A night in the life of this ER Nurse
This is a REALLY LONG account of one of my EASY nights…but then 12-hour shifts get REALLY LONG too sometimes!
When I started working in the ER, I would hear staff ask each other how they were doing, and I frequently heard the response “Livin’ the dream”, which always makes me smile. I have to remember that ER Nursing had always been a dream of mine in some sick former life, and on my busiest nights when I don’t think I’m going to live through it, it sometimes helps to hear that…to say that…and be reminded that however difficult at times, I’m still doing something I’ve always wanted to do (what was I thinking?!!), and that’s something that not everyone in this world can say. I bet there are a few mothers out there that could relate to those feelings…
So many people ask me, “Is working in the ER like the TV show?” I don’t always know how to answer. It is different from the other areas of nursing I’ve done in that it is not as structured, the “rules” don’t always apply, and we often “fly by the seat of our pants”. I guess it’s because we can’t control what happens in the community (often we can’t even control what happens in the ER), and we have to be prepared to deal with anything at any given time. We often do just that… anything and everything… sometimes in the same night. It’s hard to picture what that actually looks like in a 12-hour period, though. This is going to be my attempt at telling the story of one night I’ve worked. It was a fun night overall (for me), and was actually on the easy side, and I felt like I was slackin’ the entire night. I worked with a total of 12 patients during the night (13 if you count the one that came back). Obviously I’ve changed any names and defining aspects of stories to protect the innocent… (me)!
6:45 p.m. I got to work a little early as usual, and by 7 pm had picked up 4 patients from 2 different nurses that were going home. I got report on each of them, and then decided to do rounds and just look at each of the patients, and see if they needed anything. My first pt had come in with breathing problems which had resolved, and I only had to call the Respiratory Therapist (RT) for one more treatment before I discharged her. The 2nd one had also come in with breathing problems and chest pain, and was waiting for test results before we decided a course of action. The 3rd patient was a really sweet and beautiful lady (65ish) who had recently been diagnosed with kidney cancer, and was having some internal bleeding that she needed to be admitted for. We were currently running blood products into her (which meant I needed to check on her every 15 minutes or so to make sure she was not having a reaction). Of course she was in the furthest room, so I had to pass all my other pts to get to her. When I finally got back there to see her the first time, she needed pain meds. I left to get those, got stopped in the hall by the doctor inquiring if my 1st pt had been seen by RT, because she could go home as soon as she had. I had to page RT. Then off to the Med Room to get meds for my Cancer pt. On my way back, RT was on the phone, and had done the treatment. I stopped to report this to the doc, then headed down to the end of the hall to push the meds. We talked briefly while I pushed pain meds into her IV, and checked her vital signs again, and got my paperwork caught up. Then back down the hall to discharge my 1st patient. Of course I had to call the interpreter to come help while I sent them home, but that was quick.
I finally get in to see my 3rd patient, who was still waiting for test results, but doing fine in the interim. I can see that my 4th patient, a crisis patient (let’s call her Brandy), was laying down on her hall bed sleeping (and still breathing). Clearly she’s fine…I learned a long time ago to always “let sleeping babies lie”. By now I notice that the Resident was in talking with my 3rd patient, probably giving her test results.
I also know that they want to admit my Cancer patient, so I started by checking to see if the appropriate paperwork had been turned in to get her a bed. It hadn’t. I start chasing down docs to get someone to fill out the paperwork so she can get a bed. Time to check her vitals again. On my way in, my 3rd patient informs me (as I walk by her room), that she can go home, and in fact needs to leave right now. I took vitals, and pulled both of her IV’s out, and told her she could get dressed while I do the paperwork. I printed up her discharge instructions (after filling the printer with paper from the other side of the unit), and got her out of there.
8:00 p.m. Finally down to check on my Cancer patient, who is doing fine. I met her husband this time, who was a pleasant man. Brandy is still sleeping, and I realize that I am down to 2 patients, and need to pick up some more. The Waiting Room only has 3-4 patients in it, and we have enough beds.
I pick up another Crisis patient (my theme for the night), who had gotten upset, started hitting his head against the wall, and developed an impressive hematoma over his forehead, about the size of a baseball cut in half. His family had brought him in. He wouldn’t talk to me, but his family explained the situation. I went back and documented my part, and got him an ice-pack for his head.
I also finally got a bed assignment for my Cancer patient, so I attempt to call report. The unit receiving the pt didn’t know about her yet, so they wouldn’t take report. I check on her again, and got her a box lunch this time, as she hadn’t eaten all day.
At this point, I notice that Brandy is sitting up looking around. I’m sitting at the desk looking things up on the computer (labs, etc), and am still looking to pick up more patients, but none were available. Next thing I know, the Security Guards are running out the door, apparently after Brandy, who had been deemed a “danger to self” and was placed on an involuntary hold until they could find placement for her in a psych unit. They caught her and brought her back, and I decide it’s time to learn a bit more about her. Apparently, she suffers from a list of psychiatric problems, including Schizophrenia. She’d tried to cut herself after a fight with a family member, and wanted to die. She had a “hit” out on her, and her “time was coming short”. She knew “they” had to find her soon because she’s too smart for them to just let her go. She had a high-ranking political officer (won’t say who), buried in her front yard, and buildings were going to start blowing up when someone learned that. Okay…now that I have the background, I go over and meet her, and ask her if she’s doing okay, or if she needs water, juice, etc. She doesn’t want anything, except to go home. I find the Social Worker (SW) involved in her care, and learn that they’ve deemed her “safe” and are going to let her go home. Whatever…I don’t make the decisions.
I finally got report called for my Cancer patient, and disconnect her from things so she’s ready to go to her new bed when Messengers get there to take her. I told her to call me and I’d wrap her up in blankets to go in the wheelchair, when he was here to pick her up.
9:15 p.m. I work with SW to get Brandy discharged, and she runs before she can get the paperwork. Oh well…
Messengers arrive to take my Cancer patient, and I got 3 warm blankets and completely wrap her up in them as I help her to the wheelchair. She was such a lovely lady, and a pleasure to care for. I wish her and her husband the best and they wheel away.
Now I’m down to one patient. The Charge Nurse (CN) wants me to take an ambulance coming from a city in middle Utah, with a 15-minute ETA (estimated time of arrival). So now I look like a real slacker, with one Crisis patient, and not picking up new ones. Oh well…I don’t often sit. I offer to help co-workers, and I think I did a couple of minor tasks.
