Menu Plan for Week of November 7th

Woohoo!  I have the menu plan all set up for the week AND I have the shopping list set up also for what we need to buy!  I'm going to clip coupons later today or tomorrow and we'll go shopping according to what we are eating for this week!  I'm impressed with me!  Thanks for my friend, Fredda's help, bc I included some of her recipes.  Here's what we are going to eat this week:

• Today - Hamburger soup
• Tue     - Spanish Rice
• Wed    - Slumgullion
• Thu     - Turkey Tetrazinni
• Fri       -  Beef Stew
• Sat      - mini pizzas
• Sun     - Chicken Noodle soup (homemade)

I'm so happy I've done this!  Yay!!!!  I'll start on next week's menu before this week is over.

Prayer of Release

Prayer of Release

I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. 2 Timothy 1:12 NLT
Heavenly Father, I release to you the burdens that I have been carrying, burdens that You never intended for me to carry. I cast all my cares upon You—all my worries, all my fears. You have told me not be anxious about anything, but rather to bring everything to You in prayer with thankfulness.

Father, calm my restless spirit, quiet my anxious heart, still my troubling thoughts with the assurance that You are in control. I let go of my grip upon the things I have been hanging onto, with opened hands I come to You. I release to Your will all that I am trying to manipulate; I release to Your authority all that I am trying to control; I release to Your timing all that I have been striving to make happen.

I thank You for Your promise to sustain me, preserve me, and guard all that I have entrusted to Your keeping. Protect my heart and mind with Your peace, the peace that passes all understanding. Father, may Your will be done in my life, in Your time, and in Your way.

Scriptures: Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 4:6, Matthew 6, Isaiah 26:3, Luke 11:2

Halloween Memories

I'm such a "fuddy duddy" ...never dressed up while my kids were growing up.  It was all about them and never me. I don't know why it didn't occur to me that if I dressed up, it would make it more fun for them!  But then again we had 4 kids and we probably couldn't afford to get us costumes!  KWIM?   Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I was the same character every year for several years (gypsy) ... can't remember when I started that, but the last costume I remember wearing that my parents bought was "Clarabell" when I was about 5 or 6 yo.  But I was a witch a couple years back for Michelle's birthday party for Lucas on Halloween.  His bday is Nov 4th.  Anyway, wish I was more creative that way but not being a "party" person and being such a shy person for so many years... in fact, only basically came out of that when I was in my 40s I think, maybe that's why too.  I.did make clown costumes for my sons, Shawn & Patrick, when they were maybe 8 and 10 or so.  I have pics somewhere... and then my two grandkids wore the same costumes one year.  Need to find those pics!  and the one of me as the Witch.  LOL

Growing up Catholic, Being a Christian, and The Way It Is Today....

I had these thoughts running through my head the other day and hope I can remember exactly what it was I was thinking about.  I should come here right away when that happens but no, do I do that?  of course not!!!  LOL

Anyway, here are some of my thoughts:

Born in 1947, I was brought up Catholic.  I went to a Catholic school till grade 5.  Every day we went to church and every day we went to confession.  I remember those days vividly.  When I married, it wasn't in a Catholic church because my husband and I sort of married in a hurry.  NO, not because I was pregnant!  It was because he was in the U.S. Navy and we decided to marry because we "couldn't live without each other" so to speak.  Now this goes into another long story which I'll try to shorten ...


When he transferred out of the military base in Rhode Island at Quonset Point to Mayport Beach, Florida, I was just miserable without him around and one day I wrote to him.  Well, being the Catholic girl I was brought up to be, even though this was the 60s, I wrote to him and told him I was coming down to Florida to live and "you better not expect me to live with you!"  Well, you know, in the 60s, there was that "free love" and the beginnings of what we know today of young couples living together before marriage (or even never marriage).  I was not going to be one of those because it really was against my religion!  LOL

So, we decided to get married on short notice, no wedding, no shower, no reception, just marry and dinner with my parents.  Wayne's parents were none too happy to hear that but we were in love.  What could I say?

Ok, not to get into our early marriage, I wanted to talk about today's Christianity and how it has affected me and Wayne too.

