So what if I'm crazy?!

So it all started with a visit from Dr. Brown yesterday - well that's how the "crazy" topic came up anyhow. He stopped in (oh this is my primary OB who has been out of town since the day before I delivered) to see how I was doing. Of course I was pumping when he walked in and he sat down anyhow - totally un-phased. Not that I really cared anyhow - I'm exhausted. He eventually asked me if I thought I had the"baby blues". I stared at him for a minute contemplating whether or not to go on a tangent about how I'm in my own personal hell and instead started giggling and said, "I don't think I'm expressing any feelings that are unwarranted." He smiled and said he was glad I was on Zoloft for the time being - I thought I'm glad this hospital doesn't have a psych ward because I think I'd have a line of people waiting to sign me over to it.

So today was a good day - until I went for my regular afternoon NICU visit and ran into the babies' neonatologist. Now, this man is known for his uhem sparkling personality if you will - but is also known for being the best neonatologist around which is why we (or I) chose him. Anyhow, he was sitting next to Mary Louise. I was happily going from bed to bed. He suddenly said - we've started Mary Louise on antibiotics - you know she has an infection - I told you they would get infections. I said no that I was not aware an infection was even considered at this point (the blood cultures had been drawn yesterday and I was uninformed). Then I asked why the nurses and students - and lab techs for that matter didn't wear gloves. He stated that the latest research showed that gloving did not reduce risk for infection - that simple handwashing was the only universal precaution. I said that he assumed the handwashing was effective and that it didn't make sense that wearing gloves would not thereby reduce exposure to bacteria. So what ultimately happened was that I walked away, he followed, confronted me again and we got in a sort of yelling match about bacteria and handwashing in the middle of the nicu. Then I said that I didn't want students working on my babies and that everyone working with them should use gloves unless he planned on guaranteeing proper handwashing. He said fine - and now I'm crazy nurse mom.

What was really bothering me? Mary Louise had a student assigned to her this week. The student had long nails, wore rings and smelled of smoke - and didn't wear gloves. Who ended up with an infection? MARY LOUISE! I did make that point during our little tiff but was told that I just needed to expect infection and that IF the babies survive, they will have infections. What a schmuck.

So Brent and I went back later this evening and tried to get some photos of Mary Louise's eyes and David's face. Some got a little blurred but I'll post them anyhow. Oh - and the NICU started to make all visitors wear gowns and masks because of swine flu - in case you're wondering about the get up.

mary's eyes and david's face