Blessed Frugalness Times Two With Twins

What the Week Has Held

2009-07-05T12:20:00.001-07:00

I would love to report that EVERYONE is well however, that is NOT the case. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a very Happy 4th! We are all still working long hours and harvesting more fruits and veggies than we should be blessed with......praise the Lord!

I went to the eye doctor this week to find out that my eyes had each changed three points and finding out that new glasses would be around $400 + (the pair I want is actually $529), I will be getting my information and using Zenni optical (online) to purchase 2 pairs with sunshade clip-ons for less than $100!!!

I have a new endeavor going on; I have acquired a customer to buy numerous jars of my peach salsa and chow chow weekly. I am very excited about this as it will be a yearly thing and not just a summer thing. I made 54 pints of peach salsa Monday.

I have the sinus/throat yuckies once again and will be seeing the doctor tomorrow. I got our vehicle tags on Monday. We already had a farming tag for the Durango but opted to get one for the new truck as well.

Mason fell head first at daycare Friday onto black asphalt and I rushed him to the doctor since the blood under the skin was forming a weird pattern. He also has a gash on the forehead (there is also a huge bruised area) as well and a skinned nose. The exam showed no signaficinant damage. His leg was hurting only to got through numerous x-rays and blood work to find he has an infection. It was so bad by Friday night that he could not even walk. He had pink eye earlier in the week and passed it on to John, only to have it again this morning.

John (little) got up vomiting bile and and a little blood yesterday morning, it only got worse as the day wore on, so Hubby and I took him (my friend Connie, took care of Mason) to Children's hospital in Birmingham to the er about 5:30pm when nothing we were doing was working. After numerous doses of lab work and such , he has a tummy bug. He is better today and we are being very, very careful monitoring what he is eating and drinking and the amounts. Mason then got up with runny yuckiness this morning.

The Clorox wipes are in full force at the Mc household today (Lysol too)! We should own stock in those companies! LOL!

The boys will be having their pictures made Tuesday at school, Masonwill really have a shiner to smile about! LOL!

The only fireworks we saw were at 9pm last night on the way home from the hospital. John could not have his allergy meds last night due tot he tummy virus, so he and I were up and down most of the night last night. I hope tonight is better!

Hubby went to church today and I stayed with the boys. I took about an hours nap while they were napping, now, if I only had some energy!

We heard that the calls for interviews will start this week for the job hubby applied for. We also heard that they have narrowed it down to 41 out of 200 applicants, he is one of the 41!!!! Yay!!! Noe, they will narrow it to 7..........we are very hopeful! Please keep praying!

Have a wonderful week and I am missing blogging and my blog buddies but we are blessed to be able to do what we do (farming) and working so close with the Lord and our family! Hope to see you all soon!

Blessings!

Updates

2009-06-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hi again! I hope all is going well. The majority of the time I am reading at least most of your blogs but sometimes I do not have the time or energy. right now I am commenting very little due to lack of time/energy. We are busy, busy, busy here. We are averaging picking 400 or more 8 quart baskets of peaches 6 days a week. then there is the garden and other orchard crops as well. The markets are going well and all is booming. We are so blessed!

I am better just a lot of drainage. The strep is gone! Yay for that!
My Daddy is better except the cough.
My mom's biopsy was NEGATIVE!!!!! Praise the Lord! She goes back in September for a recheck.
My cousin's baby, Brennan went home from the NICU and is doing well.
The other cousin's baby Annsley is fighting hard to stay here on earth. The next 24 hours are critical. She is in the NICU. She is 4 weeks old, born at 32 weeks gestation. Her intestines are dying and we are praying.
My mom's brother passed away last Wednesday morning in North Carolina.
My Mom's sister Mary gave us the news of her mouth cancer on Friday. More surgery to come.
My nephew that left his wife and children has signed divorce papers and was in a serious accident Saturday morning while off duty. He had been to a party and left, flipped his jeep and then another jeep driven by his brother hit his and flipped him several more times. I suspect there is a strong chance he will be fired from the police force. He had broken bones in his back and his pelvis is cracked as well as a minor head injury. He is still in a Birmingham hospital.

We are a very close knit family and everything affects each one of us.

We should here something of hubby's job application this week.

We were off yesterday, the first time in what seems like weeks. I am home today even though i had to go to the office this morning for two hours. Ive made 48 jars of peach salsa that i have sold for tomorrow and have appointments and errands to run shortly. I will see the eye doctor today, yuck.

