While this summer was a great summer of change for me personally, there were some things in the wings that wound up becoming things that will ultimately change our lives.
We moved into this condo almost 7 years ago. We were blessed with family who could help us buy it, and while we paid the mortgage, we were technically "renting" it. Over time, it was starting to feel like we could never assume the mortgage on our condo, but it was the original arrangement that we would when we could. We applied last year and were turned down, so when we went back to try again this year, I was very nervous. Due to some changes in the way Jeff was paid, we were approved for the mortgage on the condo! That in and of itself was so exciting!!
After a summer of back and forth between Jeff and the bank (they aren't used to how Jeff is paid and it caused some confusion) and many many many times where the bank should have followed through and didn't, the paperwork FINALLY went to the lawyer and in two weeks, this condo will be OURS! This is HUGE!! We really want to buy a new home in the near future, but we thought we'd need to be in our condo for a minimum of a full year before we could start looking.
Turns out, we were wrong! Because we've been in our condo for the past seven years, we will be able to spend the winter doing upgrades on flooring, walls and such, and then start looking for a real house in the spring! We are very lucky that life happened the way it did because it helps us get into the market a lot easier than it would have if we were considered first time buyers. We will already have enough equity in the condo next spring for us to be able to buy a new home relatively easily. It will be a challenge to find a home in the area we are in now. I love our neighbourhood. I love our school. I really think we've set down some pretty strong roots in our area, and leaving it just makes me sad. I don't want to start out in a new school, especially for Logan's sake, (I will get into that in a minute). Jeff and I were able to spend most of our lives in the same homes and we never changed schools until it was time to. I want my kids to have that security. It's very important to me.
As I have mentioned before, the main reason I was diagnosed with ADHD was because of Logan. I saw him struggling, noted that he needed help and reached out to start the process. After I spoke to an educational assessor about his needs, she felt that he didn't need to go a lot further in the process and so we put an end to the process at the Grey Nuns. Turns out, we need to go further into the process for Logan.
He's already struggling, and showing signs of having a very tough time. It's taking a lot of patience and understanding on my part, but his frustration grows as he struggles with his reading and writing. I feel really bad for him, because he wants so badly to be successful in school. He has the desire to learn and really wants to understand what he's learning. It's important to me that he get the enjoyment he wants for his schooling. He's so smart and so capable. But there's that block...and it's not getting better.
So we are back into the process. I think. I have a bunch of phone calls to make tomorrow and see what's happening in regards to resending his original referral to the Grey Nuns. My family doc is more than willing to send a referral, but he felt that if we could send the original referral, then it would speed up the process. The school is willing and able to test him more formally and send it on to the Grey Nuns as well and I am finding that the support I'm getting is wonderful. His teacher and I are in regular communication and I am hoping that knowing more about what we know will help him in the long run. It helps that I have ADHD too, and I've told him that of everyone in his life, nobody will understand him better than I will. It has helped him to know that there is someone in his life who can totally understand what he feels and how hard it can be.
In the realm of my own educational pursuits, I think I have finally come upon a career path that will be wonderful for me, and a career that my my suit me because of my ADHD.
In my researching for the LPN degree, I came across the Hospital Unit Clerk program. I can take this program at a number of places that do 14 to 27 week programs, but when my mother in law looked up information on the qualifications for that position, they asked for a one year program. Turns out, Grant Macewan University offers a 10 month program. Being that it's a university certificate, it makes me look better to employers and I have a much more comprehensive education to bring to the table.
Given my own people skills, my capability of organization (especially in the work place), my level of energy and capability of handling more than one thing at once, I think I would be very good in this position. I am eager to learn, eager to work and eager to work with a team. I like the idea of being an LPN, but I'm not sure that I want that type of responsibility. There is also the fact that I'd need to choose a place where I'd want to work and I can think of areas I'd love to work in, but there are always limitations. I couldn't work in an ER for a few years after getting my degree, I could never do pediatrics or maternity. I'd love psychiatric nursing, but that's a different degree altogether and Jeff isn't comfortable with the idea of me working with people who have the potential of being dangerous. Other areas would probably bore me to death, and others would affect me emotionally at a level that I probably couldn't handle. But if it had been the degree I'd have chosen and had a passion for, I'd have figured it out!
Being a unit clerk gives me the opportunity to work in a hospital, work with people but still not carry that PHYSICAL level of responsibility that being an LPN has. I'm not a fan of sticking needles in people and such. I want to be there, be a part of their experience in anyway I can help, but I'm not sure I want to be the one to draw blood and such.
And a hospital unit clerk makes about as much money as an LPN. It's worth it financially. And generally, the hours are a Monday to Friday, 9-5 type job. So I won't be missing out on life with my kids. It fits us wonderfully, and allows me to add financially to our family!
Logan has just started biathalon and turns out, he has a real aptitude for it. His first day, I watched my boy use a real gun for the first time! He was able to use the air rifles several times, and even got to shoot a .22 rifle. The .22 was a bit big for him, but he did well. By the end of the session, he shot 5 for 5 with the air rifle! He was so happy and just on cloud nine. He told me that out of 100, 100 being the best, he said that Biathalon was easily a 100! He came home and bragged to all of his friends about his experience and even was able to keep a couple of the .22 shells. So hopefully, that will help us to channel some of his attention issues. I've heard stories of many famous athletes who were able to find that specific sport that helped them focus their ADHD and do the best! Michael Phelps is a HUGE example of a person with ADHD who found his niche in swimming!
So, lots of big things happening in the next year. A new house (possibly sooner than we ever thought!!) a new career path and a new way of handling our little boy and his learning. Three HUGE life altering things. Add this to the rest of the day to day life things that happen, and we are in the middle of a great time in our lives. There has rarely been such a marvellous time, and after this summer, I had thought that it couldn't get better.
I guess I was wrong.
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