Budgets & Priorities

It's official, I'm unemployed.

Tigerlily has been referred back into OT, PT and Psych and her name has come up on the waitlist, for ABA. So I left my job to do a summer of therapy, (a leave wasn't possible, hopefully they'll take me back in the fall, but... that hope might be a tad naïve.)

Working when you have a special needs kid is extremely difficult, or at least I've found it to be so. Even though my employer was awesome, my coworkers super supportive and the hours I spent there the easiest part of my day. I still found it hard. I would be sitting at my desk  thinking about all the things I needed or should be doing for Tigerlily. I did my best to be a good employee, bring a positive attitude to work, keep my stats up etc. But.... Tiger gets sick a lot, she missed something like 30 days of school this year. 3 weeks with the lymph node infection 2 weeks went to pneumonia, and the rest were her various virus finds that made school a no go. I'm afraid that I am a problem employee, I want to work, I like money, but I can't be in two places at once.

Trying to work around her therapy was going to be extremely problematic. Add to that, the cost of part time care suitable for Tiger exceeding what I make and I was in a no win situation. there was no way we were going to be able to maintain a routine for Tigerlily while trying to do everything.
 The silver lining about losing the income is that I have TIME. I can keep Tiger on routine and the stress of scheduling is now totally manageable. I can take calls between 9am and 3 and I might actually get ahead of the laundry.

Ok I'm tilting at windmills on that one.


There's also a bunch of other stuff going on outside of  Tigerland but within HFL mama's world.

This week we have a construction crew coming to change us over from oil heat to natural gas.This was not part of my planned budget, nor a priority for us, but insurance companies happen. I've sold myself on this budget killer, by reminding myself how much better Tiger sleeps in a cool room and so, central air conditioning became part of the package too.

Helping Tiger sleep is a priority.

Next week my in-laws are coming and it's our annual Canada Day Party!!
It's a big budget killer, I always spend too much but.... I love this tradition, & those who know us, accept that we are very big on this Canadian thing and that their attendance is mandatory.

Maintaining some sense of self and upholding traditions is a priority.


Now how do I pay for all this?

I think I can use SSAH for swimming and singing  this summer, under personal development, have to check on that.  Daddybear has taken on a new position,  which means more money coming from his end and we have new benefits we can utilize ,which will offset the PT, OT , and Psych... somewhat. Therapy is so expensive. I have no idea really how much therapy is going to cost this summer. It all depends on her evaluations and how she does and how fast we run out of money.

ABA is funded this round, only had to wait 18 months for it :( The scheduling for it is still up in the air, requested out of area services as we live on the border of 3 areas but our postal sends us to the farthest places for assessment and treatment.

I'm going to try for EI benefits but ... I seriously doubt they'll be available to me, but if they are, that will help a lot.

Long story short, Tiger is our priority and the budget is broken.



The High Functioning Life where the needs and wants always, Always exceed the means.


HFL Mama

update: Have an EI code think I'm approved woohoo
Oh n hubby has great coverage, but no OT or ABA