Thanks for Thanksgiving

Last night, as a family, we talked about the story of the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus and the lone one who expressed thanks. Then, today, I was teaching the preschool kids about Thanksgiving and how the holiday began. I couldn't sleep much last night as my mind sifted through the events of the day and the events to come. I think that my happiest times are when I take the time to remember how lucky I am. It's easy to get bogged down with the ups and downs of life and the problems that seem beyond my control. When I can put that all aside and take time to remember how much I have - well, suddenly, my sadness disappears and I can focus on and be happy with what's most important. So, as Thanksgiving approaches, I just want to say how thankful I am for this refreshing holiday.

Stumbling Block OR Stepping Stone???

Well, now that the parties are out of the way until Thanksgiving - I'll report on our latest and greatest news and headlines. We went on vacation last weekend and arrived at home in time for my latest check-up (which went well and the doctor said the baby and I are growing as expected - and we heard a strong heartbeat - due date remains steadily on February 5th).

Before leaving, we checked with Garrett's employment to make sure that our insurance (which was promised to start in July) was in order for November. The woman who is able to answer that question was out of the office, so we called the insurance headquarters and they had no knowledge of our having insurance at all. So we called the doctor's office to see what they wanted us to do. When I explained to the woman there the problems we'd had trying to get insurance with Garrett's work and how they had made us wait to sign up until our Medicaid ran out - which involved a month of no coverage so we could have a denial letter that would give us the "window" to sign up at Garrett's work - she told us to be prepared to have our insurance deny us coverage when the baby was born because of the lapse in coverage making us ineligible for any coverage from Medicaid or our insurance.

I, of course, being in a pregnant emotional state, fell apart after the phone call. I called our former Medicaid case worker who sent us to ACS - the billing unit for Medicaid - to see if that was true. Medicaid said that if you're eligible, you're covered, no matter what. So I went to the doctor's appointment. Garrett went back to work Wednesday, the day after the doctor's appointment, and explained the situation to his supervisor (who, by the way, has been fantastic to us). She said she didn't think that was case and checked with HR, who denied that there would be a problem. Garrett and I have a hard time believing all of this considering our problems in the past with the insurance. But it's left to wait and see...

Meanwhile, the nursing department met and decided that Garrett would need to take his 3rd semester exam again (which we knew) and the email said that he needs to take it with the current 3rd semester students. It also explained that he can request a list of objectives to study from.

In order to be ready to pass the test and continue in the 4th term program, Garrett and I feel that he will need to drop to part time status at his work. However, his supervisor told him Wednesday that part-time status was done away with and he has to continue full-time or go to per diem status. Per diem guarantees Garrett at least 1 shift per month. So, now we're in another debate over cutting to per diem, where he'd have to re-apply for employment and start over again - probably on nights - if he doesn't get into school. My whole being believes that he will get into school and we should go with our gut on this. But going thru the months on nights again where I feel like a single parent just doesn't sound fun at all.

So, for anyone that made it thru this lengthy synopsis on our lives, congrats - and please know that we are confident that things will work out for the best. It could be good to not be locked into part time hours when Garrett's back in school. It could be really good for me to drop back to not trying to put in so many hours of cleaning on top of being a full-time mom. The insurance thing could work out for the best. And if nothing works out - something else will and someday when we look back - I'm sure we're see divine intervention's hand in all this and be immensely grateful for how things went. Until then, we continue to take deep breaths and jump...

Happy Birthday to Me

Today's my birthday - The big 33 and (as my mother reminded me) my coming of age according to JRR Tolken's hobit civilization. I told her I'd shave my feet in honor of the event. I received birthday wishes from my parents, my grandparents, and a few of my siblings.

When Garrett took the boys to get me a gift, Jonathan said that he was going to get me a phone - so I guess he knows what I like to do. We're ordered Thai food which has recently become my favorite type of food - yum! yum! all that curry (Thanks to my parents for their kind b-day gift). I rented We are Marshall and Freedom Writers, but we just watched the first, which was good. We also ate my sugar-free birthday cake. It wasn't divine, by any means, but I enjoyed it. Jonathan took one bite and was done. Garrett said it was fine, but weird to eat salad on top, which made me laugh because that is what the sugar-free frosting was like.

Thirty-three seems weird - I don't feel that old. And I'm quite aware that I have two more birthdays until I have to pay the piper and answer to a bet I made my mother when she was 35 - That I would still be able to do a flip on the trampoline at 35. May I also point out that I was only 14 at the time and should hardly be made accountable for such a rash and fool hardy bet.

I felt so loved and special last night. Garrett and Jonathan sang to me - Gabe was snoring soundly on the floor in obvious desire to harmonize with the song - and I got two new pair of huge sweats that hopefully will keep the baby and I comfortable until delivery...

And to everyone out there - thanks for being part of the last 33 years of a great life. I'm a lucky girl. I think I'll have to see if a cup of milk will soften my birthday cake from it's condensed unsweetened state....