I started a new rotation on Monday…Pediatrics!  As many of you know, when I decided I wanted to be a doctor I thought I wanted to go into Pediatric Oncology.  That was my plan for a really long time.  I have always loved kids.  I think they are so energetic and so fun.  And, obviously, I love having my own kid and can’t wait to have some more!

So why did I change my mind?  At the end of college I ended up being a nanny for 2 years.  It was a lot of fun, and the kids I nannied for were just amazing.  But it could be really exhausting at times.  Kids are a lot of work.  They have more energy than I do, and it never seems to run out.  Somewhere along the way I just realized that there was a difference between liking kids and wanting to work only with kids all day every day.  I just knew there was no way I could spend all day with kids and be able to come home and have anything left for my own kids.

At least that’s what I tried to explain to my preceptor on Day 2 of the rotation when he told me that I should really think about going into Peds.  Such a nice compliment to receive, especially on the same day as I received a not-so-great evaluation from my last preceptor (but that’s a story for another blog post).

So far I am enjoying my rotation, but it is really just solidifying my decision to go into Internal Medicine.  Kids are so fun, but I can’t help but miss Anika every time I see a little baby.  It’s hard not to compare her to every other 6 month old who comes into the office – especially those who are already standing up and cruising (grrrr).

My main goal this month is to not get sick.  At least half of the patients we see are sick kids with sinusitus or pharyngitis and they cough right in your face (bless their cute little hearts).  It feels like I have been washing my hands a hundred times a day.   At least I am getting better at looking in ears and throats!

We’ve also gotten to see some really cool cases, such as a boy who had 2 X chromosomes and 2 Y chromosomes (which I didn’t even know was possible), a child who developed a tic with no other symptoms who then tested positive for Strep, and a little kid with mastocytosis.

So even though I’m not going to be a Pediatrician, I am still enjoying my month with the kiddos!