Jason and Elizabeth..Plus TWO!!

Cheap Diapers at CVS

2010-03-19T21:48:00.003-05:00

I am so excited about the upcoming sale at CVS. Please remember that the sale I'm referring to in this post does not begin until Sunday, March 21st. Pampers diapers will be VERY cheap this week. I've put together some scenarios that will help you if you are new to CVS and couponing. Please note that ECBs are Extra Care Bucks that you get for buying certain items in the store. They print out at the bottom of your receipt, and you can use them on your next purchase. All of the ECB deals are listed in the ad. Ok, so here is what I will be doing on Sunday:

Transaction #1:

Buy:

1 Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste for $3.99 (Get $3.99 in ECBs back at the end of transaction)

Use:

$1 off Colgate from March 7^th newspaper insert

Total Due: $2.99 + tax

Get back $3.99 in ECBs

Transaction #2:

Buy:

1 Pampers Diapers Jumbo Pack for $8.97 (Get $3 in ECBs back)

Use:

$2 off Pampers Diapers from March 14^th newspaper

$3.99 ECBs (that I got from transaction #1)

Total Due: $2.98

Get back $3 in ECBs

Transaction #3:

Buy:

1 Pampers Diapers Jumbo Pack for $8.97 (Get $3 in ECBs back)

Use:

$2 off Pampers Diapers from March 14^th newspaper

$3 ECBs (that I got from transaction #2)

Total Due: $3.97

Get back $3 in ECBs

Transaction #4:

Buy:

1 Crest Pro Health Rinse at $3.99 (Get $2 ECBs back)

2 Dawn Dish Soap at 97 cents per bottle

Use:

$2 off Crest Pro Health Rinse from February 7^th newspaper insert

TWO 25 cents off Dawn Dish Soap

$3 in ECBs (from transaction #3)

Total Due: 43 cents!!!!!

So this means I got 1 tube of toothpaste, 2 packs of diapers, 1 bottle of mouthwash, and 2 bottles of dish soap for $10.37. That's a deal!!! My husband and I both have a card, so I'll actually do this twice. I always buy at least 2 newspapers, and sometimes I buy 4. This gives me plenty of coupons for times like this when I need several. Let me know if you have success with this...I can't wait until Sunday!!!

CVS Deal of the Week

2010-03-18T21:28:00.003-05:00

Everyone who knows me knows that in October I decided to quit my job as a high school teacher and become a stay-at-home mom. This meant that I had to find a way to save lots of money. A friend directed me to southernsavers.com. I found a great way to save money on groceries. I have cut my grocery/household items budget by about 65%!!! I have even taught a couponing class here in Shreveport. Several people have asked me to start a website to show how I do it. SouthernSavers.com is a great resource, but sometimes the prices/ads are different here in Shreveport than they are in Atlanta where SouthernSavers is based.

SOOOOO...here's your couponing tip for the day. Go to CVS and get a ExtraCare card if you don't already have one. Then scan your card at the price checking machine, and coupons will print out of the side of the machine. One of the coupons will be for $1 off CVS paper towels. The regular price for the paper towels is $1.29. This means that with your coupon, your total will be 29 cents plus tax!!! That's a great deal! You can go every day and print out this coupon. They usually change the coupon on Sunday.

I'll have more tips along the way to help you save money. I'll try to start off with easy items then work up to the BIG deals (like how I got $130 worth of groceries at Kroger's for $40).

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

2009-12-26T21:37:00.004-06:00

This was by far the best Christmas I've ever had. Caroline was in a great mood all day long. She's such a good sport! Jason got me a FLIP camcorder, so I was able to capture a few moments from Christmas morning. Jacob got a new phone, so he was super excited. Caroline just enjoyed playing with the boxes and trying to figure out what the fuss was all about. More than all the material things, I just feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family. God has blessed us beyond measure this year, and I know that He will continue to do so in years to come.

On another note, I plan to blog more often now. I was so blessed at the response to the last post (my testimony). I hope and pray that it reminded someone of the wonderful God we serve. I am still working on responding to everyone. It's funny because I go to a blog..read a little bit...end up clicking on a link to someone else's blog...then, before I know it, it's 3:00 in the morning, and I can't for the life of me remember whose page I was on to begin with!!! I have been a "creeper" for a LONG time. I could just sit forever and read everyone else's life stories. I find it all so interesting. So, my New Year's resolution is to post at least a few times a week...we'll see how that goes!!!

