Amy's New Start : Comments Welcome!

[eyor44]

Amy, you were very right to contact the parents. I'm kind of surprised that your insurance didn't ask for their information. When my DS was injured at school watching "tag" football, the insurance was wanting the names of the kids who knocked him down. It was a group of kids so no way for DS to know which one actually knocked him down. I see no reason why they can't contact their homeowners agent. We have only ever made one claim on homeowners, and it wasn't medical, but I don't think they would have to cover a deductible. But even if that were taken out, anything would help.

I would have felt the same as you, but $2200 is a lot of money. Does that include the meds you have gotten for him? I pray the parents respond quickly and favorably.

Not trying to one up you by any means but girl, I have gained back 11 pounds. Don't feel bad, it's the stress of what you have been going through plus the heat. But now is the time to get excited and get moving. You are going to Disney soon!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Lisa thanks so much. I feel better! The doctors did ask if he was assaulted and when I said no but told them the story, the doctor said "to me that's assault but its your call". The thing that has gotten me from day one is that when ds told me "first he hit me really hard on the side of the head and I asked him to stop and the next thing I knew my whole head felt like it was exploding and there was so much blood I couldn' see". I mean that was a hard hit. This kid has a big brother and he plays rough and I am always after them to settle down. Guess I didn't get my point across well enough. We'll see how and if the parents respond.

And I don't think the $2200 includes the meds, those have added up to another $150 give or take.

Summer kills me every year, the heat, the bbq's and the kids being home messing up my schedule! Lets get these pounds off together!

 

[toystoryduo]

I agree with Lisa. You were right to contact the boy's parents, Amy. It sounds like he hit your DS really, really hard and he needs to be held accountable for that. I hope the parents choose to do the right thing and contact their insurance company to cover some of the OOP expenses. Have you gotten a response yet?

How's your leg feeling? I hope it's feeling better! Pulled muscles are no fun!

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Haven't heard anything back from the other parents so I guess I'll just have to keep waiting!

I lost 3.5 pounds yesterday which was very good news. However, I didn't work out again today. I am just in that mid summer slump I get into every year. No idea why. I am also completely sleep deprived. I was up until almost 4:00 and did sleep until 8:00 but am just wiped. This is about the fourth night in a row this has happened. Time to pop some benadryl tonight and get in bed earlier.

My trip is 3 months from today! I can't believe how quickly its going to be here. I still have over a month to get that package paid off, but my goal is to get that done in the next couple of weeks. Of course these medical bills aren't going to make that as easy as I had hoped but it will still get paid. I have to pay so I can get my "free" food!

My goal this afternoon now that I have gotten my stuff of life done is to sort of come up with a game plan for the rest of the week for my food and exercise. I am having lunch out tomorrow with a friend and we are going to Chili's. They have quite a bit of good things to choose from so that should not be a problem. We are camping this weekend but only for a night. We were originally going to go for five nights but with Dan starting a new job that is not possible. Which I am fine with because lets face it, five nights in a tent is something I can miss out on!

Maybe Dan and I will take a nice walk tonight, it rained just now and it should be a pleasant evening as long as it clears out.

I am also planning to join WW again. I may go this week or I may go next. Ds has a doctor's appt. on Friday and I may not be able to get both done. I clearly need that discipline back in my life! I have 3 months and I want to lose 20 pounds. Big goal but I watch Jillian and she gets women as old and heavy as me to lose twice that in less time!

Thanks Tracy, I needed to hear that! I don't want to sound like one of those parents who is always yelling "your kid did this so pay up". But they must have insurance and that's what its for after all.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Okay, down around two more pounds this morning. The last few days have been spent getting my food in better order and pushing the water. Its also been much cooler and I think that has helped with the bloat as well. Today, I will go to the gym!!


So last night I messed with my ADR's yet again! When I made all my original ones, I had no idea if this trip would happen, where we'd be staying and what we'd want to do. I have been pleasantly surprised that I have been able to get what I want except for Ohana (which I had but at such a lousy time I finally just cancelled it) and Le Cellier which I never seem to be able to get. We made up our schedule last night and finalized our meals so here it is. Feel free to skip this section since it has nothing to do with losing weight or being healthy but since we are all lovers of Disney, what the heck right?!

