Out of the closet

Boy it's been a long time since I've posted anything. Over a year. I was trying to find out how to search blogs to no avail. But I did look back at the pictures I posted here and realize what a bad mom I've been not to keep up with this. I have been so busy with my business that I have neglected taking pictures of and writing about my own kids except for the occasional facebook update. The truth is, I've had a lot on my plate, both with the business and with the kids...mostly Jonathan. He started school last August and with that new beginning has come a lot of pain and heartache. Not because I feel like I've lost my baby, but because some things have been brought to light. In the first few weeks of school Jonathan was having difficulty paying attention in class. In the teacher's words, he was "in his own little world", "played around the other kids instead of with him", had "trouble conveying his emotions." Offended and scared by these words, we decided to have Jonathan tested psychologically. We were having trouble with him at home not following directions, talking back and saying hateful things, punishing him was so difficult, he had difficulty sleeping since he was two, and many other oddities. After three days of testing with a child psychologist we were told that Jonathan is on the autism spectrum. He has a very mild form of autism, and honestly he must just seem like a spoiled bratty kid to most onlookers. He continues to struggle in school with social situations mostly. After the diagnosis we were sent on our merry way with no instructions. Apparently our school has one of the best autism specialists in the state. We have yet to meet her, so I dont know what good that does us! He is constantly getting "sad faces" at school, which I have almost become numb to. Today was the worst...probably why I have decided to share about it. I dont think anyone really follows my blog (who would, it hasnt been touched in over a year!), except maybe some people who I dont mind sharing this with. We havent really decided to come out of the closet with it yet because we haven't completely accepted. I dont want Jonathan to be stuck with a stigma that may prove to be caused by a false alarm. But I am getting so tired of the looks that I get, and the thoughts I know friends and strangers are thinking. I have beat myself up for so long, privately, because I cant control Jonathan. He is not well-behaved and many times difficult to be around. Though he has really good days that encourage me, many days are laced with bad moments that discourage me. Like today.

My New second favorite soup

I found this in a Rachel Ray mag and changed it up just a little bit:

Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup

-2 tablespoons EVOO
-1 lb skinless boneless chicken breasts
-salt and pepper
-3 Carrots, sliced crosswise
-1/2 cup long-grain rice, rinsed (uncooked as recipe is written,
but use already cooked rice at the end if you have some)
-One 16 ounce package frozen black-eyed peas
-One 32 ounce container chicken broth
-One 9 ounce package frozen creamed spinach
(I cant find this, so I just use regular frozen spinach and remove the
"Creamy" from the title)
-French Baguette for serving

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper and bake it or fry it up in the pan. Transfer to a plate. Put carrots, rice (if uncooked), rice and beans in a large put and cook for about a minute. Add chicken broth and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer over high heat then lower the heat and simmer until the rice and beans are tender (about 20 minutes)
2. Meanwhile, shred or cube the chicken. Add to the soup along with the spinach (add rice here if already cooked) and cook for 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Serve with the baguette.

Of course, I tear the bread into the soup and it tastes awesome!

A short rest...

It's been awhile since my last post...I've had a little break from Sweet Portrayal since Christmas since its been so cold out! But I've got several maternity and newborn pics lined up as I finish up my time here in St. Louis and I am so excited. I want to get as many of these in as I can before I move to Arkansas since my goal is to specialize in Maternity, Newborns, and Babies to 1 year - I really want to hit the ground running there and what better way to start off than with a jammin' portfolio! I look back on the first newborn pics that I did and cant really understand what kept me going at that point. I mean, the pics were okay, but I have really come a long way - if I do say so myself. I always did seem to get the "most improved" awards in school though. I was happy with that until I found out what that meant - there was no where to go from where I was but up! LOL!
All of that to say...if you know anyone out there with a new baby on the way please refer them my way!!! Be sure to tell them to let me know who referred them and there will be rewards!!!
So in my respite I have still been taking pics - even more than usual actually. I started doing Project 365 on New years - and I love it! If you are into photography at all I suggest you start this - it is so beneficial whether you are an experienced professional photographer or just got your first point and shoot yesterday! It has helped me expand me knowledge and broaden my ideas. You can see my pic of the day each day on my flickr site (link to the right). I will post a few of my faves which include pics of my family:

Home

I'm home from Arkansas/Oklahoma! And home today from work because I'm sick :(
We cancelled cable and laying on the couch watching TV would be my ideal way to pass the time. So instead I decided to catch up on my blog (as though anyone has been waiting on pins and needles to read it).
So I'm sure you have seen by my facebook status updates that Chuck and I are in the market for a house in Rogers AR. We found one we liked over our Christmas vacation and put on offer on it. I'll keep you posted on that...
If you didnt get a Christmas card from us this year let me know your address and I will send you one next year. But for those of you who didnt get one, here it is:



We had a lot of fun making that one!

