Fit Pitchin' Friday: On a serious note

Morning Nuggetiers, it's Friday.. woot! And what does Friday mean here at The Nuggets? FIT PITCHIN'! I know one of my typical fits runs more along the line of frazzled mom on the edge of sanity. This fit isn't going to be, "typical". I've decided to put on my grown up hat and get serious. I was lucky to meet so many amazing people at SITScation in Las Vegas last month. One of them was Melissa Smallwood who blogs at Organized Life By Design. 

I was so impressed by Melissa, she really asked thought provoking questions and had great advice for other bloggers. What got me about Melissa, even beyond her charm, was the story she told about her struggles to pay for medication she needs in order to BE ALIVE!I know that politics isn't really something I get into here. The thing is the more I talked with Melissa the more I came to understand that this wasn't a political issue. I asked Melissa to come guest post for us today. I think hearing her story is important. No matter your party affiliation, no matter what you think you know about the subject, Melissa puts a face on this topic and I encourage you to hear her. I now turn my blog over to Melissa... (sorry for the font thing, blogger hates me today)

HEALTH CARE REFORM

There I said it.  The three little words that incite anger, misinformation, partisan politics and even hate mail.   Because of my experiences I feel obligated to share my story, in the hopes of opening a genuine discussion about how truly necessary health care reform is in our country.  Sadly, unless you have personally experienced a health care crisis in your life or witnessed it in someone else’s you may be misinformed about what is at stake.  I hope my story helps you understand a little better:

• In 1999 my husband and I got custody of (and I adopted) his son, who had just turned six (an expensive process in and of itself).  Jason came to us from a very abusive home and had (and still has) severe emotional and behavioral issues as a result. We knew that he would need extensive counseling (little did we truly know) and my husband did not have health insurance available through his employer.  Jason went to a counselor two times a week for three years before we got insurance (I went to work full-time in 2002 when our youngest went to kindergarten).  For those three years, I worked nights cleaning at the race track, worked at a daycare (so the kids could come with me) and watched other people’s kiddos to afford those appointments.
• In 2001 (while we were still uninsured) I was diagnosed with cervical cancer.  The biopsies leading up to the diagnosis and the surgery required put us in debt to the tune of $25,ooo.  My husband worked as much overtime as he could and we made payments to anesthesiologists, the hospital, the doctor, the lab and every other possible medical entity known to man for years.  As a matter of fact in 2007, we still had a $1,500 balance with surgeon and she sent me a letter that since I had so faithfully made payments she was forgiving the rest of our debt!  What a blessing-  We had been paying her monthly for almost seven years.  While friends were driving cars that didn’t break down and living in houses with more than one bathroom, every “extra” penny we made was going to medical bills.
• In 2003, Jason’s behavior deteriorated beyond what could be managed on an out-patient basis.  We now had health insurance through my employer but mental health benefits leave SO MUCH to be desired.  Between February 2003 and November 2004 Jason would be admitted as a psychiatric inpatient three times (twice in Towson, MD, an hour and a half away from our home) and would be in numerous partial hospitalization programs.  In 2004 our OOP (out of pocket) medical expenses for his care were in excess of $17,000 WITH INSURANCE.  Can you imagine what we would have been facing if my employer did not offer a health benefit (that I paid $124/every two weeks for as well)?
• Then (mind you this is the very abbreviated version) a judge ordered Jason to be remanded to a residential treatment facility to the tune of $60,000/year.  Do you know how much our insurance company authorized for that? ZERO, ZILCH, NADA. Know why?  Because Jason had exceeded his mental health benefit (he was 11).  His dad and I had to make the gut wrenching choice to sign physical custody of him to the state of West Virginia so that he could get the treatment he needed.  (That was the only way he could be covered by Medicaid, to not be in our custody)  You can never know what that was like if you have not experienced it.
• You would think our story would be over by then but no.  I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in January of 2008.  My hubby has great insurance through his employer now but our 20% of my EXORBITANT drug costs, hospitalizations, IV treatments, physical therapy and co-pays to the general practitioner, MS specialist, neuropsychiatrist (yes, all of this has left me a little depressed), urologist, hematologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist and pretty much every other “ologist” known to man came to over $13,000 in 2008 (and I can no longer work full time).
• The bulk of my social security disability check (that I only began receiving in April of 09) each month goes to paying said EXORBITANT medical costs, which will likely continue to escalate as I was just diagnosed with systemic lupus last month.

