When Kennedy was diagnosed with CF we were assured that we were likely to see more trouble from her myriad of other issues than we would for CF. With the exception of one hospital stay two years ago, that’s been mostly true.
When Denver got his diagnosis at the age of 13, we knew his situation would be different. Already he had chronic lung issues (pneumonia, bronchitis, etc).
Still, given the unique nature of both his and K’s CF…and the fact that I have a document stating that genetics can not confirm the diagnosis in either child – therefore making them “atypical” CF cases…
We still never realized how fast it would happen.
We didn’t realize how soon he’d end up in the hospital.
How quickly one hospital stay could change his day to day existence.
Or the perceptions of those around him.
How he would go from being “Oh, I don’t see how they could diagnose him with that” to becoming, “Is it safe for him do this? What about his illness? We need his doctors information to let him do…”
In heartbeat.
In a cough.
In a moment’s time he went from one life to another.
Change happens fast for everyone.
This lightning speed attack of time & reality threw us all for a loop.
We’re all still adjusting.
It takes time.
Let’s just hope time gives us a little breather to catch up before we get blind-sided with another dose of reality.
Two years ago I took a leap of faith. Despite initially cringing at the cost of a membership to the Indianapolis Zoo – I splurged and bought it to cover our family. I knew that one of the leading factors behind us never going was the cost to get in. I thought, if it’s “free” after that onset – maybe we’ll use it.
And use it we have. I re-purchased it last year and go on a moderately regular basis, weather and time permitting. Sometimes just me, but most often with the kids.
One thing about going to a smaller zoo – you learn some of the quirks. Like the brown bear always hides, the wild dogs are always asleep, and the gibbons are always chirping like mad.
This past weekend we went with the girls on a gorgeous sunny day and the zoo had turned on its head. The Gibbons were silent, letting us hear the chirping of the otters they share a cage with. The wild dogs were awake and moving all over their enclosure. Best of all, the brown bear was up close and personal – with a big friendly grin on his face.
I’m so glad that this time I took my camera – because I get to throw some of my favorites at you. Of course I have SO many, I’m struggling to pick just a few so I will beg you to please head on over to my FLICKR account to see the rest. It’s worth it, I promise…everyone was posing for my camera.
My mom taught me to cook and bake as I grew up. I would help her tear bread for the stuffing at holidays. Cut apples for applesauce or pie. I’d stir the batter for the most delicious brownies.
All along the way I’d glean tips and tricks to what makes my Mom’s meals delicious. Little nuggets of information that have stuck with me into my marriage.
One of my favorite secrets happens to tie in with my favorite fall treat.
Apple Crisp.
My Mom’s secret lay in the citrus that you add. Instead of a tart lemon, she used orange. Now, before you go crying that the citrus isn’t necessary because you expect the apples to brown in this delicious dessert…of course you do. But, if you add a touch of orange as your citrus – it’s a sweet little kick that punches up the flavor. The way you put in that citrus is up to you. I favor orange juice concentrate (a couple of tablespoons), you could use orange juice – heck, my mom has been known to use Tang. Yes, TANG.
Try it – along with my other secret (vary the apples, I use up to 4-5 different kinds). I bet you won’t regret it.
Recipe: Apple Crisp
Summary: Recipe is for one pie sized dessert. Increase as needed for larger desserts (as I did in my example pictures)
Ingredients
Filling:
6 apples – at least 1 granny smith
2Tbs White Sugar
2Tbs Brown Sugar
2Tbs Flour
1Tbs Orange Juice concentrate
Topping:
1/2 Stick Butter
1/8 C Brown Sugar
1/4 C Flour
Instructions
Peel & Core apples
Slice – granny’s hold up better so slice them thinner, the other varieties slice thicker
Mix with rest of filling ingredients and put into pie plate
Using pastry cutter or fork, cut together topping ingredients
Sprinkle topping over pie
Bake 50-60 minutes at 350*
Turn on broiler for 3-5 minutes until topping is crisp to your liking.
A few planned photos & a trip to the zoo rounded out my week.
All taken w/ Canon Rebel XS.
1. Vision The eye sees a thing more clearly in dreams than the imagination awake. ~Leonardo da Vinci
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The crow wished everything was black, the owl, that everything was white. ~William Blake
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2. Strong The grizzly bear is huge and wild. ~A.E. Housman [flickr id=”8193940901″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]
Strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from indomitable will. ~Mahatma Gandhi
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3. Buttons I call him buttons. Buttons the fish. [flickr id=”8195037666″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”none”]
If it keeps up, man will atrophy all his limbs but the push-button finger. ~Frank Lloyd Wright
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4. Map Home is not where you live but where they understand you. ~Christian Morganstern [flickr id=”8195043144″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]
The cheetahs pace a mapwork of paths through the tall grass
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5. Favorite Fruit One that would have the fruit must climb the tree. ~Thomas Fuller
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Goodness comes out of people that bask in the sun, as it does out of a sweet apple roasted before the fire. ~Charles Dudley Warner
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The past two weeks have been overwhelming for us. With Denver in the hospital, and then home but on IV meds, life turned on its head.
