1. Are you getting excited?
Yes. No. Maybe. Depends on the second? Most of the time yes, I can't wait to hold my baby.
2. Is it a girl or a boy?
It is a GIRL! And she still is a girl so far!
3. What's her name?
Still not telling. You can just call her Baby "R".
4. How are you feeling?
Well currently I'm getting over having pink eye in both eyes, while having a cold/allergies and having high blood pressure concerns so not the greatest but it could be worse. Right now I'm on restrictions of moving too much, not total bed rest but close enough. No more fun adventures for me for a while!
I don't want to be sent to the hospital again for having ridiculously high blood pressure (155/102) or any other bad thing I can avoid.
5. When are you due?
I'm due July 8, 2014 but if my conditions worsen I'll be induced possibly in June.
6. Isn't being pregnant just the best?
Honestly, I don't love it. There are some moments where I'm super thrilled I am but most of the time no. Which makes me feel guilty sometimes because I know so many people who are praying to be in this situation of being pregnant.
7. Where are you registered?
Target is where the cool kids go. ;)
8. Do you have everything you need?
Crib. check
High chair. check
Stroller and car seat. Check check
Baby clothes. CHECK. (Baby "R" has been so spoiled in this area!)
Play yard/play pen (whatever they call them now) check
Blankets check
Basically we have been very blessed with awesome friends and family who have spoiled our little girl. All that's left now is the very practical (often "boring" but essential) things most people don't think about when you think of cute babies! (Bottles, wipes, pacifiers, crib sheets, booger suckers, random hygiene baby things, socks)
9.How far along are you?
I'm currently 32 weeks (at the time of writing this blog post I was 32 weeks however by the time I posted it I'm now 33 weeks)
10.Any cravings?
The blue baby bottle pops. I want them all the time. Oh and strawberries and oreos. At least the strawberries are healthy!
11. Weirdest things I've done?
I cry all the time. About stupid things. Happy things. I just cry.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Update: Don't Get Pregnant on Your Parents Insurance
In January, I wrote a blog post detailing the sucky situation I found myself in having no maternity coverage on my parents insurance. ( If you have know idea what I'm talking about read the blog post) I can finally say I have an update on the situation! YAY (meaning I actually know what the heck we are doing!) Because of my previous blog post I have received so much advice on what to do this situation and so I thought I would pass along some of the things I have learned.
The most important lesson I learned is if you're planning on getting pregnant (or even if you're not) is to check and see if maternity is covered on your insurance. READ the fine print and call the right people you don't want to get stuck paying everything! Even if you have your own insurance you STILL may not have maternity coverage! Or you may have some but will cover the bare minimum or "complications due to pregnancy" but not pregnancy itself. Insurances seem to be finding loopholes since Obamacare as I've found out through reading other peoples similar problems online.
My friend just recently told me that she was double insured on her parents insurance and her husband's while being pregnant with her baby (which she just had and is SO adorable!) Because of her reading my story her mother and her decided to check and see if maternity was covered by her parents provider. They called about 6 people and they all said yes she was covered until she called another person who they then found out in fact SHE WAS NOT COVERED. Thank goodness she was on her husband's insurance otherwise she would have been stuck with so much to pay!
Most people that have given me advice told me to apply for Medicaid, which I can't qualify for. Sadly, because of the huge blessing of Luke's job and the fact we have a lot of assets for our age (house, multiple cars, etc) we couldn't qualify for any help like that!
We next tried to find secondary insurance like some people suggested but it was proving to be an impossible task. Apparently, when you already have insurance other insurance providers don't want to cover you.
I then just decided that I was going to go to a low cost clinic and just pay for everything upfront. In Brighton there is one called Salud each prenatal appointment was only going to cost $81 without insurance. This seemed a little bit more manageable compared to the doctor I was going to before that wanted $2000 each appointment!
By happenstance I talked to my friend whose brother had been involved in a program that helped people with anything insurance didn't cover. It is called the CIPC or Colorado Indigent Care Program. This not only covers any maternity medical bills that are not covered by insurance but any medical bills in general! (However, it should be noted the CIPC is only at certain doctors offices and hospitals) For a fact sheet to see if you qualify click HERE. Knowing this information will save us thousands of out of pocket costs.
