The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 4

[bengalbelle]

Hello! Exhaustion is finally catching up with me, because this morning I woke up with dizziness and morning sickness! I thought I was way past that. I started to feel better as the day went on, but I've had a perpetual headache that won't go away no matter how many Tylenol I take. Hopefully this is a one day thing!

Clare, I'm glad you are finally feeling better...here's some for Paul to be on the mend soon, but kudos to him for going to Matt's opening night! Break a leg Matt! Jennifer, still waiting to hear about your interview...hopefully, you're out to dinner celebrating. Theresa, here's a for you! And Glynis, welcome back! Here's a big for everyone else too...hope I didn't miss anything, but I can blame it on my pregnancy brain if I did!

All of your dining talk is making me crazy! There's no way we can go for free dining, since Matthew will be so young, but having come off a budget trip, I really missed eating the GOOD food! We did find some good counter service though...some of our favorites are: Electric Umbrella, Sunshine Seasons at the Land, Fish and chips at the England walk-up place, Cosmic Rays, Columbia Harbour House, Pinocchio's Village Haus, and Tusker House. I am a firm believer that there is no good counter service at the Studios, but Pizza Planet is tolerable.

I'm going to start organizing some pictures now, and maybe Kevin will start posting, after he watches American Idol, of course!

Amy

Amy I had the nausea and dizziness when I overdid it this weekend. I know you want to have your house perfect, but you need to take it easy too.

We thought about going for the free dining, but decided it's too much for us to travel with a newborn and we're not leaving it behind! Besides Christopher's birthday has never been the same week as Mardi Gras, so he's out of school the whole week. We think a trip then will be more special for him. We celebrated my mom's 70th birthday at WDW last fall and he keeps asking when her birthday is because he thinks we're going to do that every year . He'll be thrilled when he realizes this time we'll celebrate his birthday there!

I'm dying to see the pictures!

 

[marcij]

So the position I interviewed for is on the Neurosurgery/Neuroscience unit (if you didn't figure that out from my previous post ) It's high acuity (very sick) patients, but a range between chronic and acute illness, from infants to adults actually (if it's a "childhood" illness/disease/problem). It's a lot of neurology problems of varying severity (seizures, spina bifida, migraines, epilepsy, organic and/or rare disorders, stroke, etc) and also neurosurgery patients (except for brain tumors, which we would manage temporarily and then they'd be moved to oncology). They say that if you work this unit, you are prepared for anything! And they sound like a very cohesive, fun group.... so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!


The RN Residency program is a really unique orientation/training program. The idea of a residency is growing across the country, but still only a few programs utilize it for new grad nurses. It's a 22-week program (although it may change to 18-weeks in the next few days, as they go to planning meetings) and is set up very much like a medical residency.

I would spend some 4-hour days in classes (about 105 hours total), physiology, certain general peds stuff, specific neurology/neurosurg stuff, family care stuff... you know, just everything . The rest of the time (ending up being about 600 hours) is clinical stuff on my unit, and also rotating to the operating room, recovery, outpatient clinics, etc to see every aspect of neurology at Children's. All while being paid my regular RN salary!


Everything about it sounds great to me, and the benefits, etc are wonderful. BELIEVE ME..... you'll know as soon as possible after I know! Thanks again for rooting for me!

Sounds wonderful! They'd be stupid to pass you up....hopefully that is one thing they won't mess up!!

 

[bengalbelle]

I think I am officially retiring from trying to make these darn shirts...it's hard to see the mickeys on the sleeves....this was my best effort:

FRONT

BACK

Kristine, I think you did a fabulous job!!! It looks great!!!!

 

[monicatb]

Well, I double booked and have a CP 8:05am ADR and a CP Dinner 6:35pm ADR. Then I can decide later which one to cancel.

The good thing of having an early breakfast at CP, is that you can get in the park before it opens and you'll have the opprtunity to take great pictures of you and your family infront of the Castle with no one around. Plus you'll have a head start in your touring plans if you try to get out of there just a little before the park opens.

Just a thought.

Monica

 

[bengalbelle]

And now that I finally learned how to post pictures, the cookie tutorial will begin!

This is what my dough looks like in the ziplock bags after refrigeration.

The elephants are ready for baking!

This is what my counter looked like at the end of the baking process. That's all the dough I had left, but I didn't bake it as a "blob" like Vicki did...it got thrown away.

The burn I got on the last batch of cookies, because I stooped down, ensuring Alyssa was nowhere near the oven. It's finally healed, but I haven't looked at our WDW pics closely enough to see if you can see my injury!

