insurance is worth gold, insurance companies....

So lately I have had a significant amount of pain in my hips, low back, and right leg, so I broke down and went back to the chiropractor that my neurologist referred me to even though he isn't in my insurance network. I figured I would just deal with the payments as they came -- especially since I am getting my tax refund soon.


So I went to see him twice and I feel a lot better. And then on Wednesday I finally got a benefits booklet SEVEN MONTHS after our insurance changed. So I looked up chiropractic care and it "will be covered both in and out of network at 80% as long as charges are reasonable." They also cover accupuncture. (I know --I don't make much money but my insurance is worth gold, people. GOLD.)


So the two people I spoke to on the phone three months ago -- the people that have kept me in pain for three months -- had NO IDEA what they were talking about.


Seeing my new chiro will cost all of $8.12

WHY CAN'T PEOPLE DO THEIR JOBS? I know it's a lot of paperwork. I know there are several plans among the people I work for, but SERIOUSLY.

Speaking of feeling better, have you seen THESE? (Found via The Fug Girls.)

the silent treatment

This past weekend, I was lifting Punkin into his carseat and he suddenly made a noise and said, "You hurta me!"

"I'm sorry, Punkin. What happened?"

"You hurta me!"

"Where's the owie?"

"Owie. You hurta me!" A single tear trickled down his cheek.

"I'm so sorry," As I went in to give him a hug, he pushed me away.

"No! Go way now! Hurta me! Shutta da door."

"Punkin," I stroked his face, "I didn't mean to hurt you. I will be gentle. Can I hold you?"

With tears in his eyes he flatly stated, "Sitta up der!" and pointed to the drivers seat.

He refused to speak to me the entire four minute drive to Oma and Opa's house, and when Oma asked him he reiterated, "Hurta me!" but I still have no clue how this tragic injury was inflicted.

Gotta be proud of those speech skills, though.

seriously?!

I got home today and received a delightful e-mail from Norton Antivirus informing me that they had conveniently gone ahead and automatically renewed my subscription and charged my debit card for $54.99. When I called customer service to have the charges reversed, I REALLY wanted to say something snarky about how I didn't even have Norton anymore since the Geek Squad wiped out the VIRUS on my computer that it caught while using aforementioned product (for a measly $300). But I didn't. Being on hold for 25 minutes made me lose my steam.

I've heard several others had this same problem. so keep an eye on your credit card statements, people!

i need a cookie

Because Punkin is considered a disabled child and we are within a certain (low) income range, he qualifies for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Let me be clear -- I REALLY appreciate this help. Let me be clear again. The people who work at the Social Security Office have NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

We normally receive a direct deposit on the first day of the month; we didn't today. So I called them. The woman explained that we were in fact supposed to receive a check for $16, but because they overpaid us in previous months (and we have to pay them back $67 a month until it is repaid), our check became $0. She explained that my check was that low because our income in December was very high; I got paid three times and the Child Support Unit layed the smack down on One Non-Custodial Parent. This is when the tears started welling up.


"I called in December. I called and the woman I talked to said that she would make it so that my December payment was an overpayment so that I would continue to receive checks in February and March."

"Well, that was wrong. SSI works two months behind schedule. So your income in December affects February."

"I know that. That's why I called in December. But she assured me I would be getting a check and now I have no money to pay my rent. Do you see why this is frustrating?"

"Yes." I don't know what else she said. I was thinking about his dedicated account, which holds a sizable amount of money and requires special permission to use.

Because we were denied for two years, they had to give Punkin a lump sum of back pay which has restrictions on its use. For example, I can use it to pay medical or educational expenses or even to go to the National Fragile X Conference. I even used some of it to buy him his bed. You know what I CAN'T use the money for? Food, shelter, and clothing. I can buy a new car if I ram mine into a tree, but I'm out of luck if we need fruits and vegetables.

"Now, I've been told in the past that I can't use the money in his dedicated account to pay the rent. But I have no money to pay the rent. I have NO WAY to pay the rent."

"Could you pay the account back?"

This is when the crazy came out in my voice, "If I had the means to pay the account back, I probably wouldn't need SSI."

