Life with a Baby Gazelle= Little Blogging

Does anyone still read this blog?! lol... I have a 6 week old child- will that do for an excuse for lack of posts?
By way of personal finance, we made it home from the hospital without having to pay a dime! What was going to cost us between $2000 -$3000 ended up being waived by Kaiser. I was admitted on May 28 and discharged on May31 and the Baby Gazelle was discharged the following day. Additionally, I was given a card to present at any appointments or at the pharmacy waiving charges until 7/15/09! I have used that card well- 4 appointments for myself in the last 2 weeks including the dermatologist and the eye doc!

On the baby front- I've not had to buy a single diaper. I have exchanged some sizes for larger sizes, but that's it. Baby Gazelle never used newborn diapers, and about 3 weeks after birth was in size 2. I think I shall be taking about 4 Huggies jumbo packs in size 1 back to the store to exchange for size 3!
One thing I have had to buy for baby is health insurance. $88 a month buys a plan with a $2700 annual deductible and the copay is $75 for any visits that are not scheduled Well Baby visits. While I have secured this plan for the moment, I'm working on my final option for inexpensive child health care. I sent in the application for this other plan last week. I'm crossing my fingers that we'll be approved- dropping our premium to about $15 a month.

After the baby was born, Hegazelle took off work for 3 weeks and I took leave for 6 weeks. Each of us received disability/family leave payments from the state, paying us each about half of our wages. We use about $500 from our emergency fund to supplement these payments, but have since replenished that $500 that we used. I'm very thankful that things worked out this well.

We're excited to teach the Baby Gazelle the proper handling of money. Baby's only 6 weeks old, but listens to Dave Ramsey almost daily. I'm sure baby is already contemplating retirement. ;-) The first step in the right direction has been made- Baby Gazelle is the owner of a bronze piggy bank. Thanks to some great friends (that also attended Financial Peace University with us) they bought baby's first piggy and filled it generously with silver coin and a few coppers. When baby is old enough, we will introduce baby to Financial Peace Jr!

Long time no post

3 weeks since my last post can mean one thing: a baby was born in the Gazelle home!
We've not been able to do our budget for the past two pay periods because it's saved on our computer that wacked out on us while we were at the hospital. Hopefully the new motherboard will be installed on it tonight or tomorrow and we can get that done.

Meanwhile I must go tend to my new duties...

Gazelle Grab Bag

Well, the refinance is about complete, and was the easiest thing ever. No bank=wonderful transaction. The loan holders mailed us a new payment schedule with the new 5% interest rate for the next 20 years. Even after knocking off 5 years of the loan, the lowering of the interest rate still lowered our payment. Only about $25, but still.
Heaven knows we'll need that $25 with a new baby coming soon. Wednesday I had a meeting at work to discuss the specifics of my maternity leave and also my new schedule working from home. Of course there are some things I won't be doing any more since I'll be at home, so my hours are reduced, and thus my pay. I don't care though- I can't afford, nor do I want daycare so that I can work full time at the office. I may have to revamp the budget, but I'm up to the challenge for Baby Huey's sake.
Hegazelle and I are both entering into our busy season at work- just in time to take off for the baby. lol Now we'll both be receiving those lovely state disability checks for our bonding time. It will be a nice feeling to get back a small portion of what I've paid to the state for the past 10 working years.

How to do a nursery for $250 or less

1. ACCEPT HAND-ME-DOWN FURNITURE!!
2. Lose a little of your gazelle intensity and spend a bit much to get the bedding you want. :-)
3. Score some wall decor for a super low price at IKEA.
4. Remember- Less is BEST!

Nearing the Baby Gazelle's Arrival

For you guys over here that don't subscribe to Huey Happenings, I'll just let you know not to expect too much out of me for the next while. I'm 37 weeks pregnant and technically could have Baby Huey any time between now and June 13 (2 weeks overdue.) Therefore, you can understand we're a bit busy and about to get busier.

Huey's furniture arrived this week delivered and assembled free of charge. Everything looks great!
Hegazelle was approved Wednesday at work to take off for two weeks following Baby Huey's birth! Needless to say, we have been saving like mad gazelles to make provision for this time. Even though the state will eventually reimburse you up to 55% of your wages for family leave time, you gotta have something to live on while you wait for them to send you a check. One thing I have to say about the company Hegazelle works for- they certainly have a "family first" attitude. They make their support clear, and that's a certainly a nice thing.

I, of course am still working, though it seems to have adverse effects on my right ankle. Apparently sitting in an office chair for 35 hours a week while one is great with child prohibits proper circulation to one (or both) of the ankles. It won't be long though...
I have asked more than once what kind of deal they were going to make me on this furniture, but I have never really had that question answered. Now it's in my home. I think I may have my answer.