Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Vet Life

When I got to work today I had the unpleasant experience of finding out I was scheduled until 6, not 4. If they told me about this change (to cover while my boss is on vacation) I don't remember it. Only 2 doctors for a long full day.

I had an extraction scheduled first thing for a dog with an abcessed molar that was causing his face to swell. There were 2 hours allotted for that. I saw an early morning walk in, pulled the molar and another premolar next to it within the scheduled time, then we flipped the dog. Another Xray revealed the other molar was starting to abcess as well. I called the owner and they agreed the other tooth needed to come out, too, to prevent more facial swelling in the future. So I worked on that tooth AND saw appointments, took a short lunch, then returned for the afternoon slam. Left work at 6:30, home at 7:15. Greeted by bowl of pasta, prepoured glass of red wine, 2 bathed tooth-brushed happy naked children and husband who was unloading/reloading the dishwasher. WOW.

Mostly my family is very supportive and understanding of my job. But last week Anna said, "I want you to change your schedule. I want you to work NO days." I told her, "Well, there are a couple of problems with that, Anna. I really like going to work and the animals need me. And, if I didn't work, you couldn't go to school." Anna said, "Eeek! But I love my school!" I told her she would just have to enjoy me taking her and picking her up 2 days a week.

Other days she says when she grows up she wants to be an animal doctor just like me, so we can go to work together every day. She claims she will always live with us and will never want to move out. She says "We can take care of the animals together, and when it is time for lunch, I will ask you what to do!" I couldn't have dreamed up a better fantasy myself.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I remember Emily saying the same things; that she would never leave and she would always be physically close.........
Such a nice message Jenn. You really pang the heart with your retelling of thoughts and feelings.

Anonymous said...

My thoughts, exactly - dream on... Love, M

Anonymous said...

Our Anatolian shepherd has a broken canine tooth, and even though he broke the top half off 10 months ago, the pulp still hasn't died (i.e., it's still pink, which I guess is a bad thing). Our vet is going to "cap" the tooth and hopefully that will encourage it to heal. I asked if she just wanted to pull the tooth as he'd be knocked out anyway, she she told us a very grim tale of tooth roots extending into the jaw, having to dig around in the gum, and basically it sounded like an extraction would entail a backhoe and two sumo wrestlers. So he's keeping the tooth. I'm sure I saw the vet give a sigh of relief.

Anonymous said...

Gosh you must have been shattered Jenn. Isn't it lovely when the men folk pitch in!! It makes me laugh when you ask a guy to "put the kettle on" i.e. make a cuppa, half an hour later they are sat next to you on the couch and you are beverage free. You ask them what happened, you get a blank look, all they did was to actually "put the kettle on"!! End of story!! I really didn't want to leave home either, I had it too easy. Mum and I worked literally round the corner from each other and we could pop and see each other pretty much all the time. I left when I bought my first house at 25. I still have to see them or talk to them every day!!! I have always been a "home bird".

Anonymous said...

Wonderful stuff,Jenn!!!Anna sounds a really well brought up young lady ('course look who she got for a Mom) and Anth. having a glass of red ready for you with my favourite..PASTA..mmm nice lot of Folks you have here,Jenn. writing on your super Blog.xx

Jessica said...

Crazy work day! How do you do it? It's so cool that Anthony helps out so much. It seems to me that you two are a great couple! (Granted, I have really no experience with married life at all.) Anna is the sweetest! When I used to babysit her in the summer she used to tell me how she was going to be a vet like you! It was so cute! (I think that's why she loves playing doctor so much!)