Day 3 - Dreams - 30 days of Gratitude - in pictures

I had many dreams of what I would be when I was growing up. One was being a decorator. I would even make doll house out of cardboard boxes, creating walls, doorways and windows, making sure the floor plan was usable. I would draw furniture in each of the rooms. My sister would then ask for the finished product so she could play with it with her dolls. Pretty much the only time in our young lives I didn't care she wanted something that was mine (such are the feelings of an older sister). I gladly gave them to her, because the joy was in the designing. I wanted to go to an art school to study interior design, but my father insisted on a four-year liberal arts degree. I would be more marketable he thought.  He died after my first year of college, but I continued with his advice. Because, pleasing a dead man makes so much sense, no? I majored in creative writing and minored in history (completely and totally NOT marketable).   One of my other dreams was to be a writer. The problem was and still is, is that I'm mediocre at best and didn't have the discipline to make writing a career.  But let me tell ya, it was a fun major to have. I got married, worked job to job, not very fulfilled. Then had babies. 

Another dream -- being a mom. I love love being a mom. I love parenting. As much as I complain about it, I don't mind the numbing-tiredness that parenting can be at times. I love my children with all my heart and love the men they are becoming - metaphorical warts and all. When the kids were older, I needed to think of a career, one that would be fulfilling, one that would tap into the caring person my children taught me to be, one that would give back. I thought about teacher, because how much fun would it be to inspire kids to want to write and read and have wonderful discussion about great works and newly discovered authors. Yeah, I'm an idealist. I also thought about nursing. Nursing won out, I enjoy the science of health, I think the nursing ideal of loving care of those who are in need fits right in with my personality. It was hard, nursing school was hell (seriously, if Dante actually went to nursing school, this would be the closest ring to Satan himself). But it was all worth it.  Nursing was a newer dream, but one of the hardest to achieve and I'm proud of the work I've done to get here. I also get to add teaching back in as I volunteer to precept, speak at nursing schools, mentor and encourage new nurses. I also do a lot of patient teaching....so nursing was a great choice, even if I'm not discussing great works and encouraging writing (although, I do talk to patients about the books they have on their bedside tables and have had great discussions about books and authors).

I haven't given up my dreams on decorating and designing. I just use my own house as my canvas and once in awhile my friends will ask for my advice and I gladly and enthusiastically give it to them, sometimes with swatches. I, and I can't believe I'm admitting this, am starting to write a novel. I'm not sure how good it'll be, or what will come of it....but if I don't try, I'll never know.

That's the thing about dreams, the first step is the hardest, but once you take that first step you are that much closer at achieving whatever it is you dream.

Social Media in Nursing

As most of my loyal followers (all three of you) know I am in school to get my post-master’s teaching certification for nursing (I don’t know why, I suspect I may be insane). My assignment this week can be an APA style paper (yawn), a PowerPoint presentation (call me a geek, but I really do love my PowerPoints), or a blog post (Whee, a blog post).  I can so do that (even though, I haven’t been doing that lately). Because my subject is about social media in nursing, I thought the blog post option would be the best (and okay the most fun).

Nurses can be afraid of social media, mostly because of media coverage about nurses getting fired for inappropriate postings, or postings during work which may have been a safety matter. Stokowski, (2011) reports one nurse was fired for posting on Facebook while dispensing medications, another nurse was fired for posting a picture of one nurse removing a splinter from another nurse’s foot in an operating room. The excuse for firing the first nurse was patient safety and for the second scenario was because the hospital claimed it was an unfavorable representation of their hospital (Stokowski, 2011).  There was one case where a nurse posted a picture of a placenta. She was fired and then took the hospital to court. The court found in her favor as she had permission and there was no way to identify the patient (Shah 2011, Stokowski, 2011). The court maintained the court case created more coverage of the picture than the original Facebook posting; even though the nurse took the picture down the news showed it and it was picked up various internet sites (Shah 2011, Stokowski, 2011). Both Shah (2011) and Stokowski (2011) maintain social media does not have to be scary and can be used for many ways, such as nursing education, patient education, networking, and for nurse venting (and if anyone needs to vent, it’s nurses). It is important for the nurse posting information about work to be very careful that she or he does not reveal any patient information, or any information where a reader could discern who the patient is. It is also a good idea to keep from posting any disparaging remarks about your place of employment. Shah (2011) mentions that nurses who are very familiar with social media forget whatever is posted on the internet is not private, even if their intention was to share with only their friends. It is important to remember whenever you post something on a social media site, your boss or future employers could find it and read it.

