Another vent, only this one doesn't have much positive in it. Sorry! This may read like a rant, because it is one! I tried to give the main points, without all the teary eyed detail, so if you find it hard to follow, you may have to read it again to find the timeline. Again, sorry!
This one has to do with government bureaucracy at several levels. And these organizations/people want to run (ruin) the health care system in this country??!
Today's rant has to do with school districts, state legislatures and the federal government. I wish I could say that it all started this week, but in reality, this started approximately 16 years ago. (for us) It has to do with Ian.
For the 10 or so years we did not know what we were fighting with Ian, we struggled through many diagnoses and treatments, some of which insurance covered, others which it did not. Now, don't get me wrong, I was quite pleased with the insurance coverage we had in Utah. I did not have to pay for the policy, and the plan was decent.
After moving to Arkansas, and having the meltdowns and problems that led to a diagnosis of Asperger's, we have seen constant improvement in Ian's (and our) ability to handle the stresses, and detour the meltdowns. This has not been without financial struggles. Ian's medicines have typically run about $500-600/month, and would have bankrupted us years ago, if not for good insurance at the time, and Ian qualifying for SSI payments and medicaid insurance.
Between Justin and diabetes, Ian and Asperger's, and Ben and ulcerative colitis, we typically spend a small bundle on medical supplies and meds, until insurance maximums are met. Ian's SSI payment has been a lifesaver in this area.
Until this last year. Last year, (and don't ask me why not the 2 years before that), the Social Security Administration informed us that they had been over paying us, and reduced the monthly check to nearly nothing. The reason? I get paid 3 checks in June, which means that we exceed the income limits for SSI. Therefore, when they had found this, they needed to reduce our future payments, until the "oversight" had been corrected.
Why do I get 3 checks in June, You may ask? It's because the district has to clear the books, that is, meet all financial obligations by the end of June. ( that's supposedly state law) And since they "can not, and will not pay a teacher in July, for work that isn't being done"(quote from district payroll manager), I get 3 checks in June, and nothing till Sep. 20th, the first payment of the new contract year.
Back to SSI and government inconsistency! SSI will kick back in, once the "excessive income" is gone, and we resubmit new financial records. Their problem is they base all their limits on monthly income, and it doesn't matter if it's one check or 31 checks meant to be cashed over months and months, it's all considered June's income. That part actually makes sense. The district sees this plan as "12 equal payments". :{
Now, follow me here....... it's MAY. LAST month, we finally got all the financial records straightened out, and SSI discovered that we did indeed fall well below the income level for a family our size, and they had seriously UNDERPAID Ian's SSI since last June, so they were in the process of increasing checks to make up for the oversight. Anyone getting dizzy yet?
Michelle, in an effort to avoid that rollercoaster ride again, called them a few days ago to remind them that June's pay situation was bizarre, and hoping to avoid the same paperwork mess, and payment reductions. No good deed goes unpunished! Yesterday, we got a letter stating that Ian was being dropped from SSI and Medicaid, because my June income was projected too high to qualify!
Get how well this government wants people to manage their money. When Michelle called (in a near panic), to try and figure out what the heck happened, they explained that for them it is all about the monthly income, and as long as that money was available, we had too much to qualify. But, and I quote, "if you use that money up before the end of June, we could re-submit financials, and have him re-enrolled by August". So, if we "blew" our 3 months salary (living expenses) on a $9000 VACATION, we would still only lose out on Ian's SSI and medicaid for 2 months.
Let's see now, no matter what we do, we lose Ian's payments, and his insurance (read prescription co-pays), bringing a net loss bumping $2000. That's if we blow 2-3 months pay in a matter of 5-7 days. If we manage our money wisely, making sure that we still have money in September, while we wait for the 20th to roll around, we lose at least 4 months of Ian's coverage. ($4000) Can't win for losin'.
Now the kicker..... when Michelle called DHS today, to see about enrolling Ian in the Arkids insurance program, they informed us that he should have no problem enrolling, because our income is, according to them, well below the income limit for a family of our size. AND, they figure their income limits based on an average 12 month income. So my 3 check June would not be an issue. Aren't these the same people who want to run our health care system?
Friday, May 7, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
I just need to write something this week. I don't know what, but I think I just need to vent. Not so much in a negative way, just some major things going on.
First major has to do with Justin, of course! He has been serving within our mission, waiting for his official re-assignment. He spent several weeks over in Tennessee, as the only Spanish speaking missionary in that area, so he had some great opportunities to take the lead in discussions. Some of the investigators are making good progress towards conversion, so we were very proud of Elder Wahlquist.
Then, just like a normal mission, President Drewes needed to transfer him to Russelville, a town about 2 hours away from Drasco, the other direction. He was working with Spanish speaking missionaries, so he was getting good practice with his language skills, and they were also seeing some success, working with the many spanish speaking workers and members. Justin was just glad to be staying in the missionary work.
Our big issue with a re-assignment was getting Justin all "hooked-up" to new technology. We have been fighting with the insurance company over a new pump, and the continuous glucose monitor (hereafter referred to as CGM), which should allow Justin to keep tighter control over his diabetes, and to avoid those dangerously low night levels which have led to seizures.
Well, we have the technology ("we can rebuild him. Make him better than he was before. Better. Stronger. Faster..." :) sorry, a throw back to old TV some of you will recognize, others will be left scratching their heads, wondering if I have lost my mind. I only ask that if you find it, please address to "Urgent: ..........Drasco, AR 72530" :)
Anyway, he is all geared up. We are still fighting with insurance over who is going to pay for it, but it has already been worth the extra peace of mind Michelle feels, knowing that something is there that will pester Justin if his glucose levels get out of whack.
That step kind of led to this week's "majorness". We got the call on Saturday night, that Justin had a new assignment. He was to leave early Tuesday morning. His new mission call is to Tempe, Arizona. So I drove down to Russelville Sunday evening, picked up Justin, and drove over to Searcy to see the Stake president. Justin was set apart (again), and we had him on Monday. Not exactly a long time, made even stranger by Elizabeth's adventure.
