Another praise!

I know, I know, where are the pics?!  And Emma has definitely grown in the past week!!  I promise to post some by Wednesday :)  


I just had to share another praise, to have you join Tyler and I in praising God for all the blessings we receive.  


OK, so, we have Kaiser insurance through JAMZ.  When I went down to part time, I lost my benes and was added to Tyler's policy (so my coverage didn't skip a beat).  I had already done a ton of research and knew that it was cheaper for me to have my own policy on my own.  It was about $153 cheaper per month :)  HOWEVER...I went part time in March, and was pregnant, so I was declined and had to stay on Tyler's insurance.  


Nothing we could do but pay the monthly fee, and wait until Emma was born for us to be able to go to our original plan.  


She was born, I applied, and I was DENIED.  Boo.  The reasons they gave: 

1. Hands, Right Shoulder, Knee and Ankle Pain (Raynauds Syndrome)
2. Low Platelet (Thrombocytopenia)

They gave the option for reassessment, so I wrote a letter.  I hadn't complained about pains and am not being medically treated for my Raynauds with prescriptions.  So that claim was bogus.  My low platelets were while I was pregnant, which is normal.  And now that I'm not, my levels are fine.  And all my levels had been normal prior to the pregnancy.  

They wrote back.  Denied AGAIN.  This time the reasons were: 

1. abnormal tests (vague, I know, didn't want to TMI :) )
2. Raynauds Syndrome

This time I didn't have the option of asking for them to reassess, but I wrote another letter anyway.  I was fired up because I felt like they were just browsing my list of medical history and randomly picking reasons to deny me.  Too bad for them that I can track all my visits and info online with dates to argue what's really going on :)... My abnormal tests were followed by 3 normal tests, including a letter from Kaiser saying 'you're good now' (how's that for medical jargon?).  I sent them the copy of the letter I'd gotten from them.  And I reiterated their concerns from Raynauds weren't valid, blah, blah.  

I got a call today, and as long as I can verify that I'm not pregnant (I have to take a prego test in their lab), they will insure me!  And yes, we're pretty positive that's a no-go at this time ;0

So exciting!  What a blessing, we can now save that much money a month and put it towards the long over due car purchase :)  God is so good, all we have to do is trust that He'll provide.  I haven't been let down once!  

AND - be your own advocate!  There are so many times that we're given quick and incorrect responses to things like this, or anything really.  And we just say, 'oh well, it is what it is'....I've always had that attitude.  When you know it's wrong, stand up for yourself!  And if you need help writing letters for this kind of stuff, let me know.  I have lots of experience writing letters to explain facts and points of views :)

Emma dimple update

I know I had shared what the ultrasound technician commented - that Emma looked fine, but I did want to share that we heard from the Doctor this weekend, and got the official word that the dimple...is just a dimple :) Now ya know she has one and where!


Praise God for keeping her healthy!

Emma dimple update

We had our ultrasound and while the technician is not able to really say anything in concrete, it has to be reviewed by the radiologist for any official word, she showed us there wasn't anything from the spinal cord connected to Emma's dimple.  She also 'educated' me (she was training so I got to hear a little bit between Emma's fit she was throwing...she had to catch her breath sometimes) that dimples associated with Spina Bifida are generally higher on the back; Emma's is much closer to her bottom. 


SO - thank you for your prayers.  God is good and looking out for us with Emma's health :)

So far so good!

Hello.  Dr's appt today went well!  The dimple 'ends' so it isn't like an opening in to her back/bottom or anything like that -so that's a good sign :)  We are going to go in for an ultrasound just to make sure the dimple isn't coming from the spinal cord.  BUT Dr doesn't think it is:)  Just a precaution. 


Praise God!  ...we'll keep praying until that next appointment (not sure when it will be yet, they have to call me to schedule) and will keep ya posted.


By the way - she is now up to 10 pounds even!  Big girl!

Prayer Request

Not to alarm anyone, just wanted to have others join us in prayer about this:  Last week I was watching TV and a gentleman was talking about his daughter that was born with Spina Bifida.  She was 'ok' at birth, but later on they discovered a dimple on her lower back/ bottom, which was a sign.  She lost her ability to sense going potty.  


Over the weekend, I noticed that Emma had a little dimple next to her tail-bone area/high cheek.  Tyler took a look at it and we decided to take pictures of it and send it in to the Dr to check out.  I mentioned to him the above and he requested an appointment to check her dimple.  He wants to make sure there isn't any drainage from/out of it.  He may request an ultrasound to rule out SB or anything else this could possibly be. 


So far, there doesn't seem to be any drainage from what I can tell, but then again, it's covered with a diaper the majority of the time so I can't be certain. 


The soonest we can get in with him is Monday at 10:10, so please pray with us that this is one of those 'nothing' things on her little body and it may go away as she grows.  


We will let you know the results of her appointment.  


Thanks!

I asked for it!

Look what I got to do on my lunch yesterday!

looks like fun, I know!!

I had to go in to get my Vit. D levels checked and hadn't been feeling well so I emailed my Dr and told her about my symptoms, and the fact that I'd be going in if she wanted to add any other tests to be taken while i was there. Boy was I glad i was being a good patient and asked :)

So far all the test results are good. Only showing inflammation, which is obvious by my recent aches.