National Caregiver Month

I never knew that there was anything out there to recognize caregivers and all that they do, till today. I made eggs for breakfast and was sitting at the table flipping through the Washington Post. I came across Michelle Singeltary's column titled "Avoiding the approaching 'Caregiver cliff'". While she talks about the political side of it she also talks about her personal experience with caregivers.

 
Being a caregiver, this caught my attention. In my 5 years I never knew there was a month dedicated to my job.

Caregiving is an unappreciated art. We get no benefits, no pay raises, no fancy office. We simply do. And we do out of love.



We go to our assigned homes and do, well, everything. The changing, the cleaning, listening, driving, medication administration. You name it, I've done it.

You have to be a giver to be a caregiver. In my experience you're the second mother. In fact I had a client call me mom in the very end.
You're the one there day in and day out, playing, teaching, listening, loving, taking them to the doctor or therapy, telling them it will be ok when the doctor comes back with the scary needle. Protecting them from the scary monster in the closet during nap time. Getting them ready for bed before you leave, then the one giving them breakfast in the morning.

Just learned to ride a bike

I love my job, I've learned more and continue learn more than I ever could in a class room.

Caregivers don't get national holidays or weekends off.
You are always needed.
I can't tell you how many doctors appointments I put off, how many parties I missed so I could have a moment to my self, how many family gatherings I couldn't attend.

 I sacrificed my needs and wants, ( just as all the other caregivers out there have) for the client. According to a survey 80% of caregivers have put of necessary doctors appointments to be there for the other family/ client.

Waiting for the bus

This job has been the perfect preparation for being a mother. You love the client, you WANT to be there every day, you WANT to hold their hand, you WANT to them to succeeded in everything.  It's taught me unconditional love, compassion, and patience.

Future Bouley

So in the spirit of National Caregiver Month, if you have a caregiver who shows up day in and day out, take time to thank them for all they have sacrificed. If you don't have one, but know one, talk to them, I always loved when people asked me about my job.

 Take time to care for the persons who care unconditionally for so many.

What REALLY Happens When You're Pregnant

You always here about pregnancy being a "beautiful thing," I'm here to fix that.

HA!

You read right, I said, HA!

Some women are like "I love being pregnant!' and how they maintain that positive attitude is beyond me. Here are some basics symptoms, remember it does widely vary.

Weight gain (which I am always reminded is GOOD in this situation) ;-)
Morning sickness
All day sickness
Constripation
Diarrhea 
Hemorrhoids
Sensitive stomach
Heart burn
Varicose Veins
Swelling of joints
Swelling of feet
Loose joints
Fatigue
Pregnancy Brain (you basically forget everything)
You can't bend well
You can't get up
Taste bud change
You pee every 5minutes (ok really two hours give or take) 
Anxiety
Depression
Sudden mood changes
Irritability
Swelling of breasts
Swelling of abdomen
Stretch marks 
   ** Side note on stretch marks, many people use Bio Oil which I found out has some chemical that is a big no, no. I found Earth Mama Baby Angel Oil, to be fantastic! (Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Mama-Angel-Baby-Natural/dp/B000JVA80C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1351788289&sr=8-2&keywords=stretch+mark+oil)
The earlier you start the better!

And the list continues, but does any of that sound pleasant? Remember you get some combination of these, its not just one or two (unless your lucky.)

Then there's labor!! I don't think about, I seriously will start hyperventilating if I think about it long. I'll get to that post when I'm emotionally ready. But this is what I plan on it being like:

**Language disclaimer**

And why do we go through it? And for many it's multiple time.

You get this:

 

 Is it totally worth it?

I think the fact that the population continues to grow answers that. :-)