"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. " -Helen Keller

Monday, March 24, 2008

A few more trip pics...

On the way home to NC, we made a quick stop at "South of the Border". For those of you who haven't traveled that section of I-95, "South of the Border" is a cheesy Mexican themed rest stop/shopping area on the NC/SC border. I needed to get out and walk around so I could finish the drive home but the boys saw it as an opportunity to take ridiculous touristy pictures.

Here they are...













Phew...I can finally stop and take a breath...

I have been scrambling madly for the first part of this month. My baby sis got married this month and she asked me to make the dresses for her girls. They turned out pretty well if I do say so myself but it wasn't east to get them done with Gabe's "help".





We drove down to St. Petersburg, FL last Thursday, the wedding was on Good Friday, and the boys and I drove home on Saturday. We left St. Pete's at about 11:45 on Saturday and I pulled into my driveway at 1 am on Easter Sunday. Ugh...am I ever tired. Here are a few pics from the trip/wedding...





















Tuesday, March 11, 2008

How hard is it to copy medical records?

...or Smart Documents Solutions Must Not Give A Damn...

As most of you know, I have a seriously screwed up obstetrical history. 11 pregnancies, 8 miscarriages, 4 D&Cs, pre-eclampsia, partial placental previa, pregnancy induced hypertension, luteal phase disorder, a clotting disorder requiring twice daily injections for the duration of my last pregnancy, and all the visits and testing that go along with that do NOT make for a small medical record.

Since we moved a year and a half ago, I have been trying to get a complete copy of my records. My old OB's office was doing their part. 3 times they sent my file off to Smart Documents Solutions in Alpharetta, Georgia and 3 times I got incomplete files back. The first time, I got 3 pages back. Yes folks, 7+ years, all those issues, and they sent me 3 fucking pages. The second time I got a large manila envelope...I had hope it was all there. Not only did it take me 3+ hours to put it in chronological order, but I discovered that many pertinent documents were missing. A lot of the doctor's notes were missing and the chromosomal analysis we had done after one D&C was no where to be found. The third attempt was not even as complete as the second attempt at copying my files.

If I am ever crazy enough to try and travel the pregnancy path again, I MUST have a complete copy of my records. I will never get the care I need for a successful pregnancy without those records. Finally, I called my old OB's office and, after explaining all this to the office manager, she offered to take the time out of her dally schedule and make a copy of the records herself. All I had to do was tell her what year to start with and she would copy everything for me. In 2 days she copied it all and put it all in chronological order. Thats right, in 2 days she did what a major company couldn't do in 2 fucking years.

The lesson behind all this is simple...regularly request copies of your records. Its the only way you can be assured of having a complete copy if you suddenly move or transfer doctor's offices. Either that or simply don't ever have as fucked up a medical history as I do.

Saturday, March 08, 2008

A few things on my mind...

I know I've been a bad, bad blogger. I really do mean to post more often but life seems to take over.

I would like you to keep my wonderful friend Henny (this was posted before they found out Ken had cancer) in your prayers. She lost her dear husband a week ago. They had 32 wonderful years together and they deserved many, many more. She is an amazingly strong woman and I know she will make it through this but I hate to see her hurting.

Secondly, can you please say a prayer for Monnie tomorrow. She and her husband will make wonderful parents and I hope tomorrow is the happy beginning to achieving that dream.

Finally, I had the pleasure and honor of talking to a wonderful woman I met online. Lioness is an incredible person and it was so cool to actually get to talk to her.

Thanks y'all and I promise I'll be back soon.