kids ‘r us

Growing up, I was never that into kids like the other girls. I wasn’t like those people who would go “aww… look at the baby!” It’s probably because I was born the youngest of 3 siblings and I have always been THE baby of the family. I had no experience taking care of someone younger than me and I was never around little kids that much. I remember during the 5th grade, I did have some experience taking care of my younger cousins. That was back when I was in the US. I hated those moments because it was such a big responsibility for me who would rather take care of myself and mind my own business. The worst part was having to clean up the carpet after my little cousin threw up on it. FANTASTIC!

Then came Pedia clerkship. I dreaded having to go through it, but for some odd twist of fate, I actually enjoyed it (minus the monitoring and the scary residents and consultants). I actually considered Pedia as my 2nd choice for residency (the 1st being surgery). The problem was that I just wanted to deal with neonates aka newborns. So I told myself, maybe I would be better off being a Pediatric surgeon instead.

Finally, I got the patience to upload some pictures to share with you guys again. These are some of the pics that i’ve take while we are at our ward and nursery rotation. I like the nursery rotation best because this is where I learned to catch newborns all by myself and with the assistance of my clerks. I was really scared during my first duty but after a while it became like routine, so I got the hang of it real quick.

pedia mania

I just realized that I had so many stories to tell during the time I was in the pedia wards but I didn’t write a single thing on my blog for the simple reason that I was really busy.  Well, I am finally done with pedia wards and I have now moved on to the Nursery Catching Area to take care of newborns.  I’m excited and frightened at the same time… Why?  Because this is my favorite part of Pediatrics, dealing with neonates (newborn babies).  I always said that if only I could have be a neonatology resident only and not have to deal with the other parts of Pediatrics that would be great (Fat chance!).  Tomorrow is going to be my first duty, and now I have this heavy feeling on my chest that I always get when I am anticipating the arrival of a new baby.  This is the only real place when it is music to my ears to hear a baby’s cry and to see it flailing about and turning pink before my eyes as it catches it’s first breaths.  It is magical I tell ya.  But the tension could really kill me.  I don’t know if I am just exaggerating, but the tension that surrounds keeping that newborn alive has reached a whole new level since clerkship.  As a clerk, you feel scared but comfortable because you know that your experienced resident or intern will always be by your side as you resuscitate that baby.  But as a PGH intern, now that’s a whole different story.  They warned us that there will be times when a resident won’t be there, and that now, you have a clerk of your own to assist you.  Ahh!!! Responsibility!!!  And with all the babies that come in to PGH in a single day?  Scaaaary… Please wish me luck, tomorrow is my first duty.  Let it be a benign one please I beg you.  Save the weird cases for later.  (ok time to review!)