The "Lasts"

Less than a month until moving day.  Already, I am starting to feel a little weepy and sentimental just thinking about all the "lasts" that are coming up.  I'm getting through by focusing on on the "firsts" that are heading our way, but we've got to get through the "lasts" to get to the "firsts."

Last Friday was the kids' last talent show and carnival with Arbor Christian School.  I'm grateful for the time they have spent there, and the friends they have made.  William's class recited scripture and sang a song.  Joy's class recited the Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar (Joy held the caterpillar).  Then they played in the bouncy house, going down the slide over and over and over again.

This is my last week at work.  I will miss the lovely ladies working in the office with me and all the field clinicians, too.  This was my first "real" job.  I started in college as a part time medical records file clerk.  I've advanced to CRC, then coder, plus Allscripts Superuser.  I've been under 3 different managers, and made it through the dreaded EMR transition.  Through long talks with Frankie, and lunch chats with Debi, meetings, and office parties, I've learned so much, about work and about life. 

Yesterday was the kids' last appointments at Mia Bella Pediatrics.  I've loved Mia Bella from the first moment I called to schedule a prenatal consultation, and a live person picked up the phone on the first ring.  They have taken such great care of all 3 of my kids.  There is always a doctor available by phone who knows my child (even at 2am in the morning, and yes, I have tested that!).  When William was in the hospital at 5 months old, Dr. McNulty visited every day that she was working and coordinated care with the hospitalist as we prepared to discharge.  I plan to take a big plate of cookies or something to say thank you when I go back next week to pick up the kids' medical records.

I don't even want to think about some of the lasts coming up.  They are just going to get harder and harder. Last Sunday at church.  Last time with my parents.  Last dinners with friends. Everything is changing so fast.  All of a sudden, it seems like the move is just around the corner, and I can't keep up.

The kids are finishing out the month in daycare.  These next two weeks, I will be home by myself during the day.  I'll be picking up some extra cash doing some per diem coding for St. Joseph and some extra charts for QIRT, but my focus will be the packing and cleaning; so much to do!

Don't tell anyone, but I'm planning to sneak in just a little "me" time, too.  The first day I do some coding for St. Joseph, I plan to do it at a coffee shop.  I've always wanted to see what it was like to sit in a coffee shop and work; it just seems kind of glamorous.  And I love coffee.  I also plan to take advantage of the quiet house for a relaxing hot bath one day.  Just a few moments to help keep my sanity as we seem to be hurdling at breakneck speed into chaos.  Controlled chaos, in a moving truck.