Finding new motivation...a great website!

Created by MyFitnessPal - Nutrition Facts For Foods

Here's to something new! Can't beat a FREE website that allows you to track your eating habits and exercise and weight loss! :) Check it out! It has been soooo hard, but since Henry was born, I have been able to lose 60 pounds so far. I have 50 more to go (I would LOVE to lose more but being realistic). Trying to earn my way back onto the Hot Tamale Train! WHOOO-HOO! Lol. :) That was for all of my SYTYCD fellow fans.

Successful Harris Teeter Trip with Super Doubles!

I spent $88 this morning and saved $82!  Any coupon 1.98 or less doubled.  Some of the freebies I got were:
3 Philadelphia Cooking Creme- on sale for $2 and I had a $1 off coupon that doubled.
3 Lance Cracker Creation- on sale for $2 and I had a $1 off coupon.
3 Dan-o-nino Yogurt 6pk- They were 1.99 and I had a $1 off coupon.
1 Oreo Ultimate Icing- They are 1.50 and I had a $1 off coupon which creates an overage. :)  I was only able to get one however because that is all they had but will check again next time.

I also got 2 Smart Balance Milks- 3.99 and I had a 1.50 off coupon which brought it down to .99 cents milk.
6 Lunchables with fruit- I had a B1G1 raincheck plus $1 off coupons and they were only 3.19.  So I really only paid 3.57 for 6 lunchables. :)
3 OreIda Sweet Potato Fries which were 3.69 and I had $1 off coupons which made it 5.07.
2 Snyders Sandwiches, 3.19 and I had a .75 cents off that doubled.
Everything else was B1G1 or on sale through EVIC.
Thomas English Muffins: B1G1
Perdue Boneless Fit and Easy chicken breasts: B1G1
4lbs Ground Beef: 1.99lb sale
4 Stouffers Mac and Cheese for $10 (plus I get a dollar back on my Saving Star account for this purchase)
4 Stouffers Salisbury Steak for $10
and Buy 2 Get 3 free Pepsi products  (I actually forgot to put those in the picture!) which made all five 12.98. :)



A pretty good morning in my book!  This was the most coupons I have used in a trip- it was exactly 20 (you can only double 20).  I have two more transactions laid out and hoping I can talk my sister into going so I only have to make one more trip. :)

My granny, the coupon queen who cuts them out of the newspapers that she can get a hold off at the home, was proud of me.  That made my day even better.

Summertime...new recipes and the never-ending housework. :)

Since it is summertime and I will have more time to experiment with recipes, I figured I could blog about it! :)  The hubby and I have both become big fans of the mocha frappe.  I love them from anywhere but we both LOVE them from the Java Post in Cape Carteret.  However, it adds up really quickly.  So I googled it of course and then played with some ideas.  The key is freezing the coffee in ice cube trays!  I made strong coffee and poured it into the ice cube trays.  Then when I want to make a frappe, I put however many into the blender with some milk and hersheys chocolate and Voila!  You have a version of the Mocha Frappe.  Saves money and calories, I am sure!

Brice has had tons of yellow squash come from his garden so far.  I took it and mixed 1.5 cups of bisquick (or any pancake mix will work), 1 egg, 1 cup water, and some garlic salt.  It also asked for parmesan or romano cheese, but I think I may use sharp cheddar and see if it adds more taste.  I also sprinkled the slices of squash with black pepper on both sides.  Next time I will also substitute the garlic salt with cayenne pepper.  You will dredge the squash through the mixture and then fry it up.  It becomes nice and fluffy.  It was not very crispy, so you may want to fry it longer but it was just as good not very crispy.  I put it in the oven on about 250 to keep it warm until the rest of dinner was ready. The hubby and I were both shocked because it was very yummy!  You are getting this from a girl who typically doesn't eat squash but I have eaten it both fried and in a casserole in the past month, lol.  Enjoy!

Fingers crossed because I have already downloaded different recipes for cantaloupe. :)

Updated...things are looking up.

Thank the Lord, I have not had any big relapses since the last!  I have been feeling pretty good so far.  I got a "why didn't you call me?" from the neurologist when I told him about the last, but he is so super nice.  We discussed me stopping nursing in September when he wants me to come back in and begin treatment again. 

The heat, of course, is making my legs tighten up but other than that, not too bad.  I spent the weekend out in the yard with the hubby and was glad to see that I didn't have to spend a day in bed to make up for it this time.  I try not to think about it, but I am a little nervous at how hot it already is this year. 

