Sissie left at noon on Saturday. I had a really hard day Friday. Lots of tears. We took Aunty out for her birthday and came home for cake.
Sissie made it home about midnight. I am sure her hubs was glad to see her. She had been gone over 6 weeks. Auntie is still with me, and she is a comfort.
I spent yesterday making Valentine cookies. I bought a new rolling pin when I was in DC. It will roll cookie dough absolutely flat at different heights. So, these cookies rolled out perfectly. It was so nice and fast. Love it! Signe' needed 2 dozen for Williams class and I wanted to continue my tradition of taking cookies to a few shut ins.
Also made two pans of shortbread. William goes to a Catholic school and the Priest there is from Scotland. We took him shortbread a few years ago and he requests it every year.
Chocolate dipped shortbread is so good. I try and only make it at Valentines Day. SO much butter. So delicious.
I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Sissie spoiled me so bad. I did no cooking, no laundry, no real cleaning. She just did everything, and she was sick the whole time she was here. Some kind of rotten cold and cough.
I had a specialist appointment this morning and got paperwork to try and get my meds reduced once I go on Medicare. I can find no drug policy that will pay more than 20% of my $6000.00 a month in meds. So now we begin the great paper chase.
I have a dental appt. at noon today and then it is home to sew and get more paperwork done. My goal this week is to get all of the investment accounts into my name and fill out all paperwork for medical. I also have to meet with a Medicare specialist. I will be glad when this is all done and then I must worry about taxes.... Ugh!
Well at least I cannot say I am bored. Just very, very sad.
Thank you so much for your comments and encouragement it really does help.
Trying to stay afloat in more ways than one.
Kim
Those cookies just look amazing, and I am sure they taste like heaven on earth. Sending you love as you navigate paperwork and all the administrative changes.
ReplyDeleteWell not as bad as I am making it out to be in my head, and I have eaten about 10 cookies and still do not feel better.
DeleteWhatever is going around there must be the same thing going around here. I have been ill for over a month with temp until last Friday. The doctor said it takes a long time to get rid of it. I feel for Sissie being sick so long.
ReplyDeleteThe Valentine sweets look great. I wish I could bake some.
That is a lot of money for meds each month! I met with a guy to figure things out, and he made me crazy! I was already doing all I could before I talked with him. Sometimes, companies will help with the cost. Good luck on this search.
I swear SIssie was sick all 6 weeks she was here.
DeleteTommy said he has plan D with BCBS. It pays 80% of drug costs. Maybe that will help you.
ReplyDeleteThanks checking into it.
DeleteI know you’re sad that Sissie has left. How good she was to you! We all need someone like her in our lives. Best wishes on getting all that paperwork done. I know you’ll be glad to be on the other side of it when it’s all completed.
ReplyDeleteActually, not as bad I thought it was going to be.
DeleteEverything looks so pretty! It's going to be a big adjustment for you having your sister gone.
ReplyDeleteI thought it would be hard, but I have grandkids and my Aunt to fill my time.
DeleteCookies look divine! Last night I went to friends for a Super Bowl party…I was to bring dessert and planned to make a pumpkin pie, but my counters were full of donations for the food bank…so I went to a lovely high end grocery store and bought five of their already made small desserts (petit fours and small cake like things). Oh my they were good. So for ten times the cost of making a pie, I got dessert for the party. I was so glad they were tasty, otherwise it would be have horrifying. I am still in paperwork land, it is endless apparently. I just noticed when they moved an account, they typed my husbands name wrong (thankfully the form I completed was correct). Sigh. Good luck on the drug chase, it is like an Easter egg hunt…there is a solution out there, you just have to find it. Companies do subsidize costs, but it would be far easier to get it covered under a drug plan. Hilogene in Az
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear from you, Hilogene. And, sometimes throwing money at a problem is just what you need in the moment. So glad the desserts were at least delicious!
DeleteYou are right about endless, so many forms but eventually it will all come out in the wash.
DeleteYou've got this, Kim. I can imagine it will be a big adjustment to have your sister gone, so fingers crossed you get into a new rhythm quickly.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the drug chase sounds miserable. Sorry to hear that, and here's hoping you are able to find a solution quickly.
I realized that we need to file married separately this year, and it will save a few thousand dollars. However, this is a giant PITA, so I'm less excited about our taxes than ever, and I always fully dread it. I usually bribe myself with a treat. Maybe two treats this year? ;-)
I am dreading taxes also. I am tempted to just fudge the figure from last year up a bit as they really don't change much year to year. Isn't that awful?
