I can't believe it! But, it's true!

Recently, our MCR Coordinator turned in her notice, our MCD/MDS Coordinator also quit.
I was in the MCD position until Christian was born. The day after his birth, I returned to the floor as a charge nurse. To make a long story short, it was not my idea and I was very confused and upset by the change. I loved my job and would have stayed there forever.
After a few management changes, there was a position for ADON. I have all the right qualifications, the ability and the knowledge to take on that position. I applied for it. Someone else got it. Again, I was confused but not really upset this time.
When the MCR and MCD positions became available, numerous coworkers encouraged me to apply for one of them. I adamantly refused to try for either one of these positions. I just didn't want to get my hopes up to be let down again. Even when the Administrator suggested that I put in my application, I declined. I really did not want to go through that anxiety of waiting and being passed over again. I explained that to her. I told her that I could be interested but I would not ask for it, if they wanted me for one of those positions, they could call me.

THEY CALLED!

Thursday, I got a phone call from the administrator and our corporate consultant, ASKING ME to come in and talk with them about the MCR Coordinator opening. Oh my gosh! I was absolutely stunned. I cannot explain the feelings. I was happy to be asked, I was confused about why they called me, I was concerned that this was "For real" and not just the politically correct thing to do.
I asked the administrator, "Is this real or are you playing with me again?"
This is real, the corporate consultant and I really want to talk to you about this job.
I gather up Christian and got ready, we headed to Denison for Grandma to interview for her dream job.
When we got there, Christian certainly did his best to make a good impression. He flirted with every one who looked at him. He was so adorable that when we sat down in the office the corporate nurse was so busy adoring Christian that she barely looked at me.
I spent the entire interview hearing about what a great employee, I am. I was told that I have everything they are looking for to fill this spot. Organization, Focus, The ability to work without supervision, knowledge of the systems, knowledge of the regulations, knowledge of the computer programs, good communication skills, a positive work attitude, a great work ethic.
Wait a minute, I thought you were going to interview me.
At the end of the interview, I was told that they were interviewing at least one other person. O.K.
Friday afternoon, I got the phone call. I GOT THE POSITION!!!
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., All major holidays off with pay, my own office, with a door and an outside window. I am my own boss. I am responsible for a major portion of the income for the facility. The only person in the facility that is above me is the Administrator.

I feel vindicated. I feel a huge boost in my ego. People are tellling me that I look happy. One CNA told me that if I didn't quit smiling, she was going to quit looking at me.
I just cannot explain what it means to me, to have this happen.
I didn't ask for it, I waited, several other people have done the job since I was moved out of it. They didn't do it right. To have your supervisors admit to making a mistake and asking you to come back, not to your old position but to the position higher than yours. To tell you how great you are. It is just an incredible feeling. Plus it comes with almost $500.00 a month pay increase.

Thank You, Lord for hearing me. I know that You look after and protect your children. Thank You for keeping my faith strong throughout this trial and for the reward for my faith.
I am truly blessed. I AM TRULY BLESSED!!!!

What a Happy Boy!

The everyday faces of Christian!
Rarely, does our "Little Man" have anything other than a big smile on his face. He is such a joy to take care of and so sweet.
He is as free with the hugs and kisses as he is with the smiles.
He is developing quite a little personality and it is really easy to tell what he likes and doesn't like.
Grandpa and I are totally and completely smitten with him.
So is his Uncle Aaron.
He is very talkative and loves to play with his toys, Grandpa, being his favorite bouncing toy.
What a pretty little face.
What a darling baby.
I am afraid he is going to be so spoiled that Great-Grandma will be able to smell him in Shreveport, but as I explained to his Mommy, "What do you expect when he spends his whole day Monday through Friday, with Grandma and Grandpa?"

The Lord has blessed us in so many ways with this baby. I am thankful for each and every day I get to spend with him. I am thankful for Tish being so tolerate of my advice and maybe, sometimes, well meant but intrusive assistance.
She is such a sweet girl and she knows how much we love this little cherub.

Thank you Lord, for all of my blessings. I can never feel lonely or depressed with Jerry, Aaron, Tish and Christian in my life. I always have something joyful to come home to. I always feel loved.

P.S. Note the T-shirt!

Magic Grandpa!

Christian is a wonderful baby. He is always happy and really very easy to care for. Having said that, he is just a baby. At 5 months old, he requires a lot of interaction, love and attention. He gets it. That is why he is a happy baby.
Friday, I was exhausted. I had worked all night Thursday night and was up all day Friday with Christian. He wasn't fussy, he just didn't want to go to sleep.
By the time, Grandpa got home. I was worn out. I still had an errand to run, so I left "Little Man" with Grandpa while I ran my errand.
I had not slept all day. Christian had not slept all day.

This is what I returned home to.
What in the world did Grandpa do that I didn't do?
Apparantly he took a bottle and fell fast asleep with Grandpa, no problem.








Ah, but when I get home and move him to his bed,

very carefully,

don't jiggle him.

hold my breath and ease him into the crib.

He doesn't wake up.

Still barely breathing,I move carefully over to the couch to take a nap.
It's 4 p.m. and I have to go to work at 9 p.m.
I lay down, put my head on the pillow, close my eyes and

WAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa is laughing.
I really didn't worry about it too much.
I got up, picked the baby up, gave him kisses, handed him to Grandpa (who is still laughing), told Grandpa to wake me up at 8:30, went in my room, shut the door, curled up on my bed and promptly went to sleep.
Yeah, for Grandpa. Who's laughing now?

