Here's one for you ladies!! I've had this feeling all day that I needed to call my health insurance company regarding my bone density test scheduled for tomorrow...just to check on co-pay and such. Because the orthopedic doctor recommended a hospital rather than an independent diagnostic facility, my co-pay would be $150. If I have the bone density test at the independent facility, the co-pay would be $50. And to really frost my a** over all this, once my orthopedic gets an authorization for the MRI, they can schedule it for the same day, same time at the independent place and the co-pay would be $125 for both instead of $275 at the hospital. I'm thinking the doctor must get a kick back for wanting me to go to the hospital instead of the other facility...even though both are in my network. I hate these back-door politics!! I just saved myself $125 by making that phone call!! First thing tomorrow morning I will be cancelling that DEXA test and calling my orthopedic's office to schedule both for the independent facility....not going to play that game....nope!

Kate- Dr.'s get kick backs from the Pharmacys, drug companys. hospitals and most everything they prescribe.. Nothing new.. Hope your tests go well.
I went out this morning and the heat is already up there.. Being a pug Christy got down to business quick and headed back to the house. She was pulling me back.
Hello Everybody
Joanne

Good morning.

Not much new here, other than been working a bit more than normal, and the HOT weather. It will be around for another 7 days, according to the long range forcast. Gives me something to complain about, and I get to use the AC. Don't always need that - only for about a week or so every summer, when it climbs into the 90's. I just set my thermostat at 72 and the AC does the rest and keeps the temp right there. No cold air blowing on me. Hate those kind of AC's.

Good luck with your bone density test. Have no idea how much they cost because I have never paid for one. When we go for the mammogram we get the bone density test. I find it funny that Obama is trying to "Canadianize" your health care system, when our Alberta Govt. is trying to "Americanize" ours, so they don't need to pay for all the services we have enjoyed. Lot's of "Private" clinics popping up all over the place.

I can have surgery on my toe, through health care (probably take a couple of years, because I am sure they would do the hips and knees first) or I can PAY $2200.00 and have it done next week. I am going to try the healthcare system first. Perhaps they will take pity on me, because it interferes with everything, from walking, to my hip hurting and as you know the hip bones connected to the knee bone and on and on.

My gf that had to have the radiation treatment on her brain, had to go to Boston for the treatment, as it is only done there, for the type of tumor that she has. She has had 3 brain surgeries, but the tumor keep growing. Hopefully this has worked. The Alberta Govt. paid the cost of Dr., hospital and treatment to the tune of $575,000.00 She would NEVER have been able to afford this if she had to pay it herself. She did have to pay for the lodging and meals and that was around $13,000.00. She won't know if the treatment worked or not until Novemember when they do an MRI to see if it is now dormant.

Healthcare is so important and EVERYBODY should be able to have it when needed regardless of whether or not they can pay for it. Just my Canadian opinion. We are spoiled here as we never know the actual cost of anything. We just don't pay for Drs., Hospitals, x-rays, bloodwork etc. They talke about the "horrors" of our waits, but it is the same almost everywhere. There are NOT enough Drs., and many of ours go to the USA, but come home after a few years, because they can't afford the insurance to protect themselves from law suits. It is a real merrygoround at times.

Hope you all have a good day.

I agree with all the above!!! Hope your friend is ok. Hubby just took out dental on me yesterday. Pays half. But, Now I have to wait until Aug. 1st. to get my tooth fixed. Don't know what's wrong with it. Started out to the dentist yesterday but didn't go after-all. Talking about moms leaving way too early ... I almost did that yesterday. The dentist hubby goes to and I went to once is in Smithville which is about 30 minutes from here along a long snaky road going down to and back up from Center Hill Lake. It was raining and my van hydroplaned and spun around in the road 3 times as it was also traveling down the road. There was a very deep drop off on one side, I was so close to the guard rail at one point I thought I was gone ... if I had gone over or through it no one would have ever found me! There were no other cars anywhere, either. I finally landed up in a driveway and the motor died. The VBS tape was playing the song We Can Trust Him. I don't know what possessed those people to build a house on that little piece of a hill but I'm sure thankful for that driveway! It took me about 10 minutes to collect myself before I could drive again. I drove about 40 mph on to Smithville and was late. When they called me up I had had time to think. I told them what happened and that I didn't think I wanted to drive all the way over there to the dentist & I would just find one closer to home so I'm back to square one with my tooth ache. If I take Aleve every 4-5 hrs. I can tolerate it ok but I don't know if that's going to last until Aug. 1st. I fear it is abscessed.

