Pink, Gray, and Bikes!

I've been working on a little girl's room in my spare time, haha!  She just turned 13, so it's a surprise for her birthday.  I've been gathering stuff for her..and waiting on her dad to paint her room, and for her to be out of town so we can DeCoRaTe!

One of Mary Claire's friends is an incredibly gifted artist (writing, chalk, etc.), and I've asked her to do a chalkboard to go over this girl's headboard, and to do one to go over Mary Claire's bed (since she and Carter are switching rooms..again!!).  (So we have our own redecoration project going on right now..and she's waiting on ME to paint!  So..I get this family's dilemma right now!)  She is doing a monogram for Mary Claire and a scripture for Natalie: God is with her, she will not fall (Psalm 46:5).

If you want to check our her friend's work, find InThePinesCo on Instagram!  She's a sweetie, and so is her mom!  I'm so excited to see the finished projects..I know they'll be amazing!

They're going to paint in Anew Gray, and I've gotten blush pink bedding, and I found some gray velvet pillow shams, a couple of extra pillows (cream/gray/blush, and a white furry, fluffy one!).

Then she has a sweet white desk, and I got white pineapple bookends for her books on top, a gold clock to go above it, some blush pink boxes for storage, a gold lamp, clear ghost chair (with white fur to go over it), mercury glass pen holder, and mirrored picture frame.

I got new thick, room darkening white drapes and an antique gold rod..I can't wait to see it all put together.  I got a cute long wooden tray (think dough bowl) for the top of her chest of drawers (in front of her tv) to use a catch-all..So precious! : )   

And I redid a friend's wreath yesterday, it's ready for spring!  I can't wait!

We had snow a week ago, and temperatures in the zeros this week! ..but today, it hit 70 degrees!  We have the weirdest weather in Arkansas..but I love it!  Today, we went out road biking..ready to do another ride asap. : ) (and now it's storming..and we have a tornado watch, crazy!)

Have a great week, y'all!  Hugs!

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.  

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.  Psalm 96: 11-12

 

Advocating for Insulin

Today I got groceries (Walmart Grocery Pickup!), made the BEST chocolate chip cookies (my personal favorites!), took Mary Claire to make dinner at the Ronald McDonald House, and fought with my insurance over insulin. : O  Oh! ..and visited my mom, dropped off my sweet Gatsby to spend the night ..and Ches took Ethan over there to stay too..and Clay took his car by to let Dad check it out for a second opinion!

So.. this insulin thing.  I'm beyond frustrated this week..and especially today.  I hate having to fight for everything.  For benefits, for equality, and this week just for insulin. 

The current going rate for insulin pens (Novolog OR Humalog) is $670 per box (5 pens).  Tell me how this isn't gouging the system and the public.  And our family.  I picked up four boxes today that I had to really work just to get.

Back story: beginning January 1st our insurance company decided they wouldn't cover Novolog anymore.  How they can determine the best insulin for my child..I have no idea.  I fought back on the strips they won't cover since they work with the meter/pump/CGM..the verdict is still out.  But insulin..heck, I'll give it a try.  

I called our endocrinologist to get a new script Monday.  I got to speak to a NURSE (human!) when I called.  I felt giddy, excited, thankful, amazed..and I thanked her for actually answering the phone.  (Cause this never happens!)  She said she'd call in the new prescription for Humalog.  

It was premature excitement.

Tuesday..I called the pharmacy, and no new script.  No insulin.

Wednesday..I called the pharmacy, and no new script.  No insulin.  I asked them to run the Novolog (still had 8 refills on it!)  to see if there was a grace period and maybe could fill it.  Nope..wrong formulary...not approved.

They said they'd send a fax requesting a new prescription for Humalog for both kids.

Thursday..no insulin.

Friday..no insulin.

Saturday..I'm about to lose it (secretly crying in frustration and passive aggression).  I texted our endocrinologist asking him to PLEASE (for the love of God and my children) to call us in some Humalog. (Since $670 a box isn't really in my budget post fun Christmas and vacation!) (or ever).  He says he'll do it immediately.

Hours later, my pharmacy is getting ready to close..another call to them..and surprise!  No new script.  Losing my mind and patience.  I text again, Please?!  

