Ortho - Prayers

Last Friday, I went to my monthly appointment with my oncologist. It was a bit surprising to see this doctor I had never seen before come in. Dr. K was on spring vacation with her kids. I'm glad she took that time to spend with her family. The other oncologist was very nice and he gave me the name of another orthopedic surgeon. I called as soon as I got home, but I was rejected again.

I had called many offices, looked online, had written emails to practices... I didn't know what else I could do. I just wanted someone who would be able to deal with my cancer and my medications. I didn't want to bother others, but I had to resort to asking a friend (whose husband is a doctor) if he had any connections at U of C Hospital. Unfortunately, those connections were in another department.

At this point, I felt a bit discouraged. What else could I do? And, in the meantime, my shoulder had been hurting more because someone had enthusiastically bear hugged me, with a lot of love, the night before. On top of that, my left arm/shoulder has been hurting more often because I have been using it more.

On Wednesday, my friend called me and told me that she had a friend who was an orthopedic hand surgeon. To make a long story short, the surgeon gave my friend the name of an orthopedic shoulder surgeon. I called the office but the doctor is on vacation. I am going to call him on Friday.

Please pray that I will be able to see this doctor.

Matcha Rice Flour Cupcakes

If you are Asian, this is a recipe that you will want to keep. Unlike the usual flour cupcakes, these cupcakes are chewy and not overly sweet. Your parents will like it. Your grandparents will like it. Your in-laws will like it. You will too. I have made these numerous times, and each time it has been a big hit.

BTW, matcha is green tea powder. You can find it at a Japanese grocery store, online, or even a larger Korean grocery store. It is a bit on the pricey side, but the taste is so good! My sister-in-law helped to make these. I forgot to take pictures but she took a picture of the finished product with her cool phone.

*Sungai Unni, you need to make these! Go to the market today!

Matcha Rice Flour Cupcakes
adapted from humblebeanblog.com
Makes 24 cupcakes

1 lb. sweet rice flour or 1 box of Mochiko
1 cup of honey powder
1 tspn. baking powder
3 tspn. matcha
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups of milk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 can of sweetened red bean paste
large cupcake tins
small ice cream/cookie dough scooper

• Mix honey powder, beaten eggs, milk, and oil in a bowl. 
• Mix and sift rice flour, baking powder, and matcha in a separate bowl.
• Add half of the dry mixture into the wet and mix.
• Add the last half of the dry mixture into the wet and mix.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Using a small ice cream scooper, place one scoop of mixture into each cupcake tin.
• After you have filled 24 cupcake tins, go back and place a small spoonful of the red bean paste in the middle of each tin.
• When you have placed the red bean in the center of each cupcake tin, go back and place one more scoop of the batter over the red bean paste.
• Bake for 30 - 40 minutes.
• The tops of the cupcakes should be slightly golden brown when done.
• Let cool on a cookie rack.
• Eat when completely cool.

Shopping

There was a time in my life when I could shop all day. I would go with my sister and spend the whole day at the shopping mall. I don't know how we did it. We would just go from store to store looking at different things. We would try stuff on. We would get each other's opinions on things. If she was wearing something that was mine, my sister would usually get some permanent stain on it. We didn't get tired.

After having children, shopping took on a new dimension. When we had A1, I would force my husband to walk around the mall. We needed the exercise... We didn't have much money but we would just walk around with the masses. He dreaded those days. One time, he was walking around... asleep. Try to explain that one. He was literally walking, pushing the stroller, and asleep. This was before the days of those "sitting areas" for guys who are there with the women they love.

Then we had A2 and then A3. After that, I tried to avoid the mall. Too busy. Too many people. Too long of a distance for little feet to walk. Too tired. But, I did know where all the bathrooms were. (Helpful tip: Nordstrom's has the best bathrooms).

Yesterday, I went to an outlet mall with my sister-in-laws (just realized that) (my brother's wife and my husband's sister). We went to a few stores that my sister-in-law from Korea wanted to go to. We were thankful that she got some good deals on her purchases. She was actually shocked at how "cheap" some of the things were (compared to how much they would be in Korea). We only went to four stores, but by the end of our time, I was completely exhausted - no energy. I couldn't walk anymore. The limitations of my body surfaced once again. Kind of annoys me. Kind of makes me sad.

On a side note, my brother's wife tricked me into going to a store that sold knives. She said that I should just look at the knives at the outlet to compare with the prices at other stores. We went in and looked at the knives. I didn't want to purchase one without my husband so I casually looked around. The salesperson let us cut some carrots while answering some of my s-i-l's questions.

Well, to make a long story short. My Korean s-i-l said that she had wanted to purchase a knife for us. I told her that my husband was going to get one. Then, after asking many questions about the knives, my brother's wife said that she was going to purchase it. She said that she couldn't go home if she didn't get one for me. A fight to pay for it occurred. I didn't even have a chance. Imagine the salesperson seeing these three Asian women fighting to pay for this knife.

I am blessed...