Girls' Days

Catie and I spent a couple of days at my sister's house on the lake. The trip had nightmare potential.
The original plan was for Catie to take the train to White Sulfur Springs where I would pick her up after I left work and head to NC. The train was running 3 hours late, so I went home instead. I was planning to take a nap till the train arrived, then we would head south. The train did not pull into the station until 4:30 that afternoon (it was due in at 11:30 that morning)! We decided to wait till the next morning to travel.
The drive was easy and we had fun doing our own special kind of "singing"! Ma and my sister-in-law, Jenny, were already there. We sat around and talked for a while, then went to a restaurant on the lake for dinner. The food was great, but it was HOT outside! We even got our waitress to take our picture! Back at the house, we watched continuous coverage of Michael Jackson's death. Friday morning, we went shopping in Asheville. I bought a pair of MBT shoes to wear to work. Catie said that they were the ugliest shoes she's ever seen! They were right pricey, but they are soooo comfortable! We ate lunch at a tea room. Again, the food was good, but it was hot outside! We got back to the house and turned on the TV. Michael Jackson was still dead and the coverage continued. Catie and I went grocery shopping and fixed spaghetti for supper. We spent most of our time chatting and laughing. We never did make it down to the lake.
We drove to Charlotte Saturday morning. The plan was to take Ma home and spend the night at Chris' house since it hasn't sold yet. When we opened up the house, it must have been 130 degrees inside. I couldn't get the power to work. I called Dave and was instructed to call Duke power. I didn't have a phone book! He began fussing about how Ma and Pop must have one, just go to their house! In the meantime, Catie called Ben and he gave us the number. I called Duke Power and got the "automated" menu. I didn't want any of their choices, I just wanted to talk to a person! I finally got a human to answer the call and was told that the power was cut off in May, but they would be glad to turn it back on on Monday. I told her that Monday wouldn't help me any, I need power today! Too bad. So, I called Dave and filled him in. I asked him if he thought we should drive home or get a hotel room for the night. He said he'd call me back. Meantime, Catie and I are driving around Charlotte! He called back and said that Duke power owed us money (we had a credit on the account!) but they cut the power off anyway. He told them to leave the power off and send him a check. He said that he really didn't care what we did. We ate lunch and headed north to Catie's house.
I called Dave later to let him know that I was spending the night at Catie's house. He didn't see why we couldn't come to our house. I told him that Catie wanted to sleep in her own bed (when I got home and saw the condition of my house, I couldn't blame her!) He got snappy and I hung up. Sunday, I picked up Elliott and we met Catie and Ben at the mall. We did the mall crawl and hung out for a while, then I took Elliott to work. I hit the interstate and headed home. Ahhhh........

June is half over......YIKES!!

Where is this year going?? It's nearly half over. What have I accomplished? Well....We've had a litter of Manx kittens, all ready for forever homes. I have gotten a few older cats "fixed" and ready for retirement homes. I have shoveled enough cat poo from litter boxes to power a rocket to the moon and back (several times!). I have made little Hope my travel buddy. She goes to Roanoke with me every week.
At work, I have maintained most of my "flying under the radar" status. This time next year, unless things change, I'll need a new job. Carilion has decided not to continue their housing option for those of us who travel long distances (over 60 miles, one way). In the meantime, I have started the "Bottom Line", a biweekly newsletter updating staff on skin care issues, documentation, and definitions. I have arranged my schedule so that I work 6 nights and am off 8 nights. Not a bad deal. I love what I'm doing. I'm content where I am. As an "old" nurse, I can mentor my younger, newer colleagues so that they are spared from learning some things the hard way, as I did.
I have dealt with anger, hurt, pride, legal issues, and surprise announcements from the kids. My blood pressure is no higher now than it was 6 months ago. My weight may be up about 5 pounds, though! All these years, Ma has been right:"This, too, shall pass". All of our problems are temporary. Most will not significantly alter history or our feelings toward each other. When it comes right down to it, we are, and always will be, a family. We may not always like each other, but we will always love each other. One of us may call another one a sorry, dirty dog, but don't let anyone else say anything evil about us! We stick together. Even those who are added by marriage or long term relationships are family, as if they were born into the clan. We protect and care for them, too.
I have learned that I have a UBO, Unidentified Bright Object, in the left parietal lobe of my brain. Don't know what it is or how long it's been there. I can still walk and talk, sometimes I even make sense, so it just is. I know that I could stand to lose 50 pounds. I'll get around to it someday........or not. I don't like being this heavy, but I'm not miserable, either.
I have knitted dozens of baby hats for the NICU at work. I have knitted a few afghans for babies, socks, scarves, and gloves. I enjoy knitting. It gives me an excuse to sit and watch a ball game or movie. I have made myself a new purse. It's big enough to hold everything, including my camera, laptop, phone and knitting. It has lots of pockets and a ring to hang my keys on so they won't get lost. I have made some baby outfits for gifts (and for "ours"). I enjoy the time I spend sewing. I have played with the embroidery component of my sewing machine. It's a lot of fun!
I have been to a computer class. I've learned how to navigate Windows a little more efficiently. I can use a flash drive. It's not an impressive accomplishment for most people, but I feel a little smarter!
I thought that I hadn't done much this year, but when I look at what I've written and realize that this is the tip of the iceberg, I guess I haven't wasted as much time as I thought I had. I hope the next 6 months is equally productive!

