Baby Friendly

Lee and I recently completed our child birth classes at the hospital!  And while it was probably a major bore for Lee and almost all review for me, the lady who has been reading and googleing everything for the past 9 months... it was still helpful!  So if anyone is having doubts about whether or not they should go, still go!  If you learn a couple random things it will be worth it.  And review is good.

One of the things I left the hospital feeling the most excited about is that our hospital is currently becoming "baby friendly certified"
I had heard about this from Lee's time in the OB as well as from my doctor and the nurses.  But when I actually started researching it and looking into why it is different I got an appreciation for how cool it is!

Basically, some of the principles of being baby friendly are:

1. They REALLY encourage breastfeeding.
There is a ton of information and resources to help mothers be successful in breastfeeding and therefore continue to breastfeed after they go home with their babies.  I mean, I don't think I need to go into detail here about the importance of breastfeeding and how overwhelmingly better it is for a baby than formula, but I know that it can be challenging and sometimes when women struggle with it they give up.  The hospital staff is there to make sure it is an easy, smooth process for both mom and baby.  How you ask?

2. Instant skin to skin contact.
This might be the part that makes me feel the most giddy.  Instantly when that baby is born they go straight to their momma.  The doctor literally catches the baby and lays them right on the mom's chest.  No wasted time cleaning the baby, no weighing, nothing.  All the initial checks can be done right while the mom and baby are spending their first moments together. If there is an issue the baby will have to be checked out... but they try really hard to ensure that they get this precious initial skin to skin time.
Why skin to skin?  So many reasons!  A brief explanation in Kelsey terms is that it helps regulate their body temperature, heart rate, AND blood sugar!  Babies get to be right on their mommy's heart, so they hear that heart beat that they've been hearing their entire lives and it calms them down after that crazy trip into this world.  If mom isn't available to do skin to skin, the dad does it!  They even do immediate skin to skin in the OR after a c-section!
The baby stays with mom for about and hour, or until after the baby has initiated his first feeding!  It's a baby's natural instinct to find the mother's breast after birth, so not taking the baby away increases the chances of a successful latch!

3. No bath for 24 hours 
Babies are born with this protective coating called vernix.  It is the best moisturizer for baby and has been shown to have immune properties that protect baby from infections!  Also, by delaying the bath the baby doesn't have to go through that stress right away and their body temp doesn't drop from the water.  And Mom can be present for baby's first bath, sometime the next day.

4. No nursery.
Do hospitals even still do this?  I'm not sure, but ours does not even have a nursery unless the baby is sick.  They promote 24/7 "rooming in" with mom to encourage the bond between the mom and baby.

5. No pacifiers or other artificial nipples
To make sure that the baby doesn't get nipple confusion it is recommended that they don't use a pacifier for something like at least 2 weeks, so the hospital just doesn't even have them!


Other things I learned about one my hospital tour are the different things they have available to women in labor including birthing balls, bathtubs with jets(!), and squat bars.   Ok so the squat bar was weird to me at first too... especially when we had to watch a video of a woman using it, but it actually makes a lot of sense to allow gravity to help out a bit in the delivery process.  Of course this only works if the mother has not had an epidural.  Pretty much all it is is a big metal bar that goes across the end of the bed that the woman can use to pull herself up into a squatted position rather than lying on her back.  Interesting yes?
The birthing balls are really cool, basically just a big exercise ball that the mom can sit on for comfort to move around and stretch.  You aren't actually sitting on the ball when you give birth.  Again, can't use after an epidural.  Same goes with showers and baths....

I feel crazy for actually putting this in writing. on the internet. but I've decided to not have an epidural, or any pain medication.... so far as it is possible.  I understand things happen and plans change.  But I really, really, really, want to do this sans drugs if at all possible.  I have always thought I would, but once I've actually started thinking/researching it and then at the hospital learning that after you have an epidural you're pretty much stuck in bed with a catheter AND it can slow down labor (as well as a million other reasons if you'd care to google them) I decided that plan A is no epidural.  To me the idea of being unable to move my legs is more frightening than pain.  I can't breathe thinking about it.  We all have our own things...

