Photo Friday

John took Liam about 2 weeks ago to get his haircut. John has always managed to avoid this task but he had no choice that Saturday! When John returned with Liam all I could do was stare at my child's haircut. My first thought, and I know this makes me a terrible mother, is that Liam looked like Lloyd (Jim Carrey's character) from "Dumb and Dumber." Needless to say, John is banned from taking Liam to the salon in the future.

P.S. Keep in mind these pictures are 10 days AFTER the haircut. Poor baby!

Let the Weddings Begin!

Last weekend was the start of the summer wedding season. The pics in this blog are of John's cousin, Jonathan's wedding. He and his girlfriend, Corrie were married in Poughkeepsie, NY this past weekend.

Jonathan is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in NY. (The same school that Cat Cora graduated from!) He is the executive chef of the Decoy Bar and Grill in Bend, Oregon. Corrie is an aesthetician in the area and is gorgeous as you can see. They are a precious couple and we wish them many blessings in their future together.

I promise I would've married John if only for his family. I love them--truly. They are the sweetest and most kind-hearted and generous folks around. They put the 'yankee' stereotypes to shame. However, trust me, they do have some of the yankee traits; they love to eat good food (esp. Italian and seafood), drink good wine, have 'loud discussions' and family always comes first. What do you expect from people of deep Irish and German roots?

This is John's 95 year old grandmother, Isabel. She is a pistol, adorable and STILL living on her own.



The picture below is of my father-in-law John, aka Jersey John and his sister, Eileen. Jersey John is a blessing. How many ladies can say they get a Mother's Day card in the mail every year from their father-in-law?? Eileen is an angel. She has become just as much an aunt to me as she is to my husband. She is wonderful!!



The last picture is of Grandma Isabel and my sister-in-law, Liz. She is terrific. I just wish Liz and my two nephews (James & Collin) didn't live so far away in BOSTON! Ugh.

Jonathan + 24 soccer games = TIRED

My oldest son, Jonathan, was a starter on the Hillsboro HS soccer team this season. This was quite an achievement because he was a sophomore and sat out his freshman year. He ended up working his tail off for several months even before the first soccer game with conditioning and indoor soccer. Scrimmages and workouts begin again in less than a week. Wow. I'm very proud of his efforts and the entire team's. They are in a very tough district where two of the top ten teams in state play. I thought you would all enjoy seeing some pretty fantastic shots of Jonathan at work.

Photo Friday

Isn't this the most quaint cottage you've ever seen? When I was in Cape Cod last August for vacation, we drove by this cottage at least once a day. I could not get enough of it. It was built in 1715. Cape Cod is where I wish I was spending this Memorial Day weekend.

Hope everyone has a safe and joyful 3 day weekend!

Chocolate + Cream Cheese = Fabulous!!!!

I found this recipe off the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA)website. I thought the cupcakes were amazing. However, they are very rich. I didn't add any icing because the cupcakes had filling already. You have to give this recipe a shot whether you are gluten free or not!

Black Bottom Cupcakes


Chocolate Cupcake Batter

4 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened) in bar or chip form
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
¾ cup sugar
3 large eggs
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder


Cream Cheese Filling

8 ounces. cream cheese
1 unbeaten egg
1/3 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon of salt
¾ of a cup of chocolate chips

Prepare batter by chopping chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate with butter, stirring, until smooth.

Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and whisk sugar into chocolate mixture. Add eggs and whisk well.

Sift ½ cup cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined.

To prepare cream cheese filling, cream together cream cheese, egg, sugar and salt.

Fold in chocolate chips.



Preheat oven to 350°F.

Put paper in muffin tins. Fill 1/3 full with flourless chocolate batter.

Top with cream cheese filling.

Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

I am SO TIRED of all the rain. Oh, and did I mention it is still fairly cool here in NashVegas?? It was 40 degrees when we woke up this morning. Liam has needed to take a jacket to school with him the past 2 days. I am from Texas and this cooler weather in mid-May should be welcome to me. It's not. Can we just get in the mid 70's or low 80's and just stay there????

The picture below is of our backyard. It looks like the Northwest with all the shades of green. You cannot even make out our creek behind the trees or the other part of our land for all the trees. Yes, it is pretty but I am ready for some warmth that lasts longer than 24 hours before the next cold front hits!

Nashville averages 48 inches of rain a year. As of May 15, we were already at 26 inches. Ugh...The price you pay for living in a "green" state.

Grilled Chicken Kebabs

With the weather warming and days lengthening, it’s time to fire up the grill. Liam LOVES this recipe. He will eat more chicken then I will off of these kebabs. Choose any veggies you like. The original recipe calls for mushrooms but since no one in my household jumps for joy at the prospect of eating 'shrooms, I use zucchini instead. Make it your own...

Gluten-Free Grilled Chicken Kebabs
Serves 6


3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 small shallot, finely chopped
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon dried or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 medium onions, peeled and quartered
2 medium zucchini, quartered
2 large red, yellow or green bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
10 wooden or metal skewers. (To prevent scorching, soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before using on the grill.)


