Pumpkin Grain-Free Pancakes

These pancakes are absolutely amazing you won't even miss the flour. As I type this at 10:15 pm I am snacking on a few from the fridge left over :) I also love that they are super filling yet you don't feel "heavy" like you do after eating pancakes full of flour and sugar. 

Here is the Recipe:

1/3 cup Coconut Flour

1/4 cup coconut sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon clove

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

pinch of salt

6 eggs

1/2 cup whole milk

1 cup pureed pumpkin

2 tablespoons Butter

2 tablespoons honey

Mix all your dry ingredients together with a fork

Combine wet ingredients, add in dry and use blender or immersion blender (clumps aren't yummy)

This grass fed butter is YUMMO

Melt coconut oil or butter on the pan and make sure not to poor too much batter for each pancake, this is because they take quite a bit of time to cook through and if it's too heavy it will be hard to flip. Make sure the burner is on medium otherwise they will burn (like this first batch did :) and flip carefully when they begin to bubble. 

Serve with a big slab of grass fed butter and fresh berries ! These pancakes are so moist but still have that warm bread feel of real pancakes. They taste like pumpkin pie cake! 

And of course ham and eggs too......what can I say, I need a large breakfast to make it till lunch :) 

ENJOY

Baby to the PICU :(

I'm sure I echo the rest of the NATION when I say......

"I am done with sicknesses! Come on Spring".

I already don't like winter -- [other than the boot socks, because, come on, they're adorable] -- 

so add in nasty flu bugs, rain that keeps you inside, cold that keeps you inside even when it's not raining, and darkness that makes the day end at 4:45 it's not my favorite time of year. But just like watching your child become their adorable playful self after a long flu bug, sweet spring will come after cold and darkness (am I comparing winter to one long nasty flu bug? maybe.....)



I had written that last paragraph before the last few days where sickness hit our house even more :( On Tuesday morning early I could tell my baby boy was running his first fever. I was praying "Please let him not be like his sister and have fevers for 5 days, I can't do that with both my kids!" By afternoon after hours of him screaming which is NOT normal I really just felt like something was off. I went to urgent care so he could get checked out where we were finally able to get some medicine down him without him throwing it back up. I was really confident that would make him a much happier baby! Unfortunately by evening his coughing was worse and he was not happy at all :(
 He started laboring very hard to breath in and out so we took him in the bathroom hoping the steam would help. Those few minutes were some of the most stressful of my life. Juliana had woken up from nap on the wrong side of the bed and was whining and hanging on my legs, I am also sure she picked up on the stress in our voices as William started to breath worse and worse. He began to sound like a seal when he breathed in and out and his chest was going in super far when he inhaled. I noticed his hands turning purple and I can tell you, that is the worst feeling cause there is nothing you can do! In my head I was going through options, more steam, call 911? -- even they wouldn't get here in time,  how to do CPR in case he stopped altogether -- what were the instructions for babies again???? pray pray pray. Thankfully we were able to really calm him down (the crying was making it worse!) and his breathing slowed down a lot.
SO THANKFUL. 
We decided to to the ER -- oh wow what a place. I actually had never been! A midst the circumstances Jeremy and I actually were having fun watching all the crazies. Not sure who entertained us most..............The guy who checked himself in with a folder stacked full of articles he'd printed from online describing his new disease, the pregnant girl bringing in her old boyfriend who's eye was broken in 20 places and bleeding everywhere (we heard later cause he ended up in the room next to us :) or the man who kept coming within a foot of my face and staring at me while blood dripped out of his mouth, yuck excuse you!
------needless to say I bundled William up and we waited out in the fresh air for most of the time.
Hours later after waiting, testing, waiting, and more testing they diagnosed him with croup and RSV. I could tell it wasn't going to be good news when the Dr who had previously been running in and out so quickly he barely listened to my description of his symptoms, then came in and sat down, sighed, and said "so.....he has RSV. And we take this pretty seriously especially under 6 months so we want to transfer him to be admitted". We were definitely surprised, we were sure we would be home in bed in the next hour and instead we weren't sure what the next few hours would hold. I kept reminding myself that things seemed scarier than they were. Transferring your baby by ambulance seems scary, even though the process is not that bad. Needing him to be hospitalized seems scary but I knew he was breathing fine, that it was a good place for him to be, and that we wouldn't be there long.





Unfortunately I got so carsick in that ambulance. I apparently don't do well after not sleeping for 48 hours, not eating or drinking in way too long, then being strapped by a 5 point harness to the wall of a large van where all the windows are reflective and all you can see is yourself. Yikes. It didn't help that the paramedic next to me showed me videos of his girlfriend's toddler for the hour drive to the hospital. Even as they were pushing the gurney into the elevator and up the hospital stories he was still showing me pictures..........how many times can you say "awe he's so cute" while trying to keep your eyes open and focus on your own sick baby :(


The PICU at this particular hospital is amazing. They were quick, caring and so helpful. I felt so at ease there. William didn't appreciate being hooked up but I was grateful to be able to hold and nurse him.
 We were discharged later that day and 2 days later we are still not in the clear but they say it is very unlikely he will have another breathing episode. Just got back from the Dr and his oxygen levels are good. He just sounds like a bad smoker now :( I can't wait till he is back to his usual self.




