Thursday, March 13, 2008

One of Them Weeks

You know...the kind that make you deliberately abandon proper grammar for your blog post titles!

Sometimes little fingers can do big damage. Such was the case here early in the week. On Monday, Cameron reached down to pick up his little brother. Reagan raised his arms, and stuck a finger directly in Cameron's right eye. Even though his nails had just been clipped the day before, they are still razor-sharp little boogers. Cameron ended up with a very serious eye injury requiring nearly daily visits to doctors for evaluation and treatment. Initially on Tuesday, they were very concerned because 3 layers of membrane had been ripped in the cornea, and they thought it would take a special procedure to remove a "flap" of it. There was also a concern of infection due to the location of the scrape, since he could have ended up losing sight in that eye. We were sort of stunned all day Tuesday as we drove from the dr to the Specialist. Who would have dreamed such a little incident could be so alarming? As it turns out, we fully believe that the Lord intervened and touched Cameron's eye. It was still a very bad corneal abrasion, but it is healing nicely; so far no infection has set in. We take him back in the morning for a thorough evaluation. We have spent a lot of time thanking God for the gift of sight this week. Cameron was in so much pain the first few days that he could hardly even keep his "good" eye open. His sisters have fixed his breakfast, led him to his room, helped him brush his teeth, etc. It has been pitiful, but sweet.

On another annoying front, I am suffering an injustice at the hand of Homeland Security. There now, did that make ya sit up and take note?!? I'm still trying to sort out the details myself, but it goes something like this. I've been married for nearly 12 years. When I got married I took my birth and marriage certificates to the driver's license bureau in FL, and got a new license w/my married name on it. Moved to AL, and took my FL license to the AL bureau and got a valid license for that state w/my married name on it. Likewise when we moved to our current location. Well, recently my license was set to expire and so I went to the local branch to renew it. For some reason, I popped up in the system w/my maiden name on their computer. So they said something about new laws since 9/11 yada yada yada and that I would have to take my marriage license to the SS office, etc. Apparently I hadn't changed my name w/the SS office. I'm not sure that that's true, but that's what they tell me. So this week I took all my paraphernalia to the office and AGAIN they tell me that due to new laws put in place by Homeland Security that I will have to take my case to COURT, PEOPLE!!!! Actually get put on the docket and have a judge help me legally change my name to THE NAME I'VE BEEN LEGALLY USING FOR 12 YEARS!!!! GRRRRR!!!

I'm looking into all the possible options. I think there's some bureaucratic red tape here that can be avoided with a little intelligence and maybe civil servant bribery. JUST KIDDING. (maybe.)

Now, you see? It's been one of them weeks.

13 comments:

Jody J said...

Oh, my goodness! What a week you've had. I hope Cameron's eye is healing quickly. That is very frightening.
Hope you become legal soon! :)

Kim M. said...

Oh MY WORD! Bless your hearts! I will pray for you.

Leah said...

Wow!! Unbelievable!
I think I see some of Grandpa H.'s humor coming out in you-- even through your obstacles. Ha!

jenny said...

I'm so sorry about Cameron's eye...but thankful it is healing correctly.

Tara, you are NOT going to believe me...but a VERY similar thing happened to me this week. I spent 5 hours visiting the DMV and Social Security office on Tuesday to get my license renewed. I guess I never properly changed my maiden name to my married name on my social security card...therefore I showed up as an invalid soc # in the DMV database. After going to the Soc. Sec. office and filling out a simple application I am to get a new card in 10 days that I can take back to DMV to get new license. Like I said 5 hours! 2 trips to each office for right documentation...but hopefully I will not pose any more threats to national security. I sympathize with you wholeheartedly.

Now don't have a heart attack at this next part....the social security lady told me that I had to "prove" I had been Jenny C. but a birth certificate won't work. She told me to have my doctor "make one up." After telling her that my doctor didn't even know me as Jenny C. she said "oh, that's ok usually if you have a good relationship with your doctor they'll work with you and draft something up." I said, "Great! It's sure comforting to know it's easier to obtain correct documentation through falsified documents!" I was irate!!!