We pulled up two rows of yellow squash and will be setting more tomato plants in their place. Right now we are picking peaches (5 varieties), Lodi apples, blueberries, nectarines (2 varieties), squash, cantaloupes, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers (5 varieties), eggplant, cucumbers cabbage and blackberries.

Now to leave you with a snide comment that I received by someone in hubby's family. I walked off and could not speak. I was not rude, I just took some baskets to the back packing house and waited there until she and her husband left. I want to know how you would have handled the matter......... She was talking about all of the expectant moms in her family and said my so and so is expecting triplets and they ARE God given not like your twins.................

I cried in the back waiting for them to leave. It was so hurtful. We had help to conceive, but aren't ALL babies God given? WOW!! Talk about a blow. We are blessed that our babies even made it through. So, how would you have handled that?

I hope to write more later! Blessings and hugs to you all!

Short and Sweet

2009-06-20T19:15:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe not that sweet...........we are still as busy as ever here despite my Daddy's full blown pneumonia, Mother's biopsy (on Thursday) and now my strep throat. I am not even joking, in the least. Mom went back to work today, Daddy is still under a doctor's care (and just finished his meds today) and I started a z pack today. We should know about the biopsy results Monday.

We got John's Dad moved into his new apartment tonight as well.

John has not heard from the job, we were told yesterday hopefully a decision will be reached in the next two weeks. Our church has a new building being dedicated tomorrow and my boys are suppose to sing......I so hope I feel better and fast.

Happy Father's Day to all of the Daddy's out there as well. Have a blessed week!

Week In Review

2009-06-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

The last week has officially kicked my buttocks! I am absolutely exhausted, to say the least. I have not blogged or visited or if I have have not commented since I come straight home from work, cook supper, bath and feed children, do laundry, put children to bed, bathe myself and collapse into bed for a few hours each night. I worked 7 days straight and too many hours to count!!!!

Monday I worked. Boring really.

Tuesday Mason woke up coughing. A deep barking cough. I took him on to school with his pump and inhaler. they used it and nothing was helping. His airways were closing. He was getting lethargic. Thankfully they are trained and know how to handle all types of situations. They called me and after numerous calls to peds office we finally got steroids and he was brought home to stay with my mother's helper. I picked in the garden that day, went to the orchard and was at the Trussville farmer's market until late. I finally got home about 7:30pm.

My daddy's knee gave way completely. He will not see the doctor even though the knee cap is sometimes on the side of his knee.

I took my Mom to the surgeon on Wednesday. He seems to think the spot that was found on the mammogram is a calcium deposit and there is only a 10% chance of it being cancerous. It must be removed though. However, upon examining the same breast he found a "mass" that the mammogram did NOT detect. We were sent to ultrasound and should know something today. They will biopsy/remove both place at once hopefully Thursday of this week......we shall see. Please continue to pray her/us through this. It is a very difficult time.

Thursday was rough. Boys at daycare/preschool at 6am and I off to the market (over an hour's drive). There until after lunch. Home by 2pm, unloaded trucks (mine and Mom's) and bought groceries. Picked up boys by 4pm, supper, laundry, bathes, dishes, downtime with my babies and bed by 9pm.

Friday worked 7-7. Answered calls, took orders, waited on customers, went through produce, cleaned, loaded three trucks for markets next day and picked in the garden. John was sick (little John). He stayed with me at work until 9am and then to school. They called at 3pm his fever has spiked 103, off to retrieve him, gave him meds and left him in my Mom's care, back to work.

Saturday went to Jasper market. Left home at 5:30am, it stormed and was awful. we were like drowned rats though, we still had a decent day. Home by 3pm. I ran errands with little John and picked up supper. Hubby and mason relaxed. Supper, time with kiddos and bed.

Each night when the boys are sick, they wake throughout the night. So, my sleep is very broken and we all know how that is......then I am going to work for such long hours.

Hubby has been getting to work 5 days at least last week. Yay for that! We have not heard anything about the applied job. The board should meet today.

Things are going well just busy, busy, busy! Also, we are in the midst of moving my father0-in-law into an apartment in town where I buy groceries and such. We are co-heading two small groups from church as well.

I am home today,at least for the morning. There is a truck coming in that I must go and unload shortly. I also have the garden to work in. I have a case of peach salsa to make for tomorrow that is sold.

Have a great week and I will check in soon! Blessings!!!

