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| I get this way when drug addicts with PCP in their systems come into the ER threatening to KILL my husband because he refused to give them drugs the night before.
....... and I get slightly more upset when the drug addict is discharged!!!!!!!!
........ without calling the police; mental health services; OR my husband who happens to be arriving in less than one hour for his shift...... IN. THE. DARK!
......... All I have to say is God bless our nurses! ~They had enough sense to WARN him before coming to work.
Having drug addicts threaten to kill Jeff or our family isn't too unusual. Most of the time we shrug it off. More often than not they are addicted to narcotics (downers) and haven't held a job in forever. I've dismissed them as too lazy to work up enough energy to pull off anything as ambitious as revenge. Most of the time they're just trying to manipulate the doctor into capitulating. It could be a Dumb assumption, but so far so good.
but in this case: THE GUY WAS ON PCP for crrrrrrrrrying out LOUD!!!!
WARNING: Medical Staff who think that aggressive drug seeking patients just need a big dose of "liberal" compassion and a prescription for narcotics should be considered VERY DANGEROUS!
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What is happening to this country????
Are Liberal politicians presenting the American people with facts or are they hoping to create division ?
~Creating discontent for the purpose of acquiring more political power?
Honestly, I wish I could challenge anyone who supports the proposed healthcare legislation to spend ONE WEEK in the ER with my husband. My guess is that they'd be pullin' their hair out before the week was over. Here's something to consider: Think of the most demanding person in your life. Now multiply their irritation level by 10......
~ emmmmmm, maybe more like 20.
Now imagine seeing 5 or 6 of these people each & every time you go to work. Here's the thing. If you don't give them what they ask for (in this case drugs), you'll likely be called every obscene name possible.
You may ask, why not give them some Dilaudid and send them on their way? ..... a few doctors do just that. But Drug addicts tend to see multiple doctors and have multiple scripts filled throughout the month. In the case of tonight's crazy man, he had had a script for 30 Vicodin filled the day before he saw my husband. Since he was alive and able to make it into the ER today, he's likely using the drugs as well as selling them.
Hopefully not to kids.
But let me dispel some myths propagated by individuals (in positions of power) who ought to know better...... and trust me, these politicians DO know better.
MYTH #1. Individuals not insured don't have access to healthcare.
WRONG: I'm not talking about Free Healthcare Clinics either. Free clinics provide vaccines and routine/ non emergent care. I'm talking about every patient that presents to the Emergency Room for ANY reason at all, WILL be treated regardless of their ability to pay. Period!!
EMTALA law requires that the ER physician treat everyone. ALL DOCTORS "on call" must treat presenting patients. That includes Physicians of every specialty: Surgeons (even plastic surgeons); Internists; Cardiologists..... etc.
If you're having a stroke or heart attack ~ you are treated
If you've been in an accident and need surgery ~you are treated
If you've mangled your hand and a plastic surgeon is on call ~you are treated.
MYTH #2. Minorities and the poorest of the poor are the least likely to receive services.
WRONG: Large trauma hospitals are located in the inner cities. More people= larger; better equipped hospitals.
Minorities live mostly in large cities. The hospitals available to them have a wider range of Specialists and services. If you get shot, you're chances of survival are greater if you're in a city like Chicago. If you're in a smaller town with a smaller hospital, you run into more difficulty.
For instance, If you're shot (or experience any trauma) in a rural setting, the transport time is greater. Once you make it to the smaller (rural) Emer. Dept. they're going to transfer you to the facility best capable of handling your injuries. Those hospitals are in and around big cities........ Meanwhile time is ticking. In trauma and cardiac emergencies, Time = Life
MYTH #3. Doctors do unnecessary tests & procedures to make extra cash.
WRONG: Doctors "over-test" their patients because of liability. If you come into the ER and complain of a raging head ache, you may find yourself being threaded through the CAT scan machine within the hour. My husband tests THE TAR out of patients who present with pain of "undetermined origin". The reason? If you're a doctor and you don't test adequately (read: A TON),
YOU. WILL. BE. SUED., eventually.
Overly litigious people and unscrupulous lawyers are responsible for higher mal-practice premiums. This is another reason the cost of healthcare continues to rise for those who pay (important point)
You are also paying more because anywhere from 20% to 50% of patients don't pay their bills at all. Bill collection varies based on the area the hospitals are located. Typically the bigger the city; the lower the collection rate. The last 10 years has seen E.D. s in Florida and in some areas of California with a high illegal immigrant population shut down due to lack of payment.
One hundred years ago Americans would never have considered not paying their personal debt. The past 60 years has seen the growth of government along with the growth of entitlement programs. And gradually some Americans began to feel...... Entitled. ~Can't pay it? Not a problem. I won't!
Medical costs get passed on to those who will pay and hospitals/doctors that "eat" the cost.
Most recently our President suggested that some doctors perform procedures that aren't really necessary. That's just bologna! He's suggesting nothing short of malpractice ~ Performing unnecessary surgery is a law suit waiting to happen. Most doctors do whatever they can to avoid going to court.
Also, Have you ever tried to get a regular doctor for you or your family? Did you need a referral from another doctor? Did you have to wait a few weeks before you could get a routine appointment? It's because their practices are busy. In other words, they don't need to create work. It's already there.
That's my rant for now. I'm done.
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|  October 3, 2009
Because of my large family, People often ask me how I'm able to get everything done. Do I do all the subjects required/suggested for their grade?/ Am I able to keep up with the household chores?/ What about you and your husbands time alone? Do you have kids that get lost in the sauce?? And on and on...... I really don't mind these questions even if they are asked with a motivation to shoot down the whole idea of having a large family. And most of the time these questions aren't asked in order to lead me to a certain conclusion.
⚡⚡⚡ Sudden Epiphany ⚡⚡⚡ :: Light bulb goes on :: "Wow!!! I can't believe it!!!! These kids ARE a lot of trouble......
hmmm, why did I have them anyway?" ;)
On the other hand, I've never felt like I was a spokesperson for large/homeschooled families. Not at all. In fact, I tend to shy Away from people who project an "institutional" message. Those individuals who have taken up a cause whether it be Healthy eating; Homeschooling; holistic approach to medicine; Large families for everyone, blah blah blah and on and on.
Most people who fall into this trap are too dogmatic and have a terrible case of tunnel vision that actually inhibits their ability to serve others. Which, ironically, is the very thing they are dying to do.
Anyway, back to the main point. :)
Here are my answers to these questions:
Q: Do I do all the subjects required/ suggested for the grade my child is in:
A: no (at least not in the way the curriculum describes)
Q: Am I able to keep up with ALL the household chores? (This should be rephrased to: are WE able to keep up with all the household chores)
A: no
Q: Do you and your husband find time to be alone.
A: Yes! ~ (yay ... my first yes) Ever since our older kids were little they would, from time to time ,hear their Daddy say to them in a firm but soothing way, "Mommy and I are going to take a little nap now. So try and be very quiet while you do school/ watch a tape/ play outside/ clean your rooms/ play a game etc etc....
This is our time "alone"
It was revealed as recently as 2 months ago that our oldest children had no idea what nap time meant for Mom and Dad. I looked in shock at the faces of my 3 oldest children (mind you: ages 23, 21, and 20)
and exclaimed, "You didn't know?!!!"
The first response was from Deborah (looking hilariously appalled) "You mean you never actually SLEPT?!!!!
Me: (defensively) Sometimes we did.....
Erin: *chuckling* I've always suspected.
Jay: (man, I can't wait to get married) ← Actually, that one's a joke.
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And yes there are times when I feel that some of them get kind of lost in the sauce. The little ones are my constant companions because of having to actively teach them every day. The middle ones who are mostly self-study don't get as much individual attention. And it just so happens that these middle ones Mark, Amanda and Michael don't have very demanding personalities either. They are very content to not be the center of attention. Actually most of my kids are like that except Siobhan, but she's 4.
The amount of "stuff" that needs to get done in one week is really daunting sometimes.
Piano lessons
Soccer practice/games
Flying lessons
Doctor/dentist Appts
Jeff's Training w/ the kids
Bible studies
Visitors (we have quite a few)
Schooling
Shopping
Cleaning
Cooking
Maintenance of cars/ house
Bills
So yeah, things definitely slip through the cracks on occasion.
I know The Lord has called me to be a mother~ not the perfect mother. I know that MY challenges are the same and yet different then other Mom's challenges. And it's so nice to get encouragement from other ladies who feel the same sort of guilt and pressure when it comes to performing our duties as The Lord has called us to. Sometimes it's an encouragement just to hear from other Mom's that things really AREN"T going so well. Not that we would want to revel in one another's misery ...
~ more because we need to know that we're not alone. ~ It is a struggle common to all women.
I don't know what you all think, but for me there are days when I might wake up feeling..... FAT; or behind in work; or overwhelmed with the house; or buried in bills; or disconnected with Jeff. On these days, my initial state of mind seems to wash the day with my predominant mood.
We need to go to Jesus..... yes!! But we need to go to each other as well and connect with others who experience the same struggles. This is something I am not very good at..... Picking up the phone and calling (everyone who really knows me on this blog ~ knows I speak the truth here.)
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Anyway, I wanted to post some pictures from my last weekend:
Friday Night Erin came home from UVA. We also had a very good friend pay an unexpected visit. Ken Good is a friend of Jeff's. They have been training, off and on, for years.
Jeff has been working lately on training his sons and daughter (Amanda) with the Systema program. Ken is an instructor and uses this program as well as other combative techniques.



