How to make a perfect hard-boiled egg

1. Put the eggs in one layer on the bottom of the pan. Put the pan in the sink. Run water into the pan until the water is 1 inch over the eggs. Put the pan on a burner. Turn it to medium-high heat.
2. Let the water come to a boil. Put the lid on the pan when the water is boiling. Move the pan onto a cold burner. Set the timer for 15 minutes for Large-sized eggs (or for 12 minutes for Medium-sized eggs or for 18 minutes for Extra Large-sized eggs).
3. Put the pan in the sink when the time is over. Run cold water into the pan until the eggs are cool. Put the eggs into the refrigerator if you're going to use them later or peel them if you're going to use them right away. Be sure to use all the cooked eggs up before a week is over.
4. Gently tap a cooled egg on the countertop or table until it has cracks in it. Roll the egg between your hands until the cracks turn into small crackles all over the egg.
5. Use your fingers to start peeling off the shell at the large end of the egg. If you need to, you can hold the egg under running cold water or dip it in a bowl of water to make peeling easier. Throw out the pieces of eggshell when the egg is all peeled. You can eat the egg or use it in a recipe when it's peeled.

Today

Today was a fabulous day. It started with a happy William waking up at a reasonable time. Then I went with Tara to a restorative yoga class at Two Rivers Yoga Studio in Carnation, WA. It was awesome. Kelley, the teacher, was fabulous. I am starting to feel myself changing and I am so happy about this.

William is speaking more and more each day. Today, when he had awoken from his nap, we could hear him in his crib saying "up, up", because he wanted us to come and pick him up. He also says "truck" as "uck" and "car" as "cah" and points to them as they pass us on the highway.

Today we took William to the park to play and he practiced rolling down the hill and walking backwards and spinning around.

Last night, Kristine and I went to Jen's house to play ladies' poker with a bunch of the moms from my mom's group. Kristine was the big winner of the night. It was a great time and soooo nice to get out for some mommy time.

Moving forward

Lately, I've been reading "The Dalai Lama: In his own words. An Introduction to Buddhism" before bed and it's really helping me to change my perspective on things. I'm striving to be more patient, less negative and more optimistic and compassionate. I'm hoping these changes will help make my interactions with friends, family and strangers more comfortable and less stressful. In addition, I'm hoping to feel more peace and comfort during the challenging times that exist now and in the future. Life is so short, I don't want to wish it away simply because it is challenging.

We have several challenges right now. William has been whining quite a lot lately and while I'm mostly 99.9% sure that it's either related to teething or boredom, there's a little voice in my head that worries me that it is b/c he is in some sort of pain or that there is something wrong with him. Andrew has been out of work for 4 months and we are very tired of living under this tremendous stress about when he will find a job. He's got another interview tomorrow and had one last week, so it's possible something might work out, but I refuse to get my hopes up. I have been applying to jobs as well, but haven't gotten any bites yet. I'd be lying if I said this didn't distress me. I'm a nurse, jobs are supposed to be plentiful for nurses. I know I am limiting my options by only applying for ideal positions. I just keep telling myself that while things have changed DRAMATICALLY in the last 4 months and my life cannot be what it was or what I had dreamed of, it will still be okay. It may even be better than before. I really, really, really don't want to go back to work. The only thing I've ever been sure of is my desire to be a stay at home mother. If I could, I would gladly give up any sort of career so that I could focus on being a mom, but things are working out that way and I simply have to adjust my expectations and try to find the positives in this new reality. Really it's not that bad. Really it could be soooo much worse. William is healthy, we are healthy, we have a nice home, reliable cars, good friends and family, a loving family life and gorgeous neighnorhood and surroundings with outdoor fun just outside our door. It's going to be ok. I am even starting to think that working 2-3 days a week might even be a nice break, especially since William has been whining so much lately. At least I'd have a break from that so that I could come back to him actually missing his little noises. I just to remind myself that the one thing in life that is certain, is that things are going to change. Change. Change. Change. I still fight it. Even after all these years of being uprooted every 3-4 years as a child and then bopping here and there during my 20s. It's going to be ok. I am determined that things are going to be better in 2009. Not in a materialistic kind of way, but in such a way that we are productive, positive, growing, learning, maturing, strengthening and improving ourselves as a family and singularly as persons. I hear Andrew and William coming down the hall. Time to start this new day!!!

Snoqualmie Falls, photo by Tonia Nowlan

Transcending

Photos of William on Christmas Eve at the Eadon's house

Are we getting better?