9:50 p.m. Finally my ambulance arrives, and I take the new patient, who rolled in with the biggest smile on his face. He was a very nice, young man who had Multiple Sclerosis with lots of muscle spasms and tremors, and was having complications from a recent surgery, causing him severe headaches. His wife was on the way in, but wasn’t there yet. We talked and laughed a bit, as I got his information. I put it into the computer, and was getting some treatments started when I learn that Brandy is coming back in by EMS again, and escorted by Police this time. Apparently she didn’t make it to that nice, safe place she was supposed to go home to, but was running in a busy intersection without shoes trying to get hit and killed by a car. When the police arrived, she tried to get them to shoot her. They brought her to us.
10:45 p.m. Brandy’s back. Looks a little shaken up, but didn’t look like she’d gone out and used drugs again yet. I took her back, and got ahold of our SW, who was getting ready to go home, but passed it off to the on-coming shift. I also picked up a patient with nasal congestion, and discharged my crisis with the forehead hematoma. I saw both new patients and did the paper work, and by now it’s just after 11 pm. I haven’t had a chance to see my MS patient in quite a while, so I check on him, and meet his wife. She was a lovely lady as well, and both were so young, and so nice. It was fun to talk with them for a minute, and attempt to get things for them to make them both more comfortable while we waited.
11:45 p.m. I take another Crisis patient who came in by ambulance. She’d been hearing voices that told her to flush her meds, then to cut herself, and try to kill herself. Why do people always listen to their voices? She was very sweet, and if I just smiled and talked with her nicely and calmly, she did anything I asked her to do. That’s the benefit of someone who is easily directed by voices. Her sister arrived, and I explained why they had to be in a room with 4 walls and a sink, and no TV. I explained all of our “crisis” patients have these stripped-down rooms, or a hall bed, because a regular room has too many things that can hurt them. I told the family member that while I like her sister, I don’t trust the voices, and there’s too many cords, heavy equipment, needles, etc, that she could hurt herself with in a room with a TV. I had to explain this all again about 30 minutes later, when they were sick of their room again, and while they were still waiting to be evaluated.
I’m in a holding pattern at this point, so I take a few minutes and walk outside to cool off. Our ambulance bay is full of ambulances and paramedics, with more coming in. Apparently it’s too cold to drive yourself into the ER tonight. It’s stopped snowing and was almost a little warm. Then I go to Starbucks (just across the hall from the ER…my favorite part of this hospital), and buy myself a hot cocoa and the CN a mocha since I had a 2-for-1 coupon. It was a nice break.
12:40 a.m. I check on my MS patient and got him pain medicine for his headache, and it helps. He was such a great guy, dealing with everything so well. He is waiting to be admitted to the hospital.
12:50 a.m. I have a bed assignment for my MS patient, and call report, and messengers to take him upstairs. I also discharge my guy with nasal congestion, and pick up another new patient who also has a head cold with runny eyes. Like I said, my theme was Crisis patients and Head-Colds…I was a slacker! I was also helping other coworkers with things, drawing blood, ordering xrays, etc…
Both of my crisis patients are going to be admitted to a psych hospital really close to us, but which still requires an ambulance ride to get there. I call report on both of them at the same time. The SW does the rest of the arrangements and all I have to do is be ready to give report to the ambulance people when they arrive.
1:35 a.m. Messengers still have not come to take my MS patient upstairs, and I have a few minutes, so I run him up there myself, and help him walk from the stretcher in the hall to his bed in the room.
As I’m walking the stretcher back downstairs, I reflect upon my two patients I’d had that night with debilitating diseases (Cancer and MS), and how both of them were the nicest patients I’d worked with in a while. I was saddened to think that these bad things always seem to happen to the nicest people. Then I thought of a few other patients I’d had in the past who had bad things happen and were not very nice about it all. I think the way we deal with our “bad things” in life shape us, our very countenances, and make us the people we are in the end. I have to wonder if we wouldn’t become as loving and patient along the road of life without some of the very difficult struggles we face at times. They had both dealt with their challenges admirably…maybe not every day, or every moment, but overall, they had love and patience in their hearts, and it was my honor and privilege to serve them both.
02:20 a.m. I discharge my last head cold. Now I’m just waiting for the ambulances to come for my crisis patients. Brandy is awake again, and I talk with her for a moment. Security is stationed all around her bed…I guess they didn’t want to chase her again if she bolted. She was mad at me because I would not kill her, and as she stared straight into my eyes, I got the feeling that all she really wanted to do was choke me with my stethoscope that was around my neck. I never wear it around my neck when I walk into crisis rooms, but she was in the hall, and I hadn’t taken it off. I stood back a ways, and was ready to move if she did, but that look is unsettling. I can’t even imagine the craziness going on in her head at any given time. I gave her two choices, settle down and rest while waiting for the ambulance, or try to run and we tie you down to the bed while you wait for the ambulance. Then I walked away. I was actually surprised that we never had to restrain her the entire night.
2:55 a.m. Brandy’s ambulance is here to take her upstairs. I am just about to give report when I am told by the CN that he needs me to go with him to the parking lot immediately. I excused myself and went. Apparently someone just drove up that was having a baby, and I’ve done babies before, so he needed ME there. As we walked quickly, I told him I don’t go out there without gloves and blankets, so he ran for the blankets while I got myself some gloves. As I got out there, another nurse had helped wipe off the baby, who was delivered in the front seat of the SUV, and was just holding him with a sheet around him steady between mom’s legs so he wouldn’t fall on the ground. I tried to make him cry, and got one good cry out of him before he fell silent again. I opened the Delivery Bucket, found a cord clamp, and clamped the cord off, then tried again to make him cry. He wasn’t really wanting to. At that point, the 2nd nurse there clamped the other side, and cut the cord. I had to remind her that it was a boy, and not to cut anything important, as it was pretty dark. I placed him in a new warm blanket. Then I heard the doc behind us say, “Well, they don’t need me…the nurses just did it all!” I didn’t even know she was there. I wasn’t willing to move because I know I have baby experience, and the other nurse wasn’t moving, probably because she was there first. I picked up the baby and headed inside, where I set him down just inside the door on a stretcher, and the doc and I made him cry and checked his color, and I checked heart rate, which were both good. Then she carried him and I accompanied her while we went upstairs with him to Labor & Delivery. The other ER Nurses & EMT’s got mom out of the car onto a stretcher, and followed us up, arriving very shortly after we did. When we got up there, I was able to stimulate baby and get a couple more good cries out of him before we had a nurse ready to assume care. As I walked back down, I remembered how much I love doing the babies, and how I miss that sometimes! The other thing I realized is that while I’ve helped with a LOT of babies (200+) in my career, that’s likely the first time I’ve ever put the FIRST clamp on the cord. It was cool!
