Lake Weekend!

Catherine is definitely her father's child! She loved the lake! The faster the boat would go and the more it bounced the more she liked it. This weekend we went to the lake with Johnny's boss. We were on the boat for about 15 minutes before it started to thunder. So, the rest of the day we enjoyed the rain and watched football games while Catherine napped. It was really nice to get away and not do any chores around the house and just relax whether it rained or not. I was actually kind of glad it rained. I'm not an outdoor kind of girl. I know that really sent shock waves through some of your computers. Something grosses me out about not seeing the bottom of the lake and swimming with other creatures that carry diseases. Don't get me wrong, I love to ride on a boat and I love to tube and ski!!!!!!! It's just getting out there to do it and then falling and getting back in the boat I don't like. Basically, I don't like the water, just keep me out of the water. I'm like a cat or stuck up or whatever you want to call me, but I don't like lake water. So, for sure don't expect me to go camping and bath in it! That is an experience I don't care to have. Anyways, Catherine loves the boat! Enjoy the pictures!

Catherine Update

A week ago today we went to the Pediatric Cardiologist. We were given good news and some not so good news. The doctor we saw was Dr. Dungan. He is literally 80 years old. He is the nicest man and very funny. Catherine's appointment was at 11:00 and we didn't get home until 3:00. When we checked in the lady at the front desk was asking a list of questions. She asked, "Does the father live in the home"? I replied, "Yes." Then she asked, "Are mom and dad married"? I then said, "Listen, I don't know what other questions you are going to ask. And, I know it takes all kinds, but we're the other kind." She started laughing so hard I thought she was going to fall out of her chair. My way of handling the day was with humor. I started cracking jokes with the EKG tech and Johnny started to get a little annoyed with me. He wanted the tech to focus on his job and Catherine, not on the next line I was coming up with, which he was right. Anyways, Catherine was extremely well behaved, would you expect anything less from my child? No seriously, Dr. Dungan asked, "Is she always this good"? I responded with, "This is because of a lot of prayers." Which is the truth. We could feel the power of God's strength all day. I sat at home during her nap that morning and just read my Bible and prayed. I have not felt God's clarity like that in a long time. Even though we got the news we got, I still felt a peace, which is totally God! Thank you to all who have had us in their thoughts and prayers. It has definitely been and will continue to be a growth experience.

Catherine has a 7 mm hole in her Atrial Septum. It is called an Atrial Septul Defect. If you go to the American Heart Association website you can learn more about the surgery and the defect at http://www.americanheart.org/ . This is otherwise known as a "hole" in her heart. The size of the hole is of medium size. It is bigger than a pencil eraser, but smaller than a dime to give you an image. Therefore, it will not close on its own. They will have to go in a repair the hole when she is around the age of 4 years old. They will do this with a catheter procedure. They will implant a mesh accordion like material in the hole that will expand to cover the hole. Heart tissue and scar tissue will then grow over it and secure it permanently in place. This should be the only surgery/procedure she should ever have to fix the problem. She will only stay in the hospital 1 night, and in 4 years it may be outpatient who knows? Our Arkansas Children's Hospital was the 2nd hospital in the nation to perform this procedure! However, just 7 years ago this was an open heart surgery procedure. If she does not have the hole repaired her life expectancy is to age 30. The doctors will monitor her once a year until time for the procedure with an office visit and annual tests to make sure the hole is not getting larger and there are no other complications. They have reassured us that Catherine is normal and should be treated as if she were a normal child without any type of condition. We are surprisingly very calm about the situation and making a long list of questions to call and ask the nurse practitioner. If there are any suggested questions to ask, please let us know!

Great New Recipe!

I got this great new recipe from my neighbor, Aunt Sunnee, that I had to share. I come from a long line of women who love to eat, but also love to cook. So, if it is good enough to pass along, then it is really good! This tastes just like the baked squash at a chain restaurant with the name Dixie in it. Enjoy!

Baked Squash Casserole

5 lbs. medium yellow squash (measure it at the store on the scale)
2 eggs, beaten
1 C. bread crumbs, plus more for topping
2 Tbsp. chopped onion
1 stick butter
1/4 C. sugar
Salt as needed
Dash of ground black pepper

Variation: Add 1-1 1/2 C. cheddar cheese and 1 jalapeno pepper diced.

Trim squash and cut into large pieces. Drop into a large saucepan with enough boiling water to cover. Return to a boil, reduce heat and cook until tender. Drain in a colander, then mash.

In a large mixing bowl, combine squash, eggs, 1C. breadcrumbs, onion, butter, sugar, salt, and pepper. Turn into a 3-quart casserole dish that has been lightly greased. Cover with a light layer of bread crumbs. Bake at 350 until lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Serves 10.

This recipe makes a lot! It also freezes beautifully! I usually am able to make 2 8X8 plus another smaller dish size with this recipe, and I'll freeze 2 of the dishes. It has become a household favorite!

Small Yard Project....not so much!

