Sunday, July 23, 2006

Lookit my Grandbaby!!




Well we have Medicaid. What an ordeal.

Some advice - don't have any health issues requiring a doctor's care without insurance. They don't treat you very nicely.

We've been dealing with this since late May. After six in-person visits and three times filling out the application I thought it was hopeless, but on our last visit to Brackenridge to confront a live caseworker with our story and demand some action, we were presented with a temporary number and the announcement that she is "certified."

So we can go to the doctor on Wednesday and get her thyroid checked and all the other things she's been saving up that didn't seem emergency-room worthy.

Whew.

Oh - PS - photo by my wonderfully talented sister Hannah Neal.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Sigh


The evil ex has struck again.

The children don't keep in touch with their father too much. He's difficult to be around and doesn't really accept them for the wonderful cool people they are. But Sydney wants him to be in her baby's life. Every baby needs a grandpa, after all.

So she wrote him an email the other day, telling him about her pregnancy and inviting him back into her life to be daddy and grandfather. It was a beautiful letter.

His reaction? "I'm not surprised."

And now he's gotten it into his head that she must give the baby up for adoption. She very respectfully but firmly asked him to back off and let her be the one to make this decision, and thanked him for his input and support. He hasn't let up, though. He has hounded her with phone calls and emails, telling her that she's being selfish and harming the child by wanting to bring the baby up herself.

She is devastated.

It's all I can do to keep from hunting him down.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Baby Belly


Here's how my new grandbaby looks right now.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Fireworks




Well today is not a holiday for me. I am at work.

WOOHOO - DOUBLETIME!!

My holiday so far has consisted of a festive pancake breakfast that I cooked for Zachary. Mmmmm.

Pancakes

2 C. whole wheat flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. kosher salt
2 t. splenda

2 1/4 C. buttermilk
2 eggs
1/4 C. melted butter

Mix the dry ingredients together in a big bowl. I sift mine if I'm feeling energetic.

Separate the eggs into two bowls. Into the bowl with the egg whites, whisk 2 cups of the buttermilk. Into the bowl with the egg yolks whisk the 1/4 c of melted butter. Now whisk the egg mixtures together.

Combine with the dry ingredients, only mixing until everything is moistened. Don't try to get out all the lumps. If the mixture is too thick, add up to 1/4 c of buttermilk until it's the right consistency.

Use a 1/3 c measure to pour the batter onto a greased hot hot griddle or skillet.

Makes about 15-17 medium pancakes. Mmmm.

Oh - I added some chopped pecans once the batter was all mixed up. YUM.

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So happy Fourth!!

Monday, July 03, 2006

I hope they were good.



Joe snuck into the pantry last night and ate almost all of the dog biscuits.