Recipes 2&3

New Recipe # 2- Spanish Pork and Rice adapted from a recipe in Betty Crocker's Healthy New Choices I really liked it and would be interested in making it again, plus it was a good way for me to use the 2 pork chops in the freezer. However, Richard didn't really like it, he's not a big fan of rice (unfortunate since I really like rice!) and Andrew's complaint was that it had chunks of tomato in it. I don't think the girls cared for it either. Oh well, maybe make it more as a side dish instead of the main dish in the future?

New Recipe # 3- Sausage and Ricotta Pasta Bake adapted from a recipe I've had for some time cut out from somewhere, maybe something to do with Tops or Sorrento since it calls for those brands in it. Anyhow- I barely felt like it was a new recipe because I've made similar dishes (pasta, ricotta, mozzarella), but haven't used sausage in it, usually ground beef. So a little bit of a change, and definitely the recipe that the rest of the family ate best.

Haven't been focusing as much as I'd like on the vegetarian meal each week yet, having surgery and recovering takes a bit out of you. I'll be returning back to my clinical site Monday- it'll be good to get the ball rolling again so I can move forward. I don't really see the subacute setting being for me, hopefully I'll find the pediatric rotation a better fit for me or be able to find something to do with this degree and knowledge that will work for me and my family. It's really my hope to work only part time once I'm done. Now whether that will be a few days a week all year, or working for a school system, having summers off, or perhaps another option I don't know. I just really feel the need to be here more, not less.

Happy Valentines Day- I feel lucky to have such a good hubby and 3 good kids.

And so it goes...

Am I a B- Mom????

So, raising kids can be quite thought provoking. Sunday I had my gallbladder removed, an unplanned surgery. On Monday I came home and Monday afternoon Richard left town for work. Although I was disappointed (very) that Richard had to leave, I knew we'd be okay. The kids are old enough to basically fend for themselves and Richard had told them that they really needed to help me out- you know the basic "If you see something needs done, just do it (before Mom has to tell you" talk. He told them he'd turn on texting again if they all did a good job. ( I think that was his plan anyway, but good to throw in as an incentive) Anyhow, the kids did OK throughout the week- got rides home from basketball practice, walked to school , Andrew helped Jayna make food, Jayna at least once started unloading they dishwasher and they didn't ask for too much.... but I was really thinking I'd give them a B-. They weren't bad, but I didn't really feel like they put much effort into helping out after the first day. I was left cleaning up the table, loading the dishwasher, had to get on one of them to clean their room... Anyhow, I thought I'd mention that I'd give them a B-, but then it hit me. How often would they give me a B-??? There are plenty of times when I do okay by them- but maybe not great. Possible examples? The times I don't listen to Jayna as much as I should because I'm trying to do something else; the times I let my kids have friends over, but am less than enthusiastic about it; the times I show up to watch my kids perform or participate in an activity, but am watching the clock at the same time.... I'm sure if I asked the kids the list would be endless, and I'd probably have more B-'s than A+'s. So I'm just going to keep my mouth shut about their perceived B-, because I know as a Mom, I want to be earning A+'s, but sometimes am only giving a B- performance. I hope to do better. I have great kids and here's just one more time they've taught me a good lesson.

And so it goes...