School's Out for Summer!

Well, not quite, but we may as well be.  The kids and I are already in "summer mode" as far as our thinking goes, and they haven't had any homework lately due to standardized testing, projects, etc.  Thanks to pinterest, we have our summer bucket list ready, new chore magnets made, and are just counting down the final days until summer begins!  In 50 words or less, here is what our spring looked like:
~February steroid shot=mama with crazy amounts of energy for two weeks (glorious to feel normal!), 11th anniversary, spring break fun, Katie enters art contest, Katie finalist in haiku contest, Ryan wins reading contest at school, Katie birthday, my birthday, a million friends' birthdays, Easter (He is Risen!), whole fam volunteers at race to raise $$ for water in Africa, Scott/sr. group writes 70+ page paper for senior design, new friendships started with some amazing Godly women, mama's bod begins to crash hard, Florida trip for the e-dults, ER avoided (whoo hoo!), new cardiologist who has treated mito found YES!

Maybe there are more than 50 words, I didn't count.  :-) But now you can see why I haven't blogged! When I feel great, I don't want to take the time to type; when I feel bad, I use my ipod to access the internet and it's hard to type much on that thing.  As I mentioned, I have been struggling quite a bit the last 2-3 weeks but will see a new cardiologist today.  We are just so thankful a friend found this man who loves to do research, is both a cardiologist and a cardiac EP, and has also treated mito patients before.  Those types are so few and far between!  I'll try to keep you posted on what he has to say, but I'm learning not to make promises I can't keep.  Have a blessed day! Karin

The Summer Bucket List 2012

What a way to end the year...

It can never be said that life around here is uneventful.  As I mentioned in my last post, my dear mentor, Judy, passed away just before Christmas.  Her funeral was so precious and fitting for this wonderful woman!  In addition to her funeral, here is what we managed to pack into our two week Christmas break:
~water leaking from our shower and through the smoke detector downstairs
~mold discovered (from leak) and removed
~moved to my parents' house for a week (again, because of water leak)
~relatives from the east visiting
~family fun outing planned by Scott's sister
~Christmas Eve with my family
~Christmas Day with Scott's family
~Scott's birthday
~stomach flu
~New Year's Eve fun with friends
~hanging out with new friends

We also had 5 (yes, FIVE) relatives have surgery within one month, so the kids were busy making cards and visiting/calling/emailing the invalids.  Needless to say, our break didn't go entirely as planned, but we had some fun despite our circumstances and the kids just loved our impromptu week with the grandparents!  A big "Thank You" to my parents for letting us hang out for the week, and to Scott's dad and uncle for all of their help on the house!

2012 has been busy with the water leak being repaired, Scott's classes starting up again (10 hours this semester, but he's a Senior now, whoo hoo!), the kids back in school, and all of my illnesses.  I'm not sure what that's all about, but I've been sick with one thing or another four times already!  I'll be sick for about 5 days, then healthy for around 3, then be sick with something else.  Several people have asked me if the mold/water damage being gone has helped my mito. symptoms, but so far I can't  tell because of all of these illnesses.  My little mitochondria can't keep up when I'm sick and all of my energy goes to fighting the illness/infection.  I'm very hopeful that the mold was what caused my big "crash" this fall and that I will be back to where I was this summer soon.  It's not perfect, but I will take it!

Judy

There is a club that no one wants to be in, but all of us are at some point. Many of my friends belong to this club this fall/winter, though I wish they didn't. It is the club of mourners, those who have receny lost a child, spouse, parent, or friend. The club seems to be growing disproportionally this year. Last night, my family joined that club as we learned of Judy's passing (after 9 years of battling stage 4 breast cancer). If you've followed this blog for awhile, you might recall reading about her. She was a mentor to my parents, my brother and SIL, and me...but she was so much more. Words cannot even describe how this woman forever changed our lives and how much she taught us about trusting God and being obedient to His perfect will. I am thrilled for Judy, as she has the most amazing view of the sunrise this morning, but so sad that she is gone. May we all be as willing to allow God to use us to further the kingdom; may we all impact as many lives and bring others closer to Him.

