Putting It All Together- part 2

This post will not be nearly as long as the last one, even though it covers more days, most of them are the same, painful days. When I got home I thought it would be so wonderful to be in my own bed. Only it really hurt to get myself on the bed, and situated some what comfortably. I mostly had to have someone help me, and go really slow. I spent my days either siting in a recliner or in bed. Moving between the two with the walker. On, Sunday a home health nurse came to see me, she didn't do much. On Thursday I saw my neurologist for more pain meds. The painful back spasms that started in the hospital have not stopped yet. They are not all consuming, but they caught me off guard since I never knew when one would start, or how long it would last. The days were long and boring. I'm glad we had Baby to keep me company. I couldn't cook dinner on my own, I could sit at the table with a pillow behind me and do the prep stuff, but usually Joseph did the cooking, or taking in and out of the oven part. My neurologist suggested the Laser Spine Institute to me. I had to have blood work done for approval for them to see me. Because of that blood work it was discovered that I am diabetic. At first the doctor wanted to try just changing my diet to see if the blood sugar numbers would go down. Met with the doctors at Laser Spine Institute and they decide I'm not a candidate for their type of surgery. Basically the only thing that can help control my pain is pain meds. The rest of the school year flies by, before it ends, I have my blood work re-checked. My blood sugar numbers are worse then they were 3 months ago. Time to start medication for diabetes. My cholesterol number is really high now too. Added medication for that too. Sarah had her 8th grade promotion and Joseph graduated high school, but have gotten workman's compensation to pay any of my medical bills yet? No. I have not had any income since January, Pat is working 6 days a week, to make up for this drastic change in our income, or mine lack of. In June I had my hernia repaired which has been an ordeal all in it self. Finally in July I start receiving social security again. For myself and the girls, now that Joseph is 18 I don't get anything for him. In August I figure out that workman's comp has denied my claim. I never got the denial letter in March! I have to file an appeal. Which drags everything even longer. Hearing was set for November, deposition in October. I met with a para legal who helped me by getting a hold of the worker comp rep who told her my case was compressible. I also get a letter from my neurologist who confirms that my back was not broken on Oct. 2010 when I last had an MRI, and clearly the fall in January caused the fracture. The deposition was horrible the lawyer wanted to know my whole life medical history. Near the end I started to cry. I just want the stupid medical bills paid. About a week goes by and he calls with a deal that workers comp will pay my bills and anything I have paid out of pocket. The hearing is canceled, thank goodness I so did not want to have to go to court. At the same time this is all happening Social Security decides that they would like the money they paid me while I was working and earning more than $1000 a month. Amazingly, someone who used to work for Social Security had just visited my bible study group and I was talking to someone else about the whole thing and she overheard, she suggested that I offer to pay a little each month, they usually agree to that and I won't have to get a line of credit or loan to pay them back. Pat went with me when we met my case worker. I offered to pay $50 a month and she agreed that would be fair, she had a copy of all our monthly bills so she knew how little money we have. Thank goodness that was over and settled fast. Thank God that woman came to bible study and got involved in the conversation. Back to workman's comp. The lawyer does write out a settlement in the middle of November. Which I have to agree with and have notarized. Then it went to the judge, and the judge approved it, and I get another letter from the lawyer agreeing with the judge I approve the settlement, and once again have to have notarized. Now it's December 18th and I am still getting bill collectors calls. Worker's comp should be paying off all those bills soon. And the around $500 Pat paid out on some of the bills will be reimbursed to us, by those places we paid. I can't believe it's been almost a year. The cold weather seems to affect the pain in my back. It hurts more now that it was. I also have to not do too much in the same day or I'm in loads of pain. Walking long distances and standing for a long time really hurt too. Pat is still working 6 days a week. We are still paying catch up on a lot of bills. I also had to apply for long term disability from the state, and they just started paying me $50. Which isn't a lot, but that is exactly the $50 we cut my social security. Thank you God for that blessing too!