Season of Miracles

2009-11-27T23:20:00.004-06:00

Thanksgiving is a special time for me. It reminds me of the love my Father has for me and how His plan is to prosper me and not harm me…plans to give me a hope and future. I think on these words often. They ring true for me because statistically and according to every doctor I’ve ever talked to, I should not be here today.

My story begins over 8 years ago. I was in the process of changing jobs and was taking a 2 week vacation because I had time left and was given 2 weeks pay when I left. I was at home cleaning and blew out a big 3-wick candle. Wax hit my left eye, and the next day I woke up with an eye infection. I went to the doctor for what I thought would be a routine visit with a prescription for some antibiotics. Boy, was I wrong! The doctor that I was supposed to see was not there that day, so I saw a doctor I had not seen before. I believe that small detail was ordered by God. He noticed my vision was a little off and dilated my eye “just in case.” I remember him looking and looking for what seemed like an eternity. I remember the light burning my eye and how dry my eye felt because he was looking so long. He left the room without saying a word. He came back in and explained that there was a “mass” in my eye. “It’s probably nothing. People your age don’t get eye cancer, but you still need to see a specialist,” he said. I told him that if that was the case, I would wait until my new insurance kicked in from my new job. “Elizabeth, you don’t understand. I’ve already made you an appointment with a specialist. He is one of only 2 doctors in this area that deal with this. He’s at a tumor conference at LSUMC but is leaving right now to meet you at his office.” I was stunned. I was alone. I had no idea what to do. So many thoughts ran through my mind. Again, God ordered the steps of those around me. A nurse came up to me and explained that she was Jason’s (my husband now, fiancé at the time) neighbor. She told me that I could come over anytime, and she would help in any way she could. Jason ended up going to her house that night, and she explained in laymen’s terms everything that was happening. That was such a blessing to Jason. I called my mom, who happened to be at a prayer meeting with some of the most powerful prayer warriors I know, and they began to pray.

My mom and dad closed their business that day and headed to the doctor’s office with me. They had called some friends who explained that this was a very serious situation, so they wanted to be there to support me and see what the doctor said. The doctor quickly diagnosed me with “choroidal melanoma with a secondary exudative retinal detachment.” The tumor was so large it had detached my retina from eye. It was such a slow process that I never even noticed my vision loss. The doctor said it probably started in high school. I left shortly after that to go to the University of Tennessee for radiation plaque therapy. The radiologist there told me that I was the youngest documented case of this type of cancer. The radiation plaque was inserted into my eye and ran 24 hours a day for 10 days straight. I was separated from Jacob during this time because he couldn’t come into the room because of the radiation. He stayed in Shreveport with my sister, Rachel, while my parents and Jason went with me. It was such a hard time…I was in pain…missing my family..and unsure of what was going to happen next. Jason and I were going to get married soon, so we asked the doctor if having another baby would be ok. His response was to look Jason square in the eye and say, “Well, that depends on whether you want to raise 1 child or 2 by yourself.” It was such a blow, but we put it in God’s hands.

Fast forward 5 years later….I went Thanksgiving week to my yearly eye exam. I had lost all vision in my left eye because of the radiation…but the treatment had worked, and I was cancer-free. The doctor knew we had been waiting for this appointment because the 5 year check-up is the BIG ONE!! I will never forget his words… “You look great! Go home and have some babies!!!” We were thrilled! I breathed a sigh of relief because it was over…I was in the clear.

Three days later (the night before Thanksgiving), I was sitting in the bathtub relaxing after a hard week. We had just buried my cousin who had died (on Jacob’s birthday) unexpectedly at a very young age. I was tired…emotionally and physically. I just happened to notice a lump on the outer side of my breast. I will never forget that moment. I took a deep breath and told myself not to worry. I was sure it was nothing, but I would go to the doctor just to make sure. The breast specialist got me in pretty quickly because of my history. He tried a sonogram but could see nothing. He scheduled a biopsy a few days later. As I was on the table getting the biopsy, I caught a glimpse of the sample. It looked like motor oil. The nurse and doctor looked at each other in a strange way, and I knew something was wrong. A few days later, I got the call. He said it was cancer. I asked the doctor how in the world breast cancer was related to the eye cancer. He said, “Elizabeth, it’s not in your breast..it’s in your lymph nodes. It’s not breast cancer…the melanoma has metastasized.” (Just a side note…I was teaching school when I got this call. My mom had stopped by the school to get me to sign some release papers so we could get my medical records just in case. My sister was also teaching at Calvary. This is just another example of God’s love. He made sure that in my darkest hour my momma would be there for me. I remember the bell ringing, and I just crumpled into a desk as I tried to process the information.)

