Just an Update...

I just wanted to thank everyone for your care and concern regarding our Paige. The specialist feels that it will just be something that comes and goes, and that it is more likely a "defective lymph node" for lack of a better term. If it becomes a bigger problem later, it can be removed. I feel so much better knowing I don't need to worry anymore. Now I can get ready to have this baby...I will get induced on the 26Th unless he decides to come earlier! I am so excited, and we will certainly pass along the good news of his arrival once he is here. Hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend!!!

Guiltless Cupcakes

In my efforts to try and eat healthier I have been on the prowl for yummy food with not a lot of calories. I don't normally like sweets but it seems that when I try to cut them out of my diet I find myself craving them. Someone shared this guiltless cupcake recipe with me and I am hooked. It's going to sound strange but believe me they are DELICIOUS.

You need:
One Cake Mix
One Can Diet Soda of Your Choice
NO OIL NO EGGS JUST DIET SODA

And that is all. You mix the soda into the cake mix and you're done. Instead of using oil and eggs ,which packs on the calories, this is a much healthier alternative. I make 24 cupcakes out of the mix, the more you make the less calories in each one. Bake at temperature on box but be sure to check often as they don't take that long to bake. Jacob even eats them and thinks they are great. You can even add one serving of frosting(which is usually 2 tablespoons)for an even yummier treat. I reward myself with two at night for a day of hard mommy work and don't feel guilty afterwards. If you try it I would love to hear what you think!!! ENJOY

Our Ordeal

Even though some of you already know what has been going on, I just wanted to share what Justin and I have been going through the last two weeks...
We were putting Paige to bed on the 3rd, and I felt a huge lump on the side of her neck. It didn't look like a bite or anything I am usually familiar with on her body, and it was hard as a rock. We decided to take her to the ER since it was so close to her airway, and I didn't want her to stop breathing in the middle of the night....so at 9:30 we ended up at the ER. They did an x-ray, and a few Doctors checked her out, but nobody had a real answer for what was causing this. So they sent us home with antibiotics to start her on, and said to watch it closely.
We followed up with her Pediatrician, and she recommended an ultrasound, being that Paige had no other symptoms to explain the lump. She wanted to rule out a possible malignancy! When we heard that...we felt horrified. After much negotiation, we got her in for the ultrasound a week ago and the Doctor was very concerned by the results. He told Justin and I to be "concerned" and that Paige needed a CT scan asap. He felt her lymph nodes were abnormal on both sides of her neck, and that the one node was ridiculously enlarged for some reason. So we went home in shock, and of course called her Ped. to find out when we could get a CT scan. They advised us not to waste any time, and go to the ER to get one...and that they would be expecting us. So we spent about 7 hrs. at the ER waiting, getting an IV in Paige (horrible), sedating her for the scan (scary), and then waiting on results (even worse). It was the hardest thing Justin and I have EVER been through...not to mention I am having contractions the whole day, and Paige has never been to the ER or even sick for that matter! Our ER Doc said that the scan showed the abnormal nodes were only in her neck, which was good news, and that her blood work came back normal, which was also great news....BUT, they still didn't know what was causing all of this.
They referred us to a specialist from there, but said to watch it. SOOOOOO, we met with the specialist on Tuesday, and she wants to just watch it for another week before we do a biopsy. She was wonderful, and reassured us that she feels it will be fine, and will more than likely go away on it's own. As I write this today, her lump has started to shrink a bit, and I feel like it will go away soon.
Just the thought of my child having cancer has been the most terrifying thing....and I have never felt so helpless as I have in the past few days. We have appreciated everyones prayers and thoughts so much....I know they have helped.

I guess I am sharing this with the rest of you so you will hug your kids and husbands a little tighter today. This whole experience has helped put a tighter focus on what is the only important thing in our life...our kids and each other. I hope you all have a great weekend...

Yummy Toffe Bark!!!

Last night I hosted a recipe exchange and this is what I made.  It doesn't take long and it's pretty easy to make.  Also, you can make it a day or two before and just refrigerate or freeze it.  I've made it before and everyone LOVED it.  It's deadly because once you have just one bight, you'll want to eat it all.  So here's the recipe:

1 c. brown sugar (packed)

1 c. melted butter

1 pkg. Trader Joe’s semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips

Nabisco’s salted tops soda crackers

Trader Joe’s dry roasted unsalted almonds (chopped)

Preheat oven to 350.  Put foil over cookie sheet and spray with Pam butter flavor.  Place crackers salt side up on foil.  Melt butter then add brown sugar and stir over med. heat until it boils.  After sugar mixture has boiled for 3 minutes, pour over crackers and put in oven.  When it stars getting bubbly on top, turn oven down to 325 and let bubble for another 5 minutes.  Turn off oven and sprinkle choc. chips over mixture (crackers).  Leave in oven for 3 minutes.  They should be soft enough to spread evenly thereafter.  Sprinkle with chopped almonds and freeze for 45 minutes, or you may refrigerate.  Crack into pieces and enjoy!