Neighborhood Link Up

I am very thankful for all my readers-those of you who comment and those who quietly read about my crazy journey-but many of you comment without a backlink to your blogs. This has piqued my curiosity. Just who are my readers and what amazing things do they write about every week????

Well now is my chance to find out! Link your blogs in the comments area below so me and the other FFP neighbors can drop in to say "Howdy Neighbor"!

If you want to link up every week, month, or just when ever then leave me a comment with your ideas!

Kicking the Habit!!!

Hubby finally decided to kick his nicotine habit!!! Hallejua! He's talked about it for years & tried all sorts of methods. The gum gives him hiccups! The patch nauseates him. The lozenges produce unholy heartburn! Then along came this nifty pill called Chantix. It requires a doctor's prescription. His father and grandmother have successfully quit smoking with it's help so now it's Rick's turn! Ironically it's not covered by insurance so $130 and 9 days later he's still committed to the process. Praise God for small wonders!

The program works to squash the nicotine craving by slowly blocking the nicotine receptors in your brain. During the first week, you continue to smoke as usual while taking Chantix as prescribed. After the first week of taking Chantix, you toss the cigarettes, ash trays, and lighters. Continue taking Chantix for a month as prescribed to help overcome withdrawals and begin your life cigarette free. Your doctor can prescribe a refill order if both of you feel it's necessary. From all the testimonies we've personally heard, no one's needed another month's supply so I'm hopeful Rick won't either.

With Chantix comes the Get Quit Program. Hubby likes this program. You receive a special sign up number with your prescription that gives you unique access to online, email, and telephone support. The program is customizable to the individual so if you prefer exclusive email or telephone support or a combination of the two, it's simply up to you. Rick's chosen a combination of email and telephone support so we receive an email every day giving him tips helping him stay off the cigarettes. He also receives a telephone call checking in with his progress and reminding him of some key strategies to help cope during the rough patches. You can also log in any time to get instant online support and view your personalized program.

Currently Rick's on Day 2 without any cigarettes! Side effects could be worse. Cranky. Irritability. Figetty. Heartburn. The usual mild symptoms associated with most stop smoking methods. Of course he's still recovering from back surgery so some of the symptoms could be from cabin fever and his post op meds too. He's going through lots of changes in a short period of time so who knows!

The most important change I've seen is his DESIRE to stop smoking. Past attempts have been met with the expectation the gum, patch, or lozenge will completely remove his desire and will to smoke cigarettes without any other effort on his part. This time the mental change is significant enough, I believe he will succeed! Wish us luck and I'll be sure to keep you posted on his progress!

Jenn's Tip: Pfizer, maker of Chantix, also has a Patient Assistance Program to help people in various financial circumstances pay for their prescriptions.

Mohawk Monday

Yesterday was Mohawk Monday. All three kids received a desperately requested Mohawk. Summer is almost over. School's about to start. So why not!?! They're only young and carefree once! What do you think?

But Dad wasn't have any part of Mohawk Monday so he opted for the Mr Clean look!

My Frugal Garden Update

My Frugal Garden has turned out better this year than last. Besides a couple intruders nibbling at my plants when it first went in, I haven't had any problems. I did alter my original plan somewhat due to the unusually long winter this year and the flooding we had in the area. We have a short cool summer growing season living in zone 3. It's especially hard to get the garden going when you still see snow on Mother's Day! lol Instead of sowing everything from seeds or rooting from other veggies, I bought a few sprout plants from the greenhouse to guarantee a harvest of some of our favorite things.

Grown from greenhouse sprouts: broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, squash, onion and eggplant.

Grown from seeds: Jalapeno, Banana, & Bell peppers, carrots, squash, parsnips, watermelon, and turnips

Everything but the parsnips are growing well. I had potatoes growing in an old laundry hamper but we had a freak storm come through and blow the hamper into the neighbors yard. Apparently it was too much trauma for the young plant since it never recovered. Next year I'd like to put in raspberries, get my watermelon in earlier, and definitely secure my potato planter! I'd also like to get a few pots of marigolds around the yard and garden to prevent any four-legged pests from getting into anything!

