Hard times

amshum · 04-26-2007, 02:34 PM

My father has a cancerous tumor in his kidney, and he's having to have it (the whole kidney) removed next Tuesday.

Money is really tight here because my job has reduced me to part time.

I'm just stressed out and need some prayers.

I have applied for several jobs, so far only one interview which didn't go well. This morning I cold called a bunch of grocery stores to see if they were hiring cake decorators and finally got a bit of a lead. Hopefully I'll get a call soon.

I don't mean to whine. Things could be much worse then that are... And I'm sure cysters here are going through much worse then me right now. But if you are a praying person, please say a little prayer for my father and my job situation. My feeling is prayers never can hurt the situation.

God bless and thank you in advance.

Wendy M. · 04-26-2007, 02:45 PM

My thoughts & prayers are with your Dad and also you! I also wanted to say those cakes are gorgeous! I hope things start getting better. {{HUGS}}

RottenEgg · 04-26-2007, 03:28 PM

I'll be thinking and praying for you and you dad. Please let keep us updated. (((HUGS)))

Jashobeam · 04-26-2007, 06:29 PM

Praying!

amshum · 04-26-2007, 09:02 PM

Thanks for the prayers and good thoughts ladies. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. God bless.

Tiggamoo · 04-26-2007, 11:47 PM

I'm sorry things are difficult right now. Prayers to you and your father. ((HUGS))

By the way, the cake pics are beautiful!

amshum · 05-02-2007, 12:50 AM

Thank you Tigga and everyone else for your prayers and concern.

My dad had his surgery today, and sounds like everything went well. It was 5hrs and 15mins. He did well with anesthesia. The doctor originally said that the tumor looked like it was about 3 to 3.5 inches, but it was larger then he anticipated when removing his kidney. He said "the size of a small football" but I'm not sure what size that is... Maybe a nerf ball? He was in recovery last I heard and should be in his room by now. He'll be in the hospital for 2-4 days. The surgeon did "clean him out" by removing his kidney, adrenal gland, and several nodes in the area just to be safe. So hopefully that is out of him now. The tissue and organs are being sent to pathology and we'll know the results from that within the next few days (I think - I'm getting all my information now 2nd or 3rd hand).

As for the job interview I went on that didn't go well. I found out yesterday that I didn't get the job because he decided to hire someone with "20 plus years of experience as a pastry chef". Graduating just last year, its hard to beat that. I only have about a years experience but with school, about 2. But they don't like to count school - even tho our chefs said we should count school in our experience.

I have another interview set up on Friday at a grocery store for a cake decorating position. So hopefully that will go well. They're going to have me take a decorating skills test (not sure what that means exactly), but hopefully that'll be easy enough. And I've applied for one other cake decorating job with another grocery chain, hopefully they'll call soon.

That's about all the news and updates I have for now. I'm still working part-time with my current job in the small bakery. Its less then 20 hours a week (sometimes less then 15) right now... business is just so dead. But thanks again for everything. Many hugs and love to you all. God bless.

Jashobeam · 05-02-2007, 10:51 AM

I'm glad your Dad's surgery went well! I hope he recovers quickly. I hope you get the job you want.

Make sure to post your resume on www.monster.com.

amshum · 05-02-2007, 11:04 AM

Hey Jashobeam. Thanks for your continuing support.

I just searched Monster for cake decorator jobs in Columbus, and the only one that came up is one that I already applied for. But I'm posting my resume right now anyway. Thanks for the tip.

Swingin' Cyster · 05-02-2007, 11:57 AM

Hey Amber, glad to see you but sad to hear your news. I pray that the Lord is merciful on you and your family!!
love, Kara

amshum · 05-02-2007, 12:07 PM

Hey Kara,

Always love hearing from you (and thanks for PMing me). I appreciate your prayers. Many

s. God bless you and yours.

RottenEgg · 05-03-2007, 08:08 PM

I too have been job searching and havent gotten alot of the positions Ive been applying for.

I just keep it in my mind that God has different plans for me, thats all.

Glad to hear your Dad made it okay. Hows he doing now?

Tiggamoo · 05-04-2007, 01:43 PM

Amber-Hope your dad recovers quickly. Hope your find a great job soon. Take care of you and Joshua too. ((HUGS))

amshum · 05-08-2007, 02:18 PM

Sorry not to update ya'll sooner. But things have been a major roller coaster ride here. As for my Dad, I heard some pretty bad news on Saturday. According to his blood work and kidney function tests, his lone kidney wasn't picking up the slack very well. It was sluggish and because of his pain not being under control he had not been very active. They wanted him to get up and walk around, but he just hadn't been able to do it for the pain. So because of that, he had fluid building up in his lungs and he was having difficulty breathing. I spoke with him in the hospital on Saturday and it was just so pitiful. He didn't sound at all like himself and it scared me. I haven't seen my father in many many years. We never got along that great and its driven a wedge between us. So it scared me that he wasn't going to pull through and his attitude wasn't inspiring much faith that he'd be ok. I literally hung up the phone and started crying my eyes out.

But yesterday and today has yielded much better news. His fiance has been in touch with me and providing me updates. His functions are picking up and he is breathing so much easier they've taken him off oxygen. He got a good nights sleep last night due to an amazing nurse who took great care of him and according to his fiance he's done a complete turn around in his attitude. He's feeling better and doing more and more for himself, getting dressed and moving about a lot more on his own. According to his fiance, they think he'll be able to go home either today or tomorrow. They're just waiting on this mornings blood work.

As for my latest job interview. It went well as far as the interview process, but when they had me decorate a couple of cakes, I had several pairs of eyes on me and I choked. My cakes looked horrible. I'm not trying to make excuses, but for the last 6 months, I haven't been doing grocery store type cakes. I've been using non-shortening icings in a European style bakery. I ice cakes with a spatula, and they made me use a speed icer, which I've only ever used one time while in school (which feels like ages ago). So my cakes looked horrible, and I don't think they were so impressed after that. I literally looked at my hand while I was icing and it was shaking like a leaf I was so nervous. I didn't like being put in that situation. I'm not sure when or if I'll hear back from that one... so my job search still continues.

Thanks for all the support.

Jashobeam · 05-08-2007, 02:36 PM

I'm glad your Dad's health is improving. I'm sorry the interview didn't go well, and I hope you get more calls for interviews.