Good Things Happening

Last time I posed things looked pretty bleak. I was scared. Due to my fear I reached out to a company called Bella Baby Photography. They took the newborn photos of Jesse in the hospital when he was born. I thought it was a long shot, but it couldn't hurt to try and find out what they were all about. I sent a generic email to the company and low and behold, they were hiring and conducted a phone interview right away. A few days later I was in their studio for a formal face to face interview. They offered me a position on the spot. I was absolutely thrilled. The catch? They only hire for part time and there are no benefits. I figured since I didn't have anything else, that I would give this a try, I had nothing to loose. I was absolutely in love with the fact that I could call myself a professional photographer but I was also a bit scared about the newborn baby thing and living up to the Bella standards.

I went through the training with Bella for 2 days, I shadowed a photographer for one day and I worked with a senior photographer one day. After that, I was on my own! The initial plan was to do this for a while and eventually branch out in the Spring and start my own photography business. It was a good plan, but unfortunately, it just didn't happen that way. I loved my job with Bella. I loved working with the babies and the parents who were excited about their new bundle of joy, but the honest truth was that it was not getting the bills paid. This was the type of job that doesn't pay hourly, it's commission only. The newer photographers are scheduled at the slower hospitals that get a lot of customer declines while they get through the learning curve. It just wasn't enough. I got some additional training and I was getting good at this, but it just wasn't enough to support my family.

After the start of the new year I decided to start looking for full time work again. My idea about branching out and starting my own photography business was just not going to happen. We would starve and be homeless if I pursued that. Not saying I was incapable of running a successful business, I just didn't have the financial resources for the start up. I was contracted by a broker in the real estate community to help with some post broker even work. I happily accepted. By doing this side job, I was able to get names and contact information for over 600 professionals in the commercial real estate community. Many of them I knew of previously, but it's not an easy task recalling everyone you've ever met in the industry. This got my wheels turning as well and I started cold calling and emailing brokers and companies within the industry. I managed to procure 3 interviews from this. After one of my interviews, I met up with a good friend in the industry for lunch. After I told her about my prospects she asked me if I was interested in working for her company.... in Rosemont. There is a guy in her office that really needs help and they needed someone to do the general office management duties. Ouch, Rosemont is far from me. I told myself I wouldn't work in the city, Schaumburg or Rosemont. I would consider Schaumburg or Rosemont if the money was right. It would have to be worth it.

Some time went on and I thought a lot about working in Rosemont and my friend gave me a ballpark number as to what to expect as far as salary was concerned. I had a minimum number in my head and her estimate was pretty close to that. She told me that the girl in my position previously made just a hair short of the minimum I had in my head, then she told me that I had much more experience than her, so I should be able to make more. I told her that I was very interested and she would get the ball rolling. No one had been in this position for over a year and a half, that no one was really needed in the position until recently. They hadn't even put the position in the annual budget. I met with the man who the position would be under and we got along just fine. Then we got approval from the Vice President in the same office. Last step was getting corporate approval. Within a month of this just being an idea, it happened. I got an offer to work for this company and the salary met my minimum requirement. I took the job and I couldn't be happier with my decision. I had some other offers from the interviews I had before this came about, but those were $7-$10k per year less. Plus the hours were not flexible with the other company and I would be contributing to insurance, losing more income. The job I accepted has flexible hours (I can work 7-4 and avoid most of the rush hour traffic), insurance paid 100%, a small office (which is what I'm used to) and they are even giving me $276/month for an allowance (to use towards additional insurance, dependents or as taxable income).

I started last week and the company is great, the people are great and the commute isn't as bad as I thought. I think this is a step in the right direction. I'm happy things are finally going in a positive direction.

They Say Everything Happens for a Reason

It's been quite some time since I've written a blog. There have been lots of changes in my life, the world as I know it has changed. I lost my waitress job in the beginning of July, then at the end of September I lost my other job, that I've had for the past 12 years (minus 2 months).

The waitress job I lost because the restaurant closed down, we were given 2 weeks notice. It was sad and sucked, but it is what it is. Not much you can do when the owners decide to close.

At the beginning of August I started a new part time job right next door to my other office job. In fact, they are part of the same family. This was convenient, the same building, the same family, not so new and scary. The plan was to work this job until my other company merged and I would go to full time again.

