Where is health care going?

I had to add this to my blog. It was forwarded to me

I am a General Surgeon. I endeavor to not think or speak too highly of myself, but neither will I diminish the importance of my craft.

I am the one who gets out of bed at 4 a.m. to come to your aid when your appendix has ruptured and you are suffering the agony of your peritonitis.
I am the one who will resect your perforated diverticulitis and watch over you while you lay unconscious and ventilated in the ICU.
I am the one who will oversew your duodenal ulcer before you bleed to death.
I am the one who will cut out your colon cancer, and put the ends of your intestine back together again.
I am the one who will remove your shattered spleen when you've been in your automobile accident.
I am the one who WILL get IV access when you need your medications and nobody else has been able to get the stick.
I am the one who will hold your hand and cry with you when I tell you the biopsy came back positive. Then I will look you in the eye and tell you how we're going to beat back that monster together.
I am the one who will fix the hernia that keeps you from being able to do your job, and get rid of the hemorrhoids that you're too embarrassed to tell anybody are making your life miserable.
I am the one who will remove your gallbladder when it has become filled with stones, and do it with two sticks and a video camera through incisions that will barely be noticeable 6 months from now.

I have spent years of my life studying the human body to get to this point. I have spent a king's ransom on my education. I spent the best years of my youth making sacrifices for my goal and being a little more serious than my peers. I have asked my family to continually make sacrifices for your benefit. I do it because I love what I do and I care deeply about you, my patient. I do it despite the fact that my kids will once again have dinner without their father tonight and my wife will wonder what time I might be coming home. I do it in spite of the attorneys who are waiting for me to make a single mistake, and the malpractice insurance that costs more than many people make in a year. I have been forced to accept ever decreasing reimbursement while facing ever increasing overhead costs. I have not complained when you "forgot" your co-pay, or failed to pay the balance of your bill for months on end because you are now feeling better and it seems a little less important than it once did. I have dealt with the endless documentation requirements and bureaucratic nonsense foisted upon me. I have watched my once noble profession abdicate all control to people who have no concept of what I do and care nothing of the ramifications of their decisions.

But make no mistake, there is a limit to what I will tolerate. When the value of my services is ever diminished, I WILL reach a point of no longer offering them. I will be taken for granted only so long. If you create an environment that does not reward my efforts, and in fact demonizes them, who will you convince to take my place when I am gone?

Happy New Year!

The Dance

Tyler received an invitation to his first dance this year.  He kept telling me back in early November that he needed to get a nice jacket and pants.  I told him to get a date first!  He got the invitation (they are handed out by Assembly members only) and the date.  His date was Miss Anna Slawson who happened to be an Assembly member so that meant he would be escorting her in the grand march.  That was BIG for my low key son!!  

JM took him to pick her up.  They exchanged flowers and pictures.  Then JM moved them to the dinner at Carter's house, the Assembly member who invited him originally.  The group took pictures there, and a few parents (including JM) drove the whole group to the dance downtown.  Tyler had a great time.  I can not believe that he is a freshman, he wore a blazer, and he had a date for the evening.  WOW!  He is growing up!

Advent Celebrations

This year we tried something new at our house.  We began a Christmas devotional series called The Jesse Tree.  The devotionals took us threw the Bible and lineage of Christ.  The girls colored ornaments each night while we read the devotionals.  We also had wooden ornaments that we hung on the tree after each devotional.

On December 17th, we added in the O Antiphon Prayers.    With each prayer, we discussed the means and opened a little family gift or activity which symbolized the Prayer.

December 17th - O Wisdom - The kids opened a new devotional book for us to start next.  The 12 Days of Christmas

December 18th - O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Jesse, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush. -  We had smores (burning bush) tonight.

December 19th - O Root of Jesse - The kids made a poinsettia Wreath and we drank root beer.

December 20th - O Key of David - We opened a cool Cast Metal Key Puzzle.

December 21st - O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light.  We took a field trip to see Christmas lights.

December 22nd - O King of the Gentiles - The kids opened a beautiful set of The Three Kings Gifts.

December 23rd - O'Emmanuel - The kids opened a jigsaw puzzle which we worked on Christmas Eve.

Eventful Day

Somedays do you just want to throw in the towel?????  Today was one of those days!  I had a few holiday traditions that I needed to mark of the list...take picture with Santa and start my Christmas shopping (please don't laugh).  I had warned kids of my plan.  I told Tyler we would be at the mall early (before his friends were up on a Saturday!). 

Maybe I should back up a few days...I decided that Thursday was Colleen's last day with diapers and paci.  Yes, that is where I should have started!!  Because today is Day 3 and Colleen woke up with the "Oh, no!  You are trying to change me, and I am not going to do this anymore attitude!"  She woke up with a dry pull-up and a huge tummy, so what would any potty training parent do?  Yes, I insisted she go potty before she had an accident in her panties.  Well, that was mistake #1.  Mistake #2 was bringing JM into the drama because then the scene just escalated!!!  After an hour, Little Miss decided to just go on the bathroom floor because that way she had not given in to us!  Geeezzzz!!!!

In all the morning drama, I failed to get breakfast fixed.  That's ok because I needed a doughnut at this point to continue with my plans!!!  

We got to the mall in time to be 2nd in line.  Santa came strolling in on a wheelchair, and Tyler was in complete teenage mode at this point as I was trying to keep the girls distracted and looking at me.  Can this day get any harder?

The photo turned out pretty good.  It is hard to get perfect with 5 kids!  

Next, the older kids wanted to finish their Christmas shopping; and the younger kids wanted to ride the train and carousel.  Good combo!  

