I have health insurance, but why?

Today I opened my mailbox to find the bill for Tyler's physical on June 25th. I knew I'd have to make an additional payment due to his four vaccinations, but I just wasn't prepared for the amount that I was told to pay. Yikes!

Now we do have health insurance and we pay a "reasonable" rate according to other people, especially listening to elderly and medically fragile people talk. However, I'd like to think that a physical for a healthy 12 year old boy wouldn't cost me the amount I'd plan to spend on his school clothing and supplies for the upcoming school year.

Here's a breakdown of a 45 minute physical at the doctor's office on "Physical Day" where you are in and out along with many others that day...

$152 for the well child check-up

Maybe this is reasonable since they have the "turn your head and cough" procedure. But we did see a physician assistant and not a doctor. I could have/should have called the number in the paper I saw for a $50 school physical. I wonder if we would have seen a doctor at that clinic?

$368 for the four vaccinations

This includes: Varicella booster, Meningococcal Conjugate, Hepatitis A (pricey one) and Tdap.

Wow! This just blows my mind and I could have/should have just gone to the County Health Department for free shots regardless of a who you are. This isn't my favorite option since it's a hassle and they make me feel guilty about going when we do have insurance. I've done this before with two of my three kids when they were infants.

$92 for giving the vaccinations

I would have given it my best try to administer those shots myself. I am sure Tyler would not have minded. Don't you think? Now that would have been free also!

My insurance is willing to pay $283.12 for this bill. I paid the $20 co-pay when I entered the doctor's office in June and am left to pay the remaining $303.88. I do know this could be worse, but this is just one example why I think our nation's health care needs some kind of reform. I am not a political person, and don't know all the in's and out's of what's happening in Washington, but something needs to be done. Ridiculous!

Okay...I am done whining. The physical could have been worse. Tyler could have been born with a cervix and who knows how much that Gardasil vaccination would have cost me! :)

What I'll miss about summer

I thought it's time I'd write my Top 10 List of things I'll miss now that summer is over...

1. Spending time with my kids and just watching them grow and develop!

2. Being a mediator for my kids' fights, now I get to mediate other kids' fights.

3. Sitting around thinking...what do I do next? Laundry, dusting, vacuuming or scrapbooking? Ah, I think I'll chose scrapbooking!

4. Being able to use the bathroom or eat whenever I want. Now I am back on a schedule. The bathroom one is a bit of an adjustment.

5. Hanging out at the swimming pool, not that I'd go into the pool, but do love the sun and water!

6. Did I mention scrapbooking yet? Oh, those crops were wonderful! I do have one booked for October, oh, that's two for October. It's my birthday that month, so I think two is acceptable! I can't wait!

7. Staying up late and not worrying about the time. If I stay up past ten on a school night, I'm not a happy person the next day.

8. Surfing the internet at any time of the day. I don't watch much tv, but the computer is my friend!

9. The cool flip-flop tan lines on my feet will be fading soon.

And.....

10. Blogging on a daily basis! You probably won't be hearing from me in a while! I'll be busy, busy, busy!

Days 221-225

Thursday, August 6th - We (Grant, Andy & I) went to the Lancaster County Fair and bummed around. Of course, we found some model trains and spent some time watching them. Can't get enough of "Thomas".
Friday, August 7th - I decided to take Grant to Christi's for a day in Omaha by myself. It was great fun doing just what I wanted to do...Archiver's and a school supply store. Archiver's was having a big weekend sale and free make 'n takes. This is something I normally could not do with kids around. Free fun...gotta love it! I also found a $5 bill on the ground right outside Archiver's too. It was God's way of telling me...here's five on Me...spend freely! Don't ya think?
Saturday, August 8th - We went to Kearney today to pick the older two kids up from their week of staying with the relatives. I, unfortunately, forgot my camera and wished I would have gotten a picture of Tyler running the garden tractor filling the holes with dirt from the underground sprinklers that were installed. Tyler was so cute, darn it! So, I am using an archived picture of Sue and Tracy's new house instead.
Sunday, August 9th - Here's Grant and Andy at church waiting for service to start. We just finished our Sunday donuts, which is the reason why Grant thinks we go to church...free donuts!
Monday, August 10th - No time left, we must get haircuts today! Grant has finally decided that this isn't so bad and sat so nice for the beautician. Way to go, Mr. Grant! All those crying fits are hopefully behind us now!

