Monday Five Countdown

For the third time in a little over half a year, the hubby is without employment.  The owner of the shop he worked at is making some changes and one of those is the end of the hubby's employment there.

So here we go again.  Trying really hard to be hopeful that this forced change will eventually bring good things and hoping even more so that in the interim, things don't fall too far.

I'm glad to have the Monday Five Countdown to do today because I'm not sure I could put together a regular blog post.  Sometimes imposed structure does the trick.

Five Things I'm Grateful For

1. As always, Nate.  We went out to dinner with my parents on Saturday night (we being me and Nate while the hubby had other plans) and Nate was a pure delight.  He's that baby that people love having at restaurants.  He eats anything, sits happily for at least two hours, and smiles at everyone.  He is a complete joy.

2. Bed sharing.  Nate wakes up regularly some time between 4am and 6:30am, before we're ready to get up for the day and we've been going to get him and bringing him back into our bed with us.  I wasn't sure how the hubby would feel about this because we never really considered co-sleeping (we've never had the space/possible room arrangement for it) and I was so happy to slowly realize that he loves it as much as I do.  Instead of now dreading when Nate wakes up, I look forward to it and that has made a huge difference in how I feel when I go to bed at night and how I feel when I hear him stirring over the monitor.  It's eliminated a source of anxiety and stress and, bonus, has added extra quality time with my son.  Little makes me happier than this development.

3. My brother.  When the hubby and I were sitting at home, stunned and somewhat devasted by the end of his job Friday night, my brother helped us remember that forced change can sometimes be the best thing to happen to people and that we just need to believe that something good will eventually come around for us as long as we work hard to find something.

4. My job.  Other than unemployment, it's our sole source of income as well as what provides us insurance, which is covering an important doctor's appointment for the hubby today.

5. Our parents.  They don't have many resources to help with, but they offer everything they can - dinners, babysitting, support.

Four Things I Can't Stop Thinking About

1. Jobs. Jobs, jobs, jobs.

2. My wardrobe.  Kendi's 30 for 30 challenge starts this week and I'm loving seeing the links people are posting of their clothing choices.  I really hope to participate in this challenge one day.

3. Rent. It's due tomorrow.  It's going to be tight.

4. Did I mention jobs?

Three Things I Want To Accomplish This Week

1. Stay sane.

2. Complete at least some of my grad school homework so it's not all left for the weekend.

3. Grocery shop as little as possible.

Two Things I Am Working To Be Positive About

1. You need to ask?  Have I mentioned jobs?

2. Buster. He has not been a good dog in the past week - incredibly far from it, actually.  We need him to be good because we don't need another stressor, so we keep just re-evaluating what we're doing with him and trying to figure out what we can change.

One Random Thing

1. I can't wait to have enough disposable income to get a pedicure.  I haven't had one since August and it is very apparent.  Besides, the idea of a foot massage is just pure heaven right now.

So, what's going on with your five this week?  Please share - I do love to read your lists.