Moving to Texas

[tressa27884]

Facebook can be frustrating for sure. I'd love to plan days to work on each others places, much more fun than doing it on our own. As soon as I'm settled we'll plan a get together @Baymule - we'll drag you out with us. Now the fun part begins - packing.....
Thanks for all your support y'all - you've made this much less frustrating and much more exciting!

 

[tressa27884]

FHA appraisal has been completed. We're due to have report by 12/2. The owner is having a new survey done to establish property lines for us. 35 days and I'll be living in Texas! I can't wait. I started an East Texas thread if any of y'all are interested......

 

[Latestarter]

Well, we're all waitin' on ya! everything continues on track for you! Just give a shout if we can help ya. If we can do it, you know we will. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

 

[tressa27884]

Howdy! I know I've been MIA and I apologize. I've been keeping up with Devonviolet, and I'm assuming she's kept y'all in the loop. So here is my mini novella.
Kid 2 was sick before we left California. We assumed since he had no fever it was allergies or a cold. Arriving in Texas he felt no better - didn't have a fever, was feeling lousy, but not complaining too much.
On Feb. 13th took him to the local clinic, because he had spiked a fever and was generally acting off. The doctor at the clinic suspected meningitis and sent us to the local emergency room. We spent several hours there where he was diagnosed with what they believed was a sinus infection; gave us prescriptions and sent us home. The following day (no fever) he got up and went to school.

Mid morning, the school calls to tell me kid 2 has had a seizure of some sort in class and they'd like me to come get him. I ask them to call an ambulance, and tell them I'm on my way. I get there, and once again, we head back to the ER. New doctor sees him, runs tests, and tells us that since his blood tested positive for THC he believed he had a reaction to synthetic marijuana and once again sends up home. Mind you - kid 2 swore up and down that he hadn't smoked anything since arriving in Texas. We knew he was smoking in California which is one of the reasons he came to Texas with me rather than staying in California with his dad (dad is selling our house and business and moving here ASAP). We drive the 20 minutes home, and just as we're pulling into the driveway - kid 2 has another seizure - lasting more than 2 minutes. I call 911 (again), and once again we head back to the ER.
When we get to the ER I throw a big ole hissy fit, and tell them we are NOT leaving until they figure out what the HELL is going on with my kid. The doctor agrees and schedules an MRI. Meanwhile I've been on the phone with Dad and he is desperately trying to get a flight out from California.
Kid 2 is stabilized and because it's now close to 9:00 and Kid 1 and Kid 3 are home alone, I leave the hospital. I came home and fell into bed. 12:30 phone rings and it's DH saying he's at the ER and Kid 2 has an infection on his brain and they are airlifting him to Children's Hospital in Dallas. I get in the car and drive like the devil to get to the ER. 30 minutes later they are transporting Kid 2 and Dad to Dallas via lear jet. I get home, fall into bed about 3:00 AM, and then am up to get Kid 1 and Kid 3 to school at 6:30. Once they're off I drive to Dallas where Kid 2 is now in ICU following brain surgery.

Two days in ICU and they move him down one floor to the neuro unit, because Kid 2 has lost all use of his left side! Physical and Occupational Therapy start as well as Speech. He has two more seizures while on the 10th floor. They assure us this is normal as the swelling on his brain hasn't gone down yet. They can not give us any idea of how long recovery will take, or if he will regain use of his left side. EVER.

In the middle of this the hospital starts billing our insurance in California. California declines to cover, because Kid 2 has been enrolled in a Texas school and even though we've been in Texas less than 30 days and can't yet apply for coverage here in Texas, they tell us they are not responsible for his care as he is no longer a resident of California. Swell.

We speak to a social worker at the hospital is assigned to help us, and she tries desperately to figure out a way to get Medicaid to cover at least some of the costs associated with this hospital stay which by this time has surpassed ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

Fear not friends, Kid 2 was able to come home from the hospital last Saturday and is at almost 100%. Thankfully we haven't yet been thrown in debtors prison.

To add insult to injury - my friend who was planning to move onto the property with me, and help me run the ranch tells me once we're home that the deal on her house fell through and she's trying to figure out a way to get here, but it isn't looking good so far. The agreement we had was that I was going to buy the land and this house and she was going to buy another house to put on the land and pay for the infrastructure to get us going.

Because Kid 1 and Kid 3 have more or less been abandoned children for more than a month (and before I realize we have a MILLION DOLLAR hospital bill looing over us, I agree to sign Kid 3 up for 4-H and cheerleading, I put eggs in the incubator and hired somebody to build me a beautiful 10x10 chicken house and two 8x8 breeding pens. I called him midway through the hospital stay hoping he was going to say he hadn't started work yet, but nope - he's more than half way done.

My mantra is "It's all going to work out". Hopefully by the time Kid 3 needs a goat I'll have a pen built and the money to pay for a show quality mini Nubian. I have managed to get 100 feet of fencing in, somebody gave me a Guinea Fowl and bantam rooster for the LGD's to protect (they're doing a great job there), and I'm sure God will provide in due time.

DH is hoping to be here by 6/1 and the sale of the house and the business will at least put a dent in the MILLION DOLLAR hospital stay.

In the interim, I am thankful everyday that I can sit on my back porch and drink coffee listening to the sounds of my rooster, guinea and dogs - knowing that I have 3 healthy kids and that things will work out.

 

[NH homesteader]

Oh my, I am so sorry you've had to deal with all of this. And so glad your son is ok. I truly hope they are able to help you with that bill, and everyone is able to enjoy some much needed quiet soon.

 

[Devonviolet]

Actually, I have remained rather mute on all you have been going through, as I wasn't sure what you wanted me to share. I figured, once you were ready to share you would.

However, my DH and I have been praying hard, and seen answers to our prayers, over and over again. Praise God! Now we are praying for answers to your financial woes!

 

[TAH]

Wow, sorry you guys have been having such a hard time!

 

[Baymule]

I would be fighting the state of California with everything I had. What jerks. Or can you file Medicaid here for him? What a mess. I am just glad that your son is well and back home.

 

[Bruce]

What happened to my post from yesterday???

To summarize:

• I wouldn't pay any doctor's bill prior to the last ER visit since all 3 were clueless and totally wrong. Especially the one who ASSUMED your kid was on drugs and didn't even look for anything else. Where does one even get "synthetic THC", make it in your basement? Meningitis or sinus infection. Right, so TOTALLY close to the same thing And who has seizures from a sinus infection? Maybe it is common but I've never heard of it.
• I guess there is a fight to be had with the insurance company in CA
• Glad your son is going to be OK, way beyond heart stopping scary

 

[Latestarter]

Hey Bruce, she double posted (actually triple - I deleted the 3rd one in herd humor and moved the responses over to the East Tx thread) and your post from yesterday is on the East Texas thread vice this one.