Just Thinking

SO many things go through your brain when you’re sitting at home after work, and no one is home. D is at work and Jayk is in Mesquite. Years have gone by too fast, seems like yesterday I was playing Barbie World with Glady or making a Starship Enterprise out of duct tape and cardboard for Jaymes. I can picture Jaymes running around, Glady involved with her many toys and Jayk dynamically participating in any activity his Big Bro/Sis was into.
     The main concerns on my mind then were what is for dinner? Do I have enough lunch stuff for the week? I need to get laundry done, and this house is a mess. What time will D be home? I am Fat. I hate working, because I wanted so badly to spend every moment with them. I also have a list forever long of things I want for the family.
     How can I be sitting here doing nothing? My laundry is done. The house is clean and I have a plan for dinner, for just the two of us.
     I miss Jayk, I feel like he needs the time away though. His testing is done, but he was missing his sis and bro too much. Jayk also wanted to spend some time with Mesquite friends. So his visit is good.
     This time in our life is so different, D looked at me in the kitchen and said, “Is this a prequel to how we will be?"
     I guess it is like the empty nest sort of thing, but we are still working and we continue to desire an active life with our kids and Grand kids. I look forward to family gathering, Holidays, and babysitting. I know D and I need to direct Jayk and encourage him into making decisions that will have him create a successful life. I also know that with Jaymes and Glady around the age of 17 they pretty much started their independence. I know we continued to direct or dictate, but we also worried all the time and when I look back I wish I would have participated more and not backed off as soon as I did. However I have amazing children and Excellent Grand kids. I will continue to encourage Jayk in a path best for him and his safety.
     So I sat, and wondered what does life have in store? Was worrying about my weight all those years that important, my real concern should have been health. My wish is that all my kids and their kids are healthy and safe and make the most excellent choices. I will Love my children no matter what and I sure Hope they know that no matter where I am that is Home for them and their family. If they ever need a place to stay, go visit, or whatever they can come home and Dad and I will have their back.
     I miss the days gone by. I have the best memories of each child’s life. I have so many stories to tell, and I hold these memories of each child’s face at specific times in their lives imbedded in my mind.
     I also have to say, that the enjoyment of growing older with your kids Dad is the enormous delight and laughter when reminiscing about each child. D brings memories I forget. These thoughts are priceless.
     I look forward to family gatherings because the kids also have memories. I truly am blessed. I love my family, and I know that is all due to the fact that I had an amazing childhood too and I wanted nothing less for my kids.
     Don’t get me wrong my Mom and Dad would fight my siblings too would knock out drag out boxing matches.
 I know D and I have many yelling matches and maybe even a sugar bowl being thrown to the ground but after acknowledging my wrong and with D’s apologies we changed and after a while no throwing things just yelling but always making up after somehow evolved. I hope to have many years together with D. I pray we get many years to grow old with each other.
     I seen my Daddy taken away from my Mom just when they would be able to only have each other to worry about. I had met D and we would soon be out of the house. Leaving Mom and Dad with no kids at home. Time to enjoy!
     We have many years ahead, Jayk has a few more at home, and I am excited about the future.
 Our family is marvelous
    

    

Number 27

I have a new favorite quote...." Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
This is the story of my Life.
I really need to get back on the horse

My Upside Down Life

For years I have worked the Night Shift. I have pulled off 12 hour shifts, 8 hour shifts. These shifts have  started many different times, my favorite would have to be those 12 hours 1900 to -730 North Vista Hospital. Sweet! only three required. Working Three shifts would allow me 4 WONDERFUL days off with Family. These days I work the 2330 to 0800 shift. I enjoy a fast shift believe me 8 hours is nothing compared to 12, Oh and the patient load at North Vista, although Done well and effective, these days with my SBAR I am on easy street. I enjoy my random float to the Med/Surg unit, this gives me a sense of clinical importance LOL. I really like the on-going monitoring of an IV and the fluids infusing. I enjoy the patient that just needs a hand and listen moment. I like the ability to know the drugs that are to given and what to look for as the effect of the drug. I like understanding side effects and adverse reactions and working with the physician with the report of ether. I feel good knowing what I am watching for and not being afraid to call my physician on call.
    With this new appointment I am seeking in the VA southern Nevada, I know the knowledge I have from the years of health care experience I have. I will contribute a wide base of skill in total patient care from every area of the Hospital, physician and mental health setting. I am Amazing and I really enjoy my career.         