It's hard to say. Andrew is still a little sick with complaints of a "scratchy throat" this afternoon. I'm fine and on antibiotics for strep. Now, William is a puzzle. He's had high fevers on and off since Friday morning. His fevers tend to get worse at night (up to 104 F) and are just low grade during the day. Sometimes, he seems totally fine during the day. Today, he refused to eat and drink and vomited up his evening milk...again. He seems to be without a fever tonight. I can't determine if the vomiting was due to a super sensitive throat/gag reflex or due to his fever-causing virus. I wish I knew which virus was afflicting William. Is it Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease as Beth suggested? His mouth could very well be sore which would explain his lack of appetite and general discomfort. I'm taking him to the pediatrician again tomorrow to see if we can get some answers.

I can't wait for my mom to live closer to us, because it would be extremely helpful for her to watch William while Andrew and I could catch up on a couple of hours of sleep after so much sleep deprivation since Friday night.

She will be arriving Wednesday night! William will love seeing his Grand Madonna.

A plague is upon our house

Wow. Talk about a mother's intuition. My mom was right on. I was talking to her this morning and was saying that I had really swollen lymph nodes in my neck for a few days and I didn't know what was going on with me. She mentioned that I should get a strep test because I've been a strep carrier for years and well...I've got strep throat and William is still sick and Andrew is also coming down with something. Both Andrew and I were super nauseated off and on throughout the day?? Odd. I did end up with a sore throat by the end of the day, but it's nothing I can't handle. I'm hoping this is a quick plague and that we are all back to 100% very soon.

The pestilence has found us

William woke up feeling hot all over this morning, so I took his temp and he had a 102.7 F fever. He's all flushed and sensitive today. I can't see any other symptoms other than his obvious discomfort and his being more clingy than usual. I feel guilty saying this, but I actually enjoy his being clingy since he's not cuddly all that often. He's usually full of zest and zing and running all around and exploring, but today he prefers to sit in my lap and read books. Can't say I mind it.

I wonder if my swollen lymph nodes (neck) are related to his fever? I hope that going to the mall's play area on Wednesday didn't cause William's fever. It seems like every time we go there he gets sick. Too bad, cause he really loves it there.

Today is the first day without rain in a long while and I am determined to get William out for a ride in his wagon. I'm sure he'll love it. He is crazy about his wagon. Maybe it will help him forget about not feeling well for a little bit.

The flood waters are reportedly receding. We weren't affected at all because we are up on a plateau far above the flood plain, thankfully. It sure is good to have a day without rain.

William and his PEPS friends.

William is 15 months old!!

William is officially 15 months old today. According to my monthly newsletter, 15 months is considered a "Milestone Month". 90% of children are walking by now and they are starting to develop advanced social skills. William is already running and does laps around our kitchen island. He loves his new skill and will throw his body forward with a huge smile on his face. He is also imitating actions and facial expressions. When I laugh, make a lip smacking noise, clap, slap my hands on my lap, stick out my tongue, go "ahhh", or say certain words, here will mimic me. He is definitely testing out our responses to his actions. For example, he knows the word for being picked up is "up" and will say it when needed, but these days he wines and yells instead unless I ask him to say "up".

According to an article from Babycenter.com, 15 month olds can sometimes have nightmares or symbolic dreams. I wonder if that is the reason that William woke up screaming last night at midnight? He's definitely sleeping more soundly these days. He never throws a fuss if you put him in his crib while he is asleep and is able to get himself to sleep if he is put in his crib awake.

Today he did something that I want to record for posterity. He's done this before as well. He woke up early from his nap, so I was sitting on the rocking chair in his room while he looked over his books. After a few minutes of pulling his books off of his bookshelf and looking them over, he walked over to me and gave me a book he had chosen so that I would pick him up and read it to him. He sat so adorably in my lap while I read to him. Moments like these are so precious.

Today Andrew met with a staffing firm to help him find a new job.

Tomorrow we have a busy day with two play dates. One in the AM with Lucas and one in the PM at Steph's house with the other PEPS babies. Hope you all are having a good week.

Test post from Picasa 3

William has been dancing and singing to music for a few days now. He especially likes to sing in the car. He's also doing this new dance move where he lifts one foot up and stomps it on the floor. Hard to believe that he will be 15 months old on the 5th of January!

We have been putting William to bed an hour after having his bottle of whole milk and it is going well. He is able to put himself to bed all by himself with very little (if any) fussing.

My mother will be flying out here to live with us on the 14th of January. Andrew has been working hard on helping her get things/life organized so that she can move on with her life after the death of her husband two days before Christmas. William will love having his Grandma Donna so close by!

On New Year's Day, I drove Tara to Overlake hospital and got to spend the day visiting with her and baby Mia. If all goes as planned, little Mia should be home tomorrow!! Can't wait to see her cute little self soon!

After seeing how pleased Tara and Graham were with their experience at Overlake Hospital, I decided to apply to an open evening shift in Labor and Delivery. I'm really hoping to get the job and start making some money for our little family. Andrew has a meeting with a staffing agency tomorrow morning ans we are all hoping that a job prospect pops up soon for him.

play date with Phoenix on NYE day