Let's Start at the very beginning - PTR:August 17-31 2014 About This Page:

[KMB733]

Congrats on booking your flights!!

[MayraLR]

Love Evan's drawing! So cute!
Congrats on booking your flights!

[xwewhisper]

Just joining in, sounds like things are coming together nicely for you

[JKnott17]

Love that picture! Congrats on getting your airfare.

[Colexis Mom]

Congrats on the flight! Sorry about the snow day!

[mommapants]

Originally Posted by xwewhisper

Just joining in, sounds like things are coming together nicely for you

Thanks for joining in.


PTR Part4



I just typed this up and it was way longer than I anticipated so I’m breaking it up unto 2 parts...time and money

As I already mentioned I began planning this trip before we ended our last trip (and like most of you I’m already think about my next trip too – but that is a story for another day).

I cannot afford to take a big vacation every year. Our “off’ years we usually go to my sister’s house at the shore AKA–free, or do some day trips or just do nothing and save my money and time. So I’ve been doing that for the past two years.

Time
Last year Evan was in Kindergarten, half day, and he went in the afternoon. What I didn’t realize is how many times I would need to go to the school for different events. And all of them smack dab in the middle of the day, conferences, holiday parties, class events, special readers, etc., I would always try to go there and show support but since I work 45 mintues away I ended up taking a lot of half days.

So this year I thought, great, first grade, not so much junk I have to be there for and if I do his day now begins at 9am not 12:30 so I can just head into work a little late. Not so bad UNTIL Dun Dun Dun…..Winter.

OMG!

We just got his revised schedule and he has had 6 snow days – and with yesterday, that now makes 7 plus he has had 6 delayed openings. It is just killing me.

Like the rest of you, this winter has hit us hard, harder than I ever remember. The first snow day or two, I was thinking, alright not too bad I have the time and I’ll just stay home with him. I’m lucky enough I have a few options. One is my mother who lives right around the corner from me could watch him but that is a really big time commitment and I didn’t want to burden her. Option 2 is my sister who works in education so mostly when Evan’s school is closed her’s is too so she could watch him. Not always the best because her 3 kids are also home and then Evan just adds to the mayhem and confusion. Option 3 is my sister in law who works retail and used to watch Evan in the summers but if she happens to have off the day when it snows, she could do it and lastly I have a friend who doesn’t work but she lives in Maryland. She is frequently up here visiting so if she is around she could always watch him. So anyway the first 2 or so storms I just stayed home. I’m not afraid to drive in the snow if it is only a few inches but in all honesty there is nothing at work that is SOOO important that it can’t wait a day for me to get to.

Then we got some big storms where a state of emergency is called and I was sort of “forced” to stay home. I wouldn’t have driven anyway, not in 6,9, 12 inches of snow. So I think that was days of number 3,4, and 5

The same thing with the delayed openings, I stayed home on the first few. What is great about the delayed openings is the school day counts however I still miss 2 hours of work. So I stayed home for the first 4 of those which adds up to an entire day. Since then my mom has been able to come over and help, including this morning.

AMEN! HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD FOR MOMS!!

The way my time works is I get PTO (Paid Time Off). It is either scheduled or unscheduled. I don’t get days marked as holidays, vacations, sick etc. it is just time off and I’m required to keep enough in my bank so I can get paid any days I need off. So when worked is closed for a holiday If I don’t have 8 hours in my bank, I don’t get paid. Same holds true for vacation and sick time.

Usually this is not a problem for me as I try to keep a minimum of 40 hours in my bank at all times. So for the past year of so I knew I wanted to do a 2 week vacation and have been squirreling away hours. Most of which are now all gone thanks to the 7 snow days and various other things (will get to that soon.)

But come Hell or high water we are going to Disney. I am at the highest level of hour accumulation so every 2 weeks when I get paid I accumulate 12 hours of time. I am hoping and praying that between now and the trip I can build back up enough time so I don’t have to go on vacation as unpaid.

Sorry this isn’t more interesting and no pictures.

Coming up next
Will we even be able to take this trip? Part 2 (Money)

[xwewhisper]

Oh no for all that unexpected PTO usage! Seems like you accrue pretty fast so fingers crossed you catch right back up! So great you have so many people who can help out to watch Evan too to keep it from going down anymore

[OhToodles!]

