Raizo's Birth Story

Raizo PiangBo Brown

7lbs 12oz

Born June 7, 2011

This birth story is a extremely exciting one! I went to my doctors appointment at 2:45pm June 7th  I was exactly 39 weeks and was still not progressed from the last week visit and my cervix was still posterior so my doctor said okay induction it is on Friday. I ran errands bought some Sonic ice with my cousins then took a nap when I got home. I woke up with mild cramps. I called my doctor and she said if they got more intense within the hour to go in to the hospital. So I took a warm bath and all the sudden the pain got horrible I couldn't even move. I thought maybe I was constipated since I havent had a bowel movement in over 3 days. So I sat on the toilet and it got even worse. I called 911 because I couldn't even walk anymore I was laying in bed in so much pain. The ambulance got here within 5 minutes and took me on the drive to the hospital. I learned I had a new EMT in the ambulance and this was her first run ever. (Poor girl). All the sudden my water broke a few minutes into the drive. Then I had the urge to push and I was still in the ambulance the EMT was in a panic telling the driver to drive faster before I had the baby in the ambulance! I started to panic and then I pushed because my body couldn't wait any longer. His head came out and they stared taking me out of the ambulance and little Raizo was delivered in the hallway of the hospital on a stretcher with the ER doctor grabbing him before he hit the stretcher. She said she caught him like a football. My labor was only 38 minutes long. 38 MINUTES! I wonder if that is a record setter? Either way he got taken away and sent to the nursery to get checked out while my placenta was labored out. I wanted a natural birth and damnit I sure got what I wanted. I am a very happy mommy and I am very sorry this birth story is late! I have had a busy time so please forgive me! Here are some more pictures of Raizo!

Raizo and Lina

1 day old!

Smiling after being fed!

Deanna

Healthy Crab Dinner

I don't know about you guys but I love seafood especially CRAB! I went to my local asian market to find these babies for $1.99lb.

With my twin cousins at my side they chose the feistiest crabs in the pack to cook for dinner. The outcome is the first picture a big bowl full of 8lbs of blue crab.

Here are a few that were just done being cleaned and fighting with eachother. Cooking crab isn't for the faint of heart you do have to cook them live they are better that way! During the drive home we all realized we didn't have a brush to clean these little fighters. So I went to the Dollar Tree to get a pot and pan brush so we can clean them well. My cousins cracked me up a couple of the crabs got loose and ran on the counter and were attacking the brush. Anyways here is how you cook them!

I chose to steam the crabs instead of boiling the crabs I really didn't want a soaked crab for dinner that's not yummy! I steamed them in a 2 tier steamer. With the water on the bottom I added a ton of black pepper, half an onion (chopped), garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. I steamed them for 35 minutes. My cousin held on to the top of the steamer because the crabs were moving (like I said cooking them isn't for the faint of heart). We laid out a ton of news papers and warmed up some butter!

There is one of the crabs I ate! Looks like he is trying to make himself tastier by going to the butter!

I hope you guys enjoy this and try it for a yummy summer treat!

Deanna

15 Minute Pizza

15 Minute pizza crunchy crust and cheesy! Also extremely easy!

You will need:

1 Package pizza crust flour

1/2 cup Favorite spaghetti sauce (I used Hunt's Traditional)

1 cup Mozzarella cheese ( if you want it more cheesy pile it on)

1/2 tbsp Fresh or dry basil

Olive Oil

Follow directions on package to prepare the dough and oven times. Each brand varies.

Preparation for Kroger brand pizza crust:

1. Preheat oven to 475 Degrees F

2. Grease a 12-inch pizza pan or a large baking sheet

3. Combine pizza crust mix and 1/2 cup hot water in a mixing bowl

4. Stir with fork until blended (will be a bit dry)

5. Form into a ball and grease with about 1 teaspoon olive oil

6. Cover and set in a warm place for 5 minutes

7. Press dough evenly onto bottom of pan using greased hands. Pinch edges to form a rim.

I chose to have a crispier crust so this is what I did:

Prick the dough with a fork and bake for 5 minutes.

Then take out and add your sauce and cheese and top with basil (other toppings as well if you want)

Continue baking for an additional 9 minutes.

The results you achieve are at the top of this blog. It is cheesy, filling, and easy to make.

The packaged pizza crust mix was $.79 at Krogers.

So not only is this dinner quick and easy its cheap as well! You can find this kind of pizza crust mix at any supermarket.

Will you try out this recipe?

