I received these two questions via email from a blog reader.
My 2 biggest questions for you would be:
1. What did you do before you were a stay at home mom? And was it an easy decision to quit/how did you know?
Right before Elijah was born, I wrote a post entitled "How I became a writer." This post basically details my life from teacher to writer to mom. I think it gives you a pretty good idea of what I did before I was a stay-at-home-mom.
I am an English teacher by profession. That is what I am trained to do. I have kept my license current so I could go back to this at any point. My switch from teacher to writer came more by chance (or God) than anything I do. I enjoy writing. I am so lucky to have gotten paid to do it. I am actually back doing a few hours of writing a week for the folks at the RLS Foundation.
As for being a stay-at-home mom, it was the only thing I really ever wanted to do. However, because I worked for home, when Isaac was born, I had the ability to drop to part-time and do it from home. It worked out really well since Isaac was such an easy kid. I think it would be much harder once they aren't sleeping half the day. When Elijah came along so quickly, it became quickly evident that I would not have the time to try to keep working. I remember having some conversations with my husband about continuing to work full-time when I had Isaac and continuing part-time when I had Elijah, but I think that was just me naively thinking I could do more than was really possible.
I have to be very honest here. I totally respect those individuals that have to work and cannot stay home. Many people do not have a choice. They need their income. However, while a second income would be nice and we definitely have to trim to make it one income (side note: my husband is a doctor but he is a RESIDENT right now. They really don't make a ton of money) I am so in love with staying home for my boys and giving up some "extras" is way worth it. I truly feel that being home with my boys is the most amazing thing I could be doing. I feel like every moment is education with them. I am reading to them, talking to them, playing with them. It is very exhausting and very busy, but I would not have it any other way. I know that I will never regret choosing to be home with them. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to stay at home. One of the reasons John chose to go back to school was because we recognized that his job as a graphic designer would not afford me the luxury of staying home with children. And I really wanted to do that.
I was never a "career" person. In fact, I often wished that I was when I was going through five years of infertility. I felt that if I had some sort of "dream", then losing the dream of parenthood would be easier for me to digest.
If you are looking for advice, my advice to any mother or father out there would be, if there is any way possible for you to stay home with your child, do it. You'll never regret it. However, if you can't, release yourself from any guilt you feel. God knows best. Do what He is leading to you to do. He will guide you. He will take care of you. I know many people who did not have stay-at-home moms and they turned out just fine.
2. How many views per day/ followers do you have on your blog?
I get approximately 400 views per day. This translates into around 3000 hits per week. Of course, this could be 1 person viewing 400 times! ;) I know many people come back a few times a day so that doesn't mean I have 400 people who read my blog. If I had to guess, I would say that I have about 250-300 regular readers.
I really try not to get hung up on who is reading my blog. I say this, and I mean this. If not one was reading it, I would still do it. It's my hobby. It's my online journal if you will. I plan, following my friend Joia's lead, to turn each year of my blog into a book that my children can have someday. So I would do this just for them.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Monday, October 26, 2009
RLS
Well folks. I'm going back to work.
Okay, not really. Well sorta. I am going to start doing a bit of writing again for the Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Foundation. I have been doing a few hours a month editing for them since Elijah's birth, but otherwise, that's about it. But I have decided to pick up a few more hours. When I cut down from 20 hours before Elijah to zero after he was born, we decided that instead of me "resigning", I should take a "leave of absence." At the time, I didn't think I'd ever go back. Especially during the early months with the boys.
But I have found a bit of a groove. I really enjoyed writing for the Foundation. And I want to keep my skills keen. I also want to make a bit of extra money.
So I'm working for them again! Not much. Probably less than ten hours a week. But a bit anyway. I'm way excited about the opportunity to write from home while the boys are napping or playing next to me.
I'll keep you posted on how the new arrangement is working out.
Okay, not really. Well sorta. I am going to start doing a bit of writing again for the Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Foundation. I have been doing a few hours a month editing for them since Elijah's birth, but otherwise, that's about it. But I have decided to pick up a few more hours. When I cut down from 20 hours before Elijah to zero after he was born, we decided that instead of me "resigning", I should take a "leave of absence." At the time, I didn't think I'd ever go back. Especially during the early months with the boys.
But I have found a bit of a groove. I really enjoyed writing for the Foundation. And I want to keep my skills keen. I also want to make a bit of extra money.
So I'm working for them again! Not much. Probably less than ten hours a week. But a bit anyway. I'm way excited about the opportunity to write from home while the boys are napping or playing next to me.
I'll keep you posted on how the new arrangement is working out.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Big Press for RLS
As most of you know, I currently work for the Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Foundation. I will be taking an extended leave of absence from this position in the next few weeks but have so enjoyed the nearly five years I have spent as their Director of Publications & Communications. I primarily handle all writing and editing and just love this job.
We are always excited when we get some good press on RLS. The condition often takes a bad wrap as some people actually believe it is a made up disease. That is far from the case. RLS is, basically, a sleep disorder, that prevents individuals from sleeping due to their need to move their legs. It may sound strange, but it is quite real and quite devastating to those that have severe cases of the disorder.
Yesterday, The New York Times online posted their feature on RLS. It is absolutely fantastic and one of the best pieces of press we have ever had done on RLS!
Click here to read the story or click here to listen to the patients' accounts of RLS. We are so excited by this painted portrait of RLS. I work and know each of the individuals featured in the first-person accounts and am so excited to see RLS illustrated so appropriately!
We are always excited when we get some good press on RLS. The condition often takes a bad wrap as some people actually believe it is a made up disease. That is far from the case. RLS is, basically, a sleep disorder, that prevents individuals from sleeping due to their need to move their legs. It may sound strange, but it is quite real and quite devastating to those that have severe cases of the disorder.
Yesterday, The New York Times online posted their feature on RLS. It is absolutely fantastic and one of the best pieces of press we have ever had done on RLS!
Click here to read the story or click here to listen to the patients' accounts of RLS. We are so excited by this painted portrait of RLS. I work and know each of the individuals featured in the first-person accounts and am so excited to see RLS illustrated so appropriately!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Back from Atlanta
I am back from Atlanta. The trip went very well. I left my house at about 4:45am and thanks for catching and earlier flight home, was eating a grilled cheese sandwich on my own couch by about 8:00pm.
It was a bit strange actually. I arrived at the airport before any of the shops or restaurants were opened under a pitch black sky, and returned nearly sixteen hours later to find things just the same. I actually watched the sun rise and set from an airplane window on the same day!
It was a quick 40 minute flight in both directions, and I avoided having to take a cab, which even though my work was paying for it, I knew would be very pricey, by taking the public train! It actually has a stop right in the airport and just two blocks from the building on the GSU campus where we were holding the meeting. Thanks to some good details in my "meeting packet" (thanks to my coworker Gina!) and a very helpful train worker, I was able to maneuver my way through public transportation quite successfully.
The meeting itself went off flawlessly. The only bad thing was our estimated attendance was nearly cut in half by a gas shortage currently going on in Atlanta. Despite the fact that they had prepaid, I think many people opted not to attend due to how difficult it was to obtain gas and how expensive it was to pay for it. Other than that though, it was a fantastic meeting with no glitches at all. The speakers were excellent, the refreshments tasted great, the AV equipment worked perfectly, and people seemed extremely grateful, satisfied, and educated upon leaving.
I did learn a good lesson on this trip, however. I am pregnant. I really don't feel that pregnant and I really feel very good most of the time. Most of the time, that is, until I push it. I did a good job yesterday eating and drinking plenty despite the hectic environment, but the amount of time on my feet and the lack of rest left me feeling pretty stinky by the time I paid my extra $50 to take an earlier flight. (Did you know you have to do this now?) It didn't matter to me by that point. I just could not see myself trying to get comfortable for three hours in the Atlanta airport, and I quickly opted to pay the fee to go home early.
My earlier flight ended up sitting an hour on the tarmac due to a mechanical issue, and I was forced to ask the attendant for some water and get up a few times to try to get comfortable. My back, my feet, my stomach -- everything hurt. I have learned that even though I don't feel like much has changed with me, much has, and I just have to learn to take it easy and slow down a bit.
Live and learn!
It was a bit strange actually. I arrived at the airport before any of the shops or restaurants were opened under a pitch black sky, and returned nearly sixteen hours later to find things just the same. I actually watched the sun rise and set from an airplane window on the same day!
It was a quick 40 minute flight in both directions, and I avoided having to take a cab, which even though my work was paying for it, I knew would be very pricey, by taking the public train! It actually has a stop right in the airport and just two blocks from the building on the GSU campus where we were holding the meeting. Thanks to some good details in my "meeting packet" (thanks to my coworker Gina!) and a very helpful train worker, I was able to maneuver my way through public transportation quite successfully.
