Saturday, December 29, 2012

I knew this would happen

Getting sick over the Christmas break...

....and its not just me either....

My baby, 2 and 6 year old are all fighting colds/coughs and everything in between.

I dont think I felt like this in a long time; which is odd because I usually get over sicknesses rather quickly.

This all started when I went to pick up my daughter from school on the last day before winter break.  When she started to talk about her throat hurting and soon after a fever came, i already knew this "vacation" was going to be different then I had hoped.

What makes things even worse is that my 2 year old wants to lay up on everyone and he doesnt know how to cover his mouth when he coughs or sneezes....and we dont want anymore germs.

I cant give my baby or 2 year any meds because they are too young and that mean I just have to let this cold take it's natural coarse; which means it will be some long days and nights around here for a while.

Part of me thinks maybe I should have let them get the flu vaccine that was offered at their doctor's office....well you live and you learn.

I had so many plans for this Christmas break.......

.......Zoo, Movies, Having a few dinners out, special projects around the house.....but nope.

 It's been laying around, taking meds, keeping kids washed/cleaned, changing bed sheets (to aviod sleeping in germs), and drinking tons of hot tea and water.

I got my fever, 102.4, Christmas Eve!  I was able to get it lowered by soaking towels in egg white and putting them on my feet and then socks.  It worked like a charmed but I was still feeling kinda crappy...straight through until now.

The good thing is that my husband has been off from work so he's here to help out.  Im not sure how I would be able to do this with him working or more importantly..traveling.

I seriously dont want him to get sick so I have been having him take some meds just in case.  He has a more sentitive stomach and any regular cold would cause server damage to him.

Currently, I'm just waiting for all of us to get better and move on.  With Christmas break over in 4 days it'll be back to regular life for us and I would like to be my normal self when that happen.


Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas & More....

Hello All, Wow, where has all the time gone?? Feburary?? Really....geez..

Well, first and foremost Merry Christmas to everyone of you.
 May the true spirt of Christmas influence our lives throughout the year!!

 Now for some updates.... First, I had my 3rd child.... a son, named Nicholas Bernard...
This was my 3rd c-section and I have to tell you...the surgery went fantastic...the recovery, well.....I am alive and healthy...lol.
 It was tough! Hard to walk and when I came home, I had a 2 year old and a 6 year old waiting to get my full attention. It was a tough start but we survived and now Nick, as we call him, is almost 3 months old and truly a joy!!

My husband got a new job as well and he is very happy where he works now. The last job nearly killed him because it was so stressful. His boss was a nightmare and a lair. But with a LOT of prayer, the Lord opened a door and made a way.

 I also traded in my Honda Pilot for a Honda Odyssey. Yes, I NEVER though I would be caught in a mini-van, but now I'm driving one and to be honest enjoying it. The vans nowadays are kinda cool.

On a personal note, I am still trying to deal with worrying and anxiety. I tell you, I keep thinking something is wrong with me. I go to the doctor and im fine.  Tests, Tests, Test...all clear.  Then I realize its all in my mind, and if I dont get myself under control...Im going to go insane and be committed to a mental hospital.  Relying on Jesus to heal my mind.

 My daughter, Isabelle, is enjoying her school and I'm telling you, I am too. They are Very nice people and I could see her staying there until 8th grade.

Soon, we are going to start potty training our 2 year old son and I have to tell ya, Im kinda nervous. Ive been told boys are harder than girls. Guess I better stock up on pull-ups and wipes. He already takes his diaper off whenever he is wet or has poop.  Im sure thats a sign that he needs to start heading to the toilet.

...........Well, thats it...in a nut shell.
 Its good to be back and in action again.

 I still can't believe its Christmas Eve. I feel like I just was at the Beach....lol.  Soon enough, it'll be summer again...and I'll be wishing for Christmas again...lol

 On that note, Im gonna enjoy this snow fall we are getting and spend some special time with my family.

