Doing OK
9 months ago
Monday, October 12, 2009
Funny Man!
Tanner has really been developing a sense of humor lately. Saturday we had Lucky outside with us while we were working in the yard. At one point while Tanner & Grandpa were working together to pick up the piles of leaves we had raked, Tanner turned to Lucky & said, "Come on Lucky make your self useful...pick up a rake!"
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Our Crazy Life...
We had lots of plans for getting projects around the house done this summer. Eli had kept pretty busy subbing last year, but with school being out Eli was only working Tuesday & Thursday evenings from 4-10, and Saturday & Sunday days from 6-3 at WalMart, so we figured he'd have lots of time during the week to get some of our projects around the house finished. Boy were we wrong...Eli has been working 7 days a week since the beginning of summer!
Provo Canyon School (a residential treatment center for troubled teens) has year-round school for the kids there & they really like Eli as a sub. In fact, Dave, the Director there told Eli he is more reliable than some of his full-time faculty. At the beginning of summer they called to see if Eli could cover a two-week vacation for one of the teachers there, so he did. Then he covered the next vacation, & the next one & the next one...you get the picture. Needless to say, most of the projects are still not complete. But that's okay, because the time was well spent.
At the end of summer during a discussion with the director, Eli mentioned that as a substitute he is in danger of losing his teaching license. To maintain his teaching license he needs to be employed by a school & continuing his schooling to earn his teaching degree. Eli explained that even though he is able to work full time as a substitute it doesn't count because he's employed by the temp agency that provides subs to the schools. So...the director created a position for Eli at Provo Canyon School. The school has not had a computer technology class in the past, but it does now! The class is only taught one period a day, but at least it helps Eli to be able to maintain his license.
They scheduled Eli's class period to be from 2:30 to 3:30, so that he can be done in time to get to WalMart by 4:00 on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Dave creating this position & scheduling the class to fit Eli's schedule has been a real blessing for us, we only had one concern. With Eli needing to be at Provo Canyon School by 2:30 he will now only be able to accept subbing positions at high schools, because the elementary & middle schools get out too late and that would mean less income. We decided not to worry & trust that things would work out for us.
A few weeks ago one of the managers at WalMart approached Eli to see if he'd be interested in interviewing for the CSM position managing the night cashiers. Eli knew they were doing interviews for the position, but really hadn't thought about applying. Part of why he hadn't really considered it was because it would mean working from 10pm to 7am...ouch! After discussing it, Eli sat down to figure a schedule to see if it might work, then decided to go ahead & apply. Yep, you guessed it...Eli got the job, and a nice raise too!
So now Eli is going to work about the time I am getting ready for bed & he gets home either after the boys & I have left in the morning, or just as we are pulling out of the driveway on the days we are running late, then when I get home from work Eli is usually in bed.
With such a crazy schedule, we find ourselves spending the little bit of time when we are actually all together doing more "family" activities & find that this schedule actually work for us!
Provo Canyon School (a residential treatment center for troubled teens) has year-round school for the kids there & they really like Eli as a sub. In fact, Dave, the Director there told Eli he is more reliable than some of his full-time faculty. At the beginning of summer they called to see if Eli could cover a two-week vacation for one of the teachers there, so he did. Then he covered the next vacation, & the next one & the next one...you get the picture. Needless to say, most of the projects are still not complete. But that's okay, because the time was well spent.
At the end of summer during a discussion with the director, Eli mentioned that as a substitute he is in danger of losing his teaching license. To maintain his teaching license he needs to be employed by a school & continuing his schooling to earn his teaching degree. Eli explained that even though he is able to work full time as a substitute it doesn't count because he's employed by the temp agency that provides subs to the schools. So...the director created a position for Eli at Provo Canyon School. The school has not had a computer technology class in the past, but it does now! The class is only taught one period a day, but at least it helps Eli to be able to maintain his license.
