Working the day shift is tough

Its harder than I thought it would be to work the day shift. Its been two weeks now and I have no idea where the weekends have gone. I don't have time to get anything done during the week. The house is a mess and I don't have the time or motivation to clean it up!

I went from working nights for six years to not working at all to working the day shift with a baby in tow. This would be a hard enough transition without Allie. Not that I'm complaining though. I love every moment I get to spend with her. But I feel bad because the time I have to spend with Allie on the weekends is also the time when I need to get everything done that I don't have time for during the week. Thats just about everything because weeknights are spent getting us all fed and to bed to do it all again the next day.

Allie is now three months old. I had planned to post about her three-month mark as well as some new pictures but there just isn't time. How do working parents ever get used to this?

My job

So after one week on the job, I now have a better picture of what I am doing! I get the pleasure of working with the processing of work search forms that people have to send in when they're getting extended benefits. In the mornings we get to sort forms that are mailed in and get them sorted to be scanned. Then I get to go through forms on the computer and determine if they've done adequate work searches or if they need to be sent for review. Exciting, huh?

Its not very exciting. In fact, its boring. But the temp job I did for three weeks last year was worse. Its a state job. I get my own desk and even my own phone and number!

There were 16 of us who have started in the past two weeks. We're all working right now to get through the backlog of the extended benefits forms and some other forms. Then after thats caught up we get other tasks, I'm sure just as exciting.

Its nice to be employed, but I still a little up in the air since this isn't a permanent job. Its a project position thats slated to end on Nov. 9. It could go longer if the workload stays high. But its not permanent. So at some point I get to start looking for jobs again. I see the work search forms people send in with their two applications for the week and I just feel sad that I'll be back in that pool in a few months. But its nine months! I'm really trying to shake that feeling of the temp job.

And I think I can safely say that unemployment is not where I'd like to be working permanently anyway. There's just SO much work to be done with so many people out of work. Talk about depressing.

Where did the week go?

Its already Saturday night. I slept a blissful 10 hours last night and hope to do the same tonight. But the beginning of the new week is already really close. Where did last week go? I'm hoping we figure out ways to have time to do more than just feed Allie and ourselves in the evenings. I'd like to work out during the week and update the blog during the week, among other things.

We made it through the first week, but it was only four days! In those four days we brought food home twice and the other two night's dinners were hot dogs one night and frozen pizza the other.

I've never been a morning person. I guess I'll have to become one to make this whole thing work. I appreciate any tips on how to accomplish this task.

But right now its the weekend. We started the day with pancakes and enjoyed being lazy the rest of the time. Allie has been eating a ton today. I think she's starting her three-month growth spurt. Its a good thing I didn't feel like leaving the house today, because with how much she's been eating, I wouldn't have been able to!

We survived

Allie and I survived our first day out in the working world. Allie did really well at daycare. And mommy did surprisingly well leaving her!

My first day of work was a whirlwind of paperwork and training, with more to come tomorrow. I'm still not completely sure of what my job duties entail. But it seems like a good group to work with and I'm looking forward to really getting to work.

But right now, I'm exhausted. Allie just went to bed and, assuming she stays there, I will be following suit very soon. I don't know how I'll ever get used to this!

I am now employed!

As I start work this morning, I can't help but reflect on the major events of this past year. I keep talking about it, but its hard not to. It was one year ago today my life was turned upside down when I was laid off from my job as a copy editor at the Wisconsin State Journal.

Lots of people go to work every day at a job they hate. I suppose I'm lucky that I got to work six years in the career that I loved. I knew about the state of the newspaper industry and I knew my days in that industry were numbered. But I thought I had more time.

Earlier in that day, I had emailed my supervisor asking for Super Bowl Sunday off. Little did I know I'd have that day off and a lot more.

The last year was so very tough. I never dreamed I'd be unemployed for a full year. And its so ironic that not only is my job in the unemployment office, but that my first day is the anniversary of that horrible day. Before getting this job, I'd been saying we needed to plan something to do today, to take my mind off the day. Starting a new job is a pretty good diversion.

Surreal

I am at home right now... and Allie is not! Talk about weird. She's never been out of this house without me.

