Bloom Blog Tour Guest Post (and a recipe!) from Julie Anne Lindsey

Introducing.... Julie Anne Lindsey
A wonderful friend, writer and critique partner

Thank you Christie for having me over to your super lovely blog! This is my very first blog tour and I am so excited. I’m really stoked to be here because you always have the yummiest recipes to share! I wanted to give you my chocolate/peanut butter Buckeye recipe BUT thanks to the snowpocolypse  in Ohio right now, I think something warm and cuddle-up-kins is in order.

Julie's fabulous sweet romance! Great read!!!

My husband’s grandmother makes this soup and she shared the recipe with me when we got married.  My family loves this recipe, and I’ve even made it once or twice when it was way too hot for soup because I craved it! LOL. A good old yum-it-up recipe

Stuffed Pepper Soup

1 ½ pounds of hamburger/turkey burger (whatever your family prefers) ground and browned
2 cans of diced tomatoes (I like the petite diced tomatoes with garlic; sweet onion)
2 cans of water
2 beef bouillon cube
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
½  cup diced onion (I use lots of onions. I love onions!)
1 ½ cup chopped green pepper (I also go crazy with the green peppers)

Brown the ground beef in a soup pot and drain. Add peppers, onions, salt, sugar, bouillon, tomatoes and water and bring to a boil. Then cover and reduce heat. Let it simmer for an hour or so, all day is okay too.

You can adjust the amounts to suit your family’s tastes, but it is delicious any way you mix it! I hope you’ll make a batch tonight and curl up to watch the snow fall!

I also hope you’ll visit Honey Creek if you need a good old country escape. It’s a beautiful place where anything can happen. Kick off your shoes, relax into that porch swing and cuddle up to a steamy mug of soup with my debut novella Bloom! Now taking a trip to Honey Creek is as easy as Amazon : ) See you there!

Bloom by Julie Anne Lindsey

In a town filled with her past, she never expected to find her future…

Seven years ago Cynthia left Honey Creek with a broken heart. Three years ago Mitchell arrived with one.  Now Cynthia’s come home, and these two hardened hearts can’t stop arguing. If they’d only take a break long enough to find some common ground, they might be surprised to find love can grow anywhere.

If they’ll let it, love will find a way to Bloom.

*Bloom is book one in my new Seeds of Love series.  I’ll be planting those seeds all year.

About Julie:

I am a mother of three, wife to a sane person and Ring Master at the Lindsey Circus. Most days you'll find me online, amped up on caffeine & wielding a book.

The Great Julie Anne Lindsey!

You can find my blogging about the writer life at Musings from the Slush Pile

Tweeting my crazy at @JulieALindsey

Reading to soothe my obsession on GoodReads

And other books by me on Amazon

Bloom Buy Link

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Baby Shower #2 - Entering Month 8

31 weeks

Minnesota Baby Shower

What an awesome baby shower thrown by my sister-in-law, Kelly and Karl's aunt (and godmother) Janie. I'm overwhelmed right now with all the love and generosity I've received from so many people. We are feeling so blessed and so lucky. Jeez we know a lot of awesome people.

We had quite the spread of food! YUMMY!

Well, I just realized (yes, as I'm putting this post together) the shower...as in the shower I was the guest of honor at...started at 10:30, and Karl and I didn't show until 10:45. I'm feeling really cool now. Like as low as scum. Who does that??? For one, I was still battling getting over the stomach flu (yes, it got me good) and haven't totally been all there, but I have never in my life mixed times up like that. What is wrong with me!?!? I feel like such an idiot right now.

Super fun baby shower hosted by Aunt Kelly and Great Aunt Janie

Some of the fabulous guests!

Kelly's place was packed with friends and family and was decorated really great. There were so many cute details everywhere. From two books Kelly bought that said I Love You Daddy and I Love You Mommy with our baby pictures next to them to this cute little baby carriage fruit spread my mother-in-law made to a big diaper cake she put together. All super cool and creative!

I Love You Daddy Book (and a pic of Karl as a baby)

I Love You Mommy Book (and a picture of me)

My mother-in-law, Judy made this cute fruit baby carriage!

