For about two and half months, I have been trying really hard to save money so AG can have lessons in gymnastics, Tae Kwon Do and swimming this summer. (just a side note -- all of these are offered at her preschool during the day. Isn't that great!).
Everyone laughed at me when I signed up for a "Coupon Extreme 101" seminar back in March. But I am having the last laugh now. Since mid-March, I have saved 62% on all of my purchases with sales and coupons. Jenny from www.southernsavers.com taught me so much. One of her recommendations is to cut all the coupons and put in a 3 ring binder (see her "getting started" section on the website). So each Sunday afternoon, I am cutting out all the coupons. AG understands why we get the Sunday paper and cut. "Oh, you cutting out coupons, Mommy?"
Someone asked me the other day if AG cries when we pass a toy store without going in it, just like their 3 year old. The answer is NO --- she instead points out all the Publix, Kroger, CVS & Walgreens. I'm so proud of my little girl. Not many 3 year olds like to go grocery shopping, but she always has been my big helper at the store.
A child will always imitate many things that their parents do. Some good, some bad. AG's latest thing in pretend play is "Cutting coupons, so I can save money." I am glad she is getting the concept early about saving money.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Finally Getting Back
LOL --- Well I started my blog about 10 days ago and I'm just now getting back to posting again. Reggie keeps asking everyday if I have posted anything else. So here it goes with AG sitting in my lap. Yes, I know it is almost midnight and she is still awake!!! While at my parent's house this afternoon, she fell asleep and kept on sleeping until about 10:15pm tonight. Normally, I would have woken her up from a LATE afternoon nap, but I wanted to shop at Publix without her.
To finish my first post, AG was born in November 2005. We were both very excited since we tried for almost 3 years. It was the easiest pregnancy with no morning sickness and no other complications. After 28 hours of labor and the epidural had worn off, she was born. What a beautiful baby girl born with a full head of white hair. You ask, "White hair?" Yes, white hair - and head full of it. It was not until 6 days later that our pediatrician told us that AG has albinism.
Albinism is an autorecessive gene condition that affects about 1 in 17,000 people worldwide. We both have the recessive gene for albinism. That means in order for our child to have albinism, we both gave her our "carrier gene." With each pregnancy, we have a 1 in 4 chance to have a child with albinism.
So we headed straight to a local eye doctor in town to confirm the diagnosis since albinism affects their eyesight. We were both devastated (at the time). Majority of the people with albinism are legally blind and low vision. Being legally blind DOES NOT mean that the world is black to them or they have to use braille. But this is what I thought for the first six weeks of her life. I was sooo uneducated about this condition.
The other part of albinism is they do not have any melanin in their hair, eyes and skin. AG is very light sensitive. Because of this she wears hats, sunglasses and sunscreen when outside.
As I said, the local eye doctor told us these things, along with many false information regarding albinism. SO for 6 weeks we kept all the lights off in the house, blinds closed and stayed inside in order to protect her. Then when AG was six weeks old, we had an appointment with a pediatric opthamalogist (sp?) in Atlanta. He told us to treat her as a "normal" child --- she may not be able to play baseball -- but will be able to do most anything else. "Let her go outside, enjoy the beautiful world." That was when my whole outlook of AG's future changed! I knew she would be fine.
AG is now in the 3 year old preschool class and one of the smartest ones (is that bragging too much?). I have always pushed education on AG since she was an infant -- she just thinks it is all fun and games. One reason for the push is that one day, she may begin to get behind in school. If so, I want her to be ahead as much as possible now. She has known her ABC's by sight and sound since about a year and half. As of now, she can sign about 100 words in sign language (www.signingtime.com) and put them in sentences.
I laugh because I used to worry she wasn't talking (late start), but now we can't get her to be quiet! She even talks in her sleep.
Each day she amazes both Reggie and myself by what she can come up with. And what she can see. Last time we took her for her eye appt, her eyes measured 20/125. That is very good for someone with albinism.
As you can tell, I am very proud of our daughter. I always had wanted a daughter, but never imagined it would be this fun.
To learn more about albinism, visit www.albinism.org. This is NOAH, National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation. This group has been a wonderful support group.
To finish my first post, AG was born in November 2005. We were both very excited since we tried for almost 3 years. It was the easiest pregnancy with no morning sickness and no other complications. After 28 hours of labor and the epidural had worn off, she was born. What a beautiful baby girl born with a full head of white hair. You ask, "White hair?" Yes, white hair - and head full of it. It was not until 6 days later that our pediatrician told us that AG has albinism.
Albinism is an autorecessive gene condition that affects about 1 in 17,000 people worldwide. We both have the recessive gene for albinism. That means in order for our child to have albinism, we both gave her our "carrier gene." With each pregnancy, we have a 1 in 4 chance to have a child with albinism.
So we headed straight to a local eye doctor in town to confirm the diagnosis since albinism affects their eyesight. We were both devastated (at the time). Majority of the people with albinism are legally blind and low vision. Being legally blind DOES NOT mean that the world is black to them or they have to use braille. But this is what I thought for the first six weeks of her life. I was sooo uneducated about this condition.
The other part of albinism is they do not have any melanin in their hair, eyes and skin. AG is very light sensitive. Because of this she wears hats, sunglasses and sunscreen when outside.
As I said, the local eye doctor told us these things, along with many false information regarding albinism. SO for 6 weeks we kept all the lights off in the house, blinds closed and stayed inside in order to protect her. Then when AG was six weeks old, we had an appointment with a pediatric opthamalogist (sp?) in Atlanta. He told us to treat her as a "normal" child --- she may not be able to play baseball -- but will be able to do most anything else. "Let her go outside, enjoy the beautiful world." That was when my whole outlook of AG's future changed! I knew she would be fine.
AG is now in the 3 year old preschool class and one of the smartest ones (is that bragging too much?). I have always pushed education on AG since she was an infant -- she just thinks it is all fun and games. One reason for the push is that one day, she may begin to get behind in school. If so, I want her to be ahead as much as possible now. She has known her ABC's by sight and sound since about a year and half. As of now, she can sign about 100 words in sign language (www.signingtime.com) and put them in sentences.
I laugh because I used to worry she wasn't talking (late start), but now we can't get her to be quiet! She even talks in her sleep.
Each day she amazes both Reggie and myself by what she can come up with. And what she can see. Last time we took her for her eye appt, her eyes measured 20/125. That is very good for someone with albinism.
As you can tell, I am very proud of our daughter. I always had wanted a daughter, but never imagined it would be this fun.
To learn more about albinism, visit www.albinism.org. This is NOAH, National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation. This group has been a wonderful support group.
Friday, May 15, 2009
So I Now Have a Blog....
Welcome to my first post as a blogger. I have been following several bloggers for a while now and always thought about creating my own. Well, it has only taken about about 3 months to get around to it. So here it goes.....
What do I say?? Will this be interesting to others??
I have been married since November 2000. We dated for 6 years before that. In November 2005 our precious baby girl was born. What a beautiful bundle of joy she was/is. From the time she came out of the womb, she has been on the go from sun-up to sun-down. And I have loved every minute of it.
(sorry - let me finish this tomorrow when I am not so sleepy) :)
What do I say?? Will this be interesting to others??
I have been married since November 2000. We dated for 6 years before that. In November 2005 our precious baby girl was born. What a beautiful bundle of joy she was/is. From the time she came out of the womb, she has been on the go from sun-up to sun-down. And I have loved every minute of it.
(sorry - let me finish this tomorrow when I am not so sleepy) :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
