Team Howard

who blinked first?

"O' What a Night"

Okay, What did you all think? Was it a night you expected? Did the winners dazzle you as they do on the big screen or was it a let down? What about Pip-In it? Who picks the songs, best songs to perform anyway, granted it went w. a movie and had a point... but where was it? Who did the Tivo fast forward pause. . . fast-ward during that part? I'd love to hear how you may have cast your ballot and if you picked a winner , I know I did. All in all it is fun to watch all those beautiful gowns sweep the Red Carpet. Here's the Oscar web site to check it out, it's kind of fun if you have a minute or can open a few screens while being productive at something else, i.e. it's slightly a waste of time! http://www.oscars.com/oscarnight/index.html

TWINS

YOU HEARD IT HERE, my TWIN, Niece and Nephew are turing ONE!
in about a week! They're both already walking & you guessed it talking or babbling. We can't wait for them to get there gifts. We will miss the party but will be there in spirit. We purchase some gifts straight from the heart. We hope they will love them for years to come! Soft and cuddling, I can't give away any more hints! We are so proud of both Mark and Amanda, they've made it through phase 1 containing, sleep deprivation, milk craziness, crying over split milk, way to many diapers, (especially poohy ones) projectile burping, stitches, hormones, the beautiful dangled carrot (it's so unintentional) and to many other things to count, there are two! I shouldn't forget the random pee moments from Wyatt, it's like a fountain that actually works. Brennan thought that was pretty funny. It was fun to be a part of those first showers, sprinkles, photo's your Aunt has for your wedding day! And now, their, both eating and walking around, little weapons of mass destruction waiting to be unleashed at any given time, turn your head to grab a cup of coffee and they've painting the whole jungle scene from Curious George on the wall. God bless you all as you enter into another phase in your lives together. It will be fun, full of love, laugh, crazy times involving poop(still) and hopefully less sleepless nights for everyone!

I've also created a new photo album of the twin in the gallery, it will be up soon! Enjoy!
P.S. leave- a comment all you blog-browsers!:)

Once a year By:Caleb

Because school and homework take up so much of our time, I figure I would post a bit the in and outs...

January is football season;
I don’t know quite the reason.
Februarys, Valentines Day at school
with a party and that’s really cool.
March is fancy flowers galore,
but if you pick a bouquet you know there’s much more.
April a time for showers
which wind up children in every classroom for hours
May we’re back outside and ready to play.
June it’s clear, it makes the moon look so near.
July, red, white and blue, stars and stripes
all the Soldiers once stood, we salute you tonight.
August is my birthday, filled with presents and delight
I shout and cheer because my birthday is here.
September back to school all the kids drool (with agony).
October its time to trick or treat
and my costume it’s hard to beat.
November the smell of dead turkey fills the air
and Grandpa’s starting to lose his hair.
December, Christ was born tonight
in the great lit starlight.

Day 3 Happy and Getting tired

this pictures for our poppy, he's a retired fireman, this is an old fire truck w. all the equipment. it was all pretty cool we road on an old fire crew's cars pictured here w. the gear shift and large spot light, you can see the back of it, I like the Mickey Mouse key chain for keys, just a small detail, that's Disneyland.

Disneyland ... we loved it!

The boys were so happy when we pulled into the Disneyland Resort Hotel! Mom and Dad got a hot deal (not in the true since) but it was good, to good to pass up! The boys decided it was a dream come true, and as they(the Disney they say- Dreams really do come true), the Neverland pool, Fantasy Waterfall and all kinds of other things, even the lamps in our room where shaped like Mickey. We got there around 6pm went straight to Target, picked up some goggles, a scuba mask and an extra bathing suit in case the one I sued back together in the car on the way ripped! Yea, for us they were on sale! It all worked out, we grabbed our goods and went to the Hotel, we wanted to get there and not leave at all. We checked in, the kids where in awe, and we ran right to the pool! After the pool the next morning we went and caught Aidan's hand in a fire! Check out the pic.

