Hidden amongst the new baby acclimating that is eating the lion's share of our time and energy is my still festering work-related concerns; will they or won't they put the pieces of the puzzle together before I return to work next Monday? Well, it looks like they will.....mostly.
While it has seemed for some time that the job I have been opening ogling at the Park would be mine for the taking, it has not gone smoothly. To surmise briefly, they talked about it since at least February when I initially expressed interest in moving to part time for childcare reasons. In the intervening months: my boss was terminated, the plans for my clinic vacillated between shutting it down entirely to expanding it to include another part time staff member and everything in between (and landed squarely upon changing nothing at all), and the position at the Park changed from 3 to 4 days a week and then it was rumored that the current charge there might want to take it over herself rather than work 5 days a week (before also landing squarely upon keeping it as initially intended). Then, when it all finally looked like it just might work out, Tia had an emergency c-section 5 weeks early and exactly 3 days prior to them posting the Park job...a job for which I was no longer eligible to transfer to because I was on leave.
I have tried to get confirmation that the Park gig was mine. But, due to what I can only imagine are fairly Byzantine human resource driven policies, no one could say anything directly. Allusions were plentiful, but statements were difficult to come by. So, until yesterday there was still a lot of gray instead of black and white. Now there seems to be a plan...albeit one that is subject to many possible changes.
I go back to work on Monday. I will return to my old job at that time. It appears that will only be the case for one week, after which I will start my new job at the Park. In the interim, they are not hiring anyone for my old position, relying instead on floating people from the Creek down (floating down the Creek? :) to fill in as they are overstaffed and have low patient volumes. This will work for a time of course, until such point as they do not have low patient volumes in which case they will be in a difficult spot regarding the EM clinic. But, hopefully that will no longer be my problem and may in fact prove to be a unique opportunity to pick up the odd shift.
What remains fuzzy are the hours/days they will be using me at the Park (what is clear is it will be 3 days/wk) and when they will hire for the EM clinic and how I (or anyone else) will manage to be available to train them at that point. But, rather than look the gift horse in the mouth, the job is mine and I will be starting it sooner rather than later. As much as we could have used a few extra weeks of full time pay, we are happy to trade it for the part time position that will allow for less child care for Quinn.
Now if we could just get Quinn to sleep a bit more.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Friday, July 27, 2012
things I never thought I would do at age 30
There is an ad campaign with the tagline 'Life comes at you fast' (it's efficacy is suspect however, as I recall the tagline but not the product it is associated with...maybe insurance?). I was thinking exactly that yesterday while I was at Cotton Babies in Vancouver picking out newborn cloth diapering supplies since Quinn has been burning through disposables as we wait for him to weigh enough to move into the cloth diapers we have. And it wasn't just the whole 'cloth diapering' thing that got me to think about how rapidly things change, it was the whole 'having a baby' which led to the cloth diapering thing. All of it got me to thinking what things I would not have expected I would be doing at age 35 and, in an effort to narrow the scope of things I heretofore was utterly incredulous about, I am only going to go back to the tender age of 30.
- First and foremost: baby. I was definitely NOT having one of those at age 30. Honestly I felt very strongly that way until 34. Truthfully, 34 and up to the point when the positive pregnancy test rolled in. It was a lifestyle I was not comfortable with and entailed changes that I could not envision myself making (and still have a hard time with in all honesty). Gone are the days of quick runs to the store, last minute happy hour plans, and sleeping in on weekends. I am okay with it, but I will miss it all terribly.
- Cloth diapering. I thought this was the realm of hippies and involved all manner of safety pins and patience beyond my imagining. It still will never be 'easy' like disposables, but it also wont be nearly as hard as I thought. I will try to remember that the first time I have to wash a batch of poopy diapers.
- Owning a lawnmower that runs on pre-gas powered tech. I used to see them in Archie comics and in old television shows and think how archaic and inefficient. Then we researched and bought a push mower and I think how much easier it is not having to deal with gasoline, oil, and the noise and pollutants that come with. Not for every type of lawn, but works great for ours. Still, never thought I would own one.
