My Low/High of the Week (So Far)

It's only Wednesday, but I'm going to go ahead and write about my low/high for the week.

Two Sundays ago, my daughter hurt her right knee on a trampoline.  She was getting off the trampoline and her leg got caught between the springs.  Her left leg landed on the ground, but her right knee got twisted and bruised pretty badly between the springs.  My sister iced it and gave her some Ibuprofen.  She went back outside to play, but was limping.  

The next two days she limped around.  By Wednesday, she wanted to participate in P.E. so she did everything except run.  She didn't have any pain or discomfort.  However, on Thursday she went to tae kwon do and while she was jumping and kicking she popped her hurt knee.  It immediately swelled and was causing pain.  She told me the pain was in a different area of the right knee.  Again, we iced it and gave her Ibuprofen.  By Saturday, she didn't seem to have any pain, limping, and it seemed the swelling was gone.  

The officer asked me to and make her a doctor appointment since she had hurt it twice in one week.  This past Monday she went on a 30 minute bicycle ride with me and she seemed fine.  I didn't think she really needed the dr. appointment, but I made it. 

Tuesday, we went to the pediatrician. She asked me what was wrong with daughter.  I told her all the things that had happened and told her the officer wanted us to come in.  

The doctor washed her hands and said, "Well let's have a look.  Please sit back on the bed and let me see your knees.  Oh, well I can tell her knee is still swollen."

"What?  Where?", I asked.

"Right here.  You can see the left knee outline along here, but you can't see right knee outline here.", she replied.

Oh.  Now I see it.

She told me she wanted daughter to go see an orthopedist since it was still swollen.  No physical activity until she sees him.  No running, no P.E., no tae kwon do (she's not real broken up about that one), only walking with a knee brace.  We went to Academy to purchase a knee brace.  The man who was helping us also said, "Oh yeah, you can tell her knee is swollen."  "Oh yeah, you mean right here.  Yeah I saw that too."  No need for him to know that I didn't see it all week too.

So there you have it.  I would have just let her gone on and on and she probably would have hurt her knee again.  I need to just pay attention to the officer advice.  Good lesson here.

My high for the week is the Tuscaloosa Tollhouse Pie I made tonight for dessert.  I found the recipe this week on Pinterest.  You can find the original recipe at Becky's Bakes blog.  I did cheat and did not make my own pie crust.  You can use Becky's Bakes link to get the recipe for the pie crust.  I used trusty old Pillsbury.  Also, I omitted the whiskey.  If anyone has any tips on how to apply aluminum foil on the outside pie crust in a hot pie pan, I'm all ears.

Tuscaloosa Tollhouse Pie

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces
3/4 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
1 1/4 cups chocolate chips

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  In a bowl, whisk together flour and sugars; set aside.
3.  Beat eggs on high speed until foamy, about 3 minutes. 
4.  Mix in flour and sugars on low. Turn mixer to high and beat for 2 minutes.
5.  Add butter and beat on high until combined.
6.  Fold in walnuts and 3/4 cup of chocolate chips.
7.  Pour filling into chilled pie shell, scatter remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips across the top
8.  Bake for 25 minutes. 
9.  Cover edges of crust with foil and bake for another 25 minutes
10.  Remove from oven when inserted knife or pie tester comes out clean. Cool on a cooling rack completely (at least one hour) before serving.

Girls Weekend Getaway

This past weekend, my friend, Jill, and I headed to Dallas, Texas for a weekend of relaxing, shopping,and Michael Buble.  We attended the Michael Buble's Crazy Love tour several years ago together and it was so much fun.  We decided if he came again, we would go.  Earlier this year, I noticed he was going to be in Dallas, Texas for his To Be Loved Tour.  I called Jill and asked her if she wanted to go.  She was all in.  I purchased the tickets in June.  She booked our hotel in September.  3 nights, 3 days.  Yippee!

On Thursday evening, I picked Jill up and we drove to Dallas.  We stayed at the Hyatt House in downtown Dallas.  Our hotel room had two beds and even a little kitchen area.  

We arrived in Dallas around 8:30 p.m.  After a couple of turn-arounds, we found the hotel.  I was a little nervous driving into Dallas because the officer is usually the one who drives when we hit the big cities.  However, we did alright with me driving and Jill navigating.

On Friday morning, I woke up early and thanks to a very creaky bathroom door, Jill did too.  I ate breakfast and walked on the treadmill in the fitness room.  Jill tried to walk on another treadmill, but it was constantly beeping, so she just worked out with the weights.  We showered and went shopping at Ikea.  We were both looking forward to it because neither of us had ever been to the actual store. 

