NurseMom

Reminder

2009-11-18T23:26:00.001-08:00

I cannot believe it's been almost a year since I have blogged! What a crazy year! Thanks to a couple of friends from work, I have decided to return to my blogging ways.
We'll see how it goes!

Baby Girl Harper

2009-01-16T21:18:00.000-08:00

For the past year or so, I've been reading the sweetest girl's blog. Her name is Kelly. After struggling with infertility for some time, she and her husband finally conceived. Tonight she gave birth to a baby girl named Harper. Harper was born with pneumonia and was flown to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Our family has experienced God's grace and mercy concerning sick babies. Please be in prayer for the stamps family that God will touch little Harper and that He will bring strength and peace to the family.

http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/

Crazy Smart Husband

2009-01-08T20:13:00.000-08:00

Halfway through this commercial, my husband and I looked at each other and grinned. See, he's crazy smart. He is an engineer. When he's thinking about aerodynamics, I'm thinking about pizza. ha That's okay though. It's just how we roll!

Christmas Break Wrap-up

2009-01-02T20:42:00.000-08:00

We all had a great Christmas. There was a lot of running and rearranging schedules but we were able to see family that we hadn't seen in a while.
The actress of our household was thrilled with her sketch book and pencils as well as her hula hoop. She spent lots of time during her break dressing up and fixing her hair. She if definitely her mother's daughter. She ended up receiving four pairs of boots for Christmas. She couldn't have been happier!
The athlete around here didn't really have a favorite thing. He got lots of hats and a couple of jerseys. I think he would wear one every day of the week if we would let him. He got to play with his cousins and play outside a lot with all of this nice weather.

The scholar. She got her first VS items this Christmas. She is becoming such a young woman. Very smart and thoughtful. She was able to spend some time with her Memaw over the break. During that time, I'm sure she probably consumed five gallons of coffee.

The rationalizer. All he wanted for Christmas was a cell phone. (He and the scholar have been sharing the same one for about a year now.) He got one and hasn't quit texting. He was able to stay with Memaw for a while as well. I'm not sure what he did while he was there... other than text.
The bill payers. Ha! We've had a wonderful break too. I got a long-awaited replacement for my original engagement ring. A ring that I lost the diamond out of seven years ago. It is too beautiful to describe. I was taken by complete surprise. The George Foreman grill that he got seemed really inadequate. Thanks to Memaw and Meme, we were able to spend a night alone. We even made the trip all the way to Tulsa and back home without any arguments!
By the way... as of today, only 133 days until I graduate!

Generational Dare Devils

2008-12-29T22:40:00.000-08:00

Look at my baby! Can you believe the nerve! Leave 'em alone outside for a few minutes and this is what happens! First, I have a new oval four-wheeler dirt track running around my backyard. Next, they decide they are Evil Knievel wannabe's. She looks so tiny on that big o' four-wheeler.

This one is the instigator of the whole ordeal. He was so proud of himself for taking his baby sister under his wing and teaching her not only how to jump it but also how to, (as he put it) drift. Yes, that's right. My eleven year old understands how to make a motorized vehicle's back-end slide through the curves. I mean, where do these kids learn these things?
One would think that these children are being raised by irresponsible, immature, silly, crazy.... Well, you get the point. But really, where would they have ever learned such nonsense?

Hmmm, never mind all that stuff before....

Sendin' a Shout Out

2008-12-16T19:59:00.000-08:00

Have you ever met someone and instantly bonded with them? That's the way things were for us three girls.

This girls came into my life with this crazy nursing program. I'll tell you a little about them. That's Shannon on the left. She's awesome. She works on a surgical floor, has a couple of kids with the same "kid issues" that mom's experience on a daily basis. She frequently threatens to gouge her own eye out with her pen. Okay so you all probably don't think that is especially funny but I do. And really, that's what counts, right?
In the middle is Cicily. She's the bomb. She never studies but has an understanding of anatomy and physiology that would put most physicians to shame. You wanna know exactly where the hepatobiliary duct is and what it does? Just ask Ciss. She can tell you. All the while, Shannon and I are looking at each other and thinking the same thing... "Is there a hepatobiliary duct?" Well, Shannon and I aren't quite that bad but next to Ciss, we look like it!
I was thinking about these girls today. (We took our last final today.) I've come to the conclusion that God puts people in your life for a reason. I truly believe that some of those people are destined to become like soul mates. They make you stronger, smarter, happier, and an all around better person. That's what my girls do for me. I only hope that I have been able to touch their lives in the same way.

Shannon, Shelly, Cicily
(The day we took our "senior pictures"!)

I Really Love My Job

2008-11-01T20:47:00.000-07:00

I really do love my job. Lately, I've been very stressed out about school and my grades. Some of that stress has affected my job performance. I hope it hasn't been too bad but I know that I have let things get to me a little easier than I normally would. That being said, I think it is important that I let everybody in on my warped thought process.
Before I begin... I have permission from this patient (who shall remain nameless) to post these pictures and to talk about his case.
I go out to the waiting room and call the patient back. He (who is still a kid) walks in with this treble hook, with two of the barbs buried to the hilt, in his forehead.
The two marks in his eyebrow are where the back hook caught him and he took that one out himself.

So, I get him triaged. He is a really nice kid who was fishing at the pond with his little brother. He was behind the little brother and stood up just as the little brother decided to cast. Really not that uncommon. Right?

The uncommon thing is that this kid refused lidocaine. That's right. Now is the time to scroll back up and look at the way that hook is buried in his head.

I asked him if he would like me to hold his hand. His response was to stick his hand up and yell "Where are you at?" I was so nervous. This was a big kid. I just knew that he was gonna break my hand. At this point we had the patient, his mom, his brother, me, another nurse, the tech, the doctor, and one of the doctor's sons in our little suture/cast room.

Have you ever gigged a fish or a frog? It makes the most horrible tissue ripping sound. Really, if you've ever done it, you'll never forget it.

So, the doctor grabs the hook and pulls. I felt heat crawl up from my inner stomach and radiate to my limbs then to my face. I was sure that I would pass out. The sound was unbelievably sickening.

