Oh boy, oh boy......

IT'S A BOY!

A growth discovered....in my abdomen!

About 15 weeks ago my primary care physician discovered a somewhat parasitic growth in my abdomen. It was small...but growing rapidly. She reassured me that these types of growths are rarely fatal and that everything would be fine but suggested I see a parasitic growth specialist to get another opinion. I did just that. The appointment went well. A lot of questions were answered and fears abated. There are no immediate plans for removal but removal and/or passing of the growth is inevitable and should take place in the next 19-20 weeks. It will be rather painful and will take a bit of recovery but I am confident I will bounce back from it in no time. How do I know? Because it has been that way every other time... I have had a baby! SURPRISE! (By the way...we had our BIG ultrasound today...everything (that they could see) looks good. Wanna know the sex? TOO BAD! You only get one secret at a time. Yeah....I am that mean!)

Total Haul.....if you like birthday cake that is

Today I went to Albertsons and took advantage of some pretty good deals. Here's what I ended up with:

31 tubs Betty Crocker Frosting (year supply...I HATE making frosting)
17 boxes Betty Crocker cake mix (that goes for cake as well)
6 boxes General Mills cereal
3 bags Chex Mix
2 boxes Fiber One granola bars

Subtotal: 157.01
Mf coupon used: -$48.40
Store coupon match: -$9.00
Store deals: -$65.96

Paid out of pocket: $33.65

Plus I still have $15 in-store Catalina coupons for future use

Grand Total: $18.65

That's just under $0.32 per item.

Not bad.

Anyone up for cake?

Our "Supers"

This year...like every other year was full of fun and traditions (besides getting awaken at 4:15AM... see previous post).

Preliminary Activities: Pumpkin tortillas (for the last two weeks) and pumpkin carving (last Monday). As for Halloween Day/Night......Mummy Dogs (new for us this year), Scooby Doo rental, chili and cornbread for dinner, costumes, a "Trunk-or-Treat", come home, go through candy (set aside all the yummy-goodness Cael can't have), put the kids to bed, mom and dad (mostly mom) feast on kids candy (afterall....all that candy is NOT good for them (wink, wink)).

All-in-all good times....noodle salad.

Pics:

Mummy Dogs


Cael wanted "bloody ones"


Our Superheroes


Glorious, well thought out, artistically orchestrated.........somewhat shriveled pumpkins

I wonder how many pounds I will put on this year?

Perhaps a bit too excited...

Gabe is REALLY excited for Halloween...perhaps a bit too much.

October 30, 2009
6:35 AM
"Tomorrow's Halloween....I can't wait...I'm so excited".... etc,etc for hours on end.

6:00 PM
Gabe: "I'm so excited for tomorrow...Cael, Issac...It's Halloween tomorrow!" Blah..blah...much more of the same.

11:50PM
Rob went in to check on Gabe before we went to bed.

Gabe: "Is it time to get up?"

Rob: "Gabe, go back to bed."

Gabe: "Are you dressed? Why are you dressed?"

Rob: "Go back to sleep."

Gabe: "Dad, can you get me up?"

Rob: "No...go back to sleep."

October 31, 2009
4:15AM
Gabe wanders over to my side of the bed

Me: "Gabe?"

Gabe: "Surprise....It's Halloween."

Me: "How exciting (dripping with sarcasm)...now, you have 3 seconds to get you bottom back in bed before I will drag you there myself."

He goes...kicking and screaming...but he goes.

4:22 AM
Cael shows up in our room and thinks it's time to get up for the morning......UGH!!!!!!

4:40AM
Cael: "Is it time to get up?"

NO!

5:15AM
Gabe: "Can we get up?"

NO!


...This all continued until 6:45AM when we finally let them out of their rooms to watch cartoons.



8:09AM
I announce (thinking that maybe...just maybe, the large amounts of sugar we have been consuming may have had something to do with our middle of the night awakenings):


"We will NOT be eating ANY candy or treats today. DON'T EVEN ASK. GOT IT!"




It sounds a little harsh, I know but....hey, they should know better than to wake me up repeatedly in the middle of the night!