out of pocket

Last year we paid $1500 out of pocket for some dental work for David.  It was a quite a wallop on our already thin wallet!  It got paid but not easily.  We didn't have dental insurance then but the tooth repair was imperative.  This year [here's the bad news] he needed three more fillings.  (They lessened my guilt of being a mother with a multiple-cavity child with an explanation of the deep pits in his teeth - an issue of genetics...mmmmkay.)  But this year, [the good news - and my daily Gratitude] we have insurance!!!  It makes for a completely different experience!  Less money goes out...Less stress comes in.  I have my husbands new job again to thank for this.  Grace goes for her cleaning and x-rays tomorrow...we'll see how grateful she is to be there!