Almost $240 (and more to come!) and 2 doctor visits later

I found out today that Jenna has folliculitis. That's what the "rash" is all over her bottom. Poor baby has suffered with it for weeks! It would look like it was drying up, then come back again with a vengeance. She would tell me not to touch her "boo boo" because it hurt. The bumps would get stiff and even look bright red, purple, or be filled with pus! It was nasty!

Last week we were in the doctor's office for a fever & sore throat (I thought it was her ears)... and I showed it to the dr then, but it looked dried up... so we thought it was fine.

This morning, it looked really bad. So I called the doctor. The doctor we usually see was not in today, so we saw a different one & I liked him a lot. I may ask for him next time!

Anyhow... he said it is folliculitis, which I guess it infected hair follicles if I understand correctly. He prescribed a strong oral antibiotic, plus an antibiotic cream that we're ALL supposed to swab inside our nostrils because that's how it spreads!

Since we don't have any type of health insurance, the dr visit was $85 (last week's dr visit w/a strep test was $115)... the oral antibiotic was $35... and we have not filled the prescription for the cream yet b/c it's $99!! The pharmacist is going to call the dr tomorrow to see if we can get ointment instead of cream b/c it is HALF the price. Then we'll get that, too... so the cost of all of this will be nearly $300 when it's all said and done! Insanity, I tell ya!! (Ugh! It's no darn wonder we're so broke!) Maybe that's the kick in the rear I needed to apply for ARKids First... I guess I'll give it a try.

After reading about folliculitis online, I really wonder if she got it so easily because she tends to break out with eczema. The doctor said that someone in our house is probably a "carrier" for it. Delaney had a spot on her leg several weeks ago that started it all, so I have to wonder where this all started. Mike drags in all kinds of stuff on his clothes and boots since he's out hauling livestock... so there is no telling where it really started.

So... that's what we've been dealing with all this time. I'm glad we finally have an answer as to what it is, and I will be so glad when my poor baby is finally over this!

The note inside my refrigerator that made my day

Have you ever just had one of those days? Well, last week I had one of those days... all week long!

ByFriday night, I'd had more than I could take. I got the girls ready, told them to get in the car, and we all went to Cracker Barrel! I needed out of the house so bad I'd have probably been happy to go to McDonald's. LOL!

After Cracker Barrel, we went to Kohls. All we did in there was use the bathroom and chase Jenna! So we left for Target, where I strapped Jenna in a shopping cart! LOL! We didn't really even buy anything, but we looked at shoes and pretty dresses and Easter baskets... it just felt good to see signs of SPRING!!

My poor husband had been listening to me all week. He could tell I was really down!! He had listened to me whine and been pretty patient with me... On Saturday night he told me that he really appreciated what I was doing to try and help out (I've taken on babysitting two kids to try and relieve our financial stress, which I sometimes feel is more stressful than working at a "real" job!).

At about 4:15 am on Sunday morning, the phone rang. It was Mike, and he was trying to get in the door through the garage. I had to go let him in... he was home just long enough to take a shower and head to where he was picking up a load of cows.

When I got up at 7 am, I noticed a black handprint on the handle of the refrigerator, and I almost got upset! I started to scrub it off, and opened up the fridge for some milk to put in my coffee... I saw two cans of Dr Pepper (which is like a little stess relief in a can for me, lol)... between them was a note on a little yellow piece of paper that said, "I love you... Mike".

How sweet! It really made my day. So much that I took a picture of the inside of my refrigerator!

Funny how two cans of pop and a little yellow piece of paper really made my whole day better. ;-)

THIS is the man I married. I haven't seen this part of him in a long time... and I really needed to see that in him again.

I'm sooo ready for spring!

There's talk in the weather forecast that we'll get snow and/or ice today and tonight. I don't want snow and ice. I need sunshine!

I need out of this house so bad... All I can do the last couple of days is cry. Winter is always so hard on me, but it's especially hard when Mike doesn't have enough work to do, but he's still gone all the time... we're so behind on our bills. I feel like I just worry! I've noticed that I'm getting frown lines and white hairs. I'm too young for that stuff! My husband actually told me to go get some hair color. Well then! That made me feel all wonderful and happy inside, dontcha know... We can't afford hair color anyhow!