- Gardening. I thought this best left to the same hippies that cloth diapered. After all, who has time for it. It is much easier (and cheaper in the short run at least) to just buy produce. Well, after buying a few hundred dollars worth of dirt and supplies (another thing that I did not think I would ever do), I actually find gardening cathartic. Who knew?
- Pickling. Speaking of gardening, I now pickle things. Something I pictured mostly happened in communes and farms. Did not see that one coming.
- Running my own clinic. I will be giving this up soon to move to part time, and it will be much harder than I thought it would be to walk away from. 5 years ago I was just starting nursing school and less than 3 years in the field I was running my own outpatient infusion clinic. I would never have guessed that I would go from trying to figure out how to take blood pressure with a manual sphygmometer to administering $30K infusion medications without another soul in the clinic.
I know there are countless other things to add to the list and it will continue to grow as life evolves, but damn if life isnt very very different from what I would have guessed it to be at age 30. God knows what things I thought I would never do will come to pass by 40. Hopefully it doesn't involve voting Republican or getting really into Jazz music. But then again, I have been wrong before.
- First and foremost: baby. I was definitely NOT having one of those at age 30. Honestly I felt very strongly that way until 34. Truthfully, 34 and up to the point when the positive pregnancy test rolled in. It was a lifestyle I was not comfortable with and entailed changes that I could not envision myself making (and still have a hard time with in all honesty). Gone are the days of quick runs to the store, last minute happy hour plans, and sleeping in on weekends. I am okay with it, but I will miss it all terribly.
- Cloth diapering. I thought this was the realm of hippies and involved all manner of safety pins and patience beyond my imagining. It still will never be 'easy' like disposables, but it also wont be nearly as hard as I thought. I will try to remember that the first time I have to wash a batch of poopy diapers.
- Owning a lawnmower that runs on pre-gas powered tech. I used to see them in Archie comics and in old television shows and think how archaic and inefficient. Then we researched and bought a push mower and I think how much easier it is not having to deal with gasoline, oil, and the noise and pollutants that come with. Not for every type of lawn, but works great for ours. Still, never thought I would own one.
- Pickling. Speaking of gardening, I now pickle things. Something I pictured mostly happened in communes and farms. Did not see that one coming.
- Running my own clinic. I will be giving this up soon to move to part time, and it will be much harder than I thought it would be to walk away from. 5 years ago I was just starting nursing school and less than 3 years in the field I was running my own outpatient infusion clinic. I would never have guessed that I would go from trying to figure out how to take blood pressure with a manual sphygmometer to administering $30K infusion medications without another soul in the clinic.
I know there are countless other things to add to the list and it will continue to grow as life evolves, but damn if life isnt very very different from what I would have guessed it to be at age 30. God knows what things I thought I would never do will come to pass by 40. Hopefully it doesn't involve voting Republican or getting really into Jazz music. But then again, I have been wrong before.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
checking in from the fringe
Having a baby is difficult. Not that that should surprise anyone who has ever had one. Hell, we 'knew'
(or at least heard) that going in, but nothing quite prepares you for it.
I didn't think that, without a job intervening, sleep deprivation would be much of an issue. There are two of us after all. I was horribly wrong in this assumption.
It doesn't hit you all at once either. The first few days are difficult, but you manage on pure adrenaline. Then the next week or so you actually feel pretty good (provided things are generally going well) before the crash occurs. The past week I have felt alternately weary, achy, easily frustrated, and generally kind of like I have the flu. I realize this is neither unique nor unexpected, but it does add a degree of difficulty to pretty much everything. I laughed when Josh (a good friend who just had a baby) talked about how his 'to-do' list went from lengthy and a measure of some accomplished pride to a much more abbreviated form. I do the same. I used to mark of things in quick succession, and now I feel pretty damned accomplished if I mow the lawn and run to the store in the same day. Every task becomes a coordinated effort or does not happen at all.
