Chocolate Crazy Cake

(No Eggs, Milk, Butter, Mixers or Bowls)

Notes: Grams used to call this Depression cake as she made it often during the depression. I thought of this recipe when thinking of easy things for RV cooking. Stacia made three of these to give away with dinners tomorrow. I found this version at Sweet Little Bluebird. She has various flavors and mug versions listed as well. Some versions call for a Tablespoon rather than a teaspoon of vinegar but the tsp worked just fine.

I was preoccupied and this is the only photo I took. LOL

Ingredients
1 1/2 Cups flour (can use GF)

3 Tbsp. cocoa (unsweetened)
1 Cup sugar (I use Rapadura)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp.  salt

1 tsp. white vinegar
1 tsp.  pure vanilla extract
5 Tbsp. vegetable oil 
1 Cup water 

Directions 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix first 5 dry ingredients in a greased 8" square baking pan. (Double for 9x13)

Make 3 depressions in dry ingredients - two small, one larger Pour vinegar in one depression, vanilla in the other and the vegetable oil in third larger depression.

Pour water over all. 

Mix well until smooth.

Bake on middle rack of oven for 30 minutes.  Check with toothpick to make sure it comes out clean.

Cool.  Top with your favorite frosting or sprinkle with Powdered Sugar.

 

Referrals and Marathons

We got a referral in the system today for Michael to see a Neurologist who specializes in "movement disorders."  We do NOT want him diagnosed with Parkinson's Disorder, but given a few oddities with our current neurologist, we've lost confidence in him. We would like ideas on what IS going on.  They are looking for one at UC Davis or Sacramento....so we shall see. It will be a while.

Michael had an appointment with a man who works in the VA. This is going to take a long time. Everyone has told us to rush on the claim, but the man today said NOT to turn it in until 1 Nov (day after Michael's official retirement date) so that EVERYTHING from active duty is in the claim.  This makes sense - just means we'll be in the area longer than we wanted to be. I wanted to be in Vermont in the fall. We will touch base with a VSO at Travis to be sure we've covered our bases.

I walked by the Japanese food in the commissary and teared  up. It's apparent  I'm sad about not being in Japan in July or in the near future.

In other news  Arielle and Yuuki slept. The girls and I watched a "Princess Diaries" marathon.

Stacia made three Crazy Cakes (Depression Cakes)....one for us and two for meals we're delivering tomorrow.

I helped by dumping flour all over the flour - I have the touch these days.

I continue to research states to decide which one we want to establish as our legal domicile. We think we've narrowed it to three - possibly two. LOL

Update on Michael

While Arielle and I had our adventure at the oral surgeon - Michael was in another town seeing the neurologist.

You may remember two weeks ago he told us Michael does NOT have Parkinson's. He ran a bunch of labs for toxic metals, thyroid, vitamin deficiencies and ordered an MRI on  Michael's brain.  All came back normal. Praise God - and yet - Michael is still stumbling into things and off balance. He would never pass a test if stopped by the highway patrol.

Two weeks ago the neurologist was determined the shaking and loss of balance was "atypical essential tremors." This does not run in Michael's family. He started him on a med and told him, "If it is essential tremors this will alleviate the symptoms by the next time I see you."

It hasn't. He said, "We just need to up the dosage."

Meanwhile, we found out Michael's father was diagnosed with Parkinson's by one neurologist - they chose to ignore the diagnosis. Michael's dad struggled with loss of balance...but Parkinson's isn't thought to be genetic.

We're clueless. We see the base doctor again tomorrow and will discuss all this. We would like a second opinion to feel more settled. We'd like a neurologist to have ideas of what the problem could be rather than simply clinging to an "atypical" diagnosis - even while the drugs aren't working.  Our research seems to show  many docs would have started him on Levodopo (Parkinson's drug) to see if he responded to THAT drug - but this doc is 100% in favor of the DAT SCAN as the definitive tool for diagnosing.

To be clear - we are fine saying it's not Parkinson's. We'd just hope for a doctor who would have a clue as to what it may be.

Prayer Requests:

• Michael has been unable to make contact with the VSO on base. This is the agent who walks a claim through the VA system. This should have begun months ago; was delayed due to outstanding referrals and now we simply can't reach this man and have tried for 3 weeks....in a variety of ways.
• We've decided it will be a better bet to drive to Travis AFB; rather than  keep waiting on this office. 
• MANY details need to be put in place for the retirement ceremony.
• Arielle needs to be moved.
• We still have quite a few decisions hanging in the balance right now - prayers for clear direction are always appreciated.
• Yes - we crave answers as to why Michael walks like a drunk.

Arielle's Big Day

I have never had my wisdom teeth removed.

Everything is better with Winnie

I have taken 5 older Gherkins to have their wisdom teeth removed. They all were groggy and slept the rest of the day.  Silent. Arielle is ALWAYS silent- and her love language is "not touch."  Imagine my surprise at today's developments.

They called me back while she was in recovery because she was demanding they "Get my mommy!"  She was in tears...not a few....a lot.  She was clinging like she did as a preschooler, holding my hand and sobbing, "Mommy, mommy." She was SURE they had taken ALL her teeth. She was sure they had taken her tongue. I'm very impressed with this doctor. This is the first time I was sent home with LOTS of  "post op" stuff....gloves, gauze, ice packs and such. It is also the first time they demonstrated how to change the gauze.

In any event....Arielle was getting more and more agitated with THEM. She was talking NON-STOP - which is not Arielle. She let them all know she loves her Mommy and Daddy too and she did NOT want to move away from us. This was quite moving and assuring to hear as she's quite ready and confident that it's time to move out.

