Ok I never thought I'd be the one to admit this but there are times in life when you can be to frugal!! Most of the time I'm a firm believer that name brands are NOT better than off brands and I had a really great time putting a certain brother in law in his place once with my "generic frito chill pie"--lol!! He was such a snob at the time and we were a very young, married with kids struggling family. Listening to him go on and on about how he would NEVER buy generic labeled food and that there is a HUGE difference in taste and quality of generics over name brand, and how buying his clothes at the mall guaranteed his were of better quality than those at the discount stores, left me with the need to show him otherwise. So I made a local favorite for our region better known as "Frito chili pie" I used the cheapest of meat, generic season packets, generic corn ships and generic cheese all of which I took out of the bright yellow labeled bags so they couldn't be identified as generic, and had him over for dinner. It had been years since he had had this and he ate 3 bowls full and went on and on about how good it was---all the time I laughed my head off as he polished off the last of it. Then me being me I gleefully informed him he had just eaten generic food and showed him the bags--lol!! It was the best fun I'd had in a while at the time and I will always remember the look on his face as he enjoyed his humble pie--lol!!!!
So the frugal streak in me continues to this day but this time the joke is on me!! I have a dry eye condition along with some other things going on in my eye and the specialist recommended these eye drops that you can only purchase through an eye care professional. I bought one box to the tune of $22 for 30 vials which only last about three weeks if I use them as much as the doctor wants me to and thought they were great and did notice a big difference in the comfort of my eyes. But at $22 a box and needing to use more than one box a month I thought I surely could find something over the counter that was a thick and cushioning as these were. I went to the discount store and found a box of THICK eye drops for severe dry eyes that where only $12 for a box of 30 vials. I was gleeful as I left thinking I was saving a huge amount per month and went home to try them out. This box advertised all the same comforts and benefits of my "doctor recommended eye drops" and even included the caution that they would make your vision blurry when you first place them in our eyes because they are so thick. I figured they would be the exact same as the expensive ones but one drop in and there was a difference!!! The cheap drops are like putting in liquid silicon and the blurriness lasted several minutes not 30-40 seconds like the doctor drops. After about 10 minutes the comfort these drops provided wore off and my eyes HURT and BURNED---it's 15 hours later and they still feel uncomfortable!! It feels like a layer of something was placed on my eyes and then someone SCRAPED it off---ugh!!!
I'm stuck at the house with my two boys and grandson, I'm out of the good eye drops and no way of running to the eye specialist to purchase some more until late afternoon. I have learned my lesson to listen to the doctor and do what he wants and not worry about the money!! Sometimes it's well worth the extra few dollars!! I only hope that I didn't make the eye condition worse by using the cheap stuff. Lesson learned!! I humbly repent for thinking I knew better than the man that spent YEARS becoming a specialist.
But I think we will have cheap chili pie tonight for dinner just to remind me that sometimes fugal is just as good--lol!!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Forever a parent/Daddy the Hero!
When I was little I had this image of me growing up becoming and adult getting married and leading my own live independent of my parents--after all I was going to be the "grown up" Well for the most part that statement is true as I did grow up, became an adult and have lived independently from my parents for one little tiny part. That is the part in which I still need advice whether asked for or not--lol!! and most of all those little things like help with the kids, coming when I'm sick, taking me to the doctor when I couldn't drive myself and things like that.
When John and I became parents for the first time I realized in a very big way that I was NEVER going to stop being this babies mom---that even though my role in his life may change I was always going to be mom. Our role in the life of our four grown up kids have changed, after all they don't need me telling which socks match the outfit they are wearing or need me nagging at them to brush their teeth before bed but they still very much need us.
Last night John's cell phone rang at 2:30 in the morning--it was our son in love calling to say he just got off the phone with our daughter and she was home scared to death. Since he works the midnight shift there was nothing he could do for her, so her Daddy calls to see what the matter is. She doesn't answer which is unnerving to say the least so I call her." A" answers in a hysterical panic to the point that I think she is hyperventilating. I finally get out of her that she heard sirens and then the police telling someone to get out of the car and she thinks they are right in front of her house. now this might not sound so scary to the average person but she has never lived in the city and had to deal with being home alone with the thought of someone getting arrested right outside your window---with all the stories on TV about people running from the law and breaking into peoples homes it has her scared to be alone. She has made huge strides in this during the past year because she had a baby and now had someone at the house with her but just let her think someone could be milling around her house and the tears of fear start falling.
