TARGET!!!

I totally forgot about our trip to Target last night!!!! If anyone is interested, Target has the Glade Wisp Flameless candle on sale for $5.99......AND, some of the candles have a coupon on them that will give you $5 off, making the candle $.99!!!! PLUS, Glade is offering a printable coupon for $5 off, in case the candles at Target didn't have the coupons stuck on them. I got 4 Glade Wisp Flameless candles for $.99 a piece....they retail for almost $10!!!!!

If you are interested in the link for the printable coupon, let me know!

Long time no update!!

WOW, has it really been that long since I have posted here?!?!? So sorry about that!!!

Well, let's see. Zane started his new job last Monday and LOVES it!!! Just last week, he made more hours in only 5 days then he ever made working the same amount of days at his old job. We are finally going to be able to get back on our feet financially! Plus, we'll be able to get a second vehicle that we so desperately need. I am so glad things are finally looking up for us. Zane seems so much more happier and more relaxed now.....and, he now works a normal work week!! He only works Monday- Friday, and now has 2 days off in a row. Gosh, it is so nice!!! I now know why people get so excited when Friday rolls around! He has always worked on Saturday's ever since I have known him.

Tyler is doing great. He is SO smart, but he has such a flip mouth on him! I know he is just testing us, but it is SO frustrating. He spends quite a bit of time in time out, which helps some I think. But he loves to work in his school book every day, and is doing amazing with his writing! He's also recognizing more and more letters. Where has my little boy gone?!?!?

Health wise things are going good for me. My blood pressure is great, and my sugar has been doing great, too. Weight loss has been a little slow. I've been out of Phentermine for about a week now, but Zane is picking up the prescription tonight. I can really feel the difference when I am off of it, that's for sure!! I could just eat and eat ALL day long! :( I'm going to take it for a week straight, then take it every other day, since health insurance will end for use the end of the month and won't pick back up until April 1st. Thank goodness i'll still be able to get my other meds thanks to Walmart $4 meds!

Mom is doing great!! All of her check-ups are coming back excellent. The doctor is really impressed with how well things are going. Chemo has been a little hard on her for the first few days after the treatment, but once she gets past that, she feels really good. They are talking about coming down to visit us this coming June, and I can't wait!!! They both really wish they could move down this way to be closer to us (and my brother and his family in N.C.), and I would love that as well. I never really knew just how much I missed my parents until this scare with my mom. Maybe some day they will be living closer to us. :)

Speaking of my parents visiting, my oldest sister and her family will be visiting as well!! They will be here in August. Her husband and oldest daughter have already been here a few years ago, but my sister and her younger daughter have never seen it. I can't wait for them to be here!! Now I am REALLY excited for summer to get here!!

*sigh*Well, that should do it for an update....boring, I know!!!!! I hope everyone has been doing good. Tonight for dinner we are making bacon cheeseburgers off the grill with some baked beans....anyone interested?!? There will be plenty!!! **hugs** Take care, everyone!!!!!!

Family update

Hmmm, I just realized it's been awhile since i've updated how things are going here. We have some changes happening later this month....Zane will be starting a new job!!! He will be working for a company that does fleet work for AT&T. He will be making more money, mainly because it is gauranteed work, all year long! Plus, health insurance is cheaper....and we'll be able to have vision and dental! They also offer a retirement plan. AND, he will only work Monday through Friday....so he will have the weekends off!!!! There are just so many positives with this new job, he just couldn't turn it down!! Where he is working now, we always struggle during the fall/winter months because the work just isn't there. So....it really seems things are starting to turn around for us.....and I am so excited!! His last day where he works now is going to be Feb. 16th. :)

I haven't updated about my mom lately, and I really need to do that! She is still doing great. A few days after her last chemo treatment, she was so very sick. Even with the meds they gave her, she was still miserable. She is really hoping once she gets her next chemo treatment, and each treatment after that, it won't be so hard on her body. She has had blood work done twice in the past two weeks, and it is all coming back great!! She has a doctors appointment today to go over things with the doctor in charge of the cancer treatment, so hopefully she'll let me know how it all goes when they get home. Her next chemo treatment will be this coming Friday. I did find out the doctor is saying it is stomach cancer now. Although, he still isn't too certain that is where it started from. But with all her results coming back so good, and from the scans she has had, he is going with that. I'm sure once they get it to shrink down they will know for sure where it started from.

Well, I think that will have to be it for now.....this darn internet is bumping me offline!!! >:-( Hope everyone has a great week!!!!

