I wanted to give you an up date on our beautiful Rayne. Rayne’s mommy and daddy asked me to stay the night with her on Thursday and I was blessed to do so. If I didn’t have to work the next day I would have stayed up all night just to stare at her and pray. (Actually with all the beeping and buzzing I probably ended up doing that last part anyway.) As I watched her, I was overwhelmed by the technology that kept her going and people who dedicate their lives to keep these little ones breathing and in our arms. I’m thankful for that.

She was holding steady after surgery. They kept her sedated and on a ventilator for the next 2 days to allow her time to begin healing and for her blood pressure to regulate. It fluctuated quite a bit.

God has been in control of this situation from the start and even though it seems so confusing that such a little one has to go through this, I know that ALL things work together for good. sometimes it’s hard to see in the midst of the pain and fear of the unkown, but that is where faith comes in.

Kristi (Rayne’s mommy) said that a team of trauma specialists had been called in for a trauma and arrived right before they brought Rayne to the ER. Had they not shown up when they did she may not have gotten the immediate care that she did.

Since her surgery they have found that in addition to or along with the tight aorta, she has some quite odd anomalies about her valves. They are like that of a sheep. Yes, baa baa. The doctors are using her case as part of a study. I had no idea that could even happen. Did you? I also found out that congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect affecting 8 out of every 1,000 babies.

Normal Human Aorta

Sheep Aorta

Today they removed the ventilator and her parents got to hold her again. This is the first time since Tuesday night night that they have had her in their arms.

The next step in the process is to make sure she is ready to eat. The doctors have been evaluating her intestines and digestion, sucking reflex etc. because when her heart was failing, the organs were essentially dying. Our precious girl was really in dangerous territory. Thankfully her mother followed her instinct and knew that something was not right.

Looking towards Monday when she may be released from ICU. The clouds are parting and the sun is beginning to shine through. Exhale…

For her family night, she chose to use her Japanese Anime Cookbook and go full on Asian style!

We ate Teriyaki Chicken, Potato veggie balls and rice with seaweed and Mochi for dessert. All the dishes were complete with labels.

Chicken

Potato Balls

Rice w/ Seaweed

We thought of tea too late and had no tea cups but we used these small cups to drink from.

I like Mochi, but unfortunately, I was alone in this.

And, to be authentic, we sat on the floor. It was really fun!

Bloggers with children too young to oppose pictures, enjoy. It will end.

To top the night off, we played a game and I won! We had to match the Japanese characters “mother” “father” “younger brother” “older brother” and “sister” with the English words. I got 3 right!

Great job, Emma!

Tomorrow is my turn…any suggestions? I’m trying to make it active and cheap. Last time was the bike ride.

Me, and…

Starbucks! And it opened only two days after I was born!

I did it anyway. I was just a little older than him, but who’s counting?
We have been married 16 years that have just slipped by. They have been beautiful and crazy and sorrowful and fun. All wrapped up in a messy package, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Life was meant to be fulfilling and challenging and exciting…not perfect.

Our celebration began with these…

He loves a good burrito. Since I’ve met him we’ve eaten at Taco Bell more than once. Whenever I ask what we should have for dinner, it’s always his default answer. I’m sold.

We took a drive on the back roads through Carpinteria, CA and ended in Solvang an old Danish town.

I sat on a big shoe. I ate a cookie. We stopped in Santa Barbara and at a lovely place called Pascuci.
My love bought me this…

But, most of all I was happy just to spend the day with him.

Teenage grooms do grow up to be men. Good men, and I love this one. To 16 more…

2. If I wait too long to eat, it feels like my stomach is being ripped out through my bellybutton.

3. I get my feelings hurt when I think people are deliberately trying to be rude. Then I want to punch them. Small children not excluded.

4. I do not like to smell like camp smoke unless I’m camping.

5. I have 2 children in high school.

Uh, hello? I was JUST in high school. I can still remember that really tasteful tux I wore to the Christmas dance way too clearly. And the perm? There are no words. (That’s me on the left. I clearly have no shame.)

