What's On The Menu

Ah, things are just as crazy as ever.  I feel like my life is flying by me and I am not able to catch up or sit and enjoy it.  We had a great birthday party for Kate (that I will post about soon) and I am glad that is behind me (although I'm a little sad she is one).  Every week I think, "It will slow down this week" and then I see my calendar.  Here's some of what's on tap this week.

-  We found out Saturday night, after arriving home from the party, that Kate was denied insurance with a company we have been applying for and working with for the last two months.  Her current insurance ends on the 30th, as in Thursday.  I am going to attempt to "appeal" the denial, but I don't think there is much of a chance.  We are no closer to figuring out why she is sick all of the time.  We are going to have to see what we can find in the way of private coverage and see if there is any way we can 1) find anything that will accept her in the middle of all this and 2) find something we can afford.  I am sure there will be at least a month or two without coverage though.  Since I have no insurance and Leah and Daddy-O's is ridiculously high, we may have to look at one of us taking a part time job to get benefits.  If you could please keep all  of this in your prayers, this is our number one BIGGIE right now.  As you all know, (if you have ever dealt with insurance companies) this will, without a doubt, be a lengthy, patience testing process.

-  Kate is going in for her one year old "well check" on Wednesday, but will probably be unable to get her one year old shots (which means she will be off schedule AND they won't be covered on insurance) because...

- Kate has been "sick" with a "cold virus" since last Monday (if you recall the chest x-ray, etc.).  She hasn't seemed to feel too bad until today at lunch when we noticed her eyes were full of green goo (pink eye) and her nose has been draining the grossest, green goop I have EVER seen (sinus infection).  I seriously don't get it, but I won't go off on a tangent about that all again....for tonight.

-  We have some new things coming up for work and hope to be really busy with that.  That is good!

-  I also have at least two days of work to fit in there.

- We are also trying to decide what to do about kindergarten.  Leah turns 5 at the beginning of August so she is "eligible" to start kindergarten next year.  I go back and forth on what to do.  Here are my thoughts.

 

Reasons she should go

+She is educationally ready for it (knows all her shapes, colors, letters, sounds, can write all her letters, numbers, do basic math, starting some basic reading, etc).  

+She is probably physically ready for most of it.  Since she is a girl we don't have to worry about her being the smallest in her class and being picked on.

+Many days I feel like she needs the time away from me and vice versa.

+She could really use the challenge and structure.

+Being the youngest in the class, she would grow up and mature faster (I'm still unsure if this falls in the "pros" column).

+She has been getting really bored at home lately.  Some of this is due to Kate's health, appointments, etc., but I don't think we are near stimulating enough for her normally.  This is something I CAN do something about.

Reasons she shouldn't go

-She is still emotionally young.  She cries very easily and has at least one melt down a day.   (part of me thinks this is a reason she should go and "grow up")

-She HATES getting up early.  I am sure, if we started now, we could get her on a routine going to bed earlier and help this, but she really is and has always been a night owl.

-She still requires a "rest time" every day.  She no longer naps because she was staying up  until midnight, but she does lay down for at least an hour and a half everyday.   Kindergarten here is all day (I think 8-3) and they do NOT give them any sort of a rest time, at all.  I am not sure that she would last.

-She has not gone to preschool or Mother's Day or any sort of "everyday" program.  When  did try Mother's Day Out one day a week, she had no problem with the separation.  I just got tired of fighting every single Wednesday morning about getting out of bed, dragging her to school late, kicking and screaming, and bringing her home for a late nap, only to stay up late that night.

So here is where I ask for advice.  All of you moms, teachers or people with opinions, leave me a comment and let me know what you think, have done, would do different, etc.  What I would love is to find a M-F half-day pre-K  so that she could experience getting up and going somewhere everyday, but without it being such long hours.  So far all I have found is all day T,W, Th pre-K.  I am not sure that this is much different than just sticking her in kindergarten.  I tried talking to the elementary school that she would be attending and they were absolutely NO help.  I did learn that kindergarten is optional in the state of Texas, so if we did keep her out and she was really ready for it, she could "test" into first grade next year.  I started kindergarten when I was 4 and didn't mind being the youngest, but it seems like things were SO different back then.  Am I just being an overprotective parent?  Penny for your thoughts....

Anyway, that's what's "hot" around here.  I know that God holds us in the palm of His hands and that we only need to let Him guide us through.  Sometimes it's just harder to feel.  Please continue to pray for us with all of these pressing decisions and stress (specifically that God would open doors with the insurance issue and that we would find answers or peace with Kate's health).  I am trying hard to fight my natural urge to worry, but it's getting hard.  I just feel really beat down.  Thanks for all the prayers!