Audrey Update, Sunday

We are so happy to report that is seems Audrey is on the road to recovery. Yesterday, she was able to keep down small amounts of broth & Cheerios. Today, she is eating bits of banana and toast, but still receiving IV fluids. Hopefully, this is a lasting thing so the nurse can remove the IV later today. We will still be on watch for the next 24 hours to see. Thank you all, again, for your love, friendship and concern.

Life is wonderful, but it also hurts. It especially hurts to watch one you love suffer. I wish I could protect her from all danger...but this reminds me of something C.S. Lewis wrote:

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket -- safe, dark, motionless, airless -- it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.

Baby Update

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, prayers and concerns for Audrey. It means so much to us.

Unfortunately, yesterday we had to take her back to ER to receive IV re-hydration, as she was again becoming dangerously low. Our poor little once chubby baby has lost over 2 lb's. She has no reserves left....and still can't keep water down.

She continues on IV here at home since that is the only thing they can do for her at the hospital at this point in time (besides deprive her of rest.)

Sick baby.

I am convinced that nothing in the whole world is more sad than seeing one's baby sick and suffering.

This past week was busy with many fun events, but ended very sadly with our precious baby getting very, very sick. Some sort of gastro-intestinal virus (we originally thought it was food-poisoning due to such a sudden onset), landed her in the hospital Monday. After several days of vomiting, our beloved daughter was becoming dehydrated. To make matters worse, Mike was on the way home from a meeting in Orange County, trapped in the hell of the Devore fires, unable to get home. Luckily, a man in the hospital waiting room was able to direct him to a little-known side street/off-road way around the blocked freeways (M grew up here and never ever knew about it) and he got through and came straight to the hospital.

Deeply grateful that this particular illness is something that, God willing, will pass in the next week or so, I cannot even begin to imagine the pain that parents' of terminally ill children experience.

As for California burning...very apocalyptic. The clouds of smoke rise like waves around our home looking precisely like a scene out of the book of Revelation. Air is hot, heavy and dead. Gotta love California. Or not.

I love the irony of this posting directly next to 'My cup runneth over.' Hey, despite the sad report above, my cup still runneth over. Oh please, God, don't let this be some sort of Job scenario. Anyone else waiting for the other shoe to drop?

My cup runneth over



For the deep, abiding peace of God
For good health, especially of those dearest
For love
For the love of a good, good man (who just happens to be handsome!)
For a husband who helps around the house
For the buttery smell of a smiling baby
For a husband who loves me deeply, and who (at least half) listens to my chattering
For Villadsensvej 4 and its' inhabitants
For the peaceful sight of our otherwise extremely active toddler relaxing on her daddy's chest
For their deep breath
For dear sisters who are always there when you need them
For beloved friends--here and on the other side of the world, who are as close as sisters
For hope, that thing with feathers
For a fire burning during breakfast
For dark, creamy coffee
For knowing your prayers are always heard
For Aarhus Bugten
For warm, soft kisses from the man you love
For paying the bills every month
For far more than sustenance
For happy voice mails from friends telling how much they miss you
For a sweating glass of crisp Chardonnay
For the stunned look on your daughters face the first time she rides 'It's a small world'
For marzipan and its' best friends: Kransekage, Othello lagekage, Kringle, and Thé birkes
For the pleasure of loving back
For a foretaste of heaven during the unity and silence of a Taizé service
For the burning jewel-tones of New England foliage in the Fall
For the people who remind you that life will go on, when it feels like it won't
For legs that move well, however 'untoned' they otherwise may be
For Wentworth by the Sea
For Boundaries--the book and the limits
For many a 'hyggelige' fest med venner
For the word 'hyggelig'
For spelt boller
For the breath and kisses of Audrey
For sharing meals
For loving, helpful in-laws
For cozy shelter
For a feeling of good 'smallness' when gazing at the ocean
For riding a cable car
For the fragrance of freesia
For the fragrance of perfect bread
For 'French Butter' with chunks of sea salt
For a friend driving hours in traffic to deliver a meal when you're sick
For the exhilaration of clean sheets
For the deep, throaty 'ahhhh' of a cuddling daughter
For the smell of Irish Spring soap on my just-showered husband
For eternal life that starts now
For Bed & Breakfasts--windows to heaven
For all the mistakes that we would never trade
For airplanes that take us anywhere we want to go
For ice cold water...and I could go on...
but my cup runneth over.

