My Scoop of Coop and Dose of Delight

Last night I had a lot of fun. A lot of fun. I started with making dinner for this family (see recipe below) so they could eat it tomorrow night. I then picked up this gal and we headed out to see Angel, Rob, Britt and Coop (the fam from above). We meant to just kiss and hold Charlie for a while and then head out to dinner just the girls but ended up talking for a long time, reminiscing, getting out the yearbooks so I could figure out who we were talking about, and getting more information about people we know than I could ever successfully erase from my mind. Rob, you know more details about some people's lives than any 10 girls I know. AND Mister Railroad Man, quit the act. You are not a back-country bumpkin, you are diabolically smart, you are so full of BS it is unbelievable but so much fun to sit around and talk with. Thanks for the entertainment. By the way, how did you luck out with gal like Ang? And, Britt, don't even get me going. The kid is non-stop cute. Funny, dimply cute. And Coop, I could hold and kiss his face and chubbiness all night. I think Rob probably wiped him down after we left because Amanda and I were kissing on him so much.

Finally, we realized it was basically bedtime and headed to dinner. It was one of those fun's like the time goes by way to quickly. So much so that I forgot to even call Dave and let him know we were still out talking and don't wait up. Sorry.

I have a serious problem with memory. High school is sort of murky, some years of college are too. Not for the reasons that you would think - I didn't have that much fun. So, Amanda tried to remind me of certain things. Some things that I am probably better off leaving in the murk. Good ol' queen bee business that tends to happen when there are a lot of girls that are strong-willed and smart. Stuff I think most of us wish we could re-do and do better and kinder. Whatever happened happened, I say. I think everything works out for the best, experiences teach you things and all that stuff. Hopefully, 15ish years later, we aren't still pulling that kind of nonsense. But I also had fun remembering the fun and adolescency goodness.

I will tell you, Angel in high school (and later as roommates in Israel) was the kind of golden gal that you could bask in her glow and feel pretty content. You weren't mad that she was golden, you just loved the way she made you feel when you are around her. She is still that way. If I were her, I would be a bundle of nerves, stress and weepy tension. Ang says any mom would do what she is doing. Amanda says it best, "but not with the grace and strength you do it with". I agree. I'm glad we are friends all these years later. Everyone should have a gal like her to bask in and around.

Amanda is still super funny, a super quick talker (I love it, it makes me do the same and I don't get to do that often enough, at least when anyone is listening!), smart and savvy. I also loved this about her in h.s. and love the way the years and experiences have added to it. Much wisdom, a lot of self awareness and she still can enliven a conversation with laughter.

It was a lot of fun ladies, can't wait until we do it again - soon! It was just what I needed, all the candid talk and misty eyes (mine) and walking away feeling really happy with myself and those around me. I need a daily scoop of Coop but will take what I can get.

Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad

4-6 chicken breast halves, sprinkled with lemon pepper and grilled

1 pkg of pasta (penne or bowtie), cooked and rinsed with cool water

1 bunch green onions, chopped

1 bunch of spinach, cleaned and torn (or one or two bags baby spinach, my pref)

1 chopped red and/or yellow pepper

1/2 c. almonds, sugared and toasted (sorry ang, I forgot this step)

Dressing - combine and process in a blender

1/4 c sesame seeds

1/3 c red wine vinegar

1/2 c soy sauce

1/2 c canola oil

1/4 t salt

1/4 - 1/2 t ground pepper

1/4 c fresh chopped parsley

3 T sugar

Grill chicken and cut in to strips, then slice in to bite-sized pieces.

To make sugared almonds, you'll want to use slivered or chopped almonds. Put them in a non-stick fry pan with a couple tablespoons full of sugar and less than a tablespoonful of water. Cook over med-high heat, stirring, until nicely toasted. Let cool.

Combine everything and toss together.

And tonight, I made this for our friends and some for us. I serve it over red potatoes that I mash with garlic, butter and chicken stock, and some asparagus. Yum.

I walked in the bathroom and saw this

Caroline had gone inside to get Eli's friend a bandaid. In order to reach them, she put aside all thoughts of danger to herself and got them out of the cabinet (not shown) above using a precarious method of recovery.

