People have voiced their desire for me to have a place they could donate since many can't attend our day of eatin' at Chevy's. Rest assured, we will have other fundraising events throughout the next few months, but if you cannot attend and would still like to donate, you can do so through this paypal site or contact us directly. Thank you, everyone, for your love, prayers, and support -- not just now -- but over the past 5 years. We love you and give prayers of gratitude for you daily.
The Green Piece: Little Pieces of Our Life
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Fantastic!
I have a list of reasons why my life is fantastic...and the list continues to build and build. But I'll tell you what...today, my day started off well because
Samantha slept in until 6:24 AM
Callie has been pretty perfectly obedient and cheerful
And the sun is shining
Thanks life. It's going to be a good day.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Fundraiser at Chevy's
WARNING: Some of this is repetitive.
Born with a grim prognosis, Samantha has proved to many doctors that there's a lot packed into her tiny frame! They marvel at her progress, but she still has a long way to go. In addition to her regular physical and occupational therapies, we've recently begun an at-home therapy that we do with her, and we have seen fantastic progress, as many of you know already. But evenstill, we feel like there's more to do.
When we came across "Now I Can," an intensive therapy site in Orem, Utah, we immediately felt like this could benefit Samantha. And, after our own research, those feelings have become stronger.
from their website (http://nowican.org)
"Now I Can is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to helping disabled children reach their greatest potential. Now I Can has combined the most effective methods of physical therapy with the most outstanding therapy team — making our therapy unique and sought after by families across the country. [....] This effective therapy involves performing exercises over an extended period of time — 5 days a week for 4 hours a day. [....] Studies have shown that a 3-week session of intensive therapy helps a child realize the same goals it would usually take a full year of traditional therapy to achieve."
Samantha's physical therapist in Washington said that Sammy would be a good candidate for intensive therapy, but at the time our PT felt Sammy was too young. We feel like now is the time. We are in the process of saving and raising money to pay for Samantha's therapy (working, selling items on eBay, scrimping, fundraising, praying) -- this therapy in addition to the therapy we are doing at home -- and plan to have at least one event in late spring/early summer.
Sooo...how many of you like eating at Chevy's?! Because on Thursday, April 7, 2011 you can come to the Chevy's on Almaden Expressway in San Jose. 25% of your purchase will go directly towards Sammy's therapy! They have opened ALL DAY for Samantha. So, come LUNCH, come DINNER, or TAKE OUT. 25% of it all goes to our little Sammy.
I sent out an email to some of the locals here, but if you are a local and you didn't get an email, leave your email address and I'll send the flyer to you. You MUST have the flyer when you order your food in order for Samantha to get the money. I'll email you the flyer.
Born with a grim prognosis, Samantha has proved to many doctors that there's a lot packed into her tiny frame! They marvel at her progress, but she still has a long way to go. In addition to her regular physical and occupational therapies, we've recently begun an at-home therapy that we do with her, and we have seen fantastic progress, as many of you know already. But evenstill, we feel like there's more to do.
When we came across "Now I Can," an intensive therapy site in Orem, Utah, we immediately felt like this could benefit Samantha. And, after our own research, those feelings have become stronger.
from their website (http://nowican.org)
"Now I Can is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to helping disabled children reach their greatest potential. Now I Can has combined the most effective methods of physical therapy with the most outstanding therapy team — making our therapy unique and sought after by families across the country. [....] This effective therapy involves performing exercises over an extended period of time — 5 days a week for 4 hours a day. [....] Studies have shown that a 3-week session of intensive therapy helps a child realize the same goals it would usually take a full year of traditional therapy to achieve."
Samantha's physical therapist in Washington said that Sammy would be a good candidate for intensive therapy, but at the time our PT felt Sammy was too young. We feel like now is the time. We are in the process of saving and raising money to pay for Samantha's therapy (working, selling items on eBay, scrimping, fundraising, praying) -- this therapy in addition to the therapy we are doing at home -- and plan to have at least one event in late spring/early summer.
I sent out an email to some of the locals here, but if you are a local and you didn't get an email, leave your email address and I'll send the flyer to you. You MUST have the flyer when you order your food in order for Samantha to get the money. I'll email you the flyer.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
"um...sure?"
Callie: "Mommy?"
Me: "Yes Sweetheart."
Callie: "Remember when we goed there everyday sometimes?"
Me: "Everyday? Or just sometimes?"
Callie: "No. I saaaaaid, remember when we goed there everyday sometimes?"
Me: "Um. Sure. Yeah. That was fun huh?"
Callie: "Yeah, that was fun."
I still don't know what she was talking about, but it sure was fun.