First time @ Disneyland

Today was Audrey's first trip to Disneyland. Weren't quite sure how it would go, but since we have annual passes, there was no pressure to stay more than a couple of hours. We waited until an opportune day when we were all feeling healthy, she'd had a good night's sleep, etc.


In the parking lot, ready for blast-off

It simply could not have gone better. Thanks to Rodney Bissell (of Bissell DesignStudios), we had a 'toddler Disneyland gameplan' in place--thanks, Rod! Per his strategy, we headed straight to the Merry-go-round...


which was quite a hit


If you ask the three of us, the Storybook ride is 'just ok.' You gotta do it once, but it's not worth the wait. Still, we did have fun in line eating raisins.


Guess where Waldo is here?


The look on her face in 'it's a small world.' Priceless.


Candy Corn Acres....


Bug's life...







Mommy is clearly a dork; Audrey is too cool for bug-school.

BTW-not a ride we recommend for little kids. The signs did warn, but forgetting the level of entertainment that modern children crave, we thought it was probably exaggerated. Let's just say that although she did well, we cringed the entire time and her hearing will probably never be the same.

Hanger Guilt



I do this.

You belong in the zoo
The Hesperia Zoo

Wow. Who knew that tomato soup could be so controversial?
So, on to today's posting, which is also bound to raise many an eyebrow--but I do solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me, God.

A few weeks ago, someone told us of taking her grandson to the "Hesperia Zoo." I think we blurted out laughing (rudely) as we incredulously asked exactly where this 'zoo' was located. She explained directions and said not to expect much (most unnecessary advice ever)--oh, and that it was 'dusty.' Further, it did not bode well, that, over the course of the next week or two, not a single long-time resident of the High-Desert, had heard of this zoo.

Nonetheless. Curiosity killed the cat.
Not feeling like driving far, but deciding to offer our animal-obsessed daughter a recreational activity, we decided to take a drive to find this 'zoo' last Saturday. On the drive over, we laughed our butts off imagining what we would find: a dog, a chicken and a turtle in someone's backyard? We were in for quite a surprise!



We had a great time! Now, let me start by saying that this is definitely NOT the San Diego or Los Angeles Zoo. It is, a large, neatly-kept (for a zoo in the desert) lot in a residential area, zoned for exotic animals. Actually, it is an animal film production company during the week open as a 'zoo' only during the weekends.

For starters, admission ($6 for adults, $4 for kids and free for kids under 2) includes a guided tour with an extremely knowledgeable animal expert who tells interesting facts, not only about the animals , but also about the 'gigs' they've had. Apparently, all of the animals are regular stars in film, fashion mags, commercials, etc.





And who knew that there are A-list stars living just down the street from us? For example, Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia, can be seen at this zoo. (And by the way, he was the only lion used for Aslan; AND they didn't change any of his features in CGI because he is so incredibly perfect and beautiful and sweet looking.)







What's more, for its' size, the zoo contains a good variety of animals--a reindeer, llama, wallaby, tigers, baboons, camel, the biggest freaking cow I have ever seen (a Holstein Free Martin) --and others! Another cool thing is that you get closer to the animals than you would ever get at a 'regular' zoo nowadays. The guided tour was really cool--Mike and I learned a bunch of very interesting things.





And speaking of interest: despite her love of animals, Audrey was bored and more interested in our Cheerios and the camera about halfway through the one hour tour. So boy were we glad that we hadn't driven hours, spent $40/pp or waited in line for exhibits and shows!



The moral of this story: don't knock it 'til you've tried it: who wouldda thunk it? The Hesperia Zoo-- a surprisingly fun experience right here in our own backyard!

(Tours are available on the weekends at scheduled times and special tours can be arranged during the week for educational groups.)

Dirty Little Food Secret

On the heels of self-righteous blog prose bashing picky eaters and extolling the virtues of cooking gourmet and healthful cuisine, methinks it appropriate, in the name of personal-authenticity, to reveal my very own dirty little food secret. You know, that one food that you cherish but that is so embarrassing to admit?!


