The holidays are right around the corner and Nestor and I have been running around gathering supplies. Every year there is the regular gift list...but the last four years it's grown exponentially. We have lots of therapists, local pharmacies, nurses, Jozette (our respite worker) and Amelia's whole school crew...along with all the usual suspects. So what to do?
I've always enjoyed being crafty/baking so I've taken to making things for everyone each year. Last year it was gourmet caramel apples with Belgium chocolate, crushed nuts and oreos -- they went over really well! This year I'm mixing it up and doing cookies in a jar (you know, where you layer the ingredients) and my (slightly famous) white chocolate popcorn. I got the initial popcorn recipe from my Aunt Andi (thanks!) several years ago and have added and subtracted stuff to it over the years. It's great to give to a larger place, like our pharmacies, Amelia's school, etc.
What do you do for the people who help your world go round?
5 years ago
12 comments:
I guess I just take the easy way out and spend money. But, good for you-the gifts are greatly appreciated when you put some of yourself into it. Don't work too hard.
XOX
Mom
You know I love when you spend money, Mom!!!! Dad, not so much....;)
Ha-HA!
XOX
Mom
I stumbled upon your page because I have a sick child as well. Eden will be 5 next month. I'm sure my answer isn't that great but I do as you do, money is tight, it's too hard to buy for so many. I made a great recipe for a quick bake cheesecake. I can make 2 for almost 3 dollars. I also get some really pretty craft bags and dip the long pretzels in different chocolates and give them away.
Debbie,
YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Debbie,
Pardon me, please if I ask one of your commenters a question...
PS..Dear Anon,
Your ideas are amazing, and personally at this precise moment I would be the happiest woman in the world with a piece of cheesecake in hand...and please forgive me if I ask this, but,
I would like to know what you meant by "I have a sick child, too?" I am asking you this in complete sincerity and humility, but I would really like to know why you chose the word "sick" as opposed to any other word you could have used to describe your child...
Thank you,
Jodi
Right now I have a very sick child. Eden was born with a heart condition. Through complications of series of infections that went to her heart, her immune system was compromised due to high dosages of various medications. She can barely eat right now. Her body latches on to anything she eats more than a little of and turns it into a major allergic reaction. When I said Sick I ment a child who is constantly in and out of the hospital, various Dr's, specialist and so much that my mind literally can not keep up. I did not mean to imply anything in a negative way. I'm very sleep deprived as we've had a rough bought of late of breathing treatments and medications we can not really use because of it raising her blood pressure..so I'm sorry if I did not say things correctly. I was just cruising the blogs and this one came up and I got what this mom was talking about trying to recognize those who we depend upon so much.
Merry Christmas
Audrey
Hi Audrey, Thank you for sharing all this with us. I know what it is to have a medically fragile child. You are in constant rescue mode and sleep is a thing that will happen again one day -- just not sure when. I feel for you...I really do! A friend contacted me not long ago and brought up the possibility of taking Amelia to the Mayo Clinic. Have you done anything like that? I'm so glad you found this blog...truly. Do you have one for Eden? I'd love to read more about you and her.
And Jodi...thank you for addressing Audrey. I meant to write back to her response, but Amelia's been having hyper-secretions the last couple days and it's been busy here.
Happy Holidays to all my girls! And Audrey -- I'd LOVE that 2/$3 cheesecake recipe! How in the world??????
I like your term much better than "Sick" I'm just too tired to think that well lolol. I did have a blog but removed it after receiving harrassment from some extended family members. Maybe in the next few days when things quiet down I might start one again...I can dream anyways lol. I'm just glad I found your blog, though our girls face different issues, the stress, the pain and the worry is very much the same.
The only thing we have YET to do is go to the Mayo Clinic. We started at Miami Childrens, were told if any could fix her, it was them..yea that didn't happen lol..next was university of Florida shands..not bad but not great..wound up at University of Tennesee, she was stablized there and we had about 8 months of decent but we weren't allowed to DO ANYTHING, no parks, playdates, church was very limited. Eden got a super bug, 3 months of Dr's fooling around, it spread to her brain and the fluid around her heart..wound up in the hospital on Leviquin?? I'm not spelling it right..was there 2 weeks, back for another 2 weeks...she lost most of her hearing in her right ear. Now her speach is delayed and then the fevers began. After the Fevers began, the hives, vomiting, not eating...we ended up where we are now, in Nashville at Vandy childrens hospital. Adleast HERE we got an answer! Lots of GERD issues that she had since birth but was misdiagnoised and of course I was the crazy mom not accepting there wasn't something wrong with my child...it's hard...it's so tiring at times and very lonely..we don't have alot of family support..but anyday with her..is better than any day without.
I'll be happy to share my recipe. It's a no bake cheesecake so it's not as thick as say a Cheesecake factory one but Everyone loves and raves about it. And to be able to get 2 for the price of 3...hey it's a good thing..ok I'm channeling martha stewart there lol..I'll post it in a bit:)
Audrey...
I'm really, really happy you found Debbie and Amelia. It is never easy with what life teaches you on a daily basis, but it is certainly a little bit easier when you find another mom who so totally understands you. I would die for a piece of cheesecake:-)Please kiss Eden for me and Debbie, I hope Amelia's breathing easier...
Love,
Jodi
after reading both your blogs I said screw it and restarted Eden's.
I'll give you the recipe soon there is one ingredient I have to get off my Old Mac. My hubby works for the home shopping network and he's working lots of overtime right now so I'm on inbetween his times off lol.
hugs to all
Hey pretty ladies..here is the recipe.
2 Gram cracker crusts
1 block of cream cheese
1 160z container of Cool Whip
1 table spoon of Vanilla extract
1/3 cup of Lemon Juice
1 can of Sweetend condensed milk
Now I've burned out 3 hand mixer motors..so to prevent this, I leave out the whiped topping and cream cheese to room temp.
In a medium mixing bowl. Combine the cream cheese and the sweetened condensed milk. Mix together until smooth. Add the 1 tablespoon of Vanilla extrat. Sometimes I add a tad more..it's up to you. Beat some more. Add the 1/3 cup of lemon juice..beat some more. Began spooning in the 16 ounces of Whiped topping. Do not add all at once because you will burn out the mixer motor. You MUST mix all this together until the whole thing is smooth. DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT, use fat free whipped topping, Fat free anything..if you do, you will get chunks of curdled ..Just DO NOT!!
This recipe yields TWO pies. So pour some in on crust and some in the other. Now if you want it plain fine. If not, get your favorite can of pie filling, cherry, strawberry or blueberrie. Again NO FAT FREE NO SUGAR FREE. The whole fat sugar kind. Some will just use a whole can on top of one. I personally like to spoon just enough around the edges and leave the middle plain. I have also dumped some of the pie filling into the actual mixture as well. Play with it, make it yours.
The cakes MUST sit in the fridge for minimum 2 hours to set before giving away or serving. I personally like to keep mine frozen but that is just me.
Money wise, I buy all my ingredients either at Aldi or Walmart brand. Lastnight I bought two pie crusts for 1.40 each at Walmart. Sweetened condensed milk can be anywhere from 80 cents to 1 dollar. I buy the big container of lemon juice for 2 dollars. I always buy the off brand whipped toping like aldi or walmart. It's 1 and change. So basically for less than 4 dollars depending on if you buy the real brand or off, you can make two cheese cakes. If you want the topping, again it's about 3 something in change and one can gets me almost 3 pies the way I put mine on.
Sorry it took so long, hubby has been working over time for HSN and I needed his help to get out old mac up and running agian to double check it all.
Hugs to all
Ho ho ho
Post a Comment