Saturday Thomas goes for another round of botox injections. Do you know what that means? it means I managed to win against an insurance company for a change! He gets to go to the same botox doctor that he has been going to for almost two years now.
YAY!
Turns out that the insurance company is letting us go to him under the "continuity of care" clause. However I found out they actually don't have a pediatric physiatrist signed up with them, so they really had no choice. Now they are trying to recruit our guy to be one of their members. Whatever the reason, we'll take it. Such a weight has been lifted off my shoulders with this decision.
Thanks for all the prayers and positive thoughts you all have sent out for us over this situation. They are much appreciated.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
By the way...
If you've read my post "Anyone know a good babysitter" then you'll understand why I am posting this link:
http://www.littleladydesign.com
It is for my web site design company that I recently started up. Granted I don't know everything there is to know about web site design, but so far all of my clients have been happy with the job I've done. If there's something I don't know how to do I research it and learn how to do it. My prices are reasonable and generally cheaper than pretty much anyone else out there.
So, this is my shameless self-promotion. If you know anyone wanting a web site of their very own, send them my way!
http://www.littleladydesign.com
It is for my web site design company that I recently started up. Granted I don't know everything there is to know about web site design, but so far all of my clients have been happy with the job I've done. If there's something I don't know how to do I research it and learn how to do it. My prices are reasonable and generally cheaper than pretty much anyone else out there.
So, this is my shameless self-promotion. If you know anyone wanting a web site of their very own, send them my way!
Anyone know a good babysitter?
Well, it seems I am on vacation for the rest of the summer. My babysitter, who was on unemployment after being laid off from her full-time job, got called back to work. She got the call yesterday that she was needed today, Friday. I too was needed at work today. Unfortunately I don't have anyone else nearby who can watch my little rugrat.
For five years I have been a stay at home mom. Mostly by choice. Before Thomas was born my hubby and I decided I would take a year off to be home with our son. When Thomas came out 8 weeks early and ended up having problems, we knew we had made the right decision. 18 months, and hundreds of appointments later, I was still a stay at home mom, only now I was the stay at home mom of a special needs child. I couldn't go back to work. For one, Thomas sometimes had appointments five days a week for months at a time. Occasionally those appointments would slow down to just one or two a week, and rarely we'd have a week with no appointments. Who wants to hire a person who needs to leave early every day or who needs every day off? No one, that's who.
Finally, five years into life with Thomas and I think I am ready to rejoin the work force. I find a job that is just a temporary position, which is a great way to test the waters and see if this will work. It's got to work. Ater five years on a single income things are getting tight. Luckily my immediate supervisor is great at being flexible with my schedule and the job works out. Even more lucky is that I found a sitter who would come to my home and watch Thomas for very little money. Before that job ended I was looking for another job. This was working out okay, right? Why not shoot for a permanent position?
I found another job working for an insurance company for which I had previously designed a web site. The owner knew about Thomas and our special circumstances and promised flexibility with my schedule. Boy, if only she had known what type of flexibility I was going to need! Less than a month later I was giving her a zero day notice. "Sorry boss, I can't come in tomorrow, or Monday, or any day actually, until after Labor Day. Sorry."
Am I the world's suckiest employee or what?
Fortunately for me, my boss is pretty awesome. She didn't bat an eye and told me my job will be waiting for me, whether I can find a sitter again for the summer, or if I have to wait until school begins in the fall. If I were her I would have told me to hit the road and not look back. I think, in part, she feels for me because of Thomas and his special needs, and because she has a son with a different set of special needs.
So now I am wondering how on earth are we parents of special needs kids supposed to make it in today's world? A boss like mine is a rare find. There are few jobs that are willing to be so flexible. Besides that, I am once again without an income. It is now the burden on my hubby's shoulders to carry this family all on his own. We just can't do it. For five years he has been carrying us as slowly our saving's has dwindled to scary little numbers, and just when I think we are finally going to be okay, life happens.