Freebies and samples for January

Ok, I figured, since I don't get goodies in the mail every day I would just list everything I got for the month at one time.....that way I won't feel so crappy about not getting goodies every mail day! LOL So, here is what I got for the month of January:

- Oh! Oxygen Lip Balm/Tyra Tangerine ~ Rec'd 1/2
- Huggies wipes ~ Rec'd 1/3
- Women's Health Calendar ~ Rec'd 1/5
- Biore Ice Cleaner ~ Rec'd 1/7
- Tshirt from Goetze ~ Rec'd 1/7
- Eucerin Redness Relief (3) ~ Rec'd 1/11
- Test Product for Centercode ~ Rec'd 1/15 (FedEx)
- Another Oh! Oxygen Lip Balm/Tyra Tangerine ~ Rec'd 1/22 (have no idea how I got 2?!?)
- Oneida Servall/wedding registry ~ Rec'd 1/22 (UPS) this was my second one, this time in Z's name...weird!
- California Raisin Tote w/Tshirt, 3 bags of Raisins, and magent ~ Rec'd 1/23 (UPS)
- Colgate Toothebrush (2)/Spongebob & Shrek ~ Rec'd 1/26
- South Beach Living Granola and water mix (walmart) ~ Rec'd 1/28
- Bamboo Cutting Board/wedding registry ~ Rec'd 1/29 (FedEx) love it!!!
- Nikko Sugar Bowl/wedding registry ~ Rec'd 1/30 (UPS) so pretty and elegant! it doesn't match my kitchen at ALL!! LOL
- 8x10 Print from Canon ~ Rec'd 1/31 (for free, it turned out SO nice!)
- Test Product for Pinecone ~ Rec'd 1/31 (FedEx)

Money Earned (including gift cards):
- $40 survey checks/cash
- $10 Pinecone (paypal)
- $15 Starbucks (gift card)

WOW, now when I look at it THAT way, I feel so much better!!! LOL I just hope the goodies keep rolling in like that.........WOOHOO!!!! :)

Mail today

Well, we haven't got the regular mail yet, but the big brown truck was here and dropped off the shoes I ordered last Saturday!!! I ordered a pair of New Balance shoes and they were only $21.24!! They retail for $84.99!!! So far they seem to fit really well.....a little snug, but not overly tight. I haven't had a new pair of sneakers like these in over 6 years, so I figured I was due for a pair....and I just couldn't beat the price!!! Woohoo for new exercise shoes!!!!


I'll update once snail mail get's here....well, as long as I actually get something! LOL

Mail for the past week

So I have finally gotten some mail worth posting!!! For the past week I have gotten:

- $10 Starbucks GC
- Test Product (FedEx)
- 2 $15 Checks for a prescription survey
- another Oh! Oxygen Lip Balm in Tangerine (not sure why I got two?!?)
- another Oneida Servall spoon (again, I have NO idea why I got two?!?) (UPS)

Hopefully the goodies will keep coming in!!!

Back on Phentermine!!!

After being off of Phentermine for over a week, I'm officially back on it!! I had a check-up with the doctor yesterday and my pressure and sugar were doing great! My weight is doing ok....I was back up to 2 pounds but he still said I was doing good with it. I did find out I wasn't supposed to be eating as much when I am taking this pill......i'm only supposed to eat breakfast, *maybe* lunch, and NO dinner!!! WTH?!?!? I told him I didn't think that sounded very healthy at all, but he assured me it was fine as long as I was taking a multi-vitamin and a fiber pill in the morning. So, we shall see. I will say this....it feels SO good to not be starving all the time!!!! The past week without taking this pill has been so hard......that darn actos makes me feel like I am always hungry! I also have some good energy, so i'm ready to get back into gear and get this weight off for good!!! Now that aunt flo is gone I have the energy to exercise again too, so that is a great thing!!!!!!!

Hopefully i'll be able to update my weight loss ticker more often now!! :)

Mom *UPDATED*

So, I talked to my mom yesterday. She had her port inserted and it all went smoothly! She said it was hurting a little last night, but she had taken something for pain and was waiting for it to kick in. The doctor also gave her a prescription for some anti-nausea pills that she may need once chemo is started, so they got that filled yesterday so she would have them. I talked to her this morning for a few minutes and she sounded a little nervous since chemo starts today. She had called to talk to Ty before they left for the first treatment to help ease her mind a little, and when I got back on the phone with her she sounded more relaxed so that made me feel good! I may not hear from her today since I told her she didn't need to call me when she got home if she wasn't feeling well, so I may not find out how the first treatment went until this weekend....i'll be sure to update when I talk with her!!

