Healthcare Worker vs Mother

I am tired. I am always tired!...No I am not pregnant! My work schedule is such that I work every Saturday and Sunday night. It works great for my family and I just get my days over with and am home during the week. However, during those 2 days of work I usually get a combined 6-8 hours of sleep. I then go back to my regular sleeping schedule. I am always so tired that I never have had a hard time switching schedules, whenever my head hits the pillow I fall asleep, no matter what time of day it is, but that is just the problem. If I am sitting at home on the couch, I fall asleep, if I try reading a book, I fall asleep. If I try to enjoy a movie~whether on video or at the movie theatre~ I fall asleep. It is quite a miserable feeling. It is interesting that just a couple days like that will screw me up so bad! The other interesting thing is how dang fast the days off go. It seems like just when I am getting back to normal and feeling a little better it is time to go again.

Oh well, as hard as it can be, I really enjoy my job. ~Even if it is CRAZY busy this time of year with all the RSV and fun going around. I am grateful especially, that I have this job. Especially in this economy. It is nice to have a job that I can work as much or as little as I like. I get such satisfaction in helping, especially the kids I take care of.

I had an interesting thing happen this week.. Brought things into perspective for me. It is an interesting difference~ The life between a healthcare worker and a mother. I deal with sick kids on a weekly basis. Kids who are sick and need IV's, kids who need blood drawn for tests, kids that have to get catheters put in them, spinal taps, C paps, all kinds of medication....and heaven forbid, kids that just aren't doing to well have to be transported to a higher level of care. As a healthcare worker, I have sympathy for the parent sitting, watching their child be tortured. However, I also understand the things that are being done are necessary in order for this child to get better. Honestly, it is not my favorite thing to give a newborn baby a scalp IV, but I know that it is necessary, so I do it..I don't really think about it.

I have been pretty lucky. My kids are relatively healthy. None if my children have ever had to be admitted to the hospital. Shelby had been sick for over a week and I finally decided to take her to the doctor. She had strep (I thought so) The Dr asked me if I wanted to give her a 10 day treatment of an oral antibiotic, or a S.H.O.T-spelled out of course. I told him the second one. Shelby had absolutely NO idea what was coming. It did not help when the nurse came in and I told her she would be getting a shot, Joquelle screamed and freaked her out even more.. Shelby got the shot right in her hip.. She screamed and cried and looked at me like "mom, how could you" my kids have had shots before, but in that moment..My heart really went out to all the mothers of the kids I have had to take care of. It is a HARD thing to watch your child go through pain and believe me....I have had to do much worse to many kids.. To all of the children I have ever had to be mean to, I am sorry~ To the mothers....I feel for you and I am REALLY sorry..