Healthy Choices

     OK, so, another long hospital adventure done, third time this year, even though we are still doing IV treatments at home for Andrew's infection in his central Nervous system. 
     With that said, and the fact that I actually am writing in my blog again, I have been thinking about ways to save money, have the family eat healthier and finding ways to have more time (especially now with the IV treatments taking up so much of my life and leaving little time left over for sleep, the family and just functioning in general.  One thing I did was to get groceries and prepare meal for nearly a month in two days.  It took some research on how best to go about it but it really paid off by saving me a few hundred dollars (or more....) for the month.  In fact, I ended up spending about two hundred less then I do just for two weeks and that was for nearly a month of groceries!
     However, it did cost me more sleep but the kids were helpful, when they could help and it ended up being kind of fun doing this with them too.  So, where did I save money?  Well first off, by having 'Ready to Eat' (practically) meals, my tendency to get fast food cause I'm too tired to cook a meal from scratch has been eliminated.  Not only does that save a TON of money but it is 100 times better for the family to have a home cooked meal without all the yuck that restaurants have to have in their food and honestly, for the time it takes to get take out... you really don't save that much time.
     Secondly, by preplanning and making a list, I tried to keep the types of meats limited, or, if I bought an additional meat, it had to be a bargain and for a specific reason or recipe.  Creating menus that did this and tripling them or quadrupling, meant that my ingredients could be purchased in bulk for less money and there was plenty to freeze for another night.  Buying this way really cut the costs.
     Investing in two stock pots (one regular and one non-stick) gave me the ability to speed up my cooking time for practically all the recipes.  I already have a vacuum sealer for food and invested in some Ball brand freezer containers, reusable of course.
     So with the meals outta the way, my next project is to make freezer jelly outta my grapes that I have growing in the back yard.  I would like to go to a U-pick orchard hopefully next pay day and get apples to make apple butter, but not sure if I will be able to afford it or not with Anna's B-day coming up and some additional bills and expenses.  It would be nice to be able to do it if at all possible though.
    Last but certainly not least, I am working on experimental baking and some other projects for the website I hope to launch in January, an on going project I have been preparing for, for some time now.  It's part of my 'Stone Creek Ministries Project' and will feature living a healthier lifestyle... physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.  It's a huge project and with all that has been going on lately, my goal date seems more and more further from my reach but I will continue to plug away whenever possible with the hope that, just maybe, I might be able to make it without pushing the deadline further into the future.  However, bit by bit and here and there, I have been slowly getting closer to my goal.  If the progress continues, even if it takes longer than I hope, I will get to my goal. I'm still not into the phase where I can shoot videos yet, although I have the basic, very basic, equipment to start it with the option of get loan equipment from a TV studio that I'm affiliated with as a producer.
     Me and my many hobbies!  At least I'm not bored. lol.
    

Idaho Deal Divas: Tucanos Brazillian Grill

Idaho Deal Divas: Tucanos Brazillian Grill

The Website Address (Just click on words) for the Birthday Club... Didn't see It posted but could have just missed it. ^_^

Been Awhile but Not Forgotten....

     So... It has been a few months since I last posted.  Tonight I thought I would post a blog about my many 'hobbies' because I am asked about them often.

     For those of you who know, I dabble in a lot of things.  Everything from writing novels, filming, photography, working at a local TV Studio, Jewelry Making, drawing, Counseling Youth to Watching Asian Dramas, my wide variety of taste in music and TV show and political and religious views.  Of course there is also my family and raising a disabled child on top of it all.  Naturally, as a human being, I am wonderfully unique - or so I'm told, lol.
     Anyhow, the main question I am usually asked is, 'Why do so many things?  Doesn't get overwhelming?"
     My Answer, 'I get bored really easily and yeah, it can get overwhelming if I let it.  My 'uniqueness' does not allow me to focus on one thing and be content, it never has.  I also cannot follow a schedule to save my life, routine is too boring to me and I simply lose interest and so forth.  So, to compensate, I have found several things that I love to do, along with being a mom and wife (my favorite!!), and have learned how to proportion them so they do not overwhelm me nor do they become routine and boring.
     For example, when writing, editing and publishing novels, that is all I do day and night.  It wasn't long before the joy of writing became a huge pain in the backside and I hated it... well, temporarily anyway.  I love writing but not all the time.  Just like I love making Jewelry and watching certain shows, whether Asian or American but not All The Time.  I switch back and forth on everything, sometimes doing several different things in a day.  I might work on a novel for a few hours or ten minutes, then FB on and off while watching TV.  Naturally there are doctor appointments, school, playing with the kids and making my husband smile.  Sometimes, if I am really excited about something, I will do it all day or for several days in a row... that is usually when I am writing a book.  Or I might go months and never even look at my novels.

