moo mama moo

This article was posted on a cupboard in the newborn nursery. I thought it was interesting and wanted to share it with you!

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1844721,00.html

Breast milk ice cream? It's cruel to milk cows, but not people? Not to mention all the other issues associated with such an absurd idea.

When normal becomes abnormal

I've noticed over the past few months in both my family practice rotations and this pediatrics rotations that I am excited and surprised when I walk into a patient's room to see both a mom and a dad sitting there with their child. This is a rarity. It's a rarity to find a married couple excited and curious to learn about their new little one. You would be surprised the family dynamics that can be observed in a 15 minute visit. My insides smile when I see parents who you can tell care about each other and show love and concern for their little one.
It is far too often that I see teenage and single mothers with these babies that yes they love, but just want them to be better so they will stop fussing. I am not saying that a teenager or a single mother cannot be a good parent, I'm just commenting on what I have been observing far too often. It is amazing the developmental differences between these types of kids - the ones who are nurtured and truly cared for compared to those who are left in front of video games or the tv all day.
It's a tough job for both the physician who has a limited amount of time with their patients - often referring to social services when needed. I have lots to learn about social services and what they can do for my patients. Don't worry I have the perfect resource - social worker in training - Ashley Melson.

One more example of when normal becomes abnormal. Melanie was in outpatient clinic the other day and this mother came in worried that her children were not gaining enough weight. She said she felt they were too thin and wanted to know if it was a problem. The doctor said nope - the children are fine and are at a very good weight for their age and height. The reason that your kids look so thin is because many of the other kids are overweight!

Cherry triangles, gnocchi, and jelly

So I was thinking about what to write today. I realized that even though I brought my camera with me to York that I forgot the cord to my computer. So you have to wait 1 more week to be able to see pictures of my lovely dorm room. This will give you the full effect when I have had more time to settle in (aka spread all of my crap everywhere in a chaotic mess).

In thinking of this I remembered what I get to look forward to this weekend. My Grandma sent me pomegrantes! Yes! I love pomegrantes - just eating them plain or adding them to a salad. The worst part is peeling them and trying not to stain whatever clothing I have on. Grandma's pomegrante jelly is the best. Lucky for me that stays good all year long!



Looking through some pics I found a few of Gma teaching the kids and grandkids some things. The types of dishes where recipies are a suggestion rather than a rule. The cooking is based more off of a feel and experience that exact measurements. The fine art of baking that cannot really be taught, but only learned through obesrvation and practice.



Throughout the post are pics of the fam learning to make yummy cherry triangles and gnocchi. I don't have any pics of us learning to make fillozes (portuguese donuts). Those are my absolute favorite.

texting

Many of you probably heard about or read about the train wreck caused by a person text message. Well - according to a magazine I get from AMSA (american medical student assoc) text messaging while walking has led to enough emergency room visits (stepping off curbs, falling down, walking into poles, etc) that the American College of Emergency Physicians has issued an alert about how dangerous it is.
There have even been injuries reported while bicycling, riding a horse adn cooking noodles. 2 texters lost their lives after being hit by cars while texting.

It seems like common sense, but I know there are a lot of us out there who text when we should be paying attention to other things. Just something to keep in mind.

little surprises

So much for writing everyday. I missed yesterday already. Can I say that the weekends don't count? haha It feels so good to be home for the weekend. I got to have a nice hot shower in my own bathroom and sleep in my own bed nice and big and cozy warm.

You know the feeling of when you pull on a pair of jeans and stick your hand in the pocket to find $5 dollars. I love that feeling. Well, today I used a purse I haven't used in a while and it's sort of the same way - filled with surprises you wouldn't expect. I found a hair tie, floss, a halls cough drop, and some old stuff from when I was on vacation in China a few summers ago with my parents.

I found a quote I wrote down on a card while we were out somewhere sight seeing. It must have been a translation - but here it is:

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

takes me back to the old days

I'm trying to write something everyday. My first night of call and nothing eventful happened. from 5-10 pm I just hung out and did some studying and then watched 1 hr of the debate.
Took a shower and now it's 10:45 and time for bed. Up to the newborn nursery at 6 am hoping there will be a baby there waiting for me.

Being back in this dorm, eating dinner with my buddies takes me back to the old days.

Another quote from starbucks:

"The way we get to live forever is through memories stored in the hearts and souls of those lives we touch. that's our soul print. It's our comfort, our emotional nourishment at the end of the day and the end of life. How wonderful that they are called up at will and savored randomly. It seems to me we should spend our lives in a conscious state of creating these meaningful moments that live on. memories matter."
- leeza gibbons

the start of real 3rd year

Yesterday we had orientation at the hospital here in York - where I will be for the next 6 weeks. I am finally on an inpatient service, which means I am working in the hospital. Working in the hospital requires more work and less sleep than my past 3 months of 3rd year. This is what I mean to the real start of 3rd year. Now comes those times when I will have call (even though call for us is only from 5-10pm, not overnight). I will have "my own patients." Not really mine, but I will follow them and be responsible for seeing them each morning before rounds.
Here's what a typical day will be like for me in the next 6 weeks.
Wake up early - go to the newborn nursery and do exams on the new babies before the residents arrive at 6:45-7:00ish. Then head over to the inpatient floor and visit all of my patient's, do an exam and get any updates or changes since the last time I saw them before 8am. At 8 we have a lecture and 9am we have rounds. Rounds consist of going around and discussing the different patients the team is seeing. (the team consists of attendings, residents, and students) After discussing the patients, their progress, treatments, etc - we will go see the patients and re-check how they are doing.
Next may be another lecture or a simulation lab or just time to read until lunch. My afternoons here change daily just depending. Some afternoons we have off and others are spent in an outpatient clinic, etc. Today I'm heading to an ENT doc's office for the afternoon.

Oh and it may sound busy, but... today we only had 1 newborn on our service and 1 inpatient. We still have to be up early to make sure no new babies were delivered overnight and be done seeing our patients by 8. I have this feeling it's going to be slow or super busy. We shall see!

I'll keep you posted! :)