Scary experience over the weekend. My jaw locked on me.

Long story short I have had a history of clenching my teeth ALL the time. I do it when I am sleeping, to the point I wake up with terrible pain. I do it while I am working, I do it at home. I do when I am stressed and apparently I am stressed a lot.

So, Sunday my jaw was popping a lot whenever I yawned or opened my mouth wide to eat. Then all of a sudden-nothing. It took a couple of minutes for me to get it open. A few minutes doesn't seem like long but when you can't do something you take for granted a few minutes is all you need for panic to set it.

Went to the doctor yesterday and she is doing a couple things for me. 2 Advil 3 times a day to reduce the swelling, soft food diet and referred me to a Maxilofacial Surgeon to be fitted for a mouth guard to help reduce the stress I am putting on my jaw.

I go to the specialist on Thursday and I am very happy they can get me in so quickly. I am also a little nervous to see what they have to say.

Anyone has any experience with TMJ?

In order to meet my goal of going to the gym at least twice a week I went last night right from work. I decided I am going to give the classes they offer another shot and see if I can find one I really like and therefore stick with it.

Last nights class was EZ Rider. Please don't let the name fool you. It was indeed a cycling (riding) class but there was nothing easy about it. It was a 30 minute class and within 10 minutes I was wishing it was over. I am not sure if I was doing something wrong but I could not get my butt up off the seat very easily. My legs were like jello and when I tried to stand for position 2 I almost fell head over handlebars! My heart was racing and I thought I was going to throw up! All the guided imagery didn't help either. I couldn't believe that it was summer and the sun was shining on me when it is like 10 below here. Anyways, for a class billed as a beginners class it was a little to advanced for me!

While I was there I had to renew my membership since it expires at the end of Feb. I am now paying $40 less a month than I did last year thanks to signing up as a Preferred Member. My cost is $27 a month now which is easier to swallow if I don't make it to the gym a lot. Although I am going to go more often this year.

I also set up my next measurement meeting while I was there. That is next Thursday where I will have the pleasure of a complete stranger measuring and pinching my fat. Can hardly wait!

In financial news I am pumped to see I have more money left over this pay period than I have in a long time. I credit this mostly to my use of Mevelopes and also to the fact that I am working super hard on curbing my spending. No more casual shopping for me (I hope).

This weekend I am going to try to stay busy so I don't have the urge to shop. I do have to get a birthday present for my nephew who is turning 9. I am taking the kids up north for his birthday party the weekend of MLK Jr day.

I also want to take Aidan to get his haircut since he is starting to look like a 4 year old hippie. I asked my husband to take him and said it would be a good bonding experience if father and son went to the barber together. Husband isn't into it at all so it looks like I am going to have to take him myself. The only problem is he doesn't like the clippers at all and scissors don't really do a good enough job.

I need to get my oil changed as well. Another thing I wish my husband would do for me. I am hoping to get this and the other 2 chores out of the way Saturday morning. I am thinking of taking the kids sledding in the afternoon if we have more snow than ice by then. We will see.

My replacement ATM card came in the mail on Friday. Saturday I got my new PIN. I have used it once to take $20 out of my checking account to use as spending money for the week. I am going to try to trick myself into thinking it is still lost.

I am using Mevelopes for the first time ever. So far, so good. I am still learning how to navigate all the envelopes and I am excited that I get paid this Friday and some of my envelopes still have money in them! All the extra is going toward paying off my debt.

I am really trying to stick with my goals for the first quarter of 2009. I am reading an awesome book that I am 100 pages into already.

My sister in law and 2 friends and I have created a little email support group for our diets and weight loss efforts. We are going to check in with each other a few times a week via email to hold each accountable.

I have printed off the schedule of classes at my gym. I am going to try to take 2 classes a week. They have one called EZ Rider which sounds pretty good to me!

I have banished most of the processed snack food from our house with the exception of some chips for my daughters lunch. I am hoping if its not in the house I won't be tempted. And since I only have a limited amount of money left in my food envelope its not like I can go to the store and buy some snacks or icecream.

It sounds so simple-why does it have to be so hard?!

I am so broke!!!! I think it is a combination of getting paid on the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving vs the Friday after and Christmas shopping. I do have about $90 to last me until Friday. It seems like enough but it makes me nervous.

I have to get gas for my car-I think that is the only outstanding expense I have until Friday. Thanks to the lower gas prices it should onlu cost about $45 to fill my auto.