On a personal note I do post on Facebook about experiences at work but when I do it’s for a specific reason and I always protect the identity of our patients and speak of my employers with respect. I will share with you some of my own posts as an example of what types of posts are appropriate and professional for a nurse.

The other day I took care of a patient who was dying of cancer. It was very sad. I posted:

Very sad night with my patient. It’s a reminder for all of us to see our doctors regularly and do our screenings. I made my appointment for my mammogram this morning.

This is my version of a public service announcement. I also reposted a picture of the nurses in our department from the hospital Facebook page to let my friends know about the kudos our department received. Mostly, I write posts about my family, our personal activities, repost funny cartoons or I make fun of myself. Such as:

Most people who wake up with a numb arm and a headache reposition themselves because most likely it was positional -- I wake up with a numb arm and a head ache and think stroke. Glad I repositioned myself before I called 9-1-1

We’ve established social media does not have to be scary for the nurse if used appropriately – remember don’t write anything your boss or future boss would find inappropriate. But what can social media do for nursing or patient education. Not only can it help spread information, it can open up a dialogue between nurses and between patients and health care providers. Social media can help with marketing, networking, and maintaining friendships.

            Fraser (2012) states social media can have an impact of modifiable health behaviors such as medication compliance and provides an opportunity for interactive communication with patients. Health promotion is another area where social media can be used by posting health-promoting messages on Twitter or Facebook (Fraser, 2012). When I was the Bariatric Coordinator I set up a blog, Facebook page and Twitter accounts for the surgeon. I wrote blog entries about diet, exercise, emotional eating, and information about the different surgeries offered and what to do for self care after surgery. I also wrote informative and motivational posts for Facebook and Twitter. These were avenues to give patients information about healthy eating as well as helping patients stay motivated. Often patients would ask questions on our Facebook page and it gave us an opportunity to have a discussion where others could learn or contribute.

            Social media can be used in nursing classrooms as well as with patient education. Linked In, Blogging, Facebook, and Twitter are the most common social media sites, but for classroom work there are presentation sites such as Prezi, Slidesrocket, or Vimeo (Schmitt, Sims-Giddens, & Booth, 2012).  When using social media in the classroom it is important to consider the following: everything posted is public, understand your audience, will your post add or detract from the discussion, keep professional boundaries, and always keep patient information private (Schmitt, Sims-Giddens, & Booth, 2012). American Sentinel (2014) gives suggestions on nursing sites via blogs, Pinterest, Twitter and Linked In to help nurses and nursing students find information needed for their positions. Following certain nursing blogs, or nursing websites can help nurses sift through information and hone in on their own specialty or interest (American Sentinel, 2014). If I find I don’t have time to read an article, or want to keep an online article handy for future reference I will “pin” it to my nursing board on my Pinterest page so that I can access it later. Linked In is not only valuable for networking; something important for new graduate nurses as well as veteran nurses (Doksai, 2012). The last semester nursing student can network by joining nursing organizations on Linked In in order to see what is current in the industry as well as reading professional tips such as resume writing. Linked In doesn’t just help directly but can help indirectly as well. I was recruited on Linked In for a home health job, while I did not want the position I contacted a new grad and was able to get the two together and she found a nursing job.

            Social media does not have to be scary and can be quite beneficial to the nurse and nursing student.  Be careful when using social media. Always protect patient’s privacy (you may have noticed this theme running through this post), protect the reputation of your institution, and be aware of your audience. It is a wonderful way to exchange information for both the nurse and nursing student. It can be a way to network for new positions. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages and those disadvantages can be minimized with careful planning. Most importantly, have fun with it – it’s not like it’s an APA formal paper.