Putting It All Together- a journey from January 4, 2011

January 4, 2011, I was working at a local elementary school and I took 2 students to lunch at 11:40 AM. One was a new student and one I had been working with for a semester already. Lunch did not go well, the new student is a six year old with multiple handicaps, He was not use to eating in a large cafeteria with many students. He could not feed himself, and what I did manage to put into his mouth he ate like an animal. He had raisins in his lunch I thought if I gave him a few at a time, like feeding a toddler he would be able to fed himself. He grabbed all that a put down and shoved them towards his mouth. More fell onto the floor and surrounding area than anywhere else. The other student that was with me was mad at me for giving all my attention to the other guy. When I was helping the second student I'll call C, the new student (K) grabbed at his messy noodles in some weird sauce and made a huge mess and I mean huge! It was unbelievable that I got him and the area cleaned up to go out side for recess. At 12:10 PM, as we were walking outside a teacher offered to assist me on the playground. After our wonderful lunch, I gladly said "yes". C had been swinging on the special "red" swing everyday during recess, prior to this day, he knew that's what he wanted to do. The new student would not do anything, and we (the teacher and I) were concerned that he might run away from us or throw sand. We moved C from the swing and K was very happy on the swing. C of course was upset. I felt badly for him. Beside the red swing is a regular child's swing. I first thought C might sit on my lap to swing, he is unable to use a regular child's swing developmentally. As soon as I sat down I knew that was a very bad idea. As I was steadying C on the soft turf and I was standing, I lost my balance because of the design of the soft turf ending and sand beginning design of the playground. I probably would not have fallen, but there was a student laying in the sand under the swings. I fell backwards onto my back because of his leg sticking out. I was in pain instantly. The teacher that was with me sees me in the sand and asks "am I OK?", "No" I respond. She asks if we need to call 911. Without giving it any thought I responded "YES!" I in the worst pain I have ever felt in my life, and I've had my share of painful things. The whole time I am on the sand the little boy is saying over and over, "I'm sorry my leg was there, I'm so sorry", did I mention he kept saying it over and over again. It was breaking my heart. I wanted to get up and tell him it's OK, I'll be alright, but I couldn't move to do that and it really hurt me not to be able to. The time 12:15 PM. I tried rolling onto my side trying to get relief from the pain. I'm not sure how much time it took for the paramedics to get there, it seemed like an eternity, with staff and students looking on. Luckily, the principal acted quickly and had the students return to their classrooms. When the paramedics got there, they rolled me on my back, ow, please don't touch me, but help me is all I'm thinking. They attempted several times to start an IV, so they can give me something for the pain. After failing to start one they shoved the needle with morfine in my arm, it didn't seem to help at all. They strap me on the gurney and start rolling towards the ambulance. I thought I was going to fall. One of the paramedics noticed I was uneasy said "you have a thousand straps holding you, your not going anywhere". I doubt it was a thousand! In the ambulance before we started going anywhere they wanted to get an IV going. After a few more attempts they got a poor one, but they got one. On the way to the hospital they had to give me oxygen because I wasn't breathing normally, a usual side affect they said of the pain medication. Time just seems to blurr quite a bit from this point on, I remember, my husband finally getting to the hospital, I remember someone wanting to cut my pants off, talking to a doctor, having a CT scan, 2 co-workers bringing me my purse and car keys, my in-laws stopping by for a few minutes, learning I was going to be admitted to the hospital, getting into the room at 11 PM. But really those 11 hours went by really fast, I really must have been drugged. I do not remember when they told me I had a compression fracture. The next day I had an MRI, and met with lots of different doctors. One wanted to fit me for a plastic brace, one wanted to put cement in my back with big needles, one was concerned that my blood levels were too high. I just did what they all wanted me to do, so I have this plastic binder that I brought home from the hospital that I have never worn, and don't even know how to put it on. I managed to get my blood levels normal enough to have a cement procedure. Two things that doctor didn't tell me is that I would be laying on my stomach while he did this, and I would be awake. I still would have done it, because he said that afterwards I would be pain free immediately, Sounded amazingly wonderful to me. He didn't tell me when I would have it done it either, he would just come get me when there was time, either Thursday afternoon, or Friday morning. Seems like I barely agreed to it, and he comes and takes me to the basement for the procedure. It seemed kinda scary going down to the basement, even though it was brightly lite, it was the basement, scary things happen in basements, I don't know why I had things like Frankenstein and weird labs were going through my head. It was very painful when the doctor is hammering into my back, maybe if I was wearing earplugs it wouldn't have seemed so bad, because then I couldn't hear what he was doing, I think I should suggest that to him. With each whack I just squeezed my eyes as tight as a could, at some point I thought "why are you not done yet"? The whole thing took less than an hour, but let me just say that when someone it whacking holes in your back, and sticking huge needles in those holes it seems a lot, a lot longer! That evening one of my co-workers brought me some beautiful flowers and visited with me for a long time. I was thinking any time now the pain will be gone. Not that night. Friday morning I woke up having horrible back spasms. Not pain free yet? Friday afternoon C's mom came to visit me. She was so glad I was OK, she felt horrible that I fell. He son had nothing to do with it. Yes, I helped him steady himself, which caused me to loose my balance, but really if the playground was design was better, and the other little boy wasn't laying under the swings, I probably wouldn't have fallen. I did learn that, I had not done such a wonderful job steadying C, because he also fell, but in an apposite direction of me. He was left bruised, down his leg. I felt terrible, I really cared about C a lot. Anyway back to no pain relief all day Friday, saw the doctor who did the procedure who said sometimes it takes a few days to get better. No! That's not what you lead me to believe before? Saturday morning they wanted to discharge me from the hospital, but I had to be able to walk 50 yards first. PT ordered a walker for me to use, and helped me get steady with it and walk the hallway. It took forever to walk 25 feet, the 25 feet back to my room didn't seems as far? My theory on that it for the first 25 feet, I had not idea where the stopping point was, all I see it a long hallway, and the not knowing when I could turn around made it seem much longer. The way back I felt a little bit more confident and I had the end in sight. Amazingly I showered on my own, for the first time in 4 days, and was dressing when my kids came to get me from the hospital. Coming up soon: recovery at home.