The funny thing is this is not the child that was afraid of the dark growing up nor is this the child that was very clingy as a young child. THIS IS OUR VERY STUBBORN and VERY INDEPENDENT child. The one that NEVER NEEDED HELP,NEVER ACCEPTED HELP and HAD TO DO THINGS FOR HERSELF ALL THE TIME!!! She was the one that made us pull our hair out at the end of the day because of her independence and stubbornness. At the same time she was also our child that had the most compassion for people and would bend over backwards to help someone else in need.
So when I talked to her and could hear the fear in her voice I knew she wasn't going to get over this with just a phone call. Then she asked if we could come get her and I knew she needed us to be "Mommy and Daddy" just one more time. Her dear Daddy who is still recovering from a hernia repair, not moving around all that well and still having a lot of pain laid there for about two minutes trying to see if she would calm down but then jumped out of bed,got dressed and drove to her house to "rescue" her and the baby and bring her back to our home where she could feel safe and secure. It seems "daddies" little girl is always going to be "daddies" little girl no matter how old she gets or how many kids she has for herself. And most of all Mom and Dad's house is always open for when they need that little bit of security that they had when they were a child and being with mom and dad made all things better.
Oh and I think this year for Christmas we are going to give out GERMAN SHEPHERDS--lol!! after all we old people need our sleep--lol!!
When John and I became parents for the first time I realized in a very big way that I was NEVER going to stop being this babies mom---that even though my role in his life may change I was always going to be mom. Our role in the life of our four grown up kids have changed, after all they don't need me telling which socks match the outfit they are wearing or need me nagging at them to brush their teeth before bed but they still very much need us.
Last night John's cell phone rang at 2:30 in the morning--it was our son in love calling to say he just got off the phone with our daughter and she was home scared to death. Since he works the midnight shift there was nothing he could do for her, so her Daddy calls to see what the matter is. She doesn't answer which is unnerving to say the least so I call her." A" answers in a hysterical panic to the point that I think she is hyperventilating. I finally get out of her that she heard sirens and then the police telling someone to get out of the car and she thinks they are right in front of her house. now this might not sound so scary to the average person but she has never lived in the city and had to deal with being home alone with the thought of someone getting arrested right outside your window---with all the stories on TV about people running from the law and breaking into peoples homes it has her scared to be alone. She has made huge strides in this during the past year because she had a baby and now had someone at the house with her but just let her think someone could be milling around her house and the tears of fear start falling.
The funny thing is this is not the child that was afraid of the dark growing up nor is this the child that was very clingy as a young child. THIS IS OUR VERY STUBBORN and VERY INDEPENDENT child. The one that NEVER NEEDED HELP,NEVER ACCEPTED HELP and HAD TO DO THINGS FOR HERSELF ALL THE TIME!!! She was the one that made us pull our hair out at the end of the day because of her independence and stubbornness. At the same time she was also our child that had the most compassion for people and would bend over backwards to help someone else in need.
So when I talked to her and could hear the fear in her voice I knew she wasn't going to get over this with just a phone call. Then she asked if we could come get her and I knew she needed us to be "Mommy and Daddy" just one more time. Her dear Daddy who is still recovering from a hernia repair, not moving around all that well and still having a lot of pain laid there for about two minutes trying to see if she would calm down but then jumped out of bed,got dressed and drove to her house to "rescue" her and the baby and bring her back to our home where she could feel safe and secure. It seems "daddies" little girl is always going to be "daddies" little girl no matter how old she gets or how many kids she has for herself. And most of all Mom and Dad's house is always open for when they need that little bit of security that they had when they were a child and being with mom and dad made all things better.
Oh and I think this year for Christmas we are going to give out GERMAN SHEPHERDS--lol!! after all we old people need our sleep--lol!!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
There is a brain!!
The ENT's office called to say--YOU REALLY DO HAVE A BRAIN and it looks good--lol!! What a relief! I was hoping they would say that i had an exceptional brain and that my hubby should listen to me more but I'll take a good looking brain--lol!!
I had an MRI done 10 days ago to help rule out things for why I'm still having some dizzy unstableness. The doctor was confident that the scan would be clear but we needed to do it anyway as they had to rule out tumors on the brain. I have been praying that the doctor would get clear results from any and all test run and that we would get to the bottom of this so I can get on with the abundant life God has for me. So far there are no tumors, no ear infection, no fluid behind the ears but also no relief from that disconnected unstable balance I have been feeling now for over 7 weeks.
