YOLO!

It's been too long.... hello my friend! Well as often with blogs it comes and goes and sometimes I just can't find the time to update all that I want. Let's see.... since the last time I visited:
1.) I went through medical hell. I saw over 7 different Drs/ specialists.  I had several medical exams, procedures, and a sugery. All of which focusing on severe shooting pains on had on my right side. After all said and done and soooooooooooooooo thankful for the outcome it turns out in addition to PCOS they have discovered I have Abdominal Neuralgia. In summary anytime I get over exciting, neverous stressed....let's see when am I not!?!? My neuralgia specifically in that right abdominal area would flare up. My Nanny (Grandma) had fibronueralgia so I watched for years her struggle with it in her face, back, and legs. I am so relieved to know at this time it is only in my abdominal area. I have REALLY been focusin on time management, removing unnecessary stress and responsibilities (hence disappearing for a while), I am really focused on my diet, and nautral remedies (essential oils). I still have my occassional flare up but nothing compared to what I was going through. I appareciate all of the Drs for doing what they do best and searching and ruling out so many scary things they were hoping were not the case. I am sooooo blessed with the family and friends that helped me with the boys and kept us all in their prayers. God is good!!!!
2.) The holidays were wonderful! After the medical scares I really took a much needed approach in life,You Only Live Once (YOLO)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shout, believe it, and act it. We ate up all of our family and friends. As chaotic as it was it was wonderful to be surrounded by them all.
3.) Baseball is in full swing (haha get it!?!?) :-) yes we are back in season to what our whole family loves so much. We are just starting the tournaments and I look forward to all the adventures that the team and friends will have together.
4.) I donated my hair again. Yup this was my 5th time doing it. It took me 8 months to grow it and I donated 11" BUT it was so thick it made 2 ponytails. I may have some medical ups and downs but helping some little girl/ lady out just seems like a no brainer to me and Im so glad I was able to do so.

5.) We sold our boat but have no fear we are in search of another..... Any chance we can get to hit the water is my serentity. It puts all of us in our happy peaceful place. Having that getaway is so important to me. My boys will only be young once. Yes saving for retirement is important but spoiling my boys rotten right now is much more important to me.... with that said.... WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY!!! Yup this December. We talked and talked and decided this is it! Stinker is at a prime age. Loving everything Disney, believing so much in that Disney Magic. I just cannot wait to see that sparkle in his eye watching everything come to life. THIS is the reason I go to work every morning to provide the best life for them. THIS is the reason why I coupon and cut corners and stay up late sometimes with my menu planning and searching.... making the best of what we've got and we I have is an amazing family!

For updates here are just a handful of the 100s of pictures I have taken lately. :-)

Theres Sport doing what he does best!!! #suchaproudmom

Hubby got not one but two deer this past Fall.

Yup that's Stinker! He just completed his very first race. A 1/2Mile all by himself AND then he completed another 1/2mile right by me.

One of our first ever family selfies. We hit the lake for Mother's Day. Such a blessing to share with these gems.

Have no fear I still play with food every chance I get. A little Spring pick me up breakfast for my buddy.

This was our first time donating time to such a wonderful organization. Sport, Jason, and I donated 7 hrs in the biter cold temps but our hearts were filled with warmth as we loaded up planes with tons of toys and other gifts for children in the MI area that are in foster homes. We cannot wait to do this again next year.

Look at that stud! We dont do it often but we managed to sneak out for a date night (for Jasons Birthday) and celebrated the way I know he likes best... EATING! It was a wonderful evening filled with laughs just him and I. #theloveofmylifeandbestfriend

A free and much needed prescription

So as a couponer I am always on a hunt for fun things to do with the family or for the kids. I saw one of the latest raves about "Painting Parties" where you go to a painting studio with a group of friends (or by yourself) and you have a guided class teach you how to paint a canvass picture. The whole class paints the same picture.

Me someone who cannot draw a circle or make a line look remotely straight was so intreged but this class.

This is it.... exactly what we started with. A blank canvas. Spinning this to an inspirational view... my life can be a blank canvas and Im in charge of the picture I want to be.... filling it with BEAUTIFUL colors and happiness.

Oh the hell! I bought the deal for myself and 2 of my girl friends. I had panic attacks and all the way up to the day of the event they were telling me I was bailing out.

However, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is important. My comfort zone = comfy pants, my boys, at home, with a blanket and either glass or wine or hot coffee. That's my zone and I love it. This whole going out during the work week, painting and I have never done anything even close to this before... WOW taking a big jump (ok it was a big jump for me putting my brush to the canvass).

With the health struggles I have been having. I decided a laugh is probably the best dose of meds I could take right about now.

Taking a moment to enjoy our wine... wine is healthy its good for your bloos. AND My wine for the night was green tea wine.... yummy!!!!!!!!

