Taking the little bit of Bad with all the Good!

There have been some great ups & downs during this pregnancy. The first six weeks were fairly uneventful until the insane nausea & vomiting set in at the end of six weeks. By the time I made it to my first appointment at 11 weeks, I had lost 10 lbs and was getting seriously dehydrated. Thankfully, the nurse midwife understood my need to continue to work and prescribed me Zofran and increased the dosage of my heartburn medication, Nexium.

These changes have made some HUGE improvements over the past 3 weeks and I'm starting to feel like a normal person again. I hated having to run out of a patient's room because I needed to find a bathroom or trash can. And, I tried just about everything I could think of, and that was suggested...but why they call it "morning" sickness is a cruel joke...it is all-day sickness!

But I feel like a normal person now, as long as I take the Zofran the second I start to feel nauseated :o)

I also wanted to give a shout out to my home girl Vanessa, and my amazing SIL Michelle.

I ran out of Zofran on Tuesday, and by Wednesday was too sick to pick up my prescription on base, so Vanessa went to get my medication for me!! And, when I called her last week she was at the mall in Pensacola, so I asked her to check out the uniform store to see if they had any maternity scrubs, but all they had were ones to order out of a catalog. So, she took it upon herself to check out Motherhood while she was there & bought me some cute shorts, & her son picked out a T-shirt that says "Mom in training." It was so incredibly thoughtful because she knows how busy my schedule is!! Thanks V!!!

And Michelle, understood my maternity clothes dilemma & went ahead and ordered me a pair of jeans from Old Navy...which I got in the mail today!! Her due date is 6 days before mine, and she has been such a trooper taking all my phone calls (she really doesn't like to talk on the phone). Although my family all live in distant states, they still make their love ever present!

So, even though my face has broken out worse than most teenagers, I have to look at it as my body is producing enough hormones to keep the twins healthy...it's all about finding the silver lining :o)

The best paying babysitting job ever!!

Monday night we only had 2 patients in Pediatrics so I knew I would be floating around the hospital somewhere. I spent two nights last week on the 3rd floor which is post-surgical patients without infections because they have decided that I shouldn't work with the super-infectious people on the 2nd floor :o)

I was so thrilled when I found out I would be helping out in Labor & Delivery....well, not so much helping out as babysitting. A mother gave birth & decided to put the baby up for adoption the day prior, so she didn't want to interact with the child...which I find completely understandable...so I got to feed, hold, rock, and care for this special child for 12 hrs while the adoptive parents drove in from out of state.

The odd thing to me was that most of the co-workers thought of this as a sad situation, and kept feeling sorry for the baby, I see it differently. I was so proud of the mother for having the strength to offer her child a better opportunity, even after seeing it's face. And one nurse made the comment, "oh, she doesn't want him/her" (I'm keeping the gender confidential), but I see it as she wants MORE for them.

The adoptive parents called every few hours as they got closer to check on the baby, and I just loved being able to give them little updates. It was a very rewarding night, and I was so touched to be a part of it!

What ever happened to common decency??

I honestly don't think all the extra hormones have affected my general mood, but there are a few things that have just been driving me crazy lately!

Leaving a shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot. For instance, shopping at the commissary is always an ordeal because it's always busy. It is normal to drive up and down the aisles a few times before finally finding an vacant spot. So, you can imagine my frustration when I finally find a spot (about 7 aisles away from the entrance) and just as I'm pulling in, the moron in the spot on the other side leaves her cart in my space!!! Seriously...the cart return was only 5 spots away! But, I guess she was extremely pressed for time since she hurriedly got in her car, lit a cigarette, and sat there until we walked away. (I may, or may not have given her the stink eye the entire time).

People that don't wash their hands. Seeing as I work in the health care field, I find this absolutely disgusting. I can't help but get frustrated when I am in a public restroom and I see employees & customers fail to wash their hands after using the facilities. Do we really wonder why the swine flu is spreading so rapidly??? Also, with all the abscesses I see on the "down there" area, I will hover if there isn't a seat cover available. I have also been known to use a paper towel to open the door to leave & if there isn't a trash can near the door, I'll hold it til I find one.

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On a different note, does anyone know where I can get some decent maternity clothes?? I am in desperate need of some jeans & skirts. I know I'm only rounding the 14th week, but the twins didn't get that memo, and my belly is growing ever so quickly!! I have found a few shirts (non-maternity) that will work for awhile...but I don't want to have to dress frumpy :o( and I don't want to have to resort to wearing scrubs in public ;o)

The Newest Pics

I swear (raising my right hand) to try my hardest to not fall into the TAMN-esque ways of most first time mothers. That being said, most of my family has blogs and it's a great way to share the going-ons with everyone.

I had a referral appointment to Sacred Heart in Pensacola (45 min drive) on Monday for an 'official' ultrasound & for the first initial screenings. The Air Force base that we are stationed at has a hospital, with many things, but because I'm having twins they are taking a few extra precautions & will liberally be referring me to a Perinatalogist. Except for the drive, I don't mind because the more precautions, the better :o)




After my appointment on Thursday, and I saw & heard the heartbeats, I huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. I have been incredibly anxious since I found out I was pregnant because I didn't want to have another miscarriage, or tubal pregnancy. Sometimes I think the more you know, the worse it is!!!

This weekend I finally allowed myself to feel pregnant. I touched my stomach and thought about the babies growing inside, and I finally let Eric do the same. He was also very apprehensive because we both were so excited in March & immediately started to prepare, only to be very disappointed. But now, every time I find him on the computer he is looking at baby strollers, car seats, making lists, and we have to go to the baby section of whatever store we are in. I am floored at how excited he is & how involved he wants to be in planning every little detail.