Anyway, I was having these thoughts about Christians, about our Catholic Faith, and the fact that we are now attending a
non-denominational Church.  This Church is going back to the teachings from the bible when Jesus was alive.  We are suppose to "get baptised" when we become members of this Church.  We haven't done that as of yet.  We were baptised when we were babies in the Catholic Church.  Some think if they are Baptists for example, that a Catholic "hasn't been saved" because they were not baptised at an older age.  But the way I look at it is this:  Yes, we were baptised as babies, but we did make our First Communion around 1st or 2nd grade and then later when we were teens, we made our Confirmation.  

Confirmation is regarded as the perfection of Baptism, because, as the introduction to the Rite of Confirmation states:

by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed. (taken from http://catholicism.about.com/od/beliefsteachings/p/Confirmation.htm)

I believe that Confirmation is to confirm to Christ that we will live our lives in the Catholic Faith and as Jesus taught us.  I believe that Confirmation sort of takes place that baptism that so many other religions do at an age where one knows the difference between right and wrong, for example.  Also, someone once said to me that I was not a Christian if I was Catholic, that Catholics are NOT Christian, and that is just an insult.  

Now having said all that, we still attend this non-denominational Church and I am considering getting baptised and become a member of the Church.  But it still bothers me because I am still connected to my Catholic Faith and so is Wayne it seems.  He is not ready to be baptised.  I'm willing to do it because I see nothing wrong in doing that.  We will probably attend this Church till the day we die, so why not?  It's just that I am still having those connections with the Catholic church.  I think when you are brought up a strict Catholic, (or any other religion for that matter), it is hard to totally let go.  I still believe in the Blessed Virgin.  I always will I'm sure.  It doesn't mean that we can't be good church goers at this church or good participating members of this church.  

Because we are raising two of our grandchildren, we wanted them to get some Christian bible teachings and we feel this Church is a good place for them.  When I tried years ago to get them baptised in the Catholic Church, we were told it would take 2 years and that just shocked me.  Why?  Because I was taught that if you weren't baptised as a baby, and you died, then you were put in Limbo and wouldn't go to Heaven.  The fact that they would make the children wait 2 years to get baptised just threw all those teachings out the door for me.  That's when I started looking elsewhere.

Not sure I'm making any sense, but those are my thoughts.

...To Be Continued...

Rough Night

Had a rough night.  Wayne had pains in his stomach (constipation) and then started vomiting.  Neither of us got any sleep but he is resting pretty good right now.  Gave him some chicken noodle soup and then he went to sleep.

I wanted to go buy a bale of hay and put it in the front of the house with the 2 scarecrows we have for a Fall/Halloween decoration.  I might go check it out. 

I haven't done much today.  I do want to reformat my hard drive b/c I have a lot of garbage on it and think there is some malware causing me problems with my keyboard.  So I might get the nerve to actually try it.  Have done it with XP before but not with this Vista.  I do have the CDs I created when I got this laptop so it should work ok.  Just need to get the courage to do it.  I love my laptop and wouldn't want to be w/o it and can't afford to pay anyone to fix it. 

Wayne's Walking Exercise

Here is a video of Wayne using his walker.  He has "drop foot" in his left foot, so you can see where that foot doesn't lift up the way it should.  Anyway, this is in front of our house.  There is noise in the background but you can definitely see how he is doing.  He has improved a lot.  Still needs to continue his exercises and walking exercise as well.

A good day

 
We don't get many good days these days ...at least I don't.  But today was good.  Gotta take the "good days" when you get them; life is way too short!  It started out with my waking up just before 6:30 am.  Actually I was suppose to "sleep in" but for some reason my body decided not to.  LOL  So... I got up.  When I woke up, the first thing I thought of was to update the medical file and print out all the cancelled checks for DHS (Dept of Human Services) to take there today after Wayne's DR. appt at 11am.  I got them all done just in time for us to leave.  Hopefully  submitting these changes to DHS will help Wayne get a better medicaid insurance and not that $1804 mo. deductible he has now. The DR said all the tests (A1C, INR, Blood Pressure) were good but reminded us that he is "high maintenance" so it is important we strive to get that insurance changed.  What is "high maintenance", you ask?  Well, it is because of his disability that he is susceptible to infections and he has to be watched closely.  He still has those blood clots in his lungs and in his legs which is why he is on blood thinner, thus the INR test he has to have frequently.  The DR said he has to be watched every 2 weeks for now but later it will be once a month.. later, when the DR feels it is safer to wait a month.


