Thursday, February 28, 2013
Tooth Fairy
Monday, February 25, 2013
IHC
Before I begin, I would just like to say...that we have an amazing family. We are blessed with Chris's full time employement. We have great health insurance. I am not at all ignorant to what incredible blessings those all are.
But I'm going to stop opening my mail. As it is, I only check my mailbox once a week. The medical bills, they never end. We had our balance down to like...$6,000 owed to IHC, not to mention the $3,000 that I put on my amex to keep out of collections. And I opened my mail today to find another $2400 in medical that has just been billed, due to Austen's stay at McKay with RSV last month. Again, they took amazing care of him. I just am feeling a bit defeated that IHC patient financial services and I are never going to break up. It's been an expensive 3 years medically. I had two surgeries. I had twins. Those twins needed NICU time. Both needed home medical supplies at a few times. Simon had three surgeries. We have three surgeries this spring (provided Austen doesn't get sick again.) If you're reading this and single. SAVE YOUR MONEY. Babies are amazing and I love my kids. they are so much more expensive than I ever imagined. And mine are healthier than most I know. Even with the above medical crap. Now, I'm going to figure out a game plan to log jam this medical nightmare out of our lives before I'm 30, because we're supposed to cruise with Mickey that year...and I don't want IHC hanging over my head that trip.
But I'm going to stop opening my mail. As it is, I only check my mailbox once a week. The medical bills, they never end. We had our balance down to like...$6,000 owed to IHC, not to mention the $3,000 that I put on my amex to keep out of collections. And I opened my mail today to find another $2400 in medical that has just been billed, due to Austen's stay at McKay with RSV last month. Again, they took amazing care of him. I just am feeling a bit defeated that IHC patient financial services and I are never going to break up. It's been an expensive 3 years medically. I had two surgeries. I had twins. Those twins needed NICU time. Both needed home medical supplies at a few times. Simon had three surgeries. We have three surgeries this spring (provided Austen doesn't get sick again.) If you're reading this and single. SAVE YOUR MONEY. Babies are amazing and I love my kids. they are so much more expensive than I ever imagined. And mine are healthier than most I know. Even with the above medical crap. Now, I'm going to figure out a game plan to log jam this medical nightmare out of our lives before I'm 30, because we're supposed to cruise with Mickey that year...and I don't want IHC hanging over my head that trip.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
emi
Today when I go to church, and walk a protesting little Simon to his primary class, there will be a very important little face missing from that room. His only friend in the class. Emi.
When we moved to our townhome last year, I was determined that I was going to make friends. I was not going to repeat our 5 years in Clearfield, where I only had one person that I opened myself to. Because when that 1 person cuts you out of their life, it hurts. It hurts so much more than I was prepared for. And it hurts the kids, because their kids were YOUR kids lifeline. Not too confusing right? So, the first day I saw people out back, not only did I send my kids out there to play, I went out. I went out and smiled and introduced myself. A couple of days later at church, I realized all those people I had met had been in my ward, and I couldn't remember any of their names. One of them came up and sat next to me in Sunday School, and said "Deb, right? Mind if I sit here?" I was attending church alone with Ava and Simon that week, and Chris was home with the babies. We were trading off weeks-since the twins were too young to go. Bryan McCracken was the first person to make a sincere continuous effort to help us feel at home. His daughter, Kalli, has become best friends with Ava, and his wife, Rachel, is one of the funniest and kindest amazing people. We are hoping their boy, Dillan-who is a month older than the twins, will also be great friends with the boys. They wave to each other in church ;) It's going well, as far as babies go. :) I also came to know Jenny and her kids Addy-who is another girl that we have come to adore, and Ava considers a bestie. Kalli, Lucy, Addy are all a year younger than Ava. But when you're 4,5 that doesn't matter. They are inseparable in the summer. I was so excited that Ava had so many friends. She had been so homesick for her best friend from our other neighborhood, but in the past year, that pain has lessened, and even though she tells me from time to time that she still misses that girl, it's less frequent and the tears are as well.