Tired!!!!

The last two days at work have been KILLER!
So many things are changing. Our new DON is trying to make things better, but they are just getting more confusing.
Combine that with new employees and people who don't know what they are doing and don't understand English and it makes for a really difficult day (or long night).
I haven't gotten away from work on time in so long now, it's hard to remember that my shift is over at 6 a.m.

Soap Box Time:

1) If you don't understand what is being said, DON'T SAY, "O.K."

It's just plan STUPID to pretend that you understand, if you don't.
So many non-english speaking people will answer as if they know and understand you and then go on their merry way and promptly ignore what you just told them.
I HATE THAT. I am very patient explaining what I need to explain. Just let me know you didn't understand. We'll both be much happier. Especially when it is MY license you are messing around with.

2) If you know someone has to wait until you relieve them before they can leave,
SHOW UP ON TIME!!!!!

It's disrespectful and extraordinarily rude to make someone who has put in their 9 hours, wait until you feel like getting to work.It's really not my fault you don't like to get up early, or your alarm clock doesn't work or your day care doesn't open before you're supposed to be at work.
I work the shift,that I do in order to avoid those issues. I leave my house early enough to still get to work on time if I have a flat tire or have to detour around an accident.
It takes me 30 minutes to get to work, I give myself an hour. No one ever has to wait on me.

3) If you're going to call in sick, do it early enough that your shift can be covered. Don't wait until it's time to show up.

I am really tired of having to stay 20, 30 45 minutes to an hour over (or longer) because of inconsiderate people. I am really raking in some cash putting in overtime hours that I didn't agree to work.

Is there anyone out there with, what used to be called, "Work Ethic" anymore or have we all decided we are entitled to inconvenience other people because someone inconvenienced us at some point in time.

If you have a job, if you like to get paid, if you want to be respected at work, be respectable. Yes, I meant to say, RESPECTABLE!
Do the right thing. Not just what feels good at the time.

Okay, I'm done, and "Little Man" has fallen asleep in my lap. Nap time for Grandma, until the next bottle, anyway.

Y'all be nice to each other. It doesn't cost anything and it makes the world a much happier place!

What a great trip!

Aaron and I had a wonderful time on our trip together. It was so good to be able to spend some time with him, just the two of us. I don't think there was a topic of conversation that we didn't touch on during our 4 1/2 hour drive out there and 4 1/2 hour drive home. I got an opportunity to become re-aquainted with my terrific son. I am so very proud of him. He has become a really impressive young man.
We left the house at about 7 a.m. We stopped in Lindale at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We arrived at Mom's around 11:30. Not too bad for a morning drive. The traffic was good all the way there and we spent the morning laughing and talking about the "growing up years".
When we got there, Aaron got to be reintroduced to the other side of the family. Frankie was in "top clown" mode and he showed off the whole time we were there. Aaron is convinced that he knows why his mother has mental defects. It's hereditary.
He loved his Uncle Frankie, Aunt Beth, and his Grandparents and of course his Great Grandma.
He and Beth talked for hours, he definitely impressed his Uncle, who thinks he is a, "fine young man".
And his Grandma thinks he is just wonderful and wants him to come back for Mardi Gras.
Frankie cooked taco burgers for us for dinner Saturday night and entertained us with jokes stories and card tricks.
We visited a little with Great Grandma and she amazed Aaron with her ability to remember everyones birthday, including all four of my children and how many babies they each have.
She showed him pictures of his great uncles. And she still had the birth announcement, I sent her, when Aaron was born.
Beth showed him her computer system and impressed him with her genius IQ.
Grandpa Eddie amazed him with his independence.
We left Sunday around noon to return home, leaving behind the 36" TV and a happy family and bringing with us a jar of homemade pear preserves from Great Grandma, a CD with, "It's hard to be humble" by Mac Davis and a heart full of fun memories and silly stories to tell.
We stopped by the Boardwalk so Aaron could see it and we looked at "The Boats". Aaron plans on returning soon so he can, "Go to the Boats".
We ate lunch at Hooters and then drove home. All in all, the trip was super relaxing and fun. I can't wait to do it again. Everyone in Shreveport makes me feel so special and loved, every time I go there. I always come come feeling happy and full.

The Week-end is Coming!

I am so excited!!! I am leaving early Saturday morning for Shreveport. I haven't seen Mom, Eddie and Beth since Thanksgiving. I can't wait to see how they are doing.
Last week-end, I had an opportunity to get a new TV for my living room. I have been wanting a plasma TV for a very long time and just couldn't get ahead enough to spend the money on one. Last week, I finally got it. My old TV is still in very good condition. It is a 36" Magnavox. Mom had an old cabinet style TV. It would get hot and the picture would go out. They had to blow a fan on it so it would come back on. It finally died, for good, a couple of months ago. I had already decided to give her my old one, so when I found out about hers going out, it just made sense to make the trip out there and take her the Magnavox.
I am off Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So, Aaron and I are going to pack up and leave early Saturday morning. That's right, son. E-A-R-L-Y!!!! I would like to get past the mix-master before the traffic gets bad.
We'll come home on Sunday morning.
Jerry and Tish will be all on their own. I am sure they will be okay. Christian will be here to keep them in line.
I expect the coffee to be ready when I get there. Real Coffee, Frankie!!
I'll think about stopping for donuts!