Back when my dad had his first surgery, January 22nd, I started this sweater for Miriam.  I worked on it during his surgeries, and while visiting him in ICU, in his regular hospital room, and in rehab.  I finished the knitting ages and ages ago, but the finishing took forever.  I’m not very good at finishing work, but I think the results are worth it.

Now if I could just get her to keep it on, we’d be in great shape!

Sunday: Argentinian Steak, ribeye steaks with chimichurri, asparagus, black beans and rice

Monday: Gumbo with rice

Tuesday: Fish from the fish market on the north side, pasta, broccoli

Wednesday: Irish stew and soda bread

Thursday: Pizza, possibly at Lou Malnotti’s

Shabbat: Challah, stuffed shells, veggie

Saturday: Chicken enchiladas, salad

Just for my own purposes:

1. Pirate Latitudes – Michael Crichton
2. Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain
3. The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry – Kathleen Flinn
4. The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) – Rick Riordan
5. Steamed – Katie MacAlister
6. The Sea of Monsters – Rick Riordan
7. The Titan’s Curse – Rick Riordan

Sunday: Pizza!

Monday: Seafood boil with new potatoes and corn if I can find it.

Tuesday: Roasted chicken, hodgepodge of whatever veggies are left in the crisper, and noodles

Wednesday: Pasta, tuna, and veggie bake

Thursday: Steaks (hopefully grilled if the weather is nice), noodles, broccoli & cauliflower

Friday: Challah, and whatever my sister makes for Shabbat dinner.  It’s her week to cook.

Saturday: Beans and rice

We missed week 9.  Between travel, a funeral, oral surgery, a sick baby, and a birthday party, the meal plan just never even got made.  One less thing to have to throw out though!

So, on to week 10.

Sunday: Today is Purim, where nothing is as it seems.  A day of costumes, drinking, revelry, games, and Breakfast for Dinner!  Tonight we will have pancakes, scrambled eggs, and fruit.

Monday: I have to drive my husband to and from work today, so either we’ll have dinner with my parents, or we’ll pick up takeout.

Tuesday: Cream of Krab soup

Wednesday: Cod in a potato chip crust, broccoli, carrots, and squash

Thursday: Chili and cornbread

Shabbat: Challah, chicken soup with matzah balls, roast, veggies, potatoes, and wine

Saturday: Spaghetti with meatballs, salad, and garlic bread

Last Saturday, Jason, Asher and I flew to Washington D.C. to go the funeral of our good friends’ baby. After going full term and then some, he never got to take a breath on his own. The funeral was monday, and went as well as a funeral can go I suppose. The parents were very strong, and I’m so impressed and proud of them. I hated having to leave, but we had to hurry home for Tuesday.

My mom stayed here at our house, along with Miriam. She’s 2 now, and just old enough to know that something sad was going on, but not old enough to understand. She also has hit a very shy stage, and likes to have everything her way, immediately (we are working on that). So Jason and I decided it would be easier for everyone if she just stayed home and got special time with her Bubbie and Zaydie. Dad also stayed here, as he has for the last few weeks since being released from the hospital.

Tuesday, I took Jason to the oral surgeon’s to have all four of his wisdom teeth pulled. The surgery itself took about 45 minutes. It turned out there was a lot of infection back there, and as the doctor put it “it was messy”. The anesthesia made Jason really funny, and he took direction very well, which was nice for a bit.

However, the bleeding didn’t stop the way it should have. After a few hours of constant, continuous, copious bleeding, I called the doctor’s office again, and they had us go back in. They gave him two more stitches, and Jason finally clotted, after losing about 2 pints of blood.

We came home, and I got Jason to drink a bit of milkshake, and managed to keep him conscious until the fear of actually losing him passed.

He’s still incredibly weak and tired – mostly due to the blood loss.

Wednesday he slept most of the day. I drove dad to and from physical therapy, took care of the kids, and don’t remember much else from during the day. My sister came over after work to pick dad up and take him for the evening, as she does every Wednesday, and I was able to convince her to stay here, watch both wounded men, and my kids. I picked mom up, and she and I went for margaritas and then hit Stitch n Bitch.

Thursday is a blur of taking care of the guys, the kids, and the house.

Friday Jason tried to work from home, which really overdid it for him. He was exhausted. Everyone came over for Shabbat dinner. Mom made her famous stuffed cabbage, My sister made mashed potatoes and brownies, and I baked challah during the day. We woke Jason and made him come to the table for Shabbat dinner.

Tonight is Asher’s first birthday party, as tomorrow is his actual birthday, and Purim (a fun Jewish holiday involving costumes, noise makers, and getting drunk).

So yeah, I’m a little tired.

Busy week ahead. I could be flying out to D.C. at any point, so trying to plan fairly easy meals, especially for later in the week.

Sunday: As it is both Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year, we are having Shabu Shabu, otherwise known as Hot Pot. Shrimp, scallops, oysters, lamb, fish balls, crab sticks, baby bokchoy, enoki mushrooms, spinach, daikon radish, glass noodles, udon noodles, all in super spicy broth. YUMMMMMM.

Monday: Steaks, crash hot potatoes, veggies

Tuesday: Mardi Gras! Gumbo, Chicken ala Louisana, King Cake

Wednesday: Baked fish, rice, veggies

Thursday: Veggie soup, homemade bread

Friday: Shabbat dinner, it’s my Sister’s turn this week. I’ll be making the challah, the rest is up to her.

Saturday: leaving flexible

Valentine’s Day is coming up, so here is a list of some of the things I love.

I love my husband

my children

that my dad is coming home from the hospital tomorrow

everyone getting together for a yummy meal (especially when we get together at my house)

my cats

my sofa

Princess Bride

the smell of fresh baked challah

time to knit

friends to knit with

sudoku puzzles

foodie books

3 a.m. when I’m nursing my son and the whole world is asleep

bananas with sour cream

being the person who gets called when there is an emergency

clean, warm, pajamas fresh from the dryer

and most importanty, YOU.

1 lb split peas, rinsed
1 smoked turkey drumstick
3 stalks celery with leaves, chopped
1 cup baby carrots, chopped
3 very small onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp thyme
salt & pepper
1 qt chicken stock
water

Layer everything into a slow cooker. Add enough water to make sure that everything is covered with liquid. This will vary depending on the size of your cooker, and the size of the turkey leg you use.

Cook on low 8-10 hours.

Sunday: Football Fest – buffalo shrimp, sushi, chips w. salsa & guacamole, veggie tray, crackers, cheesey dip or cheese ball

Monday: the ever recurring split pea soup

Tuesday: cod w. veggies in foil packets, rice

Wednesday: leftovers or spaghetti depending on the level of leftovers.

Thursday: Steak, crash hot potatoes, veggies

Friday: Roasted chicken, little red potatoes, roasted veggies, challah

Saturday: DAD COMES HOME (well, here actually for a while for continued recovery) FROM THE HOSPITAL DAY!!! – He asked for “something with flavor”. I’ll have to give this one some thought.