Friday, August 30, 2013

Grandpa Update

It has been 2 weeks now since my grandpa had his kidney surgery. It has been a rough road but we have been keeping things together as best as possible. 

After waiting for over a week the Dr. finally gave us the test results. This isn't the news that we wanted to hear but we are dealing with what they told us. 
My Grandpa does have cancer and it has spread to his lymph nodes. The Dr. said they aren't going to do any kind of treatment because he is currently so weak that it would make his worse. Which really sucks but I don't want to see him get any worse then he is now, it just breaks my heart to hear this kind of news. Along with that bad news that Dr. also said he gives him 3-6 months to live, now this is really something I wasn't excepting and it just tore me up. I can't even image that someday my Grandpa won't be here. He has done so much for me in my life that I just cherish him so much. To think one day I can't call him or go over and visit is just heart breaking. I do hope that the Dr is wrong and we have much more time with him, but only time will tell. 

We decided that since there was nothing else the hospital could do for him we wanted to bring him home where he would be more comfortable and happy. My mom got the hospice people to come out and got everything set up for his arrival home. I just can't believe we are having to even think about this and go through this, it's so hard but I'm trying to stay strong. My grandpa got to come home Wednesday and my mom and her husband have decided to stay down here and take care of him. I'm so thankful that he can be home and my mom is able to stay and take care of him. 

We are going to make the best of the time we have left with my Grandpa. 
I love you Grandpa. Stay strong and show this cancer who's boss! 


Thursday, August 29, 2013

Funfetti Gooey Bars

This past weekend I was in the mood to bake yet again. So, I went through my desserts on Pinterest and decided to make these little guys.
I did change a couple things in the recipe, nothing major, I used St. Patty's Day sprinkles instead of the colorful ones just to use them up and I also added chocolate chips and white chocolate chips together. These turned out pretty good. They made a bunch so I sent some to work with Shane for his group so we didn't eat them all. :)


Ingredients:
  • 1 box yellow cake mix (I used my own recipe)
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 2/3 cups sprinkles, divided
  • 1/2 cup (from a 14 ox. can) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line 9x9 pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
  3. Add cake mix, butter and egg to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix until a thick dough forms.
  4. Add 1/3 cup sprinkles and stir until incorporated.
  5. Press about 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  6. Sprinkle with white chocolate chips and remaining 1/3 cup sprinkles.
  7. Pour sweetened condensed milked over the top.
  8. Separate the remaining dough into small balls and evenly space over the top of the bars. Press down to flatten.
  9. Bake for about 30 minutes or until they just begin to brown.
  10. Cool completely before slicing.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Cookies ‘N Cream Oreo Fudge Brownies

I have a TON of dessert recipes on Pinterest, so a couple weekends ago I wanted to make a yummy dessert. I jumped on my Baked Goods board to see what I should make. I can came across these little babies and thought they looked awesome, so I gave them a try.

They didn't turn out like the picture, but I know nothing ever does, but I think they should have come out a least close to it. These were good but I believe the could be much better. I'm going to have to give these a try again to see if I can get them more fudgey.



Ingredients:
  • 1 box brownie mix (I used my own recipe)
  • Eggs & Oil (as directed on the brownie mix)
  • 1 heaping cup (6 oz) Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
  • 1/4 cup hot fudge (chilled or room temp.)
  • 1 pkg Oreo cookies (I used double stuffed)
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven according to the brownie box.
  2. Spray 8x8 pan with cooking spray
  3. Combine brownie mix, eggs & oil as directed on the box, but do not add the water.
  4. Add ice cream and hot fudge to brownie batter and stir to combine.
  5. Pour half the mix into the baking dish, layer with Oreos, then top with the remaining batter.
  6. Bake 40-50 minutes or as directed on the box.


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Cheese & Bacon Potato Rounds

A few weeks ago I found these yummy looking things on pinterest and just had to try them!. They turned out really good and we have made them one other time. :) We have added a new potato side to our recipe book. The second time we made they I put garlic butter on them to give them a little more flavor.



