UGH. If I ever hear that statement, or something similar, again, I just may scream. Why do I have to constantly defend my choice of a career path? Why isn’t being a pharmacist just as good as being a doctor? Let me tell you, I know more about your medications – and how they work – than your doctor (henceforth, a physician, because contrary to popular belief, I am a doctor, I have the degree to prove it!). I can’t tell you how many times I have prevented harm to patient because of that. I tell people, let your doctor diagnose you, but trust your pharmacist when it comes to medications (and always go to the SAME pharmacist you trust – it just may save your life!).
Let’s start at the beginning.
At work today, I worked the OR pharmacy. This means my daily interactions are with the anesthesiologists of the hospital, the PACU/Day Surgery nurses, the OR techs, physicians, and on occasion, even a surgeon (they are not magical beings people, just wanted to state that). I also see the patients on their way to surgery and after, entering their orders, checking for drug/drug and drug/allergy interactions, and providing the narcotics for each individual OR case. I work in a fishbowl, and I’m trapped in the small area which contains the OR pharmacy satellite. However, I like working here; I interact with more people than I answer phone calls (I will post about the day to day activities of an inpatient pharmacist in another post).
So, handing the narcotics over to the nurse anesthesiologist, she made a comment about the “new girl” that worked the day before. I informed her that was our most recent former resident, LP. “A resident? What does that mean in pharmacy?”
Um, the same as a medical resident, duh. Not – actually, a great deal – of graduating pharmacists do not undergo residency. It is a recent evolution in pharmacy for some pharmacists to undergo specialized training to become clinical staff, and one route is pediatric pharmacy (which I did, at the same hospital that I am gainfully employed with). After the first year, a small percentage of residents continue on to a second year (which was my original life plan, to go into pediatric critical care, but marriage and a pregnancy and the Navy derailed that plan at the moment). Either way, it is much like the medical resident. The pay is small but the rewards amazing.
So after I told her that I finished undergraduate school, then four years of pharmacy school, and a residency, she goes … “you might as well have gone to medical school after all that.”
Excuse me?! My choice isn’t as good as medical school? I don’t think so. It was almost a slap in the face. Yes, at one point, I wanted to go to medical school, but I LOVE pharmacy more. I like what I do on most days. I love the interactions (most of the time, there are some physicians who believe they know more than I do when it comes to medications and how they work and their place in therapy and…).
I really believe pharmacists need to speak up more. And not to be like physicians, but acknowledge our doctorate degrees (side note: not all pharmacists are doctors – but all the recent graduates are).
Yes, I am a doctor. Just not a physician… thank God!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
A Vent of Sorts
This past weekend was spent in Richmond with my sister. She had the boys while I worked; I had to get creative with my parents heading out of town this weekend for my dad’s 35th high school reunion. So my parents dropped off the boys at my sister’s work (so she could attempt to finish her day) and then after work, I drove up there to spend the rest of the weekend with her and the boys at her house.
I am not sure how much work she accomplished with a refusing – to – nap – two – year – old and a five – month old, but she states they had a great day. I wish I had the pictures from her iPhone, as she got Goober “driving” a forklift, a truck, and an Army helicopter (which she said he managed to figure out how to turn on!). FYI – she’s in the Army National Guard working with a helicopter group, and she’s the one responsible for all the weapons and supplies. I worried *just* a little about my young Goober loose there, but he was in good hands!
Saturday we took them to the Children’s Museum in Richmond (Short Pump), and Goober had a blast! He really enjoyed the “sandbox” that was made from rubber chips and the train. They also had a small castle, a playground, a toddler area (which Peanut enjoyed), a reading nook, puppet stage, arts and crafts, and reading time. Definitely will have to check them out again when in town visiting.
Did some shopping, but forgot the stroller, and Goober was melting down. He had a rough night the night before, didn’t take a good nap, so it was bearing well for an extensive shopping (which is probably good on my pocketbook!).
