[fromustobaby]

Well, if you read my vent from a few days ago, you know that I was definitely not having a good start to my wekk, but given some time to think, and talk it out...I'm much better now...

So, the update...

I'll start with the bad, cause I'm just laughing at it at this point...more of the roof collapsed in the guest bedroom (now its like a 6ft x 6ft. hole), taking out one of the blades of the fan also...luckily it is very dry and cold, and we bleached the exposed wood beams, so hopefully no mold...we have someone coming out tomorrow to fix the ceiling, and we have someone coming out today to measure the baby room for carpet, so we are just going to get carpet in that room also (since it will eventually be our second baby's room anyway)...

As for the good...first, apparently, I am getting a surprise baby shower - I had no idea (I really don't like making people do things for me, which is why I would have never *asked* for one), so that's kinda cool...I only really hang out with about 4 of the ladies around school, but they are going all out and including our whole department which will be fun, and I really appreciate it...

Second, we made a decision on my leave that I think I'm going to be pretty happy with...I will use up all my sick days - so be it, as long as I take no more days off before Kaiden is born, I will have a total of 32 sick days to use (6 weeks and 2 day), the nice thing is that it will be all paid leave, which is unexpected, then I will take one more week (actually 3 more days) off using FMLA (unpaid), and with Spring Break week thrown in there, that will give me a total of 8 weeks off with him, and only a few days of it will be unpaid...and, I wont come back till May, which means that I'll have only 6 weeks left when I come back...Matt is going to take those 6 weeks off to be with him during the day (and do his transformers business) - so no day care - YEA!!...then we will all go to UF, Matt will do what he needs to do at lab and I'll hang out, take care of Kaiden, get school work done...then we will eat dinner there, picnic, whatever, just enjoy time together...I know that those weeks fly by, and I'm going to be doing my mineral lab (favorite section) and then the current events projects (the kids do presentations - which is easy on me), and then The moon (another good, easy section), and then its review for finals and done...this will let me built up some money before the summer while still having a very decent amount of time with him, I think that it will work out well!!

And, we moved the bed against an interior wall (so much warmer), and the cold should be over my Thursday of next week - oh, and my heater is fixed in my classroom - YEAH!!!

[Lyz]

I'm so sorry you had such a crappy day with your ceiling and unexpected maternity leave...BUT, that's so awesome you have 8 weeks paid (minus a few days) and then Matt can stay with Kaiden for the other 6! You may suprise yourself and actually enjoy being back to work after those 8 weeks knowing that he's home with your hubby. I had to do the same thing (well, Bella is with my parents, not my hubby) and I don't mind being at work. I get the chance to actually miss her now and I love coming home and seeing her.

Yay for the suprise baby shower!! 8 weeks and counting girlie! He'll be here before you know it

[Etph007]

That's awesome that you worked it out! It's a nice relief to check things off the worry list I too enjoy being back at work- although I miss him terribly and I'm only here 2 days a week, it's nice to have other interactions with adults and a little intellectual stimulation

[MommaLee]

OMG I can't believe more of the ceiling fell I'm glad things are looking up though!

[karenwalter]

I'm glad you are going to get 8 weeks off to be with your little guy. Then it won't be too much longer until the summer. Sounds like you made a decision that will work for all of you. I'm glad things are looking a little better!

[stlgirl]

So glad to hear you have a plan in place that will allow you to avoid using Day Care and for you to only miss just over a month of intense mommy time with your little boy, between spring break and summer break. These kinds of decisions are so tough, so it is really great to know you and Matt have the flexibility to work it out. As for the roof...well...guess at some point you do just have to laugh it off. The universe likes to test our resolve and strength at times - having humor to weather the storm is a good way to get past those trials.

[Jodi0804]

Just getting to respond now. Being a teacher I understand your frustration with sick leave. I decided to take all of mine as well (about 8 weeks) but I'm taking off until April (thanksgiving, xmas, and spring break helped a lot). My district allows others to donate time to me so it will be paid, does yours do that? Being my Dh works in the district he too can donate to me as well as friends at every level as well as people we know at the board of education. I'm sure you would know if your district did that but just wanted to throw that out there just in case!

[amazing_love]

That's great Tonya! I'm glad it's going to work out well. 8 weeks off with Kaiden is wonderful! Sounds like a great plan

[Oreobaby]

I'm very glad you week has improved from earlier this week!!

I am glad that you have your mat leave worked out, and it sounds like a great plan!!! And good that Matt can take the time off.

[Sakeenco]

that is great that u figured things out so u can be with ur little one longer. That is one thing I like about here we get a year off I really think it isn't fair to have such a short period of time with ur newborn

[denalibear]

Im glad everything is looking up now...sounds like y'all have a good plan.