Super Doubles

I am often asked when I teach classes or just in conversation "How do you get such good deals couponing? I just don't get it!". Though I want my blog to be about more than just couponing (most everyone knows where I stand on this subject:), I decided to share my haul from Harris Teeter yesterday with a full explanation for those who want to learn. Harris Teeter is having "super doubles" this week which means they will double coupons up to $1.98 in value through next Tuesday.

Here is what I bought:

3 boxes of Hungry Jack Pancake Mix
3 Reynolds Foil Heavy Duty 50 feet
3 Reynolds Non- Stick Foil 35 feet
2 (3) pack bars of Zest Soap
3 Pocket Size Cutter Bug Spray
1 box of Playtex Tampons (couponing hath no shame!)
1 bag of Keebler cookies
2 cans of Gillette Shave Gel for men
2 boxes of Wheat Thins Stix



Any guesses on the total retail cost?



$69.61 to be exact. That is before my vic card and coupons.

After vic card and coupons, I paid:



Yep, $3.69 (.30 less than the sale price of ONE box of tampons!)

Breakdown of transaction:

I used 20 coupons (maximum allowed per day) and every coupon I used was from the newspaper except the wheat thins stix (a sales rep was giving them out at the store one day) and the keebler (was a peelie off the package of a pack I bought previously).

Gillette Shave Gel on sale for 1.99-1.00 coupon that doubled to 2.00= 2 FREE

Cutter Bug Spray 2.99-1.50 coupon that doubled to 3.00= 3 FREE

Reynolds Non Stick Foil on sale for 1.99-1.00 coupon that doubled to 2.00= 3 FREE

Reynolds Heavy Duty Foil on sale for 1.99-1.00 coupon that doubled to 2.00= 3 FREE

Keebler cookies on sale for 1.99-1.00 coupon that doubled to 2.00= 1 FREE

Wheat Thins Stix on sale for 1.95-1.00 coupon that doubled to 2.00= 2 FREE

Hungry Jack Pancake Mix on sale for $2.07-1.00 coupon that doubled to 2.00= .07/each

Zest Soap on sale for 2.49-1.00 coupon that doubled to 2.00= .49/each

Playtex Tampons on sale for 3.99- 1.50 coupon that doubled to 3.00= .99

Subtotal: $2.18 (I only paid for the tampons, pancake mix and soap)

Tax: $1.51

Total: $3.69

Anyone can do this...I'm serious! If you WANT to save money, you CAN! :)

What have we been up to???

We have been...


Watching our little star perform at her end of the year program at school. Yes, she sang all ten songs perfectly. She was amazing!


Proud mom and dad!


Using those coupons! (You didn't think I could leave that one out did you???) Oh, and don't ask about the Prep H. It's going in the donation bin :)


Catching up on visits to the doctor (Immunology and allergy testing)


And more visits...


Trying our first bite of watermelon!


Watching our other star play baseball :)


Attempting our first garden ever...


And patiently waiting and waiting...


Looks promising!


Cucumbers anyone? Or as Emma calls them... "Newcumbers"


Think she could sell some "newcumbers" on the side of the road?? My guess..she'd sell out in an hour! :)


Having friends over every weekend (because mom and dad are the BEST!)


Giving dad high fives and kisses through the baseball fence


Showing mom the meaning of love and adoration...


Showing mom more love


Milkin' it all we can from big brother


Trying not to get too attached to the beautiful mama bird who has taken refuge under our deck to keep her eggs warm


Volunteering at the Joy Prom. This girl reminded me of what my sweet Emma will look like when it is her turn to go!


Josh Groban concert (FREE tickets...GREAT show!)


Lovin' life, playin' hard and sleepin' good!

Life.is.good.

Moments.

Moments. We all have them. No, I am not talking about the “calgon take me away” moments but the good ones. The ones that take your breath away and leave your body filled with the satisfaction and contentment of joy and happiness. True moments. Yesterday, I experienced several of these.