Liz had gone out to Utah on Thursday, to attend her best Utah friend's wedding. Ann (used to be Barnett) was so excited to have Liz come out, and Liz was jazzed about staying with Mike and Karen and their gang. She had a good trip, and was supposed to come home Sunday night around 11 pm. Well, after getting home with Justin, and visiting with Michelle for about 10 minutes, she left to drive down to Little Rock to get Liz.
When she walked back in the door 20 minutes later, I knew something was amiss. Liz was stuck in Dallas!!
They had cancelled her flight due to mechanical problems, and Liz was not sure what to do. Fortunately, she called Michelle first, so she was on her way home while talking to Liz, rather than getting closer to LR.
Plus side of craziness! They put Liz up in a hotel, gave her meal vouchers for that night and for Breakfast, and said she was on a flight early the next morning. Our 17 yr. old spending the night alone in a Dallas hotel. You can guess that Michelle slept very little that night, and I only slept marginally better.
When I got to work the next morning, I talked to Liz just before Mom was supposed to leave the house to drive to LR. Liz was in a panic, because they had bumped her from the morning flight ( airline had sent a plane too small for the number of passengers re-booked :(, and Liz would be at least 2 hours later), and she couldn't reach Michelle. She really didn't want Mom to sit at the airport for 2 extra hours building stress. Bright Girl, we have raised a gem, I think!
Well, we got ahold of Michelle, so she and Justin got to visit at home for a few hours. Remember, Justin had been set apart, he had to stay with someone until he reached his mission assignment. They got Liz home, Tuesday evening went way too fast, because it was filled with packing, washing, repacking, hugging, and trying to get to sleep so that the 2 of us leaving at 4 AM would not be working on no sleep. You know, this all seems soooooo familiar.
I am so glad that Justin is back in the mission field. Tempe is Garrett's mission, so the cousins will have some connecting points. It is also the mission of a certain elder McGown, whose brother was the Zone Leader in Mexico, that took Justin to the hospital after his first seizure. Church makes for a small World! I think Michelle and siter McGown are likely to become very good e-mail friends. It will be fun to met that family in person some day.
First major has to do with Justin, of course! He has been serving within our mission, waiting for his official re-assignment. He spent several weeks over in Tennessee, as the only Spanish speaking missionary in that area, so he had some great opportunities to take the lead in discussions. Some of the investigators are making good progress towards conversion, so we were very proud of Elder Wahlquist.
Then, just like a normal mission, President Drewes needed to transfer him to Russelville, a town about 2 hours away from Drasco, the other direction. He was working with Spanish speaking missionaries, so he was getting good practice with his language skills, and they were also seeing some success, working with the many spanish speaking workers and members. Justin was just glad to be staying in the missionary work.
Our big issue with a re-assignment was getting Justin all "hooked-up" to new technology. We have been fighting with the insurance company over a new pump, and the continuous glucose monitor (hereafter referred to as CGM), which should allow Justin to keep tighter control over his diabetes, and to avoid those dangerously low night levels which have led to seizures.
Well, we have the technology ("we can rebuild him. Make him better than he was before. Better. Stronger. Faster..." :) sorry, a throw back to old TV some of you will recognize, others will be left scratching their heads, wondering if I have lost my mind. I only ask that if you find it, please address to "Urgent: ..........Drasco, AR 72530" :)
Anyway, he is all geared up. We are still fighting with insurance over who is going to pay for it, but it has already been worth the extra peace of mind Michelle feels, knowing that something is there that will pester Justin if his glucose levels get out of whack.
That step kind of led to this week's "majorness". We got the call on Saturday night, that Justin had a new assignment. He was to leave early Tuesday morning. His new mission call is to Tempe, Arizona. So I drove down to Russelville Sunday evening, picked up Justin, and drove over to Searcy to see the Stake president. Justin was set apart (again), and we had him on Monday. Not exactly a long time, made even stranger by Elizabeth's adventure.
Liz had gone out to Utah on Thursday, to attend her best Utah friend's wedding. Ann (used to be Barnett) was so excited to have Liz come out, and Liz was jazzed about staying with Mike and Karen and their gang. She had a good trip, and was supposed to come home Sunday night around 11 pm. Well, after getting home with Justin, and visiting with Michelle for about 10 minutes, she left to drive down to Little Rock to get Liz.
When she walked back in the door 20 minutes later, I knew something was amiss. Liz was stuck in Dallas!!
They had cancelled her flight due to mechanical problems, and Liz was not sure what to do. Fortunately, she called Michelle first, so she was on her way home while talking to Liz, rather than getting closer to LR.
Plus side of craziness! They put Liz up in a hotel, gave her meal vouchers for that night and for Breakfast, and said she was on a flight early the next morning. Our 17 yr. old spending the night alone in a Dallas hotel. You can guess that Michelle slept very little that night, and I only slept marginally better.
When I got to work the next morning, I talked to Liz just before Mom was supposed to leave the house to drive to LR. Liz was in a panic, because they had bumped her from the morning flight ( airline had sent a plane too small for the number of passengers re-booked :(, and Liz would be at least 2 hours later), and she couldn't reach Michelle. She really didn't want Mom to sit at the airport for 2 extra hours building stress. Bright Girl, we have raised a gem, I think!
Well, we got ahold of Michelle, so she and Justin got to visit at home for a few hours. Remember, Justin had been set apart, he had to stay with someone until he reached his mission assignment. They got Liz home, Tuesday evening went way too fast, because it was filled with packing, washing, repacking, hugging, and trying to get to sleep so that the 2 of us leaving at 4 AM would not be working on no sleep. You know, this all seems soooooo familiar.
I am so glad that Justin is back in the mission field. Tempe is Garrett's mission, so the cousins will have some connecting points. It is also the mission of a certain elder McGown, whose brother was the Zone Leader in Mexico, that took Justin to the hospital after his first seizure. Church makes for a small World! I think Michelle and siter McGown are likely to become very good e-mail friends. It will be fun to met that family in person some day.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Arkansas Spring!
