Prescription Savings

Since I lost my job in May and lost my insurance coverage in June, I have been dreading having to refill my monthly prescriptions.  I have waited as long as possible, resorting to taking my pills every other night instead of every night to allow them to last longer.  2 nights ago I took my last pill.  Today, I made phone calls to find out how much the prescriptions would be without insurance.

I called Kroger, the normal place I get them filled.  I was quoted a price of $23 for the first one and $77 for the second one!!  OUCH! 

I called Kmart, and was told that they have a prescription program where you pay $10 for 12 months to be enrolled in the program.  If you are enrolled in this program your prescriptions are less than if you are not enrolled.  Fine.  She quoted the price for the first prescription as $5 and the second as $10!!!  WOWZA!!

Seriously...that is less than my co-pay WITH insurance!!  I asked her to sign me up for the prescription program and to please call Kroger and have my prescriptions transferred.

Probably should have called around months ago.  who knew??

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!!

A little over a year after I started my job, I lost it. :(  The reason is "lack of work" and there were approximately 25 of us let go last Thursday. It came as a HUGE surprise and I was sad and scared.

But, thank God for unemployment.  The job search begins, but for now I am using my extra time to enjoy being a stay at home mom again.  Actually, if I'm being honest, I have spent the last few days doing NOTHING.  Catching up on tv shows, laying around, just blissfully doing nothing! In a few weeks the kids will be out of school and before I know it I will have a job again, so I am allowing myself to have a few days of nothingness!  It's been lovely.

Tony

My brother is mentally handicapped, tomorrow he will turn 40. We will celebrate his birthday today with pizza and cake. I got him a popeye t-shirt and a pair of jammie pants. He will enjoy the party but it will be full of talk of thanksgiving and Christmas as he is incapable of just focusing on the now. He drives us all a little crazy--bless his heart.

I can't believe he is 40.

Changes

I have begun to make some changes in my life. The first one is joining weight watchers, again! I am determined this time and am confident it's something I will stick with. I joined 2 weeks ago and had my 1st weigh in on Tuesday night. I lost 3.8 lbs. I was thrilled. :-) My scale at home did not show a loss at all, so I spent the drive there giving myself a pep talk. The loss was a true surprise. I can't wait to weigh in again this Tuesday! My friend, Robin from work is going with me. After the meeting we sat in her car and talked and laughed SO hard. It was nice to just not think and BE for a while. Laughter is wonderful medicine!

The second change is to focus on things that make me feel pretty, nice....better. It's kinda silly the little changes I have made, but they do make such a difference. I am taking the time to apply lotion (the smell good kind) after every shower and I am shaving a lot more often. I am also trying to take time for makeup in the morning. Oh, and I bought that new Olay 7 in 1 body wash. I really like it. I notice a big difference in my skin!

Along with the cleanliness/lotiony/shaven/smellin' good change I have been taking more care with what I wear as my "lounging clothes". We are big jammie wearers here. when we come in, the clothes come off, the jammies go on. Which is all fine and dandy, but I have gotten a little too comfortable in my comfortable clothes. T-shirts with holes, pants with worn out elastic, mismatchedness, braless. Just your typical grungy gross girl look. So, I am weeding out the old jammies and bringing in new. Cute things. Unstained, Unholy (but not sinful ;) ), untorn, matching things! Along with that; cute bras and panties..that MATCH! I have even stepped out of my cotton panty comfortzone and purchased a few silky/lacy pair! And instead of letting the girls hang out bra free in all their sagginess, I have bought a couple softcup comfort bras to wear around the house.

The third change came in the way of a long overdue haircut yesterday. I had several inches cut off and lots of layers put in. I love it!

I am not a huge fan of change. In fact, I have a real hard time with it. but these changes I can do. This I can handle. And I'm going to like myself a little better for it!

Anxiety

Woke up this morning @ 4 with terrible anxiety. Not sure what that is about. I prayed for a while and then got out of bed and took a shower. The anxiety lingers. hate it.

Yesterday was better at work. I did not have access to my location but I helped someone else make calls on theirs, so...at least I had something to do. Something is SO much better than nothing!!

