Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Our "Miracle Baby" and Other Stuff

This is our Sullivan. He will be two years old on Feb 20. We call him our miracle baby because we weren't even sure he would make it long enough to be born. He has "triad syndrome" which is a very rare problem. Only one in 40,000 babies have it. Most die in utero or are born dead. If they manage to come out alive, it is not at all certain whether they will ever be able to sit up or walk. This is because they have no stomach muscles. It was discovered that his bladder had twice as much fluid in it than it should have had and they had to go into the bladder and draw lots of fluid out while he was still in utero. He has been watched by a very interested and involved group of doctors in Salt Lake City, where his parents, Kristin and Craig Mills live. The "triad" comes from the three things that are involved, the bladder, uterers, and the kidneys. He has had an operation to properly connect the uterers. This little kid not only sits up and walks, but he runs. He is such a smart little kid too. He may have a tummy tuck when he gets a bit older to pull in his tummy and give his organs a little more support and he also may have to have a kidney transplant at some later date, but right now, this kid is doing well. I won't go into a lot more detail, in fact it is far too complicated for me to totally understand, but all I can say is that this is one special little boy and both Dick and I are totally besotted with him. This picture is one of the recent ones we have. I keep begging for pics and videos to be sent to me and thankfully Kristin sends quite a few. I can hardly wait until Christmas when we will get to see him again. Whenever I get a chance, I will drive to see him if he is anywhere within driving range of our place. He does get to come and visit his Grandma (my third daughter, Nikki) who lives two and a half to three hours from here and whenever he does, you can be sure we will appear on the scene to see him, even if just for the day. I just had to post this one picture(with the help of Dick, who had to leave for his regular Tuesday night meeting). I just wish I knew how to post videos on here. Some day I may learn, but probalbly not without a lot of help.

Of course I could go on and on about this incredible child, but I have a few other things I want to share with you this week. It has been another busy one. I'm still baking cookies and I have a pretty good start on all the Christmas ones. In fact, Dick tells me that the freezer is almost full so I am not quite sure what I am going to do. We still have lots of Danish tea rings to do too. It's a good thing that I love to bake. My family keeps telling me that I don't have to do this every year. But as long as I am able, I will keep on .

I have promised to post my recipe for Ginger cookies. They are quite good, so here it is:

Darlene's Gingersnaps

1 & 1/2 cups shortening
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
4 cups flour
3 teaspoons soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup molasses
1 & 1/2 tablespoons ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Beat shortening and sugar until creamy. Add eggs, beat until fluffy. Add molasses, then flour,soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger, sifted together. Chill for about 15 minutes in refrigerator. Spoon onto cookie sheets or roll into balls and coat with sugar. I usually make mine quite large, a rounded tablespoon. Just make sure that you sprinkle sugar on the top if you don't roll them in it. They are so much better that way. Bake at 375 degrees 12 to 15 minutes.

You can always start with a half batch if you just want to try them out. As usual, I would love to know if any of you try them, and how you liked them if you did.

It was a busy busy week, I can tell you and today was no different. We went out to brunch with some friends and afterward, Dick and I went to a movie!! Yes, the first one we have seen in over a year. Our friends had recommended it to us and I must say, it really was a good one. "The Help". It really did make one think about what those people had to go through, living in the south, working for the white people who thought they were so much better than the black ones.

When we got home, I crashed and went to sleep in my chair right after eating Chinese food that Dick brought in. I will be at it again tomorrow though, yes, making more cookies. 'Til next week..............

10 comments:

  1. OMG! He is adorable. And a strong child. As are his parents. Ethan walked by as I was reading and is full of questions about the baby on the horse. Mainly he wants to know when he'll go on a horse like the baby!

    Thank you for the recipe. Now I need to figure out where to buy molasses here!

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  2. Those gingerbread cookies are my favorite ones you make. Well, take that back...I guess I like the oatmeal ones even better. But these are a close second!

    And Sullivan is the best!

    =)

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  3. What a darling little one and I always feel so sad when they start out life with complications. I am so happy to know that he is doing so well. He is a cute little one for sure.
    Thanks for the recipes and I am amazed that you are cooking away. You are awesome.
    I hope you have had an awesome Thanksgiving Day.
    I am in Missouri with two of my daughter's families; so I am really enjoying the moments.
    Blessings and hugs to you!

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  4. Thank you for explaining little Sullivan's challenges. What a miracle indeed. He's sure a cute little guy.

    I admire all the baking you are doing, and I've decided you are my inspiration and I'll join you in that now that Thanksgiving is over. I'll begin with your recipe for the oatmeal/PB/choc chip one you had on here. I'll let you know how it goes. I want to get lots of cookies in my freezer before my kids start coming home next month.

    Glad you finally saw THE HELP. I was totally mesmerized by that movie. I enjoyed every minute of it.

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  5. Sullivan is certainly a cutie and one would never guess that he has had one ounce of health problems!
    My brother-in-law has had a kidney transplant and while that is no walk in the park, it is a life saving thing that has come a long way. Hope Sullivan continues to do as well as he looks!!
    PS. Your cookies sound wonderful!!

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  6. What a great story Darlene. Sullivan sounds like a wonderful little guy and he's so lucky to have all of you! Modern medicine is a great blessing in this day and age. Thanks for sharing another wonderful looking recipe. You know I'll let you know how they come out. We have a good friend who loves ginger anything so I'll try them on him! Don't work too hard, but go ahead and play as hard as you like! Have a good weekend and Happy Thanksgiving!

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  7. Oh Darlene what a remarkable precious little boy. I feel the love you have for your sweet Sullivan in your words. He truly is a miracle baby. You must be counting the days til you can see him again.
    It sounds like your really enjoying yourself making all these wonderful cookies.You always inspire me so I am excited about trying your recipes.
    Enjoy your weekend dear friend and know I am thinking of you
    Love
    Maggie

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  8. I'm definitely going to try these, as ginger cookies are one of my favorites! I'll get busy tonight and get my first recipe to you. You're such a pro, you probably already make them, but they are the cookie that everyone asks for each year.
    Sully is so cute and I'm so glad he's doing well.

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  9. Oh my gosh, Darlene, that kid is some sweet looking. I'm so glad that he came through like he did. I know the agony that parents and grandparents goes through when there is something wrong with a baby before they are even born.

    Our grandson was born in January without his left hand and I remember how devastating it was for my daughter and her husband waiting for him to be born and for us too. But he's such a sweet happy little guy who steels the heart of everyone who meets him.

    I think that you must be the cookie queen. You may have to consider of getting a bigger freezer or getting another one. lol...

    I never lost any sleep over my encounter with the curious visitors or the media. I've been on TV, radio and in the news papers many times before and I so did all my kids at one time or other. I have a whole scrapbook full and I'm on the second one. It happens when one get involved in the community and when something unusual happens like a real bad flood, a barn collapse and this time the triplet calves.

    Today I had a pair of grandparents who brought their triplet grandkids to see the calves as there was no school today for the kids because of professional development day. I'm glad that the visitations has calmed down. The calves are still all doing well.
    Happy baking, hugs, Julia

    You were asking where we connected on Blogger. I think that you read my story on Maggie's blog and you visited my blog and then I visited your.

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  10. Oh, I am so happy to see precious little Sullivan. I remember putting him on the prayer list and it makes me so happy to see how well he is doing. He is just soooo cute. I can't believe he is already 2 seems like he was born just a few months ago.

    The way you love to cook I would bet that your food is finger licking, mouth watering scrumptious. I wish I liked to cook especially bake but I just do not enjoy it at all. Hugs

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