New Job

I eagerly started my new job on Monday. About an hour into my first day of orientation, I began to feel achy and cold. As I continued to spiral down hill throughout the day, I realized how great my bodies timing was. So, I woke up Tuesday with the world's worst sore throat. Eating nothing all day due to the mere thought of swallowing my own saliva (yes, I spit as much as I could), I toughed it out at work and then dashed myself off to urgent care. Yes, strep throat. But after a quick little shot in the bum and a little penicillin in my system, I woke up feeling like a new woman. I so dreaded having to call in sick on my 3rd day of employment. Luckily, I didn't have to since my doctor felt I was out of the contagious stage. Great start! Plus, the boys both visited the doctor Monday-Will with a "bad cold" and Max with "ear and sinus infection". Brian woke up with a cold this morning. Don't come visit us anytime soon!

Despite the aches, chills, and fevers of my first few days, things are going well. I have not done much with respect to what my position entails, but I have been learning a lot about the process and meeting a lot of great people. My "office" will be ready soon. I am excited about the thought of my own office, but they just recently converted two closets into "offices" for two of the office staff. I am a little afraid of what "office" means to them...aka, bathroom, parking spot?

Today was my first Wednesday of working for quite some time, so I missed my guys a bit. They had their first experience with the on-site child care center. We had some tears initially but they both received good reports. I am sure they will be loving it soon! Onward and upward!

Update

Not realizing that home health PTs were so in demand in the area, I have had a few job offers in a very short period of time. I turned in my resignation on Monday, and my boss has been very reluctant to accept it. I guess I should be flattered, but I have been more annoyed by it all. I had a good talk with him today and assured him that I was sure that now is the time for me to move on. So, I accepted a position with Shawnee Mission Home Health and am moving up in the world. I will be their "Patient Care Supervisor" and will be managing a team of about 20 clinicians. Yikes. I will be spending most of my time in the office and will get a much needed break from patient care. Don't get me wrong, I love my LOL/LOMs, but I was starting to get bored. So, I am up for the challenge and welcome the change. I will start the 18th (well, pending the drug screen...wish me luck with that!).

Job Search

Well, it has finally come to that. After 7 years, I think it is time to move on. The company I work for is not doing so well and many people's paychecks are bouncing (thankfully, not mine...yet!). I really like my job and love the people I work with, but I feel like I need to make a move now before the ball drops and forces me to find a new job. All I can say is that Medicare is a bad word and being under review by Medicare for the last year is another bad word. Since Kelly is one of the few who reads this, she might understand what I am saying here. It's been tough and I have tried to hang on, but my grip is slipping. So, wish me luck with my interview tomorrow!

What do you think the odds are that my boss is reading this?

It's Over

Well, we survived yet another holiday season. Although it is wonderful to spend time with our families and to get time away from the mundane, I am such a creature of habit and have been craving everyday, normal life. Even if that means a full work week.

Christmas was great. The boys both really were excited for Santa to come this year. My brother, Matt, and his family were in town and the boys loved playing with their cousins, Ben and Ryann, or as Max so affectionately calls her "Wy Wy". Those two were quite smitten with eachother. Pictures to come. We pulled up to my parents' house this morning and Max exclaimed, "Wy Wy". Little did he know that Wy Wy was on her way back to Colorado. Poor guy.

We had a wonderful 2007 and look forward to more to come in 2008. At his age, Max has had many "firsts", and Will amazes me daily with the things he has learned. They are growing up way to fast. Although daily life is a challenge with two young boys, I wouldn't change a thing in our crazy life. I am truly blessed. Which brings me to my new favorite saying, "Give me patience for my blessings".

Happy New Year!

Christmas is coming...

..and the goose is getting fat. Hopefully, I won't be the goose! The boys are getting quite excited for Christmas. I am sad knowing that I will soon have to temporarily retire the term "Santa is watching". Although, it doesn't hold too much weight around here. I can remember back to being young and thinking that Christmas day would never arrive. How hard it must be for a 4 year old to be patient. Oh wait, he's not patient! Max has sort of quit messing with the tree but now he is quite into messing with the presents. None have been unwrapped yet. Oh well, nothing fun under the tree for him yet. Hopefully we can make it 7 more days!

Update

Just an update on the results of our "tough love" saga. It worked. Now, the minute I say that we will have another night of listening to our youngest "cry it out" for over an hour. He is so much better. Even in the middle of the night it is now no more than 10 minutes of fussing and then he calms himself down. It is kind of sad to think about, though. I know he needs to be able to self soothe, but it is almost like he is thinking, "Okay, I cried...no one came...no one loves me...I guess I'll just go to sleep". I almost had to give him props for his prior perserverance.

Sleep or not...I love that little man! I am amazed at what comes out of his mouth lately. Some of his latest...."Come on" with a hand gesture. When talking about a "choo choo" he says it goes "woun woun" and again, with a hand gesture. And he loves his brother. In the morning, he gets so excited to see him, "Hi Will hi!". He asked me today for a "hug", and I gladly obliged. As trying as it can be, this is such a fun age.

Tough Love

We had to do it. We've let it go far enough. Yes, we are instituting "tough love" on Max. So, I am writing this as I listen to him scream my name from his crib. And why do they always scream for "Mommy"? Never a "daddy" in there. Max has really always been the "easier" baby. Much more laid back. Probably because he's numero dos. But sleep has always been our headache with him. It's not really an issue if you like to spend most of your evening and much of your early morning hours in the rocking chair. As much as I love a good snuggle with my guys, unfortunately there is too much more to be done (like sleep!). So, here we are at 18 months trying to initiate some good sleep habits. And frankly, it sucks. I don't really care to listen to him cry for this long (we are going on 30 minutes....oh, but he's fading. Please God, let him be fading!). Last night it was 45 minutes. The other morning at 3 am, it was well over an hour. My heart breaks a little with each "Mommy", but I'm hanging tough. I have to. I really hope we're getting somewhere.

Next battle....bye bye binky. We may wait until he's 10. I'll keep you updated.