Oh the blessing of AIR CONDITIONING....and of it not working.....

I've read many posts from others about their resolve to not use their central air despite living in a very warm climate to save money. I have to say that i admire their resolve! Our air conditioner has been on the blink for the last week. Our outside temp has been 95-100, indoor temps 83-89 despite my best efforts to cool this house off using ceiling fans (we have one in every room), regular fans, opening the windows (then closing by 9:30 a.m.). We simply live in a hot house. We have gotten through the week by dipping in the pool periodically throughout the day (get in the pool, make dinner, get in the pool, do the dishes, etc). Admittedly, this is a good thing. It gets us all out of the house as a family, it's free to us, the kids love it, and it cools us off! I use the time to work with the little ones on swimming - though Arihana (almost 2) nearly falls asleep everytime - it really relaxes her. I also hold Arihana and do water exercises (leg lifts, etc) which is good for me. Natasha (3) paddles around with her floaties on and wants everyone to call her Nemo and look at her "little fin." All the while, she is talking to her "scooby-doo" (our dog, a dashund, who won't get in the pool but visits us poolside). I also take the time to notice things in the backyard that i probably wouldn't notice at first glance. Matt actually used the tail on the pool sweep (affectionately called "creepie") to hose down all the sidewalks, fences, and the back of the house the other evening.

We have also swam after dark several times this week. The kids love this and it gives us a chance to talk about and point out the moon and stars.

All the good aside, the heat just seems to make me tired. Or maybe it's the pool that makes me tired? We use a home warranty company, and they were able to enlist a contractor and our A/C was fixed yesterday. I was just ecstatic, though i'm thinking i'm going to set the thermostat higher during the day so that people will get in the pool to cool off, then let the AC cool the house off before bed so everyone can sleep.

We have also decided that should we ever purchase a house again (and we plan to), we will choose a property that faces north/south, rather than east/west. People i know that have a home that faces north/south can take advantage of the fairly frequent breezes we have and avoid the intense sun through the main windows of the house (another one of our problems). I am an Oregon native, having only lived in the Central Valley for 5 years. I love it here about 10 months out of the year - but just don't like July and August...too hot!!

Back to School Deals!

As you all know, back to school is hot theme around town and there are deals to be had!! Whether you home school, go to private school, attend public school, or any combination - every kid needs some supplies. When I was a kid, i believe my parents provided the standard crayons, paper, pencils. These days, with schools on an ever tightening budget, we are asked to provide things outside the traditional school supply realm. Things like kleenex, hand sanitizer, snacks, markers, colored pencils, etc. Of course, we have to have PE shoes, a lunchbox, etc. Personally, I am happy to provide items that will enhance my child's creativity and allow the teacher to do fun projects. Let me just say, when you have more than one kid in school, the costs add up. I have been taking a look around the blogosphere at all the back to school deals. I was going to do a post highlighting the deals, but so many of you have already done great posts, I've decided to just link to posts that are of interest to me.

1. Money Saving Mom - Crystal outlines some deals at Target here. A few good deals on some basics but not sure i would make a special trip.

2. For the Mommas - Shannon has a great post outlining deals at Rite Aid here. She also links to other's focusing on different stores (Walgreen's, etc). A very thorough post - thanks!!!

3. Brad's Deals - lots of stuff, mostly online. Here is a deal for a Eastport backpack with all kinds of pockets for $9.99 from walmart.com. Some Kohl's deals, including graphic tees at 50% off, are here on his site (deal was posted on 7/22. I have not verified that it is still working).

4. 6pm dot com - up to 70% off select kids Hurley apparel. Lots of cute kids stuff,
sweatshirts like this one for $16.20. Many items for less than $15.00!
If you shop through cashbaq.com (please see my sidebar - i'd love to have you as a referral), you can get an additional 5% back. If you are new to cashbaq, you get an extra $5 for signing up! This looks like a great site...haven't visited it before. If your teens like clothes from Wet Seal, here is the link (via Brad's Deals), to get an additional 30% off all clearance items ending in $0.99 + a code for free shipping. Go through Cashbaq ( please use my link on the sidebar), and earn an extra 3%.