And time starts to slip on you as well. Monday blurs into Tuesday and then you wake up on Friday and can't remember how that happened. We keep careful track of feedings, diaper changes, and medications not because we are obsessive, but because we would have no idea what time he last ate (provided he didn't remind us, which he does), shat, or had a clean diaper. You find yourself eating breakfast at noon not because you couldn't muster up the energy to make it at 9, but rather because you didnt get to sleep until 5:30 and didnt manage to get up until 6 hours thereafter.
Things begin to accumulate in piles everywhere. A week's worth of opened mail here, some packing materials over there. That table that you just cleared off yesterday is not heaped with burp rags, binkies, and various baby-related flotsam. Bottles line the counters either drying or assembled and ready for the next round of feeding. Of course, it looks far worse than it is. But with neither the time nor the energy to tidy it all up, it continues its creep forth.
"Sleep when he sleeps" is an oft repeated refrain to cure the ills of deprivation, but it is far easier to say (and it is evidently very easy to say since nearly everyone does) but far less easy to do. When Quinn awakens, it is usually to be fed. Then he needs to be upright for a bit. Then he needs to be changed. Then the bottle needs to be cleaned and Quinn usually needs some time on our persons. Then, by the time you get him back down, you catch a glimpse of your unshowered, unshaved visage with hair that would make Tim Burton look twice. You clean and brush yourself, change, eat, and just get ready to lie down and, you guessed it, feeding time again.
I know this is largely complaint driven. We have been very fortunate to have a healthy baby who is doing well and isn't overly fussy and family and friends who have pledged support when needed. We know we are blessed to have each other as we both work hard to do our share and take up the slack when the other needs a break. We are doing, all things considered, pretty darn well. Still, it isn't easy, and I feel okay in saying that here. I know one day this will be over, Quinn will be able to respond to us and sleep in larger chunks of time. Our lives will return to some semblance of normality and maybe, just maybe, we will look back fondly on this time. But for now, all I can think of is curling up in bed until tomorrow.
(or at least heard) that going in, but nothing quite prepares you for it.
I didn't think that, without a job intervening, sleep deprivation would be much of an issue. There are two of us after all. I was horribly wrong in this assumption.
It doesn't hit you all at once either. The first few days are difficult, but you manage on pure adrenaline. Then the next week or so you actually feel pretty good (provided things are generally going well) before the crash occurs. The past week I have felt alternately weary, achy, easily frustrated, and generally kind of like I have the flu. I realize this is neither unique nor unexpected, but it does add a degree of difficulty to pretty much everything. I laughed when Josh (a good friend who just had a baby) talked about how his 'to-do' list went from lengthy and a measure of some accomplished pride to a much more abbreviated form. I do the same. I used to mark of things in quick succession, and now I feel pretty damned accomplished if I mow the lawn and run to the store in the same day. Every task becomes a coordinated effort or does not happen at all.
And time starts to slip on you as well. Monday blurs into Tuesday and then you wake up on Friday and can't remember how that happened. We keep careful track of feedings, diaper changes, and medications not because we are obsessive, but because we would have no idea what time he last ate (provided he didn't remind us, which he does), shat, or had a clean diaper. You find yourself eating breakfast at noon not because you couldn't muster up the energy to make it at 9, but rather because you didnt get to sleep until 5:30 and didnt manage to get up until 6 hours thereafter.
Things begin to accumulate in piles everywhere. A week's worth of opened mail here, some packing materials over there. That table that you just cleared off yesterday is not heaped with burp rags, binkies, and various baby-related flotsam. Bottles line the counters either drying or assembled and ready for the next round of feeding. Of course, it looks far worse than it is. But with neither the time nor the energy to tidy it all up, it continues its creep forth.
"Sleep when he sleeps" is an oft repeated refrain to cure the ills of deprivation, but it is far easier to say (and it is evidently very easy to say since nearly everyone does) but far less easy to do. When Quinn awakens, it is usually to be fed. Then he needs to be upright for a bit. Then he needs to be changed. Then the bottle needs to be cleaned and Quinn usually needs some time on our persons. Then, by the time you get him back down, you catch a glimpse of your unshowered, unshaved visage with hair that would make Tim Burton look twice. You clean and brush yourself, change, eat, and just get ready to lie down and, you guessed it, feeding time again.
