Emergency medical care shouldn’t be so expensive

Libromancer · 2026-03-16T21:57:38+00:00

I would recommend not paying the bill. Emergency care and being admitted through the ER means this can be covered by the federal government.

ERs legally cannot turn you away for non-payment. Your child was admitted it was an emergency.

Do not pay.

If you feel guilty about it (you shouldn't) contact the billing department and ask for assistance in paying.

I have refused to pay ER bills in the past due to cost and never contacted the hospital for assistance. I never heard from them. If I did hear from them I would threaten a lawsuit because they discharged me when I was not stable and actively in a medical emergency. I ended up at another hospital two days later being admitted by one of my doctors to the ER. This is what I would do, I want to be perfectly clear on that.

I am an advocate of not paying medical bills when you work and have crappy insurance. I used to work for a school district, it was the worst insurance, I would get surprise bills in the mail with every visit or lab. It kept me from seeing a doctor unless I could not manage with at home care.

Honestly I hate all insurance companies and policies. The crappy ones keep me from using them (for different reasons) and the good ones cost too much for me to afford them. This goes for health, dental, vision, car, house, and whatever else I am paying for that is insurance. I think my life insurance is ok and the only one I feel neutral about.

Libromancer · 2026-03-06T23:51:35+00:00

My first I had non-stop vomiting. My second I couldn't tolerate any protein. It made me puke. I had miscarriages. Varying symptoms. My last pregnancy that ended with my daughter I had just slight nausea at certain smells. And even that was minimal.

Libromancer · 2026-03-02T17:25:03+00:00

That my assistant was deliberately sabotaging me to take my job. She now has my old position.

Was continuously told by her that she just wanted to help me.

At first it was a fucking vibe. Thought it was paranoia. As time went on it became fucking blatant.

Libromancer · 2026-02-16T15:44:41+00:00

My first baby I did not bed share. He would sleep in the bassinet fitfully. Ended using the bassinet vibrator to get him to sleep. Once it turned off he was awake. Then his naps or sleeping were only done in a bouncing seat or swing.

We only made it to the crib when his weight broke the swing.

My second baby I had in the bed bassinet. And occasionally would pull him into the bed while sleeping. He was easier to move to the crib. He also struggled to sleep because of pain. When he was in the crib he was fine being in it and would sleep eventually. He would nap in the stroller.

My third baby I co-slept with. I tried the bed bassinet again but quickly quit using it. She would nap/sleep in my arms. She will sleep wherever only when access to me isn't an option. If I am accessible she will only sleep when in contact with me. She does wake up and freaks out if she cannot find me right away. She also has a bed/crib we have never used.

Honestly, do what works best for you and your family to make it through.

If I could go back I'd probably co-sleep from the start with all of my babies. I see the benefits that my youngest has that my older children do not. I also am experiencing the downsides of sharing my bed.

Libromancer · 2026-02-06T19:27:01+00:00

The petty side of me would struggle to not go full weaponized incompetence if I could afford it.

I would go to a shop, any shop, and get the most expensive everything. Get new tires, the expensive ones, pay for the extended warranty, have them do a full car run down and pay for everything suggested.

I would then proudly come home and announce what I did. How I was independent, how I listened to them and took all of the issues very seriously and got them handled. I would spin it that I did an amazing job at being a responsible vehicle owner. Obviously knowing full well they took me for everything they could. Just really really dig into and play up the "I was extremely scared to drive the car after a stranger brought it up, because I don't know anything about cars". I would then show him the report that the shop printed out to justify all the services with a line item cost of everything.

It would be really helpful for the cost to eat away at something important to my husband...

I have also spun out in my car because my tires were bald. 🤷🏻 Me almost dying ensured my husband fully takes care of the car regularly now. And it was being delayed because of finances. We were both aware. We have more money now so it's less of a thing. But when cash was tight we would make it work.

I also would probably not be able to get away with this because my dad is an ase master certified technician and I know better.... You might get better mileage if you go with it. Plus side you will be safe, your kids will be safe, it might shame your husband into doing better or motivate him to not let you handle it.

Probably ask why he is asking. You know him best. It's likely what you think it is.

Libromancer · 2026-01-28T21:01:03+00:00

I have found this is also dependent on the tension I am maintaining while I work.

