Irish Stew

It's our last day of good weather for the year, I think. 70 degrees today and 40-something tomorrow. Caleb and I just came inside from a brisk walk to the post office. We had headed next door to Ace Hardware where they had mums on sale for $1 at end of the year clearance, but they were just too heavy to carry back while trying to manage a 2 year old near the street at the same time. Maybe I'll go back tomorrow.

Further changes have ensued around here. What I believed was "settling in" for our family was really only some type of notion in my head. We have no one to blame, though, except ourselves. I believe we really are trying to make good decisions, at least it seems that way at the time, anyway. I have officially changed jobs again. What is with me anyway? Ok, to tell the truth, working in an office (at least the one I was employed at) was dull. Bear with my cynicism here for just a moment, but I was witness to several "crisis" events that took place that sent people scattering to find the crash cart: quick! we have a life to save! Only, in my head, I wouldn't call them emergencies at all. I feel as if I've seen some real emergencies, and these weren't it. I was afraid that if I continued to work there (or in other non-critical care settings), I would become complacent, accepting of the mundane, and I would turn into one of those freak-out people who don't know how to use an oxygen mask. I'm just not ready to go there yet. (For anyone reading this who works in another sector of nursing that I have just deemed boring by my standards, I'm sorry. It's just me, that's all). I resigned from that office, and the people there were great about it. They were all very supportive of my choice to leave, stating that I'm going back to where I used to work because "it's what I do". Anyway, I'm returning to NICU. Not the fantastic schedule I have enjoyed for the past year, but I guess it's more important to me to do something I am challenged by, something I feel really good about.

Change #2 in our home: Russ is officially done with his job at Windstream. He is currently still looking for a job and continuing with his master's degree. The jobs he has applied for have run the gamut from professional to blue collar/permanent to transitional-until-he-graduates jobs. Who knew the Dow would have the biggest drop in recent history mere weeks after deciding to quit? It probably doesn't seem so smart to be looking for a job right now, what with our economy so poor, but I really think something will come through. It's really only been 2 weeks since his last job ended: we're not worried at this point, but we would appreciate the prayers for him to find the right place. Hey, maybe with the election finally over, we can see some immediate benefits and change??! Who knows.

With all of this going on, we're happy to enjoy life and our other moments of family and just simply having a good time. There are quite a few things going on around here this time of year, and it's been fun to watch Caleb discovering new things (Halloween candy, for instance).

Caleb dressed up as an Indian brave for Halloween and Russ and I decided to be pilgrims.