Post-"work"tum Depression

As some of you may know, I started working this past week(FULL-TIME). And I must admit that I am suffering from an acute case of Post-"work"tum Depression. Post-"work"tum Depression is a new term I coined that is very similar to Post Partum Depression.

This is my definition of Post"Work"tum depression:

Post-worktum depression is moderate to severe depression in a woman after she starts working for the first time after becoming a mother. It may occur soon after the start date or up to a year later. Most of the time, it occurs within the first 3 months after hire date. 

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

• Women commonly have mood changes during new hire phase, especially after arriving home after a long day away from her baby. These mood changes may be caused by changes in hormone levels. However, many non-hormonal factors may also affect mood during this period:
• Changes in your body from not having time or energy to workout, run, go to the gym, or go for a walk.
• Changes in work and social relationships-or lack there of since you no longer have time to meet with friends you used to have.
• Having less time and freedom for yourself and doing the things that MATTER TO YOU
• Lack of sleep
• Worries about your ability as a mother since you are seeing your child 10-12 hours A WEEK.

Feelings of anxiety, irritation, tearfulness, and restlessness are common in the week or two after hire date. These feelings are often called the post-worktum or "working mommy blues." These symptoms almost always go away soon, without the need for treatment. A lot of mothers experience this but "get used" to their new life, adjust, and do what they have to do.

I know millions of women have balanced work, life, and MOMMYHOOD before me...and I will too. But the thing about feeling this way is that I don't see how it's possible to adjust being away from your baby ALL DAY. But like post partum depression...this feeling shouldn't last FOREVER.....right?!?!?!

Christmas with Nico's Friends (in LA)

 Christmas with Alexander and Madeline....a couple weeks early since we'll all be in Florida for Christmas Vacation. We had a delicious breakfast with their parents while all the little ones speculated as to what their gifts were. They gave us a FONDU SET!!!

Alexander gave Nico the Trailer truck from the movie CARS...MAC who Nico LOVES!

Nico gave Alexander a search for Santa Activity Book....Kind of like a where is Waldo, but swap him for Santa! 

Nico gave Madeline Jungle Animal Puppets..which she LOVED!

Nico also got a THOMAS the TRAIN BOOK!!! Chuga-chuga-chuga-chuga-Tu-tu!

We all played with Madeline's Puppets!!!

Later that week we met up with our other neighbors, Ally and her mom to exchange Christmas Gifts!

I made Ally a TuTu for Christmas....since she loved dancing =)

Nico is very fortunate to have so many nice baby(not so little anymore) friends!!!!

EEG DAY

Today went as well as it could...we have to wait for the results...but Nico did his part GREAT!

5:00am we were up and hanging out watching CARS 2 (again).


5:30am- Nico finished eating breakfast--which would be his last meal until after the exam.

7:30am- drank his last milk 

9:00am- drank his last Apple juice

9:30am- We were in the first waiting room all checked-in and ready for our hospital visit

10:30am- we went into the second waiting room where he was weighed and given a SWEET ELEFANT and CLOWN hospital gown. We read some books and played with Talking Tom on mommy's IPHONE.

11:30am we were in the EEG room. On the way there Nico said Hi to EVERYONE he saw...and said WEEEEEEE all the way down the hall as he was rolled on the big "crib" to the EEG room. Everyone laughed and smiled!

12:15pm The EEG started.





1:30pm the test was over. And Nico slowly started to awaken from his little nap. I don't know anything about the test since the TECh didn't say ANYTHING at all (i know he's not allowed to, but still....he could have given me a thumbs up or down at least). On our part, the test went well! Nico was a trooper without sleep and food......it almost seemed like it didn't even phase him!!

He was only upset when they started puncturing his arm to put the IV in (about 10 mins- 3 pokes on two different arms). And then when he got up from the exam he was half asleep half awake for about 15 mins---during that time he was upset at the EEG TECH....but soon after....he was happy as a butterfly. As we left he said bye to all the doctors and nurses and other patients, the elevator, the hallway, and the christmas trees.

My pumpkin bread is such a trooper. I'm so proud of him! When we go home, he wanted to go night night in the Wagon/Train that abuelo made him.

Hopefully tonight Nico can get 2 nights of well deserved rest!! Te amo mi rey!!!