Hi everyone!
I want you to know that we are still here, still hanging on! Life in Arkansas is good! We have been enjoying the warming spring weather, and things have reached what I refer to as the "green explosion". We live in the north central part of the state, and we have a very definite 4 seasons.
Spring is really my favorite time of the year. I enjoy all the seasons in their own right, but after the several months of winter, one thing I love is the emergence of life. I get to see it in a couple of phases. Driving to Conway for school, I am traveling about 60 miles to the south, AND I am dropping some significant altitude. It is surprising how much of a difference that makes in the shift into Spring.
As I drive down our county road to the Highway, we may still have barren trees, pockets of snow, and signs that winter has refused to release its icy grip, and could come roaring back at a moments notice. But I get into Conway, and there are trees leafing out, daffodils, crocus and other spring flowers starting to open up.
Then, the drive into Batesville ( to the North-east)starts to take on a distinct greenish hue, and you sense a "fuzziness" to the outline of tree branches on the hillsides across the valleys. This "tint" may last for several days, taking on a stronger greenish tone with each passing day, and then, "suddenly" you look out across the landscape.....
And you can no longer see the outline of the trees, grass that yesterday (or so it seemed) was showing more dead brown, has now sprouted fresh green blades, and you are bombarded with more shades of green than you can imagine. And the flowers! Call me a pansy if you want, but preferrably just plant one! I simple marvel at the beautiful colors that nature includes in this explosion of new life. Daffodils, crocus and the like function as the first sure sign that spring is here. They grow so well here, that places where old homesteads once stood, and the trees have taken it back, will have beautiful, "groomed-looking" rows of these luscious spring blossoms.
Some of my favorite trees are the ones like the Eastern Red Bud, and the variations of Dogwood which blossom with spectacular energy before they put on their green mantle. The shades of purple, yellow and glossy white make Western states landscapers jealous, and these are just "floating" all over the hillsides. Naturally, many people, (like me!), want to have these bright cheery colors close to home as well.
We have been in a ten year slow program of trying to add one or several colorful enhancements to our yard, or even the woods around us, in an effort to make spring really POP. Nature doesn't need much help around here, but we at least try to choose locations. We have lined our driveway with several varieties of spring blooms, and circled trees with daffodils, crocus, tulips and lilies. Grape Hyacinth sprung up in our yard this month, and neither of us remember planting bulbs. We will gladly welcome and nourish this new, pleasant recruit.
I simply love the Arkansas Spring!
I want you to know that we are still here, still hanging on! Life in Arkansas is good! We have been enjoying the warming spring weather, and things have reached what I refer to as the "green explosion". We live in the north central part of the state, and we have a very definite 4 seasons.
Spring is really my favorite time of the year. I enjoy all the seasons in their own right, but after the several months of winter, one thing I love is the emergence of life. I get to see it in a couple of phases. Driving to Conway for school, I am traveling about 60 miles to the south, AND I am dropping some significant altitude. It is surprising how much of a difference that makes in the shift into Spring.
As I drive down our county road to the Highway, we may still have barren trees, pockets of snow, and signs that winter has refused to release its icy grip, and could come roaring back at a moments notice. But I get into Conway, and there are trees leafing out, daffodils, crocus and other spring flowers starting to open up.
Then, the drive into Batesville ( to the North-east)starts to take on a distinct greenish hue, and you sense a "fuzziness" to the outline of tree branches on the hillsides across the valleys. This "tint" may last for several days, taking on a stronger greenish tone with each passing day, and then, "suddenly" you look out across the landscape.....
And you can no longer see the outline of the trees, grass that yesterday (or so it seemed) was showing more dead brown, has now sprouted fresh green blades, and you are bombarded with more shades of green than you can imagine. And the flowers! Call me a pansy if you want, but preferrably just plant one! I simple marvel at the beautiful colors that nature includes in this explosion of new life. Daffodils, crocus and the like function as the first sure sign that spring is here. They grow so well here, that places where old homesteads once stood, and the trees have taken it back, will have beautiful, "groomed-looking" rows of these luscious spring blossoms.
Some of my favorite trees are the ones like the Eastern Red Bud, and the variations of Dogwood which blossom with spectacular energy before they put on their green mantle. The shades of purple, yellow and glossy white make Western states landscapers jealous, and these are just "floating" all over the hillsides. Naturally, many people, (like me!), want to have these bright cheery colors close to home as well.
We have been in a ten year slow program of trying to add one or several colorful enhancements to our yard, or even the woods around us, in an effort to make spring really POP. Nature doesn't need much help around here, but we at least try to choose locations. We have lined our driveway with several varieties of spring blooms, and circled trees with daffodils, crocus, tulips and lilies. Grape Hyacinth sprung up in our yard this month, and neither of us remember planting bulbs. We will gladly welcome and nourish this new, pleasant recruit.
I simply love the Arkansas Spring!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Life is fragile; Count the blessings
Well, it has been a month since my last post. Sometimes, I feel like I would like to try one every week, and then life kicks in, and the week has turned into 2 or 3. As mentioned more than once, we still have slow dial up, so I expect lengthy downloads of each individual page it takes to get here. Then there is just the amount of other stuff that goes on in a typical day around here. Oh, well. Life goes on, and I WILL keep posting, because I find the process somewhat cathartic. Maybe I should try writing a book someday. But for now, this blog is a good release.
I think I have to go with a thought tonight that has been prevalent in my life the last few weeks. That is, that life can be......IS fragile. Not to say that it explodes like a crystal vase at the slightest vibration, but that when life seems to settle into a routine, get ready! Mine rarely seems to be routine, other than the constant stream of new drama.