Deanna

Freeman Facial Peel-Off Mask Review

I am doing a review on the Freeman Facial Peel-Off Mask in Cucumber shown above (they do have new packaging now but I am not done with my tube yet!)

On the package is says it clarifies and renews skin and contains natural ingredients.

Instructions: Apply evenly to face, avoiding eye area. Leave on 5-10 minutes or until dry. Gently peel off masque. Rinse with warm water.

I went to Ulta recently and this line retails for $3.99 you can find it at most stores like Target, Walmart, Supermarkets, and Ulta.

I really love this peel-off mask it leaves my face very smooth and soft. It does take about 10 minutes not 5 minutes for me for it to dry which I don't mind. My daughter thinks its funny because I can't smile with the mask on and she loves to help me peel it off. It has the usual cucumber smell most spa items have and it doesn't offend the nose. Make sure to use a face lotion after using this so your skin can absorb the moisture since its been stripped of oils and impurities. Plus for $3.99 you can't go wrong. Are there any specific masks you guys use? Would you be interested in using this product?

*I purchased this product with my own money*

Quick Steamed Fish with Asparagus

Here is my recipe for steamed fish with asparagus.

To cook the fish:

1 Pompano fish (Any white fish works well here it also doesn't have to be whole )

6 tbsp soy sauce (you can use any brand I used Kikkoman)

3 scallions ends cut and cut in half

3 slices of fresh ginger

Black pepper to taste

I use a steamer to use this recipe but if you don't have one available you can also bake and it will come out the same way. I just prefer to steam the fish cooks faster that way.

I purchase my whole fish cleaned and cut for me.

1. Stuff the fish with the green onions and ginger.

2. Apply soy sauce on to fish and inside then sprinkle with black pepper.

3. Place inside steamer and steam for about 15 minutes.

Then you are done with your fish. I told you it was quick!

Asparagus:

1 lb of fresh asparagus ends cut and cleaned

3 cloves of fresh garlic

1/2 tbsp of olive oil

Black pepper to taste

1. Saute garlic olive oil until aromatic

2. Add asparagus and toss gently

3. Add 1 tbsp of water and cover for 1 minute

4. Check asparagus for tenderness

Serve!

If you aren't using a whole fish and just using fillets place scallions and ginger on top of fish.

Deanna

McDonald's Experience.

No picture for this blog sad to say as this happened before my blog started. I do wish I had a picture to remember this hilarious and irritating event. I went to McDonald's in Sugarland, Texas. I ordered a #1 so a BigMac meal. My food came and to my surprise low and behold there's no meat on my BigMac. I didn't realize that McDonalds was trying to make me a vegetarian (nothing against vegetarians here). So no meat that means I got a compact box with 3 slices of bread and a ton of lettuce. Being in Texas I thought this place was about the MEAT. I was wrong. I brought it back and got a replacement. This time meat was included. I had to share this encounter with everyone here. Anyone experience a fast food fails recently? Oh and their bathroom GOODNESS has latex gloves all over the floor. What in the world they don't even clean with latex gloves where did they come from? To top it off the supervisor and all his associates were on their phones texting away. McDonald's you need to step your game up and really just work on this place. I will be calling the store manager to complain because it was just ridiculous.

My Yesterday

Hope in a jar. If this really was hope in a jar like real hope I would have used it by now. I went to my 38 week appointment yesterday to find out I haven't progressed since the last week. She struggled to get to my cervix  which by the way was the worst pain and very uncomfortable. So an induction has to be done sometime next week between Tuesday and Friday. So baby will be a planned hospital birth.

I have my two wonderful cousins coming in from Arizona to help me out since I have a 4 year old as well so atleast they will be here and they keep me entertained! I haven't seen them in the longest time!

I also went to see Kung Fu Panda with my daughter yesterday. I have to say I liked the first one better but the  mass amount of cartoon panda babies made me happy. We went to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. They had a full menu and tables to enjoy your food. So what did me and the little one order? Popcorn, chips and queso, molten chocolate lava cake with strawberries and vanilla ice-cream, and sodas. It was worth the money spent and she had a great time. I wanted to take her out before the baby came and give her some full on mommy attention.

Tonights plan for dinner got a little bit disorganized so its steamed whole fish stuffed with green onions and ginger with white rice and asian veggies. I will put up a recipe and pictures tonight so you guys can give it a try if you would like. If you do please let me know how you liked it. It's really simple, healthy, and enjoyable. Well that is the update for now. I will be posting a review today as well as that recipe I promised so look out for those today and please comment!

Deanna