In a large glass bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, shallot, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, thyme, salt and pepper until blended.
Toss chicken cubes into marinade, cover and refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours, turning occasionally. I marinate them overnight.
Preheat the grill.
To assemble kabobs, thread a chicken cube onto skewer, followed by a vegetable. Alternate zucchini, onions and bell peppers with chicken pieces until each skewer is full.
Grill 15 to 20 minutes, turning frequently. Serve hot.

Photo Friday

It's better if you don't ask questions... :-)

Precious Pics

Check out these beautiful family pictures of my dear friend Jennifer and her husband Jeremy and son Landon. She is expecting Keaton in late summer. I just love these pictures. Landon is adorable and has the greatest smile. (He got that from his momma.) And Jennifer looks amazing pregnant. Some women just look terrific while carrying a child and she is one of them!

I am hoping to see Jenn and her family in Houston this summer. Did I mention Jenn is a former student? AND she is pushing 30?!? OK, she will hate me for that last statement. I think it is more telling of my age! Her graduating class was the first class I ever taught. Anyway, I'm so proud of the momma she is and more importantly who she has become in the Lord. Love ya, Jenn!

A New Date!

Well, it looks like my surgery has been officially rescheduled for June 25. It is not as soon as I would like but considering they had to block out 6 hours ( just in case) for surgery for two different doctors at a hospital where only one operates on regular basis, I guess it will do. I am still having two different procedures done but one is up in the air until we have the nickel test completed and the results back. If I don't have a nickel allergy I should be back at work in a week or so. If I do have a nickel allergy it will be 4-6 weeks out of the office. Yikes!!! NOT what we want because that means a much more invasive surgery. The next step in this saga is the nickel allergy test scheduled for June 1.

On a positive note between now and the surgery, I have a few things to look forward to: 1. Elvis Costello in concert 2. Fleetwood Mac in concert and 3. My good friend Elaine (from TX) is coming to visit for a week.

Celiac Vaccine?!?!?!!?!!?!!

It looks like help is on the horizon for those with Celiac disease. I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful it would be to eat normally again. It may take a few years, but it will be worth the wait!

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Celiac Vaccine Trial is Underway in Australia



This month in Melbourne, Australia, clinician scientist at the Walter And Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Dr. Bob Anderson, will begin the Phase 1 clinical trial of an experimental vaccine for the treatment of celiac disease. If this scientific team is successful, it could mean that a strict gluten-free diet for celiacs is a thing of the past.


The early trial will test the drugs safety on 40 volunteers that have celiac disease. If the Phase 1 trial is successful this year, Phase 2 will determine the clinical effectiveness of this vaccine. A company, Nexpep, has been created to lead in the development of the vaccine.


"The vaccine itself is intended to gradually desensitize the coeliac sufferer, so that gluten is tolerated. Consequently, the villi in the small intestine should revive and absorb nutrients in the normal way. Ideally, that would mean the end of gluten-free diets for people with coeliac disease." says Anderson.


Click here to read more about this groundbreaking treatment and clinical trial led by Dr. Anderson.


Dr. Anderson joined the NFCA in 2008 as a member of its prestigious Scientific/Medical Advisory Board, and will be stateside to join NFCA as a distinguished guest and event honoree at the 2009 Washington DC Area Gluten-Free Cooking Spree on May 1st.


Dr. Bob Anderson is a recognized international leader in the immunology and clinical management of celiac disease. Dr. Anderson holds a doctorate and specialist physician qualifications in internal medicine and gastroenterology.


Published in 2000 (Nature Medicine 6, 337-342), his work at Oxford University revealed that the toxic components of gluten could be simply studied in patients with celiac disease using their blood shortly after they consumed gluten. After returning to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, where he is now a Laboratory Head in the Autoimmunity and Transplantation Division, Dr. Anderson established high throughput screening to map out the entire T-cell response to gluten in patients with celiac disease.


Dr. Anderson is the inventor of four patents that describe the toxic components of gluten and their therapeutic, diagnostic and functional food applications. Dr. Anderson is a founder of Nexpep Ltd (est. 2005).


Dr Anderson is a frequently invited speaker at local, national, and international clinical and scientific meetings. He has chaired and spoken on the science of celiac disease at the "Advances in celiac disease" session each year since 2005 at the annual scientific meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association. Dr Anderson has established "celiac clinics" at two of Melbourne’s leading teaching hospitals, where he continues to see patients as a consultant gastroenterologist.


Dr Anderson founded and is currently Chairman of the Board of the Coeliac Research Fund, a charity established to raise awareness, lead health professional education and support research in coeliac disease. In this capacity, Dr Anderson has initiated educational campaigns for family doctors and specialists in Australia and New Zealand. Dr Anderson is a consultant to several diagnostics companies in the United States, and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Maryland.