Conquering Fears in an ASD Son

This week marked the beginning of swimming lessons for my oldest son. J-Man's 8 years old and barely floats. He loves lake activities: fishing, boating, etc. but HATES (yes, I mean HATES) the water! Makes great sense right? {she says sarcastically} He doesn't want anything to do with swimming pools, beaches, or any other swimming activities. My biggest fear is one of the kids falling in the lake when we're fishing so teaching them to swim is a priority.

J-Man has had a fear of water for several years. Ironically enough, it was during free play after a swim class a few years ago, he nearly drowned. He and some other kids from class were playing near a rope divider. The rope was at his waist. He was teetering back and forth over it being careful not to go too far to flip over the rope. (He didn't like water on his face) He somehow got into a position with his head under water, his feet partially out of water with the rope still at his waist. He couldn't flip himself over the rope to come up for air and the lifeguards didn't seem to notice him in trouble. After watching his body squirm for what felt like a lifetime, I dropped my video camera and trudged into the water for a quick rescue. After a little coughing and sputtering he was fine. He wasn't under water long enough to need resuscitation or anything of the like but it was still very scary. Needless to say, it was an emotional event for both of us. Ever since then, he's had a great fear of swimming pools.

Last year he wouldn't get near the water. I literally couldn't drag him near the pool house so forget getting INTO the water. This year however has been slightly better. The first day of class he sat on the side of the pool with feet dangling but wouldn't do anything else. This alone took lots of coaxing. The following day was a TREMENDOUS improvement. He got into the water, did as the instructors asked but I had to be nearby and watch EVERYTHING. By the end of the first week, he was in the water and even trying to go under and jumping in the shallow end. What a difference a week makes.

Here's a few of the strategies I used to turn J-Man into a willing swimming lesson participant.

1. Talk about it A LOT! We've talked about swimming lessons since before the pool opened this summer. We talk about it during dinner, on the way to Tae Kwon Do, while riding bikes, anytime he's in a chatty mood. I try not to make into a big ordeal so he's not overwhelmed but at the same time is fully aware of what to expect.
   
2. Mark the calendar. As soon as I received the dates for his lessons, the calendar has been marked so J-Man has a visual time line. This helps him prepare himself with a visual countdown to the big day.
   
3. Bargain, Bargain, Bargain. I want him to actively and willingly participate in swimming lessons so it's fair to give him something he wants in return. We've negotiated for small daily treats costing less than $1.00 as well as a weekly treat (movie rental) and a slightly bigger treat for when he completes the 2 week course (new video game). I repeat our bargain many times throughout the week-not just on the way to class.
   
4. Boost his confidence. I try to use ego boosting phrases whenever he starts to complain or say he's afraid of drowning. "You're so brave when you try to do something that scares you" "I'm afraid of drowning too but that's why I learned to swim-so I could be smart in the water" "You're doing a great job with everything so far, so I'm sure you'll be great at this if you just TRY" "All I ask is for you to TRY what you teacher asks. Your teacher will help you and with practice you'll get even better." "Nobody does it perfect the first time they try anything so keep up the great work."
5. Express my gratitude and pride. I tell him how proud of him I am after each class and throughout the rest of the day. During class, I'll give him thumbs up or clap when he looks over at me. I always tell him thank you for being cooperative.

J-Man responds very well to these strategies. I feel like I've tried every trick in the book to help him over come his fears. I've learned it's easier to work with your situation than against it.

What's your method to getting cooperation from an unwilling participant?

Resourceful Mommy's Blogiversary & Giveaway

Amy is THE Resourceful Mommy. Wednesday is her blog's one year blogiversary so she's throwing a party and everyone's invited. The great thing: she's giving US prizes to help celebrate the big event!!! Awesome!