I applied for social security for Thomas. I was denied because as a family of three we have an income greater than $1300 a month. Yes people $1300 a month for a family of three, and that is pre-tax income. That is what the government thinks a family of three can survive on. I can't possibly see how a family of three can survive on that income, especially a family of three in which one is disabled which means only one of us can work. I contacted a lawyer, surely that is just a ploy by the government to try to get out of paying. Nope, the lawyer said them's the rules so tough luck sweetheart.
Am I wrong to think something is not right with that picture? I guess I should be thankful we don't meet the income requirements to qualify, instead of whining about not qualififying. But the way things are going, we'll qualify before too long. Thanks Uncle Sam.
On a completely unrelated subject, did you know the President makes $400,000 a year? I'm sure he gets free healthcare in there too, as well as his own limo, airplane, house and all the other extras at no additional cost to him. Granted, the President's job is hard, and important. But ya know what? So is mine.
For five years I have been a stay at home mom. Mostly by choice. Before Thomas was born my hubby and I decided I would take a year off to be home with our son. When Thomas came out 8 weeks early and ended up having problems, we knew we had made the right decision. 18 months, and hundreds of appointments later, I was still a stay at home mom, only now I was the stay at home mom of a special needs child. I couldn't go back to work. For one, Thomas sometimes had appointments five days a week for months at a time. Occasionally those appointments would slow down to just one or two a week, and rarely we'd have a week with no appointments. Who wants to hire a person who needs to leave early every day or who needs every day off? No one, that's who.
Finally, five years into life with Thomas and I think I am ready to rejoin the work force. I find a job that is just a temporary position, which is a great way to test the waters and see if this will work. It's got to work. Ater five years on a single income things are getting tight. Luckily my immediate supervisor is great at being flexible with my schedule and the job works out. Even more lucky is that I found a sitter who would come to my home and watch Thomas for very little money. Before that job ended I was looking for another job. This was working out okay, right? Why not shoot for a permanent position?
I found another job working for an insurance company for which I had previously designed a web site. The owner knew about Thomas and our special circumstances and promised flexibility with my schedule. Boy, if only she had known what type of flexibility I was going to need! Less than a month later I was giving her a zero day notice. "Sorry boss, I can't come in tomorrow, or Monday, or any day actually, until after Labor Day. Sorry."
Am I the world's suckiest employee or what?
Fortunately for me, my boss is pretty awesome. She didn't bat an eye and told me my job will be waiting for me, whether I can find a sitter again for the summer, or if I have to wait until school begins in the fall. If I were her I would have told me to hit the road and not look back. I think, in part, she feels for me because of Thomas and his special needs, and because she has a son with a different set of special needs.
So now I am wondering how on earth are we parents of special needs kids supposed to make it in today's world? A boss like mine is a rare find. There are few jobs that are willing to be so flexible. Besides that, I am once again without an income. It is now the burden on my hubby's shoulders to carry this family all on his own. We just can't do it. For five years he has been carrying us as slowly our saving's has dwindled to scary little numbers, and just when I think we are finally going to be okay, life happens.
I applied for social security for Thomas. I was denied because as a family of three we have an income greater than $1300 a month. Yes people $1300 a month for a family of three, and that is pre-tax income. That is what the government thinks a family of three can survive on. I can't possibly see how a family of three can survive on that income, especially a family of three in which one is disabled which means only one of us can work. I contacted a lawyer, surely that is just a ploy by the government to try to get out of paying. Nope, the lawyer said them's the rules so tough luck sweetheart.
Am I wrong to think something is not right with that picture? I guess I should be thankful we don't meet the income requirements to qualify, instead of whining about not qualififying. But the way things are going, we'll qualify before too long. Thanks Uncle Sam.
On a completely unrelated subject, did you know the President makes $400,000 a year? I'm sure he gets free healthcare in there too, as well as his own limo, airplane, house and all the other extras at no additional cost to him. Granted, the President's job is hard, and important. But ya know what? So is mine.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
I Hate Insurance Companies
I.