Remember this Blog is just Random Thoughts, so I may or may not make sense, but at least I'm blogging. ^_^

     Anyhow, I'm re-writing one of my novels now.  It was good the first time but I don't think it was showing it's true potential.  I also have one that I 'should' finish before Feb of 2011 so I can finish the series.  It's mostly done but I'm mad at two of the characters and am punishing them by ignoring the book - silly but true.  I actually feel things about my characters, happy, sad, ticked off, regretful... I'm sure you get the picture.

     Anyhow, now that my life is sort of getting back to normal, at least I hope it is, I have time to do things again, like blogging.  I'm not much of a 'Journal' person, which blogging is kind of in that category, so it's hard for me to stop and simply take time to just write out random stuff like this.  However, this off-kilter last minute writing is the kind that I enjoy most.  It only has to make sense to me and I don't really care if it is read or not.  Bored yet?  Well, I'm getting there, so I guess I'll say goodbye for this post and maybe on my next one I will have something slightly more entertaining to read... or not.  Either is perfectly fine with me <3

Post Surgery

Well, it's done.  Andrew had his surgery today, it went pretty good, just a few small complications but nothing serious.  There is the area on his belly where the pump went in and one on his neck were the tube went into his spine.  Both have stitches that will need to be removed in two weeks.  He seems to be comfortable for now, pretty much sleeping because of the pain meds.  Will post more later when I know more.

Andrew's Upcoming Surgery

OK, so April 22, 2010 Andrew is going in for a major surgery to a Baclofen Pump Insertion.  Basically the pump delivers medication that will keep his muscles relaxed, they are VERY tight right now and it has become painful for him and difficult for those who take care of him to manage his daily care. 

Anyhow, the pump is about the size of a hockey puck and will be placed inside his tummy and it will have a tube that will run up to his spine, in the neck area because his spine has been fused below that. 

Front View to Spine.  The x-ray shows rods, screws and wires that were used in Andrew's Spinal Fusion.

Side View of Spinal Fusion and rods.







The pump will give him doses of medication throughout the day.  About once every six months, maybe less, we have to go in so more medication can be inserted into the pump.  This is done through the skin and into the 'hockey puck'.

Currently, Andrew is taking the pill form of Baclofen but through the pill he only recieves about 10% of the medications effect, where through the pump, he will benefit from 97%.... a huge difference.  A couple or so weeks ago we underwent a trial form of the medication and you would not believe the difference it made and how happy he was.  The little guy was smiling and laughing and jabbering on and on like you wouldn't believe, a totally different kid.

My only concerns, besides the fact that he has to undergo yet another surgery, is that there are risks to this.  With the trial proceedure, his heart rate had fallen really low but they eventually got it to stabilize, especially after I came back to the recovery and worked with Andrew some.  A mother's voice and touch can do wonders ^_^.  Also, because of how they will have to do this particular surgery (normally the tube goes in the lower spine vs. the neck) it will be much more invasive.  I know that everything is in God's hands and it will all work out according to his Will but I still feel anxious about the amount of hardships that we will face in the next coming weeks because of it.

Well, for now that is all I have to write on this.  I will keep you posted when I learn more or if there are any changes.

Amazing Love

Saying Goodbye

Saying goodbye is never easy.  Yet again, today, I had to say goodbye to another loved one, who passed away from cancer.  This is a story about a beautiful woman who made my marriage something to get a good giggle about.