Ranting and raving

So I am going to do a little complaining....

So, Jeremy has a job. I have a job. At the present time neither of our jobs have Health Insurance Benefits. So we sacrificed and got our own private health insurance, so we are covered. At 610.00 a month that covers Jeremy, Xander, and I and the 3 step children.

Jeremy was married before me. His wife at the time divorced him. She did not want to be married to him. Bless his heart, he would have endured to the end despite the fact he was not very happy in the marriage. But he did not want a divorce. (Now he is happy he got one) :)

We pay $858 a month in Child Support + 150.00 a month in Health insurance for the children. Which takes a big chunk out of our income every month.

So I am pregnant, and Maternity is not included in private health insurance. I look into Medicaid to help cover the cost of our pregnancy as in the application it states that you can deduct expenses like Child support and health insurance premiums. With those deductions, We very much do qualify for some help and support.

We get a letter in the mail saying we were denied because we make too much money. I call, thinking they do not understand that we pay almost 1,000 dollars a month in child support. First of all, I get a response that they don't believe We pay it. So I print out bank statements from the past year stating, We do very well pay child support, faithfully every month.

Then today, I get a call, that even though we pay $858 a month in support. We only get a $50.00 credit for that payment making us still over the income limit so we do not qualify.

So I am understanding why so many "Dead Beat Dad's" out there just don't pay child support.

You get no tax credit, for dependents since they do not live with you. (Not by our choice, by the court)

You get no appreciation for making the payments to the X-spouse as they see it as their right. And they are entitled to "their money".

And now, all the money you do pay, you only get credit for $50.00 that you do pay. So does that mean, I can keep the $800.00 to help support my family. So it is fair to make one family suffer so another family receives "support".

Ok....Post edit.

Learned that Medicaid and Chp are two different things.

We qualify for ChP based on our income, but, because I have Private insurance, even though it does not cover Maternity. We are not qualified. So if I would have spent the money on a Health Club Membership, cigarettes, etc..... We would qualify and I would have insurance to cover my pregnancy. But because I made a responsible choice to cover our family COMPLETELY out of pocket.

I do not qualify for help even though I have no insurance to cover Maternity.

So I am praying seriously about having a home birth. It is a little scary for me. But Government programs don't work.

Easter Sunday!

Loved the outfit I found at JC Penny. (On Sale) :)

Loved watching Xander find eggs in the Living Room.

And the big Cheeser he gave with every find!

Loved having Jeff Downs family come over for Easter,
So Xander could have someone to share his "Big" sandbox with.

They played in this box for a good 2 hours. So I guess size really doesn't matter. :)

Easter Egg hunt and Dying Eggs

This was Xander's first year of Egg Dying.
He was not to shabby, although by the end, most of his eggs looked like the color eggs are supposed to be. A nice brown hue, due to the transfer from color to color.

The first dip...

Don't most people color the eggs while they are being dyed?

We mostly enjoyed the experience..Vs being PC in Egg Dying technique.

This is the one shot I got of Xander at the Eagle Trace Egg Hunt. It was Snowing. There were a lot of kids and they didn't break it up in age groups. So Xander got a big 2 Eggs...Where some of the other older experienced egg hunter kids I think carried out buckets of 50+. But he was completely thrilled with 2 eggs and really, does it matter? When he is 7 he can come home with 50+.

It is all about enjoying the moment. Which despite the snow. He did.

Easter Gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Johnson

We don't get to see Grandma and Grandpa Johnson a lot, but that doesn't mean we don't feel the love from them. Every Holiday they always send a little something for Xander. Xander LOVES it! He got some yummy treats and a little wind up Monkey and Lightning McQueen!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Johnson!
We appreciate your kindness.

Missing your siblings

This is an older picture taken last Summer....but now that Xander is talking and improving his vocabulary, he sure does mention Dylan, Makenzee and Wyatt a lot. He prays for them and asks to call them on the phone, and knows what is there stuff that is here at our house. "Dylan's Legos" , or Wyatt's trains.

Yesterday he wanted to call them and I said, "We can't because they are at school"
And Xander said, "No Mom, they are in Utah, Utah Mom"

I am really excited that we are bringing another member to this team, because I think Xander is going to be an awesome big brother!

Thomas the Tank engine (2 year old story)

Pre School Activities

So just in case you were curious...This is what the gun looks like...Still missing a few components but isn't it scary looking. So if it ever comes to the end of the world
and you need Military Home based protection. Jeremy "Rambo" Johnson would be here to protect you.

While the other parental unit..builds guns with Xander.

Mom does more preschool like things...like today we mixed flour, water oil, cream of tarter and salt to make a wonderful mixture of play dough.

Whoops they were put in the wrong order...Here Xander is making the dough...
above enjoying his creation.

Or puts sand in a storage bin and creates a little sand pile for busy hands to play with outside on the deck. Yes it is messy, yes it gets on the deck..but my philosophy is 3 hours of pure joy and play...and 10 minutes of clean up for me. Is worth it.

So I hope the warm weather comes back so we can enjoy the Sand some more :)

Sunday Dress Up

No, it is not Easter yet...but looking through my Mom's old pictures....it always seems we took a picture on Sunday. So in Downs tradition and since Xander always looks so darn stinking cute in his Sunday best! We snapped a couple!

He LOVES his Grandma!

My Treasures! I love them soo much!

Helping Dad/ Jeremy is Cool

Xander loves it when Jeremy gets the tools out. He loves to be right there fixing and building.

Jeremy has been slowly buying parts to make his own AR over the past 4 years. For those of you not familiar with Gun language that is Automatic Rifle. He is getting pretty close to finishing, dang it. :) I guess it shows his true man genes, because he also is really good at sewing, painting my toenails and making pillow case dolls.

Jeremy you rock! I am glad you can enjoy your AR very soon!

Xanderisms

A cute little Xander time
happened today,
He Had a little fall and came my way.

I was eating chips and he came to me all sad.
So I offered him one hoping it would get rid of the bad.
I told him "This chip will make better"

Well he did not put that chip in his mouth.
He put it to his bum.
And said, "Yes mom chip made it better"
And then he ate it up
Yum Yum Yum....

Conference Weekend

This is a comment I left on a blog, C Jane that I read..... in response to her video of What I know.

Well this is what I know :)


Thanks for sharing this! I am glad I know what I know too... And because I have such a strong testimony and faith in my savior Jesus Christ. When I read other comments that question my beliefs. I am glad that I have a testimony of prayer, knowledge of the scriptures that I can search, ponder and pray and once again be reconfirmed in my beliefs.

Heavenly Father answers prayers, Loves us and wants us to return to him.

Joseph Smith was not perfect but Jesus Christ is and that is whom I look for my salvation.

Joseph Smith, Bless his heart, was called as a Prophet of God and I know he was and I am thankful daily that he was who he was and for having the courage to bring the restored gospel to the Earth. So that we can truly understand the divine mission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

I am so excited to enjoy the words of our precious treasures, the 12 apostles and the first presidency this Weekend!

God bless us all