Looking for a New Pediatrician

I know some of you already know that I am looking for a new Pediatrician for Anna Claire, but probably are wondering why. I want to first state that we LOVE Dr. B at MMC. She is awesome and so helpful even over the phone. The billing office at the front of MMC is lacking, in my opinion, in personality and competency. I have had issues with the billing office before and have let them go, but yesterday the lady set me on fire!!

As most of you already know, Kerry lost his job a few weeks ago. Kerry was and has always been our main source of income, now it's just me and his unemployment which is half of what I make every week. It takes me 2 paychecks to bring home what he did in a week, so you see my problem, right? It is a very stressful time for me right now and I don't need the attitude from others to add to it.

A few days ago I got our bill from MMC for when Anna Claire was so sick. The insurance that we had was ok, but it didn't cover a lot, so we have a bill from MMC. I called them yesterday to set up a payment plan to get it paid. I called before the bill was due, so don't think the lady was hateful bc the bill is past due bc it's not. : ) I explained to the lady that I needed to set up payments. She told me my balance, which was about $100 more than my bill showed, but I didn't argue with her.

She told me I could pay $50 per month. I told her that I could not afford $50 per month right now bc my husband lost his job.
~Her response, in a VERY hateful tone, was "WELL, DO YOU HAVE A JOB?"
~My response, "why yes I do have a job, a house payment, an electric bill, gas bill, grocery bill, etc.... just like you do except I'm doing it without 75% of our usual income. Now again, I cannot afford $50 per month right now."
~Her response "well $50 a month is all I can come up with."
~My response "well last time I was able to pay $20 per month."
~Her response "I can't do $20, how about $35"
~My response "ok fine"

Then she proceeds to tell me that there is still $700 outstanding on my account that insurance has not paid for May of 2007. That's right May 2007!! (Anna Claire was born in April 2007) She told me that if insurance continues not to pay then I will be responsible for it. WRONG!! I tried to take care of this last year. The $700 was for AC's first set of shots. MMC's billing office apparently misplaced the bill from the Dr's office and filed it sometime in 2008. When they filed it, they filed it under the wrong Cigna insurance. They told me Cigna had denied the bill last August 2008. I called Cigna and the guy told me that they filed it under the wrong Cigna. He gave me the correct Cigna information and told me to tell them that they only had 3 weeks until the deadline was up to file that bill. I turned right around and called MMC and gave them the correct information. They are just now trying to file the bill again and it's too late. Cigna will not cover it bc it's past the filing deadline and Cigna informed me that I do not have to pay the bill bc Anna Claire had credible health care coverage at the time of the visit to cover the bill, but MMC billing still says I have to pay the $700.'

As much as I love Dr. B, I cannot continue to deal with their billing office at MMC. The job question did me in. I was trying to set up a payment, not walk away from the bill like some people do. I was doing the right thing. I did not deserve her attitude.

My dream is that Dr. B will move back to Shelbyville and open a practice here since most of her family is here. A girl can dream, right?

So there you have it.

2009 Celebration Dog Show

We decided to let Anna Claire show Daisy in the dog show this year at the Celebration. We knew it would be interesting to say the least. MeMe had t-shirts made that said Anna Claire and "Daisy" on the front and Puppy Class Celebration 2009 on the back of the shirts. A little over the top, but it was fun. The shirts matched AC's out fit perfectly and I found some pink and white polka dot ribbon to match as well. I gave MeMe the ribbon and said "here, do something with this." LOL!! MeMe added bows to AC's number, which turned out very cute!!

When we got to the arena after Church I was expecting AC to be in the puppy class only. I should have known better!! MeMe entered her in the puppy class, the 8 and under class, and the World Grand Champion Class {I thought I was going to fall out!! LOL}. Anna Claire was in class 2, 5, and 13!! Yes class 13, but it gets better!! We were in an indoor arena in the middle of the day with no air-conditioning, a fur ball of a puppy, a 2 yr old, and Momma {that would be me} had on blue jeans!! Anna Claire and Daisy did not place in the puppy class and Daddy was heated {and not just bc it was hot in there ~ LOL}. I told him it was ok and that she couldn't win everything. {even though deep down I was heated as well bc I don't loose well, but one of us had to be an adult about it, right? ~ LOL} The 8 and Under class was so big that they had to split it in to 2 class {there were about 30 children under 8 years old for this class}, so that turned class 13 in to class 14, another class was split so class 14 then turned to class 15!! Oh My!!

{This is how I felt about it too!!}

Anna Claire and Daisy won first place in the 8 and under class 5b. Anna Claire got her "tinker medal", as she calls it, and was ready to go. Little did she know we still had to wait for 9 more classes before it was our turn again. Class number 15 is called in and I see a light at the end of the tunnel. By this time I had chased Anna Claire across the show ring floor 3 times {remember blue jeans and no air-conditioning}, my body temperature was at least 110 degrees, Daisy was panting, Anna Claire got her butt popped by her Daddy, and that was the end of it. The butt popping broke her down!! We head to the show ring and she cried all the way around the ring. They line us up and call the ones they want to stay to the center of the ring. Number 328 step in!! I was so happy for her and Daisy, but they could have cared less. It's now time to make our way around the ring some more, yeah right. Half way around Anna Claire gave up on me. I had to pick her up and carry her. I think Daisy really wanted me to carry her as well, but I was out of room. Finally it was time to go home!!