I sit here and watch Wayne watch those "old" TV shows, many of them Game Shows and think about what he would be doing if he wasn't stuck in that wheelchair.  He'd be out on the football field watching our grandson's practice OR helping coach as he did for many many years.  We'd be going to movies once or twice a month.  Now when we go he has to sit in the front row.  We would be going out to eat every Friday like we use to ...we haven't done that in a while.  Having said all that, he does seem to enjoy those game shows and the judge (court) shows too. 


He doesn't remember things.  He has to be reminded frequently.  I'll be glad when the DR can get that Brain MRI for him ...we're waiting on the insurance to change so we can afford it. 


All in all, today was a good day.  I got our medical file organized and up to date.  Got the new info to DHS along with his SSD letter about his approval in November.  We stopped for lunch.  I know we shouldn't have but it was our "alone" time and thought it was worth it.





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Slow Cooker Sunday

Got up a little later than normal today.  Managed to put a roast in the slow cooker with potatoes, carrots, celery, garlic, onions and cream of mushroom soup (with about 1/2 can of water).  I did brown the meat.  Don't usually do that but tried something different today.  Decided to brown the onions and garlic and then the meat, just outsides. 

We are hoping to be able to go to our grandson, Lucas' football game today.  He's in JV (junior football) and he is almost 11 years old; turns 11 next month.  If the weather isn't too bad, we'll be there at least for 1/2 the game.  Wayne can't be in too cold or any rainy weather.  But he wants to go.  He told me this morning I have to take him to a stadium so he can practice walking up the steps with his walker.  I told him he'd better find someone more courageous than I for that!  LOL  So, Brandon or Shawn (our sons) can do that with him.  Not me.  LOL  First of all, he hasn't been able to go up steps at all, so he has to take "baby steps" first.  KWIM?

Have a good day everyone!

Are you on a limited income?

Lately I have been thinking about family members and others who are on a limited income.  Although I knew what it meant to be on a limited income, I really didn't understand the effects of that.  I just thought when you get older, and you no longer work so you are on a limited income that you simply adjust accordingly.  I never really considered what it is you have to go through to adjust.  Of course, the hope would be that you would be 'ready' for that. 

Now that Wayne and I are on a limited income and our income has been reduced upwards of $3,000 per month, I am finding it difficult to cope.  We have food stamps, Thank God, but there are so many other things to consider, like medical insurance being the No. 1 in my mind along with medical bills we owe. Christmas comes to mind and now wondering how we will be able to provide Christmas gifts to the grandkids.  

I know that God never closes a door without opening another.  Just the other day we found out Wayne will now get SS-disability so that door was opened. 

Having said that, we are still trying to adjust to the situation at hand with Wayne being disabled, my caring for him, and the closed doors.  I pray to God for patience in waiting for another door to open.

Good News Finally!!!

We got notified today that Wayne is approved for Social Security Disability!  YAY!!!!  We don't know about the insurance yet but assume it will be medicare.  He gets his first check the 3rd Wed in November.  We'll be anxiously looking forward to that!!! 

Absolutely Unbelievable

Yesterday I talked to the case worker for DHS and she said that our medicaid is remaining the same with the $1804 deductible because the state's budget says that is what we are qualified for based on our income.  I couldn't understand when she told me this and told her I didn't understand, that our income was reduced and she said that because of the child support that it went up!  That made no sense to me at all.  She told me that I would get a complete budget information so I could then understand. 

Today's Mail:  The budget info she talked about showed that we were making over $1000 more than we are which explains why the medicaid didn't change PLUS they reduced our food stamp allowance!  WHAT?  So I called and left a message to make an appointment to discuss this.  I have no idea where she got the amount of income she had but we need to find out. 

Seems the battle never ends. 

Isn't it Ridiculous??

First, I talked to the case worker (state) about medicaid for Wayne and I only to find out that it remains at $1804 per month deductible for EACH of us b/c according to the state's budget, that is what we qualify for based on our income.  Well our income is a couple hundred less than $1804, but who cares, right?  Anyway, then I asked her about the State Emergency Fund application I put in for a new furnace and she said that they only approve up to $1000 so we were denied since replacing the furnace costs more than $4k.  So hopefully we won't run into any problems this winter.  We're going to buy one of those small electric fireplace heaters just in case.  At least we'll have heat if something happens to the furnace. 

Also talked to the lawyer that filed our bankruptcy back in February of this year about the copies we needed and he said they could be emailed to me.  We were lucky that when we got home, I had an email with all the copies.  We need that for the Veterans Affairs office in hopes to get Wayne some assistance.  We filled out a "hardship" form with them.