The good news is I'm getting better and better every day. I have actually driven the car a few times with another person with me which a HUGE improvement and I can make it through the store to buy groceries without having to sit down or leave because it feels like I'm fainting. I still have yet to go shopping alone but I"m working on it ( so watch out honey 'cause once I can manage around those stores on my own I plan on making up for lost time--lol!!) . The new computer with the LED screen has cut down on the eye disturbance and in turn cut the dizziness, this has allowed me to venture out of the house and walk without holding on to someone. The kids and I have made it through the zoo twice and can go do fun play dates once again!!! You never realize all that you take for granted until you no longer are able to do something.
The one thing I have been forever grateful is that GOD AND HIS WORD NEVER CHANGES I am still the healed no matter what outward symptoms try to hang on and disrupt me!
I had an MRI done 10 days ago to help rule out things for why I'm still having some dizzy unstableness. The doctor was confident that the scan would be clear but we needed to do it anyway as they had to rule out tumors on the brain. I have been praying that the doctor would get clear results from any and all test run and that we would get to the bottom of this so I can get on with the abundant life God has for me. So far there are no tumors, no ear infection, no fluid behind the ears but also no relief from that disconnected unstable balance I have been feeling now for over 7 weeks.
The good news is I'm getting better and better every day. I have actually driven the car a few times with another person with me which a HUGE improvement and I can make it through the store to buy groceries without having to sit down or leave because it feels like I'm fainting. I still have yet to go shopping alone but I"m working on it ( so watch out honey 'cause once I can manage around those stores on my own I plan on making up for lost time--lol!!) . The new computer with the LED screen has cut down on the eye disturbance and in turn cut the dizziness, this has allowed me to venture out of the house and walk without holding on to someone. The kids and I have made it through the zoo twice and can go do fun play dates once again!!! You never realize all that you take for granted until you no longer are able to do something.
The one thing I have been forever grateful is that GOD AND HIS WORD NEVER CHANGES I am still the healed no matter what outward symptoms try to hang on and disrupt me!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Vacation on the fly
Friday morning John called to say PACK THE BAGS HONEY WE ARE OUT OF HERE!!!-lol!! He has been wanting to go to Branson where his sister lives for some time now and the work stress was at it's all time high so a break was in order. All I could think when he first called was how often God wants us to be instant in season and out so I put aside my feelings about leaving town on a holiday weekend and heading to the vacation mecca for the tristate area and packed the bags.
To be truthful I DID NOT WANT TO GO--I have been feeling "off" in my physical body for so long and I'm having some inner ear disturbance, so the thought of going on all those windy, hilly,curves was not my idea of a great vacation but I knew how much John needed to get away so I put on my happy face and sucked it up. Life isn't supposed to be "all about me" but more about what can I do for others. I so wanted to say "what are you thinking man!! I can't even walk for more than a quarter mile without feeling like I'll fall down and you want to go to the "walking capital of the world" not to mention car sickness that has developed over the last few months and being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic." But it really isn't all about me.
We made it out the door before noon and pulled into my sister-in-loves house by three. She had moved into this house over 2 years ago and wanted us to come visit and see it but we just never had the money or time to get up there. I love my sister-in-love to pieces as we have a great relationship to the point that most people think we are the ones related as sisters and not John and her-lol!! Because she lives in Branson she can get tickets to shows and events at discounts-we are TALKING HUGE discounts--lol!! The only trouble was they don't sell tickets to locals until 30 minutes before the shows so there is a chance you won't get any--and on a holiday weekend it was darn near impossible--lol!! We made it to the chinese acrobats but left without taking any pictures of the boys with the performers! I cant believe this was our first real vacation with the boys and I didn't get a single picture of it at all--just goes to show that being an older mother sometimes means you FORGET things--lol!!! I did manage to do a little bit of shopping despite the fact that I felt sick and dizzy the whole time. John took the boys with our brother in law to the fish hatchery and they had a wonderful time and later that evening he and Pete went fishing which was the refreshing fun filled time John was seeking in the first place. I ate some shrimp on sunday lunch that didn't agree with me at all and showed how much it didn't agree with me while at an outlet mall--ugh!! My sister in love was a good sport about it though and we would run to a store take a quick peek inside and see if there was anything we wanted than go to the next restroom visit--we repeated this for about an hour when I discovered I had some pepto in my purse and after I took it and felt like it had kicked in we headed back to her house( there was no way I was leaving a working toilet to sit in bumper to bumper traffic without some relief.) of course we had a great laugh about all the "possible" hillbilly toilets we could fashion along the way home--lol!!! It really is wonderful to have someone who shares your since of humor when in a time of distress.
