Monday, September 30, 2013

Monday 09.30.2013

I slept well last night. It's been a very long while since that's happened.

Went in for the (mandatory) fasting blood draw for our insurance plan, then came home for breakfast.

Turned around and went back in for the Education Council meeting, which lasted an hour longer than scheduled. But we got things sorted out.

Back at home, I got something to eat, and had a quiet rest of the afternoon/evening.

I've got sinus pressure; I'm going to contribute it to the weather, and not the fact that there have been staff that have been ill this past week, coughing and blowing noses and ....., well, you get it.

Tomorrow is another meeting.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Sunday 09.29.2013 Red Handed

Turned out to be a very nice day at the J.O.B.

Patients discharged by early afternoon and we ended up with two staff and 3 patients. Isn't it amazing, how the census fluctuates like that??!!!!

After the dust settled and we were caught up with everything, I had lots of time to "be productive".

I did a couple small projects for the committee work, and then I put on a pair of gloves (the blue nitrile, non-latex gloves that we use for anything non-sterile).  I got a tub of the sanitizing wipes and started wiping down equipment--blood pressure machines, portable computers, thermometers, etc. This product is supposed to have a 3 minute contact time (meaning being wet for three minutes) to disinfect. So I was pulling fresh wipes out of the container frequently.  I did this for about 40 minutes or so.

The end of the shift was nearing, and I was done with what I was doing.

My right hand was feeling hot; not an infrequent sensation with gloves on. But kind of like burning hot.

And itchy.

I took the gloves off and washed my hands, like I do all day long.

My right hand was bright red and slightly swollen looking.

What!?!?

Really itchy, but no bumps.

Just red.

Hm. I don't have any benadryl cream with me, but have some at home, about 45 minutes from the time I was experiencing this.

Is this a contact dermatitis, or localized reaction to the chemicals seeping through the gloves??   the chemicals reacting with the gloves????  I thought maybe rinsing my hands well might help.

So I went back to the sink and ran cool water over it. The skin was hot, but the cool water seemed to be helping with the burning sensation, as well as the itching decreasing.

A couple minutes later I dried my hands, and I thought it looked better.

Yep.

And within a half hour or so, the redness had faded greatly, the itching was gone, and so was the swelling.

Whew!!

I washed again before I left, and put some lotion on.

Tonight it seems to be much better, but I feel a few areas of a light prickly itch. I might put something on my skin for overnight.

I think I should probably tell someone in, safety? or infection control? or employee health??  I'll do that tomorrow, as I'll be there for a couple of meetings.

And I am surprisingly tired tonight.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Saturday 09.28.2013

Another workday.

But great--

Labor and Delivery was finally quiet.

The overflow unit was busy.

The post partum unit settled down later in the afternoon.

But everybody got to eat today, made better by the potluck.

Weekends are known for "not much" in the cafeteria.  Or "good luck if you're going down there....".

So we got to eat real food, sitting down, mostly uninterrupted.

Thank you God.

Prayers for a co-worker who experienced a stroke the other day.  She looks good, and is going home today.  And hopes to come back to work before too long.  She's 60 years old.

It can happen at any time.

Thank you for reading.

Hug 'em while you got 'em.


Friday, September 27, 2013

Friday 09.27.2013

Another Great Day!!

Beautiful blue sky day, low 70's, no breeze to speak of.

I got a little yard work done--trimming, pulling weeds, and cut the tomato plants down.  *sad face*  There were maybe a dozen and a half very small green fruits left. Like giant peas, almost.

I sat outside and ate my supper; so quiet. Leaves beginning to drip down from the trees.

This evening, I put together a salsa with cucumber, tomatoes, onion, garlic, avocado, cumin, cilantro, and olive oil for a potluck at the J.O.B. tomorrow. The taste test was yummy.

That's it.

Thankful for life.

And thank you for reading. Hugs.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Thursday 09.25.2013

What a beautiful day today!!

Warm sunshine in a clear blue sky.

I went up to the hospital this morning to have my (annual) TB test read. The way it was offered this year made it so that I would have to either get the test or get it read on a day I didn't work. So it's done, and I did not have any reaction. Good for another year!!

