Saraph's Journal

Overwhelmed by the massive amounts of little things one can accumulate in 12 years in a two bedroom apartment.

Moms things are here and now it is time to begin making sense of them. I went out today and applied for the job at the courthouse. My updated (online) application has been completed for the public schools and I have another resume/application to deliver tomorrow.

It is amazing what a person can accomplish with an extra set of hands!

On the down side... I don't have any income for the next 2 weeks thanks to the holiday and the swine flu. My student's little sister is sick despite having the vaccine. So when I go in for my blood pressure exam tomorrow I am going to see if my current cough/cold could be of the porcine flu variety.

The washing machine repair guy has just performed a minor miracle and was able to find the part we need to fix the washer and is on his way over now -- so my "vacation" can be spent doing laundry (the almost 2 weeks of laundry -- as the machine has been a roller coaster)

I was also supposed to have gone to Montgomery tonight and due to the fact that out of the last 3 time sheets sent in -- and I have not seen a check... well I can not continue to put that much wear and tear on my only transportation if there is no way of maintaining it. Allegedly my contact and his boss are looking in to it because I told them I can not be on call if I can not maintain my transportation.

5 more minutes till the comfort food comes out of the oven and we all sit down to roast, potatoes, carrots, and onions. Its later than I would have liked but the roast I had sat out to thaw took too long as well as the things I had to attend to today... and I just didn't ge things started as early as I needed to.

I feel that things are much more distracting. Don't get me wrong, I love my gadgets and gizmos and the internet, but lets face it these days anyone can get anything published. There is too much "noise" and there are too many "experts" who can support any and all opinions easily, no matter how off base they might be.

I am finding that I can not go a day without some convenience however I am wondering if that has improved my quality of life or has only succeeded in elevating my stress levels.

Children have not yet learned the skills required to be responsible stewards of technology and I feel that the introduction of technology should be monitored closely. I worked in an IT/Library educational position for several years and discovered the technology is only as useful as the operator can make it. If you do not have a real world, solid base, certain tech can be highly distracting and a waste of valuable time.

Mother should be moved in by next Sunday. So I can seriously begin interviews ideally on Monday.

Tabitha's neurosugeons appointment in Atlanta has been rescheduled for the beginning of the year. (Jan 8 @ 2:30)

My labs are still out. Is it PCOS? Diabetes? Hypothyroidism? We will see when the second set of labs come back. Its probably a bit of all of the above. I will say Dr Cimino is very thorough and deserves every nice thing I have ever heard about him. Hes a great listener and if I were ever to have another child I would definately go with him. He sincerely seems to have an interest in me and helping me to figure out what the issue is.

Holidays --- kinda of suck as they are going to be very sparse as far as gifts go. Medical bills are a (*)&^% so the goal is to figure out one big gift that the kids want or need and another IOU to my loving husband until I can get some sort of income and things figured out.

Anyway... quick update as I am uncertain as to when my last one was

I just cant seem to get one. I was offered a job opportunity for the week, and my sitters are either sick or have pre-existing plans. Neither one is obviously their fault, illnesses happen and as I had this sprung on me.. I sprung it on them... I have 8 audits I can do and need to have done by Friday and depending how long my trial run takes this afternoon... Well it may or may not be possible. If they are only a couple of hours a piece I can maybe wheel Tabs around in a shopping cart but its just so frustrating. This job would probably bring in almost the exact amount of gas it will take us to get to and from the hospital in Atlanta. So why would a coincidence like this just line up only to make itself impossible?

I have a job interview tomorrow. I had a really nice phone interview and she wants to meet me face to face tomorrow. I was able to find a sitter for the short term however it is going to boil down to the fact that they need to start someone ASAP. (Like MONDAY) I can't start Monday because of a 3 month standing appointment with a neurosurgeon and team in Atlanta. I am not going to cancel my interview, I am hoping I can get her to believe in me and like me enough that it won't matter. But faith isn't something I seem to possess in abundance these days.

Well I got to get to it... and see if this is humanly possible then I need to fax things tonight. *sighs*

Or LJ is messed up.  I am hoping I am not the odd woman out however its probably the former...

When I was younger I ADORED a good storm.  The thunder, the lightening, the rain... and I still do but as I have gotten older quite often there appears to be a price to pay.  My head, more often than not, kills me.  I have become very sensitive to pressure shifts and dont know why.

