(I do not intend for this blog post to be a sympathy seeker. Instead, I intend to inform everyone what has been going on with us this past month and about the blessings that we have received.)
This past month has been a roller coaster for us. And definitely a roller coaster of emotions for me (hormones are in full swing!). Some events have happened that have taken us by complete surprise.
I was let go from my job on January 10th. I worked as a Closing Auditor for a mortgage company for the past 2 years. The mortgage industry is always up and down. During those two years I worked there, there were times that we were so busy that I was working 60 hours a week. Lately, I have been working barely 40 hours a week trying to find things to occupy those hours. I was told by my manager about a month prior to my lay off that all of us in my department had nothing to worry about because we were expecting to be busy again in March and the company knew that we all were needed when we became busy again. So I never expected to be laid off. It came so fast that I couldn't even comprehend the news I received. I was taken to lunch to be told the bad news. I was given an hour to leave the office after we returned from lunch. So I grabbed my purse and left. I didn't know what to do. I didn't say goodbye to anyone. I didn't finish my work I had started that day. I didn't clean out my desk. I just left.
Brandon and I went back to the office around 7:30 pm after everyone had left the office for the day. This is when I cleaned out my desk and returned my keys. It was a weird feeling to drive away from that office and know that that was the last time I would be driving there ever. It is weird when you have a routine and something is such a big part of your life and it is suddenly taken away. Suddenly your life isn't the same. I have always had a job. For those who have known me for a long time know that I tend to keep going and going... not giving myself much of a break. As long as I can remember I have had at least one job. Always busy. I tend to take on too much at one time. During the 4 1/2 years I attended college, I always had a job. In fact, several semesters I had more than one job and went to school full time. I have always been used to having something to do... something to look forward to... something to plan around. So this has been a hard transition for me. I don't have something in my day that I HAVE to do or something that I need to plan around. And I also am used to having social interactions with people. I am used to talking to co-workers and having conversations with them. Now I am home by myself with no one to talk to. I feel like I need to interact and socialize with someone each day to keep me sane. It is weird to think that this job was probably my last job for a long time. I want to be a stay-at-home mom, so this will introduce me to my new life I guess:)
I went through every emotion when I was laid off. I first was shocked. Then sad. Then depressed. Then angry. Then I became panicked. There were so many unknowns and we are planning on having a baby soon. We need stability. We need a good home, a good life, a good situation to bring this baby in to. I was worried I was not going to be able to provide for my baby. So I have spent the past month trying to figure out what we are going to do to provide for this baby and to keep us afloat for the next 3 months. Brandon graduates at the end of April and we hope he receives a job offer with benefits and a decent salary. But we couldn't rely on this. So we needed to make sure we were covered until he did get a job.
We had insurance through my work. We have been saving up the money that we knew we would owe after the insurance paid their portion for us to have the baby. Brandon only works about 9 hours a week since he is in school, so we can't live off of his income. So the past month we have been living off of the money we saved to have the baby. That money quickly went away. And for insurance, we didn't know what to do. Cobra was out of the question since it is $800 a month for just me to be on the plan.
So we decided to apply for medicaid. This has been a full time job just trying to get medicaid. There was always something wrong, or something missing, or additional information needed. I was doing something with medicaid every single day for 4 weeks straight. But it was a blessing when we found out that we got medicaid. This will pay for our delivery and our doctor visits.
I also got unemployment, which will help us pay rent, car loan, car insurance, phone bill, gas, groceries, etc. It is nothing near what I was making while I was working, but this will definitely help us stay afloat during this time.
We also found out that we get to keep our supplemental insurance plan that we have been paying a large chunk of change to each month, and they will still help out with the delivery of the baby.
So after a long month of tears, frustration, prayers, and stress, it seems as though things are working out for us. We know that things could always be worse, so we are thankful for the situation that we have and for the help we have along the way to get through these trials. We are still paying our tithing and we have surely seen the blessings that have come from that. We also see the blessings we have received from prayers, help and comfort from family members. We wouldn't be able to get through this without them.
Now we have 76 days left until this baby boy is due, so this gives me time to concentrate on preparing for his arrival. I have the LONGEST to do list ever, so I better get working!
I want to thank all of you for your support and help during this time. We love each of you.
