WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!

There's a rumor that our neighbor hospital down the road is giving their RN's two choices.....#1 retire early or #2 go part-time. The way that media protrays it, it sounds like there aren't any other choices.....not sure how much of this is sensationalized and how much is true and I'm sure this will all unveil as time goes.....The employees have until next monday the 19th to make their decision......

I guess just another way of how the economy is affecting us. Hopefully, our hospital won't be doing this...I know there is much budget cutting and much cost-effective care vigilence.........I'm already part-time so I'm okay with this...but some of the RN's that I know need the full-time job to keep their life-style up...

Maybe these RN's can have several Part-time jobs? So they are working full time???? I don't know but sounds stressful anyways, even though I'm not affected....I feel as if I am because I am an RN just like they are.....and how does it affect the patient who is #1 in our eyes?????? Do they get quality care yet? Cost-effective care? Still receive the whole art of nursing which is compassion when they are undergoing stress?

Talk about nursing shortage and then getting rid of full-time RN's....weird.....actually our state is not so much short with nursing staff....it is the coasts; east and west coasts that are really hurting. The other shortage is Nursing Instructors and Nursing Professors.....that's why there are students waiting in line to get into nursing school because the instructor population is retiring and diminishing.........that's how we contract with the schools and they use nurses with the BSN's to help with instruction....that's how I started to participate as an instructor..........

going on for Masters? yes, not now with the economy and paying for Paul's BSN education...it's his turn, he needs it for his supervisor position.....but yes, once the kids are in school...so will Mommy......

sniff...sniff....do I smell a tangent>>>>>yes, that is exactly what I went on...ooops!

anyways...will be thinking and praying for those nurses and waiting for more news about their positions.....never thought this would ever come up??

PHEW!

Now, vision me wiping a bit of sweat off of my brow...and splashing in the water......

Just got done doing H2O aerobics tonight....something that was much needed and free!

Free tonight because the heater wasn't working in the school's pool....(it was 79 instead of 82) I managed to get my sweat on....so, I was okay with the deal!

During the workout (which I find mighty relaxing and invigorating--oh, the irony!) I was thinking about how brave and honest my cousin is about listing her post-baby weight-loss on her blog (may I add she looks Fab.u.lous!).....now I can not be THAT brave, but I can list my activities.......

I think that watchful bloggy eye will help keep me motivated to keep going to H20 aerobics, yoga, walking, etc.....so with that ......I will have a new side-bar showing my activities and time doing them.

My back needs this more than anything...but knowing that my BMI is not in the appropriate area, I need this as well.....I'm not getting any younger and my metabolism isn't getting any faster.....so I'm going to try to rev up things and get healthy......

My goal is next winter; ice-skate and sled with the kids......I'm so fearful this year that I'd fall and damage my back even more....so gonna strengthen the muscles that surround my degenerating discs and I'm going to have fun with the kids....that's what my life is all about....doing things with the kids...I don't want to be on the side-lines because of debilitation...I want to be right out there too.....so here goes for a lifetime of health.

[pray for me! gulp!]

Open to Comments

I'm now open to comments again.

I received a weird one about a year ago from someone in Bahama or something, telling me my blog was likeable and then wanted to sell me something....it scared me into comment hiding for a whole year.....so, I'm ready to try it again......so bring on the comments! (please appropriate ones!)

One out and a mouthful to go!

BEFORE

"shark teeth"

AFTER

Dec. 31st; at the Science Center...C-man and I accidentally collided.......my elbow/his mouth.....

in the event, his tooth loosened and bled and was hanging by a thread.....did I mention he was absolutely angry with me because it hurt..............by the end of the Science Center visit.....C-man came running to me and gave me his tooth....he was soooo excited I couldn't tell if he was crying or whoopin' it up......sure enough he was thrilled and he was doing victory dances and victory whoo-hoo's after that.......

C-man doesn't go through all those milestones like he did when he was a babe so I too, was a proud Mommy and a tinsy-bit saddened that again a sign that my son is growing up..........

BTW....the tooth fairy still gives quarters for teeth! I'm glad that SOME things haven't changed since Paul and I were kids..........

C-man has 5 days to get the other tooth out or we go to the Dentist for a pulling.....he said he had a dream that his tooth came out and he said "good, now Mom can cancel the dentist!" remember those dreams???

In the Past Week.....

We're BAACK! Yes, you probably even didn't know that we were gone. Last evening, we went to the "BIG" mall (per the kids), went to Joe's Crab Shack, and then stayed at the hotel......swam and played "Trouble." Yep, little get-away in our metro-area. It was a nice vacation!

In the past week.......

Miss-O was caught AGAIN eating sour cream by spoon???!!!???

We celebrated the new year after our dinner.....next year we will not be doing the silly string for Miss-O was scared terribly and didn't like that the ceiling had silly string on it......

The kids trained to be fore-casters at the Science Center

We celebrated Happy Noon Year at the Science Center with Grandma R., Marin, and Angie

We watched the balloon drop....

Ready to celebrate amidst the blaring horns

Happy Birthday Jesus!

We played Indiana Jones' Adventures......

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY 2009 TO EVERYONE!

Looking back into the past year, I feel as if it flew by........

• We survived a long, cold winter
• Our toy room got a new face-lift
• We welcomed Jackie Jo into the family
• I entered the Catholic church and had my first communion
• C-man finished up his pre-school years
• We celebrated Grandma Michelle's retirement
• We celebrated cousin Brandi's wedding
• C-man turned 5
• Vacationed at Bear Paw
• Summer filled with parks, wading pools, the zoo, camping, bike riding and walks
• C-man started Kindergarten
• Miss-O turned 2
• Miss-O started Mommy-n-me pre-school
• Paul's annual fishing trip to Northern Minnesota
• Rookies, school events; field trips, Fall Fun Night
• Paul's goose and pheasant hunting adventures
• We celebrated Grandma Mehmen's retirement
• Finished another semester of being clinical instructor
• Paul got a promotion to Supervisor of ICU
• I read 12 books this past year!
• I crocheted 2 blankets
• I scrap-booked three times :( my goal was too scrap-book once a month...............

Enjoy how your life unravels in the year of 2009! One important thing that I need to remind myself is life is so out of my control and if I let go and let God.......things turn out the way they are intended. Here's to releasing and surrendering ourselves to the Lord this year! HAPPY 2009

p/s you're invited to a new blog of 2009. One I've been wanting to do for awhile. Check out www.Paulspics-hisview.blogspot.com It's still in progress but enjoy his view of life through the lens of a camera......not too many people know that on the side of working and fathering, he takes pictures for graduations, children portraits, weddings, family reunions, and just for fun............now is the time to display his work...ENJOY!