Ok so please don't tell me I'm crazy or any horror stories... ok? No negativity needed. I'll figure it out... what other choice do I have?! :)
However, if you did deliver naturally without an epidural I am open to advice and suggestions to things that helped you!

The Answers to ALL Your Questions!

People ask me the following questions ALL the time
(even if it's only been a week or two since they've seen me!)

so... is Lee finished now?
is Lee an American citizen?
what rotation is he in?
how is he doing?
how much does he get paid?
you're in HOW much debt?
what kind of doctor does he want to be?
long will residency be?
do you get paid for residency?
what is the residency process?
how much longer in Michigan?
where do you want to live?
when are you having kids?
how do you deal?!

and occasionally someone says - so what do you do? :)


I've decided to answer every single question as plainly as possible!  If you have anymore feel free to ask, I really don't mind answering, promise. As you may have noticed I have no qualms with personal questions about money or our lives.


so... is Lee finished now?
nope!  Medical School is still a 4 year degree process!  We began in January of 2010 and will finish January of 2014!!!  Lee is a 3rd year medical student (MS3).


is Lee an American citizen?
no my sweet boy is still a true Canuck.  He may never become a US citizen, we don't know.  We have applied for his Green Card so he can be a permanent resident of the US and not need a student or work visa.  This will greatly increase his options for medical residency positions because the hospital he applies to will not be responsible for sponsoring his visa.  Is it easier because I am American? Yes and no.  It's not easy, but me being American helps.  I am technically his sponsor, but to be a true sponsor one must make a certain amount of money for 3 year and have assets.  I have none of these (remember those 2 years on a tropical island with no job?) So we applied with a joint sponsor (a family member, THANK YOU!).  Lee had to do a physical exam and xrays to prove he has no diseases.  We had to have the pastor who performed our wedding write a letter saying it wasn't a hoax.  We had a friend who knows us well write a letter stating our relationship is ongoing and sound.  My boss wrote a letter saying I have a job and will make x amount of dollars. and lots of other personal things...
Lee goes Monday for his biometric exam - where they will fingerprint him and ask him lots of questions.
If that gets approved, as well as my sponsorship abilities we should find out sometime in the next 3-12 months!
One little stipulation is that he cannot leave the US while this is processing.  We live 15 minutes from Canada but he cannot cross the border until it is either approved or denied.  Here's to hoping it gets approved fast!
oh and it costs about $1,800 to do this. gross.

what rotation is he in?
currently he is in his Internal Medicine rotation.  It is 12 weeks long and is his last rotation of 3rd year! whooooo!!!!!
Here was his schedule for 3rd year -  (I may be off on these week amounts, I get confused if it was 4, 6, or 8)
12 weeks Sugery
6 weeks OB/GYN
6 weeks Psych
6 weeks Family Medicine
6 weeks Pediatrics
12 weeks Internal Medicine

How is he doing?
well if you know Lee you know what a hard worker he is.  Every rotation they have tried to convince him to go into that specialty because he would be so good at it.  His patients love him because he's so patient, thorough, and empathetic. The residents like him because he makes their lives easier.  We ran into one of the residents in the grocery store and he basically high-fived me for marrying Lee because he's that awesome (as if I didn't already know)
And he absolutely would hate for me to tell you anything about his grades or scores but I'll just say I know that the grade of A+ exists on shelf exams for a reason......

how much does he get paid?
zip, zero, zilch.  In fact since he is still in school we pay tuition. and a lot of it.

you're in HOW much debt?
for Lee's schooling we're going to end up in the ballpark of $200,000 in debt (hopefully less!)  Which truthfully is a walk in the park compared to some medical school grads we know and have talked to.  Residents at Lee's hospital think nothing of being $350,000 in the hole. yikes.
Tuition is twenty-something thousand per semester and we're paying for 10 semesters (I think).

what kind of doctor does he want to be?
we're pretty set on Family medicine.  Mainly for the lifestyle.  We want a family!  and Lee wants to be actively involved in all our lives too, so surgery is out. lol.
Family is also interesting to Lee because you see a wide variety of patients, you can have your own practice, and still have options to specialize in OB/GYN, Sports Med, or ER.  And you can work in a hospital if you prefer that to a clinic setting and do more internal med type stuff.

how long will residency be?
Family Medicine residency is 3 years.
We will begin residency in July 2014.  All medical residents, every year, begin in July.  Never schedule a surgery for the first week of July at a teaching hospital. It's apparently chaotic.