So, we had dinner at home. Played in the water. Nicole did an amazing job taking some great photographs of Peanut for his five month shots. Even some of Goober. Fantastic. Peanut went did well for the night. Not Goober… and that started a major fight between my sister and I. I will admit, I was exhausted, at the end of my rope with Goober and his troubles going down for nighttime. I said some things I regret to him, but most especially, I spanked him, which I HATE. This happens when I am at my wit’s end, and I need to step away. I didn’t, and he got the spanking (which is on his diaper butt, but that is neither here nor there). I came downstairs to take a breather, and my sister offered to help. You would think this is what I wanted and needed. In my current state of mind, I should have allowed her that chance. But I didn’t. Instead, I told her to leave him alone. That set her off, and she ended up storming out of her house for an hour or two. During that time, I calmed down, put Goober to bed successfully, and started to clean up. When my sister came home, we tabled a discussion to the next morning.
The next morning was tense between us. I hated every moment of it. I love my sister. Of the two I have, she is the one I am the closest to. So for us to be on a tentative truce or time out was difficult. We eventually did talk, and she said some things I am still digesting. I don’t think she quite understood where I am coming from (other than she did say I was most of the time a single parent, which with the military, I mostly am, even though my husband is thankfully not at sea), but like she said, she won’t understand until she had her own children. It was her one comment towards the end of the talk that caught my attention the most – “you want to be the mother our mom wasn’t to you (or us – I can’t remember her choice of words there at the end).”
Is that really a bad thing? I don’t believe in spanking; 99% of the time we don’t, it is only at times when we have no one course that we can see or at the end of our ropes that we strike, and then we realize that it isn’t fair to him – or us – and we need to take a step back. (We are learning and trying to step back before we resort to spanking.) On the other hand, my parents did spank my three siblings and me. I never thought it fair. “Don’t hit or I will hit you!” Where is the sense in that? I realize this is trying to reason with a two year old, but don’t we need to show him there are other ways to release anger? He needs the help, and I just can’t find the way to show him right now, but I am trying. He needs that more then he needs a spanking.
Please don’t think my mother was a bad parent. She wasn’t. She will admit that she was young, and had four young children to raise pretty much on her own (my dad was a military man, so most of the time she was a single parent too). Shouldn’t I learn from her mistakes? Shouldn’t I make different choices to avoid the same traps and problems?
Parenting is the hardest job EVER. Every parent will admit to that I believe. Yes, it is a choice to be parent, and I will never, ever regret becoming a mother to my sweet boys. It is also a choice in how I – and my husband – decide to parent these boys. I want to arm them with the proper tools to be successful men, patient and kind, and loving. No one will remember me as a great pharmacist, but they will remember – and see – the men I raised and how they are with the people in their lives.
Please God, teach me the patience as we raise our sons. Please give me the understanding and the ability to transmit to my family the great appreciation I have for them and what they do for my boys and me. I love them, and I am lucky to have them…
I am not sure how much work she accomplished with a refusing – to – nap – two – year – old and a five – month old, but she states they had a great day. I wish I had the pictures from her iPhone, as she got Goober “driving” a forklift, a truck, and an Army helicopter (which she said he managed to figure out how to turn on!). FYI – she’s in the Army National Guard working with a helicopter group, and she’s the one responsible for all the weapons and supplies. I worried *just* a little about my young Goober loose there, but he was in good hands!
Saturday we took them to the Children’s Museum in Richmond (Short Pump), and Goober had a blast! He really enjoyed the “sandbox” that was made from rubber chips and the train. They also had a small castle, a playground, a toddler area (which Peanut enjoyed), a reading nook, puppet stage, arts and crafts, and reading time. Definitely will have to check them out again when in town visiting.
Did some shopping, but forgot the stroller, and Goober was melting down. He had a rough night the night before, didn’t take a good nap, so it was bearing well for an extensive shopping (which is probably good on my pocketbook!).
So, we had dinner at home. Played in the water. Nicole did an amazing job taking some great photographs of Peanut for his five month shots. Even some of Goober. Fantastic. Peanut went did well for the night. Not Goober… and that started a major fight between my sister and I. I will admit, I was exhausted, at the end of my rope with Goober and his troubles going down for nighttime. I said some things I regret to him, but most especially, I spanked him, which I HATE. This happens when I am at my wit’s end, and I need to step away. I didn’t, and he got the spanking (which is on his diaper butt, but that is neither here nor there). I came downstairs to take a breather, and my sister offered to help. You would think this is what I wanted and needed. In my current state of mind, I should have allowed her that chance. But I didn’t. Instead, I told her to leave him alone. That set her off, and she ended up storming out of her house for an hour or two. During that time, I calmed down, put Goober to bed successfully, and started to clean up. When my sister came home, we tabled a discussion to the next morning.