Flag Day

Yesterday was Flag Day. The day we celebrate the American Flag.
It was also Thom's birthday. It's hard to believe that it's been nearly six months since he died. I really miss his odd sense of humor. He was a master at the art of understatement! He was also a dedicated husband, dad, and friend. His "trademark", if you can call it that, was his variety of shirts: Hawaiian in the summer, flannel in the winter. After his funeral, I asked Jenny if I could have a couple of his shirts. It sounds like a strange request, but I had a plan!
I wanted to use the fabric to make a pillow for Donna and John. That way, they could have a part of their dad near them all the time. Jenny carried it a step further, she had the kids pick their favorite shirt to send to me.
I wanted to have the shirts finished in time for our "girls' weekend" in a couple of weeks. I started working on them yesterday. As I cut into the fabric, it occurred to me that I was cutting up Thom's shirts on his birthday. I cut carefully so that the shirt pocket could be worked into the pillow. I continued to sew and the pillows took shape. I had enough fabric left to make a small handkerchief to go into the pocket. I hope the kids will enjoy their pillows and know that every time they hug their pillow, they are getting a hug from their dad.

MRI part 2: The results are in part 2

Dr. Li called me yesterday and told me that my MRI showed an "unusually bright area" in my brain. He said that this "UFO" was nothing to worry about, but if my primary care doc had a best friend who was a neurologist, I should follow up with her. He was extremely nice, and tried to make this thing sound as innocent as possible, but it's still worrisome to me. If I don't get the MRI reports in another week, I'll go by medical records and pick them up myself. Then, I'll go to my primary care and we'll talk. Catie says this bright area is glitter. Sounds good to me!
So, my excuse for everything is: "I'm brain damaged". My family can now use the phrase "my brain damaged (wife, mom, daughter, sister.....") to explain any odd or dumb behavior. Works for me!

MRI part 2

OK, so yesterday I had the brain MRI done. As the tech and I walked back to the scanner, I was singing "If I only had a brain" (Wizard of Oz--Scarecrow, remember?). Back on the flat table with my head in the "hold still" pillow. Ear plugs in. On goes the hockey mask and it's bolted into place. deeper into the tube this time. Blaaat...clack....claclunkclaclunkclaclunk.......whirrrrrrr......buzzzbuzzz....chirp.....tictictic.
Ten minutes or so and I slide out of the tube. Time for contrast. My veins are crap. They are small, they roll, they sink, they hide! I would hate to have to stick myself! Poor tech, she stuck me twice and the vein wouldn't cooperate. It hurt like a chisel going into my hand! She asked me if I wanted someone else to stick me as she moved to my right hand. No, there's a good vein (I point it out) here. One stick, a little wiggling, BINGO! The contrast goes in. I'm allergic to Iodine, so she pushed slowly. No problem. Back into the tube. Same noises. Keep the eyes closed. Sing to yourself (does that have any effect on the way my brain will look?). Back out of the tube. DONE!
Now, I get to wait for the report. I hope the release form I signed made it clear that I want a copy of both MRIs sent to my PCP and myself. I like to keep a copy of my records at home, just in case.