Nursing and Being Floated

Working as a nurse being floated is just something that happens from time to time. Last night I was sent to the medical surgical floor. I don't mind because this allows me to keep up with my clinical skills, it also looks good on a resume.
Unfortunately when you are the float you seem to get the patients everyone else had that no one else wants. Let me explain,
     I was given report on a patient with major wound care issues where dressing changes are necessary. (this entails  following a treatment plan, with seriously detailed description of each wound). Document the type of wound and location, is it a partial or full thickness wound. One of hers included a thin blister over a dark wound bed. This wound is covered by thin eschar. Next was a Stage I intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localized area we call it bony prominence.her Stage III aka, (Full thickness tissue loss). Subcutaneous fat was visible but her bone, tendon,and muscle were not exposed. Slough was present.Amazingly so No undermining and tunneling.well all in all No camera too bad, measuring each wound and depth is completely necessary. 
     Another favorite is the patient with pain control problems. (The Opioid Dilemma) you will spend about every hour in that room.The use of opiates (or for that matter any treatment) makes sense when the benefits outweigh the risks and negative side effects. Benefit is suggested when there is a significant increase in the person’s level of functioning, a reduction or elimination of pain complaints, a more positive and hopeful attitude, and when side effects are minimal or controllable.
Opiates are not harmless drugs. The dilemma with the long-term use of opiates are so bad that the hospital opened a whole new wing in the hospital called SATS (substance abuse treatment program). The treatment team, along with the person in treatment, develops a treatment plan based on the assessment. A treatment plan is a written guide to treatment that includes the person’s goals, treatment activities designed to help him or her meet those goals, ways to tell whether a goal has been met, and a time frame for meeting goals.The treatment plan helps both the person in treatment and treatment program staff stay focused and on track.
The treatment plan is adjusted over time to meet changing needs and ensure that it stays relevant.
But before all that goes on, we as nursing staff feel pain is a vital sign, and what ever the patient says their pain is, it is what it is... we ask, "What is your pain scale on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst most imaginable pain?" and of course they say 10 or my favorite 20.  SURE okay who am I to judge, so going over the patients PRN and Scheduled pain medication and anxiety meds I find that he has Maxed out his 3g acetaminophen allowed in a 24 hour period so giving him another percocet ( his break through pain drug) is out of the question now explaining to him that all he has left is an IV push Dilated in 1 hour. Now don't let me fool you, these patient know every pill they have available to them and when they are due. But they push their agitation to the limits in hopes they get the new grad or unseasoned nurse will call the doc and just maybe the doc will grant a added dose or 1 x Now dosage of an amazing wonderful drug (like dilated IV Push) because they desire to reach that euphoria feeling, aka, (chasing the silver dragon) seeking the High of Highs.
      On top of that  the agitated highly animated post surgical procedure patient. See anesthesia sometimes hands you back a patient with altered mental status, coordination and balance problems, and changes in mood or behavior, among other ...Oh and when handed that patient you would most likely want him on a 1:1, but the NOD says, "sorry not enough staff". Oh! and did I mention the family of the post surgical patient, ha ha ha.

But Wait!!! There's More!!! I also got four low acuity patients, yea right, what ever...

Time management, yes this is an important ability over all nursing talents. juggling 7 and I am Sorry but you Family members are like extra patients.so 8 I don't mind patient and family education, it improve family comfort and sometimes you can get the family to help out. I really think it takes about an hour to educate a family on what is going on with their Dad, but after they get it they are full of heavy emotions and that is what continues through the tour. some members really want to help. Only problem is the redirection and time spent explaining why the surgery went well but the anesthesia altered the brain and Daddy is no longer himself. This is one of the hard parts of nursing. See the doctor gets to tell them, "The Surgery went well, but he is not fully out of anesthesia" The family has no idea what that means so they ask the doc, and of course, he says, " these things are unknown, sometimes it wears off" What turds, they really need to sit down and spend time explaining the whole picture and NOT in five minutes. So the real education starts when the patient arrives to the floor, aka Med/Surg.

DON'T forget I did have 4 other patients with their own serious situation, and an extra long list of medications. Please remember in doing all this amazing nursing I had IV to start, fluids to hang and meds to give at specific times see a hour before and hour after any more you are derelic of duty
I can say no more, I get to go back tonight...