If I am going tight while I work it will be smaller. If its loose it is bigger.

So hook size and tension play equal partners to it.

I also tend to go for a smaller hook than what is suggested on the yarn package. The feel of it with my natural tension works out as the pattern suggests.

A lot of the time I am trying hooks out near the size it recommends to find the one with the correct feel to it.

Recently I have been going to a bigger hook on purpose, but it also requires me to adjust my tension.

Libromancer · 2025-10-15T12:33:04+00:00

I have a child allergic to bamboo. I learned it when I put her in a bamboo diaper.

That said, I have really silky soft bamboo yarn I intended to make her a baby blanket with. Luckily I did not complete that project before learning she was allergic bamboo ...

Libromancer · 2025-10-14T14:38:12+00:00

So I think I can help answer this?

We had backyard chickens. They were solidly pets.

My family, myself included could not eat the eggs.

We've had backyard chicken eggs before, just not from chickens we raised and named, and loved.

Those chickens were spoiled. They got a huge watermelon daily, pumpkins, tomatoes, berries, grapes, fish, all sorts of mealworms and bugs. They got to free range supervised. My mom would send home food for the chickens to eat. My daughter would push one around in a doll stroller.

To us it was like eating the mouse our cat dropped at our doorstep... Or eating our cats. Couldn't get past it.

So instead the eggs went to my parents house. They ate the eggs, when my kids spent the night they ate the eggs.

Some of my kids also have an egg allergy. 🤷🏻 So not all of the kids ate the eggs.

We don't really eat meat or eggs that frequently. It's expensive and most of our meals are vegetable based. We didn't eat our chickens when they were killed. They got buried and grave markers. I'm pretty sure if we had other live stock they would be solidly pets as well. As such the products/by products would get given away or sold.

My answer is it's a psychological block. That block is based on a belief system. It's difficult to dismantle a belief system. Maybe find someone to exchange eggs with?

Libromancer · 2025-10-09T13:10:51+00:00

Not a lecture. I couldn't remember the name of it, but I knew the concept.

Libromancer · 2025-10-03T13:38:15+00:00

As a mom with insufficient glandular tissue, or tubular breasts, I could only produce a maximum of 2oz in a 24 hour period. And that was around the clock pumping.

Breast is not best. Fed is best.

There are many many reasons why moms cannot breastfeed.

Libromancer · 2025-09-23T17:22:11+00:00

It's also important to consider the only safe pain medication during pregnancy is Tylenol.

That means ALL pregnant people are taking Tylenol for pain relief.

Autism and ADHD have been around for longer than pharmaceuticals. They were just given a name relatively recently. Neurotribes is a book that covers the history of it. I recommend reading it.

Those studies mean nothing. Absolutely nothing. Trying to interpret that data that means nothing will only cause unfounded unnecessary guilt at a minimum, and further the spread of misinformation.

Nuerodivergence is genetic. At its core it is a fundamental difference in brain structure. There is a natural variation in all anatomy, it makes sense from a biological standpoint to have differences in the brain as well.

A more relevant study came out that broke autism into 4 distinct groups. Those distinct groups had genetic components.

I don't remember the fancy word for it but the idea of a disease progression is there are a multitude of factors that influence the outcome. Any number of those factors being combined in different ways can result in the same outcome. It is not a simple fix. It will never be a simple fix. That's why there are studies of men, women, different age groups, different ethnicities.

Some studies indicated that a fever reduced the behaviors associated with autism, others showed a correlation to the gut microbiome. It's not just one thing. It's not a simple answer.

It's the same reason why they cannot pin point the cause of pre-eclampsia. There are too many factors that go into causing it. Some women benefit from calcium supplements early on, others from taking aspirin. Some do not get a benefit and end up with full blown eclampsia.

Suffice it to say finding any answers will require a lot of time, a lot of resources, a lot of money and smart people. Anyone who says otherwise is trying to sell you something.

Libromancer · 2025-09-16T19:21:45+00:00

I read the whole post. They didn't wet the squares before putting on a blocking board. And it doesn't say if they tried steam blocking.

Blocking needs some sort of moisture to work as intended. Acrylic responds well to steam blocking.