Me: "Yes Sweetheart."
Callie: "Remember when we goed there everyday sometimes?"
Me: "Everyday? Or just sometimes?"
Callie: "No. I saaaaaid, remember when we goed there everyday sometimes?"
Me: "Um. Sure. Yeah. That was fun huh?"
Callie: "Yeah, that was fun."
I still don't know what she was talking about, but it sure was fun.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Best Bread Recipe
My friend posted this on her blog awhile back. And, I have to agree, this is the best bread. Now, I was eager to try this recipe for the following reasons:
* I love bread
* I love homemade bread even better
* I used to make a lot of bread with our dinners, but haven't in a long time
* As a part of my decluttering, I've been debating if I really need our bread machine. I love it. I do. But I only used it to make the dough anyway. I didn't like making the bread in the machine and how it came out so boxy. I have a KitchenAid but have never ever ever used it to make bread. While visiting friends in Utah a year or so ago, this came up, and I was informed how easy it is. So, this recipe gave me to go-ahead to try it out. And you know what folks? It is. It's super easy to use a mixer to make your bread dough, and I feel so happy knowing that I am going to get rid of a piece of well-used kitchen equipment. Thank you Marci for getting it for us for our wedding because I truly used it a ton. But, after 5 years, I may be ready to move on. (I think. It's still packed away, so we'll see when I actually pull it out again if I can part with it.)
So, here's the Best Bread. Give it a try. As Campbell's would say, it's mmm mmm good.
Combine in mixing bowl:
2.5 cups very warm water (I use 2 cups of hottest H2O from tap and 1/2 c. room temp water)
3 c. freshly ground whole wheat flour
1 T plus 1 t. yeast
1 T wheat gluten (I've never included this actually -- but I haven't ground my own wheat yet. That may make a difference.)
Stir just until mixed and let mixture stand 10 minutes
Add:
1/3 C half canola oil, half applesauce
1/3 C honey
1 T. lemon juice (no need to be fresh)
1 T sea salt
3 1/2 - 4 C whole wheat flour
1 T dough enhancer (I have also never added this)
*additional ingredients can be added or subbed for some of the flour: flax meal, millet, oat bran, nuts, etc.
1. Knead bowl of mixer (with dough hooks) for 10 minutes. Do not add any additional flour until the end. The dough will look sticky and you'll think, "I need more flour" but wait and it will form a ball. At the end of kneading, the dough should be slightly sticky to the touch, but not stick to your hands. Adjust as needed. Use a little flour to lightly coat the dough, and pull out of the bowl.
2. Immediately divide the dough into two equal portions, and knead each loaf for 30 seconds forming a loaf with no creases.
3. Place each loaf into a greased and floured pan. Let rise approx 40 min. (until just above the lip of the pan) Make sure you preheat your oven according to when you estimate your bread being ready to put in the oven. (this is critical, bread needs to go in preheated oven...if it is too risen, it will be airy and fall apart, but if not risen enough it will be dense and cakey)
4. Bake bread at 350 for approx 30 minutes. When you tap the top of the bread, it should sound hollow.
5. Remove bread from pan and onto a cooling rack immediately. Let cool at least 15 minutes before cutting into it and eating a big buttery piece, and let cool completely before bagging (no sweating inside the bag).
*Notes from Courtney: I didn't have the gluten or dough enhancer at first, so I used white bread flour instead. It has an higher level of gluten and results in a better bread. So, if you don't want to track down those extras, just use bread flour. My next step is to get a wheat grinder so I can use the freshly ground wheat flour for the most nutritious bread. (Something that makes Sam sad. He likes white bread and would probably choose Wonder bread if given the option.) Wheat begins losing its nutrients as soon as you grind it, so the fresher the flour the better.
* I love bread
* I love homemade bread even better
* I used to make a lot of bread with our dinners, but haven't in a long time
* As a part of my decluttering, I've been debating if I really need our bread machine. I love it. I do. But I only used it to make the dough anyway. I didn't like making the bread in the machine and how it came out so boxy. I have a KitchenAid but have never ever ever used it to make bread. While visiting friends in Utah a year or so ago, this came up, and I was informed how easy it is. So, this recipe gave me to go-ahead to try it out. And you know what folks? It is. It's super easy to use a mixer to make your bread dough, and I feel so happy knowing that I am going to get rid of a piece of well-used kitchen equipment. Thank you Marci for getting it for us for our wedding because I truly used it a ton. But, after 5 years, I may be ready to move on. (I think. It's still packed away, so we'll see when I actually pull it out again if I can part with it.)