Gene Analysis/trip to OH

The last few weeks have been trying around here. We've had some serious behavior issues to deal with, I've been sick, and another friend/mentor was diagnosed with cancer, completely unexpected. We are praying hard for the Williams family and know that God is going to do big things through this process; nevertheless, I wish they didn't have to go through this!

Last week, I realized that I still hadn't gotten my gene analysis results back from my blood draw in January. I'd checked over the summer with the company that runs the test and they assured me my doctor would call when it was finished (the DNA is analyzed hundreds of times, so I knew it would be several months). I decided to call my family doctor, and sure enough, the results had been in my file since July! I was a little unhappy about that, but nothing we can do about that. My family doctor took the results home to study them (yes, they are that complicated!) and her nurse called me with the details. I was a little skeptical, so I called my mito. doctor, who wanted to see me to discuss them, and (miracle of all miracles!) he had an opening for Friday! Scott and I had been planning a trip Friday and Saturday to mid-Ohio (looong story on the logic there!) so it worked out well. We had a great conversation with Dr. Cohen (about an hour!) about the results and my health in general. I will go into greater detail at the end of this point for my mito friends, but here are the basics for everyone else: the technology still isn't there yet to figure out my genes... the results are inconclusive. I have 37 variants for the genes they analyzed (for example, if we are to have the amino acid A on that certain gene, I have G instead); most of them are common, a few are uncommon and one is extremely rare. So we are still going with the assumption that this is most likely a mitochondrial disease that simply hasn't been discovered yet, knowing that new ones are being found all the time and the technology will probably catch up in the next decade or so. I asked him about the possibility of rheumatic fever causing these mito. changes and after looking at my labs, he thinks that is a definite possibility. He said you can't have inflammation without your mitochondria allowing it, and yet inflammation can cause damage to your mitochondria. I have had 4-5 strep tests since my symptoms started, and every time it comes back positive even when I hadn't felt sick. It is something we will need to look into, but is outside of his expertise.
I also asked him about my "crash" six weeks ago and how usually I recover after a few days but can't seem to get back to where I was earlier this fall. He gave me four basics for recovering: Sleep, Diet, Exercise, and Nutrients. I didn't realize how much more energy it requires just sitting up vs. laying down, so I am dropping down to the very minimum activity. I am also going to eliminate white sugar, white flour, white potatoes, etc as much as I possibly can and add a few more supplements. I talked to him about the Zija I am taking and he was really impressed by all that is in it. In fact, most of what he suggested is in there! I just need to find out how much of each item is in there to see if it is adequate or if I need to add more. Overall, Scott and I both felt like we learned a lot! Since I have strep right now, we didn't do much the rest of the weekend but it was sure nice to get away! At this point in the semester, he gets pretty burned out so hopefully this weekend gave him the boost he needs to finish strong! Karin

For my mito friends:
Here are the specifics from Dr. C. You probably already know all of this, but in case you don't...
~Three levels of diet: 1) no white flour/sugar/potatoes, etc 2) Mediterranean diet (no corn oil, etc...you can google it for more info) 3) Gluten-free diet He says our (as in anyone) bodies weren't designed to process flour or dairy, with flour being the worst of the two.
~No anti-inflammatory brand name that starts with a T and is the opposite of Advil/Motrin. In fact, he thinks it will be pulled off the market in a year or two because it is bad for everyone!
~Exercise: work our way up to 20-30 minutes of light cardio AND resistance (most forget this part, he says, and it is vital to reducing inflammation) Start with 5 lb and work your way up.
~Nutrients: Not sure if this is for all of us or specifically for me... Zinc 25 mg (make sure not to get too much or causes anemia), selenium 100mg, Gamma vitamin E (NOT alpha, as we don't tend to absorb it as well) 400iu, levo arginine 500-1000iu divided, levo citrulline (sp?) 250iu 2x/day. methionine 500iu, krill oil (Dr. Mercolla's brand is what he rec) 1 cap 2x/day, Norwegian cod liver oil (Carlson's) 1mL
Like I mentioned before, most of those are in the Zija I take, so I will probably only need to add the last 2-3.
~Rest and plenty of fluids! He went into specifics on how much more energy it takes to sit up vs. laying down but of course I forget the numbers! :-)