The meeting itself went off flawlessly. The only bad thing was our estimated attendance was nearly cut in half by a gas shortage currently going on in Atlanta. Despite the fact that they had prepaid, I think many people opted not to attend due to how difficult it was to obtain gas and how expensive it was to pay for it. Other than that though, it was a fantastic meeting with no glitches at all. The speakers were excellent, the refreshments tasted great, the AV equipment worked perfectly, and people seemed extremely grateful, satisfied, and educated upon leaving.
I did learn a good lesson on this trip, however. I am pregnant. I really don't feel that pregnant and I really feel very good most of the time. Most of the time, that is, until I push it. I did a good job yesterday eating and drinking plenty despite the hectic environment, but the amount of time on my feet and the lack of rest left me feeling pretty stinky by the time I paid my extra $50 to take an earlier flight. (Did you know you have to do this now?) It didn't matter to me by that point. I just could not see myself trying to get comfortable for three hours in the Atlanta airport, and I quickly opted to pay the fee to go home early.
My earlier flight ended up sitting an hour on the tarmac due to a mechanical issue, and I was forced to ask the attendant for some water and get up a few times to try to get comfortable. My back, my feet, my stomach -- everything hurt. I have learned that even though I don't feel like much has changed with me, much has, and I just have to learn to take it easy and slow down a bit.
Live and learn!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Off to Atlanta
Tomorrow morning, I fly to Atlanta.
Tomorrow evening, I fly home.
Tomorrow I will leave Isaac and Scrubs and JB on base all by themselves. I will take myself and my nineteen recently gained pounds one hour east. It's the longest I have ever been away from Isaac. Good practice I say for mandatory couples' weekends that we plan to take in the future! Not sure when. But someday!
Anyways, one hour east I go. Or is it two hours since I gain an hour in the process? Anyways, that doesn't matter. I'm taking a day trip is all I know. I don't even need a suitcase. Just a carry-on bag. I need my jump drive, a camera, some papers, and enough snacks to make sure I stay properly hydrated and fed for the course of an entire day. Or at least fed. These "no liquid rules" mean I'll probably have to spend $3.50 on water when I cross the threshold of the security line.
Hey! Maybe I'll take an empty water bottle and fill it up at a water fountain on the other side. My cheap friends would appreciate the ingenuity of that frugality.
(Cheap friends, you know who you are. You are cheaper than me which is hard to be. You are doctors. One of you lives in Minnesota. The other one lives in California. You'd eat anything in your fridge no matter how moldly before you dared throw it down the sink. You are frugality queens.)
The trip is for work. The RLS Foundation is hosting regional meetings across the country. A staff person is always in attendance. Atlanta is close for me. I can fly in and out on the same day. So I was the lucky person picked to make the trip.
I have realized that even though I have flown hundreds of times, I have never flown in and out on the same day. Something new.
I also realized that even though I have taken a cab many times in my life, I have never taken one by myself. Another first for me.
I'm sure I'll have some pictures of my trip. They'll be for work, but I can share them with you. I'm sure you'll find the conference room and speakers exhilarating! I'm sure you'll check the blog early on Sunday morning to get filled in on this exciting day.
Okay, maybe not. But I'll post them just the same.
See you on Sunday everyone!
Tomorrow evening, I fly home.
Tomorrow I will leave Isaac and Scrubs and JB on base all by themselves. I will take myself and my nineteen recently gained pounds one hour east. It's the longest I have ever been away from Isaac. Good practice I say for mandatory couples' weekends that we plan to take in the future! Not sure when. But someday!
Anyways, one hour east I go. Or is it two hours since I gain an hour in the process? Anyways, that doesn't matter. I'm taking a day trip is all I know. I don't even need a suitcase. Just a carry-on bag. I need my jump drive, a camera, some papers, and enough snacks to make sure I stay properly hydrated and fed for the course of an entire day. Or at least fed. These "no liquid rules" mean I'll probably have to spend $3.50 on water when I cross the threshold of the security line.
Hey! Maybe I'll take an empty water bottle and fill it up at a water fountain on the other side. My cheap friends would appreciate the ingenuity of that frugality.
(Cheap friends, you know who you are. You are cheaper than me which is hard to be. You are doctors. One of you lives in Minnesota. The other one lives in California. You'd eat anything in your fridge no matter how moldly before you dared throw it down the sink. You are frugality queens.)
The trip is for work. The RLS Foundation is hosting regional meetings across the country. A staff person is always in attendance. Atlanta is close for me. I can fly in and out on the same day. So I was the lucky person picked to make the trip.
I have realized that even though I have flown hundreds of times, I have never flown in and out on the same day. Something new.
I also realized that even though I have taken a cab many times in my life, I have never taken one by myself. Another first for me.
I'm sure I'll have some pictures of my trip. They'll be for work, but I can share them with you. I'm sure you'll find the conference room and speakers exhilarating! I'm sure you'll check the blog early on Sunday morning to get filled in on this exciting day.
Okay, maybe not. But I'll post them just the same.
See you on Sunday everyone!
Monday, March 31, 2008
First day as a sort-of-stay-at-home-wife-soon-to-be-mom
Today is the first day of the rest of my life.
That may be a bit dramatic. But the freedom I am feeling is truly beyond words.
I have been, for so long now, looking forward to the month of April when I would get a few weeks before little XY joined our lives to do all the things I have been wanting to do since we moved here nearly a year ago. Folks, the month of April is here!
All right so technically the month of April starts tomorrow, but for all intents and purposes, when it comes down to it, April is here now!
I finally filed the box of bills in the "to file" drawer. I organized the closets in the guest room. I got a box ready for the yard sale I am hoping the wifia will hold sometime this summer. I did laundry. I did the dishes.
In between, I jumped on my computer and did some work for RLSF. But I didn't have to be in front of my computer all day long. I could do other things. It felt Grrrreeaaattt!
I have been looking forward, since the day we were married way back in the olden days of 1998, to the day that I got to be a stay-at-home wife. Instead of JB and I splitting duties because we were both working full-time, I could be the stay-at-home wife. (Although if JB had his way, he'd gladly swap roles and be a stay-at-home husband. He thinks that would be an awesome job!) Anyways, as of today, I am a stay-at-home-wife. In a month, that'll be a stay-at-home-mom.
I will still be working part-time, but it will be so great to have some more freedom to take breaks, hang out with XY, walk the dog, clean the house, chill with friends.
So happy . . . I'm so happy . . .
That may be a bit dramatic. But the freedom I am feeling is truly beyond words.
I have been, for so long now, looking forward to the month of April when I would get a few weeks before little XY joined our lives to do all the things I have been wanting to do since we moved here nearly a year ago. Folks, the month of April is here!
All right so technically the month of April starts tomorrow, but for all intents and purposes, when it comes down to it, April is here now!
I finally filed the box of bills in the "to file" drawer. I organized the closets in the guest room. I got a box ready for the yard sale I am hoping the wifia will hold sometime this summer. I did laundry. I did the dishes.
In between, I jumped on my computer and did some work for RLSF. But I didn't have to be in front of my computer all day long. I could do other things. It felt Grrrreeaaattt!
I have been looking forward, since the day we were married way back in the olden days of 1998, to the day that I got to be a stay-at-home wife. Instead of JB and I splitting duties because we were both working full-time, I could be the stay-at-home wife. (Although if JB had his way, he'd gladly swap roles and be a stay-at-home husband. He thinks that would be an awesome job!) Anyways, as of today, I am a stay-at-home-wife. In a month, that'll be a stay-at-home-mom.
I will still be working part-time, but it will be so great to have some more freedom to take breaks, hang out with XY, walk the dog, clean the house, chill with friends.
So happy . . . I'm so happy . . .
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Lots of changes
On Friday, I completed my last "official" day as an editorial assistant at Mayo Clinic. I will still be on payroll for the next 60 days as I help them transition into a new assistant so the "ending" does not feel quite as "final" as I thought it would, however, I am no longer tied to my computer during the day. My work at the RLS Foundation has always been very flexible. I can do it in the evenings, weekends, or late at night. But due to the nature of my work at Mayo, I have had to stay close to my phone and email. As of yesterday, that requirement has expired.
It's funny. For as long as I can remember, all I have ever wanted to be was a mom. That's it. No career aspirations for this chick. Back in 2003, when we started trying for a family, we had enough money saved to "survive" through medical school -- to cover the difference when I stopped working and started being a mom. When I didn't get pregnant, that money was used instead for all our infertility treatments, and in exchange, I kept working, instead of staying home. Whenever I get down about how much money we spent on infertility treatments with "nothing to show for it," I remind myself that I worked an extra five years. Five years that we thought I wouldn't be working at all.
