Random Pictures

Here are a few random pictures of James before we left Toledo.  On our way home from the beach, James wanted the towel on his head. 

He was tired and cranky so since it made him happy, we were happy.  James and Grandpa Brower. 

James loved having all of his Grandparents around at one time.  James loves it when his car seat is in the house. 

He will sit in it and watch TV. James discovered my cowboy hat, and wore it a lot after that. 

He was "Woody."

Night Float (Keriann as a single parent)

I thought I ought to post something at least once and a while to share some of the experiences of my journey in Residency. So, we did arrive at Grand Rapids and my residency, as of July 1, at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital has officially begun. I'm loving it, and have had many reassurances that this is indeed the best place for us to be. The program is absolutely incredible and they are taking such good care of us!

My first month as a doctor has me on the 7th floor taking care of kids sick with all sorts of illnesses from kidney disease to Kawasaki's Syndrome to heart problems to your run-of-the-mill fever. As the title above suggests, my first duty has been the night float. I've loved it, but it has been a growing-up experience for sure. In the day time, there are several first year residents, a senior resident, an admitting resident, 2 attendings, a bazillion nurses and techs, social workers, childlife experts, etc., on each floor. Having that many people creates quite a nice safety net. At night, it's a completely different story. Covering 2 floors are 2 first year residents, one senior, and one attending. There are maybe a 1/3 the nurses, 1 tech, and if you're lucky, a janitor. My first assignment this week has been the night float. As the name suggests, I arrive at night (or maybe evening) around 5 and receive sign out from the day team. They hand me a list of all the patients on that floor. If I'm lucky, they've discharged a bunch during the day and it'll only have 15 names on it. If I'm unlucky, they've had a busy day and there are 20-25. I then proceed to listen to detailed accounts of each patient's story, current condition, labs that are pending, labs that need to be ordered, procedures to be done, things to watch out for overnight, etc... During the day, each first year resident has a maximum of 7 patients that they are responsible for. At night, I have the whole list to myself. I'm handed a team pager and a phone to add to the pager already at my waist at about 6 and they head for the exits.

At 6:05 the first page comes.

"Doctor, the patient in 704 has spiked a fever. No tylenol is ordered... Do you also want a blood culture?"

6:07, the second page:

"The patient in 713 has a blood pressure of 150/90 and the medicine we gave 30 minutes ago isn't bringing it down, what do you want to do?"

And on and on. In addition, if there are any kids needing to be admitted from the Emergency Department or outside hospitals, I get to do those too... Interview and examine the patient. Staff them with the senior resident and attending. Figure out what orders need to be written now, and what should be suggested to the day team. Get the patient tucked in, read them a story, and give them a snack, and then dictate the whole process so a good note is ready in the morning for the day team. Finally, at 6:30 am, the day team returns, I gladly hand off the pager and phone, and run down the new list (often much longer than what they left). I leave by 7, return home and crash before Keriann and James are awake, only to wake up in the afternoon and repeat the process again.

It has been a blast. I've had a lot of support from my fellow first year on the 6th floor, experiencing the same things, and my senior residents and attendings who have shared the night with me. Though I know there is help nearby, it's been a growing experience to take responsibility for so many sick kids and make so many decisions on their behalf. My days on the night float are almost done for the month and I will miss it. I probably won't regret not seeing James and Keriann for the entire week, but I will miss the nerves and excitement of facing the problems by myself and learning to be the doctor I want to be. There are lots of stories to share at this point. I'll have to decide which ones are appropriate, and HIPAA compliant, but needless to say, I'm loving this and am glad to have made it here.

Zoo

We went to the zoo with our family on the Monday after graduation. We rode the train for the first time. Well, the two Grandpas, Grandma Felt, James and I rode the train. It was great! I wish we would have sooner. Here is Jon, Grandma Brower, and Lori waiting. James waiting for the train. Here comes the train! Animals we saw on our train ride. Polar bears. Yes, the baby is getting a drink. My mom and sister thought it was a funny picture. The whole group (minus Maria who took the picture and had joined us half way through). Rhinos. We really miss the Toledo Zoo. Hopefully, we can make it to the zoo here in Grand Rapids a few times.

26 Weeks

Okay so I am almost 28 weeks, but the picture was taken at 26 weeks.  I had my first appointment with my new doctor here in Michigan.  It went well.  I learned more about what I have, but I will not go into too much detail so as not to scare anyone (mostly close family and friends) unless this does head in that direction.

My antibody levels are still remaining at 1:4 which is good that they are still not going up.  I also had another ultrasound.  Along with measurements, they looked at the blood flow in they baby's brain.  This shows if the baby is getting anemic because my antibodies are attacking his red blood cells.  It was in the normal range.  Great news!  Now I will be going in every two weeks to have an ultrasound that checks the blood flow in the baby's brain.  Here is a picture from the most recent ultrasound.   

It almost looks like he has his hand in his mouth.

