I did it...

I made the decision to ACCEPT the job offer :)

I received a phone call last Friday stating to call back on Monday morning to "discuss some things" - you can only imagine all the scenarios my mind went through all weekend. I did call Monday morning and found out that I did not get the expanded job that I applied for (due to lack of experience with crowns, bridges, etc. - we didn't do those at my last job) however, they offered me a job in their front office with the option of moving to the back for expanded in the future.

Talk about mixed emotions. I should be nothing but excited, but I am pretty much freaked out. This is really the perfect way for me to get back into the dental field (since I have been out for over a year) - get back into the groove, learn their computer system, scheduling, etc. - but I'm still nervous. I just hope this front office stuff doesn't bore me to tears. I keep telling myself it will be fine - it's practically the same stuff I am doing now only it is TEETH!! So it's better ;)

I guess I am nervous mainly becase this all happened really fast - by the time I start my new job on Nov 2, it will be almost a month from when I posted my resume online and applied for the job. I didn't really research the office either.... but I do know someone that works there and surely she would have given me a heads up if there was anything to "worry" about, right?

Ok, enough of that.

A big postitive that comes with this job - besides the 4 day work week - is that the hubster is now considering going back to school :) I hear there are some good opportunities that come along with his unemployment. I am all about that - the hubster getting a new career & having some help paying for it.

Bring it on!!

Wow, I am so far behind...

I don't even know where to start. So much has been going on the past couple months... I guess I will start with my job situation. (Aren't you excited?)

Currently I am working in the insurance field. This is not what I went to school for. I left my previous job in May 2008 and started working here June 2008. At the time, the hubster was not laid off and we didn't have to worry too much about pay, benefits, etc. Well, now that he has been laid off since May, I am starting to worry about those things. He is still dilligently looking every week, but it's a tough market right now. So, the fact that my current job has NO benefits and barely pays the mortgage each month has caused me to update my resume. I posted it online, applied for a job and interviewed for that job all last week. I'm trying not to think about it too much because they said it would be 1-2 weeks before I heard anything due to them still having a couple more interviews to do. However, it went extremely well.... and it's difficult to not think about it - 4 day work week, 401k, medical insurance, etc. - you know, all the things I don't have right now but need (ok, so I don't need a 4 day work week, but that's a bonus!).

It was a tough decision posting my resume online, but one that had to be made (I really dislike having to make important decisions.... ha, I even struggle with what to make for dinner, let alone switching jobs!). I do enjoy my job right now, but it's not my passion. I work for some great people and enjoy our customers. I even won an award last week at a conference - how do I describe it - out of my "territory" I was voted for by everyone I deal with at the insurance company - I say "kick ass CSR" (customer service representative) - they say "Silver Star Recipient". They look at your performance overall: customer service (duh), personality, knowledge of insurance, etc. I was surprised to hear them call my name - I have only been here for 16 months and there are a lot of people eligible for this award. I was/am honored. It feels good to be appreciated.

All this rambling and I still haven't mentioned my passion have I? Drum roll please.......TEETH!!

That's right - I LOVE TEETH :) I am an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant. I earned my degree in 2003 and was in the Dental Field until last May. I miss it. A lot. I am soooo ready to go back. I hope I get that "you're hired" phone call vs the "sorry" phone call.

Happy Friday!

Hello Friday… I have missed you!!

This weekend is going to be crazy fun. I have my 10 year high school reunion & my 1 year wedding anniversary. I took Monday off to help “recoup” from the weekend ;)

I’m looking forward to catching up with friends from high school. I only moved about an hour away, but have lost touch with a lot of them. After the reunion I am going to make sure that it’s not another 10 years until we get together again! Life is too short…

The hubster & I don’t really have any plans for our anniversary. We’re just going to hang out and enjoy each other’s company :) I am definitely ok with turning the phones off, locking the doors, cuddling and watching movies…

Happy Friday!

Edited 9.10.09 - THANKS MEGAN!! The video is now on my page :)

Thank you Cate – you have inspired me today. I needed some happy to make it through the rest of this work day! So, instead of filling your comment space with a book, here I go….

Happy

* I spoke with my kick ass phlebotomist today – she gave me awesome news. All of my test results came back just fine :) The only thing I need to worry about is starting a new routine of one baby aspirin a day once I have that positive test…. I’ll take this news & run like hell. (I’m still not used to good test results).

* It’s Friday. Enough said.

* We have nothing planned tonight. Nothing. That means a night outside sitting by a fire. Doing nothing.

* Next weekend is the hubster & I’s 1 yr anniversary. Bring on the cake!!

* Next weekend is also my 10 year class reunion. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and catching up.

* I get to see my Grandma this weekend – she fell recently and broke her pelvic bone – going to hang out and cheer her up!

