Pregnant Residents

I love babies. They truly are little miracles. and when a resident becomes pregnant, it's great. I think it's really important for women to continue to be in medicine and to have families and to balance their lives and to be great role-models for our daughters.

However. That doesn't mean I won't complain when I continue to get screwed over each time there's a pregnancy in the program.

This year, my free elective time was split up into two blocks because of a pregnancy, which made data collection difficult.

Next year (which is really starting in July), I ended up with 2 extra weeks of intensive care time because of a pregnancy, during the ONE WEEKEND that I needed off to attend a wedding.

Today, I got screwed for a third time. A co-resident asked to switch an ER shift because her parents are in town. I thought, why not? She'll pay me back at the end of the month. So originally I was supposed to work from 6pm-4am tonight. But then I get called that there is a pregnant resident who was just made bed-rest and could I please cover the 7a-7p shift, including trauma. Now, let me do the math for you... that shift is 2 hours longer and includes trauma, which I am actually not trained to do!

As if that's not bad enough, I showed up today at 7am and GRR, there must have been some miscommunication and I was actually supposed to work the 7p-7a, overnight shift! So now, I'm back home, pissed that I got up so early, can't go back to sleep because I just drank an entire liter of coffee, and I have to go back tonight at 7pm.

I know residents aren't really supposed to have LIVES and all, and I know we're supposed to be at the mercy of the program, but seriously? This is just too ridiculous.

every day i think about posting

i can't believe it's almost june already. i survived a 5-week month at an affiliate hospital. it was rough... there were a couple deaths. and i attended by first-ever funeral for a patient post-call; talk about an emotional mess. it was a humbling experience. it made me realize that sometimes Life is just really really Not Fair. and no matter what we, as medical professionals, do to "save" lives, the human body is so fragile.

on to happier news... i matched at UCLA for my hematology/oncology fellowship! All that stress and anticipation and second-guessing has finally been resolved! when I first found out over the computer, I was shocked. In a weird happy but sad and disappointed but excited sort of way. I know it doesn't make any sense but that's pretty much how I felt. I was happy that I matched and sad that I'll be leaving Chicago. I was disappointed that I didn't get my first choice. But I was excited to be moving back to LA where my family is and where the weather is perfect all year round. now, about a month later, I'm mostly just EXCITED.

Things To Do in Chicago Before I Leave:
-go to a Cubs game (more on that later)
-go to the Taste of Chicago
-enjoy as many plays as possible, and especially go to something at the Shakepeare Theatre
-go to Ravinia this year

what else?!? I miss this city already!

Family Time

So I've been back in town for a while already but I had such a great vacation... it already feels like too long ago. But I got to see all 5 of my cousins who live in the States.

And I got to see lil Jacklyn, my sort of "niece" (my 1st cousin's baby). She's actually not really a baby anymore but isn't she adorable? She's so funny and well-behaved! We were able to go out for dinner without any unnecessary drama! I remember exactly when she was born... I was in San Francisco, taking refuge from the rain in December, when I was there for a residency interview. and she's the first in the "new generation" of Chang cousins. :) Scary thought.

I also got a surprise visit from my other cousin Lawrence who's a senior at Boston College. He happened to be in town for a job interview, which he got! Yay for Raytheon.

So we had lots of family time. Got a lot done for the wedding: we met our DJ, we picked the bridesmaid dresses, my mom found her dress, we set up our registries, we picked our reception menu, and we had a mock-up of our centerpieces. Very productive.

For fun, we visited the Hollywood Cemetery where lots of old movie stars are laid to rest. Armand and Kyle got attacked by geese. They were really aggressive, and hence, this sign.