Brunch was served and it was delicious! After, we played a couple fun games. One, we had to unscramble a bunch of baby words. I wasn't very good at it. I had maybe three right - Karl got nine right. Then we played a "Price is Right" game where Janie brought out a bunch of items from Target in a bin that baby will use and we had to guess the price of each item. Then we added our totals and determined who came the closest. I guessed a total of $87 and Karl's was around $38. Karl was only about $.75 off. I guess I shop at expensive places.... He won. He's so kicking my butt!!!

Then I began opening gifts. Wow. There were so many! And so many awesome, adorable things. I couldn't believe it. Blows me away every time I start thinking about the time and talents it takes to put some of this stuff together!!!!

Look at this adorable sweater Janie made. WOW! So CUTE!

Kelly's awesome friend Kaisa made the CUTEST burp cloths I've ever seen!

My dear friend Sue Ann shipped out this fab bookshelf for all baby K's books!

Karl's other Godmother, Aunt Susan, made this fun blanket!

Karl's mom kept Karl's blankets and wrapped them up for Baby K

Then I thanked everyone for coming (wishing now I could've explained why I was so late... and apologized ten times over). The shower was a GREAT success. Karl and I couldn't be more excited for the big day!

Me, Karl, Great Grandma Bea, Great Grandma Alice and Grandma Judy

Kelly did an AWESOME job!!!! THANK YOU!

Huge success!!!! Can't wait for the next one! Baby Koester is sure one lucky baby! :)

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Ten Weeks Until the Big Day - Entering month 8

30 weeks

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision – which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.) www.babycenter.com       

I can't believe it! Ten more weeks! Wow! That's it??? Could be less. Could be more. Seems like time has gone really fast. Doesn't it? But I hear the last two months are also the slowest because they are the most uncomfortable too.

Spending the weekend with Grandpa and Grandma. Looking all chubby!

This past weekend Karl and I (and my older brother) visited my grandparents in Wild Rose. The guys wanted to go ice fishing and I wanted to spend some quality time with the best grandparents ever. My favorite part is they treat Karl like one of their own. I think they have more pictures hanging up of him than they do of me!

I love how towels were set out for us and they call Karl Dr. Fuzzy. LOL.

While the guys were fishing, I went on a quick walk with my grandpa (pretty good for an 85-year-old man whose heart only beats at 35 beats per minute right now) and then to church with my gpa and gma. They're Catholic and as we were leaving church, my grandma dipped her hand in the blessed water and blessed my belly and baby. That was really sweet and meaningful. And my grandpa rubbed my belly too. I felt my eyes fill with tears for a second. But no crying here!

They both predict 'boy'. Grandma thinks baby boy will be born April 12. Grandpa thinks April 18th.

We had a ton of laughs and it's always hard to leave because I never know when I'll see them next. Every time I see them I think this might be the last time. I try to enjoy every last second of being with them. They are such special people and have meant so much to me my entire life. Such wonderful examples of what I want to be like as a grandparent one day.  Even though when we left, my grandpa was sure to remind us that he'll haunt us in our sleep when he dies. Jeez...thanks!

As to how I'm feeling... Pretty good! I can't complain. I had my first episode of bad heartburn yesterday. I thought I was coming down with the stomach flu (didn't tell my husband that since he fears puke) but realized after I took some Calmicid (Melaluca), I felt better. Duh, I was probably suffering from heartburn. Great. Then I received an email saying heartburn was about to enter my life from now until baby is born. Yipppeee. Let's hope not! I'm going to try eating smaller meals.

Ever since I was told I could sleep on my back, I've been sleeping pretty good! I still have my moments when I wake up to use the bathroom and can't fall asleep right away. Sometimes I feel like I've slept 12+ hours and need to get up and organize the nursery at 3 a.m. Kind of messed up. I'd say I'm going to the bathroom 4-6 times a night. But keep in mind this is kind of normal for me. I go on average probably 3 times during the night, pregnant or not. I must have the world's smallest bladder. My brother calls me Tiny Tanks.

I feel heavier. I don't like that. I'm slow to move and am wondering where the rest of the weight is going to go these next few months...cheeks (both butt and face)...legs...thighs... Sigh.

Digestion issues... Not fun. In short, I have realized how important these things are.

1. Drinking enough water. Take current weight divided by 2...drink that in ounces every day. I've been far from it. But after this weekend, I'll be drinking LOTS more.
2. Eating plenty of vegetables and fruit (for fiber) 
3. Exercise.