The Party Has Started

2009-06-05T04:12:00.000-07:00

First of all a big shout out to Nicola and Tyra (and Blake)! Ya'll saved us and just in the nick of time. We will not anything until next week about hubby's potential job. I intend to email each of you back but I have offically started the party (work). I feel so behind though. Laundry is running out my ears, I cannot get my menu plan for June finished and I am already exhausted. I am behind reading and commenting on blogs and i feel kind of lost without my bloggy friends.

My schedule is just plain crazy......

Monday 7am drop off boys at daycare, 7am-5pm roadside market, 5 pm pick up boys
Tuesday 8am drop off boys at daycare, 8am-10am payroll, bookkeeping, banking
11am load peaches in orchard
12pm leave for Trussville market
7pm home......I hope
Wednesday 7am drop off boys at day care, 7am-5pm roadside market, 5pm pick up boys
Thursday 6am drop boys off at daycare, leave for market
7am-1 pm Jasper market, drive home
2pm home, unload, run errands for parents (bosses)
4pm pick up boys
Friday 7am drop off boys at daycare, 7am-4pm roadside market, 4 pm pick up boys from
from daycare, take home to mother's helper, go back to work from 4pm-7pm
home 7pm
Saturday 5:30am leave for Jasper market return home at 2pm
2 Saturday's a month John will go to the market at Jasper and I will work the roadside market from 7am-5pm.
2 Sunday's a month John will work the roadside market 1pm-7pm.

This is just what John and I do. The roadside market is open from 7am-7pm M-Sat., 1pm-7pm on Sunday's. Then there are 6 grocery stores we deliver peaches to 3 times or more a week. We also do another market 3 times a week, then there are 3 more that my brother does, for a grand total of 6. The help is my Daddy, Mother, me, John, brother, sil, 2 nephews (16 and 10), an aunt and an uncle and one part time Spanish guy that has been with us for years (he works another full time job).

Please say a little prayer for us........things are really beginning to come in around here and we are all a little frazzled. I'll be around when I can,,,,,,,,

Blessings!!!!!!

Need Help With Resume......ASAP

2009-06-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

Just a little run down about the job hubby is applying for. It is a very lucrative position in the county/city. He would be hired by a board of directors. They are several in the running. I feel like I have been "politicking" all day long. Now, we finally were able to get an application this morning, only to find out he also needs a resume to go along with it. So, since neither of us have ever had one or had to make one, could you all please help. I need to get it done tonight and everything returned in the morning. i have looked online and since it is a completely different field than he is in now, I /we need to make it look as interesting as possible. There is not an actual name for the title at hand........it is called an executive director position. Anyhow......we need help..........and prayers!

Thanks so much and blessings!!!

Guess What We've Been Doin'????

2009-06-02T03:34:00.000-07:00

We picked 57 baskets (8 quart size) on Saturday......A small feat compared to what we will be picking in a couple of weeks. 57 seems like a very small number when you are usually picking 300-600 of those baskets a day. We have these new fangled while plastic baskets (same size), also with two handles on them all dallied up with our business name and number on them, ordered. It seems it is just taking a while for delivery.

Aren't they pretty?!!! These are the Corelle variety.

How is the produce coming in your area? Blessings!!!

Hi Ho Hi Ho, It's Off to School We Go!

2009-06-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

The boys had a great first day of school and didn't realize it was time for them to come home when I went to pick them up. I got "but mommmmmmaaaa, I wanna sta all day long!" Too funny! I took this picture right before we left this morning......arent's they just peachy?!!!

Blessings!!!!!!

My Mom

2009-06-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

please say another prayer for us, as my Mom got here mammogram results back today. She goes to see a surgeon. There is a spot on her left breast. She is to have a biopsy on the 10th.......please be in prayer with us. Thank you in advance.......blessings on you all!

Farming Update

2009-06-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share a bunch of pictures with you. I did not take pictures of everything. WE planted the first week in April and through about the 10th of April. Here it is!

We will have blueberries soon! Look how big the berries are already! Yay. Come on blue! Here are the blackberries. They are thorn less. Excuse it being kind of grown up.

Here are the scuppernongs. A Southern grape.

Here is tamed crabapple tree. We use these for pollination. The fruit is not as bitter as the old tiny green crabapples. These are a bit smaller and red in color. They make great pickles and jelly!

Here is the broccoli.

Here are the fig trees. There are 7 of them all total.