 Again, Merry Christmas to you all & God Bless

Monday, November 26, 2012

Hello

Stopping by to say "Hello"! So much has happened since February, including a new addition. He's name is Nicholas and he's 7 weeks old. There is so much to tell....stay tuned!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Gotta Get Wiser with the Money

It seems to me that everything is going up as of late; gasoline, postage stamps and now our cell phone provider has pulled a rather "sneaky" move.

I check our sprint bill (which we have 2 phones through them) and notice the bill is $8 higher than usual.

Now that may now sound like a lot to most folks, but that will get me 2 gallons of gas in my tank.

Anyhow, my husband gets a discount through his employer and now Sprint has taken away the discount of the secondary phone (which is mine), but not the first phone....

Of coarse I don't find out until I log in and proceed to pay the bill.

Any other time they are trying to sell us something or begging us to get a higher costing plan, we get a full- stuffed letter in the mail.

Maybe they thought we wouldn't notice or even care to ask questions.

I tell ya, more and more everyday, I gotta get wiser and wiser, so we can continue to save some money; and not have our overall expenses go up.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Insurance Companies Are Some Scheming Folks

Ok, in my last post; I wrote about switching car insurance companies because my current company will only reduce my policy by $7.

So I shopped around and went with Esurance with was offering a 12 month rate for just $1,238.

That was A WHOLE lot cheaper than the $1,977 that Liberty Mutual was trying to bill us for.

So I go ahead, pay Esurance and oh, I get a nice gift card for switching!!

Today, I call Liberty Mutual to inform them that I wont be renewing our car policy with them and of coarse they ask why.

I told them frankly, I found another insurance company who was ALOT cheaper.

They asked, if it was ok to tell them how much and I said $1,238.

They said, if you can give us 10 min, we'll see what we can do.

We'll, I was kind of taken a back because I had ALREADY called a few days ago and asked for a cheaper rate; and since the best they could do what $7, I moved on.

These folks just called me back and said, we can keep your policy/coverage the same way it is and beat Esurance quote by $23 and give me a 12 month rate of $1,215!!!!

Wait, are you guys following me here???

All of a sudden, they can come down from $1,977 to $1,215???

Why in the world didnt they do this a few days ago?

Why did it take for me to purchase a policy from their competitor and call to cancel my business with them, to pull this stunt??

The agent then said, Insurance Companies dont like pulling people's insurance/driving records (which I didnt know existed) because it is a soft hit on they're credit report; so they just base people's policies on "general driving habits"...

Talk about being disgusted!!

You wanted to charge me $600+ more dollars because you didn't want to inconvenience me (yeah right) by pulling my insurance/driving record; when I called a few days ago asking for a cheaper rate??

I cant imagine all this time, my DH and I over paying because of this craziness.

We are staying with Esurance....

I'm glad I have the insider info now and it'll be going to good use.

I'm going to tell everyone I know....

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

I Saved $706 A Year By Switching To......

Esurance!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot even tell you how excited I am about this.

We have always gotten our Car Insurance Renewal Policy at the end of Janurary; and needless to say, I wanted to know what the yearly rate would be.

Imagine my shock when Liberty Mutual sent a bill for $1,944!!!

Wait......

$1,944???

Good Credit- Check
Excellent Drivers-Check
No points - Check
Pay On time - Check
No Claims filed- Check

So why the BIG increase?

Of coarse I give them a call and told them my concerns.

$1,944 was TOO high and I wanted to know if that amount can be lowered.

After a few minutes of working their "magic"; They said they could take $7 off the rate!

$7.00 was the BEST they could do......

I told the agent thanks and I proceeded to shop elsewhere.

After numerous quotes; Esurance (a company we were with in the past); gave us the Cheapest rate for practically the same coverage.

$619 every six months! Down from $972 every six months.

Just by spending a little time and shopping around.....

Another way of keeping more of our hard earned money in our pockets.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Sunday Night Chit-Chat-1st Timer

Hey yall,

I've been seeing you guys participate in this for the past few weeks, so I'd thought I'd join in.

