Working mama

After RaeRae went to bed tonight, I spent an hour reviewing some of California's new Core Standards for my elementary class that I am currently long-term subbing in until November sometime. Today we had my family over for a nice visit all day and now I am about to head to bed. I thought, it's been too long since I've blogged so here goes!

I went back to work full-time on August 21st. RaeRae started daycare on the 20th (I had one day of no work that day and it was better to start her off at the beginning of the week). The first week in daycare was hard on the both of us. She barely napped half hour on the first day and cried every time I dropped her off, came during lunch, and picked her up--every single time. We also ended the first week with RaeRae being feverish and feeling yucky with a 48 hour bug, which she passed to me later that weekend. 

During the second week of daycare and the first week for which students came back to school, I was very ill with fevers, body aches, and then throat ulcers from those fevers. I missed the first two days of school because of being so sick and was so mad about that. But hey, when you get sick, that's just part of life!

The second week of daycare went more smoothly. It wasn't until last week (the fourth week) when RaeRae looked more forward to going to daycare and *gasp* didn't want to leave! It made me feel more assured knowing she was having fun, eating better, making friends, learning to share, and also cared for so lovingly. The other great perks of this daycare also include being cloth diaper friendly and supportive towards breastfeeding. I have been able to pump 2-3 times a day to make enough for one bottle/cup for RaeRae to have at lunch/nap time, and also I can nurse her when I come to pick her up. "Milk! Milk!" That's the first thing RaeRae asks for when I arrive in the late afternoons.

We also have a communication book kept in RaeRae's backpack to help with communication. This daycare is definitely a blessing for us! 

So work...I've been adjusting to going from a full-time stay-at-home-mama to a full-time work-out-of-the-home-mama. Not only am I teaching 5th graders, but I am also teaching an online Deaf Culture class at an University, with currently 54 students. 

Time management is definitely the key to everything nowadays. 
Meal planning, routines, keeping on a schedule, and also being flexible are all essential to getting through the week. Meal planning helps with saving money and also making sure I have something for lunch the next day. We have dinner together as a family and talk about our day. One night of the week DH spends his evening at a game store near his work so he can have some "me-time" and comes home around 10pm. I typically get my me-time on the weekends or sometimes on Thursday evenings. 

This working mama is getting by through one day at a time. Now it's time for me to get some sleep--at least 7 hours of sleep on average lately in order for me to get through the day.
Oh--on a side note, I quit soda and have gone without soda since July 20th! I've lost some weight due to no soda, better diet, and more consistent exercising. Just thought to share. 
Good night all!