References:

American Sentinel. (2014). Nursing Together. Retrieved from http://www.nursetogether.com/use-social-media-for-professional-developme

Docksai, R.  (2012).  Working and Networking – your way to a job in nursing using social media & available tools. Nursing Licensure. Retrieved from http://www.nursinglicensure.org/articles/nursing-jobs-using-social-media.html

Fraser, R. (2012). Overview and Summary: Social Media and Communication Technology: New "Friends" in Healthcare. Online Journal Of Issues In Nursing, 17(3), 1. doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol17No03ManOS

Schmitt, T., Sims-Giddens, S., & Booth, R. (2012). Social media use in nursing education. Online Journal Of Issues In Nursing, 17(3), 2.

Shah, A., (2011). Don’t be afraid of HIPAA, say nurse bloggers. Reporting on Health. USC Annenberg. Retrieved from http://www.reportingonhealth.org/blogs/2011/11/11/dont-be-afraid-hipaa-say-nurse-bloggers

Stokowski, L., (2011) Social Media and Nurses: Promising or Perilous? Medscape. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/753317_3

Images:

Social media “Like” from http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2012/10/study-checking-your-social-media-pages-is-as-addictive-as-sex-and-nicotine.html

I will be a better blogger after May 29th

I suck, I know. School is kicking my beeeehind! It's crunch time....I keep telling my family, I'll be a better mom after May 29th (28th, last day, 29th, our 20th anniversary).  I tell my friends...just wait, just wait, I'll remember birthdays, make casseroles for new babies and for families where loved ones have died, I tell my employer I'll get more organized, I tell my husband, to just hold out until the 28th and I'll pick up the slack and we may even have sex again.  I will also, after May 29th, catch up on all my favorite blogs...I've missed reading you! I've missed writing....but all my writing and reading have been reserved for boring nursing books and articles.  I haven't read a book for fun since January.  Oh, that reminds me, I need to tell book club members I'll be a better participant after May 29th too.

 This is my desk....I have to read and summarize a total of 35 articles and then create a PowerPoint Presentation, teach what I've learned and give a test...also throw in a couple surveys and papers to back up why I am teaching what I am teaching (health promotion in schools and why nurses should do it)....I've read only 15 so far.

The mess from my desk is creeping to my floor...not only do I have all the school stuff on my desk, I have to continue with the day to day paperwork that still comes in from the boys' schools, the mail, the bills, AND my desk is also the dumping ground of stuff that no one else wants to deal with....so yes, it's finding it's way to piles on the floor, because I have no time.

After May 29th, I'll have a clean desk.

Or I'll have a nervous breakdown...in that case, I'll start blogging more regularly 6 weeks after May 29th, assuming they let me out of the in-patient program.

(top picture came from go2uttyler.blogspot.com -- never read that blog, it was a google images find, just giving credit)

more pinterest stuff

I found this really yummy recipe for jalapeno chicken on Pinterest.  It had this really awesome mild creamy flavor.  Even the picky nine year old liked it.

 It's not healthy though, cream, whole milk, cheese, butter...you get the idea.

 I did serve it with brown rice and asparagus to alleviate some of the guilt.  Visit just cook nyc for the recipe.  It's super easy too.

The other day when I was sick....I toggled between HGTV and the Food Network.  I was watching the Barefoot Contessa and she made these wonderful apple turnovers.  They were so simple and so tasty!  I served them for some company and not a crumb left on any of the plates...big hit.  You can find the recipe on the food network website.

Spring break has officially started.  I can't tell you how excited I am to not be going to work tomorrow. I may be getting paid half of what I made as a dialysis nurse, but you can't beat the time off and having the same schedule as the kiddos.

If only I was done with school too then I could really relax.  I'm working on my final project this week while I'm off of work.
May 25th (graduation) can't get here soon enough!

Creepy Crafts, School and my diet

So my find-ways-to-waste-time-on-the-Internet enabler turned me on to this cool blog where I found a link to this fun creepy craft. Yesterday we had fun doing this ourselves....super duper easy.

Jake, splashing paint (er, I mean blood splatter) on wax paper -- putting that pitching arm to good use

Isaac putting his bloody hand prints on the project, I wonder what CSI would say about only a right bloody hand print repeatedly spotted amongst the splatter but no left?