The time came where my company was merging with a large frm out of Dallas. It all seemed like this was going to be great for the company, great for m boss and great for me. I was told for about a month that I would be getting an offer soon from the new company. I didn't get the offer until the week before, when my boss was there to finalize the merge. Their offe did not include a job description and it was lower than I was expecting. I asked my boss if the offer was negotiable, and he told me to speak with HR, which I did. I explained to HR the salary I was looking for and explained why. Mostly due to the fact that I hadn't received a raise in 5 years and he industry standard was higher than what they were offering.

The HR woman seemed to understand and she even stated that I cannot accept an offer like this without a job description. The offer expired the following day and she told me she would extend the time, send me a job description and talk to the executives about my request for a higher offer. I never heard back from her.

My boss returned fom his trip, I briefly talked to him about it and was told that there would be a conference call on Monday afternoon to determine what their new offer would be. The merge was happening the following day. My boss ad me put together an email announcement and do some other thigs to prepare for the merge. They came to me and told me they were dissolving our company and switching over to the new one. So they were going to pay me to date and pay me for my unused vacation time. Seemed like a good deal.

The call happened and I was called into my boss's office to discuss the outcome. Much to my surprise, I was fired right then and there. I was told that they decided to go a different route. I was devistated. My boss didn't seem to show any remorse whatsoever. His wife on my right was bawling here eyes out. I think for the nex hour she apologized to me 20 times and asked if there was anything she could do. In one of my not so better moments, I snapped back at her and told her, "yes, find me a new job". I went to my car to regain my composure and returned to the office to collect my belongings, the boxes were already sitting by my desk. These boxes were being used last week and when I asked about the contents the week before, I was told that we no longer needed the contents, which was bullshit, he needed to boxes to send me packing.

It's been a month since I lost that job. To this day I don't even know if I did something wrong or what to result in this. I was alwys taught to stand up for what I believe in, which is all I did. I asked to negotiate my offer and it seems as though I was fired for that. Had the told me their offer stands as is, I likely would have taken it because a full time job was better than a pat time job or no job. But they didn't do that. I am sill working part time at the family business next door. I was replaced a week later and I am still looking for full time employment. Right now I am bringing in a measly $200 a week and my husband has no income. I have about enough money to last another 3-4 weeks, which isn't long. My insurance expired yesterday too.

I'm sending out resumes, answering ads, doing all that I know I can do. I have had a few interviews, but no real job offers. I am staring to get scared..... really scared.

People tell me this all happened for a reason. That when one door closes another one opens. I hope this is true. I am not convinced of this yet since the new door hasn't opened and nothing better has happened to me. I feel like I keep sinking further and further into this crap hole situation. I can't even provide for my family and that makes me feel like a piece of shit. Stay positive they all say. I wish I could, but until I can support my family, there's going to be negetivity.

Want to Walk a Mile in My Shoes? I'll Throw in a Broken Toe for Free

It's been a rough month. Todd passed away, so Paul had some big shoes to fill by going to a fishing tournament in his place. I support this trip 100%. It's good for Paul to get away from the daily stresses of our life here. Speaking of.... last Wednesday, I lost one of my jobs. This was the job I got to make ends meet when my full time job went part time. The restaurant I have been working for decided to close down. This was a pretty big pill to swallow. I can't even imagine what the other girls are going through. I was the new girl, even though I was there for a year and a half. A few of them have even been there since it first opened. Not only was this their job, but it was a family and a home to them.

I am keeping my chin up, despite how hard it is. Maybe this is the opportunity for something better to come along. I have not yet decided what path to take, but I am trying to find another job, whether it be an office job or another server job. This whole thing has not been easy without Paul around, but I think it's best that he's gone. Jesse is gone too. Saturday I drove to Wisconsin and came home Sunday by myself. Jesse is better off with them, he doesn't need to be around me like this. I will pick him up tomorrow.

It was incredibly strange being in my house yesterday all alone. The two biggest loves in my life were not there. I think if I weren't in this situation, I would have loved this, but I am sad, and being alone is not always good when it's accompanied by sadness.