I also agree that big, fancy weddings are mostly a waste of money. Better to use that money on house and furnishings, or to pay off loans or schooling. Weddings are over and gone so fast and life hits you hard after. You can have a really pretty wedding with a little imagination and creativity and a dress does not have to cost $2000. I'm sorry people, I just don't see it. There are too many starving people in the world for me to ever even think about paying that much for one dress. If nothing else, I don't want to be one of them someday!

We are having a good VBS. I do have several kids up singing with me & "helping". But they don't know the motions to the songs either. We have a DVD playing with kids singing and acting them out on the screen but it is behind me, unfortunately ... if I'm doing it wrong, everyone can see! Maybe I'll have them all by Sun. mornings program. It will be imbarrassing if not!

Meme - my goodness. Thank the heavens, you are ok. I would have still been shaking after that. It scares me just to think about it.

Weddings - when my daughter got married, she rented her wedding dress, the bridesmaids dresses and the flowergilr dress. She also rented a wedding cake, because she hates them. She had laura Secord chocolates put into individual boxes and served those, along with a traditional Danish Wedding Cake (marzipan and sooooo good). A friend of ours is a photographer and took all the pictures. That was her wedding present from her.

We didn't break the bank, had a great wedding and have the best of memories. They Celebrated their 20 anniversary on the 21 July.

Again, Meme, am so glad you came out of that spin ok.

Meme- There was a Angel sitting on your shoulder..God was watching out for you.
Surely there is a dental clinic close by you.. I know well the pain of the teeth. I used to have it so bad ,when we were having hard times, that one time I even went to the E R Then I found a dentist that grew up with my hubby. He said don't worry about the money..
God has a way of helping us.. I really believe that. I would not be here today if he was not there in February for me.. The Dr. did not think I was going to live.. One night I seem to be awake but maybe I was sleeping. I said "God ,You are the only one that can help me now. Please let me get well."I remember that when I can't seem to remember anything else about those almost two weeks in CCU.
I totally agree about weddings. It is so foolish to spend so much money on a wedding. Give the money to the bride and groom and that will help them more. A dress you wear once.. The bridesmaids never wear the dresses again.
Mima- I see on the weather report that you should be getting rain about now.. It is very dry here again.
Kate - My Passion flower is sprouting again. I took some cuttings from the one my son cut and put them in water for about a week. They were growing in the kitchen window so I planted them tonight.. No roots but I am hoping..
Happy-I have to laugh about the healthcare thing.. You are right.. I like the plan I have now. We hope it won't change. But, The hubby is in a group plan for retired teachers.
Hello Tammy- I wore yellow for my daughters wedding,Red for my sons first and Aqua for his second. If you are on facebook you will see the dress I wore. There is a picture of my hubby and I there. I still have trouble finding my own site. I am not very good at this. My daughter talked me into it..
Tomorrow I have to give Christie her bath.. Sat we are meeting our son and his wife and taking one of my sisters for lunch..
Joanne

Hi-my old computer crashed yesterday-I was ready to throw it out the window anyway. So I drove out to the camp and got my laptop which works great. Amir from Verizon helped me set up* the connection. I have lost my beige capris and a pair of jeans-must be at the camp but I am not going back.\I am still bleeding from tues and don't feel wonderful. we are going to a mission conference at 5 but will come home to sleep. And I have to work all next week. Suzanne is waiting for a blood test-she tested herself for pregnancy and it was positive. That would be March or April children when ALL my grandchildren are born-well, Alison is May 9.
Bye for now. Mima

I am on facebook ... look me up and add me. I'd like to see that picture!

