Holy Crap! We've been in Europe for over a week now and visited Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Sorrento, Villefrance, and Venice. We are heading to Split, Croatia right now and will be in Greece on Monday. I have taken probably 500+ pictures and have seen things that I never in my lifetime thought I would see. It has been an amazing trip and am doing my best to document most of it so stay tuned to our blog when we return this weekend.
I miss Mason so much it hurts but we have done a good job of staying VERY busy so my mind has been occupied. I brought two books on the trip and finished one so far but there hasn't been a lot of time to read. By the time I get back to the room at night, I crash and we are up early to get of the ship as soon as we dock. So far typing this blog has cost me about $15 so I will type more when I get back home and internet is free. I need to save my time to look at pictures of my sweet Mason. Hope everyone is staying dry in TN. :)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Reality Bites
Reality is setting in that in just a day and a half, I will say goodbye to my sweet boy for two weeks. Today has been quite difficult in facing this reality. I have had to hold back tears twice at the most random times just thinking about it. How weird am I to be so upset just two days before I go on an amazing vacation? Probably not that weird to other Mom's, I'm guessing. I say goodbye to him Thursday morning at 8:30 so please say a prayer for me to be strong and maybe a prayer for my parent's sanity while they keep him during this extended period of time.
Packing update: I am almost all the way packed. I have one more load of laundry to finish and throw the last minute items in the suitcases. YES- I have two VERY LARGE suitcases. I did not heed the advice of: "pack, then remove half." It's just not in my personality to do that. Thanks for that nugget though Terri. :)
Packing update: I am almost all the way packed. I have one more load of laundry to finish and throw the last minute items in the suitcases. YES- I have two VERY LARGE suitcases. I did not heed the advice of: "pack, then remove half." It's just not in my personality to do that. Thanks for that nugget though Terri. :)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Vaca Prep
Well, I never thought this week would actually get here. Before Mason arrived we planned a 2 week Mediterranean cruise with Eric's family. When we planned it, it was a year and a half away which seemed like FOREVER. Now it's finally upon us, and I feel less than a little prepared. I have two suitcases I am trying to pack all kinds of different clothes, long sleeves, short sleeves, jackets, formal dresses, heels, tennis shoes, workout clothes, jeans, shorts...etc.etc.etc. On top of that, I havent' even started packing for Mason's vacation at Gran and Papa's house. To make matters worse, I am notorious for being an overpacker. So much that most trips I get made fun of for how much I bring.. Since it's an overseas flight, you have to pay $100 per bag after your 1st, I am trying my best to be good and only pack essentials (ie. flat iron, curling iron, my strappy black heels, travel iron....kidding..okay. no I'm not.) Anyone a professional packer or have any great packing tips?
Besides the packing, I am trying to mentally prepare myself to leave Mason for two weeks. Do I feel like a bad parent for doing this? Kind of, but I'm not backing out now. Plus, I know he will be in great hands and he will have lots of fun at his Gran and Papa's house. I made Mason a book of pictures of the family so he can see our face while we are gone. YES- I am truly afraid he is going to forget who I am. We also signed up for Skype so we can call and check in....not sure if I am going to let him hear my voice or not. Sometimes, out of sight, out of mind is better. I don't want to upset him but we can at least check in with my parents to hear what he did that day. I have also been buying little toys over the last couple of months that my parents can surprise him with if he's having a rotten day. I am probably being a little presumptuous about all this. Chances are he won't miss me at all and will be perfectly normal and happy the entire time I am gone. However, my ego would like to think the opposite.
Hopefully, I will get one more post in before we leave on Thursday and many post when we return chronicling our trip.
Besides the packing, I am trying to mentally prepare myself to leave Mason for two weeks. Do I feel like a bad parent for doing this? Kind of, but I'm not backing out now. Plus, I know he will be in great hands and he will have lots of fun at his Gran and Papa's house. I made Mason a book of pictures of the family so he can see our face while we are gone. YES- I am truly afraid he is going to forget who I am. We also signed up for Skype so we can call and check in....not sure if I am going to let him hear my voice or not. Sometimes, out of sight, out of mind is better. I don't want to upset him but we can at least check in with my parents to hear what he did that day. I have also been buying little toys over the last couple of months that my parents can surprise him with if he's having a rotten day. I am probably being a little presumptuous about all this. Chances are he won't miss me at all and will be perfectly normal and happy the entire time I am gone. However, my ego would like to think the opposite.