insurance, social security and hernia

It's been a rough day. I had to go do a deposition for the lawyer representing DVUSD. I was already emotional before I started because I do not like driving in unknown places looking for a building I've never been in before, and parking in a parking garage not knowing where the building is from were I parked, and hoping I'll be able to find my car again. I ended up being 15 minutes late :( I hated talking about all my medical issues with the lawyer, I fell at work it should not matter what else is wrong with me, or has been wrong with me since birth. I just feel like this whole thing is a joke from the insurance company (i.c.). I left crying. I'm sure they won't settle and I'll end up in court on November 2nd. The biggest issue seems to be that I never got the denial letter dated March 9th. I had been in contact with the insurance carrier all summer and when I finally learned I needed to appeal the denial is when the i.c. sent me a copy of the denial, some how I will have to convince the judge I did not receive the first notice. That is why I appealed later than 30 days. The claim should not have been denied in the first place and the i.c. told the lawyer I had this information on the phone. I told the lawyer this information this morning and showed him where she (my lawyer) wrote what the i.c. told her on my papers. The DVUSD lawyer is going to call the i.c. and verify this, he said he would call me back tomorrow, I hope he does, but I doubt he will, I'm sure days will go by before I hear from him. I was supposed to met with social security yesterday, only I got a letter on Friday that said, they would be closed on Monday, really it was a holiday and it took them to Friday to relive they would be closed? They wanted me to go in today to met with my case file worker, at the same time I had to be at the deposition. I left a message with them on Friday and today when I got home from the deposition, of course they did not call back, and the number listed on the contact info on the letter had a number that is no longer in service number, so I had to call an 800 number. I'm sure I'll get a letter tomorrow saying "where were you, and because you didn't come in we will decide your case" for you type letter. This makes me beyond crazy. Then to top off my afternoon, I saw the surgeon who did my hernia surgery in June. The area has not gone down since I saw her 8 weeks ago. Because it's trickier to just stick a needle in me and drain some fluid, because of the blood thinners, we decided I would wear the binder for 3 more months and re-check it, then go through the needle procedure. Even after she drains the fluid I will have to wear the binder. I am sick of the binder! Why can nothing be simple for me?

