Ups and downs

I know, I know...I have not been a good blogger lately.  Life has just been a bit too much lately.  Today is my first day off in the past 7 days, and in that past week I worked 70 hours.  My brain is a little fried.  I'm getting a bit frustrated and grouchy, and I don't feel like I've seen my family much in the past week.

On the "up" side...work is getting busy and last week was CRAZY, which is why I worked so much.  On the "down" side...I really don't have enough staff for that crazy of a week.  On the "up" side, most of my staff pulled together and helped out as much as they could, also on the "up" side, I'm finally starting to hire more staff. 

On the "down" side, my boss is having some health issues and I'm worried about her.  On the "up" side, I'm hoping that due to this she will actually start letting me take some of the burden off of her.

On the "down" side...why did it take almost 4 months for some of my staff to start showing their "true" colors...now I look like an idiot for not dealing with it in the first couple of months. Stressful!!!  On the "up" side, I'm dealing with it now!

On the "up" side...I actually managed to get some (very little, but it makes me happy) "decoration" added to my office this week...I got a bulletin board hung and covered it with some pretty fabric...just one more to do and hang.  On the "up" side, my office is actually fairly organized and finally makes sense, AND, it smells pretty!  I've got a candle warmer and one of my favorite apple candles on it and I'm loving it!!!!

On the "up" side...It is so nice that it isn't so blazing HOT here in Texas anymore...day after day of over 100 degree temps just kills all joy!  It's nice to be able to walk outside and actually breathe!!!

Another "up", I have the day off today, I get to go to lunch at my favorite place, with some of my favorite people...my husband, my baby sister, and a great friend.  Oh, and I have a 1 hour massage scheduled at 4:30 pm...can't wait!!! (especially since I had to cancel the last time I had one scheduled)

Another "up"..at least I think my boss would think that it's an "up".  I've stopped asking my staff to "please" do something and have just been telling them what I expect.  And telling them when they have ticked me off.  This is so not my personality...but I really kinda like it!!!!!

So, that's what's going on lately...more "up's" than "down's"...I'll take it!!!!

5 question Friday

1. Shoes in the house - yay or nay?  We do our best to not wear shoes in the house...there is a basket by the back door where we keep our shoes...however, sometimes little people and big men forget to take them off. 

2. What do you call them- flip flops, slippers, thongs, etc?  I grew up calling them "thongs" now I call them "flip-flops"

3. What song are you almost embarrassed to admit you know all the lyrics to?  Pretty much every song from Dirty Dancing, every song from Sound of Music, and alot of other songs from musicals...what can I say...I really like musicals!

4. What is the best quality to have in a friend?  Acceptance.  The best friends are those who accept you for who you are.

5. Do you know what you want for Christmas?  Not really, some snow would be nice (doesn't happen much here in Texas--wouldn't have said snow if I still lived in MN though)  I keep telling my husband that I would really like him to just get me several giftcards to various places and he keeps telling me that those aren't really gifts and he wants to buy me "something".  I believe that is why I ended up with a red fleece zip-up bathrobe one year  LOL!!!!

5 question Friday...On Saturday!

1. Did you make any fun purchases this week?  Yes, I purchased a movie ticket and went to a movie with a great friend!

2. If you could go to any musical concert, what would it be?  I'm not a concert person, I'm claustrophobic, so being in such a huge crowd is NOT fun!  Plus, I'd just as soon listen to music on my ipad/ipod.  I've only ever been to one concert--Rascal Flatts--but I wasn't impressed with our seats or with the CRAZY drunk people all around us!

3. What is your least fav/ most fav house chore? All are my least favorite and NONE are my most favorite...I really, really, really need a housekeeper!!!!!

4. Would you prefer new appliances or clothes?  I think I'd like new appliances...clothes would be nice but I'd like to lose weight before I buy more...

5. Miracle Whip or Mayo?  Miracle Whip...or Mayo...I don't eat it often so I don't really care...

5 question Friday

1. Do you close the bathroom door when you are home alone? Generally...I don't like my dog walking in on me. LOL

2. You have to walk around with a word on your forehead. That word describes you. One word. What is it? CLUTZ

3. What store do you refuse to shop at and why? Neiman Marcus...can't afford it...too ritzy for me.

4. If you participated in arranged marriages for your child(ren), who would you choose for your child(ren)?  I wouldn't...and therefore I don't need to answer this...plus, my kids will never grow up and leave me to get married HAHA!

5. If you could pick how and when you would die, would you?  What is with these questions?  Not gonna answer this one today...

ok...so...

So, I mentioned in a previous post that I'm only working 4 days a week now...well, that isn't quite true.  I'm still on call 24/7 as usual but lately I've been getting called in for random things...or allowed to stay home but then called in for something else.  I've had more late nights at work lately than I had when I was just working 5 days a week.  Understandably, Jason is a bit frustrated...as am I.  Hopefully, our census will pick up and we can get this figured out.  At least I'm not the only one staying at work late...so's my boss (later than me most nights).  This too shall pass...right?....right????? 

