I think this picture really sums things up.
We are on to the next chapter of Jack’s life. We’re at a point where if you met Jack today and we told you that he was a newborn you wouldn’t know any better. He looks and acts like a newborn, and he weighs around 8 pounds now. So I think that maybe you might not know that he was born 13 weeks early and that he barely survived. Now he’s just a regular little kid. And we can’t wait to see what happens next.
Yesterday was pretty darned exciting, ’cause Jack had a visit from his great grandpa Herb. Herb is clocking in at 91 years old and he reads this blog everyday. Pretty good for a guy that took up the computer at the young age of 85!
Hi Great Grandpa!
Herb has been keeping tabs on Jack since he first showed up in August. It’s pretty amazing to think that Jack has not one, but two great grandfathers and it was pretty damn cool to be able to introduce Herb to Jack yesterday.
Hey! That segues nicely into my next topic: This year I’ve got a whole new appreciation for Thanksgiving.
We have an amazing little boy at home and he’s doing great. We have family and friends that have helped us along the way, and even when the going got tough, we made it through. For that we are thankful.
PS — Great grandpa Abe! Get your butt up here! Jack can’t wait to meet you!
Now I realize that I’m tempting fate here, but so far, Jack has been totally reasonable. I’m not saying that he doesn’t complain. Its just that when he does, he generally has a legitimate gripe.
It’s mostly something along the lines of “HEY OLD MAN, WHERE THE HELL IS MY DINNER?” or “LISTEN LADY, FEEL FREE TO CHANGE MY DIAPER ANY TIME HERE!”
And really, who can argue with that?
7 pounds, 7.2 ounces, Jack’s weight today
2. The number of weeks between Ophthalmologist check-ups
$435,888.39. The dollar amount St. Luke’s Roosevelt is charging our insurance company for Jack’s extended visit to their lovely NICU. Oh, and that doesn’t include amenities…like doctors.
So. We haven’t really talked about the actual dollar cost of having a premature baby. Sure, emotional toll, talking about our feelings, we’ve got that pretty well covered.
Bottom line. This kid is expensive.
We’re very fortunate to have insurance coverage and we’re very fortunate that we’re intelligent enough to NOT BELIEVE our insurance company when they say things like, “well neonatology isn’t covered.” Um…yeah.
So. I spend 1/2 of each day on the phone reviewing EOBs, MOPs, Pediatrician, Neonatologist, Pharmaceutical and surgical bills, referrals, pre-authorizations and pre-certifications, with one or more representatives from Cigna Insurance. Did you know that there is not one Pediatric Ophthalmologist in All of New York City that takes insurance? No? Well consider yourself informed.
I lost it last week after they told me that my pregnancy was a pre-existing condition and they weren’t going to cover delivery. That was resolved after I had a very, very, very shrill conversation with the words “illegal” and “lawsuit” thrown in for good measure with one of the regional heads of customer service.
Good times…good times.
It’s very late.
I’m on the late shift feeding Jack. He’s being a good sport about things, just sitting in his carseat and rocking out.
