….even the Joe Gibbs’ autographed football wears a tiara! Poor Dave, the football is the only non-girly item in the whole house and now it is wearing a furry, sparkly tiara! 
Carmen update: Carmen seems to be doing fairly well. She hasn’t had a fever since Wednesday. We reduced both her calories and her fluid intake and she is looking less puffy. She still has chronic diarrhea. I think I’ll stop updating about that and just let you know if she ever stops having diarrhea!
Have a wonderful Friday!
Carmen update: Carmen has a fever today and is drooling lots of yellow mucus. I am baffled as to why Carmen gets sick in the summer but stays mostly well in the winter! Maybe she secretly doesn’t like the pool?!
Yesterday we had another thunderstorm. I don’t remember June having so much rain and huge lightning storms. The forecast calls for more thunderstorms today, tomorrow and Friday. I do love rain but WOW! The huge positive is that rain here cools everything down. I am so not ready for hot, hot, hot!
Lauren wanted me to hurry and take this picture. She was afraid I was going to get wet!
Ever have days that just don’t go right?
Most things went right yesterday but then I took Lauren and Carmen to Lauren’s last soccer practice. I walked across the field, carrying Carmen, to the moms waiting on the other side in the shade. (Normally I would put Carmen in her stroller but we had the Kid Kart in the van and I cannot pick up that thing.) When I got to the shade, my friend Karen ran over with the adapter to Carmen’s g-tube extension. It had popped off as I carried Carmen across the field. All of Carmen’s stomach contents were now soaking through my shirt. And just so you know, stomach contents that come out of a g-tube look and smell just like ones that come out of the mouth! So, then we sat in the 90 degree heat with stinky and slimy stuff all over us. There were little gnats flying all around. I think we attracted even more of them. Lovely.
Before the stomach contents adventure, we were home and I decided to try on my swimsuit to see if it still fits. It is a black and white tankini top and a black skirt bottom. I was thinking to myself that I was rather pleased with how it fits when Lauren walked in the bathroom. She says, “Wow, Mom! You look like a zebra!” Thanks. That was definitely the look I was going for! On the bright side, at least she didn’t think I looked like a hippo!
Anybody else have unfortunate events lately???!!!
This morning Rashmi took pictures of our family. We are so excited! For a sneak peek, click here to visit Rashmi’s site.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Rashmi!
Carmen update: I took Carmen to a new pulmonologist recently and was pleased that he agreed with the medications and therapies that Hospice ordered for Carmen. He did say that we can try taking Carmen off oxygen and see how she does. She has been on oxygen for so long that we would have to get used to seeing her without a nasal cannula! Carmen is very congested this week and we’ve been suctioning out a ton of thick stuff. I had a cold (or allergies) earlier this week so my guess is that Carmen is suffering from whatever I had.
Monica the Magnificent brought us some carrot soup recently. It was so, so good! Last week I asked Monica for the recipe and the soup turned out wonderfully. It is so easy and healthy and tastes like a garden! If we look a little orange next time you see us, you will know why!
Carrot Soup
3-4 lbs. carrots (I used baby carrots)
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
water to just cover veggies
1/2 cup orange juice
one large fresh rosemary sprig, leaves stripped from main stem and then chopped
Cook carrots and sweet potatoes until soft. (ETA: Make sure lid is on!) Add orange juice and chopped rosemary. Puree. I used a stick immersion blender. I agree with Monica that it is nice to leave some chunks! This is wonderful plain but also really good with sour cream or sharp cheese and crusty French bread.
According to Monica, if you have extra, this freezes very well.
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