Oh yes, back from vacation and back to reality. Today, we took our black labrador, Bear-Bear, to get a haircut, nail trim, and ear and teeth cleaning. When we took him for his first dog wash this past June, he couldn't wait to get back in the car. When I brought him home from his grooming last June, I had just remembered that his vet needed a urine sample from him to monitor a previous infection. Here I was, chasing my labrador around with a cup, and he was looking at me like I was crazy and running every time I got close to him - all in the back yard, of course. Lo and behold, the Schwann's man showed up. The kids proceeded to tell him that I needed to collect Bear's pee in a cup, and that I was out back. I was utterly humiliated, so I ditched the cup and quickly put Bear in the house. Of course, the kids opened the door and he ran outside while I was placing my order. He jumped straight into the stagnant, smelly creek. Then, he wasted no time rolling in something really BAD. Come to think of it, I never did collect that specimen for the vet.
Today, he embarrassed me again in my sister's neighborhood. We stopped by Leah's house after we picked up Bear. He was a perfect angel at her house - so quiet that we almost forgot he was there. However, I went to let Bear out her back door, and before I could even open the screen door, Bear took the screen door right off, and it crashed onto her deck. Later, the kids ate dinner on her deck and started to play in her back yard. I assumed that he wouldn't run off at her house after giving me the sad eyes, tied to her deck post, but I was wrong. I watched as he ran along the kids in perfect obedience. Yet, as soon as I went in the house, in record time, he connived his way into the neighbor's yard - via the gate - while Leah's neighbor was out mowing the lawn. Thus, he proceeded to go under her deck and squat over her hostas - as her dogs barked from inside the house. I apologized profusely and got a plastic bag to pick up his mess. Luckily, she just laughed. The dog that I was sad to leave behind while we vacationed, found a way to be mischievous once again. Obviously, he doesn't like going to the puppy salon.
Oh well, another crazy day at the Koeppe household. All I know is that he is not shedding in my house right now and he was not home long enough to jump in the creek; and I am going on a day-trip with my sister tomorrow for some good old-fashioned, girly fun. I type this as he lies at my feet, like the faithful companion that I know and love. :)
This blog is intended for our family, friends and other adoptive parents, as we share our daughter's adoption story from Gaoyou, China to Michigan, and our Faith journey through God’s Amazing Grace. *******ALL RIGHTS RESERVED*******
"When life gives you rain, God gives you rainbows." ~ Unknown Author
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Jill's Traverse City Cherry-Walnut Muffin Recipe
Wow! I modified a few of my muffin recipes to come up with this awesome Cherry-Maple-Walnut muffin recipe. They were so fabulous and fluffy, and the kids loved them.
When I was young girl, we had a Tart Cherry Tree in our back yard. I was especially fond of climbing it in the summertime, and eating cherries off the tree. Every year, I would pick a bowl full of cherries and bring them to my mom, who would make the best home-made cherry pie from scratch. I have never been able to eat store-bought cherry pie since.
When Scott and I left Traverse City, we found the cutest little store full of fresh fruit, cherry items and pastries. I was happy to find a large bag of frozen tart cherries, already pitted.
Feel free to try these muffins, and let me know what you think. ;)
Jill's Traverse City Cherry-Maple-Walnut Muffins
(Yields about 18 muffins)
Preheat to 400 degrees
3 eggs
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. maple syrup
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. wheat flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup walnuts
2 cups frozen tart cherries (DRAINED and THAWED) ~OR~ 1 cup of fresh cherries
(Cherries will settle to about 1 cup when drained and thawed)
Beat eggs until fluffy. Add sugar and maple syrup. Blend sour cream, then oil and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients, and gently mix them into batter. Add walnuts. Fold in cherries with spoon (or slowly with mixer).
Spoon into lined muffin tins. Fill 3/4 of muffin liner. Bake for approximately 19-20 minutes, or until golden brown and inserted knife comes out clean. Optional: Lightly sprinkle granulated sugar on top of batter, or lightly drizzle with maple syrup.