5. Check out Discount School Supply dot com here - many of their items are bulk purchase, but there are some hidden treasures, like these wooden pattern blocks. 250 pieces for $10.99!
6. If you live in one of the states listed here, you can shop on the specified dates and not have to pay any sales tax!! (of course, my beloved California is not one of them....i'm just hoping we have schools this year. We are in a sad state of affairs here.)

7. I don't usually think about Costco when i think about buying school supplies, but i was in my local Costco the other day and they had a pack of 3 MEAD, 3 subject notebooks (my high school dtr insists on these) for $9.99. I think that is a pretty good deal.

8. For those that homeschool (i continually think about doing this), don't forget to check out homeschool freebie of the day here on their "how it works" page. Once you read how it works, then click the home tab at the top to see today's freebie. I've frequented this site often and utilize much of their offerings even though i don't formally homeschool. It's just good stuff!
Today (July 29)'s offering is a pdf ebook called "Raggedy Ann Stories" written and illustrated by Johnny Gruelle. For those of you that don't know ( and i didn't either), Mr. Gruelle is the originator of Raggedy Ann and held US Patent #47,789 for the doll in the year 1915. Read about it here - I LOVE this stuff!!!!

Well, hope you all can find some good deals to get those kiddies ready for school!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Grilled pork, salad, grilled potatoes, watermelon
Tuesday: Burritos
Wednesday: Chicken strips, salad, mac and cheese
Thursday: Beans and cornbread
Friday: may eat out (leave for vacation on Saturday) or Potato soup with cheese and crackers
Saturday: BEARSKIN MEADOW - DIABETES CAMP!!!! YAY!!
Sunday: At camp - a whole week of not having to cook!!!

Super Savings Saturday

I went shopping last night at Winco and here are some of the better deals (i buy a lot to feed my tribe).
Stayfree ultra
$3.21, used a B1G1 coupon - net $1.60 ea

Kotex
$1.24 ea - used $1.50 off 2 coupon - net $0.49 each

Schick extreme 3 razors
$6.80 (several in there), used B1G1 coupon - net $3.40 ea

Oscar mayer beef hot dogs
$2.13 each, used a $1.00 off 2 coupon - net $1.63 (could have bought Bar S hot dogs for $0.88 each, but these are just better quality)

Activia yogurt (4 pack)
$1.78, used $1 coupon - net $0.78

Reese's puffs cereal
$1.98, used $0.55 coupon - net $1.43

2 Rice krispies cereal
$1.48 (on special)

Chex mix bars
$2.18, used $0.75 coupon - net $1.43

Hy Top fruit snacks - $1.08 (have to have fruit treats on hand as they work great for hypoglycemia in toddlers)

2 Eggo muffin tops
$1.78, used $1 coupon - net $0.78 ea

Nectarines - 2 pounds @ $0.98 a pound = $2.11

Cross rib roast (not pictured) @ $1.98 pound = $7.22

Bulk sunflower seeds (great snack when we need to avoid carbs) - 1. 68 pounds @ 2.04/lb = $3.43
Bulk salted and roasted pumpkin seeds
0.33 lb @ 2.29/lb = $0.76

Keebler sandies cookies
$1.48, used $1 coupon - net $0.48

Bulk yogurt pretzels
1.15 pounds @ 2.06/lb = $2.37

Hytop microwave popcorn
pack of 3 for $0.88

Frito lay kettle salt and vinegar chips
$2.48, used $1 coupon - net $1.48

Bacon
2 pound package (lean) $4.23

Frigo cheesehead string cheese (colby-jack)
$2.48, used $0.55 coupon - net $1.95

Resers macaroni salad
$2.38, used $1 coupon - net $1.38 for 3 pounds!

