An Intern in July

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An intern in July…An intern in July…Why, oh why, oh why am I an intern in July?

Well…wow. It was an incredibly long 4 weeks but I finished my first rotation of residency! I started on surgery–which, in case you didn’t know, is a requirement for most family med programs and also one of my very least favorite things. Surgery was also my first rotation third year of med school, so this felt oddly appropriate, but just like back then it was a really rude awakening…I think what I found the most difficult was the general approach to patient care was so different from mine. I went into family medicine because I love getting to know my patients and look forward to following up with them potentially forever. Surgeons have a much more case-focused mentality and live to get in, get out, and move on to the next case. The whole month I feel like my sole purpose was being able to get people out of the hospital as quickly as possible and sending them to follow up with literally anyone that wasn’t us.

And…obviously the hours and lifestyle are not the best. Pretty much every inpatient rotation in residency is a 12-hour day if not more, and while I knew that going in, actually doing it 6 days (or more) a week takes its toll for sure. In med school, we absolutely worked those kinds of hours for certain rotations, but the life of a student also comes with leniency–I absolutely got sent home early sometimes, even on my hardest rotations. Med school rotations also vary a great deal in terms of work hours, and I felt like for every hard month I usually had an easy elective or something to roll into. Right now, I’m fresh off surgery and starting 2 months of internal medicine, a month of peds, and 2 months of OB without a golden weekend in sight. Ugh.

However…there are parts of all of this that are somehow…not as bad as I expected? On the subject of hours, they do suck, but I’ve still managed to get home before my son goes to bed the vast majority of days and my husband and I have had time to have a glass of wine and dinner together. Granted it’s not as much time as we used to have, but we still see each other, and my med student vision of residency definitely involved me never seeing my family again.What I love the most, though, is the fact that I’m actually, like…PRACTICING MEDICINE! I mean yes, as a resident there are a lot of layers above you to keep you from completely shitting the bed, but at the same time, you’re going through the day making decisions with the ability to execute them, too. Intern life is a lot of stupid little tasks, and I’m sure I’ll be sick of it by the end of the year, but it’s really freeing to be able to have the ~authority~ to write for meds or procedures and take care of whatever I have to without having to chase down someone else.

Breakfast of champions.

All that said, the hardest thing about being an Intern in July is how stupid and inadequate I feel every single day. There are moments I feel like I learned absolutely nothing in medical school, and then there are moments I feel like I’m letting patients down because I just can’t get a handle on what’s happening. Yes, we have a lot of resources and people to ask for help, but the sheer amount of responsibility is so, so daunting. Like, medical school was really hard, but at the end of the day, it wasn’t my name on the patient’s note and it wasn’t my name on every order and prescription. It wasn’t my assessment that was slapped across an admission and it was much easier to be forgiven for making mistakes because there was very little actual harm to be done. Now, this is just…bewildering.

Anyway, by the time this posts I’ll be halfway through my first month of Medicine (internal medicine inpatient service). Days are at least as long and I’m carrying 6-8 patients a day, mostly cardio-pulmonary stuff since my team is based in our hospital’s heart and vascular institute. I like this rotation a lot because it’s a lot more relevant to Family Med and I’m getting used to treating and managing a lot of issues I’ll be seeing in my future practice. But…still incredibly overwhelming and terrifying. Oh, and I am also so, so, so, sososososo tired.

Thank you for putting up with this sleep-deprived stream of consciousness.

Until next time! I have another month of Medicine next month and then it’ll be on to Peds, so hopefully I can make time for another update by then!

For the Love of All That is Holy, Please Clean Your Phone

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I don’t think anyone is surprised by the revelation that our phones are pretty fucking nasty. I mean…we touch our phones all day long and how many times a day do you REALLY wash your hands? And, be honest, how often do you disinfect your phone?

Even during a global pandemic, the answer is not enough. And our phones are seemingly within arm’s reach all day (and night) long, and we touch them all the time. And then we let them hang around on a dirty kitchen counter, a desk, a bathroom sink, or a purse full of who-knows-what.

Think about this, as well: even if we wash our hands regularly and thoroughly, our phones can cause frequent cross-contamination. For example, if you just washed your hands after going to the bathroom but left your phone on the counter, you’re just re-introducing all those potty germs as soon as you touch it. Same thing if you grab it off a kitchen countertop after washing up.

