Changes

There are a lot of things going on right now, but one of the biggest changes has to do with me.

About a year ago, I picked up a part-time office job at a little furniture store. It was a little extra cash and a lot of sanity for me to go back into the world a little bit. When I applied for that job, I also applied at a couple of other places. One of those other places called a few weeks ago, nearly a year later. They had an opening and wanted to know if I was interested.

After going in to meet with them, I decided to accept. I'm going to be doing patient access (or what everyone else simply calls registration) at one of the larger local hospitals. It's still part-time, though it is more hours. But it has the added bonus of offering benefits. We haven't had good benefits since I stopped working four and a half years ago, just before the twins were born. In fact, that was pretty much all I gave up to stop working (if you count what would have been left of my salary with three kids in full-time child care). But this new job has benefits - really good ones - and it also happens to pay better. Win, win.

The bad news is that it came during a time when several other things were already going on. First, I had to give notice at my existing job, which took a little longer than I would have liked. My leaving would have left the other two girls I worked with without a weekend off this month if I hadn't agreed to stay a bit longer than I really wanted to. I couldn't do that to them after working with them for nearly a year, even if I was ready to leave right that moment.

Second, I got a phone call two days into my training for my new job (while also finishing up the old one) to do another freelance project for the commercial builder who often hires me to help with their proposal process on big contracts. It was a small project, and even though the timing was bad, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to continue a relationship I have enjoyed. It's nice to keep my hand in my original line of work, even if only periodically.

For the last two or three weeks, I have been working three different jobs and averaging at least 60 and sometimes 70 hours of work a week. And, of course, I'm still taking care of three kids in my "down time" from work.

I am exhausted.

More so than I can ever remember being. But those two jobs have wrapped up, the furniture store this past Saturday and the freelance project last night. That was a good feeling, even if I do go in to work at my new job again tonight. At least I'm back to one part-time job.

The new job is going to be about three nights a week (two weekdays and then every other weekend), each night for a 10-hour shift. And it really is a night job. It's 9p to 7:30a. As a night person (and very much NOT a morning person), I think it's going to work. Josh is going to get the kids up and ready for school on the days after I work, so I can sleep in a quiet house until it's time to pick them up in the afternoons.

I'm still in training right now, because there's a lot to learn, but I've already spent a few weeks training on that shift. But so far, I really like it. I don't mind the hours, have been able to get enough sleep the mornings after, and feel like it's going to be a good change in the long term.

So that's where I am right now. Changes, lots of them, in the coming months ...

To the Dentist

To the Dentist, originally uploaded by cheryl.

Today Connor had his very first visit with the dentist. Yes, we're a little behind on such things, we know. But we finally got around to it, and he had his first visit today.

It went incredibly well.

On the way there, he kept telling me his teeth were already clean - that he brushed them last night. I had tried to explain over the last few days what a dentist was, why we need to go there on a regular basis, and what might happen during his first visit. He didn't seem too excited.

He was still a little hesitant going inside. We had never been to this place before, so he wasn't exactly sure about it. Until he saw the waiting area. With toys. And even a PlayStation in the corner. He was over there before I could sign him in.

The actual visit itself was fine. He sat down in the chair, despite looking a bit nervous, and after a moment or two of his usual bashfulness, he eventually started talking with the tech. He got to choose his flavor of toothpaste for the "teeth tickling" part of his visit. He liked that - both the flavor and the cleaning. Then the tech flossed for him (not so much a fan of this part). Next was his fluoride treatment, where again he got to choose a flavor. After that the dentist, Dr. Tim, came in to have a look. All good, with the exception of a chip on one of his back teeth (apparently rare and hard to do at his age, as it's usually the front teeth that get chips or are even knocked out). And last, but not least, he got to pick his favorite color toothbrush to take home with some sample toothpaste and some of that blue rinse stuff.

All in all, it was a good visit. Even the tech and the dentist talked about how well he did (though they may say that to everyone for all I know). He was given good marks for his brushing, though he was admonished to quit biting his nails. When the tech asked, very nicely, if he could try to learn to stop biting his nails, his reply was very simple.

Um, no.

Yes, that's really what he told her.

But other than that, he did great. He even got to pick a toy out of the "treasure box," though I practically had to choose for him. There were too many options and he was taking entirely too long. But he was happy in the end, and he's been talking about what a great job he did at the dentist all day long!

Mother's Day

To all the mothers out there, but especially to our mothers (the boys' grandmothers)!

School Days

Getting Comfy, originally uploaded by cheryl.

So, you would never know it by this photo, but all of the mothers were invited to Xander's classroom today for a little Mother's Day celebration. He, of course, was having no part of it. The rest of the class was up front singing songs (or standing in group at least), but he was all over the classroom. He sat on my lap for a while, then made his way here to the reading center, then to a puzzle center, then across the room to the computer center and wherever else he wanted to go.

My presence at school is not exactly helpful. I see this with both boys a lot. And that's not to say they would participate if I wasn't there, they may or may not. But my being there makes them think they are done for the day - done listening, done participating, done doing anything they don't want to do.

School is not easy for them, will never be easy for them. It will never be the experience that Connor enjoys so much. But that is what it is. And both of the twins are doing remarkably well from where they were a year ago.

During today's party, Xander did condescend to let his teacher hand him my gifts (made by the kids, with a little help from the teachers) and he did actually carry them to me, though begrudgingly. But the important thing is that he did eventually follow her directions. He also managed an appropriate hug a time or two before wandering back off to a preferred activity. He even let another little girl play with him (spelling with some bean bag letters) at the end of the day. It was cute to see them interacting, because he so rarely wants to share anything he likes. And I won't say he wanted to share with her, but he did so without complaint at least.

We celebrate the small things. A direction followed. Appropriate social greetings or responses. Give and take play. Social interaction. Sharing even when he doesn't want to. All steps forward from last year. All things to build on for next year.

Connor's World

Life is busy in our house right now. Here's the short version.

Connor's only has four more days of preschool. Ever. His final day and final preschool program is next Friday. Every day up until then is filled with something fun - movie and Happy Meal day, swim day, family picnic day, program day - where he may or may not sing. He knows the songs, clearly, as he sings them all the time at home. But on stage, well that's another question.

This has also been an adventure week for him. Aunt Kelly came over yesterday to spend the afternoon with him. He was treated to Chuck E. Cheese where he got to enjoy pizza and Pepsi, games and toys, and even a little shopping for things like new water guns and a Mother's Day balloon for me (which the kids have seen much more of than I have).

Today he was picked up by Grammy for an overnight visit and another trip to visit the extended family. He was quite excited for "dark" to get here, since that's when we told him Grammy would be stopping by to get him. As soon as she pulled in, he ran upstairs to get his overnight bag. Bye-bye, see you later, indeed.

It's a hard life, but someone has to live it. Right?