Ode to Patty

I can honestly say this lady is one of my most favorite people in the world. She is my charge nurse and her name is Patty. We have soooo much fun together at work that it should be illegal. In fact some of the stuff we do at work probably IS illegal. J/K. (Or am I?) but seriously J/K.

Love ya Patty!
Jen

Image Campaign

When I first started working at my hospital they were rolling out a new "image campaign" for our hospital. Our hospital is the only level 1 trauma hospital in the state so it's where all the shooting or stabbing victims are taken; And for a long time had a very scary reputation. For a while everyone was like "If I ever get sick don't take me there, thats where they take all them gang bangers." And with Jackson having the 14th highest crime rate in the nation, we can all see why.

Anywhoo, a few years ago we got a new CEO and members of administration, and they wanted to start promoting our hospital as a preferred choice over the bad reputation and rumors we were known for. So they rolled out our new "image campaign" as they called it. They started displaying our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers on large billboards around town. They all had the header: "My passion is......" and then it would say something like "patient care" or "helping families in need" you know, normal stuff like that.

So, to help generate a sense of fun and togetherness between my floor's staff, I came up with the idea to create our own image campaign for our floor. For lack of a better title I simply called it "the 4 south image campaign."

I ran around taking pictures of everyone acting silly and told them they had to pose for pics for our new campaign. We ended up having a lot of fun. You'd be amazed how just a silly camera can bring folks together! I mean, people who don't even like each other would huddle up and smile for a picture. Here are a few of my favorites:






But seriously, I work with the greatest group of peeps. They are not just good at their jobs, they are great! We're the best and we know it! And we can have fun while doing it, as you can see! Some days are so hard we have no idea how we can get through even one more hour much less an entire day. But we work well as a team and are there for each other and we get through it. I love y'all 4 South! Y'all Rock!!!

Here are a few more just random pics I took:
We were all making fun of the patients who will go outside and smoke with their highly combustible oxygen tanks.





Thats me resuscitating Carley my bestest friend.

The Angels of 4 South??


XOXO~
Jen and Ron

Day 3 & 4

So I only worked till 1 on Wed, well I was supposed to, some heffer held me up because she can't prioritize or multi-task. I digress; Anyway when I finally got home Evan's Nanny said that he did better with the bottle. But he still didn't eat much. But I am assuming that meant that he didn't cry as much at the bottle. Then yesterday he latched right on the bottle the first time she offered it, like he has always done it! Twice! Lil conman!

Then Daddy/Ron gets home... same thing like an ole pro. This is both good and bad news. Good because now I can go on a date or to a movie or something without worrying the whole time that my kid is screaming his head off. Bad because now I don't have and excuse to have Ron bring him up to the hospital to see me. And I did ask Ron to bring him up and see me anyway Thursday. To which Ron texted me: "Nope, we're not coming we don't need you anymore." Even though he was just kidding, I feel like this is the first step in him not needing me anymore. Another new/weird feeling as a parent. Happiness and sadness all in one.

XOXO~
Jen

Day Two

Today was not as bad as yesterday. Still painful mind you, but not as bad.

Yesterday when I called Evan's nanny to check on him, he was sleeping. I was surprised because every time I call when Ron has him, he is crying. So you can imagine my shock when he wasn't crying for the nanny. It's not that I WANTED him to be crying, But I really was convinced that he would be. So I have been terrified that nanny would quit the first day because of the excessive crying. It was just kind of a weird emotion to experience. On one hand, I was sad, like "Awww, he doesn't need me" but at the same time I was relieved just for the sitter's sake. I don't know, I can't describe it, it was just a strange emotion to experience.

And then today, I called and he was a little fussy and I could hear him through the phone...... Ummmmm whatya know? JUST as painful! And weird. I burst into tears both times. I couldn't help myself. (But I totally did that thing where your on the phone with someone and you're crying but you don't want them to know, so you disguise your voice and pause a lot like your thinking and NOT crying like a big fat baby. Or am I the only one?) But like I said, It wasn't AS bad today. Plus knowing that I don't have to be back at work until Wed helped too.

Evan on the other hand was still being stubborn; But he caved a little. He ate 1 oz for his sweet nanny. And then 2 oz for Daddy (AKA Ron, still weird for me to call him that). So thats 3 oz in 8 hours. That's better than yesterday's 1 oz in 8 hours! I guess we are just late bloomers at the Landreth house.

First Day Back

So yeah~ Today sucked.

And, I have a HARD job. Both physically and mentally. What other kind of job can you have where you get 12 hours to finish your work, and that is NO where near enough time to get everything done?

Working on a Neuro floor can be very interesting though. With a Neuro floor, it's like babysitting a bunch of drunks all day long. For example, Last night they had a patient, that sneaked out of his room wearing only his BVD's, had plastic knives clinched tightly in both fists, dripping blood from the IV that he CHEWED off, sliding in and out of the other patients rooms and mumbling to himself. He never hurt anyone, but a code white (aggressive person/fight)was called, and security guards had to tackle him. Just another day at work! And this is everyday y'all! (for you Carley)


First St. Patrick's Day

But back to my baby... Ever stubborn, he refused to eat for the sitter and my husband. He decided to stick it out and just wait for me. Ron eventually brought him up to see me at work. We have a very nice breastfeeding/ pump room and it's not far at all from my floor. We had a great visit and I begged Ron not to take him home, to just stay at my work and play. But for some reason he wouldn't. Who knows?



When I got home Ron and Evan had a basket of tulips and candy for me. Sooooo cute! They made the end of a bad day just a little sweeter!

(P.S. Sometimes I wish we were Play-doh people and Evan was a Play-doh baby and I could squish him into me and we could be stuck together and so that way I can bring him to work. Because I need him that close to me at all times. Weird? Thoughts?)

XOXO~
Jen

Back to Work

Tomorrow I start back to work.
WAAAAA!!!!!

I am scared and excited all @ the same time.It just feels unnatural to leave him. But leaving him won't be the hardest part, it will be staying away that will be hardest for me. When I'm away I miss him so bad! Even when it's only a few hours. But We are lucky, we have a sweet lady that will be coming to our house to watch him, and she has made this a lot easier on us. I know he will get individualized attention here at our own house than at daycare.

wish me luck, maybe I can sweet talk Ron into bringing him by for a visit.