The working poor

Chad's new job has officially bumped us into a new tax bracket, this means we no longer qualify for government assistants.  This is amazing.  It really feels so great to be truly taking care of our family.  We took advantage of government assistance all through school, I had some shame issues in the beginning then was told by a Utah case worker that is a friend of mine that the people like Chad and I were welcome, and what the program was made for.  We were going to school, and had jobs.  We were trying.  It reminded me of the parable of little girl and the bike.  She did everything she could and her dad stepped in to make up the difference.  This is how we looked at benefits.

But now...well...We are no longer in that position, and it is funny to me that our income can increase SO much and our day to day standard of living has not, and will not for a while.  But we are doing it, one day at a time :)

Pregnancy

 
 Pregnancy for me has never been super difficult.  I have relatively easy deliveries as well.  No I know that every baby is different and every pregnancy is different, there is no way to really say "I have it down", so it was no real shock to me when this pregnancy decided to shake things up a bit.

15 Weeks

My first tri was fraught with an immense amount of puking.  My all time record 42 times in a 24 hour period.  I had had morning sickness with the other three pregnancy but this was an entirely different animal.  Now this next part may be a TMI (you have been warned).  Throwing up is hard on the body.  It effects everyone in different ways but I have never heard anyone say, "Oh ya, puking my guts up. No big deal."  I am no exception, not only does puking make my eyes water, my stomach flip flop, and my throat hurt.  I also often have acid coming out my nose.  I threw up so often that I had sores develop on the insides of my nose, and would usually get a bloody nose while puking.  On top of this...the really nasty part...well folks I have had three other babies and the control of my bladder is minimal, and at times, this being one of them, completely lost. I learned VERY quickly that in order to save myself an immense amount of laundry, and in public restrooms a whole lot of embarrassment,  it was best to sit on the toilet and throw up into whatever receptacle I could find.  And on those unfortunate circumstances where I could not make it to a toilet...well I just peed my pants, not just a drop or two, but really should have had a diaper on. This constant throwing up caused me to have 0 energy and really made me quite grumpy.  On the plus size I dropped 15 lb. this insanity continued until about 20 weeks.  This is the point I consider my 2nd tri starting.

20 Weeks

The middle of this pregnancy was so much better than the first part that I felt AMAZING!  I could eat, and it would stay in my belly.  I could cough without throwing up, the ability to breath out my nose was not inconceivable, and leaving my house was not something that seemed impossible.  I felt great, this is also the time that we were able to do an ultra sound and determine the sex of our fourth bundle.  Most, if not all of you know that we are having our fourth boy, and one day I will publish the incredibly long post I started the night we found out, and continue to add to periodically, but for now just know that four boys is going to ROCK! I am terrified but more excited.

25 Weeks

 Chad and I talked before the ultrasound and I asked how he felt about inviting my mom and paternal grandmother to come with us.  I wanted to do this for many reasons.  But mainly because I believe I was the only one my mom had an ultrasound on, and my grandma...well all of her kids were a surprise on the sex.  He was totally ok with it, and it worked out that we were in Utah County for a weekend and were able to do the ultra sound there so they did not have to travel.  People I wish I would have brought a recorder.  It was so amazing to listen to my grandmothers quite gasps as the baby came into view.  It was amazing to glance and her with her hand over her mouth, and I believe tears in her eyes, as the ultra sound tech took pictures of my growing baby boy.  Of his big heart, and beautiful feet.  Having my mom there was fun, but seeing this experience through the eyes of my grandmother, her seeing for the first time her great grandchild not in her arms, but in my belly, amazing.  She kept saying "Oh my gosh", "Oh my goodness".  I told the ultra sound tech before hand to be really detailed in her explanation because although Chad and I were somewhat pros and reading an ultra sound, grandma was not.  I really enjoyed having them both there, and I am grateful for their support when we saw what is to be the fourth little dilly whacker in our house. The second tri continued on much in this magical way, and I was feeling not only good physically (Remember the 15 lb.) but mentally as well.