Go-gurt 2 @ $2.18 each, used $0.75 coupon off 2 - net $1.81 each

Red seedless grapes
2 pounds @ 0.98/lb

Canola oil - $2.68

Smucker's grape jelly
$1.18, used $0.35 coupon - net $0.83

Cantaloupe - $0.23 pound (we ate most of it last night!)
Strawberries - 5 pounds for $5.98
Folgers coffee - $5.98
Saltines - $1.08

Total bill (including items not pictured) $124.84 + tax of $2.24 (9%!!!!!!) = $127.08

Used $18.32 in coupons. The register locked up (they said it was because i had so many coupons), had to call the manager, etc.
My Winco now accepts printables, as long as they scan (they won't push them through). This is new for me so i'll be perfecting my Winco shopping. It's a challenge as they do not publish a weekly ad, you just have to peruse the store with coupons in hand.

See Money Saving Mom's super savings Saturday post here to see how others did - you'll be amazed!

Jump Start's online subscription

I viewed an interesting website yesterday while doing my you data last night (that's another post). Turns out it is jumpstart.com. You may recall that Jump Start has offered educational CD Roms for children for many years. I have used their product in the past and it provided healthy, educational entertainment for my kids (i do believe all "media" entertainment should be limited).

They now are offering an online world - there is a free option and a subscription option. The subscription is offered at $7.99/month. This seems a reasonable price to me. Anyway, I was intrigued. Here is what jump start says on their site:

"JumpStart is an award-winning adventure-based 3D virtual world that is super-personalized, wildly imaginative and really fun, but don't let that fool you - it also teaches math, reading, and critical thinking skills so kids get a real jump start in life."

Use the link on my sidebar to check them out!!

A Crafty freebie!

Thanks to Crystal @ Money Saving Mom for passing along this deal!

Visit you canmakethis.com through this link: http://youcanmakethis.com/ycmt-newsletter.htm and sign up to receive their newsletter to receive 8 free crafty ebooks and a free online video. Once you sign up, they email you a link to get your freebies.

A great suggestion is to set up a free email account that you use exclusively for online offers - gmail, yahoo, and hotmail all have this option. I use gmail and have been happy.

The video is how to make initial tees for your kids.

The ebooks are:
1. Make a bucket hat for your (18 inch) doll
2. Appliqued tea towels (sounds like a great homemade gift!)
3. How to applique the easy way
4. True friend stitchery (looks like a cute little pillow)
5. 3 digi-frames
6. Reversible headbands
7. The debut purse
8. Little lady applique patterns

Upon initial review, this looks like an interesting site!!

Menu Plan Monday

Here are the menus we plan on cooking this week:

MONDAY: (dad home, mom at work) - dinner at softball team (Visalia Heat) board meeting - BBQ tri tip. Will probably fix grilled cheese or something for the little ones.

TUESDAY: (dad home, mom at work) - pancakes and fruit

WEDNESDAY: (planning on this being the day to go to Costco, so i want an easy crockpot dinner)
Beans and cornbread

Edit: got up too late (worked until 1 a.m.) for crockpot food. will have to go shopping and be creative.

THURSDAY: salmon, rice, steamed cabbage, salad

FRIDAY: Hamburgers, potato salad, melon

SATURDAY: Grilled pork, wild rice, broccoli, salad

SUNDAY: leftover pork open faced sandwhiches (under the broiler with cheese), melon, chips

See Organizing Junkie for menu plans from around the blogosphere!

School shopping

(image credit to www.financialfreedom.com)
Today i took 9 year old Sara school shopping. It's a challenge as she is not sized like the typical 9 year old. She is 5'3" and over 100 pounds. Here's the rundown:

**First stop**: SEARS (for girls plus sizes)
Black and gray shorts (sweatshirt material) = on clearance for 5.99 each + additional 40% off = about $4 a pair.
tank top - $8
gauchos (capris) - $12

Overall, was disappointed in the selection. Though had she been able to wear girls 7-16, we would have scored some major deals!