I know this is largely complaint driven. We have been very fortunate to have a healthy baby who is doing well and isn't overly fussy and family and friends who have pledged support when needed. We know we are blessed to have each other as we both work hard to do our share and take up the slack when the other needs a break. We are doing, all things considered, pretty darn well. Still, it isn't easy, and I feel okay in saying that here. I know one day this will be over, Quinn will be able to respond to us and sleep in larger chunks of time. Our lives will return to some semblance of normality and maybe, just maybe, we will look back fondly on this time. But for now, all I can think of is curling up in bed until tomorrow.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Potpourri
I remember when I used to watch Jeopardy they often had Potpourri as a category, which was kind of a mishmash of random non-thematic questions. I figured it was a good title for a mishmash of random odds and bits. Unfortunately, my ability to string together cohesion on the amount of sleep I have been getting is low. So, potpourri it is.
- I used to understand time differently. There was morning, noon, and night. There was breakfast, lunchtime, and dinner time. There was bed time. Now, of course, I only know two kinds of time and will for at least a little while. Feeding time and the time until the next feeding. It is exhausting and disorienting. Days kind of blur together, the edges no longer solidified in any meaningful way. Even when we are out, it is hard to remember how long it has been since we got home and how old Quinn is now. Still, after our doc apt today (the third since discharge) when we got the results that he is doing well, gaining weight, and growing.....it all feels worthwhile. Amazing when I think back to a little more than a week ago we were feeding him with a 1mL insulin syringe.
- I realize I haven't had the chance to post since we got home. We stayed in the hospital until Thursday and thankfully we had Tia's baby shower the day Quinn was born where we got a lot of the things we ended up needing. Tia's workmates also chipped in to get us a car seat and her boss was kind enough to deliver it so we could bring the little guy home. We definitely were not ready just yet. Had he waited just one more week, we would have gotten there. Oh well, gotta roll with the punches. Quinn didn't give us much choice.
- We have officially survived one week on our own. Tia and I have been working very well together, trying to balance the roles and our efforts. Giving each other time when we need to. It doesn't make it easy, but it makes it doable. How people do this on their own is beyond me. I would be a mess. And this with a little one who really doesn't cry of fuss much at all without a very distinct reason (hungry, wet, or pick me up seem to be the three reasons). That said, we have both been christened with spit up and urine. It is a learning curve.
- People have been asking how our cats are dealing with the new addition. Well, as you can see from the pic, pretty well. They really do not care. At all. I think they might even like it because we are home so much more than before. They might not get the focused attention they used to, but they certainly get it in more total volume.
- I heard from my supervisor today (one of the 2 charges at my hospital site) and she is evidently moving on to work for our old boss in Labor & Delivery. She leaves the Friday prior to my return. Will be a huge hole to fill. She had her flaws (we all do), but was honestly a nice person, easy to work with, and exceptionally skilled. Will definitely miss her.
- As for my own job saga, I am hearing rumors the Park gig is mine and there are certainly allusions indicating it as such, but I am certainly not overflowing with confidence about it. Until I get an official offer, I can't count on it. However, life will be a WHOLE lot easier once that happens. Will be a crazily fortuitous turn of events. Keep em crossed for me.
- Bought a new car today. It was a fairly typical experience......meaning not wonderful. Thankfully, Tia is a hard ass negotiator and I am getting there as well. I certainly have no more tolerance for bullshit, something car dealers have excesses of. We ended up getting a Kia Forte EX hatchback. It is a really nice car for the price. When you are looking for a car around $15K, you certainly don't expect blue tooth, USB & I-pod connectivity, steering wheel mounted controls, and a decently peppy ride to boot. Our big goals were high gas mileage (check: 27/36), enough room for a car seat (yep), and some utility (hatchback). I think we hit them all.