Hopefully, I will get one more post in before we leave on Thursday and many post when we return chronicling our trip.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
My Three Year HSA Analysis
First off, this used to be my personal blog. It used to be called "Deep Thoughts by Eric". Somewhere along the line " and Rachel" got added on to the title and it became "pretty". Now, onto my first deep thought in a while...
Rachel and I have been on an high deductible/HSA health insurance plan for almost 3 years now. I'm a huge proponent of the high deductible HSA plans for a few reasons.
1. The HSA puts responsibility back on the patient to make their own health care decisions. When the insurance companies pay all of your health costs including runny noses and hangnails, costs are going to skyrocket. Until we put health care decisions back into the hands of the consumers, costs are not going back down. This idea is completely opposite from the proposals going through Congress. All of those plans will take even more responsibility away from the consumer.
2. The HSA allows you to put money, tax-free, into mutual funds in order to save for future health care costs. Any cash put into your HSA can be used for health related expenses and you'll never pay taxes on that money.
3. If enough individuals & families switch to HSA plans and begin to scrutinize their health care costs, we would see health care costs decrease accross the board. Health care companies will begin to compete for business. That competition will drive down prices.
Opponents of the HSA argue that it only benefits young, healthy people and ends up making health care more expensive for everyone else. That is probably true as long as so few Americans are on HSA plans. If this type of plan was used by most Americans, the free market competition would lower health care costs for everyone - healthy and sick. And the idea that you as a consumer cannot be counted on to make proper health care choices for yourself and your family should be an insult to all Americans. It's time for us to stop letting Uncle Sam play mommy and daddy.
Many people I've spoken to about the HSA are concerned about making the wrong decision. I decided to go back and look at the last 3 years of data on our HSA plan. I thought that we could provide a good example because each of our last 3 years has been unique. It included a year of Employee+Spouse plan, a year of mixed Employee+Spouse and Family plan and a year on a Family plan. I wanted to see if it really did make sense or if I've just been blowing smoke. Below, is our (almost) 3 year HSA analysis.
As you can see above, our net savings on the high deductible plan was -$2364.31. 2008 was the year we had Mason and ended up paying our full deductible of $5000 in out of pocket expenses. If we had to do it over again, we would probably have switched back to a regular plan during that year. But, in a normal year, we are saving some in health insurance costs.
But, remember that the benefit of the HSA is not necessarily the savings in premium. The real benefit is the money you're able to stash away tax free. During this 2.666 year period, we accumulated around $6500 in the HSA account. This was even during one of the worst stock market periods ever. If you take this savings into account, we still came out with a net savings of $4135.69.
So, even with a year of pregnancy and a year of a baby mixed in, we still came out better over 3 years with the HSA plan. It allowed us to save a good amount for future health care deductibles that we would have not done otherwise. Going forward, Rachel and I will stick with the HSA plan. The only time I would consider changing is during a year when we have a baby.
I did this for my own analysis, but hopefully this will help someone else make a decision about their insurance choices. If I was young, healthy and single it wouldn't even be a question. In that scenario, the HSA is almost always a better plan. I hope that this or similar plans will become more popular with Americans. Unfortunately, it probably won't for the foreseeable future...
Rachel and I have been on an high deductible/HSA health insurance plan for almost 3 years now. I'm a huge proponent of the high deductible HSA plans for a few reasons.
1. The HSA puts responsibility back on the patient to make their own health care decisions. When the insurance companies pay all of your health costs including runny noses and hangnails, costs are going to skyrocket. Until we put health care decisions back into the hands of the consumers, costs are not going back down. This idea is completely opposite from the proposals going through Congress. All of those plans will take even more responsibility away from the consumer.
2. The HSA allows you to put money, tax-free, into mutual funds in order to save for future health care costs. Any cash put into your HSA can be used for health related expenses and you'll never pay taxes on that money.
3. If enough individuals & families switch to HSA plans and begin to scrutinize their health care costs, we would see health care costs decrease accross the board. Health care companies will begin to compete for business. That competition will drive down prices.