To top it all off, last Wednesday, I also broke my toe. Well, I think that's what I did. I slammed it on the sliding glass door. I assume it's broken, but I suppose I don't know for sure. There's not much that can be done for a broken toe, so what's the point in finding out if it's actually broken or not. I just hope there's not any more damage than just being a broken pinkie toe. It has all sorts of colors. It will look pretty sweet when I have the Color Vibe 5k in 2 weeks. I know I won't be able to run, but I am still going to do the 5k, even if I have to crawl.

That would be my broken toe/foot

Before the shit hit the fan, we were able to get the boat out on Father's Day. I was supposed to work, but they called me off. We took that opportunity to do something a boy and his father would both enjoy on Father's Day. It was Jesse's first time on our boat, he was on cloud nine!

Father's Day gift Jesse made at daycare.

 This kid has also become quite the little acrobat. I don't even know what to say to this.


Just watching tv.

I like to think everything happens for a reason, even though I am not quite sure what the reason is, I'm sure another door will open because of this and I can only hope it's for the better.

I had a friend say to me today, "You know what I love about you? You're a go getter. You have been through a lot since I've met you and you don't just sit in a corner and cry, you just keep moving! I <3 you.="">I love that!

Catch Up

I have not been good about blogging. You'd think with all I have going on I would feel the need more, but for some reason I don't. I have been busy. Things have been hard. Once again, I've put on the happy face while I cry inside. I'm sure that's not good for me, but I can't exactly walk around crying and feeling sorry for myself.

We don't seem to have a lot of support lately. Close friends and family are no longer helping and my parents have been in Florida. When times are tough and you need help, sometimes people's true colors shine through. Things are hard enough as it is, I don't need the extra negetivity. I've made some decisions to eliminate these people from my life.

Mother's Day came and went, which meant extra work for me. I need the money, but it creates extra havoc at home. You see, Paul saw the pain management doctor recently and he's decided it's time to come off the medications. We were under the impression that you should wean off neuro meds, but apparently this doctor doesn't think so, he was cut off cold turkey. Paul's been having ups and downs and certainly withdrawls. He doesn't feel well in the head and his body is detoxing. People get this, but I don't think you can understand it until you are there, experiencing it first hand. People also forget how this effects the people around the person experiencing it too.

Jesse made this for me at daycare. LOVE!

On top of this Paul was given clearance to return to work (with limitations/light duty). It's a good thing. I am not sure Paul is there (physically), but it is what it is and we have to move forward. We are waiting to hear from his employer to find out if they have a light duty position for him. If they don't, he should continue to get work comp pay and we will start the settlement process. If they do, well, I am ot really sure what will happen. Last time he was sent back to work, his back and the pain got worse.

Last week we got some very sad news. Todd died. It's not easy explaining who Todd was, but he certainly meant a lot to Paul. Todd was Paul's older brother (from another mother), his mentor, his boss, his friend. When Paul was a teenager, still in high school and misbehaving, his father wanted him to know work ethic and what it meant to work hard and have structure, so he put his son in a truck with Todd. I am not sure Paul's Dad knew what he was doing sending a 14 year old boy across the country with a 24 year old man, but it did teach Paul about life. Todd taught Paul about life. Todd was the one Paul wanted to make proud. Todd's death devistates Paul, which I am not surprised, we always seem to get kicked when we are down. But maybe in all this we will learn yet another lesson, to take better care of our bodies, because you never know when your body will fail us, like Todd's did.



Todd and Justin (Father and Son)



My son is my inspiration through everything. If it weren't for him, I think we would have both given up a long time ago. We continue to do fun things with him, even if we don't feel like it or if Paul is in pain. You have to keep living, especially when a child is involved. In the past few weeks we made a trip to the zoo, saw the local air show, made some trips to the park and did some playing in our yard.



The zoo has had these things since I was a kid. They won't last forever.



Running

I think the entire world is aware of what happened in Boston. No need to explain. I'm sad about it. A lot of people are, even if they were not directly effected by it. I did not know of anyone at the Boston Marathon, but the images are horrifying and I can't help but feel emotional. I think when something like this happens, an act of terrorism, I am effected more than I would be from something like a shooting, whether it be multiple victims or just one.

I commend the people who were first responders. I honesly don't know how I would react in that situation. Would I run to help or would I run away? I hope I never find out. I hope I'd be a person to run and help, but I just don't know. Fear changes things. REAL fear.