So, here's the Best Bread. Give it a try. As Campbell's would say, it's mmm mmm good.
Combine in mixing bowl:
2.5 cups very warm water (I use 2 cups of hottest H2O from tap and 1/2 c. room temp water)
3 c. freshly ground whole wheat flour
1 T plus 1 t. yeast
1 T wheat gluten (I've never included this actually -- but I haven't ground my own wheat yet. That may make a difference.)
Stir just until mixed and let mixture stand 10 minutes
Add:
1/3 C half canola oil, half applesauce
1/3 C honey
1 T. lemon juice (no need to be fresh)
1 T sea salt
3 1/2 - 4 C whole wheat flour
1 T dough enhancer (I have also never added this)
*additional ingredients can be added or subbed for some of the flour: flax meal, millet, oat bran, nuts, etc.
1. Knead bowl of mixer (with dough hooks) for 10 minutes. Do not add any additional flour until the end. The dough will look sticky and you'll think, "I need more flour" but wait and it will form a ball. At the end of kneading, the dough should be slightly sticky to the touch, but not stick to your hands. Adjust as needed. Use a little flour to lightly coat the dough, and pull out of the bowl.
2. Immediately divide the dough into two equal portions, and knead each loaf for 30 seconds forming a loaf with no creases.
3. Place each loaf into a greased and floured pan. Let rise approx 40 min. (until just above the lip of the pan) Make sure you preheat your oven according to when you estimate your bread being ready to put in the oven. (this is critical, bread needs to go in preheated oven...if it is too risen, it will be airy and fall apart, but if not risen enough it will be dense and cakey)
4. Bake bread at 350 for approx 30 minutes. When you tap the top of the bread, it should sound hollow.
5. Remove bread from pan and onto a cooling rack immediately. Let cool at least 15 minutes before cutting into it and eating a big buttery piece, and let cool completely before bagging (no sweating inside the bag).
*Notes from Courtney: I didn't have the gluten or dough enhancer at first, so I used white bread flour instead. It has an higher level of gluten and results in a better bread. So, if you don't want to track down those extras, just use bread flour. My next step is to get a wheat grinder so I can use the freshly ground wheat flour for the most nutritious bread. (Something that makes Sam sad. He likes white bread and would probably choose Wonder bread if given the option.) Wheat begins losing its nutrients as soon as you grind it, so the fresher the flour the better.
Monday, March 21, 2011
What's 3 Weeks?
I mentioned that I want to get Samantha into Now I Can for intensive physical therapy. We are still working out some details and beginning to save up...and I have a phone call to make on Monday about her evaluation, but I really feel good about this place. I was checking out the schedule tonight, on their website, to see what sessions were open and which one we'd probably want to take, when I saw this new video on their home page. Oh I was so happy for this little girl and her family. I have NO idea what Samantha's outcome will be. She has different issues than this little girl. However, I can't ignore this nagging to check this place out and get her there. Maybe it's just me, but I keep feeling like it's a spiritual prompting. So, I'm taking it as such and we're hoping to run with it.
I have always felt that Samantha was more than what she appears to be -- though, at this point many would say she appears to be the fighter she is. But, in the beginning, when we didn't know too much about her and her personality, I just felt like we needed to search out what was going to help her. I feel like my prayers have been answered so many times, directing us where we need to go, who we need to meet, and at the right times. It's been an amazing journey.
So, what's a 3 week session at Now I Can? How can 3 weeks make a difference? Well, ask me what 3 week of intensive therapy can do and then watch this.
(I can't get this video box any smaller, so just mute the video so it's not super annoying to have 2 songs playing at once. Sorry folks.)
I have always felt that Samantha was more than what she appears to be -- though, at this point many would say she appears to be the fighter she is. But, in the beginning, when we didn't know too much about her and her personality, I just felt like we needed to search out what was going to help her. I feel like my prayers have been answered so many times, directing us where we need to go, who we need to meet, and at the right times. It's been an amazing journey.
So, what's a 3 week session at Now I Can? How can 3 weeks make a difference? Well, ask me what 3 week of intensive therapy can do and then watch this.
(I can't get this video box any smaller, so just mute the video so it's not super annoying to have 2 songs playing at once. Sorry folks.)
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Cerebral Palsy: A Question of Worth
For now, I don't worry too much about Samantha's future. I just work on a day-to-day system. Plus, I feel like she is surrounded by people who love and adore her. But from time to time I think about her future. I think about how people will treat her. I think about if people will value her when she's older and not just a "cute little 4 year old." The video below is a reality, and it makes me worry a little. But, I hold onto hope, and faith, and sweet love....all for my little girl.
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