Father's Day Weekend---And a few other days too :)

This weekend we celebrated Matt and his first Father's Day. Well, his first Father's Day as a father of a baby in the womb. :)

When I asked him what he wanted to do, he said he wanted to go eat BBQ at a local place in town. We had been to this place before and it wasn't terrible but it wasn't great either. Last week, I heard that Tryon, NC had their Blue Ridge BBQ Festival going on so I asked Matt if he wanted to go and he was all in! 

Here are a few pictures from that night. 

All dressed up and ready for our date! 

There were lots of competitors there and some of their set ups were so fun! 

And obviously, we were excited for BBQ. Our first stop was for BBQ Nachos and let me just say...They rocked! We shared. 

 

Next stop was for Roasted Corn on the Cob! YUM!!

And lastly, we got a brisket sandwich and we were disappointed. It was dry and not that good. BOO!

We stopped to listen to some music and these 3 guys were cracking us up. :)

This little girl was getting down! Matt took this picture of her shirt because I thought it was cute! Maybe I'll make one in the future. 

As we were leaving, they were inflating this hot air balloon and we watched as they did. We were both a little sad because one of our goals is to ride in a hot air balloon together but since I'm with child, we won't be doing that just yet! 

Saturday morning, I took my guy to Hardee's. Despite his sleepy eyes, he actually slept late! :)

He got a gravy biscuit and was happy! 

We spent the whole weekend together and just had fun. We relaxed, watched movies, cooked, had Krispy Kreme, took a nap, and other good stuff. Love you Matt! 

While I'm here, I'll just post a few more pictures from recently. 

This was Matt's joke hair-do one day. He didn't leave the house like this! 

Mom gave me this bookshelf when we were in Louisiana. We were excited because we knew it would be perfect for cookbooks and it fits just right in the corner of our living room! 

Dinner one night! Mexican hamburgers. YUM!

We have been looking for a devotional to do together. We decided we wanted one that we could do at dinner because once we get in the bed, it's sleeping time! We walked in the store and not long after, we saw this one. Perfect, huh? 

Onions from our garden! YUM!!

And Zucchini too! 

First big baby item we received. The diaper bag! YAHOO!! 

A cloth diaper I ordered from Zulily. Geaux Tigers!! 

Auntie Jill and Uncle Garrett sent Baby M's first burp cloth. LOVE! 

My guy and I leaving church Sunday. Keeping him! 

Two more zucchini from our garden! 

And last but not least, a little balloon wreath making. I am so grateful for this little side business! 

Self Pay---Maternity and Baby Delivery

When Matt and I first moved to Spartanburg, we knew that we were entering into a season when we would prepare to add to our family. Since we knew that, we decided to drop the insurance we had through my full time job and get a private plan, in hopes that when we had our first child, I would move to a PRN (as needed) position and we wouldn't have benefits then.

When we got a private plan, we didn't realize that it didn't have a maternity benefit. We didn't realize that, however, until we had the policy almost a year and were closer  and closer to trying for a baby. At that point, it was too late for me to get a policy through work and we knew we would have to make something else work.

There was the option of a private maternity plan but so often with those plans, the benefit doesn't out-weigh the cost of the premium. For instance, I read several coverage plans for maternity in which the only things covered were the doctor's visits themselves and the delivery. No labs were covered. No ultrasounds were covered. And those things can be expensive. When we realized that, we decided to pursue another option.

I had read a blog a while back where a woman had this same issue and she and her husband decided to pay cash through the hospital and the OBGYN's office. It seemed daunting but I decided to look into it.

We called the doctor and discovered that if you go the "self-pay" route, you are given a 50% discount off the top for all services. They also informed us that I would be given a payment plan for months 3, 4, 5, and 6 which would cover the cost of ALL doctor's appointments, the delivery and my follow up. If additional tests or procedures are provided those will be given a 50% discount as well.

When we found that out and received the total, we were ecstatic.

We then called the hospital who told us that they also provide a 50% discount for your entire bill if you pay within 30 days after delivery discharge. They require a deposit and if you figure up what expected costs should be minus the 50%, it comes to the amount of the deposit. So basically, we could leave the hospital after delivery (barring anything unexpected) and have our bill paid in full!

We saved the entire deposit amount prior to even beginning to try to conceive and since then have paid all but the 6 month payment to the OB. I cannot tell you how good it feels to know that we didn't waste money on a possible meaningless maternity insurance and will just pay cash.

