Jan 9th, 2008
So that’s when I found myself staring at the ceiling
I had to do it.
I had to go ahead and make the appointment.
This pregnancy needed to be officially validated, and I was tired of waiting for The State to decide if they were going to insure us or not.
Yesterday I had a very unpleasant conversation with one of the State Employees. She was extremely unhelpful and annoyed. “They expect us to be accountants.” She said. “We are not accountants. I can’t understand all these receipts.”
“Is there somewhere where we can all sit down together and go over them?” I asked.
“No. We are a virtual company. There is no office…I”m going to have to look at all this after work. I don’t have time to do it here.”
“You don’t have time to do work at work?” I asked. That goes to show you what a well-oiled machine our Human Services Department is.
So today as I lay staring up at the ceiling and trying to remember to breathe, dollar signs began flashing on the florescent lights in front of me.
One Pa*p Sme*ar…cha-ching!
We need a sample in the cup please…cha-ching!
Let’s see if we can hear a heart beat…cha-ching ching!
One Blood Sample, seven tests ordered for no good reason…cha-ching!
I found myself saying “No, we don’t need to test for any extra abnormalities. Just the basics.”
“How about HIV?”
“No, not necessary. I’ve had about 5 or 6 in my lifetime. They’re always negative.”
“How about AFP?”
“I don’t think so. I mean what can they do if it’s a positive?”
“Nothing.”
“Then no.”
“What about genetic testing.”
“That’ll be a no as well. It sounds pricey.”
But hey! If I paid up front at the office I received a 10% discount! How’s that for good news?
No, the good news is they did find a heart beat. I love to hear that sound each time I go in. It reminds me that it’s all worth it. No one can really put a price on our baby. Though I did leave the office with a considerably lighter wallet.
Meanwhile back at the ranch I forgot that I had three children from two different families coming over for my weekly babysitting swap.
“Uh Mr.Good? On top of getting Buster off to school and taking care of our 2 youngens, while I’m at the baby doctor’s, there will be a few additions…Zach and Zoe will be here at around 9am…Bella comes around 9:20 xoxo luv ya!”
Good Enough
I am just glad you finally found the office! I completely understand the lack of responsibility that DSHS employees have for there job or for people in general. Over the years of working with those people I am shocked when I come accross even one semi nice person. Hang in there, it will all be worth it in the end!
Ah… government employees are always so helpful!!
I hope you can get things straightened out soon…
And isn’t the sound of the heartbeat the most amazing thing? The only thing I love more is those first movements… I’m excited for you!
Please reconsider the AFP. There are certain things that can be done for things like spina bifida and other birth defects now and there are only certain windows of opportunity to take care of certain situations (some surgeries have to be done by certain weeks of gestation). The likelihood that you would have any problems is slim, but it can happen. The only reason I even mention it is that my sister-in-law has a now healthy little girl because of in utero surgery. They were told their baby had spina bifida. After some research, they found out that CHOP in Philadelphia did in utero surgery. Anyways . . . after a lot of prayer and fasting and blessings, they decided to go ahead with the operation after they were approved. They had some insurance but the hospital was very helpful in helping them in the financial aspect of the operation. My husband’s brother has spina bifida and we know what the outcome could have been. My niece is now 6 and very healthy minus some leg weakness. The AFP is a tool and can help in getting screenings done faster through ultrasound, etc. I know how hard it is to be without insurance (been there). I hope it all works out for you.