Finally, insulin called in to a different pharmacy that stays open later on Saturday and open on Sundays.

I get there today, and they give me a hard time (they don't see me three times a week for different prescriptions..), they ask if I realize this is new insulin I haven't filled before (ha!), and there's a big new copay.  

I paid and left..calling my insurance as I got into my car.

Massive run around..I can't even type the whole story.  They have backed out of coverage, unenrolled me from a program..didn't tell me about it..I'm stressed..cry in the parking lot of the RMH as I get back to help Mary Claire finish dinner.

Diabetes isn't just taking care of blood sugars.  It's a whole world of litigation, rights, benefits, finance, management, administration, education, and a little magic drug called insulin.

Hugs to all you insulin users, I get you, fam.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.

18 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34: 17-18

En Route

December 26, 2017

It’s been a sweet few months.  Our babies are all growing up so fast!

We went to Universal Studios a couple days before the ride in Amelia Island, FL! 

Our family rode in the 2017 JDRF Ride to Cure in Amelia Island, Florida in October.  We trained this year (I started in February on a new Trek Emonda bike!), and we rode most every day with long trips with the kids on the weekends. : )

Team Arkansas that rode in the 2017 JDRF Ride to Cure!  (I had no idea this would end up being our only team photo..and we didn't have our practice jerseys on yet!)

My two very best cheerleaders!!

We rode to Chick-Fil-A in Rogers and Fayetteville, and Ches and I rode to the CFA in South Fayetteville.  Ches and I also rode in the Square2Square ride from the Bentonville Square to the Fayetteville Square! (31 miles)  I actually got lots of time to ride with friends, Springdale Bike Club, Mary Claire, and my pro rider husband! : )

Starting Square 2 Square with Ches!

And finishing in 100 degree heat! : )

We also had to fundraise like crazy for four of us to get to ride!  There is a $2000 minimum per person to ride, and the deposit was due in July ($750 each).  So we were nervous about the commitment to both ride and fundraise! 

Mary Claire's Jersey..she pinned on her own number..big girl.

We had a swimming Mother’s Day Out/babysitting day, we washed and cleaned cars, auctioned donated items online, and I decorated.  We also had really sweet friends give with nothing in return.  I have to say $8000 was a huge goal, but we did it!  We are so thankful, and the kids had a blast.  Mary Claire got off at the end and said she wants to do it again..and go farther!  I totally agreed. 

About 7:15am, ready to ride!

We aren’t sure what we’ll do next year.  The ride locations have been released, but it was SUPER hard for the kids to miss school.  There is one before school starts in early August in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, but they don’t want to go to that one!  I’d love to do the one in Saratoga Springs, NY, but they aren’t game.  If we do one..I think it’ll be in Santa Fe, New Mexico, November 1-4^th.  We could drive, and maybe only miss a couple days of school : )

He did an amazing job, 55 miles with no problem!  He's ready to go again!

Today we are still en route to Alexandria, Virginia/Washington D.C.  We left Nashville, Tennessee this morning!  I’ve been shocked to see so many wrecks along the way. : O  And traffic just all slams to a halt.  We even had a gigantic (full) trash bag fly at us!

Animal Kingdom before the ride!

I think I’m going to try to write more in 2018.  It was a good journal for me, and it helped tremendously when I lost a lot of pictures a couple years ago.  Some photos on here are all I have left after my computer crashed!  I’m sure it helps my memory..and it’s therapeutic too : )

Us meeting Ches at the finish line!  We'd already finished, swam, ate lunch, and then we went to meet him-105 miles!!

I found out a little bit ago that some sweet friends didn’t do anything for Christmas day.  I’m going to do better next year-planning for Christmas, and checking in with everyone to see what they are doing.  They could hang out with us in our chaos! ; ) It should be more people, fewer things and tasks.  I did better not stressing as much this year!  I did less decorating, and I got help from people after I cut my fingers/stitches (oh yeah!  Blessing in disguise?  Maybe!)!  But I didn’t reach out as much..I kinda felt helpless with a left hand out of commission.

Me and a tomato can had a small altercation..

Praying you had a good Christmas and a enjoy a blessed 2018.  Hugs!