When I got back I got ready and went out for a run.

A gentle run.

My hips and feet and shins were a little sore from the walk yesterday. Maybe it's time for different everyday shoes.

Breakfast, shower, and out for a few groceries.

Supper, cleaned the kitchen, and a quiet evening.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Wednesday 09.25.2013

What a great day today!!

Was able to connect with each of the "electronic" meetings today. Hope to make progress with the equipment placement "challenges" we have, as our floor is redesigning the intake process for the expectant woman. Since the overflow unit was halved, and the storage area and staff room were usurped, we need to create square footage out of ....  um.... well, there isn't any. So we're trying to figure it out.

After the second meeting in the afternoon, I went out for a walk. I went a little over 2 miles, I would guess.

Tomorrow I hope to run.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Tuesday 09.24.2013

Oh My.

We did it again.

Another 7 babies THIS MORNING. (remember 9 months ago??  Christmas/New Year babies...)

Fortunately, we had enough staff.

Until we had to open the overflow unit, and the manager worked the floor. (yep--OUR managers do what needs to be done.....) Our unit is the best in the hospital.

Great team work, ladies.

We're all tired.

Tomorrow I have two meetings, by phone.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Monday 09.23.2013

Couldn't write last night--"technical difficulties...."

The flash player crashed on the computer, and after a little research, found that I needed to uninstall chrome, which I did, then there were Windows updates that were out there.  Sooo....  A couple of the updates took so long I thought the computer froze up. But, no, it just took the time. And it was still "stuck" (downloading) last night when I went to bed.

The good news is that it was done this morning, and the uninstall/updates/reinstall seems to have restored the flash player. Go Me!

Yesterday I went out for a run, and to my surprise, in one of the yards a bed of crocus was in full bloom!!  Evidently the cold weather a few weeks ago got them confused...

Today was a workday. We had 6 babies this morning! It goes without saying that we were busy all day, and tomorrow will be busy, too, doing all the 24 hour testing with the babies. That can take over an hour or more to do.

I'm off to bed.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.


Saturday, September 21, 2013

Saturday 09.21.2013

The wind picked up during the night--and changed directions.  Might have been 50 degrees, with gray clouds.

I got up and thought about going home.

I spent the rest of the morning packing up and cleaning.  Got it all done--loaded the car, cleaned and sanitized the inside of the trailer.

Of course the sun had come out and the wind had lessened, but with the temps predicted to be close to 40 tonight, I just didn't want to stay.

I stopped in Rose City for a visit with U. Carl. He was pleasant today, and can I say, in his own world??  Talking about the construction project he and the other men had done a few months ago. So I listened and asked questions.

Back on the road, the clouds had come back, and was intermittent heavy drizzle with a couple areas of light rain.

An uneventful drive home, thank you God.

I'm unloaded, unpacked, and have prepared supper and ate.

Tomorrow I hope to run.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Friday 09.20.2013

Another great day!!

Didn't sleep much, listening to the intermittent rain throughout the night.

A flat, gray day, with the sun trying to burn through in the early afternoon.

Tom left, and while he was down to his in-laws (I think), I heard the loons, then the sea gulls calling, and saw an eagle soaring across the lake. I didn't see it come across the lake....

But I saw it.

How neat.

The flat gray day returned, and I had a quiet afternoon, sitting outdoors, reading, watching, listening.

I went to visit my "old" friends--strategically timing my walk there and back between rain showers.

Without the full moon being able to burn through the clouds, I went out for a brief "flashlight walk". Didn't see anything really cool, but I did say "brief".....

Hoping to sleep tonight.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Thursday 09.19.2013 Ahhhh.......

After a most restless/sleepless night  (like, why? ...... ) I got up, breakfasted, finished packing, loaded the car, sprayed the exterior perimeter of the house (I do not live with bugs) and left town about 0930.

Lansing was a half hour in a traffic back up due to a rollover crash, with the fire truck blocking one lane, and everyone squeezing over to get by.  

