Belinda had to work this morning. Somehow she didn’t see the internist visit in Tulsa when she gave her boss her schedule for the week. I also had an appointment to see the internist for the first time. We attempted to change the appointments but they couldn’t do it until months from now, so we realized that Belinda could do a virtual visit. I could not since it was my first visit.

Ben drove me to Tulsa and we got to the doctor in time to sit in on Belinda’s virtual visit with the doctor. It was her first time doing virtual with this system and she did great! Belinda updated the doctor on how she’s doing and how the medications are helping with the allergies. It sounds like everything is going well. After she logged off, I had an exam for myself. She said that I also have Ehlers-Danlos and MCAS, which explains the pains and things I’ve had for decades. It was so good to be listened to and heard.

Belinda has one more appointment with this doctor just before she goes to college in August. I also want to set up an appointment for her with her pediatrician, since that will end when she is 18.

Time is going so fast all of a sudden.

Belinda, Ben and I went to Alva today to do more things for Belinda’s upcoming college year. We went to all of her classes, just to let her see where they were. We also did some things at the financial aid office and the housing office. Everyone is always so nice and helpful.

We went to the student accommodations office to find out what we need to do to have Belinda in an adjustable bed in the dorms. They said we needed a letter from her doctor. I emailed the clinic in DC and the lovely Jill sent that letter back to us super quick! The letter outlines how the adjustable bed is necessary for her health. They also added a paragraph for Belinda’s insurance, in an attempt to get the insurance to pay for or help pay for the bed. I need to contact them soon and cross our fingers!

I’m going to miss her so much when she’s in Alva, but knowing we’ve taken care of everything ahead of time makes me feel better. More things will come up, of course, but I’m hoping this helps her to focus on schoolwork and on having fun!

Children’s National is sending us bills for Belinda’s surgery and visits, and they are getting more persistent. You may recall that we paid $2000 to continue the COBRA insurance for November so all this should be covered.

Ben has contacted the HR department at his former employer about this, yet the bill keeps coming. I suppose I need to contact the billing department at the hospital and see if there is anything they can do.

I do not know if this problem is the fault of CompSource or the fault of Healthcare Highways and I generally don’t list them by name but this is a real failure on their part. We followed the rules, and paid, and did what we were supposed to do and now it’s still hanging over our heads.

I notice they did accept our COBRA payment without problem!

There have been a lot of things this year that I am grateful for. Belinda finally getting the POEM procedure and being able to swallow properly again. The second procedure in DC for the balloon dilation to break up the scar tissue. The people and organizations that helped us pay for all the expenses incurred with Belinda’s health, and all the people who prayed for us.

I’m thankful that Lenora and Ben R got engaged this year, and also married! I’m thankful that Bennett and Mia are engaged and plan to marry in January! I’m thankful that Ben has lost his job but it’s still working out so far. I’m thankful that I’ve been hosting church lunch at my house almost every Sunday and we’ve had a lot of wonderful guests and great meals.

I’m grateful that I have been doing this series of posts, even though I kept forgetting and then doing several in a day and backdating them.

I’m grateful for a lot of other things, but for now, I’m going to leave it at that. This year has been so very hard, but also it has been a blessing. I am grateful for all of it, whether I perceive it as good or bad. To God be the glory.

I guess this is how you know the gratefulness calendar you’re using is fairly recent.

I’m grateful that our dog Lucy survived quarantine.

She was hit by a car shortly after the whole covid storyline began. It was bad, and it was going to cost thousands of dollars, and she was sort of old anyway, and we just couldn’t figure out how to do it financially. But then I talked to our hometown vet, and we figured out a plan, and we did have some debt but it wasn’t insurmountable, and Lucy lived. Our family stepped up and took care of her, helped her go potty, babied her with canned food and treats, built a non-slip carpeted ramp for the porch, and gave her physical therapy as she healed.

She passed away on October 14 of this year. We got to have her more than four more years. And we babied her more and were a better family to her after we almost lost her. We’re not big dog people, but we stepped up. She deserved it. She was such a good dog.

For this one, I’m going to be grateful for the technology that allowed Belinda to have a surgery that allows her to swallow again. I think I’ve already said enough about it, so I’m going to stop here.

Belinda and I went to Tuttle Eye Clinic for our medical eye exams today. It’s routine for me because of the diabetes (and everything looked great, hooray!) but this was Belinda’s first (medical eye exam – she’s had regular vision exams). Her pediatrician wanted her to have it done for the Ehlers-Danlos. Everything also went well for Belinda and she tolerated the pressure test and had her eyes dilated, something she hasn’t been able to handle before. Baby girl is growing up.

I’m happy we got that done and the cardiologist appointment done that her pediatrician told us to get done back in APRIL. But at least it’s finished now!! One more thing checked off.

She still has not had to regurgitate anything since DC. Thanksgiving is in eight days. I don’t know how long it has been since she’s had a Thanksgiving where she was actually able to eat somewhat normally. She doesn’t like turkey or ham but I think she’ll enjoy the day anyway.

So I forgot to do this yesterday, and I’m backdating it. It was a busy day, with church, and then we went to see Jerry and Dianna and have lunch there. Jerry has been on hospice and now they say his passing is imminent. He is on some heavy medications and snoozed for most of our visit. Mom held his hand most of the time, and he did look at her and he knew she was there. I know we need to visit more. I just feel like I am at my limit for what I am able to do and still retain my sanity. I feel guilty right now that we didn’t visit him enough, and I am sure I will feel even more guilty when he passes.

So, I am going to just do the sound I am grateful for quickly. It is the sounds of a little song and video that is a nice thing to see and hear when you are feeling down. It has been on the Internet for a long time, but I only found it a few years ago.