Thursday, November 5, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Eventful day...
Today started with a surprise Septa strike. Luckily the regional rails are not part of the strike...unluckily all those reliant on the buses/trolleys/subways are crowding onto the regional rails. Took the train into center city for my OB appointment today - crowded trains and delays. I will have to pick Ian up from school tonight - trains probably will be even worse later tonight and the rest of this week.
I was late to the appointment. Then we received some lovely news that my insurance company (bastards) are denying coverage for some ridiculous things such as venipuncture for routine blood draws, the FLU shot!, and my glucose screening test. Needed to pay for these things at the doctors. All of these things are routine for maternity care...all of these things are supposedly covered in my description of benefits. Supposed to be zero copays, 100% coverage prenatal care. Apparently not. I consider myself an educated intelligent person, however even I cannot decipher the language of the HMO. I now get to look forward to spending hours upon hours trying to contest this to the bastards. I am not optimistic that we will get any money back from them. I cannot help but think that all of those ignorant people who are anti-health care reform better never get sick and better plan to live forever...or be rich. The system does not work. Health care is controlled by for-profit businesses...treatments determined according to profitability. Does that sound okay? Gender and racial discrimination are routine...scary business.
On top of that headache, the heater needs to be serviced so that we do not have carbon monoxide buildup in the house-costing a few hundred dollars- and the washer needs to be repaired asap before it breaks down and we cannot do laundry (terrible timing if baby comes!)-unknown cost for that one.
And the best for last...I had noticed a significant decline in fetal movement over the past two days. My OB strongly recommended I go to the hospital for fetal monitoring. So that is how we spent the afternoon...fortunately everything is okay. Not sure why I couldn't feel movement yesterday or this morning, but wouldn't you know it, as soon as those fetal monitoring belts were wrapped around my belly, the little feisty one started kicking and acting normally. Heartbeats, ultrasound, and kick counts all tested normal then. I am happy about it, but frustrated that I don't know why I couldn't feel her normal activity. Worried it will happen again. And part of me is dreading the hospital bill for today's visit...who knows what Aetna is going to cover these days!
Ugh...it seems like I can have a wonderful day lately that is immediately followed by some disaster or another. No stability, no calm. Very unsettling feeling.
On the bright side, Ginger decided to be a good doggie today, and did not destroy anything in my five hour absence. Crazy mutts! Also, today's hospital visit gave me a taste of what I will be in for when the labor and delivery business kicks in. At least I know where to go, and the nurses and mid-wives were exceptionally nice.
-Marie
I was late to the appointment. Then we received some lovely news that my insurance company (bastards) are denying coverage for some ridiculous things such as venipuncture for routine blood draws, the FLU shot!, and my glucose screening test. Needed to pay for these things at the doctors. All of these things are routine for maternity care...all of these things are supposedly covered in my description of benefits. Supposed to be zero copays, 100% coverage prenatal care. Apparently not. I consider myself an educated intelligent person, however even I cannot decipher the language of the HMO. I now get to look forward to spending hours upon hours trying to contest this to the bastards. I am not optimistic that we will get any money back from them. I cannot help but think that all of those ignorant people who are anti-health care reform better never get sick and better plan to live forever...or be rich. The system does not work. Health care is controlled by for-profit businesses...treatments determined according to profitability. Does that sound okay? Gender and racial discrimination are routine...scary business.
On top of that headache, the heater needs to be serviced so that we do not have carbon monoxide buildup in the house-costing a few hundred dollars- and the washer needs to be repaired asap before it breaks down and we cannot do laundry (terrible timing if baby comes!)-unknown cost for that one.
And the best for last...I had noticed a significant decline in fetal movement over the past two days. My OB strongly recommended I go to the hospital for fetal monitoring. So that is how we spent the afternoon...fortunately everything is okay. Not sure why I couldn't feel movement yesterday or this morning, but wouldn't you know it, as soon as those fetal monitoring belts were wrapped around my belly, the little feisty one started kicking and acting normally. Heartbeats, ultrasound, and kick counts all tested normal then. I am happy about it, but frustrated that I don't know why I couldn't feel her normal activity. Worried it will happen again. And part of me is dreading the hospital bill for today's visit...who knows what Aetna is going to cover these days!
Ugh...it seems like I can have a wonderful day lately that is immediately followed by some disaster or another. No stability, no calm. Very unsettling feeling.