I got back down and remembered that the ambulance crew was still waiting to get report from me before they could take the patient. I walked up and said, “Sorry, had to deliver a baby,” and then I gave them report so they could take Brandy. The 2nd ambulance crew had just arrived for my girl with the voices, so I gave them report as well, and they left. She was hitting on one of our security guards as she left, telling him (very sincerely) how gorgeous he was, and how she would marry him if he wasn’t already married (which he wasn’t). We teased him about that pretty hard after they left!
3:20 a.m. I was down to zero patients, but we had a trauma coming in, so I took that. He was due to arrive any minute. It was a young male in a car accident, coming by ground from a city in southern Utah…clearly not THAT life-threatening, or they would have flown him!
3:42 a.m. The trauma pt arrived, and we got busy with that for a while. He had broken a few bones, and had a dislocated hip, but was alert and oriented, and very nice. On traumas, one nurse always stays with the patient at all times until it’s determined where they will go (floor vs. ICU vs. Obs. Dept vs. home). I had a little fanny-pack around my waist with typical drugs (pain, nausea, etc) that I might need to give him during the process, along with needles and syringes. We went to CT scan, then x-ray (where I medicated him for pain because they always want to move them around), and back to the ER, arriving back around 5:15 or so. Then I got a TON of things together, because the Ortho team had reviewed the x-rays and were ready to put his hip back into place. I medicated him HEAVILY and monitored him through the process, with the doctor that was there directing the meds. He slept, wincing off and on (I pushed more meds every time he winced), but he was relaxed and sleeping through most of the procedure while they relocated his hip, and then drilled a pin through his femur bone, hooking that up to traction (ropes that hold the dangling weights) which hold it in place so it won’t fall out again until he can go to surgery. We finished all of that at 6:15, and I was left with the patient to “recover” him…make sure he wakes up okay. He did fine, and I was ready to give report and send him upstairs by 6:30 or so.
I took my final patient of the morning at 6:40, while I still had my trauma dude in the trauma bay waiting for transport upstairs. I took a young girl who’d been out drinking and had had a little too much, and came to us with nausea/vomiting. Go figure. It’s the price you pay to play, right? What part of this is an EMERGENCY? This is where I get calloused…I actually did start IV fluids on her (only because someone had put an IV in her already), and was going to get her anti-nausea meds, but the next nurse coming on took report from me, and she got her the meds. I was able to leave at 7:01. Thank goodness, because my patience for crap was gone!
So that’s an easy night in the ER…I laughed and joked a lot with some of my patients, and with many of the other staff, and doctors. Overall, it was a fun night and unusually slow (for me) even though the ER was still pretty full the next morning. Most days, I still enjoy what I do as an ER Nurse, although I did have a break-down a couple of weeks ago, when I couldn’t remember why I do this at all. I have since recovered, but recognize that we really need to take care of ourselves first, no matter what we do in life, so we are available to bless the lives of others. Most people I work with just remind me how lucky I am to be ME, with my own problems. :-)
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
My End-of-Summer Crisis
Every year since I’ve lived on my own, I’ve gone through a certain amount of mourning for the end of the summer. I am DEFINITELY a Summer-girl! I first recognized that I go through this several years ago when I lived in Las Vegas, NV on my own for the first time. I’d had a great summer, and the first time that the temperature dropped from 90’s to 70’s to 50’s in 2 weeks, I was grumpy, irritable, short with people, and just upset that it was “so stinkin’ cold”. I quickly realized that it was my “adjustment period” to the end of summer, and once I’d dealt with those feelings (ie…mourned the end of summer properly), I could move on with my life and hang in there for a few months until it started warming up again, and getting lighter longer during the day.
I’ve gone through some kind of adjustment period every year over the years, and so I’m used to it. This year, it kicked me in the butt. I guess I’d had a better-than-usual August, playing in the pool with the Felt girls several times a week, and just doing FUN summer things. So when it started getting cooler here and the Felts went back home, it all kind of hit at the same time. I was working one night, and got talking to one of the ladies at work. I was completely unprepared for what feelings surfaced as we were talking of the weather trending colder, and soon it would be winter, etc. I started saying over and over, “I canNOT do another winter here…I CAN’T do another winter here…I can’t DO another WINTER here…I can’t do another winter HERE…” You get the idea... I felt like I should have had my knees pulled up to my chest, rocking and hitting my head against the wall. Then I came to my senses long enough to look at the lady I was talking to and realize that I was scaring her… these things don’t come out of “nice, calm, controlled Wendy”. So I swallowed my thoughts, and carefully tucked them away for a private moment to do my “crisis time” alone.
At this point, all I was able to conjure up was my memories from last winter…
• Not knowing there was de-icing windshield washer fluid until AFTER mine was completely frozen in my car (full of course), with no way to replace it until it thawed out a couple of months later.
• Driving to work in the dark, and home the next morning in the dark.
• Stopping 5 times on the way home from work one morning to wash my frozen windshield…and that was WITH my defroster on! (This was in-part because my own windshield washing fluid was frozen inside my car, and every time I used my wipers to get rid of the precipitation or road spray from my windows, it froze it all across my windshield.)
• Having cold fingers all the time.
• Driving to work in fresh-fallen snow, and having to stop a few times to kick the build-up off of my tires so I could turn them.
• Kicking the build-up of snow and ice off of my car (especially around my tires) once I got home, and realizing one day that a small part of my fender was coming off with it.
• And finally, my proudest moment…freezing my car in the car wash. In my own defense, I should say that I waited for 3 cars to go through before I ventured in. I saw the HUGE sheet of ice frozen and bending off the side wall, but I decided to take my chances, I mean, it hadn’t fallen on anyone’s car yet, right? Luckily that never fell on my car. But as soon as the soap sprayed on and froze as soon as it hit the car, I knew I was in trouble. The water almost washed it off, but it was 19 degrees outside…it had a lot of chill to overcome! (Yes, I had already waited a week for the warmest day!) The kicker was driving through the dryer at the end. My car was shellacked nicely, with a fine icy-lace pattern over the entire thing. Thankfully, my doors still opened!
