When Life gives you a Lemon.... and you want to throw it back at it instead of make lemonade

Sometimes life can be frustrating. Right now mine is. I found out about 3 weeks ago that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Well I started taking a drug called Methotrexate, its a drug that you take once a week in big doses, the first week I took 4 pills and the 2nd I took 5, then the third I was suppose to start taking 6 pills. Well after the dose of 5 the Monday night after I started feeling ill, and then on Tuesday I did a half a day at work and missed a full day on Wednesday. I looked at the side effects of the medicine and it was from it, so I called the doctor and they told me to stop taking it until I could see them. So I went yesterday to see the Physicians Assistant, who sat with me and discussed with me in more detail about the "disease" I now have. I did not know the severity of Rheumatoid, I now know. I did not know the importance of a very strict "keep on the medicine and don't' forget". I didn't know that untreated you can have deformities in your hands and feet which explains why my left pinky doesn't like to bend right. I also found out that the drug I will be taking is basically like taking the "morning after pill", it aborts babies or if I do get pregnant and the baby survives it could seriously harm the baby. In three months I will start taking a new medicine along with the methotrexate. So in 3 months I will be dependent on 4 medications, and that is something I never wanted for myself. The news that made me want to "throw lemons" was that its a severe case, as from what I read and remember from the test a 80 or higher shows you have it, mine was 216. They did another test and it was high as well. So right now you could say I'm pretty down about it, I know I'll get through and there are a lot of people who are in a lot worse situations than me. But you know when you are going through something life changing no matter what its hard. So I ask for your prayers as I go through this, I ask for prayers that the diet I am trying to be on continues and that I have the "will power" I need, also that I continue to work out on the treadmill and begin water aerobics. Pray for Jason as he will be helping me through this, having no clue what I'm going through.

Well that's it, even though I would like to throw lemons...... with God giving me strength and family that loves me, I know that I will make some pretty good tastin Lemonade :).

Continued Savings :)

Ok, so I dont think I posted last weeks savings but I have done pretty good!

Here is how I did tonight:

All I Can't Believe Its Not Butter Spread and Spray were 10/$10

I bought:

4 Sprays
4 Spreads with Olive Oil
4 Double Packs of Light ICB

Total-

Before Coupons and Kroger Savings: Original Price: 1.99
After Kroger Savings: 1.00
After Coupon: .20 (.40 cent off coupon- doubled to =.80)

12*.20= $2.40 (Savings of 21.48)

6 Bags of Cheerio Snack Mix-

Before Kroger Savings and Coupons: 2.49
After Savings- 1.50
After Coupons- .50 (.50 cent of coupon- doubles to =1.00)

6*50= 3.00 (Savings of 11.94)

1 Canteloupe - On sale for 2.50

Total of Savings:
Before Kroger and Coupons: 42.61
After Kroger Savings: 23.50
After Coupons: 6.70 (I had 16.80 in coupons--- again FREE money :) )

Total Savings: 35.91 (84% Savings!)


Albertsons Trip

Kraft Dressing:

Org. Price: 2.49
Sale Price: ;1.67
Coupon Price: 1.30

8 Bottles @ 1.30= 10.40

Plus 2 coupons of $2.00 off Next Order so really 6.40 for 8 Bottles= .80/bottle

Allens Frozen Vegtables

Org. Price: 1.79
Sale Price: 1.00
Coupon Price: FREE (.35 coupon *3 (triples value)= 1.00 off)

7 Bags *FREE= FREE :)

Tropicana Orange Juice

Org. Price: 3.79
Sale Price: 2.50
After Coupon Price: 2.00

4*2.00=8.00

Betty Crocker Frosting:

Org. Price: 1.79
Sale Price: 1.00
Coupon Price: FREE

4*FREE= FREE :)

Salad

Org. Price: 2.99
Sale Price: 2.50
Coupon Price: 1.50

Splurge:

Laughing Cow Cheese:

Org. Price: 4.49
Sale Price: 3.50
Coupon Price: 2.95

Total of Albertsons Trip:

Org. Cost: 62.25
After Store Savings: 40.34
After Coupons: 20.79
Total of Coupons: $19.55 in Coupons--FREE Money :)