30 Weeks

At 35 weeks pregnant with Caden, I took some pictures with Chad. I distinctly remember feeling very uncomfortable, and just LARGE!  35 weeks this time around I did not feel that way.  I was getting uncomfortable, it was and is hard to stand after sitting for to long, and it is not fun waking up two to three times a night to pee. I have been having simple Braxton Hicks contractions since about 36 weeks and there has been four contractions that made me furrow my eyebrows. And then there are days like today were it is a constant all day thing that just makes me grumpy, but NOTHING worth going to the doc for.

35 Weeks

Now with 2 weeks left until "due date" I am feeling pregnant, my wedding ring does not fit, my clothes are getting a little tighter than comfortable, my feet swell if I stand for to long, and my face is looking a little pudgy.  But folks we have, in my opinion, AT LEAST 20 days left.  You see I REFUSE to be induced.  I am grateful that it is something that works for some women, me... it is hell.  I truly believe that Satan took notes this last time around and will put me into that exact position if I ever end up in purgatory.  ;)

37 Weeks

So we wait.  It is exciting, and nerve raking.  I get a little annoyed at the stares, yes I know my belly is HUGE, no I am not having twins.  No I am not way over due. and Yes I have had a nine pounder before but they have averaged about 8 lb.  I get a little discouraged when all the women who were pregnant "with" me have their babies in their arms, but this time around I have told myself from day 1 that it was going to be different and that I have 42 week oven.  AND THAT IS OK!

So folks, knowing my track record I will post again after this monster is born.

Life in a nut shell

Changes have been abundant in our home.  i guess one should expect no less really.  But since May (the last time I blogged I think) Things have changed.

Chad got a full time teaching position at a private Boarding school in Hurricane.  This is wonderful.  The structure of the classroom is different than a regular high school setting and it is taking some getting to use to, and he is teach ALL sciences, bio, chem, earth systems, and physics.  This is creating a stress because these are not all fields in which he has degrees.  But to be honest, Chad is very very smart and is doing rather well.

This new job means that I am now an official "Stay at Home mom".  It has been wonderful.  The other day was disastrous lots of yelling and screaming, on my part and my children's.  We had fight after fight, and tears upon tears.  Chad came home from work and I was telling him about my day, he said to me "I'm so sorry", I replied... "I am not, I was home.  I got to deal with the fits, I got to stress about dinner, I was there to stop the arguing, to love the boo boo's and to snuggle when the fighting was done."  I was crying and gave thanks once again to my Father in Heaven for making this possible.  And then thanks to my hubby for taking the fiscal responsibility of our family SOLEY on his shoulders.

Braxton is in Kindergarten.  We decided to take advantage of a charter school here in cedar that has a Montessori curriculum. If you do not know what that is Here is a link and Here is a cool presentation.  Braxton seems to be enjoying school.  He does come home every so ofter and spout some new bit of info he has learned.  But  if asked he tells you he did nothing but eat breakfast and play outside all day... Nerd.

Michael is in head-start preschool and LOVING it.  He comes home every day and says "mom want me to tell you ALL i did today"  and then he will, tell you from the moment he walked through the door until when he came home.  He seems to really be enjoying it, and I am stoked to have him in such a wonderful environment.

Caden is Chad incarnent.  He reminds me daily how to giggle and laugh, and is SUCH a happy boy.  He really reminds me of Chad.  He is getting big and loves to play, the weekday mornings are hard because both big brothers are gone, but we are slowly figuring out how to play by ourselves and just with mommy.  I guess I am not nearly as fun as the boys...

that is us, life in a nut shell. :)

SISTERS

Today I spent the entire day sitting in my house with three little boys that wanted to go outside...Send them out you say... What a great idea...except that in Cedar with have four-five inches of snow that has fallen with in the last twelve hours.  OH YES THAT IS RIGHT!  April 14th and we are COVERED in snow.

I am only slightly perturbed at mother nature.  I have decided that her mood swings in weather can not be held against her, she is bi-polar.  And being a bit of a crazy at times myself, who am I to judge.

On another note.  I MISS MY FAMILY!  MY SISTERS!  All you in blogger land must  understand.  I am the youngest of four, two older sisters and the oldest is a boy.  My brother married a women that was TAILOR made for our fam.  SHE FITS.  SO when I say my sisters I mean ALL three.  It makes me teary.

My little fam had planned on visiting for Easter, but my body decided to contract pneumonia and the thought of leaving my bed became an immense task so I just didn't do it for four days.  So I did not get my sister fix!