I've not blogged in over a week... mainly because I can't seem to find a happy thought. Everything feels crappy and gray right now.

I have a history of depression... I sooo don't want to go there. I don't want to take those meds again. Is it too much to ask that I just feel happy!? Ugh!

It would be so nice to have another adult in the house. I could really use just an hour to myself, but I can't seem get away from children in this house. They follow me wherever I go, and they're only making me grumpy with their whining and arguing. Of course, I don't know that I really want to go out in public right now. There is so much sickness everywhere, and I sure don't want to catch anything! But it's so depressing, being cooped up in the house all the time... I don't know how much more of this I can handle... Lord, please help me to get past this funk I'm in!

Why I do not like Valentine's Day

I dislike Valentine's Day. No, I hate it! There are many reasons I dislike Valentine's Day so much, and every single one of them has something to do with my husband.

Before we got married, he gave me gifts for Valentine's Day. Before we were married, he also gave gifts for my birthday and Christmas, but now I'm getting off the subject. It seems as if the marriage license has afforded him a reason to stop giving any kind of gifts altogether. He never gives me ANYTHING. Never. And I hate it. I need so much more attention than this man gives me! He KNOWS this. Why won't he change it? I don't know. I don't think I'd even know how to react anymore if he brought me a gift. I really don't!

I hear some women say, "Oh, I don't need a gift. My husband does things and gives me things all the time, so why would I expect something on a certain day?" Well... that's not my husband either. He just does not give anything. Ever. He does not give gifts, and he does not like to get them. Obviously "gifts" is NOT his love language! Sometimes I think his love language must be complete ignorance. Ok, so I know that is not one of the love languages... Maybe I should write a book of my own about love. Or maybe I need to whack him over the head with a book. Nah, it probably wouldn't help.

I get so tired of listening to other women say, "Oh! My hubby is so sweet! He sent me (flowers, candy, etc) or took me wherever".... I just hate it! I'd love to put my fingers in my ears and sing a song... maybe something like, "Love Bites!" Ugh!

These are the days that I allow myself to feel crappy. I know there is nothing coming for me, and I manage to allow me to feel sorry for myself!

I really am not unhappy in my marriage, but it seems like I always feel extremely unloved on these stupid days. I know I'm not... but I manage to let myself feel like it!

I'm ready to wake up tomorrow. Stupid Valentine's Day will be over with, and I can go on with my life. At least until September, when my darling husband will forget it's our anniversary because it doesn't matter to him. How could I have been married to this man for nearly 10 years and still get upset every single holiday?

Ok, I think I'm finished... So I'm off to clean up my face and put on some more mascara since mine is now mostly gone. I need to make myself look presentable and find my fake smile so that I can go help with Delaney's class Valentine party today!

Praise the Lord--he kept my husband safe from the storm!

On Tuesday night, I was watching a mean and nasty storm that was ripping right through a part of the country that my husband was headed straight toward in the truck... It had passed through where we live in the early afternoon, but it seemed like it was just getting stronger and stronger. I was really worried about him, and I must have called him twenty times to check and make sure he was ok and knew where the storm was!

At one point, he told me that he and the other guy he was running with had just seen a tornado behind them. This was in Missouri, and they were headed east--same direction the storm was going. Their plan was to run along just north of the Tennessee border through Kentucky to Bowling Green.

I prayed that God would protect them. It's all I know to do in this kind of situation! I just prayed... I finally talked to him the next morning, and they had pulled over to stay for the night in Charleston, MO (which is just east of the MO/KY state line... Thank goodness they did!

On Wednesday, they drove on to their destination. Mike said that they went through town after town that was just flattened, completely taken out by tornadoes. He could have tried to drive right through the middle of all of that, but I'm so glad he listened when he felt the urge to pull over and stay put for the night. I believe that God was telling him that it wasn't safe.

Prayer works--I'm saying this for people who might be reading and may have some doubts. God protected my husband as well as his friend. He was safe, and I am so grateful! Praise God!!

ABCs of Me

ABC of Me

The Letter A
Are you available?: Nope... happily married.
What is your age?: 33
What annoys you?: Lots of things! LOL! I can't stand when someone lies to me, and I don't like to be argued with.