Thursday October 21st: Get to Coronado Springs around 3:00ish, check in and hopefully find out the room we get this night is the room we get the other 9 nights. Free Dining does not start until the 22nd so I have a room only for this day. If we will be in the same room, I will get us unpacked and settled in! Probably head to DTD for dinner at Rainforest Cafe and a quick look in the World of Disney. Then I am sure my kids will want to swim at least for a little bit and we should hopefully be in bed early!

Friday, October 22nd: Head to MK at opening then walk over to the Contemporary for our late breakfast at Chef Mickey's. Then back to the resort to swim and relax (we are always beat our first couple of days due to the time difference) then head to Epcot for dinner at Garden Grill and then Illuminations. I am not too keen on this double up day of character meals but this was the only day I could get Chef Mickey's and Garden Grill is the only character meal we have not done in WDW or DL. So it will be fine. Just a whole lot of Mickey and a whole lot of ts. But it will be fun!

Saturday, October 23rd: Animal Kingdom in the morning, pool break, then head to Magic Kingdom for Crystal Palace and EMH until 2:00 a.m.

Sunday, October 24th: Sleep in since we stayed at MK obscenely late, then head to DHS for a late lunch at Sci Fi and Fantasmic that night.

Monday, October 25th: Head back to DHS to actually ride some things at opening (I know the day/night before will be packed since Fantasmic runs only twice a week). Pool break at the resort, then head over to AKL for dinner at Boma. Then go over to MK for Wishes (which I have to see a LOT lol).

Tuesday, October 26th: Sleep in and hang around the resort in the morning and then head to MK for a late lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern. Tonight we'll do the Halloween party which will be fun.

Wednesday, October 27th: Sleep in from our late night at MK, then head to Epcot for lunch at Coral Reef. Probably head back to MK again to see Wishes!

Thursday, October 28th: Epcot all day, Tuto Italia for dinner and then Illuminations.

Friday, October 29th: DHS in the moring, then head over to AK to have an early dinner at Yak and Yeti then do EMH until 8:00 at AK.

Saturday, October 30th: Spend the day at the resort, get packed , then head to Magic Kingdome for dinner. No ADR's today which will be really nice.

Sunday, October 31st: Have breakfast at the hotel, then get on the Magical Express and head home.

So that trip looks like about a 7 pounder on the scale for me with all that food! I had really wanted to do a couple of two table service places so that we'd have some days without ADR's but just couldn't figure out which one ts places to nuke so that idea sank. I know we'll have some cs credits left over so I'll just do what I did last time and find some nice people and ask if I can buy them lunch at a cs place!

 

[toystoryduo]

Love your trip plans for October! May I come with you?

Great job on losing 5.5 pounds already!!!

Have a wonderful evening!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy, I wish you could come too!

I ended up changing out Garden Gril for the Cape May clambake. For some reason, Garden Grill just does not appeal to me but I wanted to do it so I could say we had done every single character meal at WDW! But when I found out Cape May has crab legs, that took priority!

I did well with food today. I had lunch with a friend at Chilis and I got some lowfat southwest wrap with a side salad. I did have a light beer but no chips (I love Chili's chips so that is a big accomplsihment for me).

Then I had a light dinner. I slammed the water today.

No working out again and I doubt I go tomorrow. Ds has a dr's. appt and I have to get stuff ready for our camping trip. We are only going for one night, its a four hour drive which is a long ways for a one night camp trip. We were supposed to go for six, but Dan cannot take the time off (had this planned months ago before all the job stuff came up). Dd however is staying up there for the whole time and I am really going to miss her. I have never been away from Maria for more than three nights since the day she was born! But I know she'll have fun.

I told Matthew he and I can do some fun stuff and he looked at me like I had grown a second head. I did get him to agree to going out to lunch one day with me!

I guess fun stuff with your mom is something teenage boys do not appreciate.

 

[eyor44]

Summer kills me every year, the heat, the bbq's and the kids being home messing up my schedule! Lets get these pounds off together!