Finished product

This next craft I saw in the Halloween edition of Martha Stewart's Magazine (yeah, yeah, say what you want, but I really want to be her).


You take a grapevine wreath, some toy snakes, black spray paint and some glue. And because I'm not Martha Stewart (even though I not so secretly want to be her), I didn't use the glue and just intertwined the snakes to the wreath. Get everything positioned (and glued, should you wish) and then spray paint everything black. I actually don't remember the directions from the magazine, but this is how I did it.

And Voila ---

We even went shopping for pumpkins and roasted green chilies. I peeled and seeded a half bushel then Jason made green chili.

And I baked

Which brings me to the diet portion of this post.....did not go so well the past couple days (but the chili and the banana bread were soooo yummy!)
And how did I have the time to do this? AND blog twice this month? Well I'm taking a break from school. I'm a bit burned out and couldn't face another class right now. I'm giving myself the holidays and will be back to the hell that is my Master's program in February -- hopefully well rested.

I'm An RN

I passed I passed I passed, and now I'm officially an RN (registered nurse).....Whoo Hoo!

OMG OMG OMG

I take the NCLEX (nursing boards) tomorrow and I'm totally freakin' out! Not to mention, Jason's Achilles tendon popped this weekend and he'll be needing surgery (we find out today when) and Jake woke up throwing up this morning. I'm feeling a bit nauseous myself, and who knows if that's pretest jitters or coming down with whatever Jake has.

If this isn't all proof that God has a warped sense of humor, I don't know what is!

Wish me luck!

Don't fall over, I'm back....

I finished my last presentation for my very last class ---- woo hoo. Now I just have to pass boards and I'm an RN (this should happen sometime in June). I have to say, although I received the education promised, this was one of the most soul-crushing, ego-busting, miserable two years of my life.

Whatever....

So....cute story about one of the kiddos....

Don't know why we started in on this conversation (and really, as parents don't we often wonder how some conversations came to be?) but the boys were asking Jason and I why sisters and brothers can't get married.
I said, "because it's illegal."
Jake asked, "why?"
I said, "because it's gross and nasty."
Jake said, "Mom, picking your boogers is gross and nasty, but that's not illegal."

hahaha -- very true, but I wasn't ready to get into a genetics lesson with the nine year old.

Have a great day!

something funny

a quick catch up:
got a c in my last class (boo hoo)
love my current internship
looking forward to may 15th (graduation)
strained my ankle on Sunday, only non-skier to be injured over our ski weekend in Winterpark
otherwise, had a good time.

okay, something funny:
ACTUAL SENTENCES FOUND IN PATIENT'S MEDICAL:
Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.
The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
Discharge status: Alive but without permission.
The patient refused autopsy.
The patient has no previous history of suicides.
She is numb from her toes down.
While in ER, she was examined, X-rated and sent home.
The skin was moist and dry.
Occasional, constant, infrequent headaches.
Patient was alert and unresponsive.
Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.
She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce.
The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.
Skin: somewhat pale but present.
Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

Have a fabulous day everyone!

My Last Med-Surg Test

It's my last test in this horribly hard class (my last clinical will be this Friday)....I really really need a 94 to get a B....(it's that weird and unfair grading scale where a B is 85-92)....and so, even though I've been super really bad about keeping up with all your blogs and you could say I've been a very bad blog friend (fyi, I've been a pretty bad real-life friend too) it's for a good reason (and seriously if I'm ever your nurse you'll be glad I studied this much)...oh, back to my original thought, even though I've been a bad blog friend, please please, think good thoughts, pray, rub the buddah belly, hug a goddess....whatever floats your boat...that I do well on this test...10 am mountain standard time...okay, back to studying (not that I don't trust the power of prayer, it's just always good to have a back up plan)....

And yes, I know above sentence/paragraph is a run on sentence...for an English major I have horrible grammar and spelling...go figure.