On the way home, amongst all the tears and talk about missing tongues, she decided we were in an airplane. ON A BRIDGE she said, "O.K. Daddy, let's jump!" I told her no. Calm down. She kept it up and kept trying to grab the steering wheel. "Be fun with us Mommy." Ye gads.

She was sure I was crashing when I went over the little lip into our driveway.

She's quite perturbed about them taking ALL her teeth. "It's gross," and that bothers her. She's upset  they gave her an UGLY band-aide on her "owie" and insists she needs pink. I found some Hello Kitty band-aide and we are fine.  She was quite worried the evil mafia who took all her teeth had taken Winnie the Pooh too - I eased that fear.

She keeps holding my hand and saying such sweet nothings - reminds me of her pre-school self. "I love you mommy. I love everyone, but you're the best," and "You're beautiful mommy."  It's making me cry as I know getting her teeth removed today means in a week she is "cleared" to leave home.

This is like a bad drug trip and caught me by surprise. She is quite funny.   I'm glad we insisted she do this before she moved to Eugene.

Stacia is full of quips  - "I'd say they took her WISDOM teeth." I reminded her she is scheduled to have a tooth pulled in a week and should be careful about what she says. I'm so glad they called Arielle in early and they aren't both in pain at the same time.

Prayers for an easy recovery appreciated.

Note  - Arielle is now about 90% back to normal. She approved this post.  She would appreciate prayers - it hurts.

We Met Eliana

 We were heading out to M&M when we realized, in the bustle of getting kids yesterday, we forgot the CARSEATS.  ::grin::

Not to worry, Arielle and Zander stayed home with all the kids here....and Nolan and Stacia came to help with kids at M&Ms.  Arielle has learned how to use the camera....couldn't figure out WHY my battery was dead this evening..... ::snort::

At M&Ms we discussed situations which are likely to make us impatient and how to walk out the patience and kindness God shows us in our homes.

We clearly do not have experience dealing with curly hair.  Postpartum emotions being what they are, I was very relieved when Rachel and Matt laughed instead of cried when they saw her tonight.

While we took care of business on base, the kids at home made cards (oops forgot to give them to Matt and Rachel when they came).....

Joy

 

Played Games

Zack

 

I see you Seth!

Seth

 

Bubbles - reminds me this needs to find a new home. LOL

Nathan

We spent the afternoon with a bit of a rest time, more games, dinner and waiting.....until finally....they MADE IT.

All afternoon Joy kept asking me, "Is Eliana OUT now?" I assured her she really and truly was.



The moment finally arrived.

Hey Sweet Girl, get used to it - big sister LOVES you!!!

SCORE - I got to hold Eliana before Michael, he who is KNOWN for stalking newborns at the chapel.

I unintentionally alarmed joy when Rachel gave Eliana to me.

"She's OURS."

 I shot back, "I think I'll keep her."

 "No! She's MINE." ::snort::

And that she is....the start of a wonderful sister relationship, I'm sure of it.

Michael and I, being advanced in this parenting thing, couldn't help think of Bre and Krista....when we brought Krista home....ah such fun memories. Exhausting  - but fun.....and the kids had fun thinking back to when Stacia was born....

Note there is no doubt Michael would have been in these photos but he had to leave about 15 minutes before they arrived to spend the night at a sleep clinic.

Our Spectacular Monday

We planned for our "big" summer school days to be today, Thursday and Friday. I headed to Walmart with Stacia to buy a few things we needed for science playing experiments.

BUT our plans took an exciting change.....and we never got back to Science. We got to relive what it's like to have a family of 8 at home....and yes, there was a moment when we looked at each other and realized  if I'd continued having children we would have THIS family still at home and Stacia wouldn't be so pre-occupied about all the Gherkins outside of the home. We always love the time we get to spend with Matt and Rachel's kids.

 

Michael was home today and took Zander to get a pair of shoes. It was way past time.

 

Back at home we played games, had lunch, had dinner and waited.....for Eliana Faith - 7 lbs 12 oz to make her arrival.  FINALLY (really only 5 - 6 hours after the kids were dropped off), we got a text and a Facebook message....I called the kids around to show them....then we thought about getting the camera out so we missed Zach and Seth's reactions. LOL

 

"Joy, I have a picture of Eliana!" Wow...

 

...then she looked at me with a puzzled look and said, "Is she OUTSIDE now?" ::snort::

 

I asked her if she thought Eliana would have blonde hair like her or brown hair like the others. She told me "white" hair. I asked her white like mine or like hers....she wasn't sure about this at all. LOL I assured her it wouldn't be white like mine.

 

Hello, Sweetie....we're looking forward to meeting you.  We're happy to be part of your birth story.

Matt and Rachel - take your time coming back tomorrow. I still have some spoiling to do on this end....and since Eliana surprised us a day early, I want to whip up something for your dinner as I know the meal train won't start until Wednesday. LOL

Stacia on Aging Siblings and Friends

Stacia entertained me with some profound thoughts today:

"Mom, when I'm 20 Bre will be 40."

"Yes."

"When I'm 60, Bre will be 80!"

"Yes."

"Mom, pretty much all the Gherkins out of the house are going to die before I get very old."

"Maybe, but not necessarily."

"It's a good thing you had Zander."

"Yes."

"He's a pleasant age."

PREGNANT PAUSE.

"I want to live down the street from you and Dad when you are done traveling and all the older Gherkins are dead."

Um....it appears Michael and I will outlive all the Gherkins - except for Stacia and Zander.

She also shared this thought, "Moms shouldn't bully kids to make sure their kid always get their way. Their kids will never learn how to be good friends."

Yes, this led to a great conversation on what makes a good friend. And they say homeschoolers will be unsocialized......I think she's got a handle on this.