Home again!

I am sooooo glad to be back home! I was gone for 11 very long days. I had 2 days off in that time, but it wasn't worth the cost of gas to drive home and come back within 24 hours. That's just enough time home to make me mad.
I've missed my kitties. Seems like they missed me, too. Punkin, the world's fattest Manx, was begging for a good brushing, Bubba wanted in my lap regardless of what (or who) was already there, Mitchie wanted her time, too. The kittens have grown like weeds and dance around my feet. Georgie is her usual grumpy self. Skuttles is still adorable. Haven't checked on the basement cats yet, that's my job today.
The laundry has missed me! There's 2 weeks' worth piled up. The mass is taller than I am! For those who would say that's not very tall, you do five feet of laundry! That's my weekend project.
I missed Dave. We talk on the phone at least once a day, but it's not the same. To see the facial expression of the person you're talking to is special. When I'm away and I get cold, I have to get a blanket or adjust the thermostat. When I'm at home, Dadcat can keep me warm. I know that I get aggravated with him when he doesn't act the way I want him to (he's a guy, what do I expect?!?), but he was selected for me and I really do love him bunches!
After this fabulous weekend of reconnecting, I get to go back to the hotel Tuesday. In a couple of weeks, I'll start my "work 6, off 8" schedule. It sounds horrific, but my sleep schedule is more regular, I'm doing my required every other weekend at work, and I get every other week off. It's all good!

shiftless

I hate going to meetings where night shift bashing is part if the agenda. Common misconceptions are that night shifters don't do anything, they aren't too smart, they aren't highly motivated, they aren't very interested in advancing. As a night shifter, let me dispell those myths!

First of all, there are lazy people on every shift! Night shift hasn't cornered that market! We have to think a little more quickly and depend on our own judgment more often than do our day shift counterparts. We have to do this because our resources are so limited.
> We don't have Clinical Nurse Specialists (or whatever they're called in other facilities), we figure things out based on what we know and what we learn from our coworkers. Then, we use our judgment and apply our knowledge to benefit our patients.
> We don't have access to physicians, we get the on call guy or the resident. Most of our physician contacts would really rather not be bothered with our problems. Your patient's BP is 170/112?? Just watch him and let the attending deal with it in the morning. Watch him do what.....stroke?? OK. Your patient's neb treatments are making her climb the walls? No, you can't have anything to help her relax. Let the attending deal with it in the morning. So the patient climbs the walls all night, her breathing issues get worse, and by the time the attending sees her she's in respiratory distress. Guess who gets blamed for that?!
> We don't have access to supplies. Linens run out at around 3AM. No matter how much is stocked, units always run out in the middle of the night. There is no one in the linen room at night. In the supply department, there are maybe 2 workers. They are out collecting dirty equipment or delivering clean stuff. To obtain a dressing, a kit, or anything else is hard to do!
> There is no one in the dietary department. If a patient arrives from the ED, or worse, from the hinterlands, and they're hungry, we have to scrounge! Most hungry patients are not really interested in crackers and peanut butter when they're ready to gnaw off their hand! Occasionally, there are cans of soup or packs of cereal. Of course, that patient's diet order always has a salt or sugar limitation so none of what was scrounged will be appropriate!

We are very interested in advancing our careers. We want continuing education as much as anyone. The problem is getting it! All meetings, whether they are staff meetings or committee meetings, are held in the daytime. Continuing education classes are offered in the daytime. Mandatory education (CPR, PALS, ACLS, Corporate compliance, etc) is offered in the daytime. Night shifters are put in the position of losing sleep to attend or burning a day off. If we lose sleep, then our judgment is compromised because we are too tired to think. If we burn a day off, then we work our next scheduled shift tired because our day off was spent working! We can't win.

Research indicates that night shifters have more health problems, more depression and live shorter lives than their day shift counterparts. Most of us chose to work at night in spite of the health risks. We enjoy the autonomy that comes with working at night. Patients deserve quality care around the clock. Experienced night shifters make sure they receive it. We also make sure that new staff learn from our experiences so that quality care is ongoing.