While I have been a "stay-at-home" since moving to Eglin in June of 2007, I definitely didn't enjoy the luxuries of not working. I worked at least 40 hours a week, and sometimes closer to 50. That doesn't leave much time for laundry and scrapbooking now does it? Now, I am down to just one job, and I can start enjoying the role of "wife" and "mom" like I have always wanted to. I also not have to sit in front of a computer for such long periods of time or jump and back and forth on my timecard from job to job.
I have decided to keep working at the RLS Foundation due to the flexibility that this job offers me. I can totally organize my day around our new son. I will have some conference calls that are "scheduled" but otherwise, I can really do the work as it suits me and our family. In addition, we still need to pay for our China adoption so my income goes straight into the "adoption saving account" just for this!
Speaking of the RLS Foundation . . . since it is now my only job, I thought I would show you a quick snippet of what I do for them everyday.
This is the cover to our latest issue of NightWalkers, the quarterly publication that I am the editor for. This 20-30 page publication makes up a big part of my job. This was a special anniversary issue which was two times as large as our normal publication.
Not only am I writing articles for NightWalkers, but I am working with other individuals who are writing pieces, answering patient questions, or submitting photos. JB is actually a writer for the Foundation. He does the "In the News" section which features a breakdown of scientific research for the layperson.
I do other things for them though too. I am in charge of the website, PowerPoint, and healthcare provider membership. I also do a lot of work with the media and all kinds of other editing and writing for brochures and fundraising appeals. It's work that fits me perfectly, and I really enjoy it.
As of Friday, my work week is now only 20 hours long. I am sad to leave Mayo but excited to get to be at home and be a wife and a mom!
P.S. We are now following JB's birth certificate with our UPS tracking number. It should be here this evening or on Monday! Our Dossier will be heading to America World on Monday or Tuesday. At long last . . .
It's funny. For as long as I can remember, all I have ever wanted to be was a mom. That's it. No career aspirations for this chick. Back in 2003, when we started trying for a family, we had enough money saved to "survive" through medical school -- to cover the difference when I stopped working and started being a mom. When I didn't get pregnant, that money was used instead for all our infertility treatments, and in exchange, I kept working, instead of staying home. Whenever I get down about how much money we spent on infertility treatments with "nothing to show for it," I remind myself that I worked an extra five years. Five years that we thought I wouldn't be working at all.
While I have been a "stay-at-home" since moving to Eglin in June of 2007, I definitely didn't enjoy the luxuries of not working. I worked at least 40 hours a week, and sometimes closer to 50. That doesn't leave much time for laundry and scrapbooking now does it? Now, I am down to just one job, and I can start enjoying the role of "wife" and "mom" like I have always wanted to. I also not have to sit in front of a computer for such long periods of time or jump and back and forth on my timecard from job to job.
I have decided to keep working at the RLS Foundation due to the flexibility that this job offers me. I can totally organize my day around our new son. I will have some conference calls that are "scheduled" but otherwise, I can really do the work as it suits me and our family. In addition, we still need to pay for our China adoption so my income goes straight into the "adoption saving account" just for this!
Speaking of the RLS Foundation . . . since it is now my only job, I thought I would show you a quick snippet of what I do for them everyday.
This is the cover to our latest issue of NightWalkers, the quarterly publication that I am the editor for. This 20-30 page publication makes up a big part of my job. This was a special anniversary issue which was two times as large as our normal publication.
Not only am I writing articles for NightWalkers, but I am working with other individuals who are writing pieces, answering patient questions, or submitting photos. JB is actually a writer for the Foundation. He does the "In the News" section which features a breakdown of scientific research for the layperson.
I do other things for them though too. I am in charge of the website, PowerPoint, and healthcare provider membership. I also do a lot of work with the media and all kinds of other editing and writing for brochures and fundraising appeals. It's work that fits me perfectly, and I really enjoy it.
As of Friday, my work week is now only 20 hours long. I am sad to leave Mayo but excited to get to be at home and be a wife and a mom!
P.S. We are now following JB's birth certificate with our UPS tracking number. It should be here this evening or on Monday! Our Dossier will be heading to America World on Monday or Tuesday. At long last . . .
Monday, February 25, 2008
Insert a fork folks ...
11.42 hours of work later, the grant is, at least we believe ... done.
We submit it to Mayo, but the grant gods at Mayo have two weeks before they give the final nod of approval. Therefore, we could be told more work is needed. I pray that is not the case.
Unfortunately, work is far from done. I have gotten behind on RLSF the last few days due to grant. In addition, my boss at Mayo has a presentation due first thing tomorrow morning. We will be working on this before and after dog class tonight.
But, the fork has been inserted.
JB made steaks and salad for dinner to celebrate. Hip-hip-horray!
We submit it to Mayo, but the grant gods at Mayo have two weeks before they give the final nod of approval. Therefore, we could be told more work is needed. I pray that is not the case.
Unfortunately, work is far from done. I have gotten behind on RLSF the last few days due to grant. In addition, my boss at Mayo has a presentation due first thing tomorrow morning. We will be working on this before and after dog class tonight.
But, the fork has been inserted.
JB made steaks and salad for dinner to celebrate. Hip-hip-horray!
No fork in me yet
It's Monday morning, 6:45am. JB was on call all day yesterday. Other than my time with Josh and Sarah on Saturday, I have spent the entire weekend working on the grant. Technically, the dumb thing isn't due until today. We were planning on having it done on Friday since my boss left for Washington D.C. yesterday. However, work away we still did. And I'll probably be working on it all day today.
I did take a break yesterday to take Scrubs to the dog park and then go on a run. Poor Scrubs had no idea why I made him run right after he had an exhausting one hour romp with a blood hound at the dog park. (I tried to explain to him the concept of being "stressed out" but he didn't seem to really get it.)
I also picked up Subway and watched the beginning of the Oscars with JB in the hospital. Oh, and by the way, according to the Subway "sandwich artist", I "smells good." I had just taken a shower before I picked up my food so as he was making my food he told me "You smells good. I smells like sandwich." (He was Russian I think.) Quite funny! I had a good laugh at that.
Oh, another thing I took a break for on Sunday. I went to church. I helped Brittney with the 2-3 year old class as her husband Clay was post-call. I actually had a good time with these ten youngsters. This is the first time I have worked in a Sunday school class since before our infertility diagnosis. I used to do it all the time when I was a teenager and at our church in Bowling Green. However, we stayed far away from the kids' wing in Minnesota. It was good to jump back in and help color and eat animal crackers. I'm still not in to helping kids blow their noses. I was glad Brittney was okay with that concept.
We are getting ready to head to North Carolina with Matt and Tiffany on Wednesday morning so JB and Matt can take their boards. I also have dog class tonight. Lots going on. Better get to it.
P.S. I know she doesn't read my blog right now because they are internet-less, but happy birthday Mom K.!
I did take a break yesterday to take Scrubs to the dog park and then go on a run. Poor Scrubs had no idea why I made him run right after he had an exhausting one hour romp with a blood hound at the dog park. (I tried to explain to him the concept of being "stressed out" but he didn't seem to really get it.)
I also picked up Subway and watched the beginning of the Oscars with JB in the hospital. Oh, and by the way, according to the Subway "sandwich artist", I "smells good." I had just taken a shower before I picked up my food so as he was making my food he told me "You smells good. I smells like sandwich." (He was Russian I think.) Quite funny! I had a good laugh at that.
Oh, another thing I took a break for on Sunday. I went to church. I helped Brittney with the 2-3 year old class as her husband Clay was post-call. I actually had a good time with these ten youngsters. This is the first time I have worked in a Sunday school class since before our infertility diagnosis. I used to do it all the time when I was a teenager and at our church in Bowling Green. However, we stayed far away from the kids' wing in Minnesota. It was good to jump back in and help color and eat animal crackers. I'm still not in to helping kids blow their noses. I was glad Brittney was okay with that concept.
We are getting ready to head to North Carolina with Matt and Tiffany on Wednesday morning so JB and Matt can take their boards. I also have dog class tonight. Lots going on. Better get to it.
P.S. I know she doesn't read my blog right now because they are internet-less, but happy birthday Mom K.!
Friday, February 22, 2008
My brain has left the building
It is now 2:08pm. My brain has officially left my body. Seriously! I am unable to think any further. I have already done nearly 9 billable hours of work, and Dr. Phil isn't even on yet. That's 3pm for all of you people that actually get dressed and drive to work. I'm still in my pajamas folks.
