The sun is a bright light this day, the sky blue with the pheobes outside singing. And so perfect time to take two crazy goldens out for walk. I say walk, when I recognize that my Emmie walks lovely on a leash while Rory wants to romp through the snow as he tugs ne along, his leash frimly ensconced in his mouth. In any case, it's a wonderful chance to see the leaf buds on trees upclose while enjoying some sunshine on my face. As close to a January thaw as we are apparently going to get the year and so we venture off to enjoy the day.
We're rounding the bend on the mansion grounds, coming out of the woods when I hear a jogger, pounding the road as he runs. I look around and see nothing of the sort. Then I think perhaps there is workman nearby, putting up a sign, fixing a fence, as I hear the 'knock, knock, knock.' Again there is no sign of man with hammer. However as I stare high up in the trees I spot the only colour in the woods a piliated woodpecker reeking destruction on an old stately oak. How could I have not recognized that sound? I thought. I stop for a moment and watch as the large bird pecks away at the tree, pieces of bark flying. And then I think, it's the hat, the woolen hat that is muffling the sounds of nature on this January day. And I begin to dream of spring when hats will be off, buds will start to open and nature's sounds will once again be recognizable.
24 January 2009
19 January 2009
A promise of a new tomorrow
Tomorrow we celebrate the inauguration of a new president. The day will be the fulfillment of the promises of the Declaration of Independence ... all men are created equal ... and those of JFK, MLK, and RFK, martyrs of generations past. A day which blacks, brown, yellow and white have waited for, a day Civil Rights workers in the '60s have marched for, a day the activist folk singers of the '60s sang about ... the promise of freedom and equality for all.
The weight of the world and the times will fall on the shoulders of one man and the family who will share him with us for the next four years. A man who has already decided to look forward and not back. To not place blame for the sins of the past, to launch no punishing investigations, to honour his political foes, to renew old ties and establish new. A man of integrity ... we have waited so long.
I wonder how the job will change him and his values. I wonder what the next four years will bring, how his performance will impact us. And tonight I pray for us all ...
The weight of the world and the times will fall on the shoulders of one man and the family who will share him with us for the next four years. A man who has already decided to look forward and not back. To not place blame for the sins of the past, to launch no punishing investigations, to honour his political foes, to renew old ties and establish new. A man of integrity ... we have waited so long.
I wonder how the job will change him and his values. I wonder what the next four years will bring, how his performance will impact us. And tonight I pray for us all ...
18 January 2009
Cardinals in January
Well it took much maneuvering but I have finally figured out how to send my photos of this morning's birdie breakfast to my blog. God knows how I did this previously, I seem to have forgotten.
16 January 2009
Baby it's cold outside
And Emmie is building a nest.
Yes it was - 7.5 outside this a.m. when I awoke, ice on the kitchen windows. The dogs were anxious to go outside and do what dogs do when they've been inside all night ... head over to the bird feeder and see what's left on the ground for them to eat. And then, if they think of it, go to the bathroom before heading inside for breakfast.
It was so cold the snow squeaked and the back porch door windows glazed over quickly with frozen fog as the humidity from the house condensed on the glass.
It was so cold that my nasal membranes froze together as I breathed in the morning air.
And when I went out about 2 hours later to clean up the yard a bit after the dogs had decorated the snow, it was so cold that several of my finger nails broke. Now that's cold folks.
We're all safely indoors for the day although Emmie wants to go for a walk desperately. She keeps coming down the hall, crying at me and walking in circles in the front room. But when she's ready to settle down for a while, it's off to my bed to make the doggie nest.
Baby it may be cold outside but inside, inside we are just fine.
15 January 2009
"They come in three's ya know" and with that ...
I ran from the building.
As I have previously posted this has been quite the week. On our 40 bed unit I have had 30 OR patients admitted in three days. Fifteen patients were admitted from the ER on my 12 hour shifts and somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 - 50 patients were discharged. In the midst of all of the commotion there were 2 codes and 4 people who died, with two more teetering as I left the building tonight. By the time this evening is over they will have a pair of threes.
