Paper Bags--the new fashion accessory for your HEAD

We got to church Sunday and got settled on our pew. We were singing away when Mr. Busy leans over and whispers, "I can't move my finger, mom." I looked at his hand and his finger was HUGE AND PURPLE!!! I asked what happened to him and he said, "Remember when I jammed it playing football before Halloween?" I was shocked. I do remember that day. I distinctly remember looking at it, noting that it was slightly swollen but he still had some movement, and putting ice on it. He NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT IT after that so I thought we were good. Well, apparently not. He has very limited movement and it is extremely swollen. It has been swollen so long that the skin around his knuckles is peeling. So today we're going to the doctor and hoping for the best.

Sorry, I HAVE to vent.

Looking for a miracle is kinda like looking for a needle in a haystack. It seems like at the times we need help the most, it is the hardest thing to find. Yesterday we had a wedding in the family. The event was absolutely beautiful--outside, overlooking a lush, green, beautiful area (golf course) with the sun setting in the background. Everyone was dressed absolutely stunningly--especially the bride. Beautiful. However, the part of the whole event that brought me to tears was when she reached the altar. It was COLD. She had on a gorgeous strapless dress. Her husband to be then did something i've never seen at a wedding-- he took off his tux jacket and gently put it around her shoulders to keep her warm. It was absolutely precious. Unexpected, yes, but so sweet. Here's the strange part: I had spent the whole day OF the wedding in one of the foulest moods I've been in for quite some time. I was mad at everybody and everything for absolutely nothing. I would've been quite happy to have stayed under my covers all day and let the whole world go on without me. I tried to smile and look normal (especially when we got to the wedding, for their sakes), but inside I was TICKED. Until I saw that one act of kindness. I'm not really sure why it changed my tune, but it did.
The last few months have been really hard. I've done my absolute best to keep my inner turmoil from my family. I am in charge of the budget (which doesn't squeak, it SCREAMS), feeding my family of six (the difficulty here is numerous food allergies), monitoring my husband's diabetes and the meds that go along with it, cleaning my home and doing mountains of laundry (which sounds really silly along with the other stuff, but it's stressful nonetheless) and making sure my kids are educated, well-behaved,LOVED,clean and healthy. I feel like I'm at the end of my rope, but I don't get the option to stop. What mom does? And since I have no worse problems than many other people out there, I guess there's just one thing left to do. Suck it up, go on, and sneak in a 'locked door bubble bath' from time to time. There will be better things coming. I know that. In the meantime, I will just have to stay strong--or risk falling apart . . .

Tonight's menu will consist of 'Crazy Yummy Soup' and homemade onion bread. Crazy yummy soup is what my kids call my 'pantry and fridge cleaner' soup. This version will contain turkey, celery, onions, carrots, egg noodles, rotini, and large shell noodles. Yum!

Frustration

I sat down this morning and checked our budget for the next month. Eeeew . . . and at Christmastime, no less. I'm fixing to pull out my little notebook of tips and tricks to get us through without feeling like we're doing waaaaaay without. I guess I'd better get crackin' . . . later . . . when my pain meds for this headache kick in . . . ugh.

One little, two little, three little indians . . .

Mr. Busy approached me last night (at bedtime, no less)and reminded me that he had a project due Friday morning or he risked getting a big fat ZERO. What kind of project, you ask? A diarama of a SIOUX INDIAN VILLAGE. Um, yea. I wish he had either: A)reminded me SOONER, or B) taken it upon himself to work on the project unassisted. Alas, neither occurrence took place. So we did half of it last night and will do the other half tonight. I actually dreamed last night that I lived in a teepee made from pieces of a paper grocery bag . . .

Dad's Dentistry--now open for business

Bubba was complaining to me this Saturday that his mouth hurt. Nana and I looked and discovered he had an adult tooth growing in front of a baby tooth that was still very much attached, and not very loose. I told him to wiggle on it so it would come out. Well, that didn't go very far . . . So, last night daddy decided to do something about it, and DID. He held Bubba's head in one hand and pushed the baby tooth backwards with the other until it popped free . . . . It was loose at the time, just at a very awkward angle. I wasn't much help though, as that stuff makes me reeeeally sick. Maybe Superman should open a dentist's office? NOT.

Aaahhhh . . . diesel fumes! Blech :-P

Tommy came home from work last night with his work clothes drenched in diesel. I figured I'd just wash it right out. Well, we're on attempt number 5 to no avail. His cousin just told me to put some bubble bath in the washer with it. I'll let u know if it works. Crossing my fingers!

Breakfast: the fuel of champions!!

As soon as I finished posting this morning, it occurred to me that my opinions of what 'breakfast' is all about have changed drastically in recent months. Mainly out of necessity. Last year, when I was working and could afford it,the kids ate breakfast at school every day. I had to be at work between 7:30 and 7:45 every morning--after dropping the kids off at school. I was also going to college at the time and would stay up late studying every night, so I was in no shape to get up at 5:30 or 6 daily to fix breakfast. The little one went to work with me daily (preschool) and would eat breakfast there. So this year, I have had to get back into the groove of fixing a morning meal of some description, without it eating my lunch (yuk, yuk, yuk).