Now the one right above me is planning a birthday bash , the next one up called today "just to talk" and the last one is living life and going about business as normal with her sweet family. (Do they not know that I tell myself that their world "PAUSES" when I leave Utah county and then "Plays" again when we enter the county?)

Steph, Bobbie, and Trish.  I miss you and want to be closer.  I pray one day i will be and you can "Un-pause" your lives for more than just bits and pieces. You are amazing women and TRULY shaped me into the Wonderful, all be it some what dependent, women that I am today.  When we all get rich lets do girls weekend once a year.  Even if we live close.  Cheesy and corny I know but you people just need to be told that you are each blessings in my life that I count daily!

I am now pushing my soap box back into it's corner until the need to stand on it again!  Love you  all

 The above pictures where taken one my wedding day.  They kind of sum up my AMAZING sisters!

The picture below has an unknown date.  It is at my moms house.  And really non of us look very good in it, so I felt justified posting it. Plus it is the only other picture I could find of only us.

KATY

"No I want mom to do it"

This is a sentence we here often in our house.  It does not really mater what it is, but if I am home, I have to do it.  I think Chad has secretly trained them to do this. :)

Well tonight we were watching a Phineas and Ferb in mom and dads bed, before bed time.  Michael fell asleep before we could get a pull up on.  (We still wet the bed pretty much every night, on a side note if anyone has tips on how to prevent this, we are all ears)  anyway...Chad went to help him put a pull up on, and in a half asleep groggy voice he says...you guessed it "No, I want mom to do it"  The kid was asleep. :)  What a nerd.  We both just laughed and I put my hand on him thinking that would suffice but NO.

Chad went to pull the pant off and he again in a sleepy little boy voice "No, I want mom to do it"  So I pulled on a pant leg while chad pulled the other.  He is such a sweet kid, but even in his sleep Chad has him trained. ;)

Things we've learned from F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

We've been talking about it for a while, and we finally decided that through the duration of a few nights, brainstorming, and corroboration that we will finally get this list done and posted.

For those of you who DON'T know, Friends is a very funny show that started in the nineties and went for ten seasons (at the time it was the longest running TV series ever). So we thought that we could answer all of life's questions through quotes or situations found within this wonderful series. If you've seen the show and understand these statements you will have a wonderful time, if you're new to the concept you might laugh because of the oddity which we bring and share with the world :P

Here there are!  Things I've learned from FRIENDS.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S is not really an acronym

Unagi is awareness of all things around you; and you can get it in about 30 mins.

Anything white could be a ghost

30 year olds can pass for 19 with the right clothes.

Ken Adams and Regina Phalange are good cover names.

No answer is more sophisticated than: To-get-you-into-bed.

Spending 8 hours in a refrigerator box is enough to be forgiven of ANY discretion.

Trifles are "good" even with peas and onions.

You can make scary faces with scotch tape.

Clowns don't have heads

"Fine-d" is a really hard word to say

Only accept sugar-less gum from Victorias Secret models.

Never plug your ears, close your eyes and hum, with live poultry in the room.

Never discuss relationship issues over a "friendly" game of darts.

Just because someone chooses to live naked does NOT mean they do not have clothes.

Never go commando in another mans fatigues.

Every one should have big signs above the bed that say "MERGE"

The cushions are the essence.

Pizza boxes don't fit down the garbage shoot.

Chicken fat looks a lot like cider.

Tulsa is the Paris of Oklahoma.

Underwire can pick a locked car door.

Pigeons can make phone calls.

Dehydrated cantaloupe makes for a great foose-ball.

Denise could be Santa.

Planes do not need flanges to fly.

It's ok to fog a yeti.

Deers eat fruit from the orchards.

Skiing sounds like: "Shoop, shoop, shoop"

ATM alcoves are call vestibules.

There is a laundry song...  "uh oh... the laundry's done..."

Uberwiess impresses women.

Never buy an Encyclopedia unless you can afford the whole set. or just buy "V"

It's important to call it. (heads, or tails)

One of my favorites ^^ 

Freezer Meals

Because I am going back to school time, I am trying to lighten the load a little for Mr. MOM.  He is an amazing man and really I am not worried about my kids, but ANY stay at home mom knows that it is HARD, and I want to help.  SO, Freezer meals.  Not only that, but they all go in the crock pot.  :)  That rocks,  I can make dinner without even being home. Now that is talent.  I posted the picture in this post on FB and received many comments asking for recipes.  SO here they are!

