Mini Meee...and SO much more

It has been MANY MANY months since the last time I was able to post anything, and boy let me tell you..SO much has happened I don't even know where to begin! So here it goes...

After my last visit with the fertility clinic they told me that if I was serious I needed to consider a different method, something "stronger." The next option was to consider doing fertility shots (and if you know me you know that me even considering this is a BIG deal, I DO NOT do shots). At the time this sounded like I had no other option and I wanted to have a baby so bad I would walk to the end of the earth to make it happen. So I scheduled the appointment to start the process.

At the same time I was planning on spending my days stabbing my stomach with a needle I was also getting ready to start my new job. I was so excited to finally join the working world again and to start contributing to our family, and mostly to be able to do something other than sitting at home stressing and thinking about this fertility process. I went to my first Dr.'s appointment to learn how to inject myself with the medication and I also learned that in order to do the shots it required me to go into the Dr.'s office more often than usual so that they could monitor the dosage and the progress. After that appointment I realized that I was already planning on being in the Dr.'s office (and not in the work office) at least 8 different days out the month it would not be a good start with my new company. I made the hard decision to place the shots on hold for a few months until I established myself at work and got my insurance sorted out.

I could not believe how much I enjoyed my job and enjoyed what I did, that those few months I wanted to wait came and went as fast as night to day...and then a couple of more months passed by.  I kept trying to think of when would be a good time to start the shots back up, but something would always come up at work (some big project) that I could not even really think about it.

After a couple more months went by I noticed that I started feeling a little off....not like myself. I was crying about things I shouldn't be crying about. I was tired when all I did was sleep. My husband would annoy me more than most. I was eating and craving beef jerky?!?! What in the world could be wrong with me?

After coming to the realization that there was something weird about me I decided to take a pregnancy test. I had no hope that this one would be any different or have any other outcome from the many I had taken in the past, but I just wanted to take one so that I could rule out that possibility and move on to figure out what the heck was wrong with me. After waiting those couple of minutes I took a peak at the test and just as I was about to throw it away something caught my eye. There was something different about this test....there was a solid line and a slight hint of another...I knew it was a defective one, It had to be! I then proceeded to take 4 more....all turning out the same. I was still in denial..there is no way I am pregnant, I was told that I don't ovulate and therefore can't get pregnant. I rushed to my Dr for them to confirm that my pregnancy tests I took were all wrong and I was right....but I was wrong and the tests were right. I was pregnant! FINALLY! I could not believe it.....

Fast forward to today...I am currently 26 weeks pregnant with our baby girl and she is due February 14, 2014. Her name is Kimball Rose - a strong family name for a strong little girl. My husband and I cannot believe that we are blessed with such an amazing miracle and we are thankful each and every day for it. I have been dreaming and praying for this child for years and I am so grateful that I get to experience this miracle of life. As I sit here and write our story I can feel this little peanut (that is her nickname) move inside me and I can't help but shed tears of joy knowing God is truly amazing!

Risotto

One of my absolute favorite things in life is a good Risotto. Some people automatically think that risotto is a difficult thing to cook, but honestly its fairly easy.....it just requires some babysitting. Its such a shame that it is not very popular in restaurants, but because of this unfortunate circumstance I HAD to find to find a good recipe. Naturally I turned to one of my favorite cooking stars: The Pioneer Woman for inspiration of course. It was there that I found the most amazing risotto! It is seriously something I cannot live without.

**Mine does not come close to looking as yummy as The Pioneer Woman's**

Sundried Tomato Risotto

 

 What you will need

 

 

 

 

4 Tablespoons Butter

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1/2 whole Large Yellow Onion, Diced 

3 cloves Garlic, Minced 

2 cups Arborio Rice, Uncooked 

8 whole Sun-dried Tomatoes Packed In Oil, Drained And Minced  -- I tend to use more

1 cup Dry White Wine (optional) -- I use Red Wine

7 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth 

Salt As Needed 

Freshly Ground Black Pepper 

1 cup Parmesan, Freshly Grated 

1/4 cup Heavy Whipping Cream 

How it's Done

Heat broth in a saucepan or in a microwave safe pitcher. I used the microwave since its easier, then I just let it rest in there until I am ready for it.

Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven (love my dutch oven!) over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, until the onions start to become transparent.

Add the dry rice. Stir gently to coat and cook for about 3 minutes.

Pour in the wine. Stir gently and cook over medium-low heat until most of the liquid is gone. Add in minced sundried tomatoes and stir. 

Then begin adding broth, one cup at a time, stirring gently while the rice absorbs the liquid. (This is where the babysitting begins) Repeat this until the rice is done---it usually takes between 6 and 8 cups of broth. You don't want the rice to be completely soft and mushy, it needs to have a slight bite. 

Remove from heat, then stir in Parmesan and heavy cream. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. 

Bon Appetit!