Reading: Blog Posts & Forums

Watching: NOTHING! Don't feel like being depressed by the news and awards shows SUCK nowadays.

Listening: To myself chew loudly to this sweet mint gum by Orbit. I try to be polite but its so good. I think it may replace Winterfresh as my favorite!

Baking: Nothing at the moment. Did bake some Talipia for dinner and its my favorite fish! Yumm-O!

Happy I Accomplished This Week: Our Taxes! $2,113 Refund after making almost 6 figures is awesome! Was concerned we would have to pay! Thanking God for Mortgage Interest, property taxes, student loan interest and our 2 kids!

Looking Forward to next week: My DH going to a GI specialist Tuesday. Doctor thinks he may have a sour stomach and acid reflux.....poor hubby!

Thankful for Today: For being alive, our health and blessing and for God's love and mercy. Also for coupons! I love coupons!

Nite Nite All!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Honestly & Easy Ways to get extra $$$$$

I wanted to write up a post about ways I earn extra money for my home.

Although my husband makes a pretty good living, still I have come across some easy ways to earn a little extra.

Earning extra from these resources actually allows us to save money we wouldve spent out of our own checking account.

Surveys
I know it may sound weird, but there are many survey companies out there that are legitimate. I had one recently call my house. I actually had no idea who the number was from and one night decided to just pick up the phone. After answering some questions, they asked for my address to send me out $10. A few days later, in the mail was $10 cash in a envelope. Since then, I sent another survey back a few days ago and they are sending me $50 in cash, which should arrive today! That's $60 bucks for 30 minutes of my time. Yesterday, I received a post card from them asking me to fill out an online survey and they'll send me $25!

Reward Points
I have written about Amex before. Signing up with Amex is one of the BEST things my DH and I could've done. Amex is safe, secure and we have no limit balance. We also carry $0 balance since we pay off the card each month.

One thing Amex has is a rewards programs attached. You earn points and can redeem those points for Gift Cards. We were nearing 10,000 points; so I cashed 5,000 of those points in for a $50 Season 52 Restaurant Gift Card.

Same thing with Best Buy. Every time we purchases something we earn points. We now have enough to get a $40 Gift Certificate!

Writing Companies
One thing I've learned is that if I have a problem; its ok to make a little noise about it.

I bought bad meat once from a local supermarket. And although they refunded my money and let me pick out another meat for free; I wrote the supermarket headquarters and explain the situation and they sent me a $20 Gift card too.

Same with Hefty. I bought some kiddie cups for my kids and some of the cups had slits in the bottom; leaking the juice everywhere. I wrote them and they sent me a free product coupon.

The same happened with Huggies, 2 free coupons for diapers and a bunch of other coupons as well.

Reduce Bills
I have learned that either reduce our bills or finding special promotions as a way to get "extra" money because we dont have to pay it.

We signed up for a promotion with our cable provider for internet, phone and cable and are paying less than what we used too for these 3 services and the current services we have now are better. Just picking up the phone and asking them is all that it took.

What ways do you know of to earn extra $$$$???

Monday, January 23, 2012

Under the weather again......actually the 3rd time since september

I cannot believe I have a cold again.

My son caught it from someone in church, which now passed onto me and my daughter.

I tell ya, next year, me and the kids will be getting the shot.

.............With that said, I am finishing up dinner.

We are having wild caught salmon, salad and oven roasted potatoes.

I'm really hungry, to say the least and my mouth is super dry.

I'm hoping to rest more so I can get over this cold, but we'll see.

Hoping to watch Alice in Wonderland tonight (Johnny Depp version) and then the Republican debate.

My husband and I find them very entertaining; especially as of late.

Nite All

Friday, January 20, 2012

Is Night Time Fright Time?