Freezer Cooking- Slow Cooker Meals!

*Please note that all "bags" are 2-4 servings* Adjust ingredients to increase or decrease serving sizes.

My Grocery List:

Fresh Produce:

(3) Green Peppers

(1) Red Pepper

(1) Zucchini

(1) Red Onion

(1) Bag of Onions (you need approx. 8-10 onions)

(1) Bag Potatoes (I bought Red) (You will need approx. 14-16)

(3) Bags of 1 lb. carrot chips

Meat:

4.5-5Ibs of Chicken Breast

3-4Ibs of Beef Stew Meat

3Ib Chuck Roast

1-1.5Ibs of Ground Beef

Spices & Condiments:

Basil

Thyme

Salt

Pepper

Worcestershire

Brown sugar

White sugar Olive oil

Garlic cloves

Balsamic vinegar

Mustard

Teriyaki sauce

Other Groceries:

(2) 20oz cans of Chunked Pineapple

(2) 15oz Cans Tomato Sauce

(2) 6oz Cans Tomato Paste

(1) 28oz Can Diced Tomatoes

(1) Pack of v8 juice (I buy the 6 pack of cans)

(1) Small box Tapioca (I had no clue where to find this in the store-- It's right above the pudding/jello)

(2) Boxes Beef Broth (I buy low sodium)

Steak Rub (I bought grill mates in the spice aisle)

(1) Bag egg noodles

(1) Bag Frozen Cut Green Beans (you will need 2 cups)

AND DON'T FORGET TO BUY A BOX OF GALLON FREEZER BAGS!  I have a food saver that worked wonderfully, but if you do not have one of these the glad freezer bags are awesome.  Make SURE you get a FREEZER bags, they are generally more expensive but thinker to help prevent freezer burn.

Okay... Once you get everything home leave it all out on the counter and admire what you are about to do! J

First I labeled all of my food saver bags with a permanent marker. I wrote on the bag todays date, the meal name and the instructions for the day I will make it. Some of the meals will need beef broth added, water added, sour cream added etc. so I made note on the actual bag what I needed to do so I don't forget! I also notated on my bags if the dish was supposed to be served over rice or egg noodles etc.

Next... I started CHOPPING VEGETABLES! (It's not as bad as it sounds!)

As I chopped I placed the correct amount in each bag. (I started with ALL the onions, and then did peppers, then potatoes, see below for instructions.

I lined up all of my freezer bags across the counter and just dumped the correct amount of veggies for each recipe in the respective bags (see below). I never measure anything so I just guesstimate!

After I had the veggies chopped and distributed I tackled the meat... for this round of freezer cooking I only had to cook the ground beef for the vegetable soup... the chicken & beef stew meat stay raw.

For the ground beef take (1) chopped onion and (2) chopped garlic cloves and brown them together. If you are feeling super savvy you can let the beef brown while you are chopping the veggies! This is what I did and it really was not hard. Let cool, instructions below on how to finish.

For the Pot Roast, rub meat on both sides with steak seasoning and black pepper, and then brown the roast very well on both sides. Depending on your pan, you may need to use a little olive oil. When the meat is brown let cool slightly and put into your bag, followed by the onion. Then deglaze the pan with ½ cup water, scraping off all browned bits, add this to bag, ½ in each.

For the chicken, I washed & trimmed it and left (4) of the breasts whole (for the teriyaki chicken) and the other (4) I cut in half just because I felt like it (for the healthy BBG chicken).

After placing the meat in the correct bags I added the spices and remaining ingredients.

Here is how it broke down per bag- each recipe is made for two meals.  Split ALL ingredients into two bags.

Teriyaki Chicken (2 Bags)

•   Split a large (2lb.) bag of Baby Carrots between the 2 bags (I bought the pre sliced carrot chips in 1 lb. increments and added one bag to each meal.  No cutting of carrots.)