This is serious stuff–we’re all more concerned than ever before about keeping clean and blunting the spread of pathogens. What gets stuck to a phone and transmitted to your hands and face has real potential to cause infectious diseases and put certain groups of people at higher risk.

Thankfully, the answer is relatively simple: wipe down your phone as frequently as you are able. Personally, working in the hospital over the last few years has already put me in the habit of using a disinfectant wipe on my phone at the end of every work day. Given everything that’s going on right now, I do it twice–once mid-morning and once in the evening, and then most definitely right before and after I leave the house.

And yes, I am fully aware that disinfectant wipes are in short stock. An easy solution to that is to use a clean paper towel or wash cloth, and moisten it with either bleach, alcohol, or peroxide. In a pinch, a little hand sanitizer (again if you can find it) can work.

As always, be safe, be well, and stay healthy ❤

Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay

All the New Recipes I’ve Tried in Quarantine

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I took a flying leap onto the quarantine baking wagon somewhere around April 1. And yes, the vasty majority of these items are baking projects, though there are a couple of other little gems in there. I guess I consider myself a pretty good baker because I love doing it…but in non-quarantine life? I don’t actually do it all that much.

I’ve been struggling a bit (a lot) with this whole situation, as I’m sure many people are. Every day is a new challenge for a million reasons, and considering that real life seemed to halt overnight, we’ve all lost so many of our traditional outlets–like eating out, going to the movies, traveling, going to the park, seeing friends, etc. I won’t lie, though, the gift of time and the chance to actually cook and bake some new things for my family at home has been nice…one of the silver linings I try to find in every day.

Anyway, here’s all the new things that I tried in April! All the things that were edible, at least 😉

NYT Buttermilk Pancakes. In normal times, we go out to breakfast every single weekend, so to make things feel a little more “normal,” I’ve taken to going all out at least one weekend morning–think big, hot breakfast with mimosas and the whole lot. As much as I love pancakes–and breakfast food in general–I cannot tell you the last time I actually made them at home before now, let alone from scratch. These are so simple, but WOW. They’re literally clouds of delightful pancake-y goodness. I’ve made them at least four times this month.

Ram-Don. Yes, the same viral dish from Parasite. And no, I still have not seen the movie, but after seeing so many people talking about this, I had to try it! Admittedly, the exact brands of noodles the recipe uses may be hard to find (though you can order them in bulk on Amazon), so I may try experimenting with other kinds of instant noodles to see if it’s just as good. Either way, it’s a ridiculously simple dish that still manages to make packaged noodles feel special.

Sourdough Starter. I felt like I ought to give a name to something that I spent so much time and energy to bring into this world, so I did–this is Jeffrey, my sourdough starter. Mine took me a solid week to really come to life and get “ripe,” and then I actually killed one iteration because I forgot I’d left the container in the oven before I turned on the heat for something else. Either way, I now have a decent stash of dried starter flakes and a more active one in the fridge. I’ve even given some to a few neighbors!

Sourdough Banana Bread. One of many reasons that raising a sourdough starter is such a pain in the ass is the amount of discard you literally throw in the trash every time you feed it. Thankfully, there are ways to incorporate the discarded starter in all kinds of other recipes, and this one is AMAZING. It definitely adds a little extra “something” to the flavor and gives the loaf a wonderful rise. It’s like velvet…you NEED to try it!

Sourdough Bread. It took me four tries to get a viable loaf of sourdough bread. Now that I know I’m capable of it, I may never do it again…although this was delicious and made an incredible base for the Disney Grilled Cheese. Speaking of which…

Disney’s Grilled Cheese. OH MY FREAKING GOD this was…a lot to handle. Easily the best grilled cheese I’ve ever made at home and just RICH. I think I finished this and fell asleep for like 14 hours. One thing it for sure, I’ll never make grilled cheese without a cream cheese layer again.

Banana Cake. This was just something I made on a whim because I wanted something sweet, and it feels sliiiightly more special than plain old banana bread.

No-Knead Bread. After a couple failed attempts at sourdough bread, I gave up for a few days and made this instead. It definitely delivered! It’s a simple white bread with a beautifully crusty crust that was great on its own toasted with butter, with soup, as avocado toast…whatever! I like this version because it comes together and can be baked the same day rather than having to let it rise overnight. The secret to that? Use hot water.

