Back to Work

I started last Monday working for our local hospital - it is 5 minutes away and where I had Autumn. I'm a per diem occupational therapist (I take overflow and extra hours they have) on the inpatient floors. There are a variety of patients on ICU, acute (ortho, neuro, tele, medicine) and a small TCU. So far I think it is a great fit for this stage in my life! I'm able to work with people and families to help restore their abilities and to be able to return home once again. It has been 2 years since I have worked in a hospital - so it is taking some time and refreshing to remember all the medical terms, specific diagnosis precautions and regain some smoothness in my evaluation abilities. It has been an interesting orientation period for me - the main OT at the hospital had a skiing accident and will be out for a while. Luckily my good friend Elyssa who is also an OT for Banner Health was able to spend a couple of days with me - showing me the ropes and helping me with the not so fun electronic medical records. Today was my first day as the only OTR in the hospital - but luckily the PTs and OTA are great! Other than being grossly inefficient at electronic charting, I think I'm getting the hang of things and will enjoy working there! The other great perk is that I can come home and feed Autumn during my lunch - so I never feel like I've been away for too long! God is good!

God's Children

It is late - I'm fighting off a cold and cannot sleep.

These are some of the thoughts floating around at 12:30.

I've been dreading this - Autumn's first cold. I'm grateful that it has been minor for her, not much snot and only a little cough - that she made it to 5 months old before we had to deal with it. Myself being sick and having Autumn 2 feet from my head, I've been able to sleep okay, however the last 2 nights Aaron said he checked on her every 30-45 minutes all through the night. I admit we are anxious parents, we struggle deeply not to worry and to find the difficult balance between minimizing risks and worrying. I don't know if I'll ever find that balance on certain issues.

Where does my worry come from? 4 friends of mine have lost babies - 2 in the hospital and 2 before their beautiful babies made it to their first birthdays. My mother is a baby nurse and came home numerous times during my childhood and sat and cried after they lost a baby at work. I went to my first infant funeral at age 15 when our youth pastor and his wife lost their baby at birth. During my 2 and 1/2 week stay at the House of Moses in Lusaka - 3 sweet babies went to heaven. God takes children home to Him more often than we would like. Some with explanation, some without answers and all painful.

I titled this post "God's Children." After having a child, it is impossible not to think about the possibility of losing them. It is a possibility. The likelihood is not great, but the risk is real. I knew that we were getting into the one thing in life that can bring the greatest joy and has the risk of the greatest pain known to man - parenthood. The only way I am able to not be paralyzed by my fears and worry is to remember that my children are like Samuel was to Hannah - God's Children - a gift to me from Him for me to care for. I can only do my best - and know that God's plan is greater than my own - even if I don't or can't understand it. God is pretty clear about fretting and anxiety - yet I'm human - but I will try Lord - I will keep trying.

Back to bed - hopefully now that I've dumped my brain onto my virtual diary, sleep will follow.

I stole this from a friend who writes a food blog!
I want to try them - they look so yummy!!



Peanut butter oat bran cookies
adapted from Hodgson Mill

1/2 cup of unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1/2 cup of light brown sugar
2 egg whites
1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
1/2 tsp of vanilla
1 cup of unbleached flour
1 1/2 cup of oat bran cereal
3/4 tsp of baking powder
1/4 tsp of baking soda

Preheat oven to 350degrees. Combine flour, oat bran, baking soda, 1/4 tsp of salt, and baking powder with a whisk. Mix butter and sugars together. Add in egg whites and mix well. Add in peanut butter and vanilla, beat until smooth. Add in dry ingredients being sure everything is incorporated. Drop onto a ungreased cookie sheet, using about one tsp per cookies. Make criss-cross pattern on top of each cookie with a fork. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Makes about 36 cookies. Enjoy!

Articles and abstracts on lower risks of SIDS

An article on SIDS over the last 30 years in New Zealand.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122615903/PDFSTART23e

Why using a fan may lower risks?
http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/162/10/963

Breastfeeding and reduced risk of SIDS.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/123/3/e406

Back to sleep.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19996049?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=1


A listing of many more articles.
http://www.cjsids.org/resource-center/sids-research/recent-research.html

Safe Sleeping for Babies

Okay - this posting is a bit of a jump start for myself - I need a bit of accountability and prayer as I move forward in my roll of Content Developer for the Hand of Grace Foundation. I've set a deadline for myself to have a rough draft created that covers current statistics related to SIDS and other infant morbidity. I attempted to tackle this in November and found myself unable to sort through stories and statistic regarding infants Autumn's age. Focusing too much attention on these topics when Autumn was in the danger zone created too much fear and anxiety for me - something I was hoping I could fight through, but didn't. So here goes!!!

My starting point is to read through research and statistics First Candle has gathered and produced.

If you are a mommy, daddy, grandparent, or caregiver and want to read their safe sleeping recommendations - here are a few links.

http://www.firstcandle.org/new-expectant-parents/bedtime-basics-for-babies/

http://www.firstcandle.org/new-expectant-parents/bedtime-basics-for-babies/adult-beds-are-not-safe-for-sleeping-babies/

http://www.firstcandle.org/new-expectant-parents/bedtime-basics-for-babies/create-a-safe-sleep-zone/

5 Months Old

I know it is cliche to say "they grow so fast." But it is true! This month went faster than the last and Autumn, you are starting to look more and more like a little girl and less and less like a little baby. This was a big month - a first airplane ride, first time at the zoo, first time in an umbrella stroller, first time to play in the Johnny Jump up and first time to grab daddy's beard.

Right now you enjoy standing in our laps grabbing everything in sight, putting our cup to your lips and sucking on it, sucking on toys, feeling tags, being with us, watching Ella play, smiling when we smile, following us around the room with your eyes,and handling your sheep and baby polar bear dolls. You are so close to rolling over - you can squirm, twist, turn 180 degrees and whip around, but haven't gotten your arm out of the way to get all the way over. You love, love, love to stand up and marching or dancing in your jump up. Sitting down is a bummer - in both your car sear and bumbo you arch and fuss when initially put in a sitting position. Everyday your hands become more coordinated. At the beginning of the month you batted at things and now you can turn, inspect and manipulated toys quite well.

Your are such a mellow baby! We flew to Portland and stayed 4 nights. You were a champ! We breezed through security, you humored all those old ladies that cooed at you with smiles and sat or slept almost silently the whole trip both ways. I doubt the people 2 seats away even knew there was a baby on the plane! In Portland we hiked to the top of a 500 foot waterfall in the rain, went to the zoo, out for sushi with friends, for a long walk along the river, to the Chinese gardens and up to Olympia and back. Never did I have to change plans or leave because you just went with the flow! If I don't thank you once you are able to remember it, Thank You!


Well that pretty much sums up month #4! We love you baby girl - keep growing strong and healthy!