It's Kylan's Birthday

I wanted to have this posted early this morning but I was dragging big time, and I took more time getting ready that I typically do.
Today is Kylan's birthday. YEAH! I'm just happy that he can no longer say he is 3 years younger than me. Punk!
I came across these two pictures in my photo files and wanted to share.
This is what happens when you have an older sister.
I don't know why but I've always loved this picture. I took this picture in Seattle when Kylan and I first started dating, well technically, we weren't even dating yet...

We celebrated part of Kylan's birthday last weekend by going to dinner and opening presents and we are having another get together this weekend with friends to have cake and play games.

Low key around here when it comes to birthdays.

Feel free to leave a birthday shout out for the birthday boy!

We love you Ky.

Surgery

Tuesday afternoon I had surgery.
I had a laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and a D&C (Dialation and Curettage). I've been needing these procedures done for some time now. I should make it clear that this had nothing to do with trying to get pregnant. Although you may have these procedures done to find out why you are not getting pregnant, for me it was trying to get my body back on track.
I was surprised to find that I didn't have endometriosis like the doctors predicted, I was only a level 2, but instead I had tons of adhesions. At this point we are not sure where they came from because I haven't had any previous surgeries. The adhesions were blocking both of my tubes.
Before going into surgery I thought I might lose both tubes. Both were saved but one is twisted and not as functional as the other.
I had several cysts on my ovaries and will find out Monday when I go in if I have PCOS.
I also had several polyps removed. They didn't say anything about my fibroid tumor so I will have to ask about that on Monday too.
The surgery wasn't horrible except that I get extremely sick from anesthesia. Kylan was wonderful and helped me get ready for surgery by putting my cap on and then taking several pictures of me looking like a dork. Life is good when you are a little loopy!

Ummm, I don't think my eyebrows need to be covered.

The surgery lasted a couple hours and once I came to, I was sick. Gut wrenching sick. All I wanted to do was get out of there. No matter how much nausea medication they gave me, it didn't work, I was sick and throwing up anytime I moved.

I love that somewhere between the time these pictures were taken and the last, I lost my smile. It is somewhere back in surgical room 8!

In this next picture I'm sick, pale and not happy that Kylan is still taking pictures. Just get me home already.

The first night home I was up all night going to the bathroom. I joked that the fluid came out just like it went in, drip by drip (through the I.V.)!

My abdomen is sore where the incisions are but other than that I'm feeling ok. Today I'm getting around much better. I still have tons of "floating" air in my abdomen that I don't know how to get rid of. Anyone been through this before and have some suggestions??

Thank you to all of you who called, emailed and left kind words. I'm so grateful to have great friends around to help us out. I'll post after my appointment on Monday when the doctor will give us more feedback on the surgery and his findings.

Tagged Again!

I've been tagged. This tag is simple and easy to do, quite brainless really. Therefore, I can do it!

1. Go to my documents/pictures
2. Go to my 6th file folder.
3. Go to my 6th picture.
4. Blog about it.
5. Tag 6 people to do the same.


This photo was taken while we were in Kirksville for Kylan's graduation from medical school. We stayed at the Depot Inn with all of our friends and family and the place was loaded with things for kids to do. As you might be able to tell from the picture, there was a basketball court and several bikes for adults and children to ride.
I don't know about you but I'm thinking this bike is a tad to small for Keion. Unfortunately, this picture didn't show all the other who were out playing too. We had such a blast at graduation. It was so exciting to be finished with that stage of schooling and it was great to go back and see our lifelong friends we met while we lived there. WE LOVED IT!
I can't believe it has almost been a year ago that we were there. Many of our friends are heading back for the same reason. You are going to have so much fun. Enjoy every minute of it.

Lastly, I'm suppose to tag 6 others. Not going to happen. I think anyone who reads this blog should do the tag, so that means you!

Meatball Sub Recipe + Spaghetti & Meatball Recipe

Finally, here is the recipe to those mouthwatering sub sandwiches we had during the Superbowl.
The directions seem lengthy but they really aren't as hard as they first appear. You CAN do it!

Meatball Subs with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Homemade Meatballs
From the Kitchen of Sara Pullins
These sandwiches are really tasty and messy. If you don’t feel like a sub you can make the sauce or sauce and meatballs alone and serve with pasta or one night make subs and the next use the leftover sauce and meatballs for pasta.

