Where the voices get to come out of my head and ramble elsewhere...
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
a (non) update
Nothing really new to report on this week. Baby is doing good. Baby heartbeat is good. Baby movement is good. My bp was elevated some but not enough to be concerning. The hernia is still there and painful. I have no change in dilation. I'm still measuring huge (now 39 weeks and I'm not yet 37) but what else is new. The strangers I've come in contact this weekend will tell you I'm huge... We have an appt next Monday and we'll see what happens then. Come on baby.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Rite Aid Score
12 Desitin
2 Johnson's baby wash
1 bag of M&Ms
TOTAL COST: $6.89
Cost of one Desitin normally: $4.99 ....say what?!?!
Total SAVED: $65.38
Percentage of savings: 90.47%
Desitin and J&J products are on sale at RA this week for 2.99 with 2UPS back. With a 1.00 coupon that makes them $1.99 and I had UPS to use. Very very thankful for my new coupon group with some gals--we've been swapping coupons so I had 12 Desitin coupons to use! ... I did three transactions between two different stores spending $1.84, $2.68, and $2.38 be/c I tore off the new UPS from each receipt to use on the current transaction. It's amazing. Completely amazing. They basically paid me a ton to take their product off the shelves yesterday! (I don't want to seem like a shelf cleaner, so I will say that at the first store the product was limited, but I did leave 2 Desitin on the shelf, only taking four. And at the second store, the product was well stocked, so I took the 8 more I wanted and still left at least that many.)
We're set on Desitin for the YEAR and I think the same probably goes for the baby wash. I've got about 6-8 bottles now stocked up. So so happy about the little things we don't have to shell out full price for anymore! It is so worth it!
Besides this, not pictured I scored some awesome dove deodorant this week--four bottles for free and some nearly free ziplock bags at RA. I am LOVING this store.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Hi Belly
One of my most favorite things is working with pictures. Specifically pictures of my children. My sweet friend Meg has taken "belly pictures" for me now each time. I can't believe the amazing work she does. She has a way of making me feel beautiful. I love her so much. I want to give her all the props I can and I want to promote her site. Take a trip over HERE to see other pictures she's taken! Also, enjoy these... she took so so many, this isn't even a tiny bit of what she took, but I've tried to narrow down some favorites per outfit. I'm so glad we got to get these done this time, especially with Baby Bear being a little bit drama filled these days!
hands on the belly
Mark talking to the baby
Matthew kissing baby
both boys kissing baby
I love this family shot!
and this one, even with Matthew's craziness
Mark goofing
Matthew goofing
This pose was recreated from when we did Mark's pics
Matthew finding the baby
Just me and Jamie
Daddy talking to baby
Daddy holding us
Fun
"Greek Goddess"ish pic
outside
laughter
thoughtful
grow, sweet baby
hello baby
Lord, please protect this baby
Thank you God for this baby
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Practice.
Harmph.
Tuesday night I woke up near every half hour in back pain. Lots of back pain. I couldn't get comfortable for anything, I just kept changing positions and crying and whimpering and turning over and moaning and... yah, you get the picture.
Yesterday morning was bad. I sat here in this chair blogging/emailing for a few minutes but then spent most of the morning in back stabbing pain on the couch. When it came time to take Matthew to preschool, I was near crying again and could barely get in the car. I made it to preschool and got Matthew dropped off in tears and came back home with Mark. I didn't know if I was in labor or not but it sure felt like it could be.
After some phone calls, Jamie was on his way home to get me, K was at the office ready to receive me to be rechecked and Nancy was on her way to collect Mark. I moaned most of the way to the hospital. It felt like there were knives stabbing my back on and off. A few abdominal contractions also coupled the back pain as we drove. At the office, I was checked and still a two. So that was surprising given how much pain I was in. We were sent to the hospital for pain meds and for an IV. She said if the labor was real, the pain meds would help calm me, make me sleep, and the IV would help something I forget. When I woke up, I should be dilated further... If the labor wasn't real, the contractions should stop. Ohhhh kaay.