The Letter B
Do you live in a big house?: I guess so... it's about 2400 square feet. Is that big? It's certainly bigger than any house I've lived in before!
When is your birthday?: October 11th
Who is your best friend?: I have good friends, but I'd say my hubby is my best friend.

The Letter C
What's your favorite candy?: Anything chocolate!
Who's your crush?: I don't think married people are supposed to have crushes. lol
When was the last time you cried?: Last night.

The Letter D
Do you daydream?: Of course! Doesn't everyone? :)
What's your favorite kind of dog?: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Cocker Spaniel--they're the cutest things ever!
What day of the week is it?: Wednesday

The Letter E
How do you like your eggs?: Scrambled... or fried (soft, not runny)
Have you ever been in the emergency room?: Yes--for myself, and also with my littlest girl!
What's the easiest thing ever to do?: Sleep! lol!

The Letter F
Have you ever flown in a plane?: Yes, but it was a 4-seater... never been in a big one!
Do you use fly swatters?: Yes
Have you ever used a foghorn?: Not sure what a foghorn is, but I like Foghorn Leghorn. LOL!!

The Letter G
Do you chew gum?: Yes! Orbit CinnaMint is my favorite. :)
Are you a giver or a taker?: Both... depends on the situation, I guess!
Do you like gummy candies?: Sometimes

The Letter H
How are you?: I am tired! Thanks for asking! ;-)
What color is your hair?: Strawberry blonde

The Letter I
What's your favorite ice cream?: Triple Fudge Brownie or Cappuccino Chunky Chocolate
Have you ever ice skated?: I have tried, but I wasn't exactly successful.
Do you play an instrument?: I pick at the piano, and I played flute in the high school band

The Letter JWhat's your favorite jelly bean brand?: Jelly Belly is the best! :)
Do you wear jewelry?: Yes, but not much

The Letter K
Who do you want to kill?: What kind of question is that!?
Do you want kids?: Already have two. I'd take more if God wants to give them to me. :)
Where did you go for kindergarten?: Northside Elementary in Siloam Springs, AR

The Letter L
Are you laid back?: Mostly... sometimes I can be uptight though!
Do you lie?: No! Well, not intentionally!

The Letter M
Whats your favorite movie?: The Notebook
Do you still watch Disney movies?: Yes, especially with my girls.
Do you like mangos?: Not really

The Letter N
Do you have a nickname?: No, but my uncles used to call me Little Red
What is your real name?: Stacy
Whats your favorite number?: 27
Do you prefer night over day?: Depends what for!

The Letter O
What's your one wish?: I have so many... how could I choose only one?
Are you an only child?: Nope. I have a younger brother.

The Letter P
What one fear are you most paranoid about? Losing someone I love... especially my husband or one of my kids
What are your pet peeves?: Bad grammar is a real turnoff for me. LOL!
What's a personality trait you look for in people?: Kindness, loyalty, honesty

The Letter Q
What's your favorite quote?: "Don't marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can't live without. " ~James C. Dobson
Are you quick to judge people?: Not usually

The Letter R
Do you think you're always right?: Uh... yes. Is that bad? ;)
Are you one to cry?: Oh yes. You can count on it!

The Letter S
Do you prefer sun or rain?: Sun!!
Do you like snow?: NO! And I don't like cold either!

The Letter T
What time is it?: 3:42 pm
What time did you wake up?: 6:00 am
When was the last time you slept in a tent?: When I was a kid!

The Letter U
Are you wearing underwear?: Of course!
Underwear or boxers?: LOL... I prefer ladies underwear, thanks!

The Letter V
What's the worst veggie?: Ummm.... I don't know! Onions. It's the only one I can think of that I don't like.
Where do you want to go on vacation?: Anywhere. Who's taking me? :)

The Letter W
What's your worst habit?: I bite my nails
Where do you live?: Siloam Springs, AR
What's your worst fear?: Losing someone I love... like my dh or one of my kids.

The Letter X
Have you ever had an x-ray?: Yes--my back.
Have you seen the x-games?: Nope
Do you own a xylophone?: Does a toy one count?

The Letter Y
Do you like the color yellow?: Not really
What's one thing you yearn for?: Right now, financial peace!!

The Letter Z
Whats your zodiac sign?: Libra
Do you believe in the zodiac?: No
Favorite zoo animal?: Monkeys