mmmmuffins!

I'm not sure I have posted this recipe before or not, but if I did, it was without the honey. I have been working to try to get as much super refined sugar out of our diet as possible, and tweaked this recipe from allrecipes.com to switch honey for sugar. I also omitted applesauce from the original recipe as the honey adds moisture to the mix.

Lower Fat Banana Muffins
2 eggs
1/2 c honey
2 1/2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 c milk
1 T vegetable oil
1 T vanilla
1 3/4 c flour (I usually do 1 cup white and 3/4 c wheat)
2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/2 t cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325, line muffin tins with paper AND lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray or spray just the pan and lightly dust with flour. In a large bowl, beat eggs and honey until light and foamy. Mix in bananas, milk, oil, and vanilla. In a separate container, stir together dry ingredients, then add to the banana mixture. Stir until just mixed. Bake 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. (Depending on the batch, this can take longer. I think it has to do with the size of the bananas).

ailments

Last week, Wednesday, I got a call from a friend whose child is in the same nursery as Aaron. She wanted to let me know that her little one had come down with hand, foot & mouth disease.

Aaron woke up from his nap that day with a fever of 101.2, which is pretty rare for him. We spent the rest of the day snuggled up on the couch drinking watery juice and watching Franklin Turtle videos.

Thursday, Aaron was lethargic and sleepy. Friday, Michael was home, and Aaron went on nap strike. Saturday, same story. He is one crabby, cranky little boy. With a few spots that we're not quite sure about. And a gigantic bruise and goose egg on his left eyebrow from a close encounter with the edge of the entertainment center. He also might be teething and getting that second year set of molars. We are just not certain.

So we are home from church today, praying for Michael as he teaches Sunday School and our church family as we adjust to Sunday life without the Stephens'. We're also praying for their first Sunday in California to be a big ol blessing to everyone at Heritage Bible Church.

So, do your kids tend to sleep more or less when they are sick? Does it depend on the ailment? What comforts YOUR cranky kiddo?

I'm wimpy.

I think I might just be well suited to arctic climes. When I checked on the ten day forecast for our town, I was disheartened to see that it appears my cool, dry summer is about to heat up and get more humid. I laughed as I began to "despair" over a week of 80's & 90's and the humidity that will undoubtedly come with it. I've been very blessed thus far to have enjoyed mostly days in the 70's and low 80's without much humidity. And we do have a couple window air conditioners, so I really can't complain.

Poor Aaron - he wanted to go to the park this afternoon. I told him it was too hot for mommy today. And then felt guilty and played lots with him, inside our cool house. Maybe later this week we will try out the splash park or something.

But we will see - I'm really, really wimpy about the humidity. Really, I am.

So what is your neck of the woods looking like for the next ten days or so? How do you beat the heat?

And, because I'm curious, what is your ideal INDOOR temperature?

sorry, nurse...

So I really DID NOT pray a sick day upon her head, but she was out yesterday, with a broken arm. Oops.

The appointment with my OB went very well, the doc agreed to a heplock instead of an IV during labor (HURRAY!) and also mentioned that he knew we were still praying about a lot of things and he would be happy to discuss anything we felt uncomfortable with or just needed to discuss with him. What a blessing to have a believer as a doctor!! I walked out of the office feeling like I knew him a little better. So that is good.

I've finally regained to my pre-pregnancy weight. I was actually kind of hoping that wouldn't happen, but hey, I can't complain. It is what it is, and it could have been worse.

My blood pressure is looking great (98/70) and I got a fabuloso checksheet from the hospital - a VBAC consent form! I was expecting it to feel like (yet another) upstream swim with me fighting for what I wanted, but instead it was basically a gigantic list of encouragement to go for a VBAC, then at the end you sign on the line whether you want a repeat C-section or a VBAC.

Next Monday, another prenatal with my midwife and home birth classes begin. PLEASE keep praying for us - big decisions ahead! I was just saying yesterday that I'm kind of curious to see what our birth will be like and I'm totally not sure where it will be, but I'm ok with that at this point. Another huge step. I'm just concentrating on enjoying this last few weeks of pregnancy and "Aaron Only" time.

"super" Tuesday

Today I have to go to the OB. Is it wrong to pray a sick day on the crabby nurse? I think probably, so I will pray a fun and relaxing day off upon her head. HA. I've been spoiled in that Michael has been able to come with me thus far, and today I must venture out alone. Hopefully my blood pressure can withstand the challenge, and I won't have put myself at too great a "risk" by postponing the prenatal visit.

