Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Medicated

I've been on some new meds for about a week now, and I think they're really working. I've been much more calm, having less panic attacks, and in turn, less contractions. This is a wonderful thing, in my opinion. I'm being a better mom and wife to my family.

The meds are not without side effects though. I'm more tired than I have been. I can deal with that though. I'm able to take naps some days. I've also been feeling more sick than I had been. I have yet to throw up from it, but it's been there... It may be slowly fading, and I'm praying it disappears, but I'm not getting my hopes up. I do feel a bit like I'm in a fog. But I can deal with the fog (for now.) I may get sick of it at some point... but I'll deal with that then.

This is just a trial run on the meds to see if they help me and the baby. I've also started going in to see the doc every 2 weeks now, a bit early. It's to help monitor the meds.

To me it is very encouraging that the meds are working so well. That means that the recent string of panic attacks and depression is hormonal and not mental. YAY! That means once I'm done being pregnant, and perhaps nursing, I'll hopefully be back to my normal self... Which I don't quite remember just who that is... It's been a while.

For now, I'm grateful for the option to take meds. For now they are working and I'm praying there are no adverse side effects for the baby.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Weekly Meal Plan Lists

Working on Grocery lists for this week, so I made some PDF files to help me out. What I do first is use the Coupon Shopping List to figure out all my coupons for the week. I then also go through our WIC vouchers and write them and my coupon shopping list on to our Master Grocery List. I use those two lists to come up with a weekly meal plan for our family using the Weekly Meal Plan list. I write down the extra ingredients I will need, and anything else that comes up. I then take those extra ingredients and add them to our Master list also. I hope this isn't too confusing for you. It's the easiest way for me plan it all out and have enough space to write it all (I don't think I could fit everything on one sheet.)

To download the files free for your own personal use, Just click on the links above or below.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

I feel like writing but I'm not quite sure I can get out what I want today.

I am feeling defeated again. Slipping not so slowly back into the valley. I just have to remember that even if I do fall again, I'll always come back up at some point. I just don't ever exactly know if that will be a few days or weeks... or months. It's hard to have the patience with yourself to say "it came to pass." To understand that it's not going to always be like that. But it will pass. And I will feel better. Even if I don't feel better now.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

30 by 30 Update 1

Back in August I wrote this post about 30 things I want to do by the time I turn 30.

The List:


  •  Run a half marathon, the Warrior Dash, and the Color Run.
  • Take a road trip by my lonesome and stop whenever I want.
  •  Take ball room dancing lessons.
  • Find my go to Karaoke song.
  • Have baby number 3.
  • Turn an internet only friend into a real life friend.
  • Ride in either a Hot Air Balloon or a Helicopter, maybe both, not at the same time.
  •  Have a large vegetable garden and keep it alive.
  • Do a family hike and camp out trip.
  • Write letters and send picture regularly to family.
  • Learn how to really play the guitar.
  • Go someplace I need a passport for.
  • Visit Niagra Falls.
  •  Tour the "mormon" trail.
  • Catch up on all my scrapbooking.
  • Ride a horse again.
  • Participate in a flash mob.
  • Volunteer regularly
  • Take the kids to Disney World
  • Visit Harry Potter world
  •  Do an anniversary photo shoot for our 10 year (kinda like an engagement shoot)
  •  Paint all the rooms in the house.
  • Attend a giant music festival (bonnaroo?)
  • Have Blue/Turquoise hair… this is gonna happen!
  • Fill out our family tree book for the kids.
  • Train my dogs so they don't drive me crazy.
  • Go white water rafting with Handsome, this time on the same raft as my hubby ;)
  • Write in my journal weekly at least.
  • Get a gun license and learn to use the dang thing.
  • Read start to finish all the Scriptures. (Old and New testament, BOM, D&C and PoGP)


  • I have yet to actually accomplish ANYTHING on my list, and I've only got a year and half left.

    That is... UNTIL TODAY!

    I actually was able to cross off number 6 on my list and turn an internet friend into a real friend. A good friend (who I met online) needed a ride from Owensboro, Kentucky to the Nashville Airport, and I was able to give her that ride! I LOVE driving and road trips, so I didn't mind the drive at all, and once I got my friend, we talked NON STOP until she had to pass through security at the airport to make her plane. It was so much fun to be able to meet her, and to find out that we have so much in common.

    Along with number 6, I'm currently working on a few other items on my list. Number 5 will happen the last week of May. I'm going to start a veggie garden here in the next few weeks (8) and I'm running the color run on March 30th (1.) There are a few things I won't be able to actually cross off, thanks in part to baby  number 3. But that's okay. I'll find replacements for them that are just as exciting.

    I'm just excited to have actually taken one small step to accomplishing this huge goal! YAY!

    Monday, February 11, 2013

    Getting Back in the Game!

    Handsome has been asking me for a while to start couponing again. I've done it for years, but when we moved into our house last year, I really dropped the ball and I haven't picked it back up in the past year. We have done a couple things recently to help save us  money on our grocery bill, but we need a bit more help.

    So I have spent the past two days slowly clipping coupons and reorganizing my binder to get back into the game. I'm surprised at how many coupons I've actually saved recently. My binder is more full than I expected. So I've gone through a couple of my favorite websites (SouthernSavers.com is a great one) to help me match my current coupons with the current sales and I made one grocery list for the things that we can use. (I try not to get anything I won't actually use. There are some great deals out there, but it's stuff we'd never use, so what's the point in wasting my time on it?) Grocery list no. 1 done.

    Then I went through our WIC vouchers (I spread them out through the month) and made a shopping list for them. Grocery list no. 2 done.

    Then I made a meal menu plan keeping in mind what was on my first two grocery lists (I do plan out dinner every night, then just make a list of ideas for breakfast and lunch.) Then I thought through those recipes and made Grocery list no. 3.

    (BTW, here's a couple recipes We're gonna try out the next couple weeks!)
    Beef and Cheddar Casserole
    Chicken Pot Pie
    White Bean Chili

    In all, I'll probably be going to three or four different stores, and shopping off my three separate grocery lists. I'm hoping to keep my total under $100. Not bad for two weeks worth of groceries for our family of 4. (Also, when I know ahead of time what's for dinner every night, and have a list of ideas for breakfast, lunch, and even snacks planned out as well, We spend MUCH MUCH MUCH less on eating out/fast food. Which helps save money as well!) But I know I can do better. We're hoping to get to the point where our monthly grocery spending is between $100 and $150. We'll see if I can get there. Like I said before, it's gonna take me another month or two or three before I really start saving extra money from the couponing. You've got to build up your stock not only of coupons, but also of the things you buy regularly.

    Either way, It feels great to have a game plan for everything. Now I just have to find the time and energy to actually DO the shopping! Wish me luck!