Now, yes, we realize we are still paying money but we know that the money we are paying goes directly to the doctor and the hospital for services rendered and that's what feels nice about it!

We also took out a hospital indemnity policy which is not insurance but basically they pay you if you are in the hospital, so we will receive some money back after the delivery through that policy and that's exciting!

There are some issues we have run into such as lab payments because those are done separately but that was a lesson learned!

Overall, we are, so far, pleased with our decision and are grateful God has blessed us financially to be able to do it. When the baby is born and I stop working full time, we will all switch over the Matt's insurance which does have a good maternity benefit for the future.

I would love to talk to anyone who is interested in this topic more. If you are, let me know. If not, I just wanted to put this information out there and I want to remember the blessing of all of this for the future. :)

Bzz Agent--AMDRO PowerFlex Pest and Weed System

In the most recent BzzAgent campaign, we received the AMDRO PowerFlex Pest and Weed System to review. We weren't sure about the product at first because we don't have a ton of yard maintenance to do. However, we received it right about the time we were starting a vegetable garden. So it was perfect for us to use! 

Here's the full system we received. 

In action...

We used the Yard and Perimeter Outdoor to spray ants. For this, we found that we got mixed results. In some cases, it worked and in some, it didn't. 

We also used it to spray weeds in our yard. 

For this one, we used the Lawn Weed Killer and it obviously worked. 

We probably would not have purchased this product prior to the review but now that we have tried it and realized what good work it does, we have recommended it to several people and will consider purchasing more in the future. It is available at most hardware type stores including The Home Depot.

**We received this product for free from BzzAgent. All opinions are our own.

A Miracle before our very eyes!

I just wanted to pop in and share an awesome miracle! 

In March, during my first OB visit, I had some blood drawn for what the nurse said were "initial labs". I had already informed the billing department that we were NOT using maternity insurance so we needed to know about all charges because we would be paying out of pocket for EVERYTHING. 

The billing department apparently did not get the information clearly because they still tried to file with our regular insurance. On May 9th, I received a form from the lab company saying that they needed to have further insurance information because my health insurance denied the claim for the labs. Along with this form was an invoice number as well as an amount of the claim of $716.00!!!

I immediately called the lab company and explained to them that the insurance wouldn't cover it and that it shouldn't have been filed initally. She was VERY helpful and understood where I was coming from. She said that given that I was self-pay, they could give me a 25% discount. I was a little bummed (read: a LOT bummed) that they could only give that amount off but I was grateful, nonetheless, for a reduction in the amount. 

At the end of the conversation, the customer service rep said we shouldn't pay it yet because it was still out to the insurance and that I should await the full bill and then give them the information she had provided to me. 

Today, we got that bill and I was holding my breath when I opened! 

That's when the miracle happened! The bill was originally $716 but the bill reflected adjustments of $568.50 and making our bill only $147.50!!!!!!! 

We were both stunned and so excited!

I quickly wrote that check and mailed it! 

Thank you, Jesus!

Baby Bedding

Hey There!

I need some help with baby bedding.

We aren't finding out the gender so we need it to be neutral. We both really like gray/white color combo but can't seem to find one that we love. Well, let me re-phrase that, we found a look we loved and ordered it and it feels so cheap and poor quality. That is sad because it wasn't cheap!!

I am thinking I may end up just getting a bumper and crib skirt and may have them made. Anyone out there do that? Or know someone who does?

I'll take all of the help I can get!

I'm also not dead set on the gray/white. That's just something we have liked so far!

Scentsy

Well, as of July 1st, I will no longer be a Scentsy Consultant. I joined Scentsy in August of last year because we had some extra cash and I knew that I would eventually be staying home with a baby or babies and we thought it would be good as extra income.

When I joined, there were no minimum requirements in place but as of April 1st, they have instated a $150 earning for one month every three months. This isn't that much but since I work full time right now and I am pregnant, this just isn't something I can feasibly do.

Matt and I talked about it and decided that maybe that just means I need to let it go. I'm a bit sad because I hoped to use it as income down the road but also, I know that I don't need to over-do anything right now. That being said, as of June 30th, I'll no longer be selling Scentsy. I know some great girls who do sell the products and I'll be glad to contact them if you are interested in purchasing anything. Thanks for your business thus far!

Pregnancy Post--Details, Happenings, Etc (Thus far)

I'm 18 weeks today!!!! Matt and I decided we would start taking some kind of weekly picture this week but we haven't decided what we will do yet. I'm not really showing so there isn't really much to report there.