Look at the concentration on her face!! Her Daddy does that with his lips when he is concentrating too.

Daddy never missed a beat with the camera. Daisy and Anna Claire decided to swap sides on me.

I'm pretty sure Daisy and Anna Claire were checking out some dog poop. {seriously}

Loving on Mommy while we waited, after checking out the dog poop of course.

A "tinker medal" and a blue ribbon too!?!?

Checking out the "tinker medal"

Big Daddy why are you letting her chew on her "tinker medal"?

Anna Claire and Daddy in deep conversation about her and Daisy's win. {well Daddy was having a conversation, but it looks like Anna Claire was just eating ice focusing on someone else.}

And this "little" fella giving Anna Claire a kiss was the 2008 Dog Show World Grand Champion!! {now do you see why I about fell out when I found out MeMe had entered little Daisy and Anna Claire in that class}

What a Journey.........................

I'm sure some of you are wondering why we took Anna Claire to the Vanderbilt ER yesterday, so here's the story.

As most of you know, AC was diagnosed with double pneumonia on August 7th by Dr. J. On August 14th she was not any better, so we saw our regular Dr, Dr B. The x-rays showed that the pneumonia was worse in both lungs. We got new med's and breathing treatments. Dr. B said she should be better within 48 hours. A little over 48 hours she was the same as she was on the 14th, so we saw Dr. J again on Monday (yesterday). Dr. J said the pneumonia was gone, so she didn't see the need for another x-ray. This concerned me bc I didn't understand how within 3 days it was just gone and why she didn't want to x-ray to make sure, since we were suppose to go back on the 28th to x-ray again anyway. She told us it was now bronchitis and without saying it, I was just suppose to take her word for it.

From my googling (LOL) I knew that bronchitis can turn to pneumonia, but pneumonia does not turn to bronchitis. She gave us a steroid, told us to continue the antibiotic, and breathing treatments 3x's a day for 6 days. Dr. B told us Friday to finish the breathing treatments on Monday, so I was concerned about continuing the breathing treatments. I felt like Dr. J was "put out" because she was having to take care of Dr. B's patient.

We left the Dr's office and made some phone calls. After the phone calls were made, we all agreed that a 2nd opinion was needed. Now considering all of our options for a regular Dr's visit all work in the same building, we headed to the ER at the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. I knew that if anyone could cure her they could. We went to triage where her blood pressure was taken (never had this done before) and AC did well with the cuff "hugging" her arm. Then she was given a mask to wear, since she is/was contagious. The mask did not go over well, but it got better when MeMe offered to wear one too. (The things you do for your grandchildren)

I think 5 different people listened to AC's chest more than once and I answered the same questions, at least 5 times as well. (for those that go to the ER for everything - they must be nuts!! LOL)

They did x-rays and told me that there was no way she has had pneumonia bc her lungs are perfect. The Dr in charge of all the other Dr's said if she would have had pneumonia in the past 2 weeks there would still be traces of it that he would be able to see. He said she has bronchitis and that is why she is not getting well. All of these antibiotics that have been pushed in to her, will not treat bronchitis. That high powered antibiotic shot just hid everything for a few days. AC is now taking a steroid and has an inhaler, that she hates, to help open up her airway. Hopefully this will cure her.

I find it hard to believe that a radiologist and the Dr's read AC's x-rays wrong, more than once. I find it hard to believe that AC had pneumonia on Friday, worse than it was a week ago, and then Monday it was gone and her lungs are now perfect. I also know that God works in mysterious ways. Josh, my brother is proof of that as some of you I'm sure remember. So maybe God took it away. I really don't know. I'm thinking that maybe I will ask to see the x-rays the next time I am over there and ask them to point it out to me. If they can point the pneumonia out, then I guess I will have my answer. If they can't then I will still have my answer.

The Difference...............

Anna Claire on Thursday at 10:21am waiting at the Dr's office

Anna Claire on Thursday at 6:37pm at home sitting on her chair upside down.