I was worried, however, about finding kids Simon's age. And then, one day, I saw my neighbor. We were both loading up our car and I shouted--hi! I'm deb!!!! how old is your little girl? She looked over-and I could tell she was in a hurry--uhhh she's 3. And I have a baby boy. I gotta go!" I was so excited. a three year old! I got to know Emi when the weather warmed up. She was so so tiny!!! She was in a dress up. And she had the most ity bity dog I'd ever seen. Simon was PETRIFIED of that dog. Emi was too. It took a few months, but Allison and Adam became really great friends to Chris and I. We had family dinners together, went on double dates, guys nights, girls nights. There was no drama. Emi and Simon were like an old married couple. They got along great and then would scream and scream at eachother, and then go right back to playing perfectly together.
Yesterday, Emi, Cooper, Allison and Adam moved to Kaysville. Not so far that we'll never see eachother again, but the summer is not going to be the same without emi's jelly shoes being left at my house--the "NO SPLASHING" fights she and Simon had while splashing each other. Who will fight Simon for the pool stairs? Who will wrap up in comforters in the 102 degree sun with him? Who will willingly melt milky way bars into heavy creame and dip pinapples into it with me? I am sad that our friends have moved. I am going to miss them more than I've been able to allow myself to talk about. Their family changed ours. Without Emi, without Adam and Allison...I'm not sure we'd feel like we had found our home. I don't mean to discredit the other amazing friendships we have here. Jenny, Rachel, Bryan, Annalynn, Laura--they're all incredible, giving, loving happy people who have helped our family weather many storms this last year. It's just amazing to me how much you can come to love someone in a year. I hope we do remain in touch. I am the worst at keeping in touch. But I sincerely hope that we do.
When we moved to our townhome last year, I was determined that I was going to make friends. I was not going to repeat our 5 years in Clearfield, where I only had one person that I opened myself to. Because when that 1 person cuts you out of their life, it hurts. It hurts so much more than I was prepared for. And it hurts the kids, because their kids were YOUR kids lifeline. Not too confusing right? So, the first day I saw people out back, not only did I send my kids out there to play, I went out. I went out and smiled and introduced myself. A couple of days later at church, I realized all those people I had met had been in my ward, and I couldn't remember any of their names. One of them came up and sat next to me in Sunday School, and said "Deb, right? Mind if I sit here?" I was attending church alone with Ava and Simon that week, and Chris was home with the babies. We were trading off weeks-since the twins were too young to go. Bryan McCracken was the first person to make a sincere continuous effort to help us feel at home. His daughter, Kalli, has become best friends with Ava, and his wife, Rachel, is one of the funniest and kindest amazing people. We are hoping their boy, Dillan-who is a month older than the twins, will also be great friends with the boys. They wave to each other in church ;) It's going well, as far as babies go. :) I also came to know Jenny and her kids Addy-who is another girl that we have come to adore, and Ava considers a bestie. Kalli, Lucy, Addy are all a year younger than Ava. But when you're 4,5 that doesn't matter. They are inseparable in the summer. I was so excited that Ava had so many friends. She had been so homesick for her best friend from our other neighborhood, but in the past year, that pain has lessened, and even though she tells me from time to time that she still misses that girl, it's less frequent and the tears are as well.
I was worried, however, about finding kids Simon's age. And then, one day, I saw my neighbor. We were both loading up our car and I shouted--hi! I'm deb!!!! how old is your little girl? She looked over-and I could tell she was in a hurry--uhhh she's 3. And I have a baby boy. I gotta go!" I was so excited. a three year old! I got to know Emi when the weather warmed up. She was so so tiny!!! She was in a dress up. And she had the most ity bity dog I'd ever seen. Simon was PETRIFIED of that dog. Emi was too. It took a few months, but Allison and Adam became really great friends to Chris and I. We had family dinners together, went on double dates, guys nights, girls nights. There was no drama. Emi and Simon were like an old married couple. They got along great and then would scream and scream at eachother, and then go right back to playing perfectly together.
Friday, February 22, 2013
St George for President's Day
Saturday, Simon Chris and Dave went out for some "boy time." Simon passed out in the first 5 minutes of their drive, so Chris carried him around Best Buy and then they went to sportsman warehouse, where PaPa bought him a fun air pressure foam ball gun. Meanwhile, Ava, Granni, the twins and I went for an hour long walk around the subdivision to enjoy the sun and gorgeous weather. The babies snuggled in their stroller and their new MINKY THING 1 THING 2 blankies. Heavenly! Sandi bought them for them as a fun present. <3 Then, the tv had some technical issues, so Chris and Papa went to work fixing it, while Granni and I hit the outlets with all 4 kids. We got some pants for Simon at Oshgosh and then browsed 2 other stores, before we realized we were way too tired to be shopping with 4 kids. So, we went home, made dinner, had hot tub time and then watched Wreck it Ralph.
