{{A Beginning To An End}}

Well, 5 years ago... I was desperately seeking work. Anywhere. Anything. And believe me, I took some really crappy temp jobs. We weren't financially hurting but I needed a job that was clear. I did everything from cleaning offices, wiping down toilets, answering phones, fighting mutant bugs (long story), and even being a waitress. So, when Office Team called me about this position at Appleton Heart Institute in medical records I jumped on it. It was simple enough. Run around, look for charts, get yelled at by nurses, put charts away. Slowly things progressed and there was talk of EMR on the horizon. It sounded so foreign that we thought oh it will be YEARS before it hits us. Well folks, the year is here....... A LOT sooner than ANY of us expected. Just 4  months ago we were slammed in pre-scan. Now we are purging the charts off the shelf. HR came in and told us to start looking at other options. Of course we liked our comfy desk jobs scanning, but the reality is, there aren't any of those at the hospital. The hospital is a new world, so to gain employment you had to think outside the box.

I had a 1 on 1 meeting with the career lady and asked her about different positions, mostly patient registration, some billing, and then there was the clinical lab / phlebotomist position. I have never drawn blood before and didn't even know if I was qualified. Her reply was "most people we hire have never drawn blood". Ok then. Sign me up! I shadowed a billing job. NO THANKS. Then decided to pursue this phlebotomist job. I could do this. Mind over matter.

I went and interviewed and shadowed and less than 3 hours after that HR called and said we are offering you the job, if you want it.  I didn't see a way to say no. They will train me on everything from robotic arms, to my co-workers offering themselves up as Guinea pigs, before ever giving me a patient. Eek! The hours are a little bit of everything, but I think we can make it work. Luckily our sitter is super flexible. Some days I'll go in at 4am and be done at 1pm, some days I'll go in a 1pm and be done at 9pm. Rotating weekends, but she said its like 2 every 14 weeks or something, so I can work around that. Rotating holidays, so that makes me sad as I might miss some with little man, but whatever. Santa will have to come early or something.

The raise, the hours, the training and the people all made me say, you know what... I CAN do this! Plus all the walking is going to be GREAT to get me back in shape. No more sitting at a desk.
I've cried a couple times (even today) thinking about leaving my best friends at AHI. I've known these girls through EVERYTHING. Kids, grandkids, marriages, boyfriends, everything. *sigh* It was just my time I guess.

{{Mommyhood Monday}}

So, I've been trying to find the balance between working full time, job searching, applying to college and getting that squared away, Scentsy, photography, and my little boy. It's been a challenge. However for this week... little man made it so easy to remind me why I love being a mommy. I'm not gonna lie, for a long time I didn't love it. I felt as though I had given up my life and would never be able to do anything I love again. What I didn't realize until about a week ago was I didn't give up my life, I just have to change my life slightly.

Little man has been hysterical this week. He learned to shake his head no, but does it when he means yes, which cracks me up. His personality has been shining through this week and it just kills me. He does the funniest things EVERY DAY! I am so glad spring is coming and we can get out and play. I think he's going to LOVE being outside, which is ok with me. =)

{{Random 5 Friday}}

5 Random Things About Me or My Life.

1. I am slightly obsessed with cleaning my ears. No joke. I do it probably 10-15X a day. If I feel the slightest of anything in there I'll go crazy and have to clean them. I really think if it gets any worse I could go on that show My Strange Addiction.

2. Little man was named after FBI Agent Seely Booth's son in the show "Bones".

3. I own more lip gloss and eye shadow than I will EVER wear. Yet, I keep buying more.

4. I will be heading back to school for the first time in 6 years this summer, to get my certification in Pharmacy Technician.

5. April is my favorite month. I love spring, I love watching the snow melt. The perfect day to me is, 50's... roads are wet from melting snow, and it smells like life because things are growing back.