Yeah.. so heres the story.  I mention to my mom that my Thursday has canceled on me due to a doctors appointment and how that would free me up from a Thursday to a Tuesday.  I also mention I really need to get Mom down here so we can talk to all the SSI people and Medicare people before she moves down.  Well she gets all upset. Its not that she doesnt want to come down its just that I apparently tend to spring this sort of thing on people... *sigh*  I really would have given her more notice had I had more notice.  But now my delimma is that my grandmother asked what was going on.  I explained and now my grandmother heard something else entirely and is expecting what was hypothetical to become a reality on Thursday (ie 2 days from now.)  

So.. what do I have of value that I can sell in 2 days? What service do I have that I could offer that would be worth anything to anyone?  thats kinda laughable as I would have to find a sitter to even do random housework for people.

In order to make the trip even remotely valuable I have to take the van and thats a bit more a gas guzzler.  So if anyone has any G rated ideas to quickly raise money please feel free to let me know.

I was terribly spoiled.  My baby lulled me into a false sense of security and then decided to have a growth spurt thus changing everything that I thought I knew about her.  A week ago I could have recited like clockwork her eating and sleeping schedule and my favorite time of day was the last night time (early morning feeding) because after that feeding I dont insist on her going back to the bassinet.  After her 5:30-6:00am feeding she became my 'nuggle baby.  

Past few days though when shes up shes up! What mommy might fantasize about or remember with fondness be damned!  

Today has been a big day and fun working around my slobbering and slightly melodramatic teething treasure. She has a very strong need to be around people and dislikes it when we determine she needs to nap.  This results in very insistent and defiant wailing, this wailing lasts until she passes out.  She is in fact the ultimate drama queen, the rest of the world are meant to be her attendants.

A week ago she would be up right now and feeding.  This teething schedule has thrown us for a loop!  I stay up till this feeding because whats the point of attempting to fall asleep and be up within a half hour?  But shes snoring... she wore herself out today by refusing to nap and then tantruming for all it was worth when she just so very tired she couldn't tell which end was up.  But wowsa can that child scream.  We put her in her lil bassinet but despite the teething gel and the lullabyes she still just wailed until she just couldn't hold her eyes open.  So now I have a delimma that should not be a delimma.  Should I allow sleeping babies to lie and give up on any sleep this evening?  Or should I wake her up and then put her in the nursery after the feeding and shut the door til about 3:00. Whatever breathing difficulties she may have had upon birth she definately exhibits none of them now with a set of lungs to rival any soprano.

The nursery is only now really becoming useful, I am trying to wean her from the bassinet and our room but can't just throw her into it.  I am highly succeptable to guilt and the OMG you just murdered a puppy look is enough to break your heart, sheer and utter exhaution is the only thing that generally overrides guilt so shes able to weasle her way to extra cuddles more often than not.  But I am trying.  I have been given a deadline by many other parents that I need to get her in her own room by 6 months or I will have hell to pay.

Anyway... weekly updates.  Tabs range of motion has improved to being able to acheive 110 degrees (shoulder only) and she was able to do a bit more weight bearing at tummy time.  She didn't particularly care for it however she did better than she has been. The fact the screen is getting blurry is telling me I really need to get some rest and just suck it up and let the little one sleep with me this evening as that will most likely be the only way I get any sleep.

Tomorrow will be at least another half day or moving furniture and playing with the printer.  My mom sent me all sorts of picture frames and so I am trying to put them to good use and add some homey touches.

The moment I have the opportunity to be productive I go all mushy?

The roofing company just left they are coming back to do clean up as the crew left a bit of a mess. 

I am finishing dishes, doing bottles yet again and going to have the Bee help me sort though baby food when she gets up from her nap.  I have an hour and a half until we all pack up again to go see Daddy.  I adore my job, well what little I do... its more an attempt at retaining some semblance of sanity as its really actually becoming more of a money drain than a help.

I have expanded my job search beyond office work and education and am looking at child care.  Not because I have any interest in it but it is one of the few things I wont have a "lack of experience" in. It amused me that a center in Madison I interviewed at some time ago is looking for a director again.  I had gotten a call back on that one however was unwilling to stop associating with my child's godfather's family and put in writing that I would not ever sit for them while in the employ of said organization.... they are hiring for the position again.

It just makes me ill to think that I am going to be losing time with my baby, have to pay for additional paper diapers so I can be able to take her to a sitter... all to take care of other peoples children.  If I had the option I would prefer to be able to afford to raise my own baby thank you very much.