Medication Saving $ Listening

It pays to shop around, just a little. Time is money and money is time, so who has time to shop around? This article (author unknown) helps out a little w. medication, the prices, some of the reasons why, how to shop and so on. It's never okay to skimp, or go the cheapie route when it comes to putting medication in your body. It can be very harmful. This article doesn't mention over the counter medication but, it's very important not to self diagnose, supplements, herbal supplements, homeopathy and other such things has just as strong as an effect as prescribed medications, always use these things as well others under doctors supervision. Don't be mislead by my rambling this is about saving money on your prescription medications and if there's a way to save way not! K.H.

Did you ever wonder how much it costs a drug company for the active ingredient in prescription medications? Some people think it must cost a lot, since many drugs sell for more than $2.00 per tablet. We did research of offshore chemical synthesizers that supply the active ingredients found in drugs approved by the FDA. As we have revealed in past issues of Life Extension, a significant percentage of drugs sold in the United States contain active ingredients made in other countries. In our independent investigation of how much profit drug companies really make, we obtained the actual price of active ingredients used in some of the most popular drugs sold in America.

The data below speaks for itself.

Celebrex: 100 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $130.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $ 0.60
Percent markup: 21,712%

Claritin: 1 0 mg
Consumer Price (100 tablets): $215.17
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.71
Percent markup: 30,306%

Lipitor: 20 mg
Consumer Price (100 tablets): $272.37
! Cost of general active ingredients: $5.80
Percent markup: 4,696%

Paxil: 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $220.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $7.60
Percent markup: 2,898%

Prevacid: 30 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $44.77
Cost of general active ingredients: $1.01
Percent markup: 34,136%

Prilosec : 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $360.97
Cost of general active ingredients $0.52 Percent markup: 69,417%

Xanax: 1 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets) : $136.79
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.024
Percent markup: 569,958%

Zithromax: 600 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $1,482.19
Cost of general active ingredients: $18.78
Percent markup: 7,892%

Zocor: 40 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $350.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $8.63
Percent markup: 4,059%

The cost of prescription drugs is outrageous, so read on, maybe it can help you or help someone you know, not all the medications researched where listed.- K.H.

This helps to solve the mystery as to why they can afford to put a Walgreen's on every corner. On Monday night, Steve Wilson, an investigative reporter for Channel 7 News in Detroit, did a story on generic drug price gouging by pharmacies. He found in his investigation, that some of these generic drugs were marked up as much as 3,000% or more. Yes, that's not a typo.....three thousand
percent! So often, we blame the drug companies for the high cost of drugs, and usually rightfully so. But in this case, the fault clearly lies with the pharmacies themselves . For example, if you had to buy a prescription drug, and bought the name brand, you might pay $100 for 100 pills. The pharmacist might tell you that if you get the generic equivalent, they would only cost $80, making you think you are "saving" $20. What the pharmacist is not telling you is that those 100 generic pills may have only cost him $10!

At the end of the report, one of the anchors asked Mr. Wilson whether or not there were any pharmacies that did not adhere to this practice, and he said that Costco consistently charged little over their cost for the generic drugs.

I went to the Costco site, where you can look up any drug, and get its online price. It says that the in-store prices are consistent with the online prices. I was appalled. Just to give you one example from my own experience, I had to use the drug, Compazine, which helps prevent nausea in chemo patients.

I used the generic equivalent, which cost $54.99 for 60 pills at CVS. I checked the price at Costco, and I could have bought 100 pills for $19.89. For 145 of my pain pills, I paid $72.57. I could have got 150 at Costco for $28.08. I would like to mention, that although Costco is a "membership" type store, you do NOT have to be a member to buy prescriptions there, as it is a federally regulated substance. You just tell them at the door that you wish to use the pharmacy, and they will let you in. (this is true) I went there this past Thursday and asked them.

This is someone's story so the I in the above mentioned is not me, however I thought this might be helpful to anyone who sufferers from allergies, heart disease, or illness that requires medication. It is helpful to get the best possible price and care when you/I are going through any type of care/treatment. I also want to mention WESTSIDE Pharmacy, they have recently been saving or family up and over $100.00 per month from the previous Safeway. The line, the costumer care and service is good as well.

