Temporary move

So we've moved out of our adorable mold infested home. We're living with my parents in the meantime. If you need to reach us call our cells...661-900-1427 or 661-330-4428. Sigh....they've torn our kitchen and master bedroom apart so far, but on the bright side, the mold will be gone and we get to upgrade/renovate for only $1000 (our deductible...because yes the insurance is covering the cost of our repairs!)

Toy storage solution...

So I had a shoe organizer that I wasn't using and decided that instead of buying William a toy box (have you seen how much those things cost?!) I'd try to make it into a toy cubby. It works perfect! It's easier for William to see what he wants without dumping out the laundry basket that was holding his toys, and alot easier to rotate what has been just sitting around unused. So here it is ... enjoy my shoe organizer to toy cubby hack.

Mold,Mold,Mold

Ugh ... so we did a mold test and it was positive. Our insurance sent out a leak detection company, and boy did the inspector find a doozy....and the source of our mold. Pray that the inspector they are sending out tomorrow determines that it IS structural so the insurance will cover the cost of our repairs. Basically our kitchen,living room and master bedroom are effected by the mold spores. So that's why William and I have been sick for so long.
The support beam that has been absorbing the water
The source of our leak
Mold
Mold
and more MOLD!

Our Mold lake under our kitchen/living room

Still sick

Yep that's right William and I are still sick. Today my doctor ordered 7 different tests through blood work. So we'll see what happens...so far the CBC is back and it shows that my white blood cells are elevated...(big shocker) and my red blood cell count is low (which actually was a shocker...no one mentioned anything to me, and you'd think that would be considered important). So now I just have to wait and see what the doc says. They did a full blood work up last month, but this month my numbers are even higher than they were for the WBC and even lower for the RBC. Sheesh....

In other new since William and I have been sick for soo long we had the house tested for mold...bad news it's there and it's most likely the cause of our extended illness. We caught that small cold from the family before Christmas and it apparently weakened our immune systems enough that we became susceptible to the mold spores. John on the other hand is healthy as horse. Grrr. So now the rush is on the have the mold removed before our new little one arrives because it can be ...well very very bad for him.

Kidnappings in Bako...

So I don’t know if everyone is aware, but there was a crime committed here last week (Friday). A woman was held at gunpoint, robbed and raped in my neighborhood. She was leaving Babies R Us when a man came up behind her with a gun. He told her to drive to her ATM where he forced her to withdraw money then told her to drive somewhere to park. She drove to Fruitvale Jr High Parking lot where he raped her in the front seat of her car with her 11 month old baby in the back seat, he then fled on foot. This happened in the middle of the day approx. 2pm. So the BPD had cops and canines all over here, they locked down the Junior High until the grounds were searched and cleared. Helicopters circled my neighborhood until the wee hours looking for the guy. They didn't find him.

Monday while walking to school a Foothill High School student was almost abducted. She managed to get free before the man got her into his car. Within a few hours on Panama Lane and Stine (by the fresh and easy) a woman was forced into a vehicle by two men who them drove her to Tower Line Rd. and attempted to rape her. She manged to get free and run for help. None of these men have been caught yet either. The police have been speculating that it is some sort of initiation, possibly gang related, and they advised all women to be careful.

Well I got on myspace tonight only to find out there has been another attack...last night at Dewar's in the Riverlakes shopping center. A friend of mine has a friend that is the GM of Dewar's here's what she posted....



The news has not announced the most recent attack. However, a friend of mine is the General Manager for Dewar’s and last night around 9PM a woman was grabbed outside of the Riverlakes store she was able to fight the man off and ran back into Dewar’s. The good news is the cops arrived immediately and the man was arrested and taken into custody. Not sure if he is linked to any of the other attacks in the recent days or not and hopefully the news will address this attack soon.

So I'm sufficiently freaked out now. Be on the look out ladies, always be aware of your surrounding, and when possible try to have someone with you at all times.

Food

Stuffed Bell Peppers



You'll need:



A Rice Cooker

1 Large frying pan

A vegetable steamer (but a pot with a small amount of water in the bottom will work in a pinch)

Ground Beef

Green Bell Peppers (2)

White Rice (Calrose rice)

1 can Tomato Sauce

Grated Cheese



Prepare rice in Rice cooker to start. While the rice is cooking brown the ground beef then drain. Clean and then cut off the tops of the Bell Peppers and remove the inner portion (seeds). Steam Bell Peppers. While the Bell Peppers are steaming mix the Ground Beef, Rice, and Tomato Sauce until sauce is warm. Remove Bell peppers and sprinkle a layer of grated cheese inside then add the mix. Continue with a layer of cheese then a layer of mix until the Bell Pepper is stuffed, top with grated cheese and add the Bell pepper tops for added flair.



Serve and Enjoy! (this is one of John's Favorite dishes....and it's soo easy!!)



Shepherds Pie



You'll need:



1 casserole pan with lid (aluminum foil can be used as a lid if one isn't available)

1 frying pan

1 pot

Grated Cheese

1 can of peas

1 can of carrots

1 can of corn

1 can of beef gravy

Ground beef (enough to cover bottom of casserole dish)

Mashed Potatoes (enough to cover dish to a depth of 1/2 inch max)



Peel, chop and cook potatoes (If not using the instant variety). While potatoes are cooking brown ground beef then drain. Put the ground beef into the casserole dish.Add 1/2 can drained corn, 1/2 can of drained carrots, and 1/2 can of drained peas. Cover ground beef completely. Mash the potatoes and add to the dish. Spread 1/2 the can of gravy of the mashed potatoes. Then add the layers of corn, carrots, peas, mashed potatoes, and gravy again. Top with grated cheese, and cover. Heat in oven @ 350 until cheese is melted.



Serve and enjoy.... add corn bread or dinner rolls if desired ( I use a 1 quart casserole dish and we have leftovers for a couple of days)