This week I ventured out to Publix for some basic needs and to hunt for unadvertised deals (it’s my normal Wednesday routine).  I only used maybe 10 coupons on the trip, but we also mostly grabbed fruit and milk.  We are getting into homebody mode with Mary not able to move well, and that’s helping me to focus on eating from the pantry more.  I forsee shopping a little next week, but we are also having a baby in one week!

Publix:

Total Value Purchased: $81.47
Total Spent: $46.10
Total Saved: $35.37 or 43.4%

It’s not anything to write home about, but we did save some on a quick trip.  There are moments where you have to do what you can and just be okay with that.  These next few weeks are that for us.

Mary Perthes Update

We are now two weeks post-op and getting more used to life in casts for Mary.  It is a much bigger change than you can prepare yourself for!  She struggled the first week with pain from the surgery (they did break a bone, screw in a plate and do bone marrow work so it’s legit)  thankfully though she has now been almost a week with no pain medicine or complaints.  Instead of pain, now we have itching!

She is bearing it well with only a few times that she breaks down and gets very frustrated.  When those moments set in, I usually just sit down and cry with her… it’s all my mama heart can do.  She had a two week follow up this week, they want her in the casts for 5 more weeks and then are preparing braces that she’ll wear 24 hours a day (still not able to walk) after that.  She asks when she’ll walk again, and for now the only thing I can say is honestly “I don’t know.”

She and I are also very grateful to all of you!  You’ve blown me away with cards and even packages!  She loves getting mail, and reading all the notes that you’ve sent and spends hours of her day coloring and playing with stickers that you’ve sent too.  This has truly been a blessing as they more she is distracted the less she thinks about the itching!!  Thank you for your time and sweetness to care for our family.

Through all of this I had a very big moment in the Publix parking lot this week that I want to share.  Watching a mama get her son out of the car and into a wheelchair and feeling a small bit connected as we learn to lug around 40 lb chairs and supplies, it dawned on me how small this time in our life is.  I may not know when we get to return the wheelchair to the rental company, but I do know that there will be an end date at some point.  So many parents don’t get that end date.  This mama bore her task with joy and a smile as she worked hard to just get into the store.  My heart goes out to her and all the other parents that live this life full time.  So often we pass by them in the store and say nothing, just hoping our kids don’t comment or stare.  I urge you to be bold and say something, encourage them, bring them a smile, just let them know that you see them.  I’m thankful for all the lessons we are learning through this and hope that this particular lesson for me will stay with me for a long time.

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