•   Cut Red Onion into Large Chunks

•   (2) 20oz can pineapple (un-drained) 1 for each bag

•   (4) Garlic Cloves chopped, 2 each bag

•   (4) Chicken Breasts, 2 each bag

•   1 cup teriyaki sauce, ½ cup each bag

*Add ¼ cup teriyaki sauce to mixture before cooking on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours. Serve over Rice.

Savory Vegetable Beef Soup (2 Bags)

•   Chop (1) Onion and Chop (2) Cloves of Garlic- Brown in Pan with the Ground Beef- once cool divide mixture between bags

•   1 lb. bag of carrot chips, ½ lb. each bag

•   (6) Red Potatoes chopped, 3 per bag

•   (1) Can v8 split, ½ per bag

•   (1) 28oz can diced tomatoes, ½ per bag

•   (2) Cups frozen green beans, 1 per bag

•   (1) Tbsp. Worcestershire, ½ per bag

•   (1) Cup Beef Broth, ½ per bag

•   (2) Tbsp. Parsley per bag, 1 per bag

•   (2) Tsp. Basil per bag, 1 per bag

•   (1) Tsp. Thyme, ½ per bag

•   (1) Tsp. salt, ½ per bag

•   (1) Tsp. pepper, ½ per bag

•   (2) Tbsp. Sugar, 1 per bag

*Place in Crockpot with 1.5 cups of water and 15oz Beef Broth (My food saver bags are big enough to hold this extra liquid. I froze it in the meal and added nothing while cooking.)

Cook on LOW 8 Hours.

Healthy BBQ Chicken (2 Bags) * from mamaandbabylove.com *

•   (2) Green Peppers Cut into Slices, 1 per bag

•   (1) Red Pepper Cut into Slices, ½ per bag

•   (1) Zucchini Chopped, ½ per bag

•   (3) Onions Chopped, 1 ½ per bag

•   (6) Red Potatoes Chopped, 3 per bag (you can also use Sweet Potatoes)

•   (4) Garlic Cloves Chopped, 2 per bag

•   (4) Chicken Breasts, 2 per bag (I cut each breast in half again)

•   (1) Tbsp. Quick Cooking Tapioca, ½ per bag

•   (1) 15oz can of Tomato Sauce, ½ per bag

•   (2) Tbsp. of Brown Sugar, 1 per bag

•   (2) Tbsp. Worcestershire, 1 per bag

•   (2) Tbsp. Mustard, 1 per Bag

•   (½) Tsp. Salt, ¼ per bag

Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours. Serve over Rice or Egg Noodles.

Stephanie's Goulash/Beef Stew (2 Bags) *adapted from mamaandbabylove.com *

•   (1) Green Pepper Chopped, ½ per bag

•   (1) Chopped Onion, ½ per bag

•   (1) Lb. of carrots chips, ½ per bag

•   (4) Chopped Garlic Cloves, 2 per bag

•   (3) Lbs. Beef Stew Meat, 1 ½ lbs. per bag

•   (2) 6oz cans Tomato Paste, 1 per bag

•   (4) Tsp. Paprika, 2 per bag

•   (½) Tsp. Black Pepper, ¼ per bag

*Cook for 4 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW in a slow cooker. Add (1/2) Cup of Sour Cream about 10 minutes prior to serving. Serve over Egg Noodles.

Balsamic and Onion Pot Roast

·      (3-4) Pound boneless chuck roast, 2 lbs. per bag

·      (1-2) Tbsp. steak rub

·      Black pepper to taste

·      (1-2) Tbsp. olive oil (depends on your pan)

·      (¼) Cup water to deglaze pan

·      (4-5) Large onions, peeled and thickly sliced, ½ per bag

·      (2) Cup beef broth, 1 per bag cup

·      (1) Cup balsamic vinegar, ½ per bag

·      (1) Cup tomato sauce, ½ per bag

*Cook on low for 8-10 hours.  This looks like a great French dip recipe, I am going to have it with think rolls, and dip it.

Once ALL INGREDIENTS are in freezer bags push all of the air out of them and seal. Lay bags flat so they freeze flat. Stack in Freezer... once they are frozen you can re-arrange to best suit your freezer space. Take meal out of freezer the night before you want to put it in slow cooker so it thaws a bit.

This makes a total of 10 freezer meals, 5 separate recipes.  A quick disclaimer, I have never tried these meals before and do not know how they taste but they look really good so…?