July 24, 2004
SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2004-HAPPY PIONEER DAY! Today is a big holiday here, the day the Mormon Pioneers settled in Utah! Most businesses are closed, schools and state/county/city offices were all closed yesterday, there are parades and lots of fireworks. We have heard that tonight is a bigger fireworks night than July 4th.
It has been over a month since our last update-well, there's lots of reason for that. We'll just go back in time to the last update...The days leading up to Athena and the kids' departure for San Diego were busy-we crammed in lessons, appointments, foster classes, Alyssa hosted an ice cream social/show & tell for her church group at our house, and we saw the play "Where the Wild Things Are". Athena and the kids flew to San Diego Wednesday, June 23rd. They had a day to rest up before borrowing Yaya's car to drive up to Santa Maria, CA. They spent the weekend visiting with Athena's birth family. Thanks again to Steve and Jennifer for their hospitality, we had a great time! Also occurring Friday June 25, Jeff was laid off from his job-ugh. This was a budget decision, and he was the 2nd person in his small division to go.The week of June 28th was spent with everyone soaking up the news, and Jeff applying for unemployment and Medicaid. We found out we would be losing our medical in just a few days. Athena saw her eye doctor in San Diego that week, and had to go back the next day with a swollen cornea, which the doctor couldnt quite figure out. It went away on its own.
In San Diego, we went to the zoo, and did lots of visiting of family and friends. We enjoyed spending time with Yaya Mary, Athena's Grandmother, who is 94 and in a nursing home. Saturday, July 3rd, we attended a baby dedication for Athena's cousin's baby, Madelyn, at Balboa Park, and a lunch afterward. We got to see lots of family members we hadn't seen in years. On July 4th we spent the day at Uncle John and Maryanne's beach house, which was lots of fun. We left before the fireworks, and watched them from Athena's parents' house. Alyssa said the funniest thing while we watched the scantily-clad people on the boardwalk-"We aren't in Utah anymore!"
On July 7th, Athena, her Mom, and the kids drove to Las Vegas, visited a few friends (Gants (congratulations on the baby!) and Kimmy and family), spent the night, and started out the next morning for home. We arrived home late that afternoon. The following Sunday, we finally took a trip up to Park City, thanks to Nick's youth group at church, who had planned an alpine slide trip. It was a beautiful trip, and everyone had a good time.
The week of July 12th was filled with orthodontist and doctor appointments, another foster class and lots of foster care paperwork,a swim meet, Nicholas' EEG at Primary Children's hospital, lots of work trying to figure out insurance, and the American Idol Concert on July 14th! Thanks to the great PR guy at B98.7, Rusty, we ended up with a total of 6 tickets!! A neighbor of Athena's godparents turned out to be a big fan, and took the extra two tickets. So, the four of us went to the concert downtown at the Delta Center, where we had great seats! It was lots of fun.Athena's dad flew in July 15th, and we spent that Friday and Saturday doing lots of visiting! Friday afternoon, after Nick's EEG, Athena had a meeting at the house for our church's VBS. Then Athena's godmother,Kris,and her parents came over for a visit. Tony and Cathy were up visiting from Price, UT for doctor appointments and to visit their son-in-law, Joe, who had a heart attack in late June. Saturday, we went over to Kris and Bob's for a wonderful brunch, where we got to visit with the Varanakis, Parenti, and Douros families. From there we drove to Provo, UT to meet more of the Douros family for lunch. The next morning Bob took Athena's Dad fishing.
Athena's parents left July 19th for their drive home, returning to San Diego on July 20th. We had our church small group over for dinner July 19th-everyone chipped in for pizza and we played the game Cranium. Earlier that day, Athena enjoyed a long, leisurly lunch with her friend Ali for her birthday.
This week (july 19th) has been very busy and newsy: Good news from this week:Nick's EEG results were normal!! So, now we are weaning him off his seizure meds. he has been on for years, which also work as a mood stabilizer and appetite suppresant. We are anxious to see how he does without it, hoping to see some meat on his skinny bones! We have been enjoying cool evening thunderstorms nightly, and finally have a very clean garage, due to a nasty odor that we could not find the cause of. Other good news includes awesome friends and family who are helping with so many things, a roof over our heads, and our basic needs being met. We got a letter from the girl we sponsor in Bangledesh, Shantona, and she is doing great! She sent a picture of her with her mother and grandmother.
Bad news this week: our van broke down July 19th, and still sits dead in the driveway, needing at least a new fuel pump. Our other car, a Ford Escort, broke down the 20th, and was in the shop for a day. It also looks like it needs a new fuel pump, but is now running okay, so we are going to hold off. Thank you to Lynn and Alison for rescuing us!! Other bad news includes finding out Jeff's cobra from his previous medical insurance is $1100/month, and that Athena and Nick were approved for Medicaid's "medically needy program", with a monthly premium of $1086.00! Athena promptly called the caseworker to tell her there was no way we could come up with that amount, and ask if there were any other options. She didn't call back, but instead sent Athena a form denying her Medicaid because she had turned down the application (she really just left a message asking for other options),and Jeff a new form that approved only him for Medicaid, if he paid $800/month for himself, which is even more ridiculous. Alyssa was denied any coverage throughout all this, which we can't figure out. With Cobra, we have until September to make a decision, but we do know that Athena and Nick will definitely need the coverage for July and August with Nick's EEG, doctor appointments and meds, and AThena's blood disorder studies, follow-up with the oncologist, and meds. If Jeff and Alyssa can stay healthy, we may get by with just the two needing insurance, which would bring it down to around $800/month, still a fortune with nobody working in the house. We are hoping the state will have a CHIP open enrollment soon, which is the health insurance for kids. We have heard a rumor that there may be one in October.