* I grew up watching The Muppets & this always makes me smile (I don't know how to get the actual video on my page):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7V5Qh7Wke8&feature=related

Now that song will be in your head all weekend. You're welcome. I am off to find more video happiness. Happy Friday!

I never really have liked the color red....

*Sigh*

Maybe next month....

Good news.... so far.

Our appointment with the specialist in Indy went extremely well – so well in fact, that it made me nervous. Yeah, that sounds ridiculous, but something always seems to go wrong for me…. always. Anyways, here’s a breakdown of our great day:

* We didn’t get lost on the way there.
* We were there early and had plenty of time to fill out paperwork (which included calling both Moms to inquire about family medical history).
* The receptionist was nice (she even offered me something to drink!).
* The nurse was nice.
* The Doctor was absolutely kick ass!! She had my medical history all printed out and had read through it all numerous times, had notes written to the side and highlighted sections to review with me (now, when I say “my medical history” I mean a freakin’ book – I have “volume I & volume II”… maybe by now there is a volume III.... My “regular” Doctor reminds me too frequently, “you are too young to have this much history”…. yes, thank you again for reminding me. Anyways, back to my great day - the hubster & I talked with the Doctor, laughed, talked some more. She made me feel so at ease. And she made the hubster’s day when she said, “You are ok to go home and have lots of fun!” ;)

I had to do some bloodwork before we left – she wanted to check some current stats to double check everything…. The phlebotomist was amazing. I walked into the tiny room and she explained that they needed to draw quite a bit of blood for all of the different tests. Ok, no problem. Then I look on the counter and see 12 vials waiting on me. Yes, 12. I have a picture to prove it. She then explained that since they needed so much, my vein might “collapse” and she would have to stick me again. The nice nurse mentioned above came in to assist and hand empty vials while listening to me ramble on about anything & everything (per their request of course – “now, honey you just keep talking and don’t pay any attention to what we are doing”). When it was all said and done, I received a “great job – you need to mark this vein – it’s awesome!”. With that, I happily took my apple juice and walked down the hall to the hubster who was still shaking his head saying, “I can’t believe you actually took a picture.” Um, yeah, when we have a mouthy teenager on our hands I will whip out that picture in a hurry…. LOL, at least that is what the phlebotomist recommended.

We left the office and battled some construction…. ignored our growling stomachs because I was extremely tired and said I was not getting out of the car until we were home (the hubster has a "fear" of drive up windows and decided he couldn’t eat tacos – which we were both craving - while driving). So, after passing up Taco Bell and getting through ¾ of the construction, I realized I had forgotten something at the office. I looked at the clock on the dash…. 5:15. So, I called and left a lengthy message letting them know I forgot to pick up a “container” for my 24 hour urine test (good times). (See something always goes wrong – but this was mild, so it’s ok). I ended up calling back the next day and they sent orders in to the local office – it all worked out :)

I have not heard any news from the bloodwork or urine test, so we are still having fun ;) We went to town last night to buy a couple pregnancy tests…. I will need more than one positive to make me believe it. I don’t want to be a victim of a false positive….

I need a mental health day...

Holy cow... I am sooo ready for a break. Yeah, it's nice to be busy sometimes, but this is ridiculous... The hubster and I do not have a free weekend until August 29... He is not so happy about it, but I can't help it! There's a lot happening this summer - weddings, cookouts, White Trash Party (more to come on that later), time with family, 10 yr high school reunion & our 1 year anniversary - just to name a few.

Included with all this busy chaos, is some very enjoyable stress for me... HA! Almost every day I tell myself to slow down & take a breath - and when that doesn't work, I tell myself that I should be blogging to help de-stress. So, I will now attempt to be on here more and vent, vent, vent, etc. OK... let's jump right in, shall we?

Some extra stress was added into our lives beginning this April. We decided we are ready to start a family :) This is a challenge in itself for us:
* I have Lupus and already know I will be a high risk pregnancy
* Some chemo treatments I had in 2004/2005 may have greatly reduced my chance at getting pregnant
* My original OB, who is an amazing Dr and knows my history, left the area this spring
* The second OB we found in April (and loved!) left the area in June
* We still don't have a new OB yet - our options are limited here...

We had some bloodwork done (with the second OB) - I tested positive for one not so fun thing and neutral for another - I may have to be on bloodthinners and who knows what else to have a healthy pregnancy. Even with these results, we were told to go ahead and start "trying" - just call the office if/when we had a positive home test. So far, there has not been a positive home test. Honestly, I am a bit relieved (but of course sad at the same time)... I am still not so sure about the bloodwork issues... We have an appointment tomorrow with a specialist in Indianapolis to discuss the bloodwork and our options... I'm hoping for some positive news.

Wordless Wednesday

Keg Safety...

Wordless Wednesday

Here I am!!