The next morning was tense between us. I hated every moment of it. I love my sister. Of the two I have, she is the one I am the closest to. So for us to be on a tentative truce or time out was difficult. We eventually did talk, and she said some things I am still digesting. I don’t think she quite understood where I am coming from (other than she did say I was most of the time a single parent, which with the military, I mostly am, even though my husband is thankfully not at sea), but like she said, she won’t understand until she had her own children. It was her one comment towards the end of the talk that caught my attention the most – “you want to be the mother our mom wasn’t to you (or us – I can’t remember her choice of words there at the end).”
Is that really a bad thing? I don’t believe in spanking; 99% of the time we don’t, it is only at times when we have no one course that we can see or at the end of our ropes that we strike, and then we realize that it isn’t fair to him – or us – and we need to take a step back. (We are learning and trying to step back before we resort to spanking.) On the other hand, my parents did spank my three siblings and me. I never thought it fair. “Don’t hit or I will hit you!” Where is the sense in that? I realize this is trying to reason with a two year old, but don’t we need to show him there are other ways to release anger? He needs the help, and I just can’t find the way to show him right now, but I am trying. He needs that more then he needs a spanking.
Please don’t think my mother was a bad parent. She wasn’t. She will admit that she was young, and had four young children to raise pretty much on her own (my dad was a military man, so most of the time she was a single parent too). Shouldn’t I learn from her mistakes? Shouldn’t I make different choices to avoid the same traps and problems?
Parenting is the hardest job EVER. Every parent will admit to that I believe. Yes, it is a choice to be parent, and I will never, ever regret becoming a mother to my sweet boys. It is also a choice in how I – and my husband – decide to parent these boys. I want to arm them with the proper tools to be successful men, patient and kind, and loving. No one will remember me as a great pharmacist, but they will remember – and see – the men I raised and how they are with the people in their lives.
Please God, teach me the patience as we raise our sons. Please give me the understanding and the ability to transmit to my family the great appreciation I have for them and what they do for my boys and me. I love them, and I am lucky to have them…
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Peanut 5 months
Peanut at 5 months
Goober at 29 months
Enjoy some adorable snapshots of the boys, thanks to my wonderful sister!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Our Summer Bucket List
1. Take the boys to the beach
2. Run through the sprinklers at the county park
3. Visit an amusement park
4. Go camping
5. Make s'mores
6. Pick fruit as a family
7. Go on a boat ride
8. Go on a train ride
9. Check out a local ice cream parlor
10. Go to a drive thru movie
11. Go on an all day bike ride and picnic
12. Go putt-putt
13. Go to the farmer's market
14. Go to the county/state fair
15. Story time at the library
16. Fireworks
17. Glow - in - the - dark bath
18. Make popsicles
19. Photo shoot with James
20. Cypress Gardens
21. Make our own ice cream
22. Have a party
23. Kaden swimming by himself
24. Fly a kite
25. Make our own sundae party
26. Sidewalk paint
27. Go fishing
28. Go bowling
29. Go to a movie
30. Play in the rain
31. Make our own lemonade
32. Go to the ocean
33. Catch fireflies
34. Go to the zoo
35. Take a hike
36. Visit a museum
2. Run through the sprinklers at the county park
3. Visit an amusement park
4. Go camping
5. Make s'mores
6. Pick fruit as a family
7. Go on a boat ride
8. Go on a train ride
9. Check out a local ice cream parlor
10. Go to a drive thru movie
11. Go on an all day bike ride and picnic
12. Go putt-putt
13. Go to the farmer's market
14. Go to the county/state fair
15. Story time at the library
16. Fireworks
17. Glow - in - the - dark bath
18. Make popsicles
19. Photo shoot with James
20. Cypress Gardens
21. Make our own ice cream
22. Have a party
23. Kaden swimming by himself
24. Fly a kite
25. Make our own sundae party
26. Sidewalk paint
27. Go fishing
28. Go bowling
29. Go to a movie
30. Play in the rain
31. Make our own lemonade
32. Go to the ocean
33. Catch fireflies
34. Go to the zoo
35. Take a hike
36. Visit a museum
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Who am I?
It is still hard to believe, but next Friday, I turn 30. The idea that I have been alive for three decades doesn't seem possible. Where has the time gone? Have I accomplished anything significant in thirty years? Will I have time in the future to do all that I want to?