I plan to stop at 5pm to spend some time with Josh and Sarah and then not restart work until 2pm tomorrow so I can spend some more time with them then. Unfortunately, I thought the grant was due today at 5pm. I was wrong. It is due Monday by 5pm. So this means a half day tomorrow and full day on Sunday will likely be a true facet of my existence before we wrap this thing up. In addition, my boss is leaving Sunday evening for a major presentation at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes 3 posters and 2 PowerPoint presentations. Yes, I am involved in these as well. Yikes!
Thus the reason my brain has officially left the building. I need chocolate. I would also like to get some exercise. Unfortunately, it has been raining NON-STOP since yesterday morning. Poor Josh and Sarah. What a bummer of a weekend to come into a beautiful place like Destin. I really hope we can go out on the boat tomorrow.
In other good news. I spoke with our lawyer this week. (His name is "Fritz" if you care.) I have preliminary paperwork (and, a preliminary bill :) to get things rolling for the adoption. He says that if everything goes as planned, this might be the easiest adoption he's ever done! Yipeee!
Okay, now back to find my brain . . .
I plan to stop at 5pm to spend some time with Josh and Sarah and then not restart work until 2pm tomorrow so I can spend some more time with them then. Unfortunately, I thought the grant was due today at 5pm. I was wrong. It is due Monday by 5pm. So this means a half day tomorrow and full day on Sunday will likely be a true facet of my existence before we wrap this thing up. In addition, my boss is leaving Sunday evening for a major presentation at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes 3 posters and 2 PowerPoint presentations. Yes, I am involved in these as well. Yikes!
Thus the reason my brain has officially left the building. I need chocolate. I would also like to get some exercise. Unfortunately, it has been raining NON-STOP since yesterday morning. Poor Josh and Sarah. What a bummer of a weekend to come into a beautiful place like Destin. I really hope we can go out on the boat tomorrow.
In other good news. I spoke with our lawyer this week. (His name is "Fritz" if you care.) I have preliminary paperwork (and, a preliminary bill :) to get things rolling for the adoption. He says that if everything goes as planned, this might be the easiest adoption he's ever done! Yipeee!
Okay, now back to find my brain . . .
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Stressed but warm
Well the bad news is, I am just really, really, really, really stressed out today. This week in general actually. Grant due in just a few days. Ugh!
The good news? The temperature indicated below is for Rochester where I no longer live.
More good news? Yesterday we got this adorable outfit in the mail from our awesome friend Rachel (and Hans too, although he probably didn't know it):
How cute is that? I especially love it being pants since I think that is one area (warmer clothes) that we are lacking in a bit.
The good news? The temperature indicated below is for Rochester where I no longer live.
More good news? Yesterday we got this adorable outfit in the mail from our awesome friend Rachel (and Hans too, although he probably didn't know it):
How cute is that? I especially love it being pants since I think that is one area (warmer clothes) that we are lacking in a bit. It came with the paperwork from the state of Minnesota that Rachel took to the courthouse for me. That's one more piece down! Yay!!! I am so blessed by wonderful friends.
If you think of it, please say an extra prayer for me. I just talked to JB via email, and we are going to skip Bible Study tonight. I am just really feeling the weight of everything with work and home and whatnot.
Skimpy blogs often result during these weeks. I hope this was enough to entertain you all.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Poor hubby & official notice
Poor JB. He is so wiped out. He says that he usually has no idea what time it is, cannot always sleep when he tries to at 10am, and does not usually get any sleep at night. He sounds so tired when I speak with him, which isn't often. Unfortunately, when he has downtime, I am usually heavy into my own night of sleep. By the time I get up, he is exhausted, and wearing down. I really miss him but do think that getting out of town for these two weeks was for the best. I
am, however, ready to see him again, and get back to our house in Eglin.
I have heard that it was a good two weeks for me to come. Apparently the temperatures on base were abnormally cold during the last few weeks. Here in Fort Lauderdale, it sticks in the good ol' seventies. Nice and warm. Today, the air is on. I won't even comment on what the temperature in Rochester has been. Okay, I will. It's been in the very negative degrees. Even veteran Minnesotan Rachel emailed me telling me she was freezing. Not good. Not good at all. I do not belong there. That's for sure.
In other news . . .
It's official. I have decided to resign from my position at Mayo Clinic. This was a very difficult decision eased only by the fact that I have worked away from the office for the last seven months so I have a bit of a transition of leaving my co-workers.
I have always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. Our plan was that when we got pregnant (back in 2003 -- ha!) I would quit work and stay-at-home. Instead, life played things out a bit differently. I have rationalized the money we have spent on infertility treatments by telling myself that had we got pregnant right away, I wouldn't have worked at all. In the end, we came out on the up side if you count the fact that I have worked five years longer than we planned on me working.
I will still do some work with RLSF and other free-lance organizations to help pay for our China adoption, but the fact that work for them is much less time-sensitive means I can do the work when the baby allows. Mayo's work is much more time-sensitive and not as flexible due to the deadline-driven nature of the work. I also think Dr. K needs to have someone in office -- something I obviously cannot do. I also have to do twenty hours a week to keep my benefits. I do not have to do a required number of hours I have to work for RLSF.
I have so enjoyed the last four and a half years that I have worked for Dr. K. and the Cardiovascular Department at Mayo. I was so blessed to have a job I could walk three blocks to each morning through the underground subway from my condo to the Guggenheim building. I wish I could do everything in life I wanted to and not feel overwhelmed or tired, but that isn't possible, so things have to give. Resigning from this job was my first step toward acknowledging that, in fact, we plan to be parents in May.
May baby here we come.
P.S. Oh and Funky Monkey, you keep saying you know the baby's name. How will we know you were right? I think you should have to email someone else so we can have proof of you being right or not. Something tells me you may be right. You seem to have a sixth sense about these things. :) And yes, everyone ... the name will not be revealed until the little ones makes his debut. (Bri does know and she approves!)
P.S.S. Don't let little Tara in Cali trick you all into thinking she needs to know the name. She just doesn't want to wait. Ha ha ha ha ha. I hold the power. How nice! :) I know what you are thinking Tara: "Is this helping or hurting?" he he he he he! (that's me laughing!)
am, however, ready to see him again, and get back to our house in Eglin.
I have heard that it was a good two weeks for me to come. Apparently the temperatures on base were abnormally cold during the last few weeks. Here in Fort Lauderdale, it sticks in the good ol' seventies. Nice and warm. Today, the air is on. I won't even comment on what the temperature in Rochester has been. Okay, I will. It's been in the very negative degrees. Even veteran Minnesotan Rachel emailed me telling me she was freezing. Not good. Not good at all. I do not belong there. That's for sure.
In other news . . .
It's official. I have decided to resign from my position at Mayo Clinic. This was a very difficult decision eased only by the fact that I have worked away from the office for the last seven months so I have a bit of a transition of leaving my co-workers.
I have always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. Our plan was that when we got pregnant (back in 2003 -- ha!) I would quit work and stay-at-home. Instead, life played things out a bit differently. I have rationalized the money we have spent on infertility treatments by telling myself that had we got pregnant right away, I wouldn't have worked at all. In the end, we came out on the up side if you count the fact that I have worked five years longer than we planned on me working.
I will still do some work with RLSF and other free-lance organizations to help pay for our China adoption, but the fact that work for them is much less time-sensitive means I can do the work when the baby allows. Mayo's work is much more time-sensitive and not as flexible due to the deadline-driven nature of the work. I also think Dr. K needs to have someone in office -- something I obviously cannot do. I also have to do twenty hours a week to keep my benefits. I do not have to do a required number of hours I have to work for RLSF.
I have so enjoyed the last four and a half years that I have worked for Dr. K. and the Cardiovascular Department at Mayo. I was so blessed to have a job I could walk three blocks to each morning through the underground subway from my condo to the Guggenheim building. I wish I could do everything in life I wanted to and not feel overwhelmed or tired, but that isn't possible, so things have to give. Resigning from this job was my first step toward acknowledging that, in fact, we plan to be parents in May.
May baby here we come.
P.S. Oh and Funky Monkey, you keep saying you know the baby's name. How will we know you were right? I think you should have to email someone else so we can have proof of you being right or not. Something tells me you may be right. You seem to have a sixth sense about these things. :) And yes, everyone ... the name will not be revealed until the little ones makes his debut. (Bri does know and she approves!)
P.S.S. Don't let little Tara in Cali trick you all into thinking she needs to know the name. She just doesn't want to wait. Ha ha ha ha ha. I hold the power. How nice! :) I know what you are thinking Tara: "Is this helping or hurting?" he he he he he! (that's me laughing!)
