New Blog Design and Site

I have out grown the capabilities of Blogger. I wanted a custom blog so I had a friend, Greg Sykes, design a new layout for me, which has now been programmed by my husband, David of Lloydhome.com

Check out the new site at www.donnalloyd.net

All data from this site has been transfered to the new site.

Savings this week

My weekly grocery shopping trip helped to restock the pantry. We were running low on several items so I was glad to see sales on cereal and pasta. My total grocery bill came in at $232.52 however after coupons and buy on get one deals I only paid $56.75. Not too shabby. We needed a few items that I did not have coupons for so those pushed my total up a little bit.

The buys of the week included:

• Smuckers Jelly for .89 per jar after coupons
• 6 Boxes of cereal for less than $1.00 per box after coupons and BOGO
• Muller's Pasta .25 per box after coupons and BOGO

I love saving money when I shop for the family food items. Every dollar I save is a dollar we can use toward other items.

First Fruits

Tonight with our dinner we had a salad that included some of the first fruits from our garden-- radishes. Caleb and Madilyn did not like the taste of them. I thought they tasted fine, I am not sure what David thought.

In a week or so we should have lettuce ready to eat along with tomatoes maybe those will go over better with the kids.

We just about have the grass that took over under control, it has been a long hard process. For the most part the plants in the garden are looking healthy.

Longest episode ever....

I feel like I am in the longest episode ever of the television show "House." The doctors can not determine what is wrong with me. Test come back negative and symptoms do not indicate any known illness. Medications and surgical procedures seem to help, but then within a few weeks all of the symptoms reappear. I have been repeating the same cycle since November and quite frankly I am tired and worn out.

This weekend my body ached with pain. As I vomited, convulsed and experienced other pain I thought I would die. At one point I was crying out in pain hoping that my children would not hear me. I have no idea how to explain to them what is wrong. The pain I have had during the past few days is the worst I have ever experienced.

I think all of this would be easier if the doctors could say you have "xyz disease" or you have "xyz cancer." If I could get a diagnosis I would know what I am up against and treatment could begin. Right now it is just more inconclusive test and unexplained symptoms.

Later today I am going to a new doctor to have all new test run and hope that the results will help the doctors determine a course of treatment that will allow my body to heal.