Thursday, January 21, 2010

Job Hunting

My heart is heavy as I type this post. I am looking for another job. I would LOVE to work for free here at JDRF, but sadly, I have to work to help support my family. We have prescription co-pays that cost more than most people's car payments every month and there is that really bad habit that we all have of eating food. My hours have been cut, I had hoped for a raise, but alas that didn't happen either so I am on the search for another position. As things stand right now, about 75% of what I make goes to pay for daycare & school for the girls and gas money. I hate dealing with money and it is a major source of stress for me and always has been - but my reality lies in the fact that what is happening now will not help my family. We will never get ahead with my current situation and that is not something I'm comfortable with.

For those of you in the Dallas area, I am asking for you to keep this information confidential and not mention this to the folks here in the office because I am doing this quietly. I simply cannot help my family by working and quite honestly I am devastated. When I do find another job I will give proper notice and continue to do whatever I can to help this chapter succeed. There is quite a bit more to this, but I am choosing to handle it professionally.

I have updated my resume and started my search officially last night. If anyone out there knows of anyone hiring HR people with a lot of database management background and a need for someone with recruiting experience, please let me know.

On the plus side, I talked to my mom yesterday and she is seriously considering moving here to Dallas - I almost pulled the car over and did a happy dance on the side of the road. The people of Red Oak can thank me later for holding back. ;)

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

JDRF School Walk Program

So I think most of my 3 readers probably know by now that I work at the Dallas Chapter of JDRF - I am the School Walk Coordinator. I love, love, love my job - but due to financial issues with everyone this year, we are WAY down on our number of walks and raising money from our schools. I wholeheartedly understand schools not fundraising right now, it can be a lot to continually ask parents to support cause after cause. BUT, I participated in a training session yesterday that has me twitterpated...our National office has incorporated a piece of JDRF's Annual Walks, Walk Central into a very specific Kids Walk program for our schools. Basically what this will allow the schools and their students to do is do ONLINE fundraising as well as selling the paper sneakers. Considering we are California transplants, this is great for when my girls are fundraising and we can send emails to aunts, uncles and the Grandmas asking for support. The one feature that I think is great about this is the parental control that is required for a child to participate and the release that is posted that talks about the fact that nothing about the site is searchable from say a Google or Bing or whatever - so the child is protected from online weirdos. I spend my days recruiting schools and moms for this project and I really want to make it a success - so pray for great parents and schools that want to support JDRF and the research.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

2010 - A Better Year, because I said so....

Okay, the title of this post sounds a bit surly - but that's the way I feel right now. I've picked my word for the year, Christmas is all put away, I'm starting my purge and organize plan, BUT (there's always one of those, isn't there?)we're struggling with Little G's blood sugars AGAIN. Both girls had their endo appointments on Monday - their A1C's were a bit higher than last time, but the dr. was happy with them and said "no changes" - fast forward to today. I received 3 calls from school with Little G's blood sugar readings, they were having a helluva time keeping her over 70 ALL DAY. Granted, she's more active and using her little noodle more than she probably has been at home these past 2 weeks, but DAMN! At one point she was at 51, they gave her 3 sugar tabs, checked her at 15 minutes and she was only at 71....NOT good. I asked them to give her a tube of cake gel (please don't judge, this is what works normally for both of our girls). Another 15 minute check and she's at 87. I was sure she'd be right around 130ish, if not higher. I could hear her crying and the pastor of the church was holding her and rocking her (I may just kiss this man the next time I see him - I LOVE their school). I just want to bang my head on the wall...not that it will do me any good at all - but my question of the day is WHY? I know that other D-Parents out there might read this (all 3 of you) and say, yeah we ask that all the time....but can't someone make some sense of this on days like today? I heard a very inappropriate song this morning on a "mix tape" cd...and really, really would like to dedicate it to Diabetes...if anyone out there has hear the song "F*** You" by Lilly Allen, it's a happy little tune, with a great message that made me giggle....still VERY inappropriate and no my girls were not in the car with me when I heard it. I smiled and sang along as I pulled into the JDRF parking lot....dedicating it to this miserable disease.

Well, that was quite a tangent no? I am determined to make this a better year than last year. I have plans, a vacation to organize, school walks to get on the calendar and gala tables to fill. Also, I would love to find the winning lottery numbers at some point - just so I could make a big fat donation that might expedite the research that will make my purse a good 2 pounds lighter whenever we go somewhere. Too much to ask? I think not.

Looking forward to snuggling up with my littles tonight, lighting a big ol' fire and taking in the little moments. Cheers to you and yours - Walk Awards Tomorrow Night here in the big D - if you're coming, please stop by and say hello!