Just a few days later, Jason and I were sitting in Dr. Rosen’s office at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center. Jason is an electrician and was working there at the time (just another one of God’s ordered steps). When he told some people what was going on, they led him straight into Dr. Rosen’s office for a consultation. That sped up the process of trying to get an appointment. When we met, Dr. Rosen said, “Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat this. It’s bad. It’s really bad. I have done the research, and there isn’t even a protocol for treatment. This is probably going to be the end for you because there’s nothing we can do.” He then looked at Jason and said, “I lost my best friend in college to cancer, but I can’t imagine losing my wife. You are so young.” He then proceeded to tell us that we needed to quickly get Jason and Jacob into grief counseling. He said that death would come so quickly that they needed to start preparing for it now. By this point, my faith kicked in. I can’t explain it, but this undeniable peace came over me. I looked him straight in the eye and said, “I don’t know if you believe in God or miracles, but you are about to see something miraculous happen.” He smiled a little and said, “I hope you are right.” On a personal note, I love Dr. Rosen. I appreciated his honesty, and according to medicine he was right. I asked him to shoot straight with us, and he did. I don’t want anyone to think that he was insensitive because he wasn’t. He was compassionate and helped us through this entire process.

By now, it was the middle of December. Dr. Rosen referred us to Dr. Feagin for treatment. She is, in my opinion, the FINEST oncologist in our area. I’m really surprised she has not moved on to bigger and better things…but that was probably just another one of God’s ordered steps! She explained to us that once melanoma is in the lymph nodes, it spreads very quickly. She ordered a PET scan, but told us she was going to wait until after Christmas to give us the results. Her reasoning was that it was probably going to be our last holiday together, and there was no sense in ruining it. Once again, my faith kicked in. I knew I was going to be ok. I was scared of the process because we never know how God is going to choose to heal us, but I knew I would survive. I continued to teach during this entire time, and my students and fellow teachers stood with me the whole time. I begged Dr. Feagin to give us the results before Christmas, and she agreed. We went in a few days before Christmas and got GREAT news. The cancer was somehow (divine intervention) contained to only ONE lymph node. We could do surgery in January to remove that node and a few around it just to make sure we got a negative margin. Praise God!!!

On January 5th, I went in for surgery. Everything went well. I know this post is getting REALLY long, but I must share one incredible detail about this day. The procedure involved radioactive dye being injected into my breast. This dye would “light up” the cancer cells, so the doctor would know where to look. They couldn’t put me under anesthesia or give me pain medicine for this because I was going into surgery soon. They put me on a table and strapped my arms and legs down because the radiologist said so many people kick and scream and punch him that this was now necessary. I knew this going into it and prayed….and prayed…and prayed some more that this wouldn’t be the case for me. I was explaining all of this to the nurse while she laughed at me. He began injecting the dye, and I began to giggle. It tickled…it didn’t hurt. The doctor looked shocked and said, “Well, I’ve seen a lot of reactions, but I’ve NEVER seen that!” God is so faithful.

After the successful surgery, I went home after just one night in the hospital. Dr. Feagin said I was looking good and just needed to come in every couple of weeks for blood work and CT scans. For several months, everything was fine….until April. After a CT scan, we found a mass in my lung. Dr. Feagin was very discouraged and said that it was like playing “Whack a Mole” at the fair. Melanoma is absolutely unpredictable and just starts popping up everywhere. She ordered a more detailed CT scan with small slices of samples just a few days later. By that time, the mass in my right lung had grown to twice its size, and there was another mass in my left lung. She came into the room and said, “I’ve thought about you WAY more than I should have over Easter. I’m not sure there’s anything we can do. Surgery is not an option because obviously you need your lungs. We need to start talking about quality of life.” Nothing we can do?? Quality of life?? I’m glad I know with God ALL things are possible…and that He died to give me a FUTURE!

