Nursing Assistant

It is official:

I am a trained Nursing Assistant.

I did it!  I completed the intense 7-week training program, which included 2 weeks of clinical experience in a Nursing Home.  Not only did I pass each milestone along the way, but I got an A!  

I am proud of myself.  Looking back, it is hard to believe that I found the strength, the time, and the organization to complete such a task.  I had a lot of help to care for the kids, and we made it through the 7 weeks and lived to tell about it.  The kids are happy to have me home regularly again now.

I learned so much in 7 weeks:  I enjoyed learning how to take vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respirations  temperature, oxygen saturation), how to care for a bed-ridden or immobile person (bed baths, transfers, feeding, changing, dressing, etc.), and how to communicate with a person who is not healthy.  The medical skills were fun.  I was excited to get my own stethoscope and gait belt.  I felt official in my scrubs.  

I am totally employable now.  I even have a letter of recommendation from my instructor.

To be certified, I need to take and pass the state exam.  I am in the process of applying for that.  It is not yet clear how long it takes to get the "next available" slot for testing.  

Regardless of certification status or pursuit of employment, this Nursing Assistant course was a pre-requisite for Nursing School.  This first step is a great one, in that it opens up many doors of opportunity.

The most important thing I learned from this course is that I belong in Nursing.  That is definitely the career for me.  My instructor and fellow classmates were full of praise and encouragement.  It was such a raise in my self esteem to be consistently told that my personality and natural gifts were ideal for this field.  I started to look at myself differently.  I started to look beyond the current level of crisis and stress in my life.  It was so refreshing to have something positive to focus on for a change.

I was pre-med in college, but did not get into medical school right away.  All throughout my pre-med coursework, I doubted myself.  I knew I enjoyed healthcare--and I really enjoyed volunteering at the hospital---but I did not necessarily enjoy my classes and coursework.  I earned a degree in Biology, and worked in biomedical research.  Even though I received excellent reviews each year, and praise from my boss, my heart was not in the work.  I was not passionate about it, like I am about caregiving.  I am good at science.  It comes natural to my way of thinking.  But, I flourish when I am helping someone and making their life a little better.  Ironically, as I was completing my last semester of college, and applying for jobs, I commented to The Referee, "I should have gone to Nursing School instead."  This Nursing Assistant training course really opened my eyes to the fact that Nursing is definitely the right career path for me.  All thoughts about what my "next career" (after the kids are raised) should be, are clarified now.  I am certain that I am on the right path.  

I also learned that I am content to go slowly toward Nursing School.  I enjoy being home with my kids.  If I had to return to work to provide for my family, I would.....and I would be grateful for the time I previously had at home.  But, since The Referee is providing so well for us, and encouraging me to continue at home with the kids, I am thrilled to get more time at home.  Since Jersey #5 is only 4, I hope to progress slowly through my pre-requisites before I enter Nursing School full time.

The nicest thing about working motherhood is the affirmation.  When I am at home full time, the daily tasks seem never-ending and often unappreciated.  They are important, just not often noticed.  But, in the working world, there is constant feedback on a job well done.  Praise is abundant.  I would go to class and learn a new skills, or receive a good grade on an assignment, and I would feel accomplished.  At home, later, it only took washing one load of dishes, and cooking dinner to make me feel like I was Super Mom!  Plus, if I was in class all day, and the kids were in care with friends all day, then no one was home to mess up the house all day!  The house stayed cleaner.  Every little bit of household chores I accomplished on school days felt like I was going over the top in my level of accomplishment for the day.  I can see why some Moms say they need to have some sort of career for their own well being.  It is such a big difference to receive positive feedback regularly.  Full-time-at-home motherhood does not have the luxury of evaluating our progress so soon.  We repeat the same caregiving tasks for years, not knowing how our children will turn out in the end.  At least with a career on hand, there is a sense of professional accomplishment, while we wait to see the end results of the quality of our mothering.  

Now that I have had such a self-esteem boost, and academic achievement, I am even more flattered when my kids express how much they prefer to have me at home.  I have a new sense of value.

      

Swimming in the Heat

Jersey #1 had a swim meet this week, in the middle of the afternoon, in the middle of the business week.

The Referee said, "Don't these parents have jobs?  How can they attend a swim meet in the middle of the  work day like that?"

He has a point.  And, he had to miss the meet.  Because he has a job.  And, I am very grateful for that.

My eyes were opened to the fact that we are part of a swim team with folks who have money to register multiple kids on the team, buy new team suits (goggles, caps, bags, shirts, etc), and enough flexibility for meets in the middle of the day, in the middle of the work week.  Plus, they often go out for a meal afterward.  We may be out of our league here.  

Aside from that, this is a great swim team, with the most encouraging coaches, and friendly families.  Jersey #1 has improved so much in the past month, that she did not even look like the same kid, compared to the first meet.  Her swimming strength and form is growing in leaps and bounds.  Her confidence is also growing.  She is really enjoying swim team.  

Her goal was to not come in last place.  This cracks me up, because she has the athletic prowess of her mother.  I always enjoyed playing sports, and I enjoy watching sporting events, but I never had much natural athletic talent.  Jersey #1 achieved her goal in 3 of her events.  She came in 5th place out of 6 lanes of swimmers.  She swam freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke.  She also swam on a freestyle relay (which came in last place).  

It was an extremely hot afternoon.  We borrowed a shade tent, and packed a cooler full of drinks and snacks.  

We still sweated uncontrollably.  The heat was too much.  Jersey #3 took a nap in the shade.  

I slathered the kids in sunscreen, but some of us still managed to turn pink.  Jersey #1 burned on her face.  She now has a nice white crescent on her forehead, where her swim cap protected some skin.

Thankfully, there was a baby pool nearby, separated from the main pool.  I allowed the younger 4 kids to get wet in the baby pool.  I sat in the shade and watched them, then stepped out on the main pool deck to watch Jersey #1 swim each of her events.  We didn't bring swimsuits for the younger kids, so they just got wet in their clothes.  It was quite a blessing to be able to let them get wet and cool off.

Good times in the summer heat!