Hello blogosphere!! Oh, how I have missed you. Where have I been you ask? Well… everywhere but home! The hubster and I have been so busy lately…. *sigh*…. it’s ridiculous. We haven’t had a free weekend at home in a long time. We thought that after his lay off we would have all this time to get stuff done this summer…. Well, yeah, it’s already July and we are still behind. *sigh*…. again.

Speaking of getting things done…. Occasionally I will call the hubster during the day for a quick break (and be nosy to see what he is up to – it’s hard to come to work every day knowing he is at home doing whatever). Here’s a conversation from last week:

Hubster: Hey…
Me: Hey! What’s up? You ok?
Hubster: I’m really tired…. And my neck & back are SO sore.
Me: Why? What have you been doing today?
Hubster: Sorting screws.
Me: *silence*
Hubster: Hon? Are you still there?
Me: WTH? Did you just say you are sore from sorting screws? *insert laughter here*
Hubster: *Trying not to laugh* Yes… it’s important and needs done!

LOL… yes, that is my husband… he’s definitely getting good use out of “his” new garage. However, all of this screw sorting did get me a bit agitated when I came home to a filthy pup (who is an indoor pet), sink full of dishes (we have a dishwasher), piles of his dirty laundry all over the house (the computer chair, couch in the livingroom), etc., etc….

Now, I will give him some credit – he has started working on the house some… but hasn’t done anything on it for over a week due to the new weather guy predicting rain all week… and guess what?? That’s right – NO rain all week… it only rained on THE 4TH OF JULY!! Good times…

Wordless Wednesday

I love my backyard...

Wordless Wednesday

(Almost wordless)

Have you heard of the comic strip Get Fuzzy?? My old roomy introduced me to it a few years back. I love it. Enjoy :)

3 for 3

We've had some visitors hanging out under our house... Unwelcome visitors...

Hopefully we are almost rid of these visitors - the hubster is 3 for 3!!

3 traps set last night, 3 skunks caught this morning...


And on a completely different note, we still don't have internet at home...

*sigh*

Wordless Wednesday

Grrrr...

I have no internet at home right now... It's driving me crazy!!

Hopefully it will be fixed soon...

It's official...

...the hubster is unemployed (due to a large layoff). He worked his last 3rd shift last night (I finally get the opportunity to sleep with him every night, not just two nights a week!!). My thoughts on this layoff? It is bittersweet - I am scared. I am excited. I am nervous. I am relieved. I am stressed. I am blessed.

We first heard of this layoff a couple months ago. They said it would take affect between May 29 & June 13 (approximately)..... it seemed so far away when they announced it, and now here we are. At first we were really nervous and the emotions were flowing heavy... scared, sad, anxious, mad, confused, heartbroken, etc. Now that we have had some time to "take it all in" so to speak, things are getting better. We are even having a cookout tonight to "celebrate" (I am a fan of celebrating vs "mourning" if and whenever possible). We have been blessed in the fact that we are able to keep our insurance for 18 months. This is a HUGE blessing for me.... a lapse in insurance would be a tragedy to say the least.... thank you Lupus....

The hubster has been looking around to see what he wants to do. He has a few options but is being very picky. I really can't blame him, but on the other hand I have to gently remind him that he may have to find something he doesn't like for awhile until something better comes along. Especially in this economy... um, hints this layoff.

For now... I am working my no benefits, little income job. But, it's convenient... very convenient... and that is something we need right now... convenience... because this layoff is anything but convenient. Anyways, the hubster? He is taking full advantage of some time off - tinkering in the garage, visiting with family & friends, enjoying nice weather outside, dirtying up the house, etc. (he started practicing for this layoff during a week long shut down they had last week). Is it crazy that I am smiling as I type this? He is such an amazing man and I am so lucky to have him in my life. And no worries, I also gently remind him that he needs to find a kick ass job with benefits that he loves - then I can plan to stay at home when we start our family ;) Ha ha... then he reminds me that he should be the one staying home... crazy ass. We will just have to sit back and wait... see which direction God steers our life.

I need to slow down....

The hubster and I are already coming up on our 1 year anniversary. I can't believe how time flies. We have been so busy this past year and I feel like we haven't gotten anything done. I keep telling myself that I need to slow down... have some more family time... enjoy life more and stress less... I also need to work on strengthening my relationship with God - this is something I have struggled with ever since my Dad died in 2001...

Anyways... this weeks gorgeous weather has kept me positive & motivated to get some things done! I went outside tonight and took a few pictures.... have I mentioned that I am a picture fanatic? I don't have a fancy camera or anything, but I am all about pictures.


The view from my backyard tonight:








God is good... I am so blessed... I just need to slow down and enjoy each day...

Six Word Saturday...

My flowerbeds really need some attention.....

