It's a Boy!

No....I am not pregnant.  But thanks for thinking it for a sec.

Rather....I just wrote out the check that paid off Bossy Boy's hospital bill!!  He is officially ours, free and clear.  YIPPPEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I have stated, the kids were born 4 months early.  This came with a hefty $1,500,000 price tag (roughly 900k for him, and 600k for her).  And that was just for the first 6 months in the hospital.  While we didn't have to pay nearly that much, we did have a chunk and a half to pay.

Sassy Girl's bill was paid off several years ago.  Hers wasn't nearly as extensive, but still impressive in its own right.

Now, for clarification, technically....this was the doctor's bill.  The doctors at this hospital are part of a central group, so there is one place for all the billing.  Over the past 8 years, all of Bossy's other medical tests, hospitalizations, etc got tacked on.  While we only pay $100 for a co-pay for the actual HOSPITAL, the doctor bills function under a different part of our insurance plan.

So we had 5 months in the NICU, using Neonatalogy, Cardiology, Pulmonary, Neurology, Opthomology, ENT, Gastroenterology, and General Surgery.  And countless tests.  And consults.  And blah blah blah.  And 1 heart surgery, and 1 gastro surgery.

Then he was home for a week, and went back to the PICU for a week and med/surg for 3 weeks.  In addition to the hospital, ambulance, and helicopter bill....we now added in PICU staff, another gastro surgery, and misc stuff.  Oh, and then he got an infection and they thought he had leukemia, so we added in Oncology.

Back home....more tests and follow up.

Then back in for emergency gastro surgery.  So we now have more surgery and more doctor visits.  (in case you are counting, we are up to 4 surgeries).

Then back in AGAIN, and due to medical negligence, he ended up needing emergency surgery.  I had to sign paperwork to amputate his arm.....luckily they were able to save it.  But this little ditty ended up with a week in the PICU, and 4 surgeries (bringing our total to 8), including one on Christmas morning.

(and again for the record, that last inpatient stay didn't cost us anything.  Insurance picked up the bill because we had already maxed out our insurance out of pocket amount for the calendar year)

Now we can add Orthopedics to the list.

He has had bronchioscopes, and endoscopes.  He has had upper and lower GI series, and barium swallow studies.  EEGs and EKGs.  Sedated MRI.  Day surgeries and surgery in the middle of the night.  We have waited in numerous rooms, slept on uncomfortable cots and heard the words CODE BLUE.

I have performed CPR on my baby and flown with him in the helicopter.  I have watched them poke and prod him.  I have held him down for procedures.  I have vomitted in the bathroom at the hospital when I thought he was going to die.  I have sat alone when my husband wasn't there.  I have thrown out the sleeper they had to cut off of him, and the pants that had his blood on them.

I have been incredibly strong.  But I needed this bill to go away.  I have paid for this bill in blood, sweat and tears.  And I am soooo fortunate to have a beautiful boy, who as I type this is getting a drink of water and making a mess in my kitchen.

Good bye hospital bill!  I wish I could say I will miss you, but I won't.  I have my little guy, and that is worth this bill a million times over.