Right there with you

because lets face it, five nights in a tent is something I can miss out on!

I sooooo agree.

I told Matthew he and I can do some fun stuff and he looked at me like I had grown a second head.

Mine worries I'll embarrass him. I told him that is one of the perks of being a parent.


Way to go on losing the lbs already. I knew it you would. Maybe if the weather is nice, you all can go for a hike or something.

Love your ADRs. We ate at Garden Grill and the food is good, not good enough to ask for seconds, but good. and fun. Mickey challenged DS to a word game on a page that was given to DD. I have eaten at Cape May also (this past January). The food was good there also, but I didn't eat too much cause my nerves were so bad. I want to try it again. You have lots of down/pool time in your schedule also. Love it, and something I need to think about.

 

[goldcupmom]

Yeah for DL in the fall! And I am SO GLAD about the job....stupid old employer for not returning calls sooner......

As hard as it is, you made the right choice to call the parents about the medical bills. Their ins. will cover it and it NEEDS to be covered. That is what accident insurance is for!! Hang in there!!

Walking hills is GREAT therapy as well as GREAT exercise. Keep it up when the muscle heals.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

 

[Zoesmama03]

I did Garden Grill years ago. It was good and interesting. But my favorite restaurant I've been to so far is the one in Morocco in Epcot. YUMMY

So exciting getting so close. I really hope to make a week long trip next year and take dd to all 4 parks with a day off and a beach day. So far she's only been to MK and hopefully next month DisneyLand.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you Julie, Melissa and Tracy. Melissa, I hope you make it to SL and WDW, your little girl would love that and you and her so deserve that. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Amy, you were very right to contact the parents. I'm kind of surprised that your insurance didn't ask for their information.

Well Lisa, you were right all along (see how smart you are).

We got a letter from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. They have paid all the claims from the doctors and hospitals but now want the information about where this happend so they can contact them and try to get reimbursement.

I emailed this kids' mom on Tuesday, never heard back. Dan called tonight and left them a message saying its out of our hands and that our insurance wil lbe contacting them soon.

I have no idea why they won't respond? I just nicely said in my email if they could please contact their agent and that any amount deducted in the form of their deductible we'd take care of etc. It wouldnt' cost them one dime but they refuse to contact us. Now I am wondering why. I know they are around because ds has been talking to their kid throughout the week so I know they aren't gone or anything.

I guess we'll see. I am sure the ER doctor noted in his notes how this happened and now BCBS wants to be reimbursed. I would certainly love it if this kids' homeowners would reimburse BCBS and me and Dan for our out of pocket.

Food today was fine until I went out for Mexican. However my stomach is a bit off kilter and I ended up not keeping that food down. I feel fine now. Maybe its nerves, I HATE confrontation of any kind and I am convinced these people are mad at us and its going to brew over and ruin a friendship between the boys. Oh well, if I hadn't emailed them it wouldn't have mattered, the insurance will get with the now.

We leave at 6:00 a.m. to camp. A lot of work for one night. But the good news is that its a lovely spot and I'll be back home Sunday afternoon to my own bed and bathroom!

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm sorry to hear that the boy's parents haven't contacted you yet. I hope they will cooperate with BC/BS for you. Sending some your way.

I hope you have a nice time camping this weekend!

 

[eyor44]

Amy, I completely understand how you feel about confrontation, but you did the right thing. I'm glad the ER doctor noted that it was an accident.

Hope you all are having a wonderful camping adventure and can't wait to hear about it.

 

[traceycooper]

I guess fun stuff with your mom is something teenage boys do not appreciate.

or teenage girls.... unless your spending money on them!!

i hope the insurance for DS gets sorted out!

love the wdw plan!! we're doing 2 TS meals some days & i have 3 weeks of eating!! i am packing the jogging gear

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hello ladies, I am home from camping. It was a long drive 10 hours in the car total for a one night trip. The campground was beautiful, right near Steamboat Springs on a lake but sadly the pine beetle thing has killed off a lot of trees, including the ones at our camp site. Which meant no shade and it was hot. The 8 pounds of water I gained last week, then lost most of, came back on with a vengeance. Today was spent drinking a ton of water and I made it to the gym.

