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the best day of them all

22 May 2015

If you've been a longtime reader or made the unfortunate mistake of dipping back into the blog's archives you'll know that I will readily and heartily admit that I came into residency with my eyes tightly closed thinking they were wide open and it was an ugly tug-of-war as they two sort of figured out some sort of great compromise. The straw that broke my first year camel's back was night float. Night float was the two months a year (separate months, praise the sanity gods) that Simon was (you like that past tense?! ME TOO) gone from 5pm-8am and then slept during the day. Sounds not so bad, right? No. I didn't anticipate being able to not sleep ... at all. AT ALL. Only because I'm crazy and was sure a predator was ready to pounce and kill outside every window and door (security systems means nothing in the face of my logic, unfortunately). I'm a lot better now with the help of time (I went down to the basement after dark last night! Progress Patton) and Benadryl and I guess having "older" kids around? But looking back on the many months that I would repeatedly sleep 30-60 minutes a night only to wake up in time to greet another super lonely day/evening/night (especially when the kids were really little) ... those were NOT the happiest days. However! every year truly got a little easier and I have so much admiration, empathy, sympathy, and respect for parents who go it alone or have deployed spouses etc. I will forever be an infant in the face of your heroism ... truly. It's not easy. At all.

Anyway, Simon still has two call weekends and a month of surgery left to tackle before we move down to Tampa and he has to take his boards before he starts his fellowship July 1st BUT we've been talking about THIS particular day for a LONG time. We talked up having kegs and eggs and celebrating in relative style but the reality is that we're having hospital cafeteria sprinkle donuts and chocolate milk while frantically throwing things in boxes and let the kids do whatever the eff they want (within reason!!!).

Before you start getting your eyes all set to ROLL position over yet another ridiculous slideshow ... know that I could've gone with this terrible anthem but I did not. I was tempted because I'm the most melodramatic human of all time. I yam. No, instead I went with a song that features the line, "these are the nights that never die" .... seemed fitting. Except .... they DID.

Thankfully.



And in case you're hungry for more celly, grainy goodness ... I'm not stingy ...


From last night's celebratory visit ... one, two, three, nope - NO smiles.


... this is like 1% better but, sold. I guess.

And I have to give a hearty shoutout to Simon's co-worker, Kira, who (while on nights herself!!!) gifted me with this pretty lady ...


... as a congratulatory token for surviving nights because she must be the most thoughtful human of all time. She included strict instructions to wait until after I'm done gestating to imbibe so I hope she's ready to split it with me in the hospital post-baby while she's on OR off the clock. I'm not picky. ;)

Happy freakin' weekend, bb.

64 comments:

  1. Oh little one...I hug my Chick-fil-A like that, too! :)

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  2. yaaay congratulations!! i seriously cannotttt imagine how you did it. and all the while taking care of babies and such. high five sister! you deserve SO MUCH wine!!!

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  3. Wahoo, Pattons!!! You did it, you made it to the other side and you all survived (maybe barely at times but dang you did it)!!!!! SO happy for you all! LOVE the video and song choice! xxxx

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  4. Congratulations to all of you!

    Also, I am working from a coffee shop today and the man next to me said "WHAT are you watching??!?!"
    My response? "Art." with a stone-cold Phoebe glare.

    xoxo

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  5. Yay! Congrats! Here's to a fresh beginning and more (hysterically) funny posts!

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  6. Congratulations, Patton family! So incredibly happy you are FINISHED!

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  7. Congratulations!! So happy for you guys!!!

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  8. My pregnant self just cried some happy tears for you. Congrats - you are a TROOPER!

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  9. Yay! You made it! I know you never thought it would end, but you survived. Now to just have a baby. And move. :)

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  10. I'm going to cry!! Congratulations, beautifuls!!

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  11. Congrats to you and Simon for pulling through! Not easy and not easy at all with little ones, you guys are troopers! Love your family pics. I have given up on getting the kids to smile for the camera and I only have 3!

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  12. You can sure make a girl cry! I'm a sucker for milestones/time passing/etc. Yay for being done!

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  13. huge congrats to the pattons. LOVE the video!! you made it!

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  14. Congrats!!!! What a wild ride! Does it feel like it flew by now that it's over?!

