite Fliers (who knew you could fly kites professionally) had left but we had fun. It was very windy. I love this guy.
And he loves me.
The kiddos.
Helping Daddy fly a kite from his shoulders. He had to give him direction.
Motor Boat got a tad tired with all the activity.

Motor Boat was able to fly a kite with the help of his sisters.
What a sweet face.
Still sweet.
Yellow Bird flew her kite like a pro (now that we know you can do so professionally). Sasha also did a great job.

Yellow Bird's horse kite flying high above. What a beautiful day.

First Annual NICU Reunion

We have never had a reunion where I work for all the NICU babies. We had the first annual reunion yesterday. There was such a great turn out and we will do it again next year.

These are my friends Monica and Yolie. They worked the registration table and loved being the first to see all the kids. Dr. Dolphin was there to greet all the kiddos.
This is the tile wall you see upon entering the Children's Hospital. All the kids were able to make tiles yesterday that will go onto the wall.
This is Kooper. I often think back on taking care of him. I reminisced with his mom about one day in particular where he gave us a big scare. She remembered it well. Koop is doing well now and isn't he cute. This is Teri. She is an OT in the NICU where I work. She took care of Motor Boat during his stay with us and followed him closely after he moved to the Children's Unit. She has missed him greatly and follows his progress closely on the blog. Hi Teri! She was so glad to see him. She needed a Motor Boat fix.

Yellow Bird posing with Dr. Dolphin.
There was a clown there who did some magic tricks for the kids.
This is Cynthia. She is one of the Assistant Nurse Managers in the NICU. Everyone was so glad to see Motor Boat again. He is getting heavy and her arms started to hurt after a while.
These lovely ladies are some more of my co-workers. Betty (is now retired and living the high life :P), Evalou is a nurse on the unit and like me nowhere near retirement, Connie is another one of our OTs and she loves the babies, Ina is another retired nurse but she comes back to work with us occasionally (she just can't live without us).

Dr. Dolphin, Motor Boat and Teri

This is a little another little guy from the unit. He had a very rough ride but is doing great now.
This is the tile Sasha made to go on the wall.
Here are the girls making their tiles.
Here is Yellow Bird and her tile.

So, it was a wonderful event. Lots of fun for all. It is good to see the results of all our hard work. I loved seeing the babies I cared for but also showing off how wonderful Motor Boat is doing. Can't wait till next year.