Guilty Little Pleasures

I have an addiction. 

I am addicted to silly television shows. And by silly, I mean AMAZING. I am addicted to amazing tv shows. 

If you aren't up to date on your amazing television shows, I HIGHLY recommend that you stop reading now. I was born with the gift of gab... I can't stop. So you should. Lol. 

*** SPOILER ALERT FROM THIS POINT FORWARD*** 

I am going to start with The Following. This show creeps me the eff out, especially since I watch it while the boys are asleep. Every little creak and noise that our house makes causes me to jump out of my skin. I am also a gigantic chicken. 

Any guesses as to how long it takes before he FBI finds out that the leader of the Joe Carroll case is actually a FOLLOWER of Joe Carroll? This show just has so many twists. Now it has crossed my mind that what's-her-face is is actually a legitimate member of the FBI and that her wife is a Follower and she doesn't know. But then I go back. She's a follower. I think that Joe takes advantage of Emma and possibly even kills her. He obviously isn't interested in a relationship with her.  Guess we will see. 

Okay, now the best shows on television. 

HOLY GREY'S ANATOMY BATMAN. Let's just skip right to it... KEPNER AND JACKSON ARE MARRIED?!?!?!?!? I am thrilled. Thank you Shonda and your amazing team of writers for making this happen. #TEAMJACKSON. 

What do you think will happen as a result of the complaints to HR? I don't think I am as concerned about them. They give Oh an out, since she'll be written off without dying. She and Hunt can't have a relationship and she totally messed things up with Ross.  I think that the writers want us to think that Edwards filed the complaints against Avery since that's the scene that leads into the emergency board meeting... I think it's Ross. Those complaints were filed toward Yang, fueled from Hunt being a dick as a result. Do you agree? What do you think? I want to know!!! 

Last, but certainly NOT least... SCANDAL! {I can already see Kerry and the stylists trying to hide her bump... She used to wear gorgeous blouses and she never took off her coat this episode...}

Okay, Gladiators, what did you think? I am so interested as to how Liv found out about the new VP candidate and Mellie's relationship. That woman totally deserved a swift kick in the story line ass. 

I think that I might be starting to change my mind about Liv's relationship with Fitz. Abby hates him but I was holding onto the idea of Liv and Fitz... I wanted Vermont for them! I wanted Liv to make jam in their kitchen. I WANTED THE SAPPY ENDING!!! Then Jake comes back and Fitz sees that they are reconnected for appearance purposes. Liv fell for Jake before she knew what he was up to initially. Now I think she'll fall head-over-heels for his complete honesty. I see him promising her that he won't fall down the same path as her father by being an open book.  I don't think Jake would be dishonest with her intentionally... But I can see this falling apart too. 

Maybe I'll have some more ideas as to what will happen next week after a good night's sleep... I need to think more about what will happen to Sally, James and Quinn... Sooooo many things to think about!!! 

I am so excited for a Revenge and The Good Wife to start again. #TeamEmily. 

Good Night :)! 

Bloggity blog blog.

I epically fail at this blogging business. I'm not even going to TRY and pretend that I'll commit to this... I can't make any promises. One post at a time, one post at a time.

James and I took Jackson on a super special date today. Cooper stayed at my Dad and Jen's house so we could have some special time with Jackson, all by himself. We stopped and grabbed Wendy's after we dropped off Cooper and we took our lunch to the train tracks to see the caboose. The little stinker goes "so we're going to eat our lunch and the train is going to come and pick us up!"  He is so smart. At that point we told him that IS his surprise. It was the best!! James and I both loved spending that special time with our oldest boy.

We try to spend special moments with him every day but this is really the first time that we've taken him out alone. I am so proud of my Jackson James. The conductor {that is what they are, right?} stopped and talked to him on the way to Union Station. They talked about the different types of train cars that passed us on other trains and he told her what the majority of them were and what they carried. Our daily car conversations proved informative when he told her what red, green and yellow signals mean to trains, just like they do to cars. I am amazed by him. Jackson James is the greatest!

