Christmas cheer

So you might know that I had to work 12 hours on Christmas this year. I was bummed but it still remained to be a great holiday despite my preconceptions. So I also worked Christmas Eve, and I took care of this man who was found down at home, young guy like in his 50's. He had a stroke in the past and he was found down at home this time for another stroke and the combination of the two strokes at this point has left him with being wide awake, seems very with it, emotional expressions and everything, but he cannot move. He can barely squeeze his right hand and well that, at this point is about it. And to make it worse the strokes seemed to have left him very aphasic. (where he can't seem to express words) He also has a tracheostomy so if he could take he can't actually verbalize and you would have to read his lips to communicate, which would be easy for me because of working 5 years with people in a similar situation. so Christmas eve all day he just looked worried or anxious, scared even. I talk to him and tell him where he is and what day it is to try to orient him. I would be scared out of my mind. So on Christmas things seemed the same. He is a hefty guy not easy to turn when he is flaccid. so My friend Kim, she is a great nurse if you know her, I have always admired her for having a connection with patients, she can seem to always make them laugh. Laughter is great medicine. So earlier that day there were some family members for another patient that were extremely rude to me, for no reason at all. And Kim had been in there with me the whole time wide eyed and jaw gaping open (when the curtain was closed) That is a whole other blog post but needles to say we were baffled by it. So right at 6:45pm she helped me reposition this same gentlemen I discussed earlier. So we were in the room and we told him what we were going to do then we started talking about how that disrespectful that family was to me and what we really should have said to them. haha. somehow we said "well... IN YOUR FACE" my heart burst apart because this man was clearly laughing. not just a smile but a silent hearty laugh. This made my Christmas. My heart had been hurting for him and what he must be going through, and then I saw a sign of hope. Laughter is truly good medicine. Thanks to Kim, and to Lynda who were in there helping me.

Hope you like this story cause I sure do.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

ick to the sick

I am feeling so sick so "ick"
I might just pick to flick
my brain
the strain the pain
in my stomach its "ick"
so sick
a dog goes "arf"
and I go barf......

haha I crack myself up. that's my pathetic try at a rhyme haha oh well. It made me feel better for a few seconds. I sure hope I wake up feeling better then I do right now.

It puts it into perspective on a very small scale as to some of the symptoms my patients at work might feel. it is pretty darn awful!  OK good night

picturesss

 Oh Christmas treee oh Christmas treee How lovely are your branches!!!

 there is a hering in this photo

 love the color contrast

yet again

Christmas and Why I love it

So when I write in my blog, I try to reflect on things. I would like to think about why I love Christmas so much.

There is just so much about it that is so beautiful and special. Lights, trees, decorations, mistletoe, snow.... Christmas movies. I just love how it feels to just be happy or joyous because it is Christmas. I know I could feel that way all year round, but I don't always. Family and friends coming together, awesome food. Just the fact that this one time of year people sing songs of a savior being born, and don't even realize the power in the lyrics. (and by that I mean they don't always know Jesus or the reason for the season) I hope that Christmas "spirit" can stay all year through!

There are certain songs I particularly love.
The ALABAMA Christmas album; I love this CD because my mom would always play it while we were decorating the Christmas tree. We always waited to put up an decorate our tree until Christmas eve! It was always so special!! and so Magical!!

With my dance class we would learn Christmas songs to dance to and a lot of times we would go and dance in Nursing homes in New Jersey for the holidays (I took dance lessons in New Jersey) We did some awesome dances.
I have to work Christmas this year, but it won't make me a Scrooge!

feel free to tell me why you love Christmas, or even if you don't you can tell me.

Day 3

Today is day 3 of 4 days off.... IT has been splendid. I keep feeling like it should be Sunday and it was Friday! now of course it is Saturday and I still have a day off... YES! Today We are gonna get a Christmas tree! I am pretty excited. I need to clean my house though, that is what I am going to do when I am finished with my coffee so that I can enjoy decorating my tree tonight.

I found cute boots guys! (they were not my ideal boot choice but I love them all the same!) It was a reward to self for passing my test! IT really feels good to not study and enjoy life! I loved learning everything though, no regrets!

I am sitting near my wood stove and it is wonderful. Paul is watching the MAN UTD vs. BLACKB'N. I am playing on the indoor soccer team this year! pretty excited! (I am out of shape, yikes)

Today is a wonderful day to get a tree, crisp, clear, chilly!!

Peace to you.

tired

I am so tired.
taking my test soon! prayers appreciated!

yep

on the slippery slope

So taking care of people is what I love to do, and when I take care of them it is to get them better even if it is only one day better then the rest. So there is this gentle man who is older I would say about 80's Kind man, so easy going, I took care of him over the weekend (Halloween weekend) and well he made himself a trip to the ICU due to respiratory compromise. (He went to the ICU sometime during the week) His wife is sooo sweet, and his family in general so kind. I went in today to say hello before I left, because I heard they made him a DNR#3 which is where they only provide comfort measures and give morphine and such. well he was a different man asleep probably to never wake up. I more likely said good bye then hello to him and his family. His breaths were shallow, like a wave coming to shore then quickly back out to sea. Pretty soon there will be no more waves. I gave his wife and daughter a hug told them to take care of themselves....
Dear Jesus,
Please be with this family, be there comfort, help them to see your kindness in the midst of tragedy. Bethe amazing, loving God you are, be that to them.
amen.

not only was my day ridiculously insane but I ended it saying goodbye.

Seeing his wife with teary eyes almost made me start crying. My heart aches for them.

Peace to you