Amy

I'm saving your pictures to my computer. I'm hoping things will be calm enough for Christopher and I to bake some cookies next week

 

[bengalbelle]

Cookie tutorial continued...

My cookie samplers.

The elephants and lions are ready for fondant and sugar!

I use a pastry/BBQ brush to apply the fondant.

And Kevin quickly adds the sugar before the fondant dries. He's a patient helper!

All done! I'm really going to miss my counter!

Amy

They turned out adorable!

 

[marcij]

Okay guys - I am in need of some DDA PD (or just kind reassurances that I will get through things...)

Within the span of 1 week at work, we have seen a 4-person department dwindle to 2, leaving just my director and me. We had to fire an assistant that only had been on the job for 5 weeks because she was just a walking disaster (that was last Tuesday - and was a big relief when all was said and done), and then Friday afternoon my assistant who has been with me for over 2 years closes my door and tells me that she has been enticed literally across the street to another firm to perform a job function that she has never expressed interest in! This is a girl that has professed her love for legal recruiting ad nauseam, has wanted all these opportunities to take charge of things (which I've been giving her), and now has left me high and dry, holding the proverbial bag, with less than 6 weeks remaining before I have to shepherd 28 interns through a 14-week summer clerkship program. I won't bore anyone with the details of what all this entails, but basically (particularly now w/o knowledgeable, seasoned help) I will be working 80+ hours a week as a glorified adult babysitter, while all the time keeping a smile pasted to my face.

I could really just use any prayers that you've got lying around that I can get through this, while also not losing my sanity. This part of my job is also an extreme sacrifice on my DH's part, as he rarely sees me during the summer, and I'm concerned about putting him back in this position again.

ETA: And, as inconsequential as it seems, we are also slated to celebrate my Dad's 64th b-day with him in early June at my parents' timeshare in Kauai. I may have to cancel that trip because of all that has happened/is happening, which has upset EVERYONE in my family greatly. I'm not really supposed to take vacation during the summer because of my responsibilities (my director will be in Europe for 2 weeks at the same time!), but when we booked this last summer, it was no question that the 2 assistants could have manned the ship for that week...

I'm having some anger management/pity party issues!!!!

Lindsey -- I feel your pain! While not the exact same circumstances, I've had similar things happen during my busiest season (Nov. /Dec.) and during my last quick trip -- spring break. Sending a lot of PD and prayers across town to you, and hoping that it won't end up as hard as it seems now. I still think you need to consider going on your trip, because you are going to NEED a break. Hopefully you will find someone who really knocks your socks off to replace the assistant, so that you won't be MIA this summer.

 

[KMH1]

Don't get me involved in this. I know which of the whole lot of you can make my life most miserable. Besides, I've never seen an unflattering picture of my lovely wife.

--Kevin

I knew my wonderful DH would never get lured over to the dark side!

to you Julie and Marti!

Amy

 

[Glynis]

Don't get me involved in this. I know which of the whole lot of you can make my life most miserable. Besides, I've never seen an unflattering picture of my lovely wife.

--Kevin

Sounds like someone is campaigning for the DDA husband of the day award.

 

[KMH1]

Amy I had the nausea and dizziness when I overdid it this weekend. I know you want to have your house perfect, but you need to take it easy too.

Dawn, would you believe I'm two episodes behind on Lost and three on Grey's Anatomy?!!!

Amy

 

[marcij]

Amy -- wonderful pictures of the party -- you really worked hard on that party and the attention to detail is truly amazing. Congrats on learning the picture posting. Next, you'll be designing.....

And, thanks for posting pictures of all the DDAs and their kids. Everyone looked wonderful!!

 

[bengalbelle]

So the position I interviewed for is on the Neurosurgery/Neuroscience unit (if you didn't figure that out from my previous post ) It's high acuity (very sick) patients, but a range between chronic and acute illness, from infants to adults actually (if it's a "childhood" illness/disease/problem). It's a lot of neurology problems of varying severity (seizures, spina bifida, migraines, epilepsy, organic and/or rare disorders, stroke, etc) and also neurosurgery patients (except for brain tumors, which we would manage temporarily and then they'd be moved to oncology). They say that if you work this unit, you are prepared for anything! And they sound like a very cohesive, fun group.... so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!


The RN Residency program is a really unique orientation/training program. The idea of a residency is growing across the country, but still only a few programs utilize it for new grad nurses. It's a 22-week program (although it may change to 18-weeks in the next few days, as they go to planning meetings) and is set up very much like a medical residency.

