Rachel Elyse Poe

I'm really not one to blog...in fact I forgot the name of my blog and had to search for it in google. Oops
I have been wanting to find it for two reasons: 1. To find my original story sharing about Isaiah so I could save it and 2. to share our story about Rae

Some know, some do not, about how little Rae came into our family. Around the time Isaiah turned 2 we started talking about baby 2...this conversation goes somewhat different in our home because well...as you have probably noticed, we don't build our family the conventional way :) So this time, we talked about adopting but knew that wasn't an option at the moment. Then we talked about visiting my OB and talking medical options but this wasn't an option either because at this point and even still this is not something the Lord has given us a peace over. So Daniel brings up Foster Care and let me be perfectly candid with you...I threw an absolute fit. My response was something to the tune of, "nope, no way, not gonna happen and don't ask me again."

You can imagine how that worked out for me. After wrestling with the Lord on this one, I digressed and we took the plunge into the foster system. I'll spare you all the details and opinions on it but lets just say over an 18 month period of being foster parent's I threw my share of toddler sized tantrums. I didn't always handle everything with such diginity and grace...hard to believe right?!!

Fast forward, we move into our new house. Get the new house approved on Monday and told it would be weeks or even months before we got a placement. Tuesday, the phone rings and the other end of the call went like this, "Hey Heather, it's Katrina. I wanted to let you know there is a baby girl in need of placement. She is an infant, as in born yesterday. We wanted to see if you are interested in taking her."

My immediate response was yes, she even asked if I needed to call Daniel to which I kindly said no mam, this is what we signed up for right?!

So you could possibly imagine the emotions to follow but if you can't I'll fill you in. Oh my gosh a newborn baby girl!!!!! I need to go shopping...oh no...wait...what's the story...how long will she be here...I wonder if we will adopt her...oh shoot, what about her birthmom, whats her story...a newborn???? What did I just agree too...no sleeping for us for a while...awe I'm getting a baby girl, I've always wanted a girl...oh wait, but she isn't mine.

My head started spinning with all kinds of questions, emotions, concerns. We head up to meet her only to get the call that we can't because the case worker has left for the day. So we turn around. We visit with her the next few days until she is ready to come home. That was a day in itself. The hospital calls us to let us know she is ready to be released, the normal case worker is out of town, our DFCS worker is out of town, the hospital sub case worker calls to inform me that she is reporting to the head of DFCS for the state that the baby is being neglected because she isn't being released due to the fault of the case workers. You can insert Mama Bear here...So the craziness begins and stayed until April 15!

We had meetings, court hearings, home visits (lots and lots), unexpected visits (not fun FYI), lots of driving to Rome, lots of tears, lots of joy...needless to say a journey that challenged me at my core.

It wasn't an easy journey, at times I wanted to throw in the towel. I was tired of being questioned, watched over, checked in, asking permission for, having my hands tied, not being allowed to parent...and then, I would look at the biggest blue eyes and remember why we said yes to this journey! For precious little lives who needed a chance at life.

I will never ever understand why God chose us for that journey because most of the time I felt like a complete and utter failure at it, but I'm so thankful He did. If given the chance, I would walk the journey over and over.

On April 15, 2015 we were given the chance to make our sweet Rae "officially" ours! Her little life is so much a reflection of God's grace. His grace when His children (me) try to run the other direction from His call. His grace when we fail over and over and over. His grace when we don't trust He has our best interest at heart and that His plan is always so much sweeter than our own. I'm forever thankful...I will fail again many times in life but I'm forever thankful for the reminder I have every morning when I see those big blue eyes and she is calling me mamoo (her new, odd version of mama).

Picky Kid

To say I have a picky eater is an understatement!! So I've had to try and think of any way I can to sneak and hide veggies and fruits in his food!! He is a carb-o-holic. It's all he wants to eat. Protein...not so much!! SO...here are two of my latest sneaky recipes that he loved!! Yes they are both breakfast food but don't judge...I'm working on it here!

Sweet Potato "Cancakes"

- Maple Grove Farms GF pancake mix

- 1 egg

- dash of honey

- 1 mashed sweet potato

- Coconut milk

- 1/4 shredded zucchini 

Mix according to box (I omit the oil). If batter seems runny add a little more pancake mix to make sure they are fluffy!! If you have a really picky eater toss in some chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life: diary, nut and soy free)! 

The next recipe came straight from this website!! I just added 1/4 shredded zucchini to it and Isaiah loved it!! 

Two Minute Wheat Free muffin

Happy Baking!

Ooey Gooey Goodness

As I stood in my kitchen for over two hours this morning making one thing after another to fill up my growing two year olds belly I decided to try out a little recipe! I used to make these yummy granola bites I found on Pinterest and my kid was obsessed with them to say the least!! However, after finding out he was intolerant to oats via a hair strand test we had to make some changes. My hubs asked if there was anyway I could tweak that recipe to fit my son's needs! So I got stayed in the kitchen and whipped up a little something.