Glad it is Wednesday..can't wait for Friday.

work

Yesterday, work was MIS.ER.A.BLE! I was excited because it was to be my first day on my very own assignment. WRONG! We were told we couldn't start calling on our new assignments until tomorrow (Tuesday) and yesterday would be spent reviewing the records, familiarizing ourselves, etc. Fine. Except...I did not have access to my location yet! ERGH! Guess what I did all day?? Sat in my cube. That's it. I wanted to cry. Supposedly, I will have access today--oh how I hope!

Logan was pretty sick yesterday with an asthma flare up. It was the first time I had to be away from him when he was sick. The first time I couldn't take him to the dr. myself. It was hard, but I left him in Grandma's care and she (and he) did just fine. I guess we are all growing up.

Disney finally released free dining for September. I called and updated our reservations yesterday! YAY! Come on September!!!!

Rain

It was gorgeous yesterday! Clear blue skies, 80 something degrees. I was stuck in a building all day with no windows. I got to enjoy the beautiful weather on my two 15 min breaks and on my drive home. This morning I woke up to grayness and rain. It's just as well though, I will be stuck inside doing school work all day. This working full time and going to school is going to do me in. I will be so glad when summer break is here!!

I finished my 3 weeks of training and on Monday will start calling on "my" location in GA. I'm excited to have an area of my own--a database of my own, etc.

I signed the kids up for daycare for 2 days/wk this summer. It's at a church close to where Kyle works so he can drop off and pick up. They take field trips on MWF so I am going to have them go 2 of those days. That way they get to do lots of fun stuff this summer and mom gets a break from having them 5 days a week. If they go there 2 days and mom takes them to the free movie one day and swimming one day, that will be a pretty good week for all involved! :) I think they will have fun!

I booked a vacation for Disney again. In September when they have free Dining. We were trying to decide where to go and decided that we had such a good time at Disney last time and really loved the whole aspect of it being "all inclusive" and not having to drive anywhere, etc. that we wanted to experience it again. So we are. and I can't wait!

Our dishwasher went out last week so we are supposed to buy a new one this weekend. Kyle hurt his back at work yesterday so I'm not real sure how that's going to pan out. It might have to wait a week. I am excited to go and look--it's been 10 years since I've shopped for appliances. We have white..but are going for black this time. We are getting my father in laws new fridge and stove and they are black..so it kinda made the decision for us. I'm very excited!

Waiting on a court date for Kyle to be named the executor of his father's estate. When we go down to TN to take care of that, we will get the appliances. I wish it would hurry up..we have lots of things to take care of and are waiting for that piece of paper.

Alright, my thoughts have rambled long enough, I have to do some schoolwork. lucky me.

Here I go again?!?

I have so much going on...that I'm not sure why I am starting this now. Insanity, I suppose. but I felt the nudge so here I am! Or...I'm supposed to be doing homework and don't wanna..so that nudge could just be old fashioned avoidance!!

I am now working a full time job OUT in the real world. no more working from home, in my jammies for me! hmmph! I'm only a little bitter! I am also going to school full time! Cuh-RAZY! I am not loving either thing and am regularly heard saying, "School is stupid" or "work is stupid". yes, stupid, but necessary...for now.

Don't feel like playing the "catch up game" I so often play after my breaks from blogging. So, I'm not gonna! Just follow along in my daily ramblings...you'll figure it out! ;)

Way too long!!

Can't believe how long it has been since I blogged! Well, actually I can believe it! I've just been lazy and "not feeling it". But, I woke up this morning and am feeling it for some reason so here I go.

I guess a catch-up is in order. although my life isn't that exciting..so there won't be much to catch up on. Let's see....

Kyle--is still working for the same company but moved to another property south of town. He likes the job but doesn't love the people he works with. He should be getting a raise any day now so that will help, I'm sure!

Logan--He is in 3rd grade now and has a new love for swimming. he starts level 4 swimming lessons today. Level 4 is the last level before joining the sim team. he is excited to join the team and his goal is to be in the olympics. ;-)

Dylan--is now in 1st grade and enjoys school. He is doing well..I was a little worried about him but he is doing so well. makes me proud. He is also in swimming lessons..he starts level 3. Swimming doesn't come as easy for him as it does Logan..but he also wants to join the swim team...it'll be awhile before that happens I'm sure.