We had snow day #7 yesterday too, but some districts south of us have had 22 days off of school this winter. 22 DAYS! Can you imagine?!
It's good to have options for watching Evan - can always rotate between them all.
Hope you're able to build the time back up!

[Russi01]

This winter for everyone has been brutal but here. We are used to the snow but we have had many days of below freezing temperatures with winds. Hoping that you get your hours built back up for your trip!!

Here are some for no more snow days!!

[lfredsbo]

I feel you with the snow days - we have had 6 as well. Fortunately for me, Emily is older now and can stay home by herself if need be - I usually still have to go to work though as I am only 4 miles from the office, so it's pretty much expected that I will show up..........they do not close us for anything!!! If we choose to not go in, we have to use vacation time - and that is precious to me!! And they do not usually allow for unpaid time off

that you are able to build up those hours again!!!

[Cam22]

This weather has done a number on everyone's schedule. As of today, our school districts have missed 16 snow days. They started the first week of August and will now be going through first full week of June. Long school year. Sorry the weather has messed with your plans so much. that you can earn those hours back for vacation.

[Colexis Mom]

Sorry about your PTO! We've had 8 snow days up here, as well as 8 late openings so I know that has wreaked havoc with everyones schedules!

[stardust190]

Great cast. I've read your other reports and never realized you are a computer programmer. Don't know how I haven't caught that before. I usually notice fellow programmers especially female ones as there aren't many of us! Good luck building up your vacation time. I'm down to no sick time and very little vacation time. And my kids are sick again. I'm probably going to have to take some unpaid.

[KMB733]

Sorry about having to use your PTO. The winter has been brutal for a lot of people.

[mommapants]

Thanks everyone for stopping by. Sorry as I realize this hasn't been very exciting.

I know this winter has been hard on everyone. I never remember having more than maybe 3 or 4 snow days as a child and last year we didn't have any. Plus every storm has fallen on a school night - can't even catch a break with weekends.

Well this is Evan's last week of basketball and then we have 2 weeks off until baseball starts. However he just earned his orange belt in karate last night so this weekend is his belt graduation and then next weekend is his musical at church so we have rehearsal on Saturday and then the pizza party (which I am in charge of) and then Sunday is the musical. He has 1 line this year woo hoo.

SO on with the next update...

PTR Part 5

So if the snow isn’t bad enough and depleting my time I now have a sick dog depleting my funds…I began this year with $2500 saved for Disney I think I now have $500. I have been trying desperately to not use my credit card but only use my debit card. Sometimes I find myself robbing Peter to pay Paul until I get paid or something and that is what just recently happened.

My sweet little baby boy Wrigley, the one Evans is hugging in our siggie pic, is getting along in years. He is about 15 and has been slowing down. At his check-up in November the vet was examining him and he snapped at the doctor when he examined his hips. I’ve noticed he has a little trouble jumping on the bed or going up and down the stairs and would sleep on the floor a lot more (not so much on the couch). I figured it was just aging. However, about a month ago Wrigley wondered into the kitchen. I’m sure to see if he could pull any food off the counter (ha, ha, I fooled him as the food was all put away). I heard a loud yelp and he came limping out. He wouldn’t put any pressure on his leg. The same thing happened around Christmas when he and my other (old) dog, Trixie, were playing, but he quickly recovered. So he comes limping out and comes right over to me. I go to check his leg and it doesn’t look broken and I try to massage it thinking it will relax but he won’t stand on it. You guys know the drill I’m thinking wait until morning and get him to the vet, go to the emergency room (200.00 just walk in the door). Then he tried to get onto the couch and he lets out another really loud yell.

Okay debate over we are going to the ER. Evan was asleep and mom was able to come over to watch him so at least I didn’t have to haul him out of bed at midnight. So we make it to the ER and have an x-ray and some meds and a shot to relax him and $500 and an hour later I get to come home. Diagnosis was a torn ACL well whatever the dog equivalent is of an ACL. So that was a Friday night. I schedule his follow-up visit to the regular vet for Thursday but Monday comes around and he is no better. He was still in a lot of pain, unable to rest would sit (not lay) in the same position for hours. He was shaking and panting. I was carrying him in and out to do his business. Only good thing was he was still eating and drinking. Now he is 15 so in the back of my mind the worst case scenario is playing out.

