the best day of them all

If you've been a longtime reader or made the unfortunate mistake of dipping back into the blog's archives you'll know that I will readily and heartily admit that I came into residency with my eyes tightly closed thinking they were wide open and it was an ugly tug-of-war as they two sort of figured out some sort of great compromise. The straw that broke my first year camel's back was night float. Night float was the two months a year (separate months, praise the sanity gods) that Simon was (you like that past tense?! ME TOO) gone from 5pm-8am and then slept during the day. Sounds not so bad, right? No. I didn't anticipate being able to not sleep ... at all. AT ALL. Only because I'm crazy and was sure a predator was ready to pounce and kill outside every window and door (security systems means nothing in the face of my logic, unfortunately). I'm a lot better now with the help of time (I went down to the basement after dark last night! Progress Patton) and Benadryl and I guess having "older" kids around? But looking back on the many months that I would repeatedly sleep 30-60 minutes a night only to wake up in time to greet another super lonely day/evening/night (especially when the kids were really little) ... those were NOT the happiest days. However! every year truly got a little easier and I have so much admiration, empathy, sympathy, and respect for parents who go it alone or have deployed spouses etc. I will forever be an infant in the face of your heroism ... truly. It's not easy. At all.

Anyway, Simon still has two call weekends and a month of surgery left to tackle before we move down to Tampa and he has to take his boards before he starts his fellowship July 1st BUT we've been talking about THIS particular day for a LONG time. We talked up having kegs and eggs and celebrating in relative style but the reality is that we're having hospital cafeteria sprinkle donuts and chocolate milk while frantically throwing things in boxes and let the kids do whatever the eff they want (within reason!!!).

Before you start getting your eyes all set to ROLL position over yet another ridiculous slideshow ... know that I could've gone with this terrible anthem but I did not. I was tempted because I'm the most melodramatic human of all time. I yam. No, instead I went with a song that features the line, "these are the nights that never die" .... seemed fitting. Except .... they DID.

Thankfully.

And in case you're hungry for more celly, grainy goodness ... I'm not stingy ...

From last night's celebratory visit ... one, two, three, nope - NO smiles.

... this is like 1% better but, sold. I guess.

And I have to give a hearty shoutout to Simon's co-worker, Kira, who (while on nights herself!!!) gifted me with this pretty lady ...

... as a congratulatory token for surviving nights because she must be the most thoughtful human of all time. She included strict instructions to wait until after I'm done gestating to imbibe so I hope she's ready to split it with me in the hospital post-baby while she's on OR off the clock. I'm not picky. ;)

Happy freakin' weekend, bb.