All aid in digestion. Trust me...you do not want to be clogged up. No. No. No. 

On our four-hour drive back home I was asking Karl all kinds of questions. I wanted to know what he's most fearful of right now. His response: "Lack of sleep." I guess I felt pretty relieved with that answer because that's my great fear too.

We both decided we really don't know what we are getting ourselves into and what to expect, but we figure we're smart enough to figure things out. And we'll work together to figure things out. So the unknown doesn't worry us so much. We just both love to sleep and need our sleep... And I can't say Karl's ever seen the overly tired Christie. I'm not the nicest person when I don't have enough sleep in me. And I can't see Karl moving any faster when he's extra sleepy...

There are other worries, but that one is our major one. My uncle asked me why I seemed so scared in general. He reminded me it's the circle of life and everything will be fine. It's how it's supposed to be. He's right in a way. Change is good. I noticed now I'm pretty comfortable in my life right now. Go to work, work out, cook, watch some good TV shows. But after awhile, it becomes super routine. I think a good challenge and change up will be good for us. And from now on, life won't really get comfortable. I'm kind of OK with that.

Coming next: Baby Shower #2, Working on our Birthing Plan, Buying the Big Baby Items
         

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3D Ultrasound at 29 Weeks - Month 7

week 29

The Coolest Gift Ever!

We must thank Karl's parents (big time) for hooking us up with one of the coolest gifts - a 3-D Ultrasound. This was just something cool. Thank you! Thank you! It really was awesome.

Of course, baby was being stubborn once again and wouldn't totally turn his/her face to pose for us! At 20 weeks our ultrasound tech said our baby was the most stubborn baby she's worked with in a long time. At 29 weeks, the tech was having the same troubles. Uh-oh! Is this a sign of what's to come??

Adorable little face!

For a split second I felt something I have never felt in my life. This crazy calm, totally-in-love sort of feeling rush over me once I saw baby on the screen. And that was just for a few pictures! I had to stop and ask myself, "Ummm...what the heck was that emotion???" It was the craziest thing. Kind of freaked me out. Like...a rush of this beyond insane love. Does that make sense?

Our baby already seems pretty cool!

I was getting worried that baby was going to be stubborn, stubborn, stubborn. But all of a sudden we get a thumbs up. And all was well again. I'm thinking this baby is going to be pretty cool.

Look close enough and you can see the eyelashes!!!!

I asked the tech if she could find out how big or small the baby was. After all, I was ten pounds when I was born...did that have any say in how big our baby would be? Dear God, I hope not. At 29 weeks she says baby is about three pounds and ten ounces. That seems big to me already.... Doesn't it???

Some day those feet will be doing lots of walking...and volleyball!!!

At our 20-week ultrasound baby's head was stuck on my upper left side. This time his/her head was down and on my right side. Oh, and if anyone knows me...umm, well, I kind of have this thing about ears. OK...maybe a slight fetish. Karl has the BEST ears ever. They are soft and squishy and he lets me flick them and kiss them. I kept wondering if baby would have my ears or his ears. I'm in luck... Baby has his/her dad's ears!!!! Yesssss!!!

Look at those most perfect ears!!!!

This was by far one of the coolest gifts we've received, thanks to Karl's parents!!! This is definitely something we'll cherish for many years! We are so stinken excited to meet Baby Koester!!!!

Hoping this short little video clip comes through because it's pretty sweet too!!! Baby sticks his/her tongue out at the end!!! Silly lil baby!

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Baby and Insurance - Month 7

week 29

Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week he weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain – which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester. (www.babycenter.com)

What Happens to My Insurance After Baby is Born?

I kept asking myself this. So I decided to do something about it over lunch and called my medical provider. Not that this is an exciting post by any means, but it might be interesting to look back on in 30 some years and see how things have changed in this industry.

Wouldn't it be nice if money grew on trees?

First Steps

From the moment baby is born, my employer will have 31 days to contact our insurance provider and let them know the greatest baby ever was born. :) 

Baby will then be added to my plan, but have his/her own separate plan and his/her own $2500 deductible to meet from that moment to my company's plan year...Aug. 31, 2012.

