My old job wants me to work whole days. No part days at all. Sigh. That would have been so nice to work half days. I am a little tempted to tell them to shove it and try to find an adjunct teaching position somewhere. My old job's management sucked, but it was a job.
I am still trying to figure it all out. Not sure of anything at this point.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Baby blankets and a question.
When I was still pregnant, and doing some reading on baby care, I discovered that there were few resources for baby blankets in which one could actually swaddle a baby. Receiving blankets were too small, and fleece blankets too thick. So I went and bought some flannel and made some blankets, like the ones below....
As I was choosing fabric, I realized that there were few, if any masculine baby blankets. I chose the camo pattern for my Hubby. I also really liked the bright colors of the alligators. Most swaddling blankets I could find were white with rather cute designs. Most were too cute for boys, I thought.
Recently I went to a fabric store and got more fabric for baby blankets. I like them, they are fun, and our laundry cycle is slow. I needed more in order to get through that. They can get messy quickly! The fabric I bought was along the same lines as before...
More camo and hunting themed....
And more brightly colored fun flannel...
These blankets are big enough to swaddle my almost 14 pound 2 month old. They end up approximately 45 by 45. They are just square blankets, but they are big enough to wrap the last corner under the baby, making harder for them to get out of the swaddle. If you get really desperate, you could use a piece of tape to keep the one corner in place. Duct tape fixes everything, right?
I had a thought recently that I am surely not the only person to run into these problems. There must be other mothers who are in search of a decent sized swaddle blanket that does not overdose on the cute factor.
So here is my question: What do you all think? Is it worth trying to set up an e.tsy shop? I was thinking of pricing the blankets around $20 and including instructions with pics on how to swaddle a baby. The fabrics would be similar to what is shown above. I would also be willing to make blankets out of flannel or muslin provided by you for $12-15 per blanket.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
I think
I think I need to let go of the expectation that I have to carry the insurance. I do not want to work full time, and employers do not want to extend benefits to part time employees. If I let go of the expectation that I have to carry the insurance, then I can work how I want, and have more time to spend with AC.
We can afford the subsidized COBRA, and we can keep that for over a year. We can re-evaluate our insurance situation then. Things may look a lot different in a year. (I hope so!) Until then, I may be able to work flex in the OR, and maybe look into adjunct at the local community college. The nice thing about flex is that I can dictate when I work a little more than part time. And the best part is there is no call!
I really miss having my own income. While I am not in a hurry to go back to work, I hate seeing my bank account dwindle. That is a huge motivator for me to go back to work.
Letting go is so damn difficult.
We can afford the subsidized COBRA, and we can keep that for over a year. We can re-evaluate our insurance situation then. Things may look a lot different in a year. (I hope so!) Until then, I may be able to work flex in the OR, and maybe look into adjunct at the local community college. The nice thing about flex is that I can dictate when I work a little more than part time. And the best part is there is no call!
I really miss having my own income. While I am not in a hurry to go back to work, I hate seeing my bank account dwindle. That is a huge motivator for me to go back to work.
Letting go is so damn difficult.
I had a hard time getting to sleep last night. It always seems like right before you go to sleep is when I start to worry about things. Last night I was worried about work. I really hate the uncertainty with not having a job, having to do COBRA, and not knowing what I will be doing. I am trying not to be obsessed, but it is difficult.
I was thinking about my old job last night. There are things I like about that job. I like the people I work with. I like the fact that I can get benefits. I like being an OR nurse. Some of the surgeons I could take or leave, and the hours sort of suck, but overall I liked the work I was doing. I felt like I was doing something good. If only management was not as abusive to their employees, it would not be a bad place to work. They are more concerned with the bottom line in the short term than keeping employees around for a long time. I think about four of my co-workers have left or are leaving since I have been out on leave. That does not sound good to me. It sounds like things have gotten worse since I left. I am a little temped to tell them to shove it and just try to find work elsewhere. They still have not contacted me about work, and I re-applied two weeks ago. If they were desperate to have me back, they would have contacted me sooner, I would think.
The teaching position with the benefits has not contacted me, either. I am not sure whether that is because they are just slow, or if they do not want to hire me. It would be nice to know something either way. I am trying to be relaxed about it, because I am not sure I want to work there either. It would be long hours of teaching, and I would not get paid for any prep I do. With my old job, I could leave it at work, and have nothing outside of work.