So Monday comes around he is no better so I call to get him into the vet. They can see him that day but not until 11am. Well alright then, call into work to miss MORE time. At this visit they feel it isn’t his ACL and not his leg at all but his back. We start him on some steroids and $200 later I’m bringing him home.

Now it is Wednesday and he is showing no signs of improvement. I have decided this is it. He is in too much pain. If I can’t get a better diagnosis or the hope of something better I’m going to have to have him put down. I stop at the vet on my way to work just to see what they feel/say. I mean I didn’t know if they would tell me go home and get him and we will do it now or what. The doctor was able to see him at like 9:30 that day. So call in late to work again, missing more time. Vet told me the medicine Wrigley was on was pretty powerful and he should have seen some improvement in him. He feels to get a better diagnosis Riggs would need more testing (MRI, scan) just things they don’t have the equipment for in his office.

So now it is off to the specialty ER vet place about an hour away. I was at this place before when my other dog needed surgery (I tell you I love my dogs to pieces but they are money suckers). We visit with the ER doctor there and they want me to see the orthopedic surgeon who does not have an opening until 3pm. So you guessed it, call into work to call out for the entire day. Thank God my mom came with me for emotional support because in the back of my mind I’m thinking is this the end? They kept Wrigley in the back and Mom and I were able to get out and have lunch rather than sit in the waiting room all day.

So final diagnosis was, they still don’t know. Wrigley had another set of x-rays more on his back then his leg like the one that was done at the first ER visit and another $500 gone from my Disney account. What the X-rays did show is that he is in great shape. There is no arthritis or breaks or deterioration, everything is aligned correctly and all the bones and joins look good.

So it showed nothing, so what that means is either he has a tear or something in the soft tissue or there is something in the spinal column. The only way to show the latter would be with an MRC or scan. I asked the cost and he said about $2500 I didn’t miss type 2 thousand five hundreds!! I then asked what would it show? Answer, if he had a tumor or something that might need surgery. I know he wouldn’t be able to survive a surgery so it would really be stupid to try and pay for the test. At this point I didn’t have enough in my Disney fund to cover a test like that anyway and I don’t think I have enough credit left on my credit card either. So we took the route of a new set of medicines, lots of rest and wait and see.

I am very happy to report Wrigley is doing well. He is not is pain and he is putting pressure on his legs and he is even wagging his tail a little. I’ve gone back for 2 follow up visits which I was able to schedule at night so I didn’t miss any more time from work but unfortunately have had to dip into the vacation fund more. I am beginning to lower his medicines and he goes back on the 21st for another recheck.

My house is rather interesting at the moment as I have baby gates blocking doorways and stairs and chairs blocking him from getting up on the couch. I even pulled out Evan’s old bed rails and shoved them in the couch. I just bought steps so Wrigley he can climb up onto to my bed at bed time because he was growling at me for a while, but that seems better too. He is OK to go down the steps as all the pressure hits his shoulders but going up the stairs or jumping up on the furniture is all done by his legs, hips and lower back.

I’m really hoping that he continues to improve as there isn’t anything else I can do and the amount of pain he was in – if he goes back to that it would be cruel to let him “live” that way.

Sorry – a long a sorted story – way longer than I planned Thanks for letting me vent.

The only upside to this is at least I had the money saved for Disney so I could get Wrigley the treatment he needed.

Now I’m waiting for my tax refund so I can pay myself back. Plus I paid for the early bird special at the swim club out of my Disney money so I need to again pay myself back.

As I’m sure you all face, life is full of ups and downs. Right now things are feeling down – finances and vacation times are tight (oh and I cracked a tooth and need a crown which is like 4 office visits – more time from work, fortunately insurance is covering so I only owe $130). But the check engine light is on in my car, ka-ching! I’m praying everyone in the house stays healthy, that no other unexpected expenses arise, that no more snow falls and that we can go on this trip and I can still have some vacation time in my bank when we come home.

We just got a revised school schedule and Evan has lost half of his Easter break and will be going to school until June 25 – Crazy!!!