My beautiful friends and I. It was a great evening!!!!

This prescription was the best I have had so far.... laugh! Laugh until you cry, laugh until your body hurts. Even in those moments when you want to hide in a dark room and be alone PUSH yourself to take the medicine... its free and simple.

I did it and so can you!

Where there's a will there's a way

So I mentioned in my past few posts I haven't been feeling well.

After 2 appointments this past Thursday and convinced they were going to lock me up in a looney bin (humor is my way to shake off fear), I had a few ultra sounds and examine by my doctor. After dicussion the decision is.... surgery.

Puddles in my eyes. I had panic, fear, relief, questions, more pain.... LOTS to take in.

October 25th will be the big surgery day.

They will be removing a cyst that has been hangin on (literally) for about 5 to 6 months and meds just don't seem to do the trick. They will be possibly removing the ovary. In addition to examining for enedemetriosis, looking at my appendix/ gull bladder because of the sever pain on my right side.

So what does this mean now... lots of reasarch and MORE things to do lists are being made. I love my lists but now they are growing faster than ever. 

Spooky week as you may or may not know is my MOST favorite week at home. I have carried this tradition for 5 years now to cook spooky meals throughout the week of Halloween. We have so much fun with it and its been getting bigger each year to where I take "reservations" and we have friends join. This surgery isn't going to hold me down.... just more to plan ahead for.

I will be making about 5 to 8 meals ahead of time so they can be on hand for the few immediate days of recovery.

Lot's more to absorb and think through but where there's a will there's a way. Im going to get through this surgery and enjoy one of my most favorite months and still be the happy Mummabear every second of the way. Stressed, afraid, and so many more thoughts inside BUT smile are contagious and I also strongly believe that the way you feel and let yourself act impacts your health. So I am one happy go lucky Mumma (wink, wink that needs some acting classes I think).

"Recycling" World as a Mom

My sister and I have been sharing a table at a Mom2Mom sale once a year for the past 4 years.  I think the biggest thought to enter the world of Mom2Mom selling is... you aren't in it for the money. This doesn't mean you won't make money, but in my opinion by the time you sort and sell any money you do collect at the sale you will use on your laundry list of items you have been waiting to buy (probably for your kids). It all works out... out with the old and in with the new. If the clothes look new/barely worn you might as well help another mom out and give her a deal on them. Meanwhile you go hit a few tables and deals yourself.

The greatest thing about doing the Mom2Mom sale with my sister is it's a day full 5 to 6 hours of spending time with eachother. We love, chat, and it's almost like Moms Day out!

We have grown in the past years to where we now are in need for and reserve 2 tables one of girl and one of boy clothes with a hugs assortment of toys available.

Some things we have learned over the past years that I think make a BIG difference in a successful sale.

This was my table at our last sale. I took out how much I spent on the table, bought 2 pairs of shoes, a coat, couple pairs of pants for Stinker. Walked away for $75 in hand to "recycle" and spend on the kids for new stuff needed.

• Start your preparation for the sale months in advance if possible.
• Dedicate at least one or two evenings before the sale to layout ALL of the clothes.
• organize by size NB-3mon, 3mon-6mon, 6mon-9mon and so on.
• If there is any stains dont attempt to sell if. Ask yourself the question... if I saw this at a table would I buy it? Chances are no. Don't risk losing customers because they find a stain. Seems silly but sometimes if they see one flaw, they move on with the assumption that you didn't take the time to care for the clothes.
• Make sure you are bringing clothes in season. We recently found Fall sales people are coming for Fall and Winter. Then the Spring sales they are looking for the warmer clothes. If you have room on your table sure bring it all BUT if its going to be crowded, I suggest only in season and upcoming season. If anything bring the off season clothes and store them under your table incase someone asks for them.
• Always have a petty cash box set up. We use one of the billion crayon boxes from our kids. Set it up with small bills and maybe a few bucks in coins. We normally start with $40 = 20 singles, two $5 bills, one $10 bill. We keep a pad of paper and pen in the box to help us keep track of sales. Also, this is nice incase either of us use a few bucks to go shop ourselves.
• Signs.... bring some markers and blank paper. When you are all setup make a few signs that explains what you have for sale. "Boy Clothes NB-3T" or "Puzzles, Books, Video Games" Include prices on as many things as you can.
• You will be there a long time. Bring some treats, drinks, and wear comfortable shoes because chances are you will be standing alot. 
• We prefer to bring a sheet and cover the table before laying anything on it. No fault of the host but sometimes the tables are older, dirty, or if made out of wood you can even get splinters when picking up clothes (this is speaking from experience). Plus we think that the sheet once again shows a sign of preparation and care.
• The couple weeks before the sale when I do my grocery shopping I go to bag my own items and "borrow" a few extra bags or I am the overwhelming bagger with only 1 or 2 items per bag. Once again you don't want to lose a sale because you didn't have a bag. It seems silly but has happened!

