Life Lessons on a Bike

Today we all went on a family bike ride.  Syd is really getting good at riding without her training wheels, which makes the rides SO MUCH MORE enjoyable then they used to be!  As we were riding along the river today, I realized that much of what I was saying to Syd applies to life.  

1. Always keep both hands on the handlebars.

2. Look straight ahead, don't look behind or worry about the next hill. Concentrate on what is right in front of you.

3. Sometimes it is better to coast instead of peddle.

4. Faster is not always better.

5. Wear your helmet, it hurts less when you get knocked down (or run into a pole)!

6. When you fall, get right back up and on the bike.

7. Move over when other bikers want to pass you.

8. Pay attention.

9. Sometimes the wind in your hair is reward enough.

10. Relax, have fun, and stay calm if you feel like you are going to lose control.

Strange

Last weekend I did a few shifts at an ER that I had not worked at in over a year. When I arrived on the first day, I noticed that the clerk had lost a considerable amount of weight since the last time I had seen her (~80 lbs).
Here is how our conversation went,

Me: "You look great! What did you do to lose all that weight."
She looks around sheepishly
One of the nurses, "tell her the truth"
Her, "I binge and purge"
Me, "No really, did you have weight loss surgery?"
Her: "No, I binge and purge"
Me not knowing what to say next, walked away to see a patient
A few minutes later, the said clerk went to get some food. She returned with a big (party size) bag of chips and a container of french onion dip. The nurse sitting next to me said, "she will sit there all day and then go throw it all up"

I was still a little suprised by the entire situation and thought maybe everyone was just being dramatic. But, sure enough I watched this poor girl eat ALL DAY LONG....constantly going to get more food and then off to the bathroom. It was the strangest thing I have seen in awhile.

And....all the nurses, techs, and NPs KNEW what was happening. This girl was completely open about it. The whole experience was sureal. I just felt terrible for this girl. Really, you could tell that her day revolved around food as an obsession/compulsion. I finally asked one of the nurses if anyone had really sat down with her and talked to her about the terrible consequences of her disease. The response? "We have all tried but she just doesn't seem to care."

I still can't get over it. The poor, poor girl!

The Baby Bug?

Ok. I keep coming back to this. The baby thing. We are getting close to ramping up for our next (and last) IVF cycle. September is go time. Ahhh...the fridge will be filled with meds and our counters will have sharps containers just like the good ol' days. I'm excited and nervous and happy that I won't be the pin cushion this time. I know that Mere will be much better at this IVF stuff.

I really think I'm ok if we don't get blessed with another baby........but then I see a baby and......

But, I don't miss the sleepless nights and now Layne is getting out of diapers so our baby days could be behind us. That definately has its perks. And, with just 2 kids we would have more money and NEVER be out numbered. When it really comes down to it I want one more. Just one more, P-L-EASE!!!

The bottom line? I don't get to choose. It will happen or it won't. Either way, we are lucky.

Nothing Much

I sit here trying to come up with something to blog about but I don't have any real cohesive ideas so I guess this will be a random thoughts kind of a post.

--I can't believe that Layne is almost potty trained. She just decided it was time and did it. No big deal, no fanfare, nothing. Just one day diapers and one day none. Even poopy on the potty! I'm pretty sure she is a genius.

--Syd will ride her bike without training wheels by the end of the week. I might have to get a little mommy dear-est about this....but I will. The deal I made with Mere? She teaches how to ride bikes and drive cars and I will do prom dresses, wedding planning, and other fun stuff.

--Someone just checked into the ER for right thumb nail pain with no known injury. Yes, I'm serious.

--I'm gaining weight. 10lbs since this time last year. This is not good. Not good at all. What am I doing to change this? Uhmmm......I'm hoping that God will strike me thin.

--I can't believe I am done with my 1st year of fellowship. Only 2 more years and I am TOTALLY done. This is VERY, VERY scary. I have a lot to learn in the next 2 years. Oh shit, I'm scared.

--I'm getting tired of the ER. Like, seriously super tired of it. I think change is on the horizon....more on that later (don't want to jinx anything).