Hate.
Insurance.
Companies.
There, I said it. Now tell me any of you out there disagree with that comment, I would find it hard to believe. Recently my husband's employer decided to switch insurance companies. This meant I had to find a new pediatrician for Thomas and had to wait and worry if all of his specialists would be covered. Luckily they almost all are. All but one to be exact.
Unfortunately that one is the one I most wanted to keep. He is Thomas' physiatrist, in charge of managing his cerebral palsy. He is the second one we have gone to see and the only one we ever want to see again. This guy can deliver a dozen injections of botox in Thomas' legs without Thomas even shedding a single tear! He agrees with me, so far, on everything. We have the same views on treatment and on how I should let Thomas live his life.
I cannot give him up. I won't. I'll take out a loan, remortgage my house if I have to. In a world of so-so doctors who may or may not actually know what they are doing, this one is genuinely knowledgeable and up-to-date on all the latest treatment options. He travels across the globe to gain this knowledge. And now my insurance company won't cover him.
I. Hate. Insurance. Companies.
There is hope. I can possibly keep him under a "continuity of care" clause in which the insurance company will allow Thomas to continue seeing this doctor based on their history together. I'm nervous because it has been only 13 months since we found him, I don't know if that is long enough. Another loophole could be if there are no other physiatrists near enough who will accept pediatric cases. If I remember correctly there aren't any others around, except our old one who, when giving Thomas his botox injections upon which Thomas would cry his little heart out, would say "stop being a baby!" Ummm, hello?!? HE IS A BABY!
So, those of you who pray, those of you who meditate, those of you who sacrifice chickens or other livestock, please do what you must so we can keep our beloved Dr. Dabrowski!
Hate.
Insurance.
Companies.
There, I said it. Now tell me any of you out there disagree with that comment, I would find it hard to believe. Recently my husband's employer decided to switch insurance companies. This meant I had to find a new pediatrician for Thomas and had to wait and worry if all of his specialists would be covered. Luckily they almost all are. All but one to be exact.
Unfortunately that one is the one I most wanted to keep. He is Thomas' physiatrist, in charge of managing his cerebral palsy. He is the second one we have gone to see and the only one we ever want to see again. This guy can deliver a dozen injections of botox in Thomas' legs without Thomas even shedding a single tear! He agrees with me, so far, on everything. We have the same views on treatment and on how I should let Thomas live his life.
I cannot give him up. I won't. I'll take out a loan, remortgage my house if I have to. In a world of so-so doctors who may or may not actually know what they are doing, this one is genuinely knowledgeable and up-to-date on all the latest treatment options. He travels across the globe to gain this knowledge. And now my insurance company won't cover him.
I. Hate. Insurance. Companies.
There is hope. I can possibly keep him under a "continuity of care" clause in which the insurance company will allow Thomas to continue seeing this doctor based on their history together. I'm nervous because it has been only 13 months since we found him, I don't know if that is long enough. Another loophole could be if there are no other physiatrists near enough who will accept pediatric cases. If I remember correctly there aren't any others around, except our old one who, when giving Thomas his botox injections upon which Thomas would cry his little heart out, would say "stop being a baby!" Ummm, hello?!? HE IS A BABY!
So, those of you who pray, those of you who meditate, those of you who sacrifice chickens or other livestock, please do what you must so we can keep our beloved Dr. Dabrowski!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Smarty Pants
I have always known Thomas was smarter than anyone gave him credit for, but his recent accomplishments have surprised even me. Mr. Man has discovered the joy of pointing. He gets that little finger out and just starts pointing away. He loves to point to objects, colors, characters, etc. and have whoever is nearby tell him what they are. Now comes the smarty pants part. Thanks to his newly found skill, Thomas is able to demonstrate just how smart he is. If I ask him "where's red?" he will find something red in his book or on his sheet of colors and point to it. He can do this for red, blue, black, yellow, green, pink, brown, gray, orange, and purple. He can correctly identify about a dozen different animals. He knows all his Disney characters, and of course all the Wiggles and their Wiggly Friends.