I should have gone to design school

Each test is getting progressively worse and I may actually get my first C in a class.....(still above 80% but they have that wonky grading scale and I need to be above 85 for the B). GRRRRR

Okay, enough, just a quick update, thank you for your well wishes! I have to rush to the tutoring center...where by the way I'm the Tutor...hahaha, if those first semesters only knew....but before I leave I thought I'd share with you about my funny husband's phone call this morning:

ring ring
"Hi Jason"
"Hi honey, I don't know why I get on these thought tangents but I just want to apologize for wearing a gray tux with burgundy tie at prom.....I must have looked like such a dork"
"hahahahha, but I still married you, didn't I"
"and thank you for that"

Have a fantastic week everyone...I'm swamped --- clinicals at our local county hospital, where by the way, last week some guy tried to purposely pee on me....really I kid you not!

OMG, kill me now ,Nursing school is hell!

I was thinking about just repeating...Dec 9th over and over, that's when I'm done, that's when I'll have a month of freedom that's when I can burn my Pharm book and dance around the flames like some Puritan at a book burning of the Scarlet Letter or something....but if I did the repeating of Dec 9th in may be too reminiscent of The Shining where Jack typed 5 million times whatever it was he typed...but it was creepy and I don't want to be creepy....I just want to sleep.

I'm so procrastinating my final project, I've played of facebook, I'm updating here and saying absolutely nothing, I even cleaned off my computer desk top and organized my word files.

I need help!

Anyway......If I can stay sane until Dec. 9th, I'll be a happy camper......

oh hello there! miss me?

and you better say, 'yes'.

So what have I been doing?
1. School is kicking my behind! There is some good news on that front recently...because I've been using my blogging time to actually study, I got an 85 on my cardio test....which doesn't seem that great but it was the highest in the class (and yes, Blaire, I know I'm a b#*ch---but you did great with half the studying). And for this I'm very thankful (do you like how I worked that in). I also got a 100 on my pharm test. Now that, was truly a miracle, because I was so busy studying for the cardio test I only read half the chapters in pharm....I seriously prayed before during and after that test...so I should say, God pretty much got the 100 but I'm very thankful it's on my grade book. I have only two more tests and I'm done for about a month...WOO HOO.

2. I finally got caught up on reading all your wonderful blogs...I feel like such a slacker and I really have been thinking about reading all your wonderful, touching, funny stories (all of which I love to read and for which I am thankful)....but it's like cookies, I can't just read one, so I haven't been reading any. Today I took a few hours -- because Thanksgiving is at my sister-in-law's -- for which, by the way, I am soooo thankful----and I took the much needed time to read and read and it was so good to hear what has been happening to you all.

3. My clinicals are awesome. The people I'm meeting are amazing. I'm learning so much about the ins and outs of being a nurse, not the book learning thing, but the real people stuff. And I love it, and seem to be pretty good at it....at least the people stuff. I am so thankful for that experience and for the ability to be able to talk to just about anyone....finally all those reports that came home throughout my school career about being a 'great kid but talks to much' is finally something that is to be cherished and not something to 'work on'.

4. I spent the day with the boys yesterday, I took them and my niece to the movie Bolt,then to Cold Stone , it was fun. When Jason asked how the movie was, I told him I cried. His response, "You cried at a cartoon" to which I answered, "Shut Up" and he just raised his eyebrows at me....oh pulease, did he just not hear me say shut up? Does he not know that raising eyebrows is akin to SHOUTING......he chuckled then hugged me, I laughed. I'm thankful for 16 and half years of marriage and for knowing this man for over half my life and appreciating that he can laugh at me, I can laugh at him and we both laugh at our kiddos.

5. The boys are healthy, joyful, polite, and wild and just as they should be. It amazing how well they do, even with the poor mothering they've received lately...oh who am I kidding, most of the time....I am truly thankful for the boys they are.

6. I have come down with a cold...so I'm headachy, sneezy and a bit miserable, and I am thankful it happened AFTER the cardio test. And even though it's not serious, I've decided to 'rest' and it gave me the opportunity to play on the computer (oooh and along with catching up on blogging, I got my sister's, mother's, sister in law's and other sister in law's Christmas gifts ordered, and the boys Christmas pajama's....woo hoo).

