Viruses VS Paranoia

As I sit in my bed for the 5th straight day, with headache, fever, tinnitis and cough.  I decided to see if there was anything on TV.  Like most caregivers I am a bad patient.  Morosely I scan the channels to see if there is anything, anything at all to entertain me is the vast wasteland called day time TV.  While I was wondering why I still could not swallow without pain  I chance to see a "Frasier" rerun is on.  "Well what the heck,"  I said, I always got a kick out of Frasier and I missed most episodes being a working mom.  This show was a hoot but also made me think.  Frasier was in bed with a bad flu, fever, and Ear Nose Throat involvement.  His high fever causes him to hallucinate and fear for his job.  He had his brother Niles taking over his spot and he was doing a great job at the radio-psychology thing.  Frasier, in great fear, wrote  prescriptions for heavy pharmaceuticals had Daphne pick them up.  Frasier charged in ready to save his job, fever, doped up and promptly made a fool of himself on the radio.  "They had to carry me out in a butterfly net, said Frasier.  I am going to work tomorrow to "save" my job.  Any words of wisdom and no I am not completely well yet but I can pass.  Will I need to be carried away in a butterfly net?

www.scrapbookpal.com

I don't usually endorse a scrapbook site other then my own but I just love www.scrapbookpal.com.  They absolutely have the best prices for "Cricut" cartridges and I buy all my adhesive needs there.  The best part is the speed of delivery.  Once I was scheduled for a scrapbook beach retreat.  I love these retreats because I get my best work done at them.  Three days before I decided I better check my adhesive supplies and I was totally O-U-T out.  I use the 1/4inch 3M gun and the size is difficult to find.  I ordered from Scrapbook Pal and hoped.  I didn't have to worry they delivered the next working day.  Wow -way to go Scrapbook Pal you saved the day.www.scrapbookpal.com

Almond Butter cookies

This recipe grew out of my need for cookies I could love but with less fat and sugar.  I stole a great peanut butter recipe and made these.  They are worth it.
1 cup butter or margerine
1 1/2 cups of Splenda or granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
cream these together til smooth
3 teaspoons of Almond flavoring
3 eggs
1 cup of Almond butter ( I found this at Costco)
Mix this all together all incorporated
Mix dry in ingredients in a smaller bowl
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt
Now add dry ingredients a little at a time till all mixed in.  Your ready to bake.
300 degree oven for 18-22 minutes depending on the size of your cookie

A milder tasting cookie then peanut butter  but still good.  Enjoy

Still here after all

I have not blogged in forever.  I cannot seem to get my balance.   How do you balance a full time job, your spirituality, your family and little time for yourself.  If you have suggestions live them on my blog because I don't have it yet.  My students are in finals week and I am busier then a flea.  When can I take a breath?  I did find this on my email so enjoy it.

Day off Bliss

Presently I am  nibbling a KitKat bar and enjoying the quiet.  I even enjoy the wild weather pattern that is the Pacific Northwest in the Spring. A little sunshine, a little rain, a little hail-- but whose counting.   I feel like the proverbial "Lilies of the field" I neither strive nor toil on my days off. 
I completed my scrapbook to the French West Indies at the Scrumptious Scrapbook retreat.   Sure, sure. the pictures are 24 years ago but I had to get them out of that old peel-and-stick album or my pictures would deteriorate.  Next scrapbook project will be my Honeymoon.  These pictures are a little more recent, wow, only 19 years ago.  One project at a time please.  I need to post some pictures of my completed pages.  We had such a good time at the retreat.  Making personal time to retreat once a month makes me get the scrapbook work done.  It also helps me decompress and I think I am a better Mom for it.  I love it.  I believe Dee will be opening up some one day retreats soon so keep checking her web site. 

Quinoa Recipe

Got Qinoa?  Ever heard of this high protein grain?  I had but never used it.  It is very tasty something like cous cous or bulgar wheat.  A friend warned me to always rinse your grain in water before cooking or it can become gelatinous.  I worked out the recipe from tasting it at a restaurant.  I think I came pretty close.

Using Qinoa is easy.  Measure per Measure treat it like cooking rice.  I have a rice cooker and after rinsing my grain I use 1 1/3 cup of salted water to 1 cup of Quinoa.
In a skillet I add:
2 large (costco size) cans of chicken
1 can of corn
2 cans of Caribbean black beans (they have the spice I like)
1 chopped large red pepper
1 chopped large onion
cilantro to taste
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup of key lime juice to taste
Simmer until thicken slightly and juices have merged
throw your steamed quinoa in a bowl and top with the skillet mixture and a little salsa and yum yum.   It is sooo tasty and a perfect protein too.
Bon Apetite

I am a Lucky Woman

I love being a wife and mother.  My son is growing up to be a outstanding young man.  My daughter is growing to be a wonderful young woman.  I love being a scrapbook consultant for my stupendous friends that are my customers.  Now I have a wonderful job teaching New Respiratory Therapist to be there best and brightest in our profession at Concorde Career College.   I am a very blessed woman.

