Final countdown

I can’t believe it, but we’re in the home stretch now before our trip.

Work

This week did not turn out exactly as I’d hoped, mostly due to some unexpected work stress. Another employee in our department recently took a new position and will be transitioning away (her last day is tomorrow). She has a more administrative data role (not a nurse), but unfortunately, many of her duties are regulatory requirement in nature. Meaning, they can’t just be left undone, or the transplant program would get in big trouble. Also unfortunately, for some unknown reason, HR hasn’t even posted her position for replacement yet!!!

So, the other RN Data Analysts and I have to cover for all of her duties- plus our own. For an undetermined amount of time, until a new person is hired and trained. The work isn’t exactly difficult, but there’s just a LOT. And obviously it’s all stuff we don’t normally do, and much of it is quite nuanced- and important to get right.

The whole transition has felt very sudden. Everyone is scrambling this week to have all these last minute meetings/ trainings/ etc. and the whole thing has been overwhelming. And, did I mention I’m leaving for a 2 week vacation tomorrow?? So the likelihood of me even remembering all of this new info when I get back is slim. Ha. My new trainee, who started this past fall, is basically freaking out because she still feels relatively new in her role, and now is being asked to take on all this complicated coverage, too….so I’ve been trying to reassure her (but it’s kind of the blind leading the blind!)… ay yi yi. Oh, and she’s going on vacation next week too! What a cluster. 🙃

Home

On the home front, things are looking good. The house remains mostly clean, the boys did the bathrooms last night and the fridge is EMPTY. Garbage is out. My clothes have been packed since the weekend, and we got the boys’ clothes mostly all laid out last night. Ivan packed his clothes too.

Tonight will be the remaining misc. stuff- the carry ons, books, chargers, etc. Passports and vaccine cards are already in my bag, though!

I just bought coach bus tickets to the airport (yikes the prices have gone up! There’s also a lovely fuel surcharge now, too). We’re about 3 hours from O’Hare and decided to just take the bus instead of driving and parking. By the time we pay for all those days (+ gas….), I think we come out ahead on the bus. Not to mention we just get to sit back and relax.

Our neighbors are coming over this afternoon to learn how to take care of the hot tub while we’re gone (yay for good neighbors!). I told them to feel free to use it!! Why let it sit there unused? 🙂

Luckily we also have Ivan’s sister and brother nearby, who will tag team to house sit. The hamsters are going to go live at his brother’s house for a while.

I need to run out Target or somewhere for a couple last minute items, but then I think we should be set!

It’s actually Ivan’s birthday tomorrow, so since we’ll be traveling on his birthday, we are getting together with his siblings tonight at his sister’s house for dinner (NOT at our house- don’t want to mess up my clean house! hahaha.).

Also- the boys’ St. Patty’s Day shirts arrived!! We’ll be in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day, so I ordered them each a green shamrock shirt. 🙂

Ethan has been downing shamrock shakes from McDonald’s like they’re going out of style….he’s obsessed!! Ivan keeps enabling his addiction and keeps buying them for him. 😂 I don’t think this has anything to do with Ireland trip prep, though. lol.

Off to get the boys up! It’s their last day. Their teachers have been super cool about them missing school. Their Social Studies teacher said (re: Rome)- “That will be a better history lesson than you’d get in school! Don’t worry about doing any school work- just enjoy!” She does want them to keep a journal of what they do + share it/pictures with the class when they get home. I like that plan. 🙂

Daily Gratitude:

I am grateful that Ivan’s brother/sister can house sit for us! Always such a relief to have people nearby to help out.