Rachel with Katelyn and Eliana
Today was a typical busy day that seemed really like controlled chaos. However, in my opinion nothing occurred today, that a little chicken soup couldn’t cure. It started with a decision to work from home instead of heading to the office. My computer at the office had died the previous week, and the new one would not be ready until mid-day on this particular Monday. My husband’s car had also come up lame with a cracked radiator that same week and was now visiting our mechanic.
Our vehicle situation was down to two cars, my Van currently still running literally on a prayer. The other operating vehicle our “big dog” dully truck, usually reserved for runs to the dump or long camping trips. If I stayed home with the truck, and my husband drove my van we could save on gas. I could “get more done at home” with a working computer. Also with the all the repairs being done to the home “dry rot siding removal and repair” it would be good to ask the contractor to have the rotted wood lying in piles around the house to be put in the truck. I could then take the wood to the dump.
My son Ashton was up early and already had his chores done was ready for school had eaten breakfast and the whole bit by 7am. Free time is such a great reward. I had to get the other two kids up, and dressed, breakfast ready, lunches packed, and all three in the truck, and off to the bus by 7:50 am. Bus at 8, kiss the kids and wish them a good day as the head off to yet another great adventure at school.
When I got back home I checked with the contractor who had just arrived. My husband had given me a few items to be sure I brought to his attention. The house repairs where do to be complete perhaps this day-good news. Painters arrived and we did a walk around to discuss what needed to be painted. Including what should be removed from the house to allow for pressure wash and painting (wind chimes, stacked wood, anything hanging on the walls etc.). So rather than spending time on my home computer I began to clear off our deck and pull down our homey touches from the outside walls.
Before I knew it, it was already noon I hadn’t worked on my computer yet, nor taken a shower. I pinned up a sheet over the windows in my bathroom to keep the view from becoming much more interesting in the bathroom, for our contractor, while I took a shower. Something about hearing all that banging on the wall while boards are being torn down and replaced, that makes one move just a little faster in the shower, and thank goodness I did. Because, when I got out of the shower and got dressed and headed down stairs to offer the painters and our construction crew some tea I noticed several calls from my children’s school on my cell phone. Not really a very good sign.
Well, the messages ended with “it was all going to be alright my youngest Daughter Eli most likely did not need stiches and the tooth was only cracked”. Oh my, so I called the school to speak with a very grateful secretary Miss Lisa. “I am so glad you called” she says. Miss Lisa continued, “Eliana was playing with another girl who pretend spanked her, and she fell forward hitting the monkey bars. I think she is going to be ok though. In fact she sat here very teary with paper towels in her mouth to sop up the blood. After about 20 minutes, she spit part of her tooth out and asked if she could go back to class.” Thank goodness for sweet loving school secretaries who wipe up the tears and hand out the band aids, as a daily routine, it seemed as of late especially for my kids.
I was worried about Eliana, however assured by Ms. Lisa she would be ok to stay at school. It appeared this day; I would not need to make the one hour trip up to the school and back to pick up my wounded, and could get back to the task at hand getting work done on my computer. Still a little concerned about my sweet Eli, and hoping the cracked tooth indeed was a baby tooth getting ready to come anyway and not one of her two front teeth that had just barely sprouted and began pushing their way through. I sat down to get some work done. However, first I had to check email.
Two hours later…it was already time to get the kids at the bus. I never did get my “planned office work done”. However, I did handle many loose ends through the email, and of course the house repairs where all coming along nicely. Anxious to see my sweet little toothless girl and brother and sister too I sped off to the bus stop.
Eliana’s friend Baylee gets off the bus first calling to her mom “Eli’s tooth is broken and her mouth is bleeding”. Then Eli appears with the paper towels still in her mouth. I get her in the car, and let’s have a look see. Well, all I can say is It was not so good. I can see part of the baby tooth that still remained. It looks more like a sharp jagged tiny knife. Gums all puffed up and bruised, and one of the front teeth that had just barely been able to break through her gums since she lost them (naturally a few weeks prior) definitely chipped perhaps missing about ¼ of the inner lower surface. My little trooper Eliana in good spirits now has a great story to tell.
My oldest Katelyn says “mom you’ll have to make something soft for dinner, so Eli can eat”. Yes I agree and Chicken Soup immediately comes to mind. Now why is it that when we get sick or hurt we turn to chicken soup to fix our woes? The use of chicken soup to fight colds has been traced back to the 12th century, when Moses Maimonides, a rabbi and physician in Egypt, prescribed soup made from a fat hen to relieve a cold. Seems ever since then we have been using this simple comfort food to be a cure all for bumps, bruises, weary souls and yes on this occasion, a broken tooth.
Just before taking Ashton to Taekwondo practice I get the chicken broth heating on the stove. Drop in some frozen chicken breasts; add in chopped onion, celery, and carrots. Mince the garlic and send Katelyn out to pick the fresh herbs; sage and thyme. Bring it to a boil then simmer for about an hour and whola, it’s nearly liquid gold. Amazing how something so comforting and yummy can be put together so quickly. Lastly, to sooth some aching gums I added in some spelt noodles.
After a big bowl of soup, finishing all the homework and getting jammers on it was time for bed. I built a nice fire. Ken was to be home late this night after a business meeting. Eli had been sad missing her daddy, and I think especially wanting to be in his arms to tell him about her day (I can certainly relate to that). I had allowed her to fall asleep on the couch and wait for his return. I of course, after putting the other two in bed fell asleep on the floor in front of the fire while reading a food magazine.
Now I found myself at 2:30 in the morning unable to sleep. Listening to my husband’s low snore, and thinking of the computer work I did not complete today. I was to start a blog for my new web site. There is so much to do, to stay on the up and up, with today’s fast paced world! So, I lay there thinking about the activities of the day, contemplating such things as my walk with the Lord, a person’s soul and of course chicken soup. When finally it hits me, I know what my first blog will be about. It shall be about “Chicken Soup”.
