How to Know You Spend Too Much Time in the Hospital

So the good news is that Avigayil's physical therapy is working! She was able to climb and stood on a therapy step on Friday. The better news is that she did it to reach some soup because she wanted to eat (by mouth!). The bad news is that she pulled the bowl of hot soup down on herself and now has 2nd degree burns. We ended up in an ambulance back to the hospital Friday night.

We saw the plastic surgeon yesterday and they are optimistic. The said that they feel that most of the skin will grown back within a week and then she will go for OT. They also do not think there will be scaring. She is currently in a bit of pain but they don't think there will be any permanent damage.

So, in light of our crazy situation, I present you with ways to tell you spend too much time in the hospital:

You are calmer then the medics in the ambulance.

When you show up at the ER everyone knows your name and welcomes your with hugs.

The receptionist no longer asks for your information or ID numbers, just if she is hear for the same problem as last time.

You get to skip the line straight to triage.

While the nurse types in your baby's current issues, you take all her sats by yourself.

The nurse then says "you can go to your usual bed."

You don't need the nurses to show you where things are, you just get them yourself.

They nurses know your baby's medications and doses by heart.

You no longer need to give the doctors a medical history when you are admitted.

You know every staff member by name from the doctors to the janitors.

The nurses aide knows just how your baby like her bath and what makes her smile.

She has a favorite hospital clown and everyone knows it.

The x-ray tech says "Hey, it looks better than last time!"

You get a staff discount at the coffee stand.

Every respiratory therapist in the hospital has worked on your baby....more than once.

The medical receptionists know your voice on the phone and some of them even recognize your number on the caller ID.

Somehow other parents just know to ask you where the coffee cups are kept and what the code is to the linen closet.

No one gets upset when you silence the monitor alarms of use the suction without permission.

You know the code to get an outside line on the hospital telephones.

You know which elevators to use at what times to get where you want to go fastest and you use all the staff shortcuts as well.

Your diaper bag has the essentials for an overnight stay in it all the time, just in case.

You have the hospital menu memorized and know what to expect every day of the week.

You have the staff schedules memorized and notice when someone takes an unusual day off.

The hospital staff whatsapps about you to each other.

When you run into someone in the hallway they say "I heard you where here."

Staff from other departments come by just to say hello.