A Much (MUCH) Overdue Update

These last few weeks have been a whirl, but I have missed my online buddies.

Ok, here's the not so quick and dirty

I was offered the job at AB and accepted. I put in my two weeks notice with a very congratulatory boss and sad co workers. The Monday of Thanksgiving week, I started off fine, but by the end of the workday felt at though I was on death's door. I had the same bronchitis that kept me up with my son for the previous two weeks. I don't think I've felt that bad in quite some time. My joints ached and I was exhausted. Luckily, my husband picked up a lot of the slack at home and I pretty much went straight from home to bed for the next couple of days.

Wednesday night Chloe burned her chin on a hot pizza pan and is alright but still has a mark. I'm slathering her with Mederma and praying it doesn't scar.

Thanksgiving was the icing on the cake. I was tired from being sick but still wanted to do all the cooking I had planned. I was way behind on laundry but managed to get a meal on the table just in time for Benjamin to decide to have a scream fest. We muddled through the rest of the day until I finally got him to bed. I went to heat up a plate for myself and right then the microwave died. Yes, dead, deceased and no more. Other than my cold plate of food, I'm not too upset and we haven't replaced it.

The next week was a blur as I cleaned out my desk (8 boxes!), finished up work, tried to instill the knowledge I had amassed in eight years to my co-workers, and said my goodbyes. It was very bitter sweet. The company threw me a nice going away party and my department coworkers took me to lunch.

I started my new job on December 8, the same day AB made the announcement to cut 1400 jobs and 415 contractor positions (which I am). Women were sobbing in the bathroom and everyone looked as though they'd been hit by a truck. What a first day. We find out on Monday who stays and who goes and I won't know anything until then. If I am let go, I'll get two weeks severance pay which isn't bad for only being on the job one week.

Honestly, if I am let go, I'm not sure what I'll do. I *think* I could get my old job back (although I hear they're on a hiring freeze) but am not sure if that's what I really want. I'd have a couple weeks extra pay and it's almost tax time so maybe it would be the kick out the door on the way to The Plan. At this point, I'm just surviving until Monday. I'll keep you posted.

On the happy news front, Stacey's company is having a Christmas party tomorrow night and they've bought us hotel rooms. The kids are going to stay with Christine. This is the first night we've ever been without the kids. There will be food, free booze and dancing. I'm fairly excited. I think I'll be taking a nap tomorrow afternoon. lol

The kids are doing well. Benjamin is climbing everything and doing a lot of toddler talk. He and Chloe are playing really well together and she seems to enjoy having someone who can keep up with her now. He's fun to watch b/c his play is more methodical. I can see him really having a good time with blocks and building sets.

Next month we're hoping to get Chloe back into preschool part time. She's doing well but I think she'd be happier playing with other kids a couple days a week. Of course, if I start staying home that won't happen, but again it's a wait and see world for me.

Oh, and my nipples have gone crazy. First my right side cracked open and was bleeding/hurting so bad during feedings I could hardly stand it. I finally got that under control after two weeks and my left side did the same thing. I caught it much earlier so it's not so bad but pumping has been terrible. I've gone through two tubes on lanolin. Thank God for that stuff.

A detour does not mean the end...

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference" ~Robert Frost~

I am feeling really emotional... again.

I feel like I want to fail the interview so I can just go home, but I know even six months at this job would be so beneficial. I'd be able to save some money plus I'd have IT street cred by working at AB. It is very difficult to get a tech job with AB.

I should know quickly if I got the job or not so hopefully I'll know Friday and won't spend the weekend in anguish over uncertainty.

I have a list of likely interview questions so I guess I should get on with studying them. I spent my lunch break reading Homeschooling: The Early Years. It's a great read so far. sigh...

Interview tomorrow at 4pm

I haven't been feeling the blog this week but I wanted to say I have an interview with AB tomorrow at 4pm. I should know quickly if I got the job or not.

I'm not sure what I want the result to be.

My interview with the headhunter

He continues to tell me I'm the ideal candidate with supreme qualifications and I continue to doubt. He was really impressed by my resume and I just can't imagine I'm that good.

He sent my resume to AB and they want to skip the phone interview and go directly for an in person meeting. I'm going to meet with them on Thursday so I'm the last person they talk to and we'll go from there. I get the impression they'd make a decision quickly and if I'm the person they want, I'd put in my two week notice and be there.

I figure since I was going to leave this job anyway, I might as well take a higher paying one until I do that. He also brought up two good points that I could work there a few months, save money and increase my IT street cred by having AB on my resume (they are an incredibly hard company to get in with).

In the meantime, I have to go out and buy an outfit appropriate for an interview. My present wardrobe is way to on the casual side of things.

An email rocks my world

I have my resume on Monster.com and occasionally get a hit. Usually it's for a temporary tech support job that pays less than what I'm making now. I got an email Wednesday night expressing interest in me and I replied back with the salary and hours I was looking for.

Turns out this isn't just another low end tech job. It's a high end help desk position with great hours, is closer to my home (which is barely possible) and pays about 30% more than I'm making now.