She keeps adding prizes but so far she's up to 60 winners with the total value at $1,500. There's multiple entries available and you don't have to attend Wednesday nights' twitter party to win! I'd love to win any of the goodies she's giving away but here's a few I know would be HUGE hits with my bunch:


- Shred Sled: For ages 8 and up, the Shred Sled is the next generation of caster board. The first 4-wheel, dual-deck inline caster board, the Shred Sled makes it smoother and easier to start carving up the streets. How it works: Shred Sled's two boards and flexible connector allow both boards to rotate around the vertical and horizontal axes so it's easy to maneuver the board. The best part is you don't even have to push off! For better control and traction, each deck has a grip surface to maximize traction and stability while the concave decks make for better foot control. Great for strengthening the legs and waist muscles, Shred Sled encourages kids to get off the couch and get active outdoors. For more information go to http://www.theshredsled.com/ (value: $119.99)


- LeapFrog Tag Junior Book Pal: From the makers of the wildy popular Tag Reading System comes the brand new reading system for children 2 to 4 years to inspire an early love of books. Designed with the littlest book lovers in mind, the Tag Junior brings board books to life with sounds and pre-school activities. The Tag Junior book pal is easy for parents and children to use. Parents can download audio for up to five books to the book pal, then let their toddlers explore. Each Tag Junior board book introduces a different preschool skill - such as the alphabet, counting or social play - through 24 playful activities and more than 130 audio responses. Open-ended questions and fun sound effects encourage children to take charge, as they touch any part of any page to bring words, pictures or activities to life. After their child has played, parents can connect the book pal to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path to see their child's progress and get printable activities to expand the learning! (value: $34.99)

- Hershey's Miniatures Memory Sticks & Sweet Assortments: These Hershey's Miniatures inspired memory sticks are the perfect way to store and share your photos, files, music, and more. Now you can add personality to your every day memory stick. when you're finished, simply clip the stick onto your bag. Go to http://www.jazwares.com/ (value: $14.99 - $29.99)



Head on over to Resourceful Mommy for all the details and to post your entries.

Hoover Platinum Upright Vacuum Giveaway

Karissa at Prissy Green is hosting a fabulous giveaway of a Hoover Platinum Upright Bagless Cyclonic Vacuum. She's offering multiple entries and the giveaway ends on 8/14/09 at 11:59pm EST so be sure to enter!

Be sure to check out her other giveaways while you're there!

Days after the Microdiscectopy

Hubby had a microdiscectopy on his lower back last Wednesday. Dr Zellum cut a small 2" incision on Rick's back and with the help of tiny surgical tools, shaved off the protruding part of the disc pressing on the nerve in his back. The surgery took a little longer than expected but the doctor said it's likely due to the length of time it took to get the surgery scheduled and approved by the insurance company. The outlook is cautiously positive. Of course we're all hoping for full recovery without any nerve damage but it'll be a week or so before we'll know for certain. Right now healing from the surgery is priority number one.

The post surgical pain has slightly improved over the past few days but we were hoping for a bigger improvement by now. Rick does everything in short bursts. Sitting. Standing. Walking. Lying down. He avoids stairs, driving, and lifting anything over 15 pounds. His appetite isn't as robust as it was prior to surgery but the meds may have something to do with that.

My two step sons are in town from Indianna so this has put a slight damper on their time with dad. All four boys are cautioned to be careful around dad. No sudden movements around him. All it takes is one careless elbow in the back or him tripping over one of their toys to set back his recovery. All things considered, the kids have done well. They help around the house with laundry, dishes, and other various chores. Shockingly, griping and complaining is at an all time minimum! Of course, boys will be boys so when tempers flair they're sent to their corners to cool off. Then it's off for more play time. ;) It's been quite tough on all of us helping Rick covalesce but the kids have been fabulous through doctor's visits, the four hour surgery, and the long road trips.