Emma and I came inside and she decided to sit down on the stairs. I decided to stop what I was headed to do and sit down with her. Had I not made that decision, I would not have experienced the most amazing, longest conversation we have ever had to date. I don’t even know if I can recall everything we talked about because I was so engulfed in the moment… at all she had to say. It was such a beautiful moment, one that still brings happy tears to my eyes. It is not that Emma is not verbal usually, but to the average person it is probably hard to decipher what she is saying because she leaves out so many connecting words when she talks and she typically has a hard time putting what’s in her brain into words. Not this time…she was talking beautiful, flowing sentences! What did we talk about you ask? Well, nothing really. That seemed like a lot of buildup for nothing huh?!? :) She told me in detail about her day at school, who she sat with at lunch, that her resource teacher had glasses on, that she saw her friend Kaylyn and she was wearing flip flops like Emma, that she had a chicken sandwich, broccoli and chocolate milk for lunch and then about her upcoming plans to have her friend Amanda sleepover this weekend and how they are going to watch a movie, have popcorn, play basketball and go to Drew’s baseball game. I know these are normal everyday things to a lot of families, but for me this was a shining moment for Emma in my world with her. I couldn’t help but have some slight feelings of sadness creep in for two reasons. One being that I did take some of those same type conversations with Drew for granted when he was that age. So often it is easy to ignore our kids because we are always so busy. Let this be a lesson. Your children are only young once, so don’t let moments pass you by. Even when they are teenagers and then adults, never let the opportunity pass you by to have meaningful conversations. The other, is sadness for those who do not know Emma on this level and therefore miss out on these opportunities to be amazed by her. For me, this was absolute perfection and my heart was filled with joy.




(I accidentally hit my hand on the door and someone found it amusing!)

A little while later Drew came waltzing in the kitchen and smiled, showing that he had lost another tooth. He has been a very late tooth loser, just like his mom and dad. Now he has about 5 teeth loose at once (which will make for some awesome redneck pictures when they all come out!). He brought me his tooth and put it on the counter and I swear my eyes flashed back and I saw him standing there as a 6 or 7 year old. Except he is not. He is now 13 ½ and instead of bursting with excitement for the tooth fairy to come, he tossed his tooth on the counter and said “what’s for dinner, I’m starvvvvvving”? And then the flashback was over and there was my always hungry teenager! Where has the time gone? Why is it so hard to watch them grow? It almost seems cruel sometimes. Maybe that’s silly but I wish I could bottle time. As if I wasn’t already internally emotional enough, he proceeds to tell me how some advice I had given him a few days before on a situation he was dealing with, helped a lot. He listened. I repeat, he listened to my advice. Oh man, was my heart bursting! In a phase of his life where we are always wrong and he is always right, my sweet baby had let what I said to him soak in. Another moment.



Lastly, we have a mama bird in our backyard that has made a nest for her babies. There are two little eggs in the nest. Apparently the bird scared Drew the other day when she flew out from under the deck and he decided it was an “angry” bird and he didn’t like it. I wanted this to be a teachable moment for Drew, so I explained to him that she built that nest all on her own and she was protecting her babies. As I was telling him this, I couldn’t help but be in awe of God’s beauty and how even a little bird knows what it means to be a mother. Really? Simply amazing. This morning, Drew had to run outside to check on the bird before school. Teachable moment achieved I’d say.



Oh and this is how I found the kids this morning. Emma found her way into her brother's room...again!



Have you had any “moments” this week? If not, I pray you do. Happy Friday!

Lots of reasons to be happy today!

* Sydney's surgery was a success and she is at home recovering nicely (my cousin's baby who had surgery for syndactyly yesterday).

* Kim's surgery was a success and she is recovering, but still in hospital (friend from work who had a double mastectomy yesterday).

* My kids track out Monday! Always makes things a bit easier in some ways.

* I don't have to work tomorrow!!!

* I am having dinner with Jill tonight.

* My friend Allyson is coming home today from her 2 week trip to Honduras.

* I am going to buy Miranda Lambert tickets.

* I read a sweet article today about Down syndrome. Left me smiling.

* It's Easter weekend and I am looking forward to celebrating with our families.