Double Tree’s Chocolate Chip Cookies. AHHHHHHHHHH these are so good! As someone who stayed in approximately 6873465 Double Tree hotels on the interview trail last year, I feel like I can be a reliable authority when I say these are the real deal! Not sure if they’re better than my traditional go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe…but they might be? I’m feeling like a bake-off is in order very soon 🙂

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

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Hey everyone! How’s your quarantined existence going?? I don’t know about you…but I haven’t laid eyes on a bottle of hand sanitizer in months. I’ve never really been a hand sanitizer person, either, since I vastly prefer washing my hands with soap and water. I had a couple travel-sized Purells for my purse and desk but that’s it–and clearly those are long gone now.

Again, soap and water is much more preferable to any kind of hand sanitizer but we’re in desperate times, and if you ever venture out of the house for work, groceries, childcare, etc, liberal sanitizing with a gel may be your only option. With the current shortage worldwide, a homemade alcohol-based version can be totally safe and effective, as long as it is at is at least 60% alcohol.

This “recipe” is super easy and uses a few things you already have at home. It’s also a great way to use up old bottles of aloe vera gel or even that quarter bottle of old body lotion you haven’t touched in years!

You have two options: a more liquidy version (equal parts alcohol and aloe/lotion) that does best in a spray bottle, and a more gel-like version (greater aloe:alcohol ratio) that is best in a squeeze bottle. Both are more than 60% alcohol and perfectly effective. I have made both and made use of some travel-size toiletry containers that–continuing with my theme of using up my old stuff–were left forgotten in my bathroom junk drawer.

For “liquid” version:

  • 1 part isopropyl alcohol
  • 1 part aloe vera gel or body lotion
  • Your favorite essential oil (optional)

For “gel” version:

  • 1 part isopropyl alcohol
  • 2 parts aloe vera gel or body lotion
  • Your favorite essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

  • Combine alcohol/peroxide and aloe in your container of choice
  • Add desired amount of essential oil–I found that 20-25 drops works really well for a 4 oz container
  • Use as needed to disinfect hands: apply sanitizer to the palm of your hands and massage vigorously to the rest of your hands, fingers, and wrists until dry

Enjoy! ❤

A Few Words From Quarantine

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Hope everyone is staying healthy and safe during this….interesting time. My husband and I are doing our best to stay sane, while my toddler and dog are living it up as the centers of our attention.

I matched to my first choice for residency, so I’m incredibly grateful that I’ll be starting work on the front lines of this pandemic crisis in a couple of months…maybe sooner. Rumors are swirling about potentially graduating our class early so that we can get to work. Many medical schools in Europe, as well as a few here in the US have already done so, and I personally think it’s a good idea. But for now, I’m finishing up a couple more electives from home and taking one day at a time.

This is such an uncertain time, and I know I’m not alone in my anxieties about our future. My husband’s job is in a state of limbo at the moment as his company is trying to figure out how to handle the changing economy. We are really worried that he’ll be laid off. I had to have an uncomfortable conversation with my landlady yesterday about what our options may be if we suddenly lose the main source of our income. As a first year resident, I definitely will not be making enough to support us on my own here in DC.

We’ve been keeping our son home from daycare the last couple of weeks while still having to pay for it. I am really scared that we will lose childcare entirely after I go to work–a lot of healthcare workers are having a super hard time finding caretakers that will accept their children because they are potentially exposed to COVID every single day. I’m worried that this will affect my husband’s ability to go back to work as well. We can’t afford a nanny, and our backup source of childcare is my mom–she’s in her mid-60’s, though, and I don’t want to put her and my dad at risk.

And, of course, I’m worried about getting sick. When–not if–I get COVID, I will almost certainly bring it home and infect my husband and child. Hopefully, we’ll be lucky because we’re all young-ish and healthy, but that’s not a given by any means. Healthcare workers all over the world are getting sick, in the ICU, and many are dying. I had to update my will, POA, and living will yesterday…and as a 33 year old woman, I can promise you it’s no fun at all to have to figure out who will care for your 15-month-old if you suddenly die.

I don’t mean this post to be cynical or even nihilistic. I have been so moved by acts of kindness in our community between neighbors, time I am now able to spend with my family at home re-watching old Disney movies and re-discovering my love of cooking and reading, and the opportunity to re-connect with friends at virtual happy hours. One way or another, this pandemic will end and life will get back to normal. We’ll get to go out to dinner again, take vacations again, and hug our relatives again. But it’s hard to look forward to that when there is so much fear and uncertainty right in front of us.

For now, all we can do is count our blessings, look for silver linings, and be kind to one another. And wash your hands…obvi.