Mine is Weinershnitzel chili cheese dogs. It has been my favorite since childhood. Disgustingly processed and artificial as they may be, only a true WCCD connoisseur appreciates the flavor symphony arising from the delicate bun, gooey processed cheese that sticks to your teeth and the roof of your mouth, together with that je-ne-sais quoi chili and salty mystery-pork-product-'hotdog'. Denise, can I get an 'amen?!'


Wow--pushing the boundaries of taste. As a consultant in the marketing & advertising world, this claim intrigues me as ambiguously amusing--and quite courageous. I mean, Blood sausage also pushes the boundaries of taste. That's not necessarily a good thing.

So what's your DLFS? We wanna know!

Quick but healthy tomato soup


Most of you know that I am not big on shortcut foods. Of course, we like our occasional box of KMAC as much as the rest, but it isn't a regular occurance in our home. I enjoy cooking and taking the time to prepare real food is just a daily priority. Frequently consulted for culinary advice, I never blog about my own cooking or post recipes. This is mainly because I only consult recipes for inspiration, and then go off and do my own thing so it is very difficult to repeat.

One of the things most people comment on is how 'unpicky' our 14-month old daughter is. Probably, this is because her first food was plain yogurt and we serve her, pretty much whatever we are having. As such, her taste buds are as accustomed to curry and garlic, as they are to cheese. As our Pediatrician says, 'the day you're fighting over food, you've already lost the battle.' I really believe this. Now, this is not to say that kids aren't allowed to have preferences--just like we all do. But I truly believe that the reason most kids (and adults!) are picky, is because they were not exposed to a variety of foods. And--call me cruel, I do believe that if you are hungry enough, you will eat whatever is being served. And for the record--I am NOT a die-hard vegan or anything even close to that. I try, simply, to serve tasty, wholesome, homemade food the majority of the time. I use real butter and EVOO, always.

Anyways, recently I discovered a super easy and healthy shortcut for tomato soup--and it is so nice to have a few super-quick dishes for those nights when you just don't have time to cook and the alternative will be KMAC or pizza.

Easy-peezy tomato soup: Simply spice up Organic V8 (use the low-sodium version if you're on a L.S. diet) with some freshly pressed garlic, chopped parsley, a swirl of EVOO, and a dash of salt and pepper (or if you are really in a hurry, use a spoonful of Pesto or Pistou). Since none of us are on a diet, or have cholesterol issues, I add a splash of cream too. Garnish with croutons and a handful of cheese--Or serve with grilled cheese. Super easy and a yummy way to get a ton of veggies and calcium in a flash.

P.S. This is yummy--trust me. I couldn't otherwise gag down a glass of cold V8, or a Bloody Mary if you paid me.

Also MISSING



Also known as...



and her protegé...

MISSING



Missing you.

Superficial, but serious question

Lately I've seen quite a few women with freakishly large, clearly fake, perfectly stenciled eyebrows; pretty girls, who seem to have otherwise payed great attention to laying their makeup. I did once see them demo-ing some sort of eyebrow stencil at Nordstrom.

So is this the latest trend or something? Am I alone, riding on a one-way ticket to Nerdville?

Getting back together with breakfast


Coffee, cranberry sunflower bread toasted with organic peach spread and Havarti cheese.
-Photo borrowed from Jen, Simply Breakfast.)

People are amazing and unique and creative. Seeing the things that people come up with inspires and makes me smile.

Life with a one-year old affords me little time to check out blogs of people we don't know, but I've finally looked up a list of food blogs I jotted down at least 6 months ago.

As of today, I've 2 new favorites: Simply Breakfast and the Yummy Mummy.

Simply Breakfast



Breakfast (and it's sister/best friend, Brunch) is my absolute favorite meal of the day. Since our precious Audrey was born, I've definitely neglected my passionate breakfast affair. If I eat anything at all, it's usually scarfed without heart or appetite, while I feed my baby daughter; a very sad development, indeed. I take full responsibility for the breakfast break-up. I even said, 'it's not you--it's me.' And it was true.

Jen (author of Simply Breakfast) may have reminded me that I need to get back on track with breakfast. She takes beautiful photos of her simple, yet stunning and mouth-watering breakfasts every day.

