"I think I have the swine flu"

Last week you will recall I was quite ill with body aches etc..Justin was sick too but more with the run of the mill allergy symptoms. As I was writhing on the couch in pain and the tingling sensations of a million pins and needles up and down my body - my dear husband was mildly concerned but more annoyed. THIS week started off with him having tingling, fever, and body aches. My first thought was, "Great, he's going to blame me for what he has!" However I was terribly wrong - you see....what he "has" is far worse than what I had, and I could not possibly comprehend the pain/agony/illness he is feeling. Why you ask? He promptly informed me, "I think I have the swine flu." Stunned and amazed at this unfortunate turn of events I turned and walked away with simply an eye roll. I turned once more to see my swine flu stricken husband, as he informed me that this was "the end" and he wasn't sure how much longer he had to live. Double eye roll.

Not in the mood....

I have a million things to get done for school. A list of things piling up each day as I procrastinate because watching re-runs of Roseanne (yes, I know...) and CSI are much too appealing to me at the present time. Presentations, final exams, lab finals, and an new job opportunity -- oh my! You see I have a new love affair - which Justin says is my love affair of the week - and it is metal, green, and vintage. I've been wanting a sewing machine for some time, however given my laissez faire attitude and lack of "stick-to-it-ness" I've been wary of purchasing one. So I came up with an alternative, and a free one at that! My aunt, who passed away a few years ago, left her treasures to my mom and my cousin George since she practically raised them herself. Amidst those treasures I recalled seeing a sewing machine, and I inquired if I could procure it for my musing. I was given permission and it is now in my possession - It stares at me, calls me, and doesn't allow me to do much but think of it. The problem is I have no clue how to use it, and Justin thinks I need to take a class of some sort BUT I refuse. I will conquer the little green machine on my own!! My mom said I wouldn't be able to even figure out how to thread it, but I did. Showed you mom!

I'm planning on making some placemats first, because how hard could it be to make a placemat. Justin kindly yet reluctantly went with me yesterday to purchase some fabric and I've been practicing stitching on old material we had lying around the house. And...yes...this old machine still works like a gem.

I hope to post pictures soon of these placemats....and my greater hope is to make something even more marvelous than a placemat...small steps my friends, small steps.

sick days

Justin has been sick for the past few days, although if you ask him he will deny this vehemently. Saturday we went to Fort Sumner and saw our parents, went out to eat with Justin's parents, helped his parents paint their house, and had a really good time. Sunday we woke up and felt MISERABLE!! I swear it was a near onset of the flu. I was aching everywhere, my throat was killing me, and I just generally felt horrible. We pushed through and went to church and as I sat there I literally thought I was going to faint. I thought about leaving but had Primary to teach, and again I pushed through. Which was great because we had a really good lesson and singing time. Justin and I went home and took a SUPER long nap, which seemed to help me but made Justin feel even more horrible. Today we feel slightly better however Justin didnt sleep a wink last night. I think we are on the downward slope of this thing....AND it's the beginning of finals week!!!

Golden nuggets

These little golden (chicken) nuggets are quite tasty and easy to make. I swear it takes like 15 minutes of prep and 20-30 minutes of baking. They are good for you too (I think!?!).

INGREDIENTS
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup milk


DIRECTIONS
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2) Cut chicken breasts into 1 1/2 inch size pieces.
3) In a medium bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, cheese, salt, thyme and basil. Mix well. Put milk in a bowl for dipping the chicken into.
4) Dip chicken pieces into the milk first, then coat with the breadcrumb mixture.
5) Place well coated chicken pieces on a lightly greased cookie sheet in a single layer, and bake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes. Turn the nuggets 1/2 way into the baking so they cook evenly on both sides.

yard work and such

A little hard work and elbow grease took this:




And turned it into this:

The best cupcake in town....

I discovered this little gem (thanks Ginger P) a few months ago and it is the easiest yet most delicious fudge cupcake around. It tastes like a "brownie" cupcake, but absolutely delicious. The recipe is simple as can be and will make 24 cupcakes....



INGREDIENTS:
4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1 3/4 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
(Can add) 2 cups chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:
* Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. In the top of a double boiler, combine chocolate and butter. Heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.
* Sift flour and sugar together into a large bowl. With mixer on low speed, beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in chocolate mixture, vanilla and pecans. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.
* Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Do not overbake. Tops should be shiny but give slightly when touched.

* I also spray a little pam in the muffin cups so that the cake doesn't stick to the paper and they are easier to get out. I likewise spray the cupcake pan. (Maybe I'm just obsessed with Pam!).

HAPPY EASTER!!

I'm baaaack.....

It has been quite some time since I posted. We have been swamped with school and there has been no time for anything external. Tuesday I spent several hours following the Burn and Trauma team around the hospital. I saw some pretty nasty stuff, but I handled it like a champ - even the woman whose stomach was ripped wide open and I could see (and identify!) various organs. I helped place dressings on and clean a man's toe who had to be amputated. It was something - let me tell you!

Yesterday I went with a group of classmates to a local senior center for several hours. We took blood pressures, checked blood glucoses, took pulses, oxygen saturation levels, and reviewed their medications with them. It was actually quite a blast - I haven't been hit on like that in my lifetime!!! I may just go back :)

I went to the doctor a week or so ago, and had more tests run to try to figure out what is going on. I haven't received the results as of yet so I suppose that means I'm not dying, or that I have a VERY lazy doctor. She confirmed a diagnosis of PCOS (Poly cystic Ovarian syndrome), which basically means my ovaries don't work effectively. She (doctor) told me that before she'd start any medications or consult with a fertility doc that I'd have to do the South Beach diet for 3 months. She insisted that the fertility doc would make me do this any how so starting would save me time later on down the line. Something about this diet assists with fertility (or so she says) So Justin (in support of me)and I started it. One of the hallmarks of PCOS is rapid weight gain (which I had several years ago when I gained about 40-50 lbs in less than 4 months - talk about a shock!) and difficulty losing the weight. OF COURSE - the weight develops around the mid-section. I lost 10-15 lbs of that weight, but the rest is at a stand still. I've enjoyed going to various doctors who simply think that I overeat and sit on the couch all day. I've enjoyed being dimissed as crazy or a liar when I tell them what I eat and how much I exercise. So, finally I've found a doctor who believes me (I think) -- lets see what transpires!!!!

Share your care......

On Tuesday for school I had to go (Justin went on Wednesday) a place called Share Your Care. It was a really neat little program in our community that I had not really heard much about. There are 7 sites in Albuquerque that have programs for Alzheimer's patients, those with mental health issues, and those with developmental delays. We spent 5 hours with the Alzheimers patients, and it was such a fun time!! We played games, read the newspaper, helped them with snacks and lunch, did exercises with them, and helped them make hair clips. They really enjoyed having the company and we enjoyed spending time with them. We met a woman whose daughter was the previous NM Secretary of State, a woman who had dated Dean Martin (which was confirmed by her daughter who had the pictures to prove it), and to get to hear each of their stories was really interesting.

It also made me thankful for my abilities - for the things that I suppose I take for granted on a day to day basis - like walking, talking, being able to go to the restroom alone, being able to feed myself, hearing, seeing, and thinking. One day we will all get old, and I'm excited to be in a position where I've had great life experiences, but at the same time it makes me realize that in order to get to that point I need to live well now. I need to make good memories, have fun, spend time with people important to me, and just live life to the fullest. In the end the story of our lives are built by the choices that we make in the now. When we are old and grey, and telling others the stories of our lives, what will our story say about how we lived?