Peanut Butter and Banana Muffins courtesy of Deceptively Delicious
(variation by Krystal)
nonstick cooking spray
1 cup sugar (she uses brown sugar)
1/2 cup peanut butter (she uses natural pb)
1 cup "hand squished" banana (she uses 1/2 c. banana puree & 1/2 c. carrot or cauliflower puree)
1 large egg (she uses 1 egg white)
1 cup flour (she uses whole wheat flour)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat your 12 cup muffin tin with spray and/or liners.
Mix 1/2 of the sugar with pb, banana and egg with a spoon.
Mix dry ingredients in a separate bag. Add to pb mixture. (The dough is thick ) Add the other half of sugar. Just stir into the dough. Don't over mix.
Divide mix into tins and bake. Bake for about 15-20 mins. Use a toothpick to check for readiness.
Put them on a cooling rack and ENJOY!
J and the girls ate them right away!! It was a great way to use up some pantry items as well as some really ripe bananas that no one wanted to eat. :)
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
ABR
Klaire's appt went well. I won't define well. We now know that she has no fluid therefore she has no need for tubes. Route A = cancelled.
She did end up failing her hearing test. The audiologist said that her "failure" was in part thanks to her mini meltdown and lack of attention to the test.
The Lord was sweet to me on the day of the test. He pressed us to pray specifically for two things...a)the doctor would be quick to test her today and if there was need for another test and not make us wait 3 more months to see him...b)the audiologist would be patient with Klaire and not quick/impatient/too busy to test her. (*Karoline had a great lady the 1st time and a lady the 2nd time that was too busy to test her.)
Well, the Lord answered both of those prayers...a)the doctor scheduled Klaire 2 months sooner at a different surgery center than the usual because he didn't want to lose anymore time with her...b)Klaire had the 2nd audiologist that Karoline had. I was nervous, but she was amazing and spoke such truth into us and over Klaire.
The Lord is so good.
My quiet time that morning was about continuing to pray for what the Lord has pressed into us even when we don't get answers. Spurgeon asked (in my words),"Do you want the Lord's timing or your own???" The Lord and I were not seeing eye to eye at first. Quiet time was longer than usual that day. :)
So...
We are going to put Klaire through an ABR test on Sept. 24th. They will have to put her under sedation. I don't know exactly how long the test will take but any amount of time is too much for a mommy in the waiting room.
They will be able to tell if she has a hearing loss and how much it is. If it's not a hearing loss, we'll go from there. If it is, we'll go from there too.
The doctor will tell us immediate results from the test. Pray for us in that moment. My emotions are a bit "off" these days. :)
She did end up failing her hearing test. The audiologist said that her "failure" was in part thanks to her mini meltdown and lack of attention to the test.
The Lord was sweet to me on the day of the test. He pressed us to pray specifically for two things...a)the doctor would be quick to test her today and if there was need for another test and not make us wait 3 more months to see him...b)the audiologist would be patient with Klaire and not quick/impatient/too busy to test her. (*Karoline had a great lady the 1st time and a lady the 2nd time that was too busy to test her.)
Well, the Lord answered both of those prayers...a)the doctor scheduled Klaire 2 months sooner at a different surgery center than the usual because he didn't want to lose anymore time with her...b)Klaire had the 2nd audiologist that Karoline had. I was nervous, but she was amazing and spoke such truth into us and over Klaire.
The Lord is so good.
My quiet time that morning was about continuing to pray for what the Lord has pressed into us even when we don't get answers. Spurgeon asked (in my words),"Do you want the Lord's timing or your own???" The Lord and I were not seeing eye to eye at first. Quiet time was longer than usual that day. :)
So...
We are going to put Klaire through an ABR test on Sept. 24th. They will have to put her under sedation. I don't know exactly how long the test will take but any amount of time is too much for a mommy in the waiting room.
They will be able to tell if she has a hearing loss and how much it is. If it's not a hearing loss, we'll go from there. If it is, we'll go from there too.
The doctor will tell us immediate results from the test. Pray for us in that moment. My emotions are a bit "off" these days. :)
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Blue Decorations
Karoline went down for her nap today really well. I must say I was proud of her. :)
Well, about 30 mins later, my friend B went upstairs to get the laptop from A's room and noticed big blue circles all over the door. She went in the room and saw big blue circles EVERYWHERE!
She came down and asked if I knew they were there. I told her that I hadn't seen them and to describe them. She told me to just come look.
I went upstairs and saw the AWFUL blue circles all over my beautiful white doors. I looked to see if K was in bed but as I got closer it was just her covers with no little girls inside.
B pointed inside my office. There she was! In the corner of my office with blue marker covering her hands and feet. What a mess!
Sly that one.
Well, about 30 mins later, my friend B went upstairs to get the laptop from A's room and noticed big blue circles all over the door. She went in the room and saw big blue circles EVERYWHERE!
She came down and asked if I knew they were there. I told her that I hadn't seen them and to describe them. She told me to just come look.
