SPAZZ!

This is the new nickname for my youngest child.  "Please don't do that!"can spark a SCREAM that takes over every word that comes out of her mouth.  The volume in my household is too much for me lately.  I really need to tone this place down.  One child makes an error and two other kids jump in with yelling at them.  What have we done to these kids?  I don't think my husband and I ever realized that our volume was turned up sooo loud that now our childrens' volume switches are broken.  How on earth do I fix it???

Now that I think about it I wonder if our Drama Queen has modelled such a behaviour that our little one figures she will get things to work out better if she reacts just like big sister.  I'm sure hubby and I play a large part too.  We are a loud family.  I do hope to change that though.

Dosage increase on Drama Queen's meds has really really REALLY helped.  I mean like instead of screaming laying on the floor kicking and slamming things and hurting people we are only hearing some crying with the occasional growl thrown in for good measure.  Almost bliss....

The teenager has returned from a wake boarding trip to Osooyos.  7 nights in a lakeside motel, meeting tons of new friends, learning to wake board, soaking up tons of sun and a slight burn.  He had the time of his life and we are so happy he has such good friends with a good family to take him on such a nice trip.  Being 15 now means he decided to skip the family trip up to Hixon for quadding and horses and shooting to be with his buddies.  Two years ago I never would have guessed he would trade us in for his friends but reality is here and now.  I've got to let him make choices and live by them.

Camping

This year was finally a fabulous age for all three of our kids to be camping.  They can entertain themselves...meet friends wherever we are and enjoy their surroundings.  They swam, hiked, walked the dogs, rode their bikes, enjoyed sleeping in a tent and finding treasures in the outdoors.

We've waited many years trying each year to camp once a year but now we can just pack up and go without all of the toddler, infant equipment that you *think* you need to function.  Life really IS getting easier with these 3 kids.

This camping trip we left for the day I was dismissed from work.  Weird but better than going home and climbing into a depression under the covers and staying there.  It probably helped. I WILL enjoy being at home until I go back to work.  There will be NO outlandish purchases until I do go back.  Money always seems to make things easier.

If life was as simple as it is when you are 6.

Without a care in the world other than the next activity.  No worries or fears.  Not even that a horse might kick her.  Thankfully they feel her confidence.

A Job Interview....and a ramble too.

I got a request for an interview with a podiatrist office locally and am just waiting for a date and time.  Feet feet feet....I do love working so we'll see where this goes.

My doctor that I previously worked with is also working on opening a new office as we met the other day and he is not at all interested in continuing in the situation he is in without the type of assisting that he had from my presence. 

What I cannot believe right now is that this time that I am off work here at home and we are now finished all of our summer trips I AM SICK SICK SICK.  I think the stress of everything is tumbling down over me and coming out in illness.  I want to clean my house....really deep clean it.....and get all the laundry caught up.  I'm hoping today is a better day and I can get something accomplished.

My pre teen drama queen is having a heck of a time holding herself together.  I don't know if it's the upcoming start of going to middle school....or is she just sick and it's giving her seizures in the night...or is she not responding to the increase in meds.  We have increased her tegratol by half  a pill in the evening and then two weeks later (Sept 1) we will increase it another half a pill in the morning.  We are hoping that it will help with the seizures and her coping skills AND being able to keep her thoughts organized for middle school.  We sat down together after purchasing a combination lock and figured out how to open it.  Prior to that she was melting down every other day about how she would never learn and it was too hard and she was scared.  They have lockers with combination locks in middle school.  We've mastered it and she is confident.  She carries it around the house every now and then opening and closing it.  There is much happiness about this.

All school supplies are labelled for my girls and now I need to weed through the closets and see what they need.  So far these girls don't need any clothes.  Why do I feel like I have to purchase school clothing?  All my life there were piles of clothing bought at back to school time.  UGH  I don't know about other kids but my girls only need indoor shoes for back to school and that's all they suggest they need too.  I shop for them all year long and I always buy those gap pants or that great sweater on the clearance rack that will fit the drama queen in the fall for example and put them in her closet so both girls have oodles of stuff.  So why do I feel the pull to drag my girls down to the GAP and buy them each a few new outfits.  I think I am broken.  I have enough laundry.  I'm hoping I can wait until it's cold out and then we can go out and buy some things.  Or not.....  Heck they'll wear their summer clothes for the first month or two back to school anyway.  Get over it mom!