Most importantly get some rest before the sale. Chances are the past few nights you were running around. The evening before the sale you can normally set up. As soon as you are done go home and sleep! Show up the next morning with a big smile and no matter how sales go enjoy your day and make the best of it. Good luck!!!

Cuddlebug

Over the summer schedules and routine tend to go out the window. We had 3 travel tournaments where we stayed in hotels in addition to several nights staying on the boat. Therefore, bedtime routine didn't necessarily exist every night. I also gained a cuddlebug Stinker!

I will be the first to admit I loved (still do kinda) when he started "sneaking" into our bed. He was NEVER a cuddler and during the day he still really isn't. So the first chance I had to hold, care, and snuggle him I took it.

HOWEVER, this Mommabear is getting worn out! Between him and Daddy AND don't forget our dog Rosie all battling the snore competition I can't catch a wink. Or the "massage" of tiny little feet kicking in my back as he rotates in his sleep isn't so enjoyable either.

We have talked and talked with him lately about staying in his super cool room. I have purchased different nightlights and lamps. We have set a routine of teeth, potty, and book. Going 6 days strong he has still joined us every night (sigh). We are debating about a reward plan but I still haven't decided if that's our next step. If you have any other ideas/suggestions please share!!!

Until then you will catch this Momma sleeping with her eyes open throughout the day and hiding for cat naps any chance I can get.

Look he even prefers the dogs bed over his own! Ahhhhhh We're lucky he is cute! :-)

You Were Right

I had major anxiety for a few weeks leading up to Sport starting Middle School... will he find his way, how will he remember all of his folders and books when I can't get him to remember to brush his teeth!?!?

So far he has managed to bring all his homework home (that we are aware). His first math assignment we had one of those "lovely" mother son chats because he didn't show any work. I swear he is Rainman! Numbers fly through his head and just comes so easily. Me on the other hand... I was using fingers, and toes, and asking to use his too!!! I discussed the importance of showing work and also we had a chat about remembering to write his Name, Date, and Page Number so we can find his work in order. I also suggested leaving some space to write changes/ notes if he got something wrong. Simple things so I thought but he just didn't agree. I get the age of wanting to do things on his own. I bit my tongue and let him turn it in how he wanted (WOW that was hard)!!!

The next day he came home and I asked how his homework turned out. A big sigh and mumbled under his breath "You were right she wanted more spacing and to show my work". As painful as that was for him to admit, I was so proud of him for being honest and sharing that with me. I chose not to gloat and make a big scene. Instead "OK well that's good at least we know what she expects". I ended the conversation and it was happily every after.

Although I am super proud of this situation. I will also say I wasn't so wrong to be in the panic I was in. I also suggested he put his "cool" new school ID in a safe spot in his backpack. He insisted in putting it in his locker. This morning I asked if he remembers where he put ..... the blank look was a give away as he said "Ummm I'm really not sure where that went". BIG breath.... I shared with him we will have to try to hunt that down and advised he looked in his locker, his room, and backpack when he has time. I then also pointed out to him that his school ID is his card for lunches therefore I loaded it with $20! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Take the good with the bad we are all learning from this experience together.

The Best Medicine

The first weekend in MONTHS we truly had no plans. That's not to say we didn't have opportunities to do something (boating, shopping, and friend get together) but at least we didn't HAVE to go anywhere. My body must've known because since this past Friday evening for the past 36hrs I have been a pretty much a helpless Mummabear laying on the couch trying to rest and ease the pain of an unexpected cyst. I can normally push them off and hide the pain but there comes a time when sometimes it actually weakens me to my knees and that's pretty much where I decided that a TLC weekend was in the future. My laundry list of things to do is growing but the truth is all of it can wait! I'm taking this as a piece to my puzzle God was telling me to slow down. Last night hubby went out with some friends while me and the munchkins searched through Netflix and stumbled upon a Golden Christmas (movie about puppies and Christmas). Yes, it's only September but something you must know is that Christmas lasts all year round in this house. More importantly, giggling watching the puppies play and in return me and the boys cuddling and relaxing together was the PERFECT medicine for me! Today it's Sunday. I still have slight pain but nothing compared to the last 24hrs. I'm on the road to recovery and diagnosed myself with no need to go into urgent care/ the Dr. I just need blankets, cuddles, and lots of hugs and kisses (ok and a little motrin and heating pad). So what's your secret medicine when you have pains or aren't feeling well?

Don't mind the shirtless boys we were all ready for bed in pjs but this is my crew trying to make me feel better.