So these are the memories driving my break-down this year. I have finally taken the time to think about it, and deal with it. I’ve washed the pool towels and put them away, as well as the bathing suits. I’ve let the air out of the pool toys, and patched and put them away. As part of my “dealing-with-it” process, I started a list called “Good things about winter”. If this winter doesn’t go WELL, I think it might be my last one here in Utah. I’m already thinking of going back to Travel Nursing and heading south at least through the winter, even if I “Home-Base” here for the rest of the year. Here is the list, and I would ask anyone who reads this to PLEASE help me come up with some more good things about winter!
Good Things about Winter:
Tropical vacations are better in January!
More reading time
More family history research time
Network TV shows
Cute sweaters
Christmas
Indoor swimming pools
Cross-country skiing? (I haven’t tried it, but want to)
Warm blankets
Hot chocolate
Sitting by the fireplace
Hot Cocoa from Starbucks!
Please help!!!
I’ve gone through some kind of adjustment period every year over the years, and so I’m used to it. This year, it kicked me in the butt. I guess I’d had a better-than-usual August, playing in the pool with the Felt girls several times a week, and just doing FUN summer things. So when it started getting cooler here and the Felts went back home, it all kind of hit at the same time. I was working one night, and got talking to one of the ladies at work. I was completely unprepared for what feelings surfaced as we were talking of the weather trending colder, and soon it would be winter, etc. I started saying over and over, “I canNOT do another winter here…I CAN’T do another winter here…I can’t DO another WINTER here…I can’t do another winter HERE…” You get the idea... I felt like I should have had my knees pulled up to my chest, rocking and hitting my head against the wall. Then I came to my senses long enough to look at the lady I was talking to and realize that I was scaring her… these things don’t come out of “nice, calm, controlled Wendy”. So I swallowed my thoughts, and carefully tucked them away for a private moment to do my “crisis time” alone.
At this point, all I was able to conjure up was my memories from last winter…
• Not knowing there was de-icing windshield washer fluid until AFTER mine was completely frozen in my car (full of course), with no way to replace it until it thawed out a couple of months later.
• Driving to work in the dark, and home the next morning in the dark.
• Stopping 5 times on the way home from work one morning to wash my frozen windshield…and that was WITH my defroster on! (This was in-part because my own windshield washing fluid was frozen inside my car, and every time I used my wipers to get rid of the precipitation or road spray from my windows, it froze it all across my windshield.)
• Having cold fingers all the time.
• Driving to work in fresh-fallen snow, and having to stop a few times to kick the build-up off of my tires so I could turn them.
• Kicking the build-up of snow and ice off of my car (especially around my tires) once I got home, and realizing one day that a small part of my fender was coming off with it.
• And finally, my proudest moment…freezing my car in the car wash. In my own defense, I should say that I waited for 3 cars to go through before I ventured in. I saw the HUGE sheet of ice frozen and bending off the side wall, but I decided to take my chances, I mean, it hadn’t fallen on anyone’s car yet, right? Luckily that never fell on my car. But as soon as the soap sprayed on and froze as soon as it hit the car, I knew I was in trouble. The water almost washed it off, but it was 19 degrees outside…it had a lot of chill to overcome! (Yes, I had already waited a week for the warmest day!) The kicker was driving through the dryer at the end. My car was shellacked nicely, with a fine icy-lace pattern over the entire thing. Thankfully, my doors still opened!
So these are the memories driving my break-down this year. I have finally taken the time to think about it, and deal with it. I’ve washed the pool towels and put them away, as well as the bathing suits. I’ve let the air out of the pool toys, and patched and put them away. As part of my “dealing-with-it” process, I started a list called “Good things about winter”. If this winter doesn’t go WELL, I think it might be my last one here in Utah. I’m already thinking of going back to Travel Nursing and heading south at least through the winter, even if I “Home-Base” here for the rest of the year. Here is the list, and I would ask anyone who reads this to PLEASE help me come up with some more good things about winter!
Good Things about Winter:
Tropical vacations are better in January!
More reading time
More family history research time
Network TV shows
Cute sweaters
Christmas
Indoor swimming pools
Cross-country skiing? (I haven’t tried it, but want to)
Warm blankets
Hot chocolate
Sitting by the fireplace
Hot Cocoa from Starbucks!
Please help!!!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Mommy-Boot-Camp
August with my Adopt-A-Family
Okay…I know I haven’t blogged for quite some time. I have a good reason…so let me tell you a little about it…
Normally, I have a nice, controlled (but happy) single life, where I have my own 2-bedroom apt and I work full-time at the hospital, which involves three 12-hour shifts a week. So I have some free time.
I had the opportunity to “host” my friend, Tiffany, and her 3 girls for part of the month of August, first on vacation at Bear Lake (UT), and then in my home. I am amazed at the things I learned, of the realizations I gained, and of the understanding that I was able to glimpse, into the world of Motherhood. I was once a perfect mother before I actually tried to play one in real life, and I was surprised to learn of the amount of patience, tolerance, endurance, energy, creativity, organization, laughter and LOVE, in addition to the amounts of shopping, laundry, cooking, dishes, garbage removal, and cleaning that it takes on a daily basis, and all under a moderate amount of stress in a sleep-deprived state!
Here are some highlights, and some things that I learned:
• Swimming makes children very tired, and they sleep well afterwards. We swam a LOT! For the first summer that I can remember, I actually have tan lines from two different bathing suits! (My cute one, and my kid-friendly one)
• If I ever have children of my own, I must also have a dog to clean up the kitchen and dining room floors on a more regular basis.
• "Photo-shoots" at the mall are an effective way to keep children entertained while waiting for mom to shop!
• “Palm tree lights” help children sleep. (I have a palm tree set up in my guest bedroom, and have some Christmas lights strung onto it…they work fabulously as a night-light, and it was actually proven that they help children sleep, even in the afternoon!)
• Late night debriefings help parents sleep.
• I apparently did not have good “design” sense with my magnet collection on my fridge, because it was re-arranged on an hourly basis, sometimes more frequently when needed. Then after a while, I had pictures that were appearing on my fridge under the magnets. Shortly after that, the collection was expanded to the stove, due to lack of space on the fridge.
• Tiff and I became “sisters” as we went to fairly revealing doctors visits together (hers and mine), and she was actually frightened when she saw my “creative” nurse side come out one night… let’s just say that when you don’t have the good medical tape, duct tape can run a close second in a pinch!