While John was out fishing on sunday evening I sent him a text and asked if we could go home when he got back even though they weren't coming home till after 10. He surprised me with saying YES!!!! So at 11:10 in the evening we loaded up the car and headed home!! Even though we got home at 2 .Am. I was so excited to be back home I had a hard time falling asleep--lol!!
Colton and Braden had a wonderful time playing with Uncle Pete and they held up well with all the car trips to the strip with the promise of going to the 'cowboy' show that we never got to see because it kept selling out before the "local" ticket time came around. Since Colton doesn't always pronounce words correctly we all got a kick out of him calling Uncle Pete -- Uncle PEE !!! Everyone waiting on the outside porch at Olive Garden let out a chuckle when he would run around saying Uncle PEE Uncle PEE!!!--lol!! We visited Janice and Pete's church on Sunday morning and the boys walked right in to the classroom like they owned the place -- this was the first time they had ever visited a different church and I was worried how they would do( the teacher didn't look to frazzled when we picked them up so I assume they did OK--lol!!)
After we got home my dear hubby admitted that the windy roads were "getting to him" and since he didn't have an inner ear issue it must have been "not fun" for me( AAAH YA THINK DEAR!!!!), he was glad when I texted him and asked if we could go home early and not wait till morning. All the way home I kept thanking him for taking me home and not making me wait till morning when all the vacation traffic heading home would be bumper to bumper.
Our vacation on the fly wasn't as fabulous as we had wanted but it meant the world to John for me to be willing to GO as he needed the break and it meant the world to me that he was willing to LEAVE when I felt like I couldn't take traveling home in heaving traffic with intestinal distress.
Next time we will plan things better when we are BOTH feeling great and there isn't a holiday that weekend!!
To be truthful I DID NOT WANT TO GO--I have been feeling "off" in my physical body for so long and I'm having some inner ear disturbance, so the thought of going on all those windy, hilly,curves was not my idea of a great vacation but I knew how much John needed to get away so I put on my happy face and sucked it up. Life isn't supposed to be "all about me" but more about what can I do for others. I so wanted to say "what are you thinking man!! I can't even walk for more than a quarter mile without feeling like I'll fall down and you want to go to the "walking capital of the world" not to mention car sickness that has developed over the last few months and being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic." But it really isn't all about me.
We made it out the door before noon and pulled into my sister-in-loves house by three. She had moved into this house over 2 years ago and wanted us to come visit and see it but we just never had the money or time to get up there. I love my sister-in-love to pieces as we have a great relationship to the point that most people think we are the ones related as sisters and not John and her-lol!! Because she lives in Branson she can get tickets to shows and events at discounts-we are TALKING HUGE discounts--lol!! The only trouble was they don't sell tickets to locals until 30 minutes before the shows so there is a chance you won't get any--and on a holiday weekend it was darn near impossible--lol!! We made it to the chinese acrobats but left without taking any pictures of the boys with the performers! I cant believe this was our first real vacation with the boys and I didn't get a single picture of it at all--just goes to show that being an older mother sometimes means you FORGET things--lol!!! I did manage to do a little bit of shopping despite the fact that I felt sick and dizzy the whole time. John took the boys with our brother in law to the fish hatchery and they had a wonderful time and later that evening he and Pete went fishing which was the refreshing fun filled time John was seeking in the first place. I ate some shrimp on sunday lunch that didn't agree with me at all and showed how much it didn't agree with me while at an outlet mall--ugh!! My sister in love was a good sport about it though and we would run to a store take a quick peek inside and see if there was anything we wanted than go to the next restroom visit--we repeated this for about an hour when I discovered I had some pepto in my purse and after I took it and felt like it had kicked in we headed back to her house( there was no way I was leaving a working toilet to sit in bumper to bumper traffic without some relief.) of course we had a great laugh about all the "possible" hillbilly toilets we could fashion along the way home--lol!!! It really is wonderful to have someone who shares your since of humor when in a time of distress.
