Christmas spirit

For whatever reason, I just couldn't get into the holiday spirit at all this year.  Well, actually I assume the reason is Q.  I know he is certainly why we were too tired to carve out space and take the time or expend the energy to decorate......at all.  We literally put up nary a piece of tinsel.

Still, it was a pleasant enough day (by Portland winter standards that is, which is to say no more awful than any other winter day here), and I didn't have to work, but I guess I am used to the holiday being somewhat relaxing.  We generally go over to Tia's folks and slowly open gifts, eat, and talk.  But, now with a baby, almost all of the time is spent trying to keep Q occupied and happy.  Going up to the store is sometimes difficult, but putting together a string of hours (because he does not sleep well at home, but sleeps FAR worse away from it) is exhausting.  This weekend we really pushed it too.

Saturday night, we went out to a gathering with some of Tia's workmates.  Her boss (who hosted) has two preteen sons who could not have been better with Q, but even with their help, he had a somewhat hard time being up and out past his usual 6pm slumber time.  Then, we had pics taken on Sunday afternoon, for which he was pretty good, though required an incredible amount of cajoling.  Sunday night he was in mostly meltdown mode at a family Xmas party.

I don't mean to frame it as a complaint.  I know that it isn't like he is willfully being a difficult baby.  He just is.  You might as well blame gravity for the rain falling down.  It is just, well, tiresome.  It makes me feel worn and every minute of my 35+ years.  Seeing his very portable and easygoing cousin today just further emphasizes exactly how much more difficult Q is.

On the positive side, he has clearly been really maturing.  He is definitely starting to chatter more and more, play more actively, and interact somewhat.  He has yet to get to a point where he can entertain himself for more than a few minutes though.  Hopefully soonish.

Have been training the new gal at work.  She seems really nice, though not terribly confident about the clinic as yet.  It still remains unclear how long they will keep me with her, but I hope until she feels comfortable.  Of course, at some point they will take off the training wheels.

Have put in some apps elsewhere with the faint hope that maybe one of them will turn up something.  I know it is always 'the grass is greener' but one of the positions would be a return to an area of real interest, asthma and allergy.  Of course, it is with KP, so I assume I have the same odds of running across Obama at the local Whole Foods.  But, we shall see if I manage to keep up my .000 batting average there.  At least I know it isn't personal, with a number of nurses (including the gal I am training) getting not so much as a call back with many more years of nursing under their belts than I.

Tia is sick....again.  Poor thing has been healthy about 7 days in the past 60.  Not enough sleep, too much stress, and of course no real downtime to rest.  An ideal combination for poor health.  Hopefully her current issues resolved quickly.....for her sake and my own.

I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful holiday.  I am overdue for bed time.....or else tomorrow will be very very difficult.