When most folks think of breakfast, conjured images of pop tarts, dry cereal with milk, or bacon and eggs come to mind. All of the above are well and good--and pricey. I do use eggs, but not generally as the main meal. I use them as an ingredient to muffins, coffee cake and the like. Feeding eggs to our family of 6 on a daily basis would require a whole dozen EVERY morning. Um, yeah. That gets pricey. Also, I hardly ever buy dry cereal. Why, u ask? Because unless I have a coupon and can get it for around a dollar or less a box, it costs a LOT of money for us. We could plow through a whole box each DAY. I also don't buy pop tarts for the same reason, with the exception of exceptional deals via coupons and sales. You may now be wondering what exactly I do feed my kids. So here is a small list: muffins (Jiffy muffin mixes are dirt cheap and very tasty!), coffee cake (there is a recipe for blueberry style on the side of the blueberry muffin mix box--yumm!), cinnamon toast (made with homemade bread I bake a few times weekly and freeze), fruit and regular toast, banana bread, malt-o-meal (lasts forever but they'll eat it gladly), and oatmeal. I will back up a little here and clarify one thing: I DO boil a dozen eggs periodically for breakfast and label that carton to keep in the fridge. Boiled eggs stretch farther than scrambled and seem to fill the kiddos up better. I know, I know, I'm a tightwad. But, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. As long as we're eating well, who cares??? lol

Bah!! Monday :-(

I love these cold, rainy mornings . . . makes me wanna hop right outta bed. NOT!! My alarm went off at 6 this morning and hubby said he heard a horrible mumbling grunting noise coming from my side of the bed, lol. But, I got up and got his clothes ironed for him while he showered. Then I had to fix breakfast for the kids and get them ready for school. I am so thankful for my couponing on mornings like this. I picked up cinnamon rolls (the GOOD kind) this past week for about 40 cents after coupons. Woo-hoo!! MUCH better than fixing something elaborate when u just wanna crawl back into bed and lay there all day.

Oh, and I just wanted to add: I've only knitted 4 rows on my (1) dishcloth. Maybe I'll give 'em as Christmas gifts NEXT year . . . heehee :-)

Oh, and by the way . . .

tonight's menu is Taco Salad and cornbread, with oreo cheesecake for dessert. Heheee!! YUMMY :)

Knitting up a FIT!

I got this brilliant idea after church (and a nap) today. I haven't broke out the old knitting needles in awhile and christmas is coming up. I thought I would knit up a bunch of dishcloths for christmas gifts. . . Ahem. Apparently it's been awhile since I've knitted. Once again my ambition may have gotten the best of me. So here I sit, knitting up a fit. Literally. Yes, knitting needles and yarn are inanimate objects. Yes, they have no clue why I'm yelling at them. But you know what? It makes me feel better. So there!

It never ceases to amaze me how people go into complete panic mode during a 'tight' spell, financially speaking. I have been in this situation many, many times myself. It stinks; reeks, even. Granted that my husband makes a fair amount of money, and does get a V.A. check every month. I chose to be a stay-at-home mom this year. Long story short, it was MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better for our family that I stay home. The other addition is that we have four children. Four kids do not an easy, breezy budget make. You have to feed them, shelter them, and there are always things they need for school ( I said need, not want.) Also, my hubby is diabetic, among other health problems. Prescription medication is not FREE, but it is NECESSARY for him.

In the past (and recent times!), we have had multiple ways to get through financial hardships. Have there been times we have had to ask for help? Certainly. Am I proud of that fact? NO. However, there are a few strategies I have in place to not only help prevent things from getting too out of hand, but to pick up the slack when unexpecteds DO happen.
Here are a few:

1. Budget, Budget, Budget. I cannot stress enough how crucial this is to almost anyone who has to manage money. I HAVE to know where the paychecks are going, and what needs to be done with them. If you have to cut back in other areas when things are tight, DO IT. I have discovered that many utility companies, and other bills, have arrangements you can make with them to help you through a rough patch. Pick up the phone--it can't hurt to ask! Also, if you have to cut back a little on groceries, there are ways to do this without starving. I'll add this in next.

2. Menu Planning. Let me just say, the weeks I DON'T plan a menu, everything suffers. I don't set anything out the night before to thaw because I don't know what I'm gonna fix the next day. When 5:00 sneaks up on me (Wow--already????), I don't have a CLUE what to fix. Many times this has lead to getting take-out--another evil to us tight-budgeted people. When my menu plan is in place, I don't have the anxiety of 'what to fix'. I know what I need to get ready, which in turn gives me more time to do housework and other things that need to be done. Anything that gives me more time is a GODSEND.

3. Just say no! I don't care if everybody and their little brother has it, why do YOU need it? 'Nuff said.

4. COUPONS, YAAAAAAAYY!! I am fairly new to the whole coupon thing. I have discovered recently that it honestly is worth my time, and a few dollars for a Sunday paper and an All You magazine, to clip these suckers. I will also freely admit to doing my shopping at least 30 minutes away from home to save myself some money. I did the math, and I save more in groceries and supplies than I pay for the gas to drive where the deals are.

5. Pantry Challenge. Before you EVER leave the house to get groceries, take inventory of your pantry, fridge and freezer. ESPECIALLY if you are having financial trouble. I take a note pad and go through all these areas and start making my 2-weeks menu based on what I already have. There have been times I have actually got away with only buying milk, eggs and cheese to get us through because we already had a LOT hidden in the nooks and crannies. Once you make your list, STICK TO IT. It will eat your budget alive if you don't.

I will talk more on this subject later, but for now, this should suffice. Just these five little tricks have saved us a bundle.