Total Savings at Albertons: $41.46 (77%)

Total Cost of both Trips:

Org. Price: 104.86
Sale: 63.84
Price After Coupons: 27.49
Total of Coupons: 36.35 (FREE Money)
Total Perecentage of Savings: 74% :)

Hope you Enjoy :) and I hope this encourages you to use those Sunday Coupons!!! :)

Going Home! (and other Curry News :) )

On Thursday Jason and I will be flying at 6:55 a.m. to go see my Family for Easter and my Dad's b-day. He will be 57 years old, this shocks me a little. I do call him "Old Man" without realizing he is becoming older :(. We are hoping to get to go see my Grandparents and my new little cousin Ally on this trip, Christmas Break was a true lazy time for Jason and I, we didn't go anywhere, and personally it was wonderful.

Personal news, I went to the Rheumotologist on Tuesday (a week ago) and it is official that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. It was not the best news of my life, but it has challenged me to change my lifestyle as in Health. We will be starting a new diet this summer, the GI Diet. Why so late and not now? Well with the grocery game we have some food that we need to eat up first. I will still be able to use the GG, but some things like my dear husbands taquitos (Jason dont cry while reading this) will no longer be something we buy or the cheap tostitos pizza rolls. But the doctor put me on meds that I hope will work soon, the only downfall is I have to get bloodwork done every two months to ensure my liver and bloodcount (found out I'm anemic) are ok.

Good news for Jason. After this summer Jason is done w/classes and he graduates in December!!! I am so incredibly proud of that man, he is working so hard. Currently he is applying for the Ph.D. which your prayers for that are very needed. His health has been so so as well, please just pray for us :).

I am so excited to get to go home so soon again! I will hopefully get to play w/my neice :). I get to watch KU Basketball w/my Dad which I know he is excited about :), and possibly shop with Mom. I will see Lance and Elizabeth Sunday at the Airport when they are getting back from California and I am unsure if I will see my other brother and his wife. And I will let Jason watch History Channel andDiscovery Science--- MythBusters :).

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter celebrating Jesus's Life!

Blessings,

Tonya :)

This Weeks Savings

I went to Krogers only this week and here are my savings:

6 cans of Mighty Dog Food- Free w/coupon (.59 each-.59 coupon)
3 Reynolds Cupcake (foil ones) 1.09-1.05cpn= .04
2 Hungry Jack Potatoes 1.00- (.35cpn*3(tripling)=1.00)= FREE
2 Sponges- 1.00 each = 2.00-1.00cpn= .50 each
6 Nissan Ramen Soup-- FREE
Nestle Flavored Water- 2.00 each (2)= 4.00 -2.00 cpns= 1.00 each
Grapes 1.99 for 2lbs- (usually 2.99/lb)
Mushrooms 1.67
Fritos for Norita and I :D--- 1.25 a bag- 5.00 (buy 3 get 1 free deal)
6 Ivory Soap Body Wash- 10/$10- I bought 6, had 6 coupons ( had to do this in 2 seperate transactions) with .25cpn (tripled to = .75) got them for .25 each= 1.50- .75 Kroger cpn= .75 for 6 Bottles of Body wash! :)
Reynolds Paper Cupcake holders- FREE w/coupon

Before Kroger Savings: $55.39
After: $38.41
Coupon Savings: $23.39

Total Out of Pocket Cost: $15.02 (including a friends newspaper I bought them)

Total SAvings of : 73% Savings (if you take the newspaper out of it its 76% savings!)

I don't think thats too bad!

Now make a note, any item that I got over 3 of I had to do them in a separate transaction: so the Ivory Soap and Dogfood I got in a 2nd transaction. The store here will only take 3 identical coupons per transaction and will only triple or double 3 identical ones.

Any questions let me know! :)

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow HARDER please :(

Well yesterday it snowed starting about 2:30 p.m., we were hoping to be sent home from work, but that did not happen. Also last night we were hoping for more snow, but it missed Fort Worth and went on its merry little way. Oh well maybe next year! Until then I guess I'll have to enjoy the random cold days inbetween all those 70 degree days :D.

