Prayer for my sanity!

Ok..I want to go ahead and warn you..this is a total 'vent' post..so bear with me if you chose to continue reading!  I found out today that my doctor isn't in my 'network' of providers.  Niccceeee.  Great thing to find out when your getting close to the HALFWAY point of your pregnancy!!  But there is hope.  I can ask her to join my network by filling out a paper (which is being sent to me by the HR person w/Damons work)..so I'm going to do that when I see her next week.  I also was able to nominate her and the group she works with online..so maybe that will help too.  I just hope next week isn't my last time seeing her because I really like my doctor!  She's so funny (hilarious, actually) and sweet.  Always ready to listen to any concern or question I may have.  I love the atmosphere at the office and even the nurses are great!  Makes me wonder if I should have thought beforehand..is all of this too good to be true?  Hopefully things will work out.  I've just been so stressed after finding all of this out..plus dealing with my ongoing crazy insurance company and things they've been sending me in the mail (I dont want to go there!) but after finding out all hope is not lost with the forms I can get my doctor to fill out..I'm much better now.  Just needing to spend some time in prayer with God about all of this.  My next doctors appointment is next tuesday..the 16 week mark!  I've been anxious to hear the babys hearbeat again (seems like its been forever since I last heard it)..it will be a big relief to hear that sweet sound again!  Anyways..wanted to ask all you sweet, caring bloggers out there to join me in prayer about all of this craziness!!  Thanks for listening to me do some grumbling...

15 weeks!

Thought you guys might be interested in seeing how my pregnancy has progessed in the past several weeks!  Now please keep in mind..I wasn't a 'skinny little mini' to start with..but when I took this picture on friday I really felt like I was starting to really 'pop'!!  They say in week 14 that happens..and I agree with the books on that one!!  Plus you can't beat the lovely Christmas tree background!  :-)

Cravings:  not really much..but Milky Way candy bars have a big appeal value to me now (something I didnt care much for in the past).  I'm really more into 'dinner' than 'dessert'..which anyone who knows me knows thats odd!  I'd pick steak over a piece of cake I think! 

Food Turn-Offs:  chocolate ice cream, bananas, chili, and meatloaf.  YUCK!

Weight Gain:  about 5 pounds

Dr Appointments:  I have my 16 week (4 month) appointment next week!  The 'big one' will be on January 11th when we get to find out what the baby's sex is!!  Still praying all is going well.  :-)

Discomforts:  Sleeping has become an on again, off again thing for me since entering the 2nd trimester.  Having a cold a couple weeks ago didn't help things any either, and sometimes I still go into coughing spells when I lay down at night.  But..I am doing better now than about 2 weeks ago in that area!
I also have heartburn, though its also not as bad as it was.  Tums has become one of my best friends!

Maternity Clothes:  I've had one 'good' pair of maternity jeans I've been wearing when I go out..and I love them!  Looking forward to getting more for my upcoming birthday and Christmas!  For the most part though..I've just been wearing lounge pants..they work well!

What I miss:  Not having to deal with insurance companies on a regular basis.  Yes..I'm still dealing with that one!  Please pray for me that I don't loose my mind.  I've become afraid I'm going to have to change doctor's in order to satisfy them completely..though I've come to realize I don't think thats something that is even possible!!



Day 5 ~ Holiday Recipes





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Holiday Recipes

Ok I've been looking forward to this part of the '12 Days of Christmas' link up over at The Blessed Life!!  Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love to cook and bake!  And this time of the year is when I bring out some of my most beloved recipes!!  Some things that are 'have to's' around the Green household this time of the year are Peanut Butter Balls (people from Ohio call them 'buckeyes' and I've also heard them referred to as 'chocolate balls') and my famous peanut butter cookies (they are filled with a cream cheese/peanut butter mixture..like a thumbprint cookie..and drizzled w/chocolate).  Yum!!  Also each year for Christmas Eve..I do some appetizers for when my parents come to visit.  Its basically the only time of the year I do anything of this nature, but I must say, I really enjoy it!  I do tend to stress a little bit about it though, mainly because I don't really have anything thats 'go-to'..I try doing different things each year.  Sooo..any holiday appetizers you'd like to share with me..I would be MORE than happy to accept!! 

Here is the recipe for my peanut butter cookies.  Since most of you know about peanut butter balls, I won't post the recipe, but if you leave me a comment requesting it..I'll be happy to share!  :-) 

Mel's Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup crisco

1/2 cup softened butter

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 1/2 cups sugar, divided

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

3 cups all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling:

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

4 ounces softened cream cheese

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:

2 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

In large bowl, beat crisco, butter, peanut butter, 1 cup sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after adding each one.  Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt.  Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls; roll in remaining 1/2 cup sugar.  Place on a baking sheet.  Using the end of a wooden spoon, make an indentation in the center of each ball.

