Quick Update

It's hard to believe another week has already come and gone. I ended up working four days this week and visiting Mom every night at the hospital.  On Thursday evening they finally moved her out of the SICU and into a regular room. Hallelujah!  She is still not back 100% mentally, but I hope that continues to improve. She will need physical therapy to regain the use of her arms and legs, but she is much better than she was.

When school let out this week at 3:00 we would make the mad dash home to get home by 3:30 and try to make something quick to eat and be out the door by 4:15 to get to her hospital room by 5:00 for the 30 minute visiting time. I made simple things for dinner like Salmon Salad Sandwiches, and Bean & Cheese Burritos. One night I took the frozen Mexican Rice I keep in the freezer and microwaved it and added canned chili and cheese and sour cream and made wraps with them. 

Anything I could make easily was what we had for dinner. And it worked! We did not eat out any time this past week and I am tickled over that fact. At the end of the week I usually have a couple of receipts to enter into my checkbook, but not this week! And if we did it this week, we can do it again. :)

How are things with you this week?

Belinda
© Belinda Richardson and Frugal Workshop, 2012.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without”

Yard Sale Finds

The weather here in Tennessee is both sunny and warm with brilliant blue skies and all the beautiful colors of Fall.  The humidity from the summer months has passed and that makes people want to get outdoors more and with that comes plenty of Fall yard sales. We passed so many yesterday on our way to town, but we did stop at one just to look around. I'm glad we did too because we found two twin sized comforters, which are pictured above. They will be perfect on my daughter's twin sized bed.

She also found this backpack, which hasn't been used. She has been wanting a backpack styled like this one, so we picked this up as well.

We brought the comforters home last night and put them in the washer and once they came out she noticed one of them had a tear along the seam. So, I took out some needle and thread and stitched the opening closed. It is better to take care of a small mending job now rather than allow the tear to get bigger over time. Plus it's a good thing to take care of the things you have so that they will last longer. 

You know what the best part of all of this is? We paid $1.50 for all three items! I couldn't believe the sweet elderly lady selling these things sold them to us for 50¢ each. She could have easily asked $5.00 for each of the comforters. So we are tickled over our yard sale finds from yesterday and just wanted to share. 

Have you found any good yard sale deals lately?

Belinda
© Belinda Richardson and Frugal Workshop, 2012.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without”

Water

Image Credit

Yesterday I worked all day and then came home to a good dinner cooked by my sister who is in from Illinois to see our Mom. Afterwards, we went to the hospital to visit with our Mom. My sister left from the hospital to go back home to Illinois while my daughter and I went to Walmart to pick up a few supplies we were out of at home. 

I was so thirsty when I got to Walmart, so I went to one of the drink coolers located at the checkout to see if they had a bottle of water. They did and they were priced at $1.58. Now I was thirsty, but I was not that thirsty. 

What to do, What to do? 

I put on my thinking cap and took a $5 bill out of my wallet and went to the bank inside Walmart and asked for change. Then I walked around to the entrance of the store and found the Walmart water machine. I was able to buy a bottle of water there for 50¢, which was a much better price than $1.58 at the checkout. 

Now the most frugal thing to do would be to carry water with me or have a container with me and use a water fountain in Walmart, but as busy and tired as I was, I did the best I could and at the very least spent less than I could have. I just had to put a little thought into the process, so that is my frugal tip for today. Try to brainstorm when you are confronted with a  similar problem where you need to spend money and see if you can find a way to save at least a little bit of money.

Mom remains in SICU today and her doctors have called in a neurologist who may order  a spinal tap to rule out meningitis. They've ruled out her having a stroke, but there is still something wrong with her. They just haven't figured it out yet. She has been in the hospital 26 days today and it has been difficult on all of us. Your continued thoughts and prayers for her mean so very much to me. Thank you.

Belinda
© Belinda Richardson and Frugal Workshop, 2012.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without”

Blog Giveaway Winner Announced

As you may recall, last month I decided to host my first Blog Giveaway. Using the website, Random.org, I've come up with a winner for my first giveaway, and the winner is Tater! So, Tater if you'll send me your address at Bar2969@gmail.com, I will get your book off in the mail to you. Congratulations to you and everyone else who entered the contest. :)

Belinda
© Belinda Richardson and Frugal Workshop, 2012.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without”

Mom has turned the Corner

Just wanted to make a quick update. Mom has finally turned the corner. The nurses/doctors removed the vent/tube on Thursday and the feeding tube on Friday. We are so happy she is finally passed that stage of her recovery. She still has a long road ahead of her, which will probably include rehab after she leaves the hospital, but even that is a ways off yet. She will remain in the SICU until at least the middle of next week and then be moved to a regular hospital room.  

I'm going to try and resume updates my blog as much as possible. It will be difficult with my working and visiting her, which are in different towns, but I will do the best I can. Thank you all for bearing with me during this difficult time. :)

Belinda
© Belinda Richardson and Frugal Workshop, 2012.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without”

Second Update on Mom

Today is the 16th day that Mom has been in the hospital and she is still in the SICU. Her doctors and nurses have recently began to take the steps necessary to wean her off the ventilator. She is still septic since her white blood cell count is at 18, 11 is normal and that is what they are wanting. Her vital signs look good and hopefully she will be removed from the ventilator in the next day or so.  I didn't realize when she fell two weeks ago that it would lead to all of this and the waiting for her to be removed from the ventilator has been discouraging. For now, we continue to wait and pray.  Thank you for your good thoughts and prayers for her.

Belinda
© Belinda Richardson and Frugal Workshop, 2012.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without”

Update on Mom

I know you all will understand that my thoughts and concerns are with my Mother right now and not here on my blog.  Mom had a second surgery on Monday, which was exploratory. The surgeon found an abscess behind her gallbladder near the liver and repaired a hernia she had developed in the hospital. She was put into a medically induced coma after the surgery Monday. She continues to be sedated and on the ventilator today, and is also on nutrition now too. The nurses and doctors are optimistic for her to make a complete recovery. We continue to wait and pray and thank everyone for your love and concern.

Belinda
© Belinda Richardson and Frugal Workshop, 2012.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without”