7 QT: Strep, Lies, Timeouts, Playoffs and Bellies

1)

Phil took Maggie to the doctor on Monday, where she was diagnosed with strep throat.  He had Alexander with him, and so the doctor tested him too.  His quick results came back negative, but they sent it away to see if it would grow.  

On Tuesday, Phil stayed home with Maggie and Xander and ended up going to his doctor because his throat was hurting.  He was also diagnosed with strep.

On Wednesday morning, John-Paul and Andrew both complained that their throats were sore.  Later that day, the pediatrician's office called saying that Alexander's results came back positive for strep.  I mentioned that 2 of our other children had sore throats, and she said to bring them in that afternoon.

Guess what happened next?  Yup, they both tested positive for strep.  Eamon went to the appointment too, and I think at this point, the doctor was feeling so bad for us that she just tested Eamon for free, and he surprisingly did not have it.

Then my throat started to hurt, but not badly at all.  I decided on a whim to go to the Urgent Care center Wed. night just to be sure it wasn't strep, and turns out I was wrong.  I also have strep throat!!  Today I stayed home with J-P, Andrew, and Xander since we were all on our first full day of antibiotics.

So here's the Martin Family diet for the next week or so:

2)

The weirdest part of this strep taking over our house?  

It's like a very minor sore throat.  I NEVER would have thought it was strep. Never.

The funniest part?

Eamon, the last one standing, brought home a notice from school today warning parents that "someone" in the school has strep throat.  Yeah, we'll be on the lookout ;)

3)

 

Don't let this cute smile fool ya.

Last night, Xander comes downstairs, crying:

Me: What happened?

Xander: Maggie bited my ear!

Me: Maggie, get down here, and tell me what happened.

Maggie: It was an accident!!  

Me: How do you bite someone's ear by accident?

Maggie: Well, I was on the seesaw and I fell over to him, and my mouth was opened, and it went on his ear, and then I accidentally closed my mouth.

Me: Go sit on the stairs until you are ready to tell me the truth.

4)

10 minutes later...

Me: Are you ready to tell me the truth?

Maggie: I don't want to because I'm scared (starts crying).

Me: Maggie, telling the truth always makes you feel better.  Now what happened?

Maggie: I bit him.

Me: Why?

Maggie: Because I can't help it, I just always want to touch his ears, they are so soft.

Me: You have to find something else soft to touch, like a blankie or your own ears.

Maggie: But my ears aren't as soft.

Me: Well...just wait for the new baby to come.  He or she will have soft ears.

(I apologize in advance, little one, but this tired Mama was out of good parenting advice.)

5)

Somebody has graduated from the highchair-facing-the-wall timeout spot to the stool-in-the-kitchen timeout spot.  Next level is the stairs.  And before you know it, I'll be taking away the car keys.  My, my how they grow!

"Oh you taking my picture?  I do the Grinch face."

The crime?  Stepping on his brother's eye.  

I just don't even....

6)

Have you heard that my team is in the Playoff game this weekend?  Go Pats!!!!

7)

So yesterday after posting this belly shot, I was surprised by the comments that some of you thought that my bare belly was showing.  

Listen, I wish my belly looked as stretch-mark-free as that, and that my belly button wasn't telling me that the turkey's done, but let's be real...this is my 6th bambino and I'm not Gisele Bundchen.  

Even Phil thought it was my skin showing, and when I asked him why on Earth my belly would be that many shades whiter than my arm and face, he replied:

"Well it is where the sun don't shine."

Touché.

Have a wonderful football and Sherlock watching weekend, my friends!!

As Crafty as I Get

I wasn't going to participate in Cari's Theme Thursday: Craft because me and crafts are nemeses (nemesi?).  

But then I remembered this little ditty my friend, Michelle had sent me before:

And that's all I make.

So here's my interpretation, which also serves as my 30 weeks, 4 day bumpdate:

Addictive Chicken

I was going to title this recipe Crack Chicken because it really is that addictive.  Well, I've never smoked crack, but I hear it's pretty addictive.  I've made it a few different ways, and it always comes out delicious.  So delicious that when I wake up circa 3 am for my maternity micturation, I can't stop thinking about it.

Feel free to get creative with this recipe when it comes to the nuts portion.  I've used pecans, pistachios and coconut flakes (on separate occasions) and they were all scrumptious!

Addictive Chicken

4 large chicken breasts, butterflied into 2 or 3 fillets per breast so they are nice and thin, then season with salt and pepper.

In bowl, whisk:

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup dijon mustard

In another bowl, mix:

1.5 cups breadcrumbs (panko or regular, just make sure they are plain)

1 cup chopped/pulverized nuts or coconut (I use my generic Magic bullet to make a rough powdery substance)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Spray 2 baking sheets with Pam.

Dip chicken into honey/oil/mustard mixture and then into breadcrumb/nut mixture and place on baking sheet.  Continue until all chicken fillets are on the pans, and then spray the top of each fillet with Pam.

Bake until thoroughly cooked, about 20 minutes.

Invite me over for dinner :)

Bits of Tid Tuesday

What do you make when you wake up on a Saturday morning with plans for a big breakfast, but find the grocery fairy  hasn't yet come?  A hootenanny, of course!  (I add cinnamon, and sometimes sauteed apples, to this recipe)

Watch out, it grows!!

