Frank-o meets real-life Bob the Builder, 1st time couponing/comparing/ad shopping pays off

There is still an abundance of lounging, crying, complaining, fluid-sipping, relaxing, whining, television watching, and couch potato-ing taking place around our house; though I have to believe it has peaked and is on the downhill where these drained little guys will return to their regular, rowdy, rambunctious selves, I hope.






We did return to the pediatrician today. His words, "Frank-o is on the mends and recovering nicely". Buck-a-roo has developed a nasty, moist cough and continues to run high fevers around the clock. He was prescribed a new antibiotic that I just know it is gonna give this a swift kick in the get-along.





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Here's the timeline for the Sinkhole Saga that unfolded in our front yard yesterday and provided hours of much needed entertainment for Buck-a-roo and Frank-o:



0800





1000






1200









1400











1600

1800

2000

2200

0700 (this morning)

Aside from the shear magnitude of having a whole dug in your front yard spanning the course of 15+ hours that is 20 ft long x 20 ft deep and large enough to house a small SUV overnight; the greatest part of the day was the fact that Frank-o truly believes he met Bob the Builder, live and in person in his front yard.

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Perfecting the art of chapstick application with the aid of your mom's pressed powder compact...

{their dad's gonna get me for these, i just know it}

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As I have mentioned previously on this blog, I have committed to making an honest effort at comparison shopping/advertisement shopping/couponing. And I have. Not too extreme. Just clipping coupons on items that we routinely use or shopping sales at stores that I frequently shop. I'm not trying to devote my life to slashing our grocery/toiletry budget in half; I am, however, thrilled at the thought that I could pocket an extra $15/trip, $20/week, or even $50+/month.

Last night I had to run to Walgreens to pick up another prescription for the boys. Of course, it was not ready! I did not have my clipped coupons in tow (note to self...improvements needed in coupon organizing in an effort to have them on hand in moments like these). While waiting a ridiculous amount of time for my prescription that had been called in 4+ hours prior, I decided to go to the front of the store and pick up their weekly advertisements and search for bargains...here's what I found and purchased:

Sweet-n-Low (120 packets) - Reg. $2.49 each , On Sale 2/$400 (limit 4)

**savings $1.96

Kleenex (110 count) - Reg. $1.29 each, On Sale $0.89 each (limit 3)

** savings $ 1.20

Walgreen's Training Pants (2T/3T) - Reg. $8.99 each, On Sale 2/$15.98 + coupon $3/1 (limit 3)

** savings $8.00

Total Savings....$11.16 with very little effort at all :) I think I could get really good at this!!

Score!!

Sinkhole Saga

As a rule of thumb around our house, we watch very little televison on a regular basis. However, over the past six days....the routine has definitely been {ahem} relaxed, shall we say?

We prefer to spend majority of our time playing PlayDoh, making art projects, playing outside, playing with Matchbox cars in our rooms, playing outside, playing games, reading books, listening to music, playing outside, playing computer games, playing outside....you get my drift!

The boys did have a shortlived burst of energy this morning where they broke out the guitars, drum, and radio....and {ahem} "busted a move", shall we say?

And since we (or at least ME) have had our fill of televison-watching...why not stare out the dining room window and watch the saga as it {ahem} unfolds, shall we say?

The sinkhole saga that is.... if you are a frequent follower of this blog, you will remember this post where I introduced you all to the sinkhole and this post where I jokingly addressed the fact that the sinkhole had been {ahem} repaired, shall we say?

Repaired....it was {ahem} NOT, shall we say?!!

For two outdoor-lovin, recovering boys that haven't been outside with their tractors and tools in the dirt themselves in 6+ days, this was the next best thing. Why not pull up a chair, prop up your feet, and watch the {ahem} show, shall we say?

We are off to take naps and dream about what we will {ahem} awake to, shall we say?

T&A recovery requires ER visit

1 pump




2 pump, 3 pump



more....

4 IV boluses

5 hours in the ER

6 IV sticks

plus....

2 doses of IV Morphine, 2 chest x-rays, and lots of tears from 2 incredibly weak, tired, hurting little boys...

The IV fluids seemed to hold them well for the afternoon and evening yesterday and they downed their milk this morning....I am hoping that is a good sign that we have turned the corner.

For me, "Not Me!" Monday is on hiatus this week....though I have plenty of "not me"s that I could share, it is more about "whoa is me" for now.

Please forgive me for the cell phone pictures, but when I awoke to boys with 105+ fever at 0400 on Sunday morning, somehow I forgot to grab my camera amongst the whirlwind of dressing, juicing, Tylenoling, and speeding (hazards on) to the Emergency Room.

second guessing

The trials of today have had Daddy Buck and I second guessing our decision to have both of the boys having their respective surgeries at the same time. I still maintain that it was a wise idea but, man oh man, has post-op day #1 been tough!

They were parched.....yet wouldn't drink.

They were in pain....yet fought taking their medicine.

They were medicated....yet whimpered in their sleep.

