Hi, y'all!
 Cathching up on posts and I just had a few comments to share...
 To Pat: Full moon?  No, the last one was Thurs. Dec. 3, the next one is   
Dec. 31.   If you ever need to know again, just ask a Labor and Delivery   
nurse,  they keep track.
 To Susan: Great suggestion of giving them Tom Hale's book. My   
counterpart and I were so tired of argueing the subject with pharmacy,   
anesteiology , etc. that we are purchasing a number of them to go to each   
department that works with the moms and babies.  Merry Christmas!
 To Kathleen:  chocolate is the first food group; all the rest have moved   
down on the list.
 To Andrew: Welcome!  We need more like you. The quote you put about
" we've always done it that way" reminded me of a story .  When I was   
working at
a small hospital  I noticed alot of what they were doing didn't make   
sense.  Whenever I asked for a rationale, the only answer I could get was   
"because that's they way we've always done it".  Finally one day I   
blurted out:"Well, maybe you've always done it wrong!"
 One of my coworkers told me this story: When she cooked a ham for dinner   
she always cut off  part and threw it away.  One day her teenage daughter   
asked her why she threw it out, "Isn't that part good mom?", she asked.   
 "Gee, honey, I guess so.  I do it this way because my mother always did.   
 I never asked why.  Maybe we should ask your Grand mother."
The next time Grandma came over they asked her why she always cut off the   
back part of the ham and threw it away.  "I don't know," she replied,   
"that's the way my mother always did it."   Well, as it turns out Great   
Grandma was still alive in a local nursing home.  The next time they   
visited they asked her "Grandma, why, when we were growing up, and you   
cooked a ham for dinner, did you cut off the back and throw it away?"   
 Her answer: "Well, honey, it was too big for the only pot I owned."
 I think of this story (and often tell it), whenever someone gives me the   
old "thats the way we've always done it" response.  I try to remember   
that we were all ignorant once. Gasp!  I was one of those student nurses   
who pushed glucose water and told mothers to bottle feed at night so they   
could get some rest!  Aaarruuggghhh!  I try to remember that someone   
else's ignorance isn't always ugliness and that they may have good   
intensions and need my (tactful) education.
 Lastly, to Laurie and her mom:  Don't worry. it's kids like you who will   
grow up to change this world.  And it is kids like you who restore my   
faith in the future.
Way to go!
 Happy Holidays everyone!
    Kathy in Wash. D.C.