Baking

I have always loved to bake. Cookies, cakes, pies, etc. I enjoy baking them all, but not necessary good at decorating them. I would love to learn how to decorate them using icing, piping, fondant, etc. and have even looked at taking classes, but the schedule just doesn't work for me right now. So, I decided I will be self taught-which could be a big disaster, but that's the learning process.
Yesterday, I decided to make ladybug cookies, using a sugar cookie recipe and shaping the cookies to look like a ladybugs(could easily pass as a snowman), and then piped and iced them. When piping, you should use a piping bag and tip. I didn't feel like going out and buying one, so I used a Ziploc bag and just cut the tip off. Using the Ziploc bag, might be the reason they turned out a little messy looking instead of having nice, clean lines, but oh well.
Hopefully with time, I can work my way up to decorating cakes, but in the meantime I will keep practicing on cookies.
Rolled out ladybugs

Lightly pressed down

Baked ladybugs

Ladybug cookies decorated

Another trip to the hospital

My weekend consisted of me being in the hospital once again. I started bleeding Sat. morning, so I called the Dr on call and she told me to come in. I went in about 9 am and was told I would be staying for 23 hours. I thought I misunderstood the nurse and said "for 2 to 3 hrs" and she said no, for 23 hours. Later that night, I had some more bleeding, and the Dr on call, told me I wouldn't be going home until my Dr saw me Monday morning. Sunday night, early Monday the baby's heartbeat kept dropping, so I was hooked up to an IV and had to have the heartbeat and contraction monitor on me constantly, not to mention I was confined to using a bedpan(not the easiest thing to use). In the 3 days I spent in the hospital, I had 2 ultrasounds. Both showed no placenta previa-which is a good thing. It did show the umbilical cord was between the baby's head and my cervix, which might have been the reason for the bleeding. The umbilical cord and the baby might have been hitting old blood vessels. Since, the baby was having a consistent heartbeat for 24 hours, my Dr released me, with instructions to take it very easy. Once again, Kate wasn't with me, she was spending the week with grandparents. I don't know what I would have done, if I had had her. The last 72 hours have been emotionally draining, not knowing what was going on and not having Justin with me. Fingers crossed and prayers said, it doesn't happen again.

Dora the Explorer

Kate and I went to see Dora today with some friends. She has loved Dora for some time, and could even be considered a stalker. This was Kate's first live show and she did great. She sang, danced and clapped along with the audience and show the entire time. I cant wait to take her to more live shows.


Halle, Finely and Kate



Kate and her cheeks

Kate upset b/c its intermission aka commercial break

My child can not take a good picture

Nothing but pictures!

Since I left my usb cord in Baku, I havent been able to upload any pictures. So, I decided to go by another one. Here are alot of pictures over the last month, which include Kate's end of the year school party, London, dance class, etc. Enjoy.



Buckingham Park



Marble Arch Park

Kate and Halle at dance

Unexpected trip to the hospital.

The long weekend was suppose to be relaxing with a hair cut appt. and sushi with a friend. It turned out to be anything but relaxing. Thursday night I started bleeding and had to go to the ER. I immediately called my Dr. who informed me to go to the hospital and my good friend Lindsay who met me at the hospital. Thank goodness I'm over the 20 week mark, so I didn't have to wait in the lobby, I was taken straight to Labor and Delivery. They immediately strapped on the heart and contraction belt. I heard the heart beat right away, so I was able to calm down a little. After waiting about 2 hours the ultrasound techs came up and took pictures. I was informed Radiology would look at them and I should know something within the hour. After about an hour, the nurse came back and told me I had a tear in my placenta and could go home but the Dr. ordered me on bed rest until I could see her next week. Thank goodness, I had dropped Kate off with Justin's mom the day before. I don't know what I would have done with her.
I called first thing Monday morning to get an appt., but my Dr. wasn't in, so I had to wait until today(Tuesday) to see her. I had another ultrasound to see what the placenta looked like. The ultrasound tech couldn't believe, they didn't do a vaginal ultrasound on me, she did both vaginal and stomach. She said I had a moderate case of placenta previa. My placenta is sitting low and with the baby hitting it, is what caused the bleeding. The Dr. said it should move up with time but there still is the possibility of more bleeding. They will check the placenta again at 30 weeks. I am off bed rest and can resume light to moderate activities.
I want to give a HUGE thank you to Lindsay who stayed with me until 1 am-I had to kick her out as she just had a baby 3 weeks ago. Thank you Lindsay for keeping me calm, having positive thoughts and for all of the laughs. You are a great friend!!
Another thank you to Shelly, who informed me my blog was ugly and it needed to be changed-hahaha. So, I gave her my password and told her to get to work. After working for hours on it, she finally fixed my About Me, Friends blogs and Archives to go in the right spot. Now its fixed and looks pretty. Thank you Shelly!!