My mom called a little while ago and she was home! She said it wasn't bad at all and for now she was feeling really good. She is going to try take it easy this weekend, although she said she wanted to go to the dollar store this weekend to pick out a valentine's day card for Ty....she said she doesn't trust my dad to pick out a card for Ty! LOL Her next treatment is in 3 weeks, but she has an appointment next week to have some blood work done to make sure things are still good.....thanks so much everyone for your thoughts and prayers!! **hugs**

Just a quick mom update

She saw her doctor yesterday as a follow-up from the scan she had done last Thursday. They still are not sure where the tumor originally started from, but they have a general idea of where it is. (It's just SO big they really can't get a good view of just where it originated from!) She goes into the hospital tomorrow to have her port inserted, then they will be starting chemo on Friday. She did find out that the surgeon who did the original surgery on her will be inserting the port tomorrow, which really put her at ease. My mom really likes him, as does my father and my oldest sister. He seems to genuinely care and I really like that. She is just so anxious to get this started! They said if the chemo works to shrink the tumor down, she will have another surgery and they will cut out what is left.

She sounds so upbeat, although she was a little worried about losing her hair at first. I told her everyone reacts differently and she may not lose all of it......she said "well if I do I guess it will be no biggie since I won't have to color it to hide my grey hair for awhile!" LOL

I'll update once I hear how it goes tomorrow with the port being put in and how her first chemo treatment goes on Friday. Thanks again for all your prayers and well wishes, everyone!!! Love you!! **hugs**

My baby

Is now 4 years old!! *sigh* Where has the time gone?!? I look at him and can't believe how "grown up" he seems. And the things he says just crack me up!!! Like the other day, I sent him into the bathroom ahead of me to get started on brushing his teeth. When I got in the bathroom, I watched him reach his brush and toothpaste, turn the water on to wet his brush, brush his teeth, clean his brush and put it back.....all without using his chair! He was standing flat-foot on the floor doing all of that!! I ask him "Did you just brush your teeth by yourself without using your chair?" and he said "I sure did, mommy! I can reach to turn the water on and get my brush and toothpaste....i'm a grown up now!!" He was just so proud of himself. When we were done in the bathroom he insisted on calling my mom to tell her what a grown up he is now. He is really into doing as much as he can on his own, but i've been telling him part of being a big boy or "grown up" is knowing it's ok to ask for help, since even grown ups need help from time to time.

I knew the time would go by quick, but not as fast as it is...........can't it slow down just a little?!?!?

Mom update

So I found out on Wednesday that my mom had to see the doctor this week, not next week! Ummm, actually, she found out Wednesday afternoon that she was supposed to see him this week.....the doctor's office called her to ask why she didn't show up for her appointment that morning. She told them the doctor changed the date of her appointment before she left the hospital on the 26th and it was supposed to be next week. My dad has the paper that the doctor wrote the new appointment date on. So, the nurse scheduled my mom for yesterday afternoon, which worked out better because my dad is off on Thursday and could drive her to the appointment. Plus, she is SO anxious to get the ball rolling on starting chemo! Anyhoo, the appointment went well yesterday. The doctor put a call into the person my mom will have to see to get a port inserted and to get started with chemo. Hopefully they will call her soon. She did say the doctor sounded very optimistic with everything, and that made her feel so much more at ease. He told her if the chemo wouldn't shrink the tumor, he would cut the thing out! LOL They are also hoping that once it does shrink they may be able to determine just where it originated. She also said she is starting to feel uncomfortable again, which means the fluid they drained from her is starting to come back. They said it would, but were hoping it would hold off until they got started with chemo. She said they drained a total of 2 liters out of her!!!! But, all in all she still in good spirits and is ready to fight this all the way. My dad told me she has times where she starts to let it get to her, but she will call me and talk to Tyler and it just brightens her spirits for the rest of the day.....that made me feel so good! Once I find out when she here's more about getting the port and starting chemo I will be sure to update.....

Also, I want to take the time to thank each and every one of you who read this and are keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. They mean more to me than I could ever express. The thoughts and prayers are definitely working, as each time I get an update from my mom the doctor sounds more and more hopeful!! I love you all so very much......I wish I could hug each and every one of you in person!!!!! **hugs**

My first freebie of 2008

Yesterday's mail wasn't so bad. I did get my first freebie, which is cool!

- Oh! Oxygen Tangerine lip balm

Also got:
- an amazon order paid for with gift cards (stuff for Ty's party)
- some stickers off of ebay (paid for with survey money in paypal)


Hopefully today i'll get some other good freebies! :)

Final totals for 2007

Ok, so I started adding up all the gift cards, checks, cash and Paypal payments I got and I think I did fairly good!!!

Gift cards:
Starbucks - $20
Cold Stone Creamery - $10
Target - $20
Amazon.com - $470!!!!

Pinecone Research:
$120

Random survey payments:
Between checks, cash and Paypal - $324!!

So the grand total for 2007 was $964!!! WOW, I can't believe it!!! Plus. if you add all the great free things I got including the free Sonicare toothbrush, all the free shutterfly codes, 2 free ipod shuffles and other great things, it's well over $1,400!! I sure hope this year goes just as good!