Met one of my two new specialists Tuesday. This guy's name is Paul Houk and he is the Physician's Assistant to Dr. William Peterson (If you are a CSI fan, you will recognize the name, although Grissom's real name is "Petersen")--anyway, I caught it the first time I heard it--geek that I am.
Paul was in the office with me for an hour. We talked, extensively, about what I had been through, the stress levels in my life, the likeliness of anything stress wise changing (that would be a NO because I LOVE my life the way it is). His wife has this too, so he has first hand knowledge as well as the book knowledge. Becky had taken all the blood tests except the one that showed what degree of inflammation/ infection was going on in my bowels. Well, he just called. Normal is .3-.6. My tests came back 3.3--not a huge shock, we knew things we not good right now although they are better than they were. He said as long as I am not having signs of a flare to keep taking my prednisone and keep my appointment for the 20th.
I am very, very happy with Paul. I meet Dr. Peterson on the 20th, hope to be as happy with him. I finally feel like we have some direction and I confirmed some fears that I was having. My aunt had colon cancer and my mom had a cousin with UC that turned to colon cancer. Not to mention that Mom has had a lot of her own bowels removed because of adhesions. Not the same, but still bowel problems nonetheless. We need to keep me from having flares if at all possible. Every flare increases the risk of the cancer. Paul told me though, if I think I am going to be going through something overly stressful, like an unbelievable deadline, which happens a lot, to call him and we would start some preventive measures. I like that and feel like that too, is a step in the right direction.
Right now, I am battling a stupid cough. Don't know where it is coming from. Last Saturday, my throat hurt, really bad, but it quit hurting by Sunday and by Monday I was doing the coughing thing. It was so bad yesterday I thought I would cough up a lung. I slept in the recliner last night, because it gets worse when I lay down. I am taking Tylenol Cough and Cold because I am afraid to take anything other than Tylenol based OTC's with the UC.
I have a crazy 10 days, gotta whip this. The UC is doing so well, I am just really aggravated that I am being pulled down by what is apparently a cold. Hopefully nursing myself back to health today will do the trick.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Short lived
Today I
- Worked on my bosses computer and meanwhile accidently deleted almost 3,000 of her saved emails.
- Got the emails back with a free utility tool.
- Couldn't actually export them unless I paid $40.00
- Paid $40.00
- Got the emails to export but the files they were sorted into were (and still are) gone
- Now have 3,000 (almost) emails that the only way you can tell what they are is to open them.
- Then, after calling my boss and fessing up, went back to my own office to another email
- This email told how many ways a spreadsheet I sent to the state this morning was wrong.
Diary of Superwoman
Love it when a plan comes together--- and when for just a few minutes, I can at least FEEL like I have it all together, all together.
Yesterday turned out to be one of those days, one of those, "Yes, you can have it all" days.
I read a disturbing chick-lit book not too long ago that was telling the heroine that there was Work, Love, and Family--Choose 2 but that to try to have all 3 would cause you to fail miserably at all. Well, of course, the heroine proved her mentor wrong. I have to admit there are days I worry that somebody is getting shortchanged. Here lately, the only thing I can guarantee is that it isn't work. I am so fortunate though to have a son and husband who both step in and pick up the slack because they are part of this family too, not because "Mom's not doing her job".
Anyway.......Wednesday night, four of us left for Rend Lake for a meeting yesterday. Our meetings were scheduled for 8:30-5:30. Our Ladies Tea (aka the "Mother-Daughter" banquet) started at 6. I had pretty well tried to warm Mom there was no way. I had been asked if I could "get out of" the training ( not by Mom). Well, no, I was one of the speakers so that was a little impossible.
When we took a break for lunch yesterday, we were already ahead of schedule, then nobody wanted to take a full hour, making us MORE ahead of schedule. At 2:00, we were on our last slide. There was a little glimmer that I was going to make this happen.