Distance Learning

I took the plunge and returned to college to complete the pre-requisite coursework for a Nursing program.

This summer, I am taking 1 class:  Human Nutrition.

The class is online.  Thankfully, I managed to get into the class on the first day of the term.  I had been on the waiting list for weeks.  

This is my very first online class.

This is only the 4th week of classes, and I am already a big fan of distance learning!  I had no idea online classes were so awesome.   

I suspect that one of the reasons this online class is so nice is that the instructor is a pro at online teaching.  She is simultaneously teaching 2 or 3 sections of this class online, and she is extremely organized with the syllabus, links, notes, discussions, and assignments.  She is very clear on what is expected for this course, and how to succeed.  The assignments for the first week were so simple, that they really seemed to just be a lesson in how to follow instructions and pay attention to details.

One of the things I like most is the way that the class is organized.  The syllabus lists the assignments and tests, on a weekly schedule.  Each course week runs from Monday morning to Sunday night.  Each weekly assignment or exam is due by Sunday at midnight.  I really like having a full week to complete assignments like that.  It is not that I want to wait to the last minute.  What I like most is picking which day of the week I can sit down without interruption and complete the assignment or exam. 

I tend to do the reading early in the week, and work on the assignments on Wednesdays or Thursdays.  I ended up taking the first exam just before midnight on a Friday night.  Some weeks are busier for me, so I end up working on schoolwork Friday or Saturday afternoon.  I am just in awe of that kind of flexibility.

I am also a huge fan of not having to find childcare in order to take a class.  That is a big deal for me.  I get to be home with the kids, and I don't have to stress about care.  I can study and work on coursework while they are playing in the backyard, or after they are asleep at night.  They can be ill or grumpy or tired, and it won't affect my ability to complete assignments, since I am not having to show up on a certain day at a certain time.

With the online assessments, the instructor can input all the questions and answers in multiple choice format so that the tests and quizzes are graded immediately.  It was a really neat feature to take the exam near midnight, and get the results immediately!  (I got an A).  I was able to see exactly which questions I missed on the exam right away, which I think actually improves my learning.

For this class, books and notes are permitted for exams, but the exam is timed.  So, it would be very difficult to look up all the answers, if you haven't studied or familiarized yourself with the content.  I am suspicious that the instructor made the exam questions more difficult also.  

There is one question on the exam that has stuck with me because of how detailed it was.  I got the answer correct, because somewhere in my brain I remembered that detail from my previous anatomy coursework (many years ago).  Goblet cells produce mucous.  I could win that question in a trivia game, because I have random pieces of anatomy trivia in my brain.  It just seems to me that such a detail is way beyond the scope of an introductory nutrition class.  The chapter was about the digestive system.  I expected questions about saliva, the stomach, and the intestines.  But goblet cells?  When the exam was over, I actually went back to my textbook to look and see if there was mention of goblet cells.  They were there, in a small section, a minor mention in the paragraphs about the stomach and small intestine.  I am trying to decide if this is typical of college exam material....and maybe my study skills are not as good as they need to be.  Or, is this an example of the instructor picking a really minute detail out of a chapter, to use as an exam question?  Either way, this shows me that I am not retaining the material that I am reading as well as I thought.      

From this experience so far, I wish there was a way to take ALL of my coursework online.  Unfortunately, I do not see a way to have online laboratory classes, so I am going to have to go to campus for those.  But, now that I see how this opportunity works, I am going to keep my eyes open for more online classes to continue my education. 

One fun tidbit in the field of nutrition is that the "Food Pyramid" that I was taught in school as a child, has been replaced by the "My Plate" campaign.  First, the food pyramid was redesigned, making the outer edge look like stairs (to remind folks to keep active).  Apparently that awareness campaign did not improve the public's understanding of nutrition.  (I think the new design went in the wrong direction and did not provide the  simple visual that the original pyramid had).    The My Plate system seems more simple and logical to me, so I am curious if it is having a positive impact yet.  I am amused that these awareness measures are only focused on serving size (which is important), but my health conscious friends are discussing the changes in the food quality itself--genetic engineering, mass production techniques, and such things that have reduced the nutrition content of our food.  Is serving size awareness enough to overcome the poorer nutrition quality?  I doubt it.  Time will tell, I suppose.  I find awareness campaigns to be interesting, but not really informative enough to make an impact the size they are aiming for.

Another blessing in my Human Nutrition course this summer is the requirement to use a Diet Analysis software program.  The instructor is having us input data on a made-up subject, but we are also doing some assignments that are about our own diet habits.  Regardless of the assignments required for the class, I am able to use this software to analyse my own food intake, to see its size and nutrition quality both.  I am taking advantage of this opportunity this summer.  I have already been focusing on being active to improve overall fitness.  I am taking care of the medical side of my health by treating the thyroid issue.  So, the next logical step is to analyze and improve my overall diet and nutrition.  

What great timing for this specific class!     

                

Exhausted

I think this picture sums up how we all feel after such an exciting, fun-filled weekend.

A visit from Granny & PawPaw. A birthday party. Easter. We had a lot going on.

Plus, there was getting the house ready for the party beforehand.....and The Referee having deadlines for a big project at work this week, and a big homework assignment for school.

Oh, yeah, and I also went to work in the lab this weekend too.

Yep. We are utterly exhausted. I predict it is going to take a few days to recover.

Caught Working

My supervisor took this photo of me. She was shocked by the workload on my bench that night. I had petri dishes EVERYWHERE! They were stacked on both sides of my lab bench, and filled an entire cart as well.

I was a bit embarrassed when she posted the picture on the bulletin board for all to see. I suppose I should just be happy she caught me working. That should come in handy around review time, right? Some of my coworkers joked that maybe management will begin to realize how big the workload really is in the lab.

Later, I decided to take a picture of the picture, for myself. I don't have many photos of me at work. My job tends to be one that has limited access to the public.

In the end, this not-so-glamorous photo is really a blessing.

Juggling Work and Family

This week marks 5 months that I have been working at my lab job outside the home.

Personally, I think it stinks.

