Hubby tagged me, so instead of trying to figure out how to condense a week's worth of NYC fun into a post right at this moment, I'll fill this out first and get to the trip summary soon.
Rules for the game:
1. Put these rules at the beginning of your post.
2. Answer each question (see below) in your post.
3. Tag five people at the end.
What was I doing 10 years ago?
April 1998 ... I was just about to graduate high school. I got my first speeding ticket less than two weeks before graduation and quickly found out that since I wasn't seventeen yet, the State of Texas would not let me take care of the ticket without a parent present. I still remember crying outside in the parking lot and thinking there was no way I should be allowed to leave home if I couldn't even take care of my own speeding ticket!
Five things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Tithe and offerings
2. Pay off my student loans and our mortgage
3. Put a large chunk into savings/ investments
4. Pay off mortgages for our relatives
5. Take a long trip to Europe and Australia
(6. Open my own clinic where I could practice medicine the way I wanted without having to worry about the money side of things.)
Five jobs that I have had:
1. Quality assurance contractor for a computer company
2. Office assistant for Continuing Medical Education
3. Research assistant
4. Neuroscience TA/ tutor
5. Pediatrics resident
Three of my habits:
1. Putting on eye cream, hand lotion, and lip balm before I go to bed (I have extremely dry skin, and washing my hands/ using hand sanitizer between every single patient does not help!)
2. Reading blogs every day
3. Checking for my "wallet, keys, pager, cell phone" in that order before I leave for work in the mornings
Five places I have lived
1. Coralville, Iowa
2. Memphis, TN
3. Houston, TX
4. College Station, TX
5. Irving, TX
Five people I want to get to know better
1. Jeanine
2. Carissa
3. Rob
I'm out because all the other people are those whose blogs I stalk or who have already been tagged. :-p
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Blah
My last day off was Friday, April 3rd; that was a relaxing and oh-so-fun day! Hubby was able to take the day off from work, so we cleaned the house together (actually not such a bad chore when he's around) and then had 2 of our sweet friends over for fajitas and Wii. I came in dead last in bowling but actually got 2nd place in golf. Good times!
Ever since then, I've been hard at work. I broke down crying Saturday the 4th in front of the NICU nurses over my frustrations regarding the inequality of the workload among the residents and the different management styles of my superiors that left me stuck in the middle. The next day I was on call and cried again in front of my fellow and my attending because the large majority of my patients were getting sick again in front of my eyes; I spent that 25 hours going to deliveries and just trying to survive the night. The following Tuesday I started an elective in child abuse; I have learned SO MUCH and even got to go to court one day to watch one of my attendings testify. Thursday I spent the day getting recertified for PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support), so if anyone under the age of 18 crashes, I'm your girl! Over this past weekend, I got to cross-cover Heme-Onc for the weekend -- definitely NOT my favorite thing. 11 brand-new (to me) patients with rounds that dragged on for 4 hours each day (they normally last 2-2.5 hours during the week) ... I was beat down by the end of yesterday.
I've spent the rest of my free time last week studying for my Step 3 licensing exam -- two FUN days at a Prometric testing center! Today honestly wasn't too bad; I was able to finish up early and did a little shopping while I was out. Now I have to get myself excited to go back tomorrow morning and finish it!
In six short days, Hubby and I leave for NYC. Since he travels so much, we have decided to use his airline and hotel points for an anniversary trip every year as long as he continues to travel frequently. Last year was Napa; this year is New York. I've never been before, and he's only been for work, so we're both so excited. We're going to be staying here, taking this food tour, and going to see this musical. The plan is also to go here for an anniversary dinner. We're going to work on a final itinerary this weekend (because I love having a schedule) to see if anything else needs to be pre-arranged before we leave. We're leaving our sweet puppy with his Granny on Saturday, so getting to see my MIL will be a nice way to start our vacation (yes, I actually like my MIL!).
If I can just get through the next 18 hours, I know I will be fine. It's all downhill from here!
Ever since then, I've been hard at work. I broke down crying Saturday the 4th in front of the NICU nurses over my frustrations regarding the inequality of the workload among the residents and the different management styles of my superiors that left me stuck in the middle. The next day I was on call and cried again in front of my fellow and my attending because the large majority of my patients were getting sick again in front of my eyes; I spent that 25 hours going to deliveries and just trying to survive the night. The following Tuesday I started an elective in child abuse; I have learned SO MUCH and even got to go to court one day to watch one of my attendings testify. Thursday I spent the day getting recertified for PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support), so if anyone under the age of 18 crashes, I'm your girl! Over this past weekend, I got to cross-cover Heme-Onc for the weekend -- definitely NOT my favorite thing. 11 brand-new (to me) patients with rounds that dragged on for 4 hours each day (they normally last 2-2.5 hours during the week) ... I was beat down by the end of yesterday.
I've spent the rest of my free time last week studying for my Step 3 licensing exam -- two FUN days at a Prometric testing center! Today honestly wasn't too bad; I was able to finish up early and did a little shopping while I was out. Now I have to get myself excited to go back tomorrow morning and finish it!
In six short days, Hubby and I leave for NYC. Since he travels so much, we have decided to use his airline and hotel points for an anniversary trip every year as long as he continues to travel frequently. Last year was Napa; this year is New York. I've never been before, and he's only been for work, so we're both so excited. We're going to be staying here, taking this food tour, and going to see this musical. The plan is also to go here for an anniversary dinner. We're going to work on a final itinerary this weekend (because I love having a schedule) to see if anything else needs to be pre-arranged before we leave. We're leaving our sweet puppy with his Granny on Saturday, so getting to see my MIL will be a nice way to start our vacation (yes, I actually like my MIL!).
If I can just get through the next 18 hours, I know I will be fine. It's all downhill from here!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
I think this was a compliment
Today's conversation occurred after we finished rounding on one of my babies. We proceeded to the next patient in the isolette down the row, but my patient in her open crib was getting fussy. I picked her up, untangled her multiple IVs and tubes, and proceeded to rock her as the nurse practitioner presented her patient. After she finished her presentation, she turned to look at me and my little friend.
My attending: "Sarah, why don't you explain to the nurse practitioner what your patient's condition is?"
Me (a summary) : "She has condition X which only left her with about 25% of her small intestine and about 60% of her colon. She's two weeks old but has only gotten nutrition through her IV. Today will be her first day to try any real food!"
Nurse practitioner: "Oh, that poor poor baby!"
Me: "No, it's okay! Compared to one of my other patients, she's doing awesome! Look at her all wrapped up; you would never know anything is wrong with her. She has good lungs and a good brain; I was just telling her parents last week all the good things she has going for her!"
Nurse practitioner: "Wow, you really are an optimist, aren't you?"
My attending: "Sarah, why don't you explain to the nurse practitioner what your patient's condition is?"
Me (a summary) : "She has condition X which only left her with about 25% of her small intestine and about 60% of her colon. She's two weeks old but has only gotten nutrition through her IV. Today will be her first day to try any real food!"
Nurse practitioner: "Oh, that poor poor baby!"
Me: "No, it's okay! Compared to one of my other patients, she's doing awesome! Look at her all wrapped up; you would never know anything is wrong with her. She has good lungs and a good brain; I was just telling her parents last week all the good things she has going for her!"
Nurse practitioner: "Wow, you really are an optimist, aren't you?"
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