Two of the girls had gotten out of their meetings at Noon, they were waiting on Brenda and me. I really figured they had drove to Mt. Vernon, and we would have to wait a little bit for them to come pick us up. I texted Sharon that we were ready, she texted me that they were sitting in the parking lot. Yeah! I had said the night before that if we got out in time, I would love to get home for this. We got in the car and never stopped, pulling in the drive at the office at 4.
I had called Robert right after school and texted him a grocery list. He ran to the store for me and was pulling in the drive with my groceries as I was pulling in from work. So the next hour went a little like this:
I got to the kitchen, pulled out a bread tube, opened the refrigerated Italian loaf (it was supposed to be French bread, but being out Robert improvised--GOOD THINKING!). Sprayed the tube, popped it in and stuck it in the oven.
Ran to the computer and printed off the recipe for my Parmesan bites, because I never remember to make a recipe for them. Meanwhile, the Italian loaf exploded in the oven because there was too much bread. Took a knife, cut the ends off the bread, put the lids back on, came back to get the paper out of the printer.
Had Robert clear a path up the attic stairs because I realized my dress was up there--yes, the stairs serve as storage---one of these days, that part of my life will be a bit better organized...ANYWAY, while he was doing that, I was mixing cream cheese and Parmesan.
I ran upstairs, found my dress, which just had to be UNDER the clothes bar that fell last fall--at least it wasn't wrinkled.
Came back down, opened the crescent dough, rolled the Parmesan logs, cut up a red pepper, sprinkled on top, rolled the crescents around them, cut them into pieces and got them on a baking tray.
THEN, I ran to the bedroom, changed into my skirt and blouse, came back to the kitchen, took the bread out of the oven, popped it out of the tube and into the freezer. Stuck the Parmesan bites in the oven, and cut up my cucumber.
Meanwhile, I sent Robert on a search of the bottom of my closet for my shoes. I sliced the bread, cut the cucumbers with a little scalloped cutter, put onion dip on the bread, then the cucumbers, sprinkled everything with some basil and wrapped them, took the bites out of the oven, put them on a tray, wrapped them. Went to touch up my makeup and realized all my makeup was still in the back of the van--so I survived with some lipstick and combing my hair. Ran through the house saying "Yes, I AM Superwoman!" slipped my shoes on, grabbed the other purse to go with my outfit, put on my jacket, and out the door I went--approximately an hour after I got home!
Changed out my purse sitting in road construction and made it to the banquet at 10 til 6.
Yes, days like that just make me feel good. The banquet was wonderful, Barb Mulvey was our speaker and she was hilarious. We had a wonderful, wonderful time and I am just very thankful to God for letting me live this wonderful, crazy life.
Yesterday turned out to be one of those days, one of those, "Yes, you can have it all" days.
I read a disturbing chick-lit book not too long ago that was telling the heroine that there was Work, Love, and Family--Choose 2 but that to try to have all 3 would cause you to fail miserably at all. Well, of course, the heroine proved her mentor wrong. I have to admit there are days I worry that somebody is getting shortchanged. Here lately, the only thing I can guarantee is that it isn't work. I am so fortunate though to have a son and husband who both step in and pick up the slack because they are part of this family too, not because "Mom's not doing her job".
Anyway.......Wednesday night, four of us left for Rend Lake for a meeting yesterday. Our meetings were scheduled for 8:30-5:30. Our Ladies Tea (aka the "Mother-Daughter" banquet) started at 6. I had pretty well tried to warm Mom there was no way. I had been asked if I could "get out of" the training ( not by Mom). Well, no, I was one of the speakers so that was a little impossible.
When we took a break for lunch yesterday, we were already ahead of schedule, then nobody wanted to take a full hour, making us MORE ahead of schedule. At 2:00, we were on our last slide. There was a little glimmer that I was going to make this happen.