How To Keep Physically Healthy While You’re Stuck In Quarantine

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Whether or not you’re a super-health-conscious person under the best of conditions, keeping active and eating right may be more important now than ever. Yes, we should all be making these things a priority in general…but right now, it’s critical to keep healthy and well physically and emotionally.

For me, exercise is a non-negotiable part of my day (at least 5 or 6 days per week). As someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression for the better part of my life, I have found that keeping active makes a huge difference in my mental health (along with therapy and medication). I’m having a tough time right now, you guys. I won’t sugar-coat it and I want to be honest…being stuck at home with the world seemingly coming apart at the seams all around us, having Match and graduation festivities cancelled, and knowing that this pandemic will be such a defining part of my medical career is…a lot.

So. How can you keep well while you’re working from home and unable to socialize or go to a gym? These are some things that I’m doing right now to make sure my body is getting what it needs while also maintaining proper social distancing and doing my part to keep my community safe.

Get outside! You can (and should!) get out for a walk or a run if you can…just make sure you aren’t surrounded by people or huddling in groups. I happen to live on the W&OD trail outside of DC, and it’s a lifesaver right now because I can go hiking almost daily for an hour or two. My toddler can even come along with me in the stroller and we make occasional stops so he can play in the creek or run around. Spring is just around the corner, and even if nothing else seems to be going right, we have had some great weather. Enjoy it!

Strap on the Apple Watch (or any other activity tracker). I have a love-hate relationship with my Apple Watch (it’s a judgey little motherfucker…this is a conversation for another day). But since I’m stuck at home, I know that I have a really hard time maintaining a good baseline of physical activity. Setting up some reasonable goals to make sure I’m getting enough steps every day, standing for a few minutes every hour, and getting enough sleep has so far gone a long way to keeping me off my butt.

Take advantage of some deals on fitness apps. I’ve never been a huge fitness app or YouTube person, but…desperate times. There are tons of deals right now as companies offer discounts and free trials in response to COVID-19. I just downloaded the yoga app Down Dog and am actually pretty impressed with it. Here’s a list of other apps, channels, and in-home fitness options you can check out!

Keep busy inside. When I’m at school or working at the hospital, I’m up and about all day long. At home, not so much. Even if you’re seemingly tied to your Web Cam all day long, make sure you’re taking frequent breaks—even for a minute or two—to get up and walk around. I’ve been using breaks as a chance to take care of a lot of little chores that always seem to get away from me, like wiping down countertops, putting my kid’s toys away, and de-junking for a Goodwill run, etc.

Eat well. OK, I get it…the world is falling apart and it’s really hard to get excited about eating a salad. I completely agree—this is NOT a time to try and lose those last 5 or 10 pounds. However, this IS a time to make sure you’re getting your fruits and veggies, keeping the empty carbs and sugary stuff to a minimum, and drinking a ton of water. A healthy diet is imperative to keeping your immunity up and keeping you feeling your best.

Sleep!  I know, I know…getting enough sleep is…hard. But just like eating well and exercising, keeping well rested is critical to keeping you physically and mentally healthy ESPECIALLY when the risk of infectious illness is high. If you’re working from home, take advantage of not having to commute! Sleep in a little bit. Let your kids sleep in a bit. Head to bed a little earlier. Steal a mid-day nap. Do what you have to do to steal a few extra minutes. Your body and mind will thank you forever.

I swear I never meant for this little blog to turn into the Coronavirus Channel. I sincerely just wanted to have an outlet to gab about things I like and some medical topics while finishing medical school and starting residency. But…here we are, under a national emergency with a global pandemic that has had an impact on every single one of us by now. We all have to do our part to keep our families and communities healthy and flatten the curve, but we have to take care of ourselves, too. I hope some of these ideas help, and please let me know what you’re doing to keep yourself healthy and sane!

Image by rob9040 from Pixabay

Here’s Everything I Bought in Preparation for Coronavirus

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Welp. COVID-19 is now a global pandemic and there are more and more cases being reported every single day. There are probably a ton more people with the virus given lack of test kits across the US, and in all likelihood, COVID-19 may be coming to your state, county, city, and even your home. This is just where we’re at.

I happen to live just outside Washington, DC and work in the District. I’m also a healthcare professional. Match Day has been canceled and graduation is still “up in the air.” Our local public schools are closed for part of next week so they can figure out a way to transition to virtual learning. At a meeting today, one of our deans told us that, as clinicians, we can expect to get sick. Good times.

