fullygoldy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fullygoldy) wrote2006-06-25 05:17 pm
fullygoldy) wrote2006-06-25 05:17 pm
Entry tags:
- dh,
- good stuff,
- mds
Serious Update
Friday was an interesting day for our household.
1) DH returned from his Friday injection and blood work to find that the mailbox held two items. The first was from Meriter hospital. They've granted us 50% financial assistance. Now we just have to set up the payment plan on the no-longer-a-luxury-car outstanding balance.
2) The second envelope was from Social Security. They've approved DH's disability application, and his first eligible month is July. He'll get his first check at the end of August, and every month thereafter, until he's no longer disabled. The kids may also be eligible to receive assistance, but that decision will be made at a later time. In 2 years, he'll be eligible for Medicare, but that will be too late to help out with the bills for the BMT.
3) DH's blood levels held steady this week, even though he'd typically be due for a transfusion. His hemoglobin actually went up! That's a first,a nd we were all quite relieved and impressed. So no having to spend an entire day mucking about at the hospital. Instead, we were out very early for the farmer's market, and it was truly golorious. We made it back to the house by 9:30 am - the time we've usually left so far this season. However, all we purchased was a new daylily and a box of edible flowers (and breakfast). With our own garden coming on line, we're not so much in need of lettuce or garlic scapes right now.
4) My mom sent us some money! She recently sold her townhouse, and she gave my sister enough to get a good, reliable car that can accomodate two car seats, now that she's separated and her ex took possession of the "family" vehicle. She sent "a little bit" to her own mom. And she says, "I figure you're no less deserving than either of them." So we took the kids shopping for summer clothes. We'll get the car fixed (brakes & tires), get a new water softener, and get the hot tub back in working order. If there's anything left, I'll want to put it in savings, but DH will probably convince me to do something "fun" with it. I think the hot tub qualifies as fun. ::shrug::
5) (not so serious) Friday night we went up to the Dane to celebrate the day's news, and sat once again at the outside bar. We visited with all our young friends and acquaintances, and then a fairly attractive, middle-aged guy sat near us. He turned out to be a UW professor of 18th century literature, originally from Sweden. He is quite passionate about Madison in particular and the US in general. It was quite interesting to hear his point of view on our Puritan-based society. He loves our frenetic pace and drive to accomplish and acquire. He loves that we try to accomodate everyone. - Let me 'splain. No, it is too much, I summarize. When he arrived for his first teaching position in Milwaukee, he had almost no English. He was disabled. "It is like being in a wheelchair with no legs when you lose your words." I'm thinking it had to be even worse for someone whose whole career is based on words. More like being confined to a wheelchair when you've been a track star or downhill skier. His peers and students all helped him to succeed. Now he is a popular teacher, and he has many friends and a wife, and feels he belongs here. He says, "If I am from America, and I go to Sweden to teach, with only a little Swedish, I will never belong. They will all laugh at my Swedish and noone will help me. This is why I love America." As it turns out, his favorite hangouts are our favorite hangouts,a nd we know many of the same people. So maybe we will continue the discussion. I certainly hope so. I can't wait to get his reading list out of him!
1) DH returned from his Friday injection and blood work to find that the mailbox held two items. The first was from Meriter hospital. They've granted us 50% financial assistance. Now we just have to set up the payment plan on the no-longer-a-luxury-car outstanding balance.
2) The second envelope was from Social Security. They've approved DH's disability application, and his first eligible month is July. He'll get his first check at the end of August, and every month thereafter, until he's no longer disabled. The kids may also be eligible to receive assistance, but that decision will be made at a later time. In 2 years, he'll be eligible for Medicare, but that will be too late to help out with the bills for the BMT.
3) DH's blood levels held steady this week, even though he'd typically be due for a transfusion. His hemoglobin actually went up! That's a first,a nd we were all quite relieved and impressed. So no having to spend an entire day mucking about at the hospital. Instead, we were out very early for the farmer's market, and it was truly golorious. We made it back to the house by 9:30 am - the time we've usually left so far this season. However, all we purchased was a new daylily and a box of edible flowers (and breakfast). With our own garden coming on line, we're not so much in need of lettuce or garlic scapes right now.
4) My mom sent us some money! She recently sold her townhouse, and she gave my sister enough to get a good, reliable car that can accomodate two car seats, now that she's separated and her ex took possession of the "family" vehicle. She sent "a little bit" to her own mom. And she says, "I figure you're no less deserving than either of them." So we took the kids shopping for summer clothes. We'll get the car fixed (brakes & tires), get a new water softener, and get the hot tub back in working order. If there's anything left, I'll want to put it in savings, but DH will probably convince me to do something "fun" with it. I think the hot tub qualifies as fun. ::shrug::
5) (not so serious) Friday night we went up to the Dane to celebrate the day's news, and sat once again at the outside bar. We visited with all our young friends and acquaintances, and then a fairly attractive, middle-aged guy sat near us. He turned out to be a UW professor of 18th century literature, originally from Sweden. He is quite passionate about Madison in particular and the US in general. It was quite interesting to hear his point of view on our Puritan-based society. He loves our frenetic pace and drive to accomplish and acquire. He loves that we try to accomodate everyone. - Let me 'splain. No, it is too much, I summarize. When he arrived for his first teaching position in Milwaukee, he had almost no English. He was disabled. "It is like being in a wheelchair with no legs when you lose your words." I'm thinking it had to be even worse for someone whose whole career is based on words. More like being confined to a wheelchair when you've been a track star or downhill skier. His peers and students all helped him to succeed. Now he is a popular teacher, and he has many friends and a wife, and feels he belongs here. He says, "If I am from America, and I go to Sweden to teach, with only a little Swedish, I will never belong. They will all laugh at my Swedish and noone will help me. This is why I love America." As it turns out, his favorite hangouts are our favorite hangouts,a nd we know many of the same people. So maybe we will continue the discussion. I certainly hope so. I can't wait to get his reading list out of him!
YAY!!
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