Chicken Parmesan

I made this delicious meal for dinner. I hope if you make it, you enjoy it, too!

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 cup plain bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan (divided into 1/4 cup portions)
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 to 1/2 cup flour, in a shallow bowl
2 eggs, lightly beaten, in a shallow bowl
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 jar prepared tomato sauce (2 cups set aside)
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella

Place chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound out to 1/2" thickness using a mallet or rolling pin.

Combine bread crumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, oregano, basil and cayenne in a shallow bowl.

Coat each breast in the flour, shaking off any excess flour. Dip each breast in the egg and then into the bread crumb mixture. Set coated chicken aside on a plate. Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet. Cook until golden on both sides.

Spread one cup of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a baking dish and top with golden chicken breasts. (You will have to decide how big the pan needs to be. a 9x9 pan was not quite big enough for me, but a 9x13 would have been overkill.) Top each breast with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Serve hot with spaghetti and tomato sauce.

I also recommend some hearty bread to enjoy with this meal. Very yummy!

Physical Therapy Complete!

I'm happy to say that I have completed my physical therapy and feel tons better. Thanks to all who prayed for my pain in the butt over the last month. (That's funny to type out!) Of course, my chiropractor did his part, too.

We have 37 days until the due date for Ooh-Ah and I hope to remain (relatively) pain-free as we move forward. I highly suggest you visit your chiropractor for any kind of back/butt/hip pain. I didn't have enough of a chiropractic benefit for my chiro to do all the therapy I needed which is why I was referred out.

I must say the bare-butt massages will not be missed. They were necessary and did the trick, but pulling down your pants for anyone is awkward!

It is Much Too Early

I got a text message today that said, "Can I pick up String Bean for a date tomorrow night? I'd like to take her out to dinner."

Is it just me, or are kids dating younger and younger these days? Perhaps Mr. Bean needs to start practicing at the shooting range!

What a Deal!

Our local Dominick's Store is having a deal where you get $10 Kohl's Cash for every $50 you spend. That is a 20% return on your investment!

Guess where our weekly grocery shopping will be done this week?

Not Our Month

March has not been our month.

First there was the massive flu bug that left us all puking and 2 of the 3 of us in the hospital. (We are now getting all those bills thankyouverymuch.)

Now, we have a $600 plus repair bill for Mr. Bean's lemon car.

We can't wait until April!

Speaking of innocence...

Earlier tonight, there was a Stars Wars movie on TV. Walnut thinks Stars Wars is the coolest thing ever, even though he has never seen any of the movies. (Isn't peer pressure grand?) So, Filbert called Walnut to the TV and they settled in to watch. After a while, I hear Walnut ask what Anakin's mom was doing. Filbert said, "That's not his mom." Walnut replied with the wisdom and disgust born of 7 years on this planet "Then why is he kissing her?"

Vacuum Phobia

We've known for months (or even a year?) that String Bean is terrified of the vacuum. It was never more obvious to me than when the cleaning service came today to clean the common areas of our condo building. We could hear the vacuum outside our door and she shivered in her high chair with fear.

30 minutes later, we went to get the mail. No vacuum cleaner in sight. After picking up our mail, we could hear the vacuum cleaner start on the floor above us. Oh, the sheer terror and extremely cautious steps my two-year-old took were fueled with adrenaline. I had to carry her halfway down the hall until we couldn't hear the vacuum anymore.

Oh the innocence of a child! I can't imagine having one fear in life--a fear of a vacuum which can easily be turned off. I hope she stays innocent like this for some time to come.

Healthy!

All of String Bean's tests came back normal and we have been puke-free for more than 48 hours. I feel like we can finally start catching up with all the things that piled up while we were sick.

I can't wait to open my mailbox and find the bills from the hospital, doctors, and labs. I got my bill for my first physical therapy session today. It came in at just over $300! I sure hope that they were future-billing for dates instead of that being the cost per session although I am not holding my breath. I told Mr. Bean that we will definitely be hitting our max out-of-pocket with our insurance company this year.

What would we do without medical insurance?

Never-Ending Illness

Well, kids, I am home from the hospital. I got released on Saturday night after a second round of potassium to get my levels high enough. I'm happy to report that I'm feeling good.

String Bean, however, is on day 7 of a puking spree that does not want to end. We just got back from doctor's visit #4 for her and they finally ordered some lab tests. 7 blood tests and a stool sample. We were fortunate enough that she soiled a diaper during the appointment so we didn't have to wait it out for a sample.

Now, we wait.

We also had dentist appointments. The Bean family is cavity free. At last, some good news!

At the Hospital (Part 2)

Yesterday, I told you about the dehydration that landed me as an overnight guest in one of the finer hospitals in the greater Chicago-land area. I concluded that post with the image of me hobbling around due to my piriformis syndrome really flaring up.

Shortly after publishing yesterday's post, my blood was drawn and it was discovered that my calcium, iron and potassium were low. I already knew about the iron. I'm on supplements for that. My iron levels have dropped much lower than where they were a few weeks ago, but the nurses have assured me that is due to all the throwing up I have been doing. The calcium didn't surprise me much. I know I need more.

The potassium levels were dangerously low. Normal is 3.5 to 5. My potassium was measuring at 2.2. This could be one of the reasons I was having so much pain in my piriformis area. (Time will tell!)

I was given potassium in my IV. While the nurse was getting the IV ready, I asked her if this would be like penicillin and burn going in. She said, "It might." Understatement of the year.

As soon as she left, my attention turned to String Bean who was visiting along with Mr. Bean and I was trying to determine if she had a fever or not. I started to feel a sting in my arm. I called the nurse in. She "stopped" the potassium and left. She hadn't fully stopped it and the pain crept up my arm. By the time she got the potassium stopped and flushed my IV with the hydrating solution, I was on the verge of puking and passing out. Mr. Bean said I looked like death. The nurse was clearly freaking out but doing her best to remain calm. Several other nurses came in during the episode and a call to the OB on call went out. My blood pressure was taken. I measured at 76/30 (or something in that ball park). I am certain my blood pressure was much lower as I was starting to feel a little bit better by the time the blood pressure was taken.

Mr. Bean wondered aloud if that bag was really labeled "potassium" and not "hydrochloric acid."

We finally got the "watered down" solution balanced correctly so I was not in pain during the procedure. The infusion ended at 1 am, and at 3 am, they had to draw my blood. There must be something mystical and magical about drawing blood 2 hours after the infusion.

My number needed to be 3.9 or higher. I was 3.4. So, I am now on infusion #2 which takes about 6 hours to draw. Not sure if the 2 hour thing still applies (assume so), which puts me here until 5 at the very earliest. This does not look good for me going home today. Sigh.

Waiting for the OB to come and do rounds so I have a better idea of what is going on.

Scariest thought: they were considering sending me home after triage and my first couple IVs on Thursday. Glad I decided to stick it out a bit.