Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Finally.

I get to go to Trinity Lake Friday after work. I am off work for most of three weeks. The better part of that time will be spent at the lake. The first week with Alex and Mitch, Kelly and Jody and kids and Lee. Then my sister comes for a week and then a friend or two will come up. I have never waited this long to get up there. Can't wait!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Gramma, Can You Wipe My Bum?

One of the many requests I've answered this weekend along with requests for treats, walks to the park and other fun. I've been babysitting while Kelly and Jody are on the Piorneer Trek. This weekend we've gone to Funky Monkey (think smaller version of Chuckie Cheese), Summer Nights on the Green in Downtown Windsor and got huge snow cones, went to the park near here twice and a park in Healdsburg once, watched Beethoven a couple of times and Bedtime Stories and had popcorn, gone to Baskin Robbins (I wanted Coldstone but was outvoted), and we even braved a trip to the outlets so I could go to Banana Republic and then Target. We have had a blast.
Things I've learned:
1. I can still handle it. I can get up early, accomplish a lot and enjoy three busy kids. But I HAVE to take naps with them and go to bed early at night. No staying up late for alone time anymore though.
2. I made cupcakes for Rylee's birthday tomorrow and some things have changed. I absolutely can't read the directions without finding my glasses. She came out with one cupcake she somehow managed to reach. It was all over her and her face. Two others were massacred. She is so fast!
3. Ammon is my dream helper. He has been a doll. I mentioned that he and Cohen would have to clean his room up before we went to the park. The We're just snext thing I knew, he was in there cleaning it up himself. He is so sweet and tender hearted. ??
4. Cohen talks more than anyone I know, even Sienna. When we are in the car, he starts talking and doesn't stop. I wish I could record him, it is seriously hilarious! He is also fixated on food and continually wants to talk about food and go get treats. I asked him just now if he wanted to snuggle with me and he said he'd go get the food. What food????? We're just snuggling!
5. Rylee is fast!! Whenever I tell her I need to change her diaper, give her a bath or comb her hair she is off and running and hard to catch! We were at the park and there was a five year old there with a stroller. Rylee had a Mickey Mouse doll. She threw her doll in the girls stroller and took off with it, leaving the 5 year old bawling. It was so funny. When I caught up with her and took the stroller away, she flung herself to the ground in despair. What a diva!
6. I CAN sleep with bodies close to me while I'm squashed in the middle.
7. It is impossible to keep a house clean with three little ones running around.
8. Some experiences are priceless. I could have worked the last two days and made almost a $1000 because it would have been extra pay. Opportunities to work will always come. Spending quality alone time with these three has been priceless. Exhausting, but priceless!

Monday, June 08, 2009

When You Know What Hits the Fan (Literally!) or the Nontypical Day of an RN

I was on call for endoscopy this weekend. This morning at 0500 I was rudely awakened by the phone ringing. I had to be at the hospital in 30 minutes to do a colonoscopy on a patient in the ER. I threw on scrubs, brushed by teeth and quickly combed by sleep-tweaked hair. I grabbed a makeup bag and curling iron knowing I wouldn't have time to come home before I was due at 8:00 at pre admit. This ended up being the colonoscopy to end all colonoscopies. They usually take about 30 minutes. We were still going at 3 1/2 hours and poop was everywhere. We had to do colonic lavages to clean the patient's colon of poop and barium from the barium enema the patient had. This consists of pushing fluids into the colon and sucking them out. Over and over again. For hours.There was poop on the guerney, poop on the dr. and tech, on the floor, on the walls and we had suction containers full of it all over. I guess we were used to the smell but the housecleaning staff who came in afterwards were all gagging. The good thing is the patient was sedated and not aware of any of it and tolerated the procedure well.

5 1/2 hrs later I went to the next department I was to work in and my first patient was almost hostile and angry about the Medi-Cal system. I was almost scared to close the door and be left alone with the patient. The last patient was also in a bad mood as evidenced by wondering if the EKG would be normal if she was irritable. It was, needless to say, one of those days that is so bizarre you just laugh at it all. One good thing is I was on call pay so made 1 1/2 times my usual. I am now home 11 hours later and in need of a bath and a long nap.