"But could you pay it back?"

"No. NO."


"Well, how much is in the account?" I told her. "I'll release the money. It's okay, I'll make a note in his file."

"Thank you."

Guess I need my crazy voice more often.

=(

My laptop has officially been checked into the computer hospital. It's not a deadly virus from what I understand, but it is a costly one, as my warranty doesn't cover such things. I'm not sure when I will be able to post again. Maybe this weekend?

oh this is too good; or, my life in a sitcom

Have you ever done that -- daydreamed your life as the opening credits of a sitcom? Well, now you know that I have. Mine was always the "city girl out on her own" gig - very Mary Tyler Moore. I also starred in and wrote some extremely high quality Huffy bike commercials. ME? Enjoys being the center of attention? NOOOO!

And you know, even though I was so traumatized by The Great Mouse Invasion of 2009 that I wrote "chocolate mouse pie" instead of chocolate mousse pie in a previous post, it really has provided great fodder and fun for this blog.

So when I mentioned to my dad that the fan motor in my car sounded like an unbalanced washing machine and he hypothesized that there might be a chunk of ice stuck inside, I REALLY, REALLY secretely hoped it would turn out to be a rodent.

Clearly you see where this is going.

Oma and I are currently driving to Chicago with Punkin to be part of a Fragile X study and Opa is at home checking out my car. He called about 10 minutes ago; this is a rough retelling of our conversation:

Opa: So there was definitely something in there making it unbalanced. You'll never believe what it was.
Me (using my best high-pitched, hyper voice): IT WAS NOT A MOUSE!!
Opa (who is dying laughing): Yes! They won't leave you alone!
Me: MOM, it was a MOUSE! Was he all frozen?
Opa: Yes! He was in there, which made it unbalanced, and his tail was hitting the blades. I think he crawled in for warmth and then when you started your car it sucked him from the heater coil into the fan.
Me: Mom, HIS TAIL WAS HITTING THE BLADES!!
Oma: UGH! Was he all chopped up?
Me: No, he was FROZEN! This is so awesome.

who knew?

You know how sometimes you're pretty sure you're talking just to throw it out there and see if any of it sticks on another person? Well, apparently all of what I said stuck.

Punkin has a long history of "targeting" certain classmates and pulling on them, tackling them, hitting them, and otherwise making them crazy. In the past it's always been a communication problem (he wants to play but doesn't know how to ask) or a jealousy issue (you looked at my mom/teacher/friend and now I must exact my revenge).

Well, he has been struggling with all of the new students coming into his room and taking his attention away. However, for a while he found a new way to get some glory; he became a mini teacher's assistant. (This is a nice way of saying he was bossy.)

He constantly reminded the other students of the routine, handed them their equipment that they needed, and told them "no" when appropriate. I think it's funny; however, unlike his teachers, I did not have to spend 6.25 hours a day with an uninvited assistant.

And then another new student came and he lost it. I saw him with this student, and it was not a confused invitation to play. My son was MAD! The reason why remains a mystery, but it is clear from the stiffening of his body and the clenching of his jaw that this child just set him off. And I think it got to the point where even Punkin didn't know why he was being aggressive, but the pattern of behavior held him captive.

That is until SUPERMOM! stepped in. Okay, I am totally kidding. It's like this; I had a completely nonchalant talk with him in the car (while we were driving) about this student and "no pushing, no pulling, no hitting." I think I even suggested, "No play with him. If you play with him, then gentle hands. We are gentle with friends."

Umm, it worked. He had a better day. I've repeated the conversation a few times -- in the car again -- and I think it's sticking. The car is a good place because there's no demand for eye contact and it's a happy place for his sensory system. If I tried to sit down with him at home and look him in the eye, he would either kick me or laugh. Or both.

So how does my son know what gentle means? Well, once a child hits, you say, "No hit; gentle hands" and hand-over-hand (if needed) help them gently touch the other child. It works best with toddlers, but the concept has stuck with Punkin. Now I can tell him, "Gentle to toys" and he knows that I mean, "STOP THAT INSUFFERABLE BANGING!"