One Last Hoorah!

This past week David interviewed in Philadelphia at CHOP and after confirming Monday that it didn't look like I was going into labor anytime soon, I booked a train ticket to meet David.  It was such a blast and I am so glad that we had this little mini vacation.  We also celebrated David's 37th birthday and.... the results that he passed his cardiology boards!  So, it was a big week.

For David's 37th Birthday dinner we went to Marrakesh.  For the past 7 years of our marriage I have heard about this restaurant and I am so happy that we were able to celebrate there together.  The experience begins when you arrive at the entrance down this little alley.  (In the past, there wasn't even a sign advertising.)  You knock on a locked door, they let you enter into this quaint little restaurant with small round tables and pillows galore.  You are then served a 6 course authentic Moroccan meal.  I think we ate David's birth year in pounds.  Everything was so delicious.

Marrakesh Bill.

The next day David and I headed out to see the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Arts and the Rodin Museum before David had to start interviews.

Me and a Knight.

David in front of one of the Asian Exhibits.

Me and Rocky.

David and I w/ Rocky.  Note to all other visitors: do not let the guy take your picture that claims he is the "Rocky photographer", he's not doing it to be nice.  He just wants your money.  David knew this, but I was clueless.

This is how David would take Rocky out.

View of Philadelphia from the top of the museum steps.

Rocky's footprints at the top of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Arts.

Me attempting my "Rocky" run up the steps of the museum.  Too bad I was humming the wrong music!

David and "The Thinker" at the Rodin Museum. It is only appropriate that David would
get a picture taken here since he might be the ultimate thinker.

MSICU Holiday Party

We went to our first work "Holiday" party.  I can't really call it a Christmas party because there was no indication of Christmas at all besides maybe the Christmas wrapped candies.  The MSICU rented out Lucca's in Back Bay for the evening.  There was food and dancing.  I have not danced in a long time and dancing as a pregnant lady is a whole new adventure.  I realized, I can't get down low like I used to.  A song came on that had us twist down low to the ground.  Imagine everyone down low to the ground and me twisting about 1 foot above everyone else.  Talk about embarrassing.  At least it's obvious that I'm pregnant!

David's co-fellows: Ryan, Dan, Enid, Peggy, Lisa and a Charge Nurse

David's co-fellows: Ryan, Enid, Peggy and Lisa

Then the following weekend we had another Christmas party at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for the Anesthesia Department. During the party we found out some sad news about a patient of David's, so we stopped by the hospital and ran into Peggy. We love her! She is one of David's co-fellows.

Week 30- Only 10 weeks to go!

I am definitely getting pregnant and am starting to bust out of my work scrubs :).  But, I am getting more and more excited to meet our little guy.  This past week at work I had the opportunity to care for a nine month old patient.  I often take care of babies, but being pregnant has made caring for babies a whole new experience.  When I hold them, feed them, etc, all I can think about is when I get to hold my own little one.  This particular patient has a mom, but her parenting skills are minimal at best.  I have tried to give her the benefit of the doubt over the past several months that he's been at the hospital, but her desire to "love" her baby hasn't seemed to improve much.  It always shocks me when she passes up the opportunity to hold him or or feed him, which happens multiple times of day.  So, when she went home for the weekend, I made sure to snuggle that little man every chance I got.  I hope when he eventually goes home, that he is loved and well taken care of. I am grateful for the many parents who I see at the hospital and outside of the hospital that sacrifice so much for their children, that would do whatever they can for them.  Working at the hospital in pediatrics has definitely opened my eyes to the different parenting styles or lack of parenting.  And, sometimes it just comes down to teaching a young parent how to care for their infant and be comfortable with a baby that is more complex than they had originally imagined.  It also might just be helping a new mom know that lack of sleep is part of the transition to motherhood, but that her baby still needs her when she is tired. 

First Letter to Dad

David took his pediatric cardiology boards last week, so as a good luck token, Porter and I both wrote him little notes and Porter gave him a packet of smarties.  Hopefully our little notes helped him pass.  We'll find out in about 3 months, probably right around when Porter is born. 

Note says: Good luck Dad!  You will do grate.  Luv Porter.  P.S.  Smarties will help you remember.

Aspiration Risk

At work have many patients that have swallowing problems and are high risk for aspirating oral foods.  So we thicken their foods, we keep them upright after feeding, or we just don't feed them by mouth at all and put everything through tubes.  Well, let's be honest, I think I'm at risk for aspiration too.  Maybe it's pregnancy and how ravenous I get when I haven't eat in a few hours or maybe I just can't coordinate chewing and swallowing anymore, but dang it I have felt spaghetti slipping down the wrong tube and cheerios at breakfast.

I better keep upright for 30 min after each meal from now on.

New Beginnings (and not the Young Women type)

After 2 1/2 months of applying to nursing positions and hearing NOTHING, I got two interviews this past week and was offered a position at each site. I accepted the position at Franciscan Hospital for Children in the pediatric rehabilitation and pediatric pulmonary rehabilitation units. I begin orientation on April 23rd and am excited (and maybe a little scared) to begin my new career as a registered nurse. Whoo hoo!

What makes the difference?

This past week I interviewed twice for a nursing position and once to be a temple ordinance worker. Of course the interview at the temple went well and during my setting apart blessing the counselor prayed that I would learn through each job interview and that I would develop the characteristics that I needed. I honestly hoped that didn't mean I would have lots and lots of interviews, but I realized it was possible.
The job interviews: Why is it that sometimes you walk out feeling confident that you made a good impression and other times you walk out reviewing over and over in your mind what you did or didn't do and wishing you could do it all over again? This week I had one of each. My first nursing interview was excellent. As I left, over and over again the Human Resource partner expressed how much he would love for the nurse manager to meet me. So, the next day I met with the nurse manager. From other classmates I had heard of possible interview questions to expect and I did not hear one single clinical question. Actually for that matter, I think she only asked me one question at all. The rest of the time she talked about the facility, answered my questions and toured me around the unit. This did not boost my confidence because I don't feel like she got to know me at all. Later that night David calmed some of my fears by saying she has been around nurses for 20 years and she knows what she wants, so she doesn't have to ask tons of questions to know if I'll be a good fit or not. David is much wiser than me!