Menu Planning Monday

Sunday: steak/shrimp and baked potatoes

Monday: home made spaghetti sauce, stuffed shells, salad and garlic bread

Tuesday: hot dogs, meatball subs and french fries

Wednesday: roast beef, roasted potatoes, and carrots

Thursday: left overs

Friday: left overs

The list was a bit bigger today so I won't post it
Shoprite:  $87. 56 and saved $75. 50
Produce Store: $18.27
Target: $87.47 *part of that included ink for our printer and a game to donate for the Jon and Matthew's class for a basket the home and school association is doing* I also used a gift card I had for $40.98

Wordless Wednesday: Snow Shenanigans

Somewhat wordless

Before:

After: 

Matthew poured snow all down Jon's back to see how he'd react.

Menu Planning Monday

Monday: hot dogs in crescent rolls and ham/swiss cheese rolls, home made french fries, and corn *This was Jon's choice*

Tuesday: ham steak, mac and cheese, broccoli *Matthew's choice*

Wednesday: chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks, left over veggies

Thursday: ravioli and garlic bread *We didn't eat this last week*

Friday: pizza

ShopRite 2 orders this weekend
Saturday:
I'm not doing my list but will post what I spend/saved this week.  Spent $44.58 and saved $25.01 including shrimp for a meal Saturday
Sunday: spent $26.38 and saved $11.93

Costco:
fruit by the foot,
booster seat for Chris
cookies
spent around $48 dollars

PYHO: Forget about Holland

I’ve heard about “Welcome to Holland” where the experience of having a special needs child is related to going on a vacation and landing in Holland instead of Italy.  I disagree.

When we had our children I didn’t go into it saying “I’m having special needs children” yet I relish in what I do.  I am in love with every minute of being with my boys.

Who couldn’t resist the smiles, hugs, kisses, and “lub you’s”?

My children are children first and foremost.  Their genetic make-up doesn’t define who they are!  Yes, we live in the land of autism, apraxia, extra chromosomes, learning disabilities, and others but that isn’t the only thing about my boys.

Matthew has a funny sense of humor.

Matthew is a sensitive soul.

Matthew has the biggest brownest eyes that I adore!

Matthew has an amazing smile.

Jonathan blows me away with his artistic ability.

Jonathan is such a love bug!

Jonathan has a memory that would impress anyone.

Jonathan is such a hard worker.

Chris has a never give up attitude!

Christopher is so creative.

Chris has done things the doctors said he would never do.  Take that 555kb 16p11.2 duplication!

Chris is such a wonderful brother!

Yes, we might not have planned on having special needs children but who does?  I’m right where I want to be and wouldn’t change a minute of it!  My wish is that everyone else sees my boys for who they are not what labels they may carry.

Menu Planning Monday

Monday: leftovers

Tuesday: baked potato soup 

Wednesday: pork loin, latkes, broccoli

Thursday: ravioli and garlic bread

Friday: left overs

Saturday: burgers/hot dogs, mac and cheese, and corn

Shopping List:

Shoprite: All coupons up to a dollar double

• twizzlers
• gummy bears 30 cent off coupon from coupons.com
• 6 microwave popcorn at 1.50 each
• 4 Campbell's chicken noodle soup .49 cents plus 40 cent off coupon 
• Smuckers Orchard strawberry jelly plus 1.00 off coupon
• 6 College Inn broth .49 cents
• 5 Pepsi at 5 for 11
• Round Bottom Roast 2.49 a lb
• grapes at 99 cents a lb
• relish 99 cents
• 2 gallons of milk 6.98
• Glen Rock ham 3.99 a lb
• 2 Texas toast 1.39 
• 2 Carla's pasta 1.99 plus 2 50cent coupons
• 2 Friendly's ice cream 2.99 a carton

Final total $69.49/saved $57.91

Costco:

water 

chocolate milks

capri sun

sparkling water

bread

$50.00

Dear Lawmakers

I'm going to stick to the theme of letters for this week.

Dear Lawmakers,
  1 in 110 children are diagnosed with autism.  A new study suggests the number might be higher.

I thank you for starting laws that will help those who have autism receive the therapies they need however we need to make a few changes to these laws.  This needs to be a universal change; right now it is only in specific states.  

We need to make no stipulations on the law.  Right now my insurance will only cover for ABA with no cap but will not cover speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy.  Not all kids respond well to ABA!  Some respond more to DIR/Floortime!  Some kids need more than just ABA therapy!

