So I'm feeling kind of sad today. My mom went to spend a couple of nights with Donna. She wanted to go home after the first night because she was missing my dad. I thought that was really sweet, but I'm glad that she stayed another night. It is really sad for me to think about all the fun times that I had with my mother before FTD and that I will never have THAT mom again. On the other hand, it is great to see my dad step up. My mom has had to step up on so many occasions for so many of us. My dad is taking great care for her just as she would of him and has in the past.

James and I had lunch today and were talking about vacations during the school year. Those will be things of the past since we no long have parents that can stay with Kiley for any length of time. That makes me sad, too.

So I never did post anything after the AFTD support group meeting.

The meeting was both comforting and informative. I'm actually looking forward to the next meeting.

This past weekend we celebrated James' 50 birthday. My family came to help celebrate along with some of James' co-workers as well as some of our friends. When Randy and Kathy Frederick arrived I went to greet them. My mother followed me. She called Kathy "Cindy" and thought she knew her from a wedding. I had told them previously about my mom's disease. They were very understanding. It really helped to have gone to the support group meeting to learn strategies of how to deal with awkward situations.

One of the handouts from the support group meeting was a card that said "Please excuse my companion. She has Frontotemporal Disease which affects her behavior." It is amazing how forgiving and patient people can be if they understand.

It makes me very sad that my mother has an irreversable disease that will eventually end her life. I guess that is a pretty drastic way to look at what's going on.

So we got the diagnosis a couple of weeks ago...my mother has Frontotemporal Dimentia or FTD. We knew something was wrong for the past few years, but couldn't put our fingers on it. My granny, her mom, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about 25 years ago. We always knew it was a possibility that someone in the family was likely to get Alzheimer's but I think all my aunts and uncles hoped it wouldn't be them. I am feeling a bit like a cosmic joke has been played on my family. Anyway, I plan to write about this as best I can as the weeks, months and years progress.

Today I am attending my first FTD support group. I will write about it later.

Roasted Hatch Green Chili Chicken Stew

So I've been daydreaming about using my Hatch green chilies, I've read multiple recipes and I've come up with this Hatch Green Chili Chicken Stew. I don't care for white potatoes so I'm using corn and pinto beans instead. If I'm going to use flour to thicken anything, it's going to be whole wheat. So here is my version of...

Roasted Hatch Green Chili Chicken Stew

Carrots - 2

Onion - 1 lg. or 2 small

Celery - 3

Garlic - 1 lg. clove

Roasted Hatch peppers - 1 hot and 3 mild

1.5 lbs chicken (I had 12 ounces of chicken sausage and 1 large chicken breast diced small)

Whole wheat flour - about 2 T

Cumin - 1.5 t

Coriander - 1.5 t

Chicken stock - 1 qt

Corn - 1 can

Pinto Beans - 1 can

Salt and Pepper - to taste

Now I cooked my carrot, celery and onions in oil in one pot till just tender then added the garlic and cooked till fragrant. I browned my chicken in another pot till cooked and then added it to the pot with the veggies. The reason I did this was because I forgot I had a really awesome cast iron Dutch oven until after I started cooking my chicken. Anyway, then I added the peppers, cumin and coriander and then sprinkled the flour over the mixture and stirred really well. Next I added the chicken stock and corn. Then I brought it all up to a boil, covered it and reduced to simmer. The whole process took about 30 minutes. I am going to cook it that way for at least an hour, maybe longer before I add the beans. I may add a little more chicken stock depending on how it looks when it is all done.

I think I will serve it with a spoonful of sour cream and maybe a little lime and cilantro. I think it will be a nice refreshing stew.

Schlitterbahn 2011

James and I decided that a good way to spend Monday was to head to Schlitterbahn since Round Rock ISD didn't start till Tuesday. Sure enough we chose a good day...no lines, but only the Blastenhauf section of the park was open. Kiley, who is terrified of roller coasters, decided she wanted to take on the Sky Coaster...a giant swing. Then she decided that I needed to do it with her. So here is the video of our little adventure. I would do this ride again and again. It was a blast!!!

Random thoughts...

So my day started pretty early...6:30 am. Today was the first day of school for Kiley. She got up around 6:40. She was very excited to get to school and see how her day would go. She got an adorable haircut last week and during the meet and greet at the school both the kids and the parents talked about how great she looked. What a great self-confidence boost!!!

Kiley only took a few magnetic things for her locker this morning. We couldn't even find her schedule so whe went without one.

She was super excited to head to the bus stop with Sophia. I couldn't believe there were seven kids at her bus stop this year.

I can hardly wait to see how her day went.

Just thinking...

Really enjoying the summer so far. My sister and brother-in-law came for a little visit this weekend on their way to Wimberley. It was so much fun hanging out with them. They are such a great couple.



We are heading to Schlitterbahn tomorrow. Kiley is 11 and we have never taken her to the water park. She is taking a friend of hers. I am taking two of my friends with me. I think it is going to be so much fun. I can hardly wait to go on the Sky Coaster. I hope that Kiley and Tara aren't too scared to do it.