Kimberly said...

Good grief!! Poor Cameron...my Aunt did something similiar to herself one Christmas..that was exciting! Trust he continues to heal!

And if I ever get to tie the knot, I will be sure to file the paperwork and make it legal...Ha! Ha! Ha! How cazy...not so funny if you're the one posing the "risk" I guess...sorry!

kayla said...

My friend has been living in fornication, sob, sob. I hope you get this all straightened out soon and give those poor children a proper home.
We will be praying for Cameron. What an ordeal! Those "little cabooses" can be brutal.

Tara said...

Perhaps it would be good to note....cough cough.....that I AM LEGALLY MARRIED. :) I have the marriage license to prove it. So, dear friends (ahem, Kayla) never fear, my children are not bastard sons and daughters. :)
Although, you know, this is really a tangent that could be dangerous, but I'm in a mood so I think I'll chance it....when did people who make a covenant before GOD to enter into a lifelong marriage ever begin seeking a License from an earthly government?????? What is the history of the "civil" side of marriage? Anybody know? Just been thinking along these lines lately. Certainly serves no great purpose to stir the pot, but you know me!

Anyway, friends, thanks for your kind words and concern. Cameron's appt. today went well. He's not 100% yet, and I was a little concerned about his eyesight as they did some of the testing, but overall, it's healing well. We have to return next week for them to look at it again.

Jenny: that is just WILD that we're going through the same weird thing at the same time! I am appalled at the woman at your SS office. I dont' fully even understand what she's asking you to produce from a doctor. what does a doctor have to do with any of it???? But at any rate, the whole point of this whole Homeland Security thing is supposedly to make us safer!!!!! What right does she have urging you to circumvent the law!! How does she know you're not an Al Quaeda informant???! :) Government offices have this bitter effect on me. Didn't you just love the delightful sights and smells you encountered during your 5 hr visit?!?

That's enough rambling from me for now. Maybe I'll have to return and delete my comment later when I'm less irate.:)

Crystal said...

Tara, I'm so sorry for what you have encountered this week. Tell sweet Cameron that we are so sorry and that we will pray for him. Hope next week is better for you! Tell everyone hello.

Kelly S said...

Kayla, you goof! Tara, I'm so sorry you're having them there problems:) Seriously, I really am sorry. You and Jenny have me worried now. Unfortunately, I'm a procrastinator and not as organized as you. One of my children's birth certificate was typed wrong by the Birth Registry at the hospital where they were born and the birth certificate was made with my middle name wrong. So I guess legally I'm not his mother until I go to the courthouse and get it fixed! I figured it's no big deal, but now I'm worried!

Tara said...

Ah, Kelly....see the dangers of blogging!! Have I given you the false impression that I am an organized woman?!! Oh, how I would that it were true.

You best get crackin' though on your situation...never know what could come of it. You know this reminds, I think Juwah told me not too long ago that there was a mistake on her birth certificate. Like Wrong YEAR or something!!!! YIKES!!!!! I better get after her to fix that too! We'll just be a bunch of paranoid bloggers! LOL!

Tara said...

Hi Crystal...welcome, cuz! So glad you've joined the ranks of bloggers. Give the boys kisses for me!

jenny said...

I was easily able to find correct documentation to prove my maiden status (I guess a passport is best but I can't find mine it expired so long ago)...they accepted my old official college transcripts. I was just highly annoyed by her telling me to try to get the documentation through dishonest means. Initially, even though the whole thing was very frustrating, I at least could tell myself at least they are being VERY careful at giving people licences...but after the Social Security office what more was there to do but throw you hands up in despair.

And yes, I could tell some tales about what went on during that 5 hours...but I'll suffice it to say the highlight was little Isaac walking right out of his britches while I was trying to pin him down and fill out a form at the same time!

Allana Martian said...

What???? NOW I have heard it all! Only in America....