"As Easy As Breathing"~Howard Shore

Today's blog post is a little scattered because well my brain is scattered.  Welcome to MdDS.  You have your normal, everyday wife/mom scattered brain and then you throw that on a boat!  Here we go:

First, It's official.  I've started the process to file for disability.  I've been out of work since May of last year.  I still can't drive, still can't work with computers for a long time, can't stand up on my feet for long periods or even sit up straight for long periods.  I can't work.  I've tried working on my exercises to get myself back to the possibility of working, but its not helping.  
From working at a doctor's office, I know this process is hard and tedious, but I have to do it.  I have to be able to get my family in a safe place financially.  So, I filed the paperwork online, and now I have to gather up all of the info they need and drop it off at the office.  

Second, I've found humor in this.  You have to.  You don't have a choice.  If you can't laugh at yourself, who can, and if you don't laugh it off then you'll get stressed out and that makes your symptoms worse.  Now I'm not saying, don't get upset, don't get frustrated, etc.  That's normal, and will come along with MdDS.  But on your good days if you have an "MdDS Moment" as I like to call them, then laugh it off.  For instance, my little brother always asks me questions like "How's the water today?" "Are we going up or down?" or my favorite as I go to leave him "Happy Sailing!"  Then there are those times that I'm walking and out of nowhere I start to fall over, but I'm able to catch myself, I just look at my husband and say "Whoa!  That was a big wave!"  There have been many times I've gotten on the floor with my little niece and can't quite get up because of the motion I'm feeling, so I just stay there.  Eventually someone will walk by and ask why I'm there, I'll just say, "I got stuck, so I figured I'd check out the floor."  
Like I said, I do have my bad days, I get frustrated, tired, upset and I have my meltdowns.  I allow this for myself, but I don't allow myself to stay that way.  I give myself my days of let down, but I hold dear those good days when I feel good about myself, my situation, and my life.

Next.  People have been asking me about my couponing and how I do it.  Now, let me start by saying I'm not a hoarder!  I'm not as crazy as TLC, but I would say I'm decent.  I only buy what I know my family will use over a period of time.  Couponing is great if you know what your family uses.  It also allows you to try things for free or cheap.  You also tend to eat more at home instead of going out to eat because you have such good food in your house.  It leaves extra money around for meat and fresh produce as well.  
The first step was that I got together with a friend of mine who already coupons.  She taught me everything I know, and I'm still learning.  There is a lot of info to take in, so I'll give you the best tips she gave me:
1.  Get a binder and baseball card sleeves.  These are the perfect size for coupons.  Organize your book to your specifications.  Mine is set up by aisles (i.e. dairy, frozen, pantry, baking, baby, pet supplies, etc.)  Like I said before I'm a little OCD, so having my extremely organized helps me when I'm in the stores.  The key is to keep your book up to date!  Make sure to keep an eye out for dates, whether the coupon can double, etc.
2.  Get the newspaper, or two or three.  I personally get two Sunday papers and the Wednesday paper.  These are the days that my local paper has coupons and ads.  The more papers, the more coupons.  Also use online sites such as coupons.com.  Check out social media sites like facebook & twitter, they will post about new products and you can sometimes receive free samples or coupons.  (Alot of times if they send you a free sample, they will send a coupon of that particular product)
3.  Know your stores.  Know their policies.  Print off their policy and keep it with you.  Just because a person works at a store doesn't mean they know their own policies.  Watch for the number of coupons you can double in one trip.  For instance, my local places only double up to 20 coupons at a time.  Go back later if you have to :-)  Also check with their store cards, for example Harris Teeter has an e-vic card, Food Lion has MVP, etc, and Kroger has their VIP program.  Some stores allow you to put coupons digitally on your card, and some stores even allow the store coupons to be stacked with manufacturing coupons!   
4.  Find locals in your area who are couponing.  Here in my area we have a group on facebook.  We post about items we see around our area that will help each other save money.  There is also a local blogger who posts up price matches with the ads and coupons!  You can check her out at HERE She gets the ads and matches them to the coupons that we have so that we know just by looking at her site what items are free or discounted!  The other great thing about finding locals is you can barter items or coupon swap!  For example, let's say I found an item that would be free but I have no use for it, I would then swap the item with someone in my locals group that may need it for something they have.  The other great thing is you can donate to your local food banks and food drives if you don't want the items.

At first couponing seemed stressful to me because let's face it, I hate math.  But I've come to enjoy it.  Its an exercise that I can do to work on my focus and motor skills.  Its helping my family when we are in a situation where money is a big issue.  In a way its calming, which is odd to say I know, but it is.  The focusing on cutting the papers and the practicing of reading items, its nice.

Lastly, I would like to just throw out how frustrating explaining my situation to people can be.  Its not that I don't like talking about it, because the more I talk, the more people will listen and the more word will spread about MdDS.  What I mean is that I'm tired of explaining my situation to the same people over and over again.  Its finally hit me that no one understands what I'm dealing with except those who are dealing with it as well.  I have my supporters, those few people who accept that this is what is going on in my life and who try to understand.  Then there are the doubters, those few people who don't believe me at all.  But then there are those few people who support and accept but just can't wrap their heads around it.  Telling the same person over and over again "No I can't drive" "No I can't work" "Yes I'm sure there is no cure"  "Yes I'm sure there is nothing they can do about it"  Its ANNOYING.  Just listen to what I'm saying to you and move on, accept it or don't, but don't keep asking me over and over again. 

Ok, I think my brain is empty now....I'll write later....Until the next time :-)