A little this, a little that

This week has been a rough one around here, both emotionally and physically. Our church is doing a fantastic sermon and small group series called The Story. It has been great and very motivating for me, and yet extremely frustrating at the same time. You see, there are so many things I am passionate about and I have such a strong desire to help orphans and go on missions trips and so much more, yet my health has not been very good the last few weeks. Ever since my "big crash" five weeks ago, I can barely seem to do anything. In fact, I've been in bed or on the couch for three days this week after going to the grocery store and running a few errands earlier in the week. Even sitting here typing is not easy... So the question is, what does God want me to do? How can I further the kingdom? It is maddening at times, but God just keeps reminding me to be still. "Be still and know that I am God." How I wish I could see his plan! I can't, but I know it is there, so I will trust and wait.

In other news, I am loving the deals I'm finding online! As soon as October was over, it seemed every retailer started vying for our Christmas dollars. In addition to the websites I listed a few weeks ago, several online retailers are having "deal of the day" sales with free shipping. So far, I've seen wonderful deals on Target.com, Samsclub.com, BestBuy.com, Walmart.com and Amazon.com I had a coupon code for $5 off any Target order last week, so I snatched up some great wii games, then this week Amazon AND Target are both offering buy 2 get 1 free deals on wii games. Whoo hoo! I use swagbucks (see widget at the top of the page) as my search engine to get free amazon gift cards (you can also earn Bucks by printing your coupons through them, taking surveys and much more!). I've earned over $100 in gift cards, thus reducing my out-of-pocket cost for Christmas presents! This morning, I noticed on One Kings Lane they have some super-cute bathroom accessories for kids and great prices. I'm thinking about using my free $15 credit for the cute butterfly tray for Katie (only will pay shipping, yay!). What are you going to use your $15 credit on? I also found out that vitacost.com is now offering $10 credit for new orders as well. I buy all of my supplements except my Zija through them. They usually have great prices on kids vitamins and liquid vitamin D3 (Dr. Gladd says D3 and lemon water boosts immune systems, seems to work in our family!). Through all of these sites, I am earning cash back from Shopathome.com. They give you a $5 credit when you sign up through this link, then you earn cash back from your online purchases (sometimes up to 15%!). I just signed up about a month ago, and I'm already up to $20, so it adds up quickly! Also, I can't recall if I mentioned PaperbackSwap.com yet...I use it to get rid of books we are done with and swapped them out for Christmas presents for the kids (several American Girl books and a cookbook for the little lady, new chapter books for the little man)! We are about 1/2 way done with our Christmas shopping for our kids, 4 nephews, 1 niece, and our parents, and we've spent under $80, but purchased over $250 of merchandise. Yay! Shopping does NOT need to be stressful or expensive!

This post was originally going to be filled with recipes for taco seasoning, toothpaste, dry laundry soap (courtesy of my SIL), and our family's typical mean plan. Since I don't have much energy, though, I'm just going to do the toothpaste. I used to get toothpaste for free, but haven't seen as many great deals (of course, that could be because I've only been to the grocery store once in the last 5 weeks!). I came across this recipe online, but can't remember where I saw it... any way, here it is:

lime zest-dry overnight, then crush it into a powder
1/2-1 cup baking soda
peppermint oil

Combine...dip your toothbrush in it and brush! Now, I didn't have any peppermint oil but I was anxious to try it, so I made it without. It works just fine, but is a little salty. I went ahead and ordered some peppermint oil from Vitacost and will add that in when it arrives. I love that it was so cheap to make and that I'm not putting extra chemicals into my mouth! Maybe once the oil arrives, I can convince the rest of my family to try it?

Time to go rest some more, but let me know if you have any money-saving tips to share!

Cheap + Organic, is it a myth?