Ingredients:
  • 1 or 2 whole potatoes depending on size and how many you want to make. I just used 1 big potato.
  • Cheese
  • Cooked Bacon
  • Small amount of butter, melted
  • Garlic Salt, optional
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Brush potatoes with butter on both sides.
  3. Place on un-greased cookie sheet.
  4. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until lightly brown. Turning them at half way.
  5. Once potatoes are ready top with cheese & bacon. Bake another minute or so until cheese is melted.
  6. Serve and Enjoy!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Happy 7th Birthday, Lexan!!

Friday August 23rd my nephew turned 7!!! I can't believe how fast he growing! I feel like he was just a baby and now he is running around acting like a brat, but what kids doesn't at that age, haha ;). Saturday we got the celebrate with a cookout and swimming. It was a great day for swimming for sure! Lexan seemed to have a great party as he was running around in his underwear after he was done swimming. LOL 

The Birthday boy swimming
He's ready to jump in while I take pictures. 
 Running away from his dad.
And in the pool he goes
 Look at the smile he is giving me! He's one crazy boy!
 His birthday cake turned out awesome! 
 Happy 7th Birthday, Lexan!! 
 Time for gifts
He got a sword he has been wanting from Aunt Courtney & Uncle Shane.
 He got some clothes.

 He got himself a tablet, since he loves stealing phones and playing games on them :)

That's the end of this Birthday!! Until next year....


Thursday, August 22, 2013

Strawberry Beer Cocktail

I'm going to back again to May My Birthday Luau.  I wanted to make a fun punch for my party so I started searching around for ones that sounded good and I came across one! This cocktail punch tured out really good and it went super fast. I should have got enough stuff to make a double batch but I didn't know how people would react to it, but they liked it!




Ingredients:
  • 1 cup fresh stawberries or frozen
  • 4 bottles Corona (12 oz.) beer, chilled
  • 1 container frozen strawberry lemonade concentrate, thawed or pink lemonade
  • 1/2 cup good quality vodka
  • Garnish: Lemon slices or Strawberries
Directions:
  1. In large container stir together the first 4 ingreidents. Serve over ice.
  2. Garnish with strawberries
  3. To make ahead: stir together lemonade concentrate and vodka in large container. Stir in strawberries and beer just before serving. Garnish if desired.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Smore Fudge Bars

A few weeks ago we were having the family over for a BBQ, and I wanted a yummy dessert to make. So, I remembered on Pinterest that I had a smore bar recipe that I wanted to try. What better dessert to have with BBQ then Smores, right?? :)

These turned out AMAZING I do say. They were super yummy and very addicted so watch out if you make them. LOL 

Ingredients:

Crust:
· 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
· 1/2 cup butter, melted
· 1/4 cup granulated sugar
· 1/2 tsp. salt

Fudge Layer:
· 2 cups milk chocolate chips
· 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk

Fluff Layer:
· 3/4 cup sugar
· 1/2 cup light corn syrup
· 1/4 cup water
· 1/4 tsp. salt
· 2 egg whites
· 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
· 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line a 9x9 baking with foil. Set aside
  3. Mix all the ingredients for your crust together and press evenly into pan.
  4. Bake for 10 mins. Remove from oven and set aside
  5. Next make your chocolate filling. In medium sauce pan combine chocolate chips & condensed milk together over medium-low heat. Stir until melted. Pour immediately onto crust.
Fluff:
  1. Combine sugar, corn syrup, water and salt in small sauce pan over medium-high heat. Boil together until a candy thermometer reads 240 degrees.
  2. While mixture is boiling beat 2 egg whites and cream of tartar together until soft peaks form.
  3. When syrup is ready, turn mixer onto low & drizzle the syrup along the side of the bowl slowly combining it into the egg whites.
  4. When all the syrup has been added turn mixer up to medium high & beat for 7-8 mins until thick and glossy. When there is about 1 min left add in the vanilla extract.
  5. Spread about 1 1/2 -2 cups of the fluff on top of the chocolate layer.
  6. Turn over onto broil & place pan under for 1 minute or until the top of the marshmallow layer gets lightly golden.
  7. Cut into squares when ready to serve.
Store bars airtight at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 day.