I hope that this day finds you (even those of you across seas who don't celebrate this day) thankful for what you have in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving

update

1. Failed the test (74---yes that's failing)...arggg, could not have studied more....got a couple phone calls and I'm not alone! I don't even CARE right now as long as I'm still passing the class --well barely, I'm at a 78 and yes, that's barely passing, a 77 is the cut off for failing.

2. Spoke with Jake today, we had some alone time and I asked him what he felt when he was getting together the plates...he said, he just read it and did what the letter told him too and didn't think much else about it. I asked him if his feelings are hurt or he feels sad that I'm back at school and not spending as much time at home. He said, no, we still do fun things and he does things with dad. Then, and get this, he's such a great kid, he asks ME if I'm liking school and I tell him very much and he says that he's glad that I'm happy DON'T YOU JUST LOVE HIM! I DO. He said he hopes he has fun in college too and wondered if there was a college where you could just learn baseball......and then the conversation disintegrated to discussing bodily functions...he is a boy after all.

3. Went to the movies with my family and had a nice dinner with them....test be damned, I wanted to spend time with my family! Glad I did. We saw The City of Ember, it was actually pretty interesting. And very visually interesting.

I'm gonna whine!

I need to study, I have a test tonight and I'm so unmotivated, this class is unfairly hard especially for a 2 credit class. I don't know what to expect on the test. I've failed two tests and did well on two already and I can't find a pattern to my success or failure. I'm not alone in that, most of the class is grumbling. So instead of being motivated to do well, I feel at a loss right now. I hate that. I'm tired, I miss my family, my family misses me. I just want to clean and bake and do something creative and artsy.

ugggg, sigh, poor pathetic me....

okay on to my other boo hoo moment...

Ms. Martha, is the room mom for Jake's class. And she's been very supportive in letting me do things like just bring paper plates instead of some fun home baked contribution. A couple weeks before, I emailed her with my request so I wouldn't have to compete with any of the other moms with the easy peasy contribution. I got her the plates late Thursday night after a twelve hour clinical shift at the hospital. Meanwhile, Jake read the letter that he was supposed to bring plates and he, in a self-sufficient moment, got some paper plates out of the cupboard and brought them to class (which according to Ms. Martha saved the day because there was a lack of serving plates). Here's where I'm torn...I love that he took the initiative, he read the directions, he figured out what to do and he did it. But was it because he didn't have faith that his mom would do it? Is he feeling a burden of making up grown-up decisions because I'm not as available. Is nine too young for this type of independence? Am I just driving myself crazy over nothingness and just really feeling sad because he's growing up? Does anyone else drive themselves this crazy over something seemingly so benign?

It's these things that make parenting so hard for me...wondering if my decisions will help or hurt the boys emotionally. Hopefully when they grow up they'll know that they were loved.

well, okay, I'm going to take a hot shower and hope that I can get rid of this headache (oh yeah, another thing to whine about, I feel a bit illish) and hit the books!

oh, thanks for the suggestions....I went with buying a whole bunch of snacky foods and then a 10 dollar gift certificate to Wallymart, so if they feel the need, they can buy more food or she can get something fun for herself....About half the people brought a small gift for the birthday girl along with the contributions so it all felt very comfortable.

trying not to hyperventilate.....

and this time it's not about my 401K statements.

Test at 1pm today (mountain standard time) so if you have a minute....pray, wish good thoughts, rub buddah's belly...whatever floats your boat...I need all the help I can get to pass my first test in med-surg (medical surgical nursing)....it's on fluid and electrolytes, acid base balances, hematology and immunology....

fun stuff

you are sooo jealous, I know.

I've typed like three different things for my title and I just can't think of one....
I have a request of all you who I so enjoy reading...STOP POSTING so that I don't miss anything while I'm stuck studying and taking tests....I was only able to catch up on a couple of you (and I'll catch up with the rest this weekend) but then when I catch up with the others, I'll have to go back and start all over...So, I just need you to post according to MY schedule...I'll post that later.

