Just RK

I’ve worked in medical/dental offices in various capacities for over 18 years.  I’ve been the receptionist, the dental assistant, the insurance coordinator, the patient accounts trainer, the practice manager/administrator, and the consultant, among several other roles and titles. Currently, I work from home. I listen to recorded calls online from 7 dental practices in CT, NJ, WA, NY, and TN, and 2 orthopedic practices in NE.  When people call in to make an appointment, I get to hear both sides of the conversation to make sure that the call handlers are saying what they’re supposed to, providing good service, and not missing opportunities for new patients. I’ve been amazed at many things over the years working in this field.  But lately I’m most amazed at how many people call an office for the first time to make an appointment, and they don’t know what their insurance is, and they don’t have the card with them.  It’s just hard to fathom, to me, that a person wou...

Toward the end of school last year, Kinlee came home from school with a tiny egg carton cup with a sprout in it. It was a pumpkin plant just starting. Since I kill just about every plant of which I have had custody, we took it directly to Grandma C’s house.  They planted it in the back yard. In about 4-6 weeks, it was a full-blown plant, and it had the first flower. In July, the plant continued to grow. It was pretty amazing to see it get bigger so quickly.  Several flowers came and went, but finally we saw the first little pumpkin. The plant was bigger than Kinlee in no time. The pumpkin kept growing. And by early August, though still green, it was getting to look like a “real pumpkin.”  As every good gardener should, Kinlee watered her plant when playing at Grandma C’s.  It’s turning orange, and that pleased her.  But do you see the size of that thing.  ALL of that green that’s below Kinlee’s shoulder height is th...

Here we are. Today Kinlee is with me since it's Thursday. Waiting for Braska to emerge after school. I have found in just these short four days that I kind of like this time. I have been able to arrange time to be here early enough to sit,  enjoy the peace,  and prepare for the rest of the day. On Tuesday and Thursday when KiKi is with me, she sits in the drivers seat and we pretend to take trips. Sometimes waiting is not a bad thing.

1. It’s late, I’m tired, and I’m having some kind of weird chest fluttery, uncomfortable thing.  Not chest pain. Don’t get all worried, you worriers.  But it’s weird. So sleep is what I want sooner rather than later. 2. Tonight at work there was a woman in the branch who was homeless, in as a guest to use the showers.  She was there about 5 hours.  She didn’t seem well.  It’s so hard to know what to do in those cases… when someone needs help and when I don’t know what the right thing to do is.  I’m thankful I’m not numb to those kinds of needs, but it’s hard to feel helpless. 3. This daily picture thing on Braska’s blog is tough.  And it’s become discouraging to me that more posts seem to equal less comments.  I get that it’s easy to look at a picture and not have much to say, I guess.  (How many times can you say, “Too cute!” right??)  But I miss the comments, and since I archive them to print for Braska to have later on down the ro...

We’ve broached a lot of hot topics around here… and all of them have supporters on both sides.  Discussion is part of life. Please tell me that there can be no one with a heart that thinks that THIS is worthy of support.  Unfathomable, and yet clearly there are some, with an audience, who actually are serious about this query…  “After-birth abortion: why should the baby live?” Several articles came out in the last day or so on this topic… Ethicists Argue killing Newborn Babies Should Be Allowed Ethicists Argue in Favor of “After-Birth Abortions” as Newborns “Are Not Persons ” (Mentioning DS specifically) Ethicists Argue for Post Birth Abortions One of the things I read referenced this news article out of Canada.  It’s surreal to me.

It’s all about perspective. It seems like I’ve said it 1000 times in the last few years, probably almost 6 years if I’m judging by the circumstances that I think brought me the most real.life.perspective. But lately it sure seems like I’ve been saying or at least thinking it more frequently. I don’t like having a job that eats up evenings and many weekends. But I’m glad that I was able to find one when I needed to and that I do actually enjoy working there. It’s all about perspective . $300 is just not a lot of money to feed four people completely for an entire month. But I’m thankful that we’re able to do it. And many people would feel ecstatic about having that much money to spend on food and necessities. It’s all about perspective. I’ve been really missing the community element lately, having a core group of friends whose lives intersect with ours at several levels like we have had in previous eras in our married life.  We have friends, good friends. But we do miss the...

Braska went to school. KiKi went to her “school.” (Parents’ Day Out at a nearby church. She LOVES it.) I got a lot done at home.  That feels nice. Meltdowns during backyard play. No naps during naptime.  Sometimes they just don’t listen.  That doesn’t feel nice. Dinner all at the table together.  Talking about the day. KiKi sharing all about how school went, who she played with, what snack was, what her craft was, when she can go back again.  That feels nice. Visit with friends tonight, one couple who was watching the girls while we visited another couple with a new little man with DS. Adorable.  That feels SO nice. Home and battling sleepy girls, dramatic 2-year-old, flailing, yelling, and flopping. That doesn’t feel nice. It was a full day, but not bad.  Now it’s bedtime. Sleep will be here in minutes.  That will feel the nicest.

