ACK! They're BACK!

This is one of those fashions that should have quietly disappeared. Don't get me wrong, I wore them all the time in the 80s and who knows, maybe I will have a pair in a year or two...(ya never know...) but I will HAVE TO laugh at myself!

Obviously my exit

We passed through Peculiar, MO on the way to and from Kaedy's appt. I wonder if anyone got the irony of our van (with the license plate peculyr) going through Peculiar! We did!

Kansas City update

Well, we are home from our trip to Kansas City. I'll get to the important details first, and then I'll fill in the details.

1. Kaedra was accepted into their program
2. Her surgery is scheduled for Nov 17th
3. We loved Dr. Price
4. The hospital is beautiful and created totally around children.



The trip took almost exactly 4 hours from the time we got on the Creek Turnpike to the time we parked at the hospital. We did not have much traffic, only a few cases of construction, and we didn't have to make any stops on the way. It was difficult to find the actual hospital because there was construction on all around it, but we did, eventually, find it. Kaedra was upset to be taken straight from the car seat to the stroller, but she got to get out and play in the waiting room.



We met with two doctors and the nurse in charge and we liked them all very much. They referred to Kaedra's case as "tricky" which was funny to us, because we see her as so normal! I think we forget the intricasies of her "condition." LOL! They compared her to our internet friend Collin Langston who was (I think) their second patient. Kaedra is now their 16th VEPTR patient. What a difference that is, rather than being one of a couple hundred! They asked about her development and I told them what I tell anyone that doesn't know her: She is a normal two year old with a lot of heavy equipment! She pretty much showed them that, the whole time she was there. She walked around, played, flirted, giggled, was shy...all the normal toddler stuff!

After taking some xrays, all in all, the appointment was about 1 1/2 hours. Here is some of the other info we got:

1. Kaedra would be admitted into and discharged out of ICU. (we are thrilled about that. We had a horrible experience "on the floor" in San Antonio. Also, we were never allowed to leave her in San Antonio. Not that I am saying I want to leave my baby, but I want to feel safe going to the bathroom, which I didn't, in SA. At least the people in ICU are used to dealing with vent dependent patients.
2. You are not allowed to sleep bedside, but they do have a dorm outside of the ICU with beds and a community bathroom. You can be with your child 22 hours a day. (there are two hours of shift change where you can't be there)
3. If the dorm is full, they have fold out chairs in the waiting room.
4. The Ronald McDonald house is right next to the hospital and is free. It is also newly renovated and is BEAUTIFUL! The doctor told us they had suites and when we drove around the outside, it looked like an upscale apartment building.

I don't know what option we are going to use yet. It will depend somewhat on who goes with me. Kaedy is never alone at home, except maybe a minute or two when she first wakes up in the morning or after nap. And she is not used to being in a crib except when asleep, so I can't imagine leaving her there by herself for long. My friend Tarry is looking into going with me, Sherria has offered, and Brittany really wants to go - so we have a few options. Someone HAS to go with me, because I can't drive without a helper in the seat next to Kaedra (in case she becomes disconnected, she needs more oxygen, etc, etc) But where we stay will depend on who goes, what we decide to do about sleep, and what we feel about the unit.

Time to eat dinner and watch "Hoodwinked." I will finish this later!

One of my favorite worship songs

You are Holy....
sung here by Michael W. Smith

Cool Site

I got this from my friend Kim's blog and it is a really fun site!

I've been using this site called Judy's Book to find great new restaurants and other local stuff based on reviews from real people. The site lets you swap local finds with people you know, so the more friends you have, the better it works. I'm enjoying it and I think you will too, so come join me at Judy's Book.

Our upcoming trip to KCMO

We are getting ready for our trip to Kansas City, MO. For those that don't know, we are trying to get Kaedra changed from the San Antonio hospital to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City because it is closer and has less patients.

We are leaving Wednesday morning with Brittany and Kaedra (Emily will be visiting with Michael's mom) and driving the 4 hour trip. Our appointment is at 2pm at the new hospital, with the new doctor. All of the records have been sent and received in KC already, except for that last xray which we are taking with us.

We are believing that they will accept Kaedra into their program and that they will get her in for surgery this month. Michael's last day of available vacation is Oct 31st, so we want to get her in before that.

Please join us by agreeing that we have favor with the doctor up there and that they schedule Kaedy as soon as possible. I will update y'all as soon as I know more!

Crockpot Applesauce

Here is my favorite recipe for crockpot applesauce:
3 pounds apples (Granny Smith work well), peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

Put everything in crockpot.
Cook on high for 3-4 hours,
mash with a potato masher
add 1 tsp ground cinnamon at end, if desired.

Most recipes tell you to put water in. DON'T DO IT! Our applesauce always ends up way too runny when we add water. The water in the apples is enough all by itself. If you like chunky applesauce, like we do, just use the potato masher a little less....if you like it smooth, mash more or you can even put it in a blender.

Apple Pecan Crumble Pie

Got this from the Washington Apple Page
It was really great! Even for those that don't like Apple pie that much.

Directions:
Pastry for one-crust 9-inch pie
6 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and thinly
sliced
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground mace
Crumb Topping (recipe follows)

Crumb Topping
In small bowl, combine 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. With pastry blender or fork, cut in 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter until mixture is crumbly.


Instructions:

1.) Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 9-inch pie pan with pastry, trimming edges.

2.) In large bowl, combine apples, pecans, sugar, flour, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and mace; toss well to blend. Transfer apple mixture to pastry-lined pan.

3.) Prepare Crumb Topping; spread evenly over apple filling. Bake pie 45 minutes or until apples are tender.

Kaedra

Here are some pics of Kaedy at church this weekend. One of the pics is with her friend, Lynnsey.

Apple Pickin'

The big girls and I went to Livesay Orchard this weekend. We had a great time and picked a bushel and a half of apples. We are going to have lots of applesauce, applebutter, apple pie, apple bread, apple cake, apple cookies (do I sound like Forrest Gump and his shrimp yet?)