We have to wait about a week or so to get the results and will work from there with the doctors to see what the next step is...but he's doing great! On our way home from the Hospital, Nico and I stopped at Santa Monica Catholic Church to say hi to Baby Jesus and thank you for watching over Nico and all of us. And as we were leaving, Nico said bye bye baby Jesus.

Work- update, NEW JOB #2

So as I mentioned in the November update, I started working at the Optomologists office on Monday Nov.28, and by friday I had a very enticing second offer. Here's how it went down.

On Thursday, December 1st I went in to the 2nd Job and to my surprise---I clicked with my new boss! I was really impressed with the environment, the organization, and the TEAM feeling.....the pay was significantly higher as well....WHICH MADE MY STOMACH CHURN!

I hadn't found a job in 2 years and here I was almost a week into my new job and I had a second offer that was a little closer (5 mins from Nico's Daycare),  More flexible hours, and better pay...with great benefits...HOW WAS I SO LUCKY yet feeling so TORN!

I thought about it carefully on the weekend and Monday morning I went into the Opthamologist office and apologized and then told them that I had decided to take another job offer. I felt terrible because I was doing exactly what so many employers have told me in the past two years...."i'm going in a different direction".  As I walked out of the office I broke down crying. of course a million questions rushed through my head...what if i didn't make the right choice, what if this was the better job, what if I jumped the gun.....but then I tried to calm myself down (and hope that no one who worked at the office would walk out of the elevator). I don't know why I cared so much about an office full of people that I had really only known for  less than 1 day (20hrs).....but I DID CARE, and it made me sad to walk out.

On the drive home, my day got a little better and I realized all the benefits that came with my decision. I had time this week to spend with my dad before he leaves, hangout with Nico and take him to his EEG Thursday, and TO FINISH up some last minute adjustments to re-submit to the publishers before starting FRIDAY MORNING at my 2nd NEW JOB--which I already have my work outfit picked out for!!

I'm excited, and ready to work---for real now---well for a week, and then I'll take a 2 week vacation! HAHAH, gosh I have a funny life! =)

Neurology Update

Please keep Nico in your prayers!

Tomorrow we are going in to the UCLA Hospital to get an EEG with Sedation for Nico. He can't have food 6hrs before, no milk 4 hours before, no water 2 hours before, and has to have no more than 5 hours of sleep the night before---HE IS NOT GOING TO BE A HAPPY CAMPER!!

We are going to get the EEG because about a month ago he had a seemingly unprovoked seizure. The seizure itself is not that dangerous however...it can be a result of other things.

Overview: Many children who experience a first seizure may never experience a second seizure. However, a seizure may be the initial presentation of a more serious medical condition or subsequent epilepsy. Epilepsy is a condition in which a child has 2 or more seizures without a proximal cause for the seizures (unprovoked seizures).

So the doctors who saw him at the hospital in San Diego, his pediatrician, and a pediatric neurologist all recommended that we go ahead and do the EEG to see if there is any seizure activity in his brain that could have caused this event.

However, unless there's LOTS of seizure activity (which they don't foresee there being)--in which case an anti seizure medication would be recommended; there is nothing to do for minimal seizure activity(if it's even found). It will just be for out knowledge....and to help the doctors gather more info.

Giving a definitive prognosis after a single seizure is difficult, but some general rules do apply, based on epidemiologic data. 

Prognosis: In general, children who have a single, short, generalized seizure along with normal neurologic development and normal findings on neurologic examination are estimated to have a 24% risk of having another seizure within 1 year and a 36% chance of having a second seizure within 3 years. In these children, if the electroencephalogram (EEG) is found to be normal, the risk of seizure recurrence is estimated to decrease to approximately 15% within 1 year and 26% within 3 years. If the EEG is found to be abnormal, approximately 41% will have another seizure within 1 year and 56% within 3 years.

It's scary, but like Peter said...don't start thinking crazy things until we have more info...and so I am calm and getting ready to help Nico be as calm as possible for a hunrey, tired, and restless toddler.

Abuelo's Workshop----on the balcony

Santa's workshop has nothing on Nico's Abuelo! My dad makes making things look easy! Especially because he works so fast!

So Abuelo came to visit Nico and mommy put him work....

He taught Nico some tips...maybe Nico will be the next in-line for the family business =)

Things abuelo did:

He fixed Nico's Toys

He fixed a Shelf in Nico's Bathroom

AND HE MADE NICO A WAGON/TRAIN!!!