She had me come back with my parents and my husband so that we could all hear the information and decide the next step. She said there was a clinical trial she could get me into at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. She was also honest with us and told us that it probably wouldn’t help me but would help with research in the future. At this point, I was given 3 weeks to 3 months to live. Let that sink in for a moment! I must say that even with all this bad news, we never lost our faith. I would get discouraged and not like the process, but I ALWAYS knew God would heal me. I didn’t care if it was through chemo, radiation, a clinical trial, or a MIRACLE…I just knew God would somehow do it.

We asked for a lung biopsy just to make sure it was melanoma. Dr. Feagin said that lung biopsies are painful, and it was unnecessary because she already knew. I insisted, and she agreed. I prayed and prayed and prayed that I would get in there, and they would say, “Oh wow! It’s gone!” That didn’t happen. I didn’t understand why God didn’t miraculously step in as He had done so many times before. It was painful..worse than childbirth, breast injections, or anything else I can think of! It was the only point in which I really wondered if it would be better to just die. That night at home, Jason called my mother because he was so concerned about me. When we went in to get the results, we found out that they didn’t get a very good sample. I smiled and knew God had intervened. Dr. Feagin said not to get our hopes up because the mass was still there, and she was absolutely sure it was melanoma. Other doctors who looked at the tests agreed. Even though I knew it would be painful, I asked for another biopsy. They put me into the CT scanner (this is another procedure that had to be done with me completely awake) to get some pictures before they started. I was in there longer than I had been with the first biopsy which I thought was strange. Then the machine started moving me out. I remember wondering why that was happening. When I looked up, I saw the radiologist. “Well, we can’t do the procedure today,” he said. My mind began racing. Why? Good lord, I can’t take another day off work! I’ve prepared myself mentally for the pain! The doctor stopped my thoughts by saying, “I rarely get to give people good news, but I get to today! We can’t do the procedure because there’s nothing to biopsy. Your lungs are clear!” I immediately began to cry. The nurse began to rub my shoulder and handed me a tissue. They knew my story. They knew what I was up against. They knew what was at stake here. The doctor told me that I was free to leave. I told them that they had just witnessed a miracle, and if that didn’t make them believe in God, I don’t know what would.

That, my friends, is the end of that chapter. I have been completely cancer-free since that day. Dr. Feagin called it “spontaneous regression” but I call it a “miracle.” God stepped in and did what He had to do. There was no time for medicine or doctors. He had to intervene, and He had to do it quickly. And He did…because I stood on the promises of God. I knew that 1,000 may fall on my right, and 10,000 on my left, but it would NOT come near me. I knew that NO weapon formed against me would prosper. I knew that He had a plan and a future for me. He didn’t want to leave Jacob without a mother and Jason without a wife. He wanted sweet little Caroline to be born….but that’s another day’s post!! If you or someone you know is fighting a cancer battle, don’t lose hope. Don’t lose faith. Jesus died on the cross so that by His stripes we could be healed. He did it for me, and He’ll do it for you!!!

*Note: This is the short version. I actually had to leave ALOT out. I’m really thinking about writing a book.

IT'S A GIRL!!! CAROLINE ELIZABETH PICKETT!!!!!

2008-11-06T21:37:00.004-06:00

I'm really speechless!! We had no idea that we would find out today. For those of you who don't know, I've changed doctors. I LOVE Dr. Kinder, and I'm sooooo glad I made that change.

HERE!!

2008-11-01T22:45:00.007-05:00

I can honestly say that this is the happiest I've ever been. Has this pregnancy been easy? No..that story is for another day, but it's all worth it. I'm totally in love with my husband, and I have the sweetest, smartest, and most well-behaved child I know! This is an exciting time for us. Today I was hurting, so I decided to try to just sit in the recliner with my laptop and rest. This video is what resulted from that! Every time I hear this song, I think of my relationship with Jason. It hasn't always been easy for us. We've dealt with so much in the last ten years, but I wouldn't trade anything for my time with him. I am absolutely blessed beyond measure!!!

Seriously????

2008-10-07T22:08:00.002-05:00

I must have a sign on my belly that says, "Please..stop and give me advice. I REALLY REALLY value your opinion as a stranger in my life." Why is it that when you're pregnant, people feel the need to say things they would NEVER say to you otherwise? What's even sadder is that they don't have to be strangers. When I was about 8 weeks, I told Jason, "Man! I'm getting a little tummy." Jason's response..you ready? "Yeah and your hips are getting big too!" Seriously? A lady at work asked me one day how far along I was. I told her that I was about 9 weeks. "Wow!" she said as she began rubbing my belly. "You shouldn't be THAT BIG at 9 weeks!" Again, I ask, SERIOUSLY???

