New Deals & loving his PASS worker!!

I am finally feeling better!!! The 2nd trimester relief has hit me. I am beyond excited to have some energy back. I hardly feel nauseous and haven't needed a nap in days. So what does that mean??? I was able to coupon again and got some really great deals.
I went to Target and stacked coupons (use target and manufacturer coupon together). I used two coupons on every single item I bought. The total came to $43 and I only spent $11.50. I bought 3 bags of dogfood, 6 boxes of cheese its/crackers, 6 packs of gum, 3 travel size bottles of contact solution, and two boxes of keebler cookies. You can easily spend $3 on one box of cheese its which would have come to $18 just on those so I made out very well!

I went to Stop and Shop yesterday and the total was $198 and I only spent $72!!! I couldn't believe how well I did. I saved $60 JUST in coupons! I bought a ton of stuff even meat and fruit. I am thrilled with my purchases especially spending $70 the past two weeks not using coupons and leaving the store with hardly anything.

Brendan is doing amazing with his PASS worker. He warmed up to her so quickly. He almost never asks me to take him to the bathroom or give him a bath. He lets her do it all. It is so helpful since I am pregnant. I really worry less about hurting the baby. She is great with him and he has a fun filled day from the time he gets off the bus until the time he goes to bed. I am thrilled with my choice and so glad he likes her. The weather has been great and he has been begging to be outside most of the day. He rides his power wheels, bike, walks in his walker. It is so great for him and great for me to not be lifting him. I do feel like I am not being his mother because of how little I have to do. I think it will be even wierder when I am not pregnant but I am sure I can be more involved. I should be able to start going on walks soon. I took a short one the other day and it felt great.

22 Days until the big GENDER REVEAL!!! I can NOT wait!

PASS has begun!

Brendan's PASS worker, Michelle, has officially started. Last night was her first night since Monday we had a meeting with the agency. It went very well. Brendan opened up to her right away. He even played a game with her and Makayla while I made dinner and wasn't constantly asking where I was. He acted himself and she did great with him. She hasn't done any of the transferring or lifting yet but hopefully she will soon. I just hope she is comfortable doing it. She seems open to doing everything. She is very patient but already holds him accountable for things and I like that. She makes him say excuse me after he burps..which he does often. He is such a boy.

She is very easy to talk to and get along with. Surprisingly, I don't feel awkward at all having her in my house. She even ate dinner with us. Hoping today goes just as well.

I am looking forward to the next few months getting to know her and seeing how she interacts with Brendan. He is already excited to go somewhere with her. He asked if she will get the handicap pass. He is supposed to go out into the community 2x a month and I think I will be able to trust her in a few weeks. She wants to take him bowling and out for ice cream. He will love all the attention.

The only thing that is difficult is keeping Makayla at bay. She was overbearing with Brendan last night...wanting to do everything for him instead of letting him do his own tasks. Not sure why. Michelle is only here for Brendan which is hard for the girls to understand but hopefully in time they will get bored of her.

I am thrilled this has finally begun. I am getting bigger by the day and it will be great to have someone here to help with the heavy lifting. Everything fell together nicely with this pregnancy. It was really meant to be.

Chores!

My husband and I have wrote out a chore list. The kids are 9,7 and 4 and we think it is about time they start helping out a little in this house. It is alot for one person (ME!) to clean up after 5 people day in and day out. They are simple things but they seem excited about it.
How much would you pay your children for chores? I was thinking $2 per week per child. We do not have alot of extra money and that adds up fast each month. We are also thinking of putting Makayla in dance and Chloe in gymnastics so that will eat into our budget as is. We are also thinking of maybe a point system instead. They would earn enough points to buy something special or go on a special outing. Brendan might be more motivated to do chores for a go cart ride vs. getting money.
* Brendan will feed the dog each night and help set the table (with his PASS worker)
* Makayla has to feed the dog each morning and clear the table before dinner. She also has to wipe down the bathroom counters once a week.
* Chloe has to sweep the floors and dust twice a week. She is also supposed to wipe down the counter tops in the kitchen but I am having a hard time finding kid friendly cleaners.
The girls also have to make their beds each morning.

Any thoughts or ideas?

The kids are being great helpers with my pregnancy. They understand I can't do a whole lot right now. They are willing to do more so I can rest. I love them!

ANNOYED!!! Neuro apt update and......

I am beyond annoyed today. I called the medical equipment company to check on everything I had ordered back in OCTOBER! The woman who answers starts to apologize over and over and said they had his file in the wrong pile and just submitted the paperwork to his therapist to get it signed off on. Basically it is like I just ordered this equipment this week not 5 months ago. I am so upset. I made sure I ordered everything so he would have it when his therapy room was built and now I am sure I won't be seeing anything for months afterwards. Everyone seems so incompetent lately.

Brendan had his two hour neurology appointment. Gotta love when Dr.'s can't stay on their time slots but I do really like her so I won't complain too much. I am used to it anyway. I figured we would be there until 6pm and we were. She said he still looks really good but would like to do some botox in May. She wants to see what his new orthopedic thinks first. I really don't think he needs it. Not sure what to do. Sometimes it seems Dr.'s just want to do things that aren't completely necessary. She said it was basically upkeep and would help him a little. Any advice?

