Taxes are done

I took advantage of this week off from work to get a bunch of to dos off my list. A big one is the taxes.

Two years ago I did them all on my own, only to learn there was a 'fatal error' in the Turbo Tax program which meant things went all horribly wrong and I ended up getting the "you owe money' statement right before Christmas.

Last year we went back to H and R block for mine and DH's and paid about $85 each to get them done. But at least I knew they were going to be done right and I wouldn't have that error stress. I did the boys' taxes on my own on Turbo tax free and was pleased at how easy that was.

This year I opted to take DS1's to H and R block with us. With his scholarship and the out of country tuition, I just didn't feel confident knowing how to handle all of it.  I had two send two forms down to his college for the admin to fill in and authorize. DS then had to go in to sign the documents and the college then sent them back to me. He is allowed to sign over $5000 Canadian worth of tuition to me to claim. That had to be converted according to the govt dollar exchange %. I would not have known that. The rest of his tuition he gets to carry over until some year when he is employed again and can claim it.

This $5000 transfer gives me about $1400 in tax refund, along with my refund of $600 nets me $2000 in refund. The $1400 will go back into the college fund.

I did DS2's yesterday on Turbo Tax free. With one T4 form and the info carried over from last year, it took me 15 min max to file it. (let's hope I did it correctly :-)

Next year I will have two kids in college. I hope DS2s will be easier since it's in Canada.


So nice to get this off my list.

Holy Medical Bills Batman

I remember when I was getting ready to pay DS1's first semester tuition and fees last August.

I remember being overwhelmed by all the different fees.

I remember being more than a little OMG at the required health insurance fees of $1050 US per semester.

Soooo different than our world up here in Canada.


Well I am seeing it in a different light now.

DS got hurt in February during a game.  Ended up missing the rest of the season from the injury unfortunately.  He got one xray and one MRI.

The bill came yesterday. Just under $4000 US

I about died. Up here, we'd wait for a while before getting the procedure done but the cost would be covered.

I can now see why having good health care coverage in the US is such a critical thing. I can't imagine what folks do who aren't able to get it.

Where the money stands

as of April 7, 2015

Debts
Mortgage - $21 320.88

**Total Debt - $21 320.88


Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $5100
TFSA in waiting to be added - $1300
RESP - $16 800
RRSP - $9 957 
Grad 2015 - $1000
Summer 2015 - $500

**does not include the LOC

Suit up

I really have to send a shout out to my mother. She also suffers from colitis so she truly does know what I am going through. She really pulled through for me in the last month as I tried to get different pieces of my world organized from a sick bed.

DS2 decided he would go to prom. He was wavering.  She was super excited when he decided to go.

Suit shopping time!

She has gone with each of her grandsons for their graduation/prom suits. It's been a source of great pride with her. DS2 is her seventh and final grandson to graduate and it kind of broke her heart a bit when he wasn't going to go to prom. Graduation day only needed cap and gown. Not quite the same.

So with me too weak to head out, she and DS headed off to get his suit. This particular suit shop has been the source for all the other grandsons' suits, as well as DS1's hockey suits. The owner actually used to coach DS1 back in the day.

We let him know that DS2 is very dif from his brother. He is a camouflage woodsman and not a suit guy. He likes more neutral tones and isn't one to draw attention. He hates (loathes) clothes shopping,  hates spending money and is incredibly particular.  The owner was amazing for him and DS2 was impressed.

He pulled out four dif suits....two in grey tones and two in black. With every suit he snapped a pic and sent it to me at home so I could see it with a couple dif shirts. As DS tried on suit four, the owner said 'No! wait!' and went through the suits that had just come in, pulling out a charcoal grey 3 piece suit. "This one'.  DS put it on and it was the one.

I really appreciated how he 'managed' DS and made him comfortable in this experience. He also made DS laugh when he said he was so much easier to fit than his brother. Apparently DS1 has a 'big ass' from playing hockey and there are a lot more alterations needed when he shops. The owner also targeted a couple new ones for DS1 to look at when he comes home. "He needs a new black one. He's had the same one since I coached him" :-)


Mom had the time of her life shopping with her baby. She felt needed (and she WAS), and DS is happy.

thanks mama

Colitis returns

I have been AWOL. Around the beginning of   March my colitis symptoms started to return.

Within two weeks I was in full flare.  Aside from the obvious colon and bathroom issues, it brought total and complete exhaustion.

Last week I ended up in ER with chest pains. I was too dehydrated for them to get the multiple IV attempts in. I am not a big fan of IVs but I have never, EVER felt pain like that before.

I have lost 15 lbs in the last month. For an overweight girl like me there is a bit of a woo hoo, but not really, knowing how my colon is being damaged.

I was off work all last week, and pieces of the three weeks before.

I am now back on steroids, hoping desperately to get this flare under control. When I was last on flare we never did find a stable med that would kick it and not kill me with its side effects.

Humira has been suggested. Anyone have experience with it and colitis? Side effects?

I have enough energy to lay in bed and watch Netflix. That's about it.

This flare is far worse than my original one three years ago.

I am very grateful that this week we are off school for our Easter break. I am hoping to see enough improvement that I can return a bit to life.