6th Most Popular Blog Post (as of April 15, 2020)

This is an interesting post to make our top 10 most popular list. It's my recap of 2000 and 2001. A lot of things happened in those years when Kellisa was a very medically fragile baby. In a lot of ways, looking back, it was a simpler and easier time even though we had zero idea while we were living it. In other regards, it was some of the most difficult days. 

I named the post, "84 Cents" because Lisa and I had to pay out of pocket for one of Kellisa's emergency brain surgeries because the insurance company didn't agree with the neurosurgeon that Kellisa's life was on the line. We decided to trust the doctor and it took literally everything we had and more than can be imagined. We had no money, gas, or food, but Kellisa was alive and fighting and we owed it to her to give her every chance. 

Roughly two decades have passed and I don't think we'd change a single thing from these years. It would be easy to say, we wish insurance would have paid for the brain surgery (and resulting hospital stay and follow-up appointments), but then I'm not sure we would have ended up in Jacksonville where we spent 16 years. It's where Kellisa grew up and set the foundation for who she is today. We met many amazing people during our time in Jax. Lastly, if we didn't end up in Duval, it's highly unlikely we would have ended up with Laurel. 

So...yeah...it all happened for a reason!

Here's the link to the original blog post from May 2, 2017: 84 Cents (2000 & 2001)

#5 Hotel Safety (Part II)

#7 Freedom Push Chair

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Staph Infection

A few things are certain in life, Kellisa catching a break isn't one. We had the chance to take a ride out to Lisa's work on Saturday, May 2, 2020. This would be only the second time Kellisa left the house in 49 days since the CORVID-19 lockdown started. The first was a nice little stroll through our neighborhood. As I was helping change Kellisa's shirt to get her ready, I noticed a large sore on her back. I recognized it as a staph infection because Kellisa has had it a few times in the last nine months and I've had it twice myself. 

The sore looked worse than her previous outbreaks and I would have taken her to a walk-in clinic since it was a Saturday afternoon, but I didn't feel comfortable going during the middle of a pandemic. I decided to treat it with warm compresses and triple antibiotic ointment until she could be seen by her awesome pediatrician.

I called Dr. Singh's office on Monday and described the sore and my diagnosis. Kellisa has always been well taken care of and this would be another example of perfect care. Dr. Singh offered to see Kellisa at 7am the following morning. The appointment would start before the office opened to limit Kellisa's exposure to other people. We didn't hesitate and agreed to this time and felt extremely grateful for the special consideration to keep Kellisa safe.

Even though it was early, we were greeted at the office building by a lady in scrubs wearing a mask. She asked us a series of questions, took our temperatures, and handed us masks. We proceeded to check-in from a healthy distance and went to the pediatric waiting area where we were the only people. Chairs and sofas were marked telling you where you could and couldn't sit to allow for proper social distancing. I barely sat down when we were called back.

Kellisa was so excited to see Dr. Singh, she keeled over with enthusiasm for a minute while giggling before sitting back up and blowing countless kisses through her mask. Kellisa is not used to being trapped at home and I realized Dr. Singh was the first person Kellisa saw up close besides mom, dad, and her sister in 49 days and it was a person she loved. 

After taking a culture to confirm it was in fact a staph infection, Dr. Singh was patient and asked how Laurel was doing and how we were holding up as a family. Dr. Singh shared what she knew about the virus and offered tips on how to protect ourselves. We also received valuable suggestions to help keep our sanity as this pandemic creeps along with no real end in sight.

Kellisa wanted to stay and I even offered to pick her up at the end of the day, but it wouldn't have been safe to leave her. I had to wheel her away against her will. Kellisa kept her mask on the entire time without a fuss, but started ripping it from her face the second her front wheels crossed the threshold to the exterior of the medical building. I think Kellisa made Dr. Singh's day and she never fails to make me proud and crack me up.

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7th Most Popular Blog Post (as of 4.15.20)

Our 7th most popular blog post is simple, Kellisa received her new Special Needs Jog Stroller and we took it for a stroll around our neighborhood in St. Johns, FL. We still have the chair and it's never let us down...on or off a trail. 

Our Freedom Push Chair entry was originally posted on November 3, 2012. 

Here's the link: Freedom Push Chair.

#6 84 Cents (2000 & 2001)

#8 Kain Family Grows  

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8th Most Popular Blog Post (as of 4.15.20)

Our 8th most popular blog post is probably our shortest post with only one picture and a few words, but it caused the most....let's go with discussions. I didn't tell Lisa what I was doing and she started getting texts and calls, including from our immediate family. Not every one thought this was as hilarious as I found it. It's been just over two years and Evie is an important member of our family who we all love.