Ikea can be very overwhelming.  It's huge.  Two floors.  It's laid out in sections.  Bathroom, Flooring, Kitchen, Home Decor and so on.  I was so excited to be in there, I texted the officer a picture.  I didn't even realize what I had sent him until the replied, "Are those toilet bowl brushes?"  I can see why he wouldn't think Ikea was that interesting if all they had were a bunch of toilet bowl brushes.  I purchased a squeegee for our soon to be finished shower.  :) 

They had great products for very reasonable prices.  I could have shopped much longer.  I purchased two picture frames and two wire picture holders.  

Jill and I went back to the hotel room to take a quick nap before Buble.  Since our hotel room was just a little over half a mile from the American Airlines Center where the Buble concert was, we walked to it.   We had arrived almost an hour early so I had time to stand in a short line to take a picture with Michael Buble poster.  I didn't get to do this last time around.  We look like good friends don't we?

For some reason I didn't really get a good picture of Jill and I.  This was the best picture I have.

The American Airlines Center was huge.  We were on the back left side.  We were in the first row of the second sections, which was nice because we didn't have to stand up to see.  We could stay seated if we wanted to.

There is a stage set up opposite  of the regular stage that Michael Buble walks to and sings several songs.  It's toward the end of concert. 

And now for the life of me I can't remember what song he was singing when this big eyeball was on the screen.  Grossed me out so of course I took a picture of it.

To end the concert, Michael Buble gets rid of his microphone and all the instruments.  He comes onto the stage and sings the last song a cappella.  Of course it's a bit hard to hear him without the mic, but this is one of the favorite things in his concert. 

I'll be seeing him next time around too.  It's a great concert.  Not for children - definitely for adults, but I really enjoy his music and he knows how to be present with the audience and give a good show.

Here are a couple of videos from the concert.  Don't mind the high pitched screaming that the lady sitting two chairs down from me does.  She did that through every. single. song. 

Toward the end of the concert, Buble sang "All You Need is Love" as he walked back to the main stage.  Everyone was singing.  Heart spotlights were going everywhere.  When he reached the stage, red, white, and pink heart confetti burst from the ceiling and floor.  It was raining paper hearts for 10 minutes. 

On Saturday morning, I woke up to eat breakfast and walk.  It was a beautiful morning.  Our plan for the day was to go to the Galleria mall to shop.  And shop we did.  We ate dinner at Pei Wei and went back to the hotel to relax.  

On Sunday morning, the same routine.  We checked out of our hotel and stopped by the container store.  An organizer's heaven.  In the end I only purchased a retro cold/hot pack.  I could have spent a lot more, but I was on a budget.  We arrived home around 5 p.m. 

I also realized as I was unpacking that I had been conditioning my hair with body lotion all weekend.  I had just grabbed a trial size conditioner when I was packing.  When I got home, I looked in my bathroom drawer and saw the conditioner sitting in the drawer.  I was confused because I thought I had packed it.  I took out the "conditioner" I had been using and noticed the words "body lotion".  Oh well, I supposed it still moisturized my hair.  This is what happens when you are in your 40s folks.  Be prepared.

It was so nice to get away for just a few days.  Made me realize the officer and I need to do it soon.  Thanks to my mom and my sister for watching the kids for me. 

The officer was busy this past weekend running his first 5K.  He ran the Orphan Love Mud Run with two other friends.  So proud of him.  He had a lot of fun even though he ended up wet (the thing he was least looking forward to) and muddy (he did that on purpose by army crawling in a mud hole). 

 Oh yes, thanks to the officer for funding my girls weekend! :)

Meeting my "Sister From Another Mother"

Back in March, we went to Disney World.  Of all the amazingly fun things we did, one of the kid's favorite things was spending an evening playing on a beach at the Polynesian Resort on our last night in Florida.  They loved it!  The officer decided we need to take the kids to a real beach.  

In May, the officer talked to his lieutenant at work.  He was discussing going to Destin, Florida or Corpus Christi, Texas.  The officer's lieutenant suggested another beach that wouldn't be as commercialized as Destin.  He suggested Dauphin Island, Alabama.  It's a 14 mile island just south of Mobile Bay in the Gulf of Mexico.  If you're looking for a place to shop and do touristy things, this place is not for you.  If you are looking for a nice place to relax and play on the beach, it's perfect.  The beginning of Jne, the officer booked a house.  