I am also considering applying for adjunct teaching positions at local community colleges. These positions do not have benefits, but Hubby is willing to try to get health insurance independently. Which is possible since FIL paid off the mortgage. Adjunct teaching would be great because I could get away with not going in for an entire day. It just does not pay worth a damn. I like having a lucrative career, but I also like being able to spend as much time with AC possible. It is a bit of dilemma, but I think adjunct teahing is worth pursuing to see what comes of it. I just have to find the time to work through the state application.
I have given up a search for child care until I know what the hell I am doing. My mother is only willing to care for him under certain conditions, and I do not know if those conditions will be met. I really hate the uncertainty, but I am enjoying the time with AC.
I was thinking about my old job last night. There are things I like about that job. I like the people I work with. I like the fact that I can get benefits. I like being an OR nurse. Some of the surgeons I could take or leave, and the hours sort of suck, but overall I liked the work I was doing. I felt like I was doing something good. If only management was not as abusive to their employees, it would not be a bad place to work. They are more concerned with the bottom line in the short term than keeping employees around for a long time. I think about four of my co-workers have left or are leaving since I have been out on leave. That does not sound good to me. It sounds like things have gotten worse since I left. I am a little temped to tell them to shove it and just try to find work elsewhere. They still have not contacted me about work, and I re-applied two weeks ago. If they were desperate to have me back, they would have contacted me sooner, I would think.
The teaching position with the benefits has not contacted me, either. I am not sure whether that is because they are just slow, or if they do not want to hire me. It would be nice to know something either way. I am trying to be relaxed about it, because I am not sure I want to work there either. It would be long hours of teaching, and I would not get paid for any prep I do. With my old job, I could leave it at work, and have nothing outside of work.
I am also considering applying for adjunct teaching positions at local community colleges. These positions do not have benefits, but Hubby is willing to try to get health insurance independently. Which is possible since FIL paid off the mortgage. Adjunct teaching would be great because I could get away with not going in for an entire day. It just does not pay worth a damn. I like having a lucrative career, but I also like being able to spend as much time with AC possible. It is a bit of dilemma, but I think adjunct teahing is worth pursuing to see what comes of it. I just have to find the time to work through the state application.
I have given up a search for child care until I know what the hell I am doing. My mother is only willing to care for him under certain conditions, and I do not know if those conditions will be met. I really hate the uncertainty, but I am enjoying the time with AC.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Here is Hoping....
The health care bill passed yesterday, and I have to say that I am happy it did. It is not perfect, and I will likely not see any benefit from it for a while, but the fact that it passed gives me hope that things will change. Hope that things will change for the better.
I read a FB update of one of Hubby's college classmates complaining about the fact that the government is telling people what to do now, and generally bitching about the health care bill. That is fine for him. He is entitled to his opinion. It indicates to me that he is happy with the status quo. I guess the system must be working for him and his family. Good for him. He is the main breadwinner in the family and works for a large company. He has no problems with his health insurance.
Health insurance is too expensive for too many Americans. I think some people in this country limit their job or career prospects because of health insurance. I know that is what I am doing right now. If you go out and start your own business (nothing more American than an entrepreneur, right?), you are likely not to have insurance because you cannot afford it. There is just no way for small businesses to get affordable health insurance. Are small business owners irresponsible because they cannot afford to get health insurance? I wonder how many small businesses never got started because someone did not want to lose health insurance benefits.
I am rather annoyed at the Republicans during the entire process. They bitched the entire time about how this bill is wrong, and then did not offer any solutions, or even contribute to the process. (At least that I could tell, but I would only check in with the news occasionally, so I could be wrong.) Socialist rhetoric and a death panel. Really? Is that all they could do? They must also be happy with the status quo. Either that, or they were paid by the insurance companies to vote against the health care bill. One or the other. And I thought the anti-socialism rhetoric they invoked is rather lame. The people they pitched that to were concerned about losing medicare. Umm, what is wrong with that picture?
So, Republicans and conservatives must be happy with health care as it is right now, given their actions during the reform process. Whereas I am generally frustrated with the system.
