1. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and cook. Set aside half (for the kids who say everything is “too spicy”) and pour 1/2 cup salsa over the remaining. Stir in then set aside.

2. While chicken is cooking, pour frozen corn into a large bowl. (This is for corn salad)

3. Quarter the grape tomatoes and put half of them into the bowl with the corn

4. Put the other half of the tomatoes into a separate large bowl. (This is for basic guacamole)

5. Halve the avocados and scoop the insides out into the bowl with the quartered tomatoes.

6. Finely chop the basil and cilantro and add to both the corn salad and the guacamole, reserving some extra cilantro aside for a taco topper.

7. Mash the guacamole, then season both the guacamole and the corn salad with salt, pepper and lime juice.

8. Let your kids build their own taco kits by layering chicken (either with or without salsa), corn salad, guacamole, cheddar cheese and cilantro onto corn tortillas.

But it didn’t happen.  God said wait.

Months and months passed, months of raised hopes followed by negative pregnancy tests, tears and failed expectations.  Alisa grew numb.  She tried to ignore her cycles, pretend that it wasn’t time to take another test, pretend that her hopes hadn’t been crushed again.

But God said wait.

Peter and Alisa decided to adopt.  They busied themselves in a flurry of paperwork, taking classes, attending trainings, dreaming of a baby before Christmas.

But God said wait.

My sister-in-law got pregnant, Alisa’s best friend got pregnant, I got pregnant, Alisa’s dear friend adopted a son, I got pregnant again, my sister-in-law got pregnant again, Alisa’s best friend got pregnant again.

But God said wait.

So Alisa put on a happy face, smiling through her tears as she attended baby showers, sip-and-sees, hospital visits and MOPS meetings.  She cradled her new nieces and nephews, brought meals to her friends when they had babies, babysat as other moms went to prenatal appointments.

And God still said wait.

Then the news came:  Peter and Alisa had been chosen to adopt a baby girl.  They prepped their nursery, filling it with ribbons and bows and tiny pink socks.  They visited the birth mom.  They raised money for the adoption expenses and anxiously waited for their new baby girl to arrive.  Sweet little Abby was born on July 7^th, 2011.  As they raced up to the hospital, anxious to hold their new baby girl for the first time, they prayed jubilantly that their wait was finally over, that they finally had a baby to fill their empty arms.

But, God once again said wait.

Less than two days after Abby was born, her birth mom changed her mind.  She decided to parent Abby.  And Alisa and Peter left the hospital with bags full of brand-new baby clothes that would never be worn, with hearts heavy and hope lost.

And still, God said wait.

They went home, they shut the door to their nursery and tried to move on.  They continued to pursue adoption, but also decided to pursue pregnancy once again.  There were tests and needles and exorbitant hospital bills.  There was a shocking infertility diagnoses that meant their first daughter was a miracle.  There was a painful surgery and weeks of waiting as hopes rose, only to be dashed again.

Because God still told them to wait.

And then, just when all hope seemed lost.  Just when we were starting to question whether God really had a plan for more children for them, whether he had been there speaking to them all along, God spoke through a whisper.

Now.  Now is the moment that you have been waiting for.

The phone call came at 9 am on a Monday morning.  A tiny baby boy needed a family, a home. A tiny soul who in just a few short hours of life had known pain, loneliness and fear, having been born with his intestines outside of his body.  A child of God who was lying in the NICU by himself with a sign on his crib that said “Baby Boy”. No name.  No family.  No one.

But God had chosen this moment to show the depth of his love.  Because while Peter and Alisa had waited and waited for a baby, God had been waiting for this baby.  This child.  This wonderful blessing.  This moment.  And he is worth the wait—exactly the child that they had longed for all those years.  Peter and Alisa have a son—and Asa has been chosen—because God said wait.

Get updates on Baby Asa on his Caringbridge Website here.

Sauce #1:

1 eggplant
2 zucchini
2 yellow squash
1 red onion
2 sweet onions
4 cloves garlic
3 containers grape tomatoes
5 links lean turkey Italian sausage
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Coursely chop all vegetables (leave the tomatoes whole) and pile them on a large jelly roll pan. Place sausage on the same pan, off to the side. Roast in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour, stirring veggies and turning sausage every 15 minutes. Slice sausage into large chunks and mix into a large bowl with all of the vegetables.

Sauce #2

3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk
1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 cup fresh basil and oregano, chopped

Melt butter in large saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in chicken broth and bring mixture to a boil. Let simmer for 2 minutes until it thickens. Slowly add milk and parmesan, stirring until cheese is melted. Fold in herbs.

Making the Lasagna

Step 1: Pour a thin layer of sauce #2 in a pan.

Step 2: Cover that layer with lasagna noodles (I use no-boil but any noodles will work). Then, cover the noodles with a thick layer of sauce #1

Step 3: Continue layering until all of the sauces and noodles are used up. Then, cover the top with a thick layer of grated Fontina cheese and a sprinkling of fresh basil and oregano.

Step 4: Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour. Serve warm.

1. It wakes them up in the middle of the night.

2. It stops their normal activities. They don’t want to play. You offer them ice cream and cookies and they turn their nose at you. If you have a teen, they stop texting.

3. It limits their normal functioning. Meaning, they can’t walk normally. They won’t bear weight on the extremity. They won’t use an arm. You ask them to touch their chin to their neck and they simply can’t. They lie on the couch all day.

4. You give pain medication and it doesn’t lessen or resolve the pain. Pain that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter analgesics is concerning and should be evaluated.

5. It’s associated with other symptoms. Fever, stiff neck, rashes, vomiting and diarrhea to name a few.

Children will often complain of headaches and stomach aches. Often times, nothing serious is going on but how can you be sure?

