There is a lot going on in this post...

Brooke in Wonderland tagged me:

1. open your first photo folder
2. now scroll to the tenth photo
3. post that photo and story on your blog
4. tag five friends to do the same

This is little J boy just a couple of months ago. It was the end of April and we went to the trot for tots. It is a 5k race to raise money for the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation. This organization was set up after a little boy was killed at our local hospital by a med error, his parents built this organization in an effort to raise money to build a children's hospital in town. Our local hospital is very well known, we fly children and babies in from all over the southeast, but we still can not get the money for a children's hospital (that rant is for another post).

Anyways, Shelley and Bill, both hospitalists at this hospital, ran the race to show their support and I watch the boys while they ran. They had a bounce house, which is something that all little boys love! This is baby J's first time in one of these, he was hysterical. As you can see in this picture, he can barely stand, he was on his way down when I clicked this one. He just kept laughing and laughing!!!

I'm tagging:

1. Shanna
2. Annie
3. Ashley Brooke
4. Julie
5. Camila

Anyways, here is a post for Shanna. She just posted a nursing shirt called "you know you're a nurse when." The shirt I am posting about today is "Top 10 reasons to attend nursing school:"

10. To hear, "If you're early, you're on time. If you're on time, you're late. If you're late, don't bother."
9. To expose yourself to rare, exotic and exciting new diseases.

8. To do enough charting to navigate the world.
7. To experience interesting aromas.
6. To learn which body fluids you can and can't work with.
5. To wear fashionable shoes and an attractive, white uniform. (We are more fortunate than most, we wear royal blue scrubs.)4. To learn with injections: "Tis better to give than to receive."
3. To learn how much sleep is actually required to function.
2. To learn how much free time you really do have. (At least with a lack of free time I generally spend less money.)
1. To become one of the proud, committed, caring RNs.

Ok, done done done!!! This was a mighty big post. Enjoy your Thursday, I am off and plan on spending a good amount of time reading My Sister's Keeper. :)

SYTYCD

I love this show, I love watching people dance. I wish I could dance, maybe one day I'll take classes, we'll see. I love watching contemporary, hip hop and some ballroom numbers. They are actually doing a bolliwood routine now and I am starting to like this style of dance as well. I am pretty sure they first started bolliwood dances last season and I think they are just so colorful and fun. Dance, to me, just seems like one of those sports that you need to throw everything into to be good at it. It can't be a part time job, it is full time and unfortunately you don't get paid very much for it, so you better be great!

I had team meds again today and loved it! I found a meds system that worked for me organizationally. The only thing I got noted for on my meds evaluation was remembering to go back into a room and hang a primary bag back up after the piggy back meds finished (I am sure only Shanna and Julie understood that); however, I think that is a bit silly. I mean once a piggy back runs out, the primary will start regardless of if it is hung low or back on the poll. I was giving meds to 6 patients and had a bit of other things to do then to remember to get back in there. I think I would have remembered if I were doing nursing care, but I was solely doing meds so I didn't have to go back into the room for any other reason. Whatev...14 days of summer semester left, not that I'm counting (323 days until graduation). I also got to remove a JP drain today which was wicked cool. It hurt me knowing I was hurting her, but she was a trooper and told me not to worry that it wasn't me hurting her, it was the procedure. What a sweet heart! Mind you in the bed next to her I had an incredibly grumpy old lady who bitched about the BP cuff saying that it just hurts her so badly, it is the worst thing we do here. Are you kidding me?!? I told her that if she sat still and stopped flailing around like she was on fire it wouldn't keep tightening. Silly...

Friday is a lecture on COPD and then I leave for Orlando with Super Sadie and Roman Noodle. Super will be super (lol) excited about going for a ride, she hasn't been in the car in a while. We will be spending the weekend with Prince Phillip and on Saturday afternoon for lunch, our parents will be meeting for the first time. That will be interesting. I am just so afraid it will be super awkward, I don't think there is anything I can do about it, so we'll see.

Happy Hump Day!

Up, Up, Up, 4 Stars!

Amazing!

Prince Phillip and I went to see Up on Saturday night. This was me studying hard...The movie was incredible, seriously, incredible. If you haven't seen it yet, take the one you love and go see it. The movie was such a wonderful example of true love. I cried, I cried in a G rated Pixar movie, really?!? Yep I did, I'd go see it again right now if I could.

