Heart Stuff

About 6 months ago Amber and I decided we needed a real life, face to face support group for families of children with congenital heart disease. I met Amber a little more then a year ago, on line, when she started seeking out support for her son, Logan, who has congenital heart disease. With the blessing of certain professionals and a monthly free room at Sutter Memorial Hospital, we had our first meeting. 7 ladies showed up and we had a great time. Tonight is our next meeting, with over 35 people signed up to come, we have Rick Mainwaring, MD, Pediatric CV Surgeon and Adult with Congenital Heart Disease, Surgeon speaking. Our group is called Hearts of Hope and the ladies in this group are fabulous. In addition, Cynthia Hubert, feature writer for the Sacramento Bee, contacted me and wants to also come tonight and do a full on feature spread in the paper. It feels so good being able to give back to families just starting this journey. I wish there was more for me 22-years ago, when I ws just starting. But now, I will focus on helping........

Hummingbird

Did I ever post that my husband is an artist? Outside of the job he has as a PICU Nurse, to make money, he also is a really good painter. He has beautiful paintings, alot sold, but some unable to sell (I wouldn't let him) like this one. I have some that are near and dear to my heart, that no sum of money could take them away from me.

I can't wait for Spring, this painting reminds me of it. What do you think?

Geographical High

I recently peeked into another Blog I follow, Life's A Stitch as the writer was talking about geographical highs. She is in BC, I, in California. I have only traveled to a few places worth writing about but the most beautiful place I have been to, so far, is in California. My family went to Trinidad for my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. It was spectacular!

Where is your geographical high?

One down and thirteen to go!

Aden and I started on his Valentines today. We got one done and I figure by Valentines day, we will have all 14 done for his class. He really enjoyed making this one. What do you think?

Go Kings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See video below. I am a diehard fan and have a license plate to prove it!



Do any of you have a love affair with a sports team??

Kings 128, Nets 94 (F)01-22-08With their three stars in the

Kings 128, Nets 94 (F)01-22-08With their three stars in the
Video sent by Grdgez

Kings 128, Nets 94 (F)01-22-08With their three stars in the starting lineup together for the first time, the Kings rolled to their most lopsided win this season.

A Favorite Place

Aden and I have a place we like to go about 10 miles from our house. Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Carmichael, set along the American River is a beautiful, peaceful place. Yesterday we took the short drive there and walked for about 3 hours. There are about 4 different trails that you can pick from and Aden selects a different one each time. We spotted groups of huge, wild turkey and groups of beautiful deer. I highly recommend this place for a family outing. We usually pack a snack or 2 and walk, walk walk . Do you have a favorite place you like to go with your kids?


A Fallen Tree


See the Fort I built?


The American River

Do you believe?

I want to believe there are other's outside of Earth. I don't want to be selfish and think we are the only ones. A recent sighting in a Texas town; Large silent object with bright lights was flying low and fast.

What do you think? Do you believe?

By the way...no body won my second favorite Christmas gift yet. I had 2 guesses, a whisk and a ladle. Please try again (even those who already tried). Here is a clue: it is bigger then both those items.

Book Club

Last night was our monthly Book Club at Svava's beautiful Land Park home. We discussed The Alchemist and had a Tapa's party along with it, to see my Tapa recipe, look at Crispy Potatoes with Tangy Tomato Sauce (Patatas Bravas) to the right. We have grown to 16 women, although only 11 came last night, all with her own amazing personality. One of our newest members is a food and wine reviewer for Sacramento Magazine, Elaine. She brought several Spanish wines for us to taste and, although my preference is red, I fell in love with a white, 2004 Lusco de Miño Albariño Rias Biaxas. She also made two pies, a fruit and a pecan with a whole wheat crust that was the flakiest homemade crust I have ever tasted. Mouthwatering!

Kill Your Television!

I am have become very anti television lately. Although my daughter is a television-aholic (it is on in her room only), my son virtually watches non. If he does it is one show on the weekend but NONE on the weekdays. Sometimes we can go weeks without it being on at all.

Too much television can be detrimental:

Research has shown that children who consistently spend more than 4 hours per day watching TV are more likely to be overweight.

Kids who view violent events, such as a kidnapping or murder, are also more likely to believe that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.

Research also indicates that TV consistently reinforces gender-role and racial stereotypes.

A couple ideas to lessened the amount of tv watching your children do.

**Try a weekday ban. Schoolwork, sports activities, and job responsibilities make it tough to find extra family time during the week. Record weekday shows or save TV time for weekends, and you'll have more family togetherness time to spend on meals, games, physical activity, and reading during the week.

*Keep TVs out of kids' bedrooms.

*Turn off the TV during meals.

*Don't allow your child to watch TV while doing homework.

*Set a good example. Limit your own TV viewing.

OK, folks I am off my soap box, now, what are your views on the subject?

If you can give me a good alternative for keeping the thing off, you will win a small something.

A Bit O' Braggin'

Alexia received her final grade from the Fall semester today,her GPA is now a 3.75. She received the award Highest Honors from the college administration. I am so very proud of her! This semester she received only one B, the rest were A's. She is one bright cookie! Please post her a congrats on this Blog, thankyou!

Thinkin'

There was another girl, outside of my daughter, that brought my husband and I together. Many of you know that Carl is a PICU RN that specializes in recovering or taking care of children with congenital heart defects. After my daughter's scary hospitalization 10 years ago (when I first met Carl)I attended a funeral of a special girl, Georgina. She was 19-years (I just realized she would be 29 now!) and had a very complicated heart defect. I don't know the details but I do know she was doing well and then she wasn't, surgery or a transplant was not a option so they let her pass. She was Carl's first heart patient and I saw him at the funeral. It was one of the saddest days of my life and during the service they continuely played The Dance by Garth Brooks, I still can't listen to that song without crying. Next month is G's 10-year anniversary of her death. Please be thinking of Georgina and her family.

I have posted the lyrics below, I am curious to know who has heard of this song and does it have a special meaning for anyone else except me.....

The Dance
Written by: Tony Arata Sung by Garth Brooks

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared 'neath the stars alone
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have chanced it all

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance

Happy Seventh Aden!

My sweet son turned 7 on Christmas Day and yesterday had a party for him. He and his friends love Pump It Up, a indoor warehouse filled with bouncehouses. So Aden invited 25 of his closest friends and jumped for 90 minutes. My treat was being with all the wonderful moms that I have become so close to and being able to play "catch up" since the Winter break.

Did I ever tell you how much I love his school?

Red Enamel Cast Iron Pot

One of my favorite Christmas gifts was this amazing 7 qt pot! I cooked a chicken stew for 9 people in it with left overs! It fit 17 yukon gold potatoes and 15 chicken thighs along with lots of fresh spinich (slightly wilted of course)and 10 cups of chicken broth. Tonight it is a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup.

If you can guess what my second favorite cooking related Christmas gift was, you will win a snowman stocking with lots of cooking gadgets and chocolates stuffed inside! Please post below, contest ends on the 8th!

Hope everyone had a very Happy New Year!