And on a COMPLETELY different topic... The battery in our smoke detector is going off yet AGAIN! I feel like we just changed the batteries in these a few weeks ago.

Cooper Joseph is almost 11 months old now. I can't believe it!! He's in 12-18 month clothes and tonight I put 2T/3T socks on his feet... And they FIT. Actually FIT.  I love, love my little Momma's boy! ❤️ He is just so sweet.

Can't forget to mention the oldest Mister in my life. James is doing great :). Lol. Definitely my polar opposite in the "social media" department. Ha! Could "polar opposite" be an understatement? It would be fitting, for sure!

So much has been going on in my world lately... And I'm not 100% sure how to go forward with some things.  Maybe a different post for a different day. Overall, I am doing wonderfully. Loving staying home with my two Little Misters! They are my world... The littlest keepers of my heart!!

Here, there, and every where.

Today I have found myself wanting to make multiple Facebook status updates about completely insignificant and random stuff. That's why I created a blog, right? I sure think so.

We took the boys to feed the bison and the elk today but they weren't anywhere near the fence to we loaded up the car and headed to Longview Lake to feed the fish. Jackson absolutely loves watching all the fish swim all over each other in a frenzy to get to the food before the other. :) <><

James and I did a bunch of yard work this afternoon. Our poor landscaping in the front yard was so neglected; the bushes were either overgrown or dead. They took a LOT of work. My poor arms hurt so bad that even typing this is using muscles that I forgot were there. Can anybody say wimp?

Cooper will be three months old on the 9th {which so happens to be my wonderful Mother's birthday!}. Its so hard to believe that he is already getting so big. He is an amazing baby; so calm and sleeps SO well. Now if only I could get myself into a better sleep routine... :/. I absolutely love how his face lights up when Jackson talks to him. They are the cutest together and I'm trying especially hard to cherish the cute moments because I know there will be times when I want to banish them from being around each other in order to keep the peace in our house. Okay, so maybe that's a tad over dramatic but they will fight and it won't always be all smiles and sweetness. Right now it is though, so lets focus on that again, shall we? Jackson is the sweetest to his baby brother. He'll talk to him and Cooper will smile and his eyes get so big and wide. If Jackson is playing and starts singing or making fun noises, Cooper will turn his head and look around trying to find him. I love watching them together. They are my world. I love them.

Jackson is also getting to be so big. Hard to believe that my oldest baby is 2 1/2. He is so incredibly smart and his imagination is a killer. I am amazed by his ability to remember events and talk about them months later, like they just happened. He's saying his "ABC's", counting forward to about 15 and backward from 10. Numbers used to be his thing but now he's on the letter kick. Not quite sure where he "should" be on that one, but I love where he's at!!! I know know more about Thomas the Train than ever before. He can name every train and tell you about the Island of Sodor. Whether he is actually able to understand what being "upset" or "angry" actually mean is a mystery because I only seem to be able to get through when I tell him that "I'm going to be cross like Sir Topham Hatt". Cross is a word he understands. Thomas makes Sir Topham Hatt cross often. I love listening to him sing the theme song.

OH, songs. He is definitely into the stage where he's starting to sing catchy lines from songs that he hears on the radio. It slays me every time I hear him singing "I don't care. I love it. I don't care!"

Just imagine a cute little toddler singing it. If he wasn't so stubborn I would probably have it on video. But I don't because he stops whenever my phone is out. Yes, I've tried tricking him. Don't believe me? Why don't YOU come over and try tricking him into singing this song for you. I've even busted out the "M&M" bribe. The kid is not falling for it. He's too clever.

He also just woke up... That ends this. Good night!

Oh, hey! Remember me?

Long time, no blog post...

I haven't had anything positive to post, and this post is no exception, so I've kept it to myself. Nobody wants to read a bunch of bitching and complaining about how I'm still having contractions, that Cooper is so low that I'm miserable and waddling and that I'm just ready to not be pregnant anymore... All. The. Time. I haven't even felt motivated to post about the few yummy meals I've made. Sadness. But once Cooper is here and I'm happily sleep deprived and not miserably pregnant I should pick back up again!

