Setting Life/Work Balances

I am very excited!  I finally got up the nerve to ask my boss if I could work a 9/80 schedule. 

I am the only one of my kind at this site so I figured that since that was the case that I would always have to be on duty when anyone else that I support works.  My husband has worked a 9/80 schedule since we moved to Huntsville.  What this means is that he gets every other Friday off and he works 80 hours in 9 days.  Since I already work 9 plus hours a day, that meant that I was actually working 9 extra hours a payday (every two weeks) that wasn't paid.  I've always been ok with that because there is always plenty of work but...Cancer has changed my outlook a little bit. 

I need to get a life/work balance going and make sure that Tom and I spend as much time together as we can just in case tomorrow doesn't keep us together.  So I broached the subject. 

I sent him an email that said, "I know the 9/80 schedule was offered recently to our group and I declined but I'd like to re-evalute this thought. My husband has always worked a 9/80 schedule and I would like to go to his schedule, if possible. We'd like to start driving in together when possible. With the price of gas and because I would like to spend as much quality time with him as I can, it would be great if I could get on his schedule. I've attached a copy of his schedule from April 18 - July 8th for this year for your review. The way it works out, I would be working 44 hours one week and 36 the other week. Since I work through lunch anyway and I would be getting here around 6:15 instead of 6:30 (since he has to have time to get to work) you'd be getting way more hours than that out of me.


You can say no and I'll just chalk it up to "I tried"…8-)"

He replied with, "I don't have a problem with the flex time but you would need to change the Friday off to align with the day that GMD is off.  Since they are our major customer.  Can Tom change his day off?"

I wrote back, "No, he can’t change his day off.  Other people take days off that aren’t GMD’s day off…why would this be different?"

I was about to get into whiney mode at this point...He replied with, "Not necessarily different just trying to serve the majority of our customers….."

I'm feeling like he is jerking me around now so I write my other boss (yeah, I've got two) and ask him if he thinks Jack is jerking me around.   He assures me that he isn't and that as long as I am available for 'emergencies' that he thinks that Jack will agree to the change in schedule.

So, the agreement is that I will have my work computer up and running in case there are any tool emergencies that anyone needs help on.  I have no problem with that.   It's a win-win for everyone. 

By Grace Alone -

Teresa

Zometa Infusion

I received my infusion of Zometa today to prevent osteoporosis that could occur because of the Femara medication I am on.  They will be giving me this treatment every 6 months for as long as I am on Femara.  (5 years)  It wasn't bad at all.  They put the needle in my port (at the lab) and then I headed over to the short term area for the infusion.  The nurse talked to me about all the possible side effects.  (Nausea, vomiting, tiredness, fever, headache, loss of appetite, low levels of red blood cells, bone pain, and difficulty breathing and one biggee that is called Osteonecrosis of the jaw which is necrosis (dying) of the jaw bone.  She assured me that only 1% of patients ever get that and it is usually because they had some type of infection in their mouth to begin with.  Niiiiiccce.  

It's three hours after the infusion and so far, no problems.  Yeah!!  Now I have to get some calcium supplements and vitamin D so that the Zometa will have something to work with.  Zometa takes the calcium in your blood stream and deposits it into your bones.  Pretty cool, huh?  Well, it only works if you have calcium in your blood stream to deposit.  HA!   

I went back to the office to work this week and it has been fine so far.  My white count is still slightly low so I am still being cautious around sick people.  Of course, you can't deny someone a hug if they want to give you one and that seems to be the favorite thing to do around here since I got back.  8-)  I work with a lot of really nice and caring people.

I hate that I don't have a lot of chat time with Mom now that I'm back at work.  It is back to the hectic pace again and I work all day, rush home to cook supper, and then collapse on the couch for about an hour before bed.  It was nice to play and chat together for a while anyway.  8-)  I'm sure we'll catch up on the weekend.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

By Grace Alone -

Teresa