Kidney

I for to mention that my kidney function is up to 65% it was at 40 something. I'm glad that the new medication he put me on is working. At least 3 more weeks wearing the abdominal binder. It's been an even hotter summer wearing it. I think it's getting better, but I won't know for sure until the middle of October when I see that doctor again.

Lawyer update

She faxed the letter to the insurance carrier and their lawyer, and she amazingly talked to the person in charge of my claim. This amazed me because almost every time I would try to call this person she would not be in and had to leave a message, and she would rarely call back, then she gave me her cell phone number, only she never answered it, and would only sometimes return my calls. Anyway, my lawyer knows they should not have denied my case. She told me to call the insurance lawyer when I got home, which I did but he hasn't looked at my file yet, so hopefully by the end of the week I will be submitting all the really past due bills off to be paid, and the money that is due to me will be making it's way to me. I may still have to go to the deposition, I'm praying it will all get resolved and I won't need a hearing. I am really praying hard everything happens quickly! I am so stressed with not having money all the time.

School's started with a bang for the girls

Sarah is always busy with friends wanting to do things, Color Guard, hurting her hand in racket sports, had to have wrapped but thank goodness it wasn't broken. This past Saturday was her first High School dance. Homecoming! She went to a friend's house and a bunch of them got ready together, before they dinned out at McDonald's! The dance was at ASU west, not sure why, Sarah said she had a fun time. One of Sarah's classes this year is dance. What she has shown me looks really good. Rachel is liking band and thought she wanted to do choir also, but there's some issues there I can't into on a public site.So she'll just play her flute for right now. After going round and round with Rachel and dance classes, she has decided not to dance this year. Next year hopefully they will still be offering silks, because she really wants to do that. I looked into acting classes for her, but they are not in our price range for right now. Joseph hasn't been doing a whole lot. He'd like to take some law or government classes, but until he gets a job that won't be happening. He has his mind set of working at a certain Fry's and that's it. He'll give it to November then start applying other places. Pat has been working a lot of 6 days a week, weeks to help us out financially. In July we got social security started back up, were in a hole right now so it's going to take awhile to get out of it. I have a lawyer and I am fighting the denial from Valley Schools. Saw my doctor today and he wrote a letter stating that the fall caused injury, and my preexisting condition did not. Tomorrow I met back with the lawyer, I have to met Valley School's lawyer on Oct. 11 and my hearing is set for Nov. 2. I have been so stressed about all this, it feels like I can barely function at all. I first said that I just wanted my bills paid, but now I'm thinking they need to pay me everything I am intiled to.