* And as I am typing this, I just got a call that a spot opened up for Emma for camp this summer! Yay!!

Life is good. It is important to always remember all that we are constantly thankful for, but also to appreciate and grow from the trials we go through. Those things are what make us stronger and define who we are as a person.

Happy Easter everyone!

This is what happens when...

These photos were the product of us rushing out the door to go somewhere. I had my camera with me and I told the kids to get together real quick and let me take their picture. Usually this is quite the ordeal with Emma, but she did great! Hope you enjoy.















Happy Spring!

"I confirm and understand that I have the choice in seeking care in an intermediate care facility for individuals with mental retardation (aka an institution) instead of participating in the Community Alternatives Program for individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities."

Perspective.

This section of a form was staring me in the face, needing me to put a check mark and signature in the box, first thing this am. It was part of Emma’s annual review for CAP services. Though this was not actually my intended blog post for today, reality and perspective took over and won. A flood of emotions consumed my mind and heart. I stopped everything I was doing, took a moment and said over and over to myself “really?”

Reality.

The reality of this one simple box that needed to be checked stung me like a swarm of bees. My heart sank when I read it. It literally took my breath away. I just couldn’t imagine. Oh yeah, I DO have a child with Down syndrome. It is VERY trying at times. It has stirred up many unwanted feelings for those who don’t understand. This is the reality we live in. A reality where there are so many unwanted children in this world. So many misunderstandings and misconceptions about those with disabilities. Not for this mom though. I relish in it. I soak it up. I can’t get enough (sometimes). I want more. I want to learn more. I want to help others and I want to give Emma the life she deserves. I want to wrap myself in the blanket of Down syndrome and share its warmth.

Thankful.

Thankful is the word that comes to mind when I see this form. Interestingly enough, thankfulness for the circumstances in my life was exactly what I wanted to blog about today. I am so thankful for the programs and early interventions and the people that have been put into place to give us hope for our children with disabilities. I could not imagine living one.single.day. without my precious daughter in my life, in our house, sleeping in her own bed. Thank you Lord for allowing me the opportunity to let my little one know she is loved and wanted.

Joy.

I suddenly realized how alone and empty I would feel without her in my life. On the days I let the hardships of having a child with special needs get to me; I still end the day praising God for the blessing He has given me. I really do. I’m not sure I have ever experienced true joy until becoming Emma’s mother. Don’t judge and think I am disregarding being Drew’s mother, but everything is very different when you are the parent of a child with special needs, plus we all know with age comes wisdom. I wouldn’t say I had too much of that at 19 years old when I became a mom for the first time. I experienced many other wonderful emotions with Drew. Joy though. A joy like no other. This fruit of the spirit was given to me by her… so effortlessly. And I am so undeserving.

Gratefulness.

I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be Emma’s caretaker. I couldn’t imagine her being in a place filled with unknowns, all alone waiting for someone to love her. I embrace taking care of her as my job and one that I do with great pride. I am grateful to actively participate and be a part of every milestone she achieves. So very grateful. I am also grateful for the choice to check this box that yes, I do understand I have that right but I respectfully decline.

Let's just say- Emma will be getting an extra hug and kiss when I meet her radiant, smiling face at carpool today.

The "R" Word

If you know me then you know how I feel about this word. I am very passionate about ending it. I am offended and hurt when people use it, even if it is used out of context. I have heard this word repeated over and over, by co-workers, strangers in the store, acquaintances and sadly enough, even by people somewhat close to me.

It.is.hurtful.

Obviously having a daughter with Down syndrome has made me very sensitive and aware of this word, but it started long before the blessing of Emma. Please join me in this national campaign to end this word. It needs to stop NOW.


When you use this word, you are speaking about my daughter and the many, many others who don't have a voice for themselves.



Let's make a difference to break the cycle. Please join me now. Will you take the pledge? Visit http://www.r-word.org/ to make the pledge (this is a verbal pledge not monetary). I would love to see my family and friends made this pledge in Emma's honor. Feel free to "share" this post on facebook or email using the links below.