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Another call night down
Well yesterday was not a good call night for John. Not only did he have to do an extra hour of work, but he only got one hour of sleep. There weren't a lot of patients, but there was one man that very ill that required their work throughout the evening. Highlight of the night: John inserted his first chest tube -- a strong solo performance!
I actually had lunch and dinner with John yesterday. Lunch was nice and relaxed, but dinner was amidst the chaos of the new patient. This meant that while JB ate the Greek take-out I brought, he was looking at x-rays and constantly checking the labs for this man. Clay, the second year resident who also attends our church, was on with JB, and as the two of them talked, I was reminded again: wait a second. My husband is a doctor!
I know it should be obvious, but I don't really ever get to see my husband at work so sometimes I forget that when he leaves in the morning, he goes somewhere and speaks a completely different language for 8, 12, or 24 hours before coming home and switching back into discussions with me about the dog, my afternoon run, or what's for dinner.
I'm so proud of JB for working so hard and being a physician. But I have also been surprised how slow I am to tell people I am married to a doctor. When they ask what my husband does, I often reply: "He's in health care." It's not that I am not proud, but more that I have become aware that being a doctor (and a doctor's wife) carries with it some stigmas that I am not completely comfortable with. I don't want to be seen as rich or snobby or uppity or anything like that. So I often fail to give the whole story. When pressed, I'll tell them. But until then, health care will suffice.
JB got home around 8am. We had some french toast (that I made!) and then watched a bit more of the movie Transformers. JB stopped it part-way to head to bed. He slept for four hours and now we are just hanging out. I'm scrapbooking, and JB is doing some art as well. He's started a new type of art, and I am so excited to see him actually doing art for fun again. I'll have to take a picture of the stuff he's doing later -- we hope to inspire our nursery after this first piece so it's exciting.
We plan to hit the new Indian restaurant in town for a nice dinner this evening. It's only 4:15, but this time change really screwed me up. it feels like 6 or something! I love when it stays light out for longer.
I actually had lunch and dinner with John yesterday. Lunch was nice and relaxed, but dinner was amidst the chaos of the new patient. This meant that while JB ate the Greek take-out I brought, he was looking at x-rays and constantly checking the labs for this man. Clay, the second year resident who also attends our church, was on with JB, and as the two of them talked, I was reminded again: wait a second. My husband is a doctor!
I know it should be obvious, but I don't really ever get to see my husband at work so sometimes I forget that when he leaves in the morning, he goes somewhere and speaks a completely different language for 8, 12, or 24 hours before coming home and switching back into discussions with me about the dog, my afternoon run, or what's for dinner.
I'm so proud of JB for working so hard and being a physician. But I have also been surprised how slow I am to tell people I am married to a doctor. When they ask what my husband does, I often reply: "He's in health care." It's not that I am not proud, but more that I have become aware that being a doctor (and a doctor's wife) carries with it some stigmas that I am not completely comfortable with. I don't want to be seen as rich or snobby or uppity or anything like that. So I often fail to give the whole story. When pressed, I'll tell them. But until then, health care will suffice.
JB got home around 8am. We had some french toast (that I made!) and then watched a bit more of the movie Transformers. JB stopped it part-way to head to bed. He slept for four hours and now we are just hanging out. I'm scrapbooking, and JB is doing some art as well. He's started a new type of art, and I am so excited to see him actually doing art for fun again. I'll have to take a picture of the stuff he's doing later -- we hope to inspire our nursery after this first piece so it's exciting.
We plan to hit the new Indian restaurant in town for a nice dinner this evening. It's only 4:15, but this time change really screwed me up. it feels like 6 or something! I love when it stays light out for longer.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Post-grant recap
I have had a few people ask me what a grant was. I thought I would summarize it quickly. Basically what this is, is an application for funding. You are creating an application and submitting it to an institution and asking them to give you money so that you can do research. Research physicians like my boss rely on these grants to do research. The biggest organization that these are sent to is the NIH (National Institutes of Health).
A typical application from my physician is about 100 pages long. These are all pages that we have been working on for weeks and compiling and collecting. Each page needs to be included perfectly, on a certain form, with a certain number, etc. The rules are very detailed and intense and stringent. In fact, the rules themselves are like 100 pages long! I am not exaggerating.
No matter how hard we try, these grants come down to the last minute. Physicians aren't known for the speedy responses, and we are often waiting on other physicians to send us materials for the grant. In addition, most grants now are submitted electronically which is much easier. However, for whatever reason, this grant returned to the dark ages and was not electronic. I therefore relied on a woman I have never met to do all the final photocopying because I telecommute. She did a GREAT job!
Okay, so that's that. These grants are important because, well, without them I wouldn't have a job. Dr. Kullo can afford to have an editorial assistant (me!) because he has a grant that states he can have one. It is important that he keeps his funding coming in if I am going to continue to have a job, and he is going to continue to be able to do research. While he is a physician, he actually only sees patients one afternoon a week. The rest of the time is research time.
Other than that, life is attempting to slowly return to normal. I ended up working almost twelve hours yesterday. What's difficult is that my work at RLSF is sort of sitting there while all this grant work is going on. As you know, I got a promotion at RLSF so I have more responsibilities (including a grant due in December for them -- yuck!) So once the grant was out the door around 6pm, JB found me in my office doing RLSF work. He gave me one hour and at 7pm told me I had to stop and just sit on the couch. So I did. We watched Kid Nation (interesting show!) and Kitchen Nightmares (interesting as well).
Last night Scrubs gave me a bit of a scare. He's been sleeping in our bedroom because he can't fit in his kennel, and when I woke up at 2am and realized I hadn't been woken up between 9 and 2 by the dog, I wondered why he was being so quiet. I went to the little pad we make for him, and he wasn't there. I flipped on the light (much to JB's angst) and began scouring our bedroom. He wasn't there! I looked and noticed the bedroom door was shut! Where could he be? By this time I had woken John up and we went looking in other rooms trying to find the dog. In the end we found him on the sofa (where he isn't supposed to be) sound asleep. He must have snuck out of the room in between the time that I laid down and JB came into the room (just a few seconds) and decided he'd pick his own place to sleep! Yikes! Good thing he has this big cone on so that he can't chew anything up.
I also wanted to briefly touch on our adoption progress. Our Home Study is done, and Amy is supposed to be sending it this week. I was hoping to have it sooner, but apparently she had a computer crashing issue. Either way, we hope to have this study and send it to the Immigration Office sometime next week.
As some of you may know, there have been some other developments in our hopes to be parents. Right now, I can't go into this on the blog, but I do ask for your prayers.. There have been some "developments" shall we say that may change our plans a bit. When the time is right, I will share this on the blog, but, well, the time isn't right. So stay tuned. This is one of the reasons I haven't spoken much about adoption "stuff" on the blog. There's been a little fork in the road, and we are just watching as the Lord leads. I will share more ... when the time is right.
There's been a huge storm in all morning so I've been watching the news and taking JB's calls. Apparently there was a tornado touchdown right outside of base. It all seems quiet right now, but I'll keep you posted in anything changes.
A typical application from my physician is about 100 pages long. These are all pages that we have been working on for weeks and compiling and collecting. Each page needs to be included perfectly, on a certain form, with a certain number, etc. The rules are very detailed and intense and stringent. In fact, the rules themselves are like 100 pages long! I am not exaggerating.
No matter how hard we try, these grants come down to the last minute. Physicians aren't known for the speedy responses, and we are often waiting on other physicians to send us materials for the grant. In addition, most grants now are submitted electronically which is much easier. However, for whatever reason, this grant returned to the dark ages and was not electronic. I therefore relied on a woman I have never met to do all the final photocopying because I telecommute. She did a GREAT job!
Okay, so that's that. These grants are important because, well, without them I wouldn't have a job. Dr. Kullo can afford to have an editorial assistant (me!) because he has a grant that states he can have one. It is important that he keeps his funding coming in if I am going to continue to have a job, and he is going to continue to be able to do research. While he is a physician, he actually only sees patients one afternoon a week. The rest of the time is research time.
Other than that, life is attempting to slowly return to normal. I ended up working almost twelve hours yesterday. What's difficult is that my work at RLSF is sort of sitting there while all this grant work is going on. As you know, I got a promotion at RLSF so I have more responsibilities (including a grant due in December for them -- yuck!) So once the grant was out the door around 6pm, JB found me in my office doing RLSF work. He gave me one hour and at 7pm told me I had to stop and just sit on the couch. So I did. We watched Kid Nation (interesting show!) and Kitchen Nightmares (interesting as well).