Don’t get me wrong, God has provided for us time and time again.  I am constantly amazed, looking at the $ amount going out compared to coming in, how we are not bankrupt.  We haven’t lost our home, our vehicles, or our sanity.  But we are fortunate. 

So many people have lost everything.  People that didn’t deserve to have to choose between their medicine and groceries.  People that shouldn’t have to wonder if they should see a doctor or not, because they can’t afford it.  People that have died because they waited too long to get medical attention.

So, what are you saying, Melissa?  I am saying that reform is necessary, whether we like it or not.  Both Presidential candidates agreed on that in the last election. Yes, I have read the 1000+ pages of the proposed bill, and while I do not agree with every thing in it, I am glad that the President has the courage to introduce it.  Because it is necessary! 

Yet still, there are some gross misrepresentations being made and fear mongering to distract people from the real issue. Which is: REFORM IS NECESSARY. 

Why is it necessary?  Accessibility!  Affordability!  Ability to have options!  Eliminate pre-existing condition clauses!  Not have to worry about the cost of being sick for the rest of my life- I can’t even imagine!

I urge you to educate yourself about health care reform, listen to those of us who truly know what it means to have medical expenses take over your life and stop the partisan rhetoric that is distracting the nation from the true issue at hand- people need adequate and quality health care coverage. AARP and the AMA have even endorsed the current bill.  Is the health care reform bill perfect?  No!  But it would be such an improvement… For me…for all those out there like me and those much worse off.  

I know this is a polarizing topic, heck my own mother (stark raving conservative lunatic, I say that with love and a giggle) believes that death panels will be part of the plan.   My family and I are lucky enough to have great coverage. I can't even wrap my mind around having to make the choices Melissa talks about. I'm not hear to tell anybody what to do, I'd just like to hear people talk.. CIVILLY about this. If you have a story like Melissa's and you'd like to share I've wrangled Mr. Linky into this post. Link up your stories. We might not all agree on how to do things but I think we can all agree that something NEEDS to be DONE! (you can also find Melissa at Multitasking Mama and on twitter as @multitaskingme) 

Be our guest.. blogger that is

Have you guys ever listened to blog talk radio? If you haven't you are missing out! One of my FAVS is Jen Hinton of The Classy Closet's show Chicks Who Chat. Jen herself will tell you the show is about everything and nothing. For me it's all about FUN! She does a weekly "Promote your friends" show. Listeners email in the blogs of their friends, Jen checks them out and chats all about them on the show. On last week's show I met a really fun chick and BEGGED her to come guest post for me. She finally caved under pressure so I now give you Stephanie of Life in a Blue Zoo



Hey, I'm Stephanie. I hate being in my 30's, am addicted to coffee, and lip gloss. I am a mom of 4 rowdy little boys. I have an 8 year old who thinks he knows everything (except still can't tie his shoes - and I seriously develop a tic every time I try to show him how), 5 year old twins who are sensitive and rambunctious, and an almost 3 year old who thinks he is running this show! I've been married for about 7 years to a man who I love dearly even if he is driving me crazy most of the time! I also have a very sarcastic sense of humor, which I consider to be a good thing. It keeps us all laughing around here! (Which sounds way better than the crying, pleading, begging, and screaming - believe me!)

Here is her post for US!

I can’t wait to embarrass my kids.

I’m seriously looking forward to it.

When my boys bring their girlfriends home, watch out! I’ll be busting out the embarrassing baby pictures. Probably throw in some truly embarrassing stories.

I will be the old lady following my boys around in the store with curlers in my hair. Wearing a muumuu and yelling about how I farted.

I will not feel bad about this behavior. Let me tell you why…….

When my oldest was 3 ( I call him Howler Monkey - because he is SOOO loud.) my mom had taken us out to lunch. We were in a very busy restaurant. My mom and I were just sitting there talking while the Howler Monkey was coloring when all of a sudden…..