I don't know how I managed to not include one of my absolute favorite websites last week! Green B.E.A.N. delivery brings fresh, organic produce to our house every other week (you can set it up to deliver every week, but our grocery budget only allows for every other week!). Unlike the CSA we used over the summer, you can completely customize your order to include only that which your family will eat...and did I mention it comes to ME?! Yay! For $35, we get approximately 40 servings of organic fruits and veggies, most of which is local! Quite the bargain! The best part of all, right now they are offering 50% off your first order if you place it before 11/25 (that's $17.50!! Double bonus, mine will be 1/2 off too, since I referred you!). Since you aren't locked in if you don't like it, you can't lose! If you are in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati or Louisville, I strongly advise you to check them out! The 50% special can be accessed by clicking HERE. For their regular website, click HERE.

When you get more produce than you can eat, my favorite "go-to" website is pickyourown.org This website tells you how to freeze and/or can just about everything!

Also, we found a great place for hormone-free, grass-fed beef close by, and now enjoy roasts, steaks, and ground beef for just $2.69/lb. LOVE it!

Happy Eating!

How to Live on Nearly Nothing

I love to save money...it's like a game to me. So when a few friends and I were talking last month about finances, stress, one of them wanting to stay home, etc. I went home and wrote down all of the different ways I save our family money. I wrote fast and furious, and soon had three full pages of notes. My plan was to write them legibly and in greater detail, but I haven't gotten very far on that. Things like an ER trip, helping Katie with a research project, and life in general has gotten in the way. I did want to get some info out to those ladies, and anyone else who wants it, so I though I'd blog about it! I do need to preface all of this with two things, though: 1) I don't try to pay as little as possible to be greedy; quite the opposite, in fact. The more money I save, the more money/freebies/supplies I can give away! I don't say that so you think highly of me, but to encourage you to do the same. Even if you are the poorest person in America, you and I have so much more than most people around the world. Let's share! 2) There are some areas where we just won't skimp, #1 being tithe. Again, not saying this to boast, but to say that when you are trimming your budget, I would advise against making cuts in this area. God has provided so faithfully for us, despite our ever-fluctuating income. 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Tip #1: Make your own laundry soap. Yes, you can use it in HE washers, and it gets out every stain I've used it on!
Homemade Laundry Soap
1/3 bar of Fels-Naptha (grated)
Heat until dissolved. Add:
½ cup Super Washing Soda (NOT baking soda!)
½ cup Borax
Cook 15 minutes. Add 5 ½ quarts (22 cups) of water. Let cool partially and pour into containers. Some people store it in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid, but I just pour it into 3 laundry bottles. Use ½ cup for regular loads (shake bottle before use). This also makes a fabulous stain remover: just pour it in your spray bottle and add more water. Note: you can add essential oil to the laundry soap to make different scents, but I never have (it would increase my cost, and I love the clean scent!). The cost comes out to less than a penny per load!

Also, I have several websites I subscribe to, which are great at helping me find great deals! I think everyone knows about Groupon, but there are several others out there that I love! My favorite new one is SniqueAway. Each day, they add new travel deals, some in the US and some international. We haven't yet booked a trip through them, but I plan on doing so in the near future! I also recently discovered OneKingsLane, which offers really nice items for low prices! The best part is, they give you a $15 credit when you sign up! Sites often do this, and I will score great deals for free or super-cheap! Another one, LivingSocial, has some great deals as well and offers $5 when you sign up, which is how I ended up getting a $20 Amazon.com gift card for only $5! Love it! One more to share is SaveMore, which gives you $10 for signing up...after Christmas, be sure to compliment Katie on her free watch I "bought" through SaveMore! :-) Yay!
Oh, and lest you think I'm spending hours finding all of these deals, I let other people do all of that work! ShopatHome is a great website that lists all kinds of deals, promos, and coupons, AND gives cash back on all of your purchases! I also subscribe to CouponMom and CouponsandFreebiesMom. I let these three websites do all the work, then go score my great deals!
There is so much more to share, but that ought to give you a great start! Happy Savings!