The Week in Review

We started with the new nurse this week. The jury is still out yet on if she'll fit with us. However, Emily was able to go to school this week and she had a good time. She learned about the lungs in Science class. Next week she is going to learn to make cookies in Home Ec.


Grace has been helping me put a puzzle together. Its a difficult one and we have fun looking for the pieces together. She's been helping me with laundry and dishes also this week. Nice to have a little help around the house.

On Wednesday I went to the state capitol to advocate for equal wages for private duty nurses caring for Medicaid clients. When I arrived in Olympia there was no parking where I was supposed to meet my group (the class I'm taking). So I drove around and around till I found parking on the street. What I didn't know was that I could only park there for 1 hour, and in that zone (neighborhood) only 1 time during the day. And boy, they enforce it. I got a ticket. It will cost $15 because I couldn't find a parking spot. In the afternoon I found another spot in a lot and paid only $1 for 2 hours. Go figure.....


In the days before I went to Olympia I made a poster and bookmarks to give to my representatives. I had appointments and was able to sit and talk with them for a few minutes about our nursing situation. When I got to the Senator's office I met her and then began to tell her about the nursing situation. She called her assistant (who also has a child with disabilities) in to the office. Her assistant took notes on what we needed, and what was important. I was immensely pleased, knowing that someone actually heard what I had to say. Advocating for something at the state capitol takes time, maybe even years. I know that we may not see the results this year but I'm hoping by next session (next year) maybe there will be more interest to get a bill moving through the house and senate for equal wages. Then more nurses will be interested in providing private duty nursing care for our kids who are on Medicaid.