Salsa Chicken

This is a family favorite, maybe you will make it a favorite of yours.
1  chicken in parts or chicken breasts work to,
1  16 oz jar of your favorite chunky salsa ( It's up to you how hot, or mild. Use your imagination - try a mango salsa or a black bean salsa.  I often add limes, lime juice, and cilantro.
1  Cup rice
I lightly brown my chicken in olive oil and render out some of the chicken fat. Salt and Pepper to taste.  WARNING  If you use boneless, skinless chicken breast don't over cook.  I get out a lasagna pan, glass or metal, I lay my chicken in the pan, pour the cup of dry rice on top, then pour my salsa on top of this.  I place my dish in the pre-heated oven at 350 degrees and cook for 40-50 minutes or until my chicken juices run clear and the rice is cooked.  VIVA el poulet.  Low in fat and so tasty.  Bon Apetite

Everyone Needs a Patient Advocate

This blog is all about a warning.    Whenever someone is in the hospital you need someone with them as a patient advocate at all times.  Case in point. My mother had full knee replacement on Wednesday of last week at Good Sam Hospital.  I was in Eugene at a respiratory conference to get much needed CEU's to maintain my license.  When she arrived in her room some how her anesthesia block line in her groin fell out.  Maybe when she was transferred to her bed or she accidentally kicked it out.  Not one medical professional noticed.  My mother was in severe, moaning pain for greater then 24 hours.  My 80 year old Mormon, mother refers to it as the night of "Hell."  My sister kept asking, "What is the problem with her pain management?"  No one could give  her a clear answer.  The nurses kept asking what her pain was on a scale of 1-10 and she would moan and say ,"a 3 or 4."  My mother does not like to complain and put people out.  Mother would say 3 or 4 if she was being burned at the stake.  My Sister watched as they got her up with PT and she, turned ashen gray, and nearly fainted from the pain on Thursday afternoon.  That's when they discovered her block line was out and she had been without pain medication all that time.  Needless to say I am burning mad.  Who was assessing Mom's pain levels and were they deaf, dumb, and blind.  The PT also noted the machine to keep mother's knee moving was also set on an 8.  That should have been on a 2 or 3.  They discharge patients when they reach an 8 or 9.  So they had no pain medication and they were working her knee like she was ready to discharge. Then to compound problems to catch up on the severe rolling pain she got huge doses of morphein and other pain medication and severely diminished her respiratory drive and blood pressure.  We refer to this condition in the hospital as being "snowed or gorked."  These people have poor respiratory drive and are confused and so sleepy they don't eat.  My mother had not eaten for two days.  I talked to my sister and I stayed with her now from the time I got home Friday.  My sister, a lawyer, put the fear of God, into the nursing staff.  I watch everything she is getting and get her to eat.  This is a WARNING, watch your loved ones when they go to the hospital.  If you plan to be a health care professional go into the work because you have a vocation to care for people and want to treat them like your loved one was in that bed.  DO NOT go into it because of the money.  I never thought this would happen to my loved one.

What to do..What to do

Hi Friends,  It has been a long 5 days.  I spent 3 days in Eugene, Oregon.  You see I am a respiratory therapist and we are require to maintain education credits for our state license.  There I was in my lonely motel room each evening with nothing to do.   No Way---I brought my scrapbook product and went to work.  I completed 4, nearly 5, pages.

Let's Talk of "Cabages and Kings and why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings?"

Hello friends,  I want to congratulate Julie for winning a gift certificate at the last Scrumptious Scrapbook retreat.  We had a great time and got a lot of scrapbooking done.  If you have never been to a Scrumptious Scrapbook Retreat... Do yourself a favor and go and I will be there doing classes too.

I want to show you all my "Emergency Card Kit"  It contains 10 cards.  There are 2-Birthday, 2-Sympathy, 2-Thank you, 2-Get Well, and 2-Thinking of you note cards (not shown) with a matching pen.  It is a class I am offering to teach for you.  It just costs 10$ per kit.  Have you ever thought. "Oh, I need a thank you card for that teacher, or if I only had a sympathy card."  Well, that is how this kit got it's name. Having a great hand-made card to give is a time saver.

Now I am trying to get less carbs out of my diet.  Being Diabetic and all.  Well I tried a new seasoning on my Oven roasted chicken.  It was smoke flavored paprika.  It was sssooo good.  I got it in Costco believe it or not and gave the chicken a great flavor.  Try it sometime. <3<3<3