Let me tell you, that kid did not shed a tear! Not one! He didn't even want to take a Tylenol after it was all over! Wow! I was impressed.

I'm gonna have to restrain myself from laughing the next time I get a 40 year old man who cries when I have to give him a steroid shot!

All that being said, I love my job. I love the crazy, zany things that I may see on any given day. I love that I see every walk of life. I love that I love all of those people, even when I don't agree with why they are there. I understand that there are people with issues that cause them to act differently than I (or others) think that they should act.

Haircut Night

2008-10-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

By cutting my family's hair, we save approximately $300 a year. It's not always their most favorite thing though! Plus, I got my camera software reinstalled after loosing all my pictures in the computer crash a couple of months ago. After the crash, I was so seriously depressed about loosing all those pictures. (BACK UP YOUR PICTURE FILES, PEOPLE!!) I came out of it and decided that I couldn't do anything about it anyway. So, here are a few from tonight. I should have some good posts (you know, cause they'll have pictures) in the next few days!

My girl. She is becoming such a grown-up. She's pretty excited because she gets her braces off on Monday!
The baby. This picture is out of order but I'm too tired to do anything about it.

My youngest son. He doesn't like haircuts or having his picture taken!

He really doesn't like the clippers around his ears!

But he does like Momma kisses!

My oldest. He thinks that he needs to drive everywhere. My nerves are shot. Not because I've been riding with him. No, I'm not that brave. I'm just thinking about my hubby riding with him!

So, that's all for now. I'll be working all weekend but hopefully, I'll post again by the beginning of next week! Everybody stay safe!

I KNOW I didn't pray for patience!

2008-09-29T17:56:00.000-07:00

My life has been a little crazy lately. Most everyone knows that. This week has definitely started off with a bang!
I'll start at the beginning (from my point of view of coarse)! My oldest daughter was grounded last week. We won't get into the reasons. Let's just say that she didn't exactly have to stay after school to run for cross country. This morning (the one day that class starts late for me and I don't have to work so I sometimes get to sleep in until the house is empty) I was rudely awaken by banging on my bedroom door. I peeled open my groggy eyes, croaked out "come in", waiting a few seconds, cleared my throat, and yelled "COME IN". Still now response. I stumbled out of bed, tripped over a pillow in the floor, fell into the door and then managed to right myself as I yanked open the door. There, standing in the hall, was my teenage daughter. Her big brown eyes, bright with tears. She starts immediately with "Daddy won't let me go to (nearby town) with band. I have to go, it's extra credit!" Well, we proceed to tell her that extra credit is an unnecessary activity that she was grounded from last week. She manages to have a teenage-girl fit. I tell her to go wait on the bus. She stands in the garage until the bus gets here. When it comes, she doesn't get on it! I end up taking her to school with my (uncombed, curled, straightened, or otherwise fixed) hair in a clip, puffy eyes, and snoopy P.J.'s. I dropped her right at the front door without saying a word. I kept thinking, "Oh, yea. We'll see how you feel when your friends see just how bad your mom looks in the morning." That was, until I realized that her friends paid no attention to me. It was the parents that were looking at me like I had just rolled outta bed or something. Dog-gone em!
So, I went to class. I drive about 40 miles through woods, with no cell signal (not that it would matter because I forgot my phone at home today) to get to school by the way. I went to my first class (which I have a test in tomorrow) and decided that I should probably just skip pharmacology to go home and study. I made it about half way home when I heard the most awful racket coming from my little red car. It wasn't shaking or shivering so I didn't think that it was a flat tire but I pulled over to check it out. Oh yes, it was flat. I managed to get help from a little guy who looked just like the wrecker driver from Adventures in Babysitting. No, I am not kidding. He had the big scruffy beard, no teeth, and a railroad engineer hat with the bill flipped up. The only discernible difference was that he had two hands and no hook. He was wearing a six-shooter on his right hip though. We managed to get the little spare on my car only to see, after we lowered it, that it was half-flat as well! He tells me that he has an air compressor at his house across the highway. I really had no choice. It was either to drive across there for air or risk making a crazy looking little man, wearing a gun on his hip, mad at me. At this point I was almost sick. He really was a nice guy in the end. While his compressor filled up, he chit-chatted about his life. He offered me a cold beer. I refused. Although, I did tell my sister later that if I hadn't been driving, I might have taken him up on his offer. So, I finally got home.
My husband asked about my day. He said that he promised that his bad day could out-do my bad day. Come to find out, while I was out of commission, my husband got a call from the high school principle. My oldest son was suspended from school. FOR FIGHTING!!! I called my mom to get some much needed advice. Do you know what she told me? I'm not supposed to be their friend! Seriously. Who would have thought it? I'm supposed to be the parent? Just kidding. I know that. I have tried to hard to make my kids like me. It's jacked up, I know.
So, I'm sitting here writing this blog and I get a call from GG (father-in-law) to inform me that my youngest son's teacher has sent him an email because she doesn't have either mine or my husbands. My youngest son has a small, well big problem with organization and staying on track. (I wonder where he got that from?) He forgot his book at school that he is being tested over tomorrow. Luckily it worked out that we were able to get into the school to get his book. So, our house is pretty much on lock-down. I have not studied at all for my test. (Why are you blogging, you ask? Because it's therapeutic. Leave me alone!)
I haven't prayed for patience. I did tell my husband yesterday that I was almost at my breaking point with everything going on right now. Ha! I've heard people say that God has a funny sense of humor. I guess I wasn't that close to breaking after all!

This is what I'm doing.

