Ugly Duckling or Beautiful Swan

peek a boo

Bruschetta Chicken over risotto..... it was yummy!

This was a "simple meal" card that I picked up at Publix. It was so yummy and Hunter even liked it. Have fun cooking.

http://www.publix.com/aprons/meals


Bruschetta Chicken Over Risotto

Ingredients:

1/4 cup roasted red peppers
1/2 cup baby arugula leaves
4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
1 (8-oz) package risotto Milanese mix
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/2 cup fresh diced tomatoes
1/4 cup lite olive oil vinaigrette
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
4 (5-oz) Italian herb chicken breasts
2 teaspoons roasted garlic



Prep
Chop peppers, arugula, and cheese into small pieces.


Steps

Prepare risotto following package instructions, using 1 tablespoon olive oil instead of butter.
Combine tomatoes, vinaigrette, peppers, arugula, cheese, salt, and pepper; set aside.
Preheat large sauté pan on medium 2–3 minutes. Combine breadcrumbs and 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese in shallow bowl. Coat both sides of chicken with breadcrumbs; press with fingertips to evenly coat (wash hands). Place 1 tablespoon oil in pan, then add chicken and cover; cook 5–7 minutes on each side or until golden and 165°F.
Stir garlic and 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese into risotto and cover. Cook and stir 2–3 more minutes until rice is creamy and tender. Top chicken with tomato mixture and serve over risotto.

See A Good Day # 21 - Sweet Gavin's Birthday

Happy Birthday to YOU, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to Gavin, Happy Birthday to You.

It was fun celebrating Gavin's 3rd birthday. He loves Lightening McQueen on "cars". This little guy has a sweet spot in my heart. I love how he comes and hugs me when he sees me. His smile that just melts your heart and the light in his eyes just brightens your day. We had fun playing twister, blowing out sprinklers for his candles and watching his excitement while he opened his presents. He got his first BIG BOY bike. It is a cool birthday being born on the 4th of July!!!
Gavin checking out his new bike
Hunter gave Gavin the first tips to riding his new bike. :)
Hunter and Henry gave Gavin a new Lightening McQueen fishing pole.
Such a sweet picture... Ashlea's little dude.
Cute.....
Grace and Hunter got into the cupcake CAKE... they so got busted with chocolate ALL over there mouth.
Auntie and Gav playing twister...
Watch out Hunter, Gavin is a pro at this.... they had so much fun playing.

Food Nanny

This is a neat show I started watching while I was chillin in bed recovering. Have fun checking out the website and watching the shows. It is on BYU TV, I love her energy, thou it can be a bit overwhelming. She has great ideas and I know for me, it is hard to really PLAN meals. I'm excited to get started. ENJOY!!


http://www.byutv.org/foodnanny/

The best medicane ever to make me feel better- Henry's Laughter..

Today is a good day- a slow recovery

My recovery has been slow but good according to the doctor. No infections and all my symptoms and reactions have sounded normal.. it has been a couple of crappy days for sure don't get me wrong. BUT it is getting easier!!!

My first day home I slept alot, then Saturday, I thought wow I can really do this. NO problem this will be a easy recovery, well by Sunday I was bad. Bad to where Steve called the doctor 3 times because the only place that I was comfortable and didn't feel like I was going to pass out was on the bathroom floor. I was so pale, dizzy, nausea's and thinking Lord, really just take me now or PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make this pain go away, it was so sad. My sweet Steve brought me a pillow for my head and he just felt so helpless.

After many hours of Steve running to the store for different things to help, I finally slept A LOT. I would have to say that was the worst day. The pain meds help, but they "stop me up" so then my tummy hurts from that. Oh that is just a whole other blog post... To much info thou... ha ha. I would rather have the pain from the surgery, than be sooo constipated, so I stopped taking pain meds.

Monday they took the drain out of my neck, Steve was there for moral support but when they took this LONG tube out of my neck he made the worst face and I just broke down. Seriously I wasn't sure if I should cry or laugh. I thought my word what is going on with my neck. It turned out fine... note to self.. leave Steve is the lobby. ha ha ha.

My night was better since I could sleep and not worry about pulling or tugging on the tube. It was painful but at this point what wasn't. My throat, well even that felt good the first day and ever since then it has been sore. It is bad cycle, I'm hungry but I can't eat cause it hurts, so it makes my stomach hurt, then I'm nausea's because of the pain pills... and on and on and on. Finally after talking to the doctor, he said just drink milkshakes, so Steve went and got me a smoothie. Yummmmmmm! Lauren brought me a Slurpee... oh yeah that hit the spot! Surprise, surprise... Kim came and brought me a delicious cookie and cream milkshake... loved it along with some girl talk time. :)Anything cold and liquid was so yummy.

