Simply Hil

We have it.  And it's bad .  Poor Little Guy is finally getting over it after throwing up seven times (plus) in 72 hours.  Praying baby boy doesn't get it. Will be back when we are all feeling better.

{song credit: "Smallest Wingless" by Craig Cardiff} I am in a state of reflection today.  It was one year ago on this day that we met with the specialist at Primary Children's Hospital and learned what dire condition Michael's heart was in.  We were told he would not make it to full gestation, and probably only had a few weeks left as it was.  Then we were sent on our way after we had been given no hope.  We were devastated, shaken and scared but we both still hoped that our son would be able to make it through this.  After offering a prayer pleading for comfort and strength right there in the parking lot, we decided to make the most of the situation and enjoy every minute we had left with our sweet boy.  Each and every movement was such a relief and blessing from that point on. Exactly one week later, Michael left us.  I was in the middle of making Frog Eyed Salad for Thanksgiving dinner the next day when I felt dizzy, sick to my stomach and just...

Not only are we down to single digits on the baby countdown, but we are down to me being able to count the days on one hand!  It's just plain crazy.  Dr. C scheduled a tentative induction date for next Tuesday (my actual due date) but I'm hoping the baby decides to come on his own before then.  Regardless, it is pretty fun knowing that this time next week I will be totally and completely sleep deprived but loving life with a newborn in my arms. We are ready and waiting! {The crib is all decked out and ready to go} {Little Guy is more than excited for the new arrival... and happens to think that all the baby's items are his.  Can't blame him seeing how they all used to be!  Crazy how fast time flies.} {Batteries work and cover has been washed!} {The dressers are completely refinished.  Spray paint folks.  Who knew??} {Dresser drawers are full of cute mini-clothes} {Baby's closet is stocked with diapers and wipes} {Baby's cradle is all set up in ...

... when your fire alarm decides to run out of battery power at 3 AM, causing it to tease you with an "almost beep" every 2 minutes or so?  Why is it that they never happen to run out of battery during a sane time of day?  I swear it's always between 2 AM and 5 AM that they decide to torture us out of our beds to change the battery. Last night was killer.  It was, as my brother put it, as though all the elements were working together to prepare me for a newborn.  Not only did the fire alarm do it's thing but we had insane winds causing our vinyl fence out back to squeak and creak all night long.  Poor Little Guy woke up with a bad dream.  My contractions decided to kick it up a notch and my bladder decided it couldn't hold anything more than a few drops of water at a time.  By the time I was finally drifting off to sleep, the hubs' alarm went off. Last night really was quite humorous.  It reminded me that sleep is a rare luxury when...

{38 week belly} Two. More. Weeks.  Whoa.  Seriously?  Ready or not, this baby is on his way!  I have been having some fun contractions for the last week or so and hope to find out at my appointment tomorrow that they have actually done some work.  We shall see. Jer and I were talking last night about how it seems like I have been pregnant forever.  I suppose if we include the 5 1/2 months I was pregnant with Michael and add that to the 9 months I have been pregnant with this little guy, it's understandable.  It is almost surreal to think we will actually have a baby at the end of this pregnancy.  We are very anxious and excited over the whole ordeal. Michael has been on my mind a lot these past few days.  I have had a flood of emotions rush back as it was this time last year that we were meeting with specialists and trying to figure out what was wrong with our sweet boy .  I have shed a few tears as I think about the pain we expe...

:: I've been on a list kick lately, which is very unlike me to be so "organized". :: I have post-it notes all over my desk and night stand containing the things I want to get done. :: I really never understood lists and why people said they got a "thrill" out of checking things off... but now I do. :: Aside from chore lists, I also have a Christmas list sitting here on my desk staring at me. :: I figure it will be easier to get the Christmas shopping done before the baby, rather than after. ::  Amazon.com will be my best friend again this year as I have a free Prime membership for the month of November. :: Who doesn't love free second day shipping? :: Speaking of Amazon and lists, have you created your universal wish list for this year?  Do it.  Your family and friends will thank you for making their Christmas shopping so much easier. :: It rained hard last night. :: I was up all night with potty breaks and contractions. :: Little Guy fell out of...

I have had this recipe bookmarked for almost a year now.  I knew I had to give them a try as cookie dough happens to be my main food group.  Yesterday presented the perfect opportunity to make them, because I had a girl's night that night.  It was a win/win.  I could make them, taste them and then share them so they weren't sitting around my house begging me to eat them. They were delicious.   Very sweet , but delicious.  However, I think I will use milk chocolate for the outer shell next time.  I am not a fan of semi-sweet (especially when dealing with cookies) and never have been.  But I felt like I owed it to the recipe to follow what it said the first time. Enjoy! Cookie Dough Truffles Ingredients: 8 tbsp. butter, at room temperature ¾ cup packed light brown sugar 2¼ cup all-purpose flour 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 1 tsp. vanilla extract ½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate) 1½ lb. semiswe...