Eat when you can...

First, a digression:

There are certain days that are marked on one's memory with indelible ink. June 3, 2002 is one of those days for me. That was the first day of my first rotation of the third year of medical school. I was scheduled to rotate at the County, and was unlucky enough to draw the short straw of the on-call team. Which meant I was stuck in dress shoes and socks for the next 40 hours (work hour limits not yet even being tested). I was also unlucky enough to be on a team with a chief resident who couldn't (or wouldn't) understand it was my first day of my first clinical rotation, and of an attending surgeon who never paid attention to me.* I performed my first real rectal exam (without supervision, which I now realize is a big no-no). I saw my first patient die that day. I got no sleep, and started the process of learning to wake up at the sound of any ambulance or helicopter (which still affects me to this day). In retrospect, the only reason it does not rank among the worst days of my life is that this was all still new to me, and I did not fully realize that this was the typical lifestyle for surgeons at the County. Once I did get some sleep, I ruled out surgery as a career by the end of the week.

But that day is also the day I learned the most important lesson of my clinical years of school: Eat when you can, Drink when you can, and Don't mess** with the pancreas. Later, as a second year medical resident, I learned a slight variation from my attending, Joe Szot at the VAMC in Iowa City: (1) Don't stand when you can sit, (2) Don't sit when you can lie down, and (3) If you see a donut, eat it.

It struck me yesterday that these rules also apply to new parenthood. Watching Karen learn them reminds me an awful lot of watching younger medical students at Minnesota (or at Iowa, the new interns) learn these important rules. Unlike the modern residency, however, there are no work hour limits, and we are always on call.

*Four weeks later, he told me I was the worst surgical resident he had ever worked with. When I tentatively replied that I was only a third year student, he--without missing a beat--replied that I should "keep up the good work". That experience has forever affected the way I interact with my own trainees.

**The word used was not "mess", but this is a family-oriented blog.

Tummy time!

Some cute pictures of Mike and Steve having some tummy time last night. You can see from the corner of the second picture that Knute tried to get in on the action, too.

A few more pictures

I finally got around to getting some pictures off of my iPhone, so now I get to see if I can figure out how to post them!!

Steve had his first real tub bath last night. He tolerated it much better than the first tub bath where we had him in the little newborn sling attachment. It's supposed to make newborns feel more supported and secure, but the problem is that they aren't submerged in the water at all, so I think he just got cold and cranky. Being in the warm water last night seemed to agree with him more. Coincidentally I snapped these photos when Daddy's arms and hands were strategically placed, so he won't have to worry about blackmail pictures on prom night.

And here are just a couple more pictures I liked...

Testing 1 2 3

Hi all,

Just a test to see if I'm savvy enough to figure out how to post. Today Steve and I are spending our first day alone together with no Daddy or grandparents to help out. So far so good, although he seems to want to be held a lot, which makes it hard for Mommy to take a shower or eat lunch. Sometimes I just have to let him cry a bit to get things done. Going to try to get to the store for some groceries now. Hopefully the car will lull him to sleep!

First week at home

Steven has spent the last week at home: sleeping, eating, dirtying diapers, sleeping, eating, etc. He had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday, and he has started gaining weight again, right on schedule.

He also likes inappropriate lullabies:

• Rippy the Gator
• Carrot Juice is Murder
• The Mounted Animal Nature Trail
• The Touch
• Stairway to Heaven
• The Humpty Dance
• New Orleans from A Streetcar Named Marge
• Capital City from Dancin' Homer

And, of course, South of the Border from Kamp Krusty.

Now for what you came to the blog to see: cute pictures!

Knute is curious, but so far has been adjusting well to his role as guard cat.

Karen and Steven, napping.

On a walk around the neighborhood. Steven was already bored.

Quacky the Duck says "Hallå"

The other day, a package arrived from Steven's namesake, my old friend Sven. It was this very cute duck. We assume the duck must be Scandinavian. I have named him Quacky, but we'll have to see if the name sticks. (Perhaps it's Norwegian: Kvacki the dukke? Nø, realli!) Steven has also received a bear from my office, and receiving blankets from his cousin Sara and Great-aunt Shirley and Great-uncle Jim. Flowers also came from my office, Grandpa and Grandma B, and the Clyde Park dialysis unit. All the gifts are appreciated, and Thank You cards will be coming when we get the energy to write them.

Picture deluge

 All the pictures seen on the blog will also be found on my Google+ account, as soon as I can hook that up. It's under Michael Unruh. If you are not on Google+, you'll have to stick with the blog. The pictures on this post were all taken yesterday, April 11.

He is a quick learner, and has already figured out the whole breastfeeding thing, as well as how to suck his fist and bop himself in the face with his fist. This morning, he demonstrated his vise-like grip on his daddy's pinky fingers. I think he may turn out to be left-handed, as he tends to favor his left fist when self-calming.

For those of you who care, his kidneys work quite well. That makes his daddy happy.

 One hour old!

 Still one hour old

With Grandma Brewer

Pictures!

Finally, was able to get some pictures of Steve with the iPad. More to come.

Lord of the manor

With the cat

Close up

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Pictures?

Okay, having some technical difficulties in getting the pictures off my phone and onto the iPad. Once I have those figured out, I will post more. Until then, this will have to suffice:


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Introducing Steve

Last night, an addition was made to our small family. Steven Jacob Unruh was born at 7:25 PM. He was 8 pounds, 5.7 ounces and 21 inches long. He has long, narrow feet (a Blackorby trait), and inherited dimples from his Grandpa Brewer. He also has the same small hemangioma between the eyebrows that his father had (funny place for a stork bite). As he was 11 days past his due date, he does not have that "wrinkly baby" newborn look, and has a very strong neck. I tried to include pictures, but Blogger has issues with the iPad. His mother is doing well. More to come soon, including more pictures.

New Title

New title for the blog today. The reason will become apparent soon. Stay tuned...