We are SO SO SO grateful for all our family who took care of our 2 year old, cleaned our house, held William so we could sleep (finally!!!!) and all our friends who have emailed, called, and texted. But most of all for all of those who prayed for us and him! I am sure he will be fine :)

Goodbye 2013 !!!

Wow who's blog is this again? Oh that's right, mine. Or it was prior to baby number 2! I miss blogging and hope I blog more in 2014 but lets me honest, it can't compare to cuddles and playdough with my babies!

2013 was a FAST year -- you know how when you were in high school all the people in their 20's and 30's told you how quickly it will all go by and how it goes by quicker every year? They were right! Nothing like having kids to show you how fast time can really go.

This year we...

 (I stared at this line for 5 minutes..........then got the calendar out to see, What Did I do this Year? --- this is called sleep deprivation people lol)

Found out that my best friend was pregnant ...... VERY big highlight of my year! 

( please excuse my best friend's apparent future in videography -- is that a word? lol) 

To my defense she was holding her phone in my face when she was telling me she was PREGNANT :) 

Worked HARD outside and now have a beautiful yard and grass area and patio! And outside lighting and a fence :) Jeremy did so many late nights out there with my dad (Thanks dad!) and it looks SO nice!

We had another niece and 2 more nephews !

We celebrated 5 years of marriage -- wow God is good!

We said goodbye to dear dear friends that we miss everyday :( Their work is accomplishing so much for God's kingdom but I selfishly want them back often daily!

Our sweet Juliana turned 2!!! Love that girl :) 

WE HAD A BABY -- Our precious first son!

We had lots of family time, dinners at home around the table, games with friends, conversations and new friendships. So grateful for this year. I am excited to see what God has for us next, hopefully soon!

Happy New Year!!

P.S. I think I am going to write a post tomorrow about 2013........YEAR of the coconut obsession :)

This blog has been seriously neglected these days. (good thing it's just a blog right?)

Just poppin' in to say that I am buried in Christmas projects, 2 kiddos and the stomach flu sooooooo I will get back to blogging and sharing some of my Holiday Favorites soon!!!

  

Spaghetti Squash Boats

You've probably been seeing this "idea" all over Pinterest but really......it's brilliant.

 Spaghetti squash boats are an amazing replacement for pasta. Now seriously.........I know the feeling when someone shares and "amazing" recipe that to me tastes like cardboard and I wonder how long it's been since this person ate good food. But we love these and even my husband loves these. We have been trying to eliminate grains/wheat from our diet as well as refined sugar. Something I totally went lax about at the end of my pregnancy and took too long getting back into after baby was here. We both feel so much better when we don't eat wheat/grains and refined sugar. What a concept huh? Eating REAL food that God created for us to eat! Besides I am tired of eating chemicals and high fructose corn syrup in EVERYTHING. For real. 

Gone are the days where I spend and hour baking my spaghetti squash (although that is still a great method) and then attempt to scoop out the blistering hot inside! Instead I cut the squash down the middle horizontally. (If you can do this first feat you are already onto a good start!)

 These things have a THICK peal so be careful! 

Then scoop out all the seeds from the middle and put a tablespoon or so of water in the little boat part of it. Cover with plastic wrap well and microwave on high for about 5 minutes, I like my spaghetti squash a little softer so just keep feeling the outside till it's the consistency you like :) 

Let it cool for a few minutes then serve your delicious homemade sauce right inside and top with cheese! YUM! I'll share my sauce recipe soon it's not difficult at all! 

Happy Monday!

I like real blog posts. 

I like when someone actually takes the time to open up even just a little bit. As much as I love another Paleo recipe or pictures of perfected fall crafts -- I like to hear from real people about real problems in life 

Because I can relate. 

Why don't we open up more? Why are we all so concerned with what other's are going to say or think or perceive of us more than we are that our words could possibly help someone in a similar situation. I am far more encouraged when I read or hear from a friend who's struggles are similar to mine than I am by her clean house or cute kid crafts....not that those are bad at all. But I wonder why we honestly open up so rarely if it is so valuable to our community of friends and family. I think it's because we think no one wants to see that mess....we want to live in some delusion that things look perfect like in a magazine. But that's not real life. And it certainly isn't my life. 

The danger with living in this state that things have to be "perfect" all the time means that when real life struggles and trials come our way they undo us. Instead of taking them in stride as a part of this life we allow our entire identity to be rattled by them. 