Two of the girls had gotten out of their meetings at Noon, they were waiting on Brenda and me. I really figured they had drove to Mt. Vernon, and we would have to wait a little bit for them to come pick us up. I texted Sharon that we were ready, she texted me that they were sitting in the parking lot. Yeah! I had said the night before that if we got out in time, I would love to get home for this. We got in the car and never stopped, pulling in the drive at the office at 4.
I had called Robert right after school and texted him a grocery list. He ran to the store for me and was pulling in the drive with my groceries as I was pulling in from work. So the next hour went a little like this:
I got to the kitchen, pulled out a bread tube, opened the refrigerated Italian loaf (it was supposed to be French bread, but being out Robert improvised--GOOD THINKING!). Sprayed the tube, popped it in and stuck it in the oven.
Ran to the computer and printed off the recipe for my Parmesan bites, because I never remember to make a recipe for them. Meanwhile, the Italian loaf exploded in the oven because there was too much bread. Took a knife, cut the ends off the bread, put the lids back on, came back to get the paper out of the printer.
Had Robert clear a path up the attic stairs because I realized my dress was up there--yes, the stairs serve as storage---one of these days, that part of my life will be a bit better organized...ANYWAY, while he was doing that, I was mixing cream cheese and Parmesan.
I ran upstairs, found my dress, which just had to be UNDER the clothes bar that fell last fall--at least it wasn't wrinkled.
Came back down, opened the crescent dough, rolled the Parmesan logs, cut up a red pepper, sprinkled on top, rolled the crescents around them, cut them into pieces and got them on a baking tray.
THEN, I ran to the bedroom, changed into my skirt and blouse, came back to the kitchen, took the bread out of the oven, popped it out of the tube and into the freezer. Stuck the Parmesan bites in the oven, and cut up my cucumber.
Meanwhile, I sent Robert on a search of the bottom of my closet for my shoes. I sliced the bread, cut the cucumbers with a little scalloped cutter, put onion dip on the bread, then the cucumbers, sprinkled everything with some basil and wrapped them, took the bites out of the oven, put them on a tray, wrapped them. Went to touch up my makeup and realized all my makeup was still in the back of the van--so I survived with some lipstick and combing my hair. Ran through the house saying "Yes, I AM Superwoman!" slipped my shoes on, grabbed the other purse to go with my outfit, put on my jacket, and out the door I went--approximately an hour after I got home!
Changed out my purse sitting in road construction and made it to the banquet at 10 til 6.
Yes, days like that just make me feel good. The banquet was wonderful, Barb Mulvey was our speaker and she was hilarious. We had a wonderful, wonderful time and I am just very thankful to God for letting me live this wonderful, crazy life.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
On the Road Again
Off to Rend Lake this afternoon for a PIPP training. I am one of the presenters in the morning. Scary and exciting all at once. There are a couple of people that could eat me for lunch if they want to--people who have been with their agencies longer and are skeptical to new things most of the time.....I just pray I say the right things.
Stopped by Becky's office and begged for more prednisone. I have been feeling SO GOOD but the day I went to one prednisone there were little signs that I was going to have problems. She gave me 10 more days. I really needed about 23--to get me through Graduation but she said 10 will have to do and hopefully I can make it to St. Louis to see the specialist soon.
Better get, time to make the donuts.
M
Stopped by Becky's office and begged for more prednisone. I have been feeling SO GOOD but the day I went to one prednisone there were little signs that I was going to have problems. She gave me 10 more days. I really needed about 23--to get me through Graduation but she said 10 will have to do and hopefully I can make it to St. Louis to see the specialist soon.
Better get, time to make the donuts.
M
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Ugly Truth
So, I am getting all these messages about what is going on. The fact is, I have a four day span this week that I had time to go see about what has been giving me fits for the most part of the last 9 weeks. Most of my friends know I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis last July. I was having a flare when I was diagnosed and the colonoscopy made it worse, still, three weeks after taking the meds and following the diet to a tee, I was better, then I had a flare in November brought on by antibiotics, once again, the meds and lifestyle got me quickly through it.
