Joyful Hearts Christmas was cancelled due to snow. The kids had a snow that was called last night. This sent them to bed with excitement and peace. The whole house slept in. I spent the morning uploading time logs and filling out final evaluations. I have one remaining assignment, the one that is supposed to be something like a case conceptualization. It is due the 17th but hopefully I can make myself do it tomorow.

My heart has had that achy feeling throughout most of the week. I think it’s all related to school. I called the doctor’s office yesterday to get refill on my xanax prescription since I had none left. I can take a half dose and it helps the ache. The nurse called back to say that I hadn’t been in for a check-up since last November and it has to be within the past year. I told her I had been to other doctor visits since then this year.

Being told that I needed to come in for a $400 doctor’s visit in order to obtain a less than $3 prescription refill did not sit well with me. I told her that I just couldn’t do that right now. She said she would tell him. The healthcare situation is getting out of control in terms of affordability and cost. I do not know what the answer is but if I ever do have my own counseling practice someday I do not plan to include third party payers.

A few hours later I received a call from Walgreens saying my prescription was ready. I could’ve hugged the doctor or at least written him a thank you note. When you’re a nurse and now a therapist and you can’t even access basic health care maintenance things without having to jump through hoops, there’s a problem. This is what the practitioner-patient relationship is for, so you can truly know people and help them.

Josh and I were in town and stopped by to pick it up. He said he thought he needed to try some to see what it does. I told him I didn’t think he’d be able to feel much because you have to have at least some level of neurosis to be calmed. Since more snow is expected tomorrow we went ahead and took the kids to get a tree tonight. We found a small Charlie Brown one for exactly $30. We brought it home and I absolutely love it.