This week also brought two people who came into the hospital with unrelated illnesses which when being further pursued were discovered to have terminal cancer. Two people who went to sleep one night thinking they had pneumonia and a GI bleed who woke up the next day to devastating news. They are terminally ill and only but months to live.
As I drive home I remembered this day, this very date 8 years ago. I woke up that morning and with my son drove to the medical center in the capital of my state for surgery. My first real surgery. I, too had cancer, cancer which had metastisized but luckily cancer which was easily treated. When I returned home the next day my daughter called to tell me about the impending birth of my first grandchild....and now there are three.
They do come in three's ya know. I'm a lucky woman.
As I have previously posted this has been quite the week. On our 40 bed unit I have had 30 OR patients admitted in three days. Fifteen patients were admitted from the ER on my 12 hour shifts and somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 - 50 patients were discharged. In the midst of all of the commotion there were 2 codes and 4 people who died, with two more teetering as I left the building tonight. By the time this evening is over they will have a pair of threes.
This week also brought two people who came into the hospital with unrelated illnesses which when being further pursued were discovered to have terminal cancer. Two people who went to sleep one night thinking they had pneumonia and a GI bleed who woke up the next day to devastating news. They are terminally ill and only but months to live.
As I drive home I remembered this day, this very date 8 years ago. I woke up that morning and with my son drove to the medical center in the capital of my state for surgery. My first real surgery. I, too had cancer, cancer which had metastisized but luckily cancer which was easily treated. When I returned home the next day my daughter called to tell me about the impending birth of my first grandchild....and now there are three.
They do come in three's ya know. I'm a lucky woman.
14 January 2009
If you can keep your head while all about you are ...
then damn it girl friend you are the charge nurse.
It was quite the day yesterday at work and it always amazes me how a simple concept of too many patients, not enough beds confuses people. I tried using simple statements such as .... 'we don't have any beds' when the OR, ER, ICU called with admits. I tried using childhood logic ... 'too many people at the party, not enough chairs'. Hell I even tried, "Look it ain't my fault you guys schedule 11 surgical cases one day, 8 the next and then wonder why there are no beds with 37 inpatients on a 40 bed unit? I mean really folks, take off your freaking shoes and count your toes. It isn't gonna work." And they didn't seem to get it.
Then there were the caregivers. How far can you stretch the care? How far can you stretch the nerves, the emotions and the simple backbreaking work that is health care today? By the time the day was over people who work with each other every day, people who genuinely care about each other were snapping and sniping. And worse yet, yelling at the charge nurse. It's difficult to keep everyone on an even keel, salving frazzled nerves, directing incoming and outgoing patient traffic. And then having 'the kids' yell ....
It was a day fraught with emotions. The sadness of an elderly woman who lost her husband of 60+ years, begging him to live. We sat at the nursing station and cried. The joy of booting an obnoxious patient out the door and sending her home to where she belongs. We stood at the window and waved her goodbye. The comfort of doggie kisses and hugs from the pet therapy hounds. We can sense the presence of a dog at 100 yards. The excitement of two codes and watching patients with new joints walk the floors.
And when the day was over and I handed off the book (and patients) to the incoming charge nurse I thought that all in all we'd survived and more than that we'd kept our heads when all about us were loosing theirs ... and that made us a great group of women.
It was quite the day yesterday at work and it always amazes me how a simple concept of too many patients, not enough beds confuses people. I tried using simple statements such as .... 'we don't have any beds' when the OR, ER, ICU called with admits. I tried using childhood logic ... 'too many people at the party, not enough chairs'. Hell I even tried, "Look it ain't my fault you guys schedule 11 surgical cases one day, 8 the next and then wonder why there are no beds with 37 inpatients on a 40 bed unit? I mean really folks, take off your freaking shoes and count your toes. It isn't gonna work." And they didn't seem to get it.
Then there were the caregivers. How far can you stretch the care? How far can you stretch the nerves, the emotions and the simple backbreaking work that is health care today? By the time the day was over people who work with each other every day, people who genuinely care about each other were snapping and sniping. And worse yet, yelling at the charge nurse. It's difficult to keep everyone on an even keel, salving frazzled nerves, directing incoming and outgoing patient traffic. And then having 'the kids' yell ....