Enjoy!
Have a blessed day!
Jill :)
We sprinkled our first batch with red sugar crystals.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Jili's First Family Vacation
The hardest decision about making this video was deciding whether to use 'Ole Blue Eyes or Louis Armstrong for the first song. :)
Friday, July 22, 2011
Vacation
We just got back from an awesome vacation in our home state: Michigan. We went to Mackinac Island, traveled the Upper Penninsula, and made a pitstop in Traverse City, Michigan. I will post some pictures tonight. The blog picture is the four of us on a horse and carriage ride coming back from The Woods Restaurant on Mackinac Island - our favorite restaurant ever.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Mill Park
I had to include this photo that I took at the Saline Mill Park from the camera on my phone. She wasn't too pleased when she fell in the water a few minutes later, but this one was cute.
Monday, July 11, 2011
The Pond...and A Special Occasion
Our little aquatic habitat is a tradition that T.J. and I started in 2007. What started out as a trial whisky barrel fish pond, slowly evolved into a spring tradition. I do need to highlight the epic Goldfish story to truly explain how one little goldfish could make us laugh so hard.
In 2007, T.J. and I purchased pond plants at Hidden Lake Gardens (in Tipton, Michigan), to create a miniature frog pond. HLK was giving away free goldfish to create the ultimate habitat, so we accepted five fish. They were then black, but the gardener told me that they would eventually turn gold. I had the whiskey barrel, liner and plants in place, and just as I was ready to add the five goldfish, I noticed that there was only four fish. I asked T.J., "Where's the fifth goldfish? There were five, and now there's only four."
T.J. replied non-chalantly, "Oh, Bear Bear ate him."
Not questioning my three-year old about his 6 month old black lab eating a goldfish, I moved on and added the "four" fish.
The following day, I opened the dryer to a putrid smell of fish - an entire load of laundry ruined - and a baked-on fish encrusted in the pocket of his jeans. Not a child to be malicious with nature or formulate a lie, I decided that he just wanted to carry one of his fishies in his pocket, but forgot about it. From this day forward, I ALWAYS check pockets before washing.
Goldie Goldfish - the last of the five pond fish - became a permanent house pet last November. When we set up the tadpoles this year, Goldie - who eventually turned into a beautiful shade of orange - stayed indoors, until...
mosquito larvae forayed our little pond. After a few cleanings, I surrendered. Enter Goldie on the scene, who left the fish tank to inhabit bigger water.
T.J., Jili and I watched as he swam around, checking to see if he would eat the larvae. Approximately 50 small tadpoles inhabitated the pond, swimming as fast as they could - away from him - as if he were a shark in shallow waters. Goldie gobbled up a tadpole, then spit it out. T.J. and Jili screamed, "Get him out, get him out, Mom. He's gonna eat our tadpoles!"
Then, he spit out the second tadpole and it swam off in haste. They protested again. Pretty soon, he left the tadpoles alone, and proceeded to eat the mosquito larvae in the container. The kids cheered and laughed in relief. The next morning, we found no sign of any mosquito spawn. Thus far, Goldie is enjoying his pond and keeping it free of pesky Michigan mosquitoes. As for the tadpoles, we have enjoyed see them metamorphis into the tiniest little frogs, and hop over the edge.
Last year, we constructed a "Bug" garden, where T.J. and Jili could lift rocks and find crickets, or watch butterflies feast on flowers. This year, we are very behind on the rear gardens, which are very overgrown. Nonetheless, the kids have enjoyed picking vegetables in the vegetable garden, watching the hummingbirds in the Monarda and the tadpoles in the pond, picking black rasperries, catching fireflies, and spying my favorite returning wrens that house at the edge of our vegetable garden. They always make me smile, when they point and say, "Look Mom, there's your bird!" They know how the wren sightings always create an instant smile on my face.
