An Update, and Photos!

For the last few months, I have been yearning for change in my professional life.  Though I have loved my current job and poured my blood, sweat, and tears into this company for the last 3 years, my heart was just ready for the next step, a new challenge.  I started networking, putting out my resume and researching my options.  I received several offers, different options for me to weigh out.  Some jobs would give me more money, some required longer hours, one offered an amazing benefit package while another would provide an excellent learning experience.  I made dozens of lists with pros and cons and considerations, taking my time and ensuring that I made the right decision for our family.  My heart was set, pretty much from the beginning, on one job in particular: another home health company, a better management team, opportunities to grow, less call but more job skills.  That job sailed to the top of my list and stayed there, my hopes already up despite my logical brain telling them not to.  I was patient but persistent, knowing that this was where I was supposed to be.  I turned down several tempting offers, holding out for the job at the top of my list.  It was a gamble, but I just knew.  And, thankfully, last week, I finally got the call that I have been waiting for: the job was mine!  I said goodbye to the company I helped get off the ground, the patients and families I have spent so much time loving and caring for, and I set out for my next adventure.

I don't do well with change and I often have to push myself to move past my comfort zone.  My last job had become very comfortable, predictable, and easy.  I wasn't growing, I wasn't challenging myself professionally. It's time to move beyond the big fish in the little pond scenario that I've been living in.  I'm ready for the big ocean, the deep seas.  I'm ready to be more. So, here I go: the next chapter unfolding and a whole new adventure waiting for me.  I am excited to see where my life as a nurse will take me next.

And now, an update via photos and a few words, too...

River has fallen in love with our horse sized lab, Ozzy.  He wants to pet Ozzy, climb on top of Ozzy, lick Ozzy, and annoy this poor animal to death.  Despite his ferocious size, our sweet dog patiently allows our baby to love on him to no end.  These two will be best buddies later, I am sure of it.

Brees is currently obsessed with pirates, superheros, and spaceships, in no particular order.  Her imagination is UNBELIEVABLE right now and I'm not even sure she is ever completely living in reality these days.  She is constantly rearranging furniture to create elaborate scenes, is always dressed in some costume or another, and will only answer you if you speak to her in character.  She keeps us laughing, that's for sure.

Our two photogenic children AKA the two children who will actually look at the camera and smile.  AHEM, Brees...  Belle loves River and River loves Belle, that's really all there is to it.  

We set River down in the grass the other night for a "baby's first time sitting in the grass" photo op.  This fearless little guy took off at the speed of light, crawling and exploring and sampling as many blades of grass and leaves as he could stuff into his mouth before we could grab him.  He got his daily serving of greens that day, shall we say.

Hey kids, can we please get just one picture all together for Mother's Day?  Just real quick?  Just, okay, can we please look at the camera?  In the general direction of the camera?  No?  Okay then...