These stories come up occasionally… and people seem to have different perspectives on them.  So I thought I’d invite discussion here. Read here and here , as an example at one school.  And then please share your thoughts (politely and respectfully, of course).  (Photo from wfaa.com) I’ll say up front… I think it’s great. I think she’s clearly adored. But not everyone agrees.  What do YOU think?

This is the face I get from KiKi MOST of the time lately. ---> And no, it’s not fun when it’s as common as it’s become. I don’t know if it’s just a 2-year-old phase or if there’s something wrong physically or if she is just struggling more with our schedule adjustments and my working most nights/weekends. But—all cute kid, “terrible twos,” and drama queen comments aside—it is truly wearing on me. Now that I think about it, she’s probably getting that face from me a lot, too. Which came first….chicken or egg… I’ve been sick now for 6 days. Braska is still sick, day 7. Though all of us are some better, Braska and I are still coughing up all kinds of grossness, having much less energy than usual. I know that for my part, I feel like I’m going to truly lose my mind. It’s not just the sick, though that clearly hinders my ability to take things on with my normal resolve and determination, but the combination of factors that “just happen” to be in place right now is really w...

If you have NOT heard news of Joplin’s devastation, I’m not sure how you’ve avoided it. It’s been news everywhere, I hear, but of course being here in the state has made it constantly covered and updated in our area. When news came that they’d had a direct tornado hit on Sunday, I made a few contacts to people we know there or who have loved ones there. Though I’ve never lived in Joplin, we have quite a few connections, and several years ago I spent a good deal of time there. My sister-in-law is from there, her family still living in the area. My sister went to college there for one year. My father’s employer is headquartered there. My uncle and cousins went to college there. I had friends in college who were from the area. Yesterday, my parents and my youngest sister went to Joplin to serve. Help. Do something. My sister took some video as they drove through. Even after seeing all the photos and video through media sources, seeing it at eye level, block after block is ove...

A few things to note… I’m working on a blog re-do, to represent a different approach to things blog related as I move forward.  I hope to have it up this weekend. No promises. Braska’s finished day 2 of a 3-day wean (tube feeding transition tool…measuring ability, not actually weaning) I’m documenting that over at her blog if you’re interested. Tonight we had medical exams for new life insurance policies. I’m 5’2”.  Not 5’3”.  I’ve been fooling myself thinking I had an inch I don’t have.  But oh well, still just plain short. We’re in the middle of setting up a special needs trust and doing our wills.  Hence the aforementioned updated life insurance policies.  It’s important, but it’s a lot.  I don’t mind the “someday I’ll be dead” thing…I’m good with all that completely.  But all the arranging and considering what we want for the girls, especially Braska, when she’s a teen and beyond.   Writing the Letter o...

I just saw an internet ad for a baby photo contest.  The last line read… “If you have a cute baby enter now!” Here’s the thing about that: I’ve seen plenty of babies and kids in my time who were, in the words of a friend of mine, “unfortunate looking.” But there’s not one of their parents that doesn’t think they are “so cute!”  Isn’t that the way we’re set up?  We’re built to think our kids are adorable because they are OUR kids.  Makes sense to me.  But it makes me wonder if photo contests shouldn’t be designed for non-parents to submit cute kids.  That might narrow the field quite a bit, make life easier for those who are making the first round cuts. Sorry, my brain just thinks like this sometimes.

I'm not one to publicly rant on a particular company, as a rule. And I won't go quite to that extreme here, but come on... Apria drives me NUTS! I try to be polite, and I am never rude, though I can be a bit firm after talking to the 7th person on that one phone call, saying the same thing every time...but I always acknowledge the person I'm talking to and understand they are not solely to blame for the problems. I go in hopeful each time... Today I'll get someone nice, and knowledgeable, I'm sure of it. We have gotten our NG tubes, extension sets, syringes, g-buttons, etc, etc, etc, from them for years. They were the only option we had on our insurance. But I can NOT tell you how many times the bills have been wrong. (Well, I can, actually...EVERY time. Literally. I have them if you want to see.) Duplicates get sent that weren't ordered, then I have to battle to get them to accept them back or write off the charges. I call them regularly to tell them HOW to reb...