Earlier this week Jili and T.J. picked black rasperries (some ripe and some red), and added them to our freshly squeezed lemonade. It was really awesome lemonade.
After a few days of monotonous house projects (cleaning our oven, reorganizing our basement, and getting rooms ready for painting), I decided that the kids really needed a break from being cooped in the house. Scott was working, so I decided to be a little Paula Deen-ish, as I packed a special picnic basket for three. We packed soft-pretzel-sandwiches with lunch meat and cheese, tropical fruit, fancy cups with tiny umbrellas and orange slices, pickles, brownies, and my new favorite thing: Iced Mason Jars filled with lemonade and orange slices, and unsweetened iced tea with orange slices (both surprisingly good).
Years ago (before I had kids), I bought these fancy glasses, with matching cloth napkins and coasters to occupy my fancy Longaberger picnic basket, but I never used them. My son mentioned not wanting to get the white napkins dirty, and then he asked why I never used them. I explained that I had been saving them for a "Special Occasion". I told them it was pretty silly to buy things so nice, yet never use them. Then, I said, "We using them today, because today is a special occasion. Today, I'm spending the day with you and Jili." And it was special indeed.
Enjoy the small things in your lives. May God Bless you all with small wonders, laughter and appreciation for life's simplest joys.
Jill :)
In 2007, T.J. and I purchased pond plants at Hidden Lake Gardens (in Tipton, Michigan), to create a miniature frog pond. HLK was giving away free goldfish to create the ultimate habitat, so we accepted five fish. They were then black, but the gardener told me that they would eventually turn gold. I had the whiskey barrel, liner and plants in place, and just as I was ready to add the five goldfish, I noticed that there was only four fish. I asked T.J., "Where's the fifth goldfish? There were five, and now there's only four."
T.J. replied non-chalantly, "Oh, Bear Bear ate him."
Not questioning my three-year old about his 6 month old black lab eating a goldfish, I moved on and added the "four" fish.
The following day, I opened the dryer to a putrid smell of fish - an entire load of laundry ruined - and a baked-on fish encrusted in the pocket of his jeans. Not a child to be malicious with nature or formulate a lie, I decided that he just wanted to carry one of his fishies in his pocket, but forgot about it. From this day forward, I ALWAYS check pockets before washing.
Goldie Goldfish - the last of the five pond fish - became a permanent house pet last November. When we set up the tadpoles this year, Goldie - who eventually turned into a beautiful shade of orange - stayed indoors, until...
mosquito larvae forayed our little pond. After a few cleanings, I surrendered. Enter Goldie on the scene, who left the fish tank to inhabit bigger water.
T.J., Jili and I watched as he swam around, checking to see if he would eat the larvae. Approximately 50 small tadpoles inhabitated the pond, swimming as fast as they could - away from him - as if he were a shark in shallow waters. Goldie gobbled up a tadpole, then spit it out. T.J. and Jili screamed, "Get him out, get him out, Mom. He's gonna eat our tadpoles!"
Then, he spit out the second tadpole and it swam off in haste. They protested again. Pretty soon, he left the tadpoles alone, and proceeded to eat the mosquito larvae in the container. The kids cheered and laughed in relief. The next morning, we found no sign of any mosquito spawn. Thus far, Goldie is enjoying his pond and keeping it free of pesky Michigan mosquitoes. As for the tadpoles, we have enjoyed see them metamorphis into the tiniest little frogs, and hop over the edge.
Last year, we constructed a "Bug" garden, where T.J. and Jili could lift rocks and find crickets, or watch butterflies feast on flowers. This year, we are very behind on the rear gardens, which are very overgrown. Nonetheless, the kids have enjoyed picking vegetables in the vegetable garden, watching the hummingbirds in the Monarda and the tadpoles in the pond, picking black rasperries, catching fireflies, and spying my favorite returning wrens that house at the edge of our vegetable garden. They always make me smile, when they point and say, "Look Mom, there's your bird!" They know how the wren sightings always create an instant smile on my face.
