To Flu or not to Flu... SHOT, that is the question...

I will get straight to the point. Do you give your kids a flu shot? Do you yourself get a flu shot? Well, I haven't had one since the whole N1H1 ( swine flu) freak out a few years back.  We had our son get one as well, he was about one or just shy of that I believe... anyhow, he and I both had horrible reactions to it. In all seriousness, I have always had issues with them but this was BAD. My arm for about a good two or so weeks was beat red, swollen, and hot hot HOT to the touch! Plus, could barely move it... I know my  mother remembers this. Landrick instantly got sicker than a dog within a day or two and of course, I followed right along.  My husband however, he never gets sick, hes the lucky of of the three of us!

So for the past three years or so, we have kinda "chanced " it if  you will, on not getting them. ( except Adam, he has to thanks to the Army)  But this year, its been SO strange between weather and all sorts of odd illness things, I want to be as prepared as possible. You really can never be too prepared, at least that is what I always tell myself!  

Of course my doctor always asks, even when its NOT flu season (I swear!) if I want to get my shot, I always say the same thing, No, No and again, no.  Sometimes I think she tries to guilt me into it, I don't fall for it though.  So what do you all think? Flu shot or no Flu shot?  I'm still leaning towards no and thinking of going some homeopathic ways or routes this year just for added immunity protection. Landrick and I are both already on a Vitamin D-1000 IUs daily plus our normal multivitamin  but looking into Elderberries, I read tons of good info on them and the way they can fight off the flu.  Check out this awesome homemade recipe here, and here and check out here about prevention, use and other common ailments that Elderberries can be used for!

Thoughts friends? 

New favorite canning recipe!

So, most of you have seen my facebook page, and have asked for some of those awesome apple butter recipes, well here is one to get you started!  Keep checking back for new ones as I try them :)

Salted Caramel Apple Pear Butter

makes four pints; however, I used small 4oz jars :)

• 3-4 pounds apples- Used like, 6-8 apples
• 3-4 pounds pears- again, used about 9 pears and make sure they are ripe :)
• 1/4 cup water
• 6 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 cups dark brown sugar( note: this is where the color and flavor come in!) 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste [or extract - or a spent vanilla bean pod]- I used extract
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

1. Peel, core and Place all ingredients into a large slow cooker [6-8 quarts]. Toss all together gently. Turn the slow cooker on low and cover. Walk away for 6 hours.
2. Now return to the slow cooker. Using an immersion blender or potato masher, puree the fruit mixture until smooth.
3. Prop the lid partially ajar using a wooden spoon or chopstick. Keep the slow cooker on low. Let cook for 8-12 to  hours. Stir occasionally.
4. Around eight hours in the second cycle, return, stir and check the taste and consistency. [You can adjust the salt, sugar, and add any spices if you'd like then.] I like to let the fruit butter get very dark and cooked down, but you can adjust to your liking. My final product cooked about 14 hours.- You may do longer if desired.
5. Store in the refrigerator for 2-4 weeks or water bath process. Ladle the butter in to hot, sanitized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

Here is the catch up....

OK, so a while back I said, Ohh yes I will be blogging more, well I hated the way the blog looked and no lie, its taken me THIS long to fix it, scrap everything and basically start over!  Sorry about that friends, but get ready for some fast catching up!!!

First order of business, I will keep it short and sweet, or as short as I can!!!  Promise!  Landrick has appointments coming up and YES I will keep you all updated via Facebook and the Blog here :)

1- Infectious Disease at Helen Devos Childrens Hospital.  They will be looking at a number of things such as, his fatigue, why he always has such chronic and recurring infections, the sinus cavity issues and a few other select things.  I am just REALLY hoping that if they need blood, its not a lot and its fast... thats such a traumatic event for us!  Yikes!

