Autumn is in full swing, and winter is just around the corner. Let’s take a minute to look back over 2018. What was the biggest challenge you faced this past year? NOW look ahead to 2019. What do think will be your greatest hurdle in the new year?
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I would have to say for me/us it’s been one medical challenge after another in 2018. If something can happen to run up a doctor bill, it will! In fact our most recent “event” was today. A co-worker of Bran’s brought some fresh-baked cookies into the store for his partner. Jerry offered Bran one. He’s so careful when others give him food like that. He took it back to his desk and laid it down on a piece of paper, then he took a whiff of his hand. Sure enough, it was peanut butter, to which he is horribly allergic. Within five minutes his face had swollen, he broke out in a rash, and he could barely breathe.
One of the managers rushed him to urgent care where they took him right in and gave him an epinephrine shot and a prednisone shot. He didn’t have an epi pen at home as it had expired. But they gave him a ‘script for two and he nearly died when he went to get it filled — $300 and change. How sad that you can buy a gun in this country for less than a med that can save your life… (Yes, I’m getting pissy about the world, finally!)
Anyway… hopefully next year we’ll all be a whole lot healthier!
For 2019, our greatest challenge is going to be getting our finances squared away so his nibs can retire the end of the year. Unless, of course, our medical bills keep mounting! (I’m already scheduled to have surgery on my eyes in January and February. Not a very auspicious beginning!)
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How about you? What have you been struggling with?
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Picture Sources:
Quote — Jar of Quotes
Bill — KERA News
Cookies — Martha Stewart
Retirement — USA Today
Impromptu Promptlings 
I didn’t know Bran was allergic to peanuts. I feel for him – and for you.
Laura had a peanut allergy and almost died when she was four. It was one of the few times she went into anaphylactic shock, but even having someone eating peanuts brought out the terrifying symptoms. She’s was lucky – she grew out of it. They said at the time that it was incurable.
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We kind of thought Bran had grown out of it. We go to Texas Roadhouse to eat now and then and there are peanuts everywhere. The dust is thick in the air. Yet he’s never had a reaction in there. I think every time it’s happened for him it’s been because he’s touched peanut what-ever-it-was. What happens if Laura touches them? Can she eat peanut butter? Bran was that age, too, when we found out.
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As far as I know, Laura has never touched a peanut. I told her about the guy I knew whose brother – a doctor – was allergic to peanuts. One evening the brother was in a pub. He picked up a peanut from a bowl on the bar and started to describe the symptoms. He had no idea that just handling a peanut could kill him, but it did. I don’t like scaring my kids, but if it keeps the alive…
Laura is still terrified of peanuts. She doesn’t even know what they taste like. As a teen she had a boyfriend who ate Snickers bars around her. She had no bad effect from that, and she hasn’t suffered any real symptoms since, which is why I say she must have grown out of it. A couple of months ago she rang me about 5 mins after eating some fancy bread. She was panicky as her throat felt scratchy. I knew that if it was down to peanuts she’d be in choking by then, but told her to make sure Dave had the car keys ready. I stayed on the phone for a few minutes to reassure her, but I knew she was OK. The times she went into anaphylactic shock it was so quick that she was out of it very quickly, so she can’t judge whether or not it’s serious. I think she’s mildly allergic to some kind of seed.
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Yeah, if it’s on my own degree action it comes and goes fairly quickly. That’s how Brandon knew that this time was different. It lasted for 15 minutes and then he decided it was time to go to the emergency. Well, that and the fact that he couldn’t talk and was having trouble breathing. It’s such a worry. I hope Laura doesn’t ever have anything to do with peanuts just in case.
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“How sad that you can buy a gun in this country for less than a med that can save your life…” This really sums it up, doesn’t it? I’m sorry you’ve been through so much. As we age, it seems as though health (and health care) are at the top of the list of concerns. It is for us, too. We’re trying to figure out the best way forward. Lots of love sent your way, C xxx
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Thanks, Martha. And you’re right. At the moment we’re trying to decide whether to switch over to medicare. It’s a scary proposition as our house is not yet paid off. $4000 a year for both of us.
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Hi Calen…we too have been caught up in the crazy medical/hospital world but most thankfully, it may be over…I am terrified that all the scary medical issues will resurface again and catch us unaware…but we need to be hopeful that there is light at the end of this craziness and move forward. Sending you and your family all positive thoughts to good health…I do so enjoy your fabulous no nonsense take on life. 🙂
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Oh, I do my share of whining. I just spare you on my blog! LOL And what I’ve been through is nothing compared to you guys. I can’t think of anything scarier than having a child’s life on the line, Jeanne. You have been so strong through it all. ❤
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How scary for Bran! I can’t believe the cost of those pens. I must admit I have no idea how much they are here. My challenge still current is learning all about e-banking…. getting there.
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😀 It’s great! Beats going out of the house. You should do the Walmart pick-up thingy where you order your groceries on line and then go pick them up without even getting out of the car. It’s a life saver for me. (Do you have Walmarts there?)
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No Walmarts here. We have ALDI and now some other german supermarket that is going to be muscling in on the action as well. We can have groceries delivered – for a fee of course. I think Coles does the pick up thingy here. We still go shop. Himself is my tag along muscle man now that he’s retired 🙂
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So scary about the peanut butter. Wow! Glad he was able to get to urgent care!
My husband is having trouble at work. A couple of weeks ago he thought he might be fired; that was an overreaction, but he really needs to leave this situation. As a result I’ve started looking for full-time work that will give us health insurance benefits. I’ve been enjoying working part-time, though, and am not sure that full-time work is in the cards. It’s turned out to be a very uncertain time for us!
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I’m so sorry to hear that, Karen. It’s so scary to quit a job before you have another one lined up, isn’t it… And the whole insurance thing these days is downright terrifying to me. I hope you guys are able to sort things out. I’ll be praying for you. Let meknow what happens. {{{Karen}}}
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Vicious plumber who did two small jobs left us with barely any hot water, called him back he then disconnected our boiler not giving us a chance to call for a second opinion, that was last Wednesday. No heating NO hot water since. Showering under freezing water I am getting desperate, Atrial Fibrillation and Heat Failure not helping. Lads do all they can, house is freezing, Daisy so cold too, trying all to keep wrapped up. I am screaming, screaming inside. Hope you are better, love to you all. Nightmare with your healthcare, you should come here Cheryl.
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Good Lord, Anna! What is this dude’s problem? Isn’t the weather starting to turn and get cold there? You keep bundled up, girl, or I’ll HAVE to come over there with my whompin’ stick! You don’t want that!!! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Hello, my friend. I’m sorry to hear that 2018 has been so rough. I’m glad to hear that Bran was able to get immediate care after his encounter with the peanut-laden cookie. The cost of Epipens — and so many life-saving meds — is astronomical. And, yes, it is a shame that a gun is so much more accessible cost-wise. ❤
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Hey, Judie! It’s good to see you back. How has your hiatus been? I hope it has energized you and got your mojo going again. ❤
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Hi calensariel! I don’t know why, but I just saw this today. My hiatus is almost over. Now I need a hiatus from my hiatus! ❤
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That’s exactly how I always feel when I get home from a vacation. What does that tell us? Maybe we don’t know how to plan vacations or hiatuses?
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