We are still going to hold off on purchasing anything until after 20 weeks, just to be on the safe side. But, I am so grateful for all the well-wishes from everyone, it really means the world to me.

I still plan to work up until I am told not to, but I have no plans of putting myself, or the babies at any kind of risk! So, hop on & enjoy the ride as my family grows from 2 to 4 by March of next year :o)

I hate Kanye West!

I know hate is a strong word, but just the thought of this person fills me with rage. I don't like his music, and I especially don't like his misuse of public forums.

This despise started when I was watching "Punk'd" on MTV many years ago, where they had some fake police arrive to shut down his video production & he grabbed the film from the camera & took off running into a van & tried to drive off with the "illegal" footage. This shocked me, and I forever saw him as a potential criminal that only looks out for himself.

Then there was his repulsive display on the celebrity telethon after Hurricane Katrina where he accused President Bush of hating black people, and blamed all the problems in New Orleans on racism...instead of poor planning. He exploited this opportunity to get the public's support, and I thought I lost all respect for him then...

Until this year's MTV Video Music Awards that aired Sunday night. Taylor Swift won Best Female Video, and started giving her acceptance speech when Kanye West runs up on stage & takes the microphone away from her to say that Beyonce had the best video. Watch it here:

MTV Shows

I personally think he should be banned from the VMA's for that kind of behavior. It's one thing to make a joke out of the fact that you didn't win, like Kathy Griffin does, but to ruin someone elses time to shine because you don't agree...COME ON!...that's what blogs are for :o)

This is why you should stay in school...

I am sure that I'm not the only one that comes into contact with individuals that are a few crayons short of a full box, and here is one instance that absolutely floored me.

In any for-profit hospital, space is money so most rooms are just large enough for the bed, small night stand, & a bed-side table. There is includes Pediatrics except there is a bed or crib, night stand, bed-side table, chair that folds out into a bed, and a rocking chair in every room.

I received a patient at 0245, and the patient was accompanied by mother & aunt. Here is how the conversation went:


Mother: I need another bed in here.
Me: I can't bring one in here, but the chair folds out into a bed & there is also the rocking chair.
Mother: Why not!
Me: Because it's a fire hazard.
Mother: What do you mean!
Me: If there was a fire, someone could be injured due to the clutter.
Mother: But it's only a hazard if there is a fire!
...
...
Me: That's why it is a preventative measure, in case there is a fire.


I am normally very accommodating in any way I can because no person expects to be admitted to the hospital, but when you come in demanding and yelling...um, no. Also, seeing as I work night shift, the more crap people put on the floor, the higher risk for me tripping as I'm doing my hourly checks & trying to be courteous by not turning all the lights on.

So, please make your kids stay in school! There were many many more conversations with this parent like the one mentioned above while they were here.

I have a confession to make...

I'm having a secret affair with the McDonald's Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Bagel. It all started in 2004 while Eric was deployed and the Lowe's store I worked at had a McDonald's in the shopping center. Of course it was innocent at first but I soon began to be a daily ritual since my lunch hour was from 0900-1000 (the shift was 0500-1400).

I soon called it quits when I started my diet a few years ago, and I thought it was a nice clean break since I had closure...but I guess I was wrong.

I slipped up a few weeks ago, and now often find myself fantasizing about it at all hours of the day...and reminiscing about all the wonderful minutes we shared as I devoured it. And lately, it's been all about the Lucky Charms too :o)

I guess what I'm really trying to say is.....oh well, I'm going to embrace my cravings b/c today I am in my 12th week of pregnancy! The first 11 weeks I was honestly waiting/worrying about having another miscarriage, and I only told my work b/c of there being certain patients that I need to stay away from. I know that I'm not completely out of the woods yet, but at least I feel comfortable sharing this wonderful news!

Oh yeah...did I mention it's TWINS!!! I had my first ultrasound today, and I suspected it when my stomach started to pooch out at 9 wks, but I was losing weight because of how sick I've been.



Eric is SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited, and has the ultrasound pictures already in his ruck sack to bring to work with him in the morning.

My due date is 25 March, but twins are lucky to make it to 36 weeks, so it could be as early as February. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers!!

Moving on up!

Starting any career can be difficult, and Nursing is falling into that category. When I was still a student I was filled with fear of screwing up, and in general felt completely retarded...but things they are a changing.

I'm not getting over confident, but I am celebrating the small victories!

When orienting to a unit, one normally spends about 2 weeks, or 8-10 shifts with a preceptor to keep an eye on you. I spent over a month on orientation in Pediatrics because I am a new nurse, and I was able to spend 2 nights on the Med-Surg floor while Peds was closed.

Peds was closed on Sunday night, so I thought I would just be on call but a nurse called in so I was headed to my first night shift alone on the Med-Surg floor. A seasoned nurse will take upwards of 8 patients on the night shift, but thankfully I only had 5! The problem was all but one of my patients had been admitted or transferred to the floor about 4 hrs before my shift. It took me 7 hrs to get caught up on my charting and be able to sit down to eat!

But, my major success was when it came to the 9pm med pass. I had a patient that was supposed to receive an EXTREMELY large dose of long-acting insulin at 9, but was also scheduled for short-acting insulin at the same time. I used my judgement, after bringing it to the attention of the charge nurse, and administered the long-acting insulin, but held the short-acting. I then waited til midnight and rechecked the patient's blood sugar, and it was where it needed to be. YEA!!!!!!!!! Had I gone by the schedule I could have ended up with a patient with extremely low blood sugar!

So, I have officially upgraded my status to not completely retarded :o)