Yesterday, we got everything set up with the financial services at Salud and it is now going to only cost a $40 copay to go to the doctor and I called the Platte Valley Hospital to see how much it would cost to deliver the baby there, it will only cost us $630! Although, they told me that price doesn't include anesthesiology but I want to have a natural birth anyway. Luke thinks I'm crazy. The nice thing too is that the CIPC will go back 90 days and cover any medical bills from that! (If only I had figured out what I was doing much sooner) But at least one doctor visit will have a deduction added to it! WOOT!
A TON of hospitals in Colorado take the CIPC so even if you don't want to go to a low cost clinic you can still save thousands by going to the hospital financial services and applying for it. You don't have to be in the same situation as me to get into it. It can help with any illness, surgery, tests or whatever else. The CIPC is good for a year! We even added Luke on it in case he gets sick or hurt. It's free and it saves you money so why not!? When the baby is born she will be able to be added onto it too.
Obviously, this mainly has to do with a Colorado program! But you can easily see what state program is available to you!
We're not totally out of the water yet but we're more wading instead of drowning! Thank you for all your prayers and advice it really has saved us and made me actually start being excited to be a mom!
Now I can't wait to hold my baby instead of dreading the bills!
The most important lesson I learned is if you're planning on getting pregnant (or even if you're not) is to check and see if maternity is covered on your insurance. READ the fine print and call the right people you don't want to get stuck paying everything! Even if you have your own insurance you STILL may not have maternity coverage! Or you may have some but will cover the bare minimum or "complications due to pregnancy" but not pregnancy itself. Insurances seem to be finding loopholes since Obamacare as I've found out through reading other peoples similar problems online.
My friend just recently told me that she was double insured on her parents insurance and her husband's while being pregnant with her baby (which she just had and is SO adorable!) Because of her reading my story her mother and her decided to check and see if maternity was covered by her parents provider. They called about 6 people and they all said yes she was covered until she called another person who they then found out in fact SHE WAS NOT COVERED. Thank goodness she was on her husband's insurance otherwise she would have been stuck with so much to pay!
Most people that have given me advice told me to apply for Medicaid, which I can't qualify for. Sadly, because of the huge blessing of Luke's job and the fact we have a lot of assets for our age (house, multiple cars, etc) we couldn't qualify for any help like that!
We next tried to find secondary insurance like some people suggested but it was proving to be an impossible task. Apparently, when you already have insurance other insurance providers don't want to cover you.
I then just decided that I was going to go to a low cost clinic and just pay for everything upfront. In Brighton there is one called Salud each prenatal appointment was only going to cost $81 without insurance. This seemed a little bit more manageable compared to the doctor I was going to before that wanted $2000 each appointment!
By happenstance I talked to my friend whose brother had been involved in a program that helped people with anything insurance didn't cover. It is called the CIPC or Colorado Indigent Care Program. This not only covers any maternity medical bills that are not covered by insurance but any medical bills in general! (However, it should be noted the CIPC is only at certain doctors offices and hospitals) For a fact sheet to see if you qualify click HERE. Knowing this information will save us thousands of out of pocket costs.
Yesterday, we got everything set up with the financial services at Salud and it is now going to only cost a $40 copay to go to the doctor and I called the Platte Valley Hospital to see how much it would cost to deliver the baby there, it will only cost us $630! Although, they told me that price doesn't include anesthesiology but I want to have a natural birth anyway. Luke thinks I'm crazy. The nice thing too is that the CIPC will go back 90 days and cover any medical bills from that! (If only I had figured out what I was doing much sooner) But at least one doctor visit will have a deduction added to it! WOOT!
A TON of hospitals in Colorado take the CIPC so even if you don't want to go to a low cost clinic you can still save thousands by going to the hospital financial services and applying for it. You don't have to be in the same situation as me to get into it. It can help with any illness, surgery, tests or whatever else. The CIPC is good for a year! We even added Luke on it in case he gets sick or hurt. It's free and it saves you money so why not!? When the baby is born she will be able to be added onto it too.
Obviously, this mainly has to do with a Colorado program! But you can easily see what state program is available to you!
