How Our Christmas Is Free, Part 2

This is a part of a series of posts sharing with you how we are "purchasing" our Christmas gifts this year for FREE!  I set out a couple of years ago to try to save money on gifts and spend more time reflecting on the TRUE reason for Christmas.  This is our journey...

Swagbucks is a search engine that you use just as you would use Google or Yahoo.  The only difference is that you can earn "Swagbucks" each time you search something online.  You won't earn Swagbucks every time you search, but if you use it each time search you will earn them quickly.  You can also earn Swagbucks by answering the daily poll, or various other things they offer.  These will quickly add up and you can watch your "bucks" grow.  You can then use these bucks to get prizes.  My favorite prizes are gift cards to Amazon (you'll receive a code to use online)or $5 deposited into my Paypal account.  I have then used that money to buy presents~free presents!  If you register, you will get 30 Swagbucks added to your account to start you off.  You have nothing to loose, but a few extra "bucks" to gain twords your Christmas Shopping!!  Join today!

Have a great day!

Blessings,

While it is my intent to share with you what works for our family, please know that some of the companies I share about I may receive an incentive from.  This does not change my opinion of these companies, only because I have been using them for a long time and I know and trust how they work.  I just want to share with you what works for me!



Our "Crazy Normal"

Life has been crazy over the past few weeks.

This is normal for our family!

I was recently asked by someone who had learned of our daughter's surgery if our life is ever normal.  I had to answer "this IS normal for our family!"

We have five children, two adults, and one fat cat living in this house.  One of our children has autism and a physical disability.  One of our children recently had a major surgery.  One of our children had a heart defect taken care of 3 years ago, and was hospitalized for a heart problem last year.  One of our children is going to be potty trained soon.  Life is always moving and things are rarely the same from one day to the next.  And some times it is just plain crazy!!

I do sometimes wish for days when I can stay home and not worry about who's got the next appointment.  I do wish I could spend a day doing exactly what I had planned.  I wish my house was always clean and tidy.  I wish I didn't have to think about finances, specialists, or special equipment.

But I DON'T wish these days away.  I know they are fleeting.  I see that when I look at my 14 year old's face and wonder how we got here (and why I have to look up to even look into her face!).  I see it as I watch my 12 year old slowly turning into a young man.  As I watch my 8 year old solve math he thought he'd never be able to do.  As I hear my 5 year old ask if she can "do school".  And I see it as I look at my 2 year old and think about how he may soon be out of diapers.

There will come a day when the only appointments I need to think about are either my hubby's or my own.  There will be a time when my house is always neat and tidy, and I can finish something I start. 

But Oh, how lonely it seems.

I am thankful that God has placed these things in my life at this time.  I sometimes need to be reminded that they are indeed blessings, and are all part of His plan.  In the midst of the craziness comes peace.  A peace that is in knowing this is all GOOD.

I love our "crazy normal"!

Blessings,

Surgery Update

Stinkerbelle had her surgery on Wednesday. The surgery went well, and we(as well as the doc)are pleased with the results. She is in a lot of pain, but they are slowly getting a handle on it. She had an epidural in for pain, but there was a problem with it, so it needed to be pulled to prevent infection. She is getting quite a lot for pain meds, but they wanted to be prepared for any possible pain she might have. We'll be working on it more tomorrow.

I'll keep you posted. Thanks for your prayers.

Blessings,

Jess

The Surgery

On Wednesday, Stinkerbelle will have surgery to repair a defect called pectus excavatum.  I had never heard of this until we noticed it in her.  Basically, what it is is a condition where the cartilage in her sternum was growing faster than the bone, and it caused her chest to cave in.  I found this picture on the internet that shows what it could look like(she actually has 2 different depressions in her chest).

She will have a procedure that places a bar behind her sternum and forces the cartilage forward to straighten out her chest.  Her surgeon has told us that this is a very painful procedure because we are moving her chest so quickly and drastically.  She will be in the hospital for 4-7 days~mainly for pain control.  Please pray for a quick recovery and for pain control.  We've been down the surgery road with two of our children, and it is never easy to see your children hurting. 

I'll keep you posted.  Have a blessed week!

Blessings,