• I look like a soccer mom when I drive a mini-van!
• Even my car took a “hit”, with clear marker scribbles on the insides of the back windows, and plastic rings and bracelets on the seats and floor!
• One night at dinner, I looked up and Morgan (the oldest at 6-1/2 yrs old), had my miniature china plate magnet (from the Winchester Mystery Mansion in California) set up in front of her beanie baby at the dinner table, with a small scoop of eggs, hash browns, and a grape filling the plate, with a crust of her toast next to it, all for her baby. It was so funny! I laughed and got the camera.
• Another night at dinner, I had eaten and was getting ready to run out the door to work, while the kids and Tiff were still finishing. Tiff got my attention and I looked down at the table to see Starley (4 yrs old) with baby carrots coming out of her nose! Again, I laughed and got the camera! As I left for work that night, I found it surprising that I could give kisses and hugs to a child with a small piece of carrot still stuck on her lip, without even thinking twice first.
• Livvy (3 yrs old) was funny about her “happy faces”. We found it somewhat effective much of the time to pull her out of a grumpy mood by asking her where her happy face was. One day in the bathroom, we were doing hair, and she says to me with a very long face, “I only have one more happy face left today.” Of course I had to laugh and tell her that she better not use it yet, but should save it for later when it was really important. After a few seconds, we were all laughing hard!
• I always thought it might come in handy someday, and now I have finally “broken in” my collection of Disney movies!
I was completely immersed in all the laughing, crying, and living that goes into family life. I have gained the most respect and admiration for all the mothers out there that do this on a daily basis, sometimes with seemingly “no end in sight”. I have had a good look at just what an imperfect mother I am. And I will forever look at this opportunity I had as a magical time in my life, to help care for my sister and friend, and her family at a time when they needed it the most. It took an amazing amount of energy, patience, endurance, and love, and I feel that I have been blessed the most by this experience. Towards the very end, Tiff and I affectionately started calling it “Mommy-Boot-Camp”.
I LOVE this family!
Okay…I know I haven’t blogged for quite some time. I have a good reason…so let me tell you a little about it…
Normally, I have a nice, controlled (but happy) single life, where I have my own 2-bedroom apt and I work full-time at the hospital, which involves three 12-hour shifts a week. So I have some free time.
I had the opportunity to “host” my friend, Tiffany, and her 3 girls for part of the month of August, first on vacation at Bear Lake (UT), and then in my home. I am amazed at the things I learned, of the realizations I gained, and of the understanding that I was able to glimpse, into the world of Motherhood. I was once a perfect mother before I actually tried to play one in real life, and I was surprised to learn of the amount of patience, tolerance, endurance, energy, creativity, organization, laughter and LOVE, in addition to the amounts of shopping, laundry, cooking, dishes, garbage removal, and cleaning that it takes on a daily basis, and all under a moderate amount of stress in a sleep-deprived state!
Here are some highlights, and some things that I learned:
• Swimming makes children very tired, and they sleep well afterwards. We swam a LOT! For the first summer that I can remember, I actually have tan lines from two different bathing suits! (My cute one, and my kid-friendly one)
• If I ever have children of my own, I must also have a dog to clean up the kitchen and dining room floors on a more regular basis.
• "Photo-shoots" at the mall are an effective way to keep children entertained while waiting for mom to shop!
• “Palm tree lights” help children sleep. (I have a palm tree set up in my guest bedroom, and have some Christmas lights strung onto it…they work fabulously as a night-light, and it was actually proven that they help children sleep, even in the afternoon!)
• Late night debriefings help parents sleep.
• I apparently did not have good “design” sense with my magnet collection on my fridge, because it was re-arranged on an hourly basis, sometimes more frequently when needed. Then after a while, I had pictures that were appearing on my fridge under the magnets. Shortly after that, the collection was expanded to the stove, due to lack of space on the fridge.
• Tiff and I became “sisters” as we went to fairly revealing doctors visits together (hers and mine), and she was actually frightened when she saw my “creative” nurse side come out one night… let’s just say that when you don’t have the good medical tape, duct tape can run a close second in a pinch!
• I look like a soccer mom when I drive a mini-van!
• Even my car took a “hit”, with clear marker scribbles on the insides of the back windows, and plastic rings and bracelets on the seats and floor!
• One night at dinner, I looked up and Morgan (the oldest at 6-1/2 yrs old), had my miniature china plate magnet (from the Winchester Mystery Mansion in California) set up in front of her beanie baby at the dinner table, with a small scoop of eggs, hash browns, and a grape filling the plate, with a crust of her toast next to it, all for her baby. It was so funny! I laughed and got the camera.
• Another night at dinner, I had eaten and was getting ready to run out the door to work, while the kids and Tiff were still finishing. Tiff got my attention and I looked down at the table to see Starley (4 yrs old) with baby carrots coming out of her nose! Again, I laughed and got the camera! As I left for work that night, I found it surprising that I could give kisses and hugs to a child with a small piece of carrot still stuck on her lip, without even thinking twice first.
• Livvy (3 yrs old) was funny about her “happy faces”. We found it somewhat effective much of the time to pull her out of a grumpy mood by asking her where her happy face was. One day in the bathroom, we were doing hair, and she says to me with a very long face, “I only have one more happy face left today.” Of course I had to laugh and tell her that she better not use it yet, but should save it for later when it was really important. After a few seconds, we were all laughing hard!
• I always thought it might come in handy someday, and now I have finally “broken in” my collection of Disney movies!
I was completely immersed in all the laughing, crying, and living that goes into family life. I have gained the most respect and admiration for all the mothers out there that do this on a daily basis, sometimes with seemingly “no end in sight”. I have had a good look at just what an imperfect mother I am. And I will forever look at this opportunity I had as a magical time in my life, to help care for my sister and friend, and her family at a time when they needed it the most. It took an amazing amount of energy, patience, endurance, and love, and I feel that I have been blessed the most by this experience. Towards the very end, Tiff and I affectionately started calling it “Mommy-Boot-Camp”.
I LOVE this family!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
A day in the life of a mom…
i.e...I'm an ER Nurse, I can handle anything, right?
What a sweet experience I had this weekend, as Tiffany brought her 3 girls for an overnight visit – Morgan, age 6; Starley, age 4; and Olivia “Livvy” age 3. They came by Saturday afternoon, and stayed till Sunday afternoon.
