work, work, work

I now live in a home with 2 employed people. Both Kara and I started work this week.

I am officially a Hospice Social Worker. I think I am really going to enjoy the work, the patients and families and the co-workers. I am not overly excited about the driving. Orientation this week, and for the next couple of weeks is primarily in the Ohio offices an hour away, although half of it is on company time. Once I start my own work load I will usually remain in Indiana, but I will cover a 6 county territory, I hope to be able to group patient visits in order to limit the driving but it will be a lot and I am not overly thrilled about driving some of these roads during the winter. I am considering trading in my car for a Subaru, an all wheel drive may be nice when ice and snow are present. Other than my driving concerns I am really excited about the work. Working with the terminally ill and their families can be so rewarding and can really help keep your priorities straight.

Kara also started work this week, she is a sandwich artist at Subway. She had 2 1/2 hours of boring video watching but seems excited to get on the job and make those sandwiches. I think it will be good for her to get out in the workforce. I think we are both excited for her to have some financial independence.

Tim is now the only unemployed at home but for now he is happy about that.

summer so far

To start our summer celebration we started the fire out back, it was quite a burn. And continued burning throughout the night. The day Tim got out of school we left for New York for a quick trip.

We enjoyed Time Square and all of the New York sites.
This street performer at Ripley's believe it or not swallowed the sword and had me pull it out.

Visited the Wax museum, Tim decided to play the part of a wax figure and actually had people take pictures with him, this lady stared for a while trying to figure out who he was.

We walked through Central Park

Here is the famed Naked Cowboy in Time Square

But the best part of the Trip was hanging out with Graham, he has grown since March and is completely cute.

Since returning from New York, I got a job, as a Hospice Social Worker, it will be a good first job and some good experience.

I also had my gall bladder removed three days ago. I feel like someone knocked me out, stabbed me multiple times in the abdomen and filled me with air. They fill the belly with air during the surgery and then squeeze as much out as they can before closing you up, but not all of the air gets out and that pain hurts like crap. I am starting to feel like I will get better but wish it would feel better faster.

End of Spring update

I guess it is time for my end of semester update. That seems to be how often I keep this thing updated, which is not often enough.

I took two breaks during this semester, one quick trip to Nebraska when my sister was married on Valentine's Day. It was a nice trip where not only did we get to witness Lori and Ryan being married, but we also got to meet my newest nephew Graham.

A couple of weeks after that we got a call that my Dad's health was not doing well and he was being admitted to Hospice. All of my siblings and I headed out to Idaho. We were there for almost a week getting to spend time with my Dad before he passed. His wife Liz, and all of his children and grandchildren where there with him when he took his last breath. He left us too soon but I am very grateful for that last week we had with him. It is difficult to no longer have living parents, even though I should be all grown up, sometimes I still want my mom and dad.

So...This past semester the last of my planned formal education, I am officially done with school. I had finished classes in December and from January to last Thursday I have been doing a full time internship at our local hospital working in Case Management. It was a great place to work with some wonderful people and I learned a lot. It was sad to have to leave. It is great to be done with school, but it will be even greater when I find a job.

Paul and Graham

Me and Graham

Lori, Doug, Paul, My Dad (Ron) and I

Grandpa and all of his Grandkids

A New Year

A little update:

The kids and I finished fall semester. Tim started his new school with some ups and downs but passed all of his classes, made some friends and seems to have adjusted well. Kara did well in school finishing the semester with all A's. I finished all of my classes and only need to do my internship before graduating in May.

We had some good times: Kara and I met my sister and niece in Iowa for a weekend and had a very nice time.

Tim turned 13. Wow! another teenager. So far so good, he is a good kid despite the fact that he likes to challenge the norms. of society (honestly, I think he gets that from me).

Kara asked me to braid her hair, boy that took a long time.

We had a nice Christmas both kids asked for and received snuggies. And we are ready to start the new year.

I have enjoyed this last Christmas break without working (hopefully I will be working next Christmas), have had some fun, gotten some things done (at this moment every room in the house is clean except Kara's room I'm not doing that one without her). And I feel almost ready to start my internship next week. Although I am very worried about 40 hours a week outside of home, haven't done that for many, many years and never as a single parent. But I think I am up for the challenge.