In a previous post, I mentioned that we would be picking up some extra things in case of quarantine or illness that kept us at home for a couple weeks. In case you were wondering, here’s a pretty exhaustive list of everything we bought. I split my shopping between Costco (the vast majority), Trader Joe’s, and my local Harris Teeter.

A word on quantities…all I’ll say is that we got as much as we felt like we needed for 2-4 weeks for 2 adults and a toddler. If you’re interested in stocking up for yourself, adjust as you see fit.

Food

  • Canned and Dry Goods
    • Beans (I got black and garbanzo)
    • Diced tomatoes
    • Coconut milk
    • Corn
    • Green beans
    • Condensed chicken soup
    • Canned soup (lentil and vegetable beef, in case you were wondering)
    • Oatmeal
    • Pasta (assorted types)
    • Canned tuna
    • Canned chicken
    • Canned salmon
    • Canned mushrooms
    • Rice
    • Whey protein
    • Mixed nuts
  • Freezer
    • Frozen veggies
    • Frozen fruit
    • Frozen meals (I got a few from Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Freshly)
    • Cauliflower gnocchi (seriously, I got like 15 packages)
    • Liquid eggs in a carton
    • Cheese (see notes)
    • Milk (see notes)
    • Fresh herbs
    • Bread
    • Bacon
    • Ground meat
  • Fresh foods (that keep a little while)
    • Potatoes
    • Onions
    • Eggs
    • Minced garlic (the kind in a big-ass jar from Costco)
  • Other
    • Olive oil
    • Vinegar – balsamic and apple cider
    • Shelf stable almond milk
    • Peanut butter
    • Jam
    • Pickled veggies (olives, pickles, artichokes, etc)
    • Pasta sauce
    • Tea
    • Cereal bars
    • Seltzer water
    • Chicken broth
  • Sweet stuff
    • Chocolate (I get Guittard baking bars and chips)
    • Cake mix
    • Brownie mix
    • Frosting
    • TJ’s beer bread mix
  • The Absolutely Most Important Things
    • Coffee
    • Wine

Personal Care

  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Body wash
  • Baby shampoo/wash
  • Toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Period products
  • Anything and everything you need for your personal routine (aka skin care is my religion)

Baby/Pets

  • Diapers
  • Wipes
  • Toddler formula
  • Baby food
  • Snacks – ie granola bars, yogurt, rice cereal, etc
  • Dog food
  • Cat food
  • Cat litter
  • Pet treats

Cleaning Supplies

  • Paper towels
  • Bleach
  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Swiffer pads – wet and dry
  • All-purpose cleaning spray – bleach based
  • Dishwasher tabs
  • Laundry detergent
  • Hand soap refills
  • White vinegar

Medical Supplies**

  • Ibuprofen – adult and toddler formulations
  • Sudafed
  • Theraflu packets
  • Pedialyte
  • Pepto-Bismol
  • Benadryl
  • Afrin Nasal Spray

And there you have it! I spent the better part of a day over the weekend de-junking the house and making room for all of this stuff, but in the event that one or all of us is cooped up at home, we’re good to go. Obviously, it’s a lot, but there’s nothing listed here that we don’t buy on the regular already, so it WILL get used up eventually…if we never end up having to stay home for a long period of time, I comfort myself knowing I won’t have to buy much at all for weeks or even months!

In the meantime, here’s a great article on how to stay sane during extended periods at home, here’s what to do if you think you’re sick, and here’s a guide to all the latest facts and figures.

Notes

Freezing milk: Milk can be frozen for a few months. When you buy a gallon of milk, you can open it, empty a small amount, then re-seal and freeze for up to a few months.

Freezing cheese: Many cheeses can be wrapped tightly and frozen for 4-6 months (I happened to buy vacuum sealed blocks from Costco, so I just tossed them all in the freezer).

**A note on medical supplies: COVID-19 is a viral illness, meaning that treatment is only symptommatic (antibiotics are useless for viruses and there are no targeted treatments). The vast majority of cases are mild enough to be managed at home, so you ought to stock up on anything you would use for treating colds and flu. I find that most people have personal preferences when it comes to favorite cold/flu meds, so these are simply my favorites. Feel free to personalize this list.

ALSO! You may notice that there are some items that treat symptoms NOT associated with COVID-19, like runny nose and congestion, upset stomach, or diarrhea. Keep in mind that it is still a time of year when people are susceptible to plain old colds and flu…I keep these in handy just in case I dodge COVID-19 but still manage to come down with a cold while on quarantine.