Let's talk about health! This year got off to a rough start that way. Here at home, we are generally OK. I am heavier than I should be, and terribly out of shape, but otherwise healthy. Healthy prognosis for everyone on the homefront, except for Benjamin. He has fought, (in his own way) with every round of stomache bug that has come through, and there have been a few. His "new plumbing" makes it impossible to tell by standard means if he is sick. But he has been in the bathroom a lot more than normal, and his stomach hurts more than usual. Maybe as the weather warms up, and the little bugs go away, he will get to feeling better. I would trade everything I have, if my kids could just live a normal healthy life! But that is not the plan!
Then, in early January, we get an e-mail from Justin. Man of many words......NOT!! the 8 line e-mail contained this little zinger in the middle. " Now Mom, don't freak out. I had an issue with low blood sugar, and I have been transferred to Guadalajara. New comp is Elder Vasquez, and everything is OK". Been around long enough to know that an "emergency transfer" doesn't take place for a minor event. Some searching e-mails to Mom's group of friends on "Missionary Moms" got better details.
Justin had a series of very low night-time blood glucose readings, and had a seizure. He had a small head injury, and it required a trip to the ER. His comp., Elder Juarez, had done perfectly what he needed to, so Justin was OK, but the president wanted to bring him closer to the medical community at Guadalajara. Michelle was frantic at first, but then realized that Justin had been taken care of the same as if she had been there. She started to be at peace with the situation.
Side-bar.... Church: In the weeks immediately following that stress with Justin, we had several of our church family that were in and out of the hospital for various (some serious) reasons. One of our older friends had some heart trouble, and had to be in the hospital for a few days while they figured out how to get his heart rhythm back to normal. He is doing great now.
Another sister had surgery, which is always significant, but with her alzheimer's, post surgery care and discomfort has been a major challenge for her family.
Another couple have each been to the ER, one for heart issues, which are still "working", and the other for a back injury which has never healed right after many years.
Yet another couple took turns in and out for a series of stomach and sinus infections, and this was the one that got me REALLY scared. After sharing time in and out from about the middle of December, she was just in the downside of a sinus infection. The antibiotics were knocking down the infection, and she was actually feeling better. Then one day at work she noticed some bruising on her arm. She didn't remember bumping anything, and it didn't hurt, so she kind of wrote it off. That was, until later that day when she noticed similar bruises in other places, and a strange red "rash" developing on her neck.
When they decided it was odd enough that a trip to the ER was necessary, that's when it got dicey. Blood tests revealed that her blood platelet count was DANGEROUSLY low. (They were told that a healthy range is from 300-350 Thousand units) She was testing with 15!!!!!!! IV bags of platelets were pumped into her to stop the internal bleeding (bruises). A few hours later, her count had climbed to 1300, and then fell back down to ZERO! as fast as the IV pumped platelets in, her body was destroying them.
Turns out, it was set off by a reaction to the antibiotic (sulpha or sulphur based), and once her body cleared that stuff out, she bounced right back. But before that point, the doctors had told her husband that if she started bleeding into her brain, she would at best stroke, and it might kill her, because the bleeding made it nearly impossible for them to do anything other than pump in platelets as fast as they could. That was a very rough night for many of us!
These are cursory glances at the traumas that face us, as my family includes the branch members that are my stewardship. I cried with Br. J when he told me that his wife might not make it through the night. I stewed over the heart problems of Br. M, serious enough that children from longer distances made an effort to come here. I am constantly praying for all these members, because I know how hard it can be to stay positive in the face of a constant health concern.
Then just 3 days after relaxing about Sis. J., we get a call on Thursday Feb 25th! Justin has had another seizure, suffered a head injury, and mission medical, together with his Mission President have decided to send him home! Our house was filled with tears that night! Michelle and I barely slept, the kids fairly well cried themselves to sleep. Some joy in the knowledge that we would see Justin the next day, but distress because his health had sabotaged something he so deeply wants to complete.
I know, this is long, bear with me, I am reaching the end, AND a potential point!
This week at home may be a great blessing! Justin has already seen his endocrinologist, and been given a clean bill. We determined that his body increased its sensitivity to the insulin DRASTICALLY!! He is using less than half what he used before leaving. And still having some minor lows. That itself is good, now that we know it's happening.
He will be able to go back out, if not to the same place. we will have to wait to hear from Salt Lake, to determine his new assignment. But in the mean-time, our mission president has requested Justin's service. He has need of a Spanish speaking elder over in Tennessee, so we took Justin over yesterday (Saturday), where he will spend the next several weeks (until we hear from SLC) being the Spanish go-to-guy! I think that will be a great confidence booster for Justin, as he has already had success working with a spanish speaking family in setting an appointment for the next discussion, and inviting them to church next week!
Then there is a medical-insurance issue that may be a great blessing. Because Justin had problems, but is now in control, he is a perfect candidate for new technolgy, a continuos glucose monitor, which would not likely be approved as long as his old pump is under warranty. (The pump and the monitor communicate). We thought his warranty still had several months left. Guess What! His old pump warranty expires in 2 weeks!!
Maybe this is a case of the Lord working in mysterious ways. The blessings are coming, and Justin is still able to serve. The members of our branch are currently on the mend. Benjamin will get to feeling better, because the doctor gives him a 3 month supply of antibiotics (NOT SULPHUR BASED!), and life goes on. Things seem to be drifting back into a normal routine.......
but we can smile until the next round
I think I have to go with a thought tonight that has been prevalent in my life the last few weeks. That is, that life can be......IS fragile. Not to say that it explodes like a crystal vase at the slightest vibration, but that when life seems to settle into a routine, get ready! Mine rarely seems to be routine, other than the constant stream of new drama.
Let's talk about health! This year got off to a rough start that way. Here at home, we are generally OK. I am heavier than I should be, and terribly out of shape, but otherwise healthy. Healthy prognosis for everyone on the homefront, except for Benjamin. He has fought, (in his own way) with every round of stomache bug that has come through, and there have been a few. His "new plumbing" makes it impossible to tell by standard means if he is sick. But he has been in the bathroom a lot more than normal, and his stomach hurts more than usual. Maybe as the weather warms up, and the little bugs go away, he will get to feeling better. I would trade everything I have, if my kids could just live a normal healthy life! But that is not the plan!