Therapies need to become more affordable!  Right now not all places take insurance!  We were lucky to find a place that did but we were limited by our ability to pay the 40 dollar copay per session.  We were also limited by the amount of therapy they would cover.  We were only able to have 30 sessions per year.  Autism doesn't magically go away with 30 sessions of therapy.  That goes quickly when you use speech/OT/ and PT. That's 10 sessions per therapy.

Autism is a growing epidemic and we need to do something about it.  We know that therapies can make a person gain skills.  Please help!

I am asking this for families such as mine who can't afford the therapies that my children need.  It shouldn't be a game of haves and have nots.  Autism is an equal opportunity syndrome and the help should be as well.

Menu Planning Monday

This is going to be a short post.  I'm not going to be linking up my shopping list and coupons this week.  Mama's tired since I just finished my first article for i.d.e.a.l Magazine.

Monday: baked manicotti and salad

Tuesday: chicken and broccoli stir fry

Wednesday: left overs

Thursday: left overs

Friday: hot dogs/burgers mac and cheese, corn

Saturday: chicken and steak fajitas and rice

Sheldon is my husband's long lost twin

I got hooked in The Big Bang Theory this fall.  I swear it is the FUNNIEST show ever.  I laugh more because Sheldon reminds me of my George.

• George is often caught wearing superhero t-shirts so does Sheldon.
• He claims he's the smartest person he knows.

Replace Texas with New Jersey.

• He has OCD, really.  He was diagnosed with it this summer.  We joke about it and I really do try to work on it with him.
• He knows tons of weird B-rate Sci Fi movies and tv shows.
• He demonstrates said knowledge often.
• He has "his seat".
• He insists that anyone who doesn't share his opinion is illogical.  He actually told me this week that!  He  and I didn't see eye to eye on something and he told me obviously I wasn't as intelligent as he was because I failed to see the benefits of what we were discussing.  

The only flaw in my theory is if George is Sheldon like, that makes me

PYHO: Dear Lady at Kmart

Dear Lady at Kmart,
  I saw you staring, making disapproving faces, and a comment about how I needed to control my children better.  I was once you.  I would have thought the same way you did if I saw a child in the throws of a tantrum.  That was before I had my 3 youngest children.

  You see, when you saw us my 4 year old was in the middle of an autism melt-down.  It is a difficult thing to deal with being at home and in a store.  Meltdowns happen without warning some times.  We can't predict when all will happen.  I wish I could predict them and stop him from a meltdown.

  See things through his eyes for a minute, please.  It was bright in the store, loud, and it was crowded.  That means sensory overload for him.  His language skills aren't there enough to tell me when he's in overload.  That is when a meltdown happens.

  We're old-pros with him and them.  His meltdowns don't bother us any more.  We go about doing what we need to and finish our tasks.

  Before him I would have made a comment about controlling the behaviors of the child if I saw a kid trying to climb out of a card and screaming in a store.  Now I look at a mom and ask if they want help.  I'm in the "silent sister club", the club that without having to say we all know and understand each other.  We understand that our children would like to behave themselves and not scream and yell.

  Random Kmart lady, instead of making disapproving faces and comments, why not come over and offer help?

Thank you,
From BTDT mom

 http://www.thingsicantsay.com

Menu Planning Monday

It's January; I would like to get back to blogging more regularly.  I'd like to do regularly Menu Planning Mondays, will try to start a new tradition on Tuesdays, and will hopefully be able to recap the week on Fridays.  We are having the boys pick meals as part of Jon's feeding therapy.

Monday: hot dogs/hamburgers, crock pot mac and cheese, and cauliflower *Jon and Chris's choice of hot dogs/ burgers and mac and cheese*

Tuesday: roast chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn

Wednesday: home made chicken noodle soup

Thursday: left overs

Friday: ham and cheese sandwiches and chips *Matthew's choice*

My list was simple this week.  It was all at ShopRite since the produce store was closed yesterday.

• General Mills cereal 4 for 6 dollars- plus coupons from coupons.com and smartsource.com I paid $6.00 for 8 boxes. 
• Stove Top stuffing 
• hot dog rolls 
• hamburger rolls
• 1/2 a lb Shoprite turkey breast
• 1 lb deli ham
• Hatfield ham steaks 2/$5.00
• potatoes 2.99 for a 5 lb bag
• bananas .49 a lb
• milk -used a 75 cent off coupon
• Friendly's ice cream Strawberry and Chocolate marshmallow
• sour cream

I spent 49.90 and saved 29.86.

My crock pot mac and cheese recipe is really simple:

8 oz cooked macaroni

1 can evaporated milk

1 1/2 milk

1 t. salt

3 cups shredded cheese

1/2 cup melted butter

2 T oil