When PP was born, I was jobless. My main focus back then was to make sure that PP survived. She was a very sick baby. As her mom and main care giver I spent a lot of time in the hospital while she was sick. Many of the countless visits to the ER turned into hospitalizations, which would turn into extended stays lasting a couple days or even 2 weeks. If we weren't admitted to the hospital we would go there often to see specialists and have checkups with Dr. Melchert. We also were going through the grieving process for Christopher's mom, Mary. She passed away April 2010 in the midst of PP's health problems. A job was the last thing I wanted to get into!
As PP got older her health improved dramatically. It wasn't quite so frightening to put her to bed at night anymore. I felt like it was a good time to try to get back into working, slowly. A part time job working only weekends seemed great! I found a job at a group home after searching for a few months. It fit my criteria and I got hired! I think she was 7 or 8 months old, but PP was still pretty small and at this point she couldn't move around very much on her own. Finding a baby sitter would be easy! As I started getting settled into a routine with mom-work during the week and group home-work during the weekend, I didn't notice any big impact on PP with our schedule change. It made me feel good because I could contribute to the family in more ways than before. Eventually, my hours at work increased and now I see a difference in the way PP acts during the week. I work a lot, averaging 30 hours a week working Friday through Sunday. I know her new attitude is not just because I got more hours at work; she just turned two so she's a bit more sassy than she was when I started working! PP is definitely not always negative, but I don't want my job to interfere with my family life so much. It's a tough situation! Things will change even more in January 2012 because I am going back to school! I am going slowly for now, but I have every intention to finish my degree in Nursing! I know that these things can be hard on us. I also know that in the long run these choices will make our lives wonderful! My family will always be going through changes so I am currently, and always, in the process of finding new people and alternative options to help us weather these impending challenges. It's a slightly odd, scary, but very good feeling to be a part of something that is growing in unison. We are like trees going through the seasons together and every year we grow bigger with more branches of people in our extended family. I like it.
I am incredibly happy with the choices Christopher and I have made. I love our life! We are so lucky to have our amazing PP. We are lucky to have this cute lil' pad under our feet and a spunky wagon to drive around in. Our families are so sweet, it makes me smile just thinking about them. PP and myself are very lucky to have a person like Christopher who can support us like he does. I am excited for the new adventures next year will bring our way! I smell a New Year's Resolution coming...
Sending wishes of hot tea and leg warmers to all! XOX
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