Then, in early January, we get an e-mail from Justin. Man of many words......NOT!! the 8 line e-mail contained this little zinger in the middle. " Now Mom, don't freak out. I had an issue with low blood sugar, and I have been transferred to Guadalajara. New comp is Elder Vasquez, and everything is OK". Been around long enough to know that an "emergency transfer" doesn't take place for a minor event. Some searching e-mails to Mom's group of friends on "Missionary Moms" got better details.
Justin had a series of very low night-time blood glucose readings, and had a seizure. He had a small head injury, and it required a trip to the ER. His comp., Elder Juarez, had done perfectly what he needed to, so Justin was OK, but the president wanted to bring him closer to the medical community at Guadalajara. Michelle was frantic at first, but then realized that Justin had been taken care of the same as if she had been there. She started to be at peace with the situation.
Side-bar.... Church: In the weeks immediately following that stress with Justin, we had several of our church family that were in and out of the hospital for various (some serious) reasons. One of our older friends had some heart trouble, and had to be in the hospital for a few days while they figured out how to get his heart rhythm back to normal. He is doing great now.
Another sister had surgery, which is always significant, but with her alzheimer's, post surgery care and discomfort has been a major challenge for her family.
Another couple have each been to the ER, one for heart issues, which are still "working", and the other for a back injury which has never healed right after many years.
Yet another couple took turns in and out for a series of stomach and sinus infections, and this was the one that got me REALLY scared. After sharing time in and out from about the middle of December, she was just in the downside of a sinus infection. The antibiotics were knocking down the infection, and she was actually feeling better. Then one day at work she noticed some bruising on her arm. She didn't remember bumping anything, and it didn't hurt, so she kind of wrote it off. That was, until later that day when she noticed similar bruises in other places, and a strange red "rash" developing on her neck.
When they decided it was odd enough that a trip to the ER was necessary, that's when it got dicey. Blood tests revealed that her blood platelet count was DANGEROUSLY low. (They were told that a healthy range is from 300-350 Thousand units) She was testing with 15!!!!!!! IV bags of platelets were pumped into her to stop the internal bleeding (bruises). A few hours later, her count had climbed to 1300, and then fell back down to ZERO! as fast as the IV pumped platelets in, her body was destroying them.
Turns out, it was set off by a reaction to the antibiotic (sulpha or sulphur based), and once her body cleared that stuff out, she bounced right back. But before that point, the doctors had told her husband that if she started bleeding into her brain, she would at best stroke, and it might kill her, because the bleeding made it nearly impossible for them to do anything other than pump in platelets as fast as they could. That was a very rough night for many of us!
These are cursory glances at the traumas that face us, as my family includes the branch members that are my stewardship. I cried with Br. J when he told me that his wife might not make it through the night. I stewed over the heart problems of Br. M, serious enough that children from longer distances made an effort to come here. I am constantly praying for all these members, because I know how hard it can be to stay positive in the face of a constant health concern.
Then just 3 days after relaxing about Sis. J., we get a call on Thursday Feb 25th! Justin has had another seizure, suffered a head injury, and mission medical, together with his Mission President have decided to send him home! Our house was filled with tears that night! Michelle and I barely slept, the kids fairly well cried themselves to sleep. Some joy in the knowledge that we would see Justin the next day, but distress because his health had sabotaged something he so deeply wants to complete.
I know, this is long, bear with me, I am reaching the end, AND a potential point!
This week at home may be a great blessing! Justin has already seen his endocrinologist, and been given a clean bill. We determined that his body increased its sensitivity to the insulin DRASTICALLY!! He is using less than half what he used before leaving. And still having some minor lows. That itself is good, now that we know it's happening.
He will be able to go back out, if not to the same place. we will have to wait to hear from Salt Lake, to determine his new assignment. But in the mean-time, our mission president has requested Justin's service. He has need of a Spanish speaking elder over in Tennessee, so we took Justin over yesterday (Saturday), where he will spend the next several weeks (until we hear from SLC) being the Spanish go-to-guy! I think that will be a great confidence booster for Justin, as he has already had success working with a spanish speaking family in setting an appointment for the next discussion, and inviting them to church next week!
Then there is a medical-insurance issue that may be a great blessing. Because Justin had problems, but is now in control, he is a perfect candidate for new technolgy, a continuos glucose monitor, which would not likely be approved as long as his old pump is under warranty. (The pump and the monitor communicate). We thought his warranty still had several months left. Guess What! His old pump warranty expires in 2 weeks!!
Maybe this is a case of the Lord working in mysterious ways. The blessings are coming, and Justin is still able to serve. The members of our branch are currently on the mend. Benjamin will get to feeling better, because the doctor gives him a 3 month supply of antibiotics (NOT SULPHUR BASED!), and life goes on. Things seem to be drifting back into a normal routine.......
but we can smile until the next round
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
What happens on a Snow Day
I thought I would give a somewhat detailed account of snow days around here. We never lived in an area that cancelled school. In Utah, it took so much snow to cancel school, I can only recall one day during the time I taught in Utah. I'm sure there were more. I had left early to make the 31 mile drive (it only took 1 1/2 hours), and got there about 10 minutes AFTER the district had cancelled! Then I got to drive back home through the continuing snow. THAT was fun!
Here in Arkansas, where snow frequently comes with its friends Ice, Sleet, and Freezing Rain, we have a few days each year. This year has been particularly strange. Concord cancels easier than Conway, becaue we draw from a rural region, and these back roads may be impassable, even if the highways are good. So what does a snow day look like for us?
Most frequently, a snow day starts with Dad (Scott) getting up at least one hour early, to assess, and usually make the drive to Conway. I hate leaving my classes to a substitute, and if the roads are at least passable, I have driven in some very nasty conditions, and I am always careful.
On those days that I can't make it to Conway, the routine varies greatly, with some common threads. First, we thank our Heavenly Father that we did not receive severe storm damage, and especially if we don't lose power. We have been in ice storms where we spent a week without electricity. I believe one of my first posts last year was about the ice storm.
