Caring Bridge Website

Mom Huebel is updating a "Caring Bridge" Webpage regarding Dad H's status here:
Lee Huebel Caring Bridge

Thank you for all the love and support.


I'm going to be taking a couple weeks off from blogging to enjoy the holidays and family time. In the meantime,
Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas!

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Here's an email from Ross, with an update on Dad Huebel's status:

Thanks for all the kind notes. I really appreciated getting them as I traveled. I did make it back to Houston yesterday and it has been great being with my family. We got some really good news today...the doctors don't think it is lung cancer anymore, they think it is lymphoma. It's still cancer and there are different types with different severities, but it's really all better than lung cancer. So while there will surely be a difficult journey ahead, there is a lot more hope than there has been. They did another sample this afternoon, it's a long story, so tomorrow they will hopefully confirm that it is not lung cancer but lymphoma. Then we'll work on treatment. Liz will be coming down after her parents visit Anchorage for Christmas. I don't know how long I'll be down here.

Thanks again for your emails, thoughts, and prayers.

Ross

It's been hard to get into the holiday spirit with all that's been going on, however it's definitely important to remember the blessings too...

Like having a momma that will change her travel plans to come see you early, even if it's below 0 where you live. :)

3 years ago: Wall

2 years ago: Spikes or Bust

1 year ago: Blog-cation

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Footprints in the Sand

Here's one of my favorite poems when I'm in need of some Faith:

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
‘You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?’

The Lord replied,
‘The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.’

Dad Huebel is still in the hospital. He had some more tests run today and should know more in the next couple days...

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Diagnosis

Here's an email from Ross, which summarizes what's been going on:

My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer today. He was admitted to the hospital on Friday and put into a moderate care ICU on Sunday because of a tumor that appears to be pushing on his heart and throwing off the heartbeat. There is a lot of diagnostic work still to do, so we don't know what is ahead. This is all very surprising since he has never been a smoker and we thought he was just fighting off a bad sinus infection. I'm trying to fly home, but right now the best I can do is standby because of holiday travel.

 

Ross

Please keep the Huebel's in your hearts, minds, & prayers. It has been such a difficult time for everyone.

3 years ago: Very Scary

2 years ago: Huebel Family Pictures

1 year ago: Blog-cation

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Heavy Heart

There are certain days it's just not possible to blog about food, grey pups, snowy fun, or the like. This has honestly been one the toughest weekends to date; so much heartache. Please keep the Huebel's in your prayers.

3 years ago: Leftovers

2 years ago: Heart to Heart

1 year ago: Trivia

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Huebel Family Time

After Granny's funeral we had family hangout time in Lake Jackson, TX. A silver lining of a sad day...

Roma is quite photogenic, but I found some other subjects that just might give Roma a run for the top prize... Maddie and Macy!!!

A "JUMP" picture in the backyard.

Grandad and Rowan.

Newest member of the family- Dominic 

3 years ago: Cookie Party Success 

2 years ago: iPhone Pictures

1 year ago: Winter Blizzard

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Chicken Fricassee

I'm continually on the look-out for mid-week meals which are the right combination of quick, easy, & healthy. Here's a Cooks Illustrated recipe for Chicken Fricassee... It had a nice thick sauce from the addition of (light) sour cream. Splurge on the cremeni mushrooms-- the chewy, meatiness is worth it! This meal took me less than 30 minutes to put together and that makes me happy.

Quick Chicken Fricassee (from C. Illustrated)

SERVES 4 TO 6

Two tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley leaves may be substituted for the tarragon in this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 2pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or a combination
• Table salt and ground black pepper
• 1tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1tablespoon olive oil
• 1pound cremini mushrooms, stems trimmed, caps wiped clean and cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1medium onion, chopped fine (about 1 cup)
• 1/4cup dry white wine
• 1tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1medium garlic clove, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 teaspoon)
• 1 1/2cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/3cup sour cream
• 1egg yolk
• 1/2teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 2teaspoons juice from 1 lemon
• 2teaspoons minced fresh tarragon (see note)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. 1. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Heat butter and oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. When foaming subsides, place chicken in skillet and cook until browned, about 4 minutes. Flip chicken and continue to cook until browned on second side, about 4 minutes longer. Transfer chicken to large plate.
2. 2. Add mushrooms, onion, and wine to now-empty skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and mushrooms are browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add flour and garlic; cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Add broth and bring mixture to boil, scraping bottom of pan with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Add chicken and any accumulated juices to skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees when inserted in breasts and 175 degrees when inserted in thighs, 5 to 10 minutes.
3. 3. Transfer chicken to clean platter and tent loosely with foil. Whisk sour cream and egg yolk together in medium bowl. Whisking constantly, slowly stir ½ cup sauce into sour cream mixture. Stirring constantly, slowly pour sour cream mixture into simmering sauce. Stir in nutmeg, lemon juice, and tarragon; return to simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken and serve.