Good morning all. A cloudy but warm and humid day here in Florida. They have predicted rain again but the weatherman hasn't been right yet! That is nothing new...
I may have to change my opinion of that orthopedic....the coordinator in his office has not received my "chart" from him yet to schedule the MRI and Density! It's been almost 10 days now....looks like a phone call first thing tomorrow is coming up! I'm really tired of having to rattle these cages all the time!
So Mima, is it a good thing about Suzanne? I am going to assume everyone is excited about the possible pregnancy....I wish her the best! It's amazing how fast computers become obsolete now a days. I've had mine almost two years and I am sure there are several upgrades out there already. It's hard to keep up with technology at my age....I do well to learn stuff on these contraptions every day!
I am also on facebook...how do you utilize the info from in here on facebook so we can find each other? Don't we need to have each others e-mail addresses in the contacts? I've put 3 fat chicks in my profile but not sure how to go about the rest. I don't go to facebook very often...
Cooking a roast from the freezer today. Trying to use up all my stuff in the freezer in case we get a hurricane problem coming through. I like to keep my freezer contents down during the "season" to avoid any hassles. We do have a generator that runs a lot of stuff but it doesn't do the central A/C unit. We have to have a window unit for that. We like to keep all the refridgerator/freezer stuff in one spot in case we have to hook it up. (Most people living in Florida have an "overflow" fridge in the garage)
Hope everyone enjoys the day...I'm going to try and get this stressed-out feeling off my shoulders today. I've been feeling a bit cranky the past few days and I need to stop feeling so pressured..."take a chill pill" as the younger generation would say! Bye for now.

My friend is home from the hospital. The tumor and some lymph nodes were removed, and those are being tested. She is very sore, but we are all praying things are ok. thanks for the prayers!

Joanne, wow to making all of the dresses for your daughter's wedding! Amazing. I can't sew at all. My insurance through retired teachers is pretty good too.

Kate, the insurance issue about the bone density stinks! I will be in Vero Beach at the Disney Resort from Dec. 27-Dec. 31. Not real long, but I would love to get together and meet! I have been in contact with a couple of the places for the puppy, and I just need to make a decision about that.

Anne, let us know about the surgery.

Mima, glad to hear you came through the d&c ok!

Meme, I probably won't wear pink, but I don't plan to wear something I don't like. I won't keep my mouth shut either. Scary about your trip to the dentist!

I'm on Facebook too!! We need to find each other!!

Here's what I know about Tim's wedding. The rehearsal dinner is the night before, and we are having it in a little restaurant in Lauren's hometown. There won't be many people because they are each having 1 person stand up with them. Those will be able to bring a date. Her mom, me, her brother and his wife and daughter, his sister, my stepson and wife and sons. That's about it.

The wedding will be at her home church with the reception at a historical center across town. Guest list might be 75, but probably smaller. Reception - meat and cheese trays, fruit and vegie trays, cakes. Nothing fancy, no dance or big meal or anything. The kids are planning to go to Michigan for a few days for their honeymoon.

She has her dress, and so does the bridemaid, and I know they didn't cost $2000! That is crazy when people pay money like that! Her mom and I are both looking for dresses. We found some pretty wild ones at the bridal shop and told Lauren we were getting them!

This past week, I didn't feel the best. Missed classes on Tuesday, went on Thurs. but I ended up going home just 10 minutes into pilates. BUT I did the Breast Cancer Awareness 5K Run/Walk yesterday! 3.2 miles, I didn't run, but I did finish in 51 minutes. I was so happy when I crossed the finish line. Some of my friends had come out to meet me, and I was in tears. It felt great!

Good doc report about my biopsy but I am still bleeding-didn't expect that. Bob's wedding is getting bigger-hate to see them spend all that mon

ey-it posted before I was through. The pregnancy is good news . Jim just brought home 2 puppies-now they have 3 dogs!!!* I need to stay out of their business and the weddimg plans but I do see $ signs. God will provide.Gotta drive to work-supposed to be 5 days but I am hoping for 4. What a greta weekend!! Mima

I will start a new thread...and request a "sticky" for it.