I originally posted the ultrasound picture on April 13, 2018. Here's the link:

Kain Family Grows 

#7 Freedom Push Chair

#9 Evening of Dreams

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Banana Peanut Butter Bread

Laurel made lunch today...Banana Peanut Butter Bread and it was amazing. With the bananas and peanut butter, it was hearty enough to make a great mid-day meal with a tall glass of cold milk. It seems like kitchen adventures have replaced our outdoor fun during our COVID-19 lock down. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 mashed bananas
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips

1. Mix butter and sugar.

2. Add eggs, beat.

3. Stir in peanut butter, bananas, flour, and baking soda until blended.

4. Add chocolate chips.

5. Pour into 5X9 inch loaf pan sprayed w/coconut oil.

6. Bake at 325F (preheated) for 70 minutes.

As a bonus, Laurel made a second loaf with Gluten-free flour and replaced half the chocolate chips with an 1/8 of a cup marshmallows. Both recipes turned out awesome! 

Gluten-free

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Chicago Italian Beef Recipe

If I ever find myself in a position to request a last meal, Chicago Italian Beef would probably get the nod with a side of pepperoni pizza. We were fortunate to have an outstanding little joint (Matty's and then Murph's) serving Italian Beef about a block away from where I grew up on the NW Side of Chicago. It was a treat to get an Italian Beef with fries as a kid. It was also a big deal to go alone with 50 cents and leave with "Gravy Bread" wrapped in aluminum foil. As I got older and eventually moved to the SW suburbs, we found other places with excellent Italian Beef sandwiches. In fact, I don't think I've ever had a bad Italian Beef in the Chicagoland area. 

Eventually, we found Portillo's and they became our "go to" because they have many locations in the Chicago area. We moved to Florida in late 1999 and would always have at least one Italian Beef whenever we returned to visit family. After a couple of years a little south of Daytona Beach, we relocated to Jacksonville and quickly found Caddyshack, an establishment a half hour away, owned by Bill Murray and his brothers. They would fly Italian Beef from Chicago down every day. We would still try to have an Italian Beef whenever we returned to Chicago, but it was less of a priority.

We moved to Northern California four years ago and have yet to find a good Italian Beef place. I take that back, we did have a great sandwich from a food truck shortly after moving, but we forgot the name and have never seen the truck again. It was a husband and wife from Chicago who owned the business. We've had some horrible Italian Beef from a few places, even after they assure me it's "authentic" Chicago.

So, after five weeks of being locked down inside our house while watching family and friends post pictures of food, several made their own Italian Beef and a few who went to Portillo's, I decided it was time to attempt to make our own.

9th Most Popular Blog Post (as of 4.15.20)

If Kellisa could communicate better, I'm confident our 9th most popular post would also be in her top 10 greatest days of her life. Back in May 2017, Kellisa attended the Evening of Dreams dance. It started with a special ride to the red carpet before entering the "Under the Sea" themed prom for individuals with special needs. The annual Evening of Dreams became a highlight for Kellisa we all anticipated with great joy. After 3 years of going, Kellisa's streak is coming to a gap in 2020 due to COVID-19. Hopefully, all will be back to normal soon and Kellisa can attended her next Evening of Dreams in May 2021. 

I originally posted this story on May 21, 2017. Here's the link:

Evening of Dreams- 2017

#8 Kain Family Grows

                            #10 Escaping with our Lives (A 1st Anniversary Story)

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10th Most Popular Blog Post (as of 4.15.20)

I was looking at the 10 most popular posts on this blog and many of them surprised me, so I thought it might be a cool idea to share the Top 10 again. 

Starting with #10, we go all the way back to a story from March 1990 when Lisa and I attempted to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary with a camping trip to Apple Canyon in NW Illinois.

I originally posted this story on March 18, 2015. Here's the link:

Escaping with our Lives (A 1st Anniversary Story)

#9 Evening of Dreams- 2017

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Day 30: COVID-19

Hopefully, every one reading this had a safe and Happy Easter!

We colored Easter Eggs on Saturday afternoon. Everyone was flexible and hopeful since all we had was brown eggs. We were all pleasantly surprised at how cool the coloring turned out, especially once they were dry. 

Days 23 - 29: COVID-19

This week was Spring Break for the girls and we stayed home. In fact, Kellisa never left the house and Laurel never ventured outside except for a few brief moments in the backyard. We never made any firm plans for the week, but there's a better than average chance we would have gone somewhere if we weren't on a lock down. The Redwoods and Grand Canyon were two places at the top of my ideas list. Hopefully soon!

The days continue to march along without a lot of distinction. We are fortunate to be healthy, working from home, and well supplied with food. Like many people, grocery shopping is a challenge with shelves half empty, but we're doing a pretty good job of making creative meals with what we find. Lisa is doing a great job of making sure we have vegetables everyday and some kind of fruit most days. This update will focus on the food...the highlight of Spring Break Week 2020.

Kellisa let me braid her hair one night and I'm proud of the outcome

Full moon over Roseville, CA

Little lizard living under our backyard deck

  

Evie enjoying some sun in the backyard

Laurel's mushrooms were ready for harvest

Mushrooms, eggs, sausage, and potatoes

Brunswick Stew, Cornbread, and Sweet Tea

Norm of the North (Family Movie Night)

Day 22

Day 30

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