BCBS

I had a second phone interview today... I am not at all sure how it went. When I think back on it, it seems like we just chit-chatted and went over some of the same things as last week (it was a different person) but I don't know that I said anything right, or answered any of the questions to the best of my ability.

So, reaching out to some of the people who read this blog who have had these kinds of extensive interviews... how do you usually feel after? Have you ever felt like you blew it but then got an offer anyway? Or the opposite? I'm just not sure what to think. Also, the staffing person asked that I follow up with him via email to "...let me know your thoughts after the conversation." What do I say? ??

I think this would be a really exciting position, but gone would be my days of internet surfing and going in late and leaving early... both good and bad. I mean, I'd like a happy medium. I'd like to leave work feeling like I actually accomplished something but still had time to surf a little. 8 hours a day of surfing though... that wouldn't be missed. I don't hate my current job (well, there are days that I do)... I think I am mostly disappointed that it is not the job I hoped it would be. Benefits are good, my co-workers are good, but man...I am bored.

More Kudos

Just wanted to say congratulations to Laura for finishing her first marathon this past weekend! 4 hours, 10 minutes. I can't even think that fast. ;)

Good job!

Limeades for Learning

OK all you fellow Sonic junkies... next time you go, make sure you save the code from your drink so you can vote for a project to be funded. There are several schools and classrooms in Oklahoma that need some money, so search by state and pick your favorite project. You can vote every time you buy a drink, which for me is quite often. :)

www.limeadesforlearning.com

It's for such a great cause!

Annual March of Dimes Campaign

It's time again friends... the annual March of Dimes prematurity campaign is underway, and since Cory & I did not do a team for this year's walk, I want to be sure and try to get some money raised through my site, which I created last year for Kaia. Every little amount helps the cause. And just for your information, Oklahoma's infant mortality rate has remained higher than the national average for more than ten years. :(

OMG

Kaia actually ate most of her sandwich for dinner, so I told Daddy she could have some C-H-I-P-S. She saw the bag of cheetos, and started screaming and chanting, "cheeto! cheeto! cheeto!"

My MIL created a monster! I wish we would've caught it on video.

Must. Stop. Reading. Mommy Blogs. Snif.

• It’s so easy to try and block out what this symbolizes {kindergarten}— the next phase of life. There they go, independent little beings, off to create their own opinions and judgments and perspectives. When will they not need us anymore? When will they stop putting their little hands in ours when we cross the street? When will they not ask — beg — for another bedtime story or song? It’s all flying by so fast. When you have little infants, your parents and friends all say ‘Try to cherish this, soon they’ll be off to college.’ And suddenly, here we are. Another reason to truly, really, live in the moment. And least for a little bit, today.

and of course, from dooce:

• Drop off on the first day was as difficult as I thought it would be, she clung to my arm as if she were drowning, and even though I stayed for a good twenty-five minutes and watched her climb the princess castle seven hundred times, when it was time for me to leave she was frantic. And I knew exactly how she felt, I remember the panic I experienced when my mother left me in that strange room all those years ago, but I finally knelt down and took the hand I had just used to wipe the tears from my face to wipe the ones on hers. And I handed her off to the teacher.

This sounds like our baby girl

Many 20-month-olds are very affectionate. Yours probably likes to sit on your lap and cuddle because he knows it's a time when she has your undivided attention — something she loves. She continues to want to help you with household chores, everything from folding laundry and unpacking groceries to sweeping the kitchen floor. Of course she really wants to do these "grown-up" things without your help, even though odds are she can't yet. It may slow you down a little, but it's worth the time to find safe ways to let her assist you.

Kaia has been extremely "mommy" oriented these days. She's pretty much stayed attached to me all weekend, hugging at my legs and saying "Mommy" over and over and over. It's awesome. :) And she loves to throw things in the trash or help us with laundry... anything to be like us. It's amazing and I can't believe she is about to turn two years old.

Funny

I have a hard time coming up with things to talk about if they don't involve Kaia or a picture! But I realized I have something to report this week so here I am. I'll try to throw in some Kaia to make everyone happy. :)

So, last year, probably in December, I emailed a former professor and told him I was being laid off. He moved from OSU to somewhere in New Mexico several years back and I've seen his name on the health & wellness lecture circuit a time or two. Anyway, he told me to send my resume to a guy in Dallas who works for Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Said there was a position opening up in Oklahoma and I should check it out. So I did, the guy emailed back that he would notify me once the position was posted. Well, I never heard anything and totally forgot about it.

Tuesday, I see an "unknown" listing on the iphone so I check messages and it's him. The job is now open and posted and he wanted to see if I was still available and interested. The job is senior health promotion manager and I'd be in charge of employee wellness for BCBS employees in Tulsa and Albuquerque, NM. It sounds like a good job. I applied. We'll see what happens, but needless to say, the OKC house hunt is once again on hold.

There are a ton of pros and cons to weigh, believe it or not. Mostly, I have exceptional benefits through the state, and dont' know that they can compete. My fringe is at almost 50% of my total compensation package. At SMC, benefits were like 26%. Then there's the location. We love Tulsa, but there is no "middle ground" for us so Cory would have to drive back and forth to campus and trust me, that drive SUCKS 100X worse than the one to the city. I dunno, I'll have to see what happens but it's kind of exciting.




PS: I posted some new videos to the youtube channel too...

Season Starter

She looks so sweet and innocent...


Cuddling with Uncle Kevin

Tailgatin' with Daddy

Home

Mom Update

Her stress test came back clear so her heart's in good shape. Yay! They are doing some more tests today but we think she'll be discharged tomorrow. She'll be coming to Stillwater to stay for a little while, until we feel good that she is strong enough to be alone again.

They think all this mess was caused by prednisone.