Meatball Ingredients:
1 cup
Unseasoned Breadcrumbs
3/4 cup
Parmesan Cheese, grated
½ cup
Whole Milk
½ cup
Beef Broth
½ cup
Fresh Parsley, chopped
3
Eggs, beaten
2 Tbsp
Dried Oregano
1 Tbsp
Garlic, minced
1 Tbsp
Kosher Salt
1 Tbsp
Ground Pepper
1 tsp
Dried Basil
1 tsp
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
2 lbs
Ground Chuck (80-85% is best for the best texture)
1 cup
Beef Broth
Directions:
1. I use the inside of the hoagie buns for the bread crumbs, so hollow out the hoagie buns at this point.
2. Stir together first 12 ingredients (bread crumbs to pepper flakes) in a large bowl.
3. Spray two shallow pans with nonstick cooking spray.
4. Add the meat to the bowl with ingredients and mix thoroughly. Shape meat mixture into 2” balls; should make about 24 balls.
5. Place meatballs on the prepared pans and don’t crowd them. Pour ½ cup beef broth into each pan.
6. Bake at 450 degrees for 25 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through.
7. Reserve ½ cup pan juices to make the tomato sauce.

Fresh Tomato Sauce Ingredients:
¼ cup
Olive Oil
1½ cups
Onions, diced
2 tsp
Garlic, minced
3 cans
Plum Tomatoes, crushed (14½ oz. cans)
½ cup
Fresh Parsley, minced
1 Tbsp
Sugar
1 tsp
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Salt (to taste)
½ cup
Reserved Meatball Pan Dripping
Directions:
1. While meatballs are baking, make the fresh tomato sauce.
2. Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large dutch oven or similar pan.
3. Saute onions in oil for approximately 4 minutes or until translucent. Add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
4. Add the tomatoes, parsley, sugar, red pepper flakes and salt to taste. Simmer for 15 minutes.
5. After simmering, add the cooked meatballs and ½ cup of pan drippings. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes.

Meatball Sub Ingredients:
8
6 inch Hoagie Buns, hollowed out
4 Tbsp
Olive Oil
4 cups
Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
24
Meatballs

Fresh Tomato Sauce

Parmesan Cheese, grated
Directions:
1. Hollow out the inside of the hoagie buns to form a “bread boat”. Use the unused bread for the breadcrumbs in the meatballs.
2. Brush inside of hollowed buns with olive oil. Then fill each bottom bun with ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
3. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 450 degrees until buns are lightly browned and cheese is melted.
4. Then fill subs with fresh tomato sauce and 3 meatballs. Top with more sauce and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
5. Return subs to oven briefly, just to melt the cheese on top.

Here are several pictures I tried to take to show the process. I failed miserably with the pictures, but the I GUARANTEE the taste of these subs!

I was told not to show this picture but if any of you cook like me, the more pics you have the better. If I were cooking this on my own and my meatballs looked like this, I might think I did something wrong. Now you know, this is what the meatballs will look like after cooking.

I liked the more toasted bread but you can do it however you like. One pan was more toasted than the other so you could pick whatever floats your boat.

Just a random picture!

Here is the other recipe. Sara thinks you might be able to use this recipe for the subs as well. If you try it let me know how it turns out.

My Mum’s Spaghetti and Meatballs
From the Kitchen of Sara Pullins
I love this spaghetti! I think it might be one of my favorite recipes!

Ingredients:
1 6-oz.
Can of Tomato Paste
2 8-oz
Cans of Tomato Sauce
2½ cups
Water
2 tsp
Instant Minced Onion
¾ tsp
Italian Seasoning
1 tsp
Salt
2 tsp
Sugar
1/8 tsp
Garlic, minced
½ tsp
Sweet Basil, crushed
1½ tsp
Cornstarch
2 tsp
Dried Parsley, crushed

Meatballs (below)

Cooked Spaghetti
Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, combine tomato pasts, tomato sauce and water.
2. Add minced onion, Italian seasoning, salt, sugar, garlic, basil, cornstarch and parsley.
3. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils; then lower heat to simmer. Cook uncovered while you make the meatballs.
4. Add meatballs to sauce and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. While meatballs are simmering, prepare spaghetti according to package directions.
6. Serve sauce and meatballs over hot, cooked spaghetti.
7. Makes 4-6 servings.