After the NICU I really hate not being near Tabs.  The whole hospital thing really made me perhaps a bit over protective.  Also seeing pictures/videos of the upcoming surgeries... well lets just say I am guilty of not wanting to put her down beyond trying to get her to nap. Time is getting away from me again.  *sighs* ahh well. 

I did get something accomplished during nap time.. dishes are ready to be washed again after dinner, kiddo has fresh bedclothes,  roofers were here to evaluate the job, and I have all my vocab review for tutoring finished and printed.  They are really going to have to invest in more than one site license if they expect us to be able to use it properly.

And I should be jumping up and doing thousands of things beyond blogging.  However at this moment this seems more important.  While I have resumes and applications floating all over town I am terrified every time I look at Tabitha's calendar. We have 1-2 appointments every week with someone, sometimes ifs just the OTs other times its the OT and the pediatrican/neurologist/case manager as I am trying to perhaps get her some government assistance in the form of SSI and insurance to cover when UHC wont.  After the surgeries there will be an increased need to see the therapists.  As it is now UHC will only pay for 20 visits a year and we still have a co-pay.  We are reciving a little help through EI and they are a program that will work with her until she is three.  However I have been talking to another BP mom and her daughter has had all the surgeries and is 2 1/2 and still looking at lots of therapy.  Plannng that far ahead just makes me tired, theres no real end in sight and I have to be honest with future employers that I will do my very best to be an amazing employee but my daughter has some special needs right now.. and will for a few years to come.  Some people with empathize but it really damages your chances.

Going to handwash the bottles and repack the diaper bag.  I have tutoring tonight.  I love getting out and feeling just a little useful... Being stuck at home all the time and speaking baby gibberish has a tendency to make your mind all mushy.. and poor richard gets bombarded when he gets home as its so nice to talk to grown ups.

Well she is awake.. that didnt last long... enough to catch a second wind... too bad I cant refresh that quickly

I figured out yesterday how to get my LJ to send an update to my facebook profile.  Its much more discreete than the blogger my friend Christy has and I am not sure I like that.  Effort was expended to make this work and by golly I want people to notice its here :P

However I digress this morning after our late morning feeding and my during my 'nuggle baby time my house starts to rumble, the roofers have arrived.  My house is still shuddering a bit from time to time. Tabs was startled by the irregularity of it all and getting agitated. In addition to that shes running a low grade fever and teething.  So after some walking and cooing she calmed down and is now happily listening to Freddy Mercury and swinging.  I am still looking for the thermometer to determine how low grade her fever is, shes warm down around her kidneys so I have her in her diaper only.  Shes warm to the touch (ie when you kiss her head) but not alarmingly so.

Anyway rambling there... Yesterday Tabs had her 4 mo well check.  12 lbs 4 oz and 24 inches long.  Shes teething and slobbering like no ones business.  We talked with the doctor about this new brachial plexus clinic and I accessed the facebook community trying to see if any of the registered parents/members have any experiance with any of the three I have to choose from.

To continue to watch and wait... to proceede a bit more agressively or to contemplate the most agressive option (a 4 hour drive 2-3 times and a pretty major surgery)  Weighs heavily on the mind.  Its not something we can necessarily afford to do but is it something we can afford not to do?  The agressive treatment which ususally is begun somewhere between 4-6 months can almost guarentee her the potential of normal development.  Right now her left arm is paralyzed and flacid from the shoulder down.  I hide it well by always having her cuddle a toy when we travel. 

Most of the people I have spoken with speak VERY highly of a doctor in TX and so I have been checking out his website. I wouldnt mind it if you all did too and let me know your perception.  I dont want to see my baby have surgery however I don't want her to be physically deformed/developmentally delayed if I can save her that by just making a decision.  I have been reassured that she wont remember any of this.. but I will.

www.drnathbrachialplexus.com/surgery/primary/index.php

www.drnathbrachialplexus.com/surgery/mod_quad/index.php

www.drnathbrachialplexus.com/surgery/triangle_tilt/index.php

Testing 1,2,3

No need to respond.  This is only a test of the LJ broadcasting system

However I have been rather busy as of late.  As my angel as gotten older she has become more...  insistent that she receive the attention she feels that she most rightly deserves. Between watching her grow so quickly and job searching.  Well it just seems LJ hasn't been much of a priority. 