This week

This week I worked 12 hours on Monday, our 14 year wedding anniversary was on Tuesday....mom watched the kids overnight so Jason and I could have a date, and I had today off too. Tomorrow I work an "office" day and then I work Friday night shift. This week is kinda crazy! Anyway, looking forward to the rest of this week. Hopefully we can get the kids pool back up so they can enjoy it this weekend. Jason and may be enjoying it too...temps have been around 110 degrees this past week and have been over 100 for more than 30 days in a row. It's really hot here. Even 90 degree temps would be nice!

so....

Well, my new boss started 3 weeks ago (plus a few days I think). Come to find out apparently her boss (and ultimately my boss) had been waiting for her to get here to bring up several issues.  Most were issues that I could have been working on if I had been told about them.  So, that is a bit frustrating for me because lately it's seemed like my boss's boss is upset with me.  My boss says it's not true but I don't like it!  Anyway, I've now got LOTS more work to do each day...which doesn't bother me at all.  However, the problem is that my boss's boss has decided that since our census has been lower that I have to do 2 twelve hour shifts (patient care) per week and only 2 eight hour management shifts per week.  I'm not sure how I'm supposed to accomplish more paperwork and responsibility in drastically less time each week.  Luckily my boss would prefer me in management more instead of patient care so hopefully we can get it figured out and I can get back to doing the job I was hired for.  Plus, me going into staffing means that some of my full-time staff don't get to work if I'm on that shift so they are getting a bit frustrated too.

Anyway...that's why I'm frustrated and stressed.  The only good thing about this 2 twelves, and 2 eights is that I should get more days at home :-)

5 question Friday

Okay...it's only been a month since I've posted.  Work has been keeping me busy...it's a bit stressful right now but I'm working through it.  I'll try to get back to posting regularly...we'll see.

1. If you knew your best friend's spouse was cheating on her or him, would you tell her (him)?  Yes, I would tell...but I'd be doing some thinking first on the best way to tell...and I'd probably make sure I had proof.

2. Soda in a can or a bottle?  It's NOT soda or pop...it's COKE!!!  It doesn't matter if it's clear and the label says 7-up, it's still just a coke!  Even if the label says pepsi I grew up requesting a "coke" and then the person retrieving said coke would ask what kind I wanted.  ANYWAY....I have a very hard time drinking "coke" out of a bottle...I prefer it in a glass over ice.  If I have to I'll drink it out of a can but my preference is over ice :-)

3. What do you wash first, hair or body?  Hair first...cause if I don't I either forget to wash it...or I try to wash it with my body wash instead of shampoo.

4. What advice would you give to any new mama? take time for yourself...even if you feel like you can't...sleep when the baby sleeps...know that breastfeeding is a learned behavior...yes it is "natural" but it still takes a lot of work...and if your baby is in the NICU...find a nurse that you "connect with" and trust and have her "translate" all the medical talk the doctor says...OH, and the BIG ONE (for me anyway)  "nipple confusion", while it *can* happen...it rarely does.

5. What is your best hangover remedy?  Don't have one....

 

 

1. What is your favorite summer time activity?    taking the kids to the pool

2. Do you have one laundry soap you stick to, or do you buy whatever's on sale?  I prefer to use All free and clear, but if I can get a good deal on something else I'll pick it up too.

3. What is your favorite dinner to make in the summer?  I don't have any specific summer meals but I guess that it would probably be hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill...but then, I don't make it, my husband does :-)

4. Do you have any talents?  Hmmmm, well, of course...am I gonna list them here...probably not :-) 

5. If you could instantly be an expert in something, what would it be? Why?  I'd like to be an expert in...men...for about 3 minutes only.  Why??  Because maybe, just maybe, I'd understand my husband...but I probably wouldn't :-)

5 question Friday

1. How close to your childhood dreams is your life now?  I would say that it is pretty close...I always wanted to be a nurse...and I've been one for 16 years now.  I have an awesome husband and 3 wonderful kids.  The only thing I'm still waiting on is the "having lots and lots of money" part...but I don't think that's gonna happen any time soon.

2. What is one must have item for the summer?  lots of snacks...my kids eat me out of house and home over the summer.

3. Do you have your kids stay up on school stuff during summer vacation? (Or, if you don't have kiddos, did your parents make you keep up on school stuff during summer?)  I don't make them do school stuff but I do expect them to have a 2 hour quiet time every day and they are to read books during this time.  They are in their rooms with TV's off and reading for 2 hours.  It gives us a break and helps them not fall behind so much :-)

4. Do you can or freeze fresh produce?  I try to make strawberry jam each year but it is hit and miss if it actually turns out.  I used to help my mom and grandma can stuff but I've just never gotten into that.

5. Do you get ready for the day first thing in the morning?  Now that I'm working dayshift, yes...but if I've got a day at home...Pajamas all day long!!!!!  I usually change into pj's as soon as I get home from work too.