This time has been different, and worse. I started having some bleeding in my stools in mid February, it was on an off until the 18th of March, I learned early to keep a diary of what happens when and what I might have done to cause/prevent it. Anyway, I started myself back on asacol on the 21st and called the doctor on the 31st when I was seeing no improvement. The doctor said to keep taking the asacol until July 1, then call him back. I know he assumed a few more weeks on the asacol and I would be better again.
Things has consistently gotten worse. I had my first "accident" in our attic on the 12th, it was bad and the first time I realized how much blood there really was. I puked and puked just trying to clean myself, my attic floor, my bathroom floor and my clothes up. I had another accident last week, at work, at least it was almost time to go home. I knew it was time I had to do something. I called my doctor, they were gone, I tried again Friday, still gone. I knew they did surgery all day on Monday, so I called my family doctor on Friday, she wanted me to come right then. I said I had too many things going on and I could come first thing Monday morning.
Meanwhile, I had been on the crohn's and colitis foundations website and pretty well figured out that the only way I was going to get through this was the IV prednisone. Everyone on the site goes to the the hospital to do this. I was pretty sure of my future.
I went to my doctor this morning, she knows I normally fight her tooth and nail about going to the hospital but I told her this morning I was okay with it because I knew I needed the IV. She said I was exactly right, I needed the IV but she could do it in her office. She took blood tests so we can see if I need a transfusion and then gave me an IV in one arm of prednisone and a shot of it in the other arm. I start are steri-pack tomorrow.
I have already quit bleeding, that is priceless. I have diabetes too and the prednisone raised my sugar so I don't feel good but I still know we are heading the right way. I am also being referred to a specialist at Barnes, I have to tell you, honestly for the first time, someone is taking this seriously.
I know I do a good job of faking being fine, but I don't with my doctors, I do what I have to do to get everything done that I believe needs done. I know it puts a shock on people when they see me in the days before acting fine. God pretty well told me on my way home from church yesterday that it was time to just be still and get some rest, and I am. UC is stress induced, not having held up my end of bargains would induce more stress.
So, I find out in the morning if I have to have blood, I am home three days to rest and then hopefully we get to start life back to normal, which is good because my window of opportunity was these 3-4 days. I kinda have that "Mr. T" thing going on tonight though: I just love it when a plan comes together.
Oh and to the few that have had to ride the roller coaster with me, Deb and Carol, who I probably gave whiplash a couple times getting to a bathroom in Springfield, Beth (I think) who opened the door to the bathroom at work as I was having problems and promptly left when I begged whoever it was not to come in, Susie, who saw me after that and figured out something was terrible wrong, my mom, who puts up with my stubbornness because she knows she is to blame for it, Marsha, for the same reason, and especially Andrew and Robert, who have seen the "real" story every night and day for the last 9 weeks: Thanks for your patience and your prayers, and your support. Sorry I had to take you through this and once again, thanks for putting up with it. You know me, all things works together for good---we just gotta find the right time to get it done.
Thursday, life gets back to full speed ahead!
This time has been different, and worse. I started having some bleeding in my stools in mid February, it was on an off until the 18th of March, I learned early to keep a diary of what happens when and what I might have done to cause/prevent it. Anyway, I started myself back on asacol on the 21st and called the doctor on the 31st when I was seeing no improvement. The doctor said to keep taking the asacol until July 1, then call him back. I know he assumed a few more weeks on the asacol and I would be better again.
Things has consistently gotten worse. I had my first "accident" in our attic on the 12th, it was bad and the first time I realized how much blood there really was. I puked and puked just trying to clean myself, my attic floor, my bathroom floor and my clothes up. I had another accident last week, at work, at least it was almost time to go home. I knew it was time I had to do something. I called my doctor, they were gone, I tried again Friday, still gone. I knew they did surgery all day on Monday, so I called my family doctor on Friday, she wanted me to come right then. I said I had too many things going on and I could come first thing Monday morning.