While John was out fishing on sunday evening I sent him a text and asked if we could go home when he got back even though they weren't coming home till after 10. He surprised me with saying YES!!!! So at 11:10 in the evening we loaded up the car and headed home!! Even though we got home at 2 .Am. I was so excited to be back home I had a hard time falling asleep--lol!!
Colton and Braden had a wonderful time playing with Uncle Pete and they held up well with all the car trips to the strip with the promise of going to the 'cowboy' show that we never got to see because it kept selling out before the "local" ticket time came around. Since Colton doesn't always pronounce words correctly we all got a kick out of him calling Uncle Pete -- Uncle PEE !!! Everyone waiting on the outside porch at Olive Garden let out a chuckle when he would run around saying Uncle PEE Uncle PEE!!!--lol!! We visited Janice and Pete's church on Sunday morning and the boys walked right in to the classroom like they owned the place -- this was the first time they had ever visited a different church and I was worried how they would do( the teacher didn't look to frazzled when we picked them up so I assume they did OK--lol!!)
After we got home my dear hubby admitted that the windy roads were "getting to him" and since he didn't have an inner ear issue it must have been "not fun" for me( AAAH YA THINK DEAR!!!!), he was glad when I texted him and asked if we could go home early and not wait till morning. All the way home I kept thanking him for taking me home and not making me wait till morning when all the vacation traffic heading home would be bumper to bumper.
Our vacation on the fly wasn't as fabulous as we had wanted but it meant the world to John for me to be willing to GO as he needed the break and it meant the world to me that he was willing to LEAVE when I felt like I couldn't take traveling home in heaving traffic with intestinal distress.
Next time we will plan things better when we are BOTH feeling great and there isn't a holiday that weekend!!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
An apple a day.......
WOO HOOO!!!!! I finally got an apple computer!!!! I'm so excited as I have wanted one for so many years and now my prayers have been answered!!
John and I were planning on getting a new computer for me after we moved as mine was a little over the hill and slightly running a bit faster than a turtle on a hot summers day--lol!! After a visit to the specialist John decided it would be best to go ahead and get it now. We are finally getting some answers to all the dizziness I have been having and I'll share the details once all the test are completed ( it will be another month till they are all in so don't expect it soon-lol!!), But in the mean time the doctor said that the old computer screens and tv's have a scrolling line that my eyes are picking up on and that is part of what is keeping me so unbalanced. That meant a new computer screen was in order and since I had been LUSTING over the iMAC at Best Buy for months now my wonderful hubby surprised me with getting it for me.
So this is my very first post on my dream computer!! It might take me a few weeks or months( or years to be honest--lol!!!) to figure it all out but I'm thrilled. The greatest blessing of all is that after having had such a hard financial year last year that we had the money to pay CASH for the computer. God's word has been working in all areas of our life and we are seeing the fruits of hard work and obedience coming in on every wave!!!!
I never dreamed last summer I would be at the place were we are at right now and so I owe God all the glory for what He has blessed us with. So THANK YOU FATHER FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND ARE CONTINUING TO DO!!!
Now I'm off to "play" with my new toy some more-lol!!
John and I were planning on getting a new computer for me after we moved as mine was a little over the hill and slightly running a bit faster than a turtle on a hot summers day--lol!! After a visit to the specialist John decided it would be best to go ahead and get it now. We are finally getting some answers to all the dizziness I have been having and I'll share the details once all the test are completed ( it will be another month till they are all in so don't expect it soon-lol!!), But in the mean time the doctor said that the old computer screens and tv's have a scrolling line that my eyes are picking up on and that is part of what is keeping me so unbalanced. That meant a new computer screen was in order and since I had been LUSTING over the iMAC at Best Buy for months now my wonderful hubby surprised me with getting it for me.
So this is my very first post on my dream computer!! It might take me a few weeks or months( or years to be honest--lol!!!) to figure it all out but I'm thrilled. The greatest blessing of all is that after having had such a hard financial year last year that we had the money to pay CASH for the computer. God's word has been working in all areas of our life and we are seeing the fruits of hard work and obedience coming in on every wave!!!!
I never dreamed last summer I would be at the place were we are at right now and so I owe God all the glory for what He has blessed us with. So THANK YOU FATHER FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND ARE CONTINUING TO DO!!!
Now I'm off to "play" with my new toy some more-lol!!
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