Sunday, we went to 9am church and were packed in like little sardines. It was wild. When we got home, Ava and I did some reading on the driveway, because it was gorgeous, and warm and heaven. Dave made a great brunch, and we had pancakes, bacon and eggs and met Briley. Briley and her parents, Mike and Ashley, had shown up late Saturday night. They invited Ava to go on a racing trip with them. Chris and Dave went along. Ava had a blast. The three boys took turns napping, and we got some fun one-on-one time with each nugget. Dave grilled this amazing chicken for dinner. It's making my mouth water just remembering it. And we had his famous salsa. Briley joined us for more reading time. She even read a few chapters to Ava. She and Ava colored while I finished Goofball Mystery.
Monday...Ava was invited to go racing again, but decided to stay and hang with her Granni. Chris and I went on a major grocery expedition. We bought enough hamburgers for all of st George, and they were delicious! We took the kids to feed the ducks, who were too full from all of the holiday visitors to even want our duck food. The kids played in the sand for an hour, and Austen had his first time in a real swingset swing. He was a total fan! Carter napped. He was not impressed. ;) They both had a good helping of sand, which we decided to chase with some Menchies. mmmm soooooooooo delicious. It was more hot tub time after dinner and reading. Granni and Ava took turns reading together. Yay for one-on-one time. Uncle Jeff taught Simon a song "Talkin about boogers" which sent Simon laughing hysterically for over an hour. Simon added a few verses "Talkin about poopies." Talking about faarrrrrrrrrrrrts" mostly anything inappropriate and then burst into giggles over and over. It was pretty hysterical.
Tuesday, Chris went shooting with Jeff, Jon, and Papa. Simon insisted we stay inside and play cars on the hotwheels track. I did laundry and started cleaning up to pack. We decided to go to Snow Canyon when the boys got back. We went for a shot little walk and had a great time. Simon climbed two rocks before climbing into Austen's part of the stroller and passing out. Ava climbed some slick rock. It was the perfect amount of adventure for them, but I could have stayed all day. Austen preferred dad's shoulders or Granni's arms for a view of Snow Canyon. Can't say that I blame him at all. Carter slept through it all. Again, not impressed ;)
I was so sad to leave. I wanted to stay later, but there was a winter storm warning. I miss it and my inlaws. They were so great to my kids. The sun and air was just soothing. The scenery is unlike any thing else. I love it there. It's worth the two hours of screaming babies for sure! :)
As for Ava's reading contest. We ended with over 5700 minutes logged and $200 in sponsor donations. I haven't found out yet, if she was top reader for her class, but I know her school did come in 1st place, and will be visited by a Jazz Player on the 28th. Fun!
Phew. Update complete.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Sunday, February 3, 2013
dusting off the ol blog
Usually, the day we get paid--the moment the money has been deposited, I start the redistribution of the money. $ to the land lord, $ to the power, gas, water, credit cards, student loan. But now and then...I wait a day or two, and just log in to see a balance with a comma. It helps me to remember what we are working towards.
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Goals for the year update:
Well, in January, I was able to sock $200 away in savings. Since my dad is retired military, I have access to USAA, so I opened a savings account there, and began the goal to start saving. I did not request a debit card, so we can still transfer the money out in case of an emergency, but it's a process so I'm less likely to use it for a non emergency.
I did get all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed. The insurance covered 1/2 the cost, which was amazing. I love not being in constant pain. My molars are still pretty sensitive, but I'm hoping over time they'll get back to normal.
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Carter now takes 4-6 steps at a time and also says his name. He will hand you want he wants and say "Cawta" over and over. It's adorable!
