Thank you to KSP Employees!

It is with great gratitude that I return to work today. I am so deeply moved by all those who have participated in the time-donation that has allowed me to have a work-worry-free time to recover from my cancer surgeries. The well-wishes, time, and prayers have been a great boon for me while I recovered. Just last night I went through some of my get-well wishes & they brought tears to my eyes. I never imagined I would be the beneficiary of such love and care from those I can't even name! I appreciate every hour that was donated to me. I know that without your support I would not have been able to recuperate as effectively as I have. The journey has not been easy, but you have given me peace of mind (on the work-front) that has helped. Thank you with all my heart!

For any of those who don't know, the reason it has taken me so long to return was that my simple surgery went very poorly. I ended up having to have two surgeries about a month apart from one another. In both instances, I was unknowingly much closer to death (by bleeding first and by infection second) during both of these surgeries. Since the surgeries were much more complicated and traumatic for my body to deal with, my recovery time was lengthened. As a matter of fact, the first surgery went so poorly that the second part of it was not completed. After having the second surgery, I was mandated to delay my reconstruction process another 3-6 months. However, I have sufficiently recovered at this point to return to work.

Also, the kids are doing great! Rachel had her first birthday the Friday after Thanksgiving. Even after receiving chemo while still in utero, she is growing wonderfully. She's learning to walk and talk now. Her brother, Simon, helps her as only a big brother can! They thank you for the support you've given their mommy too! :-)

The waiting is KILLING me...

I'm hoping that statement is only figurative, not quite literal. I'm worried that if I wait too long it *will* be literal though... I'm SO frustrated right now. I got rejected in Houston, my local oncologist says I should have the surgery anyway, so I call my local ob/gyn first thing yesterday morning. I'm waiting on a call back to see if she'll do it... Since I haven't heard anything from her yet, I call her office... They're CLOSED until Monday! I know this is her regular day out of the office, but I just want to know one way or another...

At work we also just got the 'official' word that furloughs are definitely going to be required for state employees. That means that we're going to be forced to take a certain number of days off without pay. Not to mention that the budget shortfall is making them mess with our retirement benefits. Of course, the private sector people think our benefits are so awesome... Well, they used to be, but now we're really just average with a little better retirement/insurance. However, our salaries are generally *lower* than other states as well as private sector jobs in our field. For instance, in Henderson, NV (or really almost anywhere, but here) if I had this same exact job, I'd be making at least $10,000 more per year. So in order to stay close to my family, I thought the benefits of state employment would out-weigh the lower pay. However, it looks like when its time for me to retire (if I make it that long) the retirement plan will no longer be in place. I think its set to run out of money in 2013.

So basically, since our legislators/governors/etc can't balance a budget & keep to it, us 'little people' are going to suffer. You can bet your bottom dollar that they're not going to suffer from this... When they're re-elected they'll throw out perfectly good office furniture & such to order new for themselves. They'll give themselves raises every year while our 1% increment has been denied to us for at least 2 years. They'll spend money wining & dining lobbyists & themselves, but they forget they're sometimes taking food from the tables of hard-working state employees (not to mention tax-payers). They'll give money to people who have no jobs - some through their own faults (drugs, convictions, etc) - but not help those who work for a living.

Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! This has been a *really* crappy week...

Busy time

Well, I think I'm back in the swing of work fairly well. I've experienced 3 work days & 1 day of court. I expected to be nervous about court since I've been off work since August, but it was a breeze. The case was not a fun one (none of mine are, but this one was particularly icky), but I have to say I've gotten really good at note-taking & report-writing since I first started case work. Even w/o being in the 'groove' so-to-speak of case-work, I completely understood everything I did even though it was 2008 case.

However, between all my activities at home & work, I don't have the time or energy to keep up w/ much internet. The kids are doing well. They spend the first of the week w/ Andrew's mom and dad (plus their respective spouses) - one w/ each set. Then the rest of the week they're w/ my mom. Simon is talking up a storm. Rachel is eating 'solid' foods now - rice cereal. I gave her 1 tablespoon of semi-thick cereal tonight (instead of doing the no-no & giving in the bottle) and she scarfed it. Well, she's not completely got the gist of it all staying in her mouth, but she leans into the spoon.

I'm so sick... American Idol (I don't watch usually) was on tonight & they're doing 'Idol Gives Back'. However, they conveniently forget to mention that several (if not all) of the organizations they're giving 'aid' to support abortions. Some of these organization even support coerced abortions. Almost all abortion organizations support uneducated abortions. How disgusting!

What doesn't kill you...

... Makes you stronger? Well, I guess that slogan/old saw fits me. The cancer didn't kill me (thank God) and some would argue it did make me stronger. However, I'm not sure if it made me a stronger worker... Work today wasn't a complete bust. I just don't feel like I'm getting much accomplished. I've got endless manual revisions to read (yes, I work for the government, so everything seems to change like the weather) and I'm having a hard time concentrating on the material. I understand (and remember) most of it (except for the completely new stuff), but I want to be *doing* something. Hopefully, its just a matter of time b/4 I get my proficiency back (I have to take at least one proficiency test).

I found a good outfit to wear today, so I wasn't self-conscious at all. Its also refreshing to see more female faces in the work-place! When I left there were 3 women in the whole lab (2 of whom are admins in the front area) out of about 10 of us (I think I'm counting right). Now there are a total of 5!!! Go girls!!! One of my co-workers (a guy) was even in the local paper today for testifying in a murder trial. He was even quoted & they spelled his name right!

If I found a supplier/printer for a collection of shirts w/ the slogan on it of "I FOUGHT like a Girl & WON!" w/ the option of having a pink ribbon or our teal & pink ribbon - would any of you be interested? I don't have prices yet, but its just a matter of time. I even thought of having an option added for the teal & pink ribboned ones that said something like "Unwilling but Active member of the BRCA sisterhood" on the back.