Everyone should get up off the couch and go see it. I don't want to say any more about it because I don't want to ruin it for anyone. :)


Team meds today was great. It was Jamie, Travis and I on a floor all by ourselves doing no nursing care except for med passing. The three of us get along super well, probably the best of our clinical group. We're going to lunch tomorrow when we get off for time to chit chat and have a beer. My friend Jamie is breast feeding, so she's going to have to pump and dump it so little baby Ty wont get drunk. :)

I hung a bunch of IV meds, gave one subQ injection, passed a ton of PO meds, and I think that's it. We aren't allowed to give meds without our instructor, not even with our RN, so when we are on our normal floor we can't give meds except on our assigned meds day. I think I got 2 med days this semester and maybe 4 last semester, so having this opportunity to pass meds for 6 hours today and 5 hours tomorrow is great. I feel like a real nurse passing meds, because what I've noticed, RNs basically do procedures, admissions, d/c, assessments and pass meds. Obviously there is a bit more that goes into being an RN then just those 5 things, but that's the gist.

Have a great Tuesday night. :)

Another blip in posting, stupid exams.

I'm joining Holly's thrift store Thursday, even though this post wasn't made today. :)



Posting on the weekends is tough for me since it the the little time I have with Prince Phillip. Oh yeah, and something about having a test Monday morning and a 13 page paper due Monday morning affected my I should be blogging time.

Friday was a tough day. I was just exhausted, probably more emotionally then anything else, but I was sleepy. I called PP Friday on my way home from my med pass lab and was crying about something stupid and Phillip sent me home for a nap. I woke up much happier. Friday night PP and I went to Olive Garden, I was craving their bread sticks. I can't really tell you why, but they were tasty! Then we headed to Target because I needed some stuff, cat litter, cat treats, I also picked up Scrabble because I had been wanting to play. Well the Scrabble that I wanted was the one that holds the pieces in place, but that one was $35, so I settled on the $15 one. We went home and play! It was a great time and then we had a wonderful rest of the evening.


Saturday morning I woke up and headed out with Nood on our garage sale fun. We got a lamp ($3) that I am going to paint a different color and put on my vanity; we got a storage chest ($5) that was super ugly that I am going to refinish and make it a bench for the kitties and it has storage on the inside and I will probably put all my pet blankets and beds in there; we also got a bag of Thomas the Train toys ($5) for the boys--they were a hit, because it wasn't until we put the entire set together that we realized that the trains are battery opperated and ran along the tracks themself; and, the last thing we got....your going to have to keep going to find out-->




Look what I found!! It was sealed, brand new!! I got it for $3. The best part is that it was the one that holds the letter pieces in place. I am was so freaking excited. Needless to say, total spent at garage sales was $16 and I returned the $14.99 Scrabble game to Target and with tax got $16 put back on my card. WASH!

The rest of Saturday was pretty relaxing. I went to the boys house from 10-5ish. It was wonderful. I love them. Shelley and Bill went to go see a house they were interested in and then joined Ashley and Chip at the hospital. Madison is doing wonderfully. She was finally allowed to drink some juice which made her very happy. Shelley was also going to try to get Madison up and moving around. She is still NPO because she has no bowel sounds, hopefully getting her up and walking around will wake her bowels up. (It did! She is no longer NPO and they are talking about d/c her today 6/8.) Phillip and I headed out to Las Margaritas for dinner, tasty as always.

Sunday was a pretty blaza day. I got up studied a bit after I took the dogs out, fell back asleep until about 1015. I then got up and headed to PetSmart like I promised Gail I would. I didn't get much accomplished there. I was supposed to finish note cards, I did. That was it. I then headed home and pretended to study and by pretending to study I ate pizza and took a nap. PP left a bit earlier with some excuse about wanting me to study...lameo. Well instead of studying I finished the paper and then went and met Meghan at Perkins to study. We were there until about midnight and did get a good amount of studying done. I tried to flip through my cards a bit more once I got home but was falling asleep about 0115. I gave up and called it a night.

Then today, I had a stupid test. I got a B...another B...I have a solid B in the class, surprised! Yeah no, not so much. Then after a terrible lecture on HTN Meghan and I went to go run some errands. We hit up B&N and I bought two new doggie magazines, then went to Old Navy where I exchanged one of the skirts I bought pair of shorts, then we hit up Target were we of all things had lunch! We each had an icee, shared a pizza and had a chocolate chip cookie. Yum! I had to go to return the scrabble game, yay! I also picked up my no baby medicine. :)

On my way home I swung my JoAnn's to pick up fabric to recover the storage thing and also foam padding to make the top part a seat for the kitties. Well I was in a rush because I was metting someone at my house in like 20 minutes. I grabbed what I needed, fabric for the top, fabric for the bottom and foam padding, so lets count together, that's 3 things...$82! Are you shitting me!! Well I didn't have time to figure that all out so I figured I would when I got home. Well I decided I would just return the 3 yards of fabric I was going to use to cover the bottom, which was $34, and then it would be much more affordable. I'll return that tomorrow. Anyways...