So today is Tuesday! Last night I took my nausea medicine and it helped me sleep. I slept from 11 to 10:30am. Nice!!! I felt real rested, a little stiff but rested.

They take out my stitches on Thursday, I'm kinda anxious to see what the scare looks like.

This for sure has been a harder recovery, I'm taking it easy, and really trying to relax. I'm glad it has been a good day today. One day at a time........ :)

CANCER FREE

Well it is 5:30 AM and I can't sleep, kind of uncomfortable, I have so many mixed emotions. First of all I'm thankful I'm alive. I have to admit I kept thinking I could die from this surgery. This was a pretty high risk surgery so close to my carotid artery, vocal cords, bleeding or infection,as I'm sure any surgery is.

I know that is a crazy thought, I kept thinking that maybe I was able to have my sweet Henry while I STILL had cancer because maybe he needed to be here and now it is my time to go....
As you can see I'm here, doing good and my surgery was a success.

The Lord has a greater plan for me, on this earth :).

Everyone in the hospital was great, I only broke down a quick cry when they were telling me about the procedure one more time.. lucky it was a quick.. oh crap this is really happening cry and then I was back to business trying to focus, as my dear friend Lauren said to me keep my eye on the prize, happy thoughts I'm going to be cancer free!

My sisters, mom, loved ones and many friends gave me lots of "love pep talks".

I really tried to focus and my sister in law Ashlea gave me this squeeze doll that says
" take it easy, don't stress" everyone was laughing and the nurse handed it to me whenever I felt like I was going to get upset. THANKS ASHLEA it was a hit!

I'm cancer free! YAHOO!

I was able to come home and not stay in the hospital. I do have a drain in my chest that I have to leave in for 3 days. I'm pretty sore but it is manageable, the more time goes by I do seem to be getting a little more sore and uncomfortable. I have some pain meds to help me thru the pain if I need it. I can feel a tug when I swallow.. that is a weird feeling. Poor Steve has to change out the drain, thought for sure he would hit the deck as soon as he saw my blood but he has done really good. :)

Oh and they were able to go in my old scare SOOOO I don't have a big huge cut like they thought I would have to do... YEAH! That was great, Huge, wonderful news!

I was able to walk by myself this morning so that is a good start. It is a week recovery without lifting anything more than 5 pounds.
I think I might just like this relaxing week of doing nothing. ;) ;)

I'm so humbled by all the love and support. Our family feels so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who care for us. Thank you for cheering me on, I would not have been able to move forward with so much strength without you. I love you all!


Oh my sweet Steve! He is my rock, my love, my everything! Steve is such an amazing man, so loving, so supportive. I could not ask for any one better to be by my side. I love you babe!

This is my amazing, wonderful, Dr. Rodgers. He truly was so great making this time easy for me and comfortable. It was a good experience. It was so nice have a familiar face to see. He is a friend of our family and I'm grateful the lord used him as a tool in my life to remove my cancer.
Got my hospital socks and my "little pep talk doll"
Recovery- it takes me a long time to wake up from surgery.

4th of July FUN

Our family had the BEST time during the 4th of July weekend! Yummy food, fun friends, hanging out on the lake and chillin with family. We laughed so much on the boat, did sparklers with the kids and played, played ,played. Thanks Randy and Ashlea for hosting a fun filled weekend!!!!
Taylor, Granny and Tiffany... we had so much fun with the girls.
White Girls!!
Mommies sunshine!
Steve and Tiffany...
My Favorite sister! Ashlea we had a great time... love ya girl!
Granny and the kids!
AWWWW Such a cute couple!
Ashlea's little man!
Sparklers!!!!
O.k. So I do think this little guy looks like me... look at his adorable shape face. I could just eat him up, he is so dang cute. ha ha ha

Really! Does Steve ever stop looking at my BOOBS!
Alicia and her boys....
Splaaaaash!
Soooo much FUN!
My Hot stuff!

We ALL so BUSTED..... that was a hard fall.. we couldn't stop laughing.
O.k. So all tried to stand as the boat was moving.. hummmm yeah.. that didn't work we so busted look at the picture above. IT WAS SO MUCH FUNNNNN!
Henry loved watching the water in the boat...
The kids had such a fun time.

I loved my time with Taylor and Tiffany... Love those girls!


Cute stuff Gavin!
Love, love ,love little Hunter.... he had so much fun on the lake. Uncle Randy took him out on the wave runner also.. a little boy in heaven for sure.

Henry zonked out from all the FUN.