I do not enjoy being a "working" Mom. For sake of argument, yes I know that all Moms work. Moms work hard. But, what I am saying is that I do not like the type of work that constitutes employment outside the home. It is challenging to balance work and home. It is a struggle to meet the needs of my family. It is exhausting. Instead of finding balance, I feel like I am simply failing at more things right now. I am spread too thin, and there is not enough of me to go around. My heart goes out to single Moms and to Moms who feel as though they have to work and have no other choice. That really stinks.

I like the lab. I like the job. I like my coworkers. I like the fact that it is giving us an income to pay those hospital bills and our consumer debt. My job is a blessing to my family in the way it is helping us meet our financial goals. Returning to the lab has helped me see what direction I would like my career to go, once my children are raised. It is not the job itself that troubles me.

Motherhood is a season. A short season. You don't get a re-do. It is so much easier to be home with the children than it is to be juggling a job and the children. It is not easier work. Actually, being home with children is a lot harder, and more exhausting. There is no sick leave. There are constant interruptions. Working in a busy medical lab is definitely a "break" compared to being a stay-at-home Mom. But life is easier when Mom is at home, caring for the children and the home. I have grown to enjoy that simpler life.

That was the first thing The Referee and I noticed when we made the decision that one of us needed to be home with our kids. At the time, we were both working full time, in our respective careers. We were attempting to balance marriage, parenting, and career all at the same time. It was challenging. Along came Jersey #2, oxygen, heart surgery, and the realization that she was not going to be safe in a daycare setting. Our priorities shifted. I had such clarity that the needs of my children trumped my career goals. The first thing we learned as I started staying home with our children is that 1) there was NO WAY I was going to get bored and 2) the ups and downs of life were simpler and easier to manage with me at home. A child could get sick, and it did not disrupt our schedule. I was home to take care of her. The Referee was able to work and build his career. We no longer had those battles over whose job was more important that day--who got to go to work and who stayed home with the sick child. The level of stress and chaos decreased significantly.

That lesson is confirmed again, as I am back in the workforce right now. This time, we thought we were smarter about it, because daycare is not an issue. I work when The Referee is home. The Referee works when I am home. There is always someone to care for the kids, sick or well. But, life is still chaotic. The parents are exhausted. The commitment of 2 full time jobs is intense. I do not know how families do this as a way of life. For me, this is temporary, and it is still kicking my butt.

I work in a field that is predominantly women. So, I started asking them about how they did it....how they found balance. I was shocked to hear them all tell me that they hated it. Not one of my coworkers enjoys being away from her kids. All of them tell me that they are exhausted and feel as though they are not meeting the needs of their families. It is truly sad to know they struggle with this too. Then, there are the older ladies whose kids are raised. They do not share positive stories about working when their kids were young. Instead, they are stuck questioning themselves and wondering if their kids might have turned out better if they were home with them more.

The Referee comforted my emotions when he shared with me his opinion. He said that he has no idea why some of his coworkers want their wives to work. He said that after having me at home for the past 7 years, the double-income way of life seems awful. Money just can't buy the simpler way of life that we enjoyed. We miss out on a lot of family time as we juggle two jobs.

He also reminded me of why I took this job in the first place: money. When you work solely for money, it is the hardest work to accomplish. The passion is missing. So, we sat down and looked at our budget, our family, and our priorities. We agreed that my working outside the home should be temporary....and as temporary as possible. We started with a 2-year plan. We are now looking at ways to cut that timescale down. The Referee inspired me when he mentioned that if we paid off our consumer debt, it would free up enough of our budget to feel as though we had my income without me actually working. That helped. That fueled me.

To be able to live financially free AND be home with my children, would be the most awesome way to live.

So, we tightened our budget even further, and I work my hours with gusto. Last payday I mailed the final payment to the Children's Hospital that treated Jersey #2. Our first debt eliminated! Oh what a feeling! We are on our way.

...on our way to bringing me back home as soon as possible.

It's Been A While...

No, I have not fallen off the face of the Earth.

I can hardly believe it has been nearly 2 weeks since my last blog post. For some reason, January has been a whirlwind. It is actually busier than December was. How is that possible?

Life is good.

And very busy.

Work, school, travel, illness, birthday party, and big milestones in growing children...

I've got plenty of stories to tell and pictures to share. I hope to resume that again soon.

But, for now, I am returning to bed. I am the sick one. I'm battling a big upper respiratory infection that I acquired from work. This is bad news, considering where I work and the quality and concentration of the "bugs" there. Ugh.

Status Change

I received a pleasant surprise at work.

Each employee had to meet with our supervisor to receive our new status sheets. The company has been busy conducting a market analysis of its various lab tech positions. The goal is to organize the positions to match others across the nation, and to make sure that the salaries are competitive. It has been predicted that medical laboratories will boom with business (samples to process because people will continue to be ill), but will have a deficit of trained laboratory workers, in the coming decade. In response to this concern, my employer is trying to stay in front of the tide, by organizing the lab worker job titles, and then encouraging the local universities to train accordingly, to meet the coming need.

Their goal seems wise. I am not yet clear if the current changes are accomplishing that goal. Change brings a great adjustment and resistance. It will be interesting to see how things looks when the dust settles.

Right now, the new job descriptions are still in draft mode. But, the new job titles have been released, and the new salary ranges have been released. That was the information we received on our status sheets.

I have a new job title and a new salary. The changes were good to me. It received a RAISE!

*Petri dish photo was borrowed from 123RF

Public Service Announcement: E. coli

Two months ago, I started working a med tech job at a clinical laboratory. I trained on the urine bench. I like my job. I find microbiology to be fascinating...and gross...at the same time.

The urine bench is where urine cultures are processed. Patients provide a urine sample (pee in a cup) to their healthcare provider. A quick, dip-stick test can detect the presence of bacteria in the urine sample. If bacteria are present, the urine can be plated for further testing. Plating consists of streaking the urine onto a petri dish that contains the agar that nourishes the bacteria and encourages its growth. The plates are incubated at body temperature for a day, giving the bacteria time to grow.

