Picking up pace

Things are starting to get busier for myself. This week is my first week of work... I will be in orientation/training for the first 6 weeks. So far I have really enjoyed it. Just learning the very basic things right now, which would include where things are in the hospital, supplies, getting to know the way the beds and incubators function. I feel so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to start out in such an important unit :) As well as the way I will able to work so closely with families and their new ones (in the good times and the difficult). I think that God has placed me here, and I will be given such a chance to touch others lives as well as the impact they will have on me! I can't wait until I can actually start working with a baby and teaching and working their parents. I hope and pray that I can become a wonderful nurse in this area, and that my patients will feel that warmth.
When I was in school doing my Labor and Delivery clinical (which I loved, surprise, surprise) I had an assignment with a mom and baby postpartum. I spent so much time with them, helping mom and answering mom's questions (crazy to think I could help her since this wasn't her first baby). Several weeks later my instructor came up to me and said that when the hospital had called this lady following discharge to find out how she felt her care was during her time at the hospital she had specifically said my name and said how wonderful I had been... that left such an impact on me, not to mention it felt great! And that is my desire, I hope that all patients will be able to say the same thing :)
Even though this is a specialized unit, there is so much to learn! This tiny, precious babies are so fragile that things you completely take forgranted in bigger babies HAVE to be considered with them, literally their lives depend on it. For instance, during a diaper change you have to be careful as you lift their little legs up, because too much of an angle causes blood to rush to their heads and can cause intercranial hemorrhages. Also just with the diaper changes you need to be sure you pull the diaper down and away from their bodies before you slid it out from under them. If it slides across their skin it can tear their skin or cause abrasions because their skin is so thin and fragile. There is alot to think about.

My own pregnancy continues to progress well. I am now starting to get very uncomfortable in my pants (I have been for awhile, but it's getting worse). My belly is getting bigger, though it doesn't really seem to be pouching yet too much underneath my belly button (maybe a little bit), but I think my uterus most be pushing things up and out of it's way cause I feel like my 'gut' is sticking out alot! And no, I haven't gained that much weight :) Joe and I are going to start taking belly pictures, tonight even... we hadn't yet cause not too much was really happening! But I will post those as we do.
Being a parent brings about so many new worries... and my baby isn't even born yet! But right now there are so many unknowns (will they be developed normal, will they be healthy)... I pray everyday for God to protect this child. And oh how much I hope that my baby won't have to visit where I work. God-willing things will continue to progress smoothly, and we will have a healthy baby come March :) I still can't really believe it, I find myself looking at my belly and wondering, "are you still there baby"? Can't wait for my next doctor's visit and I can hear the heartbeat again :) Joe is able to come with me to the next one, so I am really excited about that too! This will be the first time he has ever heard the heartbeat! I think it will make things that much more real for him, and that is exciting:)