A CRAZY Time was had by all...

Oh, yes. I must say -- I hate a boring life. After all... how, well, boring would it be if life was calm, and went as planned on a daily basis. Right?

So, why would I have expected a normal healing time, no problems, bumps or hiccups along the way? In fact, I LAUGH at the thought of normal. Our lives are anything BUT normal.

My healing is going well. My ankle is starting to look better and better as the days go by, but, my doctor extended the time in which I could not bear weight on my foot by another 3 weeks, which means I'm home for another two weeks. Like I said... boring, right?

However. Last week, my husband decide liven things up by getting a nasty, nasty flu that landed him in the urgent care on Friday, and the emergency room on Sunday. Extreme muscle weakness and pain to the point that he couldn't press the buttons on the remote control and had to cancel... CANCEL ... two fishing outings. Now, THAT is a serious case of the flu.

Fortunately, my in-laws and my husband's brother and his sweet wife jumped in to help out (she's the one I refer to as SBee -- Hunter calls her Zia which is Aunt in Italian). Uncle D and Zia picked Hunter up Friday night, drove him three hours to the beach where the rest of the family was vacationing, and he had a blast. He got attention poured on him from his Mawmaw, Pawpaw, aunts, uncles, and one of his cousins. My husband's parents (have I mentioned they are saints?) are "entertaining" Hunter today, and doing some grocery shopping for us, because our house is empty of all things resembling meal-appropriate food (not to mention chocolate, and I didn't even add that to the list!).

So you see... nothing can be boring in this household. But then again, God promised us he wouldn't leave our sides during trials and tribulations. Praise God for that!

Feeling Guilty ... Sort of...

So, the other day, I was sitting comfortably on my chair with my foot propped up, watching my husband cooking in the kitchen, then vacuuming the family room, picking up toys, back to the kitchen, entertaining Hunter... All while I'm comfortably sitting on the chair. Doing nothing.

And I'm feeling guilty that I can't help.

Sort of.

Ok. Yes. I am feeling guilty. I am. Really. No. I'm not. I mean... YES. Yes I am.

What can I say. It's an internal struggle I'm having.

I feel bad just sitting around doing nothing while my husband slaves around. My house is a mess, the laundry is in two piles: clean vs. dirty, and the dishes pile up in the sink. It has been very hard on my husband juggling all the Sunshine-family balls in the air. But I am feeling a small sense of satisfaction that my husband can actually experience everything I do. It is hard being a mom with a full time job. Cleaning, laundry, child, job, husband... it is hard to balance everything.

And sadly, I suffer from the "perfect mom" syndrome. I want my son to have the perfect "Leave it to Beaver" life experience. Perfect home, perfect meals, perfect activities, perfect everything.

But fortunately, this terrible syndrome is tempered by my "we're not perfect" husband. He doesn't mind living in a home that looks "lived in" ... his priorities are always in the right place... spending time with our son.

He grounds me ... brings me back to reality. A dear friend once said that I'm the gas in our relationship, and my husband is the brakes. I always want to go, go, go, and he always wants to slow down. Slow, slow, slow.

It's a good balance. I love my husband. He rocks. And... he's an amazing dad. What more could a woman want?

A clean house? All the laundry washed and put away? All the dishes washed and floors swept?

Yeah. Maybe.

But I think I'll just slow down, sit back and relax. And NOT stress that the house isn't perfect and that there are all sorts of things hanging from the banister.

I'm okay with that. I am. Really. Twitch, twitch, twitch.

I owe my husband big time, don't I?

Hospitality Outside the Home

I'm sorry -- I had some technical difficulties today, and am just now able to post!

Today, I'm guest-posting at Reluctant Entertainer about Drop and Run Meals -- in other words: sharing hospitality outside the home. In that post, I mentioned two different meals, and wanted to share one of the recipes today.

Pop on over to Sandy's place and see what I wrote about, then come back and write these recipes down for the next time you need a meal idea to take to some one's home. They are very tasty and very simple to make -- even the least experienced in the kitchen will be able to put these recipes together.

Basil Chicken Pasta "To Go"

1 package fresh pasta (found in the deli section)
3-4 chicken breasts, cut-up in strips (about the size of your thumb)
Olive Oil
1 stick butter
1 jar Alfredo sauce
1 cup frozen Sweet Peas
1 red pepper, chopped
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped finely
1 hand full of fresh basil
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 disposable foil pan with clear lid

In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the linguine per instructions. Drain and set aside.

In a large frying pan, add half of the butter and a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Season the strips of chicken with salt and pepper, then cook until brown. Strain on a paper towel and set aside.

Melt the rest of the butter. Add the onions and red peppers and cook until tender. Add the peas, chicken, garlic and basil and cook until peas are warmed through. Toss with the noodles, Alfredo sauce and Parmesan cheese. Toss well.

Place pasta and chicken in a metal foil disposable pan. Sprinkle top liberally with Parmesan cheese and cover with clear lid.

Options: You can add any of the following veggies: broccoli, asparagus tips, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, sliced zucchini or squash, brussels sprouts. You can use any veggie combos, the key is to cook them until tender in butter and/or olive oil. In this particular dish, the butter gives the veggies a richer flavor.

Substitutions: You can substitute the chicken for left over diced turkey or ham, or crab and/or peeled shrimp. Cook the crab and shrimp in hot butter with garlic.

ENJOY!

Ewwww -- yuck!