Well after sitting through registration and then getting in a gown and hooked up to the baby monitors we started the always fun (not) IV adventure with the first nurse who blew the first IV attempt but was very very sweet and said she wouldn't try again and went to get someone else. However, the someone else was um, less than pleasant, I'm serious... Attila the Hun walked in to do the second attempt, I died a little inside. When she left, Jamie goes "yah, she looked like a digger". Yah... she was obviously annoyed with my little veins and when I asked her to please not try my hand again that normally no one can find it in my hand, she kind of groaned at me about how she'd "trrrry" to find one in my arm, but probably not. Yah whatever, I had like FIVE attempts with Mark. I know what I'm talking about. WHY can't nurses respect and listen to the patient about stuff like this??? I'm not making it up. Anyhow, she found one in my arm she was satisfied with and stuck it in there. And missed the vein. And I cried and I grabbed the bed and begged her to stop... be/c she had started DIGGING around for it. DEAR GOD if you can't find it, STOP TRYING! It was probably less than 30-40 seconds, but it felt like five minutes she sat there digging around looking for the vein, me crying, her telling me to hold still, me thinking "I CAN DO OUCH ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO OUCH STRENGTHENS ME. GOD MAKE HER STOP". It was awful.
Once the IV was in though, it was sort of smooth sailing. The first nicer nurse came back over and got the baby back on the monitor since the IV experience made the baby swim away. I dozed in and out. Jamie was so nice and wonderful. Eventually the bag of solution reached the bottom and the nurse came back and was ready to recheck me.
I was still at a two. No change. False labor. Are you kidding me?! The amount of pain I was experiencing in the morning was anything but false, however if the contractions aren't opening up things down there, they can't do anything about it if you aren't ready to deliver. I was offered a shot in my bottom that I refused. I wasn't really feeling pain anymore by then anyhow, it was more soreness and discomfort, so we were discharged.
I slept the ride home and ate a bite and crawled into bed where I stayed for another 3 hours. At some point Jamie collected the boys and I think fed them, last night was foggy. I made it to the computer to update facebook and eat a small bowl of cereal and then crashed on the couch for another couple hours drifting in and out before heading back to bed where I slept SOUNDLY. I think I did roll around a couple times, but for the first night in a long time I felt like I actually got rest. So that's good.
Soooo we'll chalk yesterday up to practicing. Nice huh? If it were up to me, they would have started the pitocin yesterday and gotten it over with. But I didn't get to vote. LOL. I have had enough practice now, so whenever you are ready to come out Baby Bear, please just come on. No more spoofin.
Tuesday night I woke up near every half hour in back pain. Lots of back pain. I couldn't get comfortable for anything, I just kept changing positions and crying and whimpering and turning over and moaning and... yah, you get the picture.
Yesterday morning was bad. I sat here in this chair blogging/emailing for a few minutes but then spent most of the morning in back stabbing pain on the couch. When it came time to take Matthew to preschool, I was near crying again and could barely get in the car. I made it to preschool and got Matthew dropped off in tears and came back home with Mark. I didn't know if I was in labor or not but it sure felt like it could be.
After some phone calls, Jamie was on his way home to get me, K was at the office ready to receive me to be rechecked and Nancy was on her way to collect Mark. I moaned most of the way to the hospital. It felt like there were knives stabbing my back on and off. A few abdominal contractions also coupled the back pain as we drove. At the office, I was checked and still a two. So that was surprising given how much pain I was in. We were sent to the hospital for pain meds and for an IV. She said if the labor was real, the pain meds would help calm me, make me sleep, and the IV would help something I forget. When I woke up, I should be dilated further... If the labor wasn't real, the contractions should stop. Ohhhh kaay.
Well after sitting through registration and then getting in a gown and hooked up to the baby monitors we started the always fun (not) IV adventure with the first nurse who blew the first IV attempt but was very very sweet and said she wouldn't try again and went to get someone else. However, the someone else was um, less than pleasant, I'm serious... Attila the Hun walked in to do the second attempt, I died a little inside. When she left, Jamie goes "yah, she looked like a digger". Yah... she was obviously annoyed with my little veins and when I asked her to please not try my hand again that normally no one can find it in my hand, she kind of groaned at me about how she'd "trrrry" to find one in my arm, but probably not. Yah whatever, I had like FIVE attempts with Mark. I know what I'm talking about. WHY can't nurses respect and listen to the patient about stuff like this??? I'm not making it up. Anyhow, she found one in my arm she was satisfied with and stuck it in there. And missed the vein. And I cried and I grabbed the bed and begged her to stop... be/c she had started DIGGING around for it. DEAR GOD if you can't find it, STOP TRYING! It was probably less than 30-40 seconds, but it felt like five minutes she sat there digging around looking for the vein, me crying, her telling me to hold still, me thinking "I CAN DO OUCH ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO OUCH STRENGTHENS ME. GOD MAKE HER STOP". It was awful.