Last night Scrubs gave me a bit of a scare. He's been sleeping in our bedroom because he can't fit in his kennel, and when I woke up at 2am and realized I hadn't been woken up between 9 and 2 by the dog, I wondered why he was being so quiet. I went to the little pad we make for him, and he wasn't there. I flipped on the light (much to JB's angst) and began scouring our bedroom. He wasn't there! I looked and noticed the bedroom door was shut! Where could he be? By this time I had woken John up and we went looking in other rooms trying to find the dog. In the end we found him on the sofa (where he isn't supposed to be) sound asleep. He must have snuck out of the room in between the time that I laid down and JB came into the room (just a few seconds) and decided he'd pick his own place to sleep! Yikes! Good thing he has this big cone on so that he can't chew anything up.
I also wanted to briefly touch on our adoption progress. Our Home Study is done, and Amy is supposed to be sending it this week. I was hoping to have it sooner, but apparently she had a computer crashing issue. Either way, we hope to have this study and send it to the Immigration Office sometime next week.
As some of you may know, there have been some other developments in our hopes to be parents. Right now, I can't go into this on the blog, but I do ask for your prayers.. There have been some "developments" shall we say that may change our plans a bit. When the time is right, I will share this on the blog, but, well, the time isn't right. So stay tuned. This is one of the reasons I haven't spoken much about adoption "stuff" on the blog. There's been a little fork in the road, and we are just watching as the Lord leads. I will share more ... when the time is right.
There's been a huge storm in all morning so I've been watching the news and taking JB's calls. Apparently there was a tornado touchdown right outside of base. It all seems quiet right now, but I'll keep you posted in anything changes.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Put a fork in me
I'm done. The grant is done. We are all done.
We didn't make the 2pm deadline. Instead, we had it out by the time the workday was done -- 5pm. This was still good but left me stressed out longer than I hoped. My boss asked me at 1:30pm if I had had lunch yet. No sirree, and I didn't plan to until the grant was out the door. I ended up giving up around 3pm and heating up some pizza.
JB had to come home in the middle of the day. It's a long story, but needless to say, I followed the vet's advice and took off Scrub's bandages and coated his stitches with deodorant. I had called to see if we could bring him in early because we were going batty trying to entertain a non-exercised Dalmatian who wanted only to get his e-collar and bandages off.
Apparently dogs hate deodorant and they thought that would work and get him to stop ripping at his e-collar. It did not work. Scrubs appeared to like deodorant or not mind it enough to stop from trying to pick at the stitches. JB was not pleased with me for taking off the bandages (which I couldn't put back on myself since I can't feed him peanut butter while bandaging him which is what is required), but after running to the store to get some more tape, simply presented me with a 3-Musketeers bar and didn't say another word. (Is he great or what!?) I definitely deserved someone getting mad at me, but he recognized that I knew I was a moron for this decision, and left it at that.
I'd prefer not to talk any more about the grant or about our dog -- both of which are royally stressing me out. I'd prefer to just move and focus on nice things ...
Like the beautiful flower bed JB put in the front yard this last week. Gorgeous!
Or the beautiful weather here. Cool, pleasant temperatures. Wonderful!
And the wonderful husband I have who wins husband of they year for his work around our home this past week trying to keep things moving while his wife penned herself up in her office for ghastly amounts of time and their dog tried to rip his stitches out of his feet. Whatta guy!
Time to relax ...
We didn't make the 2pm deadline. Instead, we had it out by the time the workday was done -- 5pm. This was still good but left me stressed out longer than I hoped. My boss asked me at 1:30pm if I had had lunch yet. No sirree, and I didn't plan to until the grant was out the door. I ended up giving up around 3pm and heating up some pizza.
JB had to come home in the middle of the day. It's a long story, but needless to say, I followed the vet's advice and took off Scrub's bandages and coated his stitches with deodorant. I had called to see if we could bring him in early because we were going batty trying to entertain a non-exercised Dalmatian who wanted only to get his e-collar and bandages off.
Apparently dogs hate deodorant and they thought that would work and get him to stop ripping at his e-collar. It did not work. Scrubs appeared to like deodorant or not mind it enough to stop from trying to pick at the stitches. JB was not pleased with me for taking off the bandages (which I couldn't put back on myself since I can't feed him peanut butter while bandaging him which is what is required), but after running to the store to get some more tape, simply presented me with a 3-Musketeers bar and didn't say another word. (Is he great or what!?) I definitely deserved someone getting mad at me, but he recognized that I knew I was a moron for this decision, and left it at that.
I'd prefer not to talk any more about the grant or about our dog -- both of which are royally stressing me out. I'd prefer to just move and focus on nice things ...
Like the beautiful flower bed JB put in the front yard this last week. Gorgeous!
Or the beautiful weather here. Cool, pleasant temperatures. Wonderful!
And the wonderful husband I have who wins husband of they year for his work around our home this past week trying to keep things moving while his wife penned herself up in her office for ghastly amounts of time and their dog tried to rip his stitches out of his feet. Whatta guy!
Time to relax ...
Monday, October 15, 2007
GRANTS STINK!!!!!!!!!!!
My boss' grant is due by Wednesday afternoon. I'm going crazy. I really, really, really dislike grant work.
It will all be over on Thursday morning.
I watched Drew Carey host the Price is Right for the first time this morning. That was weird. He doesn't sound right.
It will all be over on Thursday morning.
I watched Drew Carey host the Price is Right for the first time this morning. That was weird. He doesn't sound right.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Lack of exercise is not the problem
So people tell you to exercise when you are stressed.
I'm stressed. And goodness knows lack of exercise is not the culprit.
I'm stressed because of grants. I, honestly, truthfully, hate grant work. No, that is not strong enough. I loathe grant work. Every time it comes time to submit a grant at one of my jobs, I get a stomachache and have dreams about making a mistake. What makes it nerve wracking is that the process is so painstakingly precise. If you make one tiny mistake, there is a chance that they could reject your grant. This means that a mistake I make, as simply the assistant to the grant submission, could cost my boss millions of dollars.
The grant is due at Mayo, but I had four conference calls scheduled for RLSF today. One got cancelled, but that is still three calls while the emails are piling up at Mayo. That added to my stress.
The other thing is, these physicians are really busy. As a result, a grant is usually really worked on the fourteen days or so prior to the submission deadline. This means that no matter how hard I try, there really isn't an opportunity to prepare much ahead of time. The two weeks surrounding a deadline are just stressful. You try to figure out ways to avoid this, but it really ends up being impossible.
But, like I said, lack of exercise is not my problem. I got up and did my normal 7:30 walk with Tiffany and her son William and Scrubs. We do about three miles I think, but I've never really measured it. Anyways, we get home about 8:15am which includes stops along the way for Scrubs to say hi to various kids.
Then, JB got home around 3:00 and told me he wanted to go on a run without the dog. (Scrubs adds a different level to a run, and he just didn't want to deal with his leash antics. Although, these are getting better since we got a new "gentle leader" leash! Those things are awesome. They go around the dogs' nose like a horse harness and stop the incessant pulling. However, they also cause him to roll in any soft patch of grass trying to get it off his nose. Hey, there's some clovers. Plop!)
Anyways, I digress ...
I, at this point, was on an "I'm majorly freaking out because this grant is due in seven days" overload. So I decided to go with JB on a three mile run. This really did help relieve some of my anxiety over work.
We got home around 3:30, and I started back into work even though I had easily already put in an eight hour day by this point. At 4:30, the doorbell rings. I answer it to find Ashley, a little girl who lives around the corner from me. I've only met her once before, when she came by selling girl scout nuts (I told her to come back when she is selling the cookies!) I ask Ashley if she has the cookies ready to sell. No, she wants to walk Scrubs. She just stands there and waits for me to reply. Ummm ...
I was honestly taken off guard. I don't know her. I don't know her parents. And Scrubs is bouncing off the walls behind us. Ummm ... I start to let her and then realize I obviously can't do that. I start to say no. I can't do that. She's so sweet! So I agree to walk with Ashley around the block. During her walk, I asked her if she had asked her parents if she could walk Scrubs. She says yes, but when I asked her if we could go talk to her parents, she started back pedaling and says she thinks she talked to her parents. Okay, that means she didn't. So I told Ashley that maybe the two of us could take him together some times and that maybe we could talk to her parents at some point to see if they were okay with her walking my hyper puppy. That sounded good to Ashley.
I'm now home after my third exercise session of the day. Still stressed but slightly wound down after a hectic day. I missed lunch with the wives (although Tiffany brought me a great salad and some sheperd's pie that the gals sent over. How sweet is that?!)
We have Bible Study tonight, but I think we are going to pass so I can do some more work and also do some winding down.
