*Sigh*

My poor Big Boy is sick again.  We were at the pediatrician last week and she said he had an upper respiratory infection but nothing to be worried about and sent us on our way.  I knew something wasn't right since.  I know my kid and I sure as hell know when he is out of sorts.  Another trip to the pediatrician later and he has a double ear infection and the croup.  Poor thing.

I just feel so bad for him.  He missed the Halloween party at school and trick or treating at the high school.   I'm really hoping to be able to take him around to a few housed tomorrow but I guess I'll just have to wait and see.  Luckily it isn't the flu since it's just about impossible to get pediatric Tamiflu that isn't compounded from the adult capsules.  I don't know about you but it scares the hell out of me knowing the pediatric Tamiflu is on a huge back order and the pharmacies have been instructed to make the pediatric doses from the adult capsules.  I have to say it was pretty cool watching the pharmacists do it but really scary at the same time.

In other news, BB still hasn't passed the mystery coin which was swallowed three weeks ago.  I have to take him to his four year well check up on Tuesday and if he hasn't passed it by then I believe we will be sent over to the hospital for more x-rays an then make a decision from there.  I'd like to think that maybe we "missed" it but I highly doubt it.   I guess we'll just keep on waiting.  Between this coin and all the various illnesses he has had the past few weeks,  I think I've kept both his pediatrician and hte pharmacy in business. 

None of this was in the manual...

I Have Been Smoke Free....

WOOT!  As of today, I have been smoke free for 90 days!!!  I have saved $650 and avoided 1820 cigarettes!  I can't even believe how much money I have saved and to think I would have smoked almost two thousand cigarettes in such a short period of time if positively revolting.

Seriously, for anyone who is thinking about quitting smoking but aren't sure if they can do it....YOU CAN DO IT!  I smoked for nearly twenty years and never thought I would make it this far.  Like I've said before, I used the Nicoderm CQ smoking system and followed it to the "T" for ten weeks and now I'm 90 days free!

I would like to add that my Mom is two weeks smoke free and she is also using the Nicoderm program.  She's smoked well over a pack a day for 40+ years and even though she wants to smoke she hasn't!   Let's all send my mom some positive vibes so she stays on the right path!

YAHOOOOOO!!!  I'm a Non-Smoker!

The Perfect Grocery Store

The thought of having to go grocery shopping makes me sick to my stomach and not because of the prices. The thought of how many times I get the stink eye from other shoppers because Big Boy is making a scene just makes me never want to go into another grocery store again.

I guess I'm a grocery snob though. I don't much care for the A&P on the island because they jack the prices up and the meat is never fresh. The place really needs to go. Now, should I venture over the bridge, there are quite a few to choose from but each one has it's faults. The Foodtown has great mean but the store feels like I just walked into a time warp. It is so old and outdated that it's just creepy. Also, for the life of me I just can't figure out the greenpoints. I buy something because it's on sale and then when I go to checkout, I find out I need 8 million more greenpoints to get the dollar off. No Thanks. Ah... the Stop & Shop. Just gorgeous. Newly renovated, clean...perfect. Not really, the people there are lazy and always have an attitude and the prices are really marked up. Besides, they don't have the cool shopping carts. Finally, we come to the tried and true Shop Rite. Great store, great prices and everything is always fresh. That's the problem. The place is forever packed. I actually stopped going there for about two years and just recently went back. I think I have figured out the secret though....about 8pm Friday night ot 8am Saturday morning. If I Can keep to those two times, I should be able to get in and out with no problem. The big bonus..........they have the fun fire truck carts which allows me to shop in peace and keeps BB amused the entire time!

I know my grocery shopping problems probably seem petty but it's actually one of the few things that really stress me out. Ah, I guess I'll live.

Dear Big Boy,

Was this really necessary kid? What goes through that bean of yours when you do stuff like this? We need to have a talk because I'm just about out of patience. You have everything you could ever dream of and yet I truly believe you wake up in the morning and just think of ways to push my buttons. Does someone have you on payroll?

I guess if Trix are for kids than Xanax is for moms. Ugh!

Is This Your First Day As An Adult?

I think this country has gotten by on blind luck, I really do. I can't get over how lazy people are. I'm a pharmacy technician and I spend all day dealing with the public. I fight with insurance companies, call doctor's offices and handle customer problems. It is a very busy day. From the minute I walk in to the minute I leave, I don't stop. I don't even take a break because there is just too much to do. It's alright though, for the most part I really like my job and the day goes by so fast, I'm on my way home before I know it.