As any parent would tell you, preparing a baby or child for bed is a rough task. Giving a snack, washing faces, brushing teeth, a bedtime story and finally, we wish that all is well.
At least that is what we hope.
Reality is, bedtime is like a 12 round bout with our little wee ones. As much as I try to follow what the countless parenting books suggest, night time in my home is everything but calm and quiet. If you happen to walk into my house at 9pm, you might hear crying, whining, jumping up and down on a bed, banging on a wall or just babbling to themselves.
It’s as if going to bed is like saying no more sweets or treats until you’re 18.
To help combat against this I have found a few things that help motivate my little ones to not only be happy about bedtime, but embrace it. If not now, they will when they start working!!!!
First, I’ve learned that kids will follow whatever you want them to by making it fun. We start with bath time. Crayola Bath Art Center is a great start! You can color the bath water; kids can paint the inside of the tub and even themselves! These easily washable, non-toxic crayons and paint are a great start to our night time festivities.
Next, washing them with Johnson’s Soothing Baby Wash relaxes them to the point of squeezing out a yawn or two before we leave the bathroom. Just the action I want to see; long and sometimes loud yawns from my little ones. Then we apply Johnson’s Soothing Lotion and we’re ready for the next phase of bedtime; teeth brushing.
After they are washed, dressed and teeth brushed, we say our prayers and pick out a book. One of the all time favorites is Good Night Moon! It’s a classic and a hit with the kids, plus it’s short and sweet. We then give our snuggle kisses to each of them and explain that sleeping gives energy to play outside the next day. No energy, no outside. That seems to be motivation enough.
Night lights are on and main lights are out. For the baby, Fisher Price makes a fabulous Rainforest Mobile that plays relaxing classical music with twinkling lights; enough to lure my little one to sleep.
Night time now is something that is looked forward to and now, appreciated in my home.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

No More Stressing From Me...

I'm back after a little break.

I continued to worry about my breast and just went ahead and made an appointment with a breast surgeon.

I couldn't take it anymore and it was affecting my life.

I had my appointment this morning and was anxious, to say the least.

Now, this surgeon had to cancel all his appointment yesterday because he was going to be in surgery all day.

He also is one of the top surgeons in my area...so I was happy to know that he would be seeing me.

I don't think my exam took more than 5 or 6 minutes.

He did another exam and even asked me if there was a spot I was concerned about.

I showed him and he felt.

He said I felt fine to him numerous times and didnt even suggest a mammogram or ultrasound.

He did ask me how long was I planning to nurse and I said another year or so.

He said fine and wanted to see me in 4 four months; but I felt fine to him.

I have to admit I again started to worry because I figured if I felt fine why do I have to come back....but I'm not going to worry about it.

I trust his assessment. He has operated on boobs many times and knows a bad lump when he feels one. In fact I dont have a lump, just dense tissue and milk ducts.

Sometimes, I could slap myself for worrying so much.

He did tell me to continue when the breast exams, which I will.

Thank God, I can move forward and learn from this situation.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Really, An Organic LED TV? Like, Seriously.....



Now there's an Organic LED TV....just great!

Really, how do you make an organic t.v.?

......Feed it recycled electricity?

Do they NOT know I'm trying to move my husband away in small steps.

And he doesn't like small t.vs, not even medium sized ones. They have to be BIG, really BIG!

Between this & the new PS4 I'm gonna lose this battle...LOL

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Chest Update

Ok, after a lengthy chat with my doctor last night she said that in her professional opinion I felt fine. She said I could see a breast surgeon to ease my mind.....but I felt fine.

Aunt Flo came to visit me the day after my original GYN appointment and she said that what's usually happens and the fact that im nursing explains it too.

So.... I go to do another breast exam on myself (even though she told me to wait and do the exam within a week AFTER my period) and my boobs feel fine. The "lumps/bumps" are practically gone, except for the small pebble like bumps from being a nursing mother!

I had my husband do an exam on me just to be sure and he said it feels normal and he believes it was my hormones from my impending "Aunt Flo" visit.