Meanwhile, I had been on the crohn's and colitis foundations website and pretty well figured out that the only way I was going to get through this was the IV prednisone. Everyone on the site goes to the the hospital to do this. I was pretty sure of my future.
I went to my doctor this morning, she knows I normally fight her tooth and nail about going to the hospital but I told her this morning I was okay with it because I knew I needed the IV. She said I was exactly right, I needed the IV but she could do it in her office. She took blood tests so we can see if I need a transfusion and then gave me an IV in one arm of prednisone and a shot of it in the other arm. I start are steri-pack tomorrow.
I have already quit bleeding, that is priceless. I have diabetes too and the prednisone raised my sugar so I don't feel good but I still know we are heading the right way. I am also being referred to a specialist at Barnes, I have to tell you, honestly for the first time, someone is taking this seriously.
I know I do a good job of faking being fine, but I don't with my doctors, I do what I have to do to get everything done that I believe needs done. I know it puts a shock on people when they see me in the days before acting fine. God pretty well told me on my way home from church yesterday that it was time to just be still and get some rest, and I am. UC is stress induced, not having held up my end of bargains would induce more stress.
So, I find out in the morning if I have to have blood, I am home three days to rest and then hopefully we get to start life back to normal, which is good because my window of opportunity was these 3-4 days. I kinda have that "Mr. T" thing going on tonight though: I just love it when a plan comes together.
Oh and to the few that have had to ride the roller coaster with me, Deb and Carol, who I probably gave whiplash a couple times getting to a bathroom in Springfield, Beth (I think) who opened the door to the bathroom at work as I was having problems and promptly left when I begged whoever it was not to come in, Susie, who saw me after that and figured out something was terrible wrong, my mom, who puts up with my stubbornness because she knows she is to blame for it, Marsha, for the same reason, and especially Andrew and Robert, who have seen the "real" story every night and day for the last 9 weeks: Thanks for your patience and your prayers, and your support. Sorry I had to take you through this and once again, thanks for putting up with it. You know me, all things works together for good---we just gotta find the right time to get it done.
Thursday, life gets back to full speed ahead!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Six fun-filled weeks....Here we go!!!!
Latest roller coaster ride at the Browninghouse boarding now. I feel like the last few months things have been unusually calm and now, here comes everything at once and the best part is, it's all good.
Robert, my baby boy, graduates in 5 weeks and 6 days. I am planning on posting more over the next few weeks just because so much is going on and some of my warped friends think these times are really exciting and I have pretty well let them all down this winter.
Things that are going to happen in the next 6 weeks.
Promise to keep everyone posted on all the excitement around here, for now, Happy Monday!
Robert, my baby boy, graduates in 5 weeks and 6 days. I am planning on posting more over the next few weeks just because so much is going on and some of my warped friends think these times are really exciting and I have pretty well let them all down this winter.
Things that are going to happen in the next 6 weeks.
- The bathroom project will be 100%-- should make it right under 11 months, but it is beautiful.
- I go to Springfield this week, be home Wednesday, learning the first of three new programs.
- The Musical, Robert's last one in high school, this weekend, Footloose, can't wait!
- Week after next, train the field on what we are learning this week.
- First week in May, travel to Rend Lake for training for the 3rd new program.
- 6th of May, Robert's final concerts
- 15th of May, IACAA conference, my favorite of the year, highlighted by the Family of Distinction dinner--my VERY FAVORITE night of my working year.
- 21st, Robert's graduation party
- 22nd, Robert's graduation
Promise to keep everyone posted on all the excitement around here, for now, Happy Monday!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Welcome Back Me.
To say I haven't been myself lately would be an understatement. Life throws us for more loops than we could ever imagine and I honestly just wasn't in the mood to tell about them. I have probably had every emotion possible in the last few weeks; anger, frustration, disappointment, joy, elation. Sometimes, those kind of swings are too much for a person to take.