If we have chickens, which is usual, we start the day by taking care of the farm. If the driveway, which is steep and long, is too slick, we sometimes tromp up the hill through the woods. Usually we can get Bob's old red truck up the driveway. It is a beast! Once or twice we have had to take the 4-wheeler, and years ago it was so slick that Bob and I ran screws into the bottom of our boots to make the trek up to the houses. These last few storms were not so bad. The dry powdery snow doesn't really slow down the red truck when it is in 4-wheel drive.
On the rare snow days where chickens aren't a factor ( like the snow event of Jan 29th-31st) we have a much more relaxed approach. We sleep til the kids start moving, or until Michelle and I start showing our "OLDNESS" by getting sore from laying still too long. Yes! Young people, it IS possible to get sore from being in bed too long! Trust me, you will believe me someday:) This time, we weren't rushing to work in the chickenhouses, because we had just sold on Tuesday, and had not heard when new chicks were coming. It usually takes about 14 days. So we had a slow, leisurely breakfast of biscuits and gravy. Liz made a really scrumptious chocolate gravy, and Michelle made her best milk gravy, and we made a triple batch of Mom's sky-high biscuits!
Needless to say, we didn't move much for awhile after breakfast. We shovelled off the walk-way, then the kids and I went and shovelled Bob and Phyllis' walks. Bob asked us to go build a fire in the dog-kennel. Then the kids wanted to try out some sledding. Well, we don't have sleds, so we improvised. we searched out some pieces of old panelling in the old house, and ran some rope through the corners. They didn't work well on the driveways, but behind the chicken houses are steep enough the kids could get some sled runs going. Just not very long. we played in the snow for a good 2 hours.
Well, this time around, Bob informed us that we get chickens on Tuesday Feb. 2, but we have to wait for a special spray to come. So we waited, and waited. I can't do anything to get the houses ready, even though we had Friday and Saturday, because we are waiting on this spray outfit. He finally came Sunday afternoon, just before dark. I had to wait til Monday night to get houses ready for birds.
The rest of the day revolves around movies, video games, cooking chili, scones, or some other warm comfort food. We work (or play) on the computer, and read, sometimes a lot!!
These 3 days (Feb 8-10), we have had small birds to tend. Saturday, I had dealt with some damage from the last snow storm, which had displaced fan shrouds, and jammed the big exhaust fans on these 3 houses. We only have birds in the 3 houses up the hill, so I haven't even been to house 1 since last Monday night, when I needed some PVC to repair a waterline in house 4. The fans are running fine, and I have checked each morning after snow, to make sure the snow drifts did not drop the fan shrouds again.
That means we have a free morning, once the chicken houses have been tended to.
We have improved our home-made sledding options with some plastic sheeting and some slick packaging material, but we still have to stick to the short, really-steep runs behind the chicken houses. Next year, I will be prepared, with either some home-made sleds that can ZIP, or some store bought options. They are hard to find around here, because sledding is not usually an option. But next year, we will be READY for some snow days and some awesome sledding! The chicken house driveway is nearly 300 feet long! If we can get anything sliding, it will be a great run!
This year, we have spent the days sledding, building either snowmen or snow forts, drinking cocoa, making stew, baking cookies, and the obligatory computers, video games, and movie marathons.
It sometimes makes me wonder how easy it was to get cabin fever and go completely stir crazy back in the day before all this technology made distractions so available. I think the kids would have killed each other, or Michelle would have buried us ALL in the snow:)
Here in Arkansas, where snow frequently comes with its friends Ice, Sleet, and Freezing Rain, we have a few days each year. This year has been particularly strange. Concord cancels easier than Conway, becaue we draw from a rural region, and these back roads may be impassable, even if the highways are good. So what does a snow day look like for us?
Most frequently, a snow day starts with Dad (Scott) getting up at least one hour early, to assess, and usually make the drive to Conway. I hate leaving my classes to a substitute, and if the roads are at least passable, I have driven in some very nasty conditions, and I am always careful.
On those days that I can't make it to Conway, the routine varies greatly, with some common threads. First, we thank our Heavenly Father that we did not receive severe storm damage, and especially if we don't lose power. We have been in ice storms where we spent a week without electricity. I believe one of my first posts last year was about the ice storm.
If we have chickens, which is usual, we start the day by taking care of the farm. If the driveway, which is steep and long, is too slick, we sometimes tromp up the hill through the woods. Usually we can get Bob's old red truck up the driveway. It is a beast! Once or twice we have had to take the 4-wheeler, and years ago it was so slick that Bob and I ran screws into the bottom of our boots to make the trek up to the houses. These last few storms were not so bad. The dry powdery snow doesn't really slow down the red truck when it is in 4-wheel drive.
On the rare snow days where chickens aren't a factor ( like the snow event of Jan 29th-31st) we have a much more relaxed approach. We sleep til the kids start moving, or until Michelle and I start showing our "OLDNESS" by getting sore from laying still too long. Yes! Young people, it IS possible to get sore from being in bed too long! Trust me, you will believe me someday:) This time, we weren't rushing to work in the chickenhouses, because we had just sold on Tuesday, and had not heard when new chicks were coming. It usually takes about 14 days. So we had a slow, leisurely breakfast of biscuits and gravy. Liz made a really scrumptious chocolate gravy, and Michelle made her best milk gravy, and we made a triple batch of Mom's sky-high biscuits!
Needless to say, we didn't move much for awhile after breakfast. We shovelled off the walk-way, then the kids and I went and shovelled Bob and Phyllis' walks. Bob asked us to go build a fire in the dog-kennel. Then the kids wanted to try out some sledding. Well, we don't have sleds, so we improvised. we searched out some pieces of old panelling in the old house, and ran some rope through the corners. They didn't work well on the driveways, but behind the chicken houses are steep enough the kids could get some sled runs going. Just not very long. we played in the snow for a good 2 hours.