Rick's post surgical follow up appointment is this Thursday. Yet another 150 mile trip to Fargo. J-Man has swimming classes this week and next so the jury's still out on staying overnight in Fargo or if we'll drive the 150 miles back home immediately after the doctor's visit. I suppose it'll depend on how hubby's doing. Every time we've gone to the doctor in Fargo, we've had to stay overnight because of the length of the drive plus the pullin and poking during the exam leaves him extremely sore.

For now, we're looking at the sunny side of life. The kids are healthy, surgery went well, Rick's recovering, my garden's looking good, the weather is heating up after a cool snap and we just came off the Spongebob Bash weekend! (Hard to believe the little yellow sponge has been around 10 YEARS!!!)

SpongeBob - Spongebob Videos - Spongebob Games

Free Starbucks Pastry Coupon

I saw this in my email box this morning...makes me wish we had a Starbucks nearby! I can't enjoy a free pastry, but you can. What will you get with your coupon? (click the image below to print your coupon).

Laptop Sweepstakes from CookiesKids.com

Is your current computer stalling and giving you blue screen nightmares? Would you love to be able to have one that the kids could use (alas, staying off of yours)?

CookiesKids.com feels your pain and has come to your rescue!

Sign up to recieve the Cookies Kids Newsletter via e-mail and you're automatically entered to win one of 4 brand new laptops!!

Simply fill out the form to be entered into our Laptop Giveaway Sweepstakes. Please be sure to read the Giveaway Sweepstakes "Terms and Conditions" before entering your information.

Contest ends 9/30/09 at 11:59 AM ET. This contest brought to you courtesy of the Momfluence network.

Fight Child Obesity & Win a Wii Fit

With childhood obesity reaching an all time high across the country, many parents struggle with how to help their children maintain a healthy weight with proper nutrition.

Dr. Joanna Dolgoff, the official doctor of Camp Shane and a board certified pediatrician, has created Dr. Dolgoff's Weigh, a traffic-light system that allows kids to learn which foods are healthiest without counting calories. To spread the word about her site and program, Dr. Weigh, is sponsoring a Wii Fit contest to help you get your family up and moving this summer!

To Enter:
To enter to win the #KidsWeigh Wii Fit contest, check out client testimonials and fabulous Dr. Weigh success stories then fill out this secure contest form telling us which story was your favorite!

Form: http://tinyurl.com/kidsweighcontest

One grand prize winner will receive a Wii Fit. Two runners-up will receive a free one month membership to Dr. Weigh. This contest ends Friday, July 24th at 11:59 a.m. ET. and is brought to you by Momfluence.

WHEW!

Where did the time go? It seems like the other day was the Ethnic Food's Festival where I made my Mason Jar Peach Cobbler and now it's a week after Independence Day! We've had lots of things going on which has forced my blogging to slow down quite a bit...regrettably.

My step sons arrived from Indiana three weeks ago. I've now got four super active boys running amuck! If it's not the 2 year old biting the 6 year old it's the 10 year old arguing with my 8 year old over the best video game! I love having them here but it gets very tiring refereeing four boys on a daily basis!

We've been traveling to Fargo quite a bit lately for hubby's doctor's appointments. Thankfully the end is in sight. We leave first thing in the morning for some pre-op Xrays and another MRI. Then it's microscopic back surgery on Wednesday morning. Barring any permanent nerve damage (which is a possibility) he should be released and home from the hospital Wednesday afternoon!

The county fair was last week but it wasn't planned very well so we opted to camp at the lake with some of our friends from Lancaster. There was tons of food, fellowship, swimming, fishing, and sadly even rain! The boys LOVED it! The great thing is we were close enough to come home when hubby's back started hurting. He rested a bit and we were back at the lake for the duration.

Our friend, Sid, drove in from Dickinson ND for the weekend. We haven't seen him in several months. It was great to visit with him and have him stay with us. We certainly missed him and hated seeing him go but I'm sure he'll be back for a visit soon enough!

Well, that about recaps most of our activities the past few weeks. If all things go well with Rick's surgery, I'll be back to normal posting later this week. In the meantime, tell me what have you been doing???