Maggie had a cough and sore throat over the weekend, then woke up on Monday morning and threw up and had a fever (two of my kids ALWAYS vomit when they spike a fever).  She happened to have her 6 year old physical scheduled for that afternoon anyway, and when Phil took her, we found out she has strep throat.  Whoops.  She's home from school today (again) and already feeling much better after 2 doses of the pink goodness.  Phil woke up this morning with a really bad sore throat, so he'll be calling his doc for a strep test today.  It's always fun times when you live in a house with 7 people who work in schools, attend schools, or go to a home daycare.  Lots of ways to catch and spread viruses.

Ummmmmm, what is up with Downton Abbey?  I don't want to spoil it for anybody who hasn't seen it yet, but was that whole Anna storyline really necessary?  Makes me sick to my stomach.  And I just love love love Anna and Bates...what does this mean for them as a couple?  I'll let Heather do the recap for you.

Our wonderful and holy Pastor is being transferred in June.  We are all devastated, especially my two altar servers.  We have a great parish, but if we aren't fans of the new Pastor (I don't know him yet at all), should we look for a new parish?  Do you pick a parish based on the parish life or the Pastor?

Oh my gosh, the Patriots are looking so, so good after their last game.  I'm hoping the Broncos get really, really sick before Sunday.  May I suggest hoof and mouth disease? Kidding, Sandra, kidding.

Don't forget to nominate your favorite bloggers for Bonnie's Sheenazing Awards!!

7 QT: Un-Love Letters

1)

Dear Mother Nature,

What were you thinking giving us an earthquake in New England yesterday?  Sure it was small, but we felt it, and my kids felt it, and now all they talk about is earthquake-related. Fun for them, but a little scary for the Mama.  We already have to contend with blizzards and hurricanes around here, let's not make earthquakes a "thing" too, deal?  

2)

Dear Fellow Gym Members,

The gym is meant for exercising.  I understand that's shocking to those of you who get dressed up and come for social hour, but you are really really distracting to the rest of us who are actually trying to burn some calories in our appropriate workout attires.  There's a reason I pick the treadmill furthest away from humanity, and I don't appreciate when you and your bff use the machines right next to me and discuss the details of last weekend.  Like, oh my gosh, like, you're obvi totes cool, but like, I am sooooooo over it. For reals.

3)

Dear Coworkers,

Did you see my new necklace today?  It reads:

IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO COMMENT ON THE SIZE OF MY BODY, I WILL FEEL THE NEED TO COMMENT ON THE SIZE OF YOURS.

4)

Dear Kohls,

We have a good relationship, we truly do.  So I was shocked when I opened the box of my last Kohls delivery and found that there was only one shelf when I ordered and paid for two shelves.  I emailed you on this matter, but have yet to get a response.  Don't feed me the "It's not you, it's us" line either, because this lady's been around the block before.  Just fix it.  Please and thank you.

5)

Dear Everyone Who Keeps Asking Us If We've Chosen Baby Names Yet,

We are so thrilled that you are interested in this little bambino of ours, but we can't tell you the names we are thinking of because you will ruin them for us.  You are completely entitled to your opinion on what we name our offspring, we just don't want to hear it.  We've had enough problems coming up with monikers this time around, and I think we've finally settled on the top girl name and the top boy name, so when we announce it, please, for the love of God, just smile and coo at the baby.  M'kay?

6)

Dear MartinFamilyMoments.blogspot.com,

I know I've been ignoring you a little bit lately.  Sometimes finding the energy just to eat 5 protein heavy meals a day is exhausting, and blogging is pretty much the last thing I want to do.  I've thought about completely breaking up with you many, many times lately, but I'm gonna ride out this hormonal train and see how I feel when it arrives at the station.  Maybe I can get a ghost writer.

7)

Dear Indiana Colts,

See ya tomorrow night!

Hugs and Kisses,

That's What He Said

Found this on my phone, and it pretty much sums up Alexander, age 2.5, right now:

He's a crazy man.

Some of his doozies lately...

In the car, trying to make the kids (or as he calls them all, "the boys") laugh...

Xander: Stinky butt!

Me: Hey, we don't say naughty words.

Xander: No, I want to be in charge!

Me: No, when you are a Dad, you can be in charge.

Xander: Hey, wook, I a Daddy now!

"I swimming!"

Recapping a Pinky and the Brain episode that the kids had rented from the library...

Xander: ...and they were crying and crying!

Me: So they were being cry babies?

Xander: No, they were being cry MOUSES!

"Daddy put jello (gel) in my hair!"

I was wearing one of Phil's Redskins shirts, and Xander noticed...

Xander: You like the Redskins?

Me: Yes.

Xander: You no like the Patriots anymore?

Singing "What the Fox Say?"

Whenever I catch him pooping in his diaper...

Me: Xander what are you doing?

Xander: Uh, I just playing with my toys.

or

Xander: Mom, just go to the kitchen. 

or

Xander: You just watch the tv, Mom.

Every time he picks up his drum to play...
"And a one, and a two, and a one, two, three, four."

At Mass, Alexander still acts like the mayor at the Sign of Peace, and has to shake everybody's hand he can reach.  After he had gone through everyone around us, a sweet older lady grabbed his hand again...

Xander: (loudly) Hey!  She trying to take my peace!