In small mixing bowl, beat peanut butter and cream cheese until smooth.  Mix in the sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla.  Spoon some of the filling into each indentation in each cookie. 

Bake at 350 degrees until done (I usually just keep an eye on them..I'd say about 8 minutes or so..depends on your oven).  Remove from pans to cool.

Melt the chocolate chips (I do mine in the microwave..stir often to prevent scorching) and stir until smooth.  Drizzle melted chocolate over each cookie.

Enjoy and happy baking!!  :-D

Day 4 ~ Christmas Memories





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Christmas Memories

Most of my Christmas memories from when I was a child revolve around my grandparent's and my cat, Babe!  I'll talk about my grandparents first.  :-)  I remember, if memory serves me right, we'd go to my grandparents house when they still lived in WV on Christmas Eve..late in the evening (it would already be dark).  I remember my grandma ALWAYS made her punch every year, without fail!  I still like it to this day..its just ginger ale and lime sherbet!  Yum!  That punch always reminds me of my grandma and Christmas.  I remember alot of people being at their house and it being really busy..but it was alot of fun!

More of my memories seems to involve my beloved cat, Babe, more than anything though.  She was so special to me!  To give you a little background info..I wanted my own kitten when I was in the 1st grade.  Already having 2 cats (that I felt were more my moms than mine)..dad didn't want anymore.  Then..the day before my birthday..on December 11th..a little gray tabby kitten showed up on our porch while I was at school!  My dad proclaimed, "it has blue eyes!!!"..and all else was history!  "Snowball" was my very first cat..all of my own!  Babe became a nickname that just stuck, not long after I got her.  She grew up right along with me..I remember I cared so much for that cat..she was my world.  In the winter, she would sit in my window in my bedroom and try to 'catch' snowflakes that landed on the window with her mouth!  Too cute!  Oh how I miss her..but..I have had so many other wonderful cats come into my life since then.  They all hold a special place in my heart.  :-)  Back in the day when I had a website, I had a page dedicated to Babe.  Here is a picture of her, taken from my old 'page'!

(My sweet angel Babe)

(Little Zippy..who came after Babe passed away..isn't she cute!!)

(And of course, my sweet little Ravey!  Her first Christmas with us..in the tree!)



Day 3 ~ Christmas Gift Ideas

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Today at The Blessed Life its all about your Christmas gift ideas!  Head on over and share your ideas with all of us!!

This will be an interesting subject for me as I have no idea what I'm about to write!!  Sometimes gift giving can be overwhelming, as most of you know!  Especially for the men in our lives!  Why is that anyways?  The one man I never have trouble buying for, it seems, is Damon!  He seems so easy to please and there are so many things he likes.  This year its really been a no-brainer for him.  Since he got a Wii for his birthday a couple weeks ago..Wii games seemed a natural choice for Christmas gifts.  He also loves nice sweaters for church, can always use a new pair of jeans, LOVES cologne (this guy goes thru more cologne than any man I've ever seen!), and even likes toys!  I can just see it when our little one comes..Damon will be playing with the babys toys more than he/she will be!  Ha!  Last year I bought him a remote controlled monster truck!  My dad on the other hand, can be the most difficult to buy for.  So I usually go the safe route and get him a gift card..he loves them (thankfully!!) and puts them to good use!

(it was a neat jacket for him with the '67'..his birth year!)

My mom and me, I think, are super easy to buy for.  We both love jewelry (what girl doesn't?) and clothes.  I also love perfume and purses!  I made out awesome on black friday for myself..getting a gorgeous diamond bracelet and Vera Wang handbag!  Score one for Mel!!!  I still have shopping to do for my mom and even though I don't know exactly what to get her just yet..I'm not fretting..because everything always falls into place.

(a christmas several years past..but you can tell how happy i was to get a new necklace!)

For friends, I think its good to go with their personality.  If you have a friend you've never met before (that lives far away, for example) a great idea is to buy them something from where you live..so they can kind of experience some of your 'traditions', if you will!  For instance, I have a friend from Bulgaria and last year she sent me a candy bar from over there!  It was a nestle crunch, if memory serves me correctly, but the writing on it was all foreign!  I thought it was one of the neatest things ever!!  Also..journals make GREAT gifts and can be used in so many ways.  If your the crafty type, anything homemade is always a plus!

For those of the 'furry' type..they aren't hard to please!!  Whether you go to the pet store or just Walmart..and pick up a new toy, bed, collar, or treat..they will be totally satisfied!  And even better..a big Christmas bag! Thats Ravey's preference!