Ooey Gooey Goodness Bars:
- 2 1/2c Crispy Cocoa Rice GF cereal (I used Mom's Best brand found a Kroger)
- 1/4c organic flaxseed
- 1/2c planters honey roasted peanuts (my son loves them)
- 1c peanut butter (or any nut butter)
- 1/2c honey
- 1/2c dairy free chocolate chips (Enjoy Life is a good brand found at Kroger or Target)

Mix it all together in a bowl. Line a square pan with wax paper and spread mixture. Set in freezer for about 15 minutes (long enough for them to hold together) then cut into squares and serve! Or wrap them individually for a lunch treat! I plan to use them as an Easter treat in lieu of chemical laden candy :)!!

Heather

new blog

I'm working on revamping my blog to be focused more on fitness, healthy eating and being a mom! I don't know about you but I had to revamp my lifestyle when my wild child came along :)

Here I am with said wild child! He is so vibrant, fun and energetic! Everything you can imagine a little boy being! 

That being said...when he came along and the older he get's I found it harder to work in my workouts and keep up with healthy eating habits! So I had to revamp...retrain myself to a new way of doing life but I didn't give up!! I workout with a group of mom's three mornings a week and have the privilege of leading them and the other days I run with my hubby, workout during naptime or whatever happens to fit that days schedule! 

As I work on reshaping my blog I plan to add recipes that fit our gluten free, dairy free lifestyle as well as routines that I use and sneaky ways I get my picky eater to eat!! Ah ha!

I would love for you to follow along and share with your mommy friends! 

I will leave you with this recipe :) and I will try to remember to take photos to add to the post!!

Mango Pineapple Smoothie

- Advocare mango pineapple rehydrate 

- 1/2c pineapple

- 1/2 banana

- handful of raw kale 

- Blend until smooth :) 

It turns out a lovely sage green color and taste delicious!! It's so yummy! It's a great way to get your kiddos to have some healthy greens...you can even add it to a fun Dr. Suess themed breakfast morning!! Enjoy :) 

Circuit Workout

Babies and kiddos have a way of keeping us busy and missing our workouts!! Being a fit healthy mom is important! During nap time or before they wake up/go to sleep set aside a little time to get in your workout!! It will make for a happier, more energetic mama and our families will be much appreciative of this!!

So here is today's workout!!

4 Rounds - 30 second each station 
Station 1
- Front Squats: See demo (can be done without weight)

Station 2
- High Knees


Station 3
- Push-ups

Station 4
- Wall Balls: See demo (use a weighted medicine ball that fits your fitness level: start small)

Station 5
- Burpees

**One minute rest between rounds and repeat**

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

On mornings we don't go to our stroller bootcamp class I try to make Isaiah something yummy and fun for breakfast! He is a picky eater so any way I can expand his range of foods I can! Usually breakfast is an easy way...he loves just about all things breakfast! So this morning we made a sweet treat for breakfast! Another pinterest recipe found here.

For pancakes I use a box :)...baking has never been my thing!
- Maple Grove Farms GF mix from Target
- Egg from the chickens
- I forgo the oil
- Silk Coconut Milk (in place of dairy milk) from Target
- I also add Kirklands Clover Honey from Costco
- Cook them on a skillet with Trader Joe's Organic Coconut Oil

**These alone taste like cake batter**

Cinnamon Filling:
- Private Selection organic light brown sugar from Kroger
- Archer Farms cinnamon from Target
- Coconut Oil (in place of butter) from Trader Joe's

Follow recipe to make this

My filling turned about a smidge runny but still worked great and turned out crunchy. Next time I won't use as much oil.

I would say they were a hit though because Isaiah was shoving them in as fast as he could and I think he ate 2.5 pancakes!

Thai Peanut Chicken Wraps

So last night for dinner I made this recipe I found on pinterest! Who doesn't love a good pinterest recipe?! To accommodate our different food intolerances I tweaked the recipe just a little and they were way better than I thought they would be!! They were very similar to the wraps you get at PF Changs or the Cheescake Factory! Delish!

So here is what I did!

Chicken:
- I used Simple Truth organic chicken tenders from Kroger
- An egg from our chickens...yes we have chickens
- Ian's Panko Italian breadcrumbs Gluten Free from Nature's Corner Market
- Coconut Secret raw coconut flour from Whole Foods

Mix breadcrumbs and coconut flour in a bowl (as much as you need to cover all of your chicken). Dip each chicken tender in egg, then in breadcrumb mix. Place on baking sheet. Bake at 450 until no longer pink. Remove from oven and set aside.

Peanut Sauce:
- Kirklands Clover Honey from Costco
- Volcano Lime Burst (lime juice) from Whole Foods
- San-J Organic GF soy sauce from Target
- water from my sink
- JIF Natural chunky peanut butter (you can use almond  or sunflower butter instead)

Cook according to recipe

Wrap:
- Green Giant broccoli slaw (I couldn't find organic) from Target
- Trader Joe's Virgin Coconut Oil (instead of butter)
- Organic whole carrots (1) from Target (just shred and add to mix)

Cook this according to recipe

Once the wrap filling was done I set it aside and put the chicken into the skillet. I poured about half the peanut sauce over the chicken and let it cook on low for a minute or so.

My husband used whole wheat wraps from Trader Joe's. Make sure you read the ingredient list because they have several kinds. Always pick the foods with the least amount of ingredients and absolutely stay away from hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors/ingredients.

I used organic romaine lettuce wraps from Target. Made it gluten free and cut back on the carbs, calories and fat!

These were quick, simple and tasted very good!!