Once the IV was in though, it was sort of smooth sailing. The first nicer nurse came back over and got the baby back on the monitor since the IV experience made the baby swim away. I dozed in and out. Jamie was so nice and wonderful. Eventually the bag of solution reached the bottom and the nurse came back and was ready to recheck me.
I was still at a two. No change. False labor. Are you kidding me?! The amount of pain I was experiencing in the morning was anything but false, however if the contractions aren't opening up things down there, they can't do anything about it if you aren't ready to deliver. I was offered a shot in my bottom that I refused. I wasn't really feeling pain anymore by then anyhow, it was more soreness and discomfort, so we were discharged.
I slept the ride home and ate a bite and crawled into bed where I stayed for another 3 hours. At some point Jamie collected the boys and I think fed them, last night was foggy. I made it to the computer to update facebook and eat a small bowl of cereal and then crashed on the couch for another couple hours drifting in and out before heading back to bed where I slept SOUNDLY. I think I did roll around a couple times, but for the first night in a long time I felt like I actually got rest. So that's good.
Soooo we'll chalk yesterday up to practicing. Nice huh? If it were up to me, they would have started the pitocin yesterday and gotten it over with. But I didn't get to vote. LOL. I have had enough practice now, so whenever you are ready to come out Baby Bear, please just come on. No more spoofin.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Baby Appt update / kindness
Baby Update:
Yesterday we had an ultrasound appointment. I will say that afternoon appointments are for the birds. Having a 3pm appt and not being seen until 4:10 sucks. That's all about that though. :)
The baby is doing good. It was a joy to see him or her again. Oh the profile... so so sweet. If I knew how to work the scanner there would be a picture on this post, but I'm clueless in that department. The thing that makes me smile about the profile picture is the sweet ultrasound lady (God bless her, she's so wonderful) goes "who has a prominent chin?" hehehe Jamie does... she said "this baby's chin, look at that, do you see that?" It's so cute. She was able to tell me that the baby has hair. HA! No bald babies in our world.
... on to the other stuff though...
-The hernia that we were made aware of last week is still there, still sore, but thankfully not concerning my midwife, K. So that's good.
-Baby is big. Baby's head is measuring 38 weeks 2 days *note yesterday we were only 35 weeks and 4 days. Right now though the estimated weight is 6 pounds 7 ounces. This of course can be give or take up to two pounds, so who knows. All I know is that if that is right, add half a pound per week and we're going to have a BIG BABY. Sigh.
-Also, they want fluid levels between 5-20 and mine is "slightly elevated" at 21.14.
-Also, last piece of information to include, is that in one week I went from a 1 to a 2 dilation.........
soooooo, we have a lot of variables going on but all in all K is pleased with the baby, the hernia and where we are. She's a little concerned with the size, but not enough to merit panicking yet. So we have another appt scheduled for next week unless we go into labor before then.
Stay safe sweet baby with your daddy's chin.
Kindness:
I need to take a moment to thank some people. I'm not sure if they even read this regularly or at all, but it can't go without being said.
Nancy, I'd be at a total loss without you. You are the glue holding my life together right now.
Nic, I can't believe you'd drop everything and come down, spending your tax money on me. ...well, I can believe it, I should believe it, but it's crazy and I love you and I can't wait to see you TOMORROW NIGHT!
Meg, thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you for my pictures. I don't even have them yet but I don't care. I know you did amazing and I'm so blessed by you gifting me this session of love for my family and for this new baby coming.
Since I'm not sure some would want to be publicly recognized or not I'll use some initials ...
W, thank you for cleaning my bathrooms last week. It so needed to be done and it is not something just anyone would do for someone else, come and clean the nastiest part of your house... thank you.
A, thank you for cleaning my whole house yesterday. MY WORD. I can't get over how clean it smells in here, how nice things look, how much you did while I was gone... I can't get over your generosity. Wow. Wow. Wow. I walked around my house last night just gasping at all that was done. Wow. Thank you.
M, thank you so much for keeping A's children for her to be able to come clean for me. You both are blessings.