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Family & Funeral

We attended Granny Huebel's funeral on Saturday. It was definitely a celebration of life, with a great sermon by Cousin Wilson. After the reception we went back to Grandad's house for some family time fellowship (and food).

Here are some backyard pictures:

Ross & I.

Sporting the sunglasses :)

Brothers, Adam and Ross.

The red Ray Bans wedged their way into this picture.. I had nothing to do with it. 

3 years ago: Brrrrr

2 years ago: Roma's First Snow

1 year ago: Cookie Party

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Granny's Funeral

We made a quick trip to Houston to attend Granny Huebel's funeral on Saturday.

Lot's of hours of travel later, we are back home in Anchorage. With a pesty grey pup and a couple inches of snow.

Sleep.

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Turkey Day with the Huebel's

Here are some "Thanksgiving Day Feast" pictures:

Appetizers

John's homemade pasta.

Watching an incredible Texans game.

Aunt Katy and Dad Huebel doing some cooking.

Gumbo.

Football.

Pumpkin pie, pumpkin gooey butter cake, pecan pie.

Good Eats!

3 years ago: Snow Bunny

2 years ago: Alaska is a little Grey-er

1 year ago: My Grey One

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Milne Camp

The North Slope is a 1 hour 40 minute flight from Anchorage. This time of year it's particularly dark, however the extreme cold doesn't usually kick in until February. Last year, I made a trip up at that time and it was so cold that all outdoor work was suspended. What do hundreds of dudes do to occupy themselves when they're bored? Pranks lots of pranks. Oh, and throw water in the air and watch it freeze before it hits the ground.

Fortunately for me, it's not all that cold on the slope right now. (It's actually colder in Anchorage). But it is so dark, it's really getting to me. I thought it was dinner time at 1pm. Whoopsies. 

I miss the sun. Good thing we have a Hawaii trip planned in a couple months :)

Milne Camp

My room

This might be as high as the sun goes, for what seems like an hour.

I would not be good at working rotation, for a whole host of reasons; one of which, is that I'd miss this little grey pesty too much:

3 years ago: Parm Love

2 years ago: Special Delivery

1 year ago: Moose Bum

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Granny Huebel

Granny Huebel has not had it easy the last couple months; the Alzheimer's really took a toll on her health. She passed away today at her home with Grandad Huebel by her side. With a slow disease like Alzheimer's you have time to "prepare" for the worst, but I've learned that you can never really be prepared. It is so hard to lose a loved one.

I have heard so many beautiful stories of Granny, a fun-loving matriarch with a love of coffee ice cream.  Granny and Grandad were married over 65 years! I can only hope that Ross and I live such fulfilled lives as these two.

I feel privileged to share her last name.

Granny you will be missed.

Scotland 2004: Katy, Buzz, Grannie, Grandad, Laura, Lee

Scotland 2004

2006

August 2008: Grannie and the Best Man

Big Day!

Thanksgiving 2007

Easter 2008: Huebel Family (minus a few!) 

3 years ago:  Ground Hog Day

2 years ago: House Search

1 year ago: Snow Machine

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A Day in the Life of Dr. Aldrich

So my brother, Jeff, is in his first year of med school at Jefferson University in downtown Philadelphia. It kind of seems like he's studying all the time, but I didn't have a good sense of what his "typical" day-- so I asked him to do a guest blog about it :) Here's what he had to say:

There really isn't such thing as a "typical" day because the schedule changes daily. However, we have class every day anywhere from 3-6 hours. The classes are segmented into "blocks" meaning we take one main science class at a time with an Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM) class woven in throughout the entire year. The first class of the year was Anatomy (11 weeks long), and  currently we are in a class called Molecular Basis of Medicine, MCBM, (cell biology/biochemistry/genetics). The spring will consist of a body-systems based physiology course and finally Neuroanatomy (6 weeks long) to finish out the year. ICM consists of various lectures on medical ethics, psychiatric disorders, human development, sexuality, health policy, etc. Between science blocks we will have a dedicated ICM week, for example after anatomy we had a dedicated "Behavior Week." ICM also consists of a small group of 10 people that meets once a week mostly to practice patient interviewing skills. In early December, we have our first video recorded interview of a "standardized patient" (an actor).

