The Stream Team

I have rotated away from the promise land at the private hospital and landed back at Grady, on the stream team. 

I never thought I would miss gynecology so much!  But after one week of urology, I am reconsidering. 

Without going in to too much detail- neither specialty is in an area where I like to hang out…but at least the atmosphere at Piedmont was pleasant.  And they had these cookies in the surgeons lounge that were amazing.  I am sure they are the reason my jeans are getting tight.

I will say that being on such a cushy rotation last month (where I only worked <gasp> 50 hours a week, if that) has really made me think a lot about what I am doing.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret going in to medicine.  And most days, I don’t regret choosing surgery.  I love being able to really treat my patient’s problem and hopefully fix their ailment.  It is an honor and a challenge which excites me…

But I miss my family. 

Who wouldn’t miss this sweet smile??

And after having so much time with them last month, it is even more painfully obvious to me how much I am missing.  I hate it that I come home and Bryson is basically ready for a quick bath and off to bed.  I can’t stand it that I missed his first “uh oh” or “what’s that?”  And even though it drives me batty when he throws his food at me- it makes me sad when I am on call and away for 36 hours straight.  I actually wish I could have a bowl of spaghetti lobbed at my head, instead of having to do yet one more prostate exam on a person who has not seen a bar of soap in at least 3 months.  OK- that was mean- but seriously.  Sometimes it’s really hard to justify what I am missing.  And often times (especially at Grady) I just feel like I am a glorified social worker.  I fill out form after form.  The paper trail is obscene.  I know that I should try to keep it all in perspective…this is a temporary thing and hopefully Bryson won’t really remember my long work hours now and absenteeism… 

But it’s hard.  While we knew all along this was going to be a long, hard road- that doesn’t make it any easier.  Just because you know you are about to jump feet first into the deep end, doesn’t make the water any more shallow. 

Call it the end-of-winter blues… or whatever.  Don’t worry though…I am not depressed, just being a bit introspective and way over due for a break from work.  Thankfully, I have a week of vacation coming up soon.  And I can’t wait!!!  We aren’t doing anything huge- but we are planning to head off to the beach for a few days and then over to Aiken to see Dave’s parents.  It will be a nice break from the “Stream Team”.