What they've been up to

Kaity and Abby had their Student-Teacher Conferences. They went well!

Kaitlyn was said to be such a sweetheart. I knew that already! She is friends with everyone and has an infectious laugh. She struggles when reading aloud but was the only one in her class to score 100% on the reading assessment exam!!! The teacher said she took her time, all her classmates (6) finished before her. I'm so proud, she didn't rush through it and what an accomplishment!

Abby is the youngest and one of the brightest in her class of 19! The teacher even thought I wrote down the wrong year for her birth date! Her overall assessment went well, she was able to recognize more words than the teacher thought. She is shy but social, she is coming out of her shell and joking around. Aside from the lisp, the teacher has no concerns!

Maddy is potty trained!! It's been a loooooooooong, stressful journey but we've finally made it! She was doing an amazing job so we went out the other day and bought her, her own panties. Now she has panties that actually fit. She was waking up in the middle of the night screaming that she had to "pee bad" so I had El bring up the toddler bed from the basement and she has now slept in it for 2 nights and stayed dry in her panties! She's not a baby anymore. I keep the potty in her room close to her nightlight so she can get up when she needs to. I've been dreading the toddler bed. I knew that once we began this chapter, naps would end and bedtime would become a challenge. So far, I've been right. This is the third napless day and NOTHING is getting done around the house. At bedtime, she gets up 20 or so times. It's been horrible...for me. I hate potty training!

I'm so proud of my girls! It makes all the stress worth it! I just need someone to remind me of that in the midst of the 4 of them simultaneously screaming, yelling, or whining.

Oh My Gallbladder!

If you haven't heard, I need it removed. I've put it off for several reasons. One, I've been restricted as to what I can eat, so I've lost a few pounds and I can stand to lose a few more. Another reason is that the surgeon I was referred to doesn't accept my insurance and I keep forgetting to call another one. I swear, my memory is TERRIBLE! Most importantly, I've been having heart palpitations. Before I have surgery, I wanted that looked into because really I'm afraid to go under the knife, especially with this undiagnosed heart condition.* Also, Daisy is so attached to me that I worry about her crying for the 5 hours I"ll be in the hospital, that is if everything runs smoothly. If I need open surgery, I'll be in the hospital who knows how long.

I have a bottle of vicodins and percocets for the pain and try not to use them because I know how addictive they can be.

Things were going fine for awhile. However 2 days ago I had a horrific attack. I guess I got too comfortable eating again. I had to take a pill. I hate those things. I can't imagine how someone could become addicted. They give me horrible migraines! So I went back to my healthy eating and I thought tonights dinner would be ok too. I made curry meatballs with rice and edamame. I used turkey...I thought it shouldn't be so bad. I was wrong. The pain is awful. I had to take another pill and here I sit with another migraine. Someone please remind me to call the surgeon tomorrow!!

I'll post the recipe for the meatballs if anyone wants. I'm so proud of myself. It's my own recipe. I have all these ingredients, but not everything I would need for one certain meal. So after looking through my pantry I thought I could create curried meatballs. And I did. And they were really good! Too bad I have to freeze the leftovers and wait a few weeks for seconds!

*Tests determined that I have a rapid heart rate. Which in a sense is normal. However, what isn't normal is that less than 1% of the time it doesn't slow, which normally happens when sleeping. At one point in the day, my heart was beating 158 beats a minute. It was when the girls came home from school. I'm just really stressed. The dr said I should get more exercise, try to build the heart muscle and see if it helps any. She said the hill I live on would be a perfect place to start. Or, she could prescribe a pill which I politely declined. Daily walking is just one more thing I miss about the city!

Style

that only a 2yo could pull off!

4 months

What happened to my sweet, easy baby? The past few weeks have been beyond stressful. She is already going through separation anxiety (isn't it early for that?) and wants to be held a lot! If she sleeps well, she's much happier, but once the girls get home from school, there's just too much going on. Thus, she's cranky.

Yesterday, she screamed for an hour. It was not fun.



Her personality is blossoming. She has a voice and let's it be known...she's just as loud as her sisters. It's pretty funny.

Celebrating Fall

We went to the Audubon in Sharon for their annual "Enchanted Forest". A guide took us through a pumpkin-candlelit path where we ran into costumed animals who taught the kids a little bit about them. The path ended at the Center where we had hot chocolate and got a hay ride back to our car. It was so cute! We'll do it again, you'll have to join us!

The girls went on a school trip to Hahn's Farm which is by far the best farm we've seen so far on this side of the Hudson. There was a hay maze, a huge hay tower to climb, hay animals, and a petting "zoo". They had a blast, I'm glad I was able to meet them there!







We may skip trick or treating this year because I'm not so sure how they do it, lol! Don't fret, the girls will not miss out. The town of Millbrook gets all festive. So Saturday we'll go over there with one of Kaitlyn's friends for the trunk or treat, cider and donuts, parade, and a possible magic show? That's what they did last year...so I hear. After that we're heading to the hospital where Daisy was born for a bunch of halloween festivities (including horse and carriage rides) they'll be hosting. Sounds like a lot of fun. And if they're not too exhausted, we'll go to the chapel that night for their trunk or treat. So I don't think they'll feel too deprived, but we'll see.

10 reasons to come up here

10 reasons to come see me

1. I'm so awesome
2. The hot chocolate at Belgique Patisserie will have you asking, "Jacques, who?" It's like liquid dark chocolate and is unbelievable. Words can't describe the deliciousness! The homemade whip cream is like the icing on the cake! And they have artisan belgian chocolate, think Neuhaus, but fresher because it's made on the premises rather than imported. But expect to spend a fortune.
3. The corn maize at Ellsworth Hill Farm is really fun.
4. You don't want to miss the fall folliage!
5. I'm still awesome
6. Hodgeson's and Lawrence Family Farms are great farms for kids
7. I know a great B&B for you to stay at ;)
8: The man voted best chef in the Hudson Valley owns the restaurant just down the road.
9. Some great little shopping towns around us: Millerton (voted one of the top 10 in US by Frommer's), Millbrook, Rhinebeck
10. Someone as awesome as me can only have spectacular friends...We miss you awesome people!

I told El the next time he drives into work, he has to take me (and Daisy and Maddy) with him! So I hope to see you guys soon.

Quinoa

Because of my new forced diet, I've had to find some new recipes. Here's one I loved!

Quinoa Tabbouleh
1 cup quinoa
1/2 tsp basil
1 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped scallions
1 TBL dried mint
1 garlic clove, pressed
1/4 cup olives, sliced, I LOVE the Castlevetrano kind.
1 tomato, diced
salt and pepper to taste

Cook quinoa according to package. Let cool. Meanwhile, place all ingredients except olives in a mixing bowl and toss together lightly. Chill at least 1 hour. Garnish with olives.

Serve with hummus and pita pockets. If only I could get some falafels up here!