I can't wait for October 18 -- the day after the grant is due!
I'm stressed. And goodness knows lack of exercise is not the culprit.
I'm stressed because of grants. I, honestly, truthfully, hate grant work. No, that is not strong enough. I loathe grant work. Every time it comes time to submit a grant at one of my jobs, I get a stomachache and have dreams about making a mistake. What makes it nerve wracking is that the process is so painstakingly precise. If you make one tiny mistake, there is a chance that they could reject your grant. This means that a mistake I make, as simply the assistant to the grant submission, could cost my boss millions of dollars.
The grant is due at Mayo, but I had four conference calls scheduled for RLSF today. One got cancelled, but that is still three calls while the emails are piling up at Mayo. That added to my stress.
The other thing is, these physicians are really busy. As a result, a grant is usually really worked on the fourteen days or so prior to the submission deadline. This means that no matter how hard I try, there really isn't an opportunity to prepare much ahead of time. The two weeks surrounding a deadline are just stressful. You try to figure out ways to avoid this, but it really ends up being impossible.
But, like I said, lack of exercise is not my problem. I got up and did my normal 7:30 walk with Tiffany and her son William and Scrubs. We do about three miles I think, but I've never really measured it. Anyways, we get home about 8:15am which includes stops along the way for Scrubs to say hi to various kids.
Then, JB got home around 3:00 and told me he wanted to go on a run without the dog. (Scrubs adds a different level to a run, and he just didn't want to deal with his leash antics. Although, these are getting better since we got a new "gentle leader" leash! Those things are awesome. They go around the dogs' nose like a horse harness and stop the incessant pulling. However, they also cause him to roll in any soft patch of grass trying to get it off his nose. Hey, there's some clovers. Plop!)
Anyways, I digress ...
I, at this point, was on an "I'm majorly freaking out because this grant is due in seven days" overload. So I decided to go with JB on a three mile run. This really did help relieve some of my anxiety over work.
We got home around 3:30, and I started back into work even though I had easily already put in an eight hour day by this point. At 4:30, the doorbell rings. I answer it to find Ashley, a little girl who lives around the corner from me. I've only met her once before, when she came by selling girl scout nuts (I told her to come back when she is selling the cookies!) I ask Ashley if she has the cookies ready to sell. No, she wants to walk Scrubs. She just stands there and waits for me to reply. Ummm ...
I was honestly taken off guard. I don't know her. I don't know her parents. And Scrubs is bouncing off the walls behind us. Ummm ... I start to let her and then realize I obviously can't do that. I start to say no. I can't do that. She's so sweet! So I agree to walk with Ashley around the block. During her walk, I asked her if she had asked her parents if she could walk Scrubs. She says yes, but when I asked her if we could go talk to her parents, she started back pedaling and says she thinks she talked to her parents. Okay, that means she didn't. So I told Ashley that maybe the two of us could take him together some times and that maybe we could talk to her parents at some point to see if they were okay with her walking my hyper puppy. That sounded good to Ashley.
I'm now home after my third exercise session of the day. Still stressed but slightly wound down after a hectic day. I missed lunch with the wives (although Tiffany brought me a great salad and some sheperd's pie that the gals sent over. How sweet is that?!)
We have Bible Study tonight, but I think we are going to pass so I can do some more work and also do some winding down.
I can't wait for October 18 -- the day after the grant is due!
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
WORK IS CRAZY!
Sorry my blogging has been a bit pathetic. I only have one excuse: WORK IS CRAZY!
Here's just one example of what I am dealing with. I am trying to set up an "online store" for the RLS Foundation's website. This will be a place that people can buy our products -- stuff like sweatshirts, polos, blankets etc. In the past, visitors could only download a brochure and fax it in with their order. Now, we will allow people to buy products online.
The problem? The store doesn't allow sizes and colors to run simultaneously. For instance. Let's say there is a yellow sweatshirt and a blue sweatshirt. But let's say there are no mediums left in yellow. I can't tell the program that. So someone could order a yellow shirt in medium, and we don't have it.
So what do I do?
I really don't know. I guess one option is to create a different "choice" for every different color. Man, that will be a lot of work.
That's just one example. As you know, my wonderful coworker Beth recently resigned her position. This gave me a promotion but also gave me a lot of responsibility. Both of our major publications: NightWalkers (goes out four times a year) and The RLS Scientific Bulletin (goes out two times per year) is getting ready to go to press as we speak. I am the main person in charge of every page of these publications.
Oh and two brochures for health care providers need to be reprinted. So I need to edit those, send to the designer, and reorder from the printer.
In the meantime, we are contemplating moving our Support Group Leader's email to a new server. I think this means I will have to set up 100 new email accounts on a new page. I'm not sure how feasible that is.
I have three conference calls this week.
And that's just RLSF. At Mayo, my boss is about to put out a grant later this month which is always high stress. There's also been a lot of schedule changes with his calendar that I have been trying to deal with.
So, this post may have been boring, but those are the facts of my stress.
And you know what? I have to get back to work.
Here's just one example of what I am dealing with. I am trying to set up an "online store" for the RLS Foundation's website. This will be a place that people can buy our products -- stuff like sweatshirts, polos, blankets etc. In the past, visitors could only download a brochure and fax it in with their order. Now, we will allow people to buy products online.
The problem? The store doesn't allow sizes and colors to run simultaneously. For instance. Let's say there is a yellow sweatshirt and a blue sweatshirt. But let's say there are no mediums left in yellow. I can't tell the program that. So someone could order a yellow shirt in medium, and we don't have it.
So what do I do?
I really don't know. I guess one option is to create a different "choice" for every different color. Man, that will be a lot of work.
That's just one example. As you know, my wonderful coworker Beth recently resigned her position. This gave me a promotion but also gave me a lot of responsibility. Both of our major publications: NightWalkers (goes out four times a year) and The RLS Scientific Bulletin (goes out two times per year) is getting ready to go to press as we speak. I am the main person in charge of every page of these publications.
Oh and two brochures for health care providers need to be reprinted. So I need to edit those, send to the designer, and reorder from the printer.
In the meantime, we are contemplating moving our Support Group Leader's email to a new server. I think this means I will have to set up 100 new email accounts on a new page. I'm not sure how feasible that is.
I have three conference calls this week.
And that's just RLSF. At Mayo, my boss is about to put out a grant later this month which is always high stress. There's also been a lot of schedule changes with his calendar that I have been trying to deal with.
So, this post may have been boring, but those are the facts of my stress.
And you know what? I have to get back to work.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
My Yesterday
My yesterday was a difficult day mainly because I was without phone/Internet/cable/fax for four hours.
I was actually on a conference call at 11:00am when all of a sudden, I couldn't hear anyone. I hung up the phone and tried to turn it back on. No go. I had no dial tone.
Phone's out and the conference call is going on with them thinking that I am on the call.
I got online to try to find Cox Communication's phone number. For awhile I had it sticky noted to my desk. I should just keep it there. I have been royally unimpressed with their services during our time in Florida. I have been told that isn't Cox's fault -- that military bases are notoriously famous for losing power, having poor cell phone reception, and lots of "in and out" services. But since Cox is my only provider -- ever -- I feel comfortable blaming it on them.
So anyways, I pull out my handy dandy cell phone. Of course, I don't get reception in the house so I meander out into the front driveway and call the RLS Foundation. I tell Lois, our awesome receptionist, that I've been cut out on the call. They patch me through, and I spend the next 30 minutes in the heat of my driveway finishing up the call. I'm sweating, but hey, I got all the details of Beth's departure down.
Beth's departure is another part of the saga. My wonderful and awesome friend Beth is leaving the RLS Foundation. I have worked with her for the last 3+ years. She is amazing. She and I talk on instant messenger about work nearly all day long. It's seriously like I am not even working from afar. But alas ... her husband was transferred. In the long run, this will be a "good thing" for me. I actually got a promotion/raise with her departure as I am picking up more hours and more responsibility and am now the "Director of Publications". I appreciate the promotion and everything but would gladly forgo it to not have Beth leave. She'll be freelancing for us for a few hours a week which at least allows me to have her help for awhile.
Anyways, so that conference call comes to an end, and I try to get a hold of Cox the old fashioned way -- the phonebook. When I hear that "All circuits are busy" I opt to call my good friend Tif. She answers her cell phone and tells me that she is technology-less as well. This is good news to me. If I am the only one out ... I am sure they wouldn't come racing over to fix my problem. However, if our whole block is out ... maybe they will.