HM- “MOM! MOM! MOM!”

Me- "What?"

HM- “Remember when you locked me in the closet and turned off the light?”

Me- "What?! I Never locked you in a closet."

HM- "Yes, you did!!" He is getting so loud. People are staring. "You locked me in the closet. Remember?"

Me- "No. Cause I didn’t. Now shush. Just color." I’m desperately shoving the crayons at him. "Shhhh!!!!"

HM- "NO! MOM! You locked me in the closet!! And shut the door!!!"

I’m seriously waiting for CPS to show up and have me arrested at any moment. My mother was so helpful. She sat there and laughed. Gee, thanks mom!

There was also the time that Howler Monkey yelled in Wal-Mart, “I LIKE HERS BOOBS!” At a very startled young blonde teenager.

Not only has my oldest embarrassed me at every opportunity now my youngest little ones are joining in.

My twins, Koala and Turtle, are 5. They are really good at getting me when I least expect it.

I once had to pee at Wal-Mart. I was alone with the little ones, so I made Turtle and Koala go into the family bathroom with me. I told them to face the wall. Big mistake! Really, what was I thinking? As soon as I sit I hear in a very loud accusing voice “You said you had to pee!! You’re going poop!! We don’t want to be in here.”

Me- "No, this is how mommies pee. Girls sit to pee."

I could hear people walking by and laughing.

K &T- “You’re sitting to pee??”

K & T- “Its cause you don’t have a pee pee mom. You only have hair…..” They were thoroughly disgusted.

And people out in the hall were no longer stifling their chuckles.

Koala and Turtle are also at that age where they announce everything they see. Like “She has a big butt.” “He stinks mom” or “Wow, her stomach looks like it has 3 babies in it.” They don’t make these observations quietly either.

My youngest son who just turned 3 is also getting in on the action. Last time we were at the store he announced to everyone in the bread aisle that “Mom-EEEEE you’re on crack!! Mom-EEEE is on crack!!!”

So you see when the time comes for my revenge I will not feel guilt. I will yell absurd things, and fart loudly with pride.

Some of my favs from Life in a Blue Zoo:

5 Tips to Getting Started on a Healthier You (I NEED to use these MORE!)
What the HELL Wednesday  (DUDE this is almost.. ALMOST as good as Fit Pitchin' Friday!)
The Butt Biting Toilet Troll  (I WAS the G Pig too! Oh and I think I had that 70s-super-cool-dress too!)

Christmas Stalking

I'm incognito here, the lighting is low, I've got on my best Witness Protection Program disquise... all for my first Vlog.. well and because I'm being followed.
(the tech department, aka my 16 year old, is working on sizing it down to fit the column)

I'm gonna be MIA

Hey Nuggetiers.. happy Monday (bleck I think I threw up in my mouth a little). I wanted to let you know that I'm likely going to be MIA most of the week. I have a couple of guest posts lined up to keep you company though. Why oh why would I leave my Nuggetiers? Well I'm working on my All Mom Made Gift Guide. At present (ooh I made a punny!) I only have ONE of the TONS of items up.. but since I'm SO proud that I figured out how to link over there through the picture on my left side bar WITHOUT CHEAPSKATE MOM's help, I'll invite you over to the party early.

Fit Pitchin' Friday.. I wanna be a princess!

Tomorrow is Halloween, by far my favorite holiday. What's not to love about a day where you get to dress up as anyone you want, scare the crap out of unsuspecting children and demand candy from strangers? I subscribe to a cutesy free holiday. Banned from my home are cheesy smiling pumpkins, warm fuzzy little black kitties and adorable grinning ghosts. Bring on the bad guys, that's how I roll. So it was no surprise that my favorite part of the festivities at last night's Disney On Ice was hanging out with these guys and ghouls

This scary bunch includes your very own WereNugget, my familiars + #1's girlfriend (now THAT is terrifying!), The Evil Witch Jennifer of Hip As I Wannabe, her devilishly darling boys, Mary The Mistress of both Darkness & Pajamas and Coffee  plus her minions of cuteness. Not pictured here is the creepily cool Amy of Resourceful MUMMY who also brought along her goblins.