Poor ds got my stomach bug Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m. Only an outhouse and the great outdoors so not a good scene. Poor thing but he recovered quickly and is fine now.

Talked with the woman who works for some "healthcare recovery services" division of BCBS today. Long story short, this thing just appears to be over. Dan and I will be out over two thousand dollars and this kids parents will have to pay zip. I am not happy but just want it over with. We could push this and maybe get a lawyer but in the end, it is what is. Dan and I just decided to let it go, we'll pay off our medical bills with savings we didn't have to use since he was only out of work one week. I am not really happy with the way this other family handled this but in the end, I like this young man, he and ds are good friends and I just don't have the stomach for an uphill battle with insurance companies let alone hiring a lawyer which will cost way more than the two thousand dollars we might get back. I am just concentrating on how lucky we are that Matthew is healed and won't have any longterm problems with this. I will say this, if Matthew had broken this kids nose at our house, I sure would have acted a bit more responsibly than they have. At least I hope I would!

My food was perfect today until I ate some pringles. I had those leftover from camping but thankfully ds and his friend ate some of them.

I am trying to decide what I want to do about my weight loss thing. Re join WW, try to do something on my own, join up with the Jillian MIchae's site, I just can't decide. This summer has been a total wash out. Once this bloat is gone by the end of this week hopefully, I'll be back to my 16 pounds total off in 2010 that I was back in March before WDW. I am determined to lose 20 pounds minimum by the time we leave for the next WDW trip.

All thins said and done, its been a very stressful year. So I am going to be happy that I didn't gain a bunch of weight and try to make the last month of summer more successful on the weight loss front! I was disgusted beyond belief with myself up camping. Its tough to sleep on a floor, get in and out of low, wobbly camp chairs, hike at a high altitude and do anything easily when you weigh what I weigh. Coming up from the lake to the campsite in flip flops on a hot day when I am sleep deprived and getting over a stomach bug was a nightmare. It was steep to the point it was scary and I was huffing like a fat old lady. Ds was with me and was proud I made it and told me not to feel discouraged but I did! I will never understand why something I hate (being fat), that makes me unable to live my life, makes me look bad and makes me so unhappy is something I can't and won't change! There is no other area of my life that is this way, I just have to do this for myself and my family.

One thing about it, its time to stop making excuses for not going to the gym and get back to doing that 5 solid days a week!

Food today (need to get back to posting my food):
Breakfast: Protein shake
Snack: 1 oz almonds
Lunch: 4 cups romaine lettuce, with grilled chicken breast and 2 TB 1000 Island dressing
Snack: Two servings of pringles
Dinner: Bowl of Kashi with skim milk.

I took a friend to lunch for her birthday and ordered that salad even though I wanted Mexican. It felt good to eat out in control. Ate out last night too and got salmon and a salad so I have had two good restaurant meals in a row which is a very good sign I might be getting back on track.

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm sorry to hear that your DS had the stomach bug while camping. I'm sure that it was rough on him and on you too since you were just getting over your stomach bug as well.

I'm also sorry to hear that the boy's parents never contacted you about the insurance. I know that you and Dan are going to pay the bills yourselves, but I still hope that his parents choose to do the right thing.

I so hear you on the weight thing, WISH sis. I was just thinking yesterday that last year I swore I would not go back to POP being overweight. I remember how hot it was and how hard it was at times to just keep going. It looks like I will be faced with the same thing this year. This weight loss journey is certainly not an easy one, but we CAN do this, Amy! One day at a time.

I hope you have a wonderful day today!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy, I just think they should split the out of pocket with us. I am still not 100% convinced they realize that the nose got broken due to their son actually hitting Matthew. I wonder if they think the boys were just rolling around and somebody's elbow or knee or whatever caused the break? She said to me something about how Matthew would learn his lesson better since its a "hard lesson" but what did their son learn? He never even told them about it, I had to do that. Oh well, its done and in the end, I still really like them. People just surprise you sometimes!

