Staying in OKC

I realized a few days ago that I had written this almost a month ago... and never posted it! Silly me! 

Announcement! We are officially staying in Oklahoma City, at least through the end of October, hopefully through December. The hospital asked me to extend my contract, but the unit I'm working on isn't really my favorite, so they offered to move me to the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (Hemoc) unit. I immediately liked that idea a lot, so I said yes!






This is a great opportunity for me since I don't have "official" hemoc experience. The unit I worked on for seven years in Wichita had oncology patients, and I loved working with them, but the unit also had everything else (surgical, respiratory, trauma, etc.). Because it wasn't an exclusively hemoc unit, it doesn't "count" as working in hemoc. Sounds silly, I know, but I didn't make the rules! Being able to work on an exclusive oncology unit will give me more opportunities in the future and be a good learning time for me too.



My last day on my current unit will be July 17th, and I start on the oncology unit on August 3rd. It will be nice to have a little time off work, and there are a few things we plan on getting done during that time (as well as go to a special wedding! Yay!). Pray I will finish well on the unit I'm still at, and that we will make good use of the time off when that comes.

Around Town

Eli's current favorite thing to say is, "wha you doin'?" Usually Always repeated constantly until you answer. And after you answer, he forgets in about fifteen seconds (or just wants to check what you might be doing now)... so he asks again, "oh, wha you doin' Momma? Wha you doin'?"

Now if we could just get him to say, "how you doin?" it would make it a whole lot funnier.

Walking around town...

Eli loves to feed ducks!

These ducks were a little too enthusiastic... one of them nibbled on his hand a little bit!
(he was surprised, but not hurt or upset)

You know what's great after a walk? Ice cream! It makes everything better. :)

OKC Kid's Fest at the Cox center
There were all kinds of booths, with crafts, information, things to play with, gifts and treats. Some of the things were a little old for him, but he still had great fun! One of his favorites was getting to go inside a real ambulance!

Making a superhero mask

Super Eli!

Cool sunglasses (that he didn't want to keep on).

But he did show the big dog his sunglasses :)

Fireman's hat! I think he liked it a little bit...

And a sucker to end the fun!

Not so fun when it's all gone.

Why I Like Travel Nursing

Have you ever been in a situation so deep and/or long that you couldn't see how completely it took over you life? 

That sounds bad, but it can also be a good thing.

For me, my job in Wichita, as much as I really love what I do, drained me. And I didn't even know it.

Everyday I would come home exhausted after working 13-14 hours and driving 30-40 minutes each way. It would take me 1-2 days just to recover from work, and then I would work again. Because of this cycle, I always felt tired... and I thought there was something wrong with me. 

The unit I worked on was so busy, we rarely had lunch breaks. We would just run through, shove something in our mouth, and run back out. Since starting travel nursing, I haven't missed a lunch break one. single. day. And I think I've only been at work longer that 12.5 hours a few times. These things make a huge difference!

When I get home, I can see Eli and help put him to bed. Before, on days I worked, I didn't get to see Eli at all that day. I left before he woke up and always came home after his bedtime. If I worked several days in a row (as I did every week), I wouldn't see him for two or three days. My baby. 

I see Eli every day now, and I get to talk to him and he tells me about his day. It just makes my whole day better!

Along with all this, it is less stressful at work too. I don't have any 'extra' responsibilities that I would have if I worked permanently at the hospital, and people have fewer expectations of me. I can always (honestly) say, "oh, I'm a traveler, I don't know where that is,"  and I'm not expected to always know the answer. It's also less stressful because never once have I had more patients than I felt I could take of well. 

On my days off, I get to spend time with Eli and Josh, and we are more intentional about seeing the city we are in and enjoying our time together. 

This whole thing has almost been a vacation!

First OKC Pictures

These pictures were taken out first week in Oklahoma City while we walked around downtown and along the river. They have lovely gardens right next to the Cox Convention center, but Eli's favorite was anything with water. :)

This bulldozer was a new toy he insisted on taking everywhere (thank you Goodwill).

Do you see the duck? Eli was trying to make friends with it...

We love water!

The garden has a kids playground area that was almost as 'favorite' as the water!

Getting a drink after playing and walking all over town!