Since we kept our little excitement for a while, I've been keeping notes to write a random brain dump pregnancy post. Aaaaannnnnddd, here it is!

(Side note: If you are not interested in reading this, just pass it right by. I just wanted to write it all down for myself! :))

February 5th, 2013--LMP

March 1st, 2013--Found of my best friend was pregnant!

March 4th and 13th, 2013--Had some spotting and really thought that I was not pregnant because it was similar to what happened the month before.

March 11th, 2013--called the baby "appleseed" although, we still did not know we were pregnant.

March 16th, 2013--I bought a pregnancy test and on that same day I had my first real craving which was brownies and ice cream!

March 17th, 2013--Had a positive pregnancy test but didn't tell Matt

March 19th, 2013--belched aloud at work :)

March 21st, 2013--First appointment which confirmed pregnancy

March 22nd, 2013--Matt asked "When do you pee on a stick?" :)))

March 26th, 2013--call the baby blueberry; Told Matt he was going to be a dad on his birthday!!! :)

March 29th, 2013--Decided to change doctors from Carolina OBGYN to the Woman's Clinic because of where they would allow me to deliver.

**Side note** At this point, nothing was making me sick but some foods were just completely unappealing to me such as peanuts and popcorn!

April 5th, 2013--Having mild discomfort after having to slam on the brakes while driving; was a little worried that day

April 8th, 2013--accidentally rear ended someone and spent the day resting; no symptoms

April 9th, 2013--9 weeks!!! saw my new doctor(s); saw the baby on the portable ultrasound machine;

April 10th, 2013--wanted chocolate chip cookies and while we were making them, the oven went out! I sent Matt out for my first pregnancy craving!!

April 15th, 2013--lots of belly aches during this week; no desire to eat; it was weird because it wasn't related to anything specific and I just felt yuck but it only lasted 2 days;

**At this time I was really enjoying salads and ICE COLD WATER; No tap water for this girl.

I also had the stomach virus twice during the pregnancy so far...talk about BLAH!

Early May, Talked to Crystal (ShopCrystalFaye) about monogram items that are gender specific to be delivered ahead of time and opened at the hospital since we will not find out the gender ahead of time!

May 9th, 2013-got to see baby on portable ultrasound again; started buying letters for the alphabet wall

May 12th, 2013--First Mother's day; got breakfast in bed from McDonalds; and a card for pampering
During this week, I really could feel the baby growing and also could feel my uterus moving etc. Cool stuff.

I've been wanting hamburger steak, even a hot dog one night; eating LOTS of peanut butter.

In May, my legs also started falling asleep some and giving me little issues at night but it's fleeting and doesn't bother me much at all.

Between May 24th and June 3rd, we got to tell all of our friends and family about the baby and that was a blast!

June 6th, 2013--Heard the babies heartbeat for the first time. We had seen it on portable ultrasound twice but had not heard it until this day. That was AWESOME!

That's all for now!

Alphabet Wall

Lots of fun pictures and videos of when we told people are going to be posted (eventually) but until then, here's something fun!

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to have an Alphabet wall in our nursery. I love reading, words, letters etc and I think the idea is so neat. Since we live in a rental and can't paint, etc, it's something we can do to personalize the space. Here is one of my inspiration pictures.

The names we have chosen have the initials "MMM" so the letter "M" will be the focal point and we will use one that we received as a wedding gift. 

So far, we have the letters: 

M, S, K, P, Z

We need the letters: 

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, L, N, O, Q, R, T, U, V, W, X, Y

We are wanting a wide variety of letters but none that are too big or too small. If you see any fun letters anywhere, let me know and I'll go check them out! 

Talking in my sleep

Matt often tells me that I talk in my sleep. This isn't new information because all of my friends from high school told me the same thing when we had sleepovers. When Matt works the late shift and/or I'm VERY tired, I do it more often.  This is how this most recent sleep chat went.

(Matt gets up to go to the bathroom)
(I sit straight up in the bed)

Me: We need to leave a note!
Matt: What?
Me: We NEED to leave a note!
Matt: For what?
Me: Because we are sharing that bathroom now.
Matt: I don't understand what you are saying.
Me: Just go
(I promptly lay back down and fall asleep)

Always something funny happening at our house!

BIG NEWS!!!!

Matt and I are pleased to announce that we are going to be parents!!! 

We shared the big news with our family while on our trip. I'll share LOTS of details soon!