Otherwise not a whole lot going on here. We are trying to figure out when I will be stopping work, but the contingent plans are for me to work through either February or March, and we will move around April 15th. But everything is still up in the air.
I will hopefully be posting some more pics of the kids from the holidays soon, so stay tuned...tuned?

Gracie's birthday party

So if you read my last post you know that I was out of town for my daughter's birthday. She turned two on November 6th. She didnt go without a party on her birthday though. She got to spend it with Granny and Papa in Oklahoma. I still felt awful when I got back - you cant skip your own child's birthday, even if they wont remember it. So the next Saturday we threw our own party for Gracie. We went to Texas Roadhouse (my favorite restaurant and conveniently the kids' favorite too!) She got to sit on the saddle while everyone gave her a Texas Roadhouse "yeehaw!" She loved it! She has plenty of experience with that sort of thing since she has been riding the rocking horse her Papa made since she was 9 months old (no joke she would climb up on it herself and hold on and rock!!) After dinner we came home and I pulled out the birthday cake I made for her - my family's birthday cakes always have to be homemade (my definition of homemade right now is from a box - I mixed it and put it in the oven). We all put on our party hats...Gracie insisted "pody hat pody hat" as she chased our heads with them. We sang happy birthday and she blew out the candles...and no, she did not touch them this time! Then she got to play with her birthday present - a new kitchen! Now she and Jonathan can make the cakes!

Over so soon?

My trip to Florida. Being the bad parent that I am (I dont try to pretend that I'm not anymore) I took off with my hubby to a Podiatry Conference (yay...) in sunny Florida (YAY!) and left the kids with my folks (YAY again!!!) over my daughter's second birthday..(oh.).
Let me just say...I am sooo glad I did. We had so much fun. The hospital was paying for most of it, so we went all out on some things. And I dont feel guilty at all. Chuck is chief resident this year which means that he gets to put up with a lot of crap, spend all evening making phone calls, and pay extra for his phone bills - and he gets paid no more than the other 3rd year resident. So, he (we) deserves it!
We stayed at the Sanibel Island Resort and Spa. I took advantage of the spa the second day I was there and got a wonderful massage and a haircut (just a trim really, nothing drastic) and I got to spend time in the sauna and steam room. Ahh...I can still smell the cedar. Unfortunately Chuck had to spend his day in a lecture. While Chuck was at his lectures though, it was bliss for me...relaxing by the pool with my drink of choice...a Sanibel Sunburn (fruity rum drink) reading Nicholas Sparks' "The Lucky One." Lucky me. When Chuck was done all he wanted to do was find a way to drive the rental car - a convertible Volvo. We spent one afternoon on Sanibel Island at a bird refuge (who's idea was that?) and another day kayaking in the gulf through a little swamp. Yay. And we watched the sun set at the beach every night. And the dinners...they were great - steaks, sushi, fish - yum! So much fun.
On Saturday we went to Fort Myers beach and saw a sand sculpting contest. Among the entries was a man from St. Louis. I dont know who won, but they were all amazing. On Sunday we returned to the Island to buy some souvenirs for the kids before making it back for our flight.
It was heavenly. I did miss my kids, but it was sooo nice to get away. I only felt guilty about twice a day, but they were short-lived bouts. Cant wait to do it again!
See more pics on flickr and facebook.
And yes, there will be a post shortly about Gracie's b-day - I'm not all bad.

Bye Bye Hump Day

My sweet hubby surprised me at work yesterday (Wednesday) with these beauties in celebration of my last Wednesday at work. Next week is my first week back to part-time. YAY! I'm wiped out! :)