Is anybody out there?

Oooh, I've been a bad blogger lately. Between the sick Mac and going back to work, I haven't made the time to update this part of my life. But I'm working from home today, so I'm taking a quick break to write a blog post.
Quick synopsis: Mac is still sick. I can't stomach the repair price tag. Alexa is good. Work is good. I'm good. Jevon's good.

Want more?

The first few days back at work were tough. I was finding my way around a department that has had significant turnover. It was an odd mix of feeling like the new girl and feeling like I had never left. Since that first week, I've gotten my sea legs. My job title and role have changed since I got back, and I'm doing much more writing, which I love. I am churning out articles, fact sheets, and synopses as fast as my fingers can fly. I'm letting go of the grants administration part of things more and more every day. Part of that is a relief, because it's not the most glamourous use of my time. But on the other hand, it is hard to let go of something I've had ownership of for three years.

My body had a hard adjustment to going back to work. After 13 months of walking and goofing around with my baby and playing in the park, it was difficult to sit in a desk all day. I'm trying to find small ways to work activity into my day so that I don't atrophy into a little gremlin hunched over the keyboard.

Emotionally, the hardest part of going back to work was missing the social part of things. I've barely seen Kieran and his mummy, Carolan, since I went back. I try to see my sisters as much as possible, but it can't compare to the weekly visits that Em and I had. I also found that I missed my nephew Ollie a lot! When I was at Em's house, little Jack was at school, so when both babies napped, I would play with Ollie. We really formed a nice little bond over the past year. I often think about superheroes in the middle of the day and wonder who is "versing" whom (i.e. batmas "versus" spiderman - that's "versing" in Ollie-speak).

Alexa seems to have had a much smoother transition. She loves daycare. She loves the woman who cares for her (Jen), she loves her little comrade (Charlie), and she loves Jen's two kids. At first, when I came to pick her up at the end of the day, she would go into paroxysms of glee at the sight of me. Now, I'm lucky if she stops playing long enough to give me a kiss and a cuddle. Usually, I have to chase her as she races around the house.

I think the hardest part for Jevon was that he missed his picture of the day that I used to send him every day. He also said that it felt surreal that she was old enough to be with someone other than me all day.

Alexa is growing outrageously. She's running around, saying a few words, and exhibiting an independent little personality. I am absolutely loving this stage of life. She changes daily.

I'll have some pictures of her shortly.

Polly