The Cutest Little Business Man EVER!

Jack at his baptism.

Shit Really Does Run Downhill

Since becoming the supervisor in my department my job duties have changed drastically. I never knew so much was involved behind the scenes to running a hospital. I have been going to meetings with the other "leadership" in the hospital and it has been another eye opener. When I go to these meetings everyone is like "We're so awesome! This is the Best hospital EVER! We Can Do Anything!! Great Job Everyone!!!!" Everyone is smart and positive and glowy. Then I go back to my department with the people who are on the front lines. The ones who do all the heavy lifting.

They are not so positive and definitely no one is glowy.

I kind of want to stay at the meetings. Who wouldn't? Job satisfaction greatly improves the higher you go up the ladder. I've really had to adjust my mindset drastically which was surprising to me since I've only gone up one small rung. But I'm not "one of the gang" anymore. What I say has some weight to it. I represent more than just myself. I also have to make hard decisions now that I didn't have to before. I have to deal with the fact that some people are going to hate me just because I'm the boss. I also have resistance from others because they know me as a coworker and now they have to listen to me. There are a few in particular that have no respect for me as their boss and are giving me a hard time. I'm not sure how to handle them. They are confrontational people and try to bully me into getting their way. I just try to keep consistent and hope that with time they will accept me.

What else should I do to earn their respect? How do you handle confrontational people?

Silly Daddy

Can you tell who dressed me this morning? Notice the red Christmas socks? Too funny!

I have a real post planned about work, I just need to find the time to write it so stay tuned...

Nine Months

Jackson,

I cannot believe you're already nine months! You're such a big boy and you think you're even bigger than you are. Your BFF is a 6 year old and I know that you think that you are peers.
You're the most nosy, curious little guy and get into absolutely EVERYTHING.
And everything goes into your mouth. Sometimes you bite, but we're working on that. Right now you have 4 teeth and working on 3 more which makes you really crabby at times. Speaking of crabby...you're "baby mood swing". One minute you're happy and giggly and the next you're screaming your little head off. Every night it's a huge surprise that you have to put on pajamas. We argue and you cry. We argue a lot. You very much have your own opinions and ideas about what you're going to do. Like standing in the bathtub. And standing in your carseat. You'd be a lot happier if you could ride standing in the backseat of the car with your head hanging out the window to let the wind blow your little hair.

You love to stand.

You pull yourself up on everything and walk all along the furniture and coffee table. I don't think it will be too much longer until you take off on your own. Then we're really screwed.

Because you're fast

I wish I could tell you your favorite food, but you are such a good eater there is very little you don't love. You kick your little legs and grunt for more at most every meal. We've been giving you bits of real food to try instead of just baby food. Like cooked carrots, fruit, pieces of bread, and cheese. You do seem to REALLY love cheese though. That's how I know you're my kid because you look a LOT like your Daddy.

You love playing with your toys now and especially love anything that has wheels that you can push back and forth. Cars, trucks, the bottom rack of the dishwasher...you love to push them around for hours. You're also fascinated by the vacuum cleaner. You chase me all over the house while I vacuum. For some reason it fascinates you instead of scares you. In fact very little scares my fearless guy. Except the car wash. I'm not sure why.

Everywhere we go everyone loves you and you love to turn on the charm. Giggling, smiling, and flirting. You're definitely a charmer.

Jack-in-a-box

And we love you.

Love,
Mommy

Happy Mother's Day!

So far I'm really enjoying my first Mother's Day. Spiderman let me sleep in until 10....that hasn't happened in FOREVER. Then he made me breakfast and later we went to join our mothers for lunch. The rest of the day was spent hanging with my little man. Happy Mother's Day from me and Jack!

Three Days

That's how long it took me to come off my NYC high. The Workshop was WONDERFUL! There are no words to describe how life changing it was for me. I met some awe inspiring women who have caused me to rethink so many things about my life.

So where have I been?

I got back and hit the ground running. Since then I've been busy trying to implement some of the things I've learned. I am trying to change my outlook, declutter my house and life of all things unwanted, plan an educational symposium at work, plan Jack's baptism (finally), "play" more, exercise more, and generally be happy more.

We had Spiderman's birthday, Easter, and my sister's birthday. I helped my sister move into her new apartment and now my grandmother's in the hospital (and soon to be moving into assisted living).

I'm desperately trying to not let the "dementors" at my work poison my soul again. There are people there who are so miserable and hateful that they want to make my life miserable and see me fail. I will not let them.

Change is hard and takes time, but I think I have made some positive steps.

So what have YOU been up to?

The Longest 2 Days EVER!

I don't often do things just because I want to. I usually have a reason. Something to gain. It usually has a purpose. I spend much of my time working. At work, at home, sometimes even Jack is work. It's easy to lose yourself in the daily grind.

I also have many regrets in my 33 years. Things I wished I'd done. I don't want to keep accumulating them.

Ever since I was a little girl I've wanted to go to NYC. I remember playing with my Day & Night Barbie and imagining I was her. I would live in the city and be a business lady by day and turn my skirt around and party by night. I have not done that. In fact, I have never even been to New York.

But that is about to change.

My awesome sister-in-law is the founder of the Triple W Forum. It's a working woman's workshop that helps women going through life changes to integrate work with their home lives and to identify and achieve their goals. She recently launched her first workshop here in Chicago this past fall and it was HUGELY successful. Having just had Jack I was unable to go and I was very disappointed, but I told her that I would try to go to the next one. Well, the next one is in New York! With my surgery and the complications and crap I wasn't sure if I should go. I mean, it's expensive. I would have to take a day off work and I used up all my PTO with medical stuff. There were a million reasons not to go.

Basically, I talked myself out of going. Last Sunday after having a totally craptastic week at work I decided to call my sister-in-law. "Is it too late to sign up?" I asked her. She said no. I then talked to Spiderman and he said if I wanted to I should just do it. He encouraged me to book it right then before I changed my mind.

So I did.

This Thursday evening, after I get off work, I am flying to New York. I CAN HARDLY STAND IT!!!!! The workshop is going to be Awesome. I'm going to meet some fabulous women and hopefully learn some things from them. Plus? I'm going to get the chance to do some sight-seeing before I come home on Sunday. While I'm going to miss my boys terribly I have to admit this is going to be Wonderful! To want to do something and just do it? It feels so decadent!

So my question is: If you were going to New York for the first time what would you HAVE to see?