Do you get paid in residency?
yes!!! not a doctor's salary, but enough! average is between like $45-60,000 per year.

what is the residency process? 
well.... I don't know 100% yet.  That will be our life this fall. Lee will start applying this fall and will apply to LOTS of programs at hospitals all across America.  The average student applies to 70ish programs.  Out of that 70 hopefully lots of them will offer Lee an interview.  That will be Nov13-Jan14.  He will spend a lot of time and money traveling around to these interviews, impressing lots of people!  After your interviews you rank the program and they also rank you.  They compare up these rankings and in March of 2014 we'll enter THE match and find out where we're going!! We're hoping to interview at 10+ hospitals to make sure we have the best chance of matching and in a place we want!
Sadly, not everyone matches..... and you pray you're not the one.

how much longer in Michigan?
not completely sure.  Lee will finish rotations (4th year) around Jan/Feb 2014.  He will "match" to a residency program in March 2014, and begin in July 2014.  If we match outside of Michigan (please God) we will move a some point between March and July!  Probably depending on where (how far) and what my job situation.

where do you want to live?
south!! south of the Ohio River preferably.  It seriously makes such a big difference in weather.  I'm begging for Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, or Texas.  And my BFFFFFF Amber and her husband put Arizona and Virginia on their list and they will match in just a couple weeks! so where they end up will be added to my list of desired places ;)

when are you having kids?
someday!  Lee and I want a big family.  4+ kids so the sooner we can get things going to better according to my biological clock, but we definitely will be waiting until after he starts residency.  Why? someone in this relationship needs an income and I currently don't have health insurance that covers maternity care.  Pretty good reasons if you ask me.  So we will re-asses after July 2014 and see where I am with my career and my longing for Grenada.........

how do you deal?!
you know what, medical school sucks. suck suck suck sucks and we're poor and in debt... but everyday we get up and life goes on and we're genuinely happy and are trudging along.  Lee is so over school and the process, but we're 3/4 the way done and $140,000 in debt, so no turning back!  Someday, sommmmmmmmmmmmmeday, we'll look back and be thankful for this experience and the hard work will pay off.  But if one of my children says "I want to be a Dr. like Dad" hahahaha we'll probably discourage it.
When you're in love and married to someone who makes life easy, you'd be surprised at how much you can handle.  And I stay busy to avoid getting lonely!

so what do you do?
Well, I am still at the job I got the week I moved to Michigan, I am a Chiropractic Assistant, Front Desk, Office Manager type person.  It isn't necessarily glamorous, but I love the people I work with and LOVE our patients.  They really feel like family and I'm happy to come to work every morning.  My boss is super supportive and accommodating. I work 4 (long) days a week and have a 3 day weekend every week... which leaves time for me to do school. I'm getting my masters in Counseling/Human Services through Liberty University  (I work full time, go to school full time, and Lee is still usually busier than me if that gives you an idea) This semester I'm doing 12 credit hours.  Last semester I did 9 and felt like I handled it really well, so I upped it....... might not have been my absolute best move, but I want to finish asap!  Unlike Lee I'll let everyone know my grades, I worked hard for them! so far I've got straight As!
The plan is do do another full 12 hours this summer, 6 credits the first sub-semester of Fall and the second sub-semester do my big Capstone project!  And finish December of this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do Lee and I do together?
We are working with the youth group at our church.  There is a youth pastor, so we just assist and support him.  Lee is the Sunday School teacher and seriously is the best teacher I've ever had.  He's so good.  I look at him sometimes and am amazed that I get to share my life with him. He explains things to the teens and I'm like wow, wish someone had told me that when I was 15. We have fun doing other stuff with them like Wednesday night church and volleyball on Friday nights.
And we try to eat dinner together each night and go to bed at the same time.  So we  get about 2 hours together a day, which is better than nothing!