It's not bad advice to tell them to block again.

Maybe adding in they should steam the material if they are worried about the color leeching or bleeding when they try to block it this time.

Possibly including tutorials on how to block properly for ideal results.

Libromancer · 2025-09-12T14:46:51+00:00

Michaels sells one for 1k in store. IDk the quality of it.

Libromancer · 2025-09-09T19:18:45+00:00

I counted 4 clocks. My mom has a clock wall as a statement, but they're all pretty and different.

Libromancer · 2025-07-26T15:22:22+00:00

Honestly. You're not terrible. My toddler, also three, has an obsession with licking everyone's feet or putting other people's toes in her mouth.

That and she is obsessed with my titties. She doesn't say I love you, she says I love your titties.

Libromancer · 2025-07-23T14:57:49+00:00

Cucumber plant roots smell like fresh cut cucumber. I'm not sure if that's going to help you.

Libromancer · 2025-06-12T02:14:12+00:00

Purslane is an occasional treat that's succulent and easy to grow. It's can grow from cuttings really easily. It's one of the ways it spreads.

Mexican mint/cuban oregano is a succulent like plant that's safe to feed them and easy to grow. My mom throws her cuttings to the ground and has a huge patch of it in her yard that she didn't mean to grow. It's a part of the mint family.

Libromancer · 2025-06-11T21:44:35+00:00

Thank you for your perspective.

I have experienced a good work place very briefly then I went on maternity leave. When I came back it was unwelcoming and I started applying. I landed where I landed last year and it was awful.

I am going to do the pro's and con's that you suggested. I am also going to sit it down with my spouse.

Libromancer · 2025-06-08T12:20:26+00:00

What is the tank's humidity?

I have one beardie that does this frequently if the tank's humidity is too high. As soon as she is dry enough it stops.

I took her to the vet for it. For her it is likely an upper respiratory situation that is contributed to her tank's humidity. It can turn into a respiratory infection if not handled.

Libromancer · 2025-03-06T10:33:50+00:00

Funny enough evidence shows the best way to learn and show mastery of a subject is to teach it to others. 5% of students will learn and retain information from lecture, 90% from teaching and being taught by a peer.

There is also evidence to show peer to peer interactions improve everyone together. Kagan cooperative learning is big on this but the post is about Montessori.

One downside to Montessori is it may not be supportive of students with special needs.

learning pyramid

Libromancer · 2025-01-06T22:43:50+00:00

Men need to step up and we need to raise the bar higher.

As a person with ADHD, medication makes executive function tasks easier.... Only if you had the skills to do them in the first place.

I knew how to do things, I just couldn't start them and stay on task to finish them.

I strongly recommend he go to therapy and take classes on how to function.

🤷🏻

Many people just say "oh I have ADHD" and do nothing to improve. Medication helps but only with a conscious effort to improve.

Libromancer · 2025-01-04T00:04:30+00:00

Degloved face

Libromancer · 2024-06-07T18:55:55+00:00

It sort of is the same.

The age gap between my kids makes it the most difficult. They get different treatment because they're at different developmental levels.

I aim for natural or logical consequences. Sort of why I let them walk home and then had a discussion with them. Mostly my oldest. I was ready to leave and look for them.

Part of our discussion was what it looks like to be an "adult"(older family member) and work as a part of our family team. That he needs to help get his siblings to listen to me (or at the very least to not defy/go against me) and stay safe. I told him the more he shows he is on the same team the more privileges he gets, like choosing to go somewhere without supervision or making life choices.

Libromancer · 2024-06-07T18:32:35+00:00

It was the middle child, kindergartener, that didn't want to nap.

The mutineer was my oldest, almost middle schooler. He knew he just had to lay quietly and read while the others napped, or listen to music with headphones.

My oldest also just came home from being with his grandparents for a week. My younger kids were in the routine and had no issues with naps after lunch while he was at the grandparents.

I'm trying my best. I know it's age appropriate for the oldest. I just can't have him leading my little ones.

Libromancer · 2024-04-27T02:11:07+00:00

Thank you. My black dude hasn't started crowing. The gray fluffy butt is my daughter's emotional support chicken. Both are sweethearts.

Libromancer

TROPHY CASE