On two occasions today, a trip to the ER for IV fluids seemed eminent. They have both had fever all day, at once as high as 104.6 and were dehydrated to the point that their lips were cracking and they were tearless when crying. Somehow, by the grace of God, we were able to "force fluids" in them using whatever tactics necessary....bribery, persuasion, coercing, pleading, begging, competing....

During the high points of the day, they mustered up enough energy to play PlayDoh and puzzles and tolerated a handful of Goldfish.

For the most part, however, the activities of the day consisted of rest, medicate, sleep, medicate, moan, medicate, sip on fluid, medicate all combined with many, many, many episodes of various animated shows that I can only tolerate for so much longer if you get my drift :-)

Removal of tonsils and adenoids in 2 and 3 year olds is h***....

My alarm is set for 1200 to administer more medications....come on post-op day #2!

Brave Beloved Boys

My dear Buck-a-roo and Frank-o,


Today was the much anticipated, somewhat dreaded day that you took your "big nap" and the doctor "fixed" your ears and your noses and your throats. You were both very brave and were super patients.





Though you awoke early in the wee-hours of the morning and were made to wait for almost three hours, you were on your best behaviors. Despite not having anything to drink since 7:30pm last night, you only requested to have milk on three occasions.







Frank-o...You passed the time waiting by applying stickers all over your body over and over again.






You were most antsy regarding "juice" and were first on the schedule, which worked out perfectly.




You donned your bouffant surgical cap and trekked to the OR without skipping a beat. Mommy stayed with you as you inhaled the gas and went night-night. You didn't cry, not even one tear. You were a big boy!




You were quite a handful for Daddy as you were waking from the anesthesia. You kicked, thrashed, flailed, bucked, screamed, cried, and required seven doses (5 doses of IV Fentanyl and 2 doses of IV Morphine) of pain medications before you finally threw in the towel and began to rest peacefully.







Buck-a-roo...You and your brother were quite patient as we waited for the doctor to arrive and for our surgeries to begin. To pass the two hours of time, you and Frank-o watched TV and colored pictures of Uniqua from the Backyardigans.




While Frank-o was in the OR having his surgery, you too prepped for yours. You experimented with the bouffant surgical cap, as well as, the surgical mask that made you look like the "doctor". As Daddy headed to the recovery room to help your brother as he was waking up, you and I made our way down the winding halls and into the OR suite. You jumped up on the OR table, "blew up the balloon" as instructed by the anesthetist and were out like a light within 45 seconds.






As Mommy and Daddy continued to try to console Frank-o, you were undergoing your surgery. The anticipated 25 minute surgery lasted 55 minutes because your ears and nose were really "yucky". You emerged from the anesthesia much calmer than your little brother; but once awake, your were quite vocal in expressing your desires for the removal of all wires, most especially, the IV.






Our brave beloved boys....the two of you spent 2 hours in recovery where you shared slumber as Daddy and I gained our composure, persevered through our exhaustion, and prepped for Round II-going home (without IV drugs and nurses).



We are incredibly proud of the two of you and pray that these surgeries, though painful at times, will decrease your runny noses, ear infections, and restless nights; thus improving your quality of life drastically.





As it has taken me 6+ interrupted hours to compile this post, our boys have developed a high fever, tolerated minimal fluids by mouth, and have increased pain. I have consulted with the on-call doc and we are currently "forcing fluids" in an effort to avoid a return visit to the emergency room to receive IV fluids. I will post an update tomorrow, Lord willing.

All Clear, Go Ahead

This afternoon I took the boys to the pediatrician for their pre-op visit and anesthesia clearance. Though Buck-a-roo still has a green, runny nose....we received the all clear, go ahead to proceed with their ENT surgeries tomorrow. These surgeries were previously scheduled in December and cancelled, so we are more than ready to have the surgery and tackle the recovery.

Both of the boys will be having tubes placed in their ears, a tonsillectomy, and an adenoidectomy; as well as, Buck-a-roo will be having an ear de-impaction and irrigation. Being as I work at the hospital where their surgeries will be performed and know many anesthetists, I have hand-picked our nurse anesthetist and I will be present for their gas inductions. That eases my mind, somewhat; though, this is what I do (my profession) day in and day out to other people's children, it is most difficult to swallow when it is your own. It simply means that I have a vast knowledge of the the procedure (the anesthesia and the ENT surgery itself); it also means that I have a huge awareness of the risks associated with anesthesia. UGH!!

We are scheduled for 0730. The surgeries should last approximately 30 minutes each. We should be in recovery 2 hours a piece provided they each recover well from the anesthesia and tolerate fluid by mouth without difficulty. I am hoping to be home by noon.

Pray that the doctors will perform what they are well-trained to do and that these surgeries will improve the quality of life for our boys, from eating to sleeping to playing. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and prayers in the morning. A large portion of my anxiety comes from the fact that I will have to refuse them their chocolate milk and soy milk for approximately three waking hours in the morning. That is tough, my friends!!

the ridiculously, insanely, overwhelmingly LONG post

I haven't posted since Wednesday...busy days, busier evenings, long nights! Buckle your seatbelts and hold on tight, this is gonna be a doozy of a post...


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Allow me to preface the paragraph that follows, by saying, that Daddy Buck and I had the day off (well, I was on-call) together on Thursday...


