No Time

Ugh.

I don't know how people do it.

Tonight?  In honor of Bookie's birthday? 

Just a couple photos of Anna Helen hanging out with her friends Abe and Lil....

Join the Movement: A Look Back at "Doing Something About It"

I did my doing something about it...

And I did done it again.

And I did still doing it.

And now its National Infertility Awareness Week, I have to get up on sharing it with the infertility blogger community.

So republished from November 2012:

Doing Something About It

So back in the day when we were beginning wading through the infertility world, I pulled a major Susann.

I love my job. I really love it. What I don't love is it's coverage for infertility treatments. For a huge media conglomerate, it is just stinky.

The average IUI with injectibles runs from $5,000-$8,000. The average IVF can cost up to $20,000. PER CYCLE. There's no insurance mandate to cover fertility treatments. I do get it. But it stinks when you want to build a family and the maximum lifetime coverage to do so (which mine is) is $4,000. Total. That barely covered the medicines on one IUI. Many plans cover absolutely nothing.

Of the dozens of choices available to federal families, only two have any type of infertility coverage.

Our military families wounded in action don't have the ability or coverage to use reproductive technology to build their families.

So that means we, and so many other families out there are spending exorbinate amounts of money to build their families. All for the HOPE that something works.

We were lucky. My odds were better than many others. Other families spend tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket for basically the possibility of winning the World Series of Poker. I realize this is a choice, but I also realize that it is nice to actually have a choice, rather than have one predetermined response given to you.

If wounded warriors ability to build a family is impacted by a wound received in theatre, their IUI or IVF treatment isn't covered.

Thought, hell... I live in DC... there's got to be SOMETHING out there that's talking about this. Supporting women and families. Advocating for better access to care. Helping people navigate the process and connecting the infertility community.

So I found RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association. I participated in one of their blogger challenges back in the day, and then picked up the phone, called the President, and said "I'm a lobbyist, how can I help."

And Barb let me. She welcomed me. She appreciated my experience in dealing with military families and defense health issues. She let me connect her with wounded warriors and policymakers.

Fast forward to today. About a month ago, I was asked by leadership and board of RESOLVE to join their Public Policy Working Group. We're charged with driving some of the strategic goals of RESOLVE's approach to public policy, to keep our eyes on what's happening now and what could happen.

I'm proud.

I'm doing something about it.

Siblings

Everyone's first question after "they are HOW FAR apart?" is "how is Robbie dealing?"

We're having fun up in here.

We have successfully implemented the "gentle touch", the baby sign for baby, and the laying down next to Anna Helen on the blanket.

Now on to avoiding the trampling.

Sleep regression & other happening

We have hit something of a wall with young Miss Anna Helen in regards to the sleep.  The obvious answer is that she is teething but no sign of teeth so far.  She is somewhat particular about when she goes to sleep as well. I swear it seems like if she is not in bed by 6:50 the world is going to end.  We missed the window by 5 minutes tonight and I thought she was going to shake rafters loose.  It is a good 45 minutes process to get her settled down all the while praying that she does not wake up Robbie.  Fortunately Robbie takes after me - the lad is sound sleeper.

In other news, Robbie was sick the end last week and most of the weekend and now appears to be ready to get back on the day care horse after being out Thursday and Friday.  Susann gets the Mom goldstar - she was Nurse Kitty to a sick little boy.

Lord willing we will stop the stomach virus at 1 member of the Edwards' household.