We're not totally out of the water yet but we're more wading instead of drowning! Thank you for all your prayers and advice it really has saved us and made me actually start being excited to be a mom!
Now I can't wait to hold my baby instead of dreading the bills!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
My Cute Little Baby! and the FAQs.
I decided to write this post for many reasons. The first being my last post involving pregnancy was not exactly uplifting and may have made people think twice before getting knocked up. Which maybe that's good. But I actually am really happy about being pregnant and being a Mom! She's going to be coming regardless of the insurance issues!
Here's some FAQs:
1. Who is the father?
Haha just kidding no one has asked me that. And it's Luke by the way. ;)
2. Is it a girl or a boy?
It is a GIRL! YAY
3. What's her name?
It's a secret! Not even our families know it! I will say if you are reading this it starts with an "R". And I will also tell you we aren't planning on giving her a middle name so she can be cool like her mom. ;)
4. How are you feeling?
I feel fat. I haven't exactly got the bump thing going for me yet. I'm in that awkward phase. I'm not puking anymore (YAY) but some foods and smells really gross me out!
5. When are you due?
I'm due July 8, 2014 and I hope she comes on the Forth of July because that would be an awesome birthday! Maybe I just love America and Pyrotechnics a little too much.
6. Was she planned? Were you trying?
I find this question fairly awkward depending on who is asking but no we were not "trying" but I always knew I wanted to be a mom so I guess she was "planned" just not on our timeline.
7. Where are you registered?
So far Babies R Us and Target if you're looking it up online my last name is spelled SwEnsEn (Swensen,I'm just emphasizing the "e"s) . I'm not picky though if you have something to give to my daughter I won't turn you down. ;)
8. Are you going to deliver naturally?
I'm planning to, call me crazy. I don't really care what people think about it. I think the only way I won't is if it's because of a medical complication.
That's all the FAQ's I can think of for now!
I'm really excited to be a mom but it terrifies me at the same time! I know we have some big hurdles ahead of us but I'm excited for what comes.
Here's some FAQs:
1. Who is the father?
Haha just kidding no one has asked me that. And it's Luke by the way. ;)
2. Is it a girl or a boy?
It is a GIRL! YAY
3. What's her name?
It's a secret! Not even our families know it! I will say if you are reading this it starts with an "R". And I will also tell you we aren't planning on giving her a middle name so she can be cool like her mom. ;)
4. How are you feeling?
I feel fat. I haven't exactly got the bump thing going for me yet. I'm in that awkward phase. I'm not puking anymore (YAY) but some foods and smells really gross me out!
5. When are you due?
I'm due July 8, 2014 and I hope she comes on the Forth of July because that would be an awesome birthday! Maybe I just love America and Pyrotechnics a little too much.
6. Was she planned? Were you trying?
I find this question fairly awkward depending on who is asking but no we were not "trying" but I always knew I wanted to be a mom so I guess she was "planned" just not on our timeline.
7. Where are you registered?
So far Babies R Us and Target if you're looking it up online my last name is spelled SwEnsEn (Swensen,I'm just emphasizing the "e"s) . I'm not picky though if you have something to give to my daughter I won't turn you down. ;)
8. Are you going to deliver naturally?
I'm planning to, call me crazy. I don't really care what people think about it. I think the only way I won't is if it's because of a medical complication.
That's all the FAQ's I can think of for now!
I'm really excited to be a mom but it terrifies me at the same time! I know we have some big hurdles ahead of us but I'm excited for what comes.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Don't Get Pregnant on Your Parents Insurance.
I never realized how Health Care reform is such a much needed thing until I was screwed over by it. But let me start from the beginning, if you know anything about me you know I am probably one of the worst accident prone people you have ever met. Trying to list every injury I have had is near impossible and looking at all the scars all over my body would tell you the same story. I have been on crutches more times than I can count from breaking my ankle, cutting my foot open, breaking toes, ACL surgery and spraining my ankle so badly so many times. You will also know that I get in the weirdest situations, breaking out in horrible hives all over my body, having to get a tonsillectomy, breaking fingers, having this random disorder called Vocal Chord Dysfunction that makes it hard for me to breathe when running or smoke in the air. Yeah if you haven't gotten the picture I'm kinda a mess.