Yesterday we had an ultrasound appointment. I will say that afternoon appointments are for the birds. Having a 3pm appt and not being seen until 4:10 sucks. That's all about that though. :)
The baby is doing good. It was a joy to see him or her again. Oh the profile... so so sweet. If I knew how to work the scanner there would be a picture on this post, but I'm clueless in that department. The thing that makes me smile about the profile picture is the sweet ultrasound lady (God bless her, she's so wonderful) goes "who has a prominent chin?" hehehe Jamie does... she said "this baby's chin, look at that, do you see that?" It's so cute. She was able to tell me that the baby has hair. HA! No bald babies in our world.
... on to the other stuff though...
-The hernia that we were made aware of last week is still there, still sore, but thankfully not concerning my midwife, K. So that's good.
-Baby is big. Baby's head is measuring 38 weeks 2 days *note yesterday we were only 35 weeks and 4 days. Right now though the estimated weight is 6 pounds 7 ounces. This of course can be give or take up to two pounds, so who knows. All I know is that if that is right, add half a pound per week and we're going to have a BIG BABY. Sigh.
-Also, they want fluid levels between 5-20 and mine is "slightly elevated" at 21.14.
-Also, last piece of information to include, is that in one week I went from a 1 to a 2 dilation.........
soooooo, we have a lot of variables going on but all in all K is pleased with the baby, the hernia and where we are. She's a little concerned with the size, but not enough to merit panicking yet. So we have another appt scheduled for next week unless we go into labor before then.
Stay safe sweet baby with your daddy's chin.
Kindness:
I need to take a moment to thank some people. I'm not sure if they even read this regularly or at all, but it can't go without being said.
Nancy, I'd be at a total loss without you. You are the glue holding my life together right now.
Nic, I can't believe you'd drop everything and come down, spending your tax money on me. ...well, I can believe it, I should believe it, but it's crazy and I love you and I can't wait to see you TOMORROW NIGHT!
Meg, thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you for my pictures. I don't even have them yet but I don't care. I know you did amazing and I'm so blessed by you gifting me this session of love for my family and for this new baby coming.
Since I'm not sure some would want to be publicly recognized or not I'll use some initials ...
W, thank you for cleaning my bathrooms last week. It so needed to be done and it is not something just anyone would do for someone else, come and clean the nastiest part of your house... thank you.
A, thank you for cleaning my whole house yesterday. MY WORD. I can't get over how clean it smells in here, how nice things look, how much you did while I was gone... I can't get over your generosity. Wow. Wow. Wow. I walked around my house last night just gasping at all that was done. Wow. Thank you.
M, thank you so much for keeping A's children for her to be able to come clean for me. You both are blessings.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
whatever is lovely 2
So last year, I wrote this out after Valentine's Day...
I find myself thinking "I don't like February" some times. But right now I'm trying to focus on JESUS instead of my circumstances. And when I focus on Jesus, I find myself being thankful. Grateful. And I find my thoughts drifting to this amazing man that HE has given to me. I'm so blessed by Jamie. And I'm so grateful for his love. I'm so blessed by him and by our relationship. I'm so thankful for the valleys we've come through so that we can stand strong when we are on the mountain peaks. Thank you God for Jamie and thank you for all the valleys and mountains we have come through and those we've yet to walk through--together.
I'm also very blessed by the children He's given me. All of them. I can't believe at the end of this month, it will be a year since we lost another babe to Heaven and three years since our first angel went Home. I'm so so blessed by my boys. I love Matthew and Mark more than words can say. They truly have completed me in ways I didn't know I needed to be completed. There is nothing better than being a mom. As I await the arrival of this new life inside me, I'm again amazed at the beauty of life. I'm so thankful for LOVE. Love of the Father in Heaven who gives life. Love of the Father in Heaven who IS life.
Thank you Jesus for being my FIRST LOVE. Thank you for FIRST LOVING ME. Help me to be the wife and mother I need to be for my husband and my children.
As Valentine's Day approaches, let us remember the best gift of all from the one who loves us the most--- Christ died on a tree so that you and I could truly be free. Thank you Lord for loving me enough to die for me.
As the things in this world seem to be crashing around, I need to be mindful of where my thoughts are. I want them focused on JESUS CHRIST, not on the circumstances before me. I need to train my mind to think on these things:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8
I find myself thinking "I don't like February" some times. But right now I'm trying to focus on JESUS instead of my circumstances. And when I focus on Jesus, I find myself being thankful. Grateful. And I find my thoughts drifting to this amazing man that HE has given to me. I'm so blessed by Jamie. And I'm so grateful for his love. I'm so blessed by him and by our relationship. I'm so thankful for the valleys we've come through so that we can stand strong when we are on the mountain peaks. Thank you God for Jamie and thank you for all the valleys and mountains we have come through and those we've yet to walk through--together.