Wordless Wednesday

Brain Potpourri

"Just bits and pieces of mindless matter floating around in my head from the past couple of days..." - Great idea McMommy (check out her May 2 post).

1. Had a very busy weekend. Planted some flowers and veggies for my Grandma. Had a cookout with my Mom. Saw my Uncle who was home visiting from AZ. Didn't get enough sleep.

2. Happy Late Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there! Thank you for all that you do!

3. Went on a date last night with the hubster :) We went out to dinner for the first time in a long time. Had some amazing Mexican food - I could eat that stuff everyday...

4. I have my first follower!! Now I know that I'm not alone in this blogosphere - someone will see my updates! Thanks for the comment and support Andy - I'm really looking forward to learning all the secrets of blogging, finding my "niche" (blog & personal) and having a great time while doing it.

5. Sunday was kinda weird. Sitting in church I found myself reviewing CPR stuff in my head and making sure I would be prepared if the Pastor ever collapsed during church (he has had a couple heart surgeries and still has his "weak" days - he is like a father to me and I worry about him). My Daddy was taken from us in 2001 due to a heart attack, so anything heart related really bothers me.... Anyways, I didn't get my hug from the Pastor after church because the service ran over and he has another service after ours so he hurried out. I felt really weird and even told the hubster that I needed to see him and get a hug. But, it was too late, he was already gone. We left church and continued our day. Then my Mom calls later that evening. The Pastor had collapsed during his second church service! He was taken to one hospital then flown to another. Yeah, it really upset me and freaked me out a little. It's like I had a moment of mother's intuition for my Pastor. Today my Mom let me know that she talked to him and he was home doing much better. It wasn't a heart attack, it was a reaction to some medication - scary! I am so thankful that he is ok. Thank you God for keeping him safe!

6. The hubster & I finally planted our garden tonight! Just in time for the 4 days of rain that we are supposed to be getting... good times. It's awesome now, but we'll see how I feel about it in a month when I am cursing the weeds...

7. Survivor was disappointing on Thursday.... stinkin' Coach. I am so ready for him to be voted off!! I guess there has to be a "villain type" in all the reality shows.

8. One of my friends & I are planning a camping/boating trip for Memorial Day Weekend.... I stopped working out after the honeymoon (April '09).... Now I need to figure out the swimsuit situation. Maybe everyone else will drink enough that they won't even notice my extra bits in my bikini that I bought for the honeymoon because the hubster gave me the puppy dog eyes.... Or maybe I will buy a one piece swimsuit and deal with the hubster's pouting all weekend....

Leave it to me.....

That's right, leave it to me to babble on and on in my first post and not even mention my family. I was just so excited that I wasn't really thinking. Just typing away.

Anyways, here's some info on me & my family :) I am married to the love of my life - The Hubster and a mom to two adorable babies - The Pup & Baby Kitty. We live in small town Indiana and absolutely love it!! (I'm definitely a small town girl). We love to be outside - camping, cooking out, mushrooming, mowing, working in the flowerbeds or garden - we love it all. This nice weather has been a long time coming - I am not a fan of temps in the 30's in April.

Ok, well it is short & sweet tonight - I have a date with a piece of cake and Survivor. The day would end perfectly if they would vote off Coach....

My first post!!

Ok blogosphere, here I am. I finally started the blog that I have been thinking about forever... and I don't know what to do with it! I have been "lurking" (I know, terrible) for awhile now and really enjoy the blog community. I am excited to be here, but wish that I already knew how everything works! Any pointers?

What do you write about in your first post? I really have no idea. So, I will just babble a little. As I have already mentioned, I have been thinking about starting a blog for a long time now. I did a little research on blogging (yeah, I'm a dork) and one thing caught my eye - "Find your niche". Great, now I need a "niche" before I can blog... they make it sound so easy. Well, my "niche" is kind of all over the place. I am a little bit of everything rolled into one. Take a couple of my favorite blogs for example.......

Andy over at Finding Fairy Tales pretty much kicks ass. She will tell it like it is with no reservations. I love that. But, I can't always do that (as much as I would like to). Like now I am thinking, should I put "ass" in my first post? I don't swear a lot... but it happens. What can I say? I am human. I guess that means that yes, "ass" stays.

Jen over at 4tunate is amazing. I went to AWANA with Jen when we were younger. She is an inspiration to me and my desire to become a mother (more to come on that later). She has a strong relationship with God & her family and I absolutely love reading about her gorgeous little boys! Now, Jen can tell it like it is, but in a much milder form.

Andy & Jen are both wonderful woman who, obviously, have mastered the blogosphere and I thank you both for letting me "lurk" (seriously, it's such a terrible word!) and now become part of your blogosphere family :) Eventually, I see my blog "niche" being a good mix of these two.

Sounds good right? Now to figure out how everything works around here... so many buttons...