Dance Camp

Kelsey had dance camp last weekend. She was gone for the whole day with the other kids in h camp. Even though it wasn't the traditional overnight camp most people think of, it was her first experience like this and she really seemed to enjoy it!


They learned a new dance routine, had pizza for lunch, played group games and went swimming. At the end, they did a performance for the parents.


The Hula Hoop Game - Kelsey really likes this one. They passed the Hula Hoop around the circle while holing hands the entire time, they had to climb through it to pass it to the next person.




Part of the Dance Routine

See the little boy to the right of Kelsey? He kicked her in the mouth on accident right after this was taken. But she was a trooper, instead of crying, she kept n dancing and her eyes only watered up. Bless her heart!!


The Group Shot - see how Kesley has her hands on the little boy's shoulders? She forgives quickly!

Free At Last

I'M FREE!!!

I'm free of all the doctor's visits - I'm healed!! And even better, I'm free of my old job!! Let me start from while I was on medical leave...

My old employer has a policy for paid medical leave. As payroll processor, I saw firsthand the kind of payments that were made - and I know that they have paid people 100% for 6-8 weeks. So, since I've been there as long as the people I've seen them pay that way, I figured I would be treated the same. WRONG. I only got 100% for a few weeks and then I was knocked down to just a percentage of my pay. When I called HR to ask about it, I was told that I wasn't entitled to the 100% pay for as long as the other people. THEN I was informed, rudely, that FMLA rules don't apply to me (as far as being able to be off for up to 12 weeks and still have a job to return to) because my position is one that no one else is trained to fill - I took that as a threat to my job security. After that, I was chastised for "stringing" them along - they thought every week that I would be back the next week and then they would find out that I was going to be off for yet another week. I told them that wasn't true - that I had informed my boss and another HR representative that I would be out for an undetermined length of time. It wasn't my fault if they ASSUMED that length of time would only be a week.

Anyway - this horrible conversation happened on a Friday, and I felt sick all over again afterward because I was afraid I was going to loose my job when I got better. God was watching over me though....

The recruiter I had been working with before I fell ill called me and told me that a company I had previously expressed an interest in had an opening and they wanted to interview me. By this time, I knew that I was going to be returning to work after my next Dr visit AND I was afraid I'd be losing my job, so I agreed to meet with them. The meeting went well and they called me in for a 2nd interview the day of my doctor appointment. That meeting also went very well. When I went to the doctor, I was told I could return to work the next Tuesday. I informed my current employer the same day.

The next day, I received a phone call from my recruiter stating that the new company wanted to extend an offer of employment - he told me what they were offering, and I tentatively agreed verbally. The next morning, I received an official offer letter from them via e-mail. I signed the offer letter and wrote my resignation letter to my old employer. Then I went to the plant to deliver the letter personally. I was only giving them a week's notice, partly because I was so upset at how they had treated me and partly because the new employer wanted me to start 7-2-07. They accepted the letter and said that they wanted me to work the following week so I could complete a few tasks and train someone to handle my responsibilities.

However, when I arrived to work on Tuesday, I was summoned to HR before I even made it to my desk. When I got to HR, I was informed that they had decided to accept my resignation effective immediately. I was thrilled!! I didn't really want to go back to work for them anyway - I was only agreeing to do it so that I was so unprofessional as to quit without notice. I packed up my personal belongings and came home. I just wish they would have told me that Friday when I brought the letter in - it would have saved me some gas!

When I got home, I called my recruiter and told him the news. He then called my new employer and they asked if I could start the next day. So, I started my new job 3 business days sooner than planned.

And I love it!! The people are great - the company is strong - the job will be challenging yet do-able - the pay is much better. I am so happy!! My old job had me absolutely miserable for a very long time - it's great to finally be in a happy, stable environment!!

Long Awaited Update

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted! I've just been so frustrated at the lack of answers that I haven't even wanted to bother with creating a post. Basically, the doctors still have no idea what's wrong with me. I am, however, either starting to feel better of growing used to feeling dizzy so much that I don't notice it as badly.

Last week my family doctor told me that they had decided they're not going to do any more tests that aren't already scheduled. She said that since they'd ruled out all the really bad stuff, they can't justify running more and more tests. Whatever - I AM going to get a second opinion when that UofM doctor returns from vacation next week. She also told me that I could go back to work, but she didn't want me driving yet, so I can only work from home for the next two weeks. But my employer vetoed that idea - they said I either come back to the office or stay out on medical leave, so I'm still on medical leave until further notice.

This weekend Kelsey became ill and was vomiting a lot, so we spent the night at the ER with her Friday night/Saturday morning. The doctors gave her a shot for nausea and did an X-Ray of her abdomen. They said they saw some "glowing" spots in her bowels and that normal food doesn't glow,, so they wanted to know what she might have gotten into, such as paint chips or rocks or something. After some extensive questioning, Kelsey finally admitted that she had eaten her fingernail polish off, so the doctor said that was probably what had made her so ill.

NOT the case, though, as we found out the next night when I became ill too. Apparently we had both caught some sort of stomach bug. No worries - we're both doing fine from that now!

Last night I was back at urgent care with Kelsey. Her mother called me around 7pm and said that she had been bitten twice on the arm by a neighbor dog and that the neighbor refused to say if the dog was up on its shots or not. UGGG. That poor kid!!! So, I met her at Urgent Care and we saw a doctor. The wound wasn't too bad, it actually looked more like another child had bitten her than anything, I guess it was a really small dog. And her skin was barely even torn. The doctor gave Kelsey some antibiotics and sent her home. Kelsey taunted her mom as we left saying, "See? I told you I wouldn't get a shot, Mommy!!!" I'm just glad she was okay and it was nothing too serious. I hope those people learn to keep their stupid dog chained up though...

Today I went to the hospital for the Tilt Table Test that was ordered weeks ago and took forever to get in for. It was miserable, being strapped to a table in an upright position for 20 minutes at a time (twice) while they checked my blood pressure a million and one times. I couldn't even move to itch, I felt like a prisoner, and it made me really anxious. In the end, they found nothing. What a waste of time...but my doctor will say "At least we can rule heart problems out now".

Whatever, I just want some answers. I want to get back to my normal life and stop being trapped in my own home all the time!! At least I've got a loving husband, wonderful step-daughter, lovable dog and great friends and family! I don't know what I'd do otherwise!!!