Health care has always done me good and I have obviously heavily relied on it. I was thrilled when I could stay on my parents insurance longer because it was 1000 times better than getting on my colleges health plan especially when my husband and I decided to do online school. My husband got enrolled in health care through his work but we had me on my parents because we thought the coverage would be better.
November 2014 I found out the best news that I was 6 weeks pregnant! It was very unexpected and stressful but I had health insurance I had nothing to worry about. First of all ever thinking that you have nothing to worry about is the first mistake you can make. More often than not, at least in my life, something will always go wrong.
Week 7 something went wrong, I had the WORST morning sickness. Calling it "morning" sickness is also the worst understatement in my case. I had all day, all night sickness. I couldn't keep food down and I couldn't keep water down. I hadn't gone to see a doctor yet but I had an appointment with a midwife through a hospital the next week. I called her and she told me to go to the ER so I could get IVs and such. Going to the ER was the best choice I could have made, I hadn't drank or eaten anything in days and I felt so much better after I left. I even got to see my baby on ultrasound which made everything so much better.
At 9 weeks I had an ultrasound to see my baby again and it was awesome.
The Holidays came and went and I was still having morning sickness but it was better controlled by a wonderful pill called Zofran.
Literally the day after I entered into my second trimester I got the worst letter in the mail saying I was declined from every doctor visit, ultrasound or hospital visit I have had so far. I have to pay the entire thing which amounts to more than $5,000!!!!! This might not seem like a big deal but being only a 1/3 of the way done was not a good thing.
The reason you ask?
My parents insurance company isn't liable to cover me for any prenatal or maternity coverage. They only have to do this for the spouse of the policy holder. Now because of the ER bill and doctor visits we owe so much. How can having a child be this stressful already!?
We tried to get me added to Luke's insurance but they can't add if it's not an open enrollment period or if there hasn't been a life changing event. They can however add me if I get dropped from my parents insurance. Problem solved! Nope! My parents company refuses to drop me unless there is a letter saying I have insurance with someone else. It's the chicken and the egg all over again.
Try applying for Medicaid you say? I did. I don't qualify and they won't let me have it since I have insurance.
Try government assistance? I can't. Again I don't qualify.
Try to get secondary insurance? I'm working on it but I can't qualify for so much and it's very frustrating!
I'm hoping that low costs clinics will be my answer for prenatal care but I am clueless of what will happen when I actually go into labor. We can't afford it!
Working with the insurance companies seems nearly impossible and every time I try to explain that my ER bill was a complication due to pregnancy they still deny me.
I decided since I can't get insurance I was going to have to be a cash patient. What the doctors and the hospital quoted me made my jaw hit the floor. EVERY TIME I GO IN FOR A PRENATAL CHECK UP IT COSTS $2000!!!!!!!! That is until I hit the $10,000 mark! Then the hospital and delivery fees are estimated to be $17,000 IF everything goes NORMAL forget if I have any complications.
If I was just some lazy person who wasn't married and didn't have a source of income and had no insurance I could be helped. But because I'm none of those things I'm screwed.
A really insightful article to read is Parents’ insurance covers children up to age 26 — but not for pregnancy
Right now I am actively looking for a job so I can help support my family. I'm willing to work my hardest and if anyone hears of any openings please let me know! I really would like to afford having a baby in a hospital instead of at home. ;) Your prayers would be really appreciated at this time.
I didn't write this blog to totally whine. I mostly did it because I know there has to be other people who might be in my same boat or have gone through the same. The more information out there the better and making sure people double check if they are covered before having a baby is important.
Monday, October 14, 2013
The Past Idk like YEAR
I'm a major slacker when it comes to updating this thing but when I read similar things in other peoples blog entries I don't feel as bad.
Last year Luke and I went to Fall and Winter semester at BYU-Idaho and we decided we were tired of working like a bunch of slaves and barely working at minimum wage with stupid hours so we left. We came to Colorado! (:
For those of you who know me well know how obsessed I am with this state. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Colorado and I am so glad to say I am from here. (Although I was technically born in Alabama, whatever)
Luke and I have both been working for the past six months while living at his parents house to save up money. What for? A house! I never thought I would be a homeowner at age 21 but God has blessed us so greatly. The home is nothing too fancy but it's not a crap hole either and those were my standards. It's 2 bath 3 bed house with a kitchen and living room and garage which Luke is most excited about.
