Vomit, Fever, and Other Fun Things

The bug that everyone has been bitten by and we have successfully dodged, has finally gotten us.

My husband and my daughter who have super immune systems, thanks to long term breastfeeding, (NOTICE: my daughter not my husband) have even gotten a glimpse of this horrible monster.  My daughter who usually exhibits illness through a slight rash and very light 12 hours symptoms, is for the first time, in eight years running a fever and exhibiting real signs of illness.  I can't stand seeing her this way.  She needs to get better because tomorrow is the first rounds of the finals (at her school) for the National Spelling Bee.  She is one of the finalist in her grade and would be crushed if she missed it.

What's worst than being sick?  Try being a sick mom who is pregnant and who has just had another pre-term labor scare!  Yes, it happened again.  I will save that for another post!  Anyway, last night sucked so bad and this morning was even worst.  My wonderful husband has been so good about helping me, but today was his first day back at work after having taken a few days off, so I knew that I had to tough it out.  Tough it out I did! I was up all night administering medicine, love, back rubs, chest rubs, sitting on a toilet in a steamed up bathroom with a too heavy little girl on my lap crushing my belly while my back took a beating from the uncomfortable position... I thought after a marathon of a night my reward was going to be cuddling with my little girl as we both watched TV or slept until the boys got home.  Yeah RIGHT! Boy, was I wrong.  At 10 AM I got a call from my son's school nurse that he was also not feeling well and needed to get picked up.  This is the strict High School Nurse, so you know it was serious. My mind raced.  How was I going to get my battered body that wanted nothing more than to rest, to actually get up and get dressed.  Just sitting up hurt my head.  Some how I managed to get ready and guess what?!  I get in the car and the gas light goes on.  Of course my car is on EMPTY!  So on top of everything else I have to go to the gas station with a fever, chills, and no sleep!

I thought I could tough it out today, but I can't.  I don't want another hospitalization, the last one scared me. So I have thrown in the towel. I gave in and called my husband.  He is coming home to rescue me.  What would I do without that man?

My head hurts, my body aches, and I can't get comfortable.  I actually feel like crap!

Honestly, I don't even have the energy to continue this post...

Eating my words...

So, I took a cake decorating class a few years ago and was obsessed with my new talent. I made a cake for every occasion.

However, I had never ventured into using cake fondant until last year. I volunteered to make my best friend's son's birthday cake. The theme was basketball and I thought "I could totally do this!"

My idea was to make a basketball jersey and a basket ball. I found an awesome recipe for a marshmallow cake fondant (taste way better than the regular kind). Anyway, I prepared it the night before and the morning of the party was ready to go. My cakes were cooled, my butter cream made and I was ready to get rolling...

So I did my crumb icing / dirty icing and I waited for it to dry. I then rolled out my fondant and cover my basketball. BOOYAH! Perfecto! I was so happy. I mixed my colors and brushed them on. Not bad! I am impressed! Looks so good!

Okay, so I am ready to do the same for the sheet cake (the basketball jersey), I roll out my fondant AND dun dun dun dun DUUUUUUUUUUUUN! It's too short, not enough, poquito, little... Ugh! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Did I mention that it was 100 degrees that day and super humid? My AC was going full force and I was still sweating and hot! So I am a nervous wreck. I only have 3 hours to shower, get dressed, and drive for a half hour!

So I make new fondant. The process was a pain in the (ahem) neck. It was so greasy and would not roll out well because of the humidity. I was getting so frustrated, so I decided to take a break. I started cleaning my supplies and sweeping all the powdered sugar from the floor. I then go back to the fondant and finally get it rolled out. I put it on the cake, but cannot add the numbers or the edging of the jersey because the dough is still sticky. I decide to chill it in the fridge while I shower and get the kids ready.

Okay, so I am dolled up and ready to go. The only thing needed is to put the edging and the numbers on the jersey. I go into the fridge to get the cake out and realize that it didn't clear! All of my fondant was stuck to the shelf above the cake! Flood gates open and I start to bawl. I call my BFF and tell her that I will be late and explain my debacle. She tries to calm me down. She tells me to bring it as it is, all that is important is my presence. Are you kidding me?! Bring that mess to the party?! Oh, heck no. So I wipe my tears and try to salvage the cake. I ended up doing this half butter cream - half fondant mess! Everyone at the party was polite - they told me what a great job I did..blah, blah, blah. I smiled and tried my best to believe them.

After that day I have NOT been able to bring myself to decorate a cake. I've made plenty of yummy cakes since then, but my excuse for not decorating them is that as long as they taste good, they don't have to look good. That day, while wiping my tears, I had promised to NEVER ever decorate another cake.

So, anyway, did I mention that hubby and I love the show Cake Boss? Anyway, (with a sheepish look) I was thinking, that-maybe-I-may-try-and-decorate-a-cake. My daughter's birthday is coming up and it would mean a lot to her if mommy went back to decorating her cakes.

Anyways, I'll keep you posted...