Tomorrow is our Hospital Holiday Lunch so I'll get free lunch! It's not great but it is tradition. I do have some lunch meat left for the rest of the week so I am thinking I need about $7 for coffee until Friday.

I have to get Emma off to play rehearsal in about 20 minutes. We have to leave there early to make it to choir practice. We have decided to sing in the Family Choir at our church this Christmas Eve. My husband has played his guitar during Mass for several years and this year I am joining in. I'll be the first to admit I don't have a great singing voice but hey, isn't it the effort you put forth that counts?

I don't have any plans for tomorrow or Thursday evenings so I am hoping to get either some Christmas baking, wrapping, or cards done. It is going to be a busy weekend coming up-I am not sure I'll have any time then.

I am tired just thinking about it all...

I spoke to my sister last night and told her that if her husband wanted to stay in a hotel that would be fine with us and we wouldn't be offended. She said he would be fine at the house and that she didn't want to spend the money on a hotel for him. So, it looks like they are all staying.

I am kicking the kids out of their rooms for the next couple of days. They will sleep downstairs on the pull out couch with their cousin. My sister will take Emma's rooma and BIL will take Aidan's rooms. That way they have the whole upstairs to themselves. If BIL wants to get away from the chaos he can go upstairs.

Thanks to everyone who offered advice. I thought over the concept that he is just an introvert, but that isn't really it. He comes from a wealthy family and has said that my house isn't nice enough for him to stay in.


To Jim from Ohio- after 15 years of marriage and countless "relations" with highschool students behind my sister's back, for which he got fired from teaching for, I think I have the right to be a little judgemental. And believe me he knows where I stand. I try to make everything as pleasant as possible for my sister's sake since she is all the family I have left but BIL makes it very difficult. Personally I think he is lucky to even be invited. If that makes me a bad person, so be it.

Hope everyone has a good holiday and that there is peace at your gatherings.

Every year my sister and I alternate where we will be spending Thanksgiving. Since my parents passed away we have been doing this and it works out great. We haven't missed a Thanksgiving yet. She and her family are coming to my house tomorrow. It is about a 5 hour trip my car. We don't get together at Christmas due to unpredictable weather and not wanting to drive that far in the snow.

Now, for the interesting and somewhat insulting part. This year my brother-in-law asked if they could stay in a hotel and not at my house! What? Now, I know I don't live in a mansion but come on. It does tend to be a little crowded but isn't that what the holidays are all about? Being with family? Our house is a cape cod and we have 1 general family room. This is where we watch tv and hang out. I think my BIL doesn't like it because he has no where to hide. At their house he has the whole living room set up as his office and spends all his time there on his computer. I think he doesn't like having the constant interaction and interuptions that occur when there are 4 adults, 3 kids, 3 cats, and 1 dog in a small house. I love it! My sister and I could stay in a shack for 1 week and still have a great time.

I am trying not to let the fact that he doesn't want to stay at our house bother me but I find it insulting. We always do our best to make him feel comfortable. He is the type of person that makes it real well known when he isn't happy. I spend weeks ahead of time trying to come up with things to keep him occupied and happy while he is here and this is what I get.

The truly sad thing is his 8 year old son said to my sister the other day that he can't wait to come see his cousins and play with them BUT he is nervous about how his dad is going to act. Why does an 8 year old have to worry about that?! He shouldn't even be thinking about how his father is going to act because his father is the ADULT.

I am hoping by blogging about it I will be able to put this out of my mind. I am so very thankful for my sister and the close relationship we have. Through the common experience of our childhood we have grown to be best friends. There is an incredible bond between us which even though our parents were alcoholics and both died at an early age, our family circumstance gave my sister and I what we have today. I wouldn't change that for the world. This year as in every year past and every year going forward I am thankful for my sister.

which I think is pretty good. I got everything for Thanksgiving dinner and stuff for dinner and lunches since my sister and her family will be here from Wednesday-Saturday.

I saved $43.73 using my Bonus card and $11.70 using coupons and bottle returns. I got a 16lb turkey for $8. I stuck to my list and wasn't swayed by any extras. I did however splurge on a crab stuffed portabello mushroom for dinner-yum-o!

I want to make some cookies before everyone gets here. I still have to clean the bathroom and finish the laundry and then I will be in good shape.

I get paid on Wednesday this week because of the holiday. I am excited to see how much I have for Black Friday. I looked at some of the ads today and made a list of things I need to get at Walmart. My sister and I usually hit Target but I think Walmart is having better deals. We'll probablt also go to Kohls and possibly Toys R Us.