Bay City was a wait in line at the gas pump, as the price was expecting to go up. And I heard while I was fueling that "every place else was $3.65, and here is still $3.35".  Seriously.

And I went in to the Meijer store. 

I was just picking up the last item, when the voice overhead said "would the person with a white pontiac g6 please come to the front of the store"....

My heart beat.

The request was repeated.

Uh Oh.

I went up to the service desk--they didn't know what it was about, but got on the phone. While they were (unsuccessfully) calling around, I went to the check out nearby.  She called over to me that the owner had been located.

WHEW!!!

Thank you God!!

Now that my adrenaline was flowing easily, the last leg of the trip didn't last long at all!

It was a beautiful day at The Lake--quiet, hazy, high 70's--

Tom had a lot of the chores done, but I helped him with the dock. We took out a lot of the dock, leaving the last 3 sections in. 

He went visiting, and I had a quiet evening. When he got back, we watched it get dark, listening to the fish jumping and watching the Harvest Moon rising over the lake. 

So Awesome!

Tomorrow is predicted to be warm and rainy.

But what better place to be.....

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Wednesday 09.18.2013

Pretty good day today.

Went for a slow gentle run.  The bottoms of my feet were still a little sore this morning, and have just a hint of discomfort this evening.  Thankful I have a job, and thankful I can walk.....

Shower, breakfast, internet business, then out for errands.

Back home I did what I wanted to do outdoors--trimmed the bush by the back door and cleaned that up, changed the hummingbird food, and other little things--then came in and made supper and ate.

Mostly packed, and an otherwise quiet evening.

Tomorrow I'll go north for a few days.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Tuesday 09.27.2013

Worked today--

whew

glad to be done.

The bottoms of my feet are sore.

And I'm tired.

Tomorrow I've got to catch up around the house, so that I can spend a few days away from the house.

I'm going to The Lake.

Hoping for good weather.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Monday 09.16.2013

Another Day

Chasing the halls--the life of a nurse.

Although I did leave on time today.

And tomorrow we do it again.

Yippee!!!

So thankful to have a J.O.B.

And thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Sunday 09.15.2013

Yep, another wonderful day!!

Gloomy, drizzly, maybe 60 degrees.

I read some, got kitchen chores done, went out for fresh food, and fixed supper for Frank and myself.

And was it good!!   Yum!!

We visited for a while and had a quiet evening.

Tomorrow is a workday.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Saturday 09.14.2013 Girls' Day

Lovely!!

A blue sky day with a few wispy clouds and temps low 60's for a safe drive to Flushing.

Diane, Sue, A. Lois, and I had a great time together, laughing and sharing.  I sure needed that. Thanks, Girls!  Although I missed taking photos....

A safe drive home, thank you God, and a quiet night.

Tomorrow Frank is coming over; I'm going to cook something. Chicken pot pie, maybe. (Home made, of course.)

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Friday 09.13.2013 (Lucky Day)

I slept pretty good this morning, then read for a while in bed before getting up. Nice!!  

When I did get up, I stretched and went out for a run.

Breakfast, phone calls. Shower.

Swept off the garage doors and frames and the back porch.

Went out for fresh food and fueled the car.

And enjoyed the rest of the relaxing day.

Tomorrow I'm going to visit  LoLo and Di.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Thursday 09.12.2013

Worked today.

Seemed like such a long day--like two different days, between morning/afternoon, and evening.

But it's done, and I've clocked out.

A quiet night.

And cooler, too, thank you God. I'll be able to open the bedroom windows tonight for some fresh air.

Hope to run tomorrow.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Wednesday 09.11.2013

Remembering the victims of New York City; the losses have impacted around the world.  May we each find the peace of the Lord.

Worked today--chaotic would be a descriptor of the first half of the day. I tried to hold on to the aforementioned peace, with some success.

The back half was much quieter, thank you God. And we got to leave on time, too.

Tomorrow is another work day.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Tuesday 09.10.2013 Matilda's 1st Birthday

Jeremy and Jenny are good about texting me pictures.  I saw her with a piece of carrot cake with the numeral one candle, then of course eating the cake. Last year I was in St. Louis watching the texts come in for the birth, then the birth pictures.

