Monster Cookies

The Dough - Kevin wouldn't stay out of it....
Karlee having a taste - she loved it....

The finished product!

The weather just seemed right for baking cookies this afternoon. I found this recipe on Bisquick.com and thought we'd try it out. Not sure it's something I'd make often as I don't always have M & M's around the house. I had bought everything to make up at the cabin last weekend and then couldn't find the recipe until we were ready to go home. And then all week I've tried to interest the kids into making cookies with me with no luck. I tried last night and then realized that I had no brown sugar.....

They were very easy to make - but we only got 16 cookies out of the recipe. Which really is enough. And fresh out of the oven they are delicious. So here's the recipe for you too.

1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar

1/2 cup shortening - I used 1 stick of butter

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups Original Bisquick mix

1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats

1 cup candy-coated chocolate candies - I used plain M & M's

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped nuts, if desired - I used walnuts

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in remaining ingredients.

2. On ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by 1/4 cupfuls about 2 inches apart. Flatten to about 1/2-inch thickness with bottom of glass that has been greased and dipped into granulated sugar.

3. Bake 12 to 16 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 3 minutes; carefully remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 11 to 14 minutes.

The Birthday Girl!

And then she was nine!....

Wow how time flies! I can't believe my kids are 9 and 7 already....I really miss the baby stage at times - though not enough to have more. We are at a really good stage and life sometimes seems more simple. If that's possible really. I just love my kids though - and it seems weird that you think you couldn't love them anymore and yet each day brings more. And I love their unconditional love for everyone......

I've told the story of Karlee so many times that it still seems like yesterday. I was due to have Karlee on Oct. 20th. And on the morning of Sept. 12th my sister picked me up at 6:30 AM to go yard saling (sp?). Around 9 AM we were north of town, out off of Garner Lane and my little bladder could handle it no more. I made someone ask the homeowners if I could use the bathroom. So short of giving you the graphic details I came out and told my sister it was time to get me home (as it appeared that my mucus pull was starting to descend). Oddly enough we'd gone to our 2nd Lamaze class on Wednesday and I'd learned about that. I had also on Friday been to interview our pediatrician - whom I loved instantly and had said "I'll see you in about 6 weeks". I wasn't really concerned at this point and didn't really discuss it to much with anyone and I didn't call the doctor. I really had just decided that it would happen sooner rather than later. And besides I had a big day ahead and had things to get done. We were at the time a part of a dinner club that met every other month and tonight was our turn. So I was having 16 people for dinner and needed to finish the preparations. Of course two hours before the guests were set to arrive my husband decided that now would be a good time to tear out the bathroom floor in our bedroom. So I had to stop what I was doing and run to La Hacienda to get the dressing, then to La Comida to get the bucket of chips and then to his parents house to get the table toppers and more folding chairs. We were making a little cantina in our summer house. My sister had helped me with the decorations and we even had a stuffed guy sitting on sand in a chair with an umbrella, and a bucket of corona's. Too cute! So anyway - dinner went off without a hitch and the last couple left at 11:45 PM and I was in bed by Midnight. I remember waking up around 3 AM and hearing a popping sound and then feeling a trickle - I woke Kevin up and he came over and did a little looky loo and informed me that I had just wet myself. So I got up and waddled to the other bathroom (because remember I now have NO floor in my bathroom) and was still having trickling down my leg. So again - no need for the graphics here - I called the hospital at this point and said that I was 34 weeks along and had signs of the mucus plug and water breaking and they said I'd need to come in. Of course I'm thinking I've only had 3 hours sleep after being up for more than 18 hours and I want to go back to sleep. So we go down to the hospital and I remember telling Kevin that this was just practice as there was no way they would keep me I still have nearly 6 weeks to go - I didn't even pack a bag (which I would later regret) And all they would tell me is to take it easy and no baths or swimming!..... So we get into my room and it's just before 4 AM - I try calling my sister a couple of times and they aren't picking up. So we are just waiting around for a doctor to come in, my water has broken and I'm dilated to 2 and completely effaced. Of course they are telling me it's too early and they want to stop the contractions and labor.

So after nearly 24 hours of trying to stop the labor by giving me magnesium sulfate (which was just about the worse thing ever - I remember the nurse apologizing to me before injecting me with it) and getting two doses of steroids in to develop the lungs quicker, our Karlee Grace was born on Monday, September 14th at 7:22 AM. She came out with the cord wrapped around her little neck twice - yikes! But the little peanut was 5 lbs. 3 ounces and breathing on her own! And Dr. Tedford was right there when she came out - and he is just the most calming person anyone could meet. Nothing like the female doctor that delivered Karlee and never said a word about anything that was going on - just barking orders like "roll over onto your hands and knees". Huh? I thought I was pushing this baby out....Karlee only stayed in the Neonatal unit for three days and then Dr. Tedford was able to get us a private room in the pediatric unit until Friday so I was able to stay with her. She was about 4 lbs. 8 oz. when we came home - we had one home visit on Saturday and that was it - no complications what so ever. I remember going to her 8 week check up and Dr. Tedford telling me that if I went to another pediatrician they'd never know she was a preemie. She caught up in record time. Of course she slept for about 20 hours a day for the first few weeks home - which of course was heavenly! She is still the best sleeper in the house! And I love it..... And I love her even more! She is independent, stubborn, curious, artsy, smart and beautiful in my eyes! She has beautiful blue eyes and the greatest curls you've ever seen - which she tries to hide everyday. She's not afraid to try things and is a huge animal lover. She thinks everyone is her best friend and is very caring. Just a love I tell you......Happy Birthday, Karlee Grace!

