Doctors, Aerobeds, Molars, Gas Prices

I really thought I had posted since the Mission Space Soapbox, but I guess I haven't. I've been really busy with work and now that Jeff is working basically full-time, our lives are pretty much on the turntable called life. You know, the basic day: get up (thank goodness both of us have reasonable hours in the morning), take a shower, get dressed and ready, take vitamins and pills, grab breakfast, run out the door, get in the car, drive to work...which is ministry for me and sales for him, get off at 5 and 6, go home, eat dinner, play Uno or surf the net, take more pills, go to bed. And since Jeff works most Saturdays, I usually end up doing laundry with his mom and running errands. Sunday is our only real day together so we go to evening service so we can sleep late and enjoy the day together.

Since I have been here...6 months now...I've been to the doctor more times than I ever have before. My journey, as most of you know, began when I had the gallbladder attack...I ended up under the care of a wonderful surgeon named Dr. Kantor...although he was not on my insurance plan...he just happened to be the doc on call in the emergency room that night... I am still under his care through my primary doc, Dr. Kaplan. Anyway, before Dr. Kaplan there was Dr. Friedman in Richardson. He was Lisa and Jeff's primary so I ended up with him too since he was on my plan; however, he was not affliated with Medical Center of Plano which is where my surgery and hospital stay was; so, I finally ended up at Dr. Kaplan because he can cover all my bases and he is sooooooooooooo sweet. I find it kind of odd to say that for a doctor, but he really is. So, my point here is to say that the world of doctors, hospitals, insurance and co-pay are a big, stinking pain in my backside. America has made a mess of health care. And, as I'm sure many of you have experienced, you must do all the work yourself. I don't think anyone a BCBS has a clue. I've had to do all the research and call them and call them and call them to argue with them about my statements and bills. I had to pay $600+ out to the surgeon and now, since "I" straightened it out with them, will be getting back $500+ of that money....just in time to pay for another thing...but more about that later. Every 2 or 4 weeks depending on my results, I have to get blood work done to check the coumadin levels. Next month will be 6 months since my blood clots and I will be having another doplar ultrasound on my legs to see if things have cleared up. I will probaby also be undergoing a test where they see if I am prone to blood clots which is rather scary to me. Since my good friend, Kirsty, died of a aneurysm and ultimately a blood clot to her heart and my grandfather (dad's dad) died of a stomach aneurysm...it all just seems really scary!!! I just have to remember that the Big Man upstairs is in charge...I'm must go on faith.

Well, I finally did it...I broke down and bought a new Aerobed. The one I was sleeping on was ka-put. It's amazing what you can pay for an "air" matress, but I do have to say that sleep is much better than it was on the cold leather couch. I actually really like the fact that I can adjust the comfort level it's kinda like a cheaper Sleep Number bed...well, not really, but it was a nice thought.

So, now that I've been to all these doctors, I felt like I was really betraying the dentist because I wasn't spending any of my hard earned money with them, so I decided to break my tooth. Yep, bit into my yummy Wendy's Homestyle Chicken sandwich and heard a nice "C-R-A-C-K" which upon first investigation I believed to be a piece of grissel, but upon later inspection of my mouth discovered it was tooth number 30...so, off to the dentist I went. Found out I have a cavity in that tooth along with one in the tooth behind it and that I need a root canal and a crown...so, the dentist wanted me to fork over some more pocket change at around $3K to have this work done...I nearly fell out of the dental chair!!!! So, I am currently researching dental discount plans so I can have the work done for a little more reasonable price, although no healthcare or dental work is reasonable anymore...unless, of course, you are homeless or have 80 gazillion children or both. Thank goodness it doesn't hurt...yet.

Okay, since I have spent so much of yours and my time on these wonderful topics which are currently part of my life, I will just end with a short thought on gas prices: God was gracious enough to give me enough sense to buy a 4-cyclinder SUV that gets 300 miles to a tank because with gas at a good $2.75+ out here in HOT Texas that could quickly drain your bank account.

Tootles!