Me--same same same. I'm the mommy and the wife. Taking care of the kids and the house and the hubby..and still working from home. It's not a "perfect" life but it is a good one..and I love it!! :-)

The newest thing in all our lives is that Tony is going to live in a group home on Nov. 1. Mom will be moving in with us while she awaits getting approved for SSD. Her health is declining and she just isn't able to care for Tony anymore. She has done it for 38 years..I think she is entitled to a break! She is having a hard time but I know she knows it is for the best. The home he is moving to is 3 mins from our house and is very nice. I think he will be happy there--well as happy as Tony can be. We are doing some changes around here to make room for mom...Kyle and I will be moving down the basement--we will have a bedroom and a "living room" and bathroom, The boys will be moving to the master bedroom--kyle is building them loft beds so they will have plenty of space for playing, mom is moving in to the 2 smaller bedrooms. She will have a bedroom and an office/sitting room. So we will all have seperate areas as well as common areas. It will take some adapting..but I think it will work out well.

that's about it....

Command Center

Our house is small. I think it is 1,056 square feet..that doesn't count the basement..but the basement isn't finished anyway..so it doesn't really count ...unless you wanna live down there with the spiders and washer and dryer.

So..the house is small and I am increasingly annoyed over the lack of space. I blame the non-organized-ness on this fact. I look around and think of all the things we could do, IF. It's a pretty stupid way to look at things, I admit it! I am starting to get past it..and make things work, small or not. Boy! could I make LESS sense?!?!

A few years ago I was talking to my friend Teresa and telling her that I thought it was impossible to be organized in a small house. That I had no room for cute shelves and units to put things in. I told her I wanted to have a house like her house and a garage like hers. She had set up a shoe area in her garage..a place for shoes to be taken off and put away before even coming into the house! SO much better than my (then) pile of shoes under the endtable next to the front door! She said that I may not have what she had..but I had to figure out something that could work for me. Yeah. easy for HER to say, right?!?!

So...I thought and considered and thought some more and then it came to me. I would put an over the door shoe holder on the inside of the hall closet door! I did..and it works and I love it. and yes, I realize that I could just not be lazy and take my shoes to my room and put them away. But..you should know by now...I AM lazy.

Last week, I had a bit of a melt down over the state of my house. The clutter was overwhelming..the kids had tons of make-up school work and home work laying all over the table. I had mail and papers to be filed laying all over the place and it was really really making me crazy. So, saturday I cleaned and purged and organized and felt much better. Then I had Kyle help me make a "command center". LOVE IT!

I wanted a place to hang a calendar--a place where we could all look at it and know what was going on with who on any given day. A place that I could look to see what is going on in case I lose my personal calendar. AGAIN! And I needed to figure out a system for the boys papers, etc.

This is what I came up with.

Now..I knew I wanted to do this..but AGAIN with the issue of WHERE. So I had a brainstorm This "command center" is on the other side of the door to the basement. So, it can be shut and no one sees it..and when we need it..we simply open the door. It's not inconvenient because we have to walk right past it to get from the living room to the bathroom and all the bedrooms.

The calendar is there, a basket with markers, 3 hanging file trays. One for Logan, one for Dylan and one for Misc. I labeled the boys trays with their names so there is no confusion. I really really love it! who knew something so simple could make me so happy!! I bet you're wondering how something so simple could take such a long blog entry, huh?

Shopping Bags

I finally did it. I bought re-usable shopping bags. I never have to use a plastic bag from the grocery store again. I never have to get home...lift up the plastic bag and have it bust leaving the contents all over my trunk!! Yay me!!

We got our tax return deposited yesterday so I was feeling a little rich! I took mom to lunch at Olive Garden and then went to office depot to get some supplies for my new "command center" (more on that later). They had their shopping bags on sale for 99 cents a piece...so I bought 5. Later, I went to Kroger and they had theirs on sale for 5 for $4! So..I bought 5 more. The bagger put my groceries in the bags and I LOVE them.

I actually remembered to put them back in the trunk after I put the groceries away! Now..if I can just remember to take them INTO the store with me next time I go...I'll be golden!! Also...Kroger will take 3 cents off my bill for each bag I bring in. woot!