Her eyes are browning out, you can see the blue has darkened to a very stormy onyx color and from the pupil there is a muddying burst bleeding its way to the edges.  On one hand I am sad to see the baby blues go but on the other its exciting.  My baby girl has also become VERY vocal over the bast few weeks and will just chatter and "sing" I am almost convinced she wont have a first word and that she will just burst into song as I am constantly singing to her and she is always surrounded by music,  Mommy, Jewel, Loreena McKennitt, Linda Eder, Kristen Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Martina McBride and the lady from the lullabye CD Auntie Shawn gave us, and thats just Mommys influence.  Daddy has exposed her to Queen and when nothing else soothes the savage beast I can pretty much count on Freddie to deliver.  She ADORES Queen.

What else?  Oh.. shes teething... she is drooling like a St. Bernard and has moments of inconsolable pain.  Thank God for teething gel!  Its amazing to see how FAST she is growing.  She just turned 4 months old on Sunday and is probably pushing 13lbs and about 2 ft tall.  The reflux appears to be getting a little better as she grows.

We have had such an interesting 4 months.  NICU, therapy, colic, reflux, and now teething and no real opportunity to come up for air.

Also I got a very interesting call last night.  My pediatricians nurse called and let me know that my pediatrician has been doing some research for us.  My neurologist insisted on sending us to Birmingham to a clinic that 1) is out of network - my insurance is giving us a little greif even though I have an approval number as well as operator name and date and time 2.) My husband and I didnt care for the doctor we saw.  We felt it was a wasted trip and he was a condecending ass.

But back to my interesting call.  I asked my neurologist for a referral to Vanderbuilt up in Nashville, we were put off until our next appointment by her office which had kind of agitated me because thats not until mid/late September and then the clinic in Birmingham wants to see us again in early October. Tab's pediatrician has been doing independant research and gave us the name of a doctor at  the Atlanta Scottish Rite.  I checked out their website and they give a lot more information and I wonder if they might be more helpful, they are further away but I wonder if they would accept referals and all her medical records and notes for their initial benchmark and then treat our first visit more like a second.  Our trip to Birmingham felt as it were a complete waste, Atlanta is much further away so I would really want to be sure they could do something for us before comitting to a trip like that.  It would more than likely also mean an overnight or a late appointment.  

I think, obviously, that my pediatician is pretty cool for thinking of us.. though what else do you expect when she was refered as the doctor that another specialist uses for his children?  We so lucked in to her! She is so amazingly nice and apparently thourough.

With all these appointments though it makes job hunting an interesting prospect.  I have had some good interviews though I feel I need to be very honest and let them know I currently have a special needs infant and I let them know up front that there are specialist appointments that we are committed to.  That probably hurts me but I feel I need to be honest. Its a catch-22.  I need the job to keep up with her expenses, but at the same time I need the flexibility of being at home for therapy and doctors appointments.

I had an amazing interview last Wednesday at a doctors office, it was the most fun I have ever had at an interview.  The ofice manager was so amazingly sweet and funny!  She closed by telling me that it truely was a pleasure to meet me and that I was simply charming.  Southerners are so sweet.  We laughed and had a good time and I feel that unless someone walks in with substantially more experiance than I had that I will at least be another finalist.  Though as a finalist does not a job make I am still e-mailing resumes.  She mentioned having a meeting with the nurse manager when she retuned from vacation later this week.

So I am feeling good about that... baby stirring from her nap so I need to "nuggle"  shes my "nuggle bunny" and when I call her my "nuggle bunny/baby" she gets all flirty and coy -- its the most adorable thing ever!!!!!

Well I was hoping to update before the baby woke up though shes waking up as I type...

Yesterday was the much awaited trip to Birmingham. We drove all that way to pretty much be told that we were doing everything right and that he'd see us again in 2 months.  Thats not exactly what we were I guess looking to hear.  We expected more I guess as he is after all been touted for the last three months as "the specialist".

Feeling kind of let down by the fact, that and despite having a confirmation number we had a letter from UHC I need to either follow up on or see if Rich is already on that.  As they are "out of network" at UAB and frankly thats all we need.  *sighs*

Also after meeting this guy Rich isnt too terribly keen on this man ever operating on Tabs should she even need it. 

Baby is now awake so there will hopefully be more updates later.