It’s Not Just You: It IS, In Fact, Really Hard to Lose Weight After Having a Baby

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When my son was six months old—even though I was back to my usual workouts and back to work—I had about 10 or 12 extra pounds hanging around. Now, at almost 15 months since having my son, I still have a pesky 5 pounds that will Just. Not. Budge.

As if that weren’t annoying enough, I feel like I can’t make it one single day without being bombarded by little reminders that I should have been able to “bounce back” by now. I mean, c’mon, didn’t Kate Middleton flash her perfect abs while playing volleyball in 4-inch wedges 88 days after having Prince George??

But you know what? My story, not Kate’s, is probably a lot more common.

In fact, at 6 months postpartum or later, the National Academy of Medicine estimates that the mean weight retention is 11.8 pounds, with half of women retaining more than 10 pounds and a quarter retaining 20 pounds or more. 

Now, I totally get that just because it’s common doesn’t make it ideal or even what we’re comfortable with. I get that, as new moms, we feel so much pressure from every possible direction to be the perfect parent while also being in perfect shape. I definitely understand what it feels like to watch your baby’s first birthday come and go while still having to live in yoga pants because none of your jeans fit.

And sure, some folks are lucky. We all have that friend, mom, sister, or whoever that wistfully reminisced how their baby weight just melted off in the first few months after giving birth. The fact is, however, that MOST of us are not so lucky.

But WHY?

Anyone who’s had a baby knows that your body goes through some crazy shit. From day one, nothing seems to be working like it should and it’s impossible to know what to expect. What we don’t really anticipate, though, is that just because pregnancy is over and the baby is out in the world, the crazy shit doesn’t stop. Hormones and physiological changes of pregnancy WILL, at some point, normalize—but when exactly that is differs for everyone.

Yes, a lot of the weight you gained during pregnancy was the baby, extra fluid, uterine tissue, etc. But remember that at least some of that extra weight comes from fat stores (usually around the hips and butt) that the body will fight like the dickens to hold onto because it’s our physiologic energy store for supporting a growing baby and for breastfeeding. Uncontrolled hormone levels can also make us retain fluid, which add pounds to the scale and make us puffy and pissed off. These things resolve quickly for some people, but not-so-quickly for others.

And then there are the not-so-physiological reasons that can make it feel impossible to lose extra weight. Even with the happiest, well-tempered baby in the world, raising children is freaking hard. We’re exhausted and tired all the time. We’re stressed and sleep deprived. It’s suddenly really hard to find time to go to the gym or get out and go for a run…and when you DO have time, you may not have childcare.

When we were pregnant, we got used to eating a lot more than we do normally, and it’s actually REALLY hard to suddenly cut out the extra food after 10 months. It sucks to be hungry all the time, and it’s hard to be disciplined about eating a healthy diet when you’re dealing with the unpredictability and chaos that every day life caring for children entails. Oh, not to mention that we’re so tired and frazzled that the easiest solution 99.999% of the time seems to be sending our partner on a run to Chipotle…and by the time you get to that point, you give too few shits to ask for a Keto Bowl and go for the everything-burrito with double-guac instead.

So, yeah. Despite what our very lucky friends and intense social scrutiny would have us believe, there are a lot of very real reasons that some—most—of us find ourselves a year or more out from childbirth still unable to wear our pre-pregnancy clothes. I’m not saying we have to throw a party and force ourselves to somehow be ok with it—I mean, please do if you want because that sounds fabulous—but as a medical provider and fellow new mom I can tell you that there are very valid reasons for the changes we see in our bodies after having a baby. And likewise very valid reasons that those things don’t just disappear when we want them to. Just like everything else, all we can do is our best.

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

The CDC Now Says Coronavirus Spread across the US is Inevitable: So What Now?

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Since I last took the chance to chat with you all about the new strain of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and what it may mean for all of us, things have changed a bit. The virus has since continued to spread globally and recorded cases are increasing. Last night, the CDC announced that it both expected the disease to continue spreading and that it expected it to cause disruptions to everyday life.

Even though I am not here to give you my personal opinion on the necessity of these measures and their potential to cause panic, this is a big deal. This thing is affecting the stock market and disrupting travel all over the world. What I am here to do is to try my best to let you know what all of this craziness may mean for you in your community and how you can prepare and hopefully spare yourself needless headache, especially since most of us have no clue what pandemic preparedness even means.

