A Bunch of Randomness

OK, so I did have the idea to post my new recipie I tried, but changed my mind, because I didn't know if that would be plagerism! but Jen said it would be a good idea to post new recipies, and I thought so too, so here it is...
Apple Raisin Pork Chops
Prep: 25 min
Cook:25 min
Igredients
8 bone in pork loin chops (3/4 inch thick) ( I used 6 and it was plenty)
1 tbls veg. oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups apple cider or juice
3 tbls. spicy ground mustard
3 medium red apples, sliced
1/2 cup sliced green onins
1/4 raisins (Terrance said he could do without, but I didnt think they were bad)
1/4 dried currants(yeah, have no idea what these are and couldnt find them)
2 tbls. cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water

* In a large skillet, brown pork chops in batches on both sides. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Return all chops to skillet.
Combine cider and mustard; pour over chops. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 13-18 minuets or until juices run clear. Remove chops to a serving platter; keep warm.
Add the apples, rasins, onions, and currants to the skillet. Cover and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minuets, or until apples are tender. Combinecornstarch and water until smooth;stir into apple mixture. Bring to boil; sook and stir for 2 minuets or until thickend. Serve with pork chops.

There is the recipie, simple! very good. like I said Terrance could do without the rasins, and make sure you use spicy mustard, it adds a little kick to it. YUM!!

On another random note. We all are still sick in the Newton home. Terrance went to the doctor yesterday, and verdict is, its a virus. He has a very raw throat from drainage, a lot of fluid in his ears, and swollen lymh nodes. So he has great cough medicine that knowcks him out, and some Nasonex. Crysta was up most of the night coughing. The reports on childrens cold medicine had me a little hesitant to give her any. but she was so miserable, so I gave her just a little less than the reccomended dose,just to be safe. Carter is very congested, and I can't get it with the bulb. So I have to just listen to it in his sinus'. poor guy. Im not so hot either, but I will live.
I have decided to fast today and start eating really well tomorrow, to see if I can tell exactly what I am eating that is affecting Carter. (No this is not a weight loss excuse). I just really hate that he is gassy, so I want to get it all figured out. Plus I could use to eat better anyway. The hard part will be fasting though.. Wish me luck.
Grandma and Granpa Newton bought Crysta a Tinkerbell costume for halloween. She was able to take it home with her last night, and it was only off her body long enough to sleep. The first thing she did when she woke us was take off her PJ's and put that dress on. She is so excited! Carter will be a pea pod this year! SO CUTE! it will make for some great pictures. speaking of pictures. Here are a few that Crysta took the other night! What a photographer!

Happy Wednsday

Good Morning! I just had to share a few things that made me giggle these past few days. First of all, Jen had a few of us girls over to practice facials for her new buisness in Mary Kay. I really didnt get to participate in the entire process because Carter 'thought' he was about to die of starvation. but it was fun to watch all the other girls do their make up. Crysta was even stoked about the party, so Jen did her make up! I wish I would have taken pictures, but you can imagine. Crysta LOVED it. I did however just get to play with the colors I chose. They were extremly dark, so I made a mess of my face to give Jen the practice of fixing it for me, but I think I was to far beyond any kind of help!
Last night, was my first night of hopefully a tradition that sticks. My new recipie night. I made 'Apple Raisin Pork chops'. They had a slight resemblance to Hawiian Pork Chops. Very sweet, and a little spicy. Terrance actually had 2nds, which tells me that it was good. So I guess thats a keeper in my cook book. Very easy too! If you want the recipie let me know. After that we all took baths and just relaxed. I think my cold is either coming back or just getting worse. Crysta too has been really congested, and Carter is now getting a goopy eye, and a stuffy nose. He also has been pretty fussy for the past few days, so I don't know if he is getting sick or not, or if I just ate something that doesnt agree wtih him. Its amazing that a baby sometimes soley depends on his mother for the first 9 months in the womb, and then if you nurse, he depends on you for atleast the first 6 months. IT can make you VERY aware of what you do.
This morning I woke up very congested. you know the kind where you can't talk really because your throat is sore from drainage, and your voice is muffled from congestion? And all you want is something HOT to drink so you don't have to cough. Well Crysta woke up that way too. And all I could do was laugh when we tried to talk to eachother this morning. HAHA. We both had stuffy noses, and no voice. Very funny. OK, so that story was a lot funnier when it happend, and a lot funnier in my head when I thought, "I should blog about this today". But apparantly not so much actually IN the blog. My applogies. Have a Splendiferous day.

Tah-Dah the Pictures

Here is a slide show of some of my favorite pictures of Carter.... Enjoy

Here are some pictures from Crysta's Birthday at Chuck E. Cheese's......Enjoy

What a week!

