10 Things I've Learned Recently ...

... that someone really should have told me at some point during my 17 years of formal education!!

1. If you have a child, but don't have a will, and something happens to both you and your child's father, the state government decides who will get custody of your child.

2. If you have a will, but then have a child after you have your will done, the child automatically voids and nullifies your will... UNLESS you put a clause in there about "contemplation of future children."

3. Insurance for the self-employed stinks with a capital S.

4. Insurance for the self-employed RARELY includes maternity coverage.

5. Karo syrup cures constipation.

6. Having a baby costs anywhere from $7500 to $20,000 out of pocket if you don't have insurance that includes the maternity coverage that no insurance company wants to give the self-employed family.

7. One insurance company will actually give the self-employed family maternity coverage. However, their premiums will be twice as much as they are paying right now, they will get slapped with a $5000 yearly deductible (with 100 percent of sick Dr. visits and prescription medications being paid by said self employed family), and there is a 12 month waiting period for the maternity coverage to take effect. (Not that said self-employed family is planning to have a baby in the next 12 months, but they would like to know they could if they wanted to).

8. One other insurance company will also give the self-employed family maternity coverage. However that maternity coverage will max out at $4000. So, lets see... worst case scenario... $20,000 - $4000 = A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO COME UP WITH AT ONE TIME WHEN I'M SUPPOSED TO BE INSURED.
(Despite this insurance quandry, said self-employed family has no interest in any part of the government offering to fix this for us. We'll deal with it, thank you very much.)

9. Babies can have any and all table foods at 9 months of age. Well, except for peanut butter, eggs, and shrimp.

10. Christa is officially petite. (Alright, I'll forgive the education system for not telling me numbers 9 and10). She went to the doctor today and is 15 lbs 1 oz, which puts her in the 5th percentile. She is also 26 3/4 inches which puts her in the 20th percentile. The doctor says she looks great and is just going to be little for her age.

Bonus information that I just learned: Marisa Jaret Winokur did NOT get kicked off Dancing With the Stars tonight, and I, for one, am ecstatic! I had the pleasure of seeing her on Broadway when she did Hairspray, and I simply love her.