End of Summer beginning of school

My sister had us over for dinner of some of my favorite foods for my birthday. French bread, salad with meats and cheeses tossed in and potato skins. For dessert Jessi baked me an apple pie that was served with vanilla ice cream. Yum! We tried to play the game I got for my birthday but it wasn't very children friendly. Pat and Becky had to work, when they showed up we just sat around and talked, which was fine. The following evening Pat took us to Red Lobster for dinner, yummo :). The next few weeks were spent getting the girls ready to go back to school, and they had to clean out/shovel out their room. It barely got done in those 2 weeks. Sarah also had band camp Mon. though Thur. from 3-9 PM. Joseph had those 2 weeks to get out his graduation thank you cards, I just really felt they were past due anyway and he should get them done before the new school year starts! One of the Thursday's Jul took me to see my cousin Mary's new house, it is a very cute house, way closer to her only child and his family. Mary had a luncheon spread out for us. It was nice to visit and eat. Rachel and I went to the dentist twice the second week, first for cleaning then we had to go back because Rachel had a cavity. Rachel had met the teacher night, the Thursday before school started. The 6th grader will move around to the other 6th grade teachers for different classes. One teacher teaches science, another teacher does math and the 3rd teacher does social studies. The students will stay with their homeroom teacher for language arts. This year 6th graders can earn the right and the fiances to go to San Diego field trip. Rachel is pretty excited. Sounds better than Sarah's over night at the zoo, of Joseph's camping trip in Prescott. School started Aug. 15, 2011, the girls had great first days. I couldn't get Rachel to take the hip hop class she said she wanted to take, so then I signed her up for a musical theater class, she went in the class, but didn't stay in. Now she's thinking she'll take a jazz class I am so embarrassed she needs to call to set that up. I was feeling sad that Sarah decided to not dance this year at The Dane Shoppe, I started cry when I finally called to tell them. She'll be dancing at school, and of course Color Guard, she wants to do Winter Guard too. I think she'll be pretty busy. I saw my wellness coach and she was pleased my diabetes number came down a little on the medication she put me on. One of the cholesterol numbers is still high so she wants me to add fish oil. Those suckers are huge! I saw the surgeon for an ultra sound. The space where the hernia was should be at least 50% clear of fluids mine is only 20%. She wants me to wear the binder as much as I can for 8 weeks and she'll recheck it. She just doesn't want to drain it with a needle, because that could cause infection, and it sounds painful to me. Getting up so early is really wearing me down. Sarah has me awake no later than 5:30, 4 times in the past 2 weeks I had to wake her. Then of course Baby wants to go outside, by then Sarah has eaten and is taking a shower in my bathroom. She keeps coming in and out of my room at least 7 times every morning so it's not like I can go back to sleep for an hour. My second alarm goes off at 7:45 for Rachel, that's when I get up and take all my meds. , eat a little breakfast, and get ready to go to the gym or my woman's bible study. I am so glad I joined the gym, I feel like I have more energy, and while I'm in the water my back doesn't hurt at all, not if I could live in a bubble of water I'd be pain free, not real logical that it, but it's good to have dreams! I do have to go right away right after Rachel leaves for school or I know me I just won't go. After lunch I need to take a little nap to get me through the rest of the day. Hopefully sooner I can cut it down to 30 minutes so I can do something else during the day, like read or scrapbook. I'm going to make this dream a reality in a few more weeks. I was planning on going to my church's woman's retreat this weekend. we just didn't have the money for me to go. Hopefully next year.

Kidney and Hernia

The area where the hernia was is bulging a little, the skin needs to learn there's nothing there any more and not stretch out. I have to see the surgeon again in 4 weeks and she'll look at it and see if she needs to drain it. I also am having some pain on my right side, kinda like menstrual cramps but a little higher, the surgeon said that it could be from the surgery and she can do a pain block or something (I guess I want to know what that means because I'm not into any painful procedures right now.) The kidney doctor was very through and looked at all my medical records and ordered more from old ultrasounds. He did put me on a different water pill, that should be safer on my kidneys. It's my left kidney that is 60% smaller than my right. He thinks it's strange that it's just starting to be an issue. So not only do I have to have my blood work done next month for my regular doctor, I have to have it done again on September, along with a 24 hour urine test. I just hate to be have blood drawn they always miss the first several times, and I'm left bruised on both arms and/or hands.

Sucky Summer- one big whine

In just 3 weeks school will start. The summer has gone by way too fast. I feel really bad for Rachel because she hasn't done much of anything. I'm glad she changed her mind and went to church camp (she had a blast) I'm so thankful for a friend from my bible study group who blessed us with just enough money for her to go. Between my hernia surgery and not feeling well enough to do anything and no money every week, things have just sucked. Because of the binder I have to wear for 2 more weeks, I haven't even taken Rachel swimming, by the time I don't have to wear it any more the public pools will be closed.

