A tribute to night shifters everywhere

It's been a little over a month since I clocked out from my last night shift...and I have never felt better! Nick and I have always agreed that my staying at home with our babies would be the right choice for our family, and have been planning accordingly since we decided to unite forces. I feel so incredibly thankful that God blessed me with my Nick. He works so hard to enable me to focus my energy and time on our family and our home...exactly what I believe God has called me to do. I feel that these past five years spent working as a nurse were to prepare me to care for our family.

This past summer, Nick and I had been functioning like passing ships in the night between him coming home from work late in the evening, work trips, deployments and flying until the wee hours of the morning and my night shifts and night-time call shifts...This left us with little interaction more than a high five many nights. He came home from work one night in mid-July and declared that he thought it would be best for me to resign sooner than later so that we might enjoy eachother's company before little miss arrives. He didn't have to tell me twice. I had my resignation letter drafted before he woke up the next morning, and after asking him to proofread it (and make sure he hadn't changed his mind in his sleep) I dropped it off before the ink was even dry. I gave my supervisors 7 weeks notice, because I decided I didn't want to tick anyone off seeing as how Emmy and I would soon be in their care :-P...

After putting in 16 months on night shift, I have such a huge appreciation for those who do it both full time and long term. The night goes by so quickly when we are tucked into bed sawing logs, but when you're awake--it feels like the sun will never rise. I truly believe that the human body is not meant to be functioning at that time of the day (or night, rather). A bunch of researchers agree with me because they've determined that there is a whole slew of health risks associated with long term night shift work to include diabetes, heart disease and even cancer... Pretty scary stuff!

Not to mention, adopting a schedule that is opposite from that of your friends and family can be miserable for your social life. Let's also not forget just how difficult it is to sleep during the day when the rest of the world is up and running (and mowing their lawns!!!) Unless you are good with only a few hours of sleep a night, it leaves you feeling like a grouch all the time (I have no doubt that Nick will concur with this point). You also have very little energy to put into your personal appearance, so, even though you know better, you're not afraid to go to the store wearing your pajamas with tousled hair and a naked face without having brushed your teeth...It's just not okay...In conclusion, I tip my hat to those people whose work day starts after we go to sleep, because without them, the world could not go 'round.

P.S. Might I also suggest that if you are ever using the services of night time nurses, keep them on your team (which is always a good idea) by offering them some chocolaty treats? Sweets always help to ease the discomfort of staying awake all night :-P.


I won't see the inside of this place after dark again until Emmy arrives!!