The anatomy scan is scheduled! BUT not until April 5th which feels like an eternity. I have 5 weeks before I find out if I am right and this is a boy. I am having a difficult time lately with pain. I found out I have a uterine prolapse. I can only stand for a few minutes before I have major pain. It is hard to get anything done around the house. I am really fearing the summer now with 3 kids at home. I am just hoping I don't get put on bed rest because of this.

The PASS woker is almost ready to start. I have a meeting on Monday with the agency and my PASS worker and then we should be good to go. I am beyond ready!

Picture Day! I am huge!

We are leaving soon for Makayla's pictures. Her hair came out exactly how I wanted. She looks too cute! Can't wait to see how they come out.

I wrote a letter today to get her into Kindergarten. She missed the cut off by 20 days and she is so ready to start! I will most likely have to get 3 kids off to school with a newborn at home. That doesn't sound easy. I better get that baby on a feeding schedule asap.

Brendan walked three houses down and back to the pick up Makayla's friend yesterday afternoon. He looked great! I wish I had my phone and took some pictures. He pulled his right foot all the way through every step. I couldn't believe how good he looked. I just wish had more stamina. He was so tired. He almost didn't make it back all the way. I motivated him and we did make it. I can't carry him!! I just wish he could gain more leg muscle and walk all day like most kids. His right leg doesn't turn out as much either and he can walk easier.

I feel huge!! This pregnancy has made me pop instantly. I have only gained 3 1/2 pounds but I feel llike I look 6 months pregnant! I have a long way to go so I hope I am not a huge whale by the end. I escaped stretch marks with my last two babies so I hope I can do the same with this one!

Accomplished a lot today

It is amazing what you can accomplish when you sit down at the table and don't move for hours. I had my computer, my cell phone, paper, a big list of what to accomplish. Makayla was great as always and drew pictures, played on the computer, and played Guess Who by herself while I made a ton of phone calls.

It is easy to fall behind and put things off to another day. I seem to do better when I have a list in front of me. I like crossing things off.

One thing I need to do is call Braunability. They helped Toyota build the accessible van but when there is a problem the Toyota dealership says it isn't covered by the warrenty. This is not true and I need it sorted out before Friday. It is going in for an oil change and a recall but I also want to bring up an issue. Every time my husband drives the airbags don't work when he turns the van on. It has never happened to me but every weekend he drives and it happens. He turns off the van and turns it back on and usually the airbags turn on. It is so strange. I don't want to pay for this to be fixed. I am sure they will say this was caused due to the conversion but if Toyota works with Braunability to build these vans everything should be covered under warrenty! Why do I have to pay for anything on a brand new vehicle?

Makayla goes for her 4 year pictures tomorrow. Yes I am 5 months behind but hey she is still 4! We picked out a brand new outfit and shoes so she should look adorable.

Thursday is Brendan's neurology appointment. Let's all hope she says he still doesn't need Botox! I think he may not yet again, thanks to PERCS. Going on 15 months with no Botox injections!!!!

I just thought of a few phone calls I forgot to make. I better start another list for next week. I really need a will. I need a new orthopedic for him and I need to check on all that equipment I ordered for him! Darn 3 more phone calls. :)

Back to school! One vacation down....one to go!

Vacation is over. I was actually dreading vacation being pregnant but I made it through the whole week! I must admit I enjoyed not getting the kids off to school everyday. Brendan even let me sleep until 7 or 8 all week. Vacation was just not very exciting since three of us had colds. I wish I had the energy to take them somewhere fun like Chuck E Cheese but the thought of that place being over crowded and me being nauseous and hormonal made me second that thought. I did take them to Friendly's for an ice cream sundae one night and the girls got to spend the night at my mom's. Brendan had a fun weekend with his dad going to Monster Jam. He goes every year! For a child who jumps at his own dog barking I can't understand why he loves those loud trucks. Usually I get a text picture of him grinning ear to ear but I didn't this year. He told me dad forgot his head phones so I hope he still enjoyed it.

I am 14 and 1/2 weeks and still nauseous. I am so sick of feeling like crap! I need some energy at least for a few months! I am starting to get varicose veins on my thighs and they hurt so much. I had them really bad with Brendan....so bad I didn't think they would ever go away and I would need plastic surgery. I was only 22 so let me tell you I freaked out! Another reason I think it is a boy!! :) At least I know they will go away or at least they better being 32 this time! They hurt when I stand just making dinner so I am thinking the next 26 weeks or less will be the longest 26 weeks of my life.....besides my pregnancy with Brendan because that was pretty much torture the entire 33 weeks.

I am thankful for having the best husband in the world who lets me complain every day about how horrible I feel. My mom just reminds me I wanted this. Yes I want a baby but no I do not want to feel like junk my entire pregnancy with a family and house to take care of. :( If only my husband didn't work so many hours during the week. I totally need him right now but I understand that isn't possible. So I will just keep complaining and getting through one day at a time which I definitely know how to do!