Love Steph and Brandon
I was let go from my job on January 10th. I worked as a Closing Auditor for a mortgage company for the past 2 years. The mortgage industry is always up and down. During those two years I worked there, there were times that we were so busy that I was working 60 hours a week. Lately, I have been working barely 40 hours a week trying to find things to occupy those hours. I was told by my manager about a month prior to my lay off that all of us in my department had nothing to worry about because we were expecting to be busy again in March and the company knew that we all were needed when we became busy again. So I never expected to be laid off. It came so fast that I couldn't even comprehend the news I received. I was taken to lunch to be told the bad news. I was given an hour to leave the office after we returned from lunch. So I grabbed my purse and left. I didn't know what to do. I didn't say goodbye to anyone. I didn't finish my work I had started that day. I didn't clean out my desk. I just left.
Brandon and I went back to the office around 7:30 pm after everyone had left the office for the day. This is when I cleaned out my desk and returned my keys. It was a weird feeling to drive away from that office and know that that was the last time I would be driving there ever. It is weird when you have a routine and something is such a big part of your life and it is suddenly taken away. Suddenly your life isn't the same. I have always had a job. For those who have known me for a long time know that I tend to keep going and going... not giving myself much of a break. As long as I can remember I have had at least one job. Always busy. I tend to take on too much at one time. During the 4 1/2 years I attended college, I always had a job. In fact, several semesters I had more than one job and went to school full time. I have always been used to having something to do... something to look forward to... something to plan around. So this has been a hard transition for me. I don't have something in my day that I HAVE to do or something that I need to plan around. And I also am used to having social interactions with people. I am used to talking to co-workers and having conversations with them. Now I am home by myself with no one to talk to. I feel like I need to interact and socialize with someone each day to keep me sane. It is weird to think that this job was probably my last job for a long time. I want to be a stay-at-home mom, so this will introduce me to my new life I guess:)
I went through every emotion when I was laid off. I first was shocked. Then sad. Then depressed. Then angry. Then I became panicked. There were so many unknowns and we are planning on having a baby soon. We need stability. We need a good home, a good life, a good situation to bring this baby in to. I was worried I was not going to be able to provide for my baby. So I have spent the past month trying to figure out what we are going to do to provide for this baby and to keep us afloat for the next 3 months. Brandon graduates at the end of April and we hope he receives a job offer with benefits and a decent salary. But we couldn't rely on this. So we needed to make sure we were covered until he did get a job.
We had insurance through my work. We have been saving up the money that we knew we would owe after the insurance paid their portion for us to have the baby. Brandon only works about 9 hours a week since he is in school, so we can't live off of his income. So the past month we have been living off of the money we saved to have the baby. That money quickly went away. And for insurance, we didn't know what to do. Cobra was out of the question since it is $800 a month for just me to be on the plan.
So we decided to apply for medicaid. This has been a full time job just trying to get medicaid. There was always something wrong, or something missing, or additional information needed. I was doing something with medicaid every single day for 4 weeks straight. But it was a blessing when we found out that we got medicaid. This will pay for our delivery and our doctor visits.
I also got unemployment, which will help us pay rent, car loan, car insurance, phone bill, gas, groceries, etc. It is nothing near what I was making while I was working, but this will definitely help us stay afloat during this time.
We also found out that we get to keep our supplemental insurance plan that we have been paying a large chunk of change to each month, and they will still help out with the delivery of the baby.
So after a long month of tears, frustration, prayers, and stress, it seems as though things are working out for us. We know that things could always be worse, so we are thankful for the situation that we have and for the help we have along the way to get through these trials. We are still paying our tithing and we have surely seen the blessings that have come from that. We also see the blessings we have received from prayers, help and comfort from family members. We wouldn't be able to get through this without them.
Now we have 76 days left until this baby boy is due, so this gives me time to concentrate on preparing for his arrival. I have the LONGEST to do list ever, so I better get working!
I want to thank all of you for your support and help during this time. We love each of you.
Love Steph and Brandon
6 comments:
sorry to hear that Steph :( Hope things will start looking up quick! The lord will bless you if you do your part. Just think, you'll have your baby boy to occupy your time soon!love ya! PS did you ever get your baby bedding figured out?!?
We love you guys and are so glad things are working themselves out! Hope you're feeling well and as always if you need anything let us know! Love you!
It's so amazing to see the "tender mercies" the Lord provides. Thank you for sharing. I am so glad you guys have been blessed in your time of need. How are you feeling..pregnancy wise...still nautious? still have to wear your pretty tights?
stephie, i love you. can't wait to see you at your baby shower next week :)
i still hate that this happened to you! i want to see you before you have the babe! call or texr me and lets get together! 801-830-9386
Oh Stephanie, my heart goes to you and Brandon. I'll keep you in my heart and in my prayers that the wonderful things you deserve will shortly come your way.
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