So, that was... long.
Anything I didn't cover?

remember Lee?

enough about me and definitely enough about food.

remember medical school?
remember Lee?
the good looking, hardworking, doctor-to-be, love of my life?

he's still around!
he hasn't kicked me to the curb yet
and medical school is an ever-present force in my life. ugh

He is currently in his pediatric rotation at St. John's.
not his favorite.
and it's not because of the sick kids, it's just a lot of work and homework. blah.

He finished up family medicine just before Christmas break and decided that is what he wants to do with his life.
He loved it.  He like the doctors he worked with, he liked the wide age range of patients, the diversity of their ailments, as well as the work load and schedule.
yay for knowing what to specialize in!!!

He just got his final grades in for his first two rotations - Surgery and OB (like 6 months later...) and did extremely well and is continuing to make all the doctors and residents like him (which is great, but not good for me since I DON'T want to do residency in MI and if they love him they'll want him.ugh)
but I'm a good wife and will go where ever... right?

I told Lee I wanted to live somewhere warm so last week he comes home and says "How about Oklahoma?!"
Oklahoma?  It's warm there? hmmmmmmm keep trying.

Last week we also finished all the paper work for his Green Card!
As a Canadian, this will drastically improve his chances of getting a residency in the US because the hospital will not have to sponsor him for a VISA - I am his sponsor! haha :)
It could take up to a year, but we're very hopeful that it will just be a few months.
The process is stupid and expensive... if you're interested in asking me any questions about it thought I'd be happy to help.

As it stands here is the timeline the next year or so

January - Mid February - Pediatrics
Mid February - Mid May - Internal Medicine and finish 3rd year!
May - take that one test in Chicago (I forget what it's called... BSCE? maybe?)
Mid May - June - Lee will have off to study for the STEP 2.  Oh happy day, it doesn't end with Step 1... nor 2 for that matter.
July - begin 4th year (which isn't really a year, but like 30some weeks of rotations)
Fall (I'm not exactly sure August-September-ish) - Apply for residency programs all over the country
Late Fall/Early Winter- interview for said residency programs
February 2014 - finish 4th year rotations!!!
March 2014 - MATCH FOR A RESIDENCY PROGRAM! (I hope and pray!)
May 2014 - Graduate!
July 2014 - start residency!!!!!!!!!!

What once seemed so far away now seems possible! Hallelujah!

Babies Galore!

Lee  and I's lives recently have been focused on babies babies babies.... and none of our own.

Lee is in his OB/GYN rotation currently and I am volunteering at a pregnancy center.  We did a "Walk for Life" this weekend to raise awareness about abortion, which is rampant and casual almost in Detroit.
It breaks my heart that young women think nothing of killing their unborn baby... but that's a whole different post.   While I am counseling women dealing with a multitude of issues and circumstances that have led them to consider abortion as an option, Lee is bringing new lives into this world!!

He has delivered about a dozen babies now!  It is amazing and rather than being a little grossed out like I thought I might be, I am in awe of how awesome Lee is and what an experience he is having!!

OB/GYN has been an interesting rotation.  He started out in the surgical aspect of it, which was completely similar to his surgery rotation.  Then he moved into the clinic where he did routine exams, inserted IUDs, and dealt with STDs etc.  In OB he is with mothers during the labor process, watching football games with the dads to be, and wishing he was playing with the babies rather than cleaning up after delivery :)

His schedule has been erratic, but do-able.
He has worked a typical 7am-5pm schedule, he's worked 1pm-midnight, 5pm-7am, and some days he has nothing other than lectures for a few hours.

I think he's enjoying the learning experience and the celebration and miracle of a new life entering the world, but this isn't exactly what he wants to do for the rest of his life.
And I'd prefer to not introduce people to my husband the gynecologist.....

Our T-Shirts for the Walk for Life!
Sweet baby feet....

Q & A - SO to SO

A friend of mine in Grenada is looking to move to MI and is crossing all her fingers that her husband is placed at St. John's (so cross yours too!)  I'd love to have her and her sweet family nearby!

