Welcome to my weekly posts. I’ll be sharing photos and highlights from the past week, things I read, watched, and listened to. We also share links to posts and other interesting things you don’t want to miss.
This day was colonoscopy week. I received multiple requests to share all the details of my process and preparation. So, I shared a lot of details on Instagram for those who are interested.
(I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy to find out the root cause of my chronic anemia.)
I went on a low residue diet (no fiber) 3 days ago and I think it made it easier to prepare so I’m definitely going to do this again! you can See here for an example of what I ate on this diet.
The hardest part of the whole process was eating a clear liquid diet for 36 hours. I didn’t expect to be so hungry. I couldn’t work, I had to lie down, I was lightheaded and hungry. Looking back, if I had known I would be this hungry, I would have bought more jello, hard candy, gummy bears, and Italian ice cream. See more Here’s what I “ate” on a clear liquid diet.
(And I kept remembering all the people who constantly have to eat liquid foods, have feeding tubes, and experience real hunger and starvation. And I had a new appreciation for many things that I usually take for granted.)
i took 4 Dulcolax started preparations and worked very effectively and quickly — and had nausea and discomfort for an hour, but felt better after that.
and i had Mixed with lots of Miralax and Gatorade To make sure I was thoroughly cleaned. This part was really simple, I just slowed down, stayed near the toilet, and watched “When the Heart Calls”.
I ended up sleeping most of the night (I was prepared to stay up all night and be miserable) and then I started. Another round of Miralax and Gatorade in the morning. From 5:30am
I am preparing to have another endoscopy and colonoscopy. This man was so great this week. He always takes great care of me.
He went to the grocery store twice to pick up everything I needed for the colonoscopy, and even picked up tea with extra honey, jelly, and Italian ice when I was super hungry on clear liquid food.
Then he did all the school transportation for two days and took care of the kids while I was on the Gatorade/Miralax prep part. 
He then drove me to the procedure and stayed there with me.
Marriage is often not a big grand deed, but a collection of tiny little actions and sacrifices, and we can say:
“I love you.”
Jesse is out of town (he and Silas are on a ski trip to Utah), so we weren’t actually able to celebrate Valentine’s Day together this year, but we try to celebrate Valentine’s Day with small gestures and acts of kindness every day of the year. And I feel like that’s really the most important thing.
10 things that surprised me about my first colonoscopy/endoscopy…
1) Preparation was easier than I expected…
2) A clear liquid diet for over 24 hours was much harder than I expected. I felt very hungry, lightheaded, and very weak. (I wasn’t planning on doing much work that day, so it was really good!)
3) I mixed MiraLAX and Gatorade, portioned it into small bottles and refrigerated it, and it tasted pretty good (or maybe I was just hungry and it didn’t taste bad!)
4) After taking Dulcolax, I felt almost no discomfort during the preparation, except for an hour of nausea.
5) I was expecting only light sedation for the surgery, so I was really surprised when they put me on an IV and gave me oxygen.
6) I was worried that it would take me a while to fall asleep. But literally within two seconds of the anesthesiologist telling me they were going to start the medication, I was discharged.
7) I don’t remember anything until an hour later when I was yelling at her to get up. (Jesse says it took him several times to wake up).
8) When they woke me up, my first thought was, “Please let me go back to sleep. Please don’t wake me up!”
9) I didn’t have any pain or discomfort other than the biopsy of my esophagus.
10) It took me several hours to think clearly. When I tried to speak, I couldn’t seem to remember the words, and when Kathryn called to talk about her day, I couldn’t keep track of what she was saying. I could understand the words, but not the meaning. That was the strangest thing. 
Overall, it was a really good experience! Colonoscopy and endoscopy were good, no issues, internally everything looked normal and healthy. They did a biopsy so we are waiting for the results + I have another test next week so depending on the results I may need another scope. I’m hoping we get some answers from that, but we’ll see!
I was so excited to be able to eat non-liquid foods…but since I was having an endoscopy and multiple biopsies, I was only advised to eat soft foods, so I had mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. And it felt like the best macaroni & cheese and mashed potatoes I’ve ever had! 
Jesse and Silas went to Target and came back with these tulips for me. I think Mika saw that and insisted that I buy this for Valentine’s Day. It was the sweetest gesture from my sons.
Kirsten and Micah spent all last week conducting History Week at their small classical school. They learned about Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Kirsten was able to dress up on the last day, so she wore this dress…the moment she put it on, she instantly looked like an adult!
Books I finished reading this week
don’t burn down your house — This book inspired me with many practical ways to prioritize Jesse more and notice the big and small areas that can be improved so he can feel more loved, supported, and seen. I liked the author’s honesty as well as the practical and specific content. I highly recommend it to anyone who is struggling with their marriage or wants to continue building deeper relationships. Listen to the podcast episode I did with the author here.
what i see
Of course, it’s the Olympics, just like last week. I also watched quite a few episodes of “When Calls the Heart.” (Currently in season 8!)
Damn it! If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch the Olympics for free by signing up for a free trial of Walmart+.
In case you missed it – this week’s post
How to find hidden Walmart clearance deals and save big! – If you love saving money and Walmart sales, a secret treasure hunt awaits you – Walmart’s hidden clearance items!
Whole Wheat Pancakes ($10 Family Dinner Ideas) – These whole wheat chocolate chip pancakes are easy and healthy and It tastes great. Add chicken breakfast sausage and scrambled eggs for an easy family meal for under $10.
Make the most of Amazon’s subscription and savings sales: Tips and tricks to maximize your savings – This article will tell you more about it. Amazon Subscribe and save Learn how it works, how to save money, what to do if prices change, and how to change or cancel your Amazon Subscribe & Save subscription.
This week’s podcast episode
This week crystal payne showI’d like to talk about something that unexpectedly changed my life this year: what I jokingly call the “Grandma Hobby Era.” When I first shared this phrase online, it evoked more emotion than I expected. Some people really liked it, and some people really cared about it. For me, it’s a playful way to express something deeply meaningful. This means choosing activities that slow you down, calm your body, and help you feel present again.
Two years ago, if you had listened to me excitedly talk about puzzles, watercolors, and scarf knitting, you probably would have thought something was very wrong. Back then, my life was full of adrenaline, constant urgency, and a never-ending to-do list. I didn’t realize how tight I was living until I started loosening my bonds. And with encouragement from my functional medicine doctor, I began to intentionally create space. We reduced our work hours, built in white space, and let go of the need to always be “on.” In that space, I found myself drawn to simple, creative things that didn’t demand anything other than my attention.
Listen to this episode. Jesse and I get honest about what it’s like to break out of battle mode and learn how to rest, and I share how scary it was to cut back on my hours as the CEO of a company, how much anxiety it caused me, and how it revealed to me that I was an idol of control that I didn’t even know I had. I will also share the amazing ways God met me there financially, emotionally, and spiritually when I finally chose to trust rather than hustle.
Jesse and I also talk about what it feels like when you finally have more room on your calendar, when your to-do list doesn’t fill the pages, when people start to feel like opportunities rather than hindrances. We laugh about our incredibly flexible relationships with puzzles and sourdough and recipes, but more than that, we talk about what it means to live from a place of calm and be more fully engaged with the people we love and our work.
If you’re especially tired, on an adrenaline rush, or just want a slower, richer life, give this week a listen. Maybe it’s time to find your own “grandma hobby”. I hope this conversation will encourage you. And as always, we’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to contact us.
Listen to this week’s podcast episode.
Tell us about your week! Will something interesting happen? Did you read any good books, watch any good shows, or work on any projects?
Source: Money Saving Mom® – moneysavingmom.com
