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.