I'm also very blessed by the children He's given me. All of them. I can't believe at the end of this month, it will be a year since we lost another babe to Heaven and three years since our first angel went Home. I'm so so blessed by my boys. I love Matthew and Mark more than words can say. They truly have completed me in ways I didn't know I needed to be completed. There is nothing better than being a mom. As I await the arrival of this new life inside me, I'm again amazed at the beauty of life. I'm so thankful for LOVE. Love of the Father in Heaven who gives life. Love of the Father in Heaven who IS life.
Thank you Jesus for being my FIRST LOVE. Thank you for FIRST LOVING ME. Help me to be the wife and mother I need to be for my husband and my children.
As Valentine's Day approaches, let us remember the best gift of all from the one who loves us the most--- Christ died on a tree so that you and I could truly be free. Thank you Lord for loving me enough to die for me.
As the things in this world seem to be crashing around, I need to be mindful of where my thoughts are. I want them focused on JESUS CHRIST, not on the circumstances before me. I need to train my mind to think on these things:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
baby in there
I haven't been posting many baby updates with this pregnancy, but I'm trucking along and getting closer to the finish line, so I'm guessing there will be more.
Yesterday I had a normal check up/appointment and it was eventful to say the least.
Dilated to a one already. That could mean something, that could mean nothing.
Oh yah, and I have a hernia... which explains why I feel like this child is coming out THROUGH my belly button. At night sometimes I just cry. I can't get comfortable. There is so much pressure. I thought it was be/c of a foot pressing on me or something, nope. Add one more to the "if it will happen, it will happen to Kate" theory.
Next week we have an ultrasound scheduled to check on baby's size and the fluid levels. We'll see what's going on at that point, if anything has changed with the hernia. Bad news is there is really nothing I can do. Tylenol that's it. Really bad news, if it doesn't heal on it's own after delivery, I'm looking at surgery 6 weeks post pardom. Great.... super great....
SOOO. I know God can do miracles and I'm going to start believing that this hernia will go away. I will NOT need surgery with a tiny one at home. And we'll make it to the most healthy delivery date we can. For me and baby bear in there.
...funny on Sunday, a girl in Matthew's Sunday school class said "Are you pregnant again?!" And I said "well, I'm still pregnant. It's the same baby still" (I'd been subbing in the class a couple weeks ago). She said "well, you need to go to the doctor get that baby out for real". How right you are little one.
Yesterday I had a normal check up/appointment and it was eventful to say the least.
Dilated to a one already. That could mean something, that could mean nothing.
Oh yah, and I have a hernia... which explains why I feel like this child is coming out THROUGH my belly button. At night sometimes I just cry. I can't get comfortable. There is so much pressure. I thought it was be/c of a foot pressing on me or something, nope. Add one more to the "if it will happen, it will happen to Kate" theory.
Next week we have an ultrasound scheduled to check on baby's size and the fluid levels. We'll see what's going on at that point, if anything has changed with the hernia. Bad news is there is really nothing I can do. Tylenol that's it. Really bad news, if it doesn't heal on it's own after delivery, I'm looking at surgery 6 weeks post pardom. Great.... super great....
SOOO. I know God can do miracles and I'm going to start believing that this hernia will go away. I will NOT need surgery with a tiny one at home. And we'll make it to the most healthy delivery date we can. For me and baby bear in there.
...funny on Sunday, a girl in Matthew's Sunday school class said "Are you pregnant again?!" And I said "well, I'm still pregnant. It's the same baby still" (I'd been subbing in the class a couple weeks ago). She said "well, you need to go to the doctor get that baby out for real". How right you are little one.
Monday, February 7, 2011
my new love
I've discovered a new love... it's called the Rite Aid. They have a program very similar to CVS where you get "store money" printed on your receipt for certain items based on what's on sale that week...
Last week was my first Rite Aid (RA) visit. I signed up for their in-store card (wellness something or another) and spent 4 dollars on two jars of peanut butter. It was BOGO and then you got two of their "bucks" back which are called Up Rewards (UPs). Not bad. So I paid for one and got two and got 2UPs to spend later.
Today was later.