A few pepper plants.

The potato bugs have really done a number on the eggplant plants.

Here's one of the cantaloupe plants blooming.

Here is my Daddy taking a break, in the packing house. He fell in a hole in the peach orchard and twisted his hip and leg. He is very sore.

Here is the cauliflower.........getting excited to pick the first head!

Here's the regular good ole fashioned cabbage.

Here's the chinese cabbage. This is our first year growing this.

An overview of the garden with my house in the background.

Here's the tomatoes. I could not get the blooms and the little green ones to show up in the pictures for some reason though. There are 3 rows (1000 feet rows) of them.

Here's the squash after the first big picking yesterday. There is three 1000 foot rows of it and a couple more rows planted a few weeks later. We got almost 6 bushels yesterday.

Here's the garden. The front of the building is the fruit market and the back building is the packing house. We have a place to store equipment in the very back.

Another shot of the garden.

This picture is looking from the fruit market to our driveway. The rows are that long. I think each row is about 1000 feet. Here's Mother on the beep beep with the boys yesterday, enjoying a day of warm sunshine!

Here's a few of the potatoes we got from a south Alabama friend over the weekend! They sure did taste good in some tater salad.

Here's the first three squash picked by me last Saturday. I stewed it with butter, onions, salt, sugar and pepper, just like my Grandma used to.

And last but certainly not least, my Mom and Daddy rode to the lower farm and checked the peaches Saturday. This is what they brought me back........yum! What a great cobbler they made!

I cannot believe we open our roadside fruit market in just a couple of weeks. One of the markets we attend is already open and the other 5 will open by the 6th of June. Where is the time going?

Our peach orchard is on the lower farm.......no pictures of that. I didn't drive over to the apple/pear/plum/nectarine orchard either. Maybe pictures of that later. WE also have some plants that did not make it into the garden pictures, maybe later.

What's growing in your garden? Happy harvest and blessings!!!

All About Broccoli

2009-06-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Darling asked this question and I thought more of your advid gardeners would like to know this as well.

Mrs. Darling asked if we grow it in the open sun. She goes on to say that the only information she can find about says it is a cool weather crop and if grown in the summer you must make sure the soil stays cool. She would like more info on how we grow this crop.

Well, we grow all of our veggies except okra on raised beds, covered with plastic and irrigated underneath. The plants are watered daily, sometimes more. They get little water other than the irrigation. The foliage gets it's water from the rain. Their primary source is from irrigation (drip tape placed underneath each row.

All of the broccoli is usually harvested by the 10th or 15th of June. We have been picking it for a couple of weeks or so here. It has a very short growing season due to the heat. We had 92* weather here today and that is not good for cool weather crops (such as cauliflower, broccoli, Bok Choy, etc.), no matter how wet and cool the soil.

The picture above shows how the rows are laid out......I wish I had a better picture but I don't.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to ask any other questions. Blessings!!!

Reflections of Yesterday and Today's Happenings

2009-05-29T04:45:00.000-07:00

Thursday started off a good note, actually several of them! We had a wonderful, yet busy day. We started our day off with all of the regular things, breakfast, brushing teeth, pottying, getting dressed, etc.

Then we headed off to pre-school. We wanted the boys to see their teacher and meet their classmates., so we scheduled an hour to go. Except when I got there to pick them up....they didn't want to leave! LOL! So, they stayed another hour. I got to get our ads in for next week's papers for our "big opening day", while the boys were there. I felt so lost coming home to an empty, quiet home. So strange! I cannot believe they start Monday!!!!

We had two nephews of John's to come and work on cutting brush from the side of the drive. They worked 3 hours and had to leave, go figure. I paid them and they asked if they could come back Wednesday after they go to the beach for a few days. Sure, if we don't already have it done by then. I was kind of ill about the matter. I thought they should have been able to get more done, considering how capable they are. (They are college students)

My 10 year old nephew, Peyton came over to play and have supper, so I hung out with the boys. After supper we played outside. Then when Peyton left, I took the twins over to my parents and got the golf cart. John was mowing my parents grass (it takes about 5 hours to mow all of it), he had gotten stuck close to the blueberries, so we watched him use the 4 wheeler to pull the mower out. The boys thought that was the grandest thing.