Two weeks later after the officer booked our beach vacation in Alabama, I received several comments from a man named Dale on my blog.  He was trying to get into contact with me on behalf of his wife, Nikki.  Nikki and I were in the same orphanage, Ilmagwon, in South Korea at the same time.  You can read how Nikki and I first started communicating here.  As we started emailing back and forth, Nikki told me she lived in Alabama.  A couple of weeks after we started emailing, I wrote to Nikki and said, "We are going to be in Alabama in September.  Maybe we can try to get together."  And that started it.  Plans were made.

We left on Sept. 11 to visit Ma and Pa in Texas for a couple of days.  Our plan was to leave Texas and drive to Meridian, Mississippi to stay the night.  Nikki, Dale and their boys would drive down to meet us for dinner.  The officer drove the whole day.  We got to the hotel around 3:30 p.m.  We were supposed to meet them at 4 p.m.  I got a text stating they wouldn't arrive until 4:30 p.m.  The officer decided to go to a local Harley store.  I received another text saying it would be closer to 5 p.m.  I thought it gave the officer plenty of time to go to the Harley store and come back.  Then I got a text stating they were 18 miles out.  I texted the officer and said, "Get back here they are almost here!"  I'm a little giddy with excitement.  Another text:  4 miles out.  Yay!  The officer came back with his Harley t-shirt (apparently you have to purchase a Harley t-shirt from every Harley store you visit).

The phone rang, "We are here!"  We go down to the lobby to meet them.  I first see Nikki walking through the doors.  She is followed by her husband, Dale, and two boys.  I notice the boys looked like they could be my nephews.  They are cute!  I give Nikki a hug.  People who know me know I don't hug just anyone.  It so nice to see her in person after all our emails.  Nikki and Dale were bearing gifts.  They gave us wonderful cupcakes, delicious bbq sauce, and each of the kids a sack full of snacks.  So thoughtful.

We decided to go eat at a local restaurant called Weidmann's. 
 

The restaurant was busy.  They were having some kind of show inside the restaurant.  The hostess told us they two tables available upstairs, outside on the balcony.  It was a little warm and sticky outside, but we said yes.  The kids sat at one table and Dale, Nikki, and the officer and I sat at the other table.  The waitress passed out the menus.  The children's menu was called the Treasure Chest Menu.  :)

We ordered our meal and enjoyed visiting.  The food was good.  Nikki and I took our first picture together.  I think we actually look a lot alike.  Well... except that she is 5'8" and completely buff.  Seriously.  How many Koreans have you met that are 5'8"?  I'm not even 5'5" on my tippy toes.  I can only dream....

The kids got a  little antsy, so we decided to go back to our hotel to let them swim.   They changed into their swimsuits and we gave them glowsticks to play with in the pool.  The pool was small, but they had it all to themselves.  It really doesn't take much to entertain the kids.  The adults went out onto the patio to visit more.

Dale and Nikki shared more of their testimony.  It is not my story to share, but it's amazing.  Their story is a story of sin, repentance, forgiveness, mercy and grace.  Of course, their story is my story.  Their story could be everyone's story.  We are all full of sin, but we can receive forgiveness, mercy and grace from God.  It was wonderful to hear how God has worked in their lives.  

Nikki and I have emailed back and forth several months.  We have shared a lot, but she saved one story for when we would meet in person.  Nikki said, "Okay my mom told me a story I wanted to share with you.  She said when your dad had to go back to the United States your mother stayed in Korea with you.  However, your dad wanted her to come back to the US.  After a bit, she had to return.  Your adoption papers were not finished.  Your mom asked my mom to watch you for a few weeks and to bring you back to the US with us.  You lived with us for several weeks."  

She had already told me her mom remembered my mom and myself, but "What?" 

Two little girls from the Ilmagwon Orphanage in Gunsan, South Korea (6,787.2 miles away) born in the early 70s chatting it up on a patio of the Hampton Inn in Meridian, Mississippi 41 years later.  Pretty awesome in and of itself.  Then you throw in that fact that I actually lived with them for a few weeks.

I spoke with Nikki's mom.  She told me basically the same thing.  She told me when my mom had to go back to the United States but my adoption papers were not ready.  She said she couldn't remember who contacted her, whether it was my mom or the orphanage, but they asked her to keep me for a few weeks and bring me back to the United States.  Nikki's adoption papers were close to being ready.  Nikki's mom said yes.  I lived with them for three weeks.  Nikki's papers were ready and they had to come back to the United States.  Mine were not.  I had to go back to the orphanage until my mom came back.  Nikki's mom said it broke her heart to have to take me back to the orphanage.  