My current plan

I currently have a $2500 deductible. Yes, I'm on the Health Savings Account (HSA). I did this so I could save enough from each paycheck to cover the $2500 by the time baby is born. Once I've met my $2500 (which I most definitely will after having a baby), I will have met my deductible. Any appointment I go to or service/treatment I receive after, will be 100% covered… until August 31, 2012. That is when our plan ends.

Ummm...yes, I will be getting a mouth/jaw split (which is normally about $800+ out of pocket) because it will finally be covered and I can stop grinding my teeth! I also want to look into contraceptives without hormones. I can no longer be on any birth control pill or anything with hormones since my mom and maternal grandma have Factor Five Gene Mutation. I tested negative, but still...they don't want to risk stroke. Maybe an IUD? Unless we decide we want Irish twins. *gulp*

If I were to add Karl to my plan next year, then we’d have a $5000 deductible grouped together. Seems like a crazy amount of money to me. Again, so pays to be healthy. Thank you mom for always making us eat so healthy and pushing us to play outside all the time!!!!!

My coverage

My insurance will cover me for 48 hours in the hospital AFTER baby has been born. They will extend coverage if they have to. Very nice! If I have a C-Section, I will be covered for 96 hours after baby is born. They will also extend coverage if they have to.  

Breast pumps (which run about $250-$300) can only be covered if:

1. I’m separated from child.

2. My child is born with a condition where he or she can’t suck or has downs syndrome

or

3. I am diagnosed with an infection or a lactation disorder.

Baby's coverage

Baby “well care” is everything the doctor prescribes for baby to keep baby well, and is 100% covered. This is much like the prenatal care I received. All 100% covered. Such as, “I need to see your baby in 3 days for a checkup, or come back in a month so I can see baby…or I need to give baby shots on this day…”

Circumcision, hearing tests are all covered 100%.

Not covered

Emergency room visits or unexpected visits. And if baby gets a fever and cold, it's recommended to bring him/her into urgent care pronto since they have a hard time breathing through their noses at such a young age. Another reason I hope breast feeding works and really does prevent baby from getting sick as much as they say...  

Car seats are not covered. I had to ask because most everyone in my car seat safety class was getting one through their insurance, but I think that’s cuz they are struggling financially??

I will say it was nice to get this out in the open and know what's covered and not.

Up next: 3D Ultrasound tonight!!!!!! I can't wait! Also, ice fishing and weekend at Grandpa and Grandma's.

             

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Breastfeeding Preparation Class Complete - Month 7

Parenting Class Two Out of Four Complete

week 29

Breastfeeding Prep
Everyone has their own reasons for breastfeeding or not (and I respect this) - this post isn't about how awesome breastfeeding is and to make people feel bad - sometimes moms don't get the option or their breasts aren't working right. For me, the main reason I want to do it is for the health of our baby. I was a breastfed baby and I think of myself as one healthy person - blame it on the milk (I think I was breastfed till I was 2) or maybe it's my current healthy choices and the lifestyle I live now... who knows! And it seems so convenient...and cheaper.

I took Breastfeeding Preparation at St. Francis this past Friday (for three hours) and I can't tell you how helpful it was. Life sure has already changed from going out to Happy Hours on a Friday night to taking classes on how to breastfeed. To me, it's crazy all the different stages of life we go through. Blink and I'll be a grandparent before I know it!

I have been warned by those who have been through breastfeeding that it isn't as easy as it may seem. It's painful and tiring and my boobs are going to hurt like nothing I ever imagined. But the ones who survived all have said, I just need to get through the first month...I must fight through the pain because it will get better. So I'm going to try and remember that.

I didn't know what to expect so I thought I'd bring in My Brestfriend and the Boppy like one of those crazy moms. The teacher kind of laughed at me. I didn't really need them but the teacher did end up showing us how to use them, so that was nice.

All the breast pumps out there!

The class consisted of a nice Power Point presentation (even showed the different kinds of poops baby will have), a few videos, us working with a doll and holding "our babies" in all four different feeding positions, burping them and switching breasts, some items we'll want to buy to help with nipple soreness and asking questions. A few brave dads showed and I'm sure they enjoyed the constant viewage of all the different nipples and breasts in the videos. I could only imagine Karl's laughter in my ear the entire time. He's not used to seeing big cannons!

