Updates and Randoms

1. We visited the Cleveland Clinic last week and feel much better about my husbands MS diagnosis.  His lumbar puncture does show a positive for MS, but he doesn't have any lesions on his brain and he has one on his spine.  He did have an open MRI here in Toledo which are very low resolution so it may not have picked up on the lesions if there are any there.  At this point the MS specialist we saw does not have enough criteria to say he has MS, which is good.  She is calling him "at risk for MS" or "mild MS".  In November we go back so he can have an MRI on their machine which is way better than any MRI machine you can find in Toledo.  She said now, don't be surprised if you get this scan and it shows lesions, she didn't think it would but she said it is a possibility.  Our plan of attack is that Jeff has to quit smoking, there is no question about this, smoking is the #1 accelerant for MS, he needs to eat a lower fat diet and get some exercise.  She also gave him some choices for MS drugs, all injectibles and said he can make a decision at the next appointment.  The drugs are a preventative measure, to help stop the MS from progressing.  I know this all sounds very confusing.  Does he have MS or not??  Basically he has an MS lesion on his spine, he has had what appeared to be an MS episode, his spinal fluid tested positive for MS, so why not a 100% positive MS diagnosis, right?  I'm not a doctor so I don't quite understand, but the lack of lesions on the brain was the big thing for her at this point.  He will also be tested for a few other things that mimic MS.

2. We signed up for swimming and I already dropped out.  I went once.  I feel like a failure of a mom for this, but I basically get 1 day off during the week (Wednesday) and Davis has been sleeping in on Saturdays, like till 9:30 or later since he has to get up at 7 a.m. every other day and I just don't have the heart to drag him out of bed to go swimming. 

3. I've managed to cut our grocery bill down from $600-$800 a month (yikes, I know, for 3 people) down to $400 a month.  You ask how?  Well, I'll tell you and no we are not eating junk, at all.  I've started meal planning.  I mostly started meal planning because I went back to work and didn't want to be scrambling to make dinner every night and then ending up in a fast food restaurant.  I have discovered if you plan what your going to make, you spend less money.  Amazing how that works.  Planning, who'd of thunk it.  Every Saturday I go through my recipes and decide what we are eating for the week.  Then I actually go through my cupboards, freezer and fridge and determine what we already have for those meals.  Hmmmm, interesting, actually seeing what you already have before buying it twice.  I had 4 boxes of spaghetti noodles people!!!  Then I make my grocery list.  I buy my basics and Aldi, the stuff that really doesn't matter if it is brand name or not, cereal, milk, yogurt, oatmeal, etc...  I buy my meat at our locally owned grocery store and I go on the day of the week that they mark it down.  I buy it up and freeze it. Heck, I even buy donuts there reduced and freeze them.  Talk about frugal! My husband is pretty shocked at my new attitude towards making dinner every night and saving money.  My motive, getting my husband healthy and moving into a new house....

4. Last night we went to Costco and ate dinner there.  I was cracking up.  Friday night, shopping in bulk, eating dinner in the food court.  It cost us $10 for 3 people for dinner there and the Costco food court is awesome.  If you've never eaten there, you must.  Jeff had a chicken bake, I had the turkey panini and Davis had a slice of cheese pizza. 

5. I am loving my choice of preschool for Davis.  I had originally picked a different preschool but halfway through the summer I was having second thoughts about it for Davis.  I was feeling like it wasn't going to be a good fit for him for many reasons.  We did some summer camps at a Montessori preschool and I fell in love.  The teachers were great, the Montessori setting is amazing and perfect for a kid like Davis.  I feel so good dropping him off there every day and I feel like he is doing more than just coloring pictures and playing all day.  Not that coloring pictures isn't good for preschoolers but I feel like some preschools can be borderline daycares and I didn't want that for Davis.  I want him to learn and be independent and make choices for himself and that is what Montessori is all about.  He is so excited about school and that makes my heart happy.

6. I'm trying to decide what Davis should be for Halloween.  I know what you are thinking, let him decide.  Well, Davis isn't that kind of kid.  It is part of his personality and we will be deciding for him and will pray he will actually wear it.  Don't be surprised if you see pictures of him and he is wearing PJs though.  Davis marches to the beat of his own drum, that is for sure.

I Never Thought

I never thought I'd love working as much as I do.

As odd as this sounds I feel going back to work has made me a better mom, wife and person.

For 16 hours a week I'm not MOM.

I'm Jill, Administrative Assistant.

I'm happier.

I'm more organized.

I feel like I have more purpose in life.

Brrrrrrrrr

I live in Northern Ohio.

When we are coming out of Winter and the weather hits the low 60s people think it is summer. They bust out the shorts and flip flops.

I find humor in the fact that now that we are coming out of Summer and it is in the mid 60s people around here think it is Winter. Boots, sweaters, coats, etc....

I get people are just ready for a change of season and change of wardrobe but I can still poke fun at it.

See you in March, the first day it hits 60 I'll be in my flip flops and shorts.

Wish Us Luck

We are headed to the Cleveland Clinic today to see an MS specialist for a second opinion.

Waking Up

I have been waking up dazed and confused.

I woke up Saturday and thought it was Wednesday.

I woke up today and thought it was Tuesday.

Then it takes me several minutes to figure out what day it truly is.

Why Can't I Be Like That?

I read a lot of blogs and know a lot of moms in real life that are oh so creative and crafty.