I'll admit I figured the little outing would help fulfill my holiday quota of torture. Against what is usually my better judgment, I listened to The DH. He moaned and groaned about how boring ice shows were and I bought it. Keeping with the theme I offered myself up as a sacrifice, while he stayed home watching BASEBALL! When this showed up on the ice though I knew the Evil Empire (aka the Yankees) could do without my hexing cheering for them.

Jack Skellington showed up with Cruella Deville, Captian Hook, Maleficent and the rest of the bad guys. BONUS! Plus #4 stood up, danced and sang the ENTIRE theme song from Nightmare Before Christmas

Here is where the fit comes in... Being full of myself and my Halloween ideals I figured as soon as the bad guys were gone I'd be on to the suffering part of the show. Yet as soon as she hit the ice I was a gonner

My desire for decaying Victorian burial garb faded in the dazzle of sequins and rhinestones. Princess after princess paraded out on the ice in all manner of bedazzling ballroom attire. Each flanked by one Prince Charming or another. Lifted weightlessly into the air and twirled around in dizzying displays of devotion by these muscled men on blades these chicks had it all! I found myself mesmerized and jealous. I want to be HER! No I make it Cinderella, who cares if she was enslaved by an evil stepmonster she still got to be a princess in the end. Wait maybe I should be Ariel. I could abandon my family, opt for voluntary genetic mutation and still land me Prince Eric. As the show unfolded a growing need for sparkly things grew inside me. I now fear that I might end up buying a tiara and *shudder* a glittery pumpkin in advance of Halloween. THANKS so MUCH Disney On Ice!

Even though I'm still sulking over the sequined smack down to my ghoulish self image, I wouldn't want any of you in the Baltimore area to miss out on the show. If you're thinking of going I've got a coupon code for ya MOM, it will get you a family four pack of tickets for $44, but HURRY the show is only in town until Sunday Nov 1st. Want to read a less fitful review of the show, check THIS out.

Happy Halloween Nuggetiers, I'm off to soak in some swamp puss, grab my fangs, don my cloak and get back into evil mode before the aforementioned unsuspecting children show up tomorrow.  

(Tickets to this show were generously provided to me and my family free of charge)

What did I FORGET today Wednesday

Oh Nuggetiers my Nuggetiers, I'm beginning to think the old noodle has gone on vacay and failed to notify, let along take the rest of me along. Don't get me wrong I've never been, THAT mom. You know her right? She's the one who never misses a birthday, teacher appreciation day, or a single day at the gym. With perfect hair and ironed clothes she heads out to the bus stop 10 minutes early with her kids who are equally perfectly put together. This woman has floors that sparkle and not with the leftover glitter from last week's diversion created so the kids leave you alone to blog family craft project, they are actually CLEAN. I'm not her, and frankly if you are her well drop the Prozac babe and join the moms who blog revolution sister. We are MUCH cooler than you! And people don't talk behind our backs they just comment to our faces on our blogs (anonymously of course).

So what's my problem today? Yes I'm aware that my problem changes daily, but you love me anyway, right? RIGHT?! (momentary pause for pre-coffee insanity.. deep breath..) Turns out I screwed up, again. Today is the day for Kirstin's blog party Harvest of Friends and I almost missed it. My lovely partner Cassie of My Life With Kids was kind enough to send me an email days ago asking for the 411 on The Nuggetess, yours truly, and I spaced out. Just so you know I SUCK! My lack of brainage led to Cassie having to do her post with out golden blog fodder like what my favorite color is and what my go-to hooch is. My most sincere apologies to Cassie, who is the mom of two totally adorable guys (I offered up my daughters but no betrothal offers have been made). She blogs about being muscled into taking the kids to Chuck E Cheese, or as we call it in this Italian American home, taking the Rat up on an offer you can't refuse, badda bing! And if she weren't a Latina from Jersey I might give her crap over the fact that she has Sissy's blog in her blog roll and NOT mine, but I'm afraid she'd kick my butt! She did sort of make it up to me in her post about The Nuggets today though when she alluded to the fact that I'm a Ho for the comments. I encourage you my darling Nuggetiers to get out there and harvest the friends to be found in the blogosphere today, start with Cassie then stop by Kristin's place (you may ignore the fact that she has Cheapskate Mom's button and NOT MINE). Then might I suggest some other fine, vintage as well as new wines blogs:

Joy of Joy to the Blog is not only a long time Nuggetier she is my personal spell check, her kids are both talented and beautiful.. mmmm just like mom, go figure!