We started the process test driving a used 2012 model with 15K for about $15K (14,900). It was really nice and fit our goals, but I looked at the paper and they were selling new sedan models at another dealership (Broadway Kia) for $14,721. It wasn't the color/interior we wanted, but it would have a more robust warranty and it costs less. We took this back to Dick Hannah to try to negotiate on the used model. They wouldn't budge and refused to believe the price (it was in an ad in the Oregonian with specific vin numbers). We then went through an overlong process of looking at, and ultimately not finding common ground on at Hyundai Elantra (they wanted north of $17,500). We went home and Tia called Tonkin in Gladstone. They said they could do the sedan for $14,700 to earn our business (turned out to be $14,799 by the way). They also had a hatchback for "$600-$800 more." Well, we got there and decided we preferred the hatch, they came back with a price of $16,900. I pointed out that, MSRP, it is $500 for a hatchback over the sedan (evidently news to the salesperson) and we went and looked at the MSRPs. Back to the manager. New quote: $15,900. Below invoice (even with holdbacks, but that doesnt count kickbacks for volume plus their need to move 2012 models). Still a no. We finally agree on just shy of $15,600.
Then we go to sign the papers, and the internet is down. Quinn is starting to fuss. They go across the street to print them out. We go to sign and, surprise surprise, they (for our convenience) added an extended warranty (beyond the 5/60K bumper to bumper and 10/100K powertrain that is standard) for $2400 and gap coverage for another $500. We decline. They try to negotiate it with us (what about $500 for the extended warranty instead?"). Not happening. Also, no on the gap since we are financing far less than the car is worth, gap coverage is UTTERLY pointless and something you can get (if you want/need it) from your own insurance company for a LOT less. Then they try to sell us a package of oil changes (20 for $249) because "you need to change the oil every 3000-3500 miles." I point out that the manual states every 7500 miles and that no new car requires it more than every 5000 miles and there is no point in prepaying for oil changes until the car has 150,000 miles on it. He tries to tell me that Oregon falls under 'extreme weather' so you can't wait 7500 miles. I point out that is ridiculous and utterly untrue as we have no extreme heat nor cold here and I am going to guess that Kia (who makes the effing car) knows more than he does. He then tries to explain it further to me because I am "not understanding" what he is saying. I want to punch him. We then have to wait for new paperwork that removes all the crap we didn't want, ask for, nor have explained/offered to us and finally leave with the car at the price we agreed upon. This is why buying cars sucks.
Addendum: Got a call from the dealership today. Evidently they cannot combine one of the incentives with the 2.9% rate.........and instead will need to revise to a 3.9% rate. After a few calls (and threats on our part to just give the damn car back) they agreed to further reduce the price to mitigate the difference. They are also driving out to us to sign the paperwork since the dealership is in Gladstone. I hate car buying!
But, yay for a healthy baby boy! :)
- I realize I haven't had the chance to post since we got home. We stayed in the hospital until Thursday and thankfully we had Tia's baby shower the day Quinn was born where we got a lot of the things we ended up needing. Tia's workmates also chipped in to get us a car seat and her boss was kind enough to deliver it so we could bring the little guy home. We definitely were not ready just yet. Had he waited just one more week, we would have gotten there. Oh well, gotta roll with the punches. Quinn didn't give us much choice.
- We have officially survived one week on our own. Tia and I have been working very well together, trying to balance the roles and our efforts. Giving each other time when we need to. It doesn't make it easy, but it makes it doable. How people do this on their own is beyond me. I would be a mess. And this with a little one who really doesn't cry of fuss much at all without a very distinct reason (hungry, wet, or pick me up seem to be the three reasons). That said, we have both been christened with spit up and urine. It is a learning curve.
- People have been asking how our cats are dealing with the new addition. Well, as you can see from the pic, pretty well. They really do not care. At all. I think they might even like it because we are home so much more than before. They might not get the focused attention they used to, but they certainly get it in more total volume.
