Ok, this sick thing is soooo old! I've played about as many rounds of WordTwist as I can stand. I've looked up tons of friends on Facebook. I've searched the library database for authors I enjoy and recommended authors. I even surfed on the Humane Society's website to see what kittens are available for adoption (Oliver is going to need a new buddy when Gizmo leaves). I'm so done with this!!
What a busy week. After a trip to the zoo, lots of swimming and a visit to my Grandma (who, for those of you following her progress, seems to be slowly going farther and farther downhill :( ), I was all psyched up to go back to work tonight.
Of course, my body had other plans for me. About 10 o'clock last night, my body started rejecting any and everything that I had ingested all day yesterday. I spent all night between my bed and the bathroom, completely miserable. I knew for sure that work wasn't happening tonight.
The last time I'd had a respiratory infection, the Dr. had prescribed me Phenergan with Codeine for my cough. I'd only used a bit of it and it has been sitting in my fridge since. Well, Phenergan is a great anti-nausea med, so when my stomach had calmed just enough to take it this morning, I took a dose. That was about 8. The rest of the day I spent completely gorked out. I made it to the bathroom and back a few times, but that was as alert as I could manage. The nausea thankfully went away and I managed to down a full bottle of Gatorade in between bathroom trips.
This evening I managed to spend enough time out of bed to watch "So You Think You Can Dance" and down a banana. This pretty much wore me out. Think I'll take another dose of the Phenergan so I can have a deep night's sleep tonight...
There were a few nervous moments today with a couple of the baby birds. Apparently the two older babies are about fully feathered and ready to start trying out their wings. When I peered out at the porch this afternoon, one was perched on my bike and the other in my hanging pot of begonias. I opened the door a bit to try to get a better picture of them and the two of them took off! Both of the babies flew right off my patio!
I'm on the second floor and wasn't sure if they'd be able to get back up here. Well, the mama and papa birds kept flying up to the porch, tweeting at the other two babies and frantically flying off. After about 15 minutes of this, one of the parents showed up with a baby tagging along. However, of the other little one, there was no sign. I anxiously kept watching the frantic parents search for him/her. Finally, I had to leave to meet up with the girls.
As I walked out, I noticed on my neighbor's porch what looked like the lost fledgling. He found his way back...to the wrong porch. I left it up to the parents to try to herd home the lost one. Sure enough, when I returned home, he/she was safely nested with the other three siblings.
Yesterday, I made the trek down to Manti with Tom, Margo, and the majority of Margo's family. We went down to see the Mormon Miracle Pageant. The sun was bright and hot when we arrived, but as the sun set and the show started, it got chilly. The show was enjoyable and the Manti Temple was gorgeous.
And, on a totally different note, I'm sunburnt (a bit) again! I went swimming with Tammy, Robyn, and the girls yesterday and then Sara again today. The sun was bright and hot and the water great. Sara is a little fish and Jayne finally has the confidence to strike out on her own (with the water wings and a 'ring' Tammy made out of a water noodle). Even Abby seemed to be more relaxed in the water and Chrystal took it all in stride.
After Jayne and Abby crashing on my lap for a bit, Tammy, the girls and I went for a short hike in the Temple Quarry in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The wildflowers were in full bloom and the relief from the heat was very welcome. A lovely day to be sure!
The week finally culminated this morning with a funeral. Little Logan was laid to rest about 30 feet from my sister, Gwen. It was a beautiful ceremony and I was grateful for the chance to attend. I had a great sense of peace come over me as an uncle spoke of the divine nature and perfection of little ones and how Heavenly Father takes some home to Himself early to protect them from the envy and evil of the world. I know this was the case in this instance. Logan had a gigantic spirit in a miniscule body. You could see it shining brightly each time he 'spoke' to you with his eyes. This experience has given me a much greater understanding and appreciation of what my Mom went through when she lost Gwen. All these years, it has been kind of a vague reality that I have a sister that I can't remember. This has really made her more real to me. Altogether, as painful as it has been, this week has been very good for me. I think that maybe tonight I can sleep soundly for the first time in days. Sleep well, little Logan!
What a bright spot in a tough week tonight was! I attended the first birthday party of a little (little being the very appropriate word) boy who I cared for last year. He was the first baby I was Primary nurse on. It was wonderful to see how much he's grown and how big and beautiful he is. He was born at 1 lb. and 5. oz. He is now 13 1/2 pounds of joyful, gorgeous babyness. Happy Birthday Jonah!!!
Wow. What a week!
Two nights ago, I had a baby suddenly turn very ill on me. We transported him to Primary Childrens' for emergency surgery. The surgery was unsuccessful and he died yesterday afternoon, leaving behind his brothers (he was a triplet) and stunned and grieving parents and nurses.
Last night, I returned to work and took care of one of the remaining brothers. I think the past two nights have been among the hardest of my medical career. I can count about 2 others this bad in all the years.
Working with adults, when they died, it was generally either after a long and fruitful life, or almost a relief as an end to some sort of suffering. To lose a tiny baby who was doing so well, beating out all the odds, so very suddenly (he went from doing great to dying in a matter of hours), is heartbreaking. He was just starting out life and had so much ahead of him! I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for him and is holding him in His loving arms right now, but it doesn't take away the pain.
I work with amazing people. When all the chaos was breaking out the other night, two nurses simply stepped in and took my other patient off my hands. Another sat and scribed all the happenings to make it possible for me to chart it all later. The neonatologist, two neonatal nurse practitioners, three respiratory therapists, the charge nurse and charge support nurse, along with the xray techs were all at my baby's bedside doing everything they could to try to save this beautiful little boy.
When I returned to work last night, the majority of the same people were back as well. Before we could start back to the 'grind' of work, several of us ended up having a crying fest together. It really helped to have people there who understood and had been through it with me.
Only one more night this week. The parents of these beautiful boys had asked me to be one of their primary nurses before all this happened. This means I will be back taking care of one or both of the boys tonight. My thoughts and prayers are with Brayden, Conner, and their Mommy and Daddy today!