Dear God,

I want to thank you for watching over my precious Anna Claire. I want to thank you for having her to wake me up this morning at 1:00am asking for juice. I know that had she not asked for juice I would have never known she already had a fever of 103.0. It is because of you that I was able to make sure she was ok. You are a wonderful God and I am grateful that I have you in my life. Thank you God!! Amen

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Most of you already know that Anna Claire has been sick since last Thursday. MeMe took her to the Dr on Friday, July 31st bc I wanted to nip this cough she had quickly. We didn't get to see Dr. B bc she was booked up, so we saw another Dr in her office. Dr C told MeMe that I needed to give her Benadryl, keep her elevated, and cool. I was already giving her OTC medicine, which was not working, and keeping her elevated and cool. Tuesday morning I threw in the towel and gave up on the OTC medicine. Tuesday night I thought we were having a break through. She only woke up one time, coughed one time, and that was it all night. I was so happy! When she woke up Wednesday morning she started the coughing again, but it wasn't that bad. She made it through the day at Barnyard and when I walked in to get her, she was her normal self. She was sitting in a basket trying to get it stuck on her rear end. {You know, just being AC}

As you read above Anna Claire woke me up this morning at 1:00am wanting some juice. She has been coughing a lot for the past 8 days, so I have been keeping a sippy cup of Gatorade on the night stand for her. I handed her the juice and I rubbed her forehead and noticed she was hot. I then felt her back and it was hotter. I got her up, which did not please her, and checked her temp. It was 103.0, so I gave her some Motrin and we laid back down. After about 45 minutes I felt of her and she still felt very hot, so I decided to put her in her bedroom bc her room is cooler than ours is. I also decided to check her temp again, just because. It was 103.7 and I began to panic a little. I ran her a luke warm bath, which she HATED, with the hopes that it would help. I got her out, got her dressed, and checked her temp again, 103.9. At this point 103.9 was way to close to 104, so I called the Dr's office. The on-call Nurse called me back {which felt like an eternity} and told me to go ahead and give her a 1/2 tsp of Tylenol, since I had already given her Motrin, no clothes other than a diaper {check}, light blanket {check}, and go back to the Dr tomorrow {today}. This morning I was going to go on in to work bc I knew I couldn't make the appt until 8:00am. MeMe was coming across the yard to get AC as we were coming outside. MeMe took AC from me and I carried her bag. We made it half way across the yard and AC started to gag and started throwing up mucus. {Gross I know} She did this 3 times before we made it to MeMe's house. I came to work and made the appt for 9:10am. Kerry {Daddy} rode with AC and I to the Dr. He rode in the back seat with AC and thank goodness he did bc she threw up mucus 3 times on the way to Murfreesboro.

So here we are. Dr. B was off today, so we saw Dr J. After a flu test and some chest x-rays we are now diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs. It was time for the very painful antibiotic shot. Daddy decided he couldn't handle it, after the Nurse was explaining how she needed to be held down in my lap. I should mention that when my child is in pain she is strong as a freakin Ox!! Needle in leg, AC goes crazy, one hand gets away from me, and she grabs the needle. It equalled one unhappy Nurse. She had to go get a new needle and I told Daddy to suck it up and come help me. Shot done and then we waited for 15 minutes to make sure there was no reaction. AC is resting now and it taking Motrin and Tylenol for her fever. She will continue Tylenol until tomorrow even if the fever goes away tonight due to the pain that the shot is/will causing. Tomorrow she will start her oral antibiotic and hopefully she will be closer to normal by Saturday morning, otherwise we will visit the Dr's office again.

Meet Daisy..............

Daisy is the newest addition to the Carlock and Pennington households. MeMe, Anna Claire, and I went to the Fair on Friday night at the Ag center. We were walking by the horse show area to go to the petting zoo when MeMe saw a lady with 2 Australian Shepherd puppies for sale. MeMe and Anna Claire both went crazy over them. I told Anna Claire and her MeMe that I was not buying a dog. MeMe in turn called Big Daddy to see if they could have a puppy. Big Daddy told her no. She proceeded to tell him that Anna Claire really wanted a puppy and then she put Anna Claire on the phone with him. Here's how that conversation went. "Big Daddy can I have a puppy. I need it pwease. I want her." Needless to say, Big Daddy caved and told MeMe to go get one if she (Anna Claire) wanted one. Anna Claire picked out the one she wanted and she named her Daisy (after the character on Wow Wow Wubbzy).

Daisy goes from MeMe's house to our house. Some nights she sleeps at our house, other nights at MeMe and Big Daddy's house. She comes to our house and looses her mind!! She drags out all of AC's toys and runs all over the house. She is a little calmer at MeMe's. Her and AC fight all the time bc AC does not want Daisy touching her or her toys. This morning AC had the bright idea to give Daisy a spanking for getting one of her toys. The next thing I hear is "MOMMY HELP!! DAISY'S BITING MY WITTLE BUTT CHEEK." I laughed out loud as I pried Daisy's teeth out of AC's pajamas. I was laughing, Daisy was growling, and AC was being a Drama Queen bc Daisy did not have a hold of her wittle butt cheek.

Daisy has one brown eye and one blue eye, but it's hard to tell in most of the pictures. This is a picture of her blue eye.

This is Daisy after she terrorizes my house!!

And this was before we {AC} decided Daisy got on our {AC's} nerves.

Grandparents, that is YOUR Grandchild rolling around on the floor!!

I took this video, so their is no sound. Blogger has issues with my cell phone videos for some reason.