Monday, August 19, 2013

Update on My Grandpa

Sorry I have update yet but I have been busy and kinda wore out, so I haven't posted an update.

Anyways here is the update since Thursday....

Thursday he went into surgery at 9am and it last about 3hrs. Surgery went good and he stayed strong. :) He was in recovery for about 2hrs then they moved him to ICU to keep a good eye on him.

Friday during the day I called and checked to see how his night went and the nurse said everything was good. Well...now let's move to Friday night. I got a phone call around 9pm from the ICU, the nurse said that he woke up confused and didn't know where he was at. He wouldn't believe the nurse or the cop that came up to talk to him. So, Shane and I got dressed and headed up there to see if we could calm him down. We got there and he was a little calm, but he still didn't know where he was. We talked him down and finally got him to understand he was still at the hospital he had surgery out. We stayed there till he fall back to sleep which wasn't too long then we headed back home. They nurse said it could have been the morphine that he is taking so they completely stopped that. No more calls after that....

Now we are onto Saturday morning around 8am I got another call from the ICU that he woke up and was confused again and was pulling his IV out and trying to get out of bed to leave. He also kept thinking they were trying to kill him. He again didn't want to believe the nurses and he wanted to me there. Shane and I got ready and headed up there bright and early to talk him down again. Once we arrived the nurse said they have to give him something to calm him down because he started trying to hit them. He also was taking his bandage off where they took his kidney and mess with that. So, they gave him something to calm him down and they had to put mits and restrain his arms so he wouldn't try to hit or pull stuff out again. We waited around for about 2hrs before he finally woke up so we could talk to him. When he woke I asked him if he knew where he was and he said the hospital and that he made a mistake getting out of control. LOL.  He had family visit throughout the day on Saturday and I called to check on him. Nothing really changed throughout the day he was still confused but he wasn't being mean to the nurse or anything anymore. The nurse also said today his Sodium was low so that could also affect him and might be why he was like this.  

Sunday we headed out the farmer's market to get some veggies and seasonings then we headed up to the hospital to see how he was doing. When we got there he was awake for about a 1 min then he was out. We talked to the nurse again she said they have to keep his mits on b/c he keeps trying to pull everything out of him. Saturday night they also had to give him more meds to calm him down. They were going to have a Nuerologist come in to see what he thought was going on just to rule out anything possble. That evening I called and checked him. The nurse said the Nuero Dr came in and doesn't think they need to do a cat scan or that he had a stroke. He said with him being 81, going through a major surgery and being on pain meds could cause this and it will take sometime to get back to normal. So, no worries there for now. The physical therapist came in yesterday and they got him out of bed and stood at the end of the bed and took a couple steps. He is weak but he was able to do that, so that's good.

As of today nothing has changed. He is still confused. They are taking about moving him to a regular room today, but we will see if that happens.

I hate seeing my Grandpa like this but hopefully he will start coming around and realizing where he is at. We have been at the hospital everyday since Thursday and it's wearing me out, but I'm happy to be there with him if that's what he needs. I have been calling as well and checking on him at least twice a day if we don't make it up there.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and continue with them as he is on the slow road to recovery.


Thursday, August 15, 2013

My Grandpa

I wasn't going to post about my G-pa's surgery but I thought having prays from family and friends would be best for him today

I would like to ask everyone to please say a pray for my Grandpa. He is undergoing Kidney surgery this morning and lots of prays would be much appreciated. 
Here's the story of how this surgery came about.....

On Friday August 1st he went to the ER due to having blood in his urine. It wasn't too bad for them to admit him so they sent him home and told him he needed to make an appointment with an oncologist, but if it got worse to come back. Well, unfortunately Saturday evening it did get worse so he had to go back. This time they did a cat scan and found a tumor on his kidney, so they admitted him to the hospital that night. 
He seen the Dr. finally on Monday and they said they wanted to run some test to make sure he could make it through surgery. My g-pa is 81 yrs old and his heart isn't the strongest, so they needed to some some heart & stress test to determine what the next step would be.By Thursday they decided that they think he can make it through surgery, so they scheduled it and sent him home for a few days till surgery.  