After riding around for awhile, looking at the garden, the orchard, cows, visiting with the dog and so on so forth, we headed home for bathes and story time. Their Daddy was home by then and we got them in bed. Then I headed for a long bath. It was a nice, long, bath and it was so nice. John and i had some tv/computer time and then off for a good sleep. Except nausea and a screaming child woke me at 2:30 this morning then I was in the bathroom for over an hour and a half. Yuck! I slept in until 5:45 then.

Last night we got some interesting news, there seems to be a job coming available that john is suited for......perfectly I might add. It is local, pays very well and great benefits. It is not a driving job and that is the best part! He loves the "idea" of the job. So, we are going to call this am and find out more info. Please pray that the Lord will open the doors if this is his will.

John has gotten to work three days this week! Praise the Lord!

Thankfully my helper is coming today!

On my to do list today is call phone co.
call KB
call DP
Sam's
PO
Aldi
Wal-Mart
Kohl's?
hair appt. (I'm getting at least 5 inches cut off and a highlight)
Penny's
Sally's
pay bills/bal. checkbook

My parents are at a convention that my Daddy is speaking at. My brother is spraying the apples this morning for brown rot, then there is lots of squash, cucumbers, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli to pick. And guess what? Peaches too! We will pick the first few baskets today. Yay! We are so excited! These things will be sold at Pepper Place (by my brother) tomorrow. this is just one of the many markets that we go to. Sunday he (my brother) will be at the Chattanooga Market selling some of the same things. What a busy year it is shaping up to be! Praise the Lord!

Hope you all have a great day and a wonderful weekend!

Progression

2009-05-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

I stand amazed at my two little blessings each day. As our busy season approaches (way too quickly), the boys will be starting pre-school again, this Monday as a matter of fact. I cannot believe they are 3 years old!!!

For 32 weekers and all of the medical diagnsois they each have overcome and to be able to say and do all of the things I am going to speak of in a minute.......I stand amazed, not just at them. They did not do this alone and I certainly had NOT a hand in it. God is so good ALL of the time!

Less than a year ago we they were signing EVERYTHING. They each spoke maybe a dozen or so words each, when prompted. Wow! I have worked with them some since they came out of pre-school last October. I am so proud of you boys! My heart is overwhelmed to be your Momma!!! Thank you Lord for all of your blessings!!!!

Mason

Can say anything. He can spell his first name and say his whole name.
Can count to 12
Say his ABC's
Sing several songs by himself
Recite the Lord's prayer, say grace and his bedtime prayer as well.
He can draw most shapes and recognize all of them.
He knows all of his colors and then some.....thank you Crayola!
He is fully potty trained except at night.
Can fully dress himself.
Does "chores" such as putting dirty clothes in laundry room, setting/cleaning table, wiping dinner table down, cleans up books and toys and keeps his room picked up.

John

Can say anything. Can spell his first name and say his whole name.
Can count to 10.
Can say his ABC's
Sing several songs by himself.
Can say grace and bedtime prayer as well.
Can draw some shapes but recognizes all of them.
Knows all of his colors and like Mason, even recognizes pinks and others!
Is #1 potty trained.
Can fully dress himself.
Does the same chores as Mason.

What blessings they are! Thank you Lord!

Blessings!!!

Wednesday's Cooking Marathon

2009-05-26T04:48:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday I knew I had a lot to do. We were having mexican night at home with chicken burritos, cheese dip and chips and all american peach cobbler. For everyone else (my parents, uncle, aunt and father-in-law) I made Sweet Spanish cornbread, squash casserole, butterbeans, fried okra, potato salad and peach cobbler.

I had it all made and delivered by 2pm yesterday. I was so glad that it was over and done with. My parents really enjoyed it and we did too.

What's cookin' in your kitchen?

Blessings!

Lazy Man's Peach Cobbler

2009-05-25T04:36:00.000-07:00

I love cobbler, especially peach, wonder why?! LOL! I make the quick kind. My Mom and her Mom always made this and i guess I picked it up from them. You can use any kind of berry or fruit you wish. You can also substitute canned peaches for fresh or fresh frozen ones. I always use ones from my freezer unless we are gathering fresh ones.

1 stick butter
1 c milk
1 c baking mix
1 c sugar
3-4 cups of fruit, sweetened (don't drain off all of the juice.....I leave about half of the juice)

Melt butter in a 13x9 baking dish on 350*. Mix sugar and baking mix together: stir in milk until moistened. Pour over melted butter. DO NOT stir. Then pour peaches and juice over the batter. The batter will rise to the top as it cooks and make a delicious crust. Bake for 45 minutes in 350* oven. Enjoy!!!!