On the bright side, Ginger decided to be a good doggie today, and did not destroy anything in my five hour absence. Crazy mutts! Also, today's hospital visit gave me a taste of what I will be in for when the labor and delivery business kicks in. At least I know where to go, and the nurses and mid-wives were exceptionally nice.
-Marie
Monday, November 2, 2009
38 Weeks!
Unbelievable, how the time has flown by...We are a little more prepared now. We now have some diapers and wipes, blankets, a few washed clothes, and a car seat installed and ready for the ride home. We should be prepared to survive the first 2 weeks...I hope! Major thanks to Ian's Mom and my Mom for their help recently. I am not going to wash all of the clothes...just in case this little girl magically is delivered as a little boy (please NO, don't let that happen). Our washing machine is starting to break, so we have to call a repairman soon. Still works, but making a strange thumping noise that is not normal. Also have to call the gas company to have them service our heater - definitely cannot be turned on before servicing so this will have to be done this week. Going to be very cold later in the week. Ugh!
Ian has been doing some things around the house - yesterday he started cleaning out the basement (still much to do though) and he finished installing shelves in the baby's room. Baby's room and diapering area are nice and organized...now just need baby! Pet supplies are well stocked, so the zoo will keep running while we are chaotic the first week or so of baby time.
My Mom and I went to King of Prussia mall today to go to the Martha Stewart new cookbook signing at Williams Sonoma. I wasn't going to get a book signed but went along with Mom anyway. Well, when I got there, I felt compelled to get the book anyway...was kind of fun. Mom got there early, so she was mid-way in a very long line. I was running late due to the dogs being fussy and a bit of a mess that Ian left for me in the morning, so I got there right before it was to start. Lucky lucky us, the Williams Sonoma employees bumped us to the front of the line due to my obvious state of pregnancy - what a great benefit to being pregnant and very generous of Williams Sonoma! We couldn't take any pics with Ms. Stewart, but she was very pretty in person and personable. A few lines and wrinkles, but damn I'd love to look that good at her age. Mom asked her which were her favorite recipes and she listed the duck breast and red cabbage recipes...we will have to give some of them a shot. The store had made samples of three of the recipes - the coconut cupcakes and hanger steak with carmelized shallots were yummy! Overall, the cookbook looks like a good one. I am glad I picked it up, and now it is my first signed book.
This week is getting busy (well, busy for me these days). Doc appt tomorrow and then hospital tour on Wed. After that, then this little girl can decide to make her appearance. I am still avoiding thinking too much about labor and delivery. Too too stressful. What will be, will be. Ian has been reading...hopefully he will be a very informed and calm coach, and we are still looking into getting a doula (labor coach) through a free program in our area.
That's about all...each day seems to fly by and doesn't seem to allow me enough time to accomplish what I need to accomplish.
-Marie
Ian has been doing some things around the house - yesterday he started cleaning out the basement (still much to do though) and he finished installing shelves in the baby's room. Baby's room and diapering area are nice and organized...now just need baby! Pet supplies are well stocked, so the zoo will keep running while we are chaotic the first week or so of baby time.
My Mom and I went to King of Prussia mall today to go to the Martha Stewart new cookbook signing at Williams Sonoma. I wasn't going to get a book signed but went along with Mom anyway. Well, when I got there, I felt compelled to get the book anyway...was kind of fun. Mom got there early, so she was mid-way in a very long line. I was running late due to the dogs being fussy and a bit of a mess that Ian left for me in the morning, so I got there right before it was to start. Lucky lucky us, the Williams Sonoma employees bumped us to the front of the line due to my obvious state of pregnancy - what a great benefit to being pregnant and very generous of Williams Sonoma! We couldn't take any pics with Ms. Stewart, but she was very pretty in person and personable. A few lines and wrinkles, but damn I'd love to look that good at her age. Mom asked her which were her favorite recipes and she listed the duck breast and red cabbage recipes...we will have to give some of them a shot. The store had made samples of three of the recipes - the coconut cupcakes and hanger steak with carmelized shallots were yummy! Overall, the cookbook looks like a good one. I am glad I picked it up, and now it is my first signed book.
This week is getting busy (well, busy for me these days). Doc appt tomorrow and then hospital tour on Wed. After that, then this little girl can decide to make her appearance. I am still avoiding thinking too much about labor and delivery. Too too stressful. What will be, will be. Ian has been reading...hopefully he will be a very informed and calm coach, and we are still looking into getting a doula (labor coach) through a free program in our area.
That's about all...each day seems to fly by and doesn't seem to allow me enough time to accomplish what I need to accomplish.
-Marie
Ginger was obviously upset today
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