Surviving the Spica: What's Cooking?

Remember last year when we found out Katie needed surgery to correct her hip dysplasia?  Then her surgery got pushed up three and a half months?  Then her surgery got canceled?  Oh well it's back on.  We're currently scheduled for late March, but hopefully will get bumped up again on the cancellation list.  Sooo....That means I'm cooking.

I went today and got lots of foil, foil pans, freezer bags, and muffin liners.

I'm also pretty sure that this fridge in our laundry room has never been so full.  

Seriously?  I don't think I could cram one more can in there.

I have lots and lots of goodies on my list to make.  I'll share all of the recipes with you after I get cooking tomorrow.

Also on my surgery prep to-do list?  Making Katie some cute hospital gowns to wear, a few new pillowcases, and some of each of those goodies to donate to other children in the hospital.  She might as well look cute while she's laying there!

The End of Vacation

We leave tomorrow to head home from our vacation.  Boo!  We've had such a fabulous time.  I really needed to spend this time with my family.  I feel like I haven't seen them for months.  I was so glad to do things like laundry and pick up after them.  I know that sounds ridiculous, but I feel like I haven't been able to do those things because I've been so crazy busy.

Last night we went swimming.  At night!  The kids were so excited.

This little pumpkin was most excited.  She's a little fish.

They all loved it.  The pool is huge and warm, and they were so good and fun.

Today we went to Hollywood Studios.  (Universal?  I never know what to call that place.)  David and Jack rode the Tower of Terror, and Henry wasn't interested.  And, um, Katie would have died with nervousness.  Henry, Katie and I watched the Muppet 3-d movie, got some lunch, and just hung out.  David HATED the Tower of Terror.  Jack, the dare devil who knows no fear, loved it.  Katie would seriously maybe have died.  She threw up on the Haunted Mansion and the Epcot Spaceship Earth.  Neither of them were fast or scary.  I think she gets nervous when it's an enclosed, dark ride.  And, winner, winner chicken dinner, I was riding with her both times.

I rode Star Tours with the boys.  I liked that ride!  And they loved it.  Jack screamed, "This is the time of my life!" like 10 times during the ride.  And told everyone in line that he's almost six, he's already five, and his birthday, "is in like 9 days or something."  That child has never met a stranger.

We came back from Hollywood Studios today and were locked out of our room.  Oops.  That may or may not have been my fault.  The kids were so good just sitting on the porch and playing while Chris went to get a new key.  Katie played with a piece of trash from Jack's toy.  That's some entertainment...

Tonight Jack and I went on a date to Ikea.  We got a few things and are going to go back in the morning after we check out of our hotel to get an island for our kitchen.  I've been wanting it for quite a while.  I got a nice Christmas gift from my boss (ie: money), and haven't used any of it, so I'm going to get it.  So hey kids!  Push over so my flat packed kitchen island can fit in the car for our 10 hour ride home.  Don't you wish you were coming with us?!

We've had a great time.  I'm excited to get home and start cooking.  It's time to get ready for Katie's surgery!  My mission for the weekend is to fill our freezer with foods so that if we get a cancellation appointment for her surgery, we're ready to go.  I'm spending our time in the car finalizing my list of foods and my grocery/supply lists.  Or at least that's my plan. . . I promise a nap will take place too.  ;)

Happy 2014!

It's a Christmas miracle!  A blog entry!  Does this thing still work?!

I can't believe it's been six months since I've blogged.  That's the longest I've gone in five years of blogging.  

We've had a busy, busy six months.  I'm sure you have too!

Katie has spent some more time at doctor's appointments.  She's failed two more hearing tests on the right side, but nobody seems too concerned with that.  Um, other than me.  Her tubes are starting to work their way out, and I completely expect her to get another set.  Before that, I'm going to insist on another hearing test, because I think that the hearing on the right side may be effecting her speech development.  With all of that said, I'm not overly concerned with it.  We'll get it worked out one way or another.

We also FINALLY got an x-ray of her dislocated hip!  HALLELUJAH!  I never thought I'd be so happy and excited to see a bone out of the socket.  She is scheduled {again} for a femoral and pelvic osteotomy on the left side.  She's currently scheduled for late March, though we're hoping for a cancellation spot to open up before then.  Her doctor estimates 4-8 hours for surgery and then 3-4 days in the hospital and 6-ish weeks in a spica cast.  Good times!  We're trying to have no expectations so we're not disappointed about how hard it will be.  I hate for her to have to go through it, but I am looking forward to some resolution. . . hopefully.  

In August we celebrated Chris' birthday.  

We also had first days of school.  Kindergarten for Jack, fourth grade for David, third grade for Henry.

And Kindergarten for this sweet thing.  She started at a new school with about 60% of her day in a general education class and 40% of her day in a special education class.  There have been a lot of bumps in this road, and we're slowly working them out.  Inclusion into a general education class has not been an easy process for us, but we're not giving up.  That's a whole other blog post for a different day.

We took a trip to Washington D.C., which everyone loved.  It was a surprise for the kids, and we had an awesome time.

We loved D.C., and we'll definitely go back.  I felt like we only got to see and do a tiny fraction of what's there.

We also got to see these sweeties and their mama, which made my heart very happy.

We had a fun Halloween.  Gone are the days of me picking cute costumes for them to wear.  Katie loved going to everyone's house and saying "Trick treat!"  More than that, she liked handing out the candy at our own house.  She was a great helper.

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving at Gigi and Grampy's house.  My grandparents came to visit, which was wonderful.  My only favorite cousin and his girlfriend came also, which was a surprise for everyone.  It was a great weekend, and I wish they all never had to leave.

Four generations of my mom's side of the family, including my grandparents with all of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  I love this!

We surprised the kids with a trip to Disney for Christmas.  They were shocked!

We've been having a great time.  Disney at Christmas is some crowded business.  That doesn't always translate well with a child with sensory issues, but we're having a lot of fun.

I think they all loved the beach more than Disney. . . something to think about for the next time, for sure.

Most of my last six months has been spent sewing.  In July, I launched my little sewing business, The Crazy Kukla Boutique.  That little venture was far, far busier than I ever could have imagined.  It turned into a second full-time job.  I would come home from work and start working on sewing until 11:00 or midnight, every night.  I made almost 200 Little Mama Diaper Bag sets between July 1st and December 23rd.  I had 96 sales through my etsy shop during that time period, and easily twice that through my Facebook page.  Chris would spend large portions of his day cutting things out for me so they were ready for me to sew at night.  I could never have made it through the Christmas season without him and his help.  I bought a monogramming machine, which I am in love with, and that made me even busier.  I absolutely love my sewing business, but I didn't want a second full-time job, nor did I ever, ever anticipate that it would turn into one.  I was completely overwhelmed and stressed during Christmas trying to get the orders done.  And for what?  Sure, I made some extra money.  I made a lot of cute things.  I had a lot of sales.  I don't think, in the end, it's worth it.  I am going to cut way, way back with the sewing in 2014.  I'm still figuring out what that will mean for The Crazy Kukla Boutique, but I'll figure it out.

I hope you had a wonderful 2013.  I'm looking forward to what 2014 will bring.  

Happy New Year!