Things I learned from class:

• How tiny the newborn stomach really is on day one (think almond).
• The whole "let down" business. I seriously can't believe how amazing our bodies are. Makes me want to take even better care of mine. We put our bodies through so much.  I mean, my body is going to know I delivered a baby. The minute our baby is set on my chest for that skin-to-skin contact my breasts are going to know. Well...hopefully in an hour's time. And that's when baby is going to get the best milk.
• All the feeding cues (remember...never really held a lot of babies here...didn't know there'd be cues).
• There will be 8 to 12 feeds a day....phew!
• Babies feed mostly between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. (say what? OK...I'm not an idiot. Knew this was coming.)
• For the first week, Karl should help out with nighttime feedings...encouragement and changing diapers. I'm going to need a cheerleader and someone to bring me water! Must keep hydrated.
• Speaking of diapers, they should always be dry when baby feeds (more comfortable).
• All the different reliefs out there I can try for engorgement.
• The different kinds of breast pumps out there (wow...we are really lucky to have electric!!)
• Wait about 3-4 weeks before we give baby a bottle. Karl will have to feed and I need to be out of the room (or house) cuz baby will smell me. This will prepare baby to take the bottle of breast milk when I go back to work. Just can't do it too early, otherwise baby won't take to my breasts as well anymore. Babies have to work harder at sucking for milk at the breast.
• At 12 weeks and when I start going back to work, baby will usually take a 3-ounce feeding each time he/she eats. I just want to know how many times this will be in a day? Are we still talking 8 to 12 feedings a day?
• Buy a bunch of maternity tank tops that flap down (easy to wear these in the hospital under the gown that will have slits in it).
• Baby should be breastfed for up to a year.

Most shocked about:

• Baby should sleep in the same room as mom and dad after birth for awhile if mom is breastfeeding. Just not sure how long is awhile? And in a crib? Or in one of those bouncy chairs? I need to do more research on this.
• Delay use of pacifier for about 4-weeks (once latch-on and milk is well established).

Most excited about:

• I have the contact information of the lactation consultant at St. Francis now. The hospital is only 5 minutes away from home, and I will be going in the minute I feel lighting bolts shooting through my boobs because I want to make this work and I want to limit any cracked, raw nipples!
• This crazy bond I'm going to feel with baby. Still can't wrap my mind around this or comprehend.
• Going to lose weight pretty fast if I continue to breastfeed. YAY! I get to eat an extra 500 calories a day for this.

Most worried about:

• My breasts not functioning correctly.
• The pain.
• Getting up every hour or two to feed. Sounds exhausting. Teacher said the schedule baby is on now inside my belly is what he/she will stick with when he/she is born. I feel movement around 10ish...sometimes around 3:00 a.m. too. Yikes. I'm reading a book dedicated to breastfeeding so I can keep all the information fresh since there is still 11 weeks to go!

Visitation issues:
This was addressed quite strongly. The teacher suggested only allowing the grandparents and immediate family into our room on that first day. Otherwise, baby will miss feedings and momma is going to get real tired entertaining everyone and then will have to stay up all night long feeding a very hungry baby. Only to get more visitors the next day... And the cycle continues. Depends on how comfortable I am letting my boobs hang out in front of everyone. However, she did remind us that we're going to be on an insane high for about two or three days and will CRASH big time. Kind of like our wedding...I remember sleeping for 18 hours straight on our honeymoon. And I can't imagine that bringing a baby home is anything like going on a restful honeymoon.  

Any breastfeeding advice out there that I need to know about?

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Homemade Pizza

Turn your pizza into something healthy!

Homemade Pizzas
serves how many you make
recipes found in...my head. I just load up on vegetables!

There really isn't any set ingredients for the pizzas I show below.

Whole wheat crust
Yummy pasta sauce
Pizza cheese
And a ton of veggies, anything from...
Basil
Spinach
Mushrooms
Tomatoes
Red, green, orange, yellow bell peppers
Italian sausage
black olives
banana peppers
artichokes, etc

Have fun with them!

Karl's reaction: "This is top notch pizza here, babe. Yummmmmmm!!!!"

My take: I love making our own pizza because I feel like it's not as salty and it's fresh!! Cheap too!

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