Jennifer of Hip as I Wanna Be who is not only my personal cheerleader she is my first BBF (Bloggy Best Friend) to become a RLF (Real Life Friend) and I heart her!

Brandee of Think Tank Momma who not only keeps me going with nearly daily comments (remember I'm a Ho for those) she gave me an award today that you simply MUST see! Brandee are those your "girls" if so I HATE YOU!

Mary Mac of Pajamas and Coffee another BBF turned RLF who by the way WARNING posts about sex, drugs and rockn'roll.. Cha rock on momma!!!

And so I don't get accused of being sexy sexist I send you over to one funny dude Ed of Ed's Funny Pages. You're in for a treat gang he is funny, changed his blog title for the holiday (insert awe here) and even gave it up for a quickie yesterday.

I didn't get to even a 10th of the amazing Nuggetiers out there and that is only because well.. I have to feed the kids they get a bit vocal if I don't. I'm thinking about a Mr. Linky link up so we can all mingle.. who's bringing the martinis? Let me know if you'd be up for that and I'll make it happen.. yeah I'm cool like that. Happy Hump day.. and if I forgot anything don't tell me I subscribe to ignorance as a mantra.

Stopping in with a winner and words of wisdom

Hey Nuggetiers I'm baaaaack.. well sort of. I've had SUCH fun blog cruising and comment dropping. If I haven't gotten to you I'm SORRY! Leave me a comment w/a link to your blog and I PROMISE to stop by AND comment!

I still haven't really gotten my mojo back after SITScation. I'm nursing a hellacious hacking cough as are a couple of the offspring and the cat, YES the CAT! He has some serious species issues. In addition to that I'm also learning how to VLOG.. yup VIDEO blog! I hope to have my first one up here on The Nuggets this week. Just in time for Halloween, my mug in all it's gory.. SCARY!

I see I've lost a few during my self imposed bloggy break, sad but it happens. I know that true Nuggetiers stick around through the good posts, REALLY bad posts and none at all, so THANKS! Now on to some fun stuff.. Congrats to Allison of Life in My World the winner of the Starbucks VIA! And Megan (who doesn't blog) for winning the Disney on Ice tickets! Are you all butt hurt you didn't win? Well get of the pity potty and get your tail over to Cheapskate Mom's pad and enter our Fabby Hair giveaway! The prize is $150 worth of hair product from Cibu (responsible for my Hair makeover for Vegas) OH there are also a couple of T-Shirts in the gift basket! PLUS there will be a gift card for international enteries! AND  you don't have to do a post or put your face up there this time. The entry requirements are easy peasy! PLUS there are less than 50 entries to date SO your odds are great!

One last thing then I gotta go clean the darn fridge before the repair guy gets here.. yummo my fridge is on the fritz! I'm planning to have my Holiday Gift Guide up by Nov 1st. I've decided to do an ALL MOM MADE (plus one Dad, wait till you see his book it's GREAT!) guide. Why would I do that when companies have offered to pay me and/or give me free stuff to get their product on my guide? Because if we all buy JUST ONE thing that is made by a Mom (or Dad) this holiday season we will have given not only an amazing gift to our loved one or friend BUT we will have helped out the family of the Mom who made that item.. it's like a DOUBLE bonus! If you have an Etsy shop, know someone who does or if you make and sell anything elsewhere and you'd like to get on the guide email me ASAP! I only have a few spots left! (I do NOT charge anything for getting on the guide. Nor do I ask for a freebie. All I ask is that you submit yourself to my probing questions for a little "interview" to go with your post on the list)

Yeah I know I promised words of wisdom in the title of this post.. um.. let's see.. Never drink 3 cups of coffee before you sit down to write a QUICK blog post!