Love is in the air...(no, it's not what you think)

Here are just a few small things I am LOVING on right now. 

I am SO loving my UK Wildcats!!!  A-MAZING!!!  FINAL FOUR BABY!!!  We have an Indy team and my team going to the final four.  Does it get any better??

I am also loving the fact that I have turned Madison into a Mini-Me.  I have not only made her as addicted to pop-ice as me...but I have also made her addicted to frozen grapes!!  The best food on the planet.  Too bad grapes in excess are so expensive!!!  If only I could have my own vineyard.  Of course that would mean I would need my own workers too. 

I tried a new hair color that I LOVE!!  Not necessarily the color...although I do like it a lot...but the fact that it's foam.  I had bought the Nice and Easy foam but read horrible reviews about it...so now those two boxes sit on my table.  Then I decided on Samy Fat Foam Hair Color...but then I saw John Frieda's Precision Foam...and I got that one too...just to be on the safe side.  I used the JF color and it's amazing.  Normally when I color my hair I have haircolor all over me...my bathroom, the floor, the shower...every where imaginable.  With it being foam, it didn't go anywhere...accept on my hair...where it was supposed to go.  And quite possibly the best part is that it has virtually no smell.  Normally I almost sufficate when coloring my hair...but not this time. 

This next little wonder has surely changed how i feel about laundry.  I saw an add for Purex softener crystals that you put in at the beginning of the wash.  While at Walmart I decided to give it a whirl.  My clothes have NEVER smelled So good.  I will be buying this indefinitely.  It's simply irrestible. 

And while we are on the subject of things at Walmart.  Lemishine is the best thing next to sliced bread.  It doesn't matter what we do...our water is so hard that it practically is pointless to use the dishwasher.  the plates come out looking like they have chalk all over them.  You have to hand wash the dishwasher washed dishes.  That is...until Lemishine came in my life.  I don't know if this stuff has a little bit of built in magic added to it...but it's unbelievable.  I can only find it at Walmart...and only at one Walmart.  I stocked up this time and bought three bottles.  I do NOT want to run out of this again!!!

Lastly...I happened about this Gluten free Casein Free recipe...that was literally so simple I just had to try it...even if it was horrible.  Chicken thighs (bone in) and honey.  Yep...that's it.  Pardon my lack of cooking knowledge, but all you do is take a square baking dish (that's where my lack of knowledge comes in...I have no idea what size the baking dish is).  Spray some pam (making sure it's GFCF) in the pan.  Pour honey on the bottom to cover the dish.  Put the thighs in...skin side down (yes...use the skin...it has healthy fatty acids).  Cover with honey.  The recipe called for 1/4 cup honey...but I just pour honey all over it until its covered.  Cover with aluminum foil.  Bake for 90 minutes at 350.  I just put it in for 45 minutes, take it out, turn the chicken over and cover with honey, then cover and put back in for 45 more minutes.  Now...I have made this recipe twice and both times the sides were incredible.  The first time we had this meal I made quinoa.  When the quinoa was done cooking I poured in some lemon infused olive oil, stirred and then poured a little of the honey juices in it. Quinoa is a very nutricious super food. The second time I made corn fritter/pancake type things.  That was just a box of Jiffy mix, a can of creamed corn, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar.  I didn't have enough oil to fry them, so I just put them in a pan like pancakes.  I just put them in like pancakes.  Once again, I poured some of the honey juices on the corn cakes.  So delicious!!! 

I think that's all my love for one day.

A letter to all parents…

The next time you get annoyed at your child for interrupting you while you are on the phone…
Be thankful your child has the ability to talk

The next time your child is whiny because they are sick or their tummy hurts…
Thank God your child can tell you where it hurts.

The next time you complain about having to drive here, there, and everywhere for your children…
Be glad to know that when they are 16 they will be able to drive

The next time your child talks back…
Remember at least you have the chance to hear “I love you” without having to prompt your child.

The next time your kids fight...
Be glad that at least they are socially interacting

You see…it hit me this morning as I was getting ready for work and I heard Madison babbling away in the living room. It was adorable…she was being so “talkative”. And it made me realize how very easy it is to take the simple things in life for granted. I do it all the time.

Granted I didn’t birth her…or hold her in my womb for 9 months…I do help raise her every day. I help give her a bath…and make her hair pretty…so that at least she has one less thing to worry about dealing with during the day. Kids are cruel…and they will only get worse as she ages…so if I can give her every single opportunity to fit in…I’m going to try.

As I said…I’m not her biological parent…but I love her as if she were my own. I’m hard…probably too much so…because I want the absolute best for her. I push her…because I know that with a little prodding she can excel beyond even my own wildest dreams. I know how I feel about her…and I can’t begin to know how hard it is for Casey. It’s heartbreaking to see that your child wants to talk…but can’t. Seeing the tears in their eyes as they try so desperately to pronounce a word. Its torture seeing your child sick…only you have no idea where it hurts and where you can kiss the boo boo…because they can’t tell you. Casey is a saint with her. His patience with her knows no bounds. I’m…well…not so much.

While having an autistic child is challenging beyond imagination…I wouldn’t change her for the world. Would it be nice if she could talk?? Of course…but seeing how she looks at the world is amazing. Seeing from her point of view sheds new light on every day things. And quite frankly…it’s fascinating. She will grow to be a remarkable young lady…and I can’t wait to see what she will accomplish!