{{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.

{{Recap!}}

Ok, I've been MIA. Sorry. Things have been.... well.... psycho.

1. Weight loss challenge. Oh yeah I'm still in that. Umm ok well I'm at 215. Don't know where I was last update and frankly with everything else going on this has been the last thing on my mind.

2. Little man. He's so sick. I think he's got pneumonia. =( Sad panda. I'm taking him in today. Would have taken him to the ER last night but who has $200.00 laying around for that?

3. Job situation. No word. Job shadowed a position Friday and that couldn't be any further away from what I want. What a mess. Couple more irons in the fire on a few positions, but losing hope. Fast.

4. Taxes. I'm excited to get taxes back. I am thinking of taking an add out on Miss Indie's blog and hope that drums up some business for me in the Scentsy world. The party last week did amazing. Happy about that.

5. Just when I'm gearing up for spring and ready to start pushing photography, ect I find out we are getting a huge snow storm this week. Thanks mother nature. Appreciate it.

Ok, that's all you get from me today. I have a ton to do. Adios!

{{So Mad At Myself}}

Ok, so to say I'm anything but pissed off at myself would be a lie.

I've gained so much weight this week it's seriously is rediculous. I know why. I haven't stopped eating since last Thursday when I found out my job was being elimiated. And not the good eating. Chocolate, Big Macs, fries, cereal, anything I can get my hands on really. I've been guzzling soda like it's being discontinued. It's horrible. I'm ashamed really. I guess I just don't know how to cope with "my family is so beyond screwed".

I'm exhausted. I'm frustrated. It's so hard to come to work and do anything knowing they are getting rid of you. I just want to sit at my desk and stare at the wall until it's time to go. Better yet, I'd rather not be here at all. I'm just 110% fed up.

I have a couple job prospectives lined up. Hoping the one calls for an interview today. We'll see. It's the job I REALLY want, just not the hours (rotating shifts) but with the hours comes less sitter costs and more money, so you never know it could be ok. Plus it's a REALLY big step for us. If I get it I could potentally go back to school (paid for by work), and that would open a whole lot of doors.

I guess all I ask is think of me. No actually don't. Think of my family. I am the main providor and we are facing some really hard times. I'm doing what I can, but I know this ride isn't over yet.

{{End of a Life Pathway}}

When I started at Appleton Cardiology I was a temp looking for ANYTHING! Little did I know it would turn into 5 years, a lifetime of friendships, and eventually come to an end. We were told yesterday that that end was here.

Thankfully, having being bought out by Thedacare last year that meant one thing. We were safe under their no lay off philosophy. That means they will work with you to find you a new position in the company. Maybe not doing the same thing for the same hours or pay, but you will have a job. I was scared this meant I'd be flipping Laura's "Lean" burgers (You TC ppl know what I'm taking about) in the lunch room.

HR reps / career services came to our meeting yesterday and told us that our options were out there, and the more open minded we were the better off we had a chance of being repositioned sooner. AND not to rule out a job you may not qualify for on every level. This was huge for me. Clerical jobs are a dime a dozen, but it's all I know. BUT if I could look outside of that maybe I would find something.

I found 6 somethings. They are a wide range of positions and I feel each has it's pros and cons but I could do any one of them with minor training and determination.

Just pray for me and my family, and pray that I land one of the 6 and it's a good fit for my family and I. I realize beggers can't be choosers and that's why I'm open to the rotation shifts and night positions to open more options however I don't want to end up somewhere too complicated.

{{Romantic at Heart}}

Don and I don't really "do" Valentine's Day. I mean we get gifts, which we give weeks ahead of time. We might hang out together. So, imagine my surprise when at 1pm yesterday I get a text at work that says "There's a surprise hidden in plain sight at home. See if you can find it before I get home". I was shocked. He actually wanted to surprise me with something.

Turns out it was a gorgeous rose with cute little vase and a card that says I Love You. =) He HATES flowers because they die, so I NEVER even guessed it was that. I'm so pleased he thought all this through to surprise me.

He may not always be my favorite person, and he may not always me Prince Charming, but he's my Don. And I love him.