My job is the next part of the process. I receive urine culture plates and have to screen them for growth. I report if there is no growth at all. I report if the growth on the plate looks like normal flora....the normal bacteria found in the human body, which is typically in low levels and balanced proportions. I report if the plate is contaminated with many different organisms...which is typically caused by not following the collection procedures for a "clean catch." I report the quantity and description of any bacteria I see growing on the plate.

It is important to identify the bacteria that is invading a person's urinary tract, and to also determine which antibiotics will treat it. Thankfully, there is a big, fancy machine that does that part. My job is to set up some colonies, from a pure culture of bacteria, into a tube of broth for the machine to use. When the machine has completed its task, I then double check its work and finalize the report.

It did not take me long to realize that one-third of my job duties can be eliminated by better hygiene practices on the part of the public at large.

So, I would like to make this Public Service Announcement:

Ladies, please wipe from front to back!

It may sound silly, but it is really important. Let's be careful to teach this to our daughters, so that they will follow this instruction too.

One of the most "popular" bacteria growing on the urine culture plates is E. coli (Escherichia coli). E. coli is a common bacteria in our digestive tracts. It is found in feces.

Wiping from back to front brings fecal material toward the opening of the urinary tract. So, it is easy for the bacteria to get into the tract, set up shop, and go to work causing painful infection.

Always wipe from a cleaner area toward a dirtier area.

So, wipe from urinary opening toward fecal opening (vagina toward anus).

Such a simple, hygiene practice would greatly reduce the number of bacterial infections in the urinary tract.

*These images of E. coli growing on petri dish plates were borrowed via the internet from:
Wikipedia and Scienceprofonline.

The Employment Roller Coaster

I think it may be safe to say that the employment roller coaster ride has finally come to a halt.

My head is still spinning. I need to pick my guts up off the floor. My pulse rate is starting to return to normal.

Thankfully, all of the drops, spins, lurching, twists, loop-de-loops, and screams have stopped.

I hope.

It ended well. We are walking away from the ride, smiling, and chattering with delight.

I completed my day-shift training. I begin my evening shift schedule next week. I am looking forward to settling in to that employment schedule and seeing how it works for us. The job has been good. The time away from the kids has not. I am hoping that there will be less of an emotional effect on us if the kids are sleeping through half my shift instead.

The Referee has officially been laid-off from his employer...and has officially accepted a new employer. In the end, the job is the same. It is contracted work to a specific location. So, the work remains, but the hired contractor changes. The job duties are the same, but the name on his paychecks changes.

There were two companies pursuing his employment. This was a fun way to face lay-off. When he told both companies his lay-off date, his desired start date, and that another company was also offering him employment, they kicked into high gear to make him an offer he would not want to refuse.

Both companies offer medical insurance benefits to meet our needs. We need coverage that spans the country, not just the state, because Jersey #2 has a cardiologist in one state, and a surgeon in another. There can be no lapse in her coverage. Being able to provide for her health care is one of our very top priorities. As soon as The Referee made this point known, both companies were fast to share that they offer the benefit, and that it would take effect the first day of his employment. That was a huge relief!

With medical insurance needs out of the way, The Referee was free to pursue career advancement. He told both companies what job title and salary range he was seeking. I was impressed by how well he knew exactly what he wanted for his career at this time. He used this opportunity to promote to the level he felt he needed to be classified. It helped that he is already enrolled in a Masters Certificate program, showing he is currently working to grow in his career. It worked! Both companies offered him a promotion and salary increase.

In the end, The Referee really surprised me by taking the most "stable" job offer, instead of the "coolest" job offer. All week, he had been leaning toward one company. But, when the details came forward, that contract funding was expected to be unstable through this next year, he changed his focus. He decided to go with the bigger company, who is better equipped to absorb the funding instability a little smoother. It was a tough decision. It was the right decision.

He starts his new job on Monday.

The blessings continue to pour in. The Referee's supervisor made a point to categorize his lay-off in the way that yielded the highest severance package. We were not expecting a severance, considering he was moving to a new job as quickly as he could. We have already made the decision to put the severance check into our emergency fund. With the instability of the job contracts, we could use a larger rainy-day savings.

The company he declined has already called again. They just wanted to make sure his decision was not about the money...because they were prepared to offer more. The Referee took the time to explain his need for more paycheck stability. He has a lot of mouths to feed, and just cannot risk being on furlough every few weeks. They understood fully, but asked for his patience as they attempt to approach him a few more times in the future. I find their persistence to be refreshing and amusing.

I am looking forward to this next week. I begin the evening shift. The Referee begins his new job. I am hoping the transition is smooth. It would be nice to have our feet on solid ground for a while.

Employment Praises

HALLELUJAH!!!!

Great relief has swept through our household.

We have been in the midst of a long, drawn-out saga regarding the stability of the company that The Referee currently works for. A major contract that funded them ended. The renewal contract did not get renewed. We feared that lay-off was right around the corner. Any day now. The news could arrive any day...

Well, that date is set. October 14th. That is the last day The Referee has funded work. After that day, the company can no longer guarantee him a paycheck. Ironically, the day he celebrated 2 years of being employed with this company, he was informed that they no longer had work for him.

Out of the blue, a fantastic twist occurred in this story. Our prayers have been answered...

Another company has been watching this saga for over a year. They have been watching and waiting. Now, they are swooping in.

A small team of folks from this other company asked for a meeting with The Referee and a handful of his coworkers. They offered everyone a job. Same job duties. Same pay. New boss.

HALLELUJAH!

The new company says they are prepared to start The Referee the day he is out of coverage at his current job. That would certainly help us maintain steady medical coverage, with no breaks.

The Referee considered his options. He approached his supervisor to discuss the situation. Even if his current company could find him other coverage, they cannot guarantee it past mid-December. His supervisor assured him that he was aware that the other company was offering him a job. There will be no hard feelings if he takes that job. He has many mouths to feed. He must do what is best for his family.

He can take the new job in clear conscience. What a relief!

He has a new job opportunity. What a blessing!

The new employer offers the medical benefits we need. Our prayers are answered!

HALLELUJAH!

God is Good!

Something Had To Give

It has been a whole week since I've written a blog post.

I've been busy.

Training on a new job is a lot of work.