And then there's my family who so graciously pointed out some things that I should give up for the next nine months. Caffeine, sweets, stress...oh wait, that would have been too obvious. Apparently, I don't need to go tubing (as in..on the lake..in a tube) anymore. I'm sure glad they told me! I was planning on busting out the bikini and hitting the freezing lake this weekend. Oh..there is good news! My mom didn't know that alcohol and pregnancy don't mix. That's good I guess. I can always kick one back if it all gets to be too much.

So, when you talk to me or see new pictures posted, please refrain from telling me how fat I am, how many bad habits I should break (sorry folks, not giving up the caffeine!), how breastfeeding isn't fair to my husband, why I should let the baby sleep with me (not happening!), why I shouldn't give the baby a pacifier (ha! Baby's getting the stinkin' pacifer!!!), or why a home birth is better. Instead, just pray for patience until this first trimester is over!

(ok, ok, you must know that I'm joking..kinda!)

Hijacking My Own Baby Blog!!

2008-09-22T20:41:00.010-05:00

Ok..here's a shameless plug! I have a new listing in Southern Hills. It really does have a lot to do with Baby Pickett. This commission will go into the baby fund. Here are the details..and a few pics.

This is a completely remodeled 4 bedroom, 3 bath home off of Kingston Road. The owners have installed new carpet, ceramic tile, countertops, cabinets, appliances, crown molding, new bathroom fixtures, and much more. The entire house is done in neutral colors. There are two spacious living areas separated by a large kitchen/dining room. The master bed/bath is remote. There is a hall bathroom and another bathroom inside one of the the other bedrooms. This house even has THREE storage closets!! Outside, there is a shed AND a workshop with electricity. This is a steal for someone!! Check out the pics..if you know anyone looking, tell them to call me (318) 401-6868. I'd love to help them!!!

Remote Master Bedroom

Living Room

Bathroom (inside Bedroom 2) Bedroom 2

Kitchen/Dining Room

Kitchen

(Some legal stuff I've got to add!)

Elizabeth Pickett

Realtor

Licensed in the State of Louisiana

Diamond Realty

315 East Texas

Bossier City, LA

(318) 401-6868

8 Weeks and 4 Days

2008-09-21T21:41:00.000-05:00

We are moving along quite nicely!! Jason and I went to the doctor on Thursday for our first sonogram. (I haven't quite figured out how to post good pics yet!) It was amazing to hear the baby's heartbeat. I don't go back to the doctor for another month. I've been feeling fine lately. I have figured out that if I eat SOMETHING every hour, I'm fine. More than anything, I'm just REALLY REALLY TIRED. I'm sure all of this will pass once we get through the first trimester. My official due date is April 29th. Jason and I figured out that we will (hopefully) find out the sex of the baby right before Christmas. What a wonderful Christmas present!!!!

Baby Time!!

2008-09-03T22:43:00.000-05:00

Ok..so I decided to start this blog for several reasons. First, I will have a great keepsake when the baby comes. I also think this is a great way for family and friends to keep up with what's going on with the pregnancy. Soooo....here goes!

Thursday night, Jason and I were talking about the possibility of me being pregnant. I decided to take a pregnancy test first thing Friday morning. We have had so many negative tests before that I didn't have my hopes up. Almost immediately, the "+" sign popped up. I ran and woke Jason up and showed him the test. We were sooooo excited. We couldn't keep it a secret. I told my best friend, Amy, and he told a friend of his at work. After school, I took another test just to make sure. It was positive!! Then, we told Jacob. He was so happy. We then went to Jason's parents' house to tell them. They were thrilled. We went to Hot Springs and spent the weekend together as a family. When I got home, I still wasn't convinced. So, I took another test!! Again, it was positive!!!! So, I'm pretty sure there's a little Pickett in there!! ;)

I go to the doctor on September 11th. I will know more after that. For those that knew me 10 years ago, I had an awful pregnancy. I was sick the entire time. If I've done my calculations correctly, I'm six weeks pregnant today. So far, no bad symptoms....well, maybe just a little emotional, but I'll take that over morning sickness any day of the week!!!