Gotout of the house today!

I had a doctor's appointment this morning with my wellness coach. The appointment didn't last long, in a month it will be time to check my labs already. It doesn't feel like it's been 3 months already. Well I guess 2 months, but still wasn't I just poked? The doctor's assistant forgot about me in the room, she was supposed to bring me the lab order, after waiting 15 minutes I left the room, she was sitting at her desk she looks up and sees me and says, "oops" I was not all that impressed that she couldn't even apologize for keeping me waiting? If I didn't go looking for her, how long do you think I would have been in that little room? I still don't feel comfortable driving, I asked Joseph to take me, if he wasn't in the waiting room waiting for me, I might have tried waiting it out to see if they would have ever found me. On Monday he'll get to take me to see the surgeon for my follow up, and take Rachel to get a shot. Tuesday I see the kidney doctor, I am kinda nervous about seeing him, because I don't want to hear there is something else wrong with me.

What's going on?

I'm sorry I haven't been the best of blog writers lately, a lot has been going on. Sarah had her 8th grade promotion ceremony the night before Joey's graduation (May 26th), after her's we had family over for a quick little reception. My nephew Micah was on leave and he took us out for dinner after Joey's graduation. Memorial Day weekend was a blur of activities. Then I spent the next week getting ready for Joey's party. The party was nice, a few of my cousins I haven't seen in a long time were able to come. After the regular party we played games with my sister and family, it was fun but a long day. On June 6th I saw a surgeon about a hernia I have had for about a year, and recently started growing much faster and it was quite large. She wanted to operate right away, but I wanted to wait until after the girls' dance recital and our anniversary. The girls' did beautifully in their recitals, even Rachel who says she hates dance classes is pretty amazing on stage. Pat ended up having to work on our anniversary but we did go out to dinner just the 2 of us, it was a early night since we had to be at the hospital the next morning at 5 AM for my surgery. Everything went as expected during the surgery other than it was much larger than the surgeon thought it was. I was discharged the same morning. That first day/night home all I did was sleep and take pain medication. The next day I tried to start eating and drinking, that didn't go well, I was so sick to my stomach, even the thought of food kept me from putting it in my mouth and nothing sounded good. I tried to keep drinking, but it usually came right back up again. On Saturday I couldn't stop sweating, no fever just sweating and my skin was clammy. I couldn't sleep finally at 4:30 AM I got a hold of the doctor on call and he said I needed to get to the emergency room for IV fluids. They had a hard time getting an IV in, 4 people tried at least 3 times each. Finally the doctor put in a central line, which was very painful, but was wonderful once they had it in, because they could draw blood and give me IVs without poking me any more. One downside to it was I couldn't get out of bed with it. I can not use a bed pan, that was not fun. Once the IV fluids and some antibiotics started kicking in, I started feeling much better. By evening they gave me clear liquids to see how I would tolerate them, I didn't have any problem, yeah! Monday dinner they gave me real food (well as real as hospital food it), no problems getting sick. On Tuesday they decided I didn't need to be in the hospital any more. I've been home and haven't had any nausea problems. The 10 lapo sites from the surgery are very painful, but not abnormally so. I take my pain medication and move around slow and it's not too bad. Because of all the abdominal pain I can barely feel the pain in my back, or maybe it's the extra pain medication is helping it too! In the mist of all this Joey spent a week up north with my sister and her family, Rachel went to church camp for 4 days, and Sarah has been at camp this week (she comes home tonight). I'm hoping July to be much more relaxing. I have to also say I have wonderful amazing friends from school and church who have been providing meals for us.