Here is what I know about my health insurance situation right now. I am not working, because my last job was terminated because I ran out of leave. We are electing to get COBRA through my previous employer. (Yes, it finally came through. I just need to send the damn thing back in.) Fortunately, we are eligible for the subsidized premium, otherwise I do not think we would have been able to afford it. COBRA rates are insane. Hubby has a thriving legal practice, and he does very well financially, which makes us ineligible for any government programs. FIL paid off our mortgage, which gives us breathing room financially, and secures us a place to live. Even with all of this going for us, it is still most cost effective for us to get health insurance through an employer. Which means that I have to work enough to qualify for benefits. Which means slightly more than part time, or even full time, depending on the employer.
I am not all that happy about this.
If I do not work for a position which offers insurance, the most cost effective health insurance is a catastrophic policy, which I am not all that comfortable with. And the only way we can afford that is because FIL paid off the mortgage. Hubby could set up an FSA to help with medical expenses not covered by the insurance, which would likely add up quickly. We could make do with a catastrophic policy, but I feel more comfortable having a little more coverage than that, especially with the baby. I may be worried about this unnecessarily, but it is a concern for me.
I hate that this is even an issue for us. If there was an affordable way for Hubby to get decent insurance coverage, I would have a lot more flexibility in what I could do, which would make it easier to be a mother. I could teach adjunct at the community college, and not even work full days. Or I could work flex at my old job and work as much or as little as I want. I could spend more time with the baby and more time being a wife and mother.
I want my Hubby to be able to get affordable health insurance. I do not want to be denied or have a hugely higher rate because of pre-existing medical conditions. I want to be able to choose how and where I work without having to worry about how we will afford health insurance. I do not think that is too much to ask. (I know, some of this is in the bill, but it will not take effect immediately. I am just frustrated with things as it stands now.)
The situation right now just frustrates the crap out of me. I am truly hoping that the health care bill will eventually be a change for the better. Here is hoping, anyway.
I read a FB update of one of Hubby's college classmates complaining about the fact that the government is telling people what to do now, and generally bitching about the health care bill. That is fine for him. He is entitled to his opinion. It indicates to me that he is happy with the status quo. I guess the system must be working for him and his family. Good for him. He is the main breadwinner in the family and works for a large company. He has no problems with his health insurance.
Health insurance is too expensive for too many Americans. I think some people in this country limit their job or career prospects because of health insurance. I know that is what I am doing right now. If you go out and start your own business (nothing more American than an entrepreneur, right?), you are likely not to have insurance because you cannot afford it. There is just no way for small businesses to get affordable health insurance. Are small business owners irresponsible because they cannot afford to get health insurance? I wonder how many small businesses never got started because someone did not want to lose health insurance benefits.
I am rather annoyed at the Republicans during the entire process. They bitched the entire time about how this bill is wrong, and then did not offer any solutions, or even contribute to the process. (At least that I could tell, but I would only check in with the news occasionally, so I could be wrong.) Socialist rhetoric and a death panel. Really? Is that all they could do? They must also be happy with the status quo. Either that, or they were paid by the insurance companies to vote against the health care bill. One or the other. And I thought the anti-socialism rhetoric they invoked is rather lame. The people they pitched that to were concerned about losing medicare. Umm, what is wrong with that picture?
So, Republicans and conservatives must be happy with health care as it is right now, given their actions during the reform process. Whereas I am generally frustrated with the system.
Here is what I know about my health insurance situation right now. I am not working, because my last job was terminated because I ran out of leave. We are electing to get COBRA through my previous employer. (Yes, it finally came through. I just need to send the damn thing back in.) Fortunately, we are eligible for the subsidized premium, otherwise I do not think we would have been able to afford it. COBRA rates are insane. Hubby has a thriving legal practice, and he does very well financially, which makes us ineligible for any government programs. FIL paid off our mortgage, which gives us breathing room financially, and secures us a place to live. Even with all of this going for us, it is still most cost effective for us to get health insurance through an employer. Which means that I have to work enough to qualify for benefits. Which means slightly more than part time, or even full time, depending on the employer.
I am not all that happy about this.
If I do not work for a position which offers insurance, the most cost effective health insurance is a catastrophic policy, which I am not all that comfortable with. And the only way we can afford that is because FIL paid off the mortgage. Hubby could set up an FSA to help with medical expenses not covered by the insurance, which would likely add up quickly. We could make do with a catastrophic policy, but I feel more comfortable having a little more coverage than that, especially with the baby. I may be worried about this unnecessarily, but it is a concern for me.