For accomplishments, by far the most important to me are my two little boys. They are simply my everything. They are the reasons I wake up in the morning, they give me hope. Two little beacons of light. How amazing it is to watch things through their eyes! I love seeing Goober smile in wonder as he figures out something for himself... and Peanut? To see his eyes grow wide and smile when he sees me, or his brother, or his daddy. He definitely knows we belong to him already at such a tender age of five months.
I finished pharmacy school, obtained my doctorate degree, completed my year of pediatric pharmacy residency, and still am working (though per diem, not full time). I hope to eventually move into a clinical pharmacy position, but that will be when the boys are both in school full time. Until then, I am a stay at home mom who works occasionally to make student loan payments!
My husband and I have dreams. Dreams I hope to see to fruitation. Until then, I am dreaming... and living a great life.
More to come...
For accomplishments, by far the most important to me are my two little boys. They are simply my everything. They are the reasons I wake up in the morning, they give me hope. Two little beacons of light. How amazing it is to watch things through their eyes! I love seeing Goober smile in wonder as he figures out something for himself... and Peanut? To see his eyes grow wide and smile when he sees me, or his brother, or his daddy. He definitely knows we belong to him already at such a tender age of five months.
I finished pharmacy school, obtained my doctorate degree, completed my year of pediatric pharmacy residency, and still am working (though per diem, not full time). I hope to eventually move into a clinical pharmacy position, but that will be when the boys are both in school full time. Until then, I am a stay at home mom who works occasionally to make student loan payments!
My husband and I have dreams. Dreams I hope to see to fruitation. Until then, I am dreaming... and living a great life.
More to come...
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Still trying to get a handle on this blogging thing...
So I am still trying to get a handle. However, in my defense, I am also attempting to mother a very active two year old and his four - almost five - month old brother. I'm trying to just stay afloat on the housekeeping, trying to start a "preschool" atmosphere for Goober, all while doing two week stints in Virginia working (because I am still a pharmacist... just some of the time). Needless to say, this just hasn't been given priority...
That being said, I am going to try! I really want to have something that documents Goober and Peanut as they grow up, to remember cute things they say, to show them off (I am a proud mama!). We're doing cool things -- a summer bucket list currently that I got as an idea from two other blogs ... threetimesthegiggles and goteamwood -- and we have gotten quite a bit accomplish (next post, I will get more into that, once I get a copy of said list!).
For a quick update...
We're in Virginia (just got here Sunday, will leave on the 29th, my gasp... 30th birthday), Elijah is at home. This weekend will be spent in Richmond with my sister Nicole, who is watching the boys on Friday (long story). We will plan on taking them to the Children's Museum up there, which I haven't been to, and neither have the boys (maybe I will even post pictures -- oh my!).
Goober is so hyper, full of energy, interested in anything dinosaur, alligator, snake, water, and whatever you're cooking. He loves to help, which of course just makes it take longer, but I love watching his curiousity.
Peanut is rolling over, rocking side to side, and loves to gab. Goober and him will just have conversations, just the two of them, the adults just wishing we knew what they were conspiring (because you know they are, they are their father's sons).
Alright, off to do other things...
That being said, I am going to try! I really want to have something that documents Goober and Peanut as they grow up, to remember cute things they say, to show them off (I am a proud mama!). We're doing cool things -- a summer bucket list currently that I got as an idea from two other blogs ... threetimesthegiggles and goteamwood -- and we have gotten quite a bit accomplish (next post, I will get more into that, once I get a copy of said list!).
For a quick update...
We're in Virginia (just got here Sunday, will leave on the 29th, my gasp... 30th birthday), Elijah is at home. This weekend will be spent in Richmond with my sister Nicole, who is watching the boys on Friday (long story). We will plan on taking them to the Children's Museum up there, which I haven't been to, and neither have the boys (maybe I will even post pictures -- oh my!).
Goober is so hyper, full of energy, interested in anything dinosaur, alligator, snake, water, and whatever you're cooking. He loves to help, which of course just makes it take longer, but I love watching his curiousity.
Peanut is rolling over, rocking side to side, and loves to gab. Goober and him will just have conversations, just the two of them, the adults just wishing we knew what they were conspiring (because you know they are, they are their father's sons).
Alright, off to do other things...
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