Did you rock the 80′s fabulous big hair?

This weekend I spent three days with a good friend and making some new friends at BlogHer11. It’s a big convention of women bloggers for networking and learning how to better navigate the ‘blogosphere’. I learned so much and am so happy I went. Plus it was at the San Diego Convention Center and seriously there really isn’t a better location. I didn’t think about that cat one single time, except for the time when Jenn made fun my attempts to make the cat do what we called “Crossfit Cat”. My son would carry her down the sidewalk about 50 feet and make her run back. I later found out that cat exercise doesn’t work.

Jenn at GirlHero was a stellar roomie, confidant, dance floor octopus…er…partner! Thanks, Jenn for asking me to go and making it happen.

After all I learned and being inspired by so many amazing women I’m super excited to re-vamp my blog. Get ready for the new! improved! TM blog. Watch out ‘cuz we’ve got some fun stuff in store. Go on, now…tell all your friends as this might be bigger than the final Seinfeld episode. No, really…ok maybe not but it’s going to be cool. I swear! I came home ready to work.

As I opened the door ready for hugs and kisses and “wemissedyousomuch’s” all I could smell was CAT PEE! Gag. We’ve gotta do something about this cat. Anyone ever have this issue with their kitty? She’s not old. She’s only 6 which according to Google is like 54. It might be a change in her diet. She’s so sensitive.

Anyway, stinky cat or not, I’m happy to be home with inspiration and ideas! I hope you’re excited too. I’m going to give away a few cool things I got at the conference, too. Stay tuned.

I didn’t post this yesterday because I could not find the link, but you must try it. So delicious. Even young men who do not cook could do this. (Yes, CJ, I’m looking at you.)

It’s a crock pot meal and who on earth doesn’t love to put stuff in a pot and walk away only to return hours later and scoop it to enjoy it’s yumble-ness. My blog, my words. MKay?

So…here it is.

In the bottom of the crock pot, layer carrots, (I used prepared baby carrots- why reinvent the wheel people?), sliced onions and chopped large celery. I realized I may need to sign up for a course on how to use my “mandolin” fancy schmancy slicer dicer thingy. I cannot figure out for the life of me how it works. I used a knife. Revolutionary.

Anyhoo…On top of the veggies, layer the chicken. I used thighs once, and breast with thigh meat once…both were delicious. BUT I think the fat in the dark meat makes it moist…er..moister…moisty…uh…Yummy.

On top of the chicken, spread 3 pressed cloves of garlic (or scoop 3 tsp out of the jar) and squeeze one lemon (or 2 tbsp from the bottle).

Finally, pour on a large can of enchilada sauce (I think I used El Pato Mild). Turn on the crock pot for about 6-8 hours, or high for 4 hours.

You could serve with a green veggie, too or a salad. So good.

Don’t worry, I don’t plan on becoming a food blogger because holy heck if there are not 9 gazillion of them already. Just me, trying to help you take one tiny step to eating healthier.

Enjoy. I’m off to watch Dexter.

Here are a couple I’ll be trying out.

Herb Grilled Pork Chops

Italian Meatballs

Here’s a cool distance calculator for runs if you are so inclined.

Google Maps Distance Calculator

I hear almost daily about people’s back pain, hip tightness…”I’ve got a pain in my ….(insert body part here)…”

This website addresses these issues and really, everyone should be doing these exercises. They are simple stretches, but oh so effective. I am a living witness to the fact that today’s post has saved my back. When I injured my back a little over a year ago, I found this stretch and I do it fairly regularly to keep that injury from returning.

Being strong is one thing, but you’ll go further in whatever training you do if your joints are mobile and your muscles are pliable. Just getting out of bed without a sore back should be enough to motivate some of you. Believe me, my bed is OLD.  It should give me pain. It doesn’t. I think people use poor beds as an excuse. Yeah, I  want a new bed, too. But is that really the issue? Maybe not.

Ok, go check it out.

Mobility WOD