 It is really fascinating to sit in on these sessions!
Saturday Afternoon all the Berrys and some good friends went to Sarah's soccer game.


 Sarah (Shookie) is #4
 Erin "supporting" the team

 Enthusiastic fans doing the worst wave in Sport's history.
Poor Michael ~ maybe a little bit embarrassed by our display of devotion towards player #4
Love this picture.... And the look of tender love on Whit-Whit's face as see looks down on Ben. :)
 Siobhan in her Spidey outfit cheering for "Sarah-cuda"!!!!!


 Game over...


On the drive home..... What a gorgeous day it was!
Later that evening, Sarah went to The Harvest Dance and brought Ian along with her.
After Church Service and Fellowship luncheon, we got ready to go to Deborah's induction Ceremony. She was being accepted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She left for the ceremony earlier than the rest of us because we had to pick Ben and Ian up from a party they were at.
 We breezed into the auditorium just in time to watch her walk up and receive her certificate.......
 The Members of ΦΘΚ. (There is no secret handshake...... at least that's what they tell me)

And on Monday we went out to celebrate Amanda's 16th birthday (which is actually tomorrow the 7th) We have a traditional dinner date. This time Erin came along because we hadn't seen for 3 weeks and won't again for another 2 weeks. College life takes adjusting to and not just for the student....... we've all missed her quite a bit.
 Happy Sixteenth Birthday, Manda!! ♥

Our little "Moo-Moo". We love her!!!
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