Sunday, February 22, 2009

Should I , or shouldn't I ?!

I need to write some thoughts and pro's and con's down to help me figure this out....feel free to help if you have any comments or suggestions.
This way I can mull it over...and add to the lists as more things come to mind.

I am a Registered Nurse, working as a school nurse. I work 5 hour days...5 days a week. 25 hours per week...which classifies me as part-time with no benefits. I'm on my 4th school year in this position. I love the job, and everyone I work with, students included.

Perks of the job

Part-time hours
5 hour shifts
positive work environment
same schedule as my kids
half-days, snow-days, holidays, nights and weekends off.
summers off
very flexible
no babysitter needed

Downfalls of the job

no benefits
no pay for 3 months out of the year
not much security due to school budgeting
not much clinical experience


ok...Instead of looking for a temporary 3 month position every summer, to supplement my income, I've been thinking about getting a full-time position at the local hospital. This would be in addition to the school position that I already have. I have missed the hospital, and would love to eventually get back into it, I'm just not positive yet if now is the right time.

Pro's
more than doubling my current income
clinical environment
work experience
job security
guaranteed employment if my school position is eliminated
benefits
3 day work week
paid training and certifications


Cons
12 hour shifts
nights, weekends, and holidays
babysitter will be needed at times (due to hubbies schedule)
61 hour work week including school position
not enough sleep
possible back to back shifts

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Is it just me?

Am I the only blogging slacker here?

My poor blog hasn't had any updates in so long. I guess that says good things about the websites that I DO visit regularly. Guess I like them :)

Ok...for anyone who's missed me...I promise to do better and keep you informed of the insane daily happenings through my blog :)

Friday, January 9, 2009

Painter's for hire




We promise not to make a mess.....NOT

(He started it!)

Friday, December 19, 2008

Poor dead tree




NEVER buy a real tree in November...just be patient and wait until December.

Poor little guy....here's our temporary replacement for this year.

What have I created?


...this was heard our of my FOUR year old's mouth this morning.


"Mom, I've found the perfect pair of shoes!"


....yikes!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Gallbladder surgery...what fun!

Urgh...surgery sucks. Well, honestly the surgery was nothing...just a lil nap that they woke me too soon from :/
It was the excruciating pain before hand, and the chills and nausea afterwards that kicked my ass.

It started Thursday morning, I awoke with a headache. I got up, got the boys ready for school and got on the computer. I just felt ick...couldn't really explain it. I decided to let Raine sleep in, and both of us would rest, and goto work/school late.

By the time she woke up, My back was starting to really bother me, it was across both of my shoulders. I though I sat in my computer chair too long :) We stay home a bit longer then Raine decides she wants to goto school, she would miss too much staying home. She and I get ready, and I drive her to school. I drop her off in the classroom and head back to the parking lot. THEN it starts.

It started off as heartburn, but by that time I knew it was my gallbladder. The pressure and pain grew so intense, I had to pull over in the parking lot before I even made it to the road. It ended up easing a bit, so I took off. Well...I though it was easing, what happened was, it started spazzaming, so the pain came and went, but was worse each time it came back I almost made it back to work, and I just knew I had to goto the hospital. I wondered if I should of just drove to work and then have them take me to the hospital, or just drive past the school and go straight to the ER. I ended up doing the latter, but in hindsight, I probably should have just called the ambulance.

I got there and got signed in, and of course had to wait for an ER bed to open up. During that time, I was pacing the hallway in tears...it was so bad!. Once the Dr. saw me, he ordered pain med right away, which worked instantly and actually worked for the rest of the night. The pain was GONE. Dilaudid is gooooood stuff!

After the blood work, urinalysis, and ultrasound we found out that my 1 little stone I had in July had multiplied GrEaTlY, and one actually got caught in the mouth of the gallbladder and caused the spazam, and subsequent infection. They tried to manually manipulate the stone in the US room, to free it, and it worked. By then...we had all agreed....if it didn't come out now, the same thing would happen again soon.

They admitted me overnight, so I could get IV antibiotics throughout the night, and surgery was scheduled for 9 the next AM. I felt fine all night...the stone was dislodged, the pain med was working, and the infection was subsiding. I was starving though :/ Of course, I didn't feel well that morning...so I didn't eat. Once I was a pre-op patient, I became NPO...nothing by mouth, not even water.

Surgery came and went without any problems. I went in at 9 and was back in my room about 11:30. I remember nothing except them waking me up and me still wanting to sleep. :) I went back to my room, and tried to sleep as much as I could, they gave me more dilaudid, which made me queezy this time....I finally had to ask hubby and the kids and family to leave for a bit...I just couldn't stay awake, and any sound irritated be for some reason.

They left, I slept for 3 hours, then the nurse woke me and told me it was time to go home. I was like...WHAT?! I haven't got up and walked, I haven't tried any liquids...we don't know how I 'm gonna handle this. (I'm a nurse dude, I know the procedures) So..he brought me a glass of apple juice....I drank half of it before I started getting sick with nausea. It was bad...chills and the whole nine yards.....so, I got more Zofran (keeps you from throwing up, supposedly) I ended up just going home...and trying my luck at going back to bed...it was a No Go. I puked the rest of the day and was so dehydrated throughout the night...I felt like my throat was bleeding.

It's 7:30 am...I'm gonna try it again. I've sipped on water throughout the night. I just poured myself my first cup of Joe, well see how it goes. I've taken my Zofran to try to keep the nausea at bay. I'm feeling a little sore...but can't take any Vicodin without anything in my stomach, or I'll be right back in the bathroom.

This is where I stand right now...pain and nausea, it's a vicious cycle...I'm going back to bed.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Michigan Fall

Tis the season for good food, good friends and beautiful fall scenery.

Here's a shot of my back yard this year.