Here is a picture of the snow:

This is Hefy the Housing Inspector in our Office, he is form Georgia and he was pretty excited about the snow! :) Norita went home early so Hefty and I held down the fort while Jonathan was at a meeting and Amy was home sick. So to do this, Hefty, Jason and I all had ice cream :D.

I have to tell you though, you would of thought the world was coming to an end the way the News channels broadcasted WINTER STORM, being from the midwest this is still entertaining to me. :) Denton did get 9 inches, and at first I though wow! But then I remembered, thats nothing compared to good 'ol Kansas :).

More Savings :)

Monday Night Jason and I went grocery shopping. It was pretty successful!

Albertsons Trip

4 Boxes of Honey Bunches of Oats--1.00 each (2.00-each - 1.00 cpn off each one)
4 Bags of Croutons--.20 each (1.00 each - (.40 cpn-doubles to be .80))
4 Pizza Rolls--.20 each (1.00 each- (.40 cpn- doubles to be .80 cpn))
4 Pilsbury French Loaves--.60 each (1.00 each - (.40 cpn off of 2 (doubles to be .80 off of 2))
8 Cans of Tomaotes--.10 each (Buy One Get One Free (1.19 for 2)- (1.00 (.50cpn that doubles))

Total: 8.79 (roughly)

Krogers Trip

1 Zuchini--.29
1 Head of Broccoli--1.99
1 Bag of Fresh Spinach--.45 (1.00 - .55 cpn)
1 Box of Mushrooms--2.59
1 Bag of Cherry Tomaotes--2.50
6 Pouches of Tuna--.50 each (on sale for 1.00 each, cpn: 1.50 off of 3)
6 Boxes of Jose Ole Taquitos-- 2.00 each (cpn 1.00 off each box)
7 Cans of Various Beans---.49 each (no cpn)

Total: 26.72 (roughly)

(Had to go back to Krogers for a rebate I did not get)

Bought:

5 Oil of Olay Body Washes-- .24 cents each! :) (2.24-2.00 cpn)

Total: $1.24 :)

Before Coupons: $72.30
Coupon Totals: $35.55 (This is like FREE Money!!!)

Total Trip: $36.75


And that is one trip to the grocery store! :) Hope you enjoyed!

Our Dates

Jason has been having a project called a "being project", which is aka: EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE IN SCHOOL SPEND TIME WITH YOU WIFE AND TAKE HER ON A DATE! :) So the deal is he has to plan a date that last at least 4 hours, he has so far taken me on 2 dates! (We do go out just to let everyone know, we just don't plan them like this) So its been a lot of fun. Here are his papers that he wrote about them:

Date #1

(Written from Jason's perspective :) )

I planned an afternoon that involved eating out, browsing a bookstore, having a cup of coffee, seeing a movie, and (my favorite) asking 20 questions. We had never gone to downtown Fort Worth. So we drove and parked the car, and took a stroll down 3^rd and went to eat at Razoo’s Cajun Café. I pulled the twenty questions out of my pocket and over lunch we talked about the significance of the questions and how they were true of our life.

We proceeded to Barnes and Nobles and after browsing some children’s books, and discussing how we looked forward to having some of our own, we sat and again continuing our twenty questions over a small dessert and coffee. We talked about how God had worked in the memories that we enjoyed and how his plans for us are still not known.

We then saw The Spiderwick Chronicles which was interesting. On our ride home we went the wrong way and went north on I35 but we shared what we thought of the movie and then picked up on our questions. We we had a great time just sharing who we are with one another.

Date #2

(Written from Jason's perspective :) )

I planned an afternoon that involved my wife and I going to a favorite restaurant that had closed in a town near us a few years ago. The restaurant is San Francisco Oven; an bay area restaurant that uses a brick oven to cook its pizza, we enjoy it every time we go and this allowed us to remember some times together.
We spent most of our time on the road going and coming back from the restaurant. We enjoyed being together and taking several back roads to Euless and then back Fort Wroth. This date involved us driving to Euless, and was a long drive at that, but the conversation and time spent together was well worth it. It reminded us of our dating days when we would simply drive for the simply pleasure of being together. We had a good time, our “lunch” date.

Thanks Hubby! I had a great time! :)