**Second stop**: DD's discounts (not sure if these are everywhere - it is very similar to Ross)
Skechers high top tennies - $20
Backpack - $13
Roxy purse (she has a thing for purses, like me!) - $ 9
Wallet - $3
Black terry cloth capris - $9.99

**Third stop**: Target
Didn't have as much on sale, but she got 3 pairs of shorts and 3 tops. About $15 an outfit...not too bad.

She still needs more shirts but we'll save that for another day!

Once a month shopping - should we try it?

I recently checked out the above book from the library (image from amazon.com). It is about a family with 5 kids that paid off their mortgage in 9 years on an income of around $35,000 a year. They are also authors of the Home Economiser - a subscription newsletter dedicated to helping people live a more frugal lifestyle. They have an interesting website here.

One of the strategies they advocate is to only shop once a month. They also cook and freeze about 18-21 meals a month (once a month cooking). They freeze everything and rotate their fruits and veggies so that the most perishable are used first.

Since I will get 3 paychecks in July, I talked to hubby about trying this....he wasn't too enthusiastic...i think he is just dreading the huge shopping trip. But he is supportive nonetheless...

Today i worked on the meal plan, which is almost put together, then took 9 year old Sara school shopping. I had wanted to go to Costco today as well, but we never made it. AND...it was so hot here - 110 degrees!! - that just isn't right!

We use about 6 gallons of milk a week, and we don't have the freezer room to hold all of that so i'll still have to run to the store and pick up milk and some fresh produce (have to have it...). The good news is that those trips could be delegated to the dear hubby. We also use about a loaf of bread every 2 days, so that is a lot of bread. Sometimes i try to make most of it from scratch but often don't have the time.

I have to work Monday and Tuesday - noon to midnight, so Wednesday is the soonest we can go to costco and winco and give this a whirl! stay tuned for a post on the meals i have planned.....

Where i struggle are with snacks - what do people do for snacks? i'm not home during most days, so i can't whip something up - it has to be grabable and ready - any ideas? (i think i have maybe 6 readers now??). I commonly use fresh fruit, cheese sticks, granola bars, pretzels, etc.

Great deal on shoes!!

Through September 19, 2009, all shoes at FamousFootwear.com are on sale Buy One Pair, Get the Second Half Off. Plus, you get free ground shipping.

If you order by July 19, you can use coupon code JULY15 to get 15% off your order. Also, order through Cashbaq (use the link on my side bar, you also get $5 for signing up!) and get 10% back!

When you visit FamousFootwear.com, click on "sale" then sort by price (lowest to highest). They have a lot of styles for $15 each.

Crystal at money saving mom details a great scenario idea here

Seizures

After i did the above post about the seizure our daughter had, I suddenly thought...."wait a minute....you are a Registered Nurse - perhaps a post about seizures and basic first aid for them is in order.

All seizures signify abnormal electrical activity within the brain - an electrical storm if you will. For some people, they are often preceded by an "aura." An aura is an individualized set of warning signs someone may experience prior to a seizure. This is interesting stuff - see more here.

There are a few types of seizures:

1. Grand Mal - often referred to as "convulsions". This type of seizure is characterized by uncontrollable movement involving the entire body. There is often muscle rigidity and violent muscle contractions. This type is most often associated with epilepsy and febrile seizures (seizure related to fever). There is generally a loss of awareness during the event and post-seizure amnesia (they don't remember it).

2. Abscence seizures - also known as "petit mal" seizures. These can be difficult to detect. People having an abscence seizure appear to be staring into space. They are usually quite brief. In reading Medline plus, these are most common in people under 20, particularly kids ages 6-12. They can occur infrequently or hundreds of times a day, interfering with school functioning, etc.

3. Partial (focal) seizure - Can be "simple" or "complex". Simple partial seizures do not involve loss of awareness or memory, while complex partial seizures do. There are lots of symptoms and manifestations (see more here). Focused, non-voluntary, repetitive movement is often one.

What conditions can lead to seizures?

