Yummy Thai Coleslaw (it's raw too)

Everyone seems to like this. I've been asked for the recipe several times, so I figured I post it here.

For The Salad:

Either buy the Trader Joe's broccoli slaw or...

3 cups finely shredded green or Napa cabbage

1 cup peeled and shredded zucchini

1 cup shredded carrot

1 bunch fresh chives, chopped

Herbs (can be fresh or dried):

basil

mint

cilantro

For The Dressing:

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup soy sauce (I use tamari)

2 tablespoons agave nectar or honey

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic peeled

One 1-inch piece ginger, peeled

1 1/2 tablespoons curry powder

1 tablespoon peanut or almond butter (optional)

In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients and toss to mix.

In a blender, combine all the dressing ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour dressing over the salad, mix well. Top with peanuts or almonds.

Adapted from Rawvolution

I liked this reminder

Do you want to be a more light-hearted parent; less nagging, more laughing?

Here are some tips that may help:

1. At least once a day, make each child helpless with laughter.

2. Sing in the morning. It’s hard both to sing and to maintain a grouchy mood, and it sets a happy tone for everyone.

3. Get enough sleep. It’s so tempting to stay up late, to enjoy the peace and quiet. But 6:30 AM comes fast.

4. Avoid feeling cranky by getting organized the night before and making sure you’re not rushed.

5. Most messages to kids are negative: “stop,” “don’t,” “no.” Try to cast your answers as “yes.” “Yes, we’ll go as soon as you’ve finished eating,” not “We’re not leaving until you’ve finished eating.”

6. Say “no” only when it really matters. Wear a bright red shirt with bright orange shorts? Sure. Put water in the toy tea set? Okay. Sleep with your head at the foot of the bed? Fine.

I got this from www.mercola.com

Thank God

This has been a crazy week in the Hagen house. Saturday night Jonas had to be rushed to the E.R. and was later admitted to the hospital. He'd had a bit of a cold. I'd kept him home from a beach party that day, but felt he was up for our family shin dig that night. He was pretty lethargic at the party and was definitely struggling to breath. But he'd had something similar about a month prior, and had pulled through just fine (or so we thought). So, we just held him a lot and gave him some medicine my sister in law suggested.

Once we got home (10:30 pm) we realized the situation was getting worse. He was working so hard to breath and was making these sad gasping noises. At that point we decided that Caleb should take him to the E.R. I wasn't worried. I assumed they'd give him a breathing treatment and send him home.

A few hours later I talked to Caleb. Apparently the breathing treatment had helped but Jonas was not improving like they wanted him to, so he was being admitted to the hospital.

So, after 12 hours on the breathing treatment he finally started to show signs of improvement. Once they added the steroids he seemed to really perk up. I knew he was feeling a bit better when he punched me and then laughed. And things had really improved when he was calling me a poopy-stinker again.

I feel like God was really gracious to us. My amazing mom was able to come up and watch the other 2 kids. Caleb was able to take a day off work. And I got to have a private room with my baby, despite the fact that the room had 3 other beds in it.

While the emergency part of this was all happening I was very calm. I truly didn't feel worried or scared. I asked a lot of questions of the nurses. I talked them out of treating Jonas for swine flu. And I learned a lot about asthma.

The past couple of days have been the hardest. Learning that he might have life long asthma issues. Being told that he needs to be on steroids all winter. Seeing the medications mess him up (but keep him breathing). And I've just been tired.

But its in such perspective. Because tonight, at least, all my family is alive. And they're all breathing. And I have the ability to hold them and play with them. And I feel more thankful to God for that than I ever have.