Update with a little Ugggggggg

So, I will take you back to Sunday of last week first.  It was a HOT day here....105 to be exact.  I decided to bring my kids over to my husband's aunt's house for a day in her pool.  Bad idea...starting on Sunday, Daniel started breathing funny.  I posted videos on the blog's facebook page to try to get answers from anyone else that may have had any idea about what was going on.  Well, I got a little bit of everything as a response.  So, I decided to just call the doctor.  When I called to make him a sick appointment, they asked when I would like him to be seen.  I told them that whenever they had an appointment free would be great, the sooner the better.  I was thinking of nap time, not that this might be a critical problem.  I figured I was being overprotective mommy bringing her child in for no reason and spending WAY too much money on nothing.  Well, they asked what the problem is and they said, "Just come right now, we will get him in as soon as you walk in the door."

I knew we were in for another bad news day...which is even worse now that we don't have insurance.  Yep, that is right...Dan, Luke and I do not have health insurance  right now.  Why might you ask?  Well, the insurance company that we had decided that because I had a baby, Dan was in the hospital and diagnosed with two different medical conditions already, and because of Luke's constant speech therapy (all which happened in one year) that they would raise my premium by almost $200 a month!  Yes, how horrible is that...we couldn't afford it, hubby doesn't have open enrollment until January (not that that would help much because that is about the same price as the new premium) so we are trying to get new insurance.  Cross your fingers and pray that it goes through soon!

So, anyways...we don't have insurance and we walk in the door, they take us straight back and did an exam, chest x-ray, and some blood work.  The whole time they were running tests...I just saw dollar signs because I still kind of thought I was just being paranoid.  Well, turns out, I was not.  He was having an asthma attack (or what they think is an asthma attack...he has not been diagnosed completely and will not be going to see the baby lung doctor until we have insurance and his doctor says that it is time to go through all the tests of that--he is WAY too young to do the lung capacity thing right now).  So, they gave him a breathing treatment and a prescription for an inhaler.  

Well, at least now I am not worrying about the money as much...just know we are going to have to continue to tighten our belts until all this medical stuff is paid off (we still don't have his hospital bills paid off from his 3 night stay).  

I went through all the emotions I have been going through since my son was born it seems...we just keep getting bad news after bad news.  I started out with the crying, then I blamed myself, then I researched like crazy, cried a little more, than accepted it.  So, I am ready!  Bring it! I can totally do this!  There are so many worse things it could have been I am thanking the Lord that it is only *maybe* asthma!

"I can do anything through Him who gives me strength"

Philippians 4:13

Soda Stream Review and Giveaway *US ONLY!*

Today I am going to tell you about Soda Stream.

I was provided a Genesis model with a BUNCH of different kinds of soda to try out.  I was actually VERY surprised when I opened the box and found all the goodies inside.

Everything I received for review

Everything that comes with the soda maker: the maker, the carbonator, two bottles, and two caps

I am going to admit, that I have been reading Soda Stream reviews for a while now, and I have been wondering if it was worth the upfront cost.  Now that I have waited over a year and am finally now using it, I am KICKING myself in the head for not getting one sooner!!!!  Most everyone on this blog is all about being more environmentally friendly, right?  Well, talk about being environmentally friendly!!!!  Not only are the bottles that you get with the starter kit reusable, the Soda Stream does not use any kind of power!!!  That is right, no electricity or batteries needed!  Oh, I love being environmentally friendly!  Also, this is GREAT for the pocketbook.  Let me break it down for you.  One bottle of mix makes 12 liters, which is 6 two litters.  To buy that in bottles it would cost you $9 (using the average amount of $1.50 for a 2 liter of soda here).  To buy that in a Soda Stream mix, it would cost you $4.99!  Having a big party?  Get friends to save up 2 liter bottles for you.  Use the Soda Stream and 3-4 bottles of mix (and having some of that mix left over!!!) to make soda for the party!  Watch your savings pile up as you use your Soda Stream more and more!

Water being carbonized

Water with soda mix in it

Not only is the Soda Stream all that, it is even more!  I will tell you that I seriously enjoyed making soda using this!  I was giggling so much on the phone with my Grandma when I was trying to make my first batch. Not only that, it is SIMPLE.  All you do is fill the bottle up with chilled water to the fill line, attach it, carbonize it, put the mix in, shake it, serve.  It seriously takes maybe 30 seconds!  I have to admit, the first time you are using a new carbonized bottle though, it may take a few presses on the button to get it flowing.  Once it did start coming out (about 4-5 presses later) it scared the living crap out of me because I had my ear right up to the machine waiting to hear the hiss....I figured it would be a small hiss....it's not haha....jokes on me!!!

An amazing amount of mixes that Soda Stream offers

Even naturally flavored things, or just regular sodas!

What a sample pack  loos like and the sizes of the sample pack mixers

They even offer water flavorings!

So, Soda Stream doesn't only provide soda mixes.  You can find almost EVERYTHING you could ever imagine!  Soda, naturally flavored soda, sparkling water, anything!

Comparing Diet Cola mix from Soda Stream to Diet Coke

Comparing Energy Drink mix from Soda Stream to Rockstar Energy Drinks

Anyways...I decided to try the two flavors that these parents can not live without first, Diet Cola and Energy drinks!  I decided to take out a bottle of Diet Coke (mmm, my fav) and a Rockstar Energy Drink (mmmm, so good again!).  I decided to compare the two.  And let me tell you, the Diet Cola from Soda Stream tasted EXACTLY like the Diet Coke!!!  And even better, the Energy drink tasted JUST like the Rockstar!!!  You seriously can NOT tell the difference!

So, what can be better than a machine that saves you money, is eco-friendly, is fast and easy to use, and taste just like the leading brands?  I don't know...I can't find anything else to possibly compare this machine to!  It is just wonderful!

Now, thanks to the wonderful people at Soda Stream, you also have a chance to win!!!  Here is what you can win:

Giveaway package is a Fountain Jet Soda Lover's Start-Up Kit  ($99.95) http://www.sodastreamusa.com/Fountain-Jet-Soda-Starter-Kit-P184.aspx. It includes:

-          Fountain Jet – winner’s choice of color (black/silver, red/silver or white)

-          1 carbonating bottle, reusable for up to 3 years

-          Reusable carbonator to fizz up to 60L of soda

-          Variety 6-pack of popular sample-size flavors

-          3 full-sized flavors of the winner’s choice

a Rafflecopter giveaway