He Is Here!!!

Cashew is here! He was born 3 weeks ago via scheduled c-section at 39 weeks.. Early in the morning too, 7:39 AM! He is a happy, healthy baby, and surprisingly my littlest baby, weighing in at 7 pounds 10 ounces and 19.5 inches long. he is gaining weight fast though and has grown 1.5 inches in 3 weeks. Breastfeeding is doing very well and he a pretty easy baby for the most part.

I stayed 3 days at the hospital before I was discharged to go home. It was a pretty nice hospital stay overall. Thank you Dr. Bossert and thank you Bergan Mercy Hospital here in Omaha! Here are some pics.

Right out of the womb

With his proud Daddy

Dada with all of our kids

Mommy and Cashew doing skin to skin

Adorable little man at 3 weeks old

Final Weeks

I am 36 weeks pregnant now. Cashew is going to be here pretty soon! C-Section has been scheduled on July 9th, at 39 weeks. You know what? I feel like it all flew by so fast. Way too fast. So sorry I haven't updated in a little while, we moved homes and were busy unpacking. We love it here. It's the second story of a lovely house built in 1906. It's a multi dwelling home and we have just the right room for our family. I've been nesting and getting everything done lol. Got Cashew's things in the dresser, got his blankets and swaddlers, his rocker, my cousin sent me an awesome baby bathtub. All we need is a carseat and we are getting that within the next week. I need to pack a hospital bag. My husband is taking a couple weeks off to be with me at home and be Mr. Homemaker. I cannot believe the time is here, he is going to be here!

 3D pic of Cashew at 32 weeks!

Myself at 36 weeks!

Easy Five Ingredient Crockpot Cheese Beef Stronganoff

This is what we are having for dinner tonight. I just put everything in the crockpot and let it cook on low all day. Serve over noodles of your choice, or rice. Even potatoes if you wish! My family loves it and it is very easy to prepare, for busy moms like us! Serves 6.

1.5 pounds beef stew meat (I used sirloin tips)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 4-oz can mushrooms, undrained
1 8-oz block cream cheese
1 packet ranch dip mix

Spray the crock with nonstick spray. In the crock, mix together the cream of mushroom soup, undrained mushrooms and packet of ranch dip mix. Add the beef and mix everything well. Place the block of cream cheese on top.

Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 5-6 hours. During the last 20 minutes, smoosh down the cream cheese and mix well till the meal has a creamy consistency. Replace lid and finish cooking.

That is all! Like I have always said, I love crockpots, a real lifesaver for busy moms (and non-parents alike!). You simply add the food in it, turn it on and it cooks itself! It's awesome for tenderizing meat, even tough cuts. Makes it fall-off -the-bone tender! About 10 points per serving.

Pan-Fried Pork Chops with Peach Glaze

This is easy and quick. I like to serve this with a side of veggies and some rice, noodles or potatoes of your choice. Serves 4-6.

1 pack thin sliced (or your choice) pork chops (1.5 pounds about)
1 can peaches in water or light syrup, drained
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsbp minced garlic
seasoned salt to taste
black pepper to taste

Heat olive oil on high heat in a skillet. Add the garlic and saute till lightly golden. Add the peach slices and simmer for a couple minutes.

Sprinkle seasoned salt and black pepper on both sides of the chops. Place on top of the peach slices and fry on medium.

Turn when side is golden. When both sides are done, simmer on low for about 3 minutes, covered.

Only about 7 points per serving! Family pleaser! I know my family loved it.

Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

I have been making this for the family quite a few times the past few weeks, and they love it! I serve it with some mashed potatoes and steamed veggies. Makes a good, healthy meal. Serves 6.

For the patties:

1 pound lean ground beef
4 slices of bread
1/2 cup milk (or a bit more)
1 egg, beaten
1 pouch ranch dressing mix
1 tsp black pepper

For the gravy:

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 4-oz can mushrooms
1 cup milk
1 pouch onion soup/dip mix

Spray a deep skillet with nonstick spray. On medium heat, add the cream of mushroom soup. can of mushrooms including the liquid, milk and pouch of onion soup/dip mix. Stir well. Cover and simmer on low.

In a mixing bowl, soak the bread in the milk. If 1/2 cup is not enough to completely soak the bread, add a little more. Add the egg, ground beef, ranch dressing mix and black pepper. Mix well using your hands.

Head a griddle sprayed with nonstick spray. Using a serving spoon (like pictured above), scoop some of the meat mixture and form a patty in your palm, and lay it on the griddle. Make as many as would fit in the griddle.

Keep on medium heat and flip when browned on the side. Repeat till all of mixture is used. When all cooked,  place patties in the skillet with the simmering gravy. Cover the patties with gravy, cover the skillet and simmer on low for about 7-10 minutes.

Then serve. Only about 8 points per serving. Really yummy, a family mainstay for us, that's for sure! Kids always ask for thirds!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Acorn!

My baby isn't a baby anymore! How fast it all goes. Cherish every moment with your kids, they will never be this way again! They truly change from day to day, and it really is an adventure. Little Acorn was born 2 years ago and was a wonderful, very interactive baby. Now she is a very active, inquisitive toddler with a sense of humor. And so smart! She loves to dress up and loves makeup too. Getting into everything, and adores her 2 older sisters. Our smart, beautiful, fearless girl. We love you so much, Acorn! We love being your mommy and daddy!

She's a little lady!

Her 2nd Birthday Cake

Moved to Omaha, Nebraska! Family Update!

I haven't blogged in a couple of months. I have been pretty busy. We have moved from Oklahoma City to Omaha, Nebraska in the later part of February. We were deciding between Omaha and Denver, Colorado, but we have decided that Omaha was the place to go. So far everything is doing good. Husband likes his new job - actually within the same company, just a different state. Plus it is triple the pay and has less work hours. He is a plumber by trade. So, it's a no brainer. We like Omaha, it's a nice city. Not a lot of traffic, got a lot to do, lots of places to eat and shop. Don't regret it. Thinking of settling here for good, and buying a home by the end of the year. The huge plus is the 3% unemployment rate. Pretty awesome, if you ask me. It's April and still snows some. That's how it is around here, but not complaining. I prefer the cold to heat actually.

Our family at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City on the way up to Omaha

Kids are doing great too. Boy, they are getting big. Thriving and just wonderful kids. Peanut and Pecan have been into video games lately, their daddy bought them new ones recently. And Acorn is starting to talk in sentences and is real smart. Getting to be a little lady! She seems to want to do everything her two older sisters do, so sometimes she gets frustrated, but it comes with the territory. She just turned 2! They can be a handful at times, but that's just normal for kids their age. Overall, they are sweet little girls, could not ask for anything more. We love them to bits.

Now for Baby Cashew. He sure is getting bigger in there. I have a  harder time moving around. Lots of bathroom trips. LOL! Backache, Braxton-Hicks, the works. And yes, i still have constant nausea and throw up a lot still. Not surprising to me anymore, this is the third pregnancy it has happened. I am almost 28 weeks along now. So I have about 11 weeks more to go before my C-Section. Yes I have asked if it is possible for me to VBAC but unfortunately, I am not a good candidate. The combination of my history of previous shoulder dystocia and consistent macrosomic babies (aka babies weighing more than 9 pounds! and all of mine have.) prevents me from being a good candidate. He is moving a lot, especially at night. I could see my belly moving sometimes.

Cashew at 23 weeks. Look at that little face! Looks like Daddy.

27.5 weeks