He also said that going to an breast surgeon is extreme if there was nothing wrong and I agree.

I will go on my doctor and husband's word and the fact that my boobs feel much better.

Now I wonder if my milk ducts were clogged or something; which I learned causes lumps too.

Knowing and understanding my breast now at 27 years old will help me when I get older.

One thing I can appreciate from this experience is getting to know my body. I have a better understanding of it and also not OVER analyzing things.

Being paranoid and worried all the time is no way for me to live and I need to trust my doctor, husband, GOD and my own body. Making something out of nothing will cause me stress and we all know stress kills!

Thanks everyone for listening.

Friday, January 6, 2012

My Love-Hate Relationship with my chest...-Update

Update*

Talked with Husband again and 2 nurses too!
I will settle down; relax and not worry.
The doctor who did the exam said that I not only felt fine but there were no masses.
So,I'll wait until I stop nursing and still do my exams and watch my breasts. My DH who did an exam on me too(he was here when I had my 2nd cyst removed) said he felt my milk ducts but nothing close to what I had when we first met. The nurse also told me, I may even have clogged milk ducts. Everyone keeps assuring me that my chances for breast cancer are slim and since I don't exhibit any signs and I get my annual exams, I'm fine. Also, mammograms are difficult to read while nursing so I would'nt get an accurate reading anyway. My Dh has mroe faith in my body than I do sometimes. We prayed and I'm confident GOD can and will heal my mind. I worry too much! Thanks guys for your words and advise.


I tried to put the title as nice and clean as possible.

Since I was 19, me and my breast have had a love-hate relationship.

1 big lump in each, which I had removed at 19 and 21.

They were just cysts; Thank GOD!

Fast forward to now, I go to my annual gyn exam yesterday.

I do Breast Exams often on my self and thought it felt weird that my breast, although no big lumps, felt bumpy/lumpy across the top.

Upon the doctor doing the exam, I expressed my concern and she said that they felt fine to her and I just have "lumpy/bumpy" breasts.

I started to worry and she said that I felt fine and I am young (I'm 27).

She also said that the fact I'm nursing my 1 year old son could play a factor as well.

Although, she said I was fine,I'm scared.

She said she'll see me next year even.

But I then start looking on the internet when I got home, which I dont know is good or bad; and became more than worried that I may have cancer or be pre-cancerous.

My Husband even told me to stop searching stuff online related to health.

I guess I expect my breasts to feel smooth like when I was a teen.

Maybe all breast are different....

I also asked her if it was ok to have one breasts bigger than the other. She said ALL women have one breast bigger than the other and it was normal.

I have some crazy anxiety issues and my husband even said I worry myself to much.

Last year, I went to the doctor so much and had many tell me that I'm fine and even one told me to "settle down".

I'm thinking of just getting a referral for a mammogram and be done.

I dont know, you guys have any advice or words?

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Me Make New Year's Resolutions?? Nah.......



It the past, I have made many, MANY New Years Resolutions.

They have ranged from, not being stressed, to losing weight to saving more money.

And as usual, by mid-Feburary, I have either forgotten the resolutions or have no interest in keeping up with them anymore.

This time around, I decided NOT to make any resolutions.

And it felt quite good to be honest.

I realized that as long as I do my BEST in what every situation I am in, then that covers any and all resolutions that I could come up with.

What about you. Did you make any New Years Resolutions?

Its Over......boo hoo :-(



Vacation that is.

Its both back to work and school time for this household.

That means no more sleeping in late, hanging out, etc.

I have some posts lined up and can't wait to share them with you all.

Until then, Good Morning Everyone!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year......now going back to sleep.


Hope you all have a Happy New Year.

I feel asleep at 8:45pm and am still tired.

I cant do midnight anymore, really; actually, ever since I had kids, my bedtime get earlier and earlier.

We'll I'm off, I am enjoy this time off from blogging and enjoying my DH time off. He goes back to work Tuesday and I'll return then.

Good Night, got church tomorrow.