Do you ever feel like you consistent answer for “how have things been?” is always “Oh gosh, it’s been crazy lately!” ?  Because I feel like at some point this must not be considered “crazy” anymore, but instead, it is just the new normal.   This is the way it’s going to be.  Maybe if I accept it as ordinary, it won’t seem so exhausting.  That’s probably some active denial right there. We’re here. We’re surviving.  I’m tired, but breathing.  The girls are good, as good as toddlers are when they are…well…being classic toddlers.  There is the daily whining and the fits that come out of nowhere and seem completely unprovoked, but they’re healthy and generally happy, so I’ll keep moving forward.  I’ve managed to get into several new things that I didn’t plan on, and clearly didn’t say “NO!” to.  I’m a part of a community workgroup for the school district to figure out how to make recommendations on what things need to be cut to balance ...

How are you supposed to care about someone close to you and not want to give what-for to those who make them miserable? How am I supposed to feel the need to care for lonely and mistreated orphans without becoming depressed and sick and overwhelmed at the conditions they are in? How are you supposed to befriend a person who is not meeting their potential without becoming frustrated at their lack of concern about that fact? How are we supposed to stand up for what’s right when it brings to light so many evidences of what’s wrong? How am I supposed to invest my life in others only to be made vulnerable enough to be hurt deeply? Balance is hard.  I’m a fixer. I need to correct wrongs and make things better. Right. But it’s not always (or even usually) up to me. It has really been heavy on me lately that in working on myself in a variety of ways, learning to feel more and DO more for people who are in need, that I seem to have a consistent upset about it.  The urgency ...

Today I read at least 3 articles/blog posts that used the phrase “could have cared less” referring to someone not being at all concerned with something.  Example: I could have cared less if they were serving spaghetti today. I wanted fettuccine. If taken literally, this would mean that the speaker DID care somewhat that they were serving spaghetti.  But her point was that she didn’t care at all. If you are saying that you absolutely don’t care at all about something…then you would say you could NOT have cared less .  There is no lesser amount of caring that could be achieved.  You really don’t care. Not a care in the world. If you COULD have cared less…then you would have.  At least if the point is to show a complete indifference, which is generally how it is used. I know. It’s petty.  I’m not slamming you, my friends.  But it’s one of those things that just keeps going because no one points it out.  Lesson over. Class dismissed. ...

Did you do a double take at the title?  Did you jump right into the post to get the “big news”?  It’s funny what a couple words and an exclamation point can do to some people. We’re not having twins. Or babies of any kind.  Just to be clear. I get asked a lot about how the girls are doing in terms of development and size, relative to each other .  Only a few times have I been asked when we are out if they are twins.  I think the difference in hair length is the big giveaway for most, at least that’s been the “tip-off” for a couple people who mentioned it.  But we do get a lot of comments about how similarly sized they are. There have been many times in the last few months when I’ve thought that this must be a little peek into what it’s like to have twins.  At least for this little period we’re in right now.  Developmentally, they are so close in age in many ways.  Not all.  Braska still has Kinlee beat with speech and language...

This picture was taken yesterday. The girls enjoyed their first track meet.  Can you tell what the challenge of the day was?? Look closely… This trip is about half over.  I don’t know if I’ll be able to hash it out in blog form.  Not that it’s all things to be blogged, I will say.  Some things are just to be experienced.  And let me tell you, I’ve experienced some really special things, but even more—the people—and a peek at their hearts. I know I’ve used this before, but I’m not sure how else to say it… I’m honored.  The girls have been really great, and I’m so pleased. Don’t miss a clip of their weekend so far here .  They’re sleeping now, so I should be, too.

Gosh, even for someone as wordy as I am, I feel like I don’t have the words to describe today. (More on how it came about here .) Partially because most of it’s influence on me is internal, and I’ve still got some processing to do with all of it.  But don’t worry…I’ll try to give you a peek . I have to try to get some of it down, because I don’t want to forget. I spent the day with Kim and Jodie from Fresh Art Photography , a pair of super cool ladies I only came to know of yesterday morning in one of those “it’s no accident” kind of ways.  And how great that I could be of at least a little help today, a day celebrating the life of little Seamus, raising money for the NICU at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. So while the girls shot kids and parents, babies and toddlers, moms, dads, and one seriously cute couple, I fetched the muscle man, Tom, or held jackets, or pointed out folded-up sleeves, or blew bubbles at the right time, or just stood as a barrier when they shot in the...

Today it hit me that Holland is wearing on me for the first time in a long, long time.  All this illness and the causes behind it: preschool at 3, oral stimulation through finger chewing, less resistant immune system, etc.  They are getting through my armor, probably due to the lack of sleep needed to hold up my defenses.  We talk often of how in our house Italy is far more exhausting than Holland, and that is still the case, but sometimes the trip in Holland does make one dream of a quiet Italian villa. But as Grace would have it, and I don’t believe that anything “just happens” or in coincidences, look what showed up after all the rain we’ve had today.     Pretty as I think those flowers are…she is still my Beauty, and somehow we’ll get back to enjoying the flowers instead of being stuck in the mud soon.