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  15. Ummm, why am I crying at your family video?? Get a grip, Colleen! Congrats to Simon AND to you Grace :) May your nights from here on out be full of nothing but sleep and babies.

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  16. Wow, what an amazing milestone! Congrats to all of you for making through!

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  17. And now I just saw the video and feel compelled to comment a second time because...oh those newborn hospital pics, sigh. And the Simon sleeping anywhere pics, it's a talent I am sure. ;)

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    1. a total talent! especially when we are mid (important) convo ha!!!

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  18. I can't help but laugh reading the part about not being able to sleep because of a predator! My husband is a firefighter/paramedic, so every 3rd day the kids and I are alone for 24 hours... When we first got married 7 years ago, I would sleep down stairs on the couch with the tv on (I figured I could escape easier and the tv would let people know someone was there) ... Well, 2 dogs, 2 kids and several tv's later I am actually sleeping in our bed! Well, really reading your blog and pinning DIY project's that I want to do (but let's get real, they should all just go on my dream board)!
    You guys will love Tampa, we have so many great things for families!

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    1. ah! yes. you see -- how you do that all the time -- is beyond me!!! INFANT Grace forever :)

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  19. CONGRATULATIONS! Hope you have an awesome weekend celebrating!!! :D

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  20. Congratulations! Very exciting!

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  21. that slideshow is by far the best slideshow i have ever seen

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  22. Congratulations!!! I chuckled at the pumpkin hat rewind. :)

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  23. Congrats! I'm sure you're so relieved that's over! Getting to live in Tampa is the best reward ever!

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  24. Darn pregnancy hormones! I totally teared up over that little video. So excited for y'all. Adventure is right around the corner! :)

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  25. Grace, Simon, and the whole family.....a BIG congratulations to you all!!! There is light at the end of the tunnel and it is not an oncoming train, I promise!! I'm still a relatively new reader here but what a long road this has been for your entire family. I understand just a touch....I just took my nursing state boards three weeks ago and am now a registered nurse. I started nursing school when my third child was four weeks old and ended nursing school pregnant with my fourth child and gave birth to her three weeks after graduation. During nursing school, while my significant other played stay at home dad so I could become educated and have a nursing degree, our home got hit very hard by Hurricane Sandy (we live in NJ) and we lost our home. We have had some really super crazy times during my adventure in nursing school from living in a small hotel room for 18 days with three small children after the hurricane hit and nursing school did not care and still went on, to my significant other being hospitalized with an illness for a week straight while I managed all the kids myself and attending night classes, to moving several times during the most stressful semesters of nursing school. And what a relief that I have passed and can look back at that crazy time in history and laugh and cry and smile because it is OVER just like you will when all of this is done. Good luck with everything in the future!!! Looking forward to baby number five's appearance! =)

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  26. Um why am I crying?!? Oh yeah I'm prego and just so happy for you!! As a mom of littles with a hubby in residency and trying so hard to get through these lonely long years I'm so happy for you both!! You made it!!

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  27. Oh and I completely forgot to wish Simon good luck (I'm sure he doesn't need it though) on his boards!!

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  28. So exciting!!! Congrats to Simon and a big group hug for the rest of you...night floats be rough! (And now gone, wooohooo!)

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  29. Congratulations! I am so happy for you guys! Residency sounds rough. Blessings on your move and new baby and all the changes coming your way! :)

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  30. Yay! I have been a follower for probably close to 2 years, but I read all your archives when I found you. That video totally brought tears to my eyes. I am so happy for you guys.

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  31. Congrats Simon!!! Definitely something to celebrate:)

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  32. Congrats to your family! How exciting...and those photos are the best...love how you can see each kid's personality oh so clearly :)

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    1. hahha I always thought I was being melodramatic about Julia as a toddler but .... nope.

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  33. Congrats. Just beautiful. Loved it!

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  34. I love this!! The video, the song, YOU, your support, your energy, happiness, your family. Wow, just WOW!!! Congrats and hope the moving is fun and crazy memories. Can't wait to read along!

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  35. WOOHOO!!! Honestly, Julia will probably have super fond memories of visiting Simon at the hospital (aka his second home).

    Congratulations!!

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  36. What a fun video! And congrats on making it through. :)

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  37. Amazing! Thanks for giving me a whole new perspective on these residents. Sorry you didn't enjoy Simon on night float as much as we did. Congrats to you both/7!