Well, I better get to work if I want to get everything done. It's not going to happen by itself-unfortunately!

So, I have a long laundry list of goals to accomplish today and I woke up ready to take charge and get them done.

Woke up around 8:30 and steam cleaned all 3 carpets in the house. They look pretty darn good. I won't bother telling you how nasty the water was that I emptied after each room.

Next I made my grocery list for Thanksgiving dinner. Felt really good because I had lots of coupons and some bottles to return. Go to the grocery store with Emma. We return all our bottles and then stop at Coinstar machine to cash in our change for an Amazon gift card. Saw the Red Box next to the Coinstar machine and let Emma pick out a movie for tonight. Turned on my cell phone incase Hubby wanted to add something to my list. Placed it in the pocket of my coat which I had taken off and placed in the cart. Went and got my produce, next stop Deli....then I noticed my cell phone was gone. Searched the cart, my coat, Emma's coat. Retraced my steps...no phone. Went to service desk, asked if it was turned in, no luck. Searched some more. Back to the service desk to ask if we could possibly call my cell to see if I could hear it ring. I was thinking at this point that I just dropped it. The rude service desk employee told me that they don't have a public phone and I would have to go outside to use the pay phone. I told her that defeated the purpose as I wanted to see if I could hear it ring. She said sorry and walked away. I was pissed! Went to the car to get change for the pay phone, passed 2 more employees, asked them if anyone told them they found a phone and they said to go to the service desk. At this point I realize it was probably stolen and told them I believed it to be stolen and they said "oh, that's too bad". What? No compassion, no help looking for it, nothing. Go get .50 to call my cell and it is turned off. Now I know it has been stolen since I turned it on. Left the store, left the cart with my stuff in an aisle.

Made a mad dash to Verizon to suspend service. I'll be damned if anyone is going to use my phone. They suspended it and said as soon as the person tries to make a call it will go straight to customer service and that they should be able to get it back. Not sure if I believe that but I am relieved that no one can use it.

Since I feel safer with a phone I signed a new contract and got a family plan for Hubby and me. I upgraded my phone and got a Blackberry. Since I work at the hospital I got a 19% discount on the phones and plan and they waived my activation fee.

I am just so disappointed that someone would take the phone out of my coat-which leads me to believe they were watching me and just waiting for me to turn my back. I am also disappointed in how the employees handled the situation, or didn't handle it for that matter. I am going to write a letter to the store manager tonight.

I didn't get the grocery shopping done so I still have to do that. I also have to;
*do lots of laundry
*clean my bedroom and put everything back from the carpet cleaning
*get my hair colored
*do some Christmas shopping
*put the laundry away from last weekend
*bake some cookies

My hair appointment is at 5:00 and I am hoping to be able to do some shopping after that. I'll be damned if I am going back to that grocery store.

And I know, I should have been more careful. Merry freaking Christmas to me.

Ok, so I bored myself with my last entry. Even though I was home most of the weekend I did indeed spend money.

Friday-$8.14 lunch at work since I didn't have time to pack my own. Seeing as I work in a hospital and it was hospital cafeteria lunch it so wasn't worth the $8.14.

Saturday-kid's lunch at McDonalds-$8.93. This was a special treat for them.
Movies on date night with DH-$21.00. He paid for dinner.
$160.00 to John the plumber-no relation to Joe the plumber.

Sundays trip to Target-$66.23. I bought a Brita water pitcher so we stop buying bottled water. Butter for baking (used coupon), ziploc bags(used coupon), walnuts and pecans for baking, fabric softner sheets (store brand) and 2 Christmas CDs.
Sunday morning stop at the grocery store on our way to church-3 donuts, coffee, chocolate milk, and a newspaper-$7.00. Total splurge

So that adds up to $271.30. Yikes! The $160 I might take out of savings to cover as that was not a regular expense. Still that is $111.30 for a weekend where I really didn't leave the house much. I will try to do much better than that this coming weekend.

I packed my lunch today so only expect to spend $1.35 on coffee. I am going to hit the gym today after work and then pick up Aidan and go home and MAKE dinner. Emma has soccer practice again. I am hoping DH will take her if his back is feeling better. The only other thing I have planned is to do more laundry and put away the clothes I washed yesterday-one of my least favorite jobs. Then off to bed early again since I have to be at work tomorrow at 6am again.