Even when we were home between the meds, and trying to return to normal life, everything about our life has been in upheaval. I’ve had to look for a job again, there have been activities for school and life in general is in a state of flux. There’s been little time to sit and regroup and just relax.
In the past two weeks there has been just one thing holding me together. My friends, my connections, and the simple gestures they’ve made to show they care.
Just yesterday, at the end of the chaotic two weeks, I opened my mailbox to find junk mail – and one envelope addressed to me. Inside was a simple card with a lovely handwritten note. It had come from the Hallmark Team. See, about a week before Denver went into the hospital I was a part of the group of bloggers that went to their Indianapolis Stop on the Hallmark Tour.
It reminded me of the importance of a simple card. I’m the first to admit that I’ve become a digital being – I prefer email and text to phone and mail.
But the touching gesture of a hand-written note inside a card meant so much. Imagine how much it could mean to a member of your family, or a good friend, to receive the added touch of a card with a handwritten note meant just to them. This card from Hallmark moved me to tears – you could leave your friend a blubbering mess for the same gesture.
During the Hallmark Tour event we were reminded of the importance of just telling someone what you want them to know. Tell them you love them. Tell them ‘thank you’. Tell them to be strong, that this will pass, that you admire them, or just that you think about them every day. We all shared our stories, what we want to tell, and at points it became a room full of tears. Most especially during the video that kicked off the event:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/SvmB7s5k6KA[/youtube]
So please, tell someone today what you think they should know.
*~*~*
[flickr id=”8191555068″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”] On behalf of Hallmark I’m excited to offer this giveaway of their recordable book “Mom & Me”.
Inside the book is a wonderful little story of a Momma Kangaroo and her child, a series of questions that your child can answer, and you can record! You can capture your child’s adorable little voice as it is today, and hear their unique and creative answers to simple questions!
[flickr id=”8191552892″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”right”]I can’t wait until my girls open this gift on Christmas morning and I can start recording their answers. Questions like “What do you think Mom does when you’re not around?” and “What do you like to do to make Mom laugh?” should bring fun and inventive answers from my two little story-tellers.
Entering is easy, just leave a comment telling me what simple gesture you want to do this Christmas to tell someone you love them.
I freely admit to being a computer/internet addict.
My husband is addicted to movies (in his defense, he is equally addicted to books).
Denver is now addicted to his iPod & Netflix (i.e. Star Trek).
In the past several months we’ve started to make the conscious decision to unplug at least twice a month and reconnect by using actual words – a long forgotten art in this house it feels like sometimes.
So we unburied some board games, bought some new ones – and some new puzzles. We’re slowly building our choices of games, including ones that the youngers can play (like [amazon_link id=”B004LZ2QZW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Sorry[/amazon_link] and [amazon_link id=”B00000IWHG” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Perfection[/amazon_link]). We have probably 5 different versions of [amazon_link id=”B0017S1Y4A” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Trivial Pursuit[/amazon_link] – including two very old ones like the [amazon_link id=”B0009RGXPK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Classic Genus[/amazon_link] and the (vintage?) Junior edition.
We’re building a list of games we want to add, trying to find classic games we remember playing “way back when” – you know, in ancient times when 3 channels on TV forced to to be creative and play these board games.
I am plotting and trying to get Erik to agree to learn how to play Rummy. The poor guy doesn’t know how to play – and I’ve always loved a good game of Rummy.
For now our go-to game that comes out just about every time we decide to play? [amazon_link id=”B00000IWDB” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]SCRABBLE[/amazon_link]. Between the three of us over the age of 10 – it’s always a toss-up who’s going to win.
The best thing about bringing these out is it gives us a chance to sit around and actually talk. Even though it’s often about the game or nothing – it’s reestablishing some levels of communication. Letting us relax and just have fun together so that not all of our conversations revolve around a child getting in trouble for something or a movie we just saw.
What family couldn’t stand to just have fun together without technology?
I now regularly stare at my wishlist for games, and scope out the board game section at Goodwill. For Christmas I hope to add a few more options for family togetherness to my list.
With Christmas coming up, don’t you want to add some fun under your tree? What’s your favorite board game?
When Kennedy was diagnosed with CF we were assured that we were likely to see more trouble from her myriad of other issues than we would for CF. With the exception of one hospital stay two years ago, that’s been mostly true.