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  38. Dying. I can't tell you the last time I laughed that hard. THANK YOU!

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  39. Congratulations! One of my favorite bible verses comes to mind "by your perseverance you will secure your lives." Luke 21:19

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  40. this was the cutest and funniest slideshow that had me smiling throughout it girl. You are my hero as well. #fistbump

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  41. Congratulations on inching towards normalcy, HUGE!!! I loved watching this because Simon helped deliver my youngest on his final night of a night float in Sept '13. Everyone was so great about taking care of me and baby you don't think about their sacrifices or that at 1am their wives are at home on predator patrol! Best of luck with everything 😊

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  42. Congratulations on inching towards normalcy, HUGE!!! I loved watching this because Simon helped deliver my youngest on his final night of a night float in Sept '13. Everyone was so great about taking care of me and baby you don't think about their sacrifices or that at 1am their wives are at home on predator patrol! Best of luck with everything 😊

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  43. Congratulations to the whole family! WOOHOOOOOOOO! Hope you celebrate by getting a good night's sleep :)

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  44. Congratulations! Hope you had a wonderful time celebrating!!

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  45. Gracer, this is HUGE. that vid had me crying tears of joy. your slideshow game is on point.

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  46. Congrats Patton Family! I've been a reader for years, and this is truly momentous. So, so happy for you!

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  47. I feel so happy for you. I've been reading your blog for YEARS (since Grace & Julia were babies and I stumbled on it and realized they were the same age) so seeing those pictures of you guys visiting the hospital and Simon sleeping brought tears to my eyes (I'm pregnant!) for how long its been. He is the BEST DAD EVER. And you are such a cute mom. You didn't complain that much LOL and you had every right to... I would have been 10x worse with the night float stuff. Anyway your babies are beautiful, your life (even the last 4 years of residency) are beautiful, and I am so excited for your next phase!

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  48. Ha! I had to laugh/sigh at the predator thing. Last year I lived in a city alone and was so so scared of someone breaking in – it was the worst. For a solid month I’d look under the bed and in the closets at night (because someone OBVIOUSLY entered the house while I was gone and was hiding out??? Idk). To comfort myself I remember thinking, “it’s okay, I’m not the ground floor. It’d be too hard to break in – if someone was going to break in, they’d break into the basement apartment!” And then I’d spend a few minutes questioning my whole life/being because it’s pretty awful to find comfort in someone else’s apartment being broken into………….. good person. (I think I always knew the fear was just my imagination, and I never actually thought my downstairs neighbor was at risk. So I’m not a horrible person. I think. Right? Oy.) So yeah, no sleep til sunlight.

    Congrats on no more night floats!!! Happy for you all.

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  49. God bless you! Pattton's you rock! One day you will look back on this time period & say "Remember when...." & think it wasn't all THAT bad. Well yes you will be still remember how bad it was but you will be VERY glad it over & never to return! Happy for ALL of you.

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  50. congrats~ almost there. !!!!! :-) ;-)

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  51. Just getting back on blogger for the first time in maybe a year - started following you while i had a lot of free time while hubs did a family medicine residency... it will get so much better! Real life is quite a breeze compared to any residency. So happy your night floats are over! So tough on everyone. Congrats!!

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  52. Congrats! Y'all made it! SO happy for you! Woot!

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  53. Congratulations! So much stress and sleeplessness for you two and I am all over here giggling at the pictures and such. By the way, I totally paused and hit rewind to gawk and your stylish duds. Nice! You are superwoman!

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  54. Congratulations! So much stress and sleeplessness for you two and I am all over here giggling at the pictures and such. By the way, I totally paused and hit rewind to gawk and your stylish duds. Nice! You are superwoman!

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  55. Congratulations! So much stress and sleeplessness for you two and I am all over here giggling at the pictures and such. By the way, I totally paused and hit rewind to gawk and your stylish duds. Nice! You are superwoman!

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  56. Sooo happy for you both my friend. So many prayers said in the last four years. I am just beside myself with glee for team #Simace!! You did it!!. Congratulations!!

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  57. All your kids are beautiful, but Theo is such a gorgeous little boy. Seriously, he is adorable in that group shot. I don't know how you did it all these years, congrats!!!

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