DH is turning 40 this year and I have been trying to think of something special for him. He isn't really the type of person who likes to be the center of attention so a party wouldn't be the best idea. I did toy with the idea of a party but after 2 weeks of thinking about it I got super frustrated. Restaurants wanted close to $1000 for a buffet for the number of people I was thinking of. Plus the 2 I wanted had limited time available in the month of October. I tried some lodges at local parks and they are all booked until next year. So I have gone back to my original idea of going to Salem.

DH LOVES Halloween. His birthday is 10/28 so every year we do something Halloweenish for his day. He has always wanted to go to Salem to see all the Witch Trial stuff so that is what we are doing. I have already booked the hotel in nearby Peabody thanks to Koppur's recommendation. I am in the process of looking at Salem's website to get a bunch of ideas for things to do. There are a ton, all Halloween related! I am planning for us to leave in the middle of the night on the 23rd, drive and come back on the 26th(middle of the night). It is about 8.5 hours from where I live but I figure it will be easier on the kids if we drive at night so they can sleep and be well rested by the time we get there.

I am so excited and anticipate that he will be excited as well. I am planning on doing some baking and freezing it so we have snacks to bring. I have $600 saved so far. From what I hear it is pretty expensive there so I will continue to save what I can before we go. My goal is to pay up front for everything.

Now the hard part is not telling him or the kids until it gets closer to the date. I am bursting with excitement-I don't know how long I can go without telling!

Thanks for everyones support on my last post. I think I am feeling better about things and am trying to be more patient with both the finances and weight loss.

It was a busy weekend and I got away from my budget a little. I am going to look things over this evening and get back on track. I don't think it is too bad. I had the itch to shop over the weekend so I bought a few things I hadn't planned for. I really wanted some new sweaters for me now that fall is coming but I didn't find any that I liked. I ended up with a few t-shirts for me, a pair of sweatpants for DS, and a fall jacket for DD that was on sale at Gap for $17. And I splurged on a bottle of nailpolish for myself.

I took the kids plus one of DD's friend fruit picking on Saturday. We picked apples, peaches, and raspberries. The kids had a lot of fun and we got lots of fruit! I made some lemon raspberry muffins and some apple bars yesterday. Hopefully they will last the week.

My sister called all frantic last week because we have accounts with Merrill Lynch. They are the remainer of my dad's retirement account. She thought we were going to lose everything but as it turns out we are OK for now. I called our advisor and he said not much is going to change for us. My poor sis lost a whole night sleep worrying about it.

DH and the kids spent the better part of yesterday putting out all our Halloween decorations. I think we have more Halloween stuff than we do Christmas. It's crazy but he loves it. There is now a stuffed Dracula sitting on one of the rocking chairs on my new porch.

I made my lunch and brought my homemade goodies to work today so it looks like I am going to end this day with only spending $1.35 for coffee. Not too shabby!

For the past week or so my left foot has been hurting. It is the top of my foot right under the second and third toes. I noticed over the weekend that it was swollen so decided I should probably get it looked at today.

Saw the PA who thought it might be fractured. He said if it wasn't I should ice it and take Advil. He gave me a script for orthopedic shoes! Good God, I am only 37! I am not wearing orthopedic shoes!!!! 15 minute consultation-$20.

Off to the radiologist to have an x-ray done. The PA suggested I wait there and have the film read so in case it was broken I could go to the ortho place next door and have it casted. Needless to say I spent all afternoon there getting the pictures taken and waiting for someone to decide if it was broken. Long story short-not broken. $20 please.

So, I am left not knowing what is wrong but do knowing it hurts and I have a nice little limp going. I am going to do some reseach online tonight to see what else it could be.

All this time I should have been at work so I want to make up my time rather than using vacation or sick time. I know, crazy me not using sick time but I figure if I am not really sick I should make it up and use the sick time for when I really can't get in here.

I stopped at McDonalds on my way back to work. First time for McDonalds in a long time. Went through the drive-thru. Got half way to work and noticed they gave me someone elses order. Went back and got what I ordered, got to work, ate at my desk and now I feel ill. I don't think my stomach likes fast food anymore.

Last night's dinner menu consisted of Mustard Crusted Steak, baked potatoes, rolls, asperagus and peas. It was yum-o! Tonight I am not cooking b/c DD has play rehearsal and I have to go get her as soon as I am done with work. Hopefully Daddy fed them on the way to the rehearsal.

Still sticking with the budget and am exciting to be well below in some categories. DD and I went to a farmers market on Saturday to get the fruits and veggies for the week and only spent $14.50 which I thought was pretty good.