Back at work

It's been bitter sweet getting back to work. I've really enjoyed spending time and taking care of my patients and honestly, I really missed it while I was at home on leave. But...I am missing my baby boy terribly during the day. When we had Gabby, nearly 10 years ago, we were both working and after 6 weeks she had to go to daycare. It was horrible and I remember crying all the way to work after dropping her off at the center. I don't have this problem with Landon. I am so thankful that he gets to stay home with his daddy. It's truly a blessing having my husband take care of our children and be a stay at home dad. He seems to really enjoy it as well.

My first rotation back was an elective so I did two weeks in endocrinology and two weeks of allergy. I have to say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed my allergy rotation. I didn't realize all the things that allergists do and how relevant it is for me as a primary care doctor to have a better understanding of allergic disease and the treatment. I found this rotation to be exceptionally beneficial to me and hope to go back and spend some more time there.

So what's next? Well I start surgery tomorrow. Not entirely my favorite part of medicine but I look forward to he faster pace and variety of the rotation.

So what is the most challenging part of being back at work you might ask? Well honestly my little boy is mostly sleeping through the night now and if he does wake up my hubby quickly takes care of him so I am getting as much sleep as I can. I don't feel that new parent exhaustion that I remember feeling with Gabby. The hardest part for me is pumping during the day. Baby is exclusively breast fed so keeping up my milk supply is a must. Finding time during the day can be very challenging but we are managing so far. My employer is a huge supporter of breast is best so I have proper accommodations and resources. It's important to have that in order to be successful. Well that's it for now. Hope the New Year is treating you all well.

~Cheers!

Welcome Baby Boy!

Baby Landon arrived on Tuesday December 2nd at 11:04pm. He was absolutely perfect!

My favorite people in the whole world!

Life is perfect!

Mama's boy already!

Our new arrival

I know its been months since I wrote but there has really been a lot going on around here. I completed my first round of 3 inpatient service months (OB, Peds, and Family Medicine service). It was very difficult as I was in my last trimester of pregnancy during these 3 months. I did manage to complete them though and successfully finished my last rotation before maternity leave. The rotations themselves were great. The difficult part was getting around and the lack of sleep. Of course this only became progressively worse the bigger I became. Some days it was so difficult to walk around the hospital.

I was so fortunate to have a wonderful team around me that helped make me as comfortable as possible. The exhaustion towards the end was nearly unbearable and I was glad when it was all over. It ended not a moment too soon. I'm on maternity leave now and enjoying the five weeks of bliss with my baby and my family. It just so happens to be the Christmas season, my favorite time of year.

Marry Christmas Everyone! 

Intern year so far...

So life has been very interesting these days. I am in my 4th month of my intern year and I feel like I have been an intern forever. I've learned so much I can't even describe it. The beauty of family medicine is the variety that one experiences from day to day and from month to month. My first month was all about orientation. My program is amazing as they really take their time letting you get to know the people and environment you will be working in. It was full of EMR training, all the BLS/ACLS/ALSO training, learning your way around the clinic and hospital, etc... Month two is where we split up and started our respective rotations. What I love about that is there are six interns in my class including me and every rotation we do there is only one of us. So we really get the full hands on experience. My first rotation was outpatient orthopedics. It was a nice mix between working with the orthopedic surgeons and working with the sports medicine docs. My second month was spent working side by side with the nurse midwifes and ob doctors at our hospital. I delivered 21 babies, did about as many circumcisions and assisted in multiple C-sections. it was a great month. Currently, I am on my first family medicine inpatient service month. The hours are long and so are the weeks. We get every other weekend off.  My mind and body are tired by the end of the 13 day stretch.

Outside of work, life is great. my daughter loves her new school and her 4th grade teacher. She has joined a fantastic program called Girls on the Run and is looking forward to running in her first race in November. Hubby is well too, he is in his first semester back at school and enjoying it so much more than I thought he would. He is also enjoying being a stay at home dad.

And what about baby you might be asking. Well HE is growing in my belly and my body is ooooh so tired. By the end of my 12-16 hour shift I am soooooo beyond exhausted and brain dead that I come home, kiss my family, and pass out. Its nearly over. Six weeks left to go before we meet our new baby boy and we cannot be more excited. Here is to hoping I make it to the end. Being an intern is hard on the pregnant body.

 

I haven't given up

Man life is crazy these days. I haven't really given up on blogging but it is definitely harder finding time to do it as an intern, especially a pregnant one. I'm so tired these days and want to spend every free and awake moment with my little family.

We have moved to Virginia and settled into our town house. I am in the 3rd week of my orientation and ready to get started. I'll have to write in more details soon but for now enjoy some pictures from graduation.

My very lovely and very expensive diploma!

Enjoying the Graduation Reception with my beautiful husband.

With one of my favorite people at graduation. We did it!

Lots of Changes!

So I've been hiding under a rock for the last few months I know but its because of a very good reason. Last March was an exciting month what with Match day and finding out we are moving to Virginia for residency. Match Day also brought some more much anticipated news. Just a few short hours after finding where I matched I also found out that we are expecting our second child. We have been wanting this for so long and are so pleased that we have been blessed. So now on top of packing, moving, graduating and trying to get all of my residency paperwork in order, I am also growing a healthy baby. I couldn't be happier. More to come... Next few weeks are busy... busy.