All That STRESS for Nothing

I've been stressing with worries about this little life I'm carrying. So much, in fact, that I landed up in Emergency yesterday morning. My hormone levels weren't rising as expected and I'd had some spotting. The Doctor was fabulous and sent me for an Ultrasound. The technician didn't give me any clue as to what was happening and told me I'd have to wait till the next day for a report. Unless it was urgent, then the scan could be read in Winkler. So the Emergency Doc called that hospital and got the report - a single, live "fetus" measuring 8 weeks 2 days with a reassuring heartbeat of 166 beats per minute.

And I could finally sleep.

Professionalism

I have days that my head consumes me. Anxiety, despair, worry. I lose sleep and I argue with the Husband. My thoughts are skewed and my faith is shaken.

But somehow I can still put on my nursing uniform and go to work. And be one heck of a good nurse.

Mmmmm... Supper

Today's my birthday.

Last week I made a visit to the farm and picked my menu. It's not something that is done every year. But I picked a handful of delicious looking recipes from a book. Recipes I have never tasted before. I informed my Mum that this is what I would like for my birthday supper, as the Husband would be working and I would need to come for a visit to make my day feel special. Who could deny a pregnant birthday girl such a gift?

Not my Mother, that's for sure.

The menu for tonight includes: Wheat Berry Salad, Mediterranean Chicken, Caribbean Crunch Squash. Ohhh, and a fish fry for those not quite as adventurous.

The Magic of Blogging

Alternative titles for this post:

Complaining Pays
If You Don't Get What you Want - Whine
Someone at Cancer Care Reads My Blog
I'm Smarter Than I Think

So, just today I got a phone call.

"This is Jenny from Cancer Care. Are you still interested in the full time term position that you interviewed for here? Because we're offering it to you."

Stunned silence

"Uhhh... do you read my blog? I mean, can I sleep on it?"

I have to give them a decision by tomorrow.

With official "Knocked Up" status, things get more complicated. Yes it's true, I'm 6wks pregnant.

My current job has great staff. I have sick time accrued there as well as holidays. I have a permanent position. I don't like the commute nearly all the time. The job is heavy on my back. But I like it.

This job is temporary. What if I get sick too often and don't perform well? I'll be on probation for 3 months. What if I can't pull my load and they let me go? Sick time taken would be unpaid. But that would be okay because I'd be working more hours. Full time. All days. No more day/night switching. Easier on my back. I'd see the Husband more. But I would have no job to return to unless a permanent came up for me.

And if I wasn't able to perform well and keep this new job, another job at Portage would be waiting to be filled. I could pick up casual here, there, anywhere. I just wouldn't have sick time or holidays.

Help!

Job Hunting Blues

I recently decided that I wanted to work closer to home. The 1 hr commute is long, especially in winter with a sore back. In the city here, I could take the bus to work and our one-car arrangement would work better.

So I sent out my resumes. I heard back from a couple of place and got myself 2 interviews. I thought I had done okay. Not stellar, but okay. But I didn't get either.

Because of a recent change of events around here I had already decided to stick it out in Portage until my 2 year commitment is over early next year. Financially it looks like it'll be a better deal.

But I really would have liked to have the chance to turn the jobs down....

Tradition

I love Wednesday mornings. It's pig hauling day for Mom and Dad. That means a trip into the big city. The hard work of scaling and fighting hundreds of pounds of pure pork muscle into the trailer for the trip gets the appetites going. And so, a breakfast stop at Aaltos is mandatory. Every week is the same - same time, same place. The whole family knows it. If I'm not working, I'll often haul myself out of bed to join the parents for breakfast. Usually the Grandparents show as well. When there is food, the Grandparents will crash. It's a universal law. Occasionally various other family members show up as well. Good food, conversation, and laughter ensue.

Today I even got presents from Grandma! Yummy smelling hand soap for me and for my rockin' cousin who lives at my house. Also, I got hugs x 3. For myself, the Husband, and Cousin. Sweet.

And now, with a full tummy I'm going to return to bed. Call me lazy. But I'm tired and I have to work an evening shift. I'll take Bentley for a walk before I go to work. I promise.

Rachel

I have a friend that I love dearly. We've been friends for many years and I'm the Godparent to her awesome teenage son. Our relationship has always been close and strong. But we go through phases where neither of us calls or emails and we just pause for a while. Until one of us (usually myself) picks up the phone or taps away at the keyboard and touches base again, picking up right where we left off. Sometimes I tease that I'll tell her important details of my life via my blog. She reads it even when we're "on a break". Today I'm tempted to do that. I have something important to tell her.

love this picture

I wonder if she'll call.... ?

The Weather Currently...

SMOKE and 15 degrees at 11:20 PM.

I had no idea "smoke" was a weather condition.

(I stole this symbol off the Environment Canada weather website)

Yes, Mother

My Mom told me that she expected to see this picture of me with an unusual facial expression on my blog. So here it is, for the world to see. I am SUCH a compliant child.




This one is a recent birthday party at the farm. I just like the amount of family that I see on it. I really have the best family a kid could ask for. Most recently, I've discovered support from extended family right here on this very blog. How cool is it to have my great Aunts commenting and cheering me on?! Love it.