I hate that this is even an issue for us. If there was an affordable way for Hubby to get decent insurance coverage, I would have a lot more flexibility in what I could do, which would make it easier to be a mother. I could teach adjunct at the community college, and not even work full days. Or I could work flex at my old job and work as much or as little as I want. I could spend more time with the baby and more time being a wife and mother.
I want my Hubby to be able to get affordable health insurance. I do not want to be denied or have a hugely higher rate because of pre-existing medical conditions. I want to be able to choose how and where I work without having to worry about how we will afford health insurance. I do not think that is too much to ask. (I know, some of this is in the bill, but it will not take effect immediately. I am just frustrated with things as it stands now.)
The situation right now just frustrates the crap out of me. I am truly hoping that the health care bill will eventually be a change for the better. Here is hoping, anyway.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Check Up
AC's two month check up was today. I have a big boy! He weighed 13 pounds 9 ounces! He is in the 85th percentile for weight. Holy cow, I am growing a big baby! I guess I am doing something right. I may have to look into convertible car seats sooner rather than later. (I am thinking Britax...)
The annoying thing is that I am between insurance. I am out of work, and between jobs. When we finally get COBRA, we may use that until we have insurance again. (Yes, I have asked about that. Apparently, my old employers have just taken out me of the system last week and it takes a couple weeks for me to get the COBRA info out to me. Yet another thing up in the air.) Because I have no insurance, it is wicked expensive to get the vaccines at our pediatrician's office. Vaccinations are much cheaper at the health department. So that is where I am going on Monday march 29. I hate that I still have all the shots hanging over my head, but there it is. You do what you have to.
I am truly hoping that next week I will know more about what I am going to do. I also am going to look at the other OR that is hiring. Maybe they will be willing to take me on part time in the OR. If that is the job I take, it will likely mean a search for a childcare provider, but it has to be better than my old job. I still have hope that the teaching position will work out, but I do not want to put all my eggs in one basket. Really really hate having all this uncertainty.
Just trying to be calm and let things happen. Hopefully I will end up where I need to be.
The annoying thing is that I am between insurance. I am out of work, and between jobs. When we finally get COBRA, we may use that until we have insurance again. (Yes, I have asked about that. Apparently, my old employers have just taken out me of the system last week and it takes a couple weeks for me to get the COBRA info out to me. Yet another thing up in the air.) Because I have no insurance, it is wicked expensive to get the vaccines at our pediatrician's office. Vaccinations are much cheaper at the health department. So that is where I am going on Monday march 29. I hate that I still have all the shots hanging over my head, but there it is. You do what you have to.
I am truly hoping that next week I will know more about what I am going to do. I also am going to look at the other OR that is hiring. Maybe they will be willing to take me on part time in the OR. If that is the job I take, it will likely mean a search for a childcare provider, but it has to be better than my old job. I still have hope that the teaching position will work out, but I do not want to put all my eggs in one basket. Really really hate having all this uncertainty.
Just trying to be calm and let things happen. Hopefully I will end up where I need to be.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
I think...
I think the interview went all right. It is hard for me to tell right now. There is a second part to the interview process where I have to teach a portion of the lecture. Hubby thinks I will do well with that, as I have taught before, and I have a general idea what I am doing when I teach. I have not scheduled this portion of it, yet. They also still have to check and make sure that they can get me benefits, and what that will entail for me. Hopefully I will hear from them in the next week or two. Hopefully.
I have not heard anything from my old job after I re-applied. I really hope this teaching job works out. I think there is another hospital hiring OR RNs in my area, should I get desperate. I just really do not want to work full time right now. But I am hopeful that I will get the teaching position. We will see.
I hate having things up in the air. I would much rather have things set at this point. It is making me a little nervous having everything uncertain.
I have not heard anything from my old job after I re-applied. I really hope this teaching job works out. I think there is another hospital hiring OR RNs in my area, should I get desperate. I just really do not want to work full time right now. But I am hopeful that I will get the teaching position. We will see.
I hate having things up in the air. I would much rather have things set at this point. It is making me a little nervous having everything uncertain.
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