This morning when I woke up I was confident it was a weekend day, and in fact I thought, “I wonder why Paul is getting ready to take a shower already? Oh, well, it doesn’t matter, I will just continue sleeping luxuriously, since none of the kids are up yet.” And then it emerged that he was in fact done with his shower rather than preparing for it, which meant it was my turn, and anyway that was not a very good start to the day.
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Yesterday the hospital called to assign us Elizabeth’s tonsillectomy surgery time for Monday (we need to be there at 6:30 a.m.), and then I ate Nutella right out of the container for awhile. But I did feel better after the call, because it was one of those nurses who is firm and confident and yet caring and understanding, and she had a comfortingly gravelly voice. It made me feel like this whole thing was totally routine and fine and everything was under control—and yet also like she was fully aware that the routineness/fineness from the hospital’s point of view didn’t mean that it wasn’t weird/non-fine for the parents who don’t see this every day. Really, she was very good at her job. Nurses make so much difference at times like this.
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We got Rob’s school supply list in the mail, and it says he needs erasable pens. Do you have a brand you like? The last time I used erasable pens (back in school, I think), the technology had advanced only to the point of adding an eraser to the top, but not yet to the point of having the eraser WORK.
I love people who are able to strike that balance in their role. Medical professionals, finance gurus…that type of person is just priceless in a stressful situation.
Hmmm, in terms of pens, I feel like the ones that are pricier worked a little better. The ones that come in a 3 or 4 pack (versus a 10 pack) but haven’t actually used one in a while!
I’m usually a morning person, but with 1)a night owl husband that makes our house feel ALIVE late at night and 2) pregnancy insomnia, I sometimes sleep in. But my kids are now old enough to get up and fend for themselves. The bigs even get breakfast for Marin (cereal with milk), and put a show on for her when she’s done. Sometimes, I wake to bitter arguing, but on the days where it goes smoothly it’s a treat to be able to sleep in!
Also, I’m so glad for you good nurse experience. And I’m so READY for E’s surgery to be over. What a relief that will be, huh??
My daughter had her tonsils (and adenoids) out when she was five – the surgery was fine…but her voice was higher pitched ever after (the doctor, “oh, that’s normal”) and she had an accident (peed herself) the day after (she hadn’t done that since she was 2), the doctor said, “oh, that’s normal.” Except he mentioned none of these things Before the surgery. On the up side I no longer laid awake at night worrying she’d stop breathing and not start again – as I did before the surgery.
I use erasable pens at work and my favorite brand, which is awesome, is the Pilot Frixion ball. They come in a pack of blue red and black. The ‘eraser’ is actually a rubber point on the end of the pen. Apparently just the friction of rubbing it over the ink makes the ink disappear. I don’t understand the science behind it but they are AWESOME. No smudging and the ink always erases. Plus you aren’t left with that eraser residue like those blue bik pens use to have. Highly recommend (obviously).
I was sailing through, enjoying the post, then got to the last line and am still giggling. Because that was my thought, too, only you said it better.
Oh I’m so glad that was the nurse you talked to. Not that it helps TOTALLY, but it helps a bit. And every bit helps. Also, although I tend to get the most anxious right before a dreaded event, there’s the counterpoint of knowing that the dreaded event (and the anxiety) will be over in less than a week.
I giggled at the pen eraser comment. I remember those erasable pens well. Useless, they were.
Who needs erasable pens for school? That’s insane.
It’s so stressful to send your kid in for any sort of more-than-a-vaccination PROCEDURE. I wish her (and you) much luck.
When I was in school, erasable pens were discouraged, for the reason you said – they didn’t work. All they did was make a big mess on the page.
I second the Pilot Frixion recommendation – they do work well.
i completely do not GET erasable pens. the whole point of pens is that they’re ink! if you need to erase, why not use pencil? i am apparently grumpy this morning. goodness.
Your point about the nurses – SO YES. When Penny was in the NICU, she was far from the sickest baby there, and so so SO far from the sickest baby the nurses had ever seen, but they were so… reassuring and understanding that while for them, Penny was basically just a babysitting case, it was TOTALLY MY ENTIRE WORLD EXPLODING and I don’t know how to put it into exact words, but you’re right – the nurses made ALL the difference in the world.
I think good nurses always make or break a hospital stay. You see the doctor for ten minutes or whatever, but the nurses are there all the time, reassuring and caring and comforting and checking. My BIL is training to be a nurse and he is going to be fantastic. Grounded and gentle and honest.
It will be so great to have it be next Tuesday, and done.
Hooray for good nurses!
Oh, yes! Good pediatric (or, any, really) nurses are definitely comforting!
Good nurses do make all the difference. I had really good ones when Jake had surgery and they really helped with the whole process.
Yes! Nurses! I was just telling a friend this morning about how truly wonderful our nurses were when I was in labour with Ellie. My midwife said that I was assigned the best nurses because of my blood pressure and the associated problems, and man, could you tell. I am going to send them a thank you card, but I kind of also want to buy each of them a car.
Also, yes! Nutella! While I am sure the surgery will go so well it will be the talk of the hospital for months afterward (“Did you HEAR about that TONSILLECTOMY!” “I know, right? So FAST, so ACCURATE, such an easy recovery! I’ve never seen anything like it!”) Nutella does seem to be called for in fretful situations such as these.
Good nurses make such a difference! I had my kids at two different hospitals due to an intervening change in insurance. The nurses at the place where I had my son were awesome. For a first time mom they were so incredible. The nurses at the place I had my daughter were crap. Am so very glad I hadn’t had my first there or I’d have been a total mess.
Yeah the last time I used erasable pens was 1M years ago (approx) when I was in HS and they were total crap. Sounds like they’ve improved the technology.
Nutella has saved me from very poor days many, many times (also: wine).
Kids + school supplies = lost (usually). I would probably start with the PaperMate EraserMate Pens. The eraser thing doesn’t leave smudges and removes 98%(?) of the marks. I, for some odd reason, actually have one and just tried it out!
My 3 year old is having her tonsils taken out next Friday. It’s reassuring to read about someone else going through the pre-surgery stress, although I use M&Ms instead of Nutella.
Why oh why do teachers want erasable pens?? What the heck is wrong with a nice pencil??
You know, when I was in 6th grade erasable pens were on our school supply list, too- we were making the transition from pencil to pen (by HS we were expected to write in pen, except in math/science) and apparently the erasable ones were supposed to ease that transition? As a lefty, however, they eased nothing, and instead made a huge effing mess and increased my frustration 100fold. So I’m pleased to see it appears the technology has improved.
Oh Swistle, you make me laugh!
“The technology had advanced only to the point adding an eraser to the top, but not yet to the point of having the eraser WORK.”
Ha! That is my EXACT memory of erasable pens in school, too.
Man do nurses make ALL the difference in the world. I’ve had two hospital stays in my life, and I hadn’t realized how HORRIBLY SHITTY my nurses were in my first stay until my second, and by then I was SO impressed in what a difference it made that I ended up writing a letter to the hospital board that basically said “Who ever is training the nurses on that one floor for that one shift: duplicate that, everywhere.”
Lately I’ve often woken up wondering what day it is and I’m not drunk, hungover or on drugs…just confused or sleeping heavily I guess. It’s always better to wake up thinking it’s a weekday to realize it’s the weekend than the other way around!
Nurses can make all the difference for sure – I’ve learned that lately with my mom’s situation