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One perk of my job is that I can work from home one day a week. I helps our child car and allows me to send time with the kids. During the day today it seemed like such a nice day that I bundled the kids up and headed out for a short trip to some of the local parks. Jacob really enjoyed running around outside. It will be nice when the weather is warmer and it’s not such a production to get the kids ready.
After a morning meeting at a clients downtown I found myself at the Wheat Sheaf Tavern for lunch, and when at the Wheat Sheaf there is really only one thing I can order. The Texas Hoagie.
Last night was a long night and unfortunately it didn’t end when the sun came up. I would love to go into all the details today but circumstances are preventing that from happening, for now here are view of the highlights.
Jacob was taken to the hospital because of an asthma attack and unlike earlier hospital trips, this tim the treatments did not do anything more than offer temporary help with his breathing. So after hours in the ER the doctor wanted to admit him for treatment and observation. So, last night I left Jacob at the hospital with mommy and took violet home for the night. In the morning I left Violet with my mom and headed to the hospital to relieve Melissa. After a day of treatments, and waiting in the ER for a bed to become available we finally got a room in the pediatric ward.
So, now I sit in his room spending time with Violet, Melissa, and Lynn hand writing out tonight’s post because we disabled the data plans on our malfunctioning cell phones last week. I have taken my project 365 photos and with a bit of luck, I’ll be able to get home tomorrow night with Jacob to post them and hopefully do a better update about our experience over the last few days.
Today after returning from my suit fitting, I packed the family in the car and headed out. After strapping our to bundles of Joy in, I couldn’t help but snap this picture. At the time I opened the door and took a second picture. Thinking that the reflection would ruin this one, but when I pulled the different shots up on the computer It was the best one. The reflection adds a bit of depth to the shot, it also show that I took this with one of our cell phones.
Last year in my old blog I ran a series of posts about Taming the Inbox. Where I talk about trying to get a handle on my 6+ email accounts and looking for a solution for managing my mail. I wanted to find something that was as flexible as I needed, worked well from multiple computers and my Windows Mobile cell phone. I never truly found a solution. I ended up embracing Postbox. When I started using it I tried to use the Topics to organize my mail but it didn’t last long. The biggest problem, after being lazy, is it doesn’t auto sync topics between computers. They sync as long as you have the same topics on both copies. Using lower case topic names seems to help. So I’m still looking for a solution.
For a while I’ve been thinking that the best solution would be to strive for an empty inbox. If my Messages didn’t pile up it would be easier to check them from anywhere. I’ve read some of Merlin Mann’s posts on the subject and I’m looking forward to his book inbox zero. I also looked at David Allen’s Getting Things Done work-life management system. I always felt they were a good idea, It just always seemed to much work to get started.
Last week I saw this video on smarterware.org and became inspired. Something about that video gave me the confidence I needed to try to empty my inboxes. I’m currently operating with a Virtual zero inbox. By that I mean, all my mail is still there but now it’s been tagged. Over all the virtual method is working great, Postbox as easy filtering on tags so that I can just see messages without a tag so it looks like my mailbox is empty. Of course the auto tagging of replies does cause a little bit of a problem.
The work isn’t done yet, everything from this year has been reviewed but I still have to go through the backlog from the past 3 or 4 years. I’m planning to move to actual folders soon, I’m just waiting to see if this really works for me before I commit to moving my mail. I’ll keep you posted.
Today is Valentines day, so what better picture then Violet enjoying some Valentines gifts from her Nana and Papa. I had hopped for a more Family oriented day, but with Melissa working it just didn’t work out. Though I did have a good time with the kids. Jacob and I built a Crazy Fort train while Violet napped. When she was up she enjoyed crawling through it. I’m really looking forward to Family day tomorrow, Melissa isn’t working and we can spend the day as a family.
When I was thinking about today’s photo it occurred to me that I haven’t posted a picture of the 5th member of the family in a while. This is Chloe, our cat. She’s a sweet little thing, except when she’s not. One interesting thing is the different reactions the kids had to her. When Jacob was a baby he didn’t have much interest in Chloe, but Violet loves her. She gets excited when she sees her and tries to grab her all the time. Overall Chloe has been good with her, though there are times she’s been close to taking a swipe at Violet so we always have to watch them when they are together.
Today is a special day, well maybe not special. Today marks the beginnings of another one of the changes that Melissa going back to work has brought about. Today I work from home, so that I can watch the kids. Of course realistically there will be only so much I can do with a 3.5 and 1 year old running around wanting attention. To handle that fact I began working on some of the code I wanted to get done today last night after the kids went to bed. OF course I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked, but I’m hopeful that I’ll find some time during the day or tomorrow evening.
To add to the fun of the day I’m also taking Jacob to his doctor to get his ears checked out. He’s currently in the middle of fighting off an ear infection and I want to make sure that nothing is wrong so I can take him swimming on Saturday, I don’t want him to miss another week. I’ve arrange for my mom to hang out with Violet so that I’m only taking Jacob.
Its strange how much I was looking forward to these days while Melissa was on maternity leave. I really like the days I get to spend with just me and the kids. I miss Melissa and family das are always great but once and a while a daddy and kids day is fun.
Tonight Jacob and I sat at the computer and I let Jacob take control. He took the mouse and picked which show’s sites we went to on PBS Kids. It’s interesting to watch him with a mouse. He holds it in two distinct ways, the first, is the photo of the day. The second is our bonus Picture. When he’s moving the pointer around the screen his hand is back on the mouse. Then when he clicks he lifts his hand and moves to the button. This causes the mouse to slip some of the time making it a little frustrating for him. Occasionally he kept his had on the top of the mouse while he tried to move it around. I’ve been thinking about getting either a mouse for kids, or just a smaller mouse. To make it easier for him, but after watching him navigate around PBSKids.org today, playing different games I wonder if he needs it. Perhaps I just have to give him a few pointers he will do just fine with a regular mouse. What do you think should Jacob have his own mouse? Something better suited to his small hands?
Today is a very important day for our little family. Today is the day that The Wife goes back to work. She’s been on Maturity Leave since Violet was born and before that sick leave. So it’s been 15 months since she had gone to her regular job. It’s going to be a big adjustment for the family. First there is Jacob, this is the second time that mommy has ‘left’ him to go back to work. To be fair the first time he was only Violets age. This time there has been some tears at the thought that mommy wont be home everyday. Then We have Violet, who doesn’t know what is about to happen. She’s just going from having every day with mommy to having some days with Mommy, and some with Daddy and others with Nan. It’ll be an adjustment, but I’m sure my little cupcake will handle it.
For me there will be changes too. Fewer home cooked mails waiting for me when I come home from work, more time with just me and the kids. I’m going to miss having weekends with Melissa and the kids, she’s working 3 out of the next 5 weekends and that normal at her job. At the same time it’ll be good to get back into the regular swing of things. Of all that will change again in the fall when Jacob starts kindergarten.
For now I just want to say, Good luck at work today Melissa, the kids and I will miss having you home.