Meatball Ingredients:
1 lb
Ground Beef
½ cup
Bread Crumbs
2
Eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp
Dried Parsley, crushed
1 Tbsp
Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp
Salt
1 tsp
Instant Minced Onion
¼ tsp
Pepper
¼ tsp
Dried Basil, crushed
½ tsp
Garlic, minced
Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, combine ground beef and remaining ingredients.
2. Stir to combine well.
3. Shape mixture into 1 inch meatballs.
4. Cook in hot spaghetti sauce.

Happy baking to all of those who give these a try. I'm off to bake but not these. Every year my mom would make us homemade heart sugar cookies for Valentine's Day. I'm trying to keep that going with my family. Kylan is on call today so we will take one to him and celebrate briefly at the hospital. Super fun!

Hide the Thimble

Tonight for family night we played hide the thimble. I will admit that I'm not such a big fan of this game. I hate to look for things and Kylan gives me such a bad time about it. I always run around the house ranting and raving that I've lost something and can't find it. Two minutes later he has it in his hands all the while laughing at me.
"If only you knew how to look better!"
Ya, easy for him to say. He LOVES this game and so finding things isn't such a task for him.
Unfortunately, Keion takes after me and can't find anything either.
This is Kylan's hiding spot. You may have to click on the picture to see it better. We had to have clues to be able to find it.
Keion is really tricky. This is where he hid the thimble on his turn. We never found it until he practically told us where it was. Easy to spot if you're 9 feet tall!

On another note.

Kylan was called to be in YM's. He is the 2nd counselor and will be working with Keion. Yeah!

Too bad I'm going to be released this next week or we could all be in together.

Last night we all went to a Fireside together. Kylan and I drove together and took 3 of the YW with us.

On the way back we missed a turn and got lost for only a second. Kylan turned around in someones driveway and got stuck. How in the world it happened, we don't know. The snow was practically melted to the ground but we were stuck nonetheless.

The YW had to get out and help push the car out. It was quite the site.

To top it off, one of the girls lost her cell phone in the snow when she got out of the car. We didn't know until we were almost home and she couldn't find it. After dropping us all off, Kylan had to turn around and go back to try to find it.

It is a 30 minute drive each way. Major bummer.

If only we wouldn't have gotten stuck.

Such a great way to start off the new calling. The girls were all laughing and it really was funny. They won't forget it, that's for sure!

The cell phone was retrieved and still works. Believe it or not, the girl survived a day without her cell phone...but barely!

Preview

Sweet Mary, it was 50 degrees today! We, and the rest of the people in this town, are much better because of it. I could jump up and down and shout for joy because we are expected to have a WEEK full of warm weather. HALLELUJAH!
I was promising some mouth watering recipes but have yet to deliver. My apologies. My friend who has the recipes just had surgery and has been down and out this past week. I figured it was best not to pressure her to get those to me, I'm sure you understand. If you don't, well then you are just wrong and cruel.
The meatball subs were, oh so, delicious. Kylan made himself sick by eating too much. If you ever try the recipe ( once I share it) you will not be disappointed.
Here is a little photo of what is to come.

On another note, Kylan and I had the whole day to spend together. We haven't done something with just the two of us in such a long time. Keion had the Klondike Scout Derby all day so we took advantage.
We bought a new laptop-yeah, and then went out to eat at bd's Mongolian BBQ after which we saw the movie, Taken. I suggest you go see it. We had such a great time. Nothing like a little one on one time.

Oh ya, Keion also had his last indoor soccer games this morning. He won the first and lost the second. They either tied for first or took second. Keion scored a goal in the first game, a real beauty, and almost had another in the second game. He is still playing basketball and loving that too.

Kylan is now doing a pulmonology rotation, his last before general surgery starts. He will savor his last days of freedom before that begins.

I'm going to go and change out of my swimsuit (just kidding) and get ready for bed, it is 7:30 and almost past my bedtime. Seminary is killing me and I go to bed earlier than ever, even on the weekends. Ok, not that early but 10:00 is the max. so sad but true.

Have a wonderful night :-)

Super Bowl

This will be brief.
We are planning on watching the Super Bowl with a small group of friends.
I know for a fact that there is going to be super yummy food. I just want you all to be aware because I'm going to get some recipes and share them, soon (or relatively soon!).
I forgot that I just loaned out my camera to a friend who needed to take pictures of her kids so I will find a way to get some pics.
I don't do well cooking without some pics of the final products. I need to know what it should look like and how bad I messed it up!
Also, I am so happy today. The weather is sunny and 40 degrees. I feel like putting my swimsuit on it feels so warm, but I won't, I have MI. winter body...not good.