Work

We survived!

Published on by Casey

Logan and I survived our first week with me being back at work.  The days went by fast and yet the week was still long.  The hardest part of the week, besides leaving Logan, was finding energy.  Every morning my alarm goes off at 5am (usually Logan wakes up during the 4:00 hour), and I instantly pop a top on a can of Red Bull.  Without that wonder elixir there is no way I would ever make it to work on time.  Seriously, Red Bull needs to use moms as the key to their marketing campaign!  I have 90 minutes to get Logan fed, burped, dressed and to make myself look presentable.  Somehow each day we managed to make it out the door within 10 minutes of our goal time!  And by 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon, I’m raiding the vending machines at work for a caffeine and chocolate fix.

As I mentioned in the previous post, Logan was having a hard time adjusting to eating from a bottle during the day.  Well, Friday he consumed 6 1/2 ounces!  Yay!  No more hunger strike! 😀  Yet, everyday when we get home the first thing that I do is feed him.  After that, I should figure out dinner, but sometimes Noah isn’t going to home until late, and sometimes I fall asleep.  Or if i don’t fall asleep, I’m seriously lacking in the energy and motivation department and would like nothing more than to go to bed.  Usually by the time Noah does get home, I’m plumb exhausted and handing off Logan to him so I can catch a couple hours of shut eye, sleeping horizontally, before Logan’s ready for his next feeding.  Meaning, around 11:00 or 11:30.  I think one day last week, Thursday night maybe, I was in bed before 11pm!  Now, if I can just go back to bed after feeding Logan during the middle of the night…

It was nice to “sleep in” this morning…and by sleep in, I mean not having to wake up to an alarm. 😉  This afternoon we went to Bosom Buddies and learned they had an infant scale! Of course I had to weigh Logan!  Fully clothed (with probably a slightly damp diaper) Logan weighed 14 pounds 10 ounces!  According the the growth chart I found online, that places him in the 68th percentile!  Friday, when he turns 3-months old, I’ll weigh him again and measure his head and length. 🙂

But for now, I’m realizing there’s no reason for me to be awake, so off to bed I go (probably just in time for Logan to wake up).

That was hard

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Yesterday was my first day back at work after being on leave for 12-weeks!  Not only was it the beginning of a whole new routine, but the first time I was going to leave Logan with another person for more than just a couple of hours!  So yesterday morning was not without tears as I got Logan ready for the day, as I drove to his care provider’s house, and as I drove to work.  Knowing it was not going to be easy leaving Logan, Noah told his employer he was going to be late so he could come with me.  It was great that he was able to come (really, I didn’t give him a choice in the matter) and surprisingly I even made it to work on time!

It really is such a HUGE blessing that Logan is being cared for by friends I completely trust.  I truly believe that made it easier for me to leave him yesterday and spend a full day at work. I think it also helped that I had placed a picture of Logan on my desk.

I look at it all day long, and as soon as 4:00 comes around, you can bet I am out the door and headed to my car so I can go be with my little boy!

I probably had a better day yesterday than Logan did.  Logan is a very mellow baby, enjoyed playing with some new toys and Anabelle, but he wouldn’t eat.  Poor baby barely drank anything from his bottles.  He’s taken bottles before, but not as his primary food source and he just wasn’t into it.  His being at someone else’s home during the day is an adjustment for him too.   When I got to the house to pick him up I was able to be the one to take him from the crib when he woke up from a nap.  At first it seemed as if he was confused to see me, but then was really happy that I was the one taking him into my arms…and not just because he was hungry.  😉

It was not as hard for me to leave him today as it was yesterday, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t miss him any less.  Logan did about as well as he did yesterday, only today he ate less.  🙁  I hope he soon decides to eat more during the day and not just wait for me to show up around 4:30.  To help, I’m going to have Noah work with him in taking a bottle tonight.  It doesn’t do much good that he tolerates taking it from mom.  Hopefully tomorrow goes better.  Otherwise, it looks as if Logan has my stubborn streak. 😉   Regardless, I’m counting down the days to the weekend and upcoming holidays/breaks from work so I can spend more waking hours with Logan!

(By the way, clicking on the above picture will open up a new album of photos.)

Insurance Fun

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I get back from Ireland, check my messages in Chicago, and no word from Kaiser on my membership number.  Remember I was told I would have it in a “couple of days” back in the middle of December.  Right.  Tuesday when I came into work I find out from HR that there were some problems in Kaiser uploading my company’s information into their database so there will be a delay in getting the membership numbers.  However, we could call Customer Service and get a temporary ID so we could make appointments.   I did that.  And, as a result, now have my “new-patient” meeting with a new OB next week (although I don’t even get to meet the doctor then.  Lovely).

Today HR sent out another email saying the membership upload was complete and we could contact her for our ID numbers.  Of course I jumped all over that email but was told Kaiser is still waiting on some information or something for me.  HR thinks it has to do with that Continuity of Care document I submitted and had rejected last month, so I don’t have a membership number yet.  Every other employee has one EXCEPT for me.

Kaiser is not scoring any brownie points.