I had to freshen up on my knowledge of bacteria.

It's been a while since I took that microbiology class in college.

I had to dust off that former knowledge and learn how to put it to use again.

I ran out of time to write.

I've missed it. I am hoping that this post will be the start of regular writing once again.

Worth It

And, this is where I post about how much all of the exhaustion over the past two weeks has been totally worth it...

I am thankful that I have that new job.

I am thankful that our family pulled together to manage that insanely busy schedule to allow me to train on my new job.

Today, The Referee received the terribly bad news that his job is in dire jeopardy.

He has approximately 2 weeks worth of work funding before his employer may have to let him go.

Those 2 weeks mean that he is not laid-off yet. He is still being paid. He still has medical benefits. Every week that continues will be good. Unfortunately, there does not look to be an open window for the long term.

Thankfully, I have a job that also has the option for benefits. So, in the event that The Referee suddenly loses his job, we can continue health care for our family, specifically Jersey #2. What a relief!

I know that God is in control.

Looking back, I see how events occurred in such away to show me that His plans are better than mine.

For some reason, I was not informed of the obligation to train in the day shift, when I went for the interview. Had I known that 6 weeks of day shift work was expected, I would not have continued pursuing the job. That would have been an impossible feat.

As soon as I found out I was expected to train on the day shift, I called the hiring manager to clarify the details. I wanted to give her the opportunity to tell me the requirement, so that she or I could back out of the agreement easily, before I started work. She told me not to worry, and we would talk about it on my first day.

(I am not good at patience). I went in that first day, armed with a color-coded calendar of when I was and was not available to work/train. She passed it on to the scheduler, and said they would schedule me 2 weeks at a time. I continued to expect to be told it was just not going to work out.

Instead, they are working around my schedule rather well. Coworkers have stepped up to offer to train me on their weekend shifts.

The lady training me on Wednesday divulged that I was really being given some special treatment. She said that regardless of what shift a person is hired for, they are generally expected to work Monday through Friday day shift, for at least 2 months, until they are trained. She was shocked to hear that I was only working 4 days, and that I was training on weekends as well. She could hardly believe I was going to move to my hired shift as soon as I am trained in one area. It was clear from her reaction that I am being treated differently. (I am not sure she approved).

I left work on Wednesday feeling highly favored.

I admit, with the challenges we have been facing (car, dog, schedule, exhaustion), I was questioning if the job was a bad idea. It seemed like we were spinning our wheels and not going forward. Knowing the managers were giving me special consideration, made it difficult to back out.

Now, it is all so much clearer. I AM highly favored. I like that. This job IS a good choice for my family right now.

My God will supply all my needs.

Scheduling Exhaustion

Two daytime jobs. Five kids. One working vehicle. Our schedule is intense.

Monday's Schedule:

7 AM: Load kids into van and drive Coach Mom to work.
New Employee Orientation all day.
Long Break for lunch, so I call The Referee to see if he wants to switch out the van.

• He is in a heightened state of stress because Jersey #5 (and we also suspect Jersey #3) brought bicycle into the house that had sand and water in it.....that made a nice mud mixture in the master bedroom, along with the corn starch diaper rash powder. The Referee was attempting to clean up the mess when I called.
  

The Referee loads kids into van, drives to Coach Mom's work. Forgets his own work stuff, which ruins the entire opportunity to take him to work and keep the van on that lunch break.
The Referee drives home to get his stuff, and we head out toward his work.

Realize there is just no way I can drive back and forth in time, so I drop him off at a distant location from his office. (He calls a coworker to give him a ride the rest of the way).
I drive the kids back home. We attempt a quick straighten of the house....and I close off the master bedroom until I can deal with the mess later....while we wait for the babysitters to arrive.

Grab lunch as I am running past the babysitters when they arrive.
Return to New Employee Orientation.
5PM: Leave work. Drive home. Pay babysitters.

Feed kids. Straighten house. Check schoolwork. Check email. Bake brownies. Work on housework while I wait for The Referee to call for a ride home.

• Kids in PJs. Boys fall asleep on the couch. The Referee runs late. It starts raining.

The Referee has to walk 30-minutes to meet up with us for a ride home. Thankfully, it has stopped raining.
10PM: Return home. All kids are asleep in the van.

Tuesday Schedule

6AM: Wake, shower, dress for work. Finish filling out benefits package to take to Orientation.
(Yes, it is a problem that I have only been sleeping for 7 hours a night, considering I need 8.5 to function--tell myself I need to fix that).
New Employee Orientation all morning.
Learn-n-Lunch meeting instead of a lunch break. (This has happened 3 times already, and my brain is fried from all this extra learning on top of training! Yowza!)
Work training all afternoon.
Stay late to help out, because they need extra hands, and I can do that part of the work.

4:15PM End employment day. Drive Home.
Meet kids in driveway, and immediately scan them for brushed teeth, socks, shoes, and sports uniforms.
Brush hair. Form pony tails.

Change clothes. Tell kids to load up into van. Eat a few bites of dinner, standing in the kitchen. Grab Cheerleading Coach stack of stuff, and head out.
Pick up friend for cheerleading.

Drop of The Referee at our church, 1.5 hours earlier than his scheduled class. (He brings his laptop to pass the time).

Take kids to the flag football game. Coach cheerleading. Cheer for Jersey #3. Wrangle Jersey #4 & #5 throughout the game. Lead devotion for the cheerleaders.
Game ends, corral children to the van.
Drive to Tae Kwon Do class.
Chat with Jersey #1 about her ungrateful attitude regarding snacks received at the game. Nice discussion about change-of-heart and attitude. Hope she gets it.

Chat with Moms whose families are in TKD class. Supervise younger kids playing outdoors.
8PM: TKD class ends. Say goodbye to other families. Round up kids. Help close up the church.
Drop off friend on the way home.

Help kids gather up all their horseback riding outfits and set them out for the morning.
Set out cans for meal prep. Put away dinner.
10PM: Drop into bed....praising myself for getting there a little earlier.

Wednesday's Schedule

6AM: Wake, shower, dress. Wake up The Referee so he can shower.