I totally failed my first math test, but was able to retake it, yay, and got a 90, yay (so now if I am your nurse you can be assured I'll get your medicine dosage right...well at least 90% of the time). Took my first psych test and it was a 92....also yay (however, in nursing school they both equate to B's) Anyhow, my point is, school is starting out okay. Well, at least the academic portion of it...my clinicals? Well, I'm not sure how to even explain it? Except, being on the pysch floor for the past couple weeks makes me realize that my family is most likely more on the eccentric side rather then the crazy side.

I'm so all over the place...but this was cute...Jake was reading a book on myths and he blurts out, "Mom, Jason is a god", I replied, "well, he certainly thinks so" Then Jake goes on to read that Jason fought off lions and Isaac blurts out, "I could totally see dad doing that" and he was serious. I love that both our kids still think we're still cool, smart and fun....I'm not looking forward to when we are idiots to them.

And, we have another 40th birthday in the household..Jason's FORTY today. Happy birthday honey...I love you and believe you can fight off lions too.

Not the most stellar start to a new semester...

Yesterday was my first day back to school. My day started about 1 am when I got up, looked at my watch which read 4:30, so I stumbled into the bathroom and took my shower, got dressed and when I went to kiss my sleeping husband goodbye, I glanced at the clock at the bedside to see it was only 1:30 am.....UGGGG

I crawled back in bed, wet hair and all, slept for a couple more hours. I got up at the real 4:30, looked in the mirror, gasped at my now dry and all over the place hair, wet it down (no luck), shrugged my shoulders in resignation and drove to the Starbucks near my school. This is a 40 minute drive. Got there, only to realized I PULLED MY MATH BOOK OUT OF MY BOOK BAG and could not study my math calculations for the upcoming test...the reason I got up so early...the reason I drove my rear to Starbucks by the school....the math book was STILL AT HOME, FORTY FREAKIN' MINUTES AWAY....

damn it damn it damn it

So, I read a chapter out of my pharm book....and hoped and prayed that I remembered some of my math from the previous semester. By the way, math is NOT MY STRONG SUIT....I was an English major with a History minor...I worked as a paralegal...lots of writing, NO MATH.

Got to class, got the math test...

damn it damn it damn it

I'm the kind of person who runs her hands through her hair while taking a test...keep in mind I had serious bed head of the wet to dry kind already...then keep in mind I had an hour and a half to do 30 some calculations....with lots of steps...like changing grams to mg and lbs to kg before even figuring out dosages...or calculating the drips p/ minute in an IV with a certain amount of meds in a percentage of solution blah blah blah...so my hair, looked, well a lot like:

Any how, when the teacher announced we only had 9 more minutes for the test, I wrote on the front of the paper....'guess I'll be taking THIS test again' ...then I went down the list of problems and thought...'hmm, probably killed that patient, this patient's a gonner' and seriously questioned my ability to care for the sick and injured.

Thankfully, we have 2 more times to take the test. We have to pass the test with a 90% in order to get through the class.....I think they think it's very important that as nurses we're really good at dosage calculations and IV drip rates....I'm pretty sure all you out there are thankful about that.

Besides studying for pharm, psych and a killer third semester med/surg class, I'll be reviewing my math.....

Other then that, my day was peachy!

Day 2 -- Colonial Williamsburg

We walked to Colonial Williamsburg from the visiting center, it's a nice 10 minute walk with a side attraction of a tobacco farm, built by volunteers in the manner that they would have used in the late 1600's, early 1700's when this area was being cultivated. The visitor's center also has a shuttle service that makes a circuit around Colonial Williamsburg, the bus runs almost every 5-10 minutes.

These pictures were from one of the first mental hospitals in the U.S. (grr I can't get the inserted link thing going...so here's a link if you want further info http://www.cwf.org/almanack/places/hb/hbhos.cfm ) This was particularly fun for me, because the text book I chose to bring for my 'light' reading was Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.

Everything is so green and lush here. Maybe because it's like 600 degrees and 120% humidity. I was MELTING...I will never never complain (yeah right) about our measly 95 degree weather again...I mean at least it's a dry heat.
Is Isaac upset about being under British rule? Nope, he just wants some ice-cream (did I mention it was HOT) Katrina, we took this picture for you...just in case you were feeling homesick.