The Power of the Paddle

My kids are out of control. There, I said it.

They don't listen, they talk back, they are disrespectful and it takes me yelling and threatening to get them to half way obey. It has gone on WAY too long. I have tried reasoning with them, explaining to them, counting, threatening, yelling, ignoring, spanking, time outs. Nothing seems to really work. It's like they don't care.

Now, keep in mind that they are not like this with Kyle. Just me. He doesn't even have to spank or count. just raise his voice a little and they are quick to obey. oh..the power of a deep voice!

Awhile ago K suggested a paddle. That the spankings don't matter because it doesn't really effect them. I hated to do that. Spankings get SUCH a bad rap...although I was spanked as a child and turned out ok..and there is a HUGE difference in a spanking and a beating..and they are NOT the same..but I digress. So..I have been trying hard to not resort to that.

So..anyway. We were at my moms the other day. The kids were running around and playing..just being kids. then the playing turned to play fighting..and then real fighting. They were screaming and just acting like little idiots. I told Logan to NOT TOUCH Dylan again..and told Dylan DO NOT go where Logan is. Easy right? apparently not. before long...they were back together fighting. I seperated them and said, "the next kid that disobeys is getting spanked--with a spatula (first thing I could think of that was "paddle-like"). Logan said "oooooh...a spatula" in a little sing song voice and did this little motion with his hand as if to say..yeah, I'm SO scared. So..I got up, walked in the kitchen and got a wooden spoon. He ran. (note to all little kids out there...when your mom has had enough and gets a spoon to spank you with...DON'T run!!) I finally got him and swatted him twice on the bottom..not hard but enough to get his attention. He looked shocked and cried and carried on and tried to run away...again. I made him sit there with me and calm down. Once he was calm I told him to put his shoes on and get in the car. He did. We came home and I hugged him before we walked in the house. He came inside and did everything I asked. he was respectful, obedient and just lovely for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Which in turn made me more calm and relaxed and a better mommy. I am usually so aggravated and annoyed and just waiting for bedtime. With him being SO much more pleasant..I enjoyed him more...enjoyed talking with him more..helping him with homework more.

I explained to both boys that I was DONE. The disobedience, back-talk, etc is over. From now on, they listen..or they get spanked. period.

Now..I just need to be consistent. I don't WANT to spank them..it breaks my heart. But I KNOW I need control of them..before long it will be too late and I really really really don't want to raise little hellion teenagers.

Sickness...

I didn't get to blog at all last week because I was dealing with a very sick Dylan. He was diagnosed with Rotavirus and ended up being admitted to the hospital for dehydration. It was pretty awful and so sad seeing him so sick. He did bounce back quick though and is now 100%.

Luckily, Kyle and I have both avoided the nastiness. I washed my hands until they cracked and bled and sprayed everything the kids touched with lysol or clorox. So far so good! I did end up with a sinus-y thing..but I would take that over throwing up and diarrhea ANY day!!

So..the boys are back to school today. Today is the first day in 2 weeks that I haven't had at least 1 kid home with me. It feels very good...definitely a break that I have really needed.

Hopefully, this bout of sickness is the last one of the winter...I can't WAIT for spring!!

Meal Plan Monday

Well, this week is not going to be very exciting. We are leaving this week to head to TN. So..I have a LOT of work to get done..so I can take the days off..plus laundry, packing, etc to do. so dinners are going to be easy peasy..and leftover-y!

Monday--Chili (leftover from last night)

Tuesday--Sloppy Joes and potato chips

Wednesday--Dinner out--fast food probably

Thursday--out of town

Friday--out of town

Saturday--out of town

Sunday--coming home...probably more fast food!!

Told you it wasn't exciting. ah well. It is what it is!! :) You can view more exciting menus here.

Super Bowl Plans??

We aren't big sport fans. Honestly, I only watch the SuperBowl for the commercials...and the food.

Logan has expressed interest in watching this year. His concern is that if he doesn't watch it and learn about football and he grows up and has a son that is interested in football..he won't be able to teach him about it! SO..Kyle is going to rectify that and teach him the ins and outs of football tomorrow.