Well, this time around, Bob informed us that we get chickens on Tuesday Feb. 2, but we have to wait for a special spray to come. So we waited, and waited. I can't do anything to get the houses ready, even though we had Friday and Saturday, because we are waiting on this spray outfit. He finally came Sunday afternoon, just before dark. I had to wait til Monday night to get houses ready for birds.
The rest of the day revolves around movies, video games, cooking chili, scones, or some other warm comfort food. We work (or play) on the computer, and read, sometimes a lot!!
These 3 days (Feb 8-10), we have had small birds to tend. Saturday, I had dealt with some damage from the last snow storm, which had displaced fan shrouds, and jammed the big exhaust fans on these 3 houses. We only have birds in the 3 houses up the hill, so I haven't even been to house 1 since last Monday night, when I needed some PVC to repair a waterline in house 4. The fans are running fine, and I have checked each morning after snow, to make sure the snow drifts did not drop the fan shrouds again.
That means we have a free morning, once the chicken houses have been tended to.
We have improved our home-made sledding options with some plastic sheeting and some slick packaging material, but we still have to stick to the short, really-steep runs behind the chicken houses. Next year, I will be prepared, with either some home-made sleds that can ZIP, or some store bought options. They are hard to find around here, because sledding is not usually an option. But next year, we will be READY for some snow days and some awesome sledding! The chicken house driveway is nearly 300 feet long! If we can get anything sliding, it will be a great run!
This year, we have spent the days sledding, building either snowmen or snow forts, drinking cocoa, making stew, baking cookies, and the obligatory computers, video games, and movie marathons.
It sometimes makes me wonder how easy it was to get cabin fever and go completely stir crazy back in the day before all this technology made distractions so available. I think the kids would have killed each other, or Michelle would have buried us ALL in the snow:)
Snow Days!
Well, all I can say is that January and February have proven the statement made by many that if you don't like the weather in Arkansas, stick around a few hours.
We started off the year with some very cold, and then very snowy weather. I had to miss a teacher training on Jan 4th, because the roads were treacherous. I had hauled myself out of bed very early, knowing that Conway rarely cancels school events for weather. One station had run the banners for cancellations, and it had said Conway schools were closed. Since classes were not even scheduled for that day, I assumed it meant the teacher training was cancelled. Well I turned off the alarm and went back to bed. I woke up at 7:45 and checked the TV again. OUCH!
The previous banner was changed, and it said Conway teacher training delayed. Well, even if the roads HAD been passable, I could not have made it on time, so I ended up having to sacrifice a personal day. I helped with the chicken houses, as if it were a weekend, mak8ing some minor repairs, and then spending most of the day inside with the family. School resumed with little trauma the next day, because things had thawed enough to make the roads OK, if not great.
January was slightly cooler than averages, but generally "nice" until the end. Significant rain, not unusual for this time of year, some wintry mix events with marginal accumulation in parts of the state. Pretty normal. Almost.
The middle of the month got cold. Really cold! we had a week of temps reaching down into single digits! During one 3 day stretch, we had daytime highs in the teens or low 20's, and night-time lows in single digits. One day read 7 F, with a wind-chill of -2 degrees!! I have a picture I wish I could post. It shows two blocks of ice. One, very dirty, came a puddle left from all the rain in December and earlier in January. It had been broken up by a feed truck down at house 1. We had been driving over it in the van and pick-up, but the feed trucks come in around 36 tons of feed, plus the truck weight. It was nearly 4 inches thick.
I decided to test the ice on the pond! I walked out about 10-15 feet from the shore, where the water is still only about knee deep, maybe hip deep. I broke out a chunk that was over 3 inches thick. The next 2 days stayed well below freezing, but I never got a chance to go back out and test again.
Jan. 28th became the next snow event. Actually, this is early, but the weather reports were calling for a storm to move in that night. Concord sent students home early. Many of my students at Conway were anticipating a snow day. Well, it happened. We got another storm during the night, which dumped nearly 8 inches of snow in my front yard. Conway got hit too, so I didn't have to worry about anything, except the fact that we were missing a quiz. My students were heartbroken, I'm sure.
Our Stake conference (a regional church conference, for readers unfamiliar with the term) was a very lightly attended event. None of our congregation from Batesville made it, and I'm sure most of the outer reaches of the stake could not make it. The roads were BAD!! Liz was upset, because she had been asked to speak, and was well prepared. Oh well, as Elder Packer said, when we called our Stake President, he did not want anyone risking life and limb to attend the conference, and we should be at peace, and spend a safe, calm, spiritual day at home with our families.
Conway made it to school that week, as the roads had cleared some on Sunday afternoon. Concord did not go back to school til Wednesday, so I got a chance to take Ian with me to school in Conway. It had been a pretty strange month. Tuesday-Friday of that week, the temps reached up into the 50's, with night lows in the 40's!! Nearly all of the snow that had been plowed in our region had melted. Nearly!
Then we got to Sunday night, Feb. 7th. The forecasts had been building to the possibility of heavy accumulation in most of the northern half of the state. They missed a bit. Most of the state got some snow or wintry mix. The northern half (including Drasco) got 8-15 inches. Most hovered around 8-10, but I had heard some reports of 12-15 from extended family of some friends in regions further north.
we have been home from school since, and I just read that Conway is cancelled for tomorrow as well. 3 Days in a row!!?! I will start a new post to talk about our fun 3 days!
We started off the year with some very cold, and then very snowy weather. I had to miss a teacher training on Jan 4th, because the roads were treacherous. I had hauled myself out of bed very early, knowing that Conway rarely cancels school events for weather. One station had run the banners for cancellations, and it had said Conway schools were closed. Since classes were not even scheduled for that day, I assumed it meant the teacher training was cancelled. Well I turned off the alarm and went back to bed. I woke up at 7:45 and checked the TV again. OUCH!
The previous banner was changed, and it said Conway teacher training delayed. Well, even if the roads HAD been passable, I could not have made it on time, so I ended up having to sacrifice a personal day. I helped with the chicken houses, as if it were a weekend, mak8ing some minor repairs, and then spending most of the day inside with the family. School resumed with little trauma the next day, because things had thawed enough to make the roads OK, if not great.
