Happy Nurses Appreciation Week

/
Taylor, Alivya, and Sue RN

Is it fitting that I began my nursing career at the beginning of nursing appreciation week?

Taylor and Alivya and Sue RN (2007)
These photos are of Sue, who Taylor and Alivya's primary nurse coordinator while they were in the NICU.  Sue guided us on our first visit as parents.  She taught us how to change their tiny diapers, bath their itty bitty bods, touch them without stressing them, assess them when the machines beeped, and so, so much more.  While I had nursing training already before we met Sue, it was during that time that it all started to click, even if I didn't know it then. Sue played a huge part in why Taylor and Liv are here with us today, and she was a huge player in making me the nurse I am today. 

Westli and Sue RN (2010)
Today I appreciate all of the Sue RNs who cared for all four of my babies.  I thank those that care for tiny miracles today.  Obviously, I appreciate all the different disciplines of nurses, but the NICU nurses really do have a special place in my heart.




Babies

/
Ava

I've been missing my for a long time now... I can't believe when I look back at these photos that this was my life once.  It seems forever ago.  Jon used to joke that he "allowed me to work at the baby floor so that I could get it out of my system"...  well, I'm already missing those babies :(  So now what dear?

This week is the start of a new journey for me, and I intend to make the most of it. It is the culmination of years of hard work, disappointment, frustration, and the like.  So to swim through all that and forget to have a little pride in my own accomplishment would be pretty silly of me.  I know there is plenty of learning and growing still to do, so marks this chapter.

For the first time since Taylor and Liv were born, Jon and I are also on (relatively) the same work schedule.  We will climb into bed at the same time, climb out at the same time and have weekends off for a few weeks... nice!