It is at this point that I realize how dependent I am on technology. Everything I do during the day is reliant on the Internet. I think: hey I can call one of the interviewees on my list for an article I need to write. No can do. I need to be able to be on the phone while I type her answers, not standing in my driveway. So that won't work. I have no access to email. My fax machine is out of commission. No one can call me unless I wander out to my driveway. I finally come up with something I can work on that doesn't require the Internet, only to realize that clip art actually runs off the Internet as well. I can't drop clip art in without the Internet. I can't do anything!
To make matters worse, I have another conference call at 12:30. Still no phone and the heat of the day is upon us. I try, hard, and in vain, to get cell phone service anywhere in my house. Nothing. Not even with the window open can I get service. Back to the driveway I go for a 90 minute call in the heat of the day. I picture all my coworkers in their nice business attire. Oh if they could have seen me in my shorts, shirt and bare feet.
It was 3:00 before I was back up and running. I realized this because all of a sudden my Outlook starting flashing all the emails being delivered. In four hours, I'd prefer not to tell you how far behind I was on my email. With Beth leaving, her email is forwarding to me as well so my Inbox was quite littered. Good thing it was a quiet day at Mayo. I needed a quiet day somewhere.
All of this amidst me just not feeling well. For the last week, I have just been a bit "ill". I can't tell you exactly what it is, but John thinks it is some sort of viral issue as my joints hurt, my throat hurts, and I overall just don't feel well. It is getting better but just some little bug to cause me a bit of grief.
I was so blessed when Scrubs and I picked up JB from the hospital at 6pm, and John told me I was getting a night off. He picked up Thai and took care of the dog -- which was quite an ordeal because all of a sudden, our, what we thought was a house-broken pup, had two accidents. He's been doing great (except for peeing on my mom twice out of excitement) so we aren't sure why this happened. We've been allowing him more of the run of the house because he is so reliable. Hmmm .... we are rethinking that now. Poor JB was trying to take care of everything himself, but finally called me to the kitchen to help him hose the dog down. It was wonderful of him to try though.
Anyways, it was a long Wednesday, but hopefully, Thursday will be a great day. I am hosting our weekly women's lunch/brunch at 10:30 -- a great occasion to see how all the other wives are doing.
I was actually on a conference call at 11:00am when all of a sudden, I couldn't hear anyone. I hung up the phone and tried to turn it back on. No go. I had no dial tone.
Phone's out and the conference call is going on with them thinking that I am on the call.
I got online to try to find Cox Communication's phone number. For awhile I had it sticky noted to my desk. I should just keep it there. I have been royally unimpressed with their services during our time in Florida. I have been told that isn't Cox's fault -- that military bases are notoriously famous for losing power, having poor cell phone reception, and lots of "in and out" services. But since Cox is my only provider -- ever -- I feel comfortable blaming it on them.
So anyways, I pull out my handy dandy cell phone. Of course, I don't get reception in the house so I meander out into the front driveway and call the RLS Foundation. I tell Lois, our awesome receptionist, that I've been cut out on the call. They patch me through, and I spend the next 30 minutes in the heat of my driveway finishing up the call. I'm sweating, but hey, I got all the details of Beth's departure down.
Beth's departure is another part of the saga. My wonderful and awesome friend Beth is leaving the RLS Foundation. I have worked with her for the last 3+ years. She is amazing. She and I talk on instant messenger about work nearly all day long. It's seriously like I am not even working from afar. But alas ... her husband was transferred. In the long run, this will be a "good thing" for me. I actually got a promotion/raise with her departure as I am picking up more hours and more responsibility and am now the "Director of Publications". I appreciate the promotion and everything but would gladly forgo it to not have Beth leave. She'll be freelancing for us for a few hours a week which at least allows me to have her help for awhile.
Anyways, so that conference call comes to an end, and I try to get a hold of Cox the old fashioned way -- the phonebook. When I hear that "All circuits are busy" I opt to call my good friend Tif. She answers her cell phone and tells me that she is technology-less as well. This is good news to me. If I am the only one out ... I am sure they wouldn't come racing over to fix my problem. However, if our whole block is out ... maybe they will.
It is at this point that I realize how dependent I am on technology. Everything I do during the day is reliant on the Internet. I think: hey I can call one of the interviewees on my list for an article I need to write. No can do. I need to be able to be on the phone while I type her answers, not standing in my driveway. So that won't work. I have no access to email. My fax machine is out of commission. No one can call me unless I wander out to my driveway. I finally come up with something I can work on that doesn't require the Internet, only to realize that clip art actually runs off the Internet as well. I can't drop clip art in without the Internet. I can't do anything!
To make matters worse, I have another conference call at 12:30. Still no phone and the heat of the day is upon us. I try, hard, and in vain, to get cell phone service anywhere in my house. Nothing. Not even with the window open can I get service. Back to the driveway I go for a 90 minute call in the heat of the day. I picture all my coworkers in their nice business attire. Oh if they could have seen me in my shorts, shirt and bare feet.
It was 3:00 before I was back up and running. I realized this because all of a sudden my Outlook starting flashing all the emails being delivered. In four hours, I'd prefer not to tell you how far behind I was on my email. With Beth leaving, her email is forwarding to me as well so my Inbox was quite littered. Good thing it was a quiet day at Mayo. I needed a quiet day somewhere.
All of this amidst me just not feeling well. For the last week, I have just been a bit "ill". I can't tell you exactly what it is, but John thinks it is some sort of viral issue as my joints hurt, my throat hurts, and I overall just don't feel well. It is getting better but just some little bug to cause me a bit of grief.
I was so blessed when Scrubs and I picked up JB from the hospital at 6pm, and John told me I was getting a night off. He picked up Thai and took care of the dog -- which was quite an ordeal because all of a sudden, our, what we thought was a house-broken pup, had two accidents. He's been doing great (except for peeing on my mom twice out of excitement) so we aren't sure why this happened. We've been allowing him more of the run of the house because he is so reliable. Hmmm .... we are rethinking that now. Poor JB was trying to take care of everything himself, but finally called me to the kitchen to help him hose the dog down. It was wonderful of him to try though.
Anyways, it was a long Wednesday, but hopefully, Thursday will be a great day. I am hosting our weekly women's lunch/brunch at 10:30 -- a great occasion to see how all the other wives are doing.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Last drive to Pensacola
Sacred Heart Hospital, PensacolaToday marks the end of rotation two!!!! Today is the last day JB has to make the three hour round trip commute to Pensacola.
We've decided that at the end of each rotation, we will celebrate. So tonight, we will go out for dinner. I have no idea where we are going to go, but we are going to go out and celebrate! John is done with Pensacola.
The rotation on the whole was not bad, and John said he will do a blog on it so I'll let him fill you in. He had a much more enjoyable experience then he did on OB. However, there was some really sad stuff here as well. When you are dealing with young children, you can imagine how difficult a bad report might be. Again, he can fill you in much better than I can since he was there and everything.
Here are a few other items of note:
- I noticed there is now a little "film strip" icon on my blogger screen. I think I can load video straight to the blog! Wow! Blogger continues to evolve.
- My two stories for The Wedding Magazine are coming along pretty nicely. My writing approach always goes the same way. The first two weeks are spent interviewing and compiling. Then I have a few days in the middle where I freak out, looking at all this information and figuring out how I will bring it together into a cohesive story. I complain to JB and he tells me not to worry, that he knows I can do it. Then somehow, during the last week, it takes shape and actually reads like a piece. I then spend the last week reading through each piece 2-3 times a day and trying to shave words off. I am about 200 words up on each piece. Cutting words is hard because at this point you feel every word is important, but you just keep shaving (or asking your husband his opinion) until you have it where you want it. I think I'll make the deadline! (I haven't ever missed one but I always freak out.)
- I found out this week that my great friend at RLS Foundation, Beth, is leaving. I had a feeling this was going to happen as her husband was just relocated to Iowa and the drive is now three hours for her. She doesn't like working solo like I do and wants to be around people. So she found a new job. This, however, ultimately, means some changes for me. This includes heading up the Foundation's publications instead of just writing the text for them. The biggest task is the Foundation's quarterly publication NightWalkers. I have been writing the majority of articles for this publication for three years, however, I have not been heading it up. When a publication goes out four times a year (every three months), you are constantly working on it -- writing articles for the next issue while the current issue is at press. I currently head up The RLS Scientific Bulletin. However, that is only published two times a year. Two and four times is a big difference. In addition, we have other brochures and smaller pieces that I'll be taking on more of a leadership role for. I am excited about this and overwhelmed at the same time.
- My parents are coming in next weekend! I cannot wait to see them and have them meet our new puppy. I love visitors and our B&B has had quite a few vacancies the last few weeks. It will be great to have them here.
Okay, off to wear my pup into the ground on our morning walk.
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