2008-09-22T21:40:00.001-07:00

I've gotten a few emails lately about my lack of blogging/emailing. The big question is "What have you been doing?" Well, besides the constraints on my time (class 2 days a week, clinicals 2 days a week, and work 2-3 nights a week) I've been trying to study. Tonight I typed up a "cheat sheet" (that we are allowed to use during a pharm test tomorrow). I thought I would share this with everyone who has been wondering what I've been doing. I miss getting to blog and I promise that as soon as all this school stuff is over, I'll be back to it!! Please excuse the misspellings and craziness of the following. You may not understand it but hopefully, come tomorrow, I will. ha!
Axonal conduction – action potential down the axon (away from the cell body). Synaptic transmission – information carried across the neuron gap. Steps in synaptic transmission – 1.synthesis 2.storage 3.release 4.receptor binding 5. termination. Neurotransmitters of the PNS – acetylcholine (neurotransmitter for muscle), norepinephrine, epinephrine (stimulates every type of PNS receptor), and dopamine. Subtypes of PNS neurotransmitters: Cholinergic receptor – NicotinicN, NicotinicM, and Muscarinic. Adrenergic – Alpha1,2, Beta1,2, and Dopamine. Functions of Adrenergic Receptor Subtypes: Alpha1 (arterioles) vasoconstriction, ejaculation, and contraction of bladder neck and prostate. Beta1 – increases HR, force of contraction, and conduction of AV node, and renin release. Beta2 – bronchial dilation, relaxation of uterine muscle, vasodilation (in very select places), and glycogenolysis. Dopamine – dilates renal blood vessel. Monoamine Oxidase – enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine. MAOI’s inhibit the breakdown of norepinephrine. Muscarinic agonists (rest and digest) used for decreasing urinary retention and increasing GI motility. {Urecholine} Adv.Reac: hypotension, slowed HR, increased salivation, increased gastric acid secretions, abd cramps, diahrrea, exacerb. of asthma, and disrhythmias. Nursing implications: take on empty stomach to prevent gastric upset, record I&O, pee fast, OD (sweating, salivation, incontin, brady, hypotension). {Pilocarpine} used to constrict pupil for tx of glaucoma. Toxicity from muscarinic agonists is treated with atropine. Indirect muscarinic agonists – Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors: Reversible AChE inhibitors {…mine’s}: used to treat myasthenia gravis, alzheimer’s, to produce constriction in pupils for glaucoma, treatment of anticholinergic poisoning such as OD of antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, and phenothiazines. {Prostigmin} Adverse reactions: excessive muscarinic stimulation (sweating, salivating, etc.) and Depolarizing neuromuscular blockade in which muscles contract and relax then stay relaxed (toxic doses could paralyze the resp. muscles; Called cholinergic crisis and treated with atropine). Irreversible AChE inhibitors stay on the receptor until it dies and then it is replaced. Organic insecticide treated with atropine and Valium to control seizures. {Physostigmine} used to treat muscarinic antagonist poisoning. Muscarinic Antagonists (anticholinergics): used pre-op to reduce resp. secretions {Robinol}, mydriasis for eye exam/surg, bradycardia, intst. Cramping and hypermobility {Levsin}, urinary antispasmodic {Urispas}, {Ditropan}, asthma {Atrovent}, muscarinic agonist poisoning {atropine}. Adv. reactions: dry mouth, blurred vision, increased intraocular pressure, urine retention, constipation, decreased sweating, tachy, and complicating asthma by thickening secretions.Neuromuscular blocking agents (nicotinicM antagonists) {..urium’s and succ}: nondepolarizing blocks the receptors without activating them and depolarizing produce muscle contraction, and stay bound preventing repolarization {succinylcholine}. (Will not constrict before relaxing). Will have sore muscles after waking up. Adverse effects: resp. depression, hypotension, brady, card. Arrest, pt. is alert (they just can’t move), and malignant hyperthermia. Adrenergic agonists (fight or flight){epinephrine}: receptors A1&2, B1&2. A1 – vasoconstriction delays absorbtion of local anesthetic, reduces nasal congestion, and elevates BP (in the eye causes mydriasis). B1 – contractility and conductivity in the heart during cardiac arrest. B2 – bronchodilation and drug of choice for anaphylaxis. Adv. Effects: HTN, tachy, dysrhythmias, angina, necrosis at infiltration, hyperglycemia. Norepinephrine {Levophed} – receptor specificity A1, A2, and B1. Isoproterenol (likely to cause dysrhythmias, not often used). Dopamine B1 and high doses A1. Low dose increases HR and contraction. In high doses it could cause the kidneys to work too well which will decrease BP. The higher the dose, the more like norepinephrine. Dobutamine {Dobutrex} B1 : adv. Reactions tachycardia. In CHF causes heart to shrink and work. Works for about 2 weeks. Phenylephrine {Neosynephrine} A1 &2. Nasal spray or IV for vasoconstriction. A2 causes tachyphylaxis (rebound stuffiness). Don’t use more than 3 days. If dependant DC one nostril at a time. {Breathine} B2 used for bronchodilation and uterine hypermotility. To decrease angina caused by giving dopamine, give beta-adrenergic blocker such as porpranolol. Alpha-2 agonists decrease BP by tricking the body into thinking there is too much epinephrine. Used to treat HTN. Clonidine {Catapres}. Adv. Effects are sedation, ortho hypotension. Adrenergic Antagonists: Alpha receptor bloackers terazocin {Hytrin}. Used for HTN, BPH (helps to start urine stream), pheochromocytoma, and Raynaud’s because they vasodilate. Adv. Effects ortho Hypotension (1st dose syncope, give at HS, and start low and go slow), reflex tachy, nasal congestion, and impotence. Beta receptor blockers – {propanolol, metoprolol, and atenolol} – reduce HR, force of contraction, reduced conduction, suppression of renin release and decrease BP and HR. Used for HTN, angina, dysrhythmias, MI (give beta blocker and they live longer), heart failure (decreased cardiac output), hyperthyroidism, migraine (prevention not tx), stage fright, pheochromocytoma (give alpha and beta blocker), and glaucoma (make pupils smaller). Adv. Effects: sedation, brady, AV block, decreased cardiac output, bronchoconstriction (with atenolol and metoprolol), inhibition of glycogenolysis, and delay awareness of hypoglycemia. Nicotinic receptors are located in PNS and SNS. 3 receptors activated by aceylcholine and their location: nicoinicM – postsynaptic fibers in the PSNS and SNS. nicotinicN – skeletal muscle. Muscarinic – end receptors of the PSNS. Two neurotransmitters that act only on the SNS: epi and norepi. Sympathetic stimulation of adrenal medulla leads to secretion of epi. Synonym: Sympathomimetic – adrenergic, adrenergic agonist. Sympatholytic – adrenergic antagonist, adrenergic blocker. Parasympathomimetic – cholinergic, muscarinic. Parasympatholytic – anticholinergic, muscarinic antagonist, cholinergic blocker. Stimulation of which receptor will cause the following? Alpha1: pupil dilation, bladder neck constriction, and increased BP. Beta1: increased HR and BP. Beta2: bronchiolar dilation and dilation of arterioles of the heart. Muscarinic: pupil constriction, bladder emptying, and peripheral vasodilation. Nicotinic: contraction of skeletal muscle. Antagonism (blocking) of these receptors will produce? Alpha1: papillary constriction, bladder emptying, dilation of the arterioles of the skin. Alpha2: increased BP. Beta1: decreased HR. Beta2: uterine contraction. Muscarinic: pupillary dilation, increased HR, bronchiolar dilation, urinary retention, decreased lung secretions, constipation. Drugs and the effects they produce: Alpha1 agonist: papillary dilation, increased BP. Alpha1 blocker: papillary constriction, impotence. Beta1 agonist: increased HR and BP. Beta1 blocker: decreased HR and BP. Beta2 agonist: bronchiolar dilation and uterine relaxation. Beta2 blocker: bronchiolar constriction and uterine contraction. Cholinergic agonist: pupillary constriction, decreased HR, bronchiolar constriction, increased peristalsis, & increased bladder tone. Anticholinergic: pupillary dilation, increased HR, bronchiolar dilation, decreased peristalsis, relaxation of bladder spasms, and impotence. Chemical responsible for the breakdown of norepi? Monoamine Oxidase. A chemical that blocks the action of acetylcholinesterase will effect: pupil constriction, salivation, and increase intestinal motility. Neuropharmacology drugs act by altering synaptic transmission.
*Post-ganglionic neuron of the SNS is the adrenal medulla. *Activation of beta1 receptors causes increased HR and force of contraction. *The action of indirect-acting parasympathomimetics is to inhibit or inactivate the enzyme aceylcholinesterase, thus permitting the accumulation of acetylcholine at the receptors. *Narcotic analgesics are safe to administer with atropine. *If a pt develops muscarinic antagonist toxicity from ingestion of a chemical, administer physostigmine. *Pancuronium does not depress the CNS. * When tubocurarine is administered, will see paralysis in levator muscle of eyelid and muscles of mastication. *Difference between succ and the nondepolarizing neuromusclular blockers: paralysis is preceded by a brief initial period of contraction. * Directi mechanism by which adrenergic agonists activate adrenergic receptors: direct receptor binding. *A patient with heart failure would benefit from a beta1 agonist. *Etiology for expected orthostatic BP change with an Alpha1 blocker: dilation of peripheral arterioles. *A pt with asthma who requires a beta-blocker should be treated with metoprolol. *GI upset is common with beta blockers. Symptoms of “anticholinergic side effects” are dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, bowel obstruction, dilated pupils, blurred vision, increased HR, and decreased sweating. Also causes impairment in cognitive functioning.
Post note: Yes, I was able to fit all of this on one 8.5X10 sheet of paper!