I guess this post is exciting in the sense that we've agreed on an induction day for Mr. Cooper! We picked a day around our due date so hopefully he'll make his way out on his own, if that's his plan. I can't wait to get it officially scheduled!! It is nice to know when he'll be here at the latest, you know? I have an end in sight!!!

The part that's depressing, upsetting, whatever you want to call it, is the fact that I won't get to experience the whole "going into labor" thing again... I was induced with Jackson so our little trip to the hospital for preterm labor with Cooper got my hopes up thinking that my body would do it again; would go into labor on its own again when Cooper was more developed and ready to come. There's still time for this to happen since our due date isn't until April 11 but I am thinking we'll be waiting until our date to meet our littlest boy.

I shouldn't complain, it's not THAT far away, but I am seriously impatient. Not to mention seriously tired of walking with my feet a foot and a half apart ;). One of James' coworkers told him that I looked like a lemon on tooth picks... Just what I was dying to hear!! TRUST ME, if I could walk normally, I WOULD! That would mean this child's head isn't directly on my pelvis... So low that the doctor was surprised!

I'm just ready to have my littlest mister here! When is a technicality, the sooner would be better though!!

Reuben egg rolls!

A lot has been going on here lately and I haven't posted anything about food in a while. Time to play catch up :)

I've continued along the path of easy-ish meals around here since our hospital get-away a few weeks ago. Pinterest has played a huge roll in my food-spiration. I love taking other people's recipes and turning them into healthier meals of my own. 

Let's start with the Reuben egg rolls that I found the other day. Arby's has been promoting their Reuben all over the Food Network and they were sounding REALLY amazing... then I find the Reuben egg rolls. That was it!! I had to make them and I am SOOO glad that I did. We actually ate them two nights in a row :)

These couldn't be easier to make, I promise. The only gadget(s) you need are either a thermometer, like a candy thermometer, to monitor your oil temperature if you are frying them on the stove or a deep fryer. I have both, but I chose to use the stove. Mostly because my fryer is a little guy and I wanted to be able fry more than one at a time.

Ingredients:

Egg roll wrappers - These are found in the refrigerated section of the produce department usually. If you are unfamiliar, they are the larger ones.

 

1 pound sliced corned beef

1/2 pound sliced swiss cheese, cut into thirds

small can of sauerkraut, drained

1 egg, beaten with about a tablespoon of water

bottle of thousand island dressing 

vegetable oil for frying, heated to 375 degrees

damp paper towels to keep wrappers and rolls moist while rolling

Directions:

Lay one egg roll wrapper with the corner pointed toward you.
Fold/roll one or two slices of corned beef in the center of the wrapper. Place two of your swiss cheese thirds on either side of the corned beef. Top with sauerkraut to your liking, whether it be a little or a lot. Drizzle a little thousand island on the top. Fold corner up over the mixture. Fold left and right corners toward the center and continue to roll, gently and as tightly as possible. Loose egg rolls will come undone in the fryer. I used my fingers to brush the top corner with the egg wash, about an inch and a half was covered, then continue to roll to seal the egg roll. Set aside on a baking sheet and cover with a damp paper towel while you continue to roll the rest.

Once your oil has come to temp, gently place 2 or 3 egg rolls in the fryer at a time, turning occasionally, or as needed to make sure they are evenly golden brown for 3 minutes. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels or rack. 

 

Serve with more thousand island dressing.

I didn't follow the recipe so I made a simple sauteed cabbage {of course I added a lot of garlic} and garlic smashed potatoes with leftover swiss cheese on top! 

This would be a perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!! 

Updates with a side of rants!

Today is Day 3 off of the medicine they gave me to keep me from going into labor for these last 2 weeks!!

