Hodgepodge

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This is kind of a summary of things that are going on in the McLamb camp lately! :)  hence the title.
  • I have signed a contract with a physician's office in town!  Hooray!!  I will begin my new job on January 3, 2011 as an Adult Nurse Practitioner, doing primary care (mostly walk-in appointments and new patient evaluations, and some physicals and follow-ups).  I am so excited for so many reasons.  
    • One, I will be working alongside my good friend Cassandra, who is also a NP! 
    • Second, I will be working alongside some of the smartest doctors I know.  I have grown to respect them after working with them for years in the ICU (they are also the ICU intensivists).  
    • Third, I will be doing what I love, which is educating people on how to make themselves healthier, prevent disease, and manage their health problems responsibly.  I know I am fresh and therefore sound naive about the lovely little world of healthcare... just humor me, ok? :)
    • There will be CONSISTENT INCOME coming in from my side!  Woo hoo!!!  I have been working 1-2 shifts a week for about a year and a half now and that has been difficult to say the least, especially considering we have just gone through a private adoption.
    • Insurance will be less!  Now that I am on my own plan through my new employer, we won't have to be paying extra for the "and spouse" plan through Justin's employer.  Those things are crazy expensive!!  Zane will probably go on my plan too - the deductible is HALF of Justin's with the same copays!
  • However, this does make me sad for several reasons as well.  One, I will have to leave my little baby boy in someone else's care.  :(  We do have a daycare lined up, and I've been told by many that it is the best in town, but really.... who wants to leave their 10-week-old (by then!) with a stranger??  And another, I am sad to be leaving the hospital I've called my second home for almost 11 years.  I started working there in 1999, and have worked ICU, PACU (post-anesthesia care), ICU again (Educator), and now ER.  I love the people I work with and I really hope I can stay friends with them and see them from time to time.  This makes me SO SAD. 
 **For some reason, Blogger is being stupid & not letting me upload pics in this spot.  So the pics at the top of the page are of me & my hospital coworkers.  GRR!  :(
  • On another note, I have decided to hold a Christmas shower (after Christmas) for my brother-in-law and his fiancee, who are to be married in September 2011.  Soooo, there goes my "simple decorations for Christmas" idea.  But that's ok!  I am excited to do this for them :)
  • Zane is starting to crack a smile here and there at us!  It's not a lot, but we know he's warming up to us :)
  • Abby, our doggie, is warming up to Zane as well.  She watches over him, but mostly just pretends he's not there!  HA!  She is being a good dog, considering the major change in our household... focus is no longer on her!  And she seems ok with that.  Justin is getting tired of having to feed the baby AND her (remember, she has myasthenia gravis... which short-story-version means she is a high maintenance dog requiring medicine and us feeding her twice a day).
  • We have been talking to T. (Zane's birthmom) a little bit by email and text over the last few weeks.  She seems very much at peace and is back at school (she's working on her Associate's Degree).  We sent her the pics of Zane's first snow.  Her response made us cry - "Thanks for everything.  I can really tell that you love him alot.  I'm glad I picked you guys."  Then signed it "Love always."  She has never said the word "love" in any conversation.  I think we just got our Christmas present - the fact that she feels the love we have for her, and hopefully she has seen Christ through us!
  • We have sent the majority of our Christmas cards out - just waiting on a few addresses.  I will post the card on the blog so you all get enjoy it, even if we couldn't send it to each of you.  Because each of you played a part in bringing Zane home.  We love you all!
  • I am struggling with a cold right now.  Really tough not being able to love on Zaney boy.  Pray it ends quickly!!  Here he is practicing his cheering for NC State, for their upcoming bowl game!  Or maybe he's showing you his guns?!?!  Go Pack!


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