One more thing to add, you know your self and if you've been taking the same medication for more than one month and go for a refill and IT LOOKS DIFFERENT, PLEASE, PLEASE, go back, call right away!. These mistakes are easily made, so many drugs have so many similar names and let's face it most doctor's have pretty bad handwriting, sorry LB. I've personally experienced this 3 times now, w.in the last few years! The last time, I took the medication(totally wrong med.'s) for two days, I was off my regular medication (A)and I was at risk for seizures, the medication put me at risk for some other crazy life threatening stuff(B). Followed a horrible 4 week plus migraine kicked off at 110%, and operated at 95% for 3 of the weeks, a lot work, medication, calling God(for lack of words here) and I came down 70%, not bad considering. Mind you, this wasn't just because I took the wrong med.'s it just didn't help. I had suspected the medication was incorrect, but thought, maybe they changed it... it felt wrong... da,da,da,discernment, yes, a whisper from the Holy Spirt. The way in which He speaks to us all. And me like many of us brushed it aside like lint on my shirt. It took a day then I decided to listen and act. To listen is a function as a verb. To listen defined as this: to pay attention, to hear something with thoughtful attention: to give consideration. Listening to the gentle, profound, powerful leading of the Holy Spirit it's pretty important! I just didn't expect I'd get a new definition to listen, especially to Him in such a way. Anyway, read your bottle, and double check the pills!

And you like me might try and LISTEN in a NEW way, watch for your hand brushing the lint off, batting the nat away as they say, give thoughtful attention to something, your self, your family or a friend, HE wants to heal us, you and me inside and out!
Peace, health and happiness,
KIM

up coming post...

8 THINGS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH OUT, NAME THEM! I'M GIVING MYSELF A FEW DAYS
I'LL GET BACK TO YOU! I'D LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE I LOVE AND HAVE
THEM KNOW MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES, SO THINK HARD! XO HAPPY VALENTINO DAY,
OR DARE I SAY: A.K.A HAPPY S.A.D. DAY- ALL YOU INTERNS AND FORMER RESIDENCES
KNOW WHAT I REFER TO! LOVE TO YOU ALL :) It really is just another Hallmark holiday! No worries!

Brennan at Johnson's Farm

Brennan had such a blast at Johnson's farm, I thought I'd post another picture! I love this, walking the dog, the farm dog that is! This is a really cool, sweet and friendly place!

Three Sailors went to Dis. Dis.Dis.

You may have heard a song that goes like this... Three Sailors went to Dis, Dis, Dis, to see what they could Dis, Dis, Dis, but all that they could Dis, Dis, Dis, was the bottom of the deep blue Dis, Dis, Dis,(all while pointing w. your index finger in a circular motion at your head). Next goes, three Sailors went to ney,ney,ney, to see what they could ney,ney,ney(all while pointing to your knee) etc., and then Three Sailors went to land, land, land, (while motioning w. your hands like a baseball call "He's safe" back and forth). Lastly, you put it all together w. all the motions and you have goofy little song about three sailors going to Dis. ney. land! It's pretty cute and has been a tradition in my family since the early 80's, we'd sing it w. our cousins as we'd go off on our great adventure to Disneyland, each summer. It has been a fun thing our boys have since adopted and passed on to many families. This gets me to what we just couldn't let slip by. Last week we skipped off to Disneyland, Michael made some arrangements for his work schedule and we got a killer deal on our hotel http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/hotels/recreation/listing?name=DisneylandHotelRecreationListingPage before this highlight the http through the word page, drag it into your web bar and check out where we stayed. This was a first for us to stay at the world famous Disney Resort Hotel, most exciting, the Never Land Pool, w. water slides, Captain Hooks ship and Lost boys tower. It was really a great treat! Michael and I especially enjoyed the Monte-rail coming so close to the Hotel. We broke away from our traditional Krispy Kreme, coffee and milk breakfast and had Jamba juice, power bars and apples. I'm not sure this will make it another year, but we all seemed to survive the food a little better this time, a little less rock gut at the end of the trip, eek! I will be posting some of the 1000 pictures I took on our trip. We had a blast! And yes, we did say Hellloooo to Mickey for all of you! xo, the Howies's