This morning we're having a trial run of daycare. I'm still trying to figure out our morning routine. I did this once last week but didn't actually take Allie. So this morning I found out I need to get Allie up by about 6. This morning it was 6:15 before I got to her and we ran out of time. Unfortunately this means the 5 a.m. wake up call for me has to stay.

It wasn't too hard to leave Allie this morning, but maybe thats because I'm going to pick her up at 11. I'm sad but I didn't cry. Maybe I will tomorrow.

An awesome event

I am very very happy to report that I filed for my final unemployment check a few minutes ago! Starting this week I'll get paid for actually working! I used to complain about going to work but I won't be doing that any time soon, at least I hope not. This work will be way different than what I'm used to. I used to work nights, weekends and holidays and I only had to worry about myself. Now I don't have to work nights, weekends or holidays, and I have Allie to worry about. I hope she adjusts well to daycare. And I hope I adjust well to not only working days, but getting up at 5 a.m. in order to work those days!

Life is so different from how it was a year ago. I've always looked back and wondered how my life would be different if a certain event hadn't happened. As bad as it was to be unemployed for a year, maybe if that hadn't happened, we wouldn't have Allie with us today.

Another big event this weekend was my run yesterday morning. I ran 3.25 miles in 40 minutes. This is a big deal for me. The last time I ran this far was last June. I've been really evaluating my goals this week and trying to decide if a full marathon in the fall is too much. I finally decided I'm going to start my half marathon training as planned and decide after the race how I want to plan for the summer and fall in running. I don't need to plan my entire year right now. Really, its impossible to plan out the whole year and I feel silly for trying.

How can I leave this little one?

I've been taking lots of pictures the last few days in order to have some pictures to take to work with me. Here are some of my favorites:






I got a few tips for tummy time so Allie can continue to practice her head control without crying all the time. She seems to like it now!

We found daycare and made the arrangements for getting to work. I've scoured goodwill for cheap and suitable work clothes. We'll need to be super organized now and I have no idea how that's going to happen. All thats left is the first day! Its been a long hard road this past year. Now we're starting the next chapter. I am excited about working, but I'm also sad too. I've spent almost the last three months with Allie almost 24 hours a day. How can I leave her on Tuesday?

What Allie is up to

Allie hates tummy time :-( I'm not sure she'll ever roll over since this is usually her reaction:

Apparently babies roll from the tummy to back first. But Allie is really good at tummy time. She lifts her head and is starting to use her arms... when she's not crying about being on her tummy, that is.

Something she does like, however, is her swing. I finally pulled it out of her closet last week. Whenever she's fussy and not hungry, I put her in her swing and she usually gets over whatever is bothering her.

This week has been spent figuring out what it will take to get everyone where they're supposed to go starting next week! I had thought the time in between accepting a job and starting would be a chance to relax, but its been everything but relaxing! I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'll have to wake up three hours before getting to work. I've never been a morning person by any stretch of the imagination... thats why I worked nights.

Here's something funny...

In looking back at previous posts, I realized I wrote Allie had a 40-inch head circumfrance! That would be one big head! So I was trying to remember what unit of measure is used and thought centimeter... but 40 cm would also be a really huge head. So I'm pretty sure that head circumfrance is measured in milimeters.

I also realized in looking back that I haven't posted pictures in a long time! I'll remedy that tomorrow hopefully. Allie is getting so much more aware of the world around her and smiling bigger every day!

Preparing for work

The most important thing we had to do this week was find daycare. We were able to check that task off our list! I was surprised that we were able to do it this quickly. But we stumbled on the right person and are satisfied with the decision.

Of course it will break my heart to leave Allie in someone else's care!

I've still got plenty of stuff to figure out in the next 9 days. We need to figure out how to get everyone where they're supposed to be in the morning... who will drop Allie off at daycare, if I'll take the bus or drive... where to park. Its a real pain to park downtown and now I'll have to do it every day. I also need to figure out if I have a suitable wardrobe. Between being pregnant and not losing the weight just yet, I'm unsure about what to wear. I've been wearing sweats and old race t-shirts most of the time since Allie was born and that won't work!

