MotherJugsX2's blog: "get over it"

I was gonna try and post something profound, insightful, inspirational perhaps...but no, the words escape me. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed. Just like I'm not ignorant or a racist for exercising MY fucking right to use MY vote for anybody I choose. In everything where there are contenders there's a winner and a loser. One side happy, one side not so much. We're taught as children not to be "sore losers" a trend that seems to be fleeting in the "everyone gets a trophy era" of humanity. The sun came up today, as it will tomorrow and so on. If you're candidate won lasts nights election-congratulations MILLIONS of like minded people felt strongly enough to do so as well. If you're candidate was defeated-congratulations, you also exercised your right to vote with like minded people (just not as many as the latter) but you have the unique opportunity to teach a younger generation that life isn't fair and things won't always go your way just because you're passionate about them. Last night was the culmination of years of distrust in career politics. The human hand grenade was thrown by the populace into Washington DC....good? Bad? Only time will tell....if your candidate was on the losing side instead packing for Canada do something in the community, instead of crying get out and do something in the community, instead of being embarrassed by your country make it better. When the democrats won in the past I didn't see half the bellyaching going on as I do with my democrat friends and that's not meant as an insult. Save your arguments, the election is over...the people have spoken

Long after this election is over Trump and Hillary will still be rich. Half of us will be able to claim "we"won. The other half will have 4 years to say "Thats why I didnt vote for______." Just remember we live in a differant America than they do. We have to live, work, and eat with each other in Our America. We don't get to hop on a private jet and fly away from our communities problems. We are what maks this Country what it is, not the President. He/She will not stop crime in our neighborhoods, he/she won't stop people from stealing your indentity, and he/she will not stop anyone from shooting up our local night clubs. Hilliary will not come teach your child right from wrong, but you can. Trump will not come to your home and teach your child math,but you can. WE as a UNITED people with sound morals, values, and ethics can make this country what ever we want.Vote for whom ever you want, but remember WE are the ones that shape our communities, not them.

ACTS OF VIOLENCE, ARE WE NUMB?

What we are watching unfold on our televisions, phones, I-Pads, and social media this afternoon is all too familiar. When will it stop, will it stop, what does all this mean for my son as he grows into what I hope to be a model citizen that cares for anyone he comes in contact with? As a parent, sibling, son, it honestly scares me. It can happen anywhere, at anytime. Of course we cannot live in fear, but rather live with both eyes always open and a heightened sense of sound.

I was going to go an entirely different direction with this...but I can't sound like a downer because I'm not particularly happy with all the crap in the news these days...but I will stop and reflect on why I am thankful this year...I am thankful for my parents and the morals they drove home, not always by words but by actions as well..being a mother of 3 now I don't know how they didn't throw a toaster into the bathtub with me when I was growing up..I wasn't the easy one. I'm thankful for the friends and family who have all picked me up and dusted me off at one point or another. I'm thankful for my enemies, you're my motivation and a tool for teaching life's lessons to my children of what not to be like. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a parent...it is a gift, the most rewarding, stressful, sometimes painful thing there is. Lastly I'm thankful for all those who have served...military, fire, ems, police, corrections, volunteer, paid...if I missed any forgive me. The courage to serve, the drive to do so and the sacrifice it takes keeps my faith in humanity alive. To live a life of service is usually a thankless one, putting the needs of others before your own...There will always be a seat  at my table for you. Merry Christmas to you all!

although the memories clouded by time, a million candles burned over the years for a million hours...numbers like 343, 93 and 9/11 etched into my mind, tears have dried, wounds have scarred over...I will always remember where I was...how helpless I felt...the pit in my stomach, shock, anger but ultimately pride. Pride???? Yes, in our darkest hour we pulled together, helped each other, openly wept for strangers...our flag was more than fabric...it was alive! It was us! The cowards knocked us down, but we got up swinging! Honor those lost by giving back. Donate your time or some money to a charity, send a package to a service member, fly Old Glory for everyone to see!

My wife is a NICU nurse.  This is an explanation of what a NICU nurse is from a husband’s perspective.  I have grown tired of hearing that others believe it is a job where they sit and watch babies and change diapers.  Everyday my wife goes to a job where patients have the possibility of passing away.  Everyday my wife goes to a job where she sees the innocent, the beautiful, those who are precious in God’s sight struggle and fight to live. Everyday my wife goes into work not just being there for her babies but also being a shoulder to cry on, and someone to laugh with for these beautiful and heartbroken families.  Everyday my wife and countless NICU nurses know that the next shift will drain them, crush them, but in the end know that it was all worth it.

A NICU nurse has to be courageous, fearless, strong, loving, and selfless.

My wife is courageous because she walks into a unit where death is waiting around every corner and she stares it in the face and says not today.  She will do everything possible to keep her patients alive for one more day until they go home.  Be that a physical home or a heavenly home.  She is courageous because she will not give up on these babies because they will not give up on life.

My wife is fearless because what she has to do on a daily basis.  This does not include sitting and rocking a baby unless you are sitting and rocking a baby as they pass away because their family can’t get there in time.  Everyday my wife will more than likely start IVs, change vent settings, administer medicines, resuscitate a child, run all over the unit for supplies, explain to families what is happening to their child, and give updates to the doctor.  Doing this for one child for a 12 hour shift sounds daunting, my wife normally has 3 to 5 babies every day. So if someone tells you that they are a NICU nurse, please don’t say, “Oh, you watch babies.”

My wife is strong because of the physical, emotional, and psychological stress she endures every time she clocks in and puts on her scrubs.  So many times my wife has come home never taking a break or a lunch and forgetting to go to the bathroom for an entire day.  This doesn’t sound like a job where you are just watching babies.  The emotional strain that I see put on my wife is immense.  There have been nights when she has cried herself to sleep because of the loss of a child.  Their have been nights that have gone sleepless because she is worried about her patients.  There are days when she cries to me for the parents that are hurting.  A NICU nurse never goes home. Their patients are always on their minds.  Psychologically knowing that every time you go into work, you may have to watch an infant breathe their last breath, but still everyday going in with hope that one of these precious babies may get to go home and live a normal/almost normal life.  My wife is the strongest person that I know.

My wife is loving because it is not only about her patients but also the families.  She has so many written responsibilities, but the unwritten responsibilities are just as consuming.  My wife will love every patient and every family that crosses her path.  She will sit and cry, laugh, or do whatever is needed for a family to feel loved and know that someone is on her side.  My wife meets families in their greatest time of need and heartache and ministers to them.  My wife will sit and listen to a mother who just needs to talk.

My wife is selfless because of all the other qualities that I have listed.  A NICU nurse puts the needs of everyone else above their own.

The next time someone tells you that they are a NICU nurse. Just say thank you or you can say, “So, you save lives, change lives, give selflessly, cry constantly, hurt for others endlessly, pray unceasingly, love no matter what, stand courageously, meet each day with fearlessness, and change diapers.”

To my wife and all the NICU nurses I want to say thank you for all you do.