RM's are AWESOME

     I belong to a group called Richmond Mommies (RM), they are part of The Mommies Network (TMN). TMN has forums all over, I bet if you looked they may have one in your area. RM is a group of wonderful moms that all share in raising our kids in the Richmond areas. I may not be able to get to the play dates, mommy night outs, or one of the other many of things we have very often, because right now my family only has one car and my husband takes that to work. But I do visit the message board often and I have found some wonderful women to support me and give me advice.

    I am mommy to a 24 wk micro-preemie and I was dead set against have another child for fear that I would have another baby that early and the outcome would not be what it was like for the first. God had other plans for me, and now I have a second child. My pregnancy with #2 was not an easy one, the mommies of RM were wonderful, if I didn't post someone was sending me a private message (PM) wanting to make sure everything was OK. I managed to make it to 37 wks with #2. There is a 7 year age gap between my children so having #2 was like starting all over, you would think that once a mom you would not forget but after 7 yrs I was a bit rusty and I know I asked a ton of questions that I should have known. Now #1 is a girl and #2 is a boy, so besides the age gap, we have gender differences and they are completely different. I catch myself saying now that #1 was not like this, what do I do? Someone is bound to have gone through the same thing and can give some advice. After having my son, several of my RM friends storked me, that is where they brought me meals 3 times a week for 2 weeks, it was so helpful. After having a new baby and via c-section the meals certainly helped and all I had to do was heat up the food.

     Now a week ago a freak accident happened, one of those things that you say well that will never happen to me. Well it did and I was so scared of what people would think about me, not to mention the fact that I was beating myself up over it. See I had just finished dinner and was lifting my son over the baby gate to get him in his seat and ready for dinner. He was wiggling, my daughter was trying to hand me a diaper and talk to me at the same time, and I guess I just didn't have control of my son as well as I thought I did and he fell out of my arms. When he fell we were in front of the stove and he fell onto the pot of green beans on the stove and when he rolled it pushed the green beans back and his arm landed on the burner. He got 1st degree and partial thickness 2nd degree burns on his upper left buttocks, back, right side, right arm, and right ear. I debated back and forth rather to post for prayers for a speedy healing for my son on RM, because I felt that I would get a lot of flack for dropping my son. Eventually I decided to post about it and the response was nothing that I thought it would be. The mommies were wonderful, they all reassured me, sent prayers and well wishes. They told me accidents happened and not to be hard on myself. I do not think they know just how much that meant to me and really helped me to feel better about the situation.

     I am happy to report that after a week since the burn incident, my sons ear is completely healed, the burns on his buttocks, back and side look wonderful. His arm was the worse, it looks good but will take a bit longer to heal.

     I learned from this incident that we all make mistakes and no matter how hard we try accidents happen and a lot of them are out of our control. I have also learned the saying that a Mother is her own worst enemy is so true.

     I honestly do not know what kind of mother I would be without the backup and support from my Richmond Mommies and I thank them all. We do not always agree about things, but in the end we are all mothers and no matter how one chooses to raise their child no one is wrong.

Thanks Mommies, I love you all :)

**To find out if there is a TMN site in your area visit this link: http://www.themommiesnetwork.org/index.shtml

Brunswick Stew

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fall and one of the things that I love about it is that you can get Brunswick Stew, YUMMY!!

Well since I love it so much, I decided to embark in finding a recipe and there are TONS of them all different in one aspect or another. Finally I found one for Va Brunswick Stew (what makes Va Brunswick Stew different is that it has okra in it). So I ended up combining 2 recipes to get one that suited me. So last night I made it and it was a HUGE pot full, that only got 2 bowls ate out of it. My husband does not like soups and stews and our son seems to be taking after him in that aspect. But Harleyann loved it and so did I, although I think that I will add more tomatoes next time.

The recipe I used is as follows:

Brunswick Stew:

2 whole chickens, cut into pieces

Boil in large stock pot with just enough water to cover chicken. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours. Remove chicken and let set till cool enough to handle. Once chicken is cool enough turn stock back on and bring to a boil, reduce to low, shred chicken and put into stock. Add:

6 large potatoes, diced
2 large bags of Lima beans
2 large bags of corn
1 bag of cut okra
2 large cans whole tomatoes, roughly chopped (i poured the juice into the stew)


and simmer for 20 minutes. Add:
 
1 cup of ketchup
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 stick of butter
2 Tbsp vinegar (I used red wine vinegar)
Salt and pepper to taste.
 
Cover and simmer for 2 hours or longer, stirring occasionally.
 
It turned out great, just really needs more tomatoes if you ask me.