Sweet Pea Learns to ride a bike!

The pride that beams from a child that has just taken the leap to a two wheeler is magnificent.  She has gained oooooodles of confidence from this minor milestone in the grand scheme of things.  She is sooooo proud and we are so proud of her.  It was in her own time and she is 6.5, almost 7 but wow it's been fun for this little one.

Now she won't get off the bike and we are expected to  be out front at all times watching her ride her heart out  good lord, so much for pajama days due to no employment.  Gotta be dressed and out the door so this kid can ride her bike.  I tried the oh hunny wait till daddy gets home....not cutting it anymore.  LOL  I put a stinking trampoline and pool in the backyard so we didn't have to dodge the cars out front.  Those days are over now.  My kids are growing up.

I lost my job...

Let me start by saying I worked for a very intelligent Dr whom I have great chemistry with.  I know what he needs some times just by the look on his face when he is walking up to me.  I can finish his sentences and there hasn't ever been an issue that I haven't been able to remedy for him.

He is aging and wanted to work with a colleague in a joint office situation.  He pondered a few different offers and we both thought that the situation we chose was possibly a good choice.  It is a walk in clinic with a family practice Dr. who also runs his practice out of the building.  It was understood that he was just changing location and not structure of his practice.  When we were half way moved into the office they changed the deal.  It would be a percentage that he would pay and out of that percentage they would pay my wages and his practice related expenses.


Or so we thought...

FIRST paycheck my wages were cut by 4.00 without any warning whatsoever.  THEN there was huge controversy because I was too friendly to the patients and too helpful.  THEN they did not want me working as many hours as I did.  (I start early and leave late but never charge for my time over and above my scheduled hours.)

It all went downhill from there... the office manager who sat beside me had a standard answer for patients when they asked how long the wait might be  "I don't know I left my magic 8 ball at home today".  If a mom was in to see the doctor and she had a child with her and asked where the bathroom was for her little one she would tell her "the bathroom is for patients only, you will have to walk over to Safeway with her to use that washroom."  If an elderly person needed to use the phone to call the handi dart (taxi bus for disabled and elderly) she would say no the phone is not for patient use.

After listening to this women treat people like crap ALL. DAY.  LONG. I was ready to melt into a puddle of tears.  I felt soooo bad for the patient and the way she spoke down to them and struggled to even ask a question of this woman who wouldn't listen or allow them to explain anything.

It was a bad decision to move there.  I helped make that bad decision and I struggle with that.

Our patients knew I was unhappy because they could see it on my face and my whole demeanor.  I tried to go with the flow and gave it everything I had.  EVERYTHING.

Suddenly the hours were cut and the last two weeks of August I was only working 2 days per week.  I was confused and was sure something was up.  Nobody said a word.  I kept telling my doctor that they were going to get rid of me and he said no, hold on till the end of the month and I'll see if i can find another office to move to.  Please hold on.   So I held on....

I came and my doctor had been trying to reach me all morning because on the impromptu day off that they decided I should have the day before they had sat him down and informed him that i would be dismissed.  He told me he would pay for  a lawyer for me if he could afford it as it was not right what they were doing.  It wasn't right but I told him I didn't want to work next to a woman who could treat people the way she did.  It was a toxic situation and I felt like although I loved working for him and all of the patients the location was unhealthy for me.  He agreed and told me to hang in there and hope that he finds another office before I find another position.

Then they handed me a letter and told me I wasn't good enough to work in their clinic. I cried and can't help but feel well not good enough.

Oh ya the last two weeks of August they cut my hours considerably on purpose so that my severance pay would be half of what it should be.

So I'm done for now and moving on to something else.  I love school so I'll take a course and upgrade.  Then I will work full time again in the very near future.  For now my kids need me to get them oriented into school for the year in the next few weeks.

Beach Babes

Whiterock for a day trip.  A day of kids with friends over and picnic at the ocean.  A visit to the beach for some bare feet in the sand. 

After my family recovers from what they call the horrible smell they actually have fun.  What a bunch of wimps.  I think the ocean is beautiful and powerful.  It turned out to be a great day and enjoyed by all.