For those of you who are ... how should I say ... "medically curious" ... here are some pictures of my ankle ... for those of you who are NOT medically curious... click away now. Click far, far away.
This is what I started off with after surgery. It was a "splint" fashioned from cast material wrapped in fluffy cottony casty stuff and then tape. It was huge, but brilliant. The doctor is a genius, I tell you. It was far, FAR more comfortable than a full hard cast, which other doctors would have done.

















Then, today, I got it off! WOOHOO!!! It felt so good. I still can't bear weight at all for three more weeks because they had to scrape the bone, and drill holes around in the bone so marrow could leak out and heal the cartilage properly. They said it was sort of like laminate that had peeled away and was hanging like a flap. I warned you! Yucky! But the ligament should be healing nicely!



They branded a smiley face on my toe. Doctors are so... FUNNY. Ha Ha.

Ok. I'm off to put my leg up. Have a good one!

Home Made Ice Cream

THAT'S IT... I've had it. If I have to read one more blog about home made ice cream, I think I'll scream. It's just WRONG, people!

I can't stand it, and because of that... I'm ordering an ice cream maker TODAY.

I don't care that I can't walk right now or bear weight on my one bad foot... I must sacrifice and take one for the team. So we can have delicious ice cream. Because I'm a good and generous mom like that.

It's all for the love of my family, you know.

Now... rush on over to Reluctant Entertainer and Pioneer Woman and snag their ridiculously delicious ice cream recipes. And I promise... these are women you'll love to hate to love. You'll love them so much you'll hate yourself for loving them but you can't help yourself. Whew. It's a split personality thing.

Reluctant Entertainer's Vanilla Ice Cream
Pioneer Woman's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Pioneer Woman's Blackberry Ice Cream
Part 1
Part 2

Never mind. I can't get to my wallet.

FOILED AGAIN.

Healing in front of the Television

I am home recovering from ankle surgery. A difficult surgery to be sure, as you can't bear any weight on your foot for two weeks, but I'm doing much better today.

The only thing I've been able to do is take pain pills, flip through a page or two in a book or magazine, and watch t.v.

Today, the world remembered Michael Jackson. The service was sad, and reminded me of a lost world craving, aching, dying for a Savior.

Yes, there were some "religious" overtones, but I was glad to hear Martin Luther King III and his sister Reverend Bernice King say one very important thing:

Let nothing, whether truth or rumor, good or bad (etc.)... separate you from the love of God which is through Jesus Christ.

Amen. That really needed to be said.

And now, I return to my drug induced squiggly line of existence. And some angel cake and strawberries that my friend brought over last night. My mother-in-law is bringing it to me. She's a wonderful woman.

Good night. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

What is WRONG with people?

The day Michael Jackson died, was evidently, a black day for many. Everyone is laying flowers, stuffed animals, pictures and candles in memorial for his life.

In fact, we had two young boys come to our front door. They rang the bell, my mother-in-law answered, and they asked her if she knew that Michael Jackson had died. She said yes. Then they asked if she was a fan of his. She said no.

Then they asked... are you ready for this??? Do you want to buy a Michael Jackson shirt?

Now that’s respect for the dead.

SERIOUSLY PEOPLE!!!

The man is barely cold and society is already trying to turn a profit!

Oh, we cracked up about that for quite a while. And then, when I repeated the story at work, someone pointedly remarked: If we had reporters back in the times of Jesus, do you think they would have covered his death like Michael Jacksons?

Would it have been publicly broadcast across the world, or would it have been a quiet, one line report in the obits?

I can just see it now. A kid walking up to a clay house, banging on the wooden door, and saying: Hey, did you know Jesus died today? Were you a fan? Wanna buy a piece of his garment or a piece of the torn curtain? How about a lot that was cast for his garments? No?

Oiy!

That may have come across a bit sacrilege... I certainly didn't mean any disrespect... But, what has gotten into people? Why do they idolize this man, and when did he become god-like in their minds?

I just don’t get it.

All I have to say is ... YOU BETTER BE A BIG FAN of Jesus when you die! And I do mean a personal, vital, growing HOT AS FIRE relationship with Him!

Ehem.

Tap, tap, tap ... is this thing on? [crickets chirping]

This is the end of the public broadcast. Your computer will now go black.

Surgery

On July 2, I'm having my ankle reconstructed. Pretty major surgery. Major cutting, major bolts, major pain.

Please keep me AND my poor husband in your prayers! Thank you!

I'll update as soon as I'm conscious!

GET OFF THE ROAD, OLD LADY!

The other morning, I was on my way to work. I came to a light, and there were two cars in front of me. The light was green. The first car was stopped. She was turning right, and I'm not even sure what she was waiting on.

Silently in my head, I said: "Come one lady! Go!"

The car in front of me, not so silently, honked, honked, and HONKED his horn. I think he was a little bit annoyed.

Then it dawned on me. One of these days, I'M GONNA BE THAT LADY. I'll be the one that people yell at and say, "GET OFF THE ROAD, OLD LADY!"

Yes indeed... one of these days, I'll find my self stopped at a crossroad, green light in front of me, distracted by my various ailments, my thoughts focused on my fragile husband, my next doctor's appointment, or where my next meal may come from.

It brings a new meaning to the word... GRACE... A favor rendered by one who need not do so.

It also brings new meaning to: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Luke 6:31

And, it also brings to mind that my son had better have a good profession so he can afford to hire a chauffeur for his old mom and dad!