I'm Baaa-aaack!

Once again, I have risen from the abyss of life to post on our much neglected blog. Lately, much of my time has been sucked like a vacuum cleaner into that little site you may know and love, Pinterest.
So as I make my grand re-entrance into the world of blogging, may your taste buds be tickled by this little number from Pinterest.

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
4 Sweet Potatoes
2 cups of butter
2 tablespoons of cinnamon sugar

Directions
Bake potatoes in a preheated 400 degree oven for 50 minutes.
Remove from oven and and cut the top off exposing the flesh.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes (This is important or you will have scalded finger tips.)

Scoop out the flesh and mix with butter and cinnamon sugar in a medium bowl.

Spoon mixture back into the skin shells.

Top with a dollop of butter.

Bake at 400 for 10 minutes or until golden.

As per Hanger, this recipe is so delicious that it will make your tongue slap your brains out.

Sometimes you just forget....

Every Christmas our family knows what their present will be. Since most have more than they need, we give photos of our children. After all they can't buy that at Target. Well in the craziness of what we call life, I forgot to schedule our family photo shoot. So at 4:30 pm on Christmas Eve, the kids and I headed to a not so secluded spot with the picture taker. Here's a bit of what I got.

Have You Spotted A Hengerer Lately?

If you have, you must be lightning fast. We are a busy bunch! Hanger is keeping the roads hot delivering the goods and I am busy shuttling the kiddos to and fro. Last week while waiting patiently for the littles to kick it in karate, a friend said "You should blog, you'd be good at it." I had to chuckle as I thought about the poor Hengerer Happenings and the lack of attention I have devoted over the past year (2010 only saw one post).
Now that it is Spring Break and I am avidly avoiding a few projects, I took a few minutes (or hours) to revisit our much neglected, almost deceased family blog. So I have big plans to get back in the saddle.
Here is a snippet of what we have been up to for the past year....Take 1!

Bowling on a Budget!

You know me I can't pass up a good deal...or two. Always on the lookout for cheap or free entertainment, this is a deal that could not be resisted!
When your kids have reached the point that poolside no longer intrigues them beat the heat with air-conditioned activites. Cassat Batt Bowl in Jacksonville offers two free games every day.

Registration is painless.
Log onto the site.
Choose a location.
Complete the registration fields.
Hop in the car.
Enjoy 2 free games.

The ensuing headache comes free of charge.
Hey, at least you aren't sweating!
Y
Holly

Out of hiding and into the light!

Well, technically we have not been hiding, just super busy. Here is a little update.

Monster Baby and Boy are back in school. He has straight A's and plans on his reward being a webkinz iguana. She is almost there with 2 Bs and has high hopes of getting an American Girl Doll. They are both WARRIORS this season. So if you would like to see us in person, hang a left on Ballpark road and catch us if you can.

Hanger has been pulling daddy duty to the umpteenth degree. He plans on auditioning for the lead role in the upcoming reality show Househusbands of Callahan. Catch it this Fall on TLC (bahahaha).

I am all wrapped up in school and school and more school. Ironically, I love it. Miss my babies (and my baby daddy) but love it.

Because my adoring fans are missing out on our wit and humor, this is just for you know who!

Here's a chance to see how well you really know your husband. Cut, paste and fill in the answers, then tag some friends to do the same. The real challenge is to send it to your husband to see how right you really are!

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the tv? Depends on what time it is...Sportscenter, CSI, The Mentalist or The Young and the Restless...yeah ladies, he's well rounded

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Since he gets ceasar salad, I guess it would be ceaser

3. What's one food he doesn't like? squash and mushrooms

4. You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order? Dr. Pepper

5. Where did he go to high school? Trinity

6. What size shoe does he wear? Depends on the shoe 12 or 13

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Junk

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? That depends on his mood- Seafood and Crab or Turkey...from Subway

9. What would this person eat every day if he could? lasagna

10. What is his favorite cereal? any that I found on sale :)

11. What would he never wear? Panties

12. What is his favorite sports team? Hello? Have you met him? Sports we have that covered...Baseball, Yankees, Football College Florida NFL Jags (thought I am not sure why)

13. Who did he vote for? the lesser of two evils

14. Who is his best friend? That is a toss up between Mark and Alan so I will say me

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? be loud...oh well

16. What is his heritage? uh....German

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? German Chocolate (blech)

18. Did he play sports in high school? baseball

19. What could he spend hours doing? talking about politics...please don't get him started

20. What is one unique talent he has? He's ambidextrous.

Adenomyosis: Not the Expected Diagnosis

I've been very good thus far. Following directions and taking it easy have not been the simplest of tasks. Especially since there is a sock under the sofa table that has been there a week.