Now that the cat is out of the bag…

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A little over a week ago I found out my work was changing health insurance carriers on January 1st.  However, despite my knowledge of this change, I was sworn to secrecy as it was not announced to the staff until yesterday.  Regardless, this impending change undoubtedly created a very large headache for me as, with the new carrier, my current OB doctor and hospital will be out-of-network.  Ugh!

The only reason I found out about this change early was because I contacted the broker to learn about international coverage should we need medical attention while in Ireland.  Since we will be overseas when the year changes, the broker had to show me information for both the current and the new plan.  When reading that email I immediately panicked.  Ok, well panicked isn’t quite the right word, but I went into a OMG what can I do to keep my current doctor mode.  I talked to the broker, HR, and my current insurance company.  Immediately anything to do with the current company was eliminated as they don’t offer a continuation plan and in Colorado, pregnancy counts a pre-existing condition (not all states do).

After talking to the broker and HR (who also talked to the broker) I learned that if I was 28 weeks (the beginning of the 3rd trimester) when the plan goes into effect on 1/1/10 the new carrier would pretty much have to let me continue to see my current doctor.  However, on 1/1 I will be 25 weeks.  Knit-picky,  I know.  If I’m also considered to be high-risk, the new carrier won’t want to cause me any additional stress and thus would grant me the continued coverage.  Having been diagnosed with a low-lying placenta, puts me in a category where there is the potential for high-risk, should the placenta not move with the growing uterus.

There is a form the new carrier required me to complete to apply for the Continuity of Care coverage.  This form included a page to be filled out by me and one from my doctor.  This form also had to be faxed in at least 20 days prior to the plan change.  So, it’s also a blessing that I found out about the change when I did, as the form was faxed in yesterday (the day staff was notified), which was 21 days prior to the effective date.  Oy! I dropped the form off at my doctor’s office on Monday and told them I needed it back on Thursday so I could fax it in on Friday.  Thursday I called to check on the stats only to learn that it was not completed and it was my doctor’s off day.  Ugh!  The receptionist promised me that it would be filled out Friday morning, so when I got there that afternoon with the other half of the paperwork they could fax it for me.  I did get a call yesterday afternoon informing me that it was indeed ready to be picked up.  Yay!  Now, my goal was to a) get to the office in Boulder, from Denver, before 5:00 and b) not run out of gas in the process.

Thankfully I made it to the office with about 20 minutes to spare (yay for people not going to work on Fridays and thus not being in my way!) and for having enough gas (although my light was on warning me I was driving on fumes).  I was pleased to see that on the form my doctor played-up the potential of placenta previa and told the new carrier that my pregnancy is “complicated”.  She also mentioned all the additional scans and appointments I will need.  So hopefully, with all that information the Continuity of Care department will grant my request!  I’m supposed to find out before 1/1, and would ideally like to know before my next appointment on the 23rd (so I can get additional information from my doctor on changing physicians should that be necessary).  But, realistically, the big reveal will probably come while I am in Ireland.

Many people are currently praying over this insurance issue, that I do not have to change doctors and hospitals right before the last three months of my pregnancy.  You are welcome to join them.  Also, even though previa would not be an ideal aspect of pregnancy and hopefully will not be a reality for me, perhaps having the scan show the low placenta is a blessing in disguise if it allows me to keep my doctor.  I did come to a peace over this situation last week.  If I have to change, I have to change, I just prefer not to.  But now, everything I can do on my end has been done and all that’s left is to wait.

Life at Laradon

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So far I have been at my job for a little over two months but it seems like I’ve always been there.  I love my job and the training that comes with it!

Other than going through orientation I have also completed the following training/certifications:

  • First Aid
  • CPR (with use of defibrillator)
  • MANE (Mistreatment, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation)
  • Incident reporting
  • Safety Care behavioral response (methods for pro-actively and re-actively dealing with behaviors)
  • QMAP (Qualified Medication Administration Personnel) – not everyone goes through this training 🙂

It took me 2 months to get the Safety Care training under my belt.  I couldn’t do it when I first started because I was on crutches and it’s physically demanding.  When it was offered in June I had jury duty so I was finally able to complete it this month.

I also have applied to a local horse ranch for volunteer work.  Keep your fingers crossed on that one!

Personalizing

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Last week the Executive Director came into my office to say “Hi” and told me that I need to personalize my office, make it look like I’m permanent.  I already know of one poster to hang on my wall…if I can ever find it at my house.  A plant would also be nice, but since the only light it would get is florescent I’m thinking about buying a plastic vase (can’t be breakable), some pretty (realistic) looking flowers and some fake water (gel) to set atop my file cabinet or book shelf.  I also have this rather large white board behind me on the wall that generally serves no real purpose for me.  So, in the act of making my office my own I’ve decided to write weekly quotes upon it.

This week’s quotes are:

“Wise men talk because they have something to say, fools, because they have to say something.”
~ Plato

“Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”
~ Mark Twain (love him, that man was a genius!)

“That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself has become easier, but that the ability to perform it has improved.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

What a week it has been!

