POOR PUP

J and I have a recovering trooper at home right now.  Bille Lu Bayou tore her cruciate ligament of the knee (her ACL) and had a tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) procedure on Tuesday.  Everything went as planned and she was able to come home yesterday afternoon.  Now starts the hard part...Tramadol (pain) every 8 hours, Previcox (anti-inflammatory) once daily, Clavamox (antibiotic) ever 12 hours, Acepromazine (sedative) as needed, ice twice daily for 5 days, then heat twice daily for the following 5 days, confinement for 6 weeks, then rehabilitation.  Everyone please pray Bayou has a healthy recovery process and that I'm a good nurse!  I'm so nervous about messing something up.

Bayou attempting to run in City Park on 3 legs (pre-diagnosis).

More 3 leggedness (pre-diagnosis).

South Paws in Mandeville has been AMAZING!  I highly highly recommend them if your pet has surgical needs.  The staff has been so kind and attentive with Bayou (and me for that matter!).  The surgeon and vet techs called with updates throughout the whole process and they are staffed 24/7.  So always there to help and answer any questions no matter what time of day.  I wish some of my own medical doctors were this fantastic.  Bayou's regular vet, Dr. Stephanie at Canal Street Veterinary Hospital, recommended South Paws and we're just so thankful she did.  We love you too, Dr. Stephanie!

Waiting at South Paws before she heads back to get things started...

Bayou's home for the next 6 weeks.  This confinement thing is going to be a killer.

Drugged to no end but home sweet home.  Bayou's recovery begins...

J did the first round of icing duties last night.

CHICKEN POT PIE

Not to brag, but I made an awesome chicken pot pie for dinner last night.  Are you ready for this?!?

INGREDIENTS

1 box Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts

2 chicken breasts, shredded

1 bag fresh snack size carrots

3 red potatoes, cubed

1/2 onion, chopped

1 carton mushrooms, sliced

2 stalks celery, chopped

5 tbsp butter

1/3 cup flour

32 oz. carton of chicken broth

1/2 cup of milk

3 tbsp olive oil

salt

pepper

basil

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.  Place the carrots and potatoes in a single layer on a sheet pan.  Toss the carrots and potatoes in olive oil.  Sprinkle some salt, pepper, and basil on top.  Place in the oven for 12 minutes.  You want the carrots and potatoes to cook and soften up a bit but not completely.  They'll finish cooking once they're inside the pot pie.  Set aside.

Now heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan.  Just as you did with the carrots and potatoes, season with olive oil, salt, pepper, and basil.  Place in the oven for 30 minutes.

When the chicken has finished cooking (and cooled off a bit) go ahead and shred into bite size pieces.  Then set aside.

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.  Add the onion and celery.  Cook a few minutes, stirring frequently. Add the mushrooms.  Cook until tender.

Stir in the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until blended.  Gradually stir in broth and milk.  Cook and stir until the mixture becomes thickened.

Now it's time to combine everything!  Go ahead and add your carrots, potatoes, and shredded chicken to the saucepan.

Unroll one of the refrigerated pie crusts (each box comes with 2) and place in a pie pan.

Spoon in the filling.

Now heat the oven to 425 degrees.  Place the other pie crust on top of the filling.  Fold the sides and vent the top.  Put the pot pie in the oven for 35-40 minutes.  You may need to cover the edge of the crust with foil the last 15 or so minutes if it starts to turn too brown.

Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes.

Slice the pot pie and savour the yumminess!  Husband approved!

NYE

Happy New Year's y'all!  It's 2013.  J and I spent the last day of 2012 visiting with friends and family.  The morning was reserved for meeting Miss Grace Caroline Turner in Clarksville, Tennessee.  Pictures of the precious little thing are below.  Grace is the daughter of Madison (J's good friend from high school and best man in his wedding) and Lauren (J's good friend from his undergrad days at Ole Miss).  From there we hopped in the car and drove fifteen minutes over to Grandpa & Grandma Sullivan's house.  J's Uncle Hilary happened to be there too so that was a nice surprise.  After some catching up we then drove to Nashville and met up with my friends Kiersten and Anna.  Anna lives in Nashville but Kiersten was visiting for a day before flying back home to Denver.  I miss hanging out with those girls!  They always make me laugh.  So many wonderful high school and college shenanigans to look back on.  J and I didn't want to be on the road too late.  We still had a bit of drive to get back to J's parent's house in Columbia.  So we left around 11:00 and made it back to his parent's house moments before midnight.  It was the perfect ending to yet another blessed year.  We're really looking forward to what 2013 has in store...

(stole/borrowed this picture of the happy family from FB)

Miss Grace Caroline

Here is J holding Grace for the first time.  This is a HUGE deal by the way.  J is not a fan of holding babies.  But Grace must have won him over because he ASKED to hold her.  Yes, actually ASKED and requested on his own!

Grace got comfy in J's arms!

Anna making "the classier version of pigs in a blanket."

Kiersten is famous for her guacamole   Especially among the Colorado frisbee crowd.  Seriously, that is her claim to fame.

Anna and Pete's cute Christmas tree.

Pete and J watching some football.

Kierbiddagear, Anna Banana, and Me :)