My mom had told me during that time I had regressed.  When she came back, I was 15 months old.  I couldn't sit up or stand and I cried a lot.  I had boils on back and bottom and I still have scars to this day from those.  Before she left, I could at least sit up and had no boils.  My mom came back in the fall of '73 and we came back to the United States in late '74.

So there you have it.  We were sisters at the Ilmagwon Orphanage.  We lived together for a short while.  We are sisters in Christ.  That is one of the first things Nikki told me about herself.  She wrote "we are born again evangelical Christians and so to hear that you were also just made my heart leap with joy."   For some astonishing reason, we have found our way back to one another.  Our relationship has been one of encouragement.  It has also shown me that God ways are mysterious, but always for our good.

My favorite scripture:

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord.  Plans for good, not evil, to give you a hope and a future."

See?  Now you know why I call her a "sister from another mother."

We talked and shared until about 10 p.m. when their youngest son came outside and said, "Mom, I am really tired and getting sleepy!"  They had over an hour drive back home.  The time went by so fast.  Too fast.  The kids changed their clothes and we went to the lobby to take a family picture.  We asked the hotel lobby lady to take our picture.  I'm sure she thought we were a little strange asking her to take 6,000 pictures with our phones and cameras.  Dale told her, "They were adopted from the same orphanage and are meeting 41 year later!"  She was amazed.  As I still am.

The Low/High of My Weekend

This past weekend was busy.  I have had a not-so-great mommy moment, but I've also met a personal goal.  I'll tell you about the not-so-great mommy moment first.

Saturday morning was a busy morning for me.  I babysat my two nephews from 8 a.m. -12:30 p.m. for my sister.  She took my daughter to a kid's cheerleading clinic my niece's school was putting on.  Around 7:30 a.m., I woke my children to get them ready.  My daughter ate waffles and a banana for breakfast.  She's dressed, fed, and ready to go.  My son was going to be home most of the time so I wasn't as concerned about getting him breakfast.  He decided to eat one waffle and half a bagel.  He wasn't very hungry.  No biggie.  I knew he would eat something else if he got hungry.  

The boys are busy playing Hero Factory in my son's room.  At 9 a.m., I remember my son has a tae kwon do test he has to go to.  The test starts at 10:30 a.m. He gets dressed and we leave at 10:10 a.m. When I drop him off, I notice there are a lot of cars in the parking lot so I knew there were a lot of people testing.  The tests usually last around three hours.  

In the meantime, I take the boys back to my house to play more Hero Factory.  I feed them lunch and color with them until my sister picks them up at 12:30 p.m.  She also brings my daughter home.  

My daughter spends the next hour telling me all about the cheerleading clinic.  She had a great time.  She learned a short dance routine and a cheer.  I had not received a phone call from my son asking me to pick him up by 1:30 p.m. I decided if I hadn't heard from him by 2 p.m., I'll just drive up there and wait.  I didn't hear from him, so my daughter and I go up there. They are still in the middle of sparring.  In short, we spent the next hour and a half there while they finished sparring and breaking boards. The test is over by 3:30 p.m.  He's been at the test for five hours.  My son comes out and says, "Mom, I don't feel so good.  My legs are shaky, my back hurts, and my stomach is empty!"

I felt so bad.  I usually feed him a nice, big, filling breakfast on tae won do test days, but I completely forgot about the test and only gave him half the breakfast I would have.  Have you ever forgotten to feed your kids or sent them off somewhere starving because you don't have your head on straight?  Low point.  Luckily, I took him home and fed him a late lunch and he felt much better.

I have a high point of the weekend too though.  Today, I was able to wear my shirt.  Know which shirt I'm talking about?  You can read about it here.  Well, I pulled that shirt out of the closet today.  Ironed it.  Tried it on.  Not bad.  I liked it. I had my son take a picture of me in it.  This is the best picture of about 10 pictures.  I choose one with all of my head in the picture.  :)

I'm still getting up to walk in the mornings.  I'm up to 4 1/2 miles every morning.  Still struggling with not guzzling Cokes.  Sticking to have just one a week, but I've been craving it lately.  Still working on not snacking or eating off my kid's plates.  Everything is still a work in progress.  However,  I have lost just over 30 pounds.  I purchased a pair of jeans yesterday that were two sizes smaller than what I was wearing earlier this year.  I was nervous to even try them on, but I did.  They fit.  Since the jeans fit, I wondered if the shirt would fit too.  This morning I pulled it out of the closet and ironed it.  I tried it on and was happy with how it fit.  Yay! High point.

I still have a long way to go.  I'm only 35% of the way to the first weight goal I set for myself, but I will keep working on it.