I go have a few rants I need to get off my chest though. I know when I need a refill on my medication, I call my doctor and let the office know. They either call it in or I pick it up at the office. Easy. Why on earth do people think it is my responsibility to call YOUR doctor for YOUR medication. I never in a million years knew people were so lazy that they had the pharmacy techs calling for their refills. Of course, heaven forbid the doctor doesn't call back of denies the request! They will stand there and yell at me like it's my fault they are without their medication. I don't know? These are just a few rants I need to get off my chest.

Here's another PSA...if you are waiting for your prescription, please don't drop it off at the drop off area and walk IMMEDIATLY over to pick up and ask if your prescription is ready. Are you serious! How the hell am I supposed to fill your script in the thirty seconds you asshat! Oh, and asking me every three minutes if it's ready will not help your cause.

Finally, yes that is your copay, yes I ran it through your insurance and yes this is the same amount you have been paying every month. Why must you ask me the same questions every month. I have many more but I'm too tired to think of them. Wish me luck.

Seeing Red!

Back in July, hubby and I had to go to a funeral in North Jersey. We spent the night in a Comfort Inn. We,, it was about $92.00 a night. I know this is my fault, but I just assumed it had been taken out of my bank account. When I checked the account today though, it was showing the charge. My question is: How can a hotel wait almost two and a half months to charge your debit card for a room?

Of course the man I spoke with on the phone was a complete jerk and doesn't feel anything was done wrong. Honestly, I thought the money had been drafted and certainly was not anticipating that money coming out of my account. That should be my cell phone bill this month! I am so raging angry right now I could scream!

Anyway, even though the hotel is a private franchise, I was able to track down a general customer service number for the corporate office and plan on dealing with this in the morning. I have no problem paying for the night we spent there, I just thought I paid for it back in July!!! I think it is poor business and for once I am going to stand up for myself.

Am I wrong?

Take em all, you'll be fine

Seriously, I can't even explain to you how many pills I process everyday. No wonder our health care is through the roof. Doctors just keep on prescribing them and people fill them, and don't end up using them.

I thought I was going to snap today. "I need my Coumadin RIGHT NOW." You know what lady, pull up some wood, zip your mouth shut and wait until I call your name!

K? Thxbai.

Oh! He's so cute!

Well appearances can be deceiving. In the past forty eight hours, boy has managed to:

1. Destroy the keyboard on my laptop. At least twenty five keys were popped off. I am now using a desk top keyboard until I can find the time to drop it off and be fixed. At least I can hope it can be fixed. My mother says she knows a guy..... You know how that goes.

2. Hosed down the entire kitchen floor with the hose from the sink.

3. Slammed my finger, which may or may not be broken. The jury is still out but it hurts like
hell.

4. Somehow, put a small chip in the ceramic tile in my kitchen. At least I "think" it was him unless hubby is passing the buck.

5. Officially lost the backs to every remote in the house.

6. Tried to flush JoJo from "JoJo's Circus" down the toilet.

Now, he has been sick for the past two days, running a high fever and everything. Of course, I have to go back to work tomorrow and guess who feels awful today? Me! Actually, I think work will be a vacation for me.

Pause Please

I really need to find a way to hit the pause button on my life. There is more going on than I can handle right now. Hubby is working a ton of overtime, big boy has a bunch of appointments and I am trying to adjust to being back at work. There just aren't enough hours in the day. I feel like I am not spending anytime with my family.

Last night, after we got home from taking pictures of the bay, I started looking through all the baby pictures of big boy when he was a newborn. How I miss him being so little. I guess it still bothers me that I am unable to have anymore children. I have to look at the positive side though, my health has improved so much since the surgery and now I feel great!

We got some great pics last night. I can't wait for the cooler weather, the sky is so vibrant in the fall. I do love the lazy hazy summer look though.

Nervous Breakdown

I think I may be having one.

Random Pictures

I was looking through some photos I have saved on the computer and I came across some really beautiful pictures my husband took of the bay, I believe two winters ago. This time of year it is so hard to appreciate the serenity of this place but, I could not imagine living anywhere else. Yes, in the winter, we have swans. They are so beautiful. They usually show up around early October, and hang out until mid-spring.