This is what a tobacco plant looks like while it's growing. That was the major crop for this area. If it was regular middle class/upper middle class, non-gentry farm, the owners worked side by side with his slaves, wife and children to grow, harvest and bring the crop to market.

Some old fashioned 'canning' pretty sure they didn't call in canning though.

The kitchen at the Governor's Palace. Williamsburg was the original Capital of the Virginias. Oh by the way, Virginia was named by Lord Raleigh who was given the land, ALL the land. He named it after Queen Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen. Later, when the Crown needed more money and other younger sons and rich merchants wanted to buy land (and none was left in England because of the whole first son gets everything rule) the King brought Raleigh up for charges of treason and was able to get the deed for the land and started giving it out. Anyhow, the first three governors of Williamsburg were appointed by the king and lived at the Governor's Palace. Patrick Henry was the first elected Governor after the revolution and then Jefferson. Jefferson then moved the capitol to it's present day location in Richmond.

The boys learning how to throw grenades...old school.

Governor's Palace...(OK, not really palatial when you compare it to what's in Europe, but for one of our earlier buildings, pretty darn palatial!)

This is what happens to kids who whine too much!

I wish my garden could look like this. Hot sweaty Isaac, Hot sweaty exhausted mommy.

ooops, two pictures of the garden, I must really have liked it...
We went on a ghost tour (if you're interested we highly recommend this private service http://www.williamsburgprivatetours.com/ghost.htm) John was our guide and he's a great story teller. Along with the local history lessons, ghost stories he also had the boys enact the ending of Black Beard's life. Isaac and Jake both got a little scared, Isaac saw ghosts around every corner by the time the tour was finished. He and I actually didn't partake in the last stop where we were to meet the 15 year old ghost, Emma, who was run over by a carriage while sneaking out of a house to meet a boy. Apparently she likes to give boys ghostly kisses. Jake was all for partaking, Isaac, not so much.
This is where ghost, Grandma Peaches lives, she stands at the window looking for her grandson, who had died climbing a tree across the street (his ghost is sometimes seen in that tree). The kids need to wave and say "Hi, Grandma Peaches, I'm not your grandson" Here's Jake waving.

It was a fun day, we learned a lot, saw a lot and sweated a whole bunch!

glad to be wrong

It's interesting how when you're in nursing school you see disease and injury lurking behind every ache and pain....normally I can laugh it off....like when Jason asks why my back hurts, I answer cavalierly "end stage renal failure" ...it makes him laugh. I don't normally diagnose my family and friends (well as far as they know...I keep it to myself, like when a friend who was hoarse the other day said it could be allergies, but my thought was hmmm, maybe it's a thoracic aneurysm...I kept that thought to myself, because I'd like to keep my friends) Any how...yesterday, Jason complained a bit, and only after some prodding on my part because frankly he's been a bit of a pill the last couple of days, about some abdominal pain....lower right quadrant abdominal pain. I palpated and he had rebound tenderness a bit lower then McBurny's point (how techie do I sound?)...BUT he didn't have a fever and he didn't have any of the other GI symptoms...BUT not everyone has the other symptoms which makes appendicitis so tricky.

So, much to his chagrin, I made him go to the ER.
We were upfront that this was most likely me, student nurse, being too paranoid. I was assured that I had about two more years of being overly careful and then I'll swing to, 'You have to be dieing to get sympathy or treatment from me" They patted Jason on the back and gave him lots of kudos to sticking with me during these 'crazy' years.....But he did have that rebound tenderness, and some iffy blood work (but about his kidneys not about his appendix) So they did a CT scan, and gave him some IV fluids and we sat and sat and sat, played some scrabble on Jason's PDA and sat AND thankfully I was wrong.

woo hoo
Anyhow, he just has to go get his kidney function levels checked with his regular doctor this week. And of course if he spikes a fever or the pain gets worse then we go back. They said they had no idea what the pain was, maybe scarring (Jason gave his mom a kidney 9 years ago and as time goes on scarring can accumulate), it could just be a mild upset that will work itself out, WHO KNOWS....but for now he's okay and NOW HE CAN GET BACK TO REMODELLING THE BATHROOM!