Then we headed out because we had to get medical records from the hospital and since we were out and about, decided to stop by the DR's office to pick up a statement for Wayne's work telling them that he is still unable to work.  Got to the hospital and Wayne almost falls on his face from his wheelchair, going off the curb with it... I caught it just in time!  The medical records didn't cost us anything so that was good.  (We were expecting it to cost 25cents per sheet).  The lady did tell us though next time it will cost and the lawyer will have to request them.  This is for the lawyer about worker's comp.  We still don't know if it is worth it yet to get a lawyer for that.  We're going to make an appointment with the lawyer for a free consult.  That's on my list.  LOL 


The DR's office didn't have the statement ready so I asked her to fax it to Wayne's work.  We then got a phone call from the SS Disability case worker and he told Wayne that the status of his claim was mailed on the 21st.  Well, today being the 27th, it seems we should have already received that, so I told Wayne to call the guy back and ask him WHERE he mailed it since the man wouldn't talk to me at all.  The man told Wayne that it was mailed last week, to be patient, and he had another call, so hung up.  We're wondering if he used a carrier pigeon to deliver that mail.


Then we head over to the old house (we moved from) to see if it was in the mail there... NOT.... and then back home to see if it was in our mail there (NOT) and then to Wayne's work to hand the secretary there the leave of absence forms for Sep and Oct (yes we were late with Sep).  We have to fill them out every month.


THEN we came home.  We were on the road since Noon till about 3pm (3 hours). 


Isn't it ridiculous?

Do you have a clue?

You never think about how difficult it is for a handicapped person to have to depend on someone to take care of him/her, to simply be able to park in a spot with enough room to get out of the car and into a wheelchair, to depend on another person to get your wheelchair out of the trunk for you and wheel it over to your door.  Do you ever think about how hard it is for the handicapped to find a handicapped space?  Finding one large enough to give you room to get into a wheelchair are few and far between.  Many handicapped spaces only allow enough room for the car.  Seems whoever planned that out did not consider those in wheelchairs that have to slide from their car seat to the chair need that extra room.  It seems that there just are not enough handicapped spaces available.  Makes you think.  There must be more handicapped people now than when they created those spaces?

For those of us who are not handicapped, and do not have to sit for several hours in a chair, and the only recourse is to lay in bed… it just doesn’t occur to us.   

And to simply be able to wheel the chair around without bumping into something (or someone), it just doesn’t dawn on us how hard that is.

We just do not think about something like this until it happens to you or to someone you know or love. 

And then when it does happen to someone you know or love, you learn pretty quickly about how difficult it is. 

That's when you start thinking about all those people out there that have absolutely no clue what this is all  about,  what the handicapped person is going through, about what his/her loved ones are going through and the person caring for him/her, what he/she is going through.  They have no clue.

Why do I know this?  It’s simple.  I am one of those people who had no clue.  My husband became disabled May 4, 2010, after he had lower lumbar surgery and has not been able to take care of himself since.  So, I’m his caregiver and the person who continues to love him and care for him.  And each day that passes, our love grows stronger. 

Getting Ready to go to a Wedding Today! Should be Fun!

Good Morning!  Today we have a wedding ceremony/reception to go to around 5pm. 

Got Wayne in the shower ...it's a struggle getting through the bathroom for him, past the toilet, to the tub.  The wheelchair is really too big and it nudges against the toilet.  I'm worried it will make the seal break from the toilet. I need to look for a transport (or smaller) wheelchair for him just for this purpose. 

I'll take my shower later.  Seems I'm always last.  BUT I did get to sleep in a bit more this morning.  Wayne got up in his wheelchair already and went out to the kitchen.  Our grandson Zachary made breakfast this morning:  Eggwich's he calls them ... english muffin with cooked sausage patty, fried egg and melted cheese.  He's a sweetheart.  He's only 11 but he loves to cook.  Here he is:

I'll be back to post some pictures from the wedding!

Do You Like Garage Sales Like I Do?

That is, the ones you go to, not the ones you have.  I absolutely HATE to have to have one but on occasion, it is a necessary evil!


It was a nice visit with my sister-in-law today.  We went to garage sales and then had lunch together.  It was nice to talk about everything going on!  Thanks Mick!  I enjoyed our time together today! 