OK, cool. So what does that even mean?

First, please don’t panic. No one is saying that they’re expecting massive numbers of people to get sick and die. What they ARE saying is that, yes, the disease is spreading and that we can probably expect state and local governments to take preventive measures to minimize the number of people who will get sick.

What this means is that we can possibly expect some school closures, event cancellations, and employers to encourage workers to work remotely if possible. It wouldn’t be surprising if there were periods of voluntary quarantine for those who are at higher risk (meaning certain people may elect to stay home for a week or two and avoid public places). There may even be cases of the virus near you in your community.

What this does NOT mean is total anarchy. We’ll still have power, water, and (thank God) internet. Grocery stores, most retail, gas stations, roads, and most other services will still be open. Healthcare facilities will most definitely be open. Remember that, even during the Spanish flu epidemic in the early 1900’s—one of the deadliest epidemics in modern history—life still went on as usual in most places. Most closures and cancellations will likely be preventive in nature, not responsive, meaning they will be designed to prevent spread of Coronavirus rather than because there are a lot of cases where you are.

Regardless, disruption to life is just that—a disruption. What in the world should you do to prepare?

First, though details may still be few and far between, find out what potential changes can be expected in your community and what resources may be available. These are things like school and government service closures, interruptions to public transit, changes in trash collection and waste removal, etc. These details will probably be in flux for now as local and state authorities scramble to flesh out their response policies and procedures, so check in frequently so you aren’t caught off guard.

Next, if you’re able to work from home, talk to your boss and see if you can do that. If you aren’t set up to work effectively and efficiently at home, do what you need to do to make that happen (create a home office space, update VPN software, identify tasks that can and cannot be done easily out of the office). If your job can’t easily be done remotely, touch base with your organization and see if they anticipate any closures or temporary reductions in workforce, as well as whether or not you’d be paid for any time off or forced to take sick or vacation days.

Next, figure out what you’d need in the event of quarantine. For planning purposes, think about what kinds of supplies and food you and your family need for about 2 weeks at home and stock up. Don’t go full Doomsday Prepper, here…stock up on all the things you’d normally need anyway so that nothing ends up going to waste. Think toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products, toiletries, laundry detergent, etc. Stock up on some non-perishable and canned food as well to make sure you have enough.

When it comes to food, the same is true–grab things you know that you’d probably end up using anyway to avoid wasting anything you don’t end up needing. For example, at our house we always have a nice big pantry full of canned beans, veggies, meat like chicken and tuna, rice, crackers, peanut butter, cereal, coconut milk, condiments, protein powder, etc. This weekend, we will probably make a Costco run and buy extra of all these things. Keep in mind that water will stay on, but a case or two of bottled water (and, in our case, grapefruit-flavored La Croix) is never a bad idea. Also. very important here—if I’m going to be stuck in the house with my husband and toddler for 2 weeks without physical contact with the outside world, I’m going to need wine. Plenty of wine.

Next, do stock up on basic medical supplies in case, god forbid, someone in your home does get sick. Coronavirus is, well, a virus…at this point there is no “cure” or vaccine, just like colds and flu, the treatment is purely supportive. At this point, every single case is sent to an isolated medical ward or quarantine location, but if the virus really does become widespread, it’s very possible that most people will be able to remain at home under self-imposed quarantine.

Remember that the majority of COVID-19 cases are essentially a mild to moderately-severe respiratory illness, just like the flu or viral bronchitis. Make sure you have medications like ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever and body aches. Cough syrup or other cough suppressants (anything containing guaifenesin, for example) are very helpful for coughing, while decongestants (I recommend nasal sprays like Flonase or anything containing pseudoephedrine) are also helpful. Pedialyte or Gatorade can be great to keep you hydrated if you’re nauseous or lose your appetite.

Another thing—face masks. At the moment, there’s probably no need to be wearing a face mask around unless you’re sick yourself or you’re around folks who are known to be sick with a respiratory illness. However, I’ve heard a couple sort of convincing arguments that it’s not a terrible idea to stock up on masks in case they DO become necessary, so here we are. Surgical masks are NOT sufficient to prevent pollutants or respiratory droplets from being inhaled, but they are probably better than nothing. If you’re really looking for a no-shit, foolproof mask that will protect you from respiratory illness and probably do you double duty in the event of a fire or chemical attack, disposable N95 or P100 masks are your friend.

