Are you my social worker?

In the three-plus months I have been at my new job, I have not heard any phrase more than, "Are you my social worker?" Most days, I can't help but feel like the poor dog on the cover of Are you my mother? by P.D. Eastman - tired, worn out, and possibly exasperated by the over anxious, energetic little bird. And, my patients, like that little bird, are just scared, confused, and wanting someone to help them. (Unlike the bird, though, they are also psychotic, paranoid, and delusional which makes it even worse.)

Most days in my job, I struggle to manage a caseload of 15, 20, or more patients who desperately want 100% of my time, energy, and attention. However, by the time I schedule morning report, treatment team, discharge arrangements, psychosocial assessments, groups, and family planning into my day, I usually don't have time to spend more than a few minutes of one on one time with each of my patients.

This past week, though, we were able to go on diversion for several days, and my caseload dropped below ten at the end of the week! It was so rewarding to actually have time to speak to all of my patients for more time than usual but not have to brush of the patients who weren't mine as well. I was able to speak to a woman who was very upset for just a few minutes, reassure her that she was able to find words in the crossword puzzle she was trying to do, and that yes, she was safe in the hospital.

While it may be chaotic on Monday when I return to work, at least I can feel a little bit renewed as to why I became a social worker. The next time someone asks me, "Are you my social worker?" I hope I can pause for just a moment longer to not just inform each person who their social worker actually is but to also share a smile and a bit of reassurance before I hurry quickly to my next task in my overly busy day.

The World's Worst Blogger

So...I guess it's pretty much official...I am the world's worst blogger. I did not even realize that it had been 2 1/2 months since I'd posted ANYTHING on here at all. Whoops. Between starting my new position December 1st, studying for my LMSW, being a wife to a first year medical student (I got to help Devin with his Neuro/Psych unit!), and buying a house, life has been a little crazy. Here's a synopsis of the past 11 weeks...

It was very exciting to put up our first Christmas tree together...I absolutely LOVED our first Christmas and everything that surrounded it. We got to start some fun traditions of our own and spend time with our families as well. It was a perfect balance.

We hung stockings for ourselves and Blue as well. He really got spoiled at Christmas.

One of Devin's presents was a grill from his parents. We have had a lot of fun learning to use it. (And, by we I mean him. I just like to watch and maybe make glazes and such.)

On Februaury 5, Blue turned 1 year old! It's crazy how the time has flown. Ironically, his best friend Charlie also turned 1 the same day. This is one of my favorite pictures of the two of them from when Charlie was staying over.

On February 12, we had about a foot of snow here in Augusta. We played outside for a couple hours that night. After snowball fights, building a six and a half foot snowman, and chasing Blue around, we finished the night by building Blue a little snowcave. He couldn't quite understand why we made him sit in there, though.

And, last but definitely not least, this is a picture of the house we are buying. The picture is small and really doesn't do the house justice because I had to download it from Realtors.com, but I'm sure there will be many more pictures to follow. We are very excited and set to close on March 26. That's only three weeks from tomorrow!

So, that pretty much sums up our life in Augusta right now. Devin's doing well in school and really enjoying learning. I'm trying to decide whether it will be easier to take my LMSW while trying to get ready for closing on the house or while trying to paint and tile our new house. Thankfully, I only have to decide two days in advance, so I don't have to decide yet!

I'm a grown-up now!

So, it has finally sunk in that I'm an adult...I think. Finishing grad school and getting married weren't enough. But now I think I've hit it because...

I made my first student loan payment today!!!

YIKES!!!

Crazy, huh? This comes just two weeks after starting my first official social work job. I spent four months working as an activity therapist part time before transferring departments at East Central Regional Hospital. I went from playing Yahtzee with consumers to trying to find them places to live. My long, leisurely lunches were swapped with "working lunches" where I try to type and eat a sandwhich at the same time. Leaving 9 minutes early (on the dot) has turned into me being excited if I'm only 9 minutes late getting out.

But, I wouldn't trade the jobs back for anything. I love helping my consumers. I love feeling important. I love having my own office (even if I'm still waiting for a phone). And, I love truely making a difference. Being a grown-up can actually be fun...

O Christmas Tree

Two weeks later than we had planned, we finally put up our Christmas Tree!!! As this is our first Christmas together since being married, I was really looking forward to this. And, our tree may only be three feet tall and not real, but I absolutely love it!

Merry Christmas!!!

Private Healthcare and the Public Option: A Halloween Story

For the past six weeks, our thoughts have focused on Halloween--candy, costumes, plans, etc. We were very excited. Every time we found candy that was at least 50% off at Publix, we bought it. There are so many kids in our neighborhood, and we didn't want to be short. In the end, we had 20 pounds of all "the good stuff." And, we hadn't touched a single piece while in the stockpiling mode.

Our next delima was our costumes. We didn't dress up last year, so we'd never had to come up with matching ideas. This was a BIG challenge. (Devin would want to be a ninja, but I'm too tall to be a geisha....) Eventually, while looking at Grim Reaper and medical accessories side by side in a costume store, we had it! We'd be Death and a Doctor...aka Private Healthcare and the Public Option. Without imposing our views on anyone else (we never said who was who) we received quite a few laughs.

For our festivities, we also made white chocolate peanut butter balls to look like eyeballs for a party.

We had to find a costume that actually fit for our tall, long, and super skinny dog (The Devil).

We carved Mr. Pumpkin.

And, we attempted to had out our candy. After a torrential downpour, we sat in our driveway to entice a few more trick-or-treaters. Ten kids claimed candy, leaving roughly 17 pounds yesterday morning. We've shared with neighbors, missionaries, and friends and are now under ten pounds left to go. It was a little sad not to have more kids come...

But, there's always next year!

79 days...

When our landlords moved out of our house and transferred their mail, this did not stop the flow of random catalogs that arrive at our house. For a while, I would throw them away as they were marked "for current resident," and I was sure these would be reordered at their new house. Then, I started to browse one last week, and it was FULL of the most exciting and random Christmas items! When I found one in the mailbox this afternoon, I was soooo excited to look through it. I guess this new catalog love has made me a little pathetic, but it's definitely gotten me in the Christmas spirit already! Now, I can't wait to start decorating our new house for the season...especially hanging stockings for Devin, Blue and me!

Life is...

...laughing with my husband until we both can't breathe.
...watching my dog chase a toy around the house.
...smelling the fresh rain as I'm leaving work.
...sitting on the porch with neighbors while our dogs play together.
...finding a cereal that I love on sale at Publix.
...knowing I have Halloween candy hidden and not eating
any of it...yet.
...renting a movie and talking to the employees who know
us by name.
...eating a homemade dinner at the end of a long, long day.
...smiling just because I see my Babe.
...smiling just because I think of my Babe.
...knowing my Babe loves me as much as I love him.

Life is very, very good!