Answers

As follow-up to my previous post about our health care debacle, the main question we keep getting from people is "what are you going to do if Lucas gets sick or hurt?" This is a question that if my good friend Chardonnay wasn't in my life, I may not be able to sleep over. What would we do?

I guess the obvious answer is that "We would pay for the little things and take pity on Children's hospital (a county hospital) for anything major.. and pray that we can get this situation resolved before we have to answer this question."

Unfortunately, it was tested today...for nothing more than infected bug bites.

Zoe had her 9 month well baby today (28 inches! 15 lbs! HUGE head!), while we were there, I asked our pediatrician to take a quick look at these bites on the back of Lucas' leg. The look on his face said it all. They were bad and needed to be treated with antibiotics.. oh, and we need to pay for a "visit" because in order to send in the Rx, he needs to document that Lucas was seen.. and thus, it was an appointment. We cringed. But hey, this is our child's health. The grand total was $76 - acceptable. Possibly better than one would expect considering I have no clue how much it is to see a doctor without a co-payment. Then it dawned on me - we have to pay for the antibiotic also... but how much could a generic prescription be??

Any takers? How much? What do you think??

I get to the counter to pick up the 'script. The woman behind the counter looks at me and says "Yea, we don't have current insurance information for Lucas on file.." I explain it's because he doesn't have any because of an illness he had 4 years ago and ear infections and we can't get him covered and yes, I'm paying out of pocket in full. She gave me a sad look and said in a tone that said she hates to be the one to break the news to me.. "It's $70.."

Sweet.

Bug bites. Infected, over scratched bug bites cost us $146 tonight. $156 if you count the bottle of Smoking Loon that I needed to get at the grocery store after shelling out the $70 for GENERIC KEFLEX. We had "the plan" in place for broken bones, an ear infection, strep throat - but BUG BITES?

I wrote a letter to Obama today. Begging for help and guidance and promises to really make a change.

What about us?

I don't get very political over here in my neck of the blogospherewoods, I usually save the ranting for Jason while I touch on shoes and lactation. But this is killing us, and since this is an election year, and a time when SOMEONE may be able to do the right thing and help, I need to get this out there.

The Insurance Industry SUCKS.

I know, duh, right? But really. The republicans are fond of saying that there are things out there for everyone, if you just seek it out. Really? So, help me then.

Jason and I make decent money. For the good of our careers and the good of our family, we are both independent contractors. It allows me to be home with my kids when they need me and make a shit-load more money than I did in-house. The big thing that's missing tho, insurance. Why? Because we can't get Lucas covered.

We found out today that he was denied yet again. And before you make a blanket decision and say "well, your kid could have congenital heart defects as a result of his Kawasaki Disease.." let me note, that the second half of the "reasoning" behind this latest insurance company's explanation was because he had ear infections and had to have TUBES PUT IN HIS EARS. Yea, apparently a almost routine procedure that something like 65% of kids under 5 get is reason enough for your child to never qualify for health insurance again. How close to home does that hit you?

Oh, and to add insult to injury, the insurance company still cashed the $600 check we were forced to write to them before they would even consider us.

We make too much money to qualify for the CA State subsidized insurance, but not enough to cover the astronomical cost of the COBRA plan we used to be on that jumped up to about $1,300 right before we ended it. We can't get HIPPA coverage, since we elected to end the COBRA plan. We are firmly stuck in working upper middle class HELL and I'm considering the early morning Starbucks shift JUST to get benefits for Lucas.

I just want to know who's going to help us? You know - the ones down here that paid an additional $9k in taxes last year? The ones who are not "walking away" from inflated mortgages and that are working our asses off to the best parents and earn a living that allows us not to have go on food stamps.

So Mr. Obama or Mr. McCain - you want my vote? What are you going to do for ME and MY family??

9 months

Summer is going by too fast, as is Zoë’s first year. She has now reached the point where she has been out of me longer than she was inside me – we made it through the first 3 quarters of her first year.. relatively unscathed.

I say relatively since I think I’ve blocked a lot of months 1-3.

Back in the height of the “shrieking for hours at a time phase” and the “miserable mother and baby stage” (what, they don’t talk about those stages in What to Expect the First Year?) people told me there would come a time with Zoë would be happy and all those 5-7 PM bouncing episodes would be blocked from my mind. I replied by asking them what drugs they were on and where could I get some? But amazingly, they were all right.

Zoë has become one of the best and happiest babies ever. She claps, she smiles, she eats Cheerios and naps on a bit of a schedule. She’s EASY. What?! When did that happen??

As you know, I work from home. People ask me if I work “full time” and lord, let me tell you.. my easy-peasy WAH days are far gone. Then, they are amazed that I have Zoë with me, but that part is the easy part. She has her space in my office with all her toys. She eats, then she plays, then when she gets visibly tired, I put her down for a nap. Rinse and Repeat for the afternoon. She’s 100% content sitting there smiling at me and banging her little plastic blocks or chewing on her wood bead rollercoaster.

Next month I have someone who is going to watch her Tuesdays and Thursdays for me. The plan was to have “undistracted time” and since she will be 10 months old, additional stimulation for her. But honestly, I’m going to miss her on those days. It will be hard for me to sit here and not have my little girlfriend right next to me. Then again, my mind-frame on that may change once she’s crawling.

The Pottery Anniversary

8 years and 2 kids later our family is complete.. 8 years. Wow. The closer we get to 10 the more amazing it all seems. I have forgotten (blocked out?) so many of the feelings from the first few months of  my kids lives, but looking at this picture I can still feel the giddiness and sheer joy that I felt on our wedding day.

Conversations on a Sunday

Me: "I didn't grab you a sweatshirt, because you never get cold."

Jason: "Totally, I'm always hot"

Me: "Your like a werewolf, your average temp is around 109 degrees."

Jason (turns and gives me a look): "Oh, really? Is that so?"

Me: "Apparently.."

(quickly changing the subject to appear from being THAT BIG of a Twilight groupie..)

Later on that day (my homey Dr. Dre came through with a gang..)

Setting: In the car, Lucas excitedly talking about Star Wars Episode 1 which he watched for the 1st time Friday night

Me and/or Jason: "Really, is that what happened?"

Lucas: "Yea, and then Qui-Gon got dead!"

..and it was the birth of a new line in the house.. "and then Qui-Gon got dead.." I need someone to make me a shirt with that on it for Jason.