Who's doing the half time show? (I get sidetracked easily)

I can't decide what kind of food to have. In all honesty, I should stick to my diet instead of having a "cheat day" as planned. I'm going to have to weigh in early this week because I *think* we are heading to TN at some point. So..I might just make a pot of chili or taco soup and be done with it. But I really have a hankerin' to make Pioneer Woman's Mexican Layer Dip. Who knows.

Of course it all depends on me getting to the store today. Kyle is working (and he has to work for awhile tomorrow) and Dylan has just started throwing up--this is the same sickness Logan had earlier this week. (PLEASE God...let it skip me!!!). So..I'm not sure how I am going to get to the store with all that excitement! Let's just hope I get there and I'm not forced to watch the SuperBowl while munching on fish sticks and oranges..because that's ALL we have to eat in this house right now.

Little Puffs of Love

If you have a Denny's near you, you MUST..MUST MUST MUST head there NOW and try their Pancake Puppies!!!

I had some this morning (diet..schmiet!!) and OMStars were they heavenly!!

Seriously...go....NOW!!

Menu Plan Monday

In an effort to get myself a little more (ok a LOT more) organized I am joining Menu Plan Monday. My menus will be WW friendly! You can see more menu plans at orgjunkie.com. Without further ado....



Monday--Chicken Sandwiches & Fries

Tuesday--Grilled Fish, Baked Potatoes & salad

Wednesday--Baked Chicken Breasts, Hashbrown Casserole, corn

Thursday--Chicken Stroganoff, Noodles, peas

Friday--Taco Soup
Saturday--dinner out

Paragraphical Errors

Guess what I just realized?!?!?

My blog doesn't show paragraphs.

How does ANYONE read my posts when they look like one big huge long run-on sentence?

Huh? I ask you..HOW?!?

Stupid Blogger. I WILL figure this out.....

UPDATE:

Ok...well...it looks like all of my older posts have space between the paragraphs..so the problem is this one and the one before it. I think the problem is that I did these 2 posts in center aligning and used color and size differences on some of the words. Not sure why that makes a difference....but, apparently it does. hmph!

E-I-G-H-T-H

8th!

Logan's District Spelling Bee was today and he came in 8th! Not TOO shabby for a 2nd grader...especially a 2nd grader that did not study the word list!!

THE word was frying. Pretty easy, eh?

Apparently not!!

He spelled it f-r-i-e-i-n-g...and INSISTS he has seen it spelled that way. ah well. He was really ok with it..and is ready to try it again next year. He's a good boy! :)

In other Bee news...I found out last night (after Kyle read the note sent home a month ago--it was attached to the non-studied words) that he could only have ONE visitor. HMMPH! He asked Kyle to take him since Kyle never can go to school stuff since he works..and I already saw him in his school Bee.

So..off they went and Logan REALLY enjoyed being with him and him alone.

Dylan slept in until almost 9 so I had some alone time this morning and then some quiet time with only 1 boy--which was nice. Then Kyle and Logan brough home lunch. Gotta love a quiet morning and lunch that requires NO effort on my part!!

Chores

As you well know..cleaning the house and keeping the house clean are not 2 of my strong suits! I am self admittedly LAZY and tend to get overwhelmed easy...I sit around and look at all that needs to be done..and don't know where to start so I usually end up doing nothing. Well, not NOTHING..but definitely the bare minimum. One of my goals for the new year was to keep the house cleaner and more organized. Yeah..that's not going so well...

I have been thinking about making up a chore chart for myself...but again with the overwhelmed/lazy blah blah blah.

Well, guess what? I was reading Lindsey's blog today and she mentioned a chore planner at motivatedmoms.com . So..I went and checked it out!! I am SOOO glad I did!! Why? because it clearly states what my daily chores should be: make the beds, do the dishes, clean the sink, etc etc..but it also has extra little chores for every day. That way, you get your stuff done and can have time for yourself. And by doing a little every day..it's never overwhelming..and you don't have to feel guilty!! This is very doable stuff and doesn't have me feeling overwhelmed and like a failure the way Fly Lady did.

The planner is an e-book for $8 you can choose whichever style you want..I chose the full size planner..it has a week on each page. You can see samples of all the styles there at the website. Anyway..I'm just excited and wanted to share. If you're curious you can

Click here to view more details!!

I'll keep you posted on how it's going for me!!!