How Time Flies

2008-09-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

Fall is always a special time for me. I used to hate it. It was cold and I knew it wouldn't be long before melancholy set in. That was until I met my man. I think that is so funny. It's amazingly easy to write "my man" but I've tried to say it out loud. Nope, doesn't sound right. Anyway...
After talking to my sister (who I miss very much) on the phone tonight, I realized that nine years ago last night was a very special night.
My sister and I had been riding horses that day. We were having a great time until her horse got spooked and bolted. Unfortunately her boot got stuck in the stirrup. As she was being drug, the horse was also stomping her. Long-story-short, she ended up in an ambulance. In the commotion, the horses were turned loose. When word got out about Mandee, someone got the word to Shawn, who was friends with my parents and it was a friend of a friend kind of thing. Shawn helped me catch the other horse and unsaddle them. He then gave me a ride to the hospital to check on my sister.
At the time, we hadn't spent much time together at all. He was all about finishing his thesis. I was all about hating men. BUT, there was still an attraction there.
Shawn waited in the ER waiting room with me for a couple of hours until they said that Mandee was going to be okay. Shawn and I walked outside while Mandee was being discharged. The sun was behind the hill and the wind was just starting to get chilly. Standing there chatting about nothing important, Shawn ask me about places that I had lived. In my bitterness I said, "I'll never leave Fayetteville again!" There was a long pause and I looked up at Shawn's face. He had the strangest grin on his face. We ended up leaving that night without saying too much more. We were engaged on Valentines day.

(Picture taken not long after becoming engaged. I look like I'm correcting his posture.)

Then we were married in May and moved to Little Rock the next weekend. Not long after we were married, Shawn and I were talking about the first time we ever really talked to each other. I told him about the weird grin on his face when I told him that I would never leave Fayetteville again. He laughed and said, "I was right." Puzzled, I asked what he was talking about. He said, "When you said that, the first thought that went through my head was that when you marry me you will!"
So, nine years and still not in Fayetteville. That's okay. The trade-off has been worth it!

My New Hero

2008-08-29T09:37:00.000-07:00

I have never been a political activist by any means. I've just always cast my vote like everyone else but I've never argued for any one person. Today, I found my new hero. A woman. A woman who is strong without being abrasive. A woman who is a mother to multiple children. One of which is a soldier. A woman who has a servants heart. I encourage anyone who is interested to look up facts on Sarah Palin.