Jeff's news: Jeff broke his toe soon after being laid off, which hasn't stopped him from looking for work, but has stopped him from being able to do any projects around the house that needed to be done. He has lots of great leads, and is as we speak working his first shift for the county youth services, the first shift is volunteer. After that he will be on their emergency call list to cover shifts, which is not much more than minimum wage, but gives him a good 'in' for a permanent position with the county, which he has applied for. Unfortunately, the background check, etc. can take up to 6-8 weeks, so he may not know for a while. He also has applications out with a few other youth centers, and may join the union for convention work with a big show coming up in August.
Athena news: The long-awaited platelet study finally will happen July 27th! The last month has been increasingly more difficult without a few key medications, and these last three days are completely medication-free, not even OTC stuff. She can go back on most meds. Tuesday, except for a few that cause blood thinning, which will have to be re-addressed at her mid-August appointment with the oncologist, when a treatment is started. Athena has her last two foster classes this coming week-yea!
Kid news: Alyssa will start swim lessons Monday-every weekday for two weeks, and Nick will start back with piano lessons Wednesday. They will both be attending a 4-H camp Thursday, a science theme. Nick has a swim meet July 31st.
Happy Birthday coming up July 29th to our nephew Noah!!
Get well soon and lots of good healing thoughts and prayers to Katannya, Anneliese, Jeff's Aunt Marilyn, and our sister-in-law Shelly, all recovering from major surgeries, and to family friend Joe, mentioned above.
A very safe and fun trip to the Kuraoka family (website below), as they embark on a 6-week house-swapping trip to Germany!! Check out their journal as the exciting details unfold!!
We started this journal in December 2003, as a way to stay in touch with family and friends; but mostly to remember what happens in our family's life during these busy years! Our plan is to TRY and update as often as possible, weekly would be best, and to print out a copy to keep in an album. We figured we can always embarrass the kids with it when they are older!!
Our good friends the Kuraoka family inspired us to start our journal-here is a link to their website, which is quite extensive, and has a link to their weekly journal: www.kuraoka.org
Thanks for stopping by!
It has been over a month since our last update-well, there's lots of reason for that. We'll just go back in time to the last update...The days leading up to Athena and the kids' departure for San Diego were busy-we crammed in lessons, appointments, foster classes, Alyssa hosted an ice cream social/show & tell for her church group at our house, and we saw the play "Where the Wild Things Are". Athena and the kids flew to San Diego Wednesday, June 23rd. They had a day to rest up before borrowing Yaya's car to drive up to Santa Maria, CA. They spent the weekend visiting with Athena's birth family. Thanks again to Steve and Jennifer for their hospitality, we had a great time! Also occurring Friday June 25, Jeff was laid off from his job-ugh. This was a budget decision, and he was the 2nd person in his small division to go.The week of June 28th was spent with everyone soaking up the news, and Jeff applying for unemployment and Medicaid. We found out we would be losing our medical in just a few days. Athena saw her eye doctor in San Diego that week, and had to go back the next day with a swollen cornea, which the doctor couldnt quite figure out. It went away on its own.
In San Diego, we went to the zoo, and did lots of visiting of family and friends. We enjoyed spending time with Yaya Mary, Athena's Grandmother, who is 94 and in a nursing home. Saturday, July 3rd, we attended a baby dedication for Athena's cousin's baby, Madelyn, at Balboa Park, and a lunch afterward. We got to see lots of family members we hadn't seen in years. On July 4th we spent the day at Uncle John and Maryanne's beach house, which was lots of fun. We left before the fireworks, and watched them from Athena's parents' house. Alyssa said the funniest thing while we watched the scantily-clad people on the boardwalk-"We aren't in Utah anymore!"
On July 7th, Athena, her Mom, and the kids drove to Las Vegas, visited a few friends (Gants (congratulations on the baby!) and Kimmy and family), spent the night, and started out the next morning for home. We arrived home late that afternoon. The following Sunday, we finally took a trip up to Park City, thanks to Nick's youth group at church, who had planned an alpine slide trip. It was a beautiful trip, and everyone had a good time.