Day 2 ~ Christmas Traditions





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Today we're all talking about our Christmas traditions!  If you haven't joined in the 12 Days of Christmas link up..head over to The Blessed Life and join in!

I always try to start my Christmas decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Sometimes this works out..and sometimes not (like this year!)..but either way I do manage to get my decorating done!!  I like to try to add a new ornament each year to our tree and always make an attempt to buy one when we are on vacation!  Makes for some nice memories!  Some years I'm able to find one (or more) and some years none.  I guess the years when I find more than one..it makes up for the years I can't find anything!

Onto Christmas Eve..this day used to be so 'rushed' feeling for us.  So a couple years ago we decided to do things just a little differently.  Its amazing what one small change can do!!  Instead of having my parents to our house FIRST..then going to visit his mom..we just reversed that order and it made a world of a difference!  We head up to see his mom for a little bit at her house on Christmas Eve after we've had dinner (I ALWAYS make hot dogs!!) and take her presents.  Then we come home and I break out the appetizers (it varies from year to year) and my parents come down and we nosh on some food and open gifts from one another.  Its so much fun!!  You may ask..why don't you guys have Damons mom come down to eat with us?  You'd just have to know her..its not really her thing and she'd just prefer to be at home!  So after my parents head on back to their place (its usually getting dark out by this time), me and Damon have our time alone!  We started a new tradition last year (since it was the first Christmas in our new house) of reading the story in the Bible of Jesus' birth..and I really liked doing that.  So hopefully that will continue this year as well!  Then we open gifts from one another (minus the stockings) and are pretty much busy with all of that the rest of the evening!  We usually have a big bonfire outside to burn up all the Christmas paper, etc also.  This is something I enjoyed immensly when we lived at our old place..because several of our neighbors would come out and join us..and we'd all have a chance to chat for a bit..very nice!  I do miss that!  :-(

On Christmas Day..when we get up in the morning we open our stockings!  This usually contains a Christmas card, some goodies, and a small gift (or two)!  Then I get busy doing some cooking..I help my mom out w/Christmas dinner by preparing a few things and taking up there.  Then we head up to their house and have a big meal..usually consists of ham and all the fixings! Definately Damons favorite..since I'm not much for ham (I'm a turkey girl!)!  After eating, we'll go and visit Damons mom and uncle..and take his uncle a gift..and have a little to eat with them as well.  My MIL makes the best green beans!!!!!  That is the one thing that she fixes that I really look forward to..and no matter what I do..I just can't make them like she does!  We all have a nice chat together and then we head home...to unwind from the days events!

The day after Christmas..I love love love to go to the after Christmas sales!!  I 'almost' enjoy it as much as black friday!  I'm always stocking up on wrapping paper, bows, bags, boxes and anything else I might need for the next year!  Its alot of fun!  My favorite store to head to is Target!  Walmart is GREAT for the gift sets since they are half off..talk about some cheap perfume!  LOL! 

I also try to sometime during the month of December, head to Kentucky to see my grandma for Christmas.  Some years I get down there to visit, and some not (depending on the weather).  I really would like to get down there this year..she's about to turn 86 (on sunday) and I don't know how many more Christmases she'll be with us.  She is the rock of the family and an amazing woman..I love her dearly!  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I'll be able to visit this year!

So what are some of your Christmas traditions?

12 Days of Christmas! Day 1

Head over to The Blessed Life to join in on the 12 Days of Christmas fun!  A different topic to talk about every day..looks to be alot of fun!





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What does Christmas mean to you?

Christmas means so many things to me!!  First and foremost though, it means the celebration of the birth of Jesus, our Saviour.  With so much going on nowadays when Christmastime rolls around..it is very easy to lose sight of the real reason why we celebrate this time of the year.  Its easy to get lost in all the excitement of the holidays, the plays and concerts, the decorations, shopping, etc, etc.  You know how it is!  We should all sit down and reflect on what is really important.  It is this day out of the year that we celebrate Jesus' birth..what a spectacular day to rejoice in!!

Of course Christmas also has other meanings to me as well..being with family and friends..decorating..and baking among other things.  I'm so excited that next year we'll have a little one to celebrate Christmas with too!  We'll get to teach him/her about why we celebrate Christmas to begin with..and why its important.  So much joy is in this season!  Its definately my favorite time of the year!  The lights alone just draws my mind to a peaceful place.  I think thats why I'm so attracted to the blue lights..to me it just exudes peace.  Something we all need more and more in our lives. 

What does Christmas mean to you?