Monday, January 24, 2011

Miss V

Today I took care of a patient who's time here with us is limited. I will call her Miss V. I have been taking care of Miss V for several months now. I did my clinicals at this facility so I am very familiar with her.
She is the type of lady that is so cantankerous that they put all incoming nurses on her hall to take care of her. I call it a little hazing on hall 400. She is something. Will call you every name in the book. I have been hit, choked and almost bitten just trying to get her to eat something. We all draw straws to see who has to give her a bath.
But care for her I do. I know that in her earlier years she was probably a real nice lady. Early hours of the morning when all the patients are sleeping I will walk in to Miss V's room and say a little prayer for her; and for me. Ha because I may be the one that needs to bathe her that day.
Last week I walked into Miss V's room to find standing there my mothers best friend. She asked what I was doing there. I told her that I am now employed here and take care of all the beautiful ladies on this hall. I asked her what she was doing there. She said that Miss V was her mother. What a small world. I was totally shocked to find out just who Miss V was.
After the long weekend I went in this morning only to find out that Miss V is not doing well. She is refusing her meds and has not ate or drank since last Thursday. Her coloring is not good. As I walked into her room late morning her daughter was standing at the end of the bed watching her mother. It struck me that she will not be here much longer. I know in this profession that I have chose that death is something I will experience. But I wasn't expecting it so soon.

Many Blessings
Heidi

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Just taking one day at a time.

I can't believe how long it has been since I have updated. I am here; not well but here.
Right after my last post I had a doctors appointment for a check up. I have not been feeling well for a couple of months but couldn't put my finger on what the problem was. The doctor did an extensive blood work up and called me the next afternoon to tell me the news. It appears that my thyroid has stopped working. Great; just what I wanted to hear. This is why I have been experiencing extreme fatigue and not able to loose any weight.
He started me on a medication a few days later. He said that getting the right medication is often difficult and that I will need to be closely watched. On the day I started my meds I got a nursing job. So excited to start my new career but not while I am dealing with these health issues. So needless to say this past week has been very hard for me. My job turns out to be very physical. Not a bad thing but when you have been sitting on your bottom for the past year and a half it is taking a toll on my body. I have muscle pain in areas that I didn't know there were muscles. Because of the thyroid issue and the new job I am a mess. I go to work and then come home and go to bed. I was told it will take weeks to get my medication to where it needs to be.
Thank God I have a husband that is so understanding.

Many Blessings,
Heidi

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Good News!

Well D and I have been busy with a flurry of activity bringing in the new year. Speaking of the new year. D and I are real big party people; yes we are. For New Years Eve we rented movies and Wii games and had a kitchen full of junk food. Good times. Then by 10:45pm we couldn't wait for midnight to get here because we were exhausted. Meg and Drew stayed home as well to enjoy all the excitement with us. At the stroke of midnight we all fell over each other trying to get to bed. Yes; the excitement was just too much for us.
But D and I did write down our goals for 2011. So glad to be doing that; we always reach our goals when we write them down.
I was blessed with news yesterday of a job opportunity. Glad to be starting the new year with a new career.
In other wonderful news Devin and Heather are moving back to our small town in the Spring. So so happy about this. Life would be perfect for me if all my kids would live here at the zoo. But what I think is perfect and what they think is perfect are two different things. But am jumping for joy tonight that they will be living a couple blocks away.
Meg and I have been real busy in our storage room organizing and purging. Goosh I love purging. Since I will be starting work soon and Meg is going back to school in a couple of weeks we thought it best to whip this place into shape. It is amazing with the Holiday season how things can really get out of hand.
D will be building more shelves in the laundry room soon. Meg watched a show on TLC called Extreme Coupon. Tomorrow we will be shopping for groceries and household items totaling over $300 and all we will be paying is around $120! Yes! I can get used to this! The additional shelves are needed because she is getting so many items FREE. Yes I said free! She is using store coupons as well as manufacture coupon on sale items makes them free. Gotta love it!
With so much good news I am flat on my back with a head cold. Ugh I feel like poo. Have so many plans and dreams for 2011 so I need to get back on my feet soon.

Many Blessings
Heidi