Tennessee Waltz

2008-08-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

This post won't have pictures because I can't find them right at the moment. Seriously, my laptop has gone crazy again. It's getting some Shawn therapy and hopefully he can recover the repressed picture files. ha ha I know it's corny but after going through the dreaded mental health rotation this summer, it was really funny to me. Anyway, I thought I would write about patient care.
I took care of a little lady recently who was dying. Death wasn't imminent but she knew it was coming. She was such a tense little thing. Refusing to sleep. Couldn't be made comfortable. She was up and down all night. In report we were told that this little lady was going to be trouble because she had been the night before. Sure, we made plenty of trips to that room throughout the night. She was medicated appropriately. She was clean and dry. She sat in a wheelchair. She was repositioned in bed. The TV was turned on. The TV was turned off. The door was partially shut. The door was opened. The bed position was changed. As a nurse, one of my biggest frustrations is not being able to make a patient comfortable. I'm not just talking about pain but comfort in general. I had really tried everything I could think to do with this lady.
We were in the room transferring her from the wheelchair to the bed (after one of her sit at the nurses station and visit with the crazy night shift). As I was standing in front of her, I bent to help her stand to her feet. She put her arms around me and laid her head on my chest. As I hugged her, I could physically feel the tension leave her little body. We stood there like that for a short while and she said she was ready to get in bed. After placing pillows under and around her, we left the room. A few minutes later, I walked by and she was asleep. I've thought about this little lady several times the last couple of days. I don't think it was anything I did that helped her relax enough to go to sleep. I think she just needed to feel some love.
My point in sharing this story is that everyone needs to feel loved. Some people think hugs are corny or nonsense. I think (personally) that more hugs should be given out. It just might make someones day (or night).

Breaking Records

2008-08-16T20:21:00.000-07:00

Is this guy the bomb, or what? As I was sitting here watching his last race, I was yelling go, go, Oh, what's-his-name! I couldn't think of the name of the guy swimming anchor in his last relay. I think that's kinda sad but not so sad to keep me from celebrating for Michael Phelps!

Learning to Take Good Pictures

2008-08-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

Call me silly but when my new, shiny camera arrived in the mail, I thought "Yippee, I'm gonna take great pictures!" Well, maybe not those exact words but along those lines. It didn't quite work out that way! You see, part of taking great pictures is science (knowing how the camera works, the logistics of subject placement, yada, yada, yada) the other part is art (seeing in your minds eye what you want the subject to look like and making that happen). I had no problem with the art part. I've always been a very visual person but I've not always been a scientific person. I had a quick run-down on camera operation by my friend, Jeff, at work. After playing around a little I was starting to get the hang of it. I also learned to use my camera to take black and whites. All other black and whites that I've posted have been edited using software. This is the "straight out of the camera shot".
Please excuse the play clothes and messy hair. Like I said, we were just playing around but this one is pretty good if I do say so myself!

Late Holiday Post

2008-07-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

We had a great holiday weekend! It started off last Thursday when my hubby's sister and her husband got here and brought this cute little thing with them!!

He has such a beautiful smile!

We went out for dinner, which we hadn't all done together in a long time. The next morning we left for mom and dad's house. This is the youngest. We don't let the kids eat in the suburban, because it is our "nice" vehicle. So, here she is with me telling her to hurry. Really, a little cold headache never hurt anybody, did it?
We finally made it. I was so happy to see these guys! It seemed like it had been forever!

Of coarse, Uncle Shawn was happy to see Rileigh Cait.

My two oldest had been at my mom's for 2 weeks. The oldest didn't really seem to thrilled with the idea of coming home but my oldest girl was happy to see her Mommy. (She still calls me that, by the way. The oldest calls me mother but we won't go there right now!)
Even though she was ready to come home, she still had a blast with her little cousins!

This one especially.

So, a bunch of friends came out for the 4th. Mom and Dad have a bunch out for a fall get-together and the summer. It's always fun. I think the guys may be getting too old for the football games though!
(Please take note of my hubby's white socks. I'm not sure what the deal is. I guess it is what it is. Ughh. Really, I'm having an issue with the socks but I don't know why. Ok, I'm over it now. Not really, but I'll quit writing about it.)

This is my baby and her Bestest BFF.

The sun was starting to set and I thought this was a pretty cloud.

Why do people (who are normally reasonably sane) light fire on the end of a stick and give it to children? This really makes me a nervous wreck.

The next morning we headed back home. We made it in time to visit with our other family a little before they had to go back home.

That, and the youngest boy got to see Meme.

My sis-in-law put a couple of pictures on her blog of this but I thought I would too. My hubby took our nephew on a four-wheeler ride.

When I looked at this picture closer, I was instantly amused by the look on his face.

Do you see what I'm talking about? He looks scared to death but really he was having fun!

I couldn't let Uncle Shawn have all the fun so I had to take him on a ride too.

His momma did so well. I didn't know if she would let us take him or not. He had a really rough go of it when he was first born and she is a little protective. We're still working on getting her to let him come stay for a little while. Maybe before he's a teenager! :)

Borrowed Babies

2008-07-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

I watched this show tonight. These teenage couples are put in charge of a baby for three days while the parents watch and hear everything from across the street. There were a couple of times that I was sure that these parents would come unglued. My teen-aged kids are definitely watching next week, even if I have to DVR it!

That's My Girl

2008-07-01T19:51:00.000-07:00

My girl turned 14 yesterday. Holy cow. How did this happen?
She's not going to like this too much but I just can't contain myself any longer. This story must be told.
Four years ago this summer, I bought a some exercise equipment. It came with a little wrench to put it together. One night, this girl of mine, came out of her bedroom with big, HUGE, tears streaming down her cheeks. After a little questioning, this is what she showed us...
We asked her why she put it on her finger. Her response was, "Well, I put it on once and took it off, so I put it back on." Why did we even ask? Duh.
We tried soap and wiggling (the wrench, not the kid). Didn't work. We tried to use the Dremmel to cut it off. (OK, that seriously wasn't me. You know men and power tools) Anyway, the wrench got too hot so we had to quit. Whatever could we do?
Ahh, take her to the Emergency Department!

Do you see this? Two doctors and three nurses. Do you know how to get a wrench off of a little girl's swollen little finger? They didn't either. The end result was umbilical tape and KY. Why do I have a picture of my kid in the E.D., you ask? Well, because when our kids were little, we had no less than 3-5 visits per year. Please don't ask. I wasn't a nurse then and I was a little uptight.

Oh, back to my girl. That same summer, she got the worse case of poison ivy that I have ever seen, to this day. Have you ever seen anything more pitiful?

So my first girl is now fourteen. She spends her time reading big thick books that I wouldn't have even tried to read at that age and IMing on the computer. She dreams of being a dentist or maybe a veterinarian. She worries about mistreated animals and little kids. She's just a great kid. One to be proud of.
This was last July 4th. I'm so thankful that God gave her to me and I hope that she forgives me for this post!