Breakfast can be so many things...eggs a million ways, breakfast sandwiches, incredible artisan bread with havarti & jam, yogurt with homemade granolas, baked fruits, fresh fruits, buttery croissants, scones, etc. etc.

Breakfast isn't just a meal, it's a state of mind. And attitude. A priority. A value. Taking time to enjoy breakfast--no matter how simple it may be, has a way of setting the tone for an entire day. Along the lines of that famous saying regarding prayer: 'I am so busy that I don't have time not to pray.' Yes, it is very much in the same vein. Prayer and breakfast go together for me.

(A side note...wishing I was a focused-enough person to have a one-subject blog; it would definitely be about food, not prayer. My experience is summed up in John Bunyan's words: "In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.")

The Yummy Mummy



This is the blog of a mommy of two young kids, dedicated to gourmet cooking and giving her children a love of 'real food.' The Yummy Mummy has hilarious stories about her quest in daily preparation of tasty, wholesome and sense-awakening meals.

It's been my passion to do this very thing for Audrey. We fundamentally disagree with the modern American assumption that mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers are a foregone staple of a child's diet. While every food has a time and place (including the aforementioned), it's such a shame to deprive kids of rich culinary experiences just because they are easily fed with bland, convenience foods. Of course kids will prefer these things if that's all they are ever exposed to!

How fun to read the adventures of other mummy's on culinary adventures with their children!

Losing your soul

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but lose his soul?"

Some versions translate it "but lose or forfeit himself?"

What do you think it means to lose your soul? How do you think it happens?

(I l-o-v-e this print; it's called, 'Solitude'.)

Addendum to the PeaPod

This addendum is to my recent review of the PeaPod Travel bed. The bed is a totally cool product (click here for the original review.) However, one thing should be added: it may not be the ideal solution for those who set up and take down the product every day. I could not believe how easy it was to fold up and collapse, even for a spatially-challenged nerd like myself, who can otherwise never fold those darn car sun shades. It's just like one of those, but the directions explained it well and it fit perfectly into the little carrying case.

The catch comes with regard to having to deflate the little mattress. It does take several minutes to squeeze the air out and this would certainly get on my nerves if I had to do it every day. If it was only once a week or so, it would be fine.

The Cockroach Package



So: if you're not a parent, you may not yet have experienced how easy it is to get suckered by photographers.

In the hospital when Audrey was one day old, for example, M made me promise, when the photographer was on her way, that we would not buy anything but a single photo. I happened to be tied up talking to a nurse when the photographer arrived, so he 'took over.' This story ends with us being the proud owners of the Platinum package.

A month later, we get a phone call; apparently the Platinum package includes a 'free' sitting fee and 5x 7 portrait for her one-month birthday. Fast forward to a few weeks after the 'shoot'. We pinky-swear that we will take only our free photo and say a polite but firm 'no thanks' to any subsequent offers. Then, the salesperson shows up with a laptop and, like 80 adorable pictures of Audrey.

We are shown 'value' packages that start at $600 and work downwards to the cheapskate package for $200.

Interestingly, each package has an animal name: the more expensive the package, the more noble the animal--and the more photos, of course. The largest was 'the Dolphin', and the cheapest: 'the Porcupine. See where this is going?

Mais non--surely this company has no intention, whatsoever, of diverting parents away from the suckiest packages. Which would you choose: The Butterfly, The Whale, Dolphin...or the Wombat, Porcupine, the Gerbil or the Muskrat? You get the idea.

So call us the Porcupines, or cheapskates, or wimps. Whatever. It is a truly awful thought that adorable pictures of one's child will be casually deleted from record forever all because she has frugal parents. So we both agree and break out the checkbook. So much for pinky-swears.

Last week: we get another call. Another free sitting and free 5x7. Who can say no to free? But oh--there are so many cute pictures and lo and behold--two new packages at the upper end--packages that go beyond animal names; 'The Artist' and 'The Wunderkind' (or some such nonsense.) But this time we are keeping our wits about us; even the cheapest package is WAY more than we'd like to spend. Are you telling us that we cannot merely buy 3-5x7's? The salesman looks at us incredulously. 'But what about this one, and this?' he asks.

Eventually, he agrees to our request and we (proudly) name our package, 'the 'Cockroach.'