I ended up buying TWO Clevercat litter boxes for $3 .. what a bargain that is!  They go for over $30 each!  Also, my son said they could be used as small hampers for our grandsons.  I didn't have THAT in mind but it isn't a bad idea AT ALL!  LOL


Also found a Halloween costume for my 8 year old grandson ... It's a NINJA... I'm sure he's going to love it!

the Love of My Life and BFF

Claire and Wayne

We celebrated our 41st anniversary in the hospital at rehab for Wayne.

Let me tell you a little about the love of my life.

I met him at "The Girls' City Club" in Providence, Rhode Island.  This is where military soldiers visited to meet up with girls.  Back then  there wasn't women in the military like there is now.  Anyway, I was an extremely shy young woman of 20 years.  So shy in fact, I was almost an introvert.  Wayne came to the Girls' City Club and we met.  He always wanted to dance with me and I had hardly any dances with other Navy guys.  I loved loved loved to dance!  My favorite band back then was the Beetles!  I also liked the Bee Gees, Herman's Hermits, as well as Bobby Vinton "I love how you love me" was my favorite song!

Wayne would follow me to the girl's bathroom where I would be hiding away from him!  My friend said to me one day "why don't you just go out with him and see if you like him?"; so I did.  And the rest is history.

Here we are today after 41 years, 4 kids later, and 8 grandchildren later!  We have 7 grandsons and 1 granddaughter, and 4 step-grandchildren!  We are blessed!

Getting back to my being shy... well, I have to say I am NOT shy anymore.  Wayne brought out in me something I don't think would have ever happened without him!  He is very outgoing and I was very not.  LOL  I can't say I am "outgoing" today but can say that I have no fear of talking to strangers like I did way back then. 

We have a strong love.  I always said he is good for me and I am good for him.  We complement each other!

When your life is turned totally upside down, it is hard to get it right-side up!

Another day in my husband's and my life, and of course my kids and grandkids as well.  It seems I have to do everything and my husband seems to think I'm superwoman or something!  The physical therapist came today and Wayne walked with the walker and did a little more than usual.  He's sleeping now.  He gets very tired when he gets a lot of exercise. 


I called a lawyer today and he said we need to get all of his medical records from the hospital, so we need to make a visit there.  I called and they said it will cost $.25cents a sheet.  I don't know how many sheets that will be.  Anyway, guess we'll take our chances and order them, maybe even tomorrow.  The lawyer is for worker's comp.  My husband claims he turned his foot in a troth at work and thinks that is how he ended up in the hospital with surgery on his spine.  Cauda Equina Syndrome is what he is diagnosed with.  He is wheelchair bound now and unable to work.  We are on a rollercoaster trying to get aid through the state, through Social Security Disability, through the Veterans Administration, and any other way possible.  Right now he has no medical insurance.  Oh yeah, forgot... we have medicaid, however, it has a deductible of $1804 month for him and again for me.  Crazy.  he has absolutely NO income now.  I get social security and a small $250 retirement plus we get child support for the 2 grandsons we are raising, and the whole thing totals about $1678 month. 

We are also going to talk to a lawyer about Social Security Disability... one thing at a time.  or more than one.  LOL  Whatever we can fit in!


I'm just having a pity party all by myself :(  I can't lean on my husband anymore.  He just isn't available to.  He tries though.  We have a very strong love and it is holding us up!


At least tomorrow I'm going to get to go to a few yard sales which I haven't done all summer long and love to do it.  My Sister-in-Law is coming with me.  It's my 'alone' time for tomorrow morning.  Yippee Mickey!!!!  After that I need to take my husband to the hospital to order those records and find him something to wear for a wedding we are going to on Saturday.  He can only wear jogging-type pants because he has a foley bag since he is incontinent in bladder and bowels.


If anyone out there is having similar experiences and can relate to my life, please do stop by and say hi.  Or if not, if you want to just drop by and say hi and tell me how your day was, then I welcome that as well!!!!  Always nice to make new friends!

September 11, 2010 a day of remembrance

When the two planes hit the towers in New York on 9/11/01, I was at home watching GMA.  In shock, I couldn't believe what I was hearing and seeing.  I changed channels and found all the channels were showing and saying the same thing.  From that point on, I continued to be glued to the TV news channels.  I had two sons in the U.S. Navy and both participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, one of whom is now in the marines.  I have the greatest respect for our American soldiers in Afghanistan and elsewhere protecting our freedom.  My prayers are with them and their families and all families who lost precious loved ones on that unbearable day.