Saturday, after a brief rest, we took them out to dinner at Red Robin, where they did pretty well. Starley, sadly, had some diarrhea, so we had multiple trips to the bathroom, but we managed, bribing them to finish their dinner with the promise of swimming in the pool later. Tiffany and I decided that I would take the girls swimming, while she took a much-needed break and went shopping for the things I did not have. She asked me multiple times if I was okay with this plan, because “they can be a handful”. I told her…I’m an ER Nurse, I can handle anything. Besides, how hard can it be, right? (Famous last words…)
So, we get home and all change into swimsuits. We collect towels, pool toys, keys, and children. Right before we left, Starley gets a bloody nose, so I grabbed Kleenex too, which I stuffed into my bathing suit (yep, I thought I’d finished “stuffing” years ago…). Halfway to the stairs, Livvy gets a bloody nose too. I grab more Kleenex. We head to the car, and they are both holding their noses to get them to stop before we can go in the pool. We load up the van, and I drove down to the pool; as I’m parking, Tiff drives by in my car and honks and waves…she’s FREE! The bloody noses have stopped, but then as we’re getting out of the van and walking towards the pool, Starley says “I think I pooped in my swimsuit”, and Morgan pipes up with “yep, Starley pooped in her swimsuit”. Okay…I can do this…I say to myself, “I’m an ER Nurse, I can handle anything, right?” We get into the pool area, drop the toys, towels and keys onto a chair, and march straight into the bathroom where I wash the swimsuit in the sink while she finished in the toilet. Yep…no gloves…not quite the ER, but then everyone knows children aren’t as toxic as adults anyways right? I’m actually laughing to myself about this situation. So we finish with that…still no more bloody noses…things are good.
We go out and hop in the children’s pool. I sit on the side and blow up the pool toys, and we play. These aren’t children, they are FISH!!! The light and excitement in their eyes as they play and swim in the water, is something I’ve not seen in many people, but have always felt within myself. They love the water as much as I do! Then Starley has to go to the bathroom again. Everyone had to sit out of the pool and on the side while I march her back into the bathroom. They mind me, and I’m thinking – this isn’t so bad. No accidents this time, just a minor bloody nose which went away pretty fast. More playing in the water. Then Livvy gets out and announces that she has pooped in her swimsuit…are you kidding me?!…I mean, what are the odds? Everyone gets out of the water again as Livvy and I head toward the bathroom to clean up. Yep, I did it again without gloves, still laughing about the whole situation. The joy in their faces and their love of the water is worth it all to me!
In the beginning, I’d told them that we’d stay until someone got tired and grumpy. Now we’re an hour into the pool experience (from the time we hit the water), and still no one is tired and grumpy. I’m thinking, “How am I ever going to get these fish out of here? We can’t stay too late, it’s already 8:30 pm and we have to get to bed so we can get to church at 9 in the morning.” So I mention that it’s almost time to go. Yep, sure enough, they remembered what I’d said first and pipe up with, “but no one is tired or grumpy yet”. What now? Then it comes to me, the pool “closes” when the sun goes down, and the sun is definitely going down…5 more minutes and two more games of “who can hang onto the raft the longest” (while I spin it around the pool and try to shake them off). (Starley won every time except the last time when Morgan won.)
So a few minutes later, we gather everything and head to the van, come home, take baths, and they go to bed. As I shared with Tiffany the story of it all, she is amazed that I’m still alive and even more that I’m still smiling about it all. I reminded her that it could have been worse...that I was just glad we didn’t leave any poop floating in the water…true story…that was my proudest accomplishment today. And those children slept well ALL NIGHT LONG! That alone was worth it to me, that everyone was able to get some good sleep.
Aren't they beautiful?!
We dressed and went to church today, and had a good afternoon…again, LONG naps! Then this evening, we packed up and loaded the van so they could go back to their grandparents’ home. Little tears came to my eyes as they pulled out, yelling “love you’s” and blowing kisses. What a sweet weekend for me! I'll be looking forward to another visit sometime! :-)
What a sweet experience I had this weekend, as Tiffany brought her 3 girls for an overnight visit – Morgan, age 6; Starley, age 4; and Olivia “Livvy” age 3. They came by Saturday afternoon, and stayed till Sunday afternoon.
Saturday, after a brief rest, we took them out to dinner at Red Robin, where they did pretty well. Starley, sadly, had some diarrhea, so we had multiple trips to the bathroom, but we managed, bribing them to finish their dinner with the promise of swimming in the pool later. Tiffany and I decided that I would take the girls swimming, while she took a much-needed break and went shopping for the things I did not have. She asked me multiple times if I was okay with this plan, because “they can be a handful”. I told her…I’m an ER Nurse, I can handle anything. Besides, how hard can it be, right? (Famous last words…)
So, we get home and all change into swimsuits. We collect towels, pool toys, keys, and children. Right before we left, Starley gets a bloody nose, so I grabbed Kleenex too, which I stuffed into my bathing suit (yep, I thought I’d finished “stuffing” years ago…). Halfway to the stairs, Livvy gets a bloody nose too. I grab more Kleenex. We head to the car, and they are both holding their noses to get them to stop before we can go in the pool. We load up the van, and I drove down to the pool; as I’m parking, Tiff drives by in my car and honks and waves…she’s FREE! The bloody noses have stopped, but then as we’re getting out of the van and walking towards the pool, Starley says “I think I pooped in my swimsuit”, and Morgan pipes up with “yep, Starley pooped in her swimsuit”. Okay…I can do this…I say to myself, “I’m an ER Nurse, I can handle anything, right?” We get into the pool area, drop the toys, towels and keys onto a chair, and march straight into the bathroom where I wash the swimsuit in the sink while she finished in the toilet. Yep…no gloves…not quite the ER, but then everyone knows children aren’t as toxic as adults anyways right? I’m actually laughing to myself about this situation. So we finish with that…still no more bloody noses…things are good.
We go out and hop in the children’s pool. I sit on the side and blow up the pool toys, and we play. These aren’t children, they are FISH!!! The light and excitement in their eyes as they play and swim in the water, is something I’ve not seen in many people, but have always felt within myself. They love the water as much as I do! Then Starley has to go to the bathroom again. Everyone had to sit out of the pool and on the side while I march her back into the bathroom. They mind me, and I’m thinking – this isn’t so bad. No accidents this time, just a minor bloody nose which went away pretty fast. More playing in the water. Then Livvy gets out and announces that she has pooped in her swimsuit…are you kidding me?!…I mean, what are the odds? Everyone gets out of the water again as Livvy and I head toward the bathroom to clean up. Yep, I did it again without gloves, still laughing about the whole situation. The joy in their faces and their love of the water is worth it all to me!
