Signs of Fall

Each April we see our first Broad tail Hummingbirds and it is my sign that winter is pretty much over.

BUT... by mid- August the hummingbirds start buzzing the feeder, and as much as I don't want to admit it, 

I know  ... Fall is just around the corner.

The little birds are wanting to get fattened up for their long migration to

Mexico and as far south at Argentina.

I make the "juice" a little thicker so it helps them get the weight on.

I love watching these amazing little birds.

As I was taking pictures of these little guys, I said to Kirk, "at least I haven't see a "flock" of geese yet..."

I barely got the sentence out of my mouth and...you guessed it.

a HUGE honking   "V" flying above the river.

I could not believe what was in the sky...

the geese are arriving.

Where did summer go???

Peach Pie

On our way home from Utah last week we knew we would be stopping in Perry or Brigham City for two things.

One to eat at MADDOX'S and the other was to stop at the many fresh fruit stands along Hwy 89.

I knew that I did not want to can peaches this year, but I wanted fresh Utah peaches to eat.

Even though I was eating my fair share of these perfect fruits

 they were becoming soft  faster than I could eat them.

Solution:

Fresh Peach Pie

If you follow my blog you know I  rarely  follow  recipes.

so... I will tell you what I did with my Utah peaches.

I peeled and sliced my fruit.

adding about:

 1/2 cup of granulated sugar

and close to a 1/4 cup of  flour (to help thicken the juices)

some cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of ginger.

Softly mixing everything together

and adding it to the bottom pie crust.

I have an amazing pie crust recipe 

but today I went easy with the refrigerated Pillsbury

Kroger's pie crust in a box.

I roll out the top crust a little more ~ just because I like my top crust a little thinner.

I  use an egg white wash  and sprinkle the top of my pie with

granulated sugar, this makes the best sweet top to your pie.

I baked it for 30 mins at 350* and then another 10 mins or so at 400*

Just to get the "sugar top" that I want.

and WALA...

Fresh Peach Pie

Add a little whipped cream.

Sweet with the wonderful little punch of tartness from the fresh peaches.

YUMMY!

****UPDATE****

When I tasted my pie I kept thinking something is missing...

and then I knew what I forgot...

BUTTER...

I usually add about a tablespoon of  chopped butter and place it over the fruit.

I do this with apples too.

How Does She Do That?

The bigger Miss Celes gets the harder it is for me to get her to hold still to do her hair.

Her Grandma Keri has been watching her while I have been sick.

When Josh came over the other night...my first thought was who is that BIG girl in his arms and second...

 HOW DID KERI GET HER TO HOLD STILL LONG ENOUGH TO DO HER HAIR LIKE THAT?

I came home with a few new toys and so I couldn't get her to come stand still to take a picture

UNLESS it was to eat some of my spaghetti and baguette.

Got to love a baby with a full tummy and smiley food covered face.

I AM HOME!

I am home!

I came home with a PICC line and now have been taught so I am able to do my IV antibiotics for the CMV at home 2 times a day.

It has really been nice not to have to drive to the hospital everyday.

Love modern medicine.

After not being home for 11 of the past 14 days

and leaving my house in total control of  2 "guys"

I came home to ...

well, a house that looked like 2 guys with very little time had been the only ones home

and two little dogs that were in the house ALONE way to long.

OK...it wasn't as bad as this hoarder's house...

but after not feeling well for a long time I though ...

"Oh Heaven Help Me"

Yesterday, I took it pretty easy.

Actually, I spoiled myself...

Pedicure, Eye Brows tamed and a much needed haircut.

Today, I have felt so darn good...best in a very long time.

I spent the morning trying to save a few of my plants that were somewhat still alive.

I cleaned my carpet and organized the pantry closet.

Tomorrow...another day of  cleaning...

not just because of the two very busy guys

BUT,

because

I can!

I Spy...

Look around...

what do you spy?

Yea, the effects of CMV are still hanging on... I will be here for a few more days.

A year ago I was hanging out at the Cassia Co. Parade with little Miss C.

http://onemomentatatime-niece.blogspot.com/2010/08/cassia-county-parade-100-years.html

Today Miss C went to the parade with her "Nanna" Bame.

