still alive...

lightinfl

Since I got a message from both Lois and Sarah, I thought I'd better pop in to say I'm still treading water at work. We ended 2015 with 2 people out on medical leave and when they came back, the other nurse decided to retire early. My doctor decided to take partial retirement and moved to another part of the state in March and thus began total chaos and the severe short staffing situations. I have spent more than half of 2016 working 1-3 people short (translated to doing my job and picking up the slack by doing theirs too) in a 6 man office and have been the only nurse in a 2 nurse office since January. For a while (about 2 wks), I and a secretary held the 6 man office together by the 2 of us, which is absolutely absurd and has since been resolved, though the lack of another nurse in the office means I am still carrying extra duties and responsibilities that the others really can't help me with. Can't really discuss all the intricacies but suffice it to say I am exhausted. I guess overall, you could say things are improving because now we have 5 of the 6 positions filled again with great people and I have gone down from working 10-12 hrs of overtime a week to 2-3 hrs extra each week but we still really really need another nurse to help share my load. It's been a LONG time and I am really really tired.

And of course, that is just work... life has it's own issues, family stuff, house stuff, hurricane taking a direct hit on us (only a little damage but has been repaired), yard work and replacement of kitchen appliances. Preparing for mom's yearly visit down here and 10 days off work in January as we take a Caribbean cruise. But it all adds up to trying to put too many things in my already very limited time. No time to log foods, little time or energy to exercise but I am getting out at lunchtime occasionally once again. Yeah. I weigh more than I ever have in my entire life and don't like it but I can't do it all. I have to grab sleep and rest when I can... and speaking of which, it's my bedtime since I'll be getting up at 5a to start it all over again. I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to be looking at a long weekend coming up. Don't know when I'll get back here again to participate but it will be awhile... don't expect to come up for air again until Feb/March...

I hope you all are doing okay, forgive me for making this "all about me"

GaGasheesh

Light, it's so great to see your post. I only wish you were less stressed and busy. What a crazy situation at work, but it sounds like it's resolving itself some. Enjoy your long weekend . . you deserve it!! And a Caribbean Cruise will be fantastic! We can only do what we can do. I'm not nearly as busy as you, and I find it difficult to log food. . sometimes just left to try to make better choices as I go along. I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Lois, congratulations on winning the weekend challenge! You rocked it!

Sarah, that wind was part of the weather here prior to our snow. It's really nice here today, but yesterday we had so much rain!!! It's been a long time since I've seen that much rain, and not snow, in November. I'm sure it's now on it's way to you, so watch out.