First week back at work

It wasn't too bad!

It was great to see everyone and catch up. I got to see some of my old clients who had waited for me to come back - yay!! It's so nice to be appreciated. Really. Send your vet some happy mail. I like to read my happy mail on those days when everything is going so wrong.
I got to work with some relief vets who are just fantastic. I truly love the vets I work with - I have such genuine caring and concern for them. I'm happy to back among them. That's one of the very best parts of my job.

Ada did well with Alicia, our nanny. She actually reached out for her one morning as I was leaving for work! I didn't call home to check in on Monday as I was on ER and pretty busy. Alicia called me on Tuesday to let me know that Ada was doing well! So funny! I'm not worried about the immediate stuff...I was initially worried about getting back on the horse that is veterinary medicine. That's been fine. It really is like riding a horse although I find myself being a little slower and more deliberate - rechecking dosages and the like. It will all shake out in the wash given some time.

WE HAD A DATE!!!

I never thought I would be so excited about this during my married life! We had our first successful post-baby date today!

Attempt #1: Tim got called in and I got a traffic ticket getting him to the hospital.
Attempt #2: Can't find the concert tickets.
Attempt #3: Abandoned in favor of me making a very last minute flight to FL.

Today was totally spontaneous and a total success!!It was beautiful, sunny, crisp day! The nanny was with us today to watch Ada. Tim was done with his clinical and lab obligations by noon. I picked him up and we went to Hog Island Oyster Company in the Ferry Building. We sat looking out over the water, sampling oysters, and sipping champagne. There we were in the middle of a weekday having a purely indulgent time together! It felt like we were skipping school! After lunch we walked around the building holding hands. So romantic! I feel like a new woman!!

One week of maternity leave left

One week from October 4th  will be exactly one year from our positive pregnancy test. It will also be the day I return to work.

Essentially my maternity leave is over as my mind has already started to make the transition. A few weeks back I went in to work to meet a friend for lunch. I went into our software to look in on how a patient was doing and I was so slow and clumsy with it. The other day I realized that I have forgotten all the doses for my favorite sedation protocols and drugs! It comes back quickly but apparently I need to study!

I feel so sad and depressed at the thought of leaving Ada to go back to work. I love my job and my career. At the same time the long, sometimes stressful days and all-consuming nature of my job can be exhausting. Even without a baby it was mentally and physically tiring to juggle my job and a life - mostly because I want to be able to give more to my job, to find solutions for my patients, to research cases, to learn from the people I work with. I will have to work extra hard to find a balance.
I tell you this much: the only thing I regret about having a baby is not doing it much sooner. I would have a dozen more if I could! I would also stay at home to raise them if I could. Why did we wait so long? How did I ever live before my daughter (who is sound asleep in her swing and humming along to some sweet dream)??

Basket Full of Birdies

I mentioned working on crafting projects. This is the final result of one of them. It's a basket full of stuffed birds for Ada to play with! The tails are just the right size for tiny hands to grasp. I got the pattern from Spool.