Offshore Experience

In case you didn't catch it in my last post, I took a trip to the middle of the North Sea this past week. It was a phenomenal experience and I am so glad I had an opportunity to come out!

There's some beforehand prep work that you have to do in order to go offshore. I took a week long survival course that included putting out fires with different extinguishers, swimming in the North Sea in a survival suit, and lastly, escaping a "helicopter" in a pool as practice in case of emergency. I found the course to actually be a lot of fun, but I hope I never have to put those skills to use in real-life!

Friday I boarded my helicopter at Sola Airport to fly offshore. We wear those survival suits on-route making for a tight 1.5 hour ride out to Ekofisk (for which I am grateful in case anything were to happen because that suit - that's going to be the reason I survive. You've seen Titanic. Jack would have been just fine had he been in one of these babies!).

Cell phones are strictly forbidden offshore so I've got limited pics. My wifi-only ipad is allowed so I snapped a few pictures inside the "hotel" and used the rig's approved-camera for pictures of operations. I can't share those ops pics with you, but I can share a rig selfie!

Sitting in the driller's chair. Don't worry, they knew better than to let me drive!

Here's a few shots I got of my accommodations. There are single/double rooms, a gym, multiple lounges, a sauna, dining room, and the ever-important tanning bed and unlimited ice cream. :-)

Operations offshore run 24/7. The first couple of days we were getting everything setup so we didn't have to worry about night shifts. Towards the end though, I took over watching ops in the evening and overnight on my last day. It's surreal to think I am writing this from the middle of the North Sea!

Ekofisk Main Complex in the background. I am on Ekofisk Kilo.

My job doesn't typically entail going offshore so this was a great opportunity. The well we were logging is one that I actually planned before I went on maternity so it was neat to come back to work and get to see it in progress! The logging was... well, interesting. Let's just say I saw a wide variety of operations and things that can happen unexpectedly!

I will say though, that it got tough towards the end being away from Jason and Madi. I was alright the first couple of days, but really starting to miss them! I'd only been away from Madi for one night before this and while five nights isn't long enough to complain about, I am very glad to be headed back home so I can cuddle with this cutie pie!!

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Offshore Facetime

I'm currently typing this week's Weekly Wrap-up from the middle of the North Sea. Thank goodness for technology! :-)

My home since Friday. :-)

I've been able to FaceTime everyday with my two favorite peeps back in Tananger. Things were a bit slow here the past couple of days, but they are getting going now and I'm glad for the distraction!

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Since Becoming a Mother

Since becoming a mother:

• I cry at the drop of a hat. Seriously, I have never cried so much. A sad email, the thought of leaving Madi for five nights, an episode of Criminal Minds...basically I'm a hot mess of tears.
• My hearing has become supersonic. This has been especially useful for Zoey and the time she got locked in the sauna and I heard her all the way upstairs on the other side if the house and Jason had no idea what I was talking about. Or the time she got trapped under the patio about to embark in a cat fight with a neighborhood stray and I heard a faint hiss and growl that alerted me to the situation. We had to pull up a patio floor board to get her out and I'm currently researching ways to poison neighborhood strays- no joke. Cat is going down.)

• I have become significantly better at using the word "no" when it comes to extra commitments, social activities, etc. Particularly after returning to work in January, I find that I am being more careful with my time and prioritizing my family time above all else.
• I am shameless. Let's be honest- I had minimal shame before becoming a mother but since then what little I had washed right down the sink I peed in and blogged about it to the world here. I got a reminder again recently about my lack of shame when I wiped snot from my daughters face and went to wash it off my hand only to return to the three ladies (none of whine have kids) staring at me aghast at what I'd just done. I repeat, no shame.

• I think about my daughter and her well-being more than my own. I hurt when she hurts, I am sad when she's sad, and I wish there was a way I could take away her pain when she's injured, but I'll resign myself to cuddling her and praying over her.
• My own relationship with my mom has grown and blossomed and my eyes have been opened to just how important family is and what they mean to us. It's also made it very hard at times to live so far away and each time I see my mom, it's harder and harder to say goodbye.

• God has challenged me and grown me despite my resistance. He's helped me to become more empathetic, more patient, and more loving. He's shown me a small glimpse of His amazing grace through my daughter's unconditional love and affection. I still have a long way to go - He's far from done with me yet, but becoming a mother has challenged me to be a less selfish person and drawn me closer to Him as a result. And for that I am eternally grateful.

Tomorrow I leave to go on my first trip offshore! I am excited, but also a bit nervous and anxious. It is a phenonemal opportunity and will be a great experience. However, it will also be the longest apart I've been from Madi. I won't be back for close to a week depending on operations. I have no doubt Madi and Daddy will thrive - it's me I'm not so sure about. I'm almost in tears just thinking about it!

Please keep me in your prayers for safe travels and comfort in knowing that Daddy will cherish his Madi snuggles and time he gets to spend alone with her.

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