Residency 2.6: Infectious Disease

Well, I learned a bunch of things this month. I learned how to say "I'm one of the Infectious Disease doctors" in Spanish. I learned that I still have a lot of Spanish left to learn. I learned all the weird ways you can catch infectious diarrhea (hint: there are a lot of options if you spend 2 weeks on a Mexican ranch). I learned that even the smartest doctors get stumped sometimes. I learned ways to be a better learner. I learned that you have to remind my dad to make the green bean casserole or it won't get done (totally unrelated to work, obviously). I learned that I've gotten way more efficient at seeing patients, and that not every call shift through the NICU has to be bad. I learned that most high school choirs learn "The Hallelujah Chorus". I learned that clindamycin resistance is increasing big time because we use it so much (like you care).

And even though I have been working through Christmas and had to open presents by myself, I've learned that if I have to spend Christmas away from my family, I'd rather spend it here.

But now, bring on vacation!

Santa Baby

Love, love, LOVE it when Christmas time is here (I know, it's still Advent, but you get the point...it's COMING!). People just seem to be happier. I've got the Christmas music on, the tree up, my Martinsville Candy Kitchen candy canes arrived yesterday (should've ordered WAY more), I've got my peppermint mocha coffee (thanks, Calie!), and even at the hospital, decorations are going up like Whoa!

Last night was the annual CMH Resident Christmas party, and it was a good one. We had a really good turn out for our little progressive dinner/celebration. Hard to beat being around cute babies, great friends, good food, and a little bubbly, but I think the sing-along, top-of-our-lungs Handel's Messiah around the piano kind of took the cake (Or maybe What's Love Got To Do With It--that was fun too!).


Not quite looking forward to working overnight on Christmas, but I am looking forward to maybe some snow, perhaps a few more Christmas cookies, the last couple of weeks of Advent, breaking into those candy canes, and sending out some Christmas cards. 'Tis the season!

Tossed about

I'm feeling very upbeat this week, and is it sad that that feels a little bit out of the ordinary? With hanging out with friends, getting decent sleep, learning a lot at work, and Christmas coming, life has just been good. It's hard to imagine a few weeks ago I was kind of ready to throw in the towel with being in the NICU, feeling isolated, missing my family.

I was talking with a friend about how we are like ships tossed in the waves when we are at the mercy of our feelings and emotions, always swaying without any control over our direction (I stole this idea from some theologian/saint, but can't remember who). When things are good, we are happy and we feel like life is good. When things are rough, we can't see the light, and everything is a struggle. We need an anchor. To give us direction and balance. To remind us when things are bad that we don't have to be weighed down by them. And when things are good, that's the time to build habits to get us through the rough times.

So this Advent, let's anchor ourselves in Christ so that we can ride through this crazy life with confidence. Better than getting seasick.