How does this make sense?

Last night, the only Level 1 Trauma Center in our area went on total diversion. Meaning they weren't accepting any new patients, INCLUDING the patients that fit the Level 1 Trauma criteria.

I guess I just don't understand how this can happen. I thought that part of receiving the designation meant that they couldn't divert Level 1 Trauma patients or refuse to accept them. Apparently, I was wrong since they were on diversion for several hours. The only people this hurts are those who desperately need the services of the Trauma Center.

What's the point in having a specialty center like a Level 1 Trauma Center if they aren't even going to take Level 1 Trauma patients?

For a good time...

Check out your local Craig's List personal ads...specifically the Missed Connections section.

I've spent all morning looking at them and get the biggest kick out of them, specifically the men to men ones (even though I'm neither). I've found a few of my coworkers that are being sought. And seen some pretty desperate people's posts--some who clearly have no idea how to form a complete and intelligent thought.

Go look, you'll love it and you know it.

Black Friday Shopping

Was a decent success this year. I didn't really have a ton of money to be stimulating the economy with and I didn't REALLY need anything. But somehow, I managed to spend a few hundred dollars and got a ton of stuff.

I found a ton of adorable infant outfits that were super cheap. I got some sleep sacks, some sleepers, a "baby's first christmas" outfit, a few toys, and a couple odds and ends. I'll probably wind up returning most of them, but it was nice to daydream for a few minutes...

I found a few good things at Electronic Express but had the most terrible experience with their employees and managers. I did get what I came for after a significant amount of hassle, but I will never return there again.

At Joann's, I bought some fleece and flannel for baby blanket projects for the monkey. I also got some scrapbook supplies to begin a book for the baby.

All in all, I had a pretty good day. I was up at 3 am and got home a little bit before noon. I'm now ready for a nap. Tomorrow's shift will come too soon and I will be too grumpy to be around if I don't get a bit of rest.

If you braved the crowds today, I hope that you got what you were looking for and made it home safely. If you plan to go out tomorrow, please be nice to everyone, especially the retail employees.

The "last"...

This is the last Thanksgiving without the monkey. A few weeks ago, N and I celebrated our last birthdays without the monkey. Next month will be our last Christmas and New Year's Eve without the monkey. On one hand it's a little sad. Kinda like a rite of passage. But instead of moping and being upset or anything about it, we're exactly the opposite. Next Thanksgiving, there will be a family of 3 around the table (albeit the third member will only be about 6 months old...), plus the extended family will be coming out of the woodwork, I'm sure.

Seems that events are marked this year by being the "last" one...Then right away, we say with a big grin, "But next year the baby will be here!"

The bigger and more pregnant I get, the more excited we both get. Part of us are still kinda dumbfounded. Well, I am at least. I shouldn't speak for N. Some days it's almost hard to believe. But then something happens and I remember what a miracle this little one is and how much more vibrant and wonderful life will be next year once Monkey is born.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My Dad

Tonight, my father did an amazing thing for me.

This won't make much sense to those who don't know about the kind of relationship that my Dad and I have. But right now, I needed him. And he came through for me. Without question or hesitation.

I hope some day that my child knows that her parents will ALWAYS be 2 people in this world that she can count on. As long as we are alive and breathing...We will sacrifice to make sure that she has what she needs.

That's what being a parent is all about.

And though my Dad doesn't follow this blog (hell, he probably doesn't even know it exists), THANK YOU DAD...From the bottom of my heart.

Happy Thanksgiving...

We still have a baby!

We had a baby doctor appointment today.

I will never tire of hearing the sweet sound of my child's heartbeat. At 155 beats/minute, it was strong and loud. The nurse says she's thinking a boy...She's about the only one who is. N told me today that the heartbeat sounds like a barking dog *rolls eyes*.

I didn't gain much weight, which is ALWAYS something to celebrate! You can sort of see my belly pooching out now, even more so if I'm wearing tighter fitting clothes.

We're getting ready for the holidays around here. I did some cooking today, I have my regular 24 hour shift tomorrow so I will be getting a late start on the Turkey Day cooking when I get off. Fortunately, I'm only cooking for N and I. You'd never know that by the amount of food I'm planning on cooking though. I think that we'll still have leftovers at Christmas.