As we all know there were 3 deaths. It's amazing to me that there weren't more. But 178 people were injured. These aren't minor injuries either, many of these people lost limbs and/or had debris in them. As many as 10, 20, 30, 40 pieces of debris. It's almost unthinkable. People will remember this event as vividly as we remember 9/11. Terror does that to people.

Recently I signed up to run a 5k and I am not even a runner. I am not even in any kind of shape to run. But I was pretty much asked (indirectly) to run and I was also (indirectly) asked to be a Captain of the AmeriFace team. I am an active volunteer for AmeriFace, I am a Pathfinder Coordinator for the Chicagoland area. AmeriFace was there for me when my son Jesse was young and I had a hard time dealing with his cleft situation. Once I got myself together, I became a volunteer so I could help others like they helped me. How could I NOT volunteer for the 5k? It will help the organization I feel most passionate about and this is for my son. I will do this, I CAN do this. Since Monday's events in Boston, I feel even more passionate about doing this run. I want to run for AmeriFace, but I also want to run for the people who were in Boston and CAN'T run anymore.

Unfortunately it takes events like this to appreciate the things we have. Our freedom, our loved ones, our health, our able bodies. I may not be the healthiest person, but I can get out there and give it my all, and I plan to do so.

"The mission of AmeriFace is to provide information and emotional support to individuals with facial differences and their families and increase public understanding through awareness programs and education.

We support individuals whose facial differences are present at birth, as well as those who have acquired facial differences as a result of illness, disease or trauma, such as stroke, cancer, accident and burns."


Please join me on July 6, 2013 in the Color Vibe 5k by registering at the links below. If you don't want to run (or walk) and would like to support me, you can make a donation to the AmeriFace team by visiting this link. Team AmeriFace there's a box that says, "Team AmeriFace Color Vibe 5K"


Join Team AmeriFace at the Color Vibe 5K in Chicago-Aurora!
http://www.thecolorvibe.com/aurora.php
Register NOW at https://colorvibe.webconnex.com/aurora2013
Choose "Team AmeriFace"
Password "smile"
Charity Code 32-0085490

Be sure to let us know you've joined the team at
http://www.teamameriface.org/join.html


Then download the Sponsorship Packet at
http://www.teamameriface.org/FUNdraising.html


Thank you for your support!

He's Three!?

Although Jesse doesn't want to admit it, he's 3 now. He still proclaims, "I'm 2!" When did my baby turn into a little boy?

We've been busy. We had my niece and nephew's birthday the week before Jesse's. Then his birthday. We planned a party at our house for immediate family and a few close friends. Jesse had an ear infection a few days before, so I got him on anti-biotics to clear it up as soon as possible. It worked, but the day of his party he started coughing. I thought it was related to the ear infection drainage, but it wasn't. He was sick. Sick for his own birthday party. He was ok the first couple hours, then he was passed out sick on the couch. He missed cake and present opening. When he woke up, we let him open presents, but by then almost everyone was gone.

Since his birthday was the following day, Easter, we decided we would celebrate then. I was supposed to work at the restaurant in the morning, but the head server called me at 9am and asked me if I wanted the day off (she knew it was his birthday). Even though I needed the money, I took the offer and stayed home with my baby on his birthday. We let him play with new toys. The weather was nice so we spent time outside. We had a few friends over and celebrated again, this time there was cake.

Bubble Blower, an Easter gift

Loved his new Big Wheels

One thing that Jesse's always had issues with, due to his clefts, are sucking and blowing. He started sucking shortly after his palate surgery just before his 1st birthday. Since then we have been working on blowing. We have used bubbles, cotton balls, whistles, straws, etc. There are many techniques used in helping a child blow. This year it was very important to me to watch my son blow the candles out on his birthday cake. I didn't even want to practice with candles because I wanted it to be special, for me and for him.

We sang "Happy Birthday", his face lit up with joy. I had my camera ready for all the necessary birthday cake shots, then the moment of truth came and he did it! Blew each candle out one by one, but he BLEW! Most mothers wouldn't be proud of such a task, but to a cleft mom, it meant the world!

A funny thing happened a few days later. Jesse had gone to bed and we had a ton of leftover cake (as we were expecting to serve it to 15+ people). He had come out of his room and popped around the corner to the kitchen, saw his cake and asked, "Is it my birthday again?" I was so sweet and innocent.