Is this kid a genius or what? ;o)
Seriously, I did not know just how smart he was. I'm in shock and awe of his brain power. I have always known he had it in him and have also known he just needed a way to get it out. Now that he's found that way I am over the moon, and so is he! He is so proud to point and show everyone everything he knows.
The smile that lights his face could light the world.
Is this kid a genius or what? ;o)
Seriously, I did not know just how smart he was. I'm in shock and awe of his brain power. I have always known he had it in him and have also known he just needed a way to get it out. Now that he's found that way I am over the moon, and so is he! He is so proud to point and show everyone everything he knows.
The smile that lights his face could light the world.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Common Bond
Finally I have discovered something my husband and my son both enjoy and can do together. Up until now they have had no common interests. Thomas enjoys Clifford, Curious George, the Wiggles, and picking his nose. Daddy enjoys none of these things, although he may pick his nose in private, I don't know...
So Saturday night we decided to give the local race track a chance to receive some of our hard earned money. The cost wasn't high and Thomas got in free, so if he didn't like it we didn't have to regret spending the money to get him in.
When we first arrived Thomas was in good spirits. He didn't know what was going on, but with a belly full of McDonald's french fries and sprite, he was ready to party. Upon walking in he spotted one of his new favorite things (as long as he isn't on it) - a bright yellow school bus. The bus was offering free rides around the track and into the pits for anyone interested. Thomas was content, more like downright giddy, just to watch the bus circle the track. When it was time for the race I got a little anxious. Would they cars be too loud? Would he get bored? Would we end up having to leave before the first race even ended?
Turns out I needn't have worried. Thomas was in complete euphoria, sitting there watching the races. The louder the cars the more excited he became, bouncing on first my knee and then his dad's. Wriggling, squirming, kicking his legs, he had to be passed back and forth between his daddy and mommy so they could each have a chance to relax before trying to keep that crazy happy boy from bouncing right off our laps.
It was truly a perfect moment. There aren't many things my boys can do together that they both enjoy. It's hard to find an activity that Thomas can participate in with at least a basic understanding of what is happening. It was thrilling to watch him as he watched the cars circle the track. My heart was full to bursting as I watched father and son sitting together, eyes following the cars around the track, both with huge smiles on thier faces.
And even though I am not a big race fan, I can't wait for the next one!
So Saturday night we decided to give the local race track a chance to receive some of our hard earned money. The cost wasn't high and Thomas got in free, so if he didn't like it we didn't have to regret spending the money to get him in.
When we first arrived Thomas was in good spirits. He didn't know what was going on, but with a belly full of McDonald's french fries and sprite, he was ready to party. Upon walking in he spotted one of his new favorite things (as long as he isn't on it) - a bright yellow school bus. The bus was offering free rides around the track and into the pits for anyone interested. Thomas was content, more like downright giddy, just to watch the bus circle the track. When it was time for the race I got a little anxious. Would they cars be too loud? Would he get bored? Would we end up having to leave before the first race even ended?
Turns out I needn't have worried. Thomas was in complete euphoria, sitting there watching the races. The louder the cars the more excited he became, bouncing on first my knee and then his dad's. Wriggling, squirming, kicking his legs, he had to be passed back and forth between his daddy and mommy so they could each have a chance to relax before trying to keep that crazy happy boy from bouncing right off our laps.
It was truly a perfect moment. There aren't many things my boys can do together that they both enjoy. It's hard to find an activity that Thomas can participate in with at least a basic understanding of what is happening. It was thrilling to watch him as he watched the cars circle the track. My heart was full to bursting as I watched father and son sitting together, eyes following the cars around the track, both with huge smiles on thier faces.
And even though I am not a big race fan, I can't wait for the next one!
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