me to a T - Tracey Odachowski

I am thankful for this cute little pine cone turkey that Gabe made me. I love that he loves school.

I am thankful that every night I get to sleep next to my soulmate.

I am thankful that I have two, beautiful, healthy children that, although loudly at times, manage to fill my every day with laughs.

I am thankful that God has made me appreciate everything that comes my way. Nothing has come easily, especially as of late, but that has made me be thankful for it even more when it does.

I am thankful for meeting people who are finally taking care of me.

I am thankful for the many people that I have met and known. Friends have come my way in the most unusual and unorthodox of ways.

I am thankful that the pies I burned Monday night turned out to taste better than any I’ve ever made. (go figure)

I am thankful for Monica, whose family is welcoming us with open arms for dinner tonight.

I am thankful for my parents. I may have not always agreed with them on the way I was being raised, but without it, I wouldn’t be where I am now. So much of what makes me the person I am is grounded in what I experienced in my younger years.

I am thankful for having a big brother, with all of his metrosexual pink shirts, and for the wonderful sister-in-law and nephew he gave me. I am not thankful for all of the times he slamed my fingers in the car door, chased me through the house, pressed my foot down on the accelerator the first time I drove, called me ski-slope nose, teased me in choir, ….

I am thankful for scrapbooking because I can save memories for my kids.

I am thankful for my many good fortunes in the scrapbooking industry this year, and pray for more to come. It makes me feel good that I can actually DO something.

I am thankful for this blog because somehow I am able to speak better on it than I can with my own mouth.

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Also of note, last night I received a call from Rachel, my new case manager at Liberty Mutual. (SOOOO glad to get rid of the case manager I had previously - talk about no personality). I was supposed to have a final decision on my disability by yesterday. However, it seems that my eligibility date has been wrong. In fact, I wasn’t eligible for benefits until March 1, 2004. Why is this important? Well, there is a ‘pre-existing condition’ clause in my insurance: “Benefits are not paid for disabilities which are the result of conditions in any way related to a condition that existed before you become insured.” Why does that matter? I was being seen for my pregnancy starting in February. So, if they determine that my current condition is related to the pregnancy, they can chose not to cover me. And that’s alot of money GONE. The good news is that Rachel is going to try really hard to make it work. It almost sounded as if she was in tears to have to tell me all of this. Normally, they cannot have a case in their office for more than 10 days, but she has requested to keep in longer so that she can get this worked out. She will send it back to the medical staff for review on Monday, and hopefully I will get an answer by the end of next week. I’m trying to stay hopeful, stay positive, pray that we will still have a good Christmas and that this won’t ruin it for me, but it is hard. This has been such a roller coaster, and I just can’t take much more. I promised myself as a child, when we had so very little, that I would never struggle for money again in my life. And here I am. We are still ok for a little while, but it is so very hard to see the savings you worked so hard for dwindle before your eyes, and you have nothing you can do about it. And feeling as if it is all my fault. But alas, it is Thanksgiving, and I need to stay optimistic, so I must find something to be thankful for, despite all of the pain (both physically and mentally) that this has caused me. So:

I am thankful for Rachel, who seems to be trying very hard for someone she doesn’t know.

I am thankful for being able to spend so much time with my children over the past year and a half.

I am thankful for the days I can walk without pain. I love those days.

I am thankful that not all things come easily, and that God can keep me humble because of it.

A very very Happy Thanksgiving to all. Please use this day to give thoughT to what you are truly thankful for. Love to all and God bless.