Fried Apples

I wanted to share with you my fried apple recipe. This is in absolutely no way healthy and or low fat. :) I love these apples because I double heart sweet fried apples. :) Original recipe from allrecipes.com

1/4 cup butter

4 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1/4 inch thick

2 tsp cornstarch

1/2 cup cold water

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla (I have mexican vanilla my fabulous MIL bought me and it is Divine!)

• melt butter over medium heat, add apples
• cook, stirring constantly, until almost tender...about 6-7 minutes
• Dissolve cornstarch in water, add brown sugar and cinnamon
• boil for 2 minutes, serve warm

These are delicious for a desert or for breakfast. :)

Chicken Lazone

I got this recipe from my friend, Meagan, a while ago. I wanted to try it. I mean...after all, she and her family raved about it! But, for some reason..I just kept putting it off. Until now. :) Chicken is one of my step daughter's favorite foods.  Honestly, you can't cook chicken but so many ways. Okay, you can, but I just don't. I thought I would try this since most everything (but the cream) I always have on hand. 

Saying this was a hit was an understatement. This took much less time than I thought. I actually had to heat my sweet hubby's up because I got done with dinner 30 minutes before he got home from work! Next time, I will make more of this yummy sauce to go on it as well. Definitely not the healthiest part of this recipe! lol. Recipe from food.com

1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
4 whole boneless skinless chicken breasts (I butterfly because I have an easier time cooking on the stove top)
1/4 cup butter, divided
1/2 cup heavy cream

• Place seasonings in large ziplock bag and toss with chicken to coat thoroughly
• In large saute pan melt half of the butter and cook chicken over medium heat for about 7 to 8 minutes, turning once.
• Pour the cream into the skillet and lower the heat.
• Simmer for several minutes, stirring until the sauce thickens then add the remaining butter.
• When butter is melted place chicken breasts on four plates and top with the sauce.

I served this with jasmine rice, steamed broccoli, and fried apples. Yummo!!

picture and original recipe from food.com

33-34 weeks

The farther I get in the pregnancy the busier! :)

How Far Along: 34 weeks. 3 weeks until full term, 5 weeks (if not sooner) for baby!

Size of baby: He is the size of a cantaloupe. Average: about 18 inches long and average about 4.25 pounds. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Up 12 lb as of 33w1d :) Thinking up 13 now. :)

Maternity Clothes: Mostly maternity. This pic today is of a non-maternity shirt. It's sad bug some of my regular shirts are longer than my maternity shirts!

Gender:  Bouncing Baby Boy!! Mama's prince, Ty.

Stretch marks: No new ones. :) But with my belly growing at the pace it is, I know they are coming. I have been using my Bio Oil and lotion religiously.

Movement: He is so active! When I sit on the couch in my den, he goes crazy. Maybe because it's so "squishy"? I don't know. His hiccups are constant as well.  It's so funny when I can see them. :) Hubby is across the den and commented on my belly jumping...it's Ty's hiccups. <3

Sleep:  Sleep is getting even more non-exsistant

What I miss: Nothing. :) 

Cravings: Still wanting milk all. the. time.

Symptoms: Standard 3rd trimester symptoms: exhaustion, leg cramps, back aches, and pressure

 Best Moments this week: Lots!

Weekly randoms:

I had two showers this week: one at work and one with friends. :) I think I'll post about all my showers at once since I have not posted on my first yet. 

I started and have almost finished packing mine and Ty's hospital bag. 

I had a contraction! What? I heard you could have them starting around 33 weeks, but I didn't think I would. I was sitting in Walmart parking lot and it was unmistakable. I will spare you the details, all you mama's know what it feels like. :) I need to up my water intake.

Ty's room is almost finished!! <3

Maternity Photos :)

We had our maternity pictures done a few weeks back and I absolutely love them!   Michelle-Anne Photography took my pictures and I think she did such an amazing job! Warning:  Picture overload!

See? A lot of pictures! These are the first family pictures we have had made in years and I love how my photographer combined a family and a maternity session for me. <3

My Scheduled C-Section

I found out 4 weeks ago that I may need a C-Section to deliver my sweet boy. I went in that day for my regular OB appointment with my only question being "With me having gestational diabetes, what are the chances of me delivering early?" With that question, was a lengthy discussion with my doctor. Ty is already measuring big for 2 reasons: I have GD and my husband was a big baby. He weighed 8lb 9oz and was 3 weeks early! My poor MIL. <3 Throughout the discussion, My Dr. gave me the scenario of if I delivered vaginally what some risks, current and later on, that I and/or Ty could endure. He also said, ultimately the section is my decision. But he of course recommended the section. I have a very small pelvic area, and with Ty growing at the rate he is growing, and the size of his head already (in a previous post), it could possibly cause fetal stress and hours of labor. My blood pressure then becomes and issue, which can be very dangerous for Ty.  If I am able to have him, I may have issues later on.  This was new to me. Issues later on? Well after talking to a sweet friend of mine, I have found that she, in fact, is having these issues after delivering her large baby.  Her child is almost 8 and she is having bladder problems, etc.

After discussing this with him, I called my husband in tears. I mean, isn't it every mom's dream to have her baby the way she always envisioned it? However, after calming down, speaking with him and our mothers, I have come to the decision that this is definitely the best choice for Ty and me.  We will be in a completely controlled environment, I know there is no stress to him, and he will be delivered in a matter of minutes.  I asked my nurse at birthing class so many questions, and she was fabulous to discuss and answer them for me. :)

As of right now, my date is December 17th. I will go for pre-op blood work on December 14th.  This many sound utterly selfish, but it is a slight relief that I know we will be home and settled before Christmas.  Christmas is such a busy few days for us. The girls are of course from a split home, so they have so many places and people to visit. I am so happy that they don't have to change and always have to work around Ty and vice versa. Plus, I was worried about having Ty on Christmas eve or Christmas because I want him to know and love the real reason for Christmas. Not that it is also his birthday. Selfish I know, but emotionally, it will work so much better.

If, when I go in for my next measuring ultrasound, Ty is measuring even larger, we will move my section up 5 days to the 12th. I will be 38 1/2 weeks at that time. Also, if at 36-37 weeks I am dilated in any way, we may try to have him vaginally.  That decision will be made at that time.

I am so blessed that God would allow us to be the parents of this little boy. As nervous and stressed out as I was in the beginning, I know in the end, when it is all said and done, I will have my precious baby in my arms.  The recovery may be longer, but I'm not worried about that.

Please keep my baby, husband, and I in your prayers as we embark on this journey.  It is so hard to believe that it will be upon us so quickly!  Will update as my date nears!