It's been a while

Hi Friends,

Yes it's been a while. In February, I started a new position with the same company and lost myself in the chaos of life.

I am back now with a bigger vengeance to eat better and healthier and teach my kids that this is what they needs to eat. Since as grown up, most of us, have to reteach ourselves to eat healthy not that our parents did not do a good job or try but there are values that you learn along the way sometimes that are something you, alone, bring to your family.

I will try to post every night what we are eating the outcome and maybe a feedback for the family coral :)

Starting by tonight: since we were running around all day with dance, sportball and some grocery shopping.

We had green & yellow beans - blanched for 4 minutes with some soy butter.
some sweet potato fries with olive oil and cracked black pepper.
some scallops cooked in orange juice then toss in olive oil, pepper and a bit of sea salt.

It was all done within 25 min including prep time :)

My 3 year old did not like the sweet potato. It's something we are working on! You might see it appear on the menu more and more as I try to get them acquainted to the taste.

My 5 year old rated everything good but really loved the scallops, she was even complaining that we needed more.

My 38 year old husband was rather surprise that he liked scallop but he loved the sweet potato fries the best..

Have a good night sleep tight and bon appetit!

From MommaBear

School Friendly Granola Bars

1/3 cup vegan becel margarine
1/2 cup liquid honey
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 cups Lara's rolled oats
1 cup ground flaxseed
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup chopped dried fruit (apricots, dates, raisins)
1/2 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chip
1/4 cup sesame seeds

In a small sauce pan, melt margarine, add honey and sugar. Stir and bring to a boil. Simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Let cool slightly. In large bowl combine rest of ingredients. Gradually stir in dry mixture into syrup mixture. Firmly press into 11x17 inch baking dish. Bake at 350F. for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool. Cut into squares.

Makes about 40 squares.

the " I get it" moment

Well last thursday, Sept 23rd, we attended the groundbreaking and capital campaign ceremony for the Ronald McDonald House Hamilton (www.helpourhomegrow.ca)

They were so excited to see my daughter at this campaign everyone was smiling and teary eyed. .. It was quite a sight.

Through all this time, I'm sitting there going.. I get it.. I get it why she needed to get so sick.. Even though, I could pass on her getting sick and having brain injury.. I certainly believe that this had to happen so she could help establishment such as these.. She is their poster child visit www.helpourhomegrow.ca and you will see her peeking back at you.

Take Care and big hugs
MommaBear

the " I get it" moment

Well last thursday, Sept 23rd, we attended the groundbreaking and capital campaign ceremony for the Ronald McDonald House Hamilton (www.helpourhomegrow.ca)

They were so excited to see my daughter at this campaign everyone was smiling and teary eyed. .. It was quite a sight.

Through all this time, I'm sitting there going.. I get it.. I get it why she needed to get so sick.. Even though, I could pass on her getting sick and having brain injury.. I certainly believe that this had to happen so she could help establishment such as these.. She is their poster child visit www.helpourhomegrow.ca and you will see her peeking back at you.

Take Care and big hugs
MommaBear

Life

This weekend was probably one of the most difficult weekend that I had in a long time.

A work friend's wife just miscarried at 23 weeks. They are some of the nicest people that I've met. He always ask me how I'm doing and inquires how the kids are doing if I am absent from work because they were sick or for appointment.. He's just an overall genuine person.

I offered my help and they accept.. so I drove just over an hour to keep two of the world saddest individual company.. There's no right words that can be said in situations like this. Only time and rest can help them deal with this. I don't want to throw cliché there way like "I wasn't meant to be" or "Everything happens for a reason". All I said was that I was there for them and could listen to what they had to say and provide my personal input and that only time and rest would clear up this situation for them. I did tell them not to give up and to take care of themselves as I left.

I got home feeling drained and wondering how can two of the worlds nicest and genuine person, I've ever met be dealt such an enduring trial.. Only time will tell us why it happened and we might never know.. maybe it's something to do with the butterfly effect..

Anyways, needless to say, I hugged my kids a lot these days.

Take care
MommaBear

PBB Muffins

This recipe is so delicious. I dare you to just eat one.

Ingredients

3 Bananas
3 eggs
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/3 canola oil
1/2 cup vanilla soygurt
1 3/4 cup of brown rice flour
1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chip


Preheat oven at 350F
Mix first four ingredient until smooth
then blend in the next few ingredients in order until mixture is no longer lumpy.
Add desired amount of chocolate chip.

Lined muffin tray with paper
Fill each paper to the top
Cook for about 20 minutes or until toothpick comes clean

Surprise

As August started, I planned my three weeks vacation to be a time to catch up with family.. I spent two weeks at my parent doing just that.. seeing family and investigating thing and see if it was feasible with our dietary restrtictions to move back.. Once those questions were answered.. something happened my daughter got sick.. just a fever.. I didn't think much until the third day when she was super irritable, her eyes were not moving to the right and she still didn't want to walk.. So I grab her and drove to the closest hospital bullied them into getting an ambulance to drive us to the nearest Children's Hospital for testing.. 4 days, 4 test ( Lumbar, blood work, urine sample and MRI) and they did not find anything new! Is this good news? Yes, but it doesn't explain the new eye thing.. After a much testing day and the MRI, she bounces back like nothing ever happened.. She still not moving her eyes but she's happy and she made some progress.. Did the IVIG help along? Not sure... I really need to talk to her neurologist but it's the weekend!!! Ahhh!! Tomorrow hopefully I will get some answers.

The silver lining.. I got to test the children's hospital that is closest to my parents and I'm satified that it's suitable.. I like the neurologist that I spoke with and that is the most important part... The nurses well let just some are more compassionate then others and leave it at that.. And they accomodated her dietary needs without any issues.. I was so happy about that.

This whole episode as driven home that I need to move closer to where we can have support because we can never know when this can repeat itself.. I left my son in the care of my parents and they manage quite well and my son seemed to have enjoyed himself.. My dad certainly did!!

Needless to say I'm exhausted and stressed. My brain in going into 50 directions, as I put question in a list and wonder what the future holds and how I can improve our situation..

On this I say good night..

Take care,
MommaBear