Introducing… Elliot and Winston!

We had yet another crazy weekend. I worked Friday overnight. Logan went to Cincinnati for a football game with his dad. Elliot stay with Gam Gam/ Gammie. I got home Saturday after my shift, napped for a few hours and then went to go tutor one of my attending’s kids in Algebra. Then I went and got the boy from Brigitte and we went to Chick-fil-a for dinner, which resulted in me with a sticky flip flop. We went home after that, went through the bed time routine, went to bed, got up at midnight, put the boy in bed with me, got up again at 6, put the boy back in his crib, tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t so got up an worked on applications for fellowship.

Around 8, Elliot awoke. We watched some of his TV show together and then we went downstairs for breakfast. While I was finding something for me to eat, I heard my phone ring. I rushed towards it, but Elliot cried, so I had to go back and get him. Then I went and got my phone. I had missed a call from the ER… *Bum bum BUM (dramatic reverb)* I returned the call and this sweet resident in the class below me said, “Did you know that you are on the schedule to work today?” *GASP* At this point I am already 30 minutes late to relieve this guy from his overnight shift. I ask the guy for 30 more minutes to get there. Then I rushed to get my scrubs, bag, Elliot’s bag, Elliot’s breakfast, and Elliot and threw them all in the car. Then I ran back up for the boy’s tablet, shoes, and… what am I forgetting… DIAPERS!

We drove off for the hospital. I got on the phone en route. I called Logan and told him the situation. There was not a whole lot he could do two states away, but he said he would make some phone calls. Then I called Uncle Tom, who thankfully happened to be up. He said he would meet me at the hospital to come rescue Elliot. I called the overnight resident and asked him to meet me at the door with the pagers to facilitate his getting out of there without further delay.

I arrived at the hospital front door. Amazingly, Tom had made it there before me, him and his canoe attached to the top of his car. We traded cars, since I was out of time on switching the car seat around and, after a quick review on how to start a manual transmission car and a quick summary of events in the ER from the overnight resident, I was off to try to park. I did a lot of coasting, for fear that if I stopped the car I would not be able to restart it. Also, of course, a couple of other residents walked by as I drove. So I waved.

Later, Lisa called me and came over to relieve Tom. She and Elliot had a nice rest of the day, while I worked… Living near family is very very very nice. My back-up plan would have been to take Elliot to the ER and turn on the videos on his tablet and hope he didn’t get into too much stuff, which he probably would have. The worst part though, besides leaving my coffee at home on the Keurig, was missing out on a day without plans with the the boy… Oh well, at least I got a picture…

Generally, work has been supportive with regards to my breast pumping. I was given a quiet, private, convenient place to pump and no one has complained about me leaving work for about 15 minutes every four hours to go pump. But, there have been a few “gentleman” coworkers (not bosses) who have been a little, shall we say, over dramatic about the situation. Some comments have been funny, for example, the guy who told me, “Thanks for bringing that excellent coffee creamer!” referring to my stored milk in the refrigerator. But there are a few who act like my pumping and breast milk is totally disgusting. And, quite frankly, it’s not!

I am of the opinion that my commitment to breastfeeding my son is rather remarkable. It is not easy lugging that 10 lb. pump back a forth to work and being on call every 2-4 hours at night for feedings (more like 2 now with the teething…) So why do it? It is healthier for Elliot, saves a lot of money, and, more personally, it helps me to make sure he doesn’t forget about me during the day. I am gone for 8-12 hours for most of the days in the week and it’s nice to be able to walk in the door at home and have Elliot waiting for me to kick off my shoes, sit in a comfy chair, and breastfeed him.

I’m not waving it in people’s faces that I am pumping, but I’m not going to hide my breast shields every time I walk to the bathroom after pumping to clean them. In fact, when I am asking to be excused to go pump I usually say something crazy discrete like, “I need to go take care of something regarding feeding my child.” And I do understand that it is kind of weird to feed someone your bodily fluids, natural though it may be.

So here’s the deal. Razz me if you must. I understand that it is probably all in jest. I won’t make any big stink (although my husband likes to throw around the phrase “hostile work environment”). But if you are going to be juvenile about the situation then I WILL be juvenile back. So if you’d rather not hear me talk about details about pumping or show off my collected milk then keep your disgust to yourself. Alright, we cool?

Until now, Elliot has slept in his bassinet at night in our room. He has only tried the crib a few times during the day for naps. Last night he woke up at 1:30 and about every hour after that. I have been putting him in the bed with me for feedings, but then he usually ends up staying there where we continually wake each other up for the rest of the night. So tonight Logan and I are going to “parent” up and try Elliot in his own room. I fully expect to be feeding him at 1:30 or so, but hopefully we can get him back to sleep in his room after that. And who knows… Maybe he’ll just sleep through the night! I think we will try him with the monitors on just in case, but I feel like I will be able to hear him one door away if he needs us… We also need to figure out how much light he’ll need. Here goes nothing…

Steve Holt!

Today I drove for the first time since before Elliot was born. I also was out of ear shot from Elliot for the first since we have been home. I made a quick trip to work to get ready for a presentation next week. It was kind of a relief since I was tired because Elliot wanted to have a slumber party at 3AM last night. He and I played a lot this afternoon to make up for it.

I saw one of the new residents today while at work. She is 20 weeks pregnant and having a boy. I gave her some advise that I feel compelled to share here as well.
1. Get a growth ultrasound. You might have a nearly 10 pound baby and not realize it even though the super chipper volunteer worker teases you everyday by asking, “Is it twins?” … I should have been listening instead of being offended.
2. If you are planning on breastfeeding, then limit visitors at least to those who call ahead if not have no visitors. You will be practicing breastfeeding almost every hour and visitors make that really frustrating since you’ll already be interrupted by vitals signs, lab work, pain score checks, medication distribution, photographer, cleaning staff, etc. Do not be embarrassed to turn people away. The hospital is a terrible place to get any rest already.
3. Do not take the tags off of the newborn size clothing or open the newborn size diapers. I wish I had not been so eager to get everything ready. Could have saved some money by procrastinating… Go figure.
4. Diaper wipe warmer… Learned the importance of that one at the first late night diaper change.