Kitty, Kitty

Ariel

Movin' Along

If you remember, my OB nursing orientation is broken into 5 rotations:
- Postpartum & Catching Babies
- Out Patients
- Labor & Delivery
- Cesarean Sections (Scrub & Circulating nurse)
- High Risk OB & Antepartum

Well, after 10 full weeks on the floor, I am "graduating" from postpartum & baby catching and moving into out patients. *applause* :)

I feel proficient with postpartum patients now. This week, I've worked independently, for the most part, with my preceptors being able to take on other tasks/patients on their own. I'm still a little tenuous when catching babies. I've never had to give an apgar score less than 7; so that tells you I haven't had a "bad baby" yet. I sincerely hope I have a bad baby while on orientation, with my preceptor right beside me.

I'm excited to move on. This out patient rotation will not be as long as postpartum was, I don't believe.

Today was the first day I had to work over-time: I caught a baby at 3:06pm. I got out of the hospital at 10 till 5pm...that is how long it takes to do all of the charting involved in catching. It was a good birth, though, and I didn't mind having to stay later.

Monday will be the first I have to work on a holiday. It's not a major holiday or anything... But, still. We are having our family picnic on Sunday instead of Monday, so that worked out ok; and, I get paid time and a half! Can't beat that.

Hitting the book (singular)

Tonight I start another leg of the Journey.... Working towards my baccalaureate nursing degree.

The school I graduated from has just started an accelerated tract where an associate degree RN can complete all further requirements for the Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree in one calendar year.

I'm not sure if I'm actually going to do the accelerated tract... I don't have a lot of classes left that I need to complete... So, I'm just taking one class at a time, chipping away at what's left. If it gets done in a year, great, if not, I'm not in a hurry.

My main focus is on gaining experience right now and completing the next degree is secondary. While I do not want to stop working towards it (because the temptation not to "go back" will be greater the longer I wait), I am not in a rush to get it all done, either.

When Madeline heard that I was going to class tonight, her eyes got wide and she said, "What? I thought you were done with your degree." I told her yes, but there are two more degrees I want to get. But I reassured her that doing one class at a time is going to be a world away from the craziness we all lived during nursing school. This class is one night a week for seven weeks, then it's over. Nothing like the 20 hours of clinicals followed by the classes and exams, etc. that was endured the last two years.

It will all be good. As long as I live, I hope I am learning new things.

Something to Cry About

The family cat, Ariel, is missing the children along with me.

Normally she is a quiet animal that you hardly know is around except for the nightly request to Mark for a kitty treat before bed. She busies herself sunning by the sliding door or sleeping on Madeline's bed.

Not this past week.

She follows Mark and I from room to room, crying and crying. She is on our laps the minute we sit down. Currently she is sitting between me and the keyboard as I type.

She misses the children.

But, there is good news for little Ariel. The world will soon be as it should be as our children are on their way home from the beach tonight!

Beach Pictures

Here are a few beach pictures

Summer Fun

We just got home from a mini-vacation at the shore. Mark's brother rented a beach house only a block off of the beach. Because of my new job, I didn't have vacation time earned to be able to take a whole week, so Mark and I went for the weekend and the children are staying the rest of the week with his family there.

I will miss them, but didn't want to deprive them of the opportunity to visit with their cousins and have one last vacation before school starts next week. The kids discovered the fun of a "boogie board." We woke up early and found shells on the shore, rode bikes on the board walk and ate breakfast out. It was a great weekend.

While there, I discovered my newest favorite dessert: Waffles and Ice Cream. It was just divine! I got a warm, freshly made Belgium waffle with 2 scoops of butter pecan ice cream on top. Awesome! I'm just lucky I would have to drive 6 hours in order to get it or I would have some serious problems fitting into my clothes!!

2 Months Into It

I'm still focusing mainly on postpartum along with "catching" babies. The clinical tasks are well under my belt, and I'm becoming more and more comfortable with the policies and procedures that are routine in this hospital.

What I am working on now is prioritizing and critical thinking while allowing my self-confidence to grow more.

An example of a common situation that may arise is: When coming out of report I am faced with a physician who wants assistance with circumcising an infant, a post cesarean mother who is 20 minutes past due for a toradol dose and another mother asking for help breastfeeding her infant. What do I do first? That is what I'm working on. Being able to make decisions quickly.

Another aspect of prioritizing that I need to focus on is my ability to take care of my own needs and put other's needs on hold. Saturday was a perfect example of this: I did not take a breakfast break OR a lunch break. I continued working the entire shift until 3pm when it was time to report off to the next nurse. This was not an ideal day... BUT I need to slow down and let some things wait - even if only for 15 minutes while I empty my bladder and eat a snack. It is good for me and good for the patients in the end. This is no easy task for a mother to do as we, as mothers, are always in the giving/serving mode, it seems.

So, being able to discern what things need to be done, what things need to be done NOW and what things can wait until I take a break is an area I need to work on.

Still plugging away.....

Hee Haw

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a
well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally
looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds
of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well
is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

Give more.

Expect less

1 Week Minus Kids

With the kids away last week, Mark and I did some things we usually don't do.

We ate dinner alone at home. It was a very strange experience. At one point I looked at Mark and said, "It is just too quiet."

We went to visit one of my friends. She made a wonderful dinner of cornish hens & spaghetti squash.

We went out to the movies.

And, we went to Falling Water

Overall, we had a good week. I missed the kids and was ready for them to come home - dirty laundry and all.

Certified

The Neonatal Resuscitation class and exam were today; and I am now NRP Certified.

The class was great. Getting hands on experience working through the various decision points in a resuscitation helped put all of the pieces together.

I do not look forward to using this certification; but, I do feel immensely more confident in the procedures and steps that will be necessary to take when needed.

My baby's at camp!!!

Honestly, I can't believe my youngest is old enough to join his siblings for a week long summer camping adventure. He couldn't believe it either - When we got to the camp and were making our way up the long, winding hill, he kept saying with excitement, "I can't believe I'm actually here!"

The last two years he was super bummed when he was the only one left behind, not old enough. So, he was truly ready to join the crew this year.

Consequently Mom and Dad have a whole week without children in the house... Strange.

Unlucky?

This past week was my husband and I's 13th anniversary.

Mark sent this lovely bouquet of flowers to my work for me. All of the girls were definitely envious.

We went out to dinner tonight to celebrate.

We've been through a lot in our 13 years... Illnesses, children, achievements and disappointments. Each and every one only makes us stronger.

I wouldn't want to go through this life with anyone else by my side.

I love you, Mark!