An Update! At Last!

As you can see by the ticker on the left sidebar, the weight loss is progressing rapidly. It's a little bit freaky to see and feel myself shrinking at such a fast pace. I'm still unable to tolerate most solid foods, so I have to work very diligently to meet my daily protein requirements with liquid supplements. I try to have a couple of bites of whatever LT and kidlet are having for dinner, but often it doesn't agree with me and I end up feeling uncomfortable or nauseated. I feel much better when I stick to things like soup and yogurt, although I did have a poached egg on Sunday that didn't cause any major problems. This whole experience is a study in patience, and I'm learning something new about myself and my relationship with food every day.

Kidlet had a very difficult time with the disruption to her routine and my lack of availability while I was in the hospital and immediately after I got home. She does best (as do all young children and most adults, actually) if she has a routine, knows what is coming next, and knows what is expected of her. Kidlet's routines and habits got completely turned upside down when I was out of commission, and she still hasn't recovered. The tantrum-y, whiny, obstinate, occasionally just mean and nasty, demanding, screaming little person that has moved into our house is not someone I'm particularly enamoured with, and I'd really like my kidlet back now please. We had no real idea of what actual toddlers are like because we live with a short adult person. Now that kidlet has embraced her inner toddler, LT and I are keenly aware of just how good we had it for all that time. I swear, though, if the current inhabitant of my house says "No! I want the other Mommy!" to me one more time, I'm going to sell her to the circus.

LT and I both had birthdays this past weekend. We were born 6 years and 2 days apart, so I turned 34 on Friday, and LT turned the big 4-0 on Sunday. We were both horribly sick with a sinus alien, so no big celebrations were had. My brother is planning a dinner thing at his restaurant at the end of the month. Hopefully, I'll be able to eat something by then. LT and I decided that we both wanted bikes for our birthdays, and we bought them last weekend. We spent 5 hours in a bike shop with a very patient man named Sam, and left with 2 Trek mountain bikes and all the accessories, including a helmet and seat for kidlet. LT and I are going to P-Town next weekend for a little kid-free R&R, and we're hoping the bitter cold will have passed by then so we'll be able to do some riding. Cross your fingers!

I have a job interview next Friday. If I get this job, I'll be determining benefit eligibility for a variety of long term care insurance providers. All patient contact is by phone, and there is no clinical contact. I'll be a nurse on paper only. I really, seriously, welcome the change. As toxic as my current work environment is, I have to say that I am really feeling quite DONE with the unique challenges that go along with the mentally retarded. More on that subject later, but for now, just wish me luck that the evil insurance company decides to hire me and provide me with a truly generous salary and benefits package that will make the morning drive up 128 worthwhile.

For now, my work life is consumed with tying up all the loose ends of my current job so that I can appear as professional as possible in my departure. This company has a history of escorting people out the door as soon as they submit their resignation, so there will be no customary 2 weeks to get things to a state from which someone else can easily pick it up. I think this approach is akin to cutting one's nose off to spite one's face, but who am I to argue with a 2-week paid vacation? Since the agency is going to be surveyed shortly after I leave, I feel obligated to make things as neat and pretty as possible so that no one can say I didn't do my job to the best of my ability. It's a sick relationship I have with this place, and it just increases my motivation to get the hell out now.

I think that might be everything I have to say right about now. I'll catch up with you all soon.