Night Shift Sitter Options?

Wanted:  Babysitters for the night shift...

After 5 years with Pinnacle Airlines, Wade is making a job move to Delta Airlines!  This is something he has wanted for a long time and is glad to be getting his foot in the door.  He starts tomorrow.  Congrats, Honey!

With this change will come other changes...he will be working the night shift (leaving at 7:30 pm and returning the next morning at 7:30 am) with different days off each week.  He will also be taking a pretty hefty pay cut and thus will need to work often at his parents' farm to make up the difference.  (Why is he taking this job, you ask?  Because he has wants to work for a major airline and work on bigger airplanes.  His salary with Pinnacle was almost capped out, too, and though this move to Delta as a mechanic's assistant is initially a step back, his hope is that he will eventually be able to move into a better paid mechanic position once internal hires start happening down the road.)

I also plan to continue taking 1-2 private doula clients per month.  With that I'm needing to re-establish my options for childcare with Wade's new hours.  Wondering if anyone knows of anyone--particularly teens or college age gals (paid) whom I might be able to call in the evening and who could potentially sleep here for part/all of the night if I'm called in for a birth?  Or, does anyone have any other ideas I might not have considered?  

Thanks!

Five Question Friday

I stole this idea from my friend Nikki.  I know it's past Friday, but I thought it would be fun anyway.  Go to http://www.fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com if you want to play along.

Sorry about the ginormous font size here...couldn't figure out how to change it, and decided not to bother.

1. Do you sing karaoke? If so, what is your go to song?

I've never sung karaoke, but truth be told, I've always wanted to.  I have no idea what I'd sing.  Any suggestions?

2. What is your favorite coffee drink?

Hmm...maybe a white chocolate mocha frappuccino.  There's also this frozen blended caramel peanut butter drink at Hudson Bagel & Coffee that I love--it's not on the menu, but there's a gal there who makes it upon request, and just beams if you ask for it. I also used to love Commuter's Cup's Velveteen Rabbit cold blended drink, but now under new management it costs a lot more and doesn't taste the same at all.  Such is life.

3. If you could choose your own name, what would it be?

Actually, I'm one of those rare folks who has always loved their name.  Kara or Kara Jo, I like them both.

4. Were you ever bullied?

Was picked on a little for my nose, and for being a smart "goodie-goodie" in school.  The nose thing bothered me a bit, but the other stuff--not so much.

5. How often do you eat fast food?

Not too often...maybe once a month?

China

Having an Aunt who has spent a considerable amount of time in China, the subject comes up periodically in our family.  Emily wants her Aunt Bria to come to her classroom and talk about China.  And once Abby informed us all that "she's part Asian."  (Got it confused with Swedish.)  Today was another good one.  As Abby got ready for school this morning and admired herself in the mirror she confessed "Mom, I'd like to go to China, but I'd be afraid because with my blond hair they'd be all over me there...and plus there's also those giant bugs..."

I'm speechless.

My Mom

Sometimes life can be more painful than we ever dreamed it could be.  The following is an update on my sweet mom, who was diagnosed with cancer (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) this past August.  (Read here for my original blog post.)

Mom finished her round of chemo at the end of December and had been on the road to recovery.  Her January PET scan showed no visible signs of cancer, but we knew we would have to wait for a second PET scan in March to know for sure if there was anything that just hadn't presented yet.  We were hopeful, though, as the oncologist said there was only a 20-25% chance that the cancer would resurface...We hoped she was finally in the clear...

Last week we noticed that she'd had some slight confusion, and this past weekend she ended up in the ER where an MRI was done and showed that the cancer (presumably the same Lymphoma) had spread to her brain.  She had a large amount of swelling around the tumor which had put her at great risk for a seizure.  We are thankful they caught it in time.  Radiation was started yesterday and the oncologist is confident that we should be able to get it completely.  The bad news, though, is that because the cancer spread to her brain (which is not usually typical of Lymphoma), this means it is probably in her blood and will now very likely show up someplace else.  So unless God decides to do a miracle (which He could!), this will not be end of it.  That's scary, to say the least.

I've cried an ocean's worth of tears this weekend.  I am afraid of losing my mom.  She means the world to me, and is so so precious in the lives of my children as well.  Despite my fear I am also completely convinced that God is trustworthy in all of this.  He can be trusted with my mom's life, and also for whatever He is allowing or has planned.  As I pray for healing, I am standing on the promise that He is always up to good for those He loves...her good, my good, etc.  That may not look the way we think it should, however.  Healing may not come in the way we would most desire.  He holds us tenderly in His hands, nonetheless.  He is not distant, but intimately involved in each detail.  And somehow, His grace is enough for today.  Glory be to His Name!

With Hope,

Kara Jo

You can also go to her Caring Bridge site for updates.  (Go to Caringbridge.org, and  login under Judi Knutson, probably without the space in between her first and last name.)

I Did It!!!

As you might know, from my previous post, I've been waiting to get the official stamp of approval on my doula certification.  A couple days ago I received a voice mail from DONA (Doulas of North America--the premier doula organization) saying they wanted to talk to me about my application.  Uh-oh, I thought...I wonder what I did wrong...?  Nervously I dialed the phone to call them back and find out...

Well, I just got off the phone with DONA and the Canadian rep who'd reviewed my application informed me that I am officially certified as a Birth Doula with DONA International!  (She had only called the other day to tell me herself--I hadn't done anything wrong!)  She said my references were "raving;" my certification packet was "wonderfully put together and organized," and that she wanted to steal one of my ideas from my resource list. :)

Yippee--I am so relieved!!!  I did it!!! 
My new title is Kara Jo Prestrud CD(DONA)

Patience is a Virtue

Dear Person who is reviewing my application for doula certification:

I conscientiously completed all the requirements...the births, the papers, the classes, etc., and mailed my 41 page application packet on Nov 30th.  You verified that you received my application and that you would try your best to have it reviewed within the standard 2 month allotment.   You mentioned that you are sometimes slow to follow through and to email you if need be.  I emailed you a week ago and still have heard nothing....so here I wait...on the edge of my seat...wondering if I will be considered worthy of DONA's title and credentials.  :)   No, not really. As I've waiting and attended 4 more births in the meantime, I've realized I am a good doula--with or without the title.  This is a gift from God and a privilege to be able to serve in this capacity.  Lord, please let everything I do be for You and to help point others to You.  That includes being patient.  :)