Blessings!

Honey

2009-05-24T07:13:00.001-07:00

We have honey bees and harvest the honey to sell along with our fruits and veggies. We leave the honey in it's raw form since that's how our customers request it. We have many people that have always bought it by the case (12 jars). We sell it in pints and in quarts. I even have some at home (from last falls crop). I cook with it a good bit.

When John (hubby) started with his allergies it did not even dawn on me to start giving him honey. We have customers that swear by local honey for all sorts of aliments. Mostly, we hear how it helps their allergies.

After this last bad attack that landed John in the doctors office he started taking a tablespoon every morning on the 16th (Saturday) of this month. He has not had one attack since. He even bushhogged several acres yesterday and mowed our grass. We are very pleased and will endorse local, raw honey from now on! Maybe this could help someone out there.

What do you use for your allergies? Do you have any home remedies? Blessings!

What Can You Get For $85?

2009-05-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

Tuesday my mom and I hit Aldi on our way home from the doctor. We do not have one locally, so I try to get there once or maybe twice a month. I heart Aldi.

I spent $85. Here is what i got:

6 cans mushrooms
10 ct. waffles
1#curly fries
frozen 2# bag stir fry
4 cans pork n beans
4 cans tomatoes w/ chiles
4 cans refried beans
4 cans black beans
2 - 8oz. blocks cheddar cheese
2 pkg. deli style sliced cheese
2 -250 ct. napkins
2 - 100 ct. paper plates
8 ears fresh corn
2 - 10 ct. flour tortillas
2- 64 oz. cartons oj
2 boxes cereal
48 oz. veg. oil
peanut butter wafers (10 ct.)
3 boxes rice mix
2 -12 ct. pk. string cheese
sweet and sour sauce
2 pk. taco seasoning
hamburger dill slices
2 cantaloupes
10 # sugar
head of lettuce
2 English cucumbers
1# bag salad
4# red seedless grapes
pretzel sticks
bbq chips
5 loaves bread
3 dozen eggs

Grand total: $84.81

I got some awesome savings! Do you have an Aldi close by? How often do you shop there?

Blessings!!!!

Mulit Vitamin

2009-05-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

I have taken a multi vitamin on and off for a few years now. I always took prenatal vitamins when I was pregnant with the twins. I sometimes have to take an iron supplement because of the anemia. However, I am in need of a good high quality multi vitamin. So, what do you take? Would you recommend that one to me? Thank you for your input! Blessings!

Mom's Day Out With Mom

2009-05-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my Mom and I got some much needed time together with out the boys being present. My sister-in-law, Ronda came over and watched them. Thank you Aunt Ronda!

I picked up my Mom and we headed to Birmingham to see the doctor. We have taken the boys with us since they were born and last year was a little too much going to see the ob/gyn with 2 year old twins in tow. At three years old and the curiosity they bear at ALL times I knew it would be too much for them and US! My Mom and I have not had a Mom/Daughter day since they were born. We saw the "female" doctor. Mom had a mammogram and the bone test.

We then went to Golden Corral for a yummy buffet style lunch. Then off to Aldi. She has never been there before and could not believe you could shop for groceries for those low prices. I bought $85 worth of food and had several reusable totes full. Then we hit the thrift store. I love purses, did I mention that I love purses?! Anyhoo, I got two new ones for $1.99 each and hubby 2 pairs of work jeans at $4.99 each. I found me a pair of short and a pair of capris too. As I was looking for hubby's work jeans. I spotted a pair of new Docker dress pants (dark denim). They were too small for hubby but they would fit my Daddy. Mom said she would get them. They were priced $4.99, but when we got to the register they were 75% off of that! Cha-ching!

After that we headed home! We had a tiring but wonderful day out and one that was much needed!

Do you ever get out with your Mom without the kiddos? What a blessing to be able to do so! Praise the Lord!

Blessings!!!

The Attitude of Gratitiude

2009-05-17T05:06:00.000-07:00

I have been awarded The Attitude Of Gratitude Award, by my dear friend ELLIE MAE! Ellie is so talented in making the cutest, frugal things for her home. She is working hard on her weight loss and getting her monthly bills down and I admire her so much!

I am so undeserving, especially after this past week. It has been a long week and hubby is still very, very sick. He is getting up at 2 or 3 am every morning vomiting.

The rules to accepting this award are to:

Put the rules on your blog/post.