I went upstairs and saw the AWFUL blue circles all over my beautiful white doors. I looked to see if K was in bed but as I got closer it was just her covers with no little girls inside.
B pointed inside my office. There she was! In the corner of my office with blue marker covering her hands and feet. What a mess!
Sly that one.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Quick Change
Last night, J and I took the girls to Target after dinner to just pick up a few things.
We are in the toddler section looking at jammies. Well, I was looking at jammies, J was watching little K in the buggy and big K following him by foot. He turns to tell little K to sit down and when he turns back around big K is stripped down to her panties in the middle of Target!
She had a Hello Kitty t-shirt half over her head before he could say my name. What is up with her love of trying on clothes?? Is it a girl thing?
Anyways, J yelled at me across the dept. All I hear is..."Babe!! Karoline!!!" Well, I immediatly thing, "OH GEEZ!, She's peeing on the floor!"
Praise the Lord! There was no pee! Just nakedness.
Long story short. It was really funny. We laughed all night. :)
Happy Tuesday!
PS. I just discovered Klaire hiding in the bathroom covered in toothpaste. :)
We are in the toddler section looking at jammies. Well, I was looking at jammies, J was watching little K in the buggy and big K following him by foot. He turns to tell little K to sit down and when he turns back around big K is stripped down to her panties in the middle of Target!
She had a Hello Kitty t-shirt half over her head before he could say my name. What is up with her love of trying on clothes?? Is it a girl thing?
Anyways, J yelled at me across the dept. All I hear is..."Babe!! Karoline!!!" Well, I immediatly thing, "OH GEEZ!, She's peeing on the floor!"
Praise the Lord! There was no pee! Just nakedness.
Long story short. It was really funny. We laughed all night. :)
Happy Tuesday!
PS. I just discovered Klaire hiding in the bathroom covered in toothpaste. :)
Monday, August 10, 2009
Overwhelmed
I know this word can have a bad connotation but in our case right now it's running both ways.
Since last November I have been reading through a little book called Outrageous Love by Sheila Walsh. Let's just say it's my "potty book". I usually only have enough time between girls to read maybe a sentence or two at a time. Moms understand what I mean...we are just never alone :)Well, it has spurred me on to think about God's love for me...how does he express it to me outside of the obvious giving of His son Jesus.
When the Lord spoke to us about me staying home with the kids, we struggled. It really made no sense but He continued to work at our hearts. The day we submitted to His desire for us was hard. I was excited yet nervous yet unprepared yet excited so more. What a range of emotions! I was even at the eye doctor about three weeks ago and had to write down my occupation on the paperwork...I sat there with tears in my eyes before I wrote none. I felt like such a failure yet knowing "Mom" is a great full time job. I didn't realize how much of my identity was in my career. That's another post though.
This has continued literally until this last week.
The Lord began to show me since summer began that Klaire was not doing alot of the developmental cues that her age should be doing. I really try hard not to compare but moms just notice stuff. :) I began to just sit on my knees by her bed when she would sleep and ask the Lord to show me what to do differently...to forgive me for not giving her enough attention...to give me a reason for the delay and I would change it. People have told me a million times that it's all because she's the second one...it's normal for them not to talk, it's normal for parents to not spend as much time with them, reading and such...or because they are just so close together. Talk about a passive aggressive guilt trip. No one means harm but the heart is like a sponge these days with opinions. That's a whole different post.
We also have noticed for awhile now that Klaire doesn't respond to most sounds. We have done our own array of testing at home from banging pots to hollering to loud music. No of which gave me any hope that she could hear me.
We took Karoline to see her ENT for a post op visit and hearing test with her Audiologist. While there, the Lord prompted me to ask about Klaire. He said it was never to early to do a hearing test and results under the age of 3 are life changing.
Klaire has pulled on her ears since day one. I used to take her all the time and the doctor always would tell me that she didn't have an ear infection but just fluid. That diagnosis really doesn't help me. Anyways, she was still pulling that day so I felt the Lord prompt me to take her in.
They immediately referred me to ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) and the ENT for a full hearing evaluation.
Literally, the next week...we had our initial visit, evaluations, and enrollment...bang, bang, bang.
The news we got was not what was expected. To be brief, she is about a year delayed in her communication, social, emotional and cognitive skills. She is above her age in all gross and fine motor skills.
It really does explain so many things. I was kind of hoping that would say that I am just crazy and over analyzing but they didn't. I was at most thinking they would agree that she was a little behind but would naturally catch up but they didn't.
They said that we need to be patient with her and be prepared for the road ahead. What does that mean????
At first, they wanted to begin teaching her signs to relieve frustrations but after looking at her outside of the testing, they don't think she is ready for it yet.
Defeat again.
We are scheduled for the ENT on the 25th of August. I have called everyday for cancellations. No luck yet.
The therapists say that almost all delays with communication come from the ears. Those worlds of hearing, communication, emotions, socialization, and cognitive thinking run so closely intertwined.