The week of July 12th was filled with orthodontist and doctor appointments, another foster class and lots of foster care paperwork,a swim meet, Nicholas' EEG at Primary Children's hospital, lots of work trying to figure out insurance, and the American Idol Concert on July 14th! Thanks to the great PR guy at B98.7, Rusty, we ended up with a total of 6 tickets!! A neighbor of Athena's godparents turned out to be a big fan, and took the extra two tickets. So, the four of us went to the concert downtown at the Delta Center, where we had great seats! It was lots of fun.Athena's dad flew in July 15th, and we spent that Friday and Saturday doing lots of visiting! Friday afternoon, after Nick's EEG, Athena had a meeting at the house for our church's VBS. Then Athena's godmother,Kris,and her parents came over for a visit. Tony and Cathy were up visiting from Price, UT for doctor appointments and to visit their son-in-law, Joe, who had a heart attack in late June. Saturday, we went over to Kris and Bob's for a wonderful brunch, where we got to visit with the Varanakis, Parenti, and Douros families. From there we drove to Provo, UT to meet more of the Douros family for lunch. The next morning Bob took Athena's Dad fishing.
Athena's parents left July 19th for their drive home, returning to San Diego on July 20th. We had our church small group over for dinner July 19th-everyone chipped in for pizza and we played the game Cranium. Earlier that day, Athena enjoyed a long, leisurly lunch with her friend Ali for her birthday.
This week (july 19th) has been very busy and newsy: Good news from this week:Nick's EEG results were normal!! So, now we are weaning him off his seizure meds. he has been on for years, which also work as a mood stabilizer and appetite suppresant. We are anxious to see how he does without it, hoping to see some meat on his skinny bones! We have been enjoying cool evening thunderstorms nightly, and finally have a very clean garage, due to a nasty odor that we could not find the cause of. Other good news includes awesome friends and family who are helping with so many things, a roof over our heads, and our basic needs being met. We got a letter from the girl we sponsor in Bangledesh, Shantona, and she is doing great! She sent a picture of her with her mother and grandmother.
Bad news this week: our van broke down July 19th, and still sits dead in the driveway, needing at least a new fuel pump. Our other car, a Ford Escort, broke down the 20th, and was in the shop for a day. It also looks like it needs a new fuel pump, but is now running okay, so we are going to hold off. Thank you to Lynn and Alison for rescuing us!! Other bad news includes finding out Jeff's cobra from his previous medical insurance is $1100/month, and that Athena and Nick were approved for Medicaid's "medically needy program", with a monthly premium of $1086.00! Athena promptly called the caseworker to tell her there was no way we could come up with that amount, and ask if there were any other options. She didn't call back, but instead sent Athena a form denying her Medicaid because she had turned down the application (she really just left a message asking for other options),and Jeff a new form that approved only him for Medicaid, if he paid $800/month for himself, which is even more ridiculous. Alyssa was denied any coverage throughout all this, which we can't figure out. With Cobra, we have until September to make a decision, but we do know that Athena and Nick will definitely need the coverage for July and August with Nick's EEG, doctor appointments and meds, and AThena's blood disorder studies, follow-up with the oncologist, and meds. If Jeff and Alyssa can stay healthy, we may get by with just the two needing insurance, which would bring it down to around $800/month, still a fortune with nobody working in the house. We are hoping the state will have a CHIP open enrollment soon, which is the health insurance for kids. We have heard a rumor that there may be one in October.
Jeff's news: Jeff broke his toe soon after being laid off, which hasn't stopped him from looking for work, but has stopped him from being able to do any projects around the house that needed to be done. He has lots of great leads, and is as we speak working his first shift for the county youth services, the first shift is volunteer. After that he will be on their emergency call list to cover shifts, which is not much more than minimum wage, but gives him a good 'in' for a permanent position with the county, which he has applied for. Unfortunately, the background check, etc. can take up to 6-8 weeks, so he may not know for a while. He also has applications out with a few other youth centers, and may join the union for convention work with a big show coming up in August.
Athena news: The long-awaited platelet study finally will happen July 27th! The last month has been increasingly more difficult without a few key medications, and these last three days are completely medication-free, not even OTC stuff. She can go back on most meds. Tuesday, except for a few that cause blood thinning, which will have to be re-addressed at her mid-August appointment with the oncologist, when a treatment is started. Athena has her last two foster classes this coming week-yea!
Kid news: Alyssa will start swim lessons Monday-every weekday for two weeks, and Nick will start back with piano lessons Wednesday. They will both be attending a 4-H camp Thursday, a science theme. Nick has a swim meet July 31st.
Happy Birthday coming up July 29th to our nephew Noah!!
Get well soon and lots of good healing thoughts and prayers to Katannya, Anneliese, Jeff's Aunt Marilyn, and our sister-in-law Shelly, all recovering from major surgeries, and to family friend Joe, mentioned above.
A very safe and fun trip to the Kuraoka family (website below), as they embark on a 6-week house-swapping trip to Germany!! Check out their journal as the exciting details unfold!!
We started this journal in December 2003, as a way to stay in touch with family and friends; but mostly to remember what happens in our family's life during these busy years! Our plan is to TRY and update as often as possible, weekly would be best, and to print out a copy to keep in an album. We figured we can always embarrass the kids with it when they are older!!
Our good friends the Kuraoka family inspired us to start our journal-here is a link to their website, which is quite extensive, and has a link to their weekly journal: www.kuraoka.org
Thanks for stopping by!