I bought 4 Gillette men body wash for cheeeeeap! They were on sale 2 for $8 (limit of two). So I made two separate transactions. I paid 2.48 for the first two washes with my coupons (two of $2/1 ...found in RP??? or PG??? 1/30) and my two UPs from the peanut butter. I got three UPs back on that receipt. I tore those off, and did the second transaction of two washes with two coupons and the three UPs. Hello! I paid 1.48 for the second two AND got 3 more UPs back for a later date. Sooo because I'd be lost at that math if I were reading it... I spent $3.96 on FOUR body washes that should have been $4.00 EACH! Cha-Ching!
I wanted the "later date" to be today, they also had a nice Betty Crocker deal I have coupons for, however the shelf was empty. I was told they'll get a truck in tomorrow and I can check back. I may call first and see if there are any on the shelf before heading out again, but I was pretty pleased with basically buying one body wash and getting THREE FREE!
I'm beginning to think I'm going to reallllly like RA! (Look out CVS!)
Last week was my first Rite Aid (RA) visit. I signed up for their in-store card (wellness something or another) and spent 4 dollars on two jars of peanut butter. It was BOGO and then you got two of their "bucks" back which are called Up Rewards (UPs). Not bad. So I paid for one and got two and got 2UPs to spend later.
Today was later.
I bought 4 Gillette men body wash for cheeeeeap! They were on sale 2 for $8 (limit of two). So I made two separate transactions. I paid 2.48 for the first two washes with my coupons (two of $2/1 ...found in RP??? or PG??? 1/30) and my two UPs from the peanut butter. I got three UPs back on that receipt. I tore those off, and did the second transaction of two washes with two coupons and the three UPs. Hello! I paid 1.48 for the second two AND got 3 more UPs back for a later date. Sooo because I'd be lost at that math if I were reading it... I spent $3.96 on FOUR body washes that should have been $4.00 EACH! Cha-Ching!
I wanted the "later date" to be today, they also had a nice Betty Crocker deal I have coupons for, however the shelf was empty. I was told they'll get a truck in tomorrow and I can check back. I may call first and see if there are any on the shelf before heading out again, but I was pretty pleased with basically buying one body wash and getting THREE FREE!
I'm beginning to think I'm going to reallllly like RA! (Look out CVS!)
Friday, February 4, 2011
Friday Shopping at a glance
Here are my totals from shopping today.
CVS rocked this morning! Spent $13.80 with using 6 ECBs before the cash), SAVED $39.94 AND received 11 ECBs. ROCK ON. That is the last edition of the Mega awesome Wisk sale! So we are STOCKED on laundry soap for the house. I do want to find some killer deal on Dreft if it's possible before the baby comes and stock on that, be/c I am brand picky about newborn clothing laundry, but otherwise, we are golden in the laundry department.
Publix: Spent $11.63, SAVED $28.41 actually NOT as good as I was expecting. Some how I spent about 6 bucks more than I thought I would so I reviewed my receipt and the culprit is some how I picked up 4 of the 7 muffin mix I bought were not on the BOGO. or at least not listed as such. I still bought them with a coupon, so I'm pleased that I got a deal on them, but not as good as I thought. And I thought I was getting only BOGO items. If the cashier wouldn't have been a flighty clueless person, I would have stopped to look at this there, be/c I really was shocked at the price. Not that 11.63 is bad, but I was expecting between 7 and 8. ... I may go back tomorrow with the not BOGO boxes and my receipt and see what's what. ... is 6 dollars that worth it to me? that will be the question in the morning...
But, here's the pic from Publix today:
Pickles (nope, not for me. I do NOT crave pickles, I don't even like pickles) on sale and with coupon final price was $0.39 cents per jar.
Muffin mix: on sale and with coupon final price should have been $0.29 cents per box. Three of these were that and three were only $1.19 each
And the super winner: Olive oil. Normal price $6.99. Took each bottle home today for $1.99!!
Kroger: Spent $167.15, SAVED $73.24 ....more than I was expecting, but I bought our meat for the month and that always throws me off. I'm going to show you a picture of just the MEGA EVENT deal items. I was pretty pleased with this stuff. So you buy ten items, you get $5 off your total. I have thirty items here (so $15 off total and I paid these prices for them):
Kleenex at $0.66 per box
Goldfish at -$0.01 per box (yup, I got paid a penny to buy goldfish today)
Kens Salad dressing: $0.69 each
Ritz: $1.99
Ketchup: 1.99
apple juice: 1.99 each
pudding mix: $0.59 each
desitin: 1.50 each
Listerine 1.50 each
popcorn: 1.24
~~~~~
All in all, not a bad day!
