Saturday, May 27, 2017

Can you say stress?

Since January, we have had two accidents in our household. One resulted in a concussion. The other resulted in a torn rotator cuff and dislocated bicep. 

Our college age daughter ended up with a concussion after an inebriated friend flipped a chair she was sitting in.. Our flex spending and insurance could handle this ONE accident. It was a bit of an inconvenience to our budget, but a few cutbacks and we were ok. 

Then,  I heard those fateful words on Easter Sunday. "I'm bored.." This resulted in a quick bike ride around the neighborhood, a blown out front tire on a brand new bike and a trip to the emergency room. After a couple of different doctors and an MRI, my husband learned that he had a massive tear of the right rotator cuff and a dislocated bicep. He had to have surgery and it had to be as soon as possible. 

Here I was, ending the school year with a husband who needed surgery. I pushed the kids to finish their lessons so that I could take the last couple of days off before the exams. I guilted the doctor's office into changing the follow-up appointment so that I could review with my students the very last day of class before the state test. After all, wouldn't you want your child's teacher to be there for the very last chance to review before taking a test worth 20% of their overall grade? The testing coordinator and the principal at school changed the exam schedule so that I was free in the afternoons during exams to take my husband to his doctor's appointment and Physical Therapy.

Now, those bills are pouring in. Our little budget could handle ONE catastrophe, but this second one is really causing a financial strain. No more hair color...no more mani-pedis - at least for while. I even had to give up the chance to make some very serious money this summer because the training was too soon after the surgery. 

My daddy always said that the Good Lord sent us the broke times so that we appreciate the good times. I am hoping that I learn the lesson the broke times are teaching and that I learn it soon. The stress of learning this lesson is feeling like more than I can handle at the moment.