Nominate 10 people that show an attitude of gratitude.

Link your nominees withing your post.

Comment on their blogs to let them know they have won their award.

Share the love/link of the ;person that nominated you.

Tell how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude.

There are many things in my life, that I see as defining moments and learning to appreciate it all. I will only list a few.

At 19 I had to have open heart surgery. That was a life changing moment, needless to say.

Then once we were married (at age 22), we had our ups and downs, the biggest was trying to get pregnant for years and then the twins being preemies and so sick.

So today and every day I am grateful for my wonderful family, terrific friend and a loving God that forgives me everyday.

I am thankful beyond words for my children and what they mean to my life. I am thankful for the life I lead each day and where I live. I am thankful to be a child of the KING and saved by his grace!

I am so thankful for this blogging world that I am a part of and the many friends that I have made and that I love dearly.

I am nominating the following ten bloggers:

Mykidsmom. She is am amazing homeschooling Mom and loves life to the fullest.

Tyra at Never Gives Up. Her blog title says it all. She has persevered through it all and with a thankful attitude.

Nicola at smilernpb. she is always so uplifting, despite having two little ones, expecting the third and her hubby's recent surgery.

Steph at Problem Solvin' Mom, she has been through a lot lately, some not told of on her blog, just know she is one exceptional inspiration to us all!

Julie at Blessed With Five, she is a super Mom. She and her hubby adopted their four boys and they manage their own business to boot. She is amazing and has great taste in home decor!

Mimi at Palm Trees and Blue Skies, also a Mom of twins, she runs several blogs and gives all of the greatest deals ANYWHERE.

Ivy at Sweet Tea by the Baltic Sea, has two beautiful daughters and splits her time between the States and Poland with her hubby. She is amazing! She always lets her light shine!

Nicole at nicostuff is amazing as well with 2 little boys and a sweet baby on the way. She does it all, cooks and makes gorgeous jewelry. She is one great mom!

Nikki at Nikki's Notes is a part time pharmacist, full time Mommy and loves the Lord, she is growing an awesome garden this year too!

Holly at Southern Seven has five kiddos and is so frugal minded it just blows my mind. She appreciates the littlest of things and isn't that the way it should be!? She has an awesome testimony!

So with that, I leave you, but just for a day or two! LOL! Hope you have a blessed Monday!

Better But With a Sick Hubby

2009-05-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

My heavy heart is better today and I don't feel the cloud of doom and gloom hanging over my head like yesterday. Thank you all for your comments and prayers and thoughts.

Hubby is very sick today and we are headed to the doctor at 11:45. He has bad allergies and yesterday he had an attack. By last night he said his chest hurt and he couldn't breath very good at all. We were up almost all night and his head started hurting with sharp pains at midnight. He was suppose to help my Daddy and brother fertilize the apples today but now my Daddy is helping my Mom watch the boys while I take hubby to the doctor.

Please say a little get well prayer for him, more especially since we are unsure of what is wrong with him.

Hope you have a great day and blessings!

A Heavy Heart

2009-05-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

As I write this the sadness seems to flow and yes I know we are not suppose to worry. It does no good to worry about things you cannot change but I am hurting for so many this morning. I am going to this in a bulletin type post.

Last night we got the call that my nephew, who is 24 left his wife and their 2 children and has been gone for about 10 days. The whole family is just broken. The rumor is that he is cheating, he says she is cheating........It doesn't matter who is what. The children are my worry, they are 6 and 3.
My cousin T and her hubby a neurosurgeon decided they wanted a baby late in life. Never had any children and at 41, she delivered a little boy 4 weeks early and he is very sick. His lungs mainly and he has jaundice. He has been in the NICU over a week.
I have another cousin that she and her hubby and kids bought a multi million dollar business 4 years ago and moved a couple hours away to run it. Chances are if you live in Alabama, you have stopped there. Anyhow, on her way home from work Monday afternoon a little 10 year old girl was riding her bike on a county highway and swerved to miss a dog. My cousin was driving her SUV and could not avoid her. The little girl swerved right in front of her. She was killed on impact. My cousin worked on her, as she is a nurse but nothing could be done. My cousin is so broken and is having a very hard time.
I have a very dear friend who is a reader here. She has 2 little boys. She found a place in her neck. She will have a biopsy next week. She has a family history of cancer. I love you sweet friend!
Last but certainly not least........my Mom is very sick. She has a regular lung specialist. She saw him just a few weeks ago on a Tuesday. On Saturday night he committed suicide. She saw one of his associates this week only to find out that she has full blown COPD. IF she does not do what he has instructed she has 6-12 months to live. She is is known NOT to do as the doctor ordered and unfortunately I cannot make her. She says she will try and quit smoking. This is the same exact road that we went down with my mother-in-law. She lost her short battle with lung cancer a little over a year ago. The chances of Mom getting cancer are very high, unless God sees her another road.
Hubby only worked two days last week and one day this week. He has looked for other work, but there are no short haul driving jobs and very few long hauls available. With all of the rain there is little farm work to do right now. He is so down and out. We are trying to make it until the first week in June (when the markets start) but it is difficult with all of the medical bills and pharmacy too. He is getting irritable and depressed.