Total spent: $192.58
Total saved: $141.59
Earned: 11 ECBs from CVS AND $1.50 off next purchase from Kroger.
I'm over budget, but I had babysitting money, so I'm cool with it. Unless there are just some seriously super nearly free or free deals next week, I wont be buying anything thanks to menu planning and our stockpile. YAY!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Jan recap
Let's start with money...
I spent $371.62 which is over my budgeted amount but I ended up with extra thanks to babysitting money, so I'm not burdened with this like I was in December. Good grief December STUNK money wise. I will be much more prepared for December this year thank you very much! My budget is 360 for the month, divided out I get $180 every other week on pay day for grocery spending. This includes all groceries, cleaning supplies, laundry, paper products, diapers... So, $371.62 sounds pretty good to me, knowing that I had my grocery allowance and some on top still in my purse!
In spending $371.62, I saved $340.57 for a saving percentage of 47.82% !!! This knocks out October and November's savings by far. My goal is to get at least 50% or higher in savings verses spending and I'm getting there!
Right now things I don't need to buy again for a LONG time include:
-toothpaste (I think Jamie has 15, I have 5 or 6, Matthew has one spare)
-shampoo (I think we're at 11 spares)
-baby soap/shampoo (7 spares)
-wipes (I have about a two month supply thanks to Amazon Mom)
-laundry soap (we have 9 and I have a rain check for 6 more, thank you CVS for your killer sale on Wisk when the $2.00 coupon came out!)
I'm not going to list food items all out but I'm really pleased with where my stockpile is going right now. I'm needing some deals on jelly and ketchup and toilet paper and paper towels, but they will come, I'm sure.
One other thing, is I didn't realize JUST how much trying to stock up on the grains was going to be hard.... I've got rice and pasta and oatmeal coming out my shelves and we're no where near close to even one person's six month supply. I may just try to get things at a two week supply and then move forward to a month, two months, etc. Perhaps I bit off to much in my desire to go go go !
Book wise:
-I still haven't finished "Scream free parenting"... I'm close to the end but for some reason having a hard time finishing it. I want to go through it though and review my notes (yes I write in my books) and make the best of what I've tried to glean from it. I will say that I haven't agreed with all he's said to do, but it has helped some and I have taken much from it.
-I have started Sense and Sensibility and wow... it's been a long time since I read something that really took effort to sift through it. I like the story and where it's going, but her writing is hard for me to take in with all the distractions of mommy-hood. I used to read things like this in HS and college, it's nice to go back to a familiar place.
OT wise:
Well, we're still without right now. But we're also making slow slow progress. EVERY SINGLE DAY he has taken a bite of something at dinner. Sometimes it was A, one, single blueberry or A, one, single corn kernel, but it was something. Something is more than nothing. Yesterday, Matthew and I listed out each and everything he tried either by touching it to his mouth or by biting it and it was pretty cool to see it all listed out! (this was possible be/c I wrote on the calendar each day what he tried). We promised that we'd do the same thing in February. Every single day, try something new... I know he can do this. I know we're getting better. But the hard days are just so so hard still and seem like the world is ending when they appear. It's hard to not lose focus but I need to just keep reminding myself that THE DEVIL WILL NOT HAVE OUR MEAL TIME. And we shall overcome this!
Mark:
Mark had his 2 year well check visit, finally! It was postponed once be/c he was sick and then postponed again be/c of our week of snow, but he finally went in. He's wonderful. He is growing and excelling. What's funny is that I see him as a little pudgy. He's got a little belly on him, but he's only in the 25% for weight his age. I was like, "really?" so even though I think he's built maybe a bit more like me, maybe both my boys will be skinny dudes like their daddy.
Pants:
Speaking of skinny... Matthew is in size fives now... however 5R (regular) fallllllls off him. We've reached a new kind of stupid in clothes for kids... he needs 5 S (slim) pants for them to stay on. He for sure has his daddy's build.
Baby wise:
Baby is doing good. He or she is so active. So so active. Each and every night it feels like there is a soccer game going on in my tummy. As soon as the boys are in bed and I sit down to rest on the couch with Jamie, this kiddo starts kicking a ball around. Bam! Bam! Bam! from one side to the other side to the other side. As much as I could complain about it, I really try not to. I'm very thankful for this gift God has given me of reassurance each night that everything is okay and Baby Bear is doing well. -- or at least doing. I go back to see Kendra on Monday. I can't believe we're approaching the end... NEXT MONTH, our miracle baby will be here. Craziness.
