Life Without a 9 to 5

Those who work night shift are a little crazy, I'll admit it.
Those who work night shift in labor and delivery are a little crazier.
Our unit doesn't stop because the clinic closes or because most doctors are at home fast asleep.
We don't get to tuck our patients into bed for a night of quiet slumber like most people think we do.
While you're off in dreamland, we're dealing with every emergency and miracle you can imagine.

Fact: More babies are born at night.

We rearrange our entire lives to work night shift.
We eat, sleep and socialize on a completely different schedule.
Our idea of an "after work drink" is a mimosa at breakfast, not a cocktail at happy hour.
We eat "dinner" at 3 a.m.

How in the world do I manage to work night shift you ask?
*I'm an amazing sleeper. If there were an Olympic event for sleeping, I'd definitely win the gold. I can sleep anywhere, anytime and for any increment of time.
*I'm an even better eater! Breakfast for dinner isn't just a novel idea I get to do "for fun" every now and again, it's my life. My mind and body no longer think lasagna at 4 a.m. is weird or after sleeping for 9 hours, that eating a heavy meal of steak and potatoes for "breakfast" isn't normal.
*I have an amazing and understanding husband who works around my oddball schedule and never gives me grief when I'm wide awake at 3 a.m. on my day off, or am exhausted and feel like I need a 3 hour nap at 4 in the afternoon.
*I work with the best group of people who keep me awake and laughing from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., our 9 to 5.

To celebrate my fellow crazies this holiday season and in keeping with night shift tradition, we celebrate over breakfast! All holiday parties start at 8:15 a.m., right?

We had a delicious breakfast spread at Parcel 104.


There's a station to make your own waffle, a bountiful breakfast buffet, and an omelette bar.
Oh, and fresh squeezed orange juice to die for.

Rosemarie, Catherine and Judy at the breakfast buffet.


Judy, Kalei and Dolores at the omelette bar.


My B-E-A-UUUUTIFUL co-workers! Kylie and Kalei.


Anita and Dolores.


Jocelyn and Aimee.


Me and Catherine.


Esther and her husband, Wayne.


I couldn't manage without these people.


<3



We sacrifice a lot to work the "forgotten" shift...the shift no one gives a second thought about until they need us. We deserve to celebrate! If you know anyone who works the night shift, hug them and thank them for keeping the world running while you get in your beauty sleep.


(Big thanks to Maria, our night shift assistant manager, for all the pictures!)