My heart is hurting today. I ask for your prayers for all of the above. Thank you and may God continue his blessings for us all!

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-12T03:59:00.000-07:00

My first Mother's Day was very special because WE had finally brought our children home from the NICU only TWO days before. My second Mother's Day was very special because we finally given a living diagnosis for little John only four days before mother's day. MY third mother's day (this year) was so very special because my children are finally healthy! Praise the Lord! What a precious gift they are!

The night before Hubby and the boys came in with me a single rose each. A beautiful peach color. Then I found a Paula Deen magazine on my desk later that same night. Then as I was turning back the covers a Snickers bar fell from under my pillow. He is so sneaky! LOL!

My day started off with toast and coffee, getting everyone ready and taking blueberry pancakes and sausage to my Mom. We then went to decoration where my mother-in-law is buried. On the way home I asked John if we could stop at Jack's and just get lunch. He did and we got a family chicken meal. We went home, ate and then took some of it to my parents for lunch. I made my Mom a photo book from the last year's worth of photos of the boys (in a clearance bought album from Target), I also got her a new kitchen rug and some dish cloths as well as some body wash.

I was very surprised by her as each of the boys handed me a card with $25 in it just for me. Then my Mom gave me $50 and the boys each gave me another rose each that my mom had grown (see below picture). We came home and hubby told me to take a nap. I took an hour long nap and loved every minute of it. We then snacked around for supper and hubby gave me his card for me and the boys gave me a card their Daddy had picked out from them. It was truly a very special day and relaxing too. I know he missed his Mom but he sure did a wonderful job making it very special for me.

Earlier in the week, he had told me to pick out a few things I wanted so I did. I found the umbrella below at Wal-Mart for $12. It is huge and I love it. I also got a new pair of pj's and some dish cloths too.

I hope you all had a wonderful day! Blessings!

Mason's Doctor Visit

2009-05-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

To sum it up, it is difficult for Dr. H to tell for sure if Mason has asthma or not. All of the breathing treatments seem to have things under control....... well kind of.

However, he does have some "junk" in his lungs and has Asthmatic Bronchitis once again (he had it last in January). So, we are on Zitromicin for that, we were switched to Zyrtec for the allergies with the same prescription eye drop and still doing the aero pump (breathing) treatments 3 times a day (more if if needs them) until the cough is gone.

So, we wait and if he has a recurrence, there will probably be an asthma diagnosis. His respirations were normal and his O2 was in the normal range as well. Yay! for that!!!

About Mason sleeping for so long, Dr. H seems to think that his body is just tired and is making up for all of the yuckiness with extra sleep. Not his words, but mine. I don't remember his exact words. It was a long day.......

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and blessings!!!

Blank

2009-05-07T04:17:00.000-07:00

After storms and tornados around yesterday the weather seemed to settle through the day until last night at bedtime. Thunder and lightening woke me around 12 and I went back to sleep after I checked in on the boys. Around 1 something little John came in our bedroom and right as I was picking him up, it lightening hit. Still unsure of what it was so LOUD and it lit up the bedroom as bright as day and seemed to last for sometime. Little one slept with us until almost 3am. I put him back in his bed as the storms were gone and I needed to take Mason's vitals. The clock then went off at 4:45am for hubby to go to work. I am tired.

I don't know if I mentioned this or not but I have to wake Mason from each nap and overnight sleep. This is another reason that I think his oxygen must be low, even still. Hopefully we can get it figured out today!

I always thought that Little John would be the one with any lung problems. He was the one of the ventilator and so sick with his lungs among other things.

Please pray for answers for us today and good results. Have a great day and i will post when we get back. Blessings!!!