In the beginning, I’d told them that we’d stay until someone got tired and grumpy. Now we’re an hour into the pool experience (from the time we hit the water), and still no one is tired and grumpy. I’m thinking, “How am I ever going to get these fish out of here? We can’t stay too late, it’s already 8:30 pm and we have to get to bed so we can get to church at 9 in the morning.” So I mention that it’s almost time to go. Yep, sure enough, they remembered what I’d said first and pipe up with, “but no one is tired or grumpy yet”. What now? Then it comes to me, the pool “closes” when the sun goes down, and the sun is definitely going down…5 more minutes and two more games of “who can hang onto the raft the longest” (while I spin it around the pool and try to shake them off). (Starley won every time except the last time when Morgan won.)
So a few minutes later, we gather everything and head to the van, come home, take baths, and they go to bed. As I shared with Tiffany the story of it all, she is amazed that I’m still alive and even more that I’m still smiling about it all. I reminded her that it could have been worse...that I was just glad we didn’t leave any poop floating in the water…true story…that was my proudest accomplishment today. And those children slept well ALL NIGHT LONG! That alone was worth it to me, that everyone was able to get some good sleep.
Aren't they beautiful?!
We dressed and went to church today, and had a good afternoon…again, LONG naps! Then this evening, we packed up and loaded the van so they could go back to their grandparents’ home. Little tears came to my eyes as they pulled out, yelling “love you’s” and blowing kisses. What a sweet weekend for me! I'll be looking forward to another visit sometime! :-)
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Are There Really Coincidences in Life? I think not…
This experience was a “first” for me in Nursing...
I was working last Thursday night (the 19th) in the ER, and had gotten to work a few minutes earlier than usual so that one of the nurses could leave early. She gave me her two “easy” patients, and left, and I started picking up a couple more patients from other nurses going home. Then I started checking on the patients I’d picked up, one by one. As I got to the last one, I walked into the room and started my spiel (Hi, my name is Wendy and I’m going to be your nurse for a while…) I’d just gotten to my name when I heard the patient say “WENDY MARTINEZ”??!! I looked a little skeptical at first, knowing only my first name shows on my badge. Then she told me her name, and I knew instantly who she was…Tiffany Felt…a DEAR friend of mine from Seattle, whom I’d lost contact with about 5-6 years ago, and her husband Brian Felt. I didn’t recognize her at first, but as I looked closer, she is still as beautiful as she always was when I knew her in Seattle. Amazingly enough, and because I’d just checked on everyone else first, I had 20-30 minutes to sit down and we talked non-stop without interruption.
As I learned of their reason for being here, my heart went out to her, and I realized that I’d be able to bless her life over the next while. She has had some medical problems lately, which have so far gone undiagnosed…everything comes back “normal” and yet it is affecting her ability to function in her life. They drove 1000 miles to this hospital for testing and hopefully to find the right doctors who can help her, but her husband has to go back home to Washington to attend to his responsibilities there. He is going to have to leave her and their 3 girls with his parents in the area, which is a blessing. But the Lord knew she needed a friend here as well while her husband had to go back home, and He sent me. I was the first familiar face in a sea of blue scrubs and white coats, and it was a comfort to her.
As I thought through the night about it, I realized all of the seemingly small events that had taken place that allowed our paths to cross for one hour in the ER. They’d been there for several hours, and the admission paperwork had been turned in for quite a while, but it had taken longer than average for them to get a bed-assignment so we could move her to her room upstairs. Right after we met and talked, I got a bed assignment, and was able to get her transferred upstairs. If I’d come in at my usual time that night (or even 5-10 minutes later), she’d have been assigned to a different nurse, and I wouldn’t have even known she was there. The fact that they came in that very day, one of my 3 shifts for the week, was a small miracle in and of itself. And the final one that I see is that over the last 2-3 weeks or so, things in my life have wound down to a point that I just don’t have a lot of extra stuff going on right now that takes my time…and I will be able to spend some of this time with her and her family, through the doctors visits, and the long hopeless hours at times. I know that the Lord will bless me with the time when I need to be there.
I recognize that the Lord plays a role in our lives even when we don’t notice it, and He blesses us with the things that we need, sometimes in the very hour that we need them. I needed to see her just as much as she needed to see me that night, and we’ve both been blessed tremendously by the experience. We’ve had time to spend several hours together this weekend, and I’ve had a chance to get to know her husband and two of her three girls. What a wonderful family she has! How thankful I am for a profession where I’m allowed to “walk with angels” at times, even when I don’t always recognize that I’m doing such. It is my calling…my life work…and I feel that I’ve been blessed the most!
I was working last Thursday night (the 19th) in the ER, and had gotten to work a few minutes earlier than usual so that one of the nurses could leave early. She gave me her two “easy” patients, and left, and I started picking up a couple more patients from other nurses going home. Then I started checking on the patients I’d picked up, one by one. As I got to the last one, I walked into the room and started my spiel (Hi, my name is Wendy and I’m going to be your nurse for a while…) I’d just gotten to my name when I heard the patient say “WENDY MARTINEZ”??!! I looked a little skeptical at first, knowing only my first name shows on my badge. Then she told me her name, and I knew instantly who she was…Tiffany Felt…a DEAR friend of mine from Seattle, whom I’d lost contact with about 5-6 years ago, and her husband Brian Felt. I didn’t recognize her at first, but as I looked closer, she is still as beautiful as she always was when I knew her in Seattle. Amazingly enough, and because I’d just checked on everyone else first, I had 20-30 minutes to sit down and we talked non-stop without interruption.
As I learned of their reason for being here, my heart went out to her, and I realized that I’d be able to bless her life over the next while. She has had some medical problems lately, which have so far gone undiagnosed…everything comes back “normal” and yet it is affecting her ability to function in her life. They drove 1000 miles to this hospital for testing and hopefully to find the right doctors who can help her, but her husband has to go back home to Washington to attend to his responsibilities there. He is going to have to leave her and their 3 girls with his parents in the area, which is a blessing. But the Lord knew she needed a friend here as well while her husband had to go back home, and He sent me. I was the first familiar face in a sea of blue scrubs and white coats, and it was a comfort to her.