I suppose no journey should be easy right? I'm meeting with the headhunter today and most likely will interview soon. I am one of three people being presented and when I told the headhunter about my plans to stay home he said I was exactly the person they're looking for. By that, I think he means someone who has not only been with the same company a long time (I've been here almost 8 years) but also someone who isn't just looking for a paying job but is really looking for something that will make them happy.

To top things off, our house is for sale and really hasn't had any hits but today has a showing with a very interested loan approval woman AND we have another showing scheduled on Saturday.

Just when I thought I had everything figured out...

I'm getting there...

Things accomplished:

1. checked out Teacher's Lounge store (they have free storytime!)
2. purchased lesson plan book for preschool
3. did first write-up of ad and sent to buddies for proofreading/editing
4. investigated various curriculum
   
5. spoke with co-worker with homeschooling wife about purchasing old materials

I also put up an ad on CL regarding New Year's care. Stacey and I are looking to watch a couple of kids that night to make a little extra cash and have someone for Chloe and Benjamin to play with. Who knows? Maybe I'll recruit some kids for my preschool program too!

Reason 456,634,598 I love my husband

When I began crafting The Plan, I hadn't really run it past my husband. He has always been supportive of the way I've wanted to parent the kids and goes along with basically anything I want to do, but this one was pretty big. I would be asking to quit my job (basically my only adult job and I've been here almost 8 years) to stay home and watch kids for income (with security being iffy).

Well, not only was he ok with it, but he turned my 1 or 2 years plan into about 4 months. He is trading in his prize car for something we can pay off in a few months and has agreed to work as much overtime as possible and to even get a part time job if needed.

This morning he told me he was excited to have a stay at home wife. I think it makes him feel manly that he can support us well enough that I don't have to work out of the home. He said he feels like our evenings now are chaotic but I'm not so sure that will change.

One step closer on The Plan

Today I scheduled myself for the Essentials part of the A+ exam. It's a two part exam and both tests must be taken within 90 days. Having this certification will make me a little more comfortable about jumping out of the IT field for a few years. It may be an indefinite exit, but at least if I want to get back in, I have a little something extra on my resume.

I'm scheduled for Friday, December 5 at 9am.

Overwhelmed by all the materials

So while we work on our family budget and get things in order for me to leave my job, I am putting together a curriculum plan for preschool. There is so much great information out there and tons of resources, but how do I begin? I need help formulating a plan for teaching Chloe and the 'others'.

I want to have at least two months worth of lessons setup so I'll have things ready to go during the initial adjustment period I know we'll all go through.

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by it all, but luckily have some great smart friends who are already doing this. I will be gratuitously stealing their ideas. Muwahahahaha!

(by the way, this is really a cry for ideas so share some already!)

More for the list...

I haven't decided if editing one post or just using labels is the best way to keep my information so these posts might change and/or get deleted later.

1. childproof all cabinets and put latch on door to basement
2. find resource for preschool worksheets that I can print out, copy, etc
3. mock up meal plans and kid friendly, yet healthy, food items (all kids might not be as agreeable as mine)
4. mock up daily/weekly schedule
   
5. research field trips (firehouse tour, library tour, etc)
   
6. talk to Christine and others about their childcare/SAHM experiences
   

I've been authorized to quit my job

When I decided to share my plan with Stacey, I though I might meet some resistance. Well, I got quite the opposite. I was basically told I could quit my job ASAP and we'd figure it out. Ok, so my husband is a gung-ho kind of guy and this plan will require a bit more, uhm, planning. Without further ado, here's my list of things to be doing in the next few weeks. Realistically, I'd like to quit about Feburary/March but I know Stacey would like this to come sooner.

1. Put together a "Val at home" budget and review with Stacey
2. Move Stacey's overtime pay into saving account to also be used for extra money we get selling items on CL, rebates, side work, etc
3. Work on killer CL childcare ad. I figure I'll take in 1-2 toddler/preschool age kids for money and playmates for Chloe and Benjamin. I'm looking to say over 12 months in age and ideally not in diapers (but I won't hold my breath)
4. Find preschool/home school resources I can use.
   
5. Take infant/child/adult CPR class (11/19 $52)

I'm sure I'll have more to add...

I feel so frustrated today

When Chloe was born, I couldn't have imagined quitting my job. I like my job and she was such a demanding infant (or maybe it was just that I had no idea what being a mom was really like). I needed work to get away and not feel so needed.

Now that she's almost 4 and we have Benjamin, I ache to be home with them. Last night I was helping Chloe make a Birth Day card for our friend's new baby (her idea, isn't that awesome?). I printed some tracing letters and put them on the card so she could practice writing her name. She was having trouble and got frustrated.

I get it. I too get frustrated when I hit a challenge. I think so many things came easy to me in the learning world that I tend to shut down when I face something I cannot immediately master. I tried to help her and we did make progress, but I wish I could be home. I feel like I could use my experience to help her work past it and learn how to push through challenges.

I know I still can but evenings and weekends are a blur of cooking, cleaning and trying to have quality time with the family. I just feel like I'm not doing the work God intended me to do. I know I have a greater purpose and I'm so close to getting there. I know it's not time yet so I pray for patience.

Until then, I have to figure out how to make those limited hours more meaningful.

I try to remember that one day, when I'm home with my kids full time, I'll miss work. I'll miss being here and being needed by adults. I suppose the grass really is greener.