Become a whirlwind in the kitchen: brown ground beef on the stove, while loading crockpot with all the other ingredients for Chilli. Fry 2 eggs to make egg sandwhiches. Slice cantaloupe and set out on the table. Slice egg sandwhiches to divide among myself and 4 kids. Toss a spoonfull of ground beef onto a tortilla, packing a burrito for my lunch. Pour rest of the ground beef into the Chilli pot. Stir. Set temperature. Remind The Referee how to monitor the pot, so he and the kids can eat chilli for lunch.

The Referee wakes kids and loads them into the van to take me to work. Pass out egg sandwhiches (and plain bread for Jersey #1), to eat on the way.

7:30AM: Family drops me off at work, and returns home to get ready for horseback riding. (The Referee is brave enough to take the kids on his own, because he doesn't want them to miss this turn that was previously scheduled).

More Work Training--I think I might be starting to get the hang of this.

Teleconference training at 11am. Bring lunch to eat while we learn, because work is too busy to sit through teleconference AND take a lunch break. Interesting lecture. More acronyms than I can keep up with. Thankfully, the presentation slides had pictures to help make it more visual for me. Bacteria strains that show resistance to certain antibiotics is an interesting topic (for me).

Telecon ends. Back to work. Lots of work. Lots. This place is busy.

2PM: Suddenly feel a wave of nausea pass through my body, and a little light headed. I think I might be pushing myself too far physically. This is the 12th day of The Referee and I taking turns working every day, and the schedule is intense. I excuse myself to use the restroom, get a drink, and stretch a little. Take a few deep breaths, and return to work.

3PM: The lady training me is excited to report that we finished the work early. She shows me a few other things, then sets me free to check my email, and peruse some tutorials on the computer.
4PM: The Referee leaves his workplace to pick me up from my workplace. The original plan was for me to take him back to work before going home, so that I can keep the van for Bible Study at church tonight. I tell him I am not physically up for it, and suggest he just take me home, and keep the van. That way, I don't have to drag the kids out late to pick him up, and he doesn't have to walk...in the rain.

At Home, the kids are excited to see me. The babysitters have cleaned up the kitchen, washed all the dishes, and helped the girls clean their bedrooms. Brownies are baking in the oven. We have great babysitters.

I talk with the babysitters to see if they are brave enough to return a couple afternoons next week. They are excited. They assure me the kids behave well for them, but they comment that they have no idea how I do all this on my own. It was hard to stifle a laugh as they tell me how every time they turn around there are more dishes to wash! I tell them my joking-but-partially-true answer when someone asks me how I manage 5 kids, is to reply that something has to give...so I give up housework!

Praise kids for their hard work and great behavior. Eat brownies while the chicken cooks for dinner. Check email. Rock youngest two kids while we watch a silly movie about a chimpanzee who plays baseball.
Jersey #4 falls asleep at 6:30pm. I'm jealous.

Eat dinner. Rock Jersey #5 who has fallen asleep twice already. He is teething, so I break out the Tylenol to help with his pains. Stinky eye teeth!
Carry sleeping children to their beds. Blog until The Referee gets home from work.

9PM: Drop into bed, wondering how much longer can we keep up this pace?

Remind myself that I have the next 3 days off from my employment job, so I can better focus my efforts at home. Maybe we can find a little more stability in the next few days.

Seriously Busy

This picture pretty much sums up what The Referee and I feel like after last week...

[This picture is really of Jersey #5 just as he was falling asleep from pure exhaustion of trying to stay up way too late the night before his birthday, since there were balloons and all.] The look on his face matches the one on my face right about now.

It is probably no surprise that my starting a new job last week has altered my ability to write as many blog posts. Starting that new job has really altered my ability to function as before in many ways. I expected an adjustment period. But, let's just say last week seemed a bit more intense than just adjusting.

It has been one thing after another, to the point that I was laughing in disbelief by Thursday evening. There is just so much piled onto our plate right now. It is just too much to take it all seriously. So, I laugh instead. Am I on Candid Camera or something?

I like my new job. It is going well. It seems like a nice place to work. The coworkers seem nice. I am working hard to learn all I can as fast as I can, so that I can move from the day shift training to the evening shift I was hired for. I feel really special when the kids come running out of the house as soon as they hear my van pull into the driveway. They miss me. I miss them too. They are troopers though. I've been praising them heavily for handling this adjustment.

Everything is in adjustment mode right now. Meals, housekeeping, bedtime routines, schooling, and preparing for activities are all in adjustment. The Referee and I are cutting ourselves and our kids some slack. We work together more to tackle the housekeeping. We eased up on the school work load for the next few weeks. (Lots of math worksheets and reading right now). I'm trying to prep some meals in advance. The bulk of our energy is poured into our jobs at the moment. I'm training on something new. The Referee is trying to wrap up a project that is closing up.

We are sharing 1 vehicle, because The Referee's car has croaked, and he has not had time to try to repair it. The weeds are becoming a force to reckon with in the yard. The Referee had to take care of more paperwork for our upcoming anticipated audit. The tax man said it will probably take the state at least 6-9 months to contact us again from this point. Our old dog started showing signs and symptoms of dying, so we had her put down last Thursday to end her suffering. I helped The Referee get her to the van, so he could take her to the vet hospital. I decided to check the mail while I was outside. I found a jury summons in the mailbox. I just busted out laughing. What incredible timing!

This is the start of a new week. It looks to be even more crazy and busy than last week. We are trying out having a couple teens babysit in the afternoon a couple days, to cover the time that we are both at work. The kids like the babysitters. The babysitters like the kids. Hopefully we won't overwhelm them, and this will be a big help. I'm trying to come up with easy meals that the babysitters can just warm up when the kids are hungry.

I have new employee orientation this week. I get to sit through lots of training about the company and all of its policies. Meanwhile, The Referee gets to wait on pins and needles each day to hear about the fate of his project/job/employment. None of the rumors are any good. We can encourage each other while we are swapping out the car.

In spite of all that seems overwhelming and insane right now, there is a light at the end of the tunnel:

October 1st.

