Wednesday, September 10, 2008

When it rains....

Things have not been going well for my hubby at work for the past few months.

Yesterday, something that should have been a really minor issue (IF he wasn't on his sergeant's bad side and IF he hadn't already been suspended a couple of months ago) resulted in Dave being demoted. He lost his patrol deputy spot and is being sent back to work as a jailer.

This is really bad for us for a couple of reasons. First, it will be an $8,000 or $9,000 pay cut. We cannot afford this due to all of the expenses associated with having a sick baby. Doctor's visits. Co-pays. Medications. Tests. The trips to Dallas to see specialists - every week for the past month. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Secondly, we don't know what shift he will be on now. We had his shift and off days worked out to where child care was not an issue for us. He was on second shift and had three consecutive weekdays off. My mom would come over two days a week before Dave left for work to watch Brooklyn for about three or four hours, until I got home from work. Now...who knows. Dave could be working the same hours as I do or the midnight shift. We planned this out before Brooklyn was even born, not knowing at the time that it would become a necessity for us. Brooklyn's doctors have already said that she can't go to daycare because of her respiratory problems. If she catches a cold or a respiratory infection, it could be very, very bad for her. And I really don't think I would trust anyone else giving Brooklyn her medications and breathing treatments. Good luck finding a daycare that would do that, anyway. Besides, with the huge decrease in hubby's pay, how can we possibly afford to pay someone to take care of our baby? We didn't really have any extra money as it was before he was demoted.

What shitty timing for all this.

It's pouring.

9 comments:

MrsSpock said...

Oh crap. So sorry.

Jennifer W said...

Sometimes life just won't cut you a break. Man that sucks, I am sorry. Sometimes all you can do is take a deep breath, look into that huge smiling baby face and just say "Suck it world!"

edie & ella said...

Bummer. What a pisser. Thinking of you....sam

Cibele said...

That is awful. I am so sorry. HUGS

Emily G. said...

I am so sorry. I totally understand your situation. I go to school full time and have my schedule worked out so that Avani's dad watches her when I can't and visa versa. Avani can't attend day care either, and I don't trust anyone to watch her. To make matters worst we applied for a nurse through her medicaid program and got denied, reason said was, "no medical need", are they kidding!!!!
I know that your hundreds of miles away, but just know that from mother of a sick baby to another, you will always have a comrade here in San Antonio. I know how stressful it can be. I wish you the best, everything happens for a reason. We have to believe it, or at least I do. I keep questioning God why is my baby so sick. Maybe there is some higher plan that your husband will wined up being able to spend more time with Brooklyn on his new shift. Maybe, God wants to make things just a bit harder to remind you it can always be worst. I don't know. Just be thankful that it was only a decrease in pay and not a decrease in Brooklyn's health. I know that you know that, all mother's have that thought in their heart when things are bad. Just sometimes someone else needs to say it out-loud.

Hope said...

I'm sorry! I feel your pain, really. I had to take some time off school. We were told to look into specialized "babysitters", which are respiratory therapists and/or highly trained people that know how to handle meds and babies that live in resp. distress every single day, like Brooklyn and Ava! Your insurance may pay for it. I know we are so terrified of germs right now.

Does Brooklyn have apnea, blue spells or head bobbing? Has her doctors talked about home O2? I'm also curious why she was never monitored at home or had a nurse come out to check on her? They'd get alot of info if she had been on monitors (ie apnea, resp rate, bradys). For her to be so tiny and have the problems you write about, the doctors seem so lax with her. I'd be on their asses all the time. It's hard being our babies' voice, but if we don't advocate, who will?

((Hugs!))
It will get better!

Liz said...

I wish I had the magic words to "fix" everything. Of course I don't though. I just want to tell you that Larry & I have been there, done that.....and while it wasn't easy at the time & the whole world sucked dirt & left us feeling like we'd been stomped on, we did survive. And what it all boils down to is -- God is still on the throne. He's still taking care of our every need. And He's watching over you too. I know it's easier said than done, but "try not to worry". I love ya girl!

Unknown said...

I am so sorry, I will say a prayer for your family and continue thinking of you. Hang in there!

Kate said...

I am so sorry. I'm praying for you guys.

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