The Week of the Baby

2008-06-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since I've posted but I've been a little busy. While sitting at my hubby's parent's house, my sis-in-law called. She wanted to know why I had time to sit and visit with them but didn't have time to blog. So, here I am. Oh by the way, give Brayden a kiss for me!
So,
A couple of weeks ago, my hubby and I were able to spend five whole days with our baby and no other kids in the house. It's very seldom that we get "alone time" with any one of our four kids so it was especially sweet. We bought an inexpensive pool the weekend before the two older kids left for church camp. The baby had a blast using it as a slip-and-slide while it was filling up.
The thing about this kid is she has a great personality. Do you remember that commercial about the girl interviewing for a job and she's being asked about skills she may or may not have. Her response was always "No, but I have a great personality!" Well, this kid has the skills AND the personality! Not that I am biased, whatsoever!

She rarely gets in a bad mood. This is her affect 98% of the time. (Is that a correct usage of the term "affect"?) Whatever. She's just really happy.
Especially when she is in the water. Mom, can you tell she's my kid?

OK, back to her personality.

Note her expression in the above picture. The big sister is smiling sweetly while she is clowning it up.
If you can take your eyes off of the extremely white adolescent male in the front, you'll note another typical expression frequently worn by the baby.

Even when the two older are trying to dunk each other, she's still clownin'. Before anyone asks, it's all her Dad's doing. I promise.

Queen Bee

2008-06-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

If I was better with photoshop, I would draw a nice little arrow, pointing out the queen bee in this picture. As it is, she is the longer bee in the middle. In this household, I am the queen bee.
A couple of weeks ago, my husband brought home seventy-five "empty" bee hives. Notice, he unloaded these "empty" hives with only gloves on. No special suit. No hat or net.
Low and behold, there were three working hives in this group. Don't ask me how he didn't know it but he didn't.
Today, I worked up the courage to face my fears and interact with the bees. I've been terrified and slightly resentful of the invasion of my space by these little creatures.

See the darker, gray section in the top left corner of this frame? That is capped honey. When the frame is fully capped, it can be shaved off and the honey spun out. What I didn't realize is how easy it is to become fascinated by them. They are the epitome of organization and productivity. Hence, "busy as a bee!" Shawn and I checked the hives at the house.

We then drove out to Meme and GG's to check one of the hives out there. I think it may be the best hive we have going so far. If you are wondering why we are doing all of this checking, it is because bees sometimes decide to leave there hive and swarm. How do we know this? Because Friday afternoon, I looked out the back door and noticed that the bees from the hive in our back yard were flying around in a big, undulating circle. I called Shawn and he and his friend, Jason, came out to check it. When they got here, this is what they found...

Half the bees left their hive, following a queen, and swarmed to this tree branch.
Luckily, Shawn works for the electric coop. He brought home this "pogo stick" which is a long stick with a saw on the end. Seriously, this thing requires some hard work!
He proceeded to cut down the branch containing the swarm.

When it fell, they both seemed frozen for a few seconds. Neither saying a word. I could only imagine what was going through their heads... "Holy crap! Whatta we do now?"
The bees fill up with honey in preparation for their search for a new home. They are so full that they are almost catatonic. They literally landed in a heap and just lay there. Of course, if I just fell 30 feet out of a tree, I would probably just lay there too. That is totally beside the point.
They let the bees crawl up on the leaves and then,
shake them off into the box. Another job well done. Two engineers putting their educations to good use!

Relay, Music, and Horticulture

2008-05-31T19:47:00.000-07:00

Last night was the relay for life walk. There are a lot of fun events held throughout the night but it is also a good reminder of all the people who are helped because of the money raised at these events throughout the country. People like this, and this, and this. The kids had so much fun, running all over the football field and hanging out with friends and family.

The youngest with her G.G.

Both youngest with their Meme.

Have you ever noticed how much kids like cake walks? My kids must be cake-deprived because they are serious about some cake-walkin'!

The two oldest. (In the pink and brown.) Don't tell anyone, but I think my oldest seriously has a crush on his sister's friend.

Me and my honey. Taken by one of our vertically challenged children.

The two oldest are in a band with their youth group. My oldest boy plays the bass and oldest girl sings. They were super nervous with last night being their first gig and all but they did really well!

Here is the whole band in action. You really can't see them too well so I'll show you a close-up because I know you are just dying to see it.

My first-born. Holy cow, this makes me feel so old! Look at him! He looks so grown up standing up there. So far, he hasn't attracted any groupies but I'm on the look-out.

OK, so I messed up when I uploaded the pictures. The girl is at the top. You can scroll back up if you want to. She's so stinkin' pretty. Just hurts my eyes.

Remember when my honey worked on my flowerbed for mothers day? Yes that was a while back but we finally finished it today. Well, the girls and I worked on it while the males in our house cleaned, stained, and painted bee hives (another story for another time).

Here's on angle.

Here's another. Not bad, if I do say so myself. Maybe not "city landscaping" but I love it!

Memorial (Memorable) Weekend

2008-05-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! I've had the best time! We headed over to mom and dad's Friday afternoon. Our intention was to spend the whole weekend helping mom and dad finish up their new house but we had company on Saturday. Brian brought the kids over and Steph came too. It was so nice to see them. Since I've been in school and working, I don't get to make it home nearly enough!
This is Lilly Beth. She's 2. She has the most beautiful little face. Her mom and dad say that she's a rascal but I don't believe it for a second! She loved Declan. She kept hugging and kissing him like crazy. Brian said that was OK since they really are only related by marriage. (He is technically a step-cousin but I've never thought of him any differently than any of the other 50 first cousins in our family!)
This is Xander. He is only 3 months old. Really! He smiles all the time. Well, except for when I was taking pictures. I think he'll have Brian's sunny disposition.