The big ultrasound will be Jan 6th. I'm looking forward to seeing the child that N and I created, although I am content to wait patiently until then. The holidays will distract me, I hope.

Is this what my life has come to?

So I was with a patient today and thought of a great topic for this blog. I was really excited because I've wanted to get back into blogging again but I've kinda had a small mental block here lately.

Well, tonight as I finally get to sit down at my laptop while awaiting the next call from some poor schmuck, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT I WAS GOING TO WRITE ABOUT...

I didn't have this many problems with my memory before I got pregnant. Now, I can't remember to put on my shoes if I don't leave them by the door. I have to have a shopping list before I go to the grocery store or I'll forget half of what I went for. I pack my work back the night before so that I don't run around in the morning like a chicken with my head cut off.

Please tell me that this gets better...PLEASE? Please tell me that at 30 something years old, I'm not already getting some dementia. Is forgetting everything I ever knew what my life has come to?

Maybe having twins...

Why I think this is beyond me. Twins don't run in either family. I'm not over 35, we didn't use fertility drugs to conceive. I really have no known "risk" factors.

But I've dreamed of twins several times and even triplets one night. Always they are girls. I'm consistently told that I look larger for how far along I am. I've only gained 3 pounds so I shouldn't look too big already. I'm barely at the end of my first trimester, and for the first pregnancy I shouldn't be THAT big already.

When we heard the heartbeat last appointment, the nurse prefaced looking by saying that I "was only 10 weeks and it's really early, so if we don't heard anything, don't freak out." She was looking and looking and looking low down by my pubic bone and couldn't hear anything. But when she moved up to my belly button, we heard the little monkey. She (we don't know yet, but have been referring to the baby as "she" for weeks) was just to the left of my belly button at the belly button height.

I think that both the nurse and I were surprised. She got a funny look on her face and said "are you SURE of your dates?"

Uh yeah, lady. I'm sure. Now I can't tell you the date we actually conceived but I can tell you the date that we did the deed that got me pregnant. And at this point, I don't think that 2 or 3 days makes that much of a difference in where the heart beat is heard.

When I told her that, she asked if we were sure we only were going to have one baby. Since my doctor's office only gives one ultrasound at 20-22 weeks, we've not gotten to see our little monkey yet. Only heard her precious little heart beating away at a stunningly healthy 175 times a minute.

And I told her that. No ultrasound yet. No, we're not sure. And she just kind of smiled, like she knew a secret that we didn't.

Yeah I know that the odds of having a natural multiples conception is like 2% at my age and with all the other factors counted. I know not to get my hopes up too high. I also know that I was maybe 5 days post conception when I was throwing up.

I don't know if we're having more than one or not. But I've talked about it enough and enough people wonder about it at work that Daddy gets overwhelmed by twins talk...I find some sick and perverse pleasure in knowing that I've just about got him convinced that his super sperm helped create 2 babies.

Is that so bad?

The cat is broke...

I came home Tuesday night from watching the election results to see one of my cats limping around the house, dragging one of his back legs. He can't jump, he's pitiful to watch walk around and I had to work my 24 the next day. I felt his leg up pretty good and he didn't meow or cry out in pain or anything, so I didn't rush out and take him to the doctor.

Yesterday, I came home from working hoping to see my kid running around like normal. But no, he was still thumping around. Unfortunately, I had to work last night. So today, I will stuff my cat into the carrier and listen to him meow and howl all the 9 miles to the vet's office. Where I hope that they won't charge me an arm and a leg to find out what's wrong with him...

And I hope that he will forgive me for hauling out the cat carrier and forcing him in it.

Changes in this blog...

I originally started this blog to have an outlet for my professional life. Through the past year, I've had more trials and stressors that I ever thought possible. My life has changed completely and therefore this blog will be changing as well...

I've met and fallen in love with the man of my dreams. I'm now 12 weeks pregnant with our first child.

While I will continue to blog about my career and my patients, this blog will likely turn in to the boring "Mommy" blog. More so to leave a legacy for my unborn child than for the pleasure of anyone else.

I haven't written for awhile. I wasn't sure what direction I was going to go with this. I thought about stopping this blog altogether, but I've decided that I'd miss it...I hope those of you who were reading before will still come back and visit every once in awhile.

Thanks to all who've read and supported this blog over the past year or so. Thank you for sharing my journey.