I've been suffering sleeping woes - sore muscles, baby movements, the ol' sinking-into-the-mattress-and-not-being-able-to-escape-or-turn-over syndrome. Last night we did not get back from saying "see ya later, alligator" until 11, after which I woke almost every hour, sometimes from soreness, other times from trips needing to be made down the hallway, even once by a freakish random smoke detector blast (which we never did figure out). Does anyone have any great suggestions for more comfortable sleeping during the last stages of pregnancy? I've tried pillows and disarming the smoke detectors.

Just kidding, of course. They are still on. And intact. And fully functional.

Works of God Monday

Today, I need the refresher course on what to do when you don't particularly like what's happening. Tonight, our friends pull out of town, heading for their new ministry. The last few weeks have been a flurry of packing, both of boxes and of schedules, trying to get in as much time with them as possible. God is at work on their behalf for certain! He's obviously led them to go to California, and it's been truly awesome to see how He is working out details to continue to confirm His plan for them. We are excited that they are going to be just where God wants them.

And we are just where God wants us, too, which is equally exciting, even if it's not new and novel. We have been encouraged greatly in the past weeks by the provisions of God. This week, through a variety of unexpected events, we have been able to make the decision to move ahead with our siding project, one of the last major steps in our home renovations.

For those of you who don't know the story about our house (I need to add new photos!), we bought it a little over two years ago on auction after it had been foreclosed and the tenants evicted. It was in pretty rough shape, and through God's provision we have been able to improve it quite a bit. The outside still looks about like this, though, and until recently we thought we would have to wait yet another year until siding could be afforded.

Our loan situation has been little iffy - we had chosen a zero down loan with an adjustable rate interest in order to maximize the use of our savings for the remodel, with the intention that we would refinance in a few years when we'd built up some sweat equity. This refinancing would allow us to get rid of PMI and possibly finish up the multiple projects needing completion to sell the house at the greatest possible financial benefit to us.

So today, we are praising the Lord that He has orchestrated some unique circumstances that will allow us to fast forward some of the steps! It looks like we will begin some preparation work for siding here in the next few weeks (including a Very! Anticipated! Garage! Storage! Area!!) and perhaps by Fall have some pictures of the completed job to post here. We are so excited to see Him work beyond our expectations.

So now it's your turn!! First, blog about how God has been at work in your life this week - it can be a physical provision, a spiritual lesson learned, an opportunity to share with others, anything that was an evidence of God at work in you. Then, follow these directions:

In the Mister Linky widget below, simply type your name in the top box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the link from your specific "Works of God Monday" post. PLEASE make sure the link is to a specific post on your blog that is a personal testimony of how God has been at work in your life in the past week. Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like. Just right click the image and choose "save image as" then upload it into your post. Please contact me if you have any questions, and spread the word to your blogging friends!

good ol' Ron

I knew I liked Ronald Reagan. And today, I learn that there is yet another reason to love him. As if this pregnant ice cream addict really needs another excuse.

But, I will take it. *grinning madly* Here's to a delightfully creamy frozen July. And, I raise my cone to Ronald.

What's your favorite flavor?? Do you stick with one, or change it up?

it's that time

Well, I've officially reached the stage of this pregnancy in which none of the clothing created for this stage (or otherwise) will stay put. I speak specifically of shorts, pants, skirts, etc. I feel like I'm constantly tugging and pulling and doing all sorts of gymnastic maneuvers just to keep the bottoms up and stay covered.

It might be time to put away the wide elastic band pants and the non maternity large sized shorts and break out the ugly and hot cover-the-whole-belly-panel pants. It might be a bit hotter and more restrictive, but at least I won't have an indecent exposure charge to worry about. Do you think they would cut a pregnant woman chasing a toddler any (ehem, er) slack in court?

Did I mention those over the belly styles are stinking hot? Anybody have any suggestions? Maybe sundresses are the wave of my future.

good clean fun

Aaron is easily amused. Give him a washcloth, and he washes. His ears, his face, the floor (hopefully in that order) It's nice to have a child who is inventive and content to play while I file the mountain of papers I've accumulated in the office. More summer pictures here, including one of my growing belly.