NO, NO, NO

Now Addison has it. 

This sucks!

Need some advise on stocks

My suggestion is to stock up on Reckitt Benckiser (RB).  They are the maker of Lysol.  We will be using all of their products this evening to disinfect the entire house.  Why?  

Today, my lovely daughter Reece was sent home from school with the flu.  Type A flu that is.  The most severe and most contagious.  I am sure the Addison will have it come Friday.  I am waiting for Chad and I to be next.  We will be doing everything we can to not catch it but our immune systems are already weak from the illnesses we have had.  Croup, winter colds, ear infections, sinus infections, persistent coughs - you get the idea.  

All of these lovely illnesses have also disrupted every one's sleep schedule so we have been playing musical beds.  I think I have slept in every bed (but the crib) and couch in the last 3 weeks.  We all start in our own rooms, but as the night progress, the bodies move.  

So here's the plan.  Chad is going to stay home from work the next two days because Reece can not return to school.  We will clean the whole house 30 times in the next 5 days.  We will be hibernating Saturday and Sunday.  No trips to the store, no soccer practice, no dinner out.   I expect Folsom Elementary to close for completely for decontamination on Friday.  We will not be having any visitors except grandparents.  We will be accepting food delivered as well as movies.  Maids are also welcomed if they were to magically appear.  There will be an increase in the PPV movie section of our cable bill as well as the water bill because I see long hot baths in our future.   I will prevail as the only one that does not get sick.  It is not in the cards, not good for the new job, and unacceptable behavior as a mother. 

This is my plan.  

Quick update

I just wanted to update everyone on the changes this week.

I left off the fact that I will be doing medical billing for a group that is contracted with many different providers.  The staff is friendly and easy to get along with.  The hours are very stern at 8-5.  Everyone literally stops at noon for a one hour lunch.  That doesn't mean an hour and 5 minutes.  One hour at noon.  Work starts at 8 sharp but you are also finished at 5.   It has been an adjustment.  I had much more flexibility at my other jobs.  I guess that it didn't hurt that I was in charge and made my own schedule.  I could eat out lunch and stop at Target to do some shopping.  Not so much here. 

But I do appreciate that fact that it is fair across the board.  Everyone works the same schedule. 

The girls are doing really, really well.  They love who is keeping them and talked about it the whole way home yesterday .  Reece was home sick today at Sabrina's house.  She has a winter cold with a good cough but does not feel bad.  Good news is that it is not the flu.  And my lovely sister was off today and able to help us out.  I don't know what we would have done without her.  Addison is adjusting well.  She still isn't sleeping anywhere but the house.  This will take some time.  But I hope it is sooner than later. 

It is close to being my bed time now.  No more staying up to watch TMZ or the 1000th repeat of Sex & The City.  Talk to you all later. 

I know, I know

I have not updated in so long...

There are many things that are blog worthy and I will get to them soon.  

One thing that you should know before too much longer is that I will be returning to the paying workforce.  That is right.  I am going back to work full time. Tomorrow.

And I say paying workforce because as many of you out there know, being a stay at home mom is a full time job.  It is not a paid job.  It does not have health insurance or a 401k.  You do not get sick days or holiday pay.  But it has been my job for the last 2 years.  There have been many a times that I have prayed to change places with my husband for just one week.  Just for the adult interaction and to see progress in what I was doing.  Let's face it...Ellen and Oprah do not respond to me talking to them in the TV and laundry is never a completed project.

But what I have done of the last couple of years will be shown through out the lives of my girls.  I will forever have this time with them.  I have been paid in hugs and kisses.  I also have two terriffic kids.  They are great little people and will continue to grow.

I am still sitting on the fence about this whole return to the work force.  I have done my fair share of crying this week.  Hell, I'm crying as I type this.  But I believe that it will be good for everyone.  There have been a lot of silent prayers answered  this week too.  It seems as if everything has fallen into place and little of that had to do with my emotional state and changing mind.  I have the support of my loving husband and family.  Addison is able to stay at her MDO school and she will be with Reece in the afternoons.  

Thank you to everyone that has helped and listened to me over that last week.  I appreciate you all more than you know.  

$5200

What could you do with $5200?  

New hardwood floors for downstairs?

Take a great vacation?

Personal trainer and gym membership for a year?

Why $5200?

That is how much we have spent (conservatively) over the last 4.5 years for diapers! 

We are in the midst of Addison self potty training.  She has done the deed in the right place a couple times a day for the past several days.  At times, it is initiated by myself (Addie, let's go potty.) or by Reece (if she goes, Addie goes) or by Addison, herself (Potty!Potty!Potty! Mommy! Potty!).  It is happening and that is all that matters.  I know that we are FAR from being diaper and accident free but we are making some progress.  

She is quite funny about the whole process.  She takes off everything below the waist on her own 80% of the time.  She can sit on a regular toilet, without hands or a small seat.  She gets her own TP, always too much.  She wipes herself, not in the right place.  The whole experience is very independent.  

She does one thing that I am not proud of.  Once on the potty, she looks at me as says, "Alone! Alone Mommy!" 

 That's my line.  

Not at this house

There has been some talk on a message board that I visit about "The Year Without".  It is basically you and your family deciding to give up certain things for a whole year.  Some of the families are going all out.  

• no new clothes except underwear and socks - everything else will be bought from resale shops or wait until the following year
• no eating except once a month
• all handmade gifts
• no frivolous spending
• If it cost more than $100, buy it used or borrow it
• If you want a treat or something special - you have to sell something to get the money to do it.

While it sounds easy in theory, I think this will be much more difficult than people think.  I understand why so many are doing it.  With so many loosing their jobs and the economy being the way that it is,  it is a great way to practice being very frugal. It is also a great way to save money for the future and pay off current debts.  Will we be doing this?  No way.  We have changed our lifestyle quite a bit from 2 years ago.  I like to think that I can be frugal when needed but I know that I can not go an entire year without buying clothes.  And I don't buy that much clothes.  

If you are interested in looking at more blogs (who isn't?), here is a link to the thread.  It has everyone that is participating listed.   

Consider this my billboard ad

It is public knowledge that I am looking for a job. When I decided at the last minute, literally, that I would stay home with the girls, we knew that the situation was temporary. No more than a year. Well, here we are at year two. My return to the workforce has been delayed by many numerous events and very few interviews. It seems that my desire not to be in management coupled with all of my management experience has left me over qualified for the positions that I am applying for. So here is my public plea for assistance.

What do I want from a job?

Very little.

• an office job that is Monday-Friday
  
• closed for all major holidays
• would like responsiblity but I do not want to have the final say.  Let it be someone else's butt for a while
• co-workers

What do I not want?

• to be on call
• work the holidays
• make sure that whoever is supose to be at work is there
• live with my cell phone next to my bed
• anyone to call me Mrs. Maywald
• work more than 45 hours a week.  I don't mind a little overtime but that is where I draw the line
• take work home and do it off the clock
• worry that someone is doing something stupid that will effect my job and someone's well being.
• to work in long-term care 
• or a daycare
• or with animals

I don't think that I am asking for too much.  If you know if anything, please feel free to leave a message I will get back to you.