Well, it's not there now! I am free! Yippee!!! Well free to do most things....sorry Hanger just a few more weeks buddy.

Things checked out great today.
Blood pressure: Check.
Pain level: Check. (actually I have had very little....explained later)
Incisions: Check.
Pathology Report.....well....

After years of suffering with excruciating pain and unpredictable bleeding, we finally have a definitive diagnosis. Adenomyosis...Adenmyowhat????

Sometimes misdiagnosed as endometriosis within the uterus. The muscle walls of the uterus are invaded by the tissue lining the uterus causing a myriad of issues. Think having your bicep pumped full of lemon juice and you have the basic idea. Yeah, not fun. But this offers a valid reason for the ablation to fail...well that and stupid fibroid...aaaggghhh.

Symptoms:

Pain (ya think???? see above for description) for weeks before and after periods.
Unpredictable bleeding

So with the Big H, I expected to be in a lot of pain. Strangely, I felt, ok. Not good or great, but not excruciating pain that I have heard from horror stories. But I promise to continue to take it easy. (fingers crossed) The reason for my "lack of" pain is that the pain associated with adenomyosis is more severe than the surgery itself.

The only definitive way to diagnosis it: post-hysterectomy biopsy. Nice.

I'm glad there is a name for this crazy nuisance, and thankful to be out of pain. More than that, I rejoice in the fact that I my doctor has a personal relationship with Christ and meets with him daily.

To learn more about adenomyosis in a very reader friendly fashion, visit my friends .

Things Kids Say!

Our kids have made an art of making funny comments at inopportune times. I just don't know where they get it. Since I have been "laid up" for the past 2 weeks, I have had the opportunity to catch many funny phrases....here's a sample:

...........................................................
Courtney: Can I take a shower? You haven't let me take on in THREE weeks!!
...........................................................
Brantley (as I am sleeping): Mom....Mom...M-O-M (yes he spelled it!)...MOM!! MMOOOMMMM!!!
Me: What!!
Brantley: I just wanted to know if you were really sleeping.
...........................................................
3:00 pm
Courtney: Can we have lunch now?
(When you don't have breakfast until 11 am it is perfectly acceptable to have lunch at 3 pm!)
...........................................................
Brantley: (As he is turning up the TV up way too loud!) Corney, I made the TV go to 99! Whoo Hoo!
...........................................................
Courtney: Mama, call K, she can take us to church then out to lunch. You wouldn't want us to miss out.
...........................................................
Scenario: Me lying in bed with pillow on my stomach. Brantley sitting on end of bed watching WWE Monday Night RAW

Brantley: (Jumps up) Can You See Me? Can You See Me?
Waves his hand in front of his face. Jumps up in the air and lands on bed.
Me writhing in pain from bracing for impact.
...........................................................
Courtney: Brantley I am going to be on Webkinz then it will be your turn. My turn starts now and ends when Daddy comes home. (three hours later)
Brantley: Ok but when you're done, it's my turn until Daddy gets home. (huh???)
...........................................................
Courtney: Mama, we haven't gone to CVS this week. Can I go do the deal with another mommy?
...........................................................
Brantley: Here Mom, you can hold Deer Hunt (his favorite bear...not to be confused with Deer Hunter...) He will make your tummy feel all better.
5 minutes elapse
Brantley: Does your tummy feel all better?
Me: Yes, thank you very much.
Brantley: Good because Deer Hunt wants to go play Monster Trucks.
...........................................................

We cherish these times with our babies....though they would tell you they are not babies!

Kids may say the darnedest things, but please know that the comments made by the Hengerer children do not necessarily reflect the opinions of their parents. Oh who am I kidding?