When I got home I was waiting on my vanity to be delivered, I'll refinish that when I have money, which is not this week. I also redid the storage thing I bought on Saturday. I was quite excited about it. Here it is:


:) I like it...

Friday

I am done with this week, thank God! I felt like I was on the verge of a nuclear melt down. Yesterday I had rehab which was actually a lot of fun. It was bit depressing since my two patients were stroke patients, it just is sad to see what some people end up becoming. I learned a lot from the speech therapy team, and the interdisciplinary meeting was pretty cool.

However, at speech yesterday, I had my phone in my pocket because I was waiting for Shelley to call me with an update on Madison's surgery when I got an email from Prince Phillip. He had received an email from his mom that basically said "your father's condition is deteriorating; his tumors have tripled in size in 1 week; the tumors are visible now; please try to take time when we get there next week to all take your father out individually." Not really what you want to hear. I got that at 0900, which was the time that the therapies began. I am selfishly sad for myself, I am very sad for Phillip and I'm sad for our kids, they will never have known him. I bought a book for Phillip to sit down with his Dad and fill it, it basically goes through his whole history and documents it. It goes through childhood, college, how he met Sherry, having kids, advice, etc. I think that having that will at least be a nice thing we have for our children.

After I got out of rehab at 1300, I headed straight to the boys house. I talked to Shelley on the way, Madison was still in surgery (which had gotten started about 0815) they had already removed her entire right kidney/tumor, and were in the process of putting a port in--she was doing well. I got to their house only to find that Brooke had completely messed up the little ones' schedule. Both of the babies (Jackson and Madison's 9 week old brother Fenn) had jsut woken up for a namp at 1300 which is when they were supposed to be going down. Is it really that hard to follow a schedule?!?! Whatever. Cooper was wonderful, he and Jackson were both super excited to see me (which is always nice), and I don't think there is anything much better then snuggling with a little tiny baby (and he is a fabulously happy baby)! Robbie got home pretty late, but was as sweet as always.

Shelley called me when Madison was getting up to the PI, she was doing well, had woken up agitated (which is expedcted) but other than that she was about to come home and she talked Ashley into coming home to sleep last night. Shelley and I talked a bunch and then after we put all 4 boys to bed early and we waited for Ashely to get out of the shower. Once she was out we basically just let her know that if a baby is going to get cancer this is a good one to get. If she were to have gotten leukemia or something like that it isn't like you can take out her bone marrow. We told her that Madison is going to be great. Ashley asked if we thought it was stupid to think that Madison would be "cured (in remission) by her third birthday" and I told her that I didn't think it would be stupid to think she'd be in remission by Christmas. She is due to have 20 round of chemo that would put her ending just before Thanksgiving. I think it is completely possible. We told her that she and Chip, if no one else, has to have hope. She was also telling me that she was so sad that Madison would be going through this and how hard this is going to be on her, and I told Ashley that this is going to be by far more traumatic for her and Chip then for Madison. I mean they will access the port, she will cry, you'll give her a lollipop, put on a movie, and all will be right in Madison's world. She won't even remember this ever happened.

Anyways, sorry about all this terrible cancer talk--unfortunetly it affects more for people then I'd like.

Love always Hopes.

Please pray...

I just got a call from Shelley (the mom of the boys I nannyed for) to tell me that her niece, Madison (who I also babysit for), was just diagnosed with a Wilms' tumor. This is a metastatic form of cancer that usually effects children around age 3. This is a kidney tumor, it was found via a lump on her mid back by her ribs. From the CT done the tumor looks 6 cm big; however, Shelley thinks it looks a bit bigger to her (Shelley is a pediatric hospitalist and Bill (the boys' Dad) is a pediatric ENT).

They have her scheduled for the first surgery of the day tomorrow morning 0800. They will be moving her entire right kidney tomorrow and then sending the tumor down to pathology. From the looks of the CT scan the tumor looks to still be in stage 1 because no metastisis can be seen; however, we will know more tomorrow following the pathology report.

Anyways, all I ask is if you pray, to please pray. Pray for Madison, her parents and her baby brother. Madison just turned 2 March 28, so she is just a baby.

Done!

I finished my nursing home rotation today. Believe it or not, I had a good day today. Apparently the patient I had was an agoraphobic (she fears going out in public places) and hasn't left her room in a few weeks and today, I got her to come to arts and crafts. She had a great time. I like seeing people improve, it makes me feel like I am doing well. My patient asked me if I could stay longer or if I was coming back tomorrow, I had to tell her "no." Telling her no actually made me feel sad because I was her to continue to improve--hopefully someone else will figure out how to break through with her. I am an A student in the clinical setting but a B student with the books. I wish I could figure out how to get an A on these stupid tests!