I think I've been had-update

The kids were supposed to go work at grandpa's today. The girls have been paying back money they owe us from when they broke the monitor of my laptop. So, they really need to go work. At 9, Sarah woke me up to tell me she doesn't feel good, and could I tell grandpa. When I woke Rachel up she comes out to the kitchen and says she's ill too, and blames it on a small amount of chocolate she had last night after dinner. Joseph does go with grandpa, which is good, because really he's the best worker. Sarah was up late last night with going to the drive-in with her youth group and had a friend spend the night. Gee do you think that's why she's sick? but she's just fine and is outside with her friend. Rachel who is supposed to be cleaning her room since she couldn't go to grandpa's is not doing such a fabulous job, and she just came out to use the computer. She yelled at me I'm taking a break. I feel like I could cry or hurt somebody. I called a meeting when Pat got up with the girls. Sarah went to grandpa's to work, because I also forgot she needs $400 for camp $75 by tomorrow and we have $8 in the checking account until Thursday. Rachel worked on her room until Pat went to work then got lazy again. She did take a little nap before dinner, so she quite possible is not feeling well. The room is still pretty messed up. I just can't get on the floor and clean, so they have to do it. My back has been freaking out all day, I'm getting a little tired of it.

Ladies Bible study

For a few months now I have been attending a ladies bible study, we just finished a 6 week study on Ruth. I have known I needed these ladies to prayerfully pray for me and our provisions, but I haven't had the courage. Here's what's going on-In February we were notified that my social security would stop, and we owe them a whole bunch of money because apparently I was making too much money working (not the whole time I was working just 9 months too much). Which really sucks, because we seemed to be struggling with social security and my income. I wrote a letter stating how I was injured at work in January and would not be be able to pay them back now. I haven't gotten a response back yet. When I was first taken to the hospital after the fall at school the hospital used my private insurance instead of having me fill out a workers comp form. Valley schools which is the school district's insurance provider, still has not paid any bills including the ambulance, hospital, doctors, etc. I can't seem to get them to pay. I filled for short and long term disability and even though I have finally gotten through to my case worker, which was no small feat, my claim is still pending. They say due to my employers not sending them a job description. Deer Valley says it has sent it twice once with the original paperwork they submitted on my behave and then faxed later. 5 1/2 months after the fall I have not had any income. Pat has worked 6 day weeks for a few months now, unless he's off on Sunday then he only work's a 5 day week. (If he works Sunday that's already time and a half, so if he works 6 days that week, he doesn't get paid over-time, but he gets paid for 6 days) Anyway back to the bible study. On Wednesday we were talking about what we learned most or got out of the study of Ruth. I was the last one to comment, I knew I was supposed to. I can see myself as all the main characters. Naomi- bitter and angry at God in the beginning of the story. Ruth not understanding who this God of Naomi's is but trusts him just the same. As I told the group some of my story I started to cry. They prayed for me right then and one of the ladies gave me a lawyer's number she used for an issue she was having with a school district (not mine) and her special needs son, and another woman who offered to pay the fir t$100 to the lawyer. Talk about touching my heart. I haven't been able to contact the lawyer yet, I put the number in my cell phone on Wednesday then had some problems with it so I haven''t been able to call, hopefully I'll be able to call on Monday and if she can't help me know so someone who can. I need my bills paid and it would be really great to get my long term disability paid so I had a little income.

JROTC Awarda

Last night was Joseph's awards ceramony. He recived 4 awards- Daughters of the American Revelotion Award, which was a certificate, ribbon and bar. Top student 100% all year in JROTC which was a plague. 4 cadets from his unit won this award which is rare. His 3rd award was a button for being a TA all year, and the last one a certificate for his 4 years in JROTC. Pictures are on my facebook page.

