Insurance

I am in insurance hell this year. For the love of all things good, can we go back to the good old days? ...Here is what you owe, here is what percentage we cover... Now you have to have a M.D. to understand these people. And not to mention, every time I call, I get someone who does not speak English as a native language. Don't get me wrong my bi and tri lingual friends, I envy you and your ability to communicate in multiple languages. BUT... it is hard to understand someone on the phone when they have a thick accent. Couple that with talking about insurance, and oh boy... Also, could you people PUHLEEZ get a sense of humor. Chuckle when I make a little joke, put some fluctuating tones in your speech. Its not that hard. I would say being monotoned is "for the birds," but even the birds change their sound every now and again.

Between Blake receiving speech services from the PIE program, who is out of network and NO ONE told me,  to me getting my blood drawn at my ob/gyn because I don't have health care provider right now (who did tell us they were switching to out of network), I feel like I can trust no one in the health care field.

I know these people, programs, and offices aren't out to get me,but I feel like the level of money sucking incompetence is at a  premium. Because someone put in a code for routine care versus preventative care makes the difference between a 25 dollar bill and a 110 dollar bill.

And another thing... my insurance company's automated lady is STUPID. How dare I say to my child, while on hold, "not now sweetie," because if I do (and did) that dumb lady will send me back out to the main call center and I will have to start and FINISH the process all over again. Seriously, I was so close to sealing the deal when she sent me back. Well, we will see if my gap exception is granted or denied anywhere between " 2 days and 15 days."

Blah. Bye for now, my bloggy friends!

Field Trip Day

My mom is my go to gal for daytime babysitting. Unfortunately, She broke her foot several weeks ago and gets to be on an awesome one leggedscooter (hooray for leg muscles) and a wheelchair for longer distances (hooray for arm muscles), but unfortunately she can't drive. (I know, I know what you are thinking "poor Corina, how are you ever going to get your relaxing day at the spa or have a session with your personal shopper- I know, poor me for sure!)
 Anyways, I realized this yesterday when I remembered Collin had a field trip today. I casually mentioned it to my friend that I might have to pull out from chaperoning the field trip. Without hesitation, she offered to watch my little guys. She's a mom of ten, so I didn't want her to have to spend her only free hours during the day watching someone else's kids, so I declined, but she offered again and reminded me that her life revolves around kids.

I accepted the offer and left a few notes for her, you know like- don't give Blake dairy or he will crap up the back of his diaper, or Kyle is the spawn of the devil when he plays too much X-box, so limit it to about 45 minutes.. .

We texted a few times while I was on the field trip. She snapped pics of her black toes and I sent her a pic of her adorable daughter, sandwiched in between a millipede and a "for the love of all things good make this nature woman stop talking" text. Next picture was Kyle-still playing the x-box, and Blake still watching. Oops on the 45 minutes! And when I got home and made him get off, the devils son appeared, just as predicted.

Seriously though, I am so grateful for friends like her who offer up her time, and mean it! Thank you my friend!

I can't stop... I won't stop...

Eating sugar. I gave not eating sugar a good go for about 2 days, and then I got the shakes, like a damn crack head. My body was all like, what are you doing to me, and where is that yummy goodness that puts fat on your butt and belly and decays your teeth? I need it, I want it. (Yes, my body speaks to me.) I love sugar. YUM!

As I am sitting here eating the crumbs left in the tostito's bag, I'm thinking about a brownie, or cookie, or hot chocolate, or something sweet and yummy and sugary. Because well, I deserve it! I had cabbage soup for dinner, I deserve dessert. I worked out today, I deserve a dessert. I only gave out two time-outs today, I deserve a dessert. I went into the freezing cold ice rink with a pre-schooler and a toddler who has communication delays, I DESERVE DESSERT! Tomorrow is my burfday- oh yeah, I'm getting me a dessert, or two!

Night bloggy world!

#sorryimnotsorry

Lets face it. Some hashtags are just plain dumb. Some are hilarious! The use of hashtags in its intended form, is to group topics and trends.  It was started for twitter, filtered into instagram, and facebook, and probably the other social media sites the teenagers frequent that I'm not privy to since I coach and I would find out all of their naughtiness if they allowed me to see it!

Here are some of my very true #sorryimnotsorry hashtags

I have been sitting on my butt the greater part of this morning #sorryimnotsorry

There is a huge stack of unfolded clean laundry that I literally have to push out of the way to get around #sorryimnotsorry

Its been there for almost 3 days #sorryimnotsorry

I fantasize about bed time from the moment my kids wake up #sorryimnotsorry

I exercise a great amount of control not lashing out on my unruly children every damn morning #sorryimnotsorry

Most days, I do get angry and raise my voice #sorryimnotsorry

I'm unsure the last time my oldest son showered #sorryimnotsorry

My first grader has 12 tardies this school year, only about half are excused #sorryimnotsorry

My middle kid keeps asking me for food, and I keep telling him to wait til his snack digests #sorryimnotsorry

I hit decline every single time the sub hotline calls me #sorryimnotsorry

I kind of wanted another snow day or two hour delay in March when I worked outside of the home every other day #sorryimnotsorry

64, no sun, and windy is NOT a nice day out and NO I don't want to play outside #sorryimnotsorry

I don't really care if my kids put on already worn socks or jeans, as long as they dont smell bad or have a stain #sorryimnotsorry

There are so many more in my head, but I will stop there. Until next time, bloggy world!

Sickies- this blog post is DISGUSTING

This past week has been one from hell!  Seriously, there was a fiery furnace and an evil tempter here.  Two out of the three of my boys had high temps, all three of them puked on and off throughout the week, and all of them had the bubble guts, which we affectionately call "poop soup" in our home.