January was slightly cooler than averages, but generally "nice" until the end. Significant rain, not unusual for this time of year, some wintry mix events with marginal accumulation in parts of the state. Pretty normal. Almost.
The middle of the month got cold. Really cold! we had a week of temps reaching down into single digits! During one 3 day stretch, we had daytime highs in the teens or low 20's, and night-time lows in single digits. One day read 7 F, with a wind-chill of -2 degrees!! I have a picture I wish I could post. It shows two blocks of ice. One, very dirty, came a puddle left from all the rain in December and earlier in January. It had been broken up by a feed truck down at house 1. We had been driving over it in the van and pick-up, but the feed trucks come in around 36 tons of feed, plus the truck weight. It was nearly 4 inches thick.
I decided to test the ice on the pond! I walked out about 10-15 feet from the shore, where the water is still only about knee deep, maybe hip deep. I broke out a chunk that was over 3 inches thick. The next 2 days stayed well below freezing, but I never got a chance to go back out and test again.
Jan. 28th became the next snow event. Actually, this is early, but the weather reports were calling for a storm to move in that night. Concord sent students home early. Many of my students at Conway were anticipating a snow day. Well, it happened. We got another storm during the night, which dumped nearly 8 inches of snow in my front yard. Conway got hit too, so I didn't have to worry about anything, except the fact that we were missing a quiz. My students were heartbroken, I'm sure.
Our Stake conference (a regional church conference, for readers unfamiliar with the term) was a very lightly attended event. None of our congregation from Batesville made it, and I'm sure most of the outer reaches of the stake could not make it. The roads were BAD!! Liz was upset, because she had been asked to speak, and was well prepared. Oh well, as Elder Packer said, when we called our Stake President, he did not want anyone risking life and limb to attend the conference, and we should be at peace, and spend a safe, calm, spiritual day at home with our families.
Conway made it to school that week, as the roads had cleared some on Sunday afternoon. Concord did not go back to school til Wednesday, so I got a chance to take Ian with me to school in Conway. It had been a pretty strange month. Tuesday-Friday of that week, the temps reached up into the 50's, with night lows in the 40's!! Nearly all of the snow that had been plowed in our region had melted. Nearly!
Then we got to Sunday night, Feb. 7th. The forecasts had been building to the possibility of heavy accumulation in most of the northern half of the state. They missed a bit. Most of the state got some snow or wintry mix. The northern half (including Drasco) got 8-15 inches. Most hovered around 8-10, but I had heard some reports of 12-15 from extended family of some friends in regions further north.
we have been home from school since, and I just read that Conway is cancelled for tomorrow as well. 3 Days in a row!!?! I will start a new post to talk about our fun 3 days!
Monday, January 11, 2010
camping part 2
....camping part 2
I have to preface this post. I had typed out both parts at about the same time, but when I saved them to the flashdrive, I somehow replaced the 2nd with the first, so I had 2 versions of part 1. I finally dug through my hard-drive back-up files, and found part 2, so here it is.
As I think about our many camping trips, and the preparation that goes into a successful trip, I am still seeing that planning and discussion is vital. I don’t ever recall hearing Dad and Mom debate what was necessary for a fun trip, they work so much on the same wavelength.
But I am sure they discussed together what would be best for a given trip. If they ever disagreed, that discussion never happened in front of us. When it came time to load the car or trailer (again, ?), they had what we needed, and it had a place, somewhere.
I have had friends that say that camping with their parents was the worst nightmare, because Dad and Mom could not agree on what to take, and if they even went, they ended up fighting because they each wanted their stuff, and there was not enough space for it all. (Sometimes this led to the family going into debt to buy a bigger camper, or trailer, or 5th wheel, etc.) And yes, divorce was not far behind! Having MORE was not always BETTER!
Well our country is getting geared up for a long trip ahead. And the people deciding what we are taking can’t seem to get along! They feel the need to pack everything, including the kitchen AND bathroom sinks, and subzero winter gear, even though the weather should be balmy. What irks me however, is that each side wants to blame the other, rather than work together to find a solution that works. Many of the Liberals want to pass it now, and work out the details later!?!?
This healthcare monstrosity is a perfect example. Over 2000 pages, of which I have read as much as I can, because the “legalese” numbs my brain, which I’m sure is its purpose. The Libs want to take everything along, and they want to control it, while claiming that it will not be government controlled. Do they really think we are all THAT stupid??! The pages I have read talk about criminal penalties for not having health insurance, government oversight of health coverages, and a “forced” coverage, if unable to find acceptable (to whom?) insurance.
Then, they claim that all the Conservatives can do is try to stop it by being stubborn. “The Party of NO”, they are screaming.
You know, just because one says that we don’t need the 45” flatscreen TV on a camping trip, doesn’t automatically mean the trip is cancelled. The one’s screaming re-think, and re-start are not just throwing up brick walls, they are countering with good ideas. But the Libs and the biased left media are trying to portray the opposition to this healthcare as un-christian, stubborn, un-helpful/uncooperative. They claim that because we want to take something different, we are saying the camping trip is off. I know of no-one, conservative OR Liberal, Republican OR Democrat, in the middle OR outerfringes that thinks our healthcare system and the cost involved should not be changed somehow. We have a problem, and it needs help, but it needs to be thought out carefully, reviewed, discussed, and PUBLICIZED, because this could be one of the biggest changes in our country’s history.
And government take-over (public option, health-care exchange, whatever “soft” version they are selling today) leaves this country in the hands of a greedy few, instead of being moved by the larger, impartial forces of free-market economics. For example, remove the blocks to competition (like state lines!) and the dozens of companies out there will become more competitive just to stay alive. Force a new competitor in, who has the automatic advantage of being the government, and you actually stifle the very competition that will help the most!
Congress, get it and yourselves, together, and open the debate! Quit trying to ram things down the other party’s (and the American People’s) throat. This is too important to just push through so you can say you did something.
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