journey, part 1

I feel I need to get this out as to continue on my journey.

Early 2006, I visited my family physician for a regular checkup. As normal, a routine bloodwork was ordered. The results showed that my iron level was too low, so doc prescribed an iron/vitamin supplement to raise the level.

Within the first few days of taking the pills, I realized how much of a slump I had been in. My energy level seemed to shoot through the roof. I began to analyze myself and quickly determined that I did not like what I found internally and on the surface. I was a perfect candidate for What Not To Wear, Dr. Phil or The Oprah Show, even though I am not a fan Phil or Oprah. Basically my days were spent on working, and taking care of hubby, son, mother, sister, niece, and whoever needed whatever. I was not taking care of myself.

During further evaluation of my life, I remembered hubby saying that I had changed since my son was born in the summer of 2001. During my pregnancy, I had to take iron supplements, but after his birth I gradually stopped taking them. I believe that was when my downward spiral began coupled with the loss of work. I was contracting at the time and had planned to start a new contract when my son was 2 months old. Unfortunately when he was 6 1/2 weeks old, the 9/11 attacks occurred and the bottom fell out of the IT industry in the ATL area. That contract was cancelled and it seemed that there were no contracts for perm jobs to be found. So there I was with an infant and no job.

I spent my days taking care of the house, the baby and the rest of every waking moment in the job search. It did not seem too bad at first, just tiring. We thought that within 6 months things would be better. We were wrong. The following January, hubby was laid off.