That is the start of a new fiscal year, so we will at least have some answers about The Referee's job situation. That is also my first payday. Our schedule lightens up some in October. I might be available for more day training shifts. I might be heading to the evening shift toward the end of that month too.

We just have to keep moving forward through these current challenging weeks. How hard can it be?

I'll keep an eye out for my opportunity to smile and wave at Candid Camera.

New Job Update

I started my new job on Monday. I was not exactly sure if the scheduling was going to work out. I was afraid that I would start and end the new job on the same day. Thankfully, things worked out well enough. So, I am still employed there.

They want me to train for my job on the day shift, even though I was hired specifically for the evening shift. I understand now that not only do they have more staff in general on the day shift, but they also have quite a few evening positions still open. They are willing to work with my availability, and have promised to move me to evenings just as soon as I am trained. That seems like a fair compromise.

I like the company. It seems like a nice place to work. I already know 4 people who work there, because I've worked with them in the past. They are all in different departments, but our paths cross often enough to keep in touch. One woman...a former boss of mine...commented, "I sure have missed your laugh." That was sweet. I really felt welcomed.

It did not take long for word to get around that I have 5 kids. That is still quite a shock in our society, apparently. I must be the only one, because people keep asking me, "do you really have 5 kids?" I did meet one woman who has 4 kids. Our coworkers seem to think that we will become fast friends, simply due to the number of children we share in common. People are funny like that.

I've already run into the tension of two different job titles. It comes down to education level, but that means one title gets paid more to do basically the same type of work. Some folks have trouble with that. I eased the tension immediately, because I am not concerned with the hierarchy. I just want to help my family right now. So, I don't care if you are at a lower job title than me....I'm going to totally listen to your teaching. Train me up quick, because I need to get to the evening shift!

I was a bit surprised by the increased level of security since the last time I've worked in the field. Times have changed. I get that. It is still an adjustment for me to remember to swipe my badge before entering and leaving the building....not to mention swiping it once I am inside the elevator, just to get access to a different floor. Wow.

It was nice to be back in my career environment. I do not like being on the day shift. It feels totally wrong to be away from my kids like that. I know this season of motherhood is so short, and I don't want to miss it. I also do not like the stress of having to coordinate and balance for competing work times with The Referee. We do have some great babysitters to help with the scheduling. I am trying real hard to train just as fast as I can, so that I can move to the evening shift. I would much rather tag-team with The Referee to work and be home, versus trying to juggle two careers at the same time.

In the end, if I can endure the strain of the day shift training period, I think I will really like this job. The pay is good. The company seems like a good one to work for. There is certainly a need for workers on the shift I want, so that gives an element of security. The coworkers seem nice. There is plenty of work to keep everyone busy. The work is simple enough, and repetitive enough, that it shouldn't interfere with my ability to primarily focus on my family.

It seems like a good fit. I'm looking forward to that first paycheck!

Bad News Friday

Oh what a day!

The Referee was having a really rough time at work, because there was a "bug" in the computer program he was working with, and he was struggling to find it to fix it before a deadline.

So, I hired babysitters to watch the kids while I went to visit the Human Resources lady to sign all the new employee paperwork. I had to prove my degree as well as my ability to work in the USA. I also learned that I am not color blind. I never suspected I was, but it is one of the tests that have to be complete in order to be hired.

The HR lady went over a stack of paperwork, including forms to fill out and the benefits packet. All was well....until, she mentioned that I was to report to work Monday morning at 8am.

Morning?

8am?

But, I was hired for the evening shift.

It turns out that they prefer to train new employees during the day shift, when there are many more workers and all the departments are open. They operate with less staff in the evenings and on weekends, so training would slow down the flow of the workload. It all makes sense, but that still would have been useful information to mention during the interview.

I wasn't even sure I could pull off day shifts. So, I chatted with The Referee about it when we both returned home. Then, I called the hiring manager to ask for clarification of the details. She told me to not worry about it, and we would chat on Monday. She tried to impress upon me the importance of training on days. She did seem willing to try to work things out, some.

I am not sure if this job situation will work out or not, but I am going to keep moving forward on it. The Referee and I figured out a tentative schedule for the two of us to work, providing the hiring manager goes for it.....and providing The Referee's manager approves it. Since it is a temporary schedule, for about 6 weeks, we are hoping we can pull it off.

We will see what happens on Monday when I report for work.

We will see what happens in the next few weeks, as The Referee's job is not stable, due to lack of funding. So far, each day brings more rumors of bad outcomes.

In addition to the job saga, we received notice that a buyer wants to return an item we sold on Ebay.

Then, we received a phone message saying that the tax amnesty form needs to be corrected. The Referee decided he would just handle returning that phone call on Monday as well.

Oh, and then there is the problem of The Referee's car smoking (burning oil) on the way home from work on Friday.

And the leak under the kitchen sink--that we thought was fixed--has suddenly worsened, filling the mop bucket half-way in just 2 days.

I thought bad things came in 3's. I think we are over quota today!

Drug Testing

I had 24 hours from the time I was offered the job to go in for a drug test.

I went first thing in the morning, before The Referee went to work. It was quite an eye-opening experience. I figured I would have to pee in a cup, but I had no idea all the precautions they take. Clearly, I lead a sheltered life.

I wrongly thought arriving as early as they opened would mean the process would be quicker. It was not. They were s.l.o.w!

When my name was finally called, I approached the clinic counter and explained that I was there for a pre-employment drug screen. I could clearly see that my name had already been entered in their log book, so they were expecting me.

The lady had me fill out some paperwork. Then, she asked me if I was ready "to go" or did I want some water? It took me a second to process what she was actually asking.

Ready "to go"? I've been sitting her an hour already, I don't plan to leave now that you have finally called my name. Then, it dawned on me that she was using code words for bathroom talk.

So, I asked her to clarify, "this is just a urine test, right?" Yes. Ok, then I am ready.....did I mention I have already been sitting here an hour? My bladder is actually about to bust.

This is a clinical laboratory. Why in the world are they using slang code words for the act of urinating in a cup? Bizarre.

Well, bizarre is just not a strong enough word to describe this experience. I have never been on the wrong side of the law before, so I am just not accustomed to being treated like I am up to no good.