This next picture is a little disturbing. My youngest has allergies. Bad. There is something around my mom and dad's house that causes them to flair up badly. We're thinking it's something in the fescue because they have hay fields on three sides of them. Anyway, this time it got so bad that it threw her into an asthma attack. It was pretty scary. She doesn't carry an inhaler because she's only had mild asthma. She took Singulair from the time she was about 3 until we moved up here. Since we moved here she hasn't had any problems. Saturday night after her bath, this is what she looked like...

within about an hour, she was telling me "Mom, it's really hard to breath out and my chest hurts." Remember, we are four hours away from home. I called Diana (who's gotta be one of the best ER nurses ever [she worked in the ER at Charity in New Orleans before moving here]) and got some advice. The kid was wheezing and I thought she was gonna blow a gasket with all the coughing but wasn't cyanotic at all. She had good capillary refill so I knew she was ok. My honey (cue: shining knight on white steed) came to the rescue and took the baby on a drive to get her away from the allergen and 30 minutes later she was on the mend.

Sunday, after church and a quick stop at the local Wally World to get some comfortable clothes because I didn't relish walking around the cemetery in heels and silky shirt, we headed over to Oklahoma, where I was raised, to take flowers to the cemetery. When I was a kid my aunt Pearl and uncle Loyed would always take me over there to "decorate" the graves of our family members who had passed. Imagine my surprise when we got there and Uncle Loyed was there!

I really don't usually like having my picture taken but I was so thankful for my hubby who had the foresight to unobtrusively snap pictures as we were talking. (hmm, you know, the whole white knight thing again)

Uncle Loyed is eighty-eight. I think being so close to him as a kid is what gave me the tenderness and affection that I have for the elderly as a nurse. Aunt Pearl was eighty-eight when she passed away. He still misses her so badly. Standing next to him, looking at her headstone, I was trying to imagine what it must feel like to see your own name and DOB with an empty spot for the date that you would leave this life. Was he scared or was he yearning for that day?
Or was he just thinking about the storm that was coming and was it hailing on his tomato plants? You can never tell with him. Oh, he still mowes the lawn and keeps up a garden.
He was telling me about these "spells" he has sometimes at night. He says that he can't catch his breath and gets scared and thinks that "his time has come." To which, I'm thinking that maybe his lungs aren't working the way they used to, his SPO2 is getting a little low, and he may be getting anxious thereby making the whole situation worse. So I tell him, "Maybe you should go to the doctor and see if you should have some oxygen on at night while you sleep." His response was just, "Naw, I just roll over on my other side." Just as simple as that.
Not long after we got to the cemetery, guess who showed up?! Sheila. All my life I've been competing with Sheila for Uncle Loyed's attention. Just kidding. She'll get that joke. Everyone else will think I sound like a spoiled brat. Well, I am. That's another story though.

So, here we are. Uncle Loyed and his girls. When we were little we were with Aunt Pearl and Uncle Loyed all the time! Everyone knew we were his girls... then Sarah came along. Ha ha. She doesn't have a blog or I would link to her. She graduated high school this year and I'm so proud of her.

After leaving the cemetery and taking the kids back to mom and dad's, Shawn and I went to Debbie and Steve's. We visited and had supper. It was so much fun. Deb isn't just my aunt but also one of my best friends.

I snapped this picture as we were leaving. I was screaming out the window "Wave, Steve. Wave, please..." Can you tell how thrilled he is? That's his typical look.

I didn't take a lot of other pictures this weekend. We got a lot done on mom and dad's house this weekend. Shawn and the kids came home yesterday because they had school today. I stayed and we worked on the house last night. I had such a good time staying up and hanging out with mom, dad, and Mandee while we worked. When they have the house completed and decorated, I'll post some pictures.

When I grow up, I wanna be a nurse like...

2008-05-21T20:10:00.001-07:00

Really, I can't pick just one that I want to emulate.
I have been a nurse for one year now. Nursing is a very challenging and frustrating job. I won't lie and tell you that it is so rewarding and how warm and fuzzy it feels to take care of someone. Of coarse, there are those feelings but there are just as many frustrating, make a girl feel really bad about herself, kinda feelings as well. It's the kind of job one would compare to the proverbial roller coaster ride. In the past year, there have been some nurses who've made my job so much better. These aren't the only nurses who've influenced me in the last year. They have just played the biggest roles. This isn't necessarily the order that they are held in my esteem, it's just the order that I happened to upload the pictures.
This is Annette. (On the right.) Annette happens to be our D.O.N. She was one of my clinical instructors in school. Annette has no ulterior motive. She is fair. She is calm. She thinks before she speaks.
This is Joyce. (a.k.a. Joycie) Joyce runs everywhere! If she forgot the I.V. tray in a patients' room at the end of the hall, she RUNS to get it. A couple of days ago, the pharmacy keys were locked in the pharmacy. I had to get the extra key from someone else so I ran to the ER. As I was running down the hall, I heard Joyce say, "Look, I taught her to run!" I've never been so proud. She also smiles. She smiles a lot! Joyce loves teaching. She's been named nurse of the year for the last two semesters by the local nursing class. She has the wisdom that only age can bring. She takes wonderful care of her patients.
This is Jan. Jan comes from the city. She's a Yankee. That's OK. I still love her! Jan works on the night crew. I miss the night crew with their messed up humor and crazy stories. Jan is the queen of stories. She can tell you about so many patients with different problems and disease processes. Jan also has the wisdom that living brings. I love her so much.
This is Tammy. She is the C.O.O. at our hospital. She started as an LPN and has worked her way up. The thing about Tammy is, she is always willing to help with anything. Not just come down to the floor and watch everybody work. No. She'll help start an IV. Help put a patient on the bed pan. Get a blanket. Give report so that a patient can be transferred. She just helps where it's needed. I want to always be like that. Tammy is a great nurse.

This is Mel. Well, actually Melanie but she's called Mel most of the time. I love her cheesy smile in this picture.

This is Mel's natural smile. OK, so she's younger than me but I can still wanna be like her when I grow up! Mel is mellow. I've only seen her get mad once. In the past few months we've gotten closer. I've always respected her and looked up to her as a nurse but the more time spent with Mel, I realize, she is one of the best nurses I know. She wants those around her to succeed. She truly has a servants heart.