I was looking forward to watching the parade with them....

Instead, I am back in the hospital.

It is the same stuff that had me here last week. It just is not getting better.

My heart on the other hand is doing GREAT!!!

I was glad Kirk could bring me down to SLC. 

I can't wait for him to come back in a few days.

Some Normalcy

I have not been feeling well enough to watch Celes for a couple of weeks.

But, with a need for some normalcy, I was hoping I could keep Miss C  for a day.

It was awesome...she was so good and took a nap so I could lay down too.

I did realize how clean my house had been  and that it really has been WAY to quiet.

I will not get to watch Miss C for the next few days because I have to go back to Utah.

It is hard to not be able to lift her or hold her for a long time, because of the lack of muscle mass, but soon...very soon we will be back to playing and having a house full of laughter.

Oh Yea!

I am ready to be normal again and have things back to normal.

180 days

Hazel is 6 months old!

Hard to believe how she has grown in just 6 short months.

Flight Aware

Have you heard of ...

http://flightaware.com/

I LOVE THIS SITE
You can track any flight in the world in real time!
I was able to see where Kira was while she was in the air from SLC, Utah to Altanta
and then on to Beunos Aries.
It is really pretty cool!
They left SLC at 2:00 pm (MST) on Tuesday the 9th

and arrived in B.A. at 8:00am today Wednesday the 10th.

I know they were planning on boarding the bus at 4:00pm for the 15 hour ride to Tucuman.

No... I can't track the bus ride :O)

Kira said Miss H slept the intire  flight to Argentina.

I hope she is as good on the bus ride.

I am so excited for Sergio's family to meet their newest member.

 I know her abuela (grandma), abuelo (grandpa)  and tia (aunt) can hardly wait!

Miss H is going to be one loved on little girl!

Pretty Darn Quiet

It is WONDERFUL to be home

BUT

My house seems to be a  freaky kind of quiet.

Where I am still not feeling a 100% Miss C is spending this week with one of her other Grandmas.

I miss her so much,

but am so grateful that she has a large family who loves her and take good care of her

 while her mommy is at work.

Kira, Sergio and Miss H left for Argentina yesterday.

It was horrible not being able to go to the airport to see them off, but they did stop by the hospital to say bye before they left.

I just wish I had the energy to get some things done today

but a little at a time...right.

Squash! I Don't Want No Stinking Squash!

Hazel has really never had a problem eating food from a spoon.

Kira had only been feeding her only veggies.

Miss H hasn't seemed to mind to much though she is not a fan of peas and as late

she is getting a little tired of squash.

I could not stop laughing the other night when Kira was trying to feed her

 and she kept putting her toes in her mouth. 

Yea, I think it is time to let her try bananas and apples.

Cytomegalovirus

Cytomegalovirus (say: si-toe-meg-ah-low-vi-russ), or CMV, is a very common virus. People are usually infected by the time they are 2 years old or during their teenage years and carry the virus for life (usually in a dormant or inactive state). The majority of adults carry the virus by the time they are 40 years of age. Many people are infected with CMV and don't even know it because the virus rarely causes symptoms and usually does not cause long-term problems.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000663.htm

I had never heard of this "virus" but  now that I have "felt" its effects, I do not think I will forget it.

Mine came in the form of ~
CMV - gastroenteritis/colitis (need I say more???)

I had mentioned I haven't been feeling well for several weeks and this stupid "flu" was kicking my butt, after loosing 10 lbs and not being able to eat for almost 2 weeks not only was my family doctor getting worried but so was my transplant team.

Thursday night after a SHORT phone conversation with Dr. R,  I was in Murray the next morning being admitted to the hospital with extreme dehydration and some scary "flu"  that had to be figured out.

Once they found the active CMV virus in my blood they were able to start treating me.

I am still learning that I have an immunocompromised system, and if I get just a little sick I HAVE to contact the doctor.

So...today I had my first meal in 2 weeks that included a fork!!!

Life is looking up!

Happy Birthday Sunshine!

Thanks for spending your special day with me.

I can't believe you are 25 years old!

You are as beautiful as ever.

I am proud to be your mother and grateful to be your friend.