A few new things to share, my doctor said he would schedule a C-section for around 39 weeks.  Just to have it on the schedule.  Things could change.  One thing that could change this is if the baby looks like he is getting anemic.  Then he will be born at 36 weeks (when James was born).  So we are looking at days between September 3rd and 26th as days now that this little boy will be born.

This boy is 2 and a half pound currently and he was measuring about 2 weeks bigger than he was at the time.  Looks like another big baby, but hopefully not as big as James would have been.  Here are some comparison pictures.  Left is me at 26 weeks this time.  Right is 26 weeks with James.

Another interesting thing, I thought I was having contractions and I was a little scared.  It felt similar to when I went into preterm labor with James.  I found out this morning that it was actually a kidney stone this time.  I actually originally thought that is what I was feeling with James, but it was labor then.  Kind of weird and ironic.  So I passed about a 2 mm x 4 mm stone this morning, and I am feeling better.

James wants to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAVEN!

Michigan

The day after graduation we made a trip to Michigan.  We went to Grand Haven Lighthouse and Beach on Lake Michigan first. 

James and I walked down to the water, but he wanted to ruin some other kids sand castle.  I finally convinced him to head back to the rest of our group.

James had fun playing in the sand and dumping it everywhere.

We enjoyed lunch on the beach.

Then we decided to take a walk out to the lighthouse.

We did drive to a closer place first.  James and daddy on the walk.

I stopped here because there was a sign that said, "Not built for public access.  Proceed at your own risk." 

James also stopped to play in the sand more.  Then we walked back to the car ahead of the Grandmas and Lori.  The Grandpas stayed in the car and read.  Jon went to a little ice cream shop not far from the car so we could eat ice cream while we waited.  It was really good!  Raspberry sorbet in a waffle cone.

After the beach, we drove to Grand Rapids to show our families the house we were going to rent.  The Dallons were so nice to let us invade.  Then we grabbed dinner at Panera where we ran into another family that would be in our future ward and live not far from our new house.  We drove back to Toledo after that.  We were all exhausted!

Graduation

While James, Grandma Felt, and I sat in the hotel room waiting, Jon and Grandpa Felt got stuck in horrible traffic with the car seat in the back of their car.  At around 11:30, we decided to put James in the backseat of our other car, because we needed to get James to the babysitter and get ready for graduation.  Grandma Felt sat in the back with James.  I was sure we would be pulled over and in big trouble, especially when we got stuck in traffic, too. 

It was after noon by the time we got to our apartment.  I threw everything together that James would need, and we headed to the Tollers, again with James in the back seat next Grandma.  It was all a whirlwind, but with James happily playing at Robby's house, we hurried to get ready for graduation and get Jon there on time.  I think he was a little later than he was told, but I don't know that it was as big of a deal.  It was nice to sit and relax a little, even if the aisles we really small.

The ceremony was not as long and boring as I thought it would be.  I had brought a book just in case, but ended up not reading much of it.  Here are some pictures I took.  Jon walking in. 

Probably cannot see Jon well here.  We were not sitting very close to the stage.  He is on the second row close to the left side of the picture.

Jon being hooded by CBC.

Jon R. Felt, MD

Jon and his mom with his diploma.

Some of our other friends in Jon's class and our ward.  We could not find the fourth couple.

Matthew, Glen, and Jill Lau (going to Memphis, TN), Jon, Keriann, Julie and Justin Sacks (going to Dallas, TX)



Catching Up

I was going to blog sooner, but it took me a while to find my card reader so I could get pictures from my camera to the computer.  I will try to get everything posted.  I have a whole month worth of things.

My parents and sister, Lori, came to town on June 1.  They drove from Idaho with there camp trailer.  It took them a week, because they were taking their time and enjoying seeing different parts of the country.  We mostly relaxed at our apartment until Jon's parents flew in the afternoon of June 2.  After that it was a whirlwind of activities to get everything in that was requested.

The morning of June 3, James went swimming with Grandma Felt in the hotel swimming pool, while Jon and Grandpa Felt we to put the graduation present on our car.  New tires!  Our car drives so much more smoothly it is amazing!  Thanks so much Felts!  I watched James and Grandma in the pool.  Surprisingly, James did not like the pool and it did not last long.  Here are a few pictures while James was in the pool.

We ended up watching TV in Grandma's hotel room while we waited for men to get back. 

To be continued...

James wants to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEN!

James wants to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRANDON!

James wants to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OLIVIA!

James wants to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNCLE DOUG!

James wants to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUNT SHERLYN!

Absence

Sorry, for the absence from blogging.  Things have been crazy here.  Our truck is now packed and we are cleaning today.  This will likely be the last time I am on the Internet for a little while.  We cannot get the Internet hooked up at our new place until the end of the month.  I will have a lot of catching up to do then, but just wanted to give everyone a heads up that no we have not died, we just will not have Internet access for a little bit.  More to come on recent adventures.