The Labor & Delivery "Office"

I was talking to an obviously not very smart person about my job the other day, and I was very astonished when she compared being a labor and delivery nurse with working a in a boring office job. So, because I am a kind individual, I am going to give this clueless person a sneak peak and a very small description about what me and my fabulous coworkers do in the labor & delivery office.

The labor & delivery office is never boring; there is always something going on. I admit that at our office we have a leakage problem, which includes lots of poop, pee, blood and vomit in addition to other mysterious body substances. But at our office we get to play with blood products and needles, and sometimes we play wheelchair dodgeball with the birthing balls. We get to run down the hallways and be involved in life and death situations and get to say the word "STAT." At our office, we don't have to wear stuffy suits and pantyhose. We get to parade around in blue scrubs and sport awesome accessories like stylish headwear, glasses, and footwear. The bathrooms at our office are spotless from lack of use. And it's never necessary to ask your coworker where their hands have been or if their hands are clean. At our office, we get to work in the trenches and there is always someone who needs us desperately. We literally hold new life in our hands and get to be a part of someones miracle everyday. At our office, we hold the hands of those who are suffering and cry with them. We get to know people and get to bond with them on a very intimate level.

I just finished a 3 graveyard marathon this weekend, and business is definitely booming in the baby delivery office. It was totally crazy with tons of moms and babies, emergencies and body substances galore. I love most of these moments and most of all I love caring for my patients and making a positive difference in their lives.

That's what I call a typical boring day at our cushy office.

Blogging Blues

I know it's been awhile since I have blogged. I've had some things that have happened in my life that have given me the blogging blues. Things, mostly work politics, have put me in a blah mood and I have had no desire to write about anything. If I was as good a writer as my cute friend, Sandie, she has also been in a blah mood with blogging for the exact same reasons and describes it much more eloquently in her blog. So... ditto Sandie's blog about feeling blah about blogging. There. Done.

However difficult things at work have become, I am determined not to let them get me down permanently. Therefore I have decided to enter the blogging world once again. Much more cautiously and slowly this time, but surely nonetheless. No cute pictures to add or anything really clever to say, just me.

As I am pulling myself out of this funk, I am so thankful to be surrounded by a few wonderful people; those who have stood by me when I have been at my weakest, for holding me up when I could not even hold myself up and for refusing to believe the worst about me, even when I believed it. Most of you don't even realize that you have helped me, and what examples of strength and hope you have been to me.

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." Albert Schweitzer.

Everything and everyone has flaws and cracks in it, but that's where our inner light shines through. Don't expect any huge or earth-shattering entries as I slowly re-enter the blogging world, but I hope that a little of my inner light will be able to shine through my imperfections into the cracks of this thing called life.

Boring

I've decided I'm the most boring person I know. All of my friends have such cute entries in their blogs and do such exciting things. My days are all pretty much laid out and the same; working and coming home and not sleeping, trying to recover from work and being comatose, taking care of kids, doing laundry, cleaning, making meals, playing with kids, resolving conflicts between kids, going to Wal-Mart, going to Costco, going to church, occasionally trying to hang out with friends maybe once a month, and trying to squeeze all of this in between my 3 shifts a week and starting the week all over again. So I apologize to everyone because my blog is so boring. But I wouldn't change a thing (except maybe getting more sleep) because this is my life and I feel so blessed in every way. Maybe being boring is really a blessing:)

Brace yourselves....A Domestic Diva is in training!!

I am SOOO proud of myself! Because I am one that I would label domestically challenged (compared to all of my amazing friends), I am thrilled with how my neighbor Christmas gifts turned out. Thanks to my cute friend, Erika, who helped me think of this idea, I actually did it, added my own touches and followed it all the way through... homemade, no bailout from the store (as I always let the store bail me out every year). I coated popcorn with melted white chocolate, sprinkled it with green and red colored sugar, and put it in these adorable inexpensive boxes I found online wholesale. They look so cute! Maybe I'm happy to be poor this year and forced to make everything I give away. Hey, it's actually kinda fun stirrin up some action in the kitchen. I'm not so intimidated by my stove anymore! WOOT WOOT!!

Metal Mania!!

Sadie got braces last Thursday! She has been seeing Dr. Vincent for 2 years and she hasn't been ready to get braces....until now. She was so excited to get them.....she was begging Dr. Vincent all this time to just go ahead and put them on. The night before, we went out and I bought her her favorite candy bar...a TWIX because she won't be able to have one for two years!! You should see how she struts her stuff...it's hilarious but great that it's given her this added boost of confidence for whatever reason. She doesn't even care that her teeth hurt. What a good girl!


Stay tuned for the after pictures...my camera battery is dead!!

Family Christmas Party

The first weekend of December, we packed up the kids and met our family at the cabin for our annual family Christmas party weekend. In Midway, the first weekend of December is very important because they hold the All-Faith Creche Exhibit which displays the Nativity from 90 different countries. They also hold the local Gingerbread House exhibit/charity fundraiser. The town is absolutely packed! Even so, we took advantage of this awesome opportunity and took the kids to these extraordinary exhibits. The weather was amazing and it wasn't difficult to get around with so many kids in tow. We then came back to the cabin for an evening full of crafts, food, and fun! We had an awesome pasta bar, then dove right into the activities. We made marshmallow snowpeople, decorated graham cracker gingerbread houses, made some Christmas artwork and finished off the night with some hot chocolate mixed with marshmallows and whipped cream. Stirred with a candy cane, of course. The kids went to bed that night anticipating the arrival of St. Nick. If you believe and leave your shoe out on the windowsill, St. Nick will come over from Germany and leave candy in your shoe on the night of December 6th. The kids were just ecstatic as they woke up and discovered Christmas candy in their shoes! What a fun family tradition to enjoy this weekend as a family at our cabin each December. I am so appreciative for the things my kids got to see and experience. Seeing the marvel and delight on their faces the whole day is something I will always cherish.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a wonderful and meaningful Thanksgiving, wherever you may be. Thanks for all of your friendships and the many blessings I have experienced from my loved ones. Happy Turkey Day!!