A big change, dental work, and catching up

I can now put it in type: Aaron has a new job!  It's something I've been wanting for him for about 2 years.  (Since about a year after he started his current job).  It's nice to work for the boy scouts and all.  And there were some good things, well one that I can think of: his day time hours were flexible.  He could be with the baby for a while in the mornings I had to work.  He could come to doctor appointments, etc.  But otherwise, it wasn't great.  The hours, while flexible, were long.  Lots of nights, and quite a few weekends.  Answering emails, and phone calls when he wasn't working.  No overtime for these long hours.  Having to run the summer camp 3+ hours away.  (Which was hard when we had no kid, but would have been dreadful this summer).  The benefits were terrible.  There were family benefits, which were kind of expensive, for terrible coverage, with no choice of provider.  As in, we would have to meet our $5000 deductible in January just to pay for my Humira.

I told him when looking for a new job, there are 3 criteria; 2 of which must be met.  Better pay, better hours, better benefits.  The new job currently hits 2, but will hit 3 before much time has passed.  Aaron will be working for the Social Service Administration for the county of Santa Clara.  The pay is a little worse, but there is paid overtime.  And there is an automatic raise after the first six months (which will match his current pay).  The hours are 8-5, no weekends, no nights.  The commute is the same.  The benefits are AMAZING! The benefits are free for us.  We get to keep our Kaiser.  But everything is a $10 copay.  ER visits are $35.  Hospital admission is $100.  $100!   That means next time we have a baby it will cost $100.  Period. And my stupid Humira will be $10 a month.  His last day with the scouts in Monday.  And his first day with the county is the following Monday, so he'll have a few days off.

Last Thursday I broke my tooth.  I had a dentist appointment already scheduled for Tuesday.  But they weren't able to verify my benefits, which I wanted to know ahead of time.  (I'd never used them before, I have a different plan before).  And, we weren't sure when Aaron's awesome new benefits would start.  I was hoping they might start February 1st, so I could wait a couple more days, and have my crown paid for.  But alas, they don't start til March 1st.  Then last night more of my tooth broke, so they were able to squeeze me in today.  My in laws, who usual provide my childcare, as needed, are away on a trip.  So Bertie came with me.  He did really well.  They had to take him away from me, into the front office, while they drilled (mercury dust and such).  Now my mouth hurts a bit, but the actual procedure wasn't bad at all.  The financial portion, however, was pretty bad.  It's going to be about $700 after my insurance. And, there is no payment plan.  I put $200 on my credit card today.  The rest is due when I go back for the permanent crown.

In the afternoon, Bertie and I went shopping for groceries.  I like to give him things to hold while we shop.  I gave him a banana to hold, and he kept trying to eat it, peel and all.  It has several bit marks.  Then, while I was looking at other fruit, he picked up a kiwi off the display and tried to eat it.  I thought maybe I could find him a ripe one, but none were ready.  I found a squeezie yogurt

It tasted good, not overly sweet, like a lot of kid yogurt.  And it said it was spill proof.  But by the end of our shopping trip, we both had quite a bit of yogurt on us.

Until next time!