My youngest, who is now seven, used to complain about stomach pain a lot. How do I tell the difference between her wanting attention and something truly physical going on? At the time, she didn’t have any other symptoms… just the pain. After several of these episodes, I took her to her pediatrician for an exam. He didn’t find anything concerning. I think this should be done for headaches and other complaints of pain as well. Take them to their pediatrician first for an exam.

If the pediatrician is not concerned, here’s something to try to see how bothersome the pain is. This is done only if the child has no other signs or symptoms (injury, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or funny rash). You have just the complaint of pain and the pediatrician has given the “all clear”. This is good to try around age 4-5 and up. Once adolescence hits, it may not be as effective.

Your child comes up to you. “Mommy, my tummy hurts.”

“Okay, sweetheart. I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. What I need you to do since you’ve told me you’re not feeling well is to go lie on your bed. No reading. No playing. No games. No TV (hopefully your five-year-old doesn’t have a TV in their room). I need you to rest for 30 minutes and then we’ll see how you feel.”

Fifteen minutes later. My daughter comes down. “I’m feeling better now.”

“Oh, honey. That’s great! But, since you told me you weren’t feeling well I do need you to lie down for the full 30 minutes. So, back upstairs you go and I’ll tell you when the rest of your time is up.”

Back up she goes. Time is up. The rest of the day there are no further complaints.

Next day:

“Mommy, my tummy hurts.”

Rinse… repeat.

Ten minutes later this time… my daughter comes down. Again, I send her back upstairs to lie on her bed doing nothing but resting. Have them rest the full 30 minutes.

Strangely, that curbed her complaints of abdominal pain and she remained a happy, healthy child.

What are your thoughts? Do you think a strategy like this could work for you?

Jordyn Redwood has served the pediatric population and their families for many years. She has five years of experience in the pediatric ICU and ten years of pediatric ER nursing which is the area she currently works. Jordyn also teaches CPR and advanced resuscitation courses.

Jordyn is also a suspense author. Her novel, Proof, will be published by Kregel June 1, 2012. She also hosts a medical blog for authors which you can find at www.jordynredwood.com.

 

Disclaimer: Remember, these posts are for education and discussion. If your child is sick and you think they require medical attention, take them to their pediatrician or local emergency department.

Toppings:  Shredded lettuce, chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, diced avocado

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Spray cooking spray on a large cookie sheet and place one flour tortilla on the sheet for each member of the family.
3. Allow family members to add meat, beans, olives, enchilada sauce and cheese on top of their tortilla. Add another tortilla and repeat. My kids typically eat 2 tortillas stacked. My husband usually makes his 4 tortillas tall.
4. Cover each tortilla stack with enchilada sauce and a sprinkling of cheese.
5. Bake for 20-30 minutes until cheese is melted.

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And if you’d like to see which slots are still open, click here to see the running spreadsheet.

Please spread the word!  Let’s rally EVERYONE to pray for this sweet little boy!

Want to know more about baby Asa?  Here’s a snippet of his story.

Let me know… erin@christianmamasguide.com… if you have any trouble!

For the glaze:

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2-4 tbsp milk

1. Cream butter and sugar in mixer. Slowly add eggs and beat on low until fluffy.

2. Add soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and beat until blended.

3. Slowly stir in flour. Add applesauce and mix just until blended.

4. Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 45-60 mins.

5. Turn cake onto a wire rack and cool at least 1 hour.

6. While cake is cooling, mix brown sugar, powdered sugar and cinnamon. Add milk until mixture resembles a runny glaze. Drizzle over the cake. Serve.

4. Add applesauce and beat until

I am in awe.  I have been sitting here staring at this picture of my precious new nephew Asa for an hour now and I am overcome with emotion.  He is so beautiful– those big dark eyes and those tiny lips that seem to be continuously turned up into a smile.  Tears stream down my face as I write this– tears of joy because we have been waiting for this day, for this child, for him, for so, so long.

But I know that our joy comes at the price of your pain.  I know that while our hearts are full, your arms are empty.  And while I don’t know who you are or where you’re from, I do know that our family is eternally grateful to you for making such a courageous choice.  Your choice– the decision to give Asa up for adoption even at the cost of your own heartbreak– is the bravest and most selfless choice that I can imagine a mother making.  And we give you our heartfelt thanks.

I’m sure my words will do little to soothe your wounds, but I want to assure you that Asa is already adored by our entire extended family.  We have been praying for him– for you– for months now and we joyfully welcome him into our lives with humility and a deep sense of gratitude.  He has an entire network of prayer warriors praying for him as he faces surgery– and he has an entire network of friends and family who are ready to shower him with love, compassion and mercy as he heals.

Right now, Asa’s big sister Haddie and his cousins Joey and Kate are in the room drawing pictures to decorate his bedside in the NICU.  Kate drew tiny Asa in a crib while surrounded by all 11 of his cousins being showered in kisses.  Haddie drew her brother smiling.  Joey drew him holding hands with his parents, skipping through a field.

As they draw, the kids keep asking to look at his pictures.  They laugh at his sweet expressions.  They dream of what it will be like to hold his hands for the first time.  And even at a young age, each of them instinctively know that this baby boy– our baby boy– is theirs to love and cherish.  And they, like the rest of us, have all already fallen helplessly in love with him.

So, thank you.  Your gift has changed our family forever.  You will forever be an unsung hero in my mind–and you will be in my prayers always.

Love, Erin

Note:  Baby Asa will be facing surgery to repair his intestines (which developed outside of his body) sometime between May 2nd-May 4th, 2012.  After that he will spend several weeks in the NICU in Temple, Texas before being able to come home.  His road is long, but his prognosis is really good.  Please keep Peter, Alisa, Haddie and Asa in your prayers.  I will update my blog with Asa’s progress as he heals.