They scheduled Eli's class period to be from 2:30 to 3:30, so that he can be done in time to get to WalMart by 4:00 on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Dave creating this position & scheduling the class to fit Eli's schedule has been a real blessing for us, we only had one concern. With Eli needing to be at Provo Canyon School by 2:30 he will now only be able to accept subbing positions at high schools, because the elementary & middle schools get out too late and that would mean less income. We decided not to worry & trust that things would work out for us.
A few weeks ago one of the managers at WalMart approached Eli to see if he'd be interested in interviewing for the CSM position managing the night cashiers. Eli knew they were doing interviews for the position, but really hadn't thought about applying. Part of why he hadn't really considered it was because it would mean working from 10pm to 7am...ouch! After discussing it, Eli sat down to figure a schedule to see if it might work, then decided to go ahead & apply. Yep, you guessed it...Eli got the job, and a nice raise too!
So now Eli is going to work about the time I am getting ready for bed & he gets home either after the boys & I have left in the morning, or just as we are pulling out of the driveway on the days we are running late, then when I get home from work Eli is usually in bed.
With such a crazy schedule, we find ourselves spending the little bit of time when we are actually all together doing more "family" activities & find that this schedule actually work for us!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Dad's One-Liners
It was a gorgeous day here in Provo today! The sun was out, the skies were blue & there was a crisp fall breeze. On the way home from work, I stopped by Jamestown to pick up dad for a visit & to run to the store with me to get some cough medicine for the boys, because you know how dad loves shopping!
Jamestown is located just up the street from BYU's intramural fields & dad usually comments on whatever sport is being played at the time...today was a little different. A cute young co-ed was jogging along the street dressed in both a black sports bra & incredibly tight short shorts & as we passed Dad said, "It looks like she forgot to get dressed before coming out!" I was glad we were in the car & she couldn't hear.
Jamestown is located just up the street from BYU's intramural fields & dad usually comments on whatever sport is being played at the time...today was a little different. A cute young co-ed was jogging along the street dressed in both a black sports bra & incredibly tight short shorts & as we passed Dad said, "It looks like she forgot to get dressed before coming out!" I was glad we were in the car & she couldn't hear.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Dad's Got a Friend
One of the hardest parts of having dad at Jamestown is the fact that in the Enhanced Care unit he does not get much social stimulation. There are lots of fun activities that keep him active and engaged, but unfortunately most of the other residents can not carry on a coherent conversation. The staff is very good about spending time with dad taking him along when they run errands and he has also been able to attend some of the activities at the activity center on the Assisted Living side, but unfortunately he doesn't usually remember.
When I went to pick him up for a visit last Saturday I noticed a man I'd never seen before and noticed he was having a conversation with one of the staff members. I asked dad if he had met him yet & he could not remember, but today as we walked through the lobby on our way out Mike (the new resident) stopped dad to shake his hand. While they were talking I asked the nurse (Summer) as she was opening the door for us if Mike was on the same level as dad & she said with a big grin, "Yes!" I guess that just after Mike moved in Summer had taken dad over to Mike's apartment to introduce them and now they spend a lot of time talking with one another.
Dad has never been a social butterfly by any means, but I know he has missed the opportunity to have a real conversation with the other residents. Yay for new neighbors & the chance for dad to have some more social stimulation!
When I went to pick him up for a visit last Saturday I noticed a man I'd never seen before and noticed he was having a conversation with one of the staff members. I asked dad if he had met him yet & he could not remember, but today as we walked through the lobby on our way out Mike (the new resident) stopped dad to shake his hand. While they were talking I asked the nurse (Summer) as she was opening the door for us if Mike was on the same level as dad & she said with a big grin, "Yes!" I guess that just after Mike moved in Summer had taken dad over to Mike's apartment to introduce them and now they spend a lot of time talking with one another.
Dad has never been a social butterfly by any means, but I know he has missed the opportunity to have a real conversation with the other residents. Yay for new neighbors & the chance for dad to have some more social stimulation!
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