They do artwork, crafts and bake with their kids.

They see things on Pinterest for their house and actually make it rather than do what I do, which is to run to the nearest TJMaxx and find the closest thing.

They make their own Halloween costumes.

The list is endless of the amazing things that I see other moms doing.

I wish I was like them.

I wish I could be more crafty and creative.

I wish I could make things to hang on my walls, perhaps a nice wreath for my door.

But it just isn't me.

I don't like crafts.

I don't like art.

I just don't.

Does that make me a bad mom?

Sometimes I feel like a huge failure of a mom for never doing any of these things.

I see these blogs and think, shit, why can't I be more Pinteresting.

But in the end it doesn't really matter what other moms do.  All that matters is that I'm doing what I like, even if that means spending $24.99 on a wreath at a store that I could have easily made per Pinterest...

I Like Em' Extra Sloppy

This is the BEST sloppy joe recipe ever. My family has made it for years.

3 lbs ground beef, browned and drained
1 bottle chili sauce (12 oz)
2 cans chicken gumbo soup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 TB apple cider vinegar
2 TB Worcestershire sauce

Brown and drain ground beef then combine with all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on low for 2 hours.

I like to serve these on a bun with a slice of cheese.

Picasso

Inquiring Minds: One and Done

My friend directed me to a blog recently where the blogger discussed being "One and Done"

If you don't know what that means, it means, having an only child.

I find it funny that the moment you get married people start asking you when you are having kids.

As if marriage = kids.

I find it even more humorous that once you have your first kid people then start asking where #2 is and so on.

When I tell people we are only having one kid I get a lot of mixed reactions and almost all of them are negative.

Here are just a few:

"Only kids are weird"

I know plenty of only children who are NOT weird, here are a few famous folks who are only children: Charles Lindbergh, Betty White, Alicia Keys, Brooke Shields, Charlize Theron, Chelsea Clinton, Condoleeza Rice, Oprah Winfrey, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Karem Abdul-Jabbar, LeAnn Rimes, Laura Bush, Nancy Reagan, Walter Cronkite...Just to name a few.  Full list here.

"Don't you want your son to have a built in friend"

I don't think reproducing just to have a built in friend for my child is an amazing reason to have #2, at all.  I know plenty of siblings who despise each other and are NOT good friends.  Not saying that kids don't grow up being friends, but just because you have more than one kid doesn't automatically mean they will like each other or be BFFs.

"Davis wants a baby brother or sister"

Last time I checked Davis just wanted to play Angry Birds Space.

"He is going to be a spoiled brat"

I know a lot of kids who are spoiled brats and have multiple siblings.  Being a spoiled brat has nothing to do with being an only child.

My husband and I have many, many reasons for not jumping to have a second child.  Here are just a few, starting with the most important:

1. Davis DID NOT sleep until he was over 2 years old.  And I don't mean he just woke up for a few minutes here and there.  I mean, full on, up all night from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m.  He just didn't sleep, ever.  Can you imagine going over 2 years with almost no sleep?  For those of you think think, oh, she is being a whiner, then you can suck it. This is no joke, my son didn't sleep at all. I felt like I lived in the twilight zone for over 2 years.  It was very difficult and I'd never wish it on anyone. I don't think I could live that again.

2. We'd like to provide Davis with opportunities we didn't have.  My husband grew up very poor and he hated strugging to have things like food, clothes, etc...  He doesn't want that for Davis.  Not that we struggle at all, but we'd like to do some things for Davis that we probably couldn't do if we had 2 kids. For example, we'd like to possibly send Davis to a private school and we are saving so we can have enough money to pay for his college education.  If we had more than one kid those things would be more difficult.

3. My husband was diagnosed with MS, that is self explanitory.

4. I personally am enjoying life with one child. Call it selfish, but we are in a good place, things are easy and I'm having fun.  I am at a point now where I see my friends with their babies and think, they are cute but there is no way.  That is how I know I'm done.


I often wonder when people will stop asking me when we are having another child.  When Davis is 20 perhaps?

Helpless

Are all men helpless?

Or just mine?

Randoms

1. Fall is in the air!!!  I'm looking forward to pumpkin patches and Halloween!

2. Davis loves his preschool and so do I.  I'm so happy I made a last minute switch to a different preschool.  Many reasons factored into why I changed and it was a good decision all around.

3. My husband was diagnosed with MS in August.  There, I said it on my blog.  Yes, that is MS as in Multiple Sclerosis.  I think it has finally sunk in, we are going to the Cleveland Clinic for a second opinion from an MS specialist in a few weeks.  Pray.

3. My husband is trying really hard to get healthy.  See above.  I am really proud of him.  He is tracking calories like a madman and trying to change all of his bad habits.

4. I'm loving my job.  It is like a 4 hour vacation every day, except Wednesday.

5. Which brings me to this.  I feel like on my day off I need to cram a weeks worth of fun into one day, you know, playdates, shopping, house organization, etc...  Somethings gotta give. 

6. I gave up caffeineted coffee a few months ago, I switched to decaf.  Whoa!

7. I'm obessed with Sofia Blanc de Blancs mini cans of sparkling wine. Available at Target for $14.99

Life

Life is crazy lately.

I feel like I don't have time to breathe, let alone blog.

Once things settle down I hope to be back to blogging.

A few updates:

1. I started my job, I love it.

2. Davis started preschool, he loves it.

3. I turned 34!