Here are a few questions she asked me and I'm happy to have a topic to blog about.... keeps me on my toes.  Thought I'd share for anyone else wondering the same things.

*Disclaimer - I have only lived here for about 10 days.  I am in no way an expert.

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What do you think about St. Clair Shores to live... too far?  I want to live in Grosse Pointe if we can find something in our price range, but I've looked at SCS and it seems to be cheaper.

I think that living in St. Clair Shores would be great.  It isn't far, just about 10 minutes away from the hospital (maybe a little more with traffic or depending where in SCS you live.  We've driven through a few times and it is absolutely beautiful.  The lake will remind you of Grenada and make you feel at home.  SCS and all the Grosse Pointes run together and are more like one large residential area.
St. Clair Shores will actually be closer to shopping malls and a Target, KMart, Walmart, etc.
SCS also has a park that residents can join (as do all of the "Pointes") http://scsparksrec.net/ and I think that , that is the one with the big water slides!! so the kids will love it! You can get a pass for a family of 4 for $50 for the year (or pay per time)  and that is all information I got off of that website.
The parks in the "Pointes" are free though to the best of my knowledge.

City Place Properties is who we used to get our apartment so it couldn't hurt to call and ask what they have to offer (and you could always drop our name and maybe we'll get a discount or something! hahaha) 


What about houses outside of Grosse Pointe... like right outside the limits... safe or too risky?

To the South and West of Grosse Pointe or SCS - NO.  As you can probably tell I am fairly adventurous and I have explored a tiny bit into Detroit city limits and the shift going along Mack Avenue and Jeffereson Avenue is instant from Grosse Pointe Park to Detroit.  The police from Grosse Pointe will not respond out of city limits and I've heard that the Detroit police basically have deserted parts of the city. Think on the level of Grenada police, but worse.  or so I've heard.  A lady I work with lives in Eastpointe and she says it is absolutely terrible and they sold their house to a rental company cheap just to get out.  The office I work for used to be located about a mile into Detroit and they said that the city literally crumbled around them and they had to get out.
Lee heard yesterday that to save money the city of Detroit was going to stop using street lights in certain neighborhoods..... dark Detroit streets? yikes.
You will be amazed at the difference between the two communities when you get here.
I also want to make a point to say that EVERY person I have met in Grosse Pointe or Detroit has been extremely friendly.  Male and female, black and white, from the doctors who visit the office to the girl taking my order at McDonalds.  Nice people.  Detroit is just on a terrible track with corruption in the government and police and lack of education and a system that isn't helping the people do better.  It's so terribly sad.
There is a rebuild Detroit initiative going on, but I think it is more of a downtown thing.

Is there a Walmart close by? Sam's Club/Costco?

There is a Target really close at the Eastland Mall.  But the Dr. I work for said that is isn't a good place to go alone, especially in the summer when the teens are out of school.   It's in a rough neighborhood.  Buuuuuuttttt, I can probably guarantee I'll be going there.  Lee and I went together and as long as you go during the morning, I think it'd be fine.  There is a mall there, but not with much you'd want to shop at other than Target or Macy's.  They have a Lowes and Home Depot.  Applesbees and Chilis.
A little further is a KMart and a Walmart, in Roseville maybe?? I've only been there once.
I've heard people talk about a Costco but haven't seen one.

In Grosse Pointe there is a Kroger and a Trader Joe's Downtown and a Village Market on Mack, about 10 blocks from the hospital.  As well as lots of pharmacies, restaurants, and other shopping.
The Pointes will have everything you'd ever need, but I've heard about 15-20 minutes north is more variety.

Do the boys need Smart Phones?... (this is a rumor I'm hearing)

Basically no.  Lee doesn't have one and has no intentions of getting one.  He has a pre-paid phone and infrequently needs to text a resident or someone else at the hospital.  Residents at St. John's receive ipads and Lee says EVERYONE else at the hospital have smart phones though.  But we don't exactly go with the flow....
Interesting tid bit though - with a St. John's Hospital ID you get a discount with AT&T!  It's about 22% or somewhere in that range.  We just found it to be too expensive for us and unnecessary really because we have survived just fine this far without smart phones or data plans.  Target has a phone that you can get pre-paid for $30 a month unlimited text and calling.  I have that and Lee has just a basic pre-pay like top up $20 here and there type thing... just like in Grenada!! 