Today is the day for surgery and it's scheduled for 8:00 am. I took the day off so I will be there before he goes in and I will stay till it's over. It's going to be a long day but being there is what I need to do. My mom, sister, brother and Shane will all be there as well.

My grandpa means everything to me and I love him with all my heart. I'm really nervous about the surgery but I'm keeping positive thoughts. 

Please keep him and our family in your thoughts as he is undergoing his surgery today. 

I will post a follow up later on how it went.

This is us the day of my Wedding!
 


Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Mini Garlic Monkey Bread

I have been trying to get back into trying new recipes lately, I have missed cooking and trying new things. For a while there we were making different things each week, then it kinda stopped. I have been trying at least once a week to try something new. Let's see how long that last. LOL 

When I made spaghetti I also wanted to try these mini garlic monkey breads that I found on Pinterest. They looked so yummy and easy to make. They were very good but next time we make them we are going to use more garlic. There was a little garlic taste but I need more garlic favor to them. :) 

This was the mixture you tossed the biscuits in.
 The final outcome. I added butter and garlic to the top of them. Yum! 

Ingredients:

  • 2 (7.5 oz) cans buttermilk biscuits
  • 6 tbsp. butter, melted
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp. dried parsley flakes
  • 1/8  cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tsp Garlic salt
Directions:
  1. Pre-Heat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Cut biscuits into 4 pieces and place in bowl.
  3. Combine remaining ingredients together and pour over biscuits
  4. Gently toss to evenly coat.
  5. Use a greased 12-cup muffin tin and place 6-7 pieces in each cup.
  6. Sprinkle the garlic salt on top.
  7. Bake for 12-14 minutes
  8. Serve warm
Makes 12 


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Brittany & Nathan's Wedding

Going back again to June.....At the end of June I got to do another wedding. A girl I used to work with her daughter got married. It was such a cute little county wedding. I love the cute but simple weddings. :) The wedding ceremony was outside and lucky the weather was nice, it was little too windy but other than that it was a perfect day for a wedding outside. This was the first wedding I did outside and it turned out good (at least I think, LOL). It took me about a month to get her pictures done but she loved them, which makes me happy. I get so nervous with shooting such a BIG day for someone. :) 

Here are some pictures from the wedding.


 I just loved the idea of the guest sitting on hay bales. Such a cute idea! 




 Their son was so sleepy all he wanted was his mommy. So, there he is sharing the first kiss between mom & dad. :) 


 This is one of my fav's, so glad we got the little guy to stand still so I could capture this quickly. 






To see more pictures from this shoot, please visit my Facebook Page.



Monday, August 12, 2013

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

A few weeks ago we decided to have spaghetti for dinner....I have been talking about trying to make my own sauce, so I thought yes today I want to give it a try. So, I started looking around to see if I could find a recipe that we both would enjoy. I came across one that sounded pretty good. I followed step by step recipe but then after having it we decided to change up and add some things. The second time around came out prefect! I was very pleased with this sauce and it had good flavor. I think I will continue to make this sauce and maybe add more things as we go along. 

This is the recipe the first time around:
Ingredients:
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1/2 small onion, chopped
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 2 tsp crushed garlic
  • 1-28 oz can peeled & diced tomatoes
  • 4 tsps dried basil
  • 4 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp white sugar
This is the recipe the 2nd go around (This is the we added and took stuff away from):
Ingredients:

  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1/2 small onion, chopped
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 2 tsp crushed garlic
  • 1-14.5 oz can Tomato Sauce
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp white sugar
Directions:
  1. In large sauce pan heat olive oil over medium heat. 
  2. Saute onions, green onions and garlic. 
  3. When onions are clear, stir in the tomato sauce and all the seasonings. 
  4. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. 
This was from the first try at the sauce. It was okay and I just didn't like all the chunky tomatoes in the sauce.
 This was the 2nd try and it turned out great! Looking forward to making this again soon.