Then Lyndsey sees Claire's and remembers that she wants to get her ears pierced.  She wanted to do it on her birthday back in September but we ran out of time that day.  I caved and said, "Sure we can get your ears pierced today."  I should have made sure they had 2 piercers available because after the 1st ear was pierced, she was DONE.  I was tired.  She was screaming.  It was NOT a pretty sight.  After about 20 minutes, the lady was able to trick her into getting the other ear pierced.  LETS GO HOME.

The girls spent the afternoon walking down our street delivering gifts while mom went to a padded room!!!!

Christmas Performances

December is always a busy time of year!  This year seemed especially busy with basketball, Upper School finals for the older kids, and then holiday performances.  Dad took the girls to their holiday dance performance while Mom stayed home to keep the older kids on task--studying for their last day of finals.
The dance performance was a very relaxed performance with "just dance on your own" time and refreshments.  Perfect daddy-daughter time!!!

Colleen's first school performance was Wednesday, December 18th.  As predicted, she just stood on the stage...no singing from those beautiful lips!  She did yell "Daddy" when she saw JM and that made his quick trip from the OR to the preschool worthwhile!!!!

Christmas Fun

Now that homeschool is officially on Christmas Break, we can have a little extra special holiday fun!!!

We also had a Grinch Day!  We watched How The Grinch Stole Christmas.  Then the girls made Grinch masks.  Corynne helped a lot with this project!!!  We also made Grinch Punch, and Colleen hung a Grinch ornament on our tree!

Awhile back I found these free online pastel tutorials at Hodgepodge.  The girls have loved working through the different projects.  WARNING...pastels make a huge mess!!!!!

Christmas Vacation comes a little early...

Our lesson plans go until next Wednesday, but our teacher is exhausted and stressed!  So while the students were working on finishing up their assignments for this week, the teacher closed on the grade book and printed report cards!!  95-97 days of straight As!!!

Time to refocus on the true meaning of the SEASON!!!!

Gingerbread Houses 2012

State-by-State GeographyStudy

We are working our way around the United States one state at a time.  We are studying each state by reading The Discover America State by State Alphabet Series from Sleeping Bear Press.  Lauren makes a scrapbook page for each state, and Lyndsey is completing a mini lapbook for each state.  Then,  the girls pick a recipe from Eat Your Way Through the USA or The United States Cookbook or a family favorite.  While we study the state, the girls are learning the capitals and postal abbreviations along with state birds, flowers, and trees.  

State-by-State::Delaware

F is for First State --
first to confirm our Constitution."

~ F is for First State: A Delaware Alphabet

 

"The Spanish brought the peach to the New World,

a very bountiful fruit tree. 

The blooms became our state flower, 

so Peach blossom is our P."

Delaware Peach Crumble

Ingredients:

½ cup flour

½ cup brown sugar

½ teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of salt

4 tablespoons butter

5 peaches, or 2 16-oz. cans of peach halves, drained and sliced

State-by-State::Massachusetts

"B's the sound that can be found in

Boston town and Bunker Hill,

and bouncy, bouncy Basketball,

played first in Springfield --

What a thrill!"

~ M Is For Mayflower: A Massachusetts Alphabet

We had so much fun cooking for Massachusetts the FIRST time!  Inspired by The United States Cookbook: Fabulous Foods and Fascinating Facts From All 50 States the girls decided to make Boston Baked Beans for our dinner.

"Early colonists learned to make baked beans from their Native American neighbors. Native Americans flavored the beans with bear meat and maple syrup. The colonists substituted salt pork for the bear meat and molasses for the maple syrup.  Baked beans on Saturday night became a Massachusetts food tradition in colonial times.  The tradition started because Puritans were not allowed to work on Sunday, so beans were cooked on Saturday and served for Sunday's dinner as well.  Some women who were not so crazy about beans served them only on Sunday."

We also made Bouncy Basketball treats and a Boston Creme Pie.  We decorated the family dining table and had a big feast.  It was AWESOME, and the computer enjoyed eating the yummy pictures!  

The second time around, we took the easy route with Lauren's favorite breakfast treat...Boston Creme Pie Toaster Strudel!!!

State-by-State::Pennsylvania

"K is for Keystone State,

Pennsylvania is said to be.

Like the center stone in an arch,

it was the central colony."

~ K Is For Keystone: A Pennsylvania Alphabet

Pennsylvania is one of my favorite states.  We read a number of books about the Amish, watched a video of Crayons being made in Easton, read about chocolate, and much more!

The girls decided to make Hershey Bar Pie.  Ok, actually, I suggested it!  I knew they would LOVE it, and it actually brings back some memories for a Hershey Bar Pie that JM made for me years ago!

Yes, it was absolutely yummy!!!!

State-by-State::Virginia

"O is for "The Old Dominion,"
a name given us by Royalty
for during England's civil war,
Virginia showed her loyalty."
~ O is for Old Dominion: A Virginia Alphabet

The girls help me cook a Virginia Ham for our family Thanksgiving Dinner.

State-by-State::Georgia

 J is for Jimmy Carter,

born inPlains, a small Georgia town.

He became the 39th president of the United States.

His good deeds are of great renown.

What has shells and is sold by the pounds?

One grows in a tree, the other underground.

What makes peanut butter, the other pecan pie?

N is for Georgia Nuts, the good makes make us sigh!

-P is for Peach: A Georgia Alphabet

We chose to make a pecan pie because Jimmy Carter would love that!  We used a recipe from my friend in Baltimore! 

 We also made Pecan Clusters with melted chocolate and chopped pecans.  The kids love to use the food chopper!

 Lauren's scrapbook page..

 Lyndsey with her mini lapbook about Georgia...