Post-Op Post

It's been a rough week, Paul had the stimulator surgery last Tuesday and it was a success. There was a snow storm coming but that wasn't going to stop us. The hospital was only the next town over. In anticipation of the storm, Paul's parents picked up Jesse Monday night and were keeping him until Wednesday. That was a huge weight off my shoulders. Knowing he would be taken care of and I didn't have to worry about anything with him. Last time Paul had surgery, my family was able to help.

We arrived before dawn, and strangely the storm that was supposed to start at 3am, was delayed. So we got there without issue. It was a standard pre-surgical morning. I have been through this process 5 times at this hospital, so I have the drill down. I don't need the instructions to follow the Orange X and I know I am going to see the overly nice volunteer guy when I get to the end of the Orange X's. He checks you in, gives you the Patient ID Number, takes down my name and cell phone number for emergency and so they can tell me when I can see him. Then they take us back so they can do his vitals, get him in a gown, start the IV, etc. When they wheel him off to surgery, he goes in one direction and I in the other direction, back to the waiting room where I see the overly nice volunteer guy again and wait.

I hate the wait. I always go back out to my car. If any thing's going to go wrong, I assume it won't go wrong in that first hour. I'm probably wrong, but that's what I do. I sit, reflect, send out texts to the appropriate people and tell them he's in surgery. I usually eat something before my stomach will no longer accept food, then head back to the waiting room. After a few hours I am met by a young man in his blue scrubs. This time he sat down next to me instead of taking me into the dreaded Panic Room. The Panic room is that room on the side of the waiting area where the doctor talks to you. This room is usually for when they tell you bad news or something private that they won't tell you in front of the other people waiting for their loved ones. I've been in this room before, it's small and comfortable, but is sound proof and has no windows. I met with Jesse's doctor in this room after surgery, not because anything was wrong, but because he was an infant and hospitals usually take privacy much more seriously with children. I was relieved when the doctor sat next to me. No Panic Room = Good News.

Surgery was a success and I can see him in about 45 minutes after he wakes in recovery. Deep breaths. It's going to be ok. I head back out to the car (the only real place to get some privacy at this point), call his parents and make the appropriate texts and updates that surgery was a success. That 45 minutes turned into an hour and a half, but that's ok, I knew he was safe.

I walk into recovery and he's there with the representative from the stimulator company. She was programming it. She briefly told me how to use it, but my mind was already so drained, that I didn't retain much. Then we headed to a room and got him settled.

 My view from his room.

After a few hours of watching him and the snow accumulate out the window, I decided I need a break, lunch and to run home before it got too bad out there. It was about 2:30pm and it had been snowing for hours, but I could still see the traffic moving on the clear busy road below. The news said the snow would be the worst during rush hour, so I took the opportunity to go. I hit a drive-thu for lunch and headed home. I ate, shoveled some pathways, let the dog out and packed a bag in case I was in for the long haul. I headed back around 4 and stayed until 11:30pm. The snow was starting to come down heavy, I made it back just before the roads got bad.

My buried car

The front of the hospital, about 9pm

When I returned, Paul had already been up and walking once, he got an appetite back and was on the road to recovery. The first night's never easy. I hate just sitting there, watching my best friend and the father of my son sit there in pain. You would think it would get easier when you've done it before, but it doesn't. It may even be harder because it brings up memories of the past. I didn't even want to leave him, but I knew I needed a break from all of it. I went home for the night and was greeted by an excited pup who was dying for a run in the snow. So I geared up and tried to shovel some more. It was thick and heavy. I think the official count was 7-9 inches of snow. Not THAT bad, but the biggest snow we've had this season. I slept a few hours and headed back to the hospital. Of course I missed the stimulator tech and only caught the tail end of the surgeon's visit. He was released to go home.

It was easier for both of us to relax at home, but Paul was definitely experiencing a lot of discomfort. I've been doing my best to keep him comfortable. Playing, nurse, wife and mother is not easy, but not impossible. I picked up Jesse Wednesday afternoon. He doesn't understand, except that Daddy has owies on his back. Finally, yesterday he seemed to be better. Good enough to be out of bed for more than 15 minutes and getting his personality back. The hardest part is over and we can start looking into the future again.