My life is always messy. I am short with my toddler, I waste time, I get tired of bouncing a baby around all day. My house is usually messy (unless I hear you're coming over then it gets cleaner in 10 minutes than it has all week!) My toddler watches more tv than I vowed she ever would and projects than I have started are strewn throughout my house. I am commonly unshowered and unrested. I am unrested because I waste time on the computer or on my phone when my children are distracted instead of taking time with the Lord. I am short with them because I am not taking time to find rest and refueling from God who is the only one who can provide the strength for this job. 

And the other things just come with having children :) 

I have been reading "Loving The Little Years" by Rachel Jankovic and wow...have been convicted, challenged and encouraged in this tiny read. I want to share this snippet from today about motherhood:

"The opportunities for growth and refinement abound here--but you have to be willing. You have to open your heart to the tumble. As you deal with your children, deal with yourself first. This is what it looks like and feels like to walk with God, as a mother. God treats us with great kindness as we fail daily. He takes the long view of our sin--knowing that every time we fail and repent, we grow in our walk with Him. It is easy for us to accept this, because our sins are, well, ours.

But our children sin against us, annoy us, and mess up our stuff. We want to hold it against them, complain about them (if only to ourselves), and feel put upon by their sin. We have a much harder time accepting that every failure from them is a wonderful opportunity for repentance and growth an not an opportunity for us to exact penance. 

It is no abstract thing--the state of your heart is the state of your home. You cannot harbor resentment secretly toward your children and expect their hearts to be submissive and tender. You cannot be greedy with your time and expect them to share their toys. And perhaps most importantly, you cannot resist your opportunities to be corrected by God and expect them to receive correction from you."

This has been my prayer these days. To allow God to work in my life and accept the growth that motherhood demands instead of fighting to regain control and work things out my way. Motherhood and child rearing can bring so many things of our own heart to light for us to work through with God and grow from OR it can make us bitter, unhappy, frazzled with the chaos of our life and selfish. 

Anyways! Hope you are challenged as I am to take the words from this great book to heart! 

"Bouncing" back after a baby --- ya right!

I have been talking with so many friends lately about this desire to bounce back post pregnancy both in the physically arena and in our productivity.

Before I say what is on my mind, trust me I all about getting back to they gym and eating a healthy diet for both your recovery after pregnancy and to help with energy and breastfeeding! This is not a post about just letting yourself go and eating garbage and not being active. But this time around for me that awesome "fluff around the middle" has hung around a lot longer -- in fact it's still there! After my first baby I was back in all my jeans shortly after and I really didn't know what all the fuss was about with losing weight after a baby. I know that is going to sound SO bad but honestly it just went away, no work really required! I even loaded up on food I wouldn't normally eat due to "breastfeeding" haha. It has been humbling this time around to have expected all the weight to melt away like last time and to see it still sittin there! This isn't about me seeking some kind "you look great" praise from you all, I just want to express how that pressure to bounce back to our pre-baby bodies is not only unrealistic........I'm not sure it's healthy. 

We for some reason crave comments like "wow you don't even look like you've had a baby!" or "look at her you can't even tell she's had a baby" and I realized -- Do I even want that?
I have had a baby!
2 babies! Do I really want to look like I did before my body had carried and delivered two children? Sometimes I do! But I have also been coming to terms with while I want to lose the rest of the weight and be healthy.....things will never look the same, and that's ok. For those of you that have had children you know what I am referring to! That little pillow around your belly button is the hardest to get rid of if ever :) 

I am still of course getting my butt back in the gym and getting back into eating foods that give me energy but I have been mulling over these ideas lately of why do I want to look like I haven't had a baby when I have?

This also HUGELY applies to life after a baby. I have been reading a lot about other cultures where a women who has just delivered isn't allowed to cook for weeks, or go in public for a month, or have people over. She is supposed to be at home, resting and bonding with her baby. In the US we are so productive based that we want to be "up and at it" as soon as we can after a baby. Myself included! I did NOT want to be one of those people lounging around doing nothing -- but what is the cost of going at it too soon?

• Your recovery will be longer since you aren't allowing your body the time it needs to rest and heal.
• You will feel emotionally spent and frazzled because you really are trying to accomplish too much! 
• You could even have complications with breastfeeding like clogged ducts, mastitis, etc.......just ask me I know. ;( 

Be ware of craving those compliments about "look at all she is doing! I can't believe she just had a baby!" I have been challenged lately to just take time with my children. Sit and read books, do puzzles, go for a walk. All the things you "need to get done" will still be there later. 

This is all to say, you know yourself! And if your an extreme doer like me then you need to take a break, take a breath, and relax. You will still have all those things to do after you've rested! I have found such joy

and peace in letting things go that I would normally have stressed over getting done.

What are your thoughts on this?! Do you think too many women do too much? Or do you think too many women take it as an excuse to not do things that need to get done?