Moving from Anatomy to MCBM for class has been a big adjustment. Anatomy is all about spatial relationships of observable structures, whereas, MCBM is dedicated to the "invisible" reactions of the human body. Since there is no dissection in MCBM, they basically added more lecture time in the day. Anatomy consisted of 3 written exams and 3 practical exams. Practical exams consists of 50 questions in the laboratory. Most of the questions involved a red string looped around a structure on the cadaver. Others included X-Rays, or questions regarding a bone that is laying at the station (didn't like those).  MCBM has 3 short (30 minutes) and 3 long (3 hours) exams. We had a long MCBM exam before the break and it felt like as much information as the Anatomy course final....

"Typical" Anatomy Day:

Lecture: 9am-12pm

Lunch: 12-1pm

Dissection: 1-3:30pm

Gym: 4-4:30pm

Study: 5-7pm

Dinner/TV: 7-8:30pm

"Study": 9-1am (quotes because I am often distracted by computer/phone during that time....)


Thanks for the blog post Jeff!

I'm thinking that "Life with Dr. Jeff" is going to become a regularly featured segment on the Huebel Hammock :)

Then: August 2007.

Now: White Coat Ceremony August 2012

Here's a couple other brother posts:
Bro & Sis
Trip to Florida

3 years ago:  Tree Trimm'in

2 years ago: We're Here!

1 year ago: Maui Sailing Trip

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Houston Beer Week

Before Ross headed to the ranch, we were able to make it to Houston Beer Weeks's "Draft Festival".  Each ticket ($40) got you 12 beer tastings, to be redeemed at the booths of your choice. There were ~40 breweries present and a handful of restaurant booths.

It was a beautiful, sunny day-- not a bad way to enjoy some beer.

Dad, Mom, & Ross. This was right after Dad told us that since he was the DD, he better go get some cider... Last time I checked the alcohol content of cider is higher than most beer!

Chicken Mole Taco... spicy!

I love candid shots.

Listening to the band in the shade. This is about the time we realized that most of the booths weren't even marking Mom's punch card-- so she traded with Ross.

Bumper sticker on the cooler of a true craft brewer: "If God wanted us to filter our beer, he wouldn't have given us livers"

Breweries at Craft Week:

512	Deschutes	No Label
Austin Beer Works	Eel River	Oskar Blues
Avery	Franconia	Peticolas
Bear Republic	Great Divide	Rahr & Sons
Boulevard	Hops & Grain	Real Ale
Brooklyn	Independence	Revolver (tentative)
Buffalo Bayou	Jester King	Saint Arnold
Cedar Creek	Karbach	Sierra Nevada
Clown Shoes	Lakewood	Sixpoint
Crazy Mountain	Lazy Magnolia	Southern Star
Crispin	Leprechaun Cider	Squatters
Deep Ellum	New Belgium	Stone
Texian	Victory	Wasatch

I'm pretty sure that Ross had quite a few more tastings than he originally signed up for. Mom, Dad, & I just couldn't hang so we pawned them off on Ross. He wasn't complaining though.

Next year they need more food booths...

3 years ago:  How to Share

2 years ago: Leaving on a Jet Plane

1 year ago: Woodsey Sunset

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Stamp Club

I went to a "Stampin' Up" party a couple weeks ago with my friend Sierra-- she's a regular, I was the interloper.

Stamp Club is hosted at Jackie's house; she's a Stampin' Up rep but she also has a pretty amazing craft room. There was a couple vacancies at the Nov meeting due to the holidays, so Sierra invited me to be her guest.

Crafts for 3 hours? make 3 original stationary cards? Food/gossip break in between? Sign me up!

It was pretty amazing and I definitely was able to scratch my crafting itch.

Sierra, stamping away.

 First card. Check out the perforations all the way around!

 Stamp'in buddies.

The hostess keeps an archive of every card she's ever made. I liked this little owl cut out...

My Sunday creations.

 And the back of course...

Fun!

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