Finally—for the love of all that is Holy—start taking steps NOW to prevent spread of infection by washing your hands and disinfecting high risk areas of your home. Keep hand sanitizer with you for times when there isn’t soap and water available. Wipe down surfaces and pay special attention to anything your kids touch or put in their mouths. Take your shoes off when you walk in the door. Wash your sheets and towels often. Wipe down your phone, laptop, steering wheel, and doorknobs daily. These are probably all things we should be doing anyway (no judgement here), but right now it’s very possible that they could make a huge difference.

For additional resources and information as this viral fiasco unfolds, the following sites and organizations will have the most accurate and up to date information:

  1. CDC Coronavirus Situation Page 
  2. Pandemic Preparedness Resources 
  3. CDC Coronavirus Resources Page 
  4. WHO Coronavirus Page 
  5. WHO Coronavirus Travel Advice 
  6. WHO Coronavirus Advice for the Public 
  7. Don’t forget to regularly check up on your local government, county, and state health department websites!

Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

What We’re Reading Lately

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All 3 human members of our little family are readers, and as such, we LOVE talking about the books we’re currently reading and those that we’ve read and loved lately. My husband and I happen to have slightly different tastes in books, and my 14-month old loves pretty much everything with pictures and opportunities for us to add some theatrics…between the three of us, I hope you find some inspiration to try something new. If you have any more recommendations I’d absolutely love to hear them below!

I’ll start with me–I hesitate to name a favorite genre because I’ve learned that no matter how bonkers the story, it can still be an awesome read if it’s written well. My picks from the last few months are all really different, but that’s pretty indicative of my lineup in general:

1.    Say Nothing. This is one of the best pieces of creative non-fiction I’ve ever read, period. It documents a series of events during the Troubles in Northern Ireland surrounding the murder of a woman named Jean McConville. Could not put it down.

2.    The Husband’s Secret. I love every single book by Lianne Moriarty (author of Big Little Lies). This one surrounds a bunch of people living in a tight knit community, the assorted secrets they keep from one another, and the brutal (and deadly!) consequences. So good.

3.    The Black Prism. This is actually a re-read for me. It’s the first installment in the Lightbringer series, which I actually finished over Christmas break. It’s a steam-punky fantasy that takes place in a world where some people can harness light and create physical material. Even if you don’t think you’re into sci-fi/fantasy, you will love this book. I totally stan this series. The characters are great and it’s very well written. There’s a reason I’m re-reading this!

My husband is an avid fan of speculative fiction (sci-fi/fantasy/etc) a lot of the time, and his reading list recently certainly reflects this.

1.    Throne of the Crescent Moon. This is a fantasy novel by a Lebanese/Egyptian-American author. It follows an aging hunter of fantastical monsters as he embarks on a final quest. My husband raved about it and thought it was a great way to break out of Western fantasy scenarios and tropes by setting it in a Middle Eastern-inspired world.

2.    Morning Star. This is the third in the Red Rising series, which my husband loved. It takes place in a futuristic Martian society where people are divided into a sort of caste system based on colors. The series focuses on a young miner who joins a sort of terrorist group seeking to infiltrate the Golds, a ruling warrior class.

3.    The Girl Who Drank the Moon. This is actually YA but my husband still loved it. It’s about a village that must “sacrifice” a baby to a local witch every year. The story follows one of these children after she is accidentally given magical powers by the witch.

And finally my toddler! Aside from any magazine he can rip to shreds (gotta love cheap entertainment), these are what he’s really enjoyed in the last month or so…or at least what WE enjoy reading to him 😉

1.    Never Touch a Monster. I got this book as a baby shower gift. It’s adorable, has big, colorful pictures, and has lots of tactile stimulation on every page. This one probably elicits more theatrics from me that any other book we have. So fun!

2.    My Peekaboo Fun: Learning Words. This one is a simple premise—every page is a scene with a bunch of pictures and the answer to a question behind a flap. My son adores the flaps and the book itself is constructed well enough that none of them have broken or torn yet.

3.    Rocket Science for Babies. This is one of many books in the Baby University series. We rotate through them, but this one is fun because it’s got a rocket ship in it and apparently my kid likes rocket ships now. Will he actually become a rocket scientist some day? Who knows…but in the meantime I’m finally learning an embarrassing amount of actual physics from this book.

None of the above links are affiliate links. I am not making a dime off of this post–I just genuinely like sharing the things we love to read, and I hope you find some inspiration! I’d also love to hear from you! What are you (and your family!) reading these days?

All images via Amazon