Quick Just Because Not So Serious Takes

Things on the blog lately have been a little serious so I wanted to slap up here a few lighter things jumping around in this brain of mine.

1. I know you have all been on the edge of your seat wondering but I have picked up some running again now that the temps aren't frigid and the risk of slipping has subsided.  I am doing couch to 5k again but this time to get quicker.  So rather than just running during the intervals I run fast during the intervals. Before you know it I will be winning marathons I am sure.  Hardy har.

B.  Because 2 would be too serious.  Sunshine is the name and tanning is the game.  Ahh somehow every article of clothing looks a little bit better with a glow of the skin.  Remind me of this when I get skin cancer in 30 years.

C.   So I have one of those longer in the front and shorter in the back hair cuts right now with the back hitting just about at the bottom of my neck and the front 3-4 fingerbreaths below my shoulders.  My bangs have grown out to this stragely stage and I just can't decide what I want to do about any of it.  Most indecisive person am I.

4.  In less than a month I begin the first of six weddings this year.  'Tis the young and Catholic season of life.

E.  Coffee.  Because every post needs a coffee shout out.  Why is it so good?  Honestly that first sip in the morning is probably my favorite part of the day.  Shallow, maybe.  Honest, yes.

6.  We have lived in this house for almost two months and I am going to pretend like I am completely unpacked because pretending is better than reality.

G. Ok I had to throw one serious one in there.  Are you ever terrified that you are not actually doing the Lord's will no matter how hard you are trying.  Obviously I need some prayers.

VIII.  Don't you love when you return more than you buy?!  Returned two of the dresses I bought to try on for the weddings and only picked up a handful of things like socks, drying mats, and capris.

9.  Who wants to see another essential oil post?  With the pollen a swirling I am relying on my trusty lavender and cedarwood to help my throat not hurt the whole day long.

10.  Who knew how enjoyable gardening is?  Not I.  However I broke down and bought mulch because I am already sick of wedding it is not even June yet.  Now to buy a watering can...

Join along and add your quick just because not so serious takes so that we can read them.  There are no rules to this link up except to add thy link below.

Nurse's Week 2015

Well here I am celebrating my first nurse's week.  It was just about a year ago that I was wearing my cap and gown celebrating with the rest of the field house my hard earned diploma.  Now here I am waking up at 5pm from my night shift last night and on call tonight.

Having had diploma in hand for about a year and working as an RN for about 6 months has been incredibly challenging and rewarding.  I have the privilege of taking care of families as they welcome new life into the world.

Source: http://www.birthandbeyondmagazine.com/moms-features/2014/11/17/newborn-given-to-wrong-mom-to-breastfeed-in-norcal-hospital

I get to hear first cries and see dads as their eyes well up with tears when I hand them their first born and say "here is your son".   I also vigorously rub a fresh newborns back praying for her to just cry and start turning pink.  Some moms come in nervous and I can do my best to help ease their worries and help them have a beautiful birth experiences.  I help keep moms and babies safe and healthy when the labor process is less than perfect and ideal.  

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson/2011/aug/22/childbirth-women

I hold women's hands when they get their epidural as soon as they walk through the door and sway with them when they enter their 15th hour of natural labor. I footprint, ID band, and weigh these babies often before their moms have held them for more than 10 minutes.  I help women breastfeed and encourage a long breastfeeding relationship.

Source: http://imgbuddy.com/newborn-mixed-baby-boys-in-hospital.asp

Beyond all these beautiful things that people imagine L&D nurses do I also grab ice, clean areas...down there that are less than clean, change my scrubs multiple times a shift because they have blood, urine, amniotic fluid, meconium or a combination on them, handle annoying family members, advocate for women, and tell women yes they did progress but not as much as they were hoping.

Source: http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2014/10/baby_friendly_hospitals_promoting_breast_feeding_at_the_expense_of_the_new.html

Nurses are supposdely the most trusted profession.  Honestly most days I don't understand why and more often than not I leave a shift feeling like I didn't give my patients the best care I could have.  Being a L&D nurse I can honestly say it is one of the hardest and one of the best jobs I could ever imagine doing for all the reasons listed above and 100 more.

Source: http://galleryhip.com/newborn-birth.html

To all you other nurses, kudos.  Thank you for holding dying hands, having a smile on your face when a patient first opens her eyes and saying "I think the surgeon has some good news for you",  helping a man detox from his cocaine addiction, singing a bedtime song to the little boy who has been sick for so long that his parent's have no other choice but to go to work, passing another pain pill, not giving up on a man who is in cardiac arrest, and infusing another day of chemo.  Happy Nurse's week, enjoy your free coffee, hospital emblemed gift, and posters posted around the hospital.  Keep on caring!

Warm weather

Can I get an amen for this warm weather.  I love those first few days when it is warmer outside than inside and then it is made 100x better when the sun is actually toasty on your skin.  The runs are a happening, the soil of the garden is being turned and I would be lying if I didn't say some laying out sans sun block is occurring.  What can I say, I have a June 13th wedding that I want a little color for.  

Summer at the hospital is normally crazy busy because 9 months before the weather starts to get cold and I am nervous.  Because of some insurance silliness that has happened in the city of Pittsburgh we just aren't sure yet what this summer is going to look like but me be nervous for crazy days.  

The blessing though of busyness is that when I have off with nothing on the agenda the days are oh so sweet! I can take my time to wake up and drink my morning coffe, spend oodles of time outside, and slowly, relaxingly go about my day. 

So what have you been up to with this warm weather?  Any blog posts you want to see? Any new readers want to introduce themselves or old ones up date me on their life?