- I heard from my supervisor today (one of the 2 charges at my hospital site) and she is evidently moving on to work for our old boss in Labor & Delivery. She leaves the Friday prior to my return. Will be a huge hole to fill. She had her flaws (we all do), but was honestly a nice person, easy to work with, and exceptionally skilled. Will definitely miss her.
- As for my own job saga, I am hearing rumors the Park gig is mine and there are certainly allusions indicating it as such, but I am certainly not overflowing with confidence about it. Until I get an official offer, I can't count on it. However, life will be a WHOLE lot easier once that happens. Will be a crazily fortuitous turn of events. Keep em crossed for me.
- Bought a new car today. It was a fairly typical experience......meaning not wonderful. Thankfully, Tia is a hard ass negotiator and I am getting there as well. I certainly have no more tolerance for bullshit, something car dealers have excesses of. We ended up getting a Kia Forte EX hatchback. It is a really nice car for the price. When you are looking for a car around $15K, you certainly don't expect blue tooth, USB & I-pod connectivity, steering wheel mounted controls, and a decently peppy ride to boot. Our big goals were high gas mileage (check: 27/36), enough room for a car seat (yep), and some utility (hatchback). I think we hit them all.
We started the process test driving a used 2012 model with 15K for about $15K (14,900). It was really nice and fit our goals, but I looked at the paper and they were selling new sedan models at another dealership (Broadway Kia) for $14,721. It wasn't the color/interior we wanted, but it would have a more robust warranty and it costs less. We took this back to Dick Hannah to try to negotiate on the used model. They wouldn't budge and refused to believe the price (it was in an ad in the Oregonian with specific vin numbers). We then went through an overlong process of looking at, and ultimately not finding common ground on at Hyundai Elantra (they wanted north of $17,500). We went home and Tia called Tonkin in Gladstone. They said they could do the sedan for $14,700 to earn our business (turned out to be $14,799 by the way). They also had a hatchback for "$600-$800 more." Well, we got there and decided we preferred the hatch, they came back with a price of $16,900. I pointed out that, MSRP, it is $500 for a hatchback over the sedan (evidently news to the salesperson) and we went and looked at the MSRPs. Back to the manager. New quote: $15,900. Below invoice (even with holdbacks, but that doesnt count kickbacks for volume plus their need to move 2012 models). Still a no. We finally agree on just shy of $15,600.
Then we go to sign the papers, and the internet is down. Quinn is starting to fuss. They go across the street to print them out. We go to sign and, surprise surprise, they (for our convenience) added an extended warranty (beyond the 5/60K bumper to bumper and 10/100K powertrain that is standard) for $2400 and gap coverage for another $500. We decline. They try to negotiate it with us (what about $500 for the extended warranty instead?"). Not happening. Also, no on the gap since we are financing far less than the car is worth, gap coverage is UTTERLY pointless and something you can get (if you want/need it) from your own insurance company for a LOT less. Then they try to sell us a package of oil changes (20 for $249) because "you need to change the oil every 3000-3500 miles." I point out that the manual states every 7500 miles and that no new car requires it more than every 5000 miles and there is no point in prepaying for oil changes until the car has 150,000 miles on it. He tries to tell me that Oregon falls under 'extreme weather' so you can't wait 7500 miles. I point out that is ridiculous and utterly untrue as we have no extreme heat nor cold here and I am going to guess that Kia (who makes the effing car) knows more than he does. He then tries to explain it further to me because I am "not understanding" what he is saying. I want to punch him. We then have to wait for new paperwork that removes all the crap we didn't want, ask for, nor have explained/offered to us and finally leave with the car at the price we agreed upon. This is why buying cars sucks.
Addendum: Got a call from the dealership today. Evidently they cannot combine one of the incentives with the 2.9% rate.........and instead will need to revise to a 3.9% rate. After a few calls (and threats on our part to just give the damn car back) they agreed to further reduce the price to mitigate the difference. They are also driving out to us to sign the paperwork since the dealership is in Gladstone. I hate car buying!
But, yay for a healthy baby boy! :)
Monday, July 09, 2012
Baby!