I was instructed to follow a lab tech to a back room. She and I stood outside a bathroom door, where there was a small desk for her to fill out my paperwork. She asked me to leave my belongings there, which was just my purse. She began to explain the process to me, while she was busy setting up the bathroom.

I had to wash my hands in front of the lady. She dumped some blue stuff into the toilet water, which turned it to blue sludge. She told me NOT to flush the toilet at all. She then removed the trash can from the bathroom. She gave me the cup and said that I had to fill it to at least a certain line, so that the temperature strip would register. She said I could NOT wash my hands until after I gave the cup to her! ??? I suppose I should be thankful she didn't have to watch me urinate.

I had no trouble filling the cup, because I was busting to pee, since they took so long to get me in. I really should be an expert at such things, considering my 7 previous pregnancies. I was straddling the toilet, filling my cup, when it occurred to me that she did not say if I could wipe myself when I was done?

As I pondered that, I lost my concentration and peed on my hand. But, couldn't wash. Ick. I decided to wipe....and I wiped my hand while I was at it. I just left the toilet paper in the blue sludge toilet water, so that she had the proof of my actions.

I stepped out of the bathroom and set the cup on the designated mat. I was asked to stand there and observe as she poured the urine from the cup into a designated vial. She closed the vial, and sealed it. I was then asked to initial across the seal strip.

I was concerned right at the point of her handing me an ink pen. I had just splashed urine on the hand I write with, as I was collecting the sample. I have not been permitted to wash yet. What if I am not the only one? Was that pen even clean? Ewe!

I signed my initials.

I got to wash my hands after that.

I watched her clean up the desk area as I was washing my hands. I am fairly certain she wiped down the pen. I hope so.

What a crazy experience. I am not going to dwell on it. I think I am just going to be thankful that she didn't have to watch me "go."

Too Much

There is a common encouragement among Christians that goes something along the lines of God won't give you more than you can handle.

The idea comes from 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible verse that says: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

This week, we learned that even if God doesn't give us more than we can handle, He just may give us more than the medical community can handle.

All of our providers seem to have joined in unison to the tune that we just need to wait out the time until some of the stresses in our life subside. Their treatment methods were meant for 1 or 2 BIG stresses in a person's life, not ALL that is going on in ours.

They suggest that we just hang on as best we can, until some of these stresses find closure. Our family doctor suggested that we will have a new perspective in June.....Jersey #2's heart surgery will be over, and The Referee's job situation is bound to work out by then (or else he can seek a new job after the surgery).

After some of these monstrous issues settle down, then we may be better equipped to deal with personal health issues, medication changes, insomnia, techniques for coping with stress, and marriage strains.

Right now, we have nothing to work with, because we are walking through uncommon territory. Most folks would have sunk by now, engaging in drug and/or alcohol abuse, divorce, or even suicide. How sad.

The death of a child takes its toll.

The loss of a job takes its toll.

Chronic illness takes its toll.

Not to mention, 5 young children, marital strife, job stress, financial mistakes, and relationship strains.

We used to face these stresses one at a time. For the past few years, it appears we face clusters of stresses at the same time. That is an intense way to live.

Too intense for the common therapies.

Thankfully, we do not carry these burdens alone. God may allow difficult trials to come into our lives. But, He promises to carry us through. We will stand through the trial and come out the other side still in God's hands.

Great News

The chaos is over! The madness has stopped! The circus has left town!

We've received great news about The Referee's job situation. The end result is more than an answer to our prayers.....it is more than we ever even thought to ask for....it is our heart's desires. It's AWESOME!

So, here's what happened....

The Referee received a phone call and then an email asking him to report to work for a meeting yesterday afternoon. The general manager of the local branch of the company wanted to meet with all of the employees affected by the Stop Work issued on the program they were on. The employees have been out of work (furlough) for 2 weeks. We were expecting the meeting to be a lay-off announcement.

A synopsis was given about the series of events that led to the Stop Work. The unexpected challenges were discussed. Then, the solutions were presented.

The contract that needed to be renewed is now open for bid. The company (the incumbent) has put in their bid, hoping to receive the renewal contract as well. The process takes time, so that news may not arrive for 6 months or so. In the meantime, the company will be managing some work and operations through their subcontractors. Financially, they will be funding the employee salaries through the subcontractors.

The Referee was given the name of the subcontractor who will be carrying him in this interim time. The inter-office paperwork process to set that up is expected to take another week.

Thankfully he will not have to use up any more leave while he waits out that week. He has only had to use 2 days so far. While he is waiting to return to work, he will be paid through the marketing fund. While he waits, he is asked to think up ideas for the company, research them, and write an internal paper for the general manager. If any of the submitted ideas take off into a project for the company, the employee will be promoted to project manager.

I am excited about the work, the paychecks, and the continuation of our medical benefits. That answers all my prayers. I like stability.

The Referee is excited about being paid to think, and getting to present those ideas to see if they take off. He has a passion for science and new technology. He loves to think up ideas. His mind races constantly. He already has a couple ideas that have been rolling around his head already, and he also helped a coworker come up with a idea during the meeting. Plus, it turns out that the general manager who will see these ideas is someone The Referee has been wanting to share ideas with anyway, but he did not know how to seek that opportunity. In addition to answering his prayers for medical coverage for our daughter, God is blessing The Referee with the desires of his heart.

The blessings continue with the comfort of The Referee being able to do all this "thinking" work at home. He is able to close himself up in his lab (home office) and work. When it is time for a break, instead of chatting around the water cooler, he has the opportunity to hang out with me and the kids. It is a treat to get to eat lunch with him too. He has already eased my load by helping with some Spring Cleaning chores, cooking dinner one evening, and even watching the kids while I went to the dentist.

For the next week or so, he has his dream job. We also get to enjoy a break from the regular routine and have him home. Since he still has a job, complete with medical insurance, we can enjoy this time with him home, instead of stressing about job hunting. Plus, next week, he gets to join me to take Jersey #2 to her cardiology appointment, without disrupting his work schedule.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have considered this fantastic outcome. Praise God for these abundant blessings!