I put the kids to bed and made this

Dave is out of town on a boy's trip (have fun golfing honey) and after the kids had a nutritious meal from McD's, I ate salmon and an artichoke. Dave won't have to smell any fish, the scent will be gone by the time he gets home (hope you are having a lot of fun sweetie).

While eating I began to watch this

I just started it and decided to work first and then finish it. I love it so far. Love Keri Russell.

Checked in on Charlie and saw this

and am giddy with love for this little boy who is working so hard and inspiring so many.


Been singing birthday songs all day to this boy

I love him so much, it is hard to believe that he is one! He loves to make us laugh, loves to "wrestle" with his brother and sister, loves to give me loves, loves when he sees his daddy, loves to reach for his Oma and loves being outside. Even though I think his teeth may be bugging him, he was quick to laugh today and quick to cuddle up to me. One year old... it goes by too fast.

A few hours with Charlie

I wrote this on Monday while sitting with Charlie.

I've talked about Charlie before here and you can see him here. I have been begging Angel (Charlie's mom) to let me do something to help. I feel helpless. Charlie is about 3 weeks younger than my Joey. He is still in the hospital, he is still giving all specialists a run for their money.

Ang and I have been friends since high school, we were roommates on a study abroad, we see each other maybe once a year, but she is the friend that you can see that often and still love and adore and talk like we have just spoken yesterday, not a year ago. You wish she was your sister or next door neighbor.

Anyway, she and her fam are moving into their new house today and they all need to be there to get it done so I get to sit with Charlie. Joey, who does not take a bottle willingly (or apparently at all), will get me back in a couple of hours.




I guess Charlie has been sleeping all day, but has been a bit restless since I got here. I would like to think it is because he is excited to see me, who knows. Let me tell you how I feel:

Helpless!

- he has been having a "storm" for the last 50 minutes or so. His BP goes up, he sweats, he can't seem to calm down. He is awake and breathing heavily, making sad faces, looks so uncomfortable. He has a feeding tube, monitors, oxygen - not so comfortable.

I said to the nurse, "I want to hold him, somehow comfort him." She said I could. So I did - totally supervised, of course. She said that he would be uncomfortable with me holding him or in his bed. I guess I was thinking that I would have the magic touch. That he would relax his rigid body when he was placed in my arms, that his heart rate would miraculously calm. Nope. Instead, he kept on with the "storm", stubborn baby.

I tried singing - nope, instead I cried. Helpless. So, I hummed and cried, hoping that he would feel my love even though he can't hear me.

I finally put him back in bed (totally supervised) and he is still storming. The nurse who has been here all day just left. So helpless. I worry that I am bothering the nurses to often. He has needed to have his sinuses suctioned out while I am here, had two diaper changes (tube food makes stinky poop, who knew?) and his last nurse said, "He hasn't had any of the ____ meds all day, maybe he needs them now." She is off, so I don't know if the other nurse knows that is what she is thinking. I just went out to see if he was going to get them, we'll see. The new nurse is just as great as the last. They have a great staff here.


I don't know how Rob and Ang are doing this. I wish I could do Charlie justice by writing some well-described, eloquent, verbascular post - really letting you all know how I feel, how it feels to be here, but I can't. I don't know what it is like to be his parents, I am certain it is a living nightmare. I'm in awe of their strength.

This is Charlie Cooper with his alter-ego Super Cooper, the boy who is fighting hard to get better. I saw this doll a while ago and luckily when I went back they had it still. Britt named him Super Cooper which is absolutely perfect. You can't see it, but Super Cooper has a cape and a hero suit on.

Charlie Cooper is quite inspirational. The feeling in this room is somehow peaceful and full of life, even when he isn't peaceful. I feel he is going to do great things, we just don't know in what capacity.


Rob and Ang, thanks for letting me help. Anytime you need me.

Charlie Cooper

I know this has been seen by a lot of you in other blogs but the more the merrier. My friends, Angel and Rob, have been up at the hospital for over a week now with their 9 month old son Charlie who has Pneumoccocal Meningitis. Please keep him in your prayers, he is hanging in there but could use the help, charliecooperjackjack.blogspot.com.