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05 October 2011

Nightfloat (again)

I should just control+alt+print this post and paste it into my diary...more fitting than publishing to my popular power blog for all to eye roll at and not enjoy. (aka...maybe just skip or skim if you've anything else remotely interesting such as toenail clipping or blank wall staring going on in your vida ahora)
Don't worry...I won't pound out a woe is me post...although of course I'm tempted. Oh...so...tempted.
Fine, maybe a little woe. Only for you.
I should probably hold off on writing about this rotation until after it is over ... but then my rosy retrospect glasses might come out to play and we all know I don't like to get rosy.  Only gray skies for Grace.

So we're now in the thick of an entire month of the float...which is way worse than I had imagined. I knew as other residents' wives had warned me that night float months were going to be rough but I still had comical and idealistic visions of Simon coming home in the morning, napping for a few good hours and then rising to greet the afternoon with family walks, meals and merriment before he shipped off again at 5 for another night of work. Wrong, so wrong. I took one look at a very fatigued Simon after his first night, calculated how many hours he had until he had to be back that night and knew that virtually all hours not spent in the hospital were going to be spent sleeping...for his health, sanity and the safety of any patients he encounters which is 110% understandable. We're lucky that he falls and stays asleep insanely easily anytime and anywhere and isn't bothered by the almond milk chugging contests, sprint-crawling relays and um laundry folding that Julia and I occupy ourselves with during the day.

I slept a collective hour the first night of float and a solid and consecutive (!!) two on the second night. However, I will report that victory was totally mine when I clocked in five hours of sleep last night...praise all that is good and holy.

Still, if I had a functional magic wand I would put on my selfish pants and halt all night labors (sorry ladies...your babies will arrive cuter in the morning anyway), install sleep-on-demand buttons into my and Julia's little brains and permanently cut out the illogical portion of myself that won't let me easily fall and stay sleep while our valiant patriarch is gone. 

Fortunately, Julia is being a real trooper and graciously napping twice a day (she had temporarily weaned herself down to one nap...much to my horror) which means that I can nap twice a day which most certainly takes the semi-sleepless nights hangover edge off...a little bit.  There are several new (not necessarily quality) shows to enjoy on Hulu late into the scary nights and the fancy, shiny Target close to our house doesn't charge for pregs and babes to wander and wander and wander their aisles if only to purchase coffee creamer in order to kill the dragging hours in the evening. I'm always hungry these days so eating dinner at 4:30 before Simon goes into work is actually very ideal and makes me feel less guilty about my large 3 am first second dinner/first breakfast. Some positives to scream about. 

Ayyyand I think Julia is getting just sick of her mom enough because we are spending every waking moment of hers very much juntos that she will welcome the new sibling/attention vacuum with gratitude and a heavy sigh of relief.
Dingdingding winwinwin.

What have we learned?
Nothing.
But, my 'I know I can't' mantra is slowly evolving into, 'I maybe can and might survive but I am still a giant, selfish baby'.

Until next week's obnox complaint post,
your favorite susie sunshine

5 comments:

  1. I know it's tough having a husband working nights. Especially when you look forward to him distracting the baby even for a moment so you can just breathe by yourself. Working nights is so difficult on those who must, but it's also hard on their family. It wasn't too long ago I was going through a very similar situation and I just want to reach through the computer and give you a hug. So, virtual hug, ok?

    I'm glad you at least have target and hulu to keep you company and Julia taking two naps again!!

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  2. Not shifts are the WORST. Ugh. Feel your pain, girl!

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  3. Ahh the ever nightmarish night shift! I have some friends who are nurses and I don't know how they do it. Let alone with families! At least there is: 1) Target (like you said) 2. Rachel Zoe clips on Hulu and 3. Ice cream and 4. Playpens! Do people still use those?

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  4. Poor Grace! I would be just like you - I CANNOT sleep when Shane isn't home...thank goodness he doesn't and never will have to work nights! Its bad enough when he's gone to school all day and has night classes, and stays later to study AND has a football game at 11pm...but at least he eventually comes home and I can sleep:) But you will get through it!!!

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  5. I can kind of commiserate with you. My husband has basically been LIVING in the lab for the past month and probably will for another month. Stupid PhD work! I know I will benefit from it in the long run, but right now, it pretty much sucks! I am doing my best to not be a high-maintenance whiner while it lasts.

    And I am failing miserably.

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