Working Woman

So I have been back at work for about 2 months now. Unfortunately ( or Fortunately if you are a preggo in cville) , we haven't had very many babies at work lately. I havent had much of a chance to actually do patient care. And let me tell you, I like doing the schedule, but taking care of a  23 weeker is more of my cup of tea than staring at a computer screen of numbers all day.

Everybody has said that having a baby changes everything. And yes they are right in all the normal, expected ways ( inability to eat in restaurants, so excited to get three things on a to do list done, drying my hair is still a daily accomplishment, etc.) But the place it has changed me the most is at work. I have never been much of a crier, and at work to say the least I am always a little cynical. However since the Jack Jack came along, working is a whole new ball game. My first week back I took care of a little man, and when I asked his mom if she wanted to hold him, she starting crying, then I was crying. It was ridiculus. I never cry at work, even when  my primaries die. Yes the baby was very sick, and yes she had never held him, but seriously. I blamed that little emotional outburst on hormones. But it is continuing on, I can not stand to hear a baby cry or fuss without comforting him (I know that doesn't sound out of the ordinary but if you work in the NICU, you get that sometimes they just have to cry). I have patience for kiddos at work that never ends. I tear up when we take the babies away right after birth (even though obviously we need to) because the mom doesnt get to love on them. I have basically become a blithering mess. Clearly, jack has changed me and I think in the long run it is going to make me a much better nurse, at least a more understanding nurse to the parents. Dont get me wrong, I was a pretty awesome nurse before hand :) and I have always been a fan of letting parents hold. Now I get it though and it breaks my heart to think if that was me and Jack in that situation. Everyone who says having a baby changes you is right. And it words that are unexplainable, it is 100% for the better.


No worries though,  do not think that it has changed me in how and what I feel should be done, I'm still pretty cut and dry in what I would want done for my baby. I havent completely lost it. yet...

Sleep is for the Weak..,

and I am learning I am one of the weak. Jack went through a little bit where he would sleep from 8-4, eat nd go back to bed until 730ish. That however is a thing of the past. Jack is wanting to eat every three hours at night and needing a pacy put back in his mouth about once an hour. He has conveniently learned how to take it out and throw it across the crib.  Needless to say ,I am one tired Momma. Remember when I used to nap for three-four hours an afternoon, oh how I miss those days,,

here is the little night owl...

On a side note, there are only 161 days of intern year left, not that I'm counting...

good bye holidays hello winter

The holidays are officially over now that it is January 4th. I count the holidays as going through my birthday. We had a great and busy Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve in Charlottesville, Carter, jack and I opened presents in the afternoon, then we went to a Christmas Eve party with Carter's parents. Jack was a sweet boy and slept through almost the whole party. After wards, we went home and Santa had come early. Christmas day, Carter went to work for the next 30 hours, so Jack and I drove to Richmond and hopped on a plane. We spent 5 days in Omaha and Jack finally got to meet his Uncle Ben. Jack hung out with Nick and Abby. Jack was royally spoiled and I am now looking for some sort of toy box that doesn't look like a toy box for the living room.

 For New Year's it was questionable if I would have to work New Years Day after being cancelled on the Eve, so we grilled some steaks, made some potatoes and I was in bed by 9.  Not that I needed anything else to remind me of how old I was getting.

My birthday was pretty quiet. Carter's on night float this week so he brought me home some cookies and flowers at 10 am and went to bed. Jack and I went to Starbucks to get my free drink, had a long trip to Target and took a nap. Not a pretty bad day on my end. I was lucky enough not to have to make dinner a, because it was my birthday and b. because the oven keeps catching on fire when we turn it on. Jack wanted to keep telling me Happy Birthday all night long, so he woke up about every hour and a half. Wasn't that so sweet of him...

On a Jack note, he is busy, moving, and questionably suicidal :). In the past two days he has tried to throw himself out of his bumbo that was on the table while we were eating breakfast and then arched back in the tub and dunked himself. He was obviously fine after both events, and probably wouldn't have been phased by either if it werent for his mom frantically grabbing him and scaring him to death. Need less to say he can't be left alone anywhere.
Alright hopefully will post more often..
Here is the little man...

A package from when Unlcle Scotty is home

Sleeping at a UVA BBall game

With Grandpa at the game

Before opening presents

Santa Came!!

The Boo

Jack and Daddy in Christmas Jammies

PLaying with my new toys at Grandma and Grandpa's

So Happy

about 2 seconds before he tried to throw himself off the table

Chunky Monkey