I would spend some 4-hour days in classes (about 105 hours total), physiology, certain general peds stuff, specific neurology/neurosurg stuff, family care stuff... you know, just everything . The rest of the time (ending up being about 600 hours) is clinical stuff on my unit, and also rotating to the operating room, recovery, outpatient clinics, etc to see every aspect of neurology at Children's. All while being paid my regular RN salary!


Everything about it sounds great to me, and the benefits, etc are wonderful. BELIEVE ME..... you'll know as soon as possible after I know! Thanks again for rooting for me!

Good luck!!

 

[Glynis]

Two weeks from today at 8:45am central time! I dying to know too

Promise that you'll let us know? It's fun to get excited for other people's impending births. I'm so thrilled for you and for Amy and for Angela, too. I keep you all in my prayers for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Boy, if you all lived closer to me, you'd have freezers full of casseroles, etc., for after the delivery. I love to help out with new babies. When I was pregnant with the twins, my DSIL threw me a "dinner shower." I had tons of clothes, etc., so she invited everyone to bring a dinner frozen that I could just pop in my freezer and have on hand. It was so helpful! Those first few weeks after the twins were born, I was so sleep deprived that it was nice not to have to think about cooking.

 

[UP Disney]

Sounds like someone is campaigning for the DDA husband of the day award.

Who's to say that wasn't Amy pretending to be Kevin?? I mean look at how closely they (supposedly) posted to each other.

 

[KMH1]

Who's to say that wasn't Amy pretending to be Kevin?? I mean look at how closely they (supposedly) posted to each other.

I'm insulted!!!!

Seriously though, I did "let" Kevin play on the computer for about half an hour. I wondered what he was posting, since it takes a lot to lure him out of lurking status!

Amy

 

[bengalbelle]

Okay guys - I am in need of some DDA PD (or just kind reassurances that I will get through things...)

Within the span of 1 week at work, we have seen a 4-person department dwindle to 2, leaving just my director and me. We had to fire an assistant that only had been on the job for 5 weeks because she was just a walking disaster (that was last Tuesday - and was a big relief when all was said and done), and then Friday afternoon my assistant who has been with me for over 2 years closes my door and tells me that she has been enticed literally across the street to another firm to perform a job function that she has never expressed interest in! This is a girl that has professed her love for legal recruiting ad nauseam, has wanted all these opportunities to take charge of things (which I've been giving her), and now has left me high and dry, holding the proverbial bag, with less than 6 weeks remaining before I have to shepherd 28 interns through a 14-week summer clerkship program. I won't bore anyone with the details of what all this entails, but basically (particularly now w/o knowledgeable, seasoned help) I will be working 80+ hours a week as a glorified adult babysitter, while all the time keeping a smile pasted to my face.

I could really just use any prayers that you've got lying around that I can get through this, while also not losing my sanity. This part of my job is also an extreme sacrifice on my DH's part, as he rarely sees me during the summer, and I'm concerned about putting him back in this position again.

ETA: And, as inconsequential as it seems, we are also slated to celebrate my Dad's 64th b-day with him in early June at my parents' timeshare in Kauai. I may have to cancel that trip because of all that has happened/is happening, which has upset EVERYONE in my family greatly. I'm not really supposed to take vacation during the summer because of my responsibilities (my director will be in Europe for 2 weeks at the same time!), but when we booked this last summer, it was no question that the 2 assistants could have manned the ship for that week...

I'm having some anger management/pity party issues!!!!

I'm so sorry this is all happening at once. I'm sending you tons of pixie dust that things will shape up soon and especially that you'll be able to celebrate your father's birthday with him. Good luck!

 

[Linzybrooke]

Thanks for the offer!!! Where in the Metroplex do you live? I work in downtown, but now live in Plano.

We live in Little Elm, which is basically Frisco. I worked downtown until the end of February when I transfered to Frisco...now my drive is 15 minutes, not an hour and a half! I'm literally 12 miles from Stonebriar Center.

Let me know anytime!

 

[KMH1]

Here's an unflattering picture...but that's not me! And, I wasn't the evil one who took this shot (my sister did), but it's too cute not to post!

Goodnight all!
Amy

 

[bengalbelle]

And you are bringing your laptop; complete with WIFI with you so that we'll know at 8:46, right?????

Hmmm...I hadn't thought of that. We do have the internet camera thing....

 

[Steamboat Marti]

Here's an unflattering picture...but that's not me! And, I wasn't the evil one who took this shot (my sister did), but it's too cute not to post!

Goodnight all!
Amy

Kevin looks quite good in tights!