We have yet to move in and this has been such a trial of my patience because I am not a patient person. We get to move in on Oct 18! (Cross your fingers that everything works out well)
Both Luke and I have had a ton of stuff going on be it work or the fact that we are doing online school through BYUI to finish up our degrees. Should be an interesting semester!
This summer luckily Luke and I had a ton of opportunities to have fun! From camping, to boating and then going to Florida which was the highlight of my summer. I seriously fell so in love with Florida and want to go back now so badly! (I hate the humidity though and could never consider it as a viable place to live unless I was five min from the beach)
Now here is the photo explosion of our trip.
Kennedy Space Center
Bella and I (:
DISNEY WORLD
Last year Luke and I went to Fall and Winter semester at BYU-Idaho and we decided we were tired of working like a bunch of slaves and barely working at minimum wage with stupid hours so we left. We came to Colorado! (:
For those of you who know me well know how obsessed I am with this state. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Colorado and I am so glad to say I am from here. (Although I was technically born in Alabama, whatever)
Luke and I have both been working for the past six months while living at his parents house to save up money. What for? A house! I never thought I would be a homeowner at age 21 but God has blessed us so greatly. The home is nothing too fancy but it's not a crap hole either and those were my standards. It's 2 bath 3 bed house with a kitchen and living room and garage which Luke is most excited about.
We have yet to move in and this has been such a trial of my patience because I am not a patient person. We get to move in on Oct 18! (Cross your fingers that everything works out well)
Now here is the photo explosion of our trip.
Us mormons do it right in a 15 passenger van!
And Lastly All the siblings and I went to Elich's this September! It was so fun to have a sibling day like that.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Halloween and Recent Happenings!
Last year Luke and I went with Kylee to the haunted straw maze so we decided to make a tradition out of it and go again this year. Luke wanted us to actually get a picture there since we didn't last time. (:
We brought Maddie along too this year so Kylee wouldn't feel like a third wheel. (Also there is a good chance of me having creepy eyes in this picture because of trying to correct red eye on my phone)
Luke and I went bowling with some of his Lakewood friends and I got the best bowling score I have ever gotten in my life and I still didn't win!!! (Dang Bryce Pexton!) But I broke 100 and got 3 strikes so I can cross that off the bucket list!
She loves to sit on my shoulder too which is kinda weird but good for pictures!
Marlboro Man for Halloween!
Price is Right Contestant !
I love these pjs so much that I wanted to put them on here. (Luke thinks I'm crazy)
This is called Play dough ice cream and it is one of the most delicious ice creams you will ever have! Also the fact that it's Farr's ice cream makes a world of difference!!!
Us being us...
Luke and I went to a pottery painting thing a business for a class is doing! It's super awesome and fun if you haven't tried it. It's called Paint and Fire. You paint it and then they glaze and fire it. I can't wait to get ours back!
We decided on doing a simple polkadot pattern so if we messed up a design it looked like it was supposed to be there.
I love this man! (:
I can't wait for Thanksgiving and (hopefully) getting to see some family in Utah. Right now where we are actually eating dinner is up in the air but hopefully someone will want us! I wish we could go to Colorado but there's not enough time or budget to let us when we are going there for Christmas. I can't wait to see my family and my new family! Luke and I are so lucky that our families live so close so we can see both of them in one trip! Can't wait for Christmas!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Herbert Ghost Town!
So one of my favorite things to do is try and find Ghost Towns. (granted this is just one house which doesn't really constitute a "town" but the rest of the town was on private property and Luke wouldn't trespass.) Anyway, it was super cool and old! It was a town called Herbert just outside of Rexburg. We went into the house and it was falling to pieces. Literally, my brother in law Andrew went up stairs with Luke and they made a 2x4 fall off the ceiling above my head! Scared me to death! Hopefully we will be able to go back this weekend so I can convince Luke to find the rest of the town with me! Later we went driving around the Idaho countryside and it was so beautiful! Luke decided to test out his Suburbans abilities and made it keep going up and down this super steep hill! Really fun day all together though! I'm always looking forward to the weekend when I have such fun like this.
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