Ponderings of Dr. DiCamillo

Errors

2011-03-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

Okay-now I can't edit my spelling errors. I hate technology!!

Technology

2011-03-08T09:53:00.001-08:00

Well, google decided to update its sites and for a while I have been unable to access my blog. This time I didn't have my daughter help, although she probably would have figured it out. I actually used my web master. It was so simple even though what he told me and supposedly what google told me were the same thing. His explanation was just in plain English. Technology can be great, but between our connection to our billing being interuppted daily, our credit card site being unaccessible, etc... sometimes I really hesistate with going forward.

These last two months, I have had to deal with my insurance claims being rejected due to their computer cliches. I have tried to wait patiently to be re-imbursed for care for my patients. It got a little concerning at one point when my working cash flow was down. I needed to still pay bills. With this economy, it has been concerning for all, and to add technology issues to the stress, it doesn't help.

Yes, I would like to have electronic health records, but with these last issues, it makes it concerning. Finally, the cost is way beyond the scope of this practice. Maybe in time, but not at this time. I will stick to my paper charts and limited use at this time for vaccine registries, cell phone, e-mail, websites, etc...

Someday.....but will it be like science fiction and the computers will see us as the "cliches" in life.

No rest for Mom

2010-11-24T06:28:00.000-08:00

As a pediatrician, I am always reminded how moms will get sick from their children, but they must take care of everyone else. Last week I got a sinus infection after catching a cold from my children. I seem to only get sick from my kids, but they of course, lay all over me with their sick sharing germs. My daughter got sick and she stayed home for two days to recover. My son slept more to recover. I had to continue to work and take care of them. I still even coached basketball feeling like my head was the bouncing basketball. (:

So moms! Hang in there. Try to rest when the kids allow it. You will make it through. I am getting better now and my head is no longer pounding.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Having a new baby

2010-11-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

Today, Joyce, Julie and I were reminiscing about our pregnancies and deliveries, but even those stories do not compare to what is like being a new mom. No matter what books you read, what training you have, it is scary. It changes you life from that day on.

First, you realize that you are responsible for this little human being that can't tell you what is wrong and why he/she has been crying for hours. Then you realize this breastfeeding thing is not so easy and natural as they say it is. That you and your beautiful baby have to figure this out together. Then you realize that you will never sleep again. Believe me even when they get their days and nights straightened out, you will be up for nightmares, night terrors, potty trips, colds, fevers, waiting until they get home from dates, etc...

BUT then that mysterious little baby smiles back at you for the first time........What can compare to this? It is the true miracle of birth. God gives us little gifts each step of the way in their development to encourage us a long. Isn't it interesting that at the same time they are learning "NO!", they are learning to say ma-ma, da-da, and then the first " I Luv you!"

Think about this when you feel that you can't make it any longer, and ask God to help you love them as much as you can possibly can.

Something New

2010-11-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

Well, many people have tried to get me on facebook. I decided to try this first. Today I was thinking about how my children are so different even though they came from the same parents and same background. I have three children in three different challenges of life. My oldest daughter is now 15 years old. She is my extrovert. She thinks she knows what it means to date even though she is not been on a date. She has a young man that they are friends, but they only see each other every few weeks at Christian acivities where they are well-supervised. She is also learning about growing up and adulthood. This is a very tough time. We all have been there, but each experience is different. I am so proud of her and how her faith in God is directing her through this time. I pray that both my training and my parental insticts better her.

My second daughter is 11 years old. She is just starting this journey and the emotional ups and downs. What is important to her is her passions such as soccer, basketball and cooking. She is just starting to try to figure what growing up is about. She has discovered a dry sense of humor. One night as I was going upstairs, I told her if she needs any help to ask daddy. As I turned the corner, I heard her slyly say, "What if I break my leg?" Mind you, I am her pediatrician. Her dad is a pastor. Her dad replied, " I would check to make sure you were okay and of course I would get your mother." What fun!

Lastly, my baby is now 5 years old. He hates that I call him my baby, but he is mommy's little boy. This is a fun age as they begin to understand sarcasm. We saw a halloween dsiplay that showed the legs of a man sticking out of the ground. My husband said, "Oh, look! That poor man fell off the roof and now is stuck in the ground." About a minute later I heard from the back seat the voice of my son saying, " Oh that is just a Halloween decoration." It had figured out that my husband was being sarcastic. We got a good laugh out of it.

Aren't children great? I love both my own children and the children that I care for in my practice. Have a great weekend.