My newest symptom seems to be what they nicely call the "MS hug".  Not as friendly as it sounds but mine isn't as bad as it could be.  I found a solution however. :)  I am now proudly wearing a version of "spanx".  It not only holds parts of me that aren't quite bouncing back as I lose weight, but it also holds my ribs.  Part of the MS hug is your ribs somewhat hurting.  For me it is more uncomfortable than anything else.  It is almost as if the ribs have rubbed against each other and are sore.  I was having to, at times, just put my hands on my ribs when they were bothering me and the compression helped it not bother me as bad.  With the compression from my new "girdle", I have not experienced as many hugs.  Two benefits for the price of one, lol. 

I am so blessed with great friends and support system.  Especially my Sheri.  When I am down in the dumps, all I have to do is call her and listen to any of her crazy stories and my day is made right again.  <3 

Trying to see the bright side of things...

So...it has been over a month and the symptoms seem to still be increasing in my hand which is very frustrating.  When I type, it is hard for me to control my left hand, especially my pinky and ring finger.  I cannot tell if I am hitting the key or not.  But, despite feeling so tight and swollen, at least they are not black and blue and obviously still have circulation around them.  I am gaining sensation back on my left side of my scalp and ear, yay!...so hopefully I will get it back in my hand soon.  And, who knows, perhaps the pregnancy has aggravated the symptoms and made them worse...at least something is reversing finally!

Mr. Henry is measuring bigger than his actual size.  I went last Tuesday and I was 32 weeks and he was measuring 35 weeks. :)  They estimated he is about 5 pounds already.  Since he is so big, I now have to start taking my blood sugar.  I do okay in the mornings remembering, but during the day at work, I am usually too busy to prick my finger 2 hours after breakfast and lunch.  Who has time for that mess? :)  Getting so super excited about meeting  this little one soon...excited for our growing family.  :)

Good days and bad days...

So...the big day was February 25th, 2009.  The same day my dad passed away, I got the official diagnosis that I have Multiple Sclerosis.  The only good thing was that I was so busy dealing with his passing, that it took the focus off my new diagnosis.  I have had days where I get frustrated with some of my symptoms and break down.  I have had days where I miss him so much and wish he was here to make me feel safe with this damn disease.  The beginning was numbness that spread from my waist into one leg and then back up into the other leg.  After several MRIs showing 20+ lesions and a spinal that contained whatever it was my doctor was looking for, it was definite.  It sucks.  The positive side of the disease is that you look normal.  So even on a bad day, I can be "fine". 

The heat wears me out.  I try to stay under the shade when I take my kids outside for recess but don't want to be the teacher caught sitting either.  My legs haven't bothered me for a few months, so that has been nice.  I know when the cold gets here, they will probably start tightening up...

So, my bad days lately...well there has been more than a few.  I work all day and then come home and have just had crying spells.  May be my pregnant hormones too...but when you are pregnant, you are most likely not to have any relapses.  I stopped taking my injections because if you research treatments online, they have only been tested as safe in animal fetuses, not human fetuses.  I didn't want to take any chances and wasn't worried because again, pregnancy is supposed to protect you from relapses.  So far now, I have had two.   The first one wasn't bad.  It was near the beginning of my pregnancy and it was just numbness on the right side of my torso only.  Went away in about a month.  This time, this relapse...it has taken a toll on me.  It started with my left fingers feeling like they were asleep.  I thought I had slept on my arm wrong.  Then my left ear started feeling numb...weird, right?  Now it has moved all the way up into my shoulder and down from my ear into my neck as well as the left side of my scalp.  Basically meeting in the middle I guess.  I am losing strength in my left hand and writing is very difficult and I am overly frustrated as typing is getting harder.  My fingers feel very tight.  My worst fear is that this time it won't go away and this will be permanent damage.  Trying to stay positive and think "Two weeks down, maybe only two weeks to go..."  I can still sense hot and cold...but not soft (can't tell the difference between my baby boy's hair and the fabric on the couch).  Try to pretend nothing is wrong but it is only getting harder.  How long will I be able to keep saying "fine" when family asks how everything is?  No point in really calling the doctor since the only quick fix would be steroids...and can't do that pregnant.  If it doesn't go away in a month, then I will call. 

So, I started this blog in hopes that maybe some other MS friends can give me advice...their own stories...etc.  Off for now.