A few weeks back I mentioned AT&T was going to be digging up my yard again any day to remove the box and utility easement in our front yard. Well, kids we are on the utility company's time line, which means it didn't start until 3 weeks later, or so. Here is their artwork thus far in our front yard. I went upstairs and got an aerial shot for you! As you can see they have dug a hole about 8 feet long by 4 feet wide and it is also at least 6 feet deep. When they are down in there you can't see them. When I took the pictures they were at lunch. They have 3 umbrellas they put in there as well as fans they hook up to a generator to keep them cool. It is really quite an operation! They have to wear these little hard hats, all due to Ochoa regulations so I'm told, that they really don't care for. I went to get the mail on Wednesday and peered down in the hole at them. I then made the comment that they looked like the miners on T.V. with their little hats on. They said, "Oh, don't say that!" I then asked if they were doing ok and if they needed something to drink, hoping they would take me up on it so I could get their picture of them drinking lemonade in the front yard as suggested in the previous post. Plus the last thing I need is for one of the AT&T men to collapse in my front yard! They responded with, "Oh no, we're fine. We've just been worried about you in there in all that cool air conditioning." I must admit, they are funny!

This is the 5th time they have dug up our yard! I have evidently created a reputation down at the AT&T office. The foreman came on the job site Tuesday and said, "Oh hi there, I've been hearing nothing but good things about you all day." My response was, "Well, I aim to please." Evidently, the people down at the main office told the foreman that I would help him with the other neighbors and be nice to him at the same time. I can imagine that is not a usual response when they dig burial sites in most peoples' yards like we have at the present. They are projecting this to take another week or so until they start putting the yard back together again. It could always be worse, and it's just less Johnny has to mow right now! However, this is a lesson as to why one should always get a survey! You will never know you have a utility easement unless you get one or until you find AT&T six feet under when you get home one day!

Exciting Times!

We have officially broken ground! This is the backhoe digging our footers for the foundation! The lot was cleared last week, and this week they started digging. It is so exciting seeing progress. We should be moving in sometime in March. We are planning on putting our house on the market within the next month once our yard project is complete, stay tuned to the upcoming post to appreciate this comment! I have been meeting with contracters and trying to stay within the budgets I have been given. All of which makes me very nervous, because I don't handle budgets too well.

Concerns.....

Last Tuesday, August 7th, Catherine was 6 months old. Can you believe it? People always told us time would fly by once we had children, and now I truly understand what they meant. So, it was time to go to the pediatrician for another well check-up for shots etc.... In the days leading up to the visit, I noticed Catherine holding her ears. I thought for sure she was getting an ear infection. She will hold them while I am feeding her. On her 6 month birthday we went to the doctor. Dr. Westbrook is so much fun! I look forward to going to the visits much more so than Catherine! As she checked her she requested another doctor in the group to come listed to Catherine's heart. They found a heart murmur. We have an appointment at Children's Hospital with a Pediatric Cardiologist for him to run some tests on the 23rd of this month. Me being the typical "high spirited" personality that I am, I remained calm. Yes, I was just as surprised as you are. I didn't really get too upset until I spoke with the cardiology clinic to get directions to Children's Hospital. The pediatrician reassured me that 95% of the patients she sends grow out of the condition or just need medication and monitoring. More than likely it is nothing to worry about, but it is still a concern right now for us. Please pray for her little heart!

Oh, and no she doesn't have an ear infection. They are just another body part she has discovered and are therefore a toy during feedings! It is quiet funny to watch her open her mouth while holding her ears!

Angels!

It's official, I have an angel sleeping down the hall! Catherine has started taking her naps in her bed this week! Finally! I was beginning to wonder what we were going to do when she outgrew the swing? She was taking all of her naps in the swing everyday. Sunday night was baby dedication at church and Catherine has now been all kinds of dedicated. She was a little fussy in the hall, but really good once inside the sanctuary. She liked all the sounds and lights, and was very interested in everything going on around her so she was quiet!

All of my closings are just that, closed! Hooray! Things can quieten down for a little while. I do have showings this weekend, so I don't know how long the quiet time will last, but the next few days will be nice. The thought of moving is starting to set in. I think it is always good for me to put myself in the position of my clients so I am better able to empathize. Boy am I starting to feel the pressure and we haven't even broken ground. I have to keep reminding myself "deep breathes". All will be ok, if I will stop worrying about things that haven't taken place yet, which I have a bad habit of doing!

Something that is taking place is the telephone company digging up our front yard again! I need to go take pictures of them, wouldn't they love that! What if I gave them all some lemonade and had them pose? Our front yard has a utility easement and is "luckily" the telephone hub for the entire neighborhood development!!! So, anytime they add another phase to the subdivision or someone moves in or anything changes, they come and tweak the box or dig in the yard. I have visited with 3 guys so far this morning and they are going to be digging for the next 4-6 weeks! But, after they are through, the box and easement will be moved permanently, and there will be no more digging ever!!!!! That is such good news for the new people who will live here after us! Congratulations to them!!!!!