Too. Many. Late. Nights.

[judecorp]

I don't know what I was thinking, but I've scheduled four late evenings this week. Yesterday I got home at 7:00. Today I got home at around 6:40. Tomorrow I will get home around 6:40 again. Thursday I will be getting home anywhere between 7:00 and 7:30. What the heck is wrong with me? This is a sure-fire way to go totally insane. I ended up staying up until 12:30 AM last night making a goodbye book for a kid because I knew I wouldn't end up doing it by Thursday morning. I need to stop doing that, and schedule two later nights per week, tops. Especially not on Thursdays, because I go in at 8:00 AM. 8:00 AM - 7:30 PM = TOO FREAKING LONG TO BE AT WORK. I am definitely leaving after my 1:00 visit on Friday.

One of the kids I work with is a 16-month-old girl who was born at 24 weeks gestation. SHE IS AMAZING! She stands on her own, raises to standing from the floor without pulling on things, takes a few stumbly steps at a time, claps and waves on command, says several words, has gotten her one-year molars, blows kisses, etc. etc. She is a freaking miracle. The only major complication of prematurity that she's still dealing with is the bronchopulmonary dysplasia. She had ROP but it has cleared itself up.

I only see her once or twice a month, and every time I do, it's like being personally hugged by God.

Comments

[thatpatti.livejournal.com]

wow, that's really incredible!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I know, it's so amazing!

Usually I have really string feelings about significantly premature babies (I think sometimes we do some kids more harm by doing all of those life-saving measures and then leave them with numerous and complex disabilities), especially when a lot of European countries won't use any life-saving measures until a child is at least 26 weeks. But sometimes things make me doubt my convictions - and she is one of them.

[shadist.livejournal.com]

*smile*

Sometimes you make me see the true beauty of your job.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I need that reminder, too. Especially when that visit is my late visit for the day. :)

[shadist.livejournal.com]

I think that must wrap things up nicely.

:)

[ducks-with-lips.livejournal.com]

I used to babysit for a boy who was born at 24 weeks. He had many problems (CP, low mobility, seizure disorder, fed through a tube, etc), but he was always an amazing person to me. He's 12 or 13 now, and lives at the Misacordia Home around here.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I am so torn about the extreme preemies. It is like a kick in the gut for me... there are very few "issues" that I am so torn about and that is right up there on top for me.

I. (my kid) had a brain bleed but not a terribly severe one. This is probably why she has so few complications. It's really the brain bleeds that make everything go all wonky.

I don't know if I'm a strong enough person to raise a severely disabled child. I'm sure I'll find out if it happens, but I just worry so much for those kids.

[calledmara.livejournal.com]

it's like being personally hugged by God.

*gag*

(oh come on, everyone else praised your sappiness)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

God hates you. You're going to the Hot Place.

:)