Tabs had an AWFUL night! So therefore we all had an awful night.  She was fed, dry, was walked, rocked, snuggled, given tylenol... snuggled, not snuggled on the off chance it was overstimulation.... all to no avail.  So we are all the walking dead today.  Adara was so upset this morning she was crying inconsolably that she was so sleepy and made herself physically ill.  Not once but 3 times.  So... washed her sheets... shes had toast points and some rice.  If it stays down she wants more rice and some apple sauce.

Now Tabs is asleep in the swing and Bee is all snuggled in a comforter on the couch last I saw she wasn't asleep but was mostly asleep.  I really want to nap but know the moment I try someone will be up wailing so instead I loaded the dishwasher and wiped down the sink, cabinets and stove.  The stove was extra work because I thought I was going to be brilliant and have leftovers from last night, I put them on a disposable plate and said plate promptly folded and spaghetti and  meat sauce ended up everywhere.....

Hoping the baby will go back to sleep.  She is abusing the WAHHH to the point I am a bit numb, after she has been changed and fed.... Shes not cold, shes not hot, she is probably sleepy but wont sleep so in the meantime I am watching her try to sit up and fight sleep with every fiber of her being.

On other Tabby news apparently we are on annual follow ups with the cardiologist on this murmur.  There is still a hole between her receiving chambers so we will have to be looked at annually and if it has not self corrected by the time she is 5 there is a procedure that is done much like a heart cath.

I am obviously hoping that it self corrects.

I submitted almost a dozen applications over the past week and was pretty excited when I got home to a flashing answering machine.  I was disappointed when there was only one message, from my father in law telling me hes sorry he missed us. This economy sucks...

Its been much more difficult to find the time as of late....

However Tabs is fed, clean, dry and in a milk drunken stupor... for the moment at least so I will try to get as much of this out there for inquiring minds before this golden opportunity passes me by.

The adventures of Mommyhood....

Tabitha has discovered projectile vomit, I am to observe and guestimate the amounts and frequency and if it gets any worse before our appointment next week I am to call and let them know.  Tabs OT believes it to be reflux... to which I say... fantastic! Yet another medical expense.

OT gave us new exercises which Tabitha HATES!  I am uncertain if they hurt her or not but she really doesn't like them.  She also seems to be retaining a knowledge of the clinic.  She doesn't like this particular clinic and seems to identify the therapists voice as she get EXCEPTIONALLY fussy when she takes us back.  Perhaps I am crediting her with more thought than she is currently capable but I dont think so.. there are days that she seems to understand so very much that its almost scary!  She looks up at me with what are now huge dark stormy grey/ marbled onyx eyes and I am just amazed by their focus and intensity. 

My accomplishments this week are as follows  All the children's laundry is washed.. not so much put away but definately washed. Adara's is all hung up and put away.  I just need to get Richard to bring home those boxes so the cast offs can officially go to the attic. My biggest project this week has been when Adara complained of a pair of shorts being pinchy and I noticed some of our clothes were getting a little tight  so we made a dress up game out of it and have now purged her closet of all 3T and some 4T clothing.  Anything even slightly tight now won't be acceptable for school in the fall so we went through and she made grown up decisions about what she wanted to keep for Tabitha and what she wanted to get rid of.

By getting rid of I mean take to the local consignment shop for credit on new clothes.  I thinned out Tabithas things too as we have been given so many things... a lot of things won't be size/seasonal appropriate so between the two of their closets and the small donation from grandma and great grandma we have completely overhauled Adara's closet to all 4T/5T for under $25.00. She was so funny as she helped pick out "new" clothes. 

I have finally (I think) gotten most of the doctors appointments under control.  The hardest thing has been juggling the long vs short days and which doctors are kid friendly and which aren't (as far as toys, appropriateness of exams, etc)

I may have found my in with the city schools, contractual work--no benefits however it goes through its own coordinator and appears to pay pretty well.  Which is what I need right now.  I begin work with my tutoring student again next week from 5:30-6:30 and may be picking up her cousin as well if that happens it will be from 5:00-7:00.  We will see how that goes.  She is getting ready to start 3rd grade so I have lots of questions for mom.  Need to develop a raport with the new teacher and evaluate/grade what work she did this summer (I am almost terrified to find out as she is really good at straying off subject.)  The tutoring doesnt pay much but I will at least be covering my own phone bill again which will be nice.

Hmm what else... oh yeah... this trip to Birmingham in August... the doctor we are going to see is a well respected expert in his field however he is not a surgeon so should he decide we need to have the grafts done we will have to travel to Pennsylvania or Texas.  That was all sorts of fun to learn.  However crossing that bridge when and if we come to it. It never does to put the horse in front of the cart.  Could's, Should's, and Maybe's only contribute to already high blood pressure.