Photo Friday

Nickel Allergy?!?!?!?

I'm trying really hard to remain upbeat about all that is going on with my health. I really, really am. However, at some point the level of exhaustion just takes its toll and it is all I can do to function on a daily basis. I've now had three doctors tell me I should be in a wheelchair and at home unable to complete the basic chores required of a mother and employee. Yeah...o...k....like that is an option.

I went in for my 2nd iv iron infusion yesterday and it did not go well. It is truly too long of a story and one that I will not bore you with. However, the short version is that I did not get any pain medication and it hurt. H.U.R.T. The whole process was a drag and yes, I know it could've been worse.

During the infusion I received a call from my doctor that my surgery scheduled for May 13 had to be postponed because they believe I have a nickel allergy. Why does this matter? Apparently, one of the surgeries uses a 'device' with nickel properties. If I have a nickel allergy (unknowingly) I could go into cardiac arrest. Lovely, eh? So, when I went to my pre-op this week they asked if I had a nickel allergy. Not that I am aware of I replied. Do you have any reactions to rings, bracelets etc.? Um, does my platinum wedding set count? Um, yes, it does.

For those of you around me a lot, you have seen how awful my ring finger can get if I wear my platinum set for more than 3 days in a roll. That is why I alternate between my gold and platinum wedding ring sets. I always thought of it as an inconvenience but it turns out it may be more than that!

Believe it or not, there are only 2 doctors in all of Nashville who conduct nickel allergy testing. So, I have an appt on June 1 to get tested. IF the result is positive we will have to develop a Plan B for surgery which will be much more invasive with a much longer recovery time. I am praying the result is negative and we can move forward with Plan A which is a much faster recovery.

It really upset me yesterday because I am really, really wanting this surgery so that I can move forward in feeling better. I cannot explain how poorly I feel and I often feel like a failure or a weak person for having no energy. I'm not a "fun" mom, wife or friend at the moment. I'm probably not a very fun co-worker right now either. I don't like to draw attention to myself so even putting into words all of these emotions is tough for me.

I know that my health could be a lot worse right now. I do realize that, honestly I do. I don't want to complain; I just want to feel normal again. The doctors told me this health issue has been hovering and impacting my life for probably 2-3 years now. I believe it.

I'll keep everyone posted as to the results of the nickel allergy and new surgery dates. Thanks for the continued emails, cards and phone calls of support.

Tuscan Chicken and Pasta

It's time for another recipe. I have been craving comfort foods lately. It could be because of the stress in my life at the moment or it could be the fact that we have been getting an abnormal amount of rain here the past few weeks. I do not know how the people in Seattle cope!!! Thankfully, my family really does like gluten free pasta so it makes it easy to prepare one dish meals like the one below. I found this recipe from my good ole magazine, "Living Without." It is very versatile and you can play around with it to suit your tastes. Of course, if you do not have celiac disease you can use any pasta you wish!



Tuscan Chicken with Gluten-Free Pasta
Serves 4 to 5

This simple one-dish meal can be ready in less than 30 minutes. For extra veggies, add roughly chopped and sautéed greens (kale or spinach).

¼ cup olive oil
3-4 garlic cloves, sliced
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 6 ounces each
1/3 cup Madeira wine, sherry or dry white wine (I use whatever I have on hand-no preference.)
1 cup gluten-free marinara sauce (Paul Newman's marinara is outstanding!)
½ pound gluten-free penne pasta*
½ cup dairy-free Parmesan cheese, optional

In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta al dente following package directions.
Sauté ¼ cup olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes in a large skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes.

Cut chicken breasts into 1x2-inch pieces and sauté for 5-7 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and place in a warming oven.

Add wine to the skillet and bring to a boil. Add marinara sauce and simmer for one minute. Add chicken, thoroughly drained pasta and cheese (if using) to skillet and stir to combine. Serve with additional cheese, if desired.

Home of the Blues

I have been out of town since Sunday afternoon for business. I was originally supposed to visit one of my facilities (prisons) in the Southwest but the plan was changed at the last minute. Instead I went to my 'home away from home' in rural Mississippi. I have a facility there that I have been to 7 or 8 times which is A LOT considering how many facilities I have to work with on a regular basis. I met 4 government officials from Mexico in MS (can you say culture shock??) so that we could all work with the staff and inmates for a Mexican Education Program we have implemented.

As you can imagine, the staff from Mexico arrived just in time to be screened at the airport for the Swine Flu. Germ X is illegal (due to alcohol content) in the facilities so we washed our hands a TON. I think I washed my hands 13-14 times a day while in the facility. We worked for about 10 hours a day together in two classrooms. They were great but EVERYONE was a bit apprehensive about catching the swine flu. Personally, I am not into the hype the media is trying so hard to suck us all into. Just use common sense!!!

Anyway, these are some photos from the area I was in this past week. The area is home of the Blues and also Morgan Freeman! You all know I love history and though I would never want to live in MS, this area has a certain charm to it.