Ds did hang out with that boy all day yesterday and they rode bikes and had a great time. I am happy to see him finally getting out and about again and enjoying his summer. Dd is having fun up camping with our friends so that's good for her. They still have almost a month of summer left and I want them both to enjoy it. Its been a weird one thus far!

I overslept today which means I miss aquasize. So I'll go walk instead but I really want to get back in the swing of doing both at least four days a week. I woke up about 2:00 with horrible allergies (weird since all the windows were shut tight) so I took some benadryl and I guess it knocked me out. I didn't even hear Dan leave! If Daisy hadn't started licking my face as a gentle gesture that she's ready to go out NOW, I'd still be sleeping! I don't ever sleep past 6:30 or 7:00, I am so mad at myself!

 

[eyor44]

Amy, you have had a very rough summer. Think about it. Dan's job situation, Matthew's injuries, your Mother memorial, money issues on top of money issues. and it has all worked out, for the most part. Dan has a job again, Matthew is healed, your Mother's memorial was lovely and you got to see family. Yes, you still have to deal with the deductible and that is very unfortunate (and not fair AT ALL), but Dan has a job and you will be able to cover it. Life isn't perfect, but it's pretty good. So, now on to the next step.....

Let's all get moving again. REALLY MOVING...... I vote for WW if it is in the budget. You seemed to do the best when you were accountable for going each week. And you love the pool and walking track at the rec center.

Can I get really pushy? I do that at times. I know you hated that you missed the aquasize, I can tell how much you love doing that, but don't you live in a two story? Make a few extra trips up and down the stairs. While it isn't the same, at least you are doing something. Just get moving, just get moving.....as my little blue friend would say.......

Allergies...did you take your pillow with you camping? That might have done it. Try airing it out. I have to be very careful about stuff like that or I will wake up with a major headache. Took me forever to figure it out.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Lisa, you are not being pushy! And its too funny you say that about the stairs, I do live in a two story and since we have a finished basement, I actually have three levels I navigate. Yesterday I didn't make it to the gym so I just decided to do my stairs for a few minutes. I did two, ten minute workouts with that and I was sweating. It made my knees really hurt later but I am betting I burned some calories and got my heart rate up! Some days I simply do not have the time to get to the rec center but at least I did something. I guess Lisa and I were on the same wavelength thinking about a stair workout for me!

I took Matthew to PF Changs yesterday. He had never been there, heck I've only been there twice (both times with my mom and her best friend who both loved the place) and it was so good. But so pricey. For the two of us for lunch it was $60. But it was money well spent because we had a great time. I just sampled some of everything we got (two appetizers, one shrimp entree and theee of these little dessert sampler things that were in shot glasses). Then came home and drank 96 oz of water throughout the day and evening because I know it was all high sodium. I never did eat dinner, but then we had such a late lunch I guess my stomach just never had time to figure out it was dinner time!

I made it to the gym this morning and did a half hour walk and an hour of aquasize. It was a good workout. Now I am going to bake a birthday cake for my friend that I hopefully will eat very little of and then tomorrow dd comes home. I have really missed her! I know she's had fun but it sounds like she is ready to come home. Sadly they are coming home a day early, my friend's grandmother passed away and she has to get back to fly out to the funeral. Dd did tell me she is going to come home and soak in a bubble bath for an hour to get the camp grime off her! She is so my kid.

Here is my food today (I'll post all of it now):
Breakfast: Protein shake
Snack: 1 oz. almonds
Lunch: Lean Cusine and plum
Dinner: pork loin chop, salad and small piece of birthday cake. Maybe a small helping of potatoes. We are eating at a friend's house, I know she's making pork loin chops, I am taking the salad and cake. I am betting she'll have potatoes or rice too so I'll just have a small helping.

I am probably going to start WW either Friday or Saturday either this week or next week at the latest. I am ready to go back, Lisa is right, it makes me more accountable no doubt about it.

 

[toystoryduo]

Great job getting that stair workout in yesterday and on getting to the gym today!!!!

I have never eaten at PF Changes before. My cousin worked there for awhile and I still never managed to get over there. I hope to give it a try some day!

I bet your DD is looking forward to coming home!

I hope you have a wonderful day today!