It was a day fraught with emotions. The sadness of an elderly woman who lost her husband of 60+ years, begging him to live. We sat at the nursing station and cried. The joy of booting an obnoxious patient out the door and sending her home to where she belongs. We stood at the window and waved her goodbye. The comfort of doggie kisses and hugs from the pet therapy hounds. We can sense the presence of a dog at 100 yards. The excitement of two codes and watching patients with new joints walk the floors.
And when the day was over and I handed off the book (and patients) to the incoming charge nurse I thought that all in all we'd survived and more than that we'd kept our heads when all about us were loosing theirs ... and that made us a great group of women.
10 January 2009
Snow covers a multitude of sins
As a child I remember sitting by the radio in the living room, listening intently as the roll call of schools was read off ..... a snow day! How long would we have to wait before we got the word? After all, the snow was still falling ...
We would head off to 'the park' and drag our tobogan to the top of the hill and pile on. And off we'd go, screaming as we headed down the hill. If we were really moving we'd almost hit the stream. And when we were ready for another go at, up the hill we'd trudge. Or we'd walk through the snow, shovels in tow, heading down the path to the pond where we'd clear out space to skate, playing house on ice.
Now many decades later I still look forward to the snow. Only now I watch the snow fall from indoors, watching it cover the gardens in the yard and using it as an excuse to make hot chocolate. I stay inside, lighting candles, listen to music and knit while the snow plows go by. And I'm always pleasantly surprised the next day when the yard is pristine, no small piles of dirt left by the contractor, no puddles of bird feed pushed to the ground and mostly no dog poo! Yes I still have two Goldens but you'd never know it by looking out the back porch door. Snow covers a multitude of sins.
We would head off to 'the park' and drag our tobogan to the top of the hill and pile on. And off we'd go, screaming as we headed down the hill. If we were really moving we'd almost hit the stream. And when we were ready for another go at, up the hill we'd trudge. Or we'd walk through the snow, shovels in tow, heading down the path to the pond where we'd clear out space to skate, playing house on ice.
Now many decades later I still look forward to the snow. Only now I watch the snow fall from indoors, watching it cover the gardens in the yard and using it as an excuse to make hot chocolate. I stay inside, lighting candles, listen to music and knit while the snow plows go by. And I'm always pleasantly surprised the next day when the yard is pristine, no small piles of dirt left by the contractor, no puddles of bird feed pushed to the ground and mostly no dog poo! Yes I still have two Goldens but you'd never know it by looking out the back porch door. Snow covers a multitude of sins.
09 January 2009
After carefully reviewing your papers ...
you may consider yourself discharged!
Today was an interesting day at work. I got 14 people out the door and back to their homes before the weekend weather sets in. Some patients went home the more conventional way with families and loved ones, one fellow he was just gonna go home, no more tests for him so he called 911 and then the local ambulance company and signed himself out AMA. One, one patient's soul left through the open window. But they've all gone home.
And I'm left to wonder about their lives and what it is they've returned home to, what projects they have yet to finish...much the same way as I ponder my stash and my ever growing pile of half finished knitted objects. How is it that some people have hundreds of finished objects on their web pages, cardigans finished, shawls draped artfully across garden gates and fences, socks by the dozen pairs while I have so many things to finish and so many dreams of patterns and yarns.
So I find myself welcoming the next two days off from work and look forward to anticipation of finishing a project, any project, before I cast on yet another. I have hopes that when my soul leaves through the open window I can look back at a life well lived with goals met and maybe a lace shawl left behind for one that I love.
The KnitWitNurse
Today was an interesting day at work. I got 14 people out the door and back to their homes before the weekend weather sets in. Some patients went home the more conventional way with families and loved ones, one fellow he was just gonna go home, no more tests for him so he called 911 and then the local ambulance company and signed himself out AMA. One, one patient's soul left through the open window. But they've all gone home.