Opponents of the HSA argue that it only benefits young, healthy people and ends up making health care more expensive for everyone else. That is probably true as long as so few Americans are on HSA plans. If this type of plan was used by most Americans, the free market competition would lower health care costs for everyone - healthy and sick. And the idea that you as a consumer cannot be counted on to make proper health care choices for yourself and your family should be an insult to all Americans. It's time for us to stop letting Uncle Sam play mommy and daddy.
Many people I've spoken to about the HSA are concerned about making the wrong decision. I decided to go back and look at the last 3 years of data on our HSA plan. I thought that we could provide a good example because each of our last 3 years has been unique. It included a year of Employee+Spouse plan, a year of mixed Employee+Spouse and Family plan and a year on a Family plan. I wanted to see if it really did make sense or if I've just been blowing smoke. Below, is our (almost) 3 year HSA analysis.
| 2007 Employee +Spouse Coverage | |
| Regular Insurance | $4,843.44 |
| High Deductible Insurance | $3,343.68 |
| High Deductible Premium Savings | $1,499.76 |
| Out of Pocket Costs | $1,323.60 |
| Net Savings | $ 176.16 |
| 2008 Mixed coverage | |
| Regular Insurance | $ 5,945.52 |
| High Deductible Insurance | $ 4,124.76 |
| ` | |
| High Deductible Premium Savings | $ 1,820.76 |
| Out of Pocket Costs | $ 5,000.00 |
| Net Savings | $(3,179.24) |
| 2009 Family Coverage for 8 months | |
| Regular Insurance | $ 4,698.40 |
| High Deductible Insurance | $ 3,270.56 |
| ` | |
| High Deductible Premium Savings | $ 1,427.84 |
| Out of Pocket Costs | $ 789.07 |
| Net Savings | $ 638.77 |
| 2007 | $ 176.16 |
| 2008 | $(3,179.24) |
| 2009 | $ 638.77 |
| Insurance Net Savings | $(2,364.31) |
As you can see above, our net savings on the high deductible plan was -$2364.31. 2008 was the year we had Mason and ended up paying our full deductible of $5000 in out of pocket expenses. If we had to do it over again, we would probably have switched back to a regular plan during that year. But, in a normal year, we are saving some in health insurance costs.
But, remember that the benefit of the HSA is not necessarily the savings in premium. The real benefit is the money you're able to stash away tax free. During this 2.666 year period, we accumulated around $6500 in the HSA account. This was even during one of the worst stock market periods ever. If you take this savings into account, we still came out with a net savings of $4135.69.
So, even with a year of pregnancy and a year of a baby mixed in, we still came out better over 3 years with the HSA plan. It allowed us to save a good amount for future health care deductibles that we would have not done otherwise. Going forward, Rachel and I will stick with the HSA plan. The only time I would consider changing is during a year when we have a baby.
I did this for my own analysis, but hopefully this will help someone else make a decision about their insurance choices. If I was young, healthy and single it wouldn't even be a question. In that scenario, the HSA is almost always a better plan. I hope that this or similar plans will become more popular with Americans. Unfortunately, it probably won't for the foreseeable future...
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Mother's day out
Mason with his lunch bag, ready to go to school.
Reading a book before school. He's such an overachiever! 
YES. It is hanging on the fridge. I think I will need another refridgerator soon.
Mason started his first day of Mother's Day out at Franklin Christian Church today. He went from 9:00-2:00 and did great. He did have some anxiety when I left. The teacher's had to pry him out of my hands and I walked away from him screaming and reaching his hands out toward me. (BREATHE) That was hard. I knew once I left and they distracted him that he would be fine....and he was. He had music time, sang songs, read books, had craft time, lunch time, and nap time. I don't know how those women did it, but they got Mason to sleep for an hour and a half on one of those nap mats. When I bought it the words, "WASTE OF MONEY" flashed through my head. I am amazed that he did it on the first day.
Once I dropped him off I had the most productive day EVER! I ran, took a body sculpt class, tanned, showered, went to the bank, shopped for some gifts I needed, went to the vitamin shoppe, painted my toenails, went to the grocery store and started dinner. It's amazing how much you can get done without toting a one year old around. I even picked him up early because I ran out of things to do and I couldn't wait to see him.
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