Being married to a paramedic definitely has it's ups and downs. When Joel's around I always feel so safe, knowing that if anything were to happen, he would take care of it. I know the kids are in good hands when Daddy's there. Joel's passion for his work is one of the first things that attracted me to him (that and seeing him in his uniform...WOW). What is it about an emergency services uniform that makes women swoon?? Maybe it's the fact that we feel so safe around these men. Men that take risks to save lives. You may think that police and firemen are the only ones to take risks, but that's absolutely untrue. I know stories of medics in this area who have been attacked by patients, talked with murderers on crime scenes not to mention the risks they take with their health (and their families) as they come in contact with many things we'd rather avoid. Yeah, Paramedics are the bomb :)
But being married to a paramedic also has it's disadvantages. These were very evident when Joel first got out of school, back when it was really difficult to get a job as a medic. He worked part time for several years and we had to sacrifice many plans when he'd get the call to fill shifts. Back when he had to work on-call (making a whopping $2.50 or so an hour unless he got paged in), he would have to leave at a moments notice. Some days he would come home from working a 10 hour shift, sit down to eat supper and his pager would go off and he'd be headed back out the door. As a newly married woman (not to mention a GOLD woman :) these were tough times for me.
Things are much better now that the 24 hour shifts have come to the county. Joel works his 24 then has a full 24 off (no pagers at home anymore ). Every other week off. Yes, we love the 24's. My only complaint is the one Sunday in 4 that he is required to work. There is something about not having your spouse around on a Sunday that just stinks!! Sunday just seems to be one of those days when the family should be together. It's the way it's always been for me since I was born. Sunday was the one day a week I knew my Dad would be home. Sundays are also difficult because there are no playgroups open, and none of my girlfriends want to get together with the kids because they ALL have their spouses home (and don't see them much during the week). So Sundays, if the Grandparents are busy, I'm on my own.
I really shouldn't complain (and I'm really not...just sharing my thoughts), most of the Sundays that Joel works his parents are great to sit with me in church, invite us for lunch etc. But sometimes this doesn't work out because they have other plans. Up until now I've never wanted to go to church without Joel if I know my in-laws won't be there to help me out in the service. Because my regular church in Zurich is having a Sabbath year there isn't anything for my kids to do during the service (other than nursery which Obi doesn't like, and Lyric won't attend without the other 2). So this morning I decided to head up to Huron Evangelical Missionary church in Auburn. I know some women that go there and I knew they had a jr. church during the service for the kids. I thought it would be fun to check out a new church (I'm always curious to see what kind of welcome I will receive as an 'outsider'). It was a great morning!
The kids did really well in church and seemed to really enjoy jr. church. I took Lyric down to the nursery and told the worker I wasn't sure it would work out. When I got back to pick her up the worker said "She didn't even miss you". I was thrilled. I actually got to sit through a sermon (and communion) and pay full attention to what the pastor was saying. Now that was a treat :) Lots of people said hello, the pastor was friendly. It was a really nice morning. I had struggled with whether or not to go, and I'm really glad that I did.
I also realized today, that with Izzy in school full time, she sure won't see much of her dad on the weeks that he works. She used to get to spend every other day with him, but the weekends now it'll only be one day that she sees him. I'm sure we'll all get used to it. It's just the transition period. Absence makes the heart grow fonder right? I know that Joel loves to hear about how much the kids talk about him when he's at work. How excited they get every time they hear a siren. One day coming out of the grocery store an Ambulance drove by on a day Joel was working (not sure if he was in it). She started squealing "Daddy, Daddy" and slapping her face. She was so excited. It was so cute.
And just today, we got to see Joel on our way to church. At the side of the road assessing a man after a car accident. He gave us a wave. The kids were pretty excited! And boy, did he look good in that uniform ;)
Mel
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