And I'm left to wonder about their lives and what it is they've returned home to, what projects they have yet to finish...much the same way as I ponder my stash and my ever growing pile of half finished knitted objects. How is it that some people have hundreds of finished objects on their web pages, cardigans finished, shawls draped artfully across garden gates and fences, socks by the dozen pairs while I have so many things to finish and so many dreams of patterns and yarns.
So I find myself welcoming the next two days off from work and look forward to anticipation of finishing a project, any project, before I cast on yet another. I have hopes that when my soul leaves through the open window I can look back at a life well lived with goals met and maybe a lace shawl left behind for one that I love.
The KnitWitNurse
06 January 2009
Calm before the storm - time for a new hairdo?
I have had the past 6 days off and all in all the weather has been okay. I've taken the dogs for walks, been able to get out shopping and feed the birds. It's been all good. So it kinda figures that tomorrow when I am to return to work at 0 dark 30 in the a.m. the weather man is predicting sleet, snow and freezing rain. I guess I don't have the luck of the Irish after all. Instead of sitting on my arse, looking out the window thinking, "Gee I hope everyone is gonna be okay out there today" I will be slipping and sliding my way to work.
Of course the weather is good for business. I'm trying to decide whether it will be tib/fib fracture or femur fracture day. I'm kinda putting my money on the former as it is the younger crowd who break their ankles. And with the weather predicted I'm hoping the hip fracture crowd is learned enough to stay home. However you can never be too sure....
Last year one of our frequent fliers came in with a broken arm. It was a very, very snowy winter day, one of those days when the police say only necessary personnel should be on the streets and you try like hell to convince yourself that an RN isn't necessary personnel. Anyway, you could barely see in front of your face and out goes our friend Ruth to get her hair done. Yup, don't cancel the hair appointment. Why you could end up dead and what would happen then, if your hair wasn't done. And our friend Ruth was in her 90's. She ended up doing well with the arm thing but if I'm not mistaken she passed away this spring/summer from some unrelated cause, like old age. And I'm betting she looked good.
Be safe out there.....KnitWit Nurse
Of course the weather is good for business. I'm trying to decide whether it will be tib/fib fracture or femur fracture day. I'm kinda putting my money on the former as it is the younger crowd who break their ankles. And with the weather predicted I'm hoping the hip fracture crowd is learned enough to stay home. However you can never be too sure....
Last year one of our frequent fliers came in with a broken arm. It was a very, very snowy winter day, one of those days when the police say only necessary personnel should be on the streets and you try like hell to convince yourself that an RN isn't necessary personnel. Anyway, you could barely see in front of your face and out goes our friend Ruth to get her hair done. Yup, don't cancel the hair appointment. Why you could end up dead and what would happen then, if your hair wasn't done. And our friend Ruth was in her 90's. She ended up doing well with the arm thing but if I'm not mistaken she passed away this spring/summer from some unrelated cause, like old age. And I'm betting she looked good.
Be safe out there.....KnitWit Nurse
04 January 2009
Silly little Wynnie
Olwyne Isabelle Anastasia ... now that's a name to have to haul around through life. Is it any wonder she is known as Wynn? She is named in honor of her sister's namesakes sister (if you can follow that one. Three generations ago there were three sisters, Megan, Olwyne and Bronwyn. My grandaughters are their namesakes.) She is also named for her German great grandmother and her Ukrainian great great grandmother. She has a lot to live up to.
the light of my life
my first grand daughter, Megan Amelia Olive aka Maggie. Maggie was born on her great grandmother's birthday and so received her name. She's 7 now, likes to tease me that soon she will be a teen ager ... but first I think she needs to resolve that whole no front tooth thing!
I have such a special place in my heart for her....
Emma! Where in holy hell are you?
So today was walking the dogs in the park day. It's been brutally cold in the NE and so the dogs have been inside for the past week...well not inside the whole time obviously. I do have a fenced in yard where they romp and chase each other, eat stones and dig holes in the ground. But they've not had the freedom to just run. So over to the park behind the fire house we went where they both were chomping at the bit to get off their leashes and run.
