It has been a little while since I've updated- so I thought while Elizabeth takes a little nap I would take advantage of the internet here at the hospital and update!!
First and most importantly- I am now the proud aunt to a niece and TWO nephews!!! Sweet Landen Layne joined the world January 22! He weighed 8 pounds 13 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. I was going to post a picture but the hospital has strict internet rules- you will have to all look at facebook or come visit for yourselves to see his adorable little face. :-)
Landen has done great!! He's eating well and gaining weight. He's a great baby- as Liz says, "all he does is eats, sleeps, and poops!!" I reminded her to just enjoy him sleeping because you just never know how long that will last!! Elizabeth had some problems with infection and because of that developed really bad hives- but she is on the mend and HOPEFULLY will be able to get home tomorrow. Landen has been discharged from the hospital but we were lucky enough to have them stay on the mother/baby floor so he has been able to stay in the room with her. It has been been a blessing to have them in Iowa City- probably not as convenient for them but I have been able to come help them out a lot. It's fun to have family so close- it's been a long time since I've lived in a town where I have had family this close!!
My new job is going well! The first two weeks I was in the main hospital orientation which was long, however I did meet some awesome people who are also new to the area so that's good! This week I started in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). They separate the NICU here into bays- Bay 1 is the highest level acuity. Most of the kids are very sick, on the vent, have drips, micro-preemie's.... and then as they progress they move through bays 2-5 until they go home. I'm working in Bay 1- meeting the doctors I will be consulting with when I go out to pick up a transport kid. I also have been learning how they do things here. If I have learned anything it is that every hospital does things different. That is the most important thing I will need to learn in my 6 weeks in the NICU. New policies and procedures.... fun fun. :-)
After my 6 weeks in the NICU I will be in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit). I am both very excited and very nervous about working in the PICU. I'm so excited to learn.. but nervous because it's such a different world in PICU. However- I will be transporting kids 8 years old and younger so I realize I have a lot to learn! :-)
After PICU I will have actual transport orientation which will last as long as I need it to. I will spend a week or so in surgery working on intubations, I will spend time working with the neonatologists/residents/NP's working on skills I will need on transport- like putting in lines, needle aspirations, resuscitation... pretty much anything I will need to do when I'm on my own in some rural hospital!! I'm very excited about it. I am excited to be challenged and learn new skills. It's too easy to get too comfortable when you don't challenge yourself to keep learning....
Other than work- life has been pretty good. I am going to write a full blog post sometime on living with Verla. I am so thankful that things have worked out the way they have in my life and I have had the opportunity to really get to know her. She is an AMAZING woman who has already taught me so much. She has a different perspective on life because she is 88 years old- she grew up much different than I did- and she has lived a LOT of life. We have laughed together, cried together, and spent many hours talking- most of the talking from her- telling me story after story of her life (and several about when my Grandpa Marv was younger...). She is amazing... and the food- oh my- I told her AGAIN this morning that she needs to quit making such amazing food because I have a flight suite to fit into!!! More to come about that... Many of you have asked about my house. I will be putting it on the market after the 1st of February. That would be a prayer request- pray that is sells fast and I can truly move on with my life here in Iowa City. I am sick of living out of 2 houses... and a suite case really because I haven't had time to go back to Des Moines lately!!! Hopefully it will sell fast....
Tim and I are doing so well!! He is amazing and I feel so blessed to have him by my side through all of these life transitions. Me moving to Iowa City and starting a new job has been a change for both of us but he has been so patient and awesome through it all. I am thankful for him and his entire family. It has been fun to watch him with Landen, too- he loves kids and I had to fight for time to hold him while he was here!!
I suppose that is all I know for now... Landen is waking up, Liz is napping, and Andrew took a couple hours to leave the hospital room and regroup- I guess that means I'm up for some cuddle time!!! Being an aunt really is the best... but hopefully someday soon I'll get to have my own kiddos to throw into the mix of cousins!! It's so much fun!! :-) God bless you all...
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