"Just enjoy..."

My favorite advice so far about having two little guys now has been, "just enjoy the boys".  It is easy to fall into the spiral sickness of not getting *anything* done around the house, feeling bad about it, then not feeling much like doing anything...etc. etc. ad infinitum ad nauseum. 

I told a friend (one of my second moms) that I wasn't really sure what I should be doing.  She gave me the golden advice. 

Now, when I start to feel exasperated, I think to myself, "just enjoy", and things get much smoother.  Why should I hurry Leo along on our walk?  Just enjoy.  Why shouldn't he play longer on the tractor?  Just enjoy.  Why shouldn't we have ice cream for every meal?  Okay...just kidding (kind of...)! 

"Just enjoy the boys" may seem akin to "stop and smell the roses", because it is.  The thing is, however, that cliches become that way because there is a truth in them.  Life does go that quickly, and those boys will grow up too fast for their new momma. 

So, for now, I'm going to try just to enjoy them. 

My baby stole my popsicle.

The thief in person.

My baby stole my popsicle.  Yup, it's the truth.  He flat out came over and took it from me.  I wanted that popsicle.  My throat was sore. 

We think perhaps he has entered the stage of the terrible twos early.  About 7 months early.  Maybe he'll get over it in time for the new baby?  He screams "NOOOOO!" at me all the time.  Where has my nice little son gone? 

Anyways...this is the plight of all parents, I think.  As children grow and adapt to the world around them, we too have to grow and adapt to them.  ....and learn how to find good methods of de-stressing to ensure the fact that they will survive the day. 

Parenting isn't fair.  Your baby can steal your popsicle, and you have to deal.  :0)

All Souls Day

It was a particularly trying All Souls Day for me.  I work night shift (10-6) at a nursing home 3 nights/week.  I worked last night into this morning, and at the very end of the shift, there was an emergency, and one of my residents ended up dying in the hospital after leaving the facility.  It was a whirlwind of rushing around, trying to remember all of the right protocols, trying to assess the situation, trying to act like I was in charge, and it was all over within the hour. 

Reflecting upon the situation on my drive home, I realized that today was All Souls Day.  The first time that I have a death of a resident on my shift, and its the day on which we pray for and remember the dead. 

There is a lot to be desired in the healthcare industry.  It is so surreal to me that the emergency situation was over, and I had been notified of my resident's death within an hour.  It took two plus more hours after that to document properly what had occurred.  "If it isn't documented, it didn't happen." The legal constraints which bind us are often helpful and necessary, but all too often they are cumbersome and frustrating.  It felt stark and robotic to spend that time with paperwork. 

However, I am hopeful that my presence as a nurse is developing and pruning my soul as well as being a balm to those I care for.  I was able to pray for my resident during the emergency, and afterwards to lift up her soul as well. 

I hope that my work may be a prayer, that my life may be a light.