I was raised in the deep south in the great state of Louisiana in a family that worshiped the outdoors. From sports, to fishing, to hunting, and everything in between. My grandfather, father, brother, and husband are avid hunters. From deer, to turkey, to ducks, to doves, to elk, and everything in between. With this upbringing, it's hard to believe that I had never fired a gun. Not a rifle, not a shotgun, not a pistol, or anything in between. That is until this past Thursday! My dad has tried for years to teach me, take me, coerce me...if not for the sport of it, at least for self defense and personal safety. Daddy Buck finally won the battle and I agreed to go to the indoor pistol range and finally "bite the bullet", if you will.








Here's what I have to say about it...I did it (after tearing up and almost backing out), I was decent at it (fired 6 shots from 20 feet and hit the target ALL 6 times), I was NOT a huge fan of it.





Daddy Buck, on the other hand...recreational hunter with a military hunter background, need I say more?




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After the pistol range, lunch, and grocery shopping, we got the boys so that we could enjoy the outdoors and our spring-like temperatures before Daddy Buck and I left for "date night".


Frank-o has finally become proficient at riding his bicycle that Santa Claus brought as evidenced in this video clip (pause the music player at the bottom of the page):






And, just for kicks...enjoy a laugh on me at this video clip of my two sweet, lovely, innocent boys attempting to run me over (take note that Frank-o has the hiccups from laughing so hard):






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Daddy Buck and I had "date night" on Thursday...dinner at a nice, quaint, local Italian restaurant and then we met another couple to enjoy the music of an 80s cover band.






Our neighbor snapped this unscripted series of pictures as we were leaving using the continuous picture-taking mode on my camera.






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You didn't think I would overlook my two weekly Friday blog carnivals, now did you?? Better late than never...



Flashback Friday







These pictures are of Frank-o in February 2008 the day of his surgery to have tubes placed in his ears.





Why choose these pictures for Flashback Friday?


Speaking of surgery??



Remember that my boys were scheduled to have surgery (again) this past December and it was cancelled when Frank-o got sick the day of the surgery.....it has been rescheduled for February 12 and has become a wee, tee, nintsy little bit more extensive!! It will be tonsils, adenoids, and tube in ears for BOTH boys. senile, loony, exhausted, teary-eyed, whiny, short-tempered, sick, cranky, hungry, drugged, cramped...are all words that come to mind. Pray people, pray like wildfire!






Favorite Things Friday








1. Our ENT....because, hopefully within the next three to four weeks, she is going to drastically improve the quality of life that exists within our family. Less runny noses, fewer ear infections, better nights' sleep....who could ask for more?



2. My Parents....who came in town this weekend to visit the boys and I while Daddy Buck made a short weekend trip to Mobile, AL to visit his uncle. They are always a blast when they visit. I love them and my boys adore them!!



3. Birthday Cake....today was my nephew's birthday party (more on that to come), so it's fresh in my mind. Bakery fresh in my mind with lots and lots of frosting!




Head on over to The Boren Life for more Favorite Things Friday entries (even though it's Saturday night now)...


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Since I just mentioned my blogging pal, Tiff (The Boren Life), I should also mention that she has bestowed upon me my very first blogging award/honor, Hug Me Hug You!

Though, this "ecru IT" with his "HUGS banner" whigs me out a little....I greatly appreciate the recognition and I will follow through with paying it forward:

This award is given only to those who have said or done things that make an impact as well as provide comfort to others. It is given to those who induce positive emotions in others, while leaving them with the warmth of knowing that they too are special.

Hugs everyone:

1. Trish @ The Blondin Five

2. LeAnna @ Our son....Patrick

3. Amy @ Savage Stories

4. Mandi @ Monistere Maddness


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ARE YOU KIDDING ME???




I am stoked, pumped, fired-up, honored, and downright bedazzled that my boys picture that I entered in this week's Kids' Faces contest at i Heart Faces was featured on their blog.


Check it out here....It seemed to me that the Top 10 winners that were chosen were all taken by professional photographers with the exception of maybe one or two, so I was stunned to even be amongst the "not-so-honorable, accessorized, honorable mention" picks!


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Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Brock, Happy Birthday to you!!

Monday is my nephew's 2nd birthday and as I previously mentioned, we enjoyed his birthday party and CAKE today!!






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Tonight at bedtime....I read, "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" to my boys. The special detail to this tidbit of information is that, it was my book from when I was little that my mom read to my brother and I complete with three stuffed three bears hand-made by a family friend. My mother brought it to my boys and I this weekend.






Thank you "just plain ole" Maw-Maw!!!


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Out of the mouths--

Frank-o as we are passing Daddy Buck's work en route to church last Sunday morning..."Daddy, there's YOUR school!!"

Buck-a-roo as attempts to explain to me where milk comes from...

B-A-R: "Mommy, do you know that cows make milk from how we potty"
Me: "I didn't know that Buck-a-roo"
B-A-R: "Yep, the farmer pulls their potty-thingie and milk comes out!" "That's where chocolate milk comes from!"
Me: {alrighty then}


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And that, my friends, is the 4+ hour post

"GoodNight"