1:20 p.m. Keeping with the theme of self-neglect, I take five bites of my leftover rice from E.Z Tiger before I lose my appetite. It’s my own fault, though, because I hate reheating leftovers.
5:45 p.m. Earlier, my husband suggested I make soup for dinner, which is unheard of. Not only does he not cook, but he rarely gives me any idea as to what to make for dinner. Most of his contributions to meal planning occur as I am preparing the meal. Remember, he makes up for what he lacks in this department in other ways, and at least he recommended something, so I’ll take what I can get.
I had stumbled across a recipe from Half Baked Harvest (my lord and savior) for an orzo chicken soup that sounded good. To make it, I use the rotisserie chicken, organic kale, lemon, shallot, and yummy artisan cheese blend I bought earlier. I also add my own cream and chicken bouillon that I had on hand. Unfortunately, the soup is incredibly thick and is more of a pasta dish. It’s still good, but I make way too much and I don’t want to eat it for every meal for the next five days. I cannot make a proportionate meal for two for the life of me, especially when it comes to pasta! It’s the whole box of pasta or nothing at all!
Thursday total: $94.00
Friday
6:46 a.m. Another day, another dollar, another pre-shift fuel. I’m back at the hospital today so you already know my first pitstop is the coffee shop there, especially when I’m working on the floor unit today. Time to put on the critical thinking cap and turn the brain on for the ripe price of $4.50.
12:14 p.m. I packed a Quest bar ($2.25) for breakfast, but somehow it’s already noon and I’ve barely had two sips of water today, let alone made a dent in my coffee. Tending to my critical patients puts my own needs on the back burner, but my brain may shut down from lack of glucose, so I shove my face with the protein bar while I attempt to catch up on charting, or documenting patient care.
3:32 p.m. After taking my first bathroom break of the day—yikes—I barely make the time to eat my packed yogurt and my Perfect Bar. I did bring my typical store-bought salad, but I don’t have the time or the effort to eat it. When your patients depend on you to survive, you can’t afford to be away from the nurse’s station for too long. And even if you can sneak away, it’s rare that you feel like you can take your full 30 minutes. Back to the grind!
8:15 p.m. Today was hellish and my knees are FEELING it. Like, throbbing and pulsating from the constant power walking. I take a much-needed shower to destress, plop myself on the couch with my legs elevated on top of four pillows, and eat a small bowl of leftover pasta/soup. Then I become one with the couch.
Friday total: $4.50
Saturday
7:46 a.m. Saturday morning and the gang’s all here, all…day…long. I bought Annie’s Organic Cinnamon Rolls ($8.89) on Thursday, so we have cinnamon rolls with a side of strawberries ($19.98 for two large containers, previously bought; organic, but sheesh). I help myself to a bite or two of a cinnamon roll as I cut the babies’ rolls up. I want to take them to the indoor play area later, so I wait to fill up on mommy juice, a.k.a coffee, until we get there.
9:17 a.m. I get my iced half-sweet white chocolate Americano with oat milk from Play/Cafe, but I’m a little underwhelmed by the dark color and lack of creaminess ($5.00). Call me particular, but the perfect Americano has just enough milk to create a beautiful tan color—not murky, watered-down mud. But caffeine is caffeine and I paid $5.00 for it, so I drink it as I watch my children interact and frolic with the other toddlers, my baby girl toting around the baby dolls and my toddler boy flying down the slide at an ungodly speed face first into the tower of blocks he set up. It’s wholesome.
