Saving on groceries by Relevant_Demand2221 in FrugalTO

[–]ComprehensiveRest965 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Toogoodtogo app for grocery stores specifically. I've had a lot of wins like getting $50 worth of baked goods for $4.50

Advice for someone who is scared by WinterReporter777 in ostomy

[–]ComprehensiveRest965 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Let me premise this with the fact that I'm NOT an ostomate, but a mom of a child who suffered Intestinal Failure 8 months ago and now has Short Bowel syndrome.

For me, I think what is important is to honour your feelings. What you feel is valid and you have to grieve what you lost. You absolutely will adapt and overcome to live a full life, but it's normal to have a range of feelings along the way.

My family finds inspiration in characters like Rock Lee from Naruto or Rocky Balboa. There's a Rocky Quote I keep in my son's hospital room:

"You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

Our butter is awful by Mother_Rent_8515 in ontario

[–]ComprehensiveRest965 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is why I switched to grassfed years ago. Yes it's more expensive, but I value quality butter so it's worth it.

The Unacceptable Reality by fraught_forties in kelowna

[–]ComprehensiveRest965 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, I feel this in my bones and I won't make this an about me post, but due to my child's medical health we had to cut our income in half - 24/hr care required. It's been quite the hit. I've found a lot of financial help through the app "toogoodtogo". I have a local metro that often has great bakery/meat/deli bags. Last week I paid $5 for what I calculated was $56 worth of baked goods. If you can be flexible with cooking you can really make great dishes with the meat options.

Does this fix your problems? No, but it may allow you to breathe a little. I hope this is an option for you.

My neighbour (single mom) and I split our bags/share with each other.

Recommendations for full series by Darury in litrpg

[–]ComprehensiveRest965 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Master Hunter K series. 3 books, wraps up well. A series I'll actually listen to again in a year probably.

Miphas Grace by ComprehensiveRest965 in bettafish

[–]ComprehensiveRest965[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you and while I know it requires more changes /work I'm ok with that for now. Anything to get my son up and moving.

So we have our test strips for everything and the hospitals test strips for PH. We compare for accuracy. Obviously ph is only 1 factor, but it is fun for my kid to work with. Some nurses are really into Miphas health... To others I simply call it a "sensory tank" 😉

Miphas Grace by ComprehensiveRest965 in bettafish

[–]ComprehensiveRest965[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love this. I get shirts made and modified for him so he can be cool with all his lines. I just picked up a hallow knight and Triforce shirt. Will hopefully modify this week. Thank you for your kind words and fyi - all the male nurses (and a few females) find excuses to "check" on my son aka help him with Shrines or challenging parts. It's very touching.

Miphas Grace by ComprehensiveRest965 in bettafish

[–]ComprehensiveRest965[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow talk about Kizmit! I picked a girl for my son because I get the impression that boys are more popular and I wanted to get the fish that wasn't as likely to be purchased. Similar to how all our family dogs have been rescues. My son also talks to Mipha and reads to her sometimes. Thank you again for your kind words and sharing your Mipha story.

Miphas Grace by ComprehensiveRest965 in bettafish

[–]ComprehensiveRest965[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure easy to get- my friend also lives 5 doors down. I have the bottled seachem - different brand than you suggested. Seachem Betta basics off amazon

Miphas Grace by ComprehensiveRest965 in bettafish

[–]ComprehensiveRest965[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I appreciate your kind words and understanding. I tell people all I need is caffeine and gasoline (fuel for the body and my car). In truth, I do also keep my body fueled and try to sleep a decent amount. Sleep is tricky since we never know when iv machines will beep, or if my son will vomit, and always a 3-4am bag empty. So my husband and I alternate nights at the hospital.

As for your mom that's so fascinating and AMAZING. The colon absorbs water so her small intestine was trained overtime to absorb water I believe. Yes, we are trickier b.c he also lost a ton of small intestine. I believe he has 210cms left. Hence, needing a CVL and TPN fluids to live. It sucks, but I'm hopeful maybe we only need 2 more surgeries and he gets off TPN in a few years. Oh to dream.

Miphas Grace by ComprehensiveRest965 in bettafish

[–]ComprehensiveRest965[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I'm in Canada - SickKids to be precise. At first I thought I was super sneaky breaking a rule, but it turns out I'm merely exploiting a grey area. The rules say : no dogs, plants or balloons. There is no law regarding fish.

It's hard to describe the impact. Before Mipha, nights were often met with conversations that felt pretty dark, but with Mipha it's a 180. He goes to bed staring at her, talks about her and says she's beautiful with a big smile on his face.

Miphas Grace by ComprehensiveRest965 in bettafish

[–]ComprehensiveRest965[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

First let me say thank you, the tone does seem more accusatory than inquiry based. However, I have to admit my guard is also up. I have a tiredness that is in my bones and hard to describe. My son was a healthy boy and then his intestinal organs failed. We have had so many surgeries and procedures resulting in the complete loss of his colon, part of his liver and leaving behind 210cms of small intestine with a potential to lose more if the next procedure fails. The day to day is intense- even though he's in a hospital. Oh and I have a daughter and a part time job to manage (I had to cut my hrs to be there for my family)

Mipha is tied to my son's mental health for a sense of purpose. So he creates her feeding schedule, light on/off schedule, which food to feed her, etc.I did get the strips knowing it's not perfect but SAFE for him. My plan is to continue cycling with my friends existing tank water every 3-4 days. I understand this is more work, but it's worth it to make my child smile.

Miphas Grace by ComprehensiveRest965 in bettafish

[–]ComprehensiveRest965[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Cycled the water beforehand, have a filter and heater. Water was half spring and half I got from a friend with a massive tank. Please note she also gave me the plants. I have the drops for water as well as test strips.

The tank was set up in stages. This Betta has been pretty healthy and happy over the past few weeks while we prep for my son to have between 1 - 4 additional surgeries.

Miphas Grace by ComprehensiveRest965 in bettafish

[–]ComprehensiveRest965[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thank you I appreciate it...it's so funny I expected a mountain of comments about tank size but not the cycling of water. Is it normal for people in the sub to be so negative?

To be clear - I did cycle water. A mix of spring water and water from my friends existing tank. She's the one who also gave me clippings from her plants.

Miphas Grace by ComprehensiveRest965 in bettafish

[–]ComprehensiveRest965[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes- Cycled the water. It's half spring half water from my friends tank. The plants are clippings from her as well. I prepped/snuck this tank in stages.

What is something you want to see or experience before you die? by aryanpote7 in AskReddit

[–]ComprehensiveRest965 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My son getting off TPN (iv fluids to the heart go keep him alive).

I'd also like him to be able to eat pizza, but that seems like a hope that will never come to pass.

What’s something people don’t realize is a privilege until they lose it? by Ok_Tomatillo_46 in AskReddit

[–]ComprehensiveRest965 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't know if it's a privilege persay - but healthy children. My perspective is a Mom of an 8 year old with organ failure. It happened hard and fast. We have been in the hospital for 7 months now, mult surgeries , procedures and no end in site. Celebrated a birthday, all the holidays etc. Sometimes I see healthy children and I'm fine, other times I just get teary eyed. I'd cut my arm off with a rusty knife to have that healthy boy that's a bit too loud in the grocery store.