2- University of Michigan Motts Children's Hospital- Here we are going back to see our Gastrointestinal doctor(s) again,  to see if there is a major reflux thing going on because of the Chronic ( and I mean BAAAD) coughing spells Landrick keeps having, that 50% of the time, his inhalers don't work.  One of the doctors at his pediatrician's office suggested that it be looked into again, because of the fact he has been on so many different meds/ inhalers, so we will try again.  Actually, one of my friends, whom knows a little history that I have shared with her suggested something called VCD.  I have never heard of it, but when you read it, it all makes a 100% sense of the issues Landrick is having! Like seriously people, you have not even mentioned this, well I am about to!  You can read more about it here...

3- We have 5 months and 29 days till ADAM IS FINALLY DONE AT FORT DRUM!!! But whos counting right... Who wants to start celebrating early?!  I mean serious, this has been by far, the roughest, and one of the worst installations to work with, and yet, its our first one!!!  I can not wait for April 17th when he reports to Fort Meade for his new MOS training!  SO very exciting, yet he will be in that training for about 3 months, AND somewhere in that training is when he will be given new orders for ALL OF US, Dogs included, to be stationed somewhere together.  We literally just have to make it through winter and we are golden! My votes based on where there are doctors and people who can help with Landricks little and big quirks are the following: Fort Carson- Colorado, Hawaii-Fort Shafter, Fort Campbell-Kentucky, Fort Lewis-Washington State, Fort Belvoir-Virginia, and IF we have to go far far away, Germany or Italy.  Im not asking for much am I...?! LOL

4- Whos ready for the holidays?!  Adam and I chatted on the phone and MAN does he ever have some leave days saved :)  December 19(ish) to January 4th ( ish) he will be coming home for the holidays.  I'm not going to lie, every time we try and set something up for friends and family to visit, or even a night out on the town for just the two of us, no one is ever around, or they blow us off.  I will be totally honest here, if you want to see us or Adam, you can make the effort. Last year when I did, ONE person showed up of the 20-some that said they would.  We had a good time, don't get me wrong, but seriously, you all want to know so bad when hes coming home, there ya go.  Thats a roundabout estimate of time.  Most will be spent with Landrick and I and some of our immediate family, but we always make time to get out and do stuff and invite you all, well its all up to you this time, you want to hang out, call and let us know in advance, like a day or two so we can plan if we need a sitter or not. We do have a kid ya know....

5- Last but certainly not least, Kaycee has had a few issues with her back, so we found out. She struggles day to day with walking and going up and down stairs, things of that nature.  Boy oh boy, do I love that girl.  her and I have been through some awesome times, bad times, and pretty great adventures.  We are just taking it one day at a time and seeing how things are going. She has good and bad days, just like any of us, but is sleeping more often than not and some days she doesn't eat as much as she normally should or does. 12 years that dogs been my very best friend.  Shes mouthy and she knows it, shows it, but also is one of the most kid loving, friendly and human like dogs I've even seen in my life. And I am thankful I have had so many wonderful years with her.  I think this next year is going to be a hard one.  I will be amazed if she makes it through our move. I know that is sad to think about, but I can't just bottle it up and not know what to do when "the" time comes.  It will at some point but for now, I think shes doing just fine with that she has.  Right this minute, shes laying on my fresh pile of laundry, so shes not that bad off....  *Cue the lint roller...*



And for your viewing pleasure... here are some fall photos from a few random things!  Enjoy!


ARTPRIZE!!!!

Our Awesome City... Going to miss this place! 

Checking out the art at the Gerald R. Ford Museum  

Gotta have our orange drink!

The person we hosted was so cool, Andy " Cosmo Joe" Watkins. make sure to google him!

Throwing "piggy bank monies" into the water fountains is awesome, you know it is!

No artprize year is ever complete without a trip through the Amway Grand Hotel...

Pardon the mess...

I'm working on this blog and another one so pardon the mess over the next few days ( or so i am hoping!) under construction. Lol!
In the mean time, here are SE random photos to enjoy!
:)