In search of the straw...

...that broke the camels back. Apparently that is my mission at this point in life. In the last couple of posts, I've gone over our medical issues. Now, maybe I should go over the rest of our "life experiences".

Our foster child, who is incredibly bright and sweet, is also one of the most difficult kids I have ever met. He is manipulative, and has learned how to milk the system and most adults for everything they have to offer. For instance, in school, he is continually getting into trouble in class, and then getting sent down to the office, to do his work with the social worker. Problem is, he enjoys this. I mean, get sent out of class to have quiet time with this woman who cuts your work in half, spends most of the time talking to you and making jokes, and then makes sure that you don't get written up, because she doesn't want you to think negatively about school. Hello??? The first time I go in and meet her, she is explaining how perplexed she is that their method isn't working, and that he just seems to be getting sent down to the office more and more. Seriously, she's the one with the degree, and I am just a stay at home mom, but when I mentioned my opinion, it was like the light bulb clicked on. But even with me working closely with his teacher, I have still had 5 phone calls home in 7 days, have been to the school 2 times, and had to pick him up early once. Not a good track record. The sad part? This is a major improvement from before. At least at this point, he is actually turning in his school work, completed, and is only getting sent out of class once a day, instead of 3 or 4 times.

But, now, my 6 year old is feeling incredibly left out, because my husband and I are trying to work so hard with our foster son. My son is not a bad kid, so he usually ends up doing his homework at the table with us, and then after dinner he just kind of hangs around. I feel horrible that he is feeling pushed aside, but how do you explain to a 6 year old that you love him more than anything, but at this point, the other child requires a whole lot of watching, without sounding like a total shit head parent?

Our daughter, now that she feels better, is just out of control, the little pain in the ass. I swear, someday I will figure out how to say, "you aren't the boss" in toddler talk, and then maybe she will chill out.

I am in major disagreement with my step father on how to handle our foster child. I agree that counseling is a good idea, I just also think that there have to be bigger consequences for bad behavior other than a "talk". I happen to favor the "yucky chore" consequence, such as picking up the dog poop in the back yard, or having to move rock from the backyard, or so on. Nothing heinous, just not top in a 10 year olds book. But my dad is on the other side of that. He believes in reasoning with a child. There is a reason I am the parent. That's all the reason they need, right.

Oh, and plus, we have started receiving the medical bills from our Friday night foray into the land of the sick 2 year olds. The ambulance bill arrived, and, TADA!!! $897.41. For a 20 minute ride. Let me share how they broke down the charges:

• Base rate: 1 unit: $621.08

• Mileage: 20 units: $257.60

• Disinfect ambulance: 1 unit: $2.86

• Gloves, Exam (pair): 2 units: $0.39

• Linen pack:1 unit: $4.51

AND.... the whole reason we had to take the ambulance......

• Oxygen: 1 unit: $10.97

I can't wait to see what urgent care and the ER are going to charge. Don't forget, we have to pay almost everything out of packet. Well, only the first $5000.00. I guess it could be called chump change, because we are the chumps that signed up for this insurance plan!

I guess that it's not as bad as a lot of people have it, but come on! I thought the saying was that bad things happen in 3's, not 30's! Sorry. I guess I'm turning blogspot into bitchspot. But on the good side, I no longer feel like I am going to explode!!