OK....I have to go take care of the fingernail pain. Saving lives and taking names!!!!

Republican !?!??

Ok.  I think I'm done.  I think I'm going to have to be a Republican.  If I'm not going to have rights, then I might as well keep my money.

This man that I helped elect......what has he done for me?  

Higher taxes? check

Trying to cut healthcare spending (read: less reimbursement for doctors)? check

Equal rights for my family? Any rights for my family?  BIG FAT NO!!!!!!

Have you read the brief that Obama ordered the Justice Department to write in defense of DOMA?  It is really something else.  Among other things, DOMA is praised as a good law because it saves the federal government money by not paying out marriage benefits to same sex couples.  One part of the brief reads, 

    “DOMA ensures that evolving understandings of the institution of marriage at the State level do not place greater financial and administrative obligations on federal and state benefits programs. Preserving scarce government resources—and deciding to extend benefits incrementally—are well-recognized legitimate interests under rational-basis review.”  

So, by denying me rights the government is saving money.  Wanna pass some of that savings on to me??

It goes on and on........the end result?  Another politician who changes their tune once in office.  This time it is just extra insulting given the fact that Obama has spoken out against DOMA for years.

I can think of a lot of ways to save the federal government money and not one of them involves discrimination.  I get to see people abusing the system day in and day out.....who is paying for this? I am!  We are!  But, we sure don't want to be a drain on the federal government's resources.  It is ok to collect disability payments and suck up medicaid benefits WHILE abusing drugs and working the system......but PLEASE don't let me get married because this might tax our resources!!!

I think I have crossed over.........

Really??

I remember the second she was born knowing that all was right in this world.  How could anyone be more perfect? How could anyone question the existence of God when something this amazing can happen?  She was/is a miracle (and so is her sister) from the start.  I can vividly remember the second she came out of Mere's stomach, so how is it that she is done with first grade? If my memory is so clear, then how could so much time have passed?

At the end of first grade I find myself with a little girl who is rapidly maturing into what will one day be a unique, loving, smart, beautiful woman.  She is reading chapter books ALL BY HERSELF and moving through them at the speed of light.  She has strong legs from riding and strong arms from swimming.  She loves her sister.   She is her own mix of girlie girl and tomboy, spending hours playing dinosaurs while wearing her pink dress up outfit.    She is patient, insightful, thoughtful, sensitive, and loving.  I can't believe we have a second grader.  The time is flying......I just want to soak up as much of it as I can.

Wanna know what is even crazier?  Layne starts the two and a half class in the fall........

The Grass Is ALWAYS Greener.......

What a weekend!

Friday: Get Syd off to school, set Layne up with a sitter, go to work.  After work,  off to Pinnacle State Park for a school wide picnic with all of Syd's peeps.  Back home, bath, bed.

Saturday: Up early for a 9am birthday party, farmer's market and lunch with Layne (Syd went to a friend's house for the afternoon), home.  Syd had a friend over for a sleepover and I had a few people over for food and adult company.  Bed....late!!

Sunday: Up and off to church, Greek Food Festival, pedicure and manicure with Syd, potluck, home, bath, and bed (for ALL of us!).

It was busy and SO MUCH fun!!!!!  While I had a few hours with Layne on Saturday I found myself getting all weepy thinking about how much I LOVE these girlies.  Of course, then I start to regret becoming a doctor......maybe I should have been a stay at home mom.....think of all I'm missing.  There is so much joy to be found with my girls and I'm in a hospital somewhere.....seems kinda crazy.  I am reminded that our weekend would have been less then fun if we were not able to afford food, which is what would happen if I didn't work!  

In the end, I know that we have struck a great balance.  Mere and I are partners and that is really an amazing thing.  Somehow I managed to wake up in the middle of the super cool life and I'm so grateful for that.  I'm grateful for ALL that Mere does to keep our house running and our girls happy.  I'm grateful that she takes out the trash, balances the checkbook, pays the bills, and runs from swimming lessons to gymnastics to horse back riding all in a days work.  Most of all I'm grateful that I have 2 happy, healthy, well adjusted girlies and  a wife that rocks.  

Now COME HOME!!!!!!!