And run they did. Rory, the 5 month old pup, ran about 10 yards and then stopped to look where I was and Emma? Emma decided screw it I'm out of here and ran across the field checking for a break in the fence and then having spied it she was gone. As in through the creek, over the hill and outta here. I called and called for her and when I had decided that she wasn't coming back without coaxing I turned to go get her leash and from out of the underbrush comes Emma. Wet, dirty Emma. I guess she just needed to run.
And run they did. Rory, the 5 month old pup, ran about 10 yards and then stopped to look where I was and Emma? Emma decided screw it I'm out of here and ran across the field checking for a break in the fence and then having spied it she was gone. As in through the creek, over the hill and outta here. I called and called for her and when I had decided that she wasn't coming back without coaxing I turned to go get her leash and from out of the underbrush comes Emma. Wet, dirty Emma. I guess she just needed to run.
03 January 2009
So a new day dawns
and here I am thinking, "At last I can post some of my finished works to ravlery". But hold on there sister. I have the stomach virus.
The bad thing about working in a hospital with sick people is that often what they have is contagious. I thought I was a regular genius not going into visit several of the patients on rounds last week as the virus is rampant there. My clerk had it, I sent her home. I just did not want to get sick. And so imagine my surprise when I awoke at 0300 with profound nausea. Thank the drug gods for anti-emetics as at least I can control what's happening. (I guess that's the good thing about working in a hospital.)
So today will be spent sipping tea, reading and watching tv. I hope for a great New Year's marathon of one type or another to keep my brain occupied. And by tomorrow I will be back at baseline having survived another day.
As I sign off I can hear the chorus of wind chimes in the back yard ringing in the wind. I do love that sound ...
The bad thing about working in a hospital with sick people is that often what they have is contagious. I thought I was a regular genius not going into visit several of the patients on rounds last week as the virus is rampant there. My clerk had it, I sent her home. I just did not want to get sick. And so imagine my surprise when I awoke at 0300 with profound nausea. Thank the drug gods for anti-emetics as at least I can control what's happening. (I guess that's the good thing about working in a hospital.)
So today will be spent sipping tea, reading and watching tv. I hope for a great New Year's marathon of one type or another to keep my brain occupied. And by tomorrow I will be back at baseline having survived another day.
As I sign off I can hear the chorus of wind chimes in the back yard ringing in the wind. I do love that sound ...
02 January 2009
Introducing my Goldens
Emma, the red head in the background who falls asleep every night watching tv and Rory the puppy who outlasts her. He loves to watch decorating shows on TLC and the channel of social enlightenment, Bravo TV.
In the begining...
the KnitWitNurse had a camera, a laptop and an obsessive habit called knitting but could find no way for these elements to interact. Yes I could save your life but communicate through pictures and a blog with the outside world? Not so much. I hunted high and low for the correct USB cable, buying and discarding many along the way.
It was during the holidays that I ventured into one of those electronic big box stores and sidled up to a young man and asked the question fraught with apprehension ... just how do I get my pictures off this thing (holding up digital camera) onto my laptop? "Easy, buy a card reader." Oh .....
Trying not to act too stupid I said, "So if I buy one of these (holding up card reader) I can take the disc from my camera, put it in here and download pictures onto my computer?" "Yup."
And I chose to believe the salesboy. So it with no great fanfare that today I am launching my blog, complete with pictures. Here you will hear about my family, my dogs, my job and my hobbies. And hopefully my tales will be accompanied by photographic evidence of same.
Thus begins my blog .... the KnitWitNurse
It was during the holidays that I ventured into one of those electronic big box stores and sidled up to a young man and asked the question fraught with apprehension ... just how do I get my pictures off this thing (holding up digital camera) onto my laptop? "Easy, buy a card reader." Oh .....
Trying not to act too stupid I said, "So if I buy one of these (holding up card reader) I can take the disc from my camera, put it in here and download pictures onto my computer?" "Yup."
And I chose to believe the salesboy. So it with no great fanfare that today I am launching my blog, complete with pictures. Here you will hear about my family, my dogs, my job and my hobbies. And hopefully my tales will be accompanied by photographic evidence of same.
Thus begins my blog .... the KnitWitNurse
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