MIA

I have been missing in action for some time....Unfortunately there is isn't much to report. We've been busy as can be with work, school, and church. I have a new calling in Primary (sunday school), and yesterday was my first day. I have a group called the Valiant 10, which are the kiddos that are 9 going on 10. I enjoyed it - there were 5 youngsters and while I just observed for my first day I am ready and excited to go!!

At school we are finishing up our 12 hours shifts atop our class work, going to class and managing tests/homework. It's been tough, but we are almost at the end of the semester!! Woo hoo!!!!

At the end of the semester we are going to Orlando and do the whole Disneyworld, Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center, Parasailing, blah blah experience. We are super excited for this, and can't wait. It's been too long since I've seen THE Mouse!




So I've been exercising my little behind off in preparation. I have acquired a newfound love of exercising. I hate going to the gym (too many germs, sweat, and people). I had thoroughly exhausted my stash of Tae Bo videos...I'd done regular tae bo, tae bo with "Billy balls", Billy's boot camp and tae bo with billy bands. I went to Borders hoping for something more...Justin tells me "Why do you keep buying the new videos they are all the same moves."




I knew he was right, but I persisted. However, I have now moved on to Jillian Michaels. Her videos rock!! I have been doing them in rotating fashion and they leave me SORE the following day....I highly recommend them.

(This is pretty much what I look like now....)

How many times can YOU say the "F" word?

Yesterday was our first full shift at the hospital - 7:00 am to 7:30 pm - FUN! As Justin headed up the stairs I entered the 7th circle of hell. I was not stoked about having to do this shift on Sunday, and had explicitly told my instructor that I did not want to work on Sundays. Soooo, guess who has to work 3 Sundays? Yup, me. We have to work 4-12 hours shifts and 3 of mine are on Sunday (well one is Saturday night which spills into Sunday morning). I had no choice. I dealt with it. This is Justin's only weekend shift. Super.

So I go onto the unit and meet my preceptor/instructor for the day. I'm supposed to be assigned a patient to take care of for the day, but the unit is super slow and they have tons of empty beds. So I just follow her around for the day so I can get maximum exposure to all the fun stuff!! I made it through the day unscathed except for my poor little ears and eyes (Ears from hearing and eyes from bulging out of their sockets). I literally heard the "F" word 1,208,098,0942 times yesterday, the "B" word 948,0923 times, "Sh" 983,982,0992,0945 times, "GD" 453,9425 times and the list goes on and on.

I heard so much vulgarity in that shift - more than when I have worked with adolescents in the psychiatric hospital, more than when I went to the juvenile detention centers, and the jails. Who knew health care "professionals" had such potty mouths!! At the end of the day they turned to me and said, "We hope we haven't offended you today." I was at a loss for words - so I blurted out - "I'm not usually around a lot of cursing so it was kind of hard, and I don't curse sooo..." They all looked at me like a bunch of stunned banshee's - "Oh, that's weird," one of them so eloquently stated and then they turned and continued on in their ways. I stood there and happily thought - "They think I'm weird.....what a relief!" Not fitting in made me proud....I AM WEIRD never sounded so good!!

Thank you for not listening....

toothpastefordinner.com

This is exactly how I felt yesterday. I couldn't really pinpoint what my problem was with people, however it was one of those days when you felt like everyone is out to get you (does everyone have those days or is it just me??). You know, those days when nothing goes your way, and your best efforts are always short. The days when you are SUPER nice to people but they are real butt-heads to you. The days when you go out of your way for others and it's not enough. The type of day when you look at your bank account and you are soooo proud of how much you saved, and then the car breaks down. The days when you rush home to see your favorite TV show, and it's a rerun or the State of Union address is showing (yeah, not big into politics). The type of day when your own cat hisses at you. The days when you look in the mirror and think "I look great" and then you go out and someone asks, "When are you due." You know, a day when no one holds the door open for you even when you are 2 steps behind them. Yeah that was my day...I hate it when people do that stuff.

All in a day's work.......

I have learned a lot of things in the nursing program and have done things I NEVER dreamed of doing. However, today was a BIG day of firsts for me.... In addition to my regular duties of giving out medication, taking vitals, bringing people blankets, changing people's "briefs," reassuring family members, telling people "I'm not sure but I'll find out for you," and filling out paperwork.....

I hung my first IV Piggyback (for "reals" not for pretend like in the classroom!).....

Took my first CBG's (Blood glucose test) and gave my first round of insulin.....
AND!!!!!! Put in my first foley catheter -- which is one of the things I feared most doing. It is a "Sterile" procedure which means everything comes in a little kit (see below) and everything in the kit is sterile and I must keep it that way. The gloves go on special way and you can only touch certain things once the gloves are on. I practiced a thousand times before on a mannequin but never on a real life person !!! See steps below:


So needless to say I think it was a good learning day. I almost had to give an enema but I ran out of time (secretly I'm happy I missed out on this first)....Well there is always tomorrow!!!

In your professional opinion...

Friday Justin and I went for a visit with my PCP - I've had ongoing health issues that have not been fully resolved for the past 5 years. We went to see this PCP last July and he was not very helpful, and so the fact that I anticipated a different outcome on Friday was a pure set up for failure on my part. We get to the hospital to check in and we were excited to see that there are now self registration kiosks!! So we skip on over to the kiosk and the sign says "Self registration from 8 am - 5 pm" we glance at our watches to see it is 815 am - Just in time to self register! We are met by a woman saying we can't check in until 800 am and she's having some trouble with the computers. She makes us get in the "regular" check out line because it's not yet time to self register. We wait in line and finally she waves us over and tells us we can self check in - it was fast and easy. Too bad it wasn't any faster than standing in the "regular" line. We are called back to the doctor's office within a few minutes of our arrival. The "nurse" called us back and proceeded to tell me what she wanted me to do without ever speaking to me. She pointed to the scale but never said a word. Pulled out the blood pressure cuff but never said she was going to take my blood pressure. I gave her the benefit of the doubt that she was simply mute. She left, without a word of course, and left Justin and I to sit and wait The doctor comes in and I tell him that the complaints I presented with in July are still present and I'm back to address them like he instructed. Of course he had NO clue what my "previous complaints" were so we had to start all over. I hate going to this doctor, not sure why I persist other than it takes too long to get established with a PCP in this town, because he always seems to not believe me. He will write down my symptoms but his facial expressions and "um-hum" and "Oh's" are those of disbelief. Then he tells me, "Well the first step is to do a pregnancy test - do you think I should do that? I mean it's protocol, but do you think we should do it?" He goes on with this question for a few moments, and finally I say, "Let's just do it." So I go do the test, and he comes back and informs me that is the only test in the family practice protocol he can order today so he suggests I go to a specialist. However, he tells me that it will take me months to get in and shows me to the front desk, "She'll help you make your next appointment if you're nice enough," and he walks off!!! So I approach the counter and tell her what I need and she promptly gives me a phone number, "Call this number to make the appointment - Have a great day!!" So much for the help making the appointment, or maybe I wasn't nice enough. So to sum it up - I woke up at 730 am on a Friday - the Friday of my 2 day spring break (yes 2 days) - to pee in a cup and to be given a phone number. In my professional opinion I think I should have slept in, and opened up the local phone book.

HOT Tamales!!

Last weekend we made homemade tamales for the first time!! Here are some pics of them in the pan (Which we had to buy special - at Target of course) and of the finished products! They were super yummy but SOOOOO much work. Good thing we now have 10 dozen!!!