We used to think it was crazy when, during Tyler's first year of residency, he'd get called in the middle of the night for an oral surgery emergency. He'd drive over to the hospital at 1am to sew up someone or fix a jaw till 4am. That would happen once, maybe twice a month.Then we thought it was crazy when he started a general surgery rotation this year and had to take call at the hospital, not from home. But during that rotation (Nov-Dec) at least he could go back upstairs in the hospital and sleep when he wasn't sewing people up.
Now we are not sure if it can get any crazier! Right now from January to February he's on his trauma rotation - living in the Emergency Room basically. When he takes call, it's intense, and so far the most sleep he has gotten on one of these call nights has been about 1 hour. On New Year's Eve, he didn't even go upstairs to lie down on his bed. He worked non-stop from about 6am on New Year's Eve till noon on the 1st. I really don't know how he does it. I can count on one hand the number of times I've stayed up all night without sleeping a wink. And now he will be doing that about every 3-4 days through February! I think that is NUTS!But then I think about the general surgeons who basically have a residency like this for 5 years. WOW! How they survive on so little sleep, I'll never know. Thankfully this rotation is only through February.
Then I think of all the men in the military who never sleep while protecting others. I think of those military wives who don't get to see their husbands for MONTHS and sometimes YEARS at a time! They are truly heroes and heroines.
So when I really stop and think about it, I have no reason to complain. I have so much to be thankful for. Oral surgery residency isn't that bad. Life could be much harder and much worse. Thanks to Tyler for all your hard work! xoxo
13 comments:
Oh my goodness. Aren't you glad it's the middle of winter instead of beautiful, warm summertime? Spencer read this and said, "That makes me feel real safe going into the ER with a bunch of doctors who have been up for two days."
You're a trooper, Natalie!! (And Tyler.)
What a great attitude...I really can't imagine what the troop families go through either. Ty has always amazed me with how well he functions on such little sleep...whether it's for Halo or the studying for the DAT! He definitely's got some Mama Linda in him. Hang in there guys! We love ya.
that is crazy! hopefully he doesn't let on to his patients that he is tired!! although if it is the er they probably are pretty out of it!! or will be soon! it is good sometimes to think about all the people that have it harder than you! puts things into perspective! you are so cute! tyler seems like he really balances it all so well! isn't he a president of something too at church???
Wow! Our doctors really do know their stuff when they get through all their education! And a big Thanks goes to you too Mom for all the hours you have to hang in there alone. Whew!
Wow. Makes my residency seem like a vacation!
It will really pay off for you guys in the end, and all those experiences will be burned into his psyche when he's out there in practice. I'm sure your support is nourishment to him throughout these times, too. You have a great attitude and that surely makes those trials a million times easier!
Tyler is SO good at handling a full plate!
I remember seeing him out running at 6 am -- I wasn't running, I was probably just taking trash to the dumpster because the smell finally woke me up -- and being totally amazed b/c (a) he was actually running (not jogging!), (b) he was putting in full hours as a 3rd year dental student, (c) he was putting in full hours as the ASB president, (d) he was putting in solid hours doing his job for your church, and (e) he was putting in solid waking hours with you and the kids.
How in the world did he excel at all that???
I'll never know! But if I ever met an Energizer bunny, he's the one...
You guys are a fabulous team, Natalie, with so many good years ahead of you. I'm a little choked up here, so proud of you guys and what you're up to.
At the risk of sounding trite, hang in there -- and Go Tyler!
Peace,
Anj
Oh wow, everyone. Thanks so much for your encouraging comments. What a treat to come home from a rough day at church and read your kind words. I had a melt-down during church; I lost all perspective about what I said yesterday about the troops and had a major "wo is me/I hate residency" moment. Ugh.
But Tyler just got home and all is well again. Oh, and Cheri, Tyler assured me that once the general surgeons are done with residency, they only do 12 hour shifts. It's the residents who get the grunt work 30+ hour shifts. Awesome. Anyway, hopefully that restores your faith in the emergency room a little bit! :)
You're a trooper for sure Nats. Hang in there.
You guys seriously are amazing, and you're always so positive. I'm with ya, I can count on 1 hand the times I've pulled an all-nighter. I went to bed at 10 on New Year's Eve, what a bum!! You are awesome.
Natalie - you two are troopers. It is so long and hard sometimes, but at least there is an end. I had to smile at the picture of Tyler asleep on the couch. If Aaron even sits down, he is out. He often falls asleep in the middle of reading the girls a story. He has a cousin, though, that just sent her husband to Iraq and then had their third baby with him gone. I agree with you completely that our lot is much easier than that. Hang in there, you two. It's almost over!!
I just re-read my comment and hope it didn't sound rude or sarcastic. I should have had a bunch of smiley faces after it. :) You guys are great!! We DO need to get together. But we're in the process of buying our old house (!!), though we're not announcing anything yet. There are lots of potential hiccups. Anyway, we'll keep ya posted!!
Wow, Tyler is an animal! Makes me so glad Ryan opted for pedo. It'll be worth it in the end, though, right???
Oh, and I LOVE the matching bow ties!
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