I really feel like the ENT will shed light on her. Either she has a hearing impairment and we will take Road A or she needs has too much fluid, needs tubes and we will take Road B or the Lord is going to create Road C.
All Roads are going to continue to build our faith and glorify Him!
All this to say...God loves us. I wish I was a better writer to articulate the beauty of the truth He is teaching me! God loves me so much that He waited until I was at home and able to get Klaire the help she needs. I am home to work with her and to equip her. He is not cruel. His timing is perfect. Though the trials that build our faith may come, He brings them at the moment that we need them. He equips us to handle our trials, not giving us anymore than we can handle.
I am overwhelmed with how much He loves us.
Since last November I have been reading through a little book called Outrageous Love by Sheila Walsh. Let's just say it's my "potty book". I usually only have enough time between girls to read maybe a sentence or two at a time. Moms understand what I mean...we are just never alone :)Well, it has spurred me on to think about God's love for me...how does he express it to me outside of the obvious giving of His son Jesus.
When the Lord spoke to us about me staying home with the kids, we struggled. It really made no sense but He continued to work at our hearts. The day we submitted to His desire for us was hard. I was excited yet nervous yet unprepared yet excited so more. What a range of emotions! I was even at the eye doctor about three weeks ago and had to write down my occupation on the paperwork...I sat there with tears in my eyes before I wrote none. I felt like such a failure yet knowing "Mom" is a great full time job. I didn't realize how much of my identity was in my career. That's another post though.
This has continued literally until this last week.
The Lord began to show me since summer began that Klaire was not doing alot of the developmental cues that her age should be doing. I really try hard not to compare but moms just notice stuff. :) I began to just sit on my knees by her bed when she would sleep and ask the Lord to show me what to do differently...to forgive me for not giving her enough attention...to give me a reason for the delay and I would change it. People have told me a million times that it's all because she's the second one...it's normal for them not to talk, it's normal for parents to not spend as much time with them, reading and such...or because they are just so close together. Talk about a passive aggressive guilt trip. No one means harm but the heart is like a sponge these days with opinions. That's a whole different post.
We also have noticed for awhile now that Klaire doesn't respond to most sounds. We have done our own array of testing at home from banging pots to hollering to loud music. No of which gave me any hope that she could hear me.
We took Karoline to see her ENT for a post op visit and hearing test with her Audiologist. While there, the Lord prompted me to ask about Klaire. He said it was never to early to do a hearing test and results under the age of 3 are life changing.
Klaire has pulled on her ears since day one. I used to take her all the time and the doctor always would tell me that she didn't have an ear infection but just fluid. That diagnosis really doesn't help me. Anyways, she was still pulling that day so I felt the Lord prompt me to take her in.
They immediately referred me to ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) and the ENT for a full hearing evaluation.
Literally, the next week...we had our initial visit, evaluations, and enrollment...bang, bang, bang.
The news we got was not what was expected. To be brief, she is about a year delayed in her communication, social, emotional and cognitive skills. She is above her age in all gross and fine motor skills.
It really does explain so many things. I was kind of hoping that would say that I am just crazy and over analyzing but they didn't. I was at most thinking they would agree that she was a little behind but would naturally catch up but they didn't.
They said that we need to be patient with her and be prepared for the road ahead. What does that mean????
At first, they wanted to begin teaching her signs to relieve frustrations but after looking at her outside of the testing, they don't think she is ready for it yet.
Defeat again.
We are scheduled for the ENT on the 25th of August. I have called everyday for cancellations. No luck yet.
The therapists say that almost all delays with communication come from the ears. Those worlds of hearing, communication, emotions, socialization, and cognitive thinking run so closely intertwined.
I really feel like the ENT will shed light on her. Either she has a hearing impairment and we will take Road A or she needs has too much fluid, needs tubes and we will take Road B or the Lord is going to create Road C.
All Roads are going to continue to build our faith and glorify Him!
All this to say...God loves us. I wish I was a better writer to articulate the beauty of the truth He is teaching me! God loves me so much that He waited until I was at home and able to get Klaire the help she needs. I am home to work with her and to equip her. He is not cruel. His timing is perfect. Though the trials that build our faith may come, He brings them at the moment that we need them. He equips us to handle our trials, not giving us anymore than we can handle.
I am overwhelmed with how much He loves us.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Klaire's Appt
Klaire has an evaluation today with her speech therapist and ECI (early childhood intervention) specialist at our house. It is at 3pm. Should take between 45-90 minutes. We are evaluating the reasons behind her speech and communication delays.
Pray for...
-Klaire to be in a great mood. She has been kinda yucky due to teething, head cold, etc. Can't get her to nap today.
-Klaire to show her true colors. You know kids never do what the norm is when it counts. They need to see the real Klaire.
-Jared and I would understand what they tell us about her.
-Karoline would be occupied and not in the middle of the testing.
-The therapist/specialist to be warm and willing to work with Klaire on her level. Patience with her.
-Jesus would be honored and glorified through Klaire and us.
Thank you for lifting us up today...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)