What a crazy night and completely and totally unexpected. Tia's baby shower (which was amazing, we are truly fortunate to have so many wonderful friends and family) ended at about 5. By 530, Tia was feeling nauseous. By 6 she was vomiting. By 8 we were on our way to the hospital for, presumably, hydration. By 930, the baby was experiencing rapid decelerations (caused by stress from the lack of blood flow through the umbilical cord). By 10 she was being wheeled in to an emergency C-section under general anesthesia. At 1008, our baby came out into the world while I watched through a small window because I wasn't let into the surgical suite. Everything gets fuzzy after that.
But, at the moment, Tia is recovering at Sunnyside, our son is at St. Vincent's hospital, and I am putting together an overnight bag and heading towards St. Vincent's. Our son was transferred by ambulance at about 1am and Tia should be transferred (also by ambulance) at some point today once they have space for us. Hopefully, at some point tonite, we will all be together. For now, I am just happy everyone is okay.
5lbs 14ounces. 18.75" inches long. Good APGAR score of 9/10.
So much for the baby classes/breathing exercises though. Ah, the best laid plans.
But, at the moment, Tia is recovering at Sunnyside, our son is at St. Vincent's hospital, and I am putting together an overnight bag and heading towards St. Vincent's. Our son was transferred by ambulance at about 1am and Tia should be transferred (also by ambulance) at some point today once they have space for us. Hopefully, at some point tonite, we will all be together. For now, I am just happy everyone is okay.
5lbs 14ounces. 18.75" inches long. Good APGAR score of 9/10.
So much for the baby classes/breathing exercises though. Ah, the best laid plans.
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
One more month
Despite it seeming like it is taking a LONG time to arrive,
the countdown to the kiddo is progressing along as it should. It wasn’t without a bit of internal terror
that I realized, OMG its July! Tonight
we have our antepenultimate baby class which culminates on the 9th,
and Tia has her personal and work baby showers over the course of the next
week. Then it is pretty much time to
pack an overnight bag and wait for the kiddo to decide he is ready to come out
and say hello.
It is weird the things you think about/forget about with a
baby coming. For instance, the other day
I thought that we really should plan our fall/winter vacation so we have
something to look forward to when the winter comes and then, very shortly
thereafter, I remembered that we would have a newborn and caring for him might
preclude a sunny jaunt down to Mexico . This will clearly take some getting used
to.
Not much else new to report since my last post. Just plowing through the list of items we are
hoping to have completed by the time baby comes if only because it seems
unlikely we will have the time, energy, or mental capacity to undertake them
once he arrives. To that end, we
finished up the stairwell painting (a pretty amazing feet considering the
height of the wall above the stairs), got the garden and weeding mostly under
control (the latter is a losing battle, but I continue to soldier on so our
yard doesn’t look like, well, our neighbor’s yard honestly). We have so far gotten a pretty good yield of
salad greens, scallions, and zucchini, though our beets are not looking too
hot, our carrots are mostly pretty miniature, and our tomatoes have grown
gigantic but are not yet ripening. This
will be a good learning experience going into the next summer (like don’t plant
zucchini near ANYTHING else…..it gets way too large) and it has proven pretty
enjoyable/cathartic. Plus, next year, I
won’t have to haul back 100 wheelbarrow’s full of dirt!
Just waiting on my last patient. I won’t say anything about her (lest I
violate HIPPA) but she is funded by the Oregon Health Plan. I mention this because she was upset the
other day about the Supreme Court saying that Obamacare (or whatever you want
to call it) was legal and could move forward.
I don’t know the specific details of the plan, so I cannot say with any
certainty that it going to be a panacea for the health care system or an
albatross, but I believe it represents an important step forward. I say this having seen so many people without
health care come through the hospital who would have benefitted from access to
preventative health care, but use the ER instead because they cannot be refused
treatment (at that point, they are usually in a much worse position). But, I find it ironic that someone who only
has health care because of a publicly funded option (and in my opinion abuses
it), is opposed to health care as a publicly funded option for everyone
else. I just really hope she can’t (or
at least doesn’t) vote.
Off to baby class.
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