GOOD MORNING~ It certianly has been a crazy week here in the Newton household. Terrance is still sick with a sore throat, Im getting a head cold, and Carters gas is back. Crysta on the other hand is dandy! A quick recap on a few things..
We spent last weekend in Branson for MeMaw and PaPaws 60th wedding anniversary. The Newton and Mitchell family shared a really nice condo, that I really didn't feel we got to enjoy very much.Guess we will have to save up some mulah and head back there one weekend. We spent saturday in Silver Dollar City. SO FUN. Terrance stayed at the condo because he wasn't feeling well at all. He is not one to show sickness or pain, so I knew he really wasn't feeling well when he couldnt even fake it. Terrill and I rode rides together, since Tawn can't and Steph isn't a big rides fan. IT was a lot of fun to get on a ride again. It was a great weekend with the family.
Monday was spent trying to get Carter back in his routine, and sterilizing our appartnemt. Terrance stayed home from work, so he stayed in our bedroom all day. All he needed was a bell to ring for assistance! He still isn't 100% but hopefully a weekend of rest will get him there.
I have come to the conclusion that between the hours of 6:30 and 7:30 AM are Carters "Happy Hour". The pictures that will be posted are proof of that. Every morning this week between that time, he is wide awake, smiling, and occasionally laughing. I really enjoy sitting on the couch and pretending like he is smiling at the funny faces Im making. Someday.
I have decided that one night a week I will make a dish that I have never made before. Im calling it "New Tuesdays". Original huh? Im really getting into cooking, and thought it would be something diffrent and fun. I also have an idea that I will run by friends, as soon as I hash out the details. But it will be something in the form of cooking, friends, and a weeks worth of prepared meals.. My friend Jennifer Crow gave me the idea.. We will see where my crazy brain takes it, and if anyone is interested. Oh, and if anyonne has a better name for my new meal night, Im open for all ideas!
Crysta and I have been walking to the church together. The weather has been extrodinary and I really enjoy the girl time. Lauren Hankins gave me a Peanut Shell which is basically a sling to carry your baby. LOVE IT, now that I finally figured it out. So Carter rides in that as Crysta and I walk. My time with Crysta is precious, and I love watching her amazment in the little things that we find along the way. We also get to do some great girl talk that consists of a lot of 'Why' questions and Knock Knock jokes. I will never get these times back, so Im living it up, and writting every little thing in her journal. I reccomend that to anyone who has kiddos, or is having, or plan on having them. Write in a journal, sort of as a letter to them about the things they do. I will give Crysta hers either when she goes to college or gets married. Im about to start Carters too. Its something to do right before bed, and a way to remminise about my time with them. Just another way to appreciate the Lords blessing of little children in my life. there is nothing sweeter.
Anyway, my next post will be 2 slide shows. One of Crystas birthday at Chuck E. Cheese's and the other of some of my favorite pictures of Carter. It's about time right?

Crysta and Carter

Wow, where to begin. I am lagging on my blogging, so I will try to catch up the best I can. Crysta's 4th Birthday was October 6th. We took her to Chuck E. Cheese's on Friday to celebrate. She had so much fun climbing in their jungle area, and riding the rides. She's not so much a game girl. I don't think she has the intrest, patience or attention span long enough to play them. But she enjoyed the atmosphere I think. We invited Madison Wheeler to come along to, so Crysta could have a playmate. They played together twards the end, but in the beginning, there was jus to much to do I think.. All in all, it was a great night! Saturday, Terrance, Carter and I took Crysta out to lunch then to the pet store (Petco). Crysta LOVES to go there and look at all the animals. We let her do her usual looking, then told her that her surprise was that she could pick out a fish to take home. She picked a pretty blue beta fish with matching blue marble to go in the bowl. Funny thing is, the fish looks exactly like my first fish that Terrance bought me. RIP Mushoo! Anyway, Crysta named him Nemo and made his home on her nightstand right next to her bed. Saturday night, family came over for dinner and cupcakes that Crysta decorated all by herself. She did an awesome job!
Carter is doing great! He had a doctors appointment Tuesday for an oozing belly button, and diahrea. The belly button turned out to be extra scar tissue. Dr. Rogers put silver nitrate on it, and said it should clear in a day or two. Last night, it looked like it had rubbed against something, or it was stuck to his clothes then got ripped off. It was red and raw looking, and he seemed to fuss anytime we got near it. Hopefully it will be ok. It looks better this morning. As for the diahrea. Several tests were done to see what the cause could be. Turns out, he has some microscopic bleeding in his stool, and the protien in dairy is thought to be the cause. I have been told to cut out dairy for the remainder of the week. Already he seems to be less gassy, and his stool is thickening. However, I also was instructed to cut back on the frequent feedings. Another cause for the diahrea and spitting up, is he is overloading on the 'formilk'. which is baisically more water than nutrients. Our little guy now weighs a whoppin 11.5 lbs and is 23 inches long. Looks like we are going to have another tall child! He is doing well otherwise, and is still sleeping good! We are very blessed.
This weekend we are going to Branson for MeMaw and Papaw Newtons 60th anniversary. Terrance isn't to happy, but he will survive. Im excited to get to use my seasons pass to Silver Dollar City for the 2nd time this year. But this time, I can ride the rides! WHOOHOO!! he weather has been cooling off, so hopefully it wont be too cold this weekend.
Pictures of all our events will hopefully be posted soon.

