Weekly job update

I have decided to just do some periodic job hunt updates. It's just been such an emotionally draining roller coaster the last few weeks. This week's highlights:

1. He had another phone interview this week with a company right smack in the middle of the US. He was told they should get back to him some time next week and if they want to pursue him would require him to fly out for an in person interview.

2. He found another 2 job leads that sound potentially interesting. One is close to here and one in CA.

3. Thanks to a dear sister-in-law he was able to get a little insight on the failed "fantastic" company situation. They truly did want to hire him but they are not in a place to be hiring anyone right now. (He kept wondering what he did wrong but I knew it had to be something else.) Thank you Carol! This did wonders for his engineer ego. This door might be open in a few months so it's not completely dead.

The plan for now is to keep going with my job. I don't make as much as him but I am close. Between my job and using a little of savings each month we will be fine for a long while. My benefits will start sometime next month for the whole family and are better than what we previously had so that's a perk.

We might look at me working full-time at that point to off set the cost of the benefits. I am currently working about 32 hours a week.

I would also pray for health for me. I have been sick 3 times (2 stomach bugs, 1 cold) in the 3.5 weeks I have been working. I don't feel so great today, but this could be allergies. I don't usually get this sick. I am sure it's just a combination of everything going on and being back in a hospital setting for the first time in 6 years.

That's where we are this week. Thanks for all your prayers. They are so appreciated right now.

Can you believe he's 6!

Can you imagine that my big boy is turning 6 today! Here he is in one of his best roles- big brother!


Just 6 years ago we moved here and 3 weeks later our first baby was born. Wasn't he cute!



Sweet little baby test pilot! He was chatty back then too.

Here we are pacing. He was always really fussy in the late afternoon/evening and the only thing that calmed him down was mom or dad holding him and pacing around the living room. Oh the memories!



Happy Birthday Test Pilot!

What I love about my new job

I have been torn about my new job. I really do enjoy my profession as a physical therapist, but at the same time I wish to be home with my kids and taking care of my house. I guess it's easier for me right now because I know I am a short-timer. I will work for now until the Captain gets a new job. That keeps a steady pay check coming in and soon we will have benefits. (COBRA is a joke- but that's for another post)

Here's what I love:

1. I really do enjoy being a PT. I love working with patients daily to see their progress and to see them get back to the life they once knew. This was a good reminder.

2. I am so thankful our small town has an acute rehabilitation unit. I have previously worked in this capacity and it's my favorite. Essentially, these are patients who are medically stable but still need to be in the hospital usually because they are not ready to go home yet. They will get 3 hours of therapy a day and that's where I come in along with OT and speech.

I love to see them daily improve and get to be a part of their lives for a brief moment and hopefully get them to the level where they can go home again. One of my sweet ladies was able to move her right leg by herself for the first time today since her stroke. Yeah! I was so thrilled!

3. Some of my skills are actually better now than 6 years. Transferring is when a PT has to help a patient move (or transfer) from a bed to chair or other surface. For many patients this requires a lot of help from the PT, which means I do a lot of lifting. I feel like my technique in the area is vastly improved. I guess it's those wider child bearing hips that give me a better base of support. Who knew!

4. It's fun having adult conversation all day long. Don't get me wrong- I love my kids but conversation with a 3 and 1 year old just isn't the same.

5. It's been nice to see that later when we choose for me to work in some capacity I will remember most of what I have learned in school and on the job.

6. I get to use big words again like cerebrovascular accident and open reduction internal fixation. I feel grown up again. Although I have caught myself saying things like "does your tummy hurt?" to my patients. I guess some habits never die.

7. It was a nice feeling getting a paycheck last week. I did alright. My hubby was proud.


Stay tuned for the things I don't like so much about my new job...

Not what we wanted

Well, the captain heard back from the "fantastic" company and they said he was great and they would love to hire him but they are having to watch their budget and can't afford to hire him right now.

To say that he is disappointed is an understatement. Please pray for him right now. I would also ask that you NOT ask him about this at this time. He really really doesn't want to talk about it.

Thanks so much for your concern and care.

Interview update #2

The captain has returned from his interview. He is pretty exhausted from his whirlwind trip. He feels like it went well so we will wait some more to see if the company agrees. Hopefully, we will hear from them soon but I am not holding my breath.

He also has a couple of other leads he is working on at the same time.

Continue to pray for him. I can tell it's getting to him being a "house husband". I pray that this season of job hunting will end soon for him.

Happy Early Birthday

We celebrated the test pilot's 6th birthday this past weekend. His birthday isn't until the 24th but my parents could make it this weekend so there you go. We had it at this inflatable party place again which is always fun and so easy for mom and dad.

Here is the test pilot and all his friends. When he has a party he wants to invite everyone and I mean everyone he knows. That's just the way he is. The more the merrier! Boys, girls, big kids, little kids, adults, he doesn't care- he just wants them there.


Here is the wonderful cake made by Albertsons. They deserve exceptional praise. The test pilot had wanted a race car cake. I made the cake and planned on doing the extensivefrosting work on Friday night before the party. Problem- mom comes down with a stomach bug. I needed to come up with an alternative plan fast. We drive to one store and they said no way. Albertsons to the rescue. They made this cake and had it done in time for the party. Thank you Albertsons!



Here's some of the boys playing in one of the inflatable toys.

They have a great big inflatable throne for the kids to sit on while opening presents. It's so cute and he loved it. He was in lego heaven. He got some great new kits. He is a little engineer you know.

We had a great party. Mom survived the stomach bug, but I don't recommend repeating that situation again.

Progress

The Captain was contacted by the "fabulous" company yesterday and they wanted to do an in-person interview. Today they sent his itinerary. He flies out this Sunday and will interview with them on Monday. Needless to say we are very excited about this prospect. Please keep him in your prayers on Monday.

Corporate America sure does work on a whole different time table than the rest of us. I am just thankful for progress.

We will let you know...