As I thought through the night about it, I realized all of the seemingly small events that had taken place that allowed our paths to cross for one hour in the ER. They’d been there for several hours, and the admission paperwork had been turned in for quite a while, but it had taken longer than average for them to get a bed-assignment so we could move her to her room upstairs. Right after we met and talked, I got a bed assignment, and was able to get her transferred upstairs. If I’d come in at my usual time that night (or even 5-10 minutes later), she’d have been assigned to a different nurse, and I wouldn’t have even known she was there. The fact that they came in that very day, one of my 3 shifts for the week, was a small miracle in and of itself. And the final one that I see is that over the last 2-3 weeks or so, things in my life have wound down to a point that I just don’t have a lot of extra stuff going on right now that takes my time…and I will be able to spend some of this time with her and her family, through the doctors visits, and the long hopeless hours at times. I know that the Lord will bless me with the time when I need to be there.
I recognize that the Lord plays a role in our lives even when we don’t notice it, and He blesses us with the things that we need, sometimes in the very hour that we need them. I needed to see her just as much as she needed to see me that night, and we’ve both been blessed tremendously by the experience. We’ve had time to spend several hours together this weekend, and I’ve had a chance to get to know her husband and two of her three girls. What a wonderful family she has! How thankful I am for a profession where I’m allowed to “walk with angels” at times, even when I don’t always recognize that I’m doing such. It is my calling…my life work…and I feel that I’ve been blessed the most!
My Trip to Cali… a nice getaway
I took off for California on Thursday, the 12th of July, to get out of SLC for the weekend, and had a great time. There is something about being on the open road that I LOVE! It was so peaceful, and was exactly what I needed. I spent the night in Elko, and made the rest of the drive on Friday morning.
Friday, I got together with friends…Tiffiny (who moved to San Francisco at the same time I moved to SLC last year), Nicole, Christina, and Mary. It was so good to see and talk with so many friends there. We had a great time catching up!
Saturday, I attended the wedding and reception of another friend, Jenn, and then FINALLY was able to see and attend the Sacramento Temple. It is BEAUTIFUL! I cannot describe how I felt there, as I realized it feels like “my temple”, even though it’s the first time I’ve been in it. Nicole was one of the workers and we were able to see a lot of each other in there.
Here’s the history: we’d been anticipating the Sacramento Temple for years, but there was a lot of opposition in it being built, and it was delayed many times. Consequently, while I lived in the area for 3 years, we traveled 100 miles one-way to Oakland to attend the temple. I don’t regret those days, as I had some marvelous experiences (do you get as many blessings if you RACE the entire way to the temple on a ward temple trip?...I won...). Anyways, they were building the Sacramento Temple and I wanted to wait “just a few more months” before I moved to Utah, so I could work in it during the Open House (like EVERYONE I know got to). But I’d put off my move several months already because I was unwilling to move to UT in the winter (who in their right mind would move from CA to UT in the winter?!). So I missed the Open House and Dedication by about a month. The Lord’s answer to me in that request was “Am I not sending you to a place with MANY beautiful temples? Is that not good enough?” It has been good enough for me…I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the temples in the SLC area, but as I attended the Sacramento Temple on Saturday, it still felt like “my temple”.
I went to a pool party at someone’s home on Sat night…is it just me, or do the “young single adults” keep getting younger? ;-)
Sunday, I was able to see Alena and Sam, along with a few other friends. What a great experience to visit and catch up with them! They are amazing people, and I am blessed to call them friends. (see her blog at "teamalena.blogspot.com") Church was amazing…sadly, I’d forgotten what it felt like to truly be fed by the Spirit at church. I was left with such a feeling of how much the Lord loves me, and all of His children. I was “centered” once again in my life.
Monday was another great drive across the state of Nevada, my home-state. Whenever I enter, I have to sing the state song “Home Means Nevada”, as I learned it in grade-school. I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to visit a place I once called home, and the wonderful friends I still have there. :-)
Friday, I got together with friends…Tiffiny (who moved to San Francisco at the same time I moved to SLC last year), Nicole, Christina, and Mary. It was so good to see and talk with so many friends there. We had a great time catching up!
Saturday, I attended the wedding and reception of another friend, Jenn, and then FINALLY was able to see and attend the Sacramento Temple. It is BEAUTIFUL! I cannot describe how I felt there, as I realized it feels like “my temple”, even though it’s the first time I’ve been in it. Nicole was one of the workers and we were able to see a lot of each other in there.
Here’s the history: we’d been anticipating the Sacramento Temple for years, but there was a lot of opposition in it being built, and it was delayed many times. Consequently, while I lived in the area for 3 years, we traveled 100 miles one-way to Oakland to attend the temple. I don’t regret those days, as I had some marvelous experiences (do you get as many blessings if you RACE the entire way to the temple on a ward temple trip?...I won...). Anyways, they were building the Sacramento Temple and I wanted to wait “just a few more months” before I moved to Utah, so I could work in it during the Open House (like EVERYONE I know got to). But I’d put off my move several months already because I was unwilling to move to UT in the winter (who in their right mind would move from CA to UT in the winter?!). So I missed the Open House and Dedication by about a month. The Lord’s answer to me in that request was “Am I not sending you to a place with MANY beautiful temples? Is that not good enough?” It has been good enough for me…I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the temples in the SLC area, but as I attended the Sacramento Temple on Saturday, it still felt like “my temple”.
I went to a pool party at someone’s home on Sat night…is it just me, or do the “young single adults” keep getting younger? ;-)
Sunday, I was able to see Alena and Sam, along with a few other friends. What a great experience to visit and catch up with them! They are amazing people, and I am blessed to call them friends. (see her blog at "teamalena.blogspot.com") Church was amazing…sadly, I’d forgotten what it felt like to truly be fed by the Spirit at church. I was left with such a feeling of how much the Lord loves me, and all of His children. I was “centered” once again in my life.
Monday was another great drive across the state of Nevada, my home-state. Whenever I enter, I have to sing the state song “Home Means Nevada”, as I learned it in grade-school. I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to visit a place I once called home, and the wonderful friends I still have there. :-)
Sunday, July 1, 2007
My Niece -- a funny story
Not long ago, my 5-year old niece, Makaela, was here in Utah for a visit. At one point, we were visiting at someone's house, and to help keep her entertained, I let her play with my digital camera. Turns out she has quite an eye for taking pictures (for a 5-year old). Her first picture was of me, and she lined it up and then said, "Oh, move over just a little...it looks like you have more hair!" This is the picture she took...
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