Finger Sticks and Peanut Butter

This was what my sweet Hannah looked like just two days after her first birthday.  Not even "there". She didn't wake up when they started her IV or put her catheter in.  So sad.  After some testing, they figured out after some testing that her blood sugar was 40! Poor baby.  So, all that said, you can imagine my horror when I was at work yesterday and I get a call..."Hey honey, where's Hannah's glucometer?"  Uuuhhh, why?!?! She was acting just as she had done before and I was no where close.  I told him where it was and couldn't get him off the phone fast enough.  The first time I was the one holding it together, this time I wanted nothing more than to cry and I didn't want him to know that I was scared.  Then he called and told me that it was in the 60's..NOT GOOD.  Fruit and graham crackers it was. Rushed Rylee to school, back to the house and another test shows 50.  Ryan was A-MAZING. He was calm, cool, and collected.  All the time I was at work trying to stay calm until I got some more news.  Ryan called the pediatrician and followed orders.  Slowly, the blood sugar levels came up.  With only a few other dips throughout the day, we had made it by. We learned a major lesson today.  ALWAYS, ALWAYS have peanut butter and orange juice wherever Hannah goes. I think about all the times that she's been places without it.  And to make matters worse, when her sugar crashed that morning, she was minutes away from being with a baby sitter and while I'm sure that Lacey has peanut butter, WHY IN THE WORLD AM I RISKING IT! I think too many of us settled back into the thought that it was because she was getting sick last time, but now I just feel stupid for not being better prepared.  From now on there will be an emergency sugar crash kit in her bag wherever she goes. Where you find Hannah you will always be finger sticks and peanut butter! (and some Sunny D to wash it down!!!)

Meet the Donaters!

Have you ever wondered what $33.52 would buy you? Well today, after 3 trips to Homeland and 8 transactions total (Ryan was with me once so of course I made him do his 2 transactions) here is how it went down.

• 4 packages of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 packages of chicken tenderloins
• 6 boxed of spaghetti
• 2 boxes of rotini
• 8 of the NEW cream cheese cooking blends
• 6 freezer packs of warm and serve rolls
• 3 Johnson's baby shampoo
• 6 no more tangles leave in conditioner
• 6 johnson's intense moisture cream
• 2 johnson's shea butter lotions
• 2 johnson's intense moisture body wash
• 1 Johnson's bedtime bath
• 1 package of skittles (not pictured but very good!) =)

The total savings was $135. Mostly, we needed the chicken for the month so this was a successful day for me. However, my heart has been very burdened lately (ecspecially after hearing Carrie talk about paying it forward) that my family really needs to do more to help others in need.  Now, we are by no means "well-off" but our basic needs are absolutely met. Jesus didn't comand us to give when we felt comfortable.  It's not a big deal if you do what's "comfortable" we need to just do it. So now that I have gotten decent at couponing (I plan to be MUCH better) I decided now is the time.  There used to be a time when we couldn't spare a penny but now we can.  We have set a small amount of money aside each month to use for donating. It's not a lot and I would like to do more, but we just can't right now. HOWEVER, I am determined to do the most I can with what we have and this is a prime example how. I will still do the most I can with that amount of money. What kind of example would I be to my children if I didn't? Stay tuned to see how we plan to make a big difference this year even if the dollar spent isn't grand!

To check out ways for you to save go to couponcloset.net!