Well, I guess that's all the updating for now.
I spent $371.62 which is over my budgeted amount but I ended up with extra thanks to babysitting money, so I'm not burdened with this like I was in December. Good grief December STUNK money wise. I will be much more prepared for December this year thank you very much! My budget is 360 for the month, divided out I get $180 every other week on pay day for grocery spending. This includes all groceries, cleaning supplies, laundry, paper products, diapers... So, $371.62 sounds pretty good to me, knowing that I had my grocery allowance and some on top still in my purse!
In spending $371.62, I saved $340.57 for a saving percentage of 47.82% !!! This knocks out October and November's savings by far. My goal is to get at least 50% or higher in savings verses spending and I'm getting there!
Right now things I don't need to buy again for a LONG time include:
-toothpaste (I think Jamie has 15, I have 5 or 6, Matthew has one spare)
-shampoo (I think we're at 11 spares)
-baby soap/shampoo (7 spares)
-wipes (I have about a two month supply thanks to Amazon Mom)
-laundry soap (we have 9 and I have a rain check for 6 more, thank you CVS for your killer sale on Wisk when the $2.00 coupon came out!)
I'm not going to list food items all out but I'm really pleased with where my stockpile is going right now. I'm needing some deals on jelly and ketchup and toilet paper and paper towels, but they will come, I'm sure.
One other thing, is I didn't realize JUST how much trying to stock up on the grains was going to be hard.... I've got rice and pasta and oatmeal coming out my shelves and we're no where near close to even one person's six month supply. I may just try to get things at a two week supply and then move forward to a month, two months, etc. Perhaps I bit off to much in my desire to go go go !
Book wise:
-I still haven't finished "Scream free parenting"... I'm close to the end but for some reason having a hard time finishing it. I want to go through it though and review my notes (yes I write in my books) and make the best of what I've tried to glean from it. I will say that I haven't agreed with all he's said to do, but it has helped some and I have taken much from it.
-I have started Sense and Sensibility and wow... it's been a long time since I read something that really took effort to sift through it. I like the story and where it's going, but her writing is hard for me to take in with all the distractions of mommy-hood. I used to read things like this in HS and college, it's nice to go back to a familiar place.
OT wise:
Well, we're still without right now. But we're also making slow slow progress. EVERY SINGLE DAY he has taken a bite of something at dinner. Sometimes it was A, one, single blueberry or A, one, single corn kernel, but it was something. Something is more than nothing. Yesterday, Matthew and I listed out each and everything he tried either by touching it to his mouth or by biting it and it was pretty cool to see it all listed out! (this was possible be/c I wrote on the calendar each day what he tried). We promised that we'd do the same thing in February. Every single day, try something new... I know he can do this. I know we're getting better. But the hard days are just so so hard still and seem like the world is ending when they appear. It's hard to not lose focus but I need to just keep reminding myself that THE DEVIL WILL NOT HAVE OUR MEAL TIME. And we shall overcome this!
Mark:
Mark had his 2 year well check visit, finally! It was postponed once be/c he was sick and then postponed again be/c of our week of snow, but he finally went in. He's wonderful. He is growing and excelling. What's funny is that I see him as a little pudgy. He's got a little belly on him, but he's only in the 25% for weight his age. I was like, "really?" so even though I think he's built maybe a bit more like me, maybe both my boys will be skinny dudes like their daddy.
Pants:
Speaking of skinny... Matthew is in size fives now... however 5R (regular) fallllllls off him. We've reached a new kind of stupid in clothes for kids... he needs 5 S (slim) pants for them to stay on. He for sure has his daddy's build.
Baby wise:
Baby is doing good. He or she is so active. So so active. Each and every night it feels like there is a soccer game going on in my tummy. As soon as the boys are in bed and I sit down to rest on the couch with Jamie, this kiddo starts kicking a ball around. Bam! Bam! Bam! from one side to the other side to the other side. As much as I could complain about it, I really try not to. I'm very thankful for this gift God has given me of reassurance each night that everything is okay and Baby Bear is doing well. -- or at least doing. I go back to see Kendra on Monday. I can't believe we're approaching the end... NEXT MONTH, our miracle baby will be here. Craziness.
Well, I guess that's all the updating for now.
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