Austen is recovering from RSV. He spent 3 days at the hospital with me on the 5th floor. Is it a bad sign when the child-life specialist and the nursing manager for the Peds floor knows you by name and says "Hey, weren't you here last month?" I'm pretty sure the Cope kids will soon have their own room on reserve for January. Also, this pushes out the babies circumcision another 7 weeks. Um, let's just plan for July shall we? So far, Carter seems to not have it. We were sent home with a suction machine and I'm staying on top of keeping their nasal passages clear. This post is awesome. My mom came up for a day while I was with Austen at Mckay so that Chris wouldn't miss a work meeting. I called her and Simon wanted to talk to me. He said "Mom, mimi is frowing a fit! She won't let me have chips, chocowat chips, or bwonies! She says dey are not healfy, but they ARE healfy. We better put her in time out!" Favorite conversation to date! It turns out he ratted her out to everyone who would listen. Oh Simon you are my precious!
Ava is in a reading contest and doing really well. Somedays, she just isnt' into it at all, and it's a real battle, but others she chants 'I'M IN IT TO WIN IT!" I've been trying to keep her motivated through.........bribes. Yep. Bribes. Every 60 minutes she gets a prize from the prize box. The prizes come from the target $1 bin. I got 25 rub on tattoos for a dollar. Every hour gets a tat. Or, a small pacakage of markers...etc. Every 1000 hours is a date with me or Chris. We are almost to 2500 minutes. Today I plan to hit 360 minutes, because no one made sure to read with her for the time I was at the hospital. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!!! So much time to make up for. We are 60 minutes down...300 to go and it's 12:30. You're reading this going "you're insane. good luck. ya right. but listen. we're going to do it!
I'm hoping to go to St George in 12 days. Chris is still on the fence about the whole idea. I really need some sunny park weather.
now that it's February, I need to start using my camera again. I had my month of January whatever it is that January does to me...it's time to start preparing for Spring.
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Goals for the year update:
Well, in January, I was able to sock $200 away in savings. Since my dad is retired military, I have access to USAA, so I opened a savings account there, and began the goal to start saving. I did not request a debit card, so we can still transfer the money out in case of an emergency, but it's a process so I'm less likely to use it for a non emergency.
I did get all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed. The insurance covered 1/2 the cost, which was amazing. I love not being in constant pain. My molars are still pretty sensitive, but I'm hoping over time they'll get back to normal.
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Carter now takes 4-6 steps at a time and also says his name. He will hand you want he wants and say "Cawta" over and over. It's adorable!
Austen is recovering from RSV. He spent 3 days at the hospital with me on the 5th floor. Is it a bad sign when the child-life specialist and the nursing manager for the Peds floor knows you by name and says "Hey, weren't you here last month?" I'm pretty sure the Cope kids will soon have their own room on reserve for January. Also, this pushes out the babies circumcision another 7 weeks. Um, let's just plan for July shall we? So far, Carter seems to not have it. We were sent home with a suction machine and I'm staying on top of keeping their nasal passages clear. This post is awesome. My mom came up for a day while I was with Austen at Mckay so that Chris wouldn't miss a work meeting. I called her and Simon wanted to talk to me. He said "Mom, mimi is frowing a fit! She won't let me have chips, chocowat chips, or bwonies! She says dey are not healfy, but they ARE healfy. We better put her in time out!" Favorite conversation to date! It turns out he ratted her out to everyone who would listen. Oh Simon you are my precious!
Ava is in a reading contest and doing really well. Somedays, she just isnt' into it at all, and it's a real battle, but others she chants 'I'M IN IT TO WIN IT!" I've been trying to keep her motivated through.........bribes. Yep. Bribes. Every 60 minutes she gets a prize from the prize box. The prizes come from the target $1 bin. I got 25 rub on tattoos for a dollar. Every hour gets a tat. Or, a small pacakage of markers...etc. Every 1000 hours is a date with me or Chris. We are almost to 2500 minutes. Today I plan to hit 360 minutes, because no one made sure to read with her for the time I was at the hospital. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!!! So much time to make up for. We are 60 minutes down...300 to go and it's 12:30. You're reading this going "you're insane. good luck. ya right. but listen. we're going to do it!
I'm hoping to go to St George in 12 days. Chris is still on the fence about the whole idea. I really need some sunny park weather.
now that it's February, I need to start using my camera again. I had my month of January whatever it is that January does to me...it's time to start preparing for Spring.
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