All of these nurses have one major trait in common. They are nice. They don't intentionally try to put others down. They are self-assured. They don't need to try to bring others down in order to feel good about themselves. That is why, when I grow up, I wanna be like them!

Bee Careful!

2008-05-15T15:49:00.000-07:00

My hubby has a new hobby! He's so excited about the prospect of seeing the fruits of his labor. He is becoming a bee keeper. Or is it farmer? Would bee's be equivalent to livestock or poultry. They do make a product, you know. Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Yesterday, my hubby and my father-in-law made their way almost to Tennessee to pick up a couple of hives. Our family has been prepared for the new addition to our residence. Believe me, we've watched the whole PBS series on bees. Two days worth of VHS tapes. Oh yes, we know what we are doing. Not really. But we're gonna try.
So here is the keeper of the bees, proudly showing the wax that will eventually hold the larva of new bees and then the honey that will help our baby girl's allergies.
Ok, so it is kinda cool to see up close. I'm not saying that I'm as excited as the keeper of the bees but I can see the potential for cool experience here.
He had a spot ready for the little guys when he came in last night. Let me tell ya. Those bees weren't happy last night. No sir, none whatsoever!
This is the smoker thingamajiggy. It has a fire in it. Then puffs out smoke. It's suppose to calm the bees. I don't think it does.
Awww, the keeper of the bees. The box there is called a super. I'm not sure that's how it's spelled but I've got to go to work and I don't have time to look it up. So, the super goes on top of the other box. That's where the honey will eventually come from.

He's off to uncap the first box. (He's taking the lid off of the house of a bunch of pissed off bees.) Basically. Oh, sorry. Excuse my language, please.
I stood on the back porch and took a couple of pictures.
But, it was really boring so I had to get close. Really, I did.
Those little critters were swarming all around his face. I was standing about 20 feet away. After a couple of shots I realized that it was entirely too close for comfort!
For those of you who know what a scaredy cat I am. You know that I had anything that bites or stings. I had my daughter take this picture for proof that I did get kinda close. I don't think I'll do it again. I'm off to work. Everybody have a great night!

So Much to Paint

2008-05-12T14:43:00.000-07:00

We're are going to be painting our house in the next few weeks. Thank goodness! Currently, our house is a lovely peach color with brown trim. We also have some disgusting white and green awnings over some of our windows. I'll post some pictures later but right now I'm needing your opinion. I've put a poll up so give me your vote!

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T18:45:00.000-07:00

My hubby and kids know that I love being outside. When we bought this house it had this huge flower bed in front of the house full of rose bushes and weeds. That was 3 years ago. So we're a little slow about getting things done. Oh well.

So, for mother's day my hubby started getting rid of the rose bushes and weeds. He has a way about doing those little thoughtful things that makes me happy. Just like bringing a big batch of WARM chocolate chip cookies to the whole crew at work last night. Just cause he's nice like that!

While daddy worked on the flower bed, the rest of the kids took care of the mowing.

He's so small and light that he has a hard time keeping the seat down. When the seat comes up, the mower dies. Do you see a pattern here?
Mr Tough Teenager. Dad taught him well. He's got the safety glasses on.

I'm sure this girl is wondering why she's the girl but the boy gets the riding lawn mower. Speaking of the younger kids, "Where's the youngest?"

Ahh, here is the little princess...

Watching Princess Diaries. Really, she has bad allergies. Yeah. That's why she's lying on the couch. Not moving a muscle. Oh, she has allergies alright. She's also the baby.

I love these guys!

2008-05-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

I love my family. I took this picture a couple of evenings ago. When I put them on the computer tonight, I got a warm tingly feeling in the pit of my stomach. The depth of love that I feel for my husband and kids overwhelms me sometimes. They all spoil me unendingly. (Is unendingly a word?) All of them. I am truly blessed!

So, on to today's business. Today was gymnastics. The youngest has taken to it like a fish to water. Her teacher is great. Her goal is for each child to gain self-confidence and strength. "Miss Thang" doing her hand-stand

Really, I have no idea what she is doing here but she seems to be enjoying herself!

More today business...

Happy Birthday Meme! We love you and we're so thankful for all that you do for us!

Meme dressed as Dolly Parton at a Relay for Life fundraiser

Ba-a-a-a-a-a

2008-05-03T20:34:00.000-07:00

Our neighbor's are now the proud owners of a fuzzy, furry little lamb. He stays in a shed in their backyard. Well, really I don't know if it's a he or a she. He looks like a boy to me though. I guess all lambs look like boys to me. Dang, there I go again. My point is...
I took these pictures today and I thought Meme might like 'em!

They both look so sweet and innocent.

I'm sure that poor little lamb is thinking, "What does this chick think she's doing to me?" I know what is in a sheep's brain. I dissected one.

The youngest and the youngest neighbor. They've gotten to be pretty good friends in the last couple of years. We've been blessed with really great neighbors!

I Finally Posted!

2008-04-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

I don't want to write about all the homework I've been catching up on. Or the tests I've been studying for. Or the vomit I've cleaned up. Or the medications I've given. Or the IV's I've started. Or the kid's arguments that I've refereed. Well, you get the point. So... I'll just throw in some random highlights.

We had a wonderful couple of days with our little cutie-patootie-three-bite-total-cupcake-eating nephew and his mom.
He loves his cupcakes that Nana makes!
Seriously!

In the years that Shawn and I have been married, we've never bought a full set of glasses. Well, we've had full sets of pink valentines glasses and orange Halloween glasses but not a nice set. We were at Sam's and saw this great set for only $24. I LOVE Sam's! These glasses are thick and heavy. Just the thing we need in this house, where the children frequently load the dishwasher!

24 glasses for $24. You can't beat a deal like that!

Another great buy at Sam's... Not really a great buy but great fruit! One of Shawn's favorite treats is chocolate covered strawberries. When I found these at Sam's the wheels began turning!

They're nothing like Stilwell strawberries but they'll do in a pinch!

Just seeing these pictures makes my heart start beating faster!

I think they actually tasted better than they look and they do look pretty good if I do say so myself!

I'm Baaaaaccckkkk

2008-04-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

Here I am, in my new blog. New posts to follow.....