Kyle and Blake were puking on the same days and Collin followed suit several days later.  Collin was able to make it into the bathroom every time, but the other two were not.  Kyle would come into my room in the middle of the night, say "I puked" as he was trying to lay in my bed.  Blakey would wake up in the middle of the night, cry for just a brief period of time (par for the course with him), and immediately go back to bed.  When I went to get him in the morning, he had a surprise waiting for me all over his bed, his clothes, his his crib,his floor, and most importantly, dried up in his hair.  So I was washing sheets in the middle of the night, and then four hours later, washing sheets again.  In between that, I was giving baths and showers, cleaning up nose bleeds (poor Collin), and trying to keep the house as straightened up as possible.

The day before Collin's 7th birthday, he was super sick, and was unable to make it to school.  He played DS, watched TV, and actually laid on the couch, for the majority of the day.  The next day 24 hours had passed without being a sickie, so I sent him to school.  Right before he left, he asked me if I was going to bring cupcakes for his birthday.  I said, thats the plan.  Guess what?  I never brought the cupcakes. :(
When he got home from school, I apologized profusely and told him I would definitely do it tomorrow.  Well, tomorrow morning came and went, and 10:20, their lunchtime, had passed, and I forgot again :(
I suck!

Lets see if next week is any better :)

Teeth

A few years ago, as all of you may know, Kyle knocked his teeth out by getting his knee stuck in a chair, shaking the chair to get his knee unstuck, and face planting on the floor.  One tooth came out cleanly, the other had to be pulled two days later because it was hanging by a thread.

I was ready for him to get his precious teeth back, and immediately asked when I can get replacement teeth- ASM (something space maintenance or maintainer?).  The dentist had some baaaad news for me. He couldn't get his teeth until the back molars were all the way through.  I was hopeful for the next three appointments, but it was always "Sorry Mrs. Jones, not yet."

Finally, two years after he knocked his teeth out, he was able to get replacement teeth.  I was so excited!  Although I had grown to love my kid's snaggle tooth smile, his middle tooth was moving into the center and it really looked bad.  It looked as though he was moving his tongue incorrectly when he was saying words, too. Plus kids, and adults, are just kinda mean and nosy.

His poor little teeth took some getting used to, as he said it hurt him every time he ate something.  Finally, he stopped complaining, and we thought we were in happy teeth land.

Fast forward 2 1/2 months.  My husband and I had just finished our anniversary dinner and I drove the babysitter home.  I walk in and Chris says- "Don't be mad, but Kyle pulled out his teeth." Are you for real?  What do you mean he pulled it out?!!! Then Kyle replied with- It was loosed, so I took it out.  Then of course, instead of being an understanding mom- I yelled "THAT WAS 450 DOLLARS. HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR HIM TO PAY ME BACK."  Ugh! I know I overreacted, but I was just astonished at the time and wasn't thinking that we can totally go back in and get it recemented.  You know, that rational woman thing, yeah, it wasn't there that night.

Well, we have an appointment next Tuesday at 11:00 am and my 3 1/2 year old son is adamant that he is NOT getting those teeth put back in.  I am adamant that he is!  Seriously, two more years of open space and that front tooth will be completely sideways.

I know many of you will think, what the heck, its just baby teeth, but 3,4, and 5 year olds are very aware of the way they look, and the way others look at them.  It may sound vain, but I want my son to look and feel good about himself without having to tell every new person he meets that he knocked his teeth out, then he got new fake ones, then he pulled them out!

Ragnar part deux

Well Bloggy Friends, its me again! (You are thinking, how can this be? You blogged last month? I'm in my A game, I guess.) The other weekend I completed my second Ragnar. It was an event for sure.

Here are some highlights
10- Bill. We didn't know this guy or anything about him, except he worked with another runner in our van. He wasn't really a distance kinda guy, but he was upright, breathing, and willing. And he had jokes. Really dry, sarcastic, hilarious guy!

9- Going to the wrong exchange in the wee hours of the morning. Ragnar has this dumb way of putting the ending point first. Luckily we made it in time the bracelet slap hand-off to our next runner.

8- That dumb slap bracelet, its nasty sweaty, but its way better than a baton!

7- Peanut butter and jelly and tuna fish salad creations. Yep, that was my meal for lunch one day. What a combination.

6- heat index of 99! Not an exaggeration. It was brutally hot for most everyone Van 2's first run. I came in a little above pace on this 6 miler, but I felt like my lungs couldn't keep up with my legs.

5- Govey shutdown forced everyone to double up on their last leg. Since National parks were closed, any runs through any parks were closed off. What that did for me was take 4.4 miles away from my run, and 5 miles away from Bill's run. I didn't like the idea at first, but when it came time for it, I was very grateful!

4- Seeing Keith put a hammock between 2 trees. His butt was an inch from the ground. One wind gush and he would have fallen straight through.

3- Being able to do this with family and friends. My husband, my sister-in-law, and one of my dear friends were in the van with me. I was really proud of my husband. He is a strong runner and did great!

2- B.O. and butt. At three in the morning, things are really funny. Cheetos, Funyuns, sweaty people, dirty socks and shoes, food trash, outside smell on sleeping bags, all mixed with a hint of Doterra oils makes for an interesting smell. A smell that was affectionately described as B.O. and butt!

1- Running through the finish. Of course we couldn't do this alone, we had a whole other van of awesome women- Molly, Crystal, Michelle, Melanni, Kami, and Jenni. At the end of Mary and Keith's run, we all ran in with a silly hat. It was great! And everyone should have the opportunity to see Chris Jones with a big black afro.

This Ragnar was fun, HARD and tiring, and memorable. Next up: Ragnar Key West!