just stuff

Hello to all! Well this week has been full of things I couldnt wait to blog about, and now that I am sitting at my computer I can't remember half of them! For starters, Carter is 3 weeks today! hard to believe! Second, Crysta is going to be 4 TOMORROW! I can't believe that my little girl is only a couple years away from going to school!! Tonight we are taking her to Chuck E. Cheeses to celbrate! She is so excited, and that makes me happy!! Then tomorrow Terrance and I will be taking her out all day. then family will be coming over for dinner tomorrow night! Should be fun! It will be nothing like the blow out birthday she had last year, but this is kind of the point! We can't spoil her every year right!? :-)
Carter got his first real bath 2 nights ago. We did it in our bathroom sink. He really liked it at first, then he started to fus once he got cold, but that kid loves to be naked! haha. And he loves to have lotion rubbed on him too! His Cord had fallen off the night before, and I didn't know it. I went to change his diaper at like 3 am, and in the dark saw a little black thing, and my first thought was it was a wood tick! but in the morning I saw it was his cord, and got really excited! I remember litterally jumping for joy when Crystas fell off! haha. Find the joy in the small favors right?
Also, for those who dont know. I have a new do! I went to Michelle Rehagen on Tuesday and had her give me my FIRST perm ever! Thats right, I have never had a perm or anything close in my entire life! I had always wanted one, so this was my chance! I like it for the most part, but now my insanly thick hair is about twice as thick! haha. but I like the ease of getting ready now. Since Im fairly busy with 2 kiddos and the church, I wanted something easy! I will post pictures when I take some! I havent been able to wash it for 2 days, so its been a little rough! Terrance will appreciate my shower more than ever today, he litteraly holds his breath when he is near me!
The church is having the Homecoming this weekend, and I have to have the church cleaner that it has ever been. However, I think little Carter knows that I need to get it done, and he has been giving me greif every time I try to get something done. I hope today he is better at letting me get it done. I have A LOT to do today! so I better get on it! have a great weekend!

On the Heart

Just a few things I thought I would jot down, while BOTH kiddos are sleeping, and while I avoid the duties at hand.First of all, Jennifer called me this morning, and told me that Blake is in the hospital. They took him to the ER last night with a 103 fever, and his soft spot was bulging. The Colvin 4 were over for dinner Saturday night, and it was clear that the boys weren't feeling well. I just ask for your prayers for the boys, and Jeff and Jen. I know it's nerve racking when you dont know whats wrong with your kiddos, and you just can't do anything. I guess they will be doing some blood work on Blake and keeping him atleast until Wednsday. Austin is ok for now. So please pray that they both get better. And also pray that no one, especially Carter gets sick either.
Secondly, and on somewhat of a lighter note. Carter Jay had his newby pictures taken yesterday. Jill (The photographer) was almost 45 minuets late. She told me to have Carter fed before she got there. Well he was, but in the middle of the pictures he started to get hungry. He fussed a little at first, and we were playing the pacify with the binki, and yank it right before she took the picture, then shove it back in again, game. It was fun at first, then he really started to get mad. Jill said she got some really good ones though, and I can't wait to see how they turn out. They should be on her website by tomoorow or Wednsday. I will email you all the password soon.
We are planning to take Crysta to Chuck E. Chesses for her birthday, which is this weekend. I can't believe that my little girl will be 4 in 5 days! She is pretty excited to go. I was looking at their website, and she was so excited that she will see the Chuck E. Cheese guy! She is just elated! I love that she can tell me what she wants now, it allows me to see her interets, and personality. She told us that she wants a pink pony, t-rex, unicorn, and a Cinderella carrige that doesn't open for her birthday! too funny! We are celebrating her birthday with the family friday night, and saturday Terrance and I have a day planned for her. I hope it all works out. Then possibly saturday night having some family over again for dinner! we will see what happens.