Run quickly...don't walk to get this deal!

Ladies! I have found the bargain of the day....bikinis for one dollar at Walmart on clearance. I left the check-out just to get a picture when I spotted them. Andy just shook his head and paid for the groceries. I found it hilarious! I think I probably should of purchased one and then start wearing it around the house. That would be the best diet plan yet, seeing myself in a bikini would surely reduce my food intake and scare my children. Yikes!

I'm a regular now...

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day at Office Max. They are handing out those trendy recycling bags along with a huge magnetic paper clip with a 15% discount. Of course, I just had to go even though I've been to the store five times in the last week getting those one cent folders at a limit of six per person per visit. I also knew the two older kids needed some items for school, so now was the time to take them. (They've been out of town for a week at the grandparents/aunt & uncle.)

I picked up some more pencils (10 cents a package...limit 3), a protractor, a couple glue sticks, colored pencils, red checking pens, spiral notebooks (1 cent...limit 3) and a binder for Tyler. I proceeded to the check-out and the sales clerk quickly recognized me.

The conversation went like this...

(Sales clerk named Zoe): "Hello, how are you today?"

(me): "I am fine."

(Zoe): "It's like seeing an old friend."

(me): "Yeah, I've been here quite a bit this past week. I kind of like your store, you see."

I am slightly embarrassed that I am such a cheapskate. She also probably doesn't forget a customer who has her 2 year old pull out the exact change (6 cents) out of his pocket to purchase penny folders.

(Zoe): "Well, it's great having you back. We like to see returning customers."

(me): "I am guessing you won't see me much after this. I think I am all school supplied out!"

As I am picking up my items and leaving....

(Zoe): "See you tomorrow!"

(me): I smile and say, "You are probably right!"

Days 216-220

Saturday, August 1st - This is what our cropping table looks like at SCC's Scrapfest.
Sunday, August 2nd - Antiquing at a the Aardvark Antique Mall just outside of Lincoln. I could spend hours and hours just looking around.
Monday, August 3rd - One of our many meals during the summer...burgers on the grill. Too hot to cook inside and easy and quick. It's really easy for me since I don't do the grilling! :)
Tuesday, August 4th - It was a GNO night and I got the girls to stop at Office Max to get the penny folders (limit 6 per person) or they are a quarter a piece otherwise. Thanks ladies!

Wednesday, August 5th - I opened one of my new pocket charts (ABC sorting) and Grant noticed I got a duplicate of the apple. He could play for hours in my room and when he's done it looks like it too!

Cleaning Chaos

I am having "one of those days". I decided to spend the majority of my day cleaning the house since it's a mess and I will soon be back to work permanently. Well, I started cleaning the bathroom and while scrubbing the tub I found a hole. This hole isn't the drain either (for those of you who might think I'm that dumb), it's in the back where it's low enough that I can't fill the tub with water without it leaking. This is the fourth time in the short seven years of owning this house that we've had a hole. Darn tub! So, I spent about 45 minutes tracking down someone to fix it at $50 an hour. Grrr!

Next, I decided to scrub with Soft Scrub with bleach. Me and bleach don't mix so I even scrubbed the tub (with the hole) topless in hopes of not getting any bleach on my shirt. Well, I put my shirt back on for phone calls and then resumed cleaning and got bleach on my shirt while scrubbing the sink. Go figure!

After bleaching and scrubbing, I tried vacuuming, which was another debacle. I sucked up a small plastic object that I got lodged in the metal part of the hand wand of the vacuum. Darn it! I can't dislodge it, so I am hoping Andy can fix it. No more vacuuming today!

Finally, I used window cleaner to do the mirrors of the bathroom and got Windex in my eye. That's it! I've had enough of cleaning! Life is better with a dirty house!