I picked up the pics for Nood's (as Shanna pointed out not everyone know's who that is, it is Roman Noodle's nick name) scrapbook and bought an 8.5x11 scrapbook. I was in the store and looked at the 8x8 and I realized that I wouldn't be able to journal anything so I stepped it up a notch! I was planning on doing one separate for Nood and one seperate for Super (Super Sadie is my other dog, she is a Saint Bernard) but looking through all of Super's pictures I just don't have enough for an entire album. Sadie is afraid of the camera (I know, quite strange) so I think I am just going to do a puppy album and a kitty album.

I planned on coming home tonight and working on my paper or studying and I haven't...whoops. I think I am going to go try to spend the next hour or so working on that paper, I just want to finish the damn thing! Tomorrow I have a 2 hour break between rehab and watching the boys and I think I am going to go try to finish up my note cards for Monday's test. Ah!! So much school not enough play time. T-minus 21 days until my 2 month summer break, I can almost taste the freedom.

It's a Dog's life

Today I sent 45 pictures of Roman Noodle to be printed. I am going to do an 8x8 scrapbook of him. My scrapbook that had probably close to 60 pages in it disappeared in 2006. I was crushed...I haven't scrapbooked since. I'm ready to start again, and I figured his book is a good one to start with. I am going to do an 8x8 of him, an 8x8 of Super, an 8x8 of my NYC trip...etc. We'll see, starting with someone so freaking cute would be good motivation. I'll take pictures of the pages as I go, I wont be starting until after my test next Monday.

I had my first nursing home visit today, ick. I obviously can't say anything specific about my patient, but just shoot me before I have to end up in a place like that. It isn't a beautiful assistive living facility, it's a stinky nursing home...yuck!

I went to pick up Jodi's kids and then worked on my nursing home paper there, I already have 7 pages of it written, not too bad. I probably have 2 or 3 more pages to write and then my NPR to attach of diversional activity deficit...woo-hoo!

Tomorrow I'm done after the nursing home and will head home and work on note cards, then on Thursday I'll finish up my paper, I need to divide my time efficiently.

Well all my beautiful babies are in bed with me and I think they need me to leave for some cuddle time. :) Love cuddle time!

Ick, Mondays!

Today I sat through a lecture on Alzheimer's Disease, let me tell you, just don't get old! Then I had a math test that I got a 95%, a bit bummed because it was a stupid mistake. I wrote my answer as 200 mLs when it should have been 200 mLs/h. Whatever!

Then, way better than class, I went shopping! Meghan and I headed to Old Navy because I had a $50 off $100 coupon, how rocking is that?!?! I bought 5 skirts and 2 shirts. I meant to post pictures tonight, but forgot when I was babysitting tonight. They are adorable, I am so excited to wear them and be super cute. :)

Meghan and I also went and perused through Michael's, we decided on summer projects. We are going to get our scrapbooks up to date. We both are going to do one from out NYC trip, one from nursing school and then catch up on my personal ones. I am taking extra babysitting jobs to pay for my fun!! Oh and we are refinishing a piece of furniture. We are both keeping our eyes out for something that strikes us and then it will take up residency in my garage. Since her hubby, Graham's, med school rotation is in Jax he will be gone all weekdays in July and August we will have play time!! I am personally looking for a little desk or something like that to refinish into a vanity that I can place and hang a beautiful beveled mirror over it. If you know or see anything, holler my way!!

:) Yay for the nursing home tomorrow. 5 hours ins't too bad, but then I have to pick up Jodi's kids to watch them for 3 and a half hours or so. It wont be too bad, hopefully I will get this nursing home paper written tomorrow night so it's done when Prince Phillip comes to town.

(Side note, BTW, I am watching the Bachlorette tonight and Jillian has rocking legs! Definitely legs to strive for.)

Sunday

Sunday has come and gone all too quickly. I wish I could slow some days down and speed up others. Today I got up early, took a practice math test, blinged out some planters with the help of my special bloggy friend CG, made Phillip lunch for the week (chicken enchiladas), took a nap, worked on my NPR, went for Mexican, then putzed for basically the rest of the evening. It was nice.

I wanted to throw these pictures of my new planters in, I hope you like them.

The supplies: 3 plastic pots, 2 different color spray paints, the spray gun handle thingy, beaded marbles, waterproof silicon rubber stuff, and of course, missing from the pictures, flowers.
Here they are paints...
Then bejeweled #1.
Bejeweled #2, I think this one might need a bit more.
Bejeweled #3.
All three of them together.
Here they are with the prettiest touch of all. #1.
#2.
#3.
Lastly, all three of them together.