Earlier this week Jili and T.J. picked black rasperries (some ripe and some red), and added them to our freshly squeezed lemonade. It was really awesome lemonade.
After a few days of monotonous house projects (cleaning our oven, reorganizing our basement, and getting rooms ready for painting), I decided that the kids really needed a break from being cooped in the house. Scott was working, so I decided to be a little Paula Deen-ish, as I packed a special picnic basket for three. We packed soft-pretzel-sandwiches with lunch meat and cheese, tropical fruit, fancy cups with tiny umbrellas and orange slices, pickles, brownies, and my new favorite thing: Iced Mason Jars filled with lemonade and orange slices, and unsweetened iced tea with orange slices (both surprisingly good).
Years ago (before I had kids), I bought these fancy glasses, with matching cloth napkins and coasters to occupy my fancy Longaberger picnic basket, but I never used them. My son mentioned not wanting to get the white napkins dirty, and then he asked why I never used them. I explained that I had been saving them for a "Special Occasion". I told them it was pretty silly to buy things so nice, yet never use them. Then, I said, "We using them today, because today is a special occasion. Today, I'm spending the day with you and Jili." And it was special indeed.
Enjoy the small things in your lives. May God Bless you all with small wonders, laughter and appreciation for life's simplest joys.
Jill :)
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Latest Cardiology Visit!!!
Jiliang went to the Cardiologist on June 30th and wowed the doctors. She is doing so well! From December 2011 to June (just over 6 months), she grew FOUR inches, and gained 4 pounds. I couldn't barely believe it, but it did explain why the dresses and clothes I bought at Easter were short. I was ready to blame it on a dryer mishap.
The best news, however, is that Dr. Cotts wanted to wean her off of her heart medicine! After consulting with the cardiologist who specializes in Pulmonary Hypertension, they both agreed to slowly decrease the medication over the summer. By the end of summer, Jili will be medicine-free. Of course, she will go back in September for further tests, and subsequently she will be monitored closely to assure that she can safely remain that way. Currently, the pressures entering her lungs appear to be on the high end of normal. She is doing better than we all expected, and Dr. Cotts said that is near the best-case scenario - with the best-case scenario being free of her heart medicine.
This is such an immense blessing to us, and a Miracle really. Last March, when we brought Jili home, we expected her to have a repair for Tetralogy of Fallot. When we got her home, she was diagnosed with Truncus Arteriosis. It is uncommon to find an older child with Truncus, as most Truncus is repaired within the first week of life. The life expectancy of an unrepaired Truncus baby over age 1 is 20%. In layman's terms, unrepaired Truncus causes damage to the lung vasculature that leads to pulmonary hypertension. Last April of 2010, we were faced with grave news that Jili might have a shortened life span, possibly not making it to adulthood, or even to her teens. At first, surgery did not seem to be a viable option, as her heart reconstructed, may possibly reject the surgery. Her heart could have continued to function the way it had her entire life and sent high pressures into her lungs.
However, after much testing and deliberation at Mott's Hospital, her doctor called to tell me that the surgical team decided that Jiliang's best option for life was surgery. On April 15th, 2010, I received the call that she was able to have surgery; surgery was scheduled on April 16th, and her surgery was done on April 20th by Dr. Ohye. It all seems to be a blur now, but looking back I realize all of the "coincidences" that occurred to make that surgery happen. I was supposed to go back to work on April 26th. Dr. Ohye, a wonderful surgeon, that built a rapport with me before Jili's homecoming, had one surgical opening on April 20th. Then, she got out of the hospital with only a few days to spare before my FMLA time was exhausted. The rest is history.