Its going to be tough enough returning to the workforce for the first time in a year. But I think its even tougher because I'm returning as a working mom!

My running goals

This week I met my first running goal: Making it to 30 minutes!

When I was cleared to start running again last year after my stress fracture, my doctor told me to start with 10 minutes and increase by a minute or two each time get to 30. Of course, two days later I found out I was pregnant! I started running a couple weeks later when I had a bit more energy, but I wasn't able to keep up with it. I switched back to run/walk intervals and in June decided to throw in the towel.

But I started running again a month ago and made it to 30 minutes on Monday.

So now I need to make some more goals!!

My main goals for the year are to run a half marathon this spring and a full in the fall. I picked the Madison half May 30 because its local and I like the race. I ran the quarter marathon two years ago and volunteered last year.

For the full marathon, I intend to register for the New York lottery again. I'm banking on not being chosen again, but after three years not getting in, I'll get an automatic entry the next year. So I'm really counting on running New York in 2012. The race I'd really like to get into is Chicago. But if I don't get in or Doug and I decide it just isn't possible, I'll run the Fox Cities instead. I ran that half two years ago and really enjoyed it.

To get to that goal, I'm going to start training at the end of the month. In the meantime, I'm going to keep increasing my time. Right now I'm sticking with 30 minutes, but my goal is to get somewhere between 45 and 60 minutes before starting to train.

I'm choosing some goal races of smaller distances too. I have a goal 5K on Feb. 13, but that will depend more on the weather than my ability to run. Its still cold in February! I haven't been able to run outside in the winter because of my asthma, but my asthma seems to be all but gone since giving birth. And besides, there's always the possibility that it could warm up for the race too.

But really, my goal race is the Shamrock Shuffle 10K March 14. There's also a 5K, but I'm hoping to be up to 10K by then.

Other goal races include the Crazylegs Classic at the end of April and the Lake Monona 20K in the beginning of May. I may find other races to substitute or add, but these are my goals for right now.

Running is still really hard for me. But its going well. I love it and I'm glad to be doing it again. In getting my running back and getting a job, I think I am getting closer to the new normal! It makes me so happy to be able to say that!

Life isn't fair

I feel terrible for a friend of mine who had her baby prematurely this week. The baby didn't make it.

I'm hugging Allie a little tighter now. Its just not fair that I can have a healthy baby girl and other parents have to deal with this kind of loss. I can't imagine that grief.

Please keep my friend Tricia and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

How's this for a great start?

So compared to how 2009 started, 2010 is already way better. Because as of today I HAVE A JOB!!

Its not my dream job, but its a start. It's the job in interviewed for on my birthday. I knew that would be good luck! I'll be an employment security specialist 2 for the unemployment office. I don't remember all the details, but my duties will have something to do with the auditing process that is done to make sure people are applying for jobs while on unemployment. I lived in fear of an audit during my time on unemployment!

There were 114 people interviewed for 16 positions. I feel pretty lucky to get one. I start Jan. 19, which just happens to be the anniversary of my layoff. What better way to observe a crappy day?

Life has become more complicated though. We have two weeks to find good and affordable daycare. I'm already sad about putting Allie in daycare!

Two other great things about today: 1) I reached my initial running goal of running for 30 minutes! Now I need to figure out where to go from here. Working out is another thing that will be harder with a new job! More about the running hopefully tomorrow... and 2) I had another job interview that I feel pretty good about. How crazy would it be if after one year I end up getting offered more than one job? I don't think it will happen, but its fun to think about.

By this time last year, I had slipped on the ice outside my office and gotten whiplash... because I had been on crutches because of my stress fracture. It was a bad start and I hadn't even been laid off yet!

But I'm not going to think about that. Instead, I'm going to think about all the great things that have happened only four days into the new year... and finding daycare and other things that need to be figured out after a year of unemployment. Another pressing question, what will I wear?

New year, new start

I've made no secret about my delight to see 2009 come to an end. Aside from Allie's birth, it was a bad year.

But I'm choosing not to dwell on it. Surely 2010 is going to be better. So I'm focusing on the positive and making it a happy new year and a nice new start.

Happy new year everyone!