Sheriff Sarah

Sheriff Sarah

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Embarking on a New (Job) Journey

My recent foray into the job market, brought out of necessity by a layoff, can best be described as feast or famine. Early on things seemed promising and I flattered myself into believing I'd easily land a new position prior to my mid-July layoff date or shortly thereafter. I had some interviews in March, April and May and then three in one week in July but no offers. I joined a career group and rode the wave with some other career seekers and last week signed an offer letter with Panasonic Avionics. I started the new job yesterday.

But the road was not easy and confounded me at times. I did everything I knew to do regarding networking, LinkedIn, and trying to engage people at companies of interest. Things heated up late last month when I received calls for three interviews, all with local aerospace companies. I received an offer from the first one and was ecstatic. Then I received another offer. Honestly, I'd never been so popular in all my job seeking days. I believe the position I accepted is with the right company, for the right job at the right time and I'm grateful and blessed. I'd prayed for a position to come before the holidays. I could bore you with my insights into the lessons of patience, perseverance and warding off frustration but suffice it to say the experience was well worth it.

I was able to spend untold hours with my kids, including attending one field trip with all of our school age children. I was able to get them ready for school and drive them to & from school each day. I was able to spend most of the summer with them. Precious time not to be overlooked. I'll remember this time fondly and the fact I was looking for a job will always be secondary to the memories created with my family.

But now it's time to get back to work.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Three Years Ago...

It was on this day in 2008 that we heard the words "biliary atresia" for the first time. I can remember it like it was yesterday. Sarah had visited her pediatrician for her two month appointment and for some reason, the doctor didn't like the fact she was still jaundice. She ordered complete labs and Patty waited at home for the results. I was finishing my second week at a new employer when I returned home. Patty was just completing a call with Dr. Gan and she looked at me and said, "We need to take Sarah to Children's ER right now."

I still remember the looks on our other three kids' faces. Patty had planned a pajama movie night and was getting them all settled in with some popcorn. We called my parents and took the kids over, pajamas, popcorn and all. We didn't know it would be almost two weeks before we returned home. I'm recalling those days and the singular focus of Sarah's well-being and it brings great pain to my heart. It's not only because Sarah was diagnosed with a life threatening disease. The time I lost with the other kiddos; not being to explain what was happening; completely consumed in life at Children's through the Kasai. It's only God's grace that they weren't traumatized by our absence. My parents moved to Washington for the sole reason of sharing life with their only grandchildren and watching them grow. This proved a major godsend through the entire ordeal. But I digress...

When we entered the E.R. that evening, we had no clue what was in store for Sarah or for us as a family. When we were greeted by the staff - "this must be Sarah!" - we knew things were far from normal. I clearly remember the first time I heard "biliary atresia" uttered by one of the E.R. docs. I immediately ran a search on my laptop and didn't like what I saw. In fact, when the doc saw my face,she said something to the effect of "Do not read that out loud." I remember being in a fog most of those first ten days at Children's Hospital. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be reflecting about the days that changed our lives forever.