Time to get Serious 2012

My Personal Record Needs to Improve, and I am willing to work hard at it. I have increased my gym time to 90min 4 x week. I also decided cold (anywhere from 10 degrees to 30) weather is not too bad, and the burn it leaves on my face only last for a day.
 My new gym workout session starts with Jog/Run 3 to 5 miles and I really try to stay at 4mph average with bits of 5mph to 6mph with the push of a button when on the treadmill. I follow this with upper/lower body weight training two times a week. Thanks to Glady, my daughter I now understand reps vs weight and believe me I feel the muscles with the increase in Rep not weights.
 Ending every workout with Yoga, this is one of the best things! I feel stronger and I am noticing an improvement on recovery time. Running outside took some getting used to, I have a red face for about a day, not the normal red more like a burn. Cold Burn. I have learned to never run on ice, stay on the snow. my time as of now 1:53  7.3miles treadmill but out doors with hills 1:59.
     The plan is to drop ten min off my 7.3miles by end of March and for my hard work I get a pair of Saucony's! Really can't wait, I want the Triumph 8 I need to capture my goal by end of March due to Bay to Breakers come the following May! break in my shoes maybe 3-4 weeks?

Okay let me go over my Training Regimen
My week starts on
Sunday:  after work 0800 3-5 miles easy jog/run, upper body free weights total 30min, Wrap-up with basic Yoga
Monday:  Rest day Long walk with Hubby
Tuesday:  Hike 3-7 miles mountain terrain,  basic Yoga 
Wednesday: after work 0800 Jog/run 3-5 miles avaerage 3.8mph, lower body weights 8 reps of 50lbs X 8 focus 4 areas, Wrap-up with basic Yoga.
Thursday: Long Jog /Run anywhere from 4-6 miles is long for me I try to do this Outside, staying out of the gym, but pending on weather. Wrap-up with basic Yoga at home. ( thanks Glady for the Mat and the Tara Stiles yoga)
Friday: Rest day Cross train. This is a good day to take a long walk with Hubby, We normally walk about 4 miles. End with Couple's Yoga
Saturday:  after work 0800 2 miles at 4mph average, 30 min elliptical, Basic Yoga.

All in all I am feeling really good!

BACK! ha ha ha :)

I guess I could go over the past like YEAR, but I choose to just make a list of the things I accomplished.

1, Moved to Helena Montana!
2, Got a New Job with the Veterans Health Administration
3, Living in an apartment with a spiral staircase (orange)
4, Hiked Mount Helena to the Summit!!!!
5, Lost weight...Continuing this (arrived 225 Now 188)
6, Gave up fast foods Sweets
7, Go to the gym on base every day after work!
8, Running 2 to 4 miles per day average mph 3.8
9, Using my degrees to the fullest and enjoying it
10, Finished a really thick book, Thanks Glady...really good too!
11, I Love TV...TiVo, and the Internet!
12, I also Love Trees...Wild life, and the smell of oxygen thin air and pine!
13, I no longer smoke!
14, I love My Grand Children So much, can't wait to spend time with them, just hear them talk and see them smile.
15, I not only Love my kids...I Like them!!
16, My husband and I have a strong Friendship!
17, I Love my Mom and sometimes...I will be doing something or say something and I am My Mom...Oh WOW!
18, I enjoy Tofu
19, I found that water is the best stuff on earth
20, I now know that although Montana is beyond Wonderful, I am a Nevada Born Woman...I will move back...
21, I love Psych
22, I go to the laundry mat to wash my clothes, and chat with random women while we fold.
23, I can see Canada from my window
24, Skype Needs to improve...but thank God we have it!
25, I am so happy for a wonderful Daughter
26, 6K after work August 27th then home to eat sleep and back to work....ha ha ha
27, I have a new favorite quote...." Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
28, I live in a building that was built in 1904.
29, I went to a bar that has no gambling
30, Michelle Thanks So much for the Best Link ever!
31, Every night D and I take a walk, every night we go some place new
32, I miss my favorite Hugs from Jaymes
33, I have Ice cream on every Sunday
34, The Chaplain says, “Having no faith seems to take more faith, if ya ask me" I agree
35, Stairs!
36, having fun, Missing my family, yet feeling good about life.

Being a Nana is the Bomb!

I must tell... being a Mom is the most wonderful gift in the world...and to top it off I get to be a Grandma too. Well the Grandkids call me Nana. The best this is when you go to visit, they run up to us and yell, "Nana! Papa D!" Such a feeling, those are the feelings of Amazement... Thanks heavenly Father....JR & Michelle