None for Santa

 

Santa doesn’t really need these so we made plenty. Chelsi made puppy chow and then we made sugar cookies for everyone to help decorate. That got old in a hurry. While they did that I made KitKats.  Then while still finishing up the sugar cookies we mixed up the monster cookies. If you’ve made them then you know how large ONE batch is. I think I baked just those for over 4 hours. The started around 830 am and finished just after 6 pm. Such a long day but we gifted some to neighbors and have gift bags made up for coworkers too. Plenty more treats for Christmas. Monster cookies were the best by the way and we will not do sugar cookies again. 

Time for transition

 

Getting warmer.  Literally the afternoons in my office finally warm me up daily. I spend the morning with a lap blanket because it’s a chilly 71°. 

But I’m also warming up to the change. I’m settling in a little more everyday. Most of the time if you’re relatively doing the same type of job and just switching organizations it may not quite feel like the adjustment I’ve been feeling. Mostly I think I’ve realized that I was used to very strict rules, lack of trust unless you were in certain circles, and not feeling like you’re adding value to anything real. Meaning your job doesn’t necessarily equate to seeing positive change to people the organization is serving. And don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t because of my direct supervisor. I’d felt and experienced this throughout my 21 years there and he protected me from it to the best of his ability but it was embedded deep in the politics of the organization. Now I’m realizing I didn’t know any different and just accepted it. 

While I’ve had fleeting second thoughts over the past several weeks and days of doubting myself, I’m learning to spread myself out and trust myself more.  I’m learning that my job does add value as I’m seeing programs change as my team members develop data charts to show progress of programs that I consulted with them on. I’m learning to treat my staff the way I always wanted to be treated by my managers over the years. I’m learning I can be treated like an adult and my team and I can be valued for what we do, not who we are; and not be overlooked. 

I hope to keep learning all of these new programs and be a good manager to my staff to develop them and their talents. I want to finally have a positive impact and make a difference. Something I’ve always wanted. 

So tomorrow I keep pushing and reading and getting up to speed as quickly as possible. 

Hit me with your best shot

 

This is totally on the joking side.  I know they’re not trying to hurt me. It’s just a thought that passed through my mind as I was trying so hard not to cry or scream when he popped my joint making it hurt worse and stuck the needle in and proceeded to move it around within the joint to get all of the affected area. He’s the 2nd ortho I’ve been to in the two years since the scooter accident that caused the arthritis. I only switched because he has a better procedure with less recovery time in mind for when I want to fix it. I will say though, the last ortho who gave me the shot the last time left me with pain for two full days and horrible bruising.  This time the pain was more minimal. I lost function of my hand for a couple of hours and it hurt here and there but nothing like the past several times.  Now hoping for several months of minimal pain and maybe not wincing every time someone attempts to touch my hand/thumb.   

It was a week of shots. I started off Tuesday getting some spots on my shoulder biopsied for skin cancer because they were way to close to a previous cancer spot for me to wait for an appointment. When I called I found out my NP had left the practice and didn’t tell her patience. Bad practice!  They offered up an other doctor and because I was so anxious about the situation I took it. He turned out to be fantastic and I plan to stay. He was great at listening and quickly shaved the spots for biopsy. Including me in every decision instead of just doing what he wanted. By Friday I was getting an injection in my hand and now that I know my skin spots are not cancer this time (thank God) I can focus on getting the spots to heal nicely and be pain free in my hand for a bit. 

#arthritissucks #cortisoneinjection #medicalintervention 

Are you that person?

Are you the person who preaches and tells everyone they can retire early because you did or say things like “take the trip while you’re young and able with your kids” and constantly posting on social media that giving your kids experiences is so important but the only experiences you share are trips to Disney, Hawaii or other big experiences?  Or are you the parent sitting on the other side of that post reading and feeling like a failure because you can’t?

Life sometimes really is luck of the draw. Sometimes it’s hard work and sometimes it’s a combination. But one person can work hard and everything can work out beautifully while another person can work just as hard and nothing ever seems to go or come their way.  And I’ve heard, over my many years on the internet, things like well you could if you would cut out the lattes or getting your nails done.  And that’s true. If you do those things. But guess what preachy people. Not everyone does those kinds of luxury treatments.  Some people are already barebones and still just can’t afford the trip even to Six Flags for their kids let alone flying and staying in hotels somewhere really cool like Disney or Hawaii etc.  

Truly if you can do those things with your kids share away. Post the fun pics of your kids and your family. It’s a great memory for you and your family and you’re a very blessed person. But remember not everyone got your hand dealt. 

If you’re the mom that can’t afford to have the “cool” experiences with your kids and you’ve cut out the extras already and there’s no room to budge, you’re not alone.  Get creative. There are fun things you can do with your kids and they will remember it because you were there having fun with them. Have a carpet picnic with a Redbox movie or streaming movie. Go find a walking trail with them and make little stops along the way for photo ops. Let them play in the leaves or in the snow with their you.  Get sidewalk chalk and draw giant murals or watercolors and paint the sidewalk with them. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re there. Don’t let anyone else tell you that you’re not enough. You are!

Packed breakfast

 I don’t get up early enough to make and eat breakfast before work but on weekends or days off this has become my new favorite. If I don’t want the mess I keep to whole grain toast, avocado, honey and everything bagel seasoning. If I have time for mess I add an egg. Packed full of healthiness it’s so good and so filling. #healthy breakfast #yummybreakfast #avacadotoast

Christmas cuteness

 Love the addition of the cute metal signs, alpine tree and large Christmas bells added to my pots compliments of Hobby Lobby. The cute lot packages are from Amazon. And all together they complete what we wanted so that my husband will stop threatening to put lights on the house. He knows I don’t want him up there. lol

Someone is 50

 Someone turned 50 today!  And I pulled off my first surprise party for him. I was able to grab plenty of snack for pickup and delivery from Walmart and Gerbes and then sneakily tell him my dad and sister were coming for a small Thanksgiving snack night thing. This threw him off. He just thought I over bought until people kept trickling in. He finally asked who was coming and I told him that was the surprise. It was really just close friends and family but that came to about 40 without kids. So good to see everyone and so glad everyone celebrated with us.