• hypoglycemia
• fever
• head-injury
• Spinal meningitis (inflammation of the membrane covering the brain) or other infections involving the central nervous system
  
• stroke
• cardiac events (due to inefficient pumping of the heart, the brain is deprived of oxygen)
  
• epilepsy
• electrolyte disturbances
• exposure to certain drugs - like ecstasy
  
• brain tumors
• dementia
• birth injury
• kidney or liver failure
• metabolic disorders
• alcohol withdrawal in a consistent drinker
  

I think that about exhausts the list in my brain.

What are the long term consequences of seizures?

My understanding is that seizures do not hurt the brain, they are symbolic of an underlying problem - the brain's cry for help, so to speak. Though, as i nose around, there seems to be some debate about this. Here is an interesting article suggesting that seizures occuring during brain development have some long term effect on learning.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical doctor and the education posted here is intended to be a starting point for your own research.

Basic first aid for a seizure:
This is taken from the Epilepsy Foundation website @ www. epilepsyfoundation.org.

1. Try to stay calm - it only takes one person to start a panic. Be a voice of reassurance to those around you.
2. Don't restrain the seizing person in any way. You can, however, try to protect them by padding areas, etc. and removing any object that might be harmful.
3. Never put your fingers in their mouth!
4. Turn and maintain the person onto their side (left side preferably). This helps maintain their airway and prevent aspiration.
5. Do not leave the person unattended.
6. Be supportive as they wake up.

Do I need to call 911?
It is always safe to do so, but in someone with a known seizure disorder, generally is not necessary. If the victim turns blue, does not seem to arouse after the seizure, if the seizure is prolonged (more than 5 min), if you suspect an injury occurred during the course of the seizure, or if the seizure may be secondary to something else (see list above) - call 911!

Type 1 diabetes and seizures

(image credit to www.kidshealth.org)
We have been made well aware from our diabetic day 1 that seizures related to hypoglycemia were a very real possibility for our little girl. We were duly informed that they most often occur at night, hence the importance of checking her blood sugar at 3 a.m. 2 nights ago, I woke up at 3 a.m. to check her. Matt was up with the little one, she was fussy and not sleeping well. When I checked her, the meter said 38. She has been lower than 38 on other occasions. This time, however, one look at her eyes and I knew something major was about to occur. I ran to get the glucagon and by the time i came back (luckily she was in our bed) she was convulsing and shrieking (pretty terrifying). I drug her into my lap and held her on her side, somehow managed to draw up 30 units of glucagon and inject it. She continued convulsing and i yelled for matt. He - bless him! - came in, was cool as a cucumber, drew up another 30 units and gave it to her. Within about 30 sec she started to quiet and then the convulsing resolved. Matt gave her her blankie, and she wanted to go to him. At that point her blood sugar was up to 100. I called Dr. Mary to let her know. Then we laid her down and continued checking her. The highest she went was 283. I went to sleep finally at 5 a.m. as she was still over 200. At 6:30 I woke up for work, checked her and she was 41!!! More glucagon, but no seizure - thank the Lord!

From this experience, I have learned the following and recommend to any diabetic:

1. Keep your glucagon prescription filled
2. Know where the glucagon is
3. If you use mini-dose glucagon, and have a vial in the fridge - make sure you date it!
4. Keep an Insulin syringe with your glucagon
5. Know basic first aid for a seizure
6. Keep your meter by your bed!
7. Pray your child never has a seizure, it was really scary!

A visit to Dr. Mary

Went to see Dr. Mary today. This was my follow up visit since starting Symlin on May 13th. I'm happy to report that my A1C is down from 7.2% to 6.8%!! Still want to get it lower but this is significant progress. I will now increase my dose of Symlin to 120 mcg with each meal. I haven't lost any weight yet which is a bummer as I feel i eat more like a normal person now (thanks to the Symlin). She explained that as your blood sugar is coming under control - after being high or out of control - that many people gain weight. Reason being is that when you are high, your losing carbs in your urine (rather than putting them on your hips!). So, long story short, I need to further modify my diet - i'm thinking 2 carbs per meal? we'll see.....