So Lee has weekends off? 

YES!!  Occasionally he'll have to do a weekend shift or be on call.  But for the most part he has Saturday and Sunday off.... and he NEEDS it!   It's just as taxing as school if not more because of all the emotional and physical stress.  

When he comes home does he have to study or can he just relax?

When he comes home during the week he usually has some homework to do, which his residents will assign or just things he's noticed during his shift that he doesn't understand or needs to brush up on to prepare for a patient he is going to have the next day.  We usually have at least a full 2 hours to spend together at night... but he also has been going to bed really early because he gets up at 4:45 and it is a looooong day.

At the end of each rotation he'll write a Shelf Exam on whatever subject he just did so as much studying as he can get done throughout is best.
And then as we get closer to Step 2 (end of 3rd year) time he'll have to study more for that. 
... those stupid tests just keep coming......

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So, there is my little interview.  Have any more questions about medical school, being the spouse of a student, the clinical years, Michigan??  I'd love to answer them!

Lee's Life in Michigan

Lee has been doing his rotations at the hospital for about a week and half now.
They started my poor boy in Surgery ICU.
Right off the bat he has been on his feet for about 10 hours a day and witnessing horrific and incredibly sad situations.  I'm not allowed to talk about specifics but - gun shots, stabbings, drugs, and death after death after death.

His alarm goes off at 4:45am and he's out the door by 5:30.
We live about 1 mile from the hospital so Lee has been walking each day.  He said he didn't know when he'd squeeze in exercise otherwise.
He has a pager that goes off whenever they have someone come in.  He has to spend some time on call and will have to do a few 30 hour shifts.

Right now he isn't really with any other students.  He is with about 3 residents and does whatever they do.  He has an Attending Doctor they all report to and some days they're really nice and patient and other days they're jerks and try to make you feel like an idiot, even though it's your first week.

He's been in suture clinics and can now sew someone up.
He's learning trade names for drugs, proper settings on the machines, how to keep up and act like he's been doing this his whole life, and how to deal with nurses.


He'll be in surgery until the end of August.  Next he has vascular, general surgery, trauma surgery, pediatric surgery, and then another general. 
fun!

Surgery life is not for us.

1 week in Michigan

This has been a crazy busy week! 
I can't believe I've already been here a week.

I've come to love this apartment more and more.
I love the kitchen and the big living room, our sunny bedroom, and even our pink bathroom... 
The neighbors are great, and I got a job 2 blocks away!!
more about all of those things later.

I'll share some pictures of our first day in the apartment and around the neighborhood to calm everyone's fears about me living in downtown Detroit..... and then later I'll share about the real Detroit.

 Grosse Pointe, MI
if this town had a motto it'd be "a bubble of obnoxiously wealthy people in the middle of a city in despair" 

 Our quiet little street.

We're about 1 mile from the shore of Lake St. Clair.
There is a park with a pool, but not really beach access anywhere around here. 
About 30 minutes north there is a beach that I want to check out though! 

 St. John's Hospital - where Lee is rotating.
The hospital is huge!  and I'll tell lots more about what Lee's doing later. promise.

A new header is in order as well I know..... but what am I supposed to do without pinick?? :(

Michigan Bound!!

so this is a little late and you all probably already know...
but we're moving to Michigan!!

Lee found out his placement on April 19th and will begin orientation at St. John's hospital on May 24th and begin rotations on May 29th!!

We were so relieved to get Michigan... but now begins the mad dash to find an apartment and a job!

I've already applied for 2 jobs that I would absolutely love !!!
Figured I'd start with something I'd actually want to do before I beg for a job at Walmart (which I'm not above doing ;)

We're heading up this Friday to check the city out and see what we're getting ourselves into!
Eeek!

I can't believe it's been 5 months since we left our little island in the sun.
I miss Grenada every day and am still saving my pennies to get back....