Day 1 was a great day until that night. I started having contractions so bad that I was doubling over in pain. I ended up having to take more medicine to help stop them. If I go to the hospital for them again & I'm not progressing on my own then the hospital is legally obligated to stop my labor before 36/37 wks. I am really starting to have a difficult time with all the circumstantial aspects of this with no clear direction. My doctor is out because of his hand surgery and nobody seems to be able to tell me what's going to happen from here. Obviously my *ideal* method of delivery is to progress on my own, no pit or epidural, just like I did with Jackson. However, at some point there has to be a line where stopping my labor & pumping me full of magnesium again or the continuous contractions is crossed and its no longer ideal or safe for Cooper or myself. At that point I'm open to other methods (induction and all the fun pit & epidural stuff or a c-section if need be), they just need to say "Look, this is what my knowledge and experience is telling me is best for both of you. Let's go with this method at this time/date". They just have to talk to me & tell me these things.

I'm not a doctor (I don't even play one on TV- thanks Dad!) but I just feel like centuries of delivering babies, all the technology readily available and my doctor's (even the new doctor's) experience should be able to guide them down the correct path for their patients. Unfortunately the reality is that they are just out for the dollahs and not getting sued, as Mel pointed out. We're both right... Why would they risk either unless they HAD to? It's just frustrating and yet another reason why I, we, chose to make better lifestyle and food choices to keep us healthy and out of doctors offices as much as possible!! They're great when you NEED them (my father-in-law for instance, because of his heart) but they are really only there for disaster care; my father-in-law had a heart attack, disaster. Somebody breaks a bone, disaster. Quite honestly, same goes for birth. I'd prefer to deliver my child at the hospital not because I want to be hooked up and drugged up but because its a hospital. If there were to be a disaster (even a minor incident, pardon the slight exaggerations) my child & myself would be right where we needed to be!!

Anymore it seems like they say "OH, there's a medicine for that" rather than coaching & guiding you through lifestyle, food and fitness changes to help their patients feel better. How's that helping us build our immune system & strengthen ourselves? Answer: it's not. It even costs more to do it this way than to find natural & healthy alternatives through food, exercise or what have you. Start making the right choices & soon you'll find that your doctor is lowering, maybe even taking you off of, your medicine. That frees up x-dollars per month!!!

I have my next appointment on Tuesday and I'll be meeting the doctor that could be delivering Cooper. I will be voicing these opinions & concerns to him then. We'll see what he says.

Sorry I'm not sorry for my little off subject rant. Back to my update...

Day 2 was the best day for me, by far!! I had a little energy, I really didn't overdo it and I didn't have killer contractions last night!!!! YES!! I made the Reuben egg rolls that I was seriously craving for dinner and we had the new entry door from the garage & back door replaced... They are going to be so much more energy efficient than what we had before. Not only does it keep the cold from the garage out of the house but it keeps Molly IN the house. The garage door was a quick & easy point of escape for her.

Day 3 looks promising thus far. Jackson & I are headed to the zoo with Mel, Rhett, Sarah and Sam this afternoon. It will be a fun mother/son day for all of us :)!! I love these ladies and its going to be nice to get out & chat it up with friends!!

Being awake long enough to write this has brought hunger to my attention. Off to feed this growing baby of mine!!

Just called me over prepared!

I took my last dose of medicine at 5:00pm today!! I deleted the annoying alarms that woke me up or reminded me to take it... That was exciting to me! 1:00 am is now for sleeping, not waking up to take a pill :)

I am still nervous about what is going to happen from here on out. If I go into labor & progress on my own, we'll have a baby. If I go into labor and don't progress then they'll stop my labor again if its before 36 wks. That was no fun so I have decided that I'm not going to go to the hospital again unless my water breaks or I'm extremely uncomfortable & something doesn't feel right. I am pretty in tune with my body so I feel confident that I will be okay in that aspect.

I downloaded two different contraction counters to start helping me keep track of when & how often they're coming. I love the fact that technology makes keeping track of things so easy. I'm a forgetful person anyway and having a toddler can make it worse... Glad I have an app to help me out a lil bit!!

I am so excited to wake up & feel like me again tomorrow!!! Hopefully I'm not contraction city and I can function the way I need/want to...