Thomas Update {second surgery scheduled}!

Just wanted to pop in with a little update on Thomas. I am so humbled by the prayers, emails, gifts, meals, cards and more that we continue to receive. I truly have wonderful friends and readers and am so thankful. It seems like just when I'm about to hit my breaking point, a sweet email rolls in or flowers show up at my door and I'm encouraged all over again that we can do this!!

Yesterday we had our 500th checkup for the little man. He is doing really great. The doctor was really pleased with Thomas' healing progress and informed us that we can reduce our eye drop regimen from four types of medicated drops four times a day (yes, 16 drops total!) down to TWO medications twice a day! Hallelujah! Squeezing those drops into an infant's eyes every few hours was rough. Thomas has really grown to hate the drops and they burn his eyes and irritate his eye lid, eye brow and cheek really bad. As much as I hate the drops, I know they are helping him heal so I try to remind myself of that when I am at my wits end trying to pry his tightly shut eye open and missing his eye several times until enough of the medication makes it in! We also still have to keep his shield on his eye when he isn't being closely monitored so he doesn't rub his eye or worse, his sister pokes his eye. I have a love-hate (mostly hate) relationship with this thing too because every time I remove it to administer the drops the tape pulls his skin so badly and he freaks out. 

But seriously, perspective. This could be so much worse. I know it. And to all of the readers who have reached out to me with their similar or even more challenging stories, I applaud you for being such strong mamas! 

So we have a date for the second surgery - October 6. Next Tuesday! We were a little upset with how far apart the surgeries were scheduled because we are ready to get past this first big hurdle and we have another big family medical procedure quickly approaching that we're trying to prepare for. But, our doctor assured us that it would be better to space the surgeries out to reduce the risk of infection and other complications. So we are trying to stay patient. But it's hard. 

Since Thomas' surgery I have been working from home so I could administer the eye drops myself but yesterday I took Thomas to daycare so I could return to the office. It was so much harder than I had anticipated. He'd been in daycare for about a week before we found out about his condition and I handled that transition okay, but leaving him anywhere now (including his swing while I fold laundry) makes me so anxious. I constantly worry he is scared or looking for me. But his teachers really are so great and before I left they told me about a blind baby they cared for a few years ago and how much he learned and grew in that year together. They said they would be working on different types of sensory development activities with Thomas and would really capitalize on his strengths. 

So now we just need to get through this next surgery! Thomas will recover for about two weeks before we begin our contacts journey (which we've been informed is the hardest part in all of this)! But I can't wait. I am dying for the day that Thomas gets his contacts in and we can watch his reaction. We don't know how much he will be able to see but we are praying for a healing miracle!

Wrap it Up: Easy {Freezable} Breakfast Burritos

My favorite meal of the day is breakfast. It also happens to be the meal I have the least time for so I usually try and keep it simple or prep it on the weekend for the entire week. For years I've started my morning with an egg sandwich (you can find that throwback post here) but recently I've switched things up and started making breakfast wraps. They are healthy, delicious and I can make them in large batches and freeze. However, I usually just make enough for the week for Matt and me to both eat. I've found that if I don't make something easy Matt can grab from the fridge on his way out the door he will skip breakfast or worse, he'll swing through the drive through on his way in.

The wraps are great because the possibilities are endless so I can get as creative as I want each week. My go to breakfast wrap is the sausage, egg & cheese wrap though. It's also Matt's favorite. So here's how I keep our breakfast to 30 seconds of prep each morning...

Easy {Freezable} Breakfast Wraps

Ingredients

1 dozen eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 pound sausage
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese

10 Tortillas

salt & pepper

wax paper

Directions

1. Place your eggs in a large mixing bowl and scramble. Add in your milk (or cream) while the eggs are mixing.

2. In a large skillet, cook tortillas over medium heat. You are only going to cook them for about 10 seconds.

3. Using your large skillet, cook the sausage. Set aside.

4. In that same large skillet, add way more butter than you think you'll need. Pour your eggs into the pan and keep stirring using a spatula until fluffy and cooked. Set aside.

5. Organize your ingredients in to a little assembly line. 

6. Assemble each wrap by starting with the tortilla, adding the eggs, sausage and cheese. Then fold up the wrap by tucking in both ends and rolling up. Wrap in wax paper.

7. Store wraps in a Ziploc bag and place in fridge to eat within a week OR freeze them for later. If freezing, place each wrap on a baking sheet lined with wax paper and flash freeze in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Store the wraps in a plastic freezer bag that has been labeled with the date.

8. When ready to eat, microwave your thawed wrap for about 30 seconds at 50% power. From frozen, you will need to microwave for 3 minutes at 50% power.

Print recipe for Easy {Freezable} Breakfast Burritos

My favorite tips for fluffy scrambled egg:

• Use a stand mixer and don't stop mixing until you pour your eggs in the skillet.
• Add a little milk or cream while the eggs are mixing.
• Cook over low heat.
• Don't stop stirring once the eggs hit the pan.
• Use a spatula and not a whisk.
• Add way more butter than you think you need.

Since we've been trying to cut carbs when we can I splurged a little to buy low carb wraps.

One of my girlfriends recently introduced me to Neese's Country Sausage and while I'm not a huge sausage person I've found this locally made sausage pretty tasty. Charlotteans, you can find it at Harris Teeter and a variety of other places. All others can order it online and have it shipped to your home! Not a sponsored post, just too dang delicious not to spread the word!

You can get as creative as you want with these. Try adding in bell peppers, spinach, black beans, salsa, different types of cheese or meats, etc.!

Prefer your eggs between slices of bread? Check out my recipe for Easy (Freezable} Breakfast Sandwiches.

I'm 29!

Today is my 29th birthday! Originally we had plans to wake up in Florida this morning since it is also my mom's 60th birthday weekend. But, as you know, we ran into a little kink. Pretty bummed because this is the 4th trip to Florida we've had to unexpectedly cancel (and two surprise parties - my baby shower, and mom's surprise birthday dinner) this year and my parents still haven't met Thomas. Plus I wanted to see my seester before she pops very, very soon. Obviously, working on Thomas' eyesight is a million times more important though!    Anyway, on to a hodge podge of birthday stuff and too many exclamation points...   Tonight we're heading to dinner. Matt made reservations for us at a new restaurant that I've been wanting to try - Dogwood Southern Table & Bar.   Last week at Supper Club we celebrated September birthdays!

Laura and I share the exact birthday today! She surprised me with the most amazing (Fir & Firewood) candle ever. It smells so good I don't even want to burn it!   I also had more birthday gifts arrive from my family yesterday and I am embarrassingly excited about the wipes dispenser gift from my sister that I'd been talking about for far too long. I also got stocked up on my favorite fall candle - Flannel!   Matt got me a pretty necklace with Caroline and Thomas' initials. LOVE! He also wanted to get these Tory Burch riding boots for my birthday but when we went to try them on they came up too high and looked awkward on me. Lame. So I'm still on the hunt for a nice, plain, brown leather flat boot for the fall. Open to suggestions!   So today begins the one year countdown to my 30th!   *Dear Matt, time to start planning and saving for my surprise 30th Mexico trip!  But really, all I want is a HEALTHY and happy year. Truly.