Let Me Catch My Breath

Ever since I got back from my vacation it has been absolutely non-stop. Work has been the usual craziness but the weekends have been a special kid of crazy.

The first Saturday that I was back I had a play therapy training in the morning and a friend's wedding that afternoon.

Sandtray from the play therapy training.

Albert and Haley's Walking Dead themed ceremony.

On Sunday I hosted a baby shower for my sister-in-law.

The cake.

Brandi gets very excited about gifts.

This past weekend has been just as busy. This past Saturday I got my hair cut, had a Romanian lesson, and went to a farewell party for two of my friends who are moving to Costa Rica with their daughters to be missionaries.

Baby monitors!

Sunday was another baby shower in Marietta. This one was co-ed so my brother got to come/participate as well.
Needless to say, by Sunday afternoon I'm exhausted. And, for some reason, everyday I come home and want to do nothing more than go to bed. *But*...I decided to knit a bunch of Christmas gifts, gifts the need to be shipped actually, and I really need to get them finished in...oh...about 2 weeks. So, I've been trying to find the energy to knit at least a little bit before bed every day.

With the holidays coming up, family dinners/parties, another baby shower, and still needing to shop for Christmas presents I'm probably going to be a little busy for the next month or so. And more than a little tired.

Just a Quick Check-In

Just thought I'd pop over to give a quick update...

First of all, we had a bit of drama at work this week when part of the ceiling caved it (literally) during a rainstorm.

Before the cave in. A very threatening look water bubble.

After the cave in. There was a huge "crack" and then the "goosh" of water rushing out.

More aftermath.

I spent about 2 hours today (Saturday) at the storage unit for Walking With Orphans sorting things and trying to get shipments ready to send out. I wish I had pictures. There were boxes and bags everywhere. At one point some empty boxes fell and I looked around and realized I was literally trapped between the rolling cart with the boxes and the wall of donations behind me. (Obviously) I was able to get myself out and get everything (somewhat) organized. I cannot wait until we have some real office space with ample storage. I have no idea when to even expect that day to come but I'm holding out hope...

I have been staying up way too late every night. I'm a night owl but it's like I get busy and then I suddenly realize it's 11:15 (as it currently is) and I have to be up at 7:30. I could (and probably should) sleep a little later but it takes me so long to get moving in the morning before work that I need 2 hours just to wake up. I downloaded this app that tracks my sleep and wakes me up at the optimal time in my sleep pattern. There is a 30 minute window that I program it for and it wakes me up at the best time in that window so that I don't oversleep by hours waiting for the best time for me to wake up (because that time would probably be noon).

I don't know exactly what makes my sleep "efficient" but I guess I'm doing ok. Please note the erratic pattern in my going to sleep and waking times. Also not that after about 4 a.m. I do not really get any more deep sleep. And let's not forget that my "average" bed time is 12:44 and I'm getting (on average) about 6 and half hours of sleep every night. So, yeah, I need to go to bed...like 2 hours ago.

I am taking my parents to the airport very early in the morning. They are taking a trip to Hawaii for a week. I'm so pumped for them. I loved Hawaii and hope they have a great time (and that the impending tropical storm doesn't cause too many issues for them).

Me on North Shore. November 2006

After I drop them off, I'm doing a fun run.

And then I'm babysitting until Sunday afternoon/evening.

So, again, methinks I should be asleep already...

What I Will Be Doing Today

Today I have to go to work. I'm going in around 2 so that leaves my morning pretty open. Here are the things I could be doing:

• vacuuming
• washing clothes
• logging donations for Walking With Orphans
• updating the Walking With Orphans website
• figuring out how to get the next big fundraiser launched
• writing letters to the kids in Romania
• mailing my tax information off
• repainting my nails
• studying Romanian
• going to church
• dusting

Here is what I am more likely to be doing:

• knitting
• reading blogs

My week has been insane. I'm so over work right now and I'm a little miffed that we're not closer to being prepared for this audit than we already are. Once this gets finished I may take a weekend getaway to somewhere fabulous where my cell phone doesn't have reception so no one can find me. I will try and actually be a little productive today and maybe do some laundry or write some letters to the kids. And I will probably watch my church service online. But I think a mental health break is beyond needed.

Audit Time

I have been absent from the blog for almost a week now. In fact I've been pretty much absent from anything else but work for the past week. Why? It's audit time!

Twice a year our agency gets audited by APS insurance.

Grrr....

APS is what we call "straight Medicaid." It's the highest tier of government healthcare that you can get. Most people on Medicaid have Wellcare or Peachstate or another CMO. APS is reserved for kids on social security or in the foster care system. If you are a foster parent or adopted a child from the foster care system then you are probably familiar with APS. APS offers a lot of good options, namely, the most units of mental health care (though they have been cut a lot over the years).

I have a love/hate relationship with APS. Generally speaking we are able to get enough units to keep our kids in care for as long as they need. And kids who have APS are likely to need mental health services for a while. However, because APS is such a high tier and the kids are such special exceptions they are sticklers for rules. You better cross your t's and dot your i's and put a signature and date beside them too. And don't forget to file it away in alphabetical and numerical order in a 9x12 file folder within 5 days of the date of service. Ok, so those aren't really the rules but they might as well be.

Once we get the email that we are being audited we have two weeks to make sure our files are in tip top shape. All notes filed, all billing billed, all papers signed, all psychological assessments with original signatures...When you have 80+ kids (active and discharged because they look at both) who at one time or another had APS healthcare, that's a lot of checking. We usually work 12 hour days during the work week for two weeks plus 8 hours on Saturday.

I had fully prepared for that onslaught this week after we got an email stating our audit would be April 31st. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I worked from 7 to 7. Then something magical happened. I worked a regular day on Friday and was told that I didn't need to come in on Saturday! We've been auditing files twice a month in preparation for an audit and the work seems to have paid off. There were fewer things that I needed to be around to fix. Most of the files have been looked at two or three times. Now, we are just waiting on corrections. I'm praying that this trend will keep up. As much as I like having the extra comp time (paid time off) I like keeping my sanity more. And audit does not keep me sane.

With all this free time I think I'll catch up on Romanian homework...and sleep.