I do have funny recollections of my hospital stay. The magnesium sulfate made me feel like I was burning up and everyone in the room had sweaters and sweatshirts on as the thermostat was down to 68 degrees. I remember my friend Susan was putting wash cloths on me after dipping them in an ice bucket and the wash cloth would turn warm in a matter of seconds. And then of course there was the puking that came with it as well - though not quite so funny there. But then there was also the time when it came time for coaching and Kevin and my sister got in my face and we're telling me this and that and I told them they needed to both go brush there teeth or stay out of my face (and I heard later how they were insulted by this as I had been puke girl and had not brushed my teeth either), whatever!

Mommies Checking Out

So I'm heading up to the cabin this weekend after a long absence for a Girl's Weekend with friends. And I'm bringing all my rowdy friends with me. You know Johnny, Jack, Jim, Jose, Captain Morgan and Franny! And don't forget Sgt. Peppermint - now that's my fav! Just kidding!....

But seriously, I have to say I'm ready! Not that I want to be away from my kids - they've been great. It's just that life has been throwing me some curve balls lately and I'm completely run down. And need to checkout for a bit. Since school started on the 21st of Aug. I've not stopped running. I only wish literally. But really how do I fit going to the gym into my day - and frankly with the loss of my iPod - do I really want to go anyway......

Yes I did say iPod (it was right up there near the top of precious things to me) and it's gone. It was stolen from my car, parked in my driveway. Yes darn it I forgot to lock it when I got out, and yes I left it in my car, but gosh darn it - you took my joy. Can I have it back, please? And you can leave my son's backpack too! He'll be happy to have it back as well! You loser. Okay, see I feel better, yeah well not really.

Would you really believe me if I told you about my day last Friday? Probably not, but I'll give it a shot - ha, that was truly the beginning of it. Last Friday I dropped the kids off at school and went to my doctor's office to get my TB test done. I had left my cell phone in my car - because you see that's just what I do, I don't want to bother other people with my phone ringing, if it's important you can leave me a message and I'll call you back (when I get back to the car - get over it). So naturally I have a message - it's my husband, he broke down on the freeway and needed a ride. So I promptly give him a call, but I've missed the boat and his dad is already on the way to pick him up - I actually passed him on Mangrove and wondered to myself - wonder where he's going......So I continued on with my day and then picked the kids up at 12 o'clock. Of course sometime in between there my phone rang and I didn't hear it or I had no service - so sure enough I have another message from my husband. While heading out to the car we called him as we had planned to meet for lunch. But apparently when he was dropped off at home to get the truck, it wouldn't start. So we decide that I'm going to stop and get some lunch and bring it home. No problem, we pull into Chipotle and grab some lunch, I noticed when turning into the parking lot that it's really tough to turn the wheel. And thinking that I have a service appt. for next week I'll just have them check it out. But of course as I'm walking past the car I noticed that I have a flat tire......We climb back into the car and I decide that I'll limp home and all will be fine (really it was okay - it wasn't on the rim). We get home and go into the house to have lunch and this is when I messed up and forgot to lock the door - in my mind I was coming back out to take the car in to be fixed. We'll one thing led to another and it didn't happen. It wasn't until we came home late Sunday night after dinner with friends that I had my keys in my hand and hit the lock bottom on my car - which was odd as we hadn't even been driving it. So Monday morning we decided to head to Lake Oroville on the boat and I'm thinking I need the iPod. But no. The. iPod. Is. Gone.

And now all I can think about is the time I spent loading 2200+ songs on there so far......Fortunately, if I ever get another one the songs are still on my iTunes account. And I can play that from my computer. But the reason I got the iPod is to go to the gym and to play in my car - I don't have a CD player in my car, I only have a cassette deck. Go figure. Oh and the radio. And I love music. I love to sing at the top of my lungs when no one is around (and sometimes even when they are), I always have music playing. I know all the words to songs and if not I find them on the Internet and memorize them. Funny thing about that, I can memorize words to songs no problem - but I struggle with the whole "where are my keys or where is my cell phone".....Hmmmmm.........So I guess I'm the loser - in more ways than one.....