when home and work collide unexpectedly, I'm really thrown off. When I'm home I am home, 100%. It's all about my family, my home, myself. When I'm at work I'm at work 100%. I have my cell phone in case a school nurse calls, but for the most part, I'm in work mode.

But today I'm home with DD again, she is still sick. A trip to the Dr. 2 days ago showed no strep or ear infection, and it was suggested fluids and pain reliever until the virus passes. She's still feeling miserable, now whenever she stands up she feels dizzy and feels like she is going to fall over. With the headache, ear ache and dizziness I'm sure it's related to her sinuses. Waiting it out isn't doing her much good right now, and OTC decongestants and pain relievers aren't helping either. Can a cold turn into a sinus infection in a few days?

So as I'm calling in for the second day this week, I'm feeling terrible. I have so much to do at work, I feel like I can't do my job right. I am very hard on myself at work. Not like I have to join 10 different committees or decorate my room like Martha Stewart, but I take my actual job very seriously. I'm hard on myself when I can't give 100%.

I'll get over it, my girls come first, I guess these feelings come with the territory. For now, my little one is back to sleep and I am researching cold remedies for children while I wait for the Dr. office to open!

After a long and much appreciated winter break, I'm finally going back to work. Monday was supposed to be my first day back, but littlest DD caught a bad cold over the weekend, so I stayed home with her. Then yesterday schools were closed due to the weather, and we are delayed two hours today. I am really looking forward to getting back to work! It makes all the difference in the world when I love my job. I know that I will have a lot of work ahead of me, but I will power through it.

While at home this week I've had a couple space heaters going in addition to the central heat. The space heaters just make things more comfortable. The kids have also kept throw blankets on them when they are sitting. We've managed to stay warm and cozy this way.

I got paid for the previous month before winter break, so this check has to stretch 6 weeks, until I get paid again Jan. 30 or 31. I carefully check my accounts daily to make sure I am still on track.

I revisited The Automatic Millionaire site by David Bach, I need to pick up a used copy of that book again. I really believe in the concepts he presents about automatically setting up your savings/bills/retirement and then living off of the rest. Its what most of us do, anyway, but it is motivating to read about it in detail. I have some pretty lofty goals this year, and I need to be vigilant with my money to reach them. IF I set it all up automatically, then that is less for me to think about.