So, all the things that has happened since the last time I blogged:
Good news: Robert received his letter on the 9th of March that he had received tuition Scholarships for Band and Chorus at OCC. 16 credit hours a semester, the most you can get. We were definitely elated that day.
Bad news: One of my best friends, the one who is responsible for me going to work for ERBA, the one I spent more time with than I did my guys for five years, the one I have watched her little girls grow into young women as I watched her go from struggling with two full time jobs to getting to have a great life---was diagnosed with cancer, liver cancer. She is 46. To say it pulled the rug out of under me would be another understatement. In the last six months, one of the girls I run around with became a widow, now one has liver cancer. These are things that are supposed to be happening when we are 70, not 40.
Good news, My friend, Patty, mentioned above, got word from MD Anderson yesterday that things are not as hopeless as she had first been told. The doctor has Plan A, which is chemo, but he also has a Plan B and even a Plan C. I missed talking to her last night but did talk to her oldest daughter, who was so very encouraged by the hospital, the staff and the treatment plan. We have a bright side, which made it easier to sleep last night.
Bad news: Of course, all other bad news pales in comparison but they are still aggravating nonetheless. The transmission went out of my van, at least it didn't go all the way and leave me stranded but it did have to be replaced, We bought the van new and have had it about 20 months. I drive alot so it was already over what a regular warranty would cover but we got in on the tailend of having the Lifetime Warranty come with the vehicle, so we were saved. I may NEVER get rid of the van.
Good news: Congress has been throwing around our programs like we are ragdolls. Now that the dust has settled, it looks like we will survive the budget. We don't know by how much, but at least we are still on there. It's always better to take a cut than to be cut. Once you would get cut to zero, it is doubtful that we would see funds ever again.
That's probably the extremes that has been going on. We are working towards the 21st of May, Robert's graduation party. I am spring cleaning and Andrew is getting our bathroom remodel wrapped up.
I am working on a lot of projects at work, which keeps my job very interesting, if not at times, downright entertaining. I am getting to do things that I never imagined this country bumpkin would get to do. One of the them is doing a presentation for the rest of the state about using technology to make our jobs easier. April 1, I am doing a workshop for the Head Start Parent Fair, There I am presenting information on keeping your computer and your identity safe online. I go to Springfield for 3 days next week for another project that I am going to help mentor for our agency. Today I am going to Tuscola to work on computers. I LOVE my job and am so very thankful that I get to keep it.
11 years ago in May, I sent a resume to a PO Box. Two days later, I received an application for ERBA. I filled it our immediately and sent it back. On Friday of that week, Patty called and asked if I would come in for an interview on Monday. I was so excited. Nila, my sister, worked for Community Action and I was thrilled to think about getting to also. When I went to the interview, I was so disappointed. Patty and Brenda (LIHEAP Coordinator and Outreach Office Supervisor) didn't interview me. We visited, talked about our kids, talked about life but as far as wanting to know what kind of skills I had, they didn't even ask. I went home, called my mom and cried. I knew they had already picked someone for the job. The next morning at 10:00, Patty called and said if I wanted the job it was mine. I started on the 15th day of May, 2000. (little did I know at the time, they had already chosen me, as long as Patty and I got along well).I fell in love with helping these people and decided that I wanted to do more than fill out the applications, I wanted to make a difference in these peoples lives. On May 25th, 2005, I started working as Brenda's assistant in the Greenup office. I now get to work with projects on the state level. About a month ago, the business rules came out for a new program we are working on. I questioned two of the paragraphs in the business rules because I didn't think they were fair to our program or our clients. The person who is in charge writing them, wrote me back and said they had went through this at great length and they had to be this way, then she started researching and realized I was right. While we were in Springfield, she sent out revised business rules, with my suggested changes in place. I made a difference. I wanted to cry, that was what I go to work for each day.
I don't ever know what God has in store for us, why he wants us to do what he lays out there, but I do always know he is right. And I thank him for my ups and my downs, without them, my life wouldn't be what it is today.