Link to the April 15th post:
http://thekoeppefamily.blogspot.com/2010/04/open-heart-surgery-this-tuesday.html
The surgical risks were at least 20% chance of mortality, and 80% in our favor. That was terrifying. In our hearts, we knew that we had to try to give our new daughter a chance at life. We also knew she had beaten the odds before in China. After 24 days at Mott's Children's Hospital, Jili came home. She was on two heart medications, and one was experimental - specifically for pulmonary hypertention - and had specific directions for administering it. In November of 2010, we went down to one heart medication, with the idea that she could be on it for years and maybe even for life. Today, we are simply greatful.
We thank the Cardiology team at Mott's Children's Hospital for this precious gift. Please keep our little girl in your prayers. We pray that she will continue to thrive in a long, healthy life, and that as we slowly wean her off of the medicine this summer, her body will adjust so that she can be completely medicine-free.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support over this last year.
P.S. Pauline, we hope to see you soon. Please tell everyone in the PCTU unit that we appreciate all that they do!
Sincerely,
Jill
The best news, however, is that Dr. Cotts wanted to wean her off of her heart medicine! After consulting with the cardiologist who specializes in Pulmonary Hypertension, they both agreed to slowly decrease the medication over the summer. By the end of summer, Jili will be medicine-free. Of course, she will go back in September for further tests, and subsequently she will be monitored closely to assure that she can safely remain that way. Currently, the pressures entering her lungs appear to be on the high end of normal. She is doing better than we all expected, and Dr. Cotts said that is near the best-case scenario - with the best-case scenario being free of her heart medicine.
This is such an immense blessing to us, and a Miracle really. Last March, when we brought Jili home, we expected her to have a repair for Tetralogy of Fallot. When we got her home, she was diagnosed with Truncus Arteriosis. It is uncommon to find an older child with Truncus, as most Truncus is repaired within the first week of life. The life expectancy of an unrepaired Truncus baby over age 1 is 20%. In layman's terms, unrepaired Truncus causes damage to the lung vasculature that leads to pulmonary hypertension. Last April of 2010, we were faced with grave news that Jili might have a shortened life span, possibly not making it to adulthood, or even to her teens. At first, surgery did not seem to be a viable option, as her heart reconstructed, may possibly reject the surgery. Her heart could have continued to function the way it had her entire life and sent high pressures into her lungs.
However, after much testing and deliberation at Mott's Hospital, her doctor called to tell me that the surgical team decided that Jiliang's best option for life was surgery. On April 15th, 2010, I received the call that she was able to have surgery; surgery was scheduled on April 16th, and her surgery was done on April 20th by Dr. Ohye. It all seems to be a blur now, but looking back I realize all of the "coincidences" that occurred to make that surgery happen. I was supposed to go back to work on April 26th. Dr. Ohye, a wonderful surgeon, that built a rapport with me before Jili's homecoming, had one surgical opening on April 20th. Then, she got out of the hospital with only a few days to spare before my FMLA time was exhausted. The rest is history.
Link to the April 15th post:
http://thekoeppefamily.blogspot.com/2010/04/open-heart-surgery-this-tuesday.html
The surgical risks were at least 20% chance of mortality, and 80% in our favor. That was terrifying. In our hearts, we knew that we had to try to give our new daughter a chance at life. We also knew she had beaten the odds before in China. After 24 days at Mott's Children's Hospital, Jili came home. She was on two heart medications, and one was experimental - specifically for pulmonary hypertention - and had specific directions for administering it. In November of 2010, we went down to one heart medication, with the idea that she could be on it for years and maybe even for life. Today, we are simply greatful.
We thank the Cardiology team at Mott's Children's Hospital for this precious gift. Please keep our little girl in your prayers. We pray that she will continue to thrive in a long, healthy life, and that as we slowly wean her off of the medicine this summer, her body will adjust so that she can be completely medicine-free.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support over this last year.
P.S. Pauline, we hope to see you soon. Please tell everyone in the PCTU unit that we appreciate all that they do!
Sincerely,
Jill
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