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And it’s still not over!  This week there have been tornadoes “near” my house on two separate days, and so far I have only been to work only 2 1/2 days.  The reason why?  Jury duty.  Last week I attended my first jury summons for Colorado only to learn that I was in a pool for a very high profile case.  So I had JD on Thursday, Monday, yesterday and today.  Today the panel was finally selected, and although I was one of the 44 in the box since yesterday, I was not chosen to help determine the defendant’s fate.  Being on that particular jury would have definitely been one heck of an experience, but I know tomorrow morning my boss will be jumping up and down celebrating the fact I will not be away from my job for the next 5 weeks.  At least now I can go back to following the local papers on Twitter and watching the news on TV.

So much for that idea

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Remember me mentioning how since December I’ve been training for a 10k, the Boulder Boulder?  Well that event is almost here…Memorial Day!  Yesterday my friend Marie and I went on a 6-mile route, getting ready for the full distance.  I was on the 4th mile, probably when my foot died.  Now, I’m a pretty tough cookie so I ran through the pain until it was too unbearable, then walked, then would run again.  By the time I got home I could no longer bear weight on my foot.  I hobbled around my house last night wondering if my foot would be normal by morning.  It wasn’t.  This morning I still couldn’t walk without intense pain.  I managed to leave work early this afternoon to make it into the doctor.  Turns out my ligaments decided I’m not a runner (also known as a really really really bad sprain).  I now have an aircast I have to wear 24/7 and have to be on crutches for at least the next week.  I was also informed by the doctor that I cannot run in the Boulder Boulder despite my months of training.  I might be able to walk it…might.  Woohoo.

On another topic, I had my first day at Laradon today.  I sat in orientation all day today (except for when I left early to go to the doctor).  Part of our orientation involved a tour of the school.  Since I can’t walk, a wheelchair was acquired for me.  That was a humbling experience.  One of the other women in the orientation volunteered to push me.  That was very nice of her.  Tomorrow I have more orientation and drug testing.  I probably won’t make it to my office until Wednesday.  I’ll have more details then.  I do know my boss is very excited and can’t wait for me to start…so when I do, I plan on being inundated with tasks!

Unemployment – Day 21

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So three weeks ago today I spent half of the workday going through my cube at USA Rugby.  For three weeks I have been a “bum”.  Other people will disagree considering I’m not just sitting at home on my couch all day. I have done an enormous amount of yard work.  But I have been starting out my days by scrounging the Colorado Non-Profit Association website for new employment opportunities.

But  let’s back-track a bit.  Last Thursday I got a call (while I was in Wal-Mart) from an organization I had submitted an application and resume. So I threw the package of gnocchi at Noah and half ran, half walked really fast out of the store so I could get better reception.  Thankfully the woman chose not to hang-up on me and invited me to come in for an interview.  So what was this job?  This was the opportunity I have been waiting for — a chance to start my career!  The woman was the Director of Children Services at Laradon, a school in Denver for people with special needs.  The job I applied for was to be her assistant.  I was so excited for the opportunity I was literally jumping up and down!

My interview was last Friday at 12:30 and I didn’t leave the school until after 2:00!  That had to be a good sign!  Plus, I was given a tour of the campus and introduced to other staff members.  At the end of the interview I filled out a background check authorization.  I was pumped!  Never had I had an interview last so long!  The Director mentioned that she hoped to make a decision on the position this week.  I really wanted this job.  I had people praying for me that if it’s God’s will, I would be offered this position.

Early yesterday morning (and by early I mean 8:30ish) the Director called me to confirm phone numbers for my past supervisors.  I was very encouraged!  Then yesterday afternoon she called me again to say the background check was completed.  She also mentioned she really really really (yes she said “really” that many times) wanted me for the position but could not offer it to me yet — had to wait for the clear from HR.  But she didn’t want me to accept another position while I waited.  She also wanted to know if I had my college transcripts, so I hounded those down just in case HR ended up needing them.

Around 6:00pm tonight she called me again.  This time to offer me the position!  Of course I accepted!  The Director was thrilled.  She has wanted to fill the position for a while and the fact I had accepted made her excited…perhaps more excited than me?  Anyway, I start on Monday!  I have no idea what to do when I get there, since she didn’t get me that much detail but the school is very secure (think special cards to open any door).  I am very excited and can’t wait to get started!  It’s time to retire from being a bum.  Or, paraphrasing my mom, get back to work after an almost month-long vacation!

Oh and at Laradon – I get an office!

Unemployment – Day 9

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I finally learned how to relax — Aaron you should be proud.

I sat outside, soaked up the sun and enjoyed a good book.

It was wonderful sitting peacefully watching fluffy white clouds float against the brilliant blue sky and listen to cicadas flitter around my yard.  I watched a robin poke its head out of the nest it built in one of the choke cherry trees.  I could hear a woodpecker tap away at one of the trees in the cottonwood grove at the end of the cul-de-sac.

I enjoyed a bowl of strawberry ice cream to help cool down in the 80* weather.

Oh, and I accepted a job.