DeleteWhat a blessing Sissie was! You’re good at figuring things out. Don’t forget to ask for help; people love to help, they just need a direction.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Thanks Debbie, I will, I am.
DeleteFirst... you gave me jolt... Sissie gone... sigh you meant she went home BIG SIGH.
ReplyDeleteCall the companies that make the medication. Some do have assistance programs that you will have to run it through as a cash payment instead of your drug ins card. Daughter 4 has done it for years for her Lupus meds, says GoodRx and Mark Cuban pharmacy is good places to look for help also.
Take a picture of the cookie roller... I need to get back to baking
Prayers for you Kim..
Blessed Be
Okay I just love it. I thought about that and then said no one will think that. See ? I was right.lol
DeleteAbsolutely meet with a Medicare specialist, especially at the medicine prices you were quoting. And what was said above: pharmaceutical companies often have assistance programs. Thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteI have paperwork to fill out for the most expensive one. Will meet with someone next week.
DeleteHang in there Kim. I think about you every day! I am so glad you're blogging again. I truly missed your blogs and checked regularly to see if you were back at it. It's still a shock to us so I can't even begin to imagine how you feel! We love you!
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard. I miss him so desperately. But I am happy I don't have to cook dinner every night.
DeleteYou got this. Yes - meet with medicare/social security representatives - they are very helpful. Make sure you let car insurance aware as well - it will change your payment. So many things to change - just go slow and steady.
ReplyDeleteI know you will miss Sissie - but she needs to be home. I wanted NO one here at first - just me, myself and I. I am glad you are surrounded with love - you need it now. Take care.
Sometimes I feel that way, but family is also a comfort.
DeleteNothing beats baking cookies to improve your mood! I know it works for me and eating the cookies helps too. :) You are doing great Kim, and will be an inspiration to others who have suffered a recent loss.
ReplyDeleteI know I have eaten 10 of them and I don't really feel better...
DeleteChocolate-dipped shortbreads are drool-worthy. Do you deliver? Just askin'. xo
ReplyDeleteIt is really good. Butter sugar and white flour how can one go wrong?
DeleteThose cookies look like they are full of love! Good luck with your paperwork!
ReplyDeleteSo much paperwork.
DeleteThe cookies and shortbread look fabulous!!!! Hugs. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty good, I have eaten 10 of the sugar cookies....
DeleteYour baking looks wonderful. I have never tried to dip my shortbread in chocolate. Since I only make it at Christmas I will have to wait to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteHugs.
God bless.
It is very good that way.
DeleteHello, my friend. Your cookies are beautiful. And your soul is too. In your grief you still find time to think of others. Hugs and love from my heart to yours. One day at a time!
ReplyDeleteThanks Billie.
DeleteI don’t know what your meds are, but my DH is was on one as expensive as yours that he could inject prior to being on Medicare. Part D won’t cover it as injectible, but Part B will cover it for infusion at the rheumatologist’s office. I am sure your doc’s office also knows all the strange Medicare rules too. His Rx is Orencia; he had rotated through multiple others pre Medicare. Your cookies look great!
ReplyDeleteI don't want a drip infusion as it takes so much time and them I was sick for about 5 days after, so one week of my month was trashed when I was on drip. But we will see. Thanks
DeleteYes isn’t it crazy what pharmacy and drug/insurance specifics are. Here is just an example, years ago a granddaughter who had epilepsy was on a seizure med that the Dr. was going to slowly taper off of, let’s say she was on 20mg. A day and it was going to 10mg. I was picking it up for my daughter and it was supposed to be like 15.00, but was over 300.00!! Find out that the 20mg. tablet was still that cheap but not the 10mg. That had half the medication in it. Isn’t that nuts! (We broke the tablets in half so even half of 15.00!) sometimes you just need to do a lot research. Just think of those who started at the 10mg. They’d never know and could have continued paying that price. Even terrible that insurance companies pay that because we all pay for it in the end.
ReplyDeleteI know it is such a rat race. I can actually get 1/2 dose of my most expensive med so I am going to see if there is a difference.
DeleteThe cost of healthcare is out of control. I just finished clearing out all my medical bills for 2022. I don't agree with how it's calculated, but at least i don't have medical debt.
ReplyDeleteI will probably have some from Joel when it all comes out of the wash.
DeleteI am so sorry for your loss. I cannot begin to imagine. On the practical side, have you checked the price of your meds on costplusdrugs.com? I'm sorry to sound like a commercial at this horrid time in your life, but while I can't do a single thing to heal your emotional pain, I can at least offer a suggestion that might help with the pain of med prices. :-/
ReplyDelete