Mom is really working on tying up all her loose ends and really seriously looking at being a full time grandma... I am excited about the prospect. I have tons of friends willing to sit as they dont work but I dont want to abuse the privelege and would really like to have my mom close by.  I have missed her.

After playing catch up on my friends pages I had the song "I Know that my Redeemer Livith" in my head.  I actually can only remember the first verse and chorus without a hymal but in dream land thats all relative.  In my dream I was in a real recording studio.  My friend Bobby who is a jazz pianist was my accompianist and we were recording an album of old hymns. 

I was really excited because this is something in my vanity that I wanted to do years ago. I want to be able to go back and listen or have something for Tabby to listen to... and lots of people back home wanted me to do it for years... however even an el cheapo studio isnt anything that has EVER been in my budget.  But I was singing things like "In the Garden", "On Eagles Wings", "Love Lifted Me", "Abide With Me", "Precious Lord Take My Hand"

It all seemed so real that I am surprised I didnt actually sing all night and keep Richard up.  My throat is scratchy so it feels almost as if I did.  But he would have told me had I been that obnoxious.  Now part of me wants to do an el cheapo (ie free) attempt at preserving some of these on youtube.  I dont expect anyone to visit them.. they would mainly be for me.... acappella... and just an ego thing.  But after re reading all my letters of reccomendation I like feeling good about me.. that little thrill of pride.  Not too much but enough to remind you that even though you have been out of commission awhile you have a lot to offer.

Its amazing how one tiny little life can change so much! Just over 2 months ago I did not have my little princess.  Since then I am sleep deprived yet wouldnt have it any other way.

Another baby funny.  I decided last night that because she has had such awkward and rough nights the past few nights that she was going to operate on my schedule and I would keep her up so we could sleep together.  *This is the point where all parents laugh*
The fastest way I think to put a baby into REM sleep is to determine you arent going to let them.  However they are clever and seem to know if you are just saying it to psych them out. It still went her way and I am still groggy.. but she woke up with such a cute toothless grin I am pretty sure I dont care.

You can hear the air leaking from the poor balloon.

"Don't get your hopes up..."

I had heard it but was not going to believe it.  I am over qualified for all the positions I applied for if the job handbook is to be believed....

However my visit to their human resources department was not overly encouraging.  I am however comparing it to my previous experiences in other states.  I finished their application, collected 7 letters of recommendation with 3 others pending yet not in before the deadline (they only asked for two but I sent out a broadcast and ended up with an amazing response).  I obviously did not expect such a great response as I just needed the two but it has made me feel so much better to read that these people still think enough about my time with them that they wouldn't mind rehiring me or working with me if the opportunity arose.  When you have been out of work as long as I have it does a certain amount of damage to your self esteem and just because employment stops doesnt mean your bills decrease or even care.

Today the Early Intervention therapists were in to evaluate Tabitha.. which will result in some free government therapy.  1-2 times per week to start out. That way we can conserve some of our insurance therapies as they will only pay for 20 per year. Which takes at least one worry off my mind.  They said she appears to be a pretty smart cookie and on a few things she seems advanced.  She is qualifying on reommendation alone not the 25% Developmental Delay.  I still have several others obviously but this is at least one that will be shelved... other than if I do get one of these jobs how do I get her to all of them... :P

Anyway back to the Human Resources Department.  I was very confused as to the organization.  In IN and KY you paid for your background checks up front before they would even consider you for a position.  You also have to prove you were highly qualified... meaning you had to provide college transcripts and you had to have over 60 college credit hours.  If you couldnt do that you had to take a computer qualification test.  Alabama does none of these things.  They only do your background check after you have been hired.  (I am assuming its still before they let you into the school building but ...)  they weren't very information forthcoming they told me I would appear in the calling list of every postion I applied for as I was qualified and the principals of the individual schools would set up interview appointments.  My friend Shawn has said that should I need a sitter for an hour here or there she would love to spoil the girls for me :)

I am really hoping for the IT Computer Lab Tech at the Elementary school only a few miles away.  I should qualify at the higher end of that pay scale based on experiance and my glowing letter from the head of my former university IT department.  I want that job so badly I am afraid I will be terribly disappointed if I at least dont get the opportunity to interview.