Back hurting day

I woke up with my back hurting, the kind that hurts because you've been in bed too long. It didn't get better the rest of the day as it swung into the painful spasms kind of pain. Laundry needed done and I lost 2 of my helpers while they were helping their grandpa with yard work so it was just me and Rachel. I have to help her with the machine part and she carries the baskets in and out of the house for me. The older ones I just send out and they bring me the laundry when it's done to fold/hang up to be put away. I usually try to start my bible study lesson while doing laundry on Saturday, but Rachel would not leave me alone. It was good we talked, and hung out, but you know it if I'm not doing my normal routine it makes me feel uneasy. I just need to put those study hours some where into my schedule this week. After the laundry was done I gathered all my Easter decorations for Pat to put in the attic when he got home from hiking. He got home around 4, with the van so then Rachel and I did a few errands. Walgreen's picked up pictures, library, and grocery store. Rachel is not as good as a helper at the store yet as Joseph or Pat, but she'll get better. Other than a few things I didn't put on my list, and milk, and fruits and veggies we should be good for 3-4 weeks. Rachel really wanted fondue for dinner last night, we haven't used the fondue set in a long time. I didn't know we didn't have any gel for the pot heating source. I just cooked everything at the stove instead. It was very tasty and yeah I didn't get sick from the steak! After dinner Rachel and I watched a movie together. It was one long non stop day, and I barely left the house!

Joseph-AIr Force update

Tuesday, I got a call from Joseph's recruiter. He was to report to MEPS yesterday morning at 5:45 AM. I think it was exactly 30 days since he was first there and was told he would hear something in 30 days. Thank goodness Pat had to work at 6 AM I asked him to please get up a little earlier to drop Joseph off. Joseph's knee was looked at and an x-ray done. Knee is cleared. He got done a little after 11, which was perfect, I was still able to go to my bible study before having to pick him up. It was a long drive for me, 1st Street and Washington. I had to park and sign in, to sign him out. Pat had just had to drop him off. Luckily there was a parking spot right in front of the building, I don't expect that to happen every time he needs picked up, but I was thankful for yesterday! He needs to report on the 26th and May 9th. Vision and psych evaluation.

Sarah's knees

Took Sarah to the an orthopedic doctor today, I'm not sure what he said the official problem is, but he did say it's normal for girls her age to have the pain and swelling problems she has been having. He is going to have her do physical therapy and she her back in 2 months. I hope the PT helps her, she's been sitting out of her dance classes for 2 weeks now. And not doing PE in school.I asked about using a brace during exercise and dance, the doctor said we could try if we wanted but it usually causing itching and it gets abandoned. She wanted to try it though, she knows how much her knees hurt. I bought one to start with to see if she likes it. No sense in wasting another $15 if she won't be using them.

Bullies

I hate bullies, I hate that my baby has to go through this at school. I hate that one girl is so "powerful" that she makes all the girls miserable. If you not my friend so and so can't be your friend, etc., etc. This is nothing new, it kinda slacked off for awhile. I hesitate to get the principal involved again. She met with the girls and made them promise to all be friends last time which I don't think really solved the problem. Maybe put a band-aid on it, but band-aids fall off, and you can be left with a scar. I don't want Rachel to be left with a scar. I know the principal just doesn't have time or make the time for students like she should. Oddly enough I got this article from my principal the other day. This is some of it

• Teach them that bullies get their power from our negative emotions. The more upset we get when picked on, the more powerful mean kids feel.
• Show your child how to trick bullies by pretending to be calm. If our children can learn to act calm when bullies hassle them, they become far less attractive targets.
• Teach your child to confuse or bewilder bullies by responding to verbal taunts with replies like, "Thanks for noticing" or "I appreciate the feedback."
• Help your child develop great social skills so that they are liked, accepted, and protected by positive peers. Kids who don't know how to relate in healthy ways often find themselves gravitating toward peers who treat them poorly.

I put on hold at the library "Words Will Never Hurt Me", by Sally Ogden the book goes into more details. I just love the 3rd point. I want to go up to the girl and say those things to her! But I think it best I teach Rachel those things.

Happy April Fool's Day!

Popcorn!

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Giveaway

http://azurestandard.blogspot.com/2011/03/giveaways-dont-get-any-sweeter-than.html#comment-form Wholesome Sweeter. I hope I win. Should be good for diabetics.