So, all the things that has happened since the last time I blogged:
Good news: Robert received his letter on the 9th of March that he had received tuition Scholarships for Band and Chorus at OCC. 16 credit hours a semester, the most you can get. We were definitely elated that day.
Bad news: One of my best friends, the one who is responsible for me going to work for ERBA, the one I spent more time with than I did my guys for five years, the one I have watched her little girls grow into young women as I watched her go from struggling with two full time jobs to getting to have a great life---was diagnosed with cancer, liver cancer. She is 46. To say it pulled the rug out of under me would be another understatement. In the last six months, one of the girls I run around with became a widow, now one has liver cancer. These are things that are supposed to be happening when we are 70, not 40.
Good news, My friend, Patty, mentioned above, got word from MD Anderson yesterday that things are not as hopeless as she had first been told. The doctor has Plan A, which is chemo, but he also has a Plan B and even a Plan C. I missed talking to her last night but did talk to her oldest daughter, who was so very encouraged by the hospital, the staff and the treatment plan. We have a bright side, which made it easier to sleep last night.
Bad news: Of course, all other bad news pales in comparison but they are still aggravating nonetheless. The transmission went out of my van, at least it didn't go all the way and leave me stranded but it did have to be replaced, We bought the van new and have had it about 20 months. I drive alot so it was already over what a regular warranty would cover but we got in on the tailend of having the Lifetime Warranty come with the vehicle, so we were saved. I may NEVER get rid of the van.
Good news: Congress has been throwing around our programs like we are ragdolls. Now that the dust has settled, it looks like we will survive the budget. We don't know by how much, but at least we are still on there. It's always better to take a cut than to be cut. Once you would get cut to zero, it is doubtful that we would see funds ever again.
That's probably the extremes that has been going on. We are working towards the 21st of May, Robert's graduation party. I am spring cleaning and Andrew is getting our bathroom remodel wrapped up.
I am working on a lot of projects at work, which keeps my job very interesting, if not at times, downright entertaining. I am getting to do things that I never imagined this country bumpkin would get to do. One of the them is doing a presentation for the rest of the state about using technology to make our jobs easier. April 1, I am doing a workshop for the Head Start Parent Fair, There I am presenting information on keeping your computer and your identity safe online. I go to Springfield for 3 days next week for another project that I am going to help mentor for our agency. Today I am going to Tuscola to work on computers. I LOVE my job and am so very thankful that I get to keep it.
11 years ago in May, I sent a resume to a PO Box. Two days later, I received an application for ERBA. I filled it our immediately and sent it back. On Friday of that week, Patty called and asked if I would come in for an interview on Monday. I was so excited. Nila, my sister, worked for Community Action and I was thrilled to think about getting to also. When I went to the interview, I was so disappointed. Patty and Brenda (LIHEAP Coordinator and Outreach Office Supervisor) didn't interview me. We visited, talked about our kids, talked about life but as far as wanting to know what kind of skills I had, they didn't even ask. I went home, called my mom and cried. I knew they had already picked someone for the job. The next morning at 10:00, Patty called and said if I wanted the job it was mine. I started on the 15th day of May, 2000. (little did I know at the time, they had already chosen me, as long as Patty and I got along well).I fell in love with helping these people and decided that I wanted to do more than fill out the applications, I wanted to make a difference in these peoples lives. On May 25th, 2005, I started working as Brenda's assistant in the Greenup office. I now get to work with projects on the state level. About a month ago, the business rules came out for a new program we are working on. I questioned two of the paragraphs in the business rules because I didn't think they were fair to our program or our clients. The person who is in charge writing them, wrote me back and said they had went through this at great length and they had to be this way, then she started researching and realized I was right. While we were in Springfield, she sent out revised business rules, with my suggested changes in place. I made a difference. I wanted to cry, that was what I go to work for each day.
I don't ever know what God has in store for us, why he wants us to do what he lays out there, but I do always know he is right. And I thank him for my ups and my downs, without them, my life wouldn't be what it is today.
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