I met my first real life client for barter a few nights ago, and although I didn’t know what to expect I went in there ready and eager to break the ice on meeting clients. I dressed up “Corporate America” style and went on my way.

I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but I was greeted by a wonderful gentleman who has had an amazing life. We sat in his living room as I cleared the fog of barter that surrounded him. I had printed off information and all sorts of sheets to help him understand how great barter can be, especially when you offer a specialty service like he did. It can be a sellers market, with customers galore!

By the end of the night, I had spoken to him for close to 3 hour! It didn’t seem that long and it seemed like we were old friends just talking about our latest day at the office.

He helped me see a side of life I have never known, and I helped open his eyes to the true possibilities of barter.

All of this took place in a quiet little trailer, in what would seem like the middle of no where, yet was really the middle of a busy oil town.

And he even offered to go the extra mile for me, as I had done for him, and now things will be in the works that could solve the money issues of getting the biomedical treatment needed for my boys.

All because I picked up the phone and called a man named “Twister” and began building a relationship.

Sometimes in our busy lives we forget it all works best when you build relationships. And relationships can  never really be built over the phone, or the computer, sometimes it takes getting back to basics and going out and meeting someone face to face.

Well, I have decided to go the extra mile to raise the money for my boys to get thier much needed biomedical treatments.

And this will work out for anyone who chooses to donate.

Anyone who decides to donate $10 to EACH boy, will recieve a vacation certificate, that for just $7.50 a night plus taxes will allow you a 3 day 2 night stay in more than 35 cities throughout the USA and Canada, OR 5 days 4 nights in Thailand, China or the Canary island.

So by helping my boys you are getting yourself a great deal on a hotel package…but wait, we are not done yet! Of all the eligible donators once the full amounts are reached, I will be picking one lucky person to win a complete package worth over $1500.

The package will include…

10 Three day/Two night Cash Saver vacation certificateifs Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Daytona Beach, Anaheim, Atlantic City, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Palm Springs, Charleston, Gatlinburg, Branson, Hilton Head, Williamsburg, Niagra Falls, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Honolulu, and Ormond Beach.

10 $1000 Restaurant Dining Card certicatess $1000 worth of coupons of your choice to places such as TGI Fridays, Chili’s, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Applebees, Sizzler, I-Hop, Denny’s and Hooters as well as fast food coupons for places like McDonalds, Quizno’s, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, Burger King, KFC, Wendy’s, Arby’s, and many more.

10 $1000 Supermarket Savings certificates - You select the groceries you want to buy from a list of national brand name products. No more clipping coupons to save on a few items!

So PLEASE donate today to my boys and let’s get to the $10,500 mark!

And if you would prefer not to receive the certificate, please leave a note in your chipin donation, otherwise it will be sent to your Paypal address.

Thank you everyone!

Nothing tears a parent out of sleep faster than the high pitched cry of pain coming from one of their children. Nothing in this world compares to that noise. It is heartbreaking and causes adrenaline to pump through your veins like nothing else.

Middle of the night the cry came. It was Matty, it’s funny to think with 5 kids I can tell from the cry who it is, and how urgent it was. And with Matty any cry except his tired cry is that of concern. So little makes him or William cry. I’ve seen them fall and hurt themselves and get up and walk away while I am left cringing at the blood dripping from the scrapes, so when the blood crudling cry cut the night silence I had to going running.

The yeast levels in his little body are out of control again. We’ve upped the amount of probiotics he takes each day, in hopes it will fight back against the fungus overtaking his system. His little backside has broken out in a wicked red, bleeding rash in just hours, and so to the emergency room I go with a screaming 2 year old in tow.

During the drive he zones out, the crying is gone and all that is left is a zoned out little guy staring out the window, unresponsive to mommy or anything around him.

The wait was minimal and he was cooperative. We get him into his bed and it’s just too much. Now comes the tears, the bitting and the hitting, all the noises and lights seem to torture him, and he lets me know it.

The nurse comes and he settles, not one for strangers he goes dead quiet. She tries to get him to interact, but nothing, he just clings to me and stares into space. Nothing else is around in his little world.

So home we go with a prescription and words of care. He interacts more than most children she’s seen, he’ll grow out of it, all the normal words of wisdoms from doctors who just don’t seem to know what to say.

So we up the probiotics, and add in a very expensive (anyone know a good insurance company in Canada for prescriptions?) cream to the regime, and have to try underwear or something to allow the area to breathe, great… he’s not potty trained, only goes on it when and if he chooses without rythme or reason. Messes here we come.

But all is a day in my life, when awoken by cries in the night.