I'll be going to visit in mid October.  *sigh*


Sure was hot today.

Mid 90's.

Had a good meeting this morning, then picked up some grocery items on the way home. I had the top down on the car, with the air conditioning on.....

Got the laundry done, and a quiet evening.

Tomorrow is a work day.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Monday 09.09.2013

Lots of rain this morning, and high 50's. Couldn't run in the lightning....

By noon the rain quit; sunshine and blue skies the rest of the day, with low 80's and high humidity. Ick.

I made business calls, stayed on hold for longer than anyone should for a business call, and got $5 credits for several months because of it.

Went outdoors for a short walk, cooked on the grill, had a nice evening.

Tomorrow is a long morning meeting.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Sunday 09.08.2013

Worked today.

Started out ok, then about 0930 I recognized that the nausea I was feeling, along with the discomfort I was feeling in the back of my neck, the side of my head, (on the inside of my head), and the numbness developing on the side of my face was a migraine. It's been a while since I've had one like this. I took what I hoped would be the magic combination of 800mg ibuprofen and 1000mg of acetaminophen, along with a fresh coffee that was mostly decaf with a little caffeinated brew mixed in.

And about 35 minutes or so later, I could tell it was easing up, though may not be breaking through the spasm in my brain. So I added a small bit of a tylenol with codeine (just a small bit--certainly wasn't enough to be "impaired" while working...), and was relieved when I was aware that the spasm seemed to have been interrupted. And it took another hour or so for that to happen.

I was progressively better as the day went on, though my brain is "sore" on the inside in the area that was spasming. Yes, it's odd, but real.

And overall, had a nice day.

I'm tired tonight, and hope to sleep well.

Tomorrow is laundry day.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Saturday 09.07.2013

Worked today--and had a "nice" day.

And I'm surprised that I'm as tired as I am tonight.

So, off to bed; I get to do it again tomorrow.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.


Friday, September 6, 2013

Friday 09.06.2013

Another Lovely Day!

This afternoon, after it warmed up, I put the top down on the car and went out for errands. So nice to feel the sun.

I sat outdoors in the quiet early evening and watched the birds for a while.

Tomorrow is a work day.

Thank you for reading. Hugs

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Thursday 09.05.2013

Certainly was a beautiful day today.

Sunshine for a morning run. And sun all day long.

Breakfast, shower.

Moved a couple things around, changed the door decor to Autumn, harvested another pint of tomatoes.

Overall had a great day.

Tomorrow I'll need to get fresh food.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Wednesday 09.04.2013

I had a nice day today.

Took the collection for the Education Council in--the Educator (really her title) liked the items and thinks they will go well with other items in the baskets we raffle.

Had a light lunch, then went to Leah's for a massage. And it was much needed. She did a great job, as always.

Back at home I fixed supper and ate, cleaned the kitchen, and had a quiet night.

I also enjoyed watching the birds in the bird bath. There were several playing in there--3 and 4 at a time--flying around, down to the ground, up to the tree branches, back on and in the bath. I saw them for about a half hour--cheap entertainment. And while I was looking, a chipmunk scampered over to the tomato plants, reached up and chose a red one, put it in it's mouth, and scampered back to it's hole. Ha!!! Who knew?!

Tomorrow is another great day.....

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Tuesday 09.03.2013

Worked today.

Tired tonight.

Ugh.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Monday 09.02.2013 Labor Day

A good day today.

Though I woke frequently during the night, I didn't have to get up early for work. Instead, I went out for a run when I did get up.

Breakfast, shower.

Putzing around, sat outdoors for a while and enjoyed it.

I got a phone call saying I was "on call", then got another one a couple hours later saying I was "staffed off", meaning I was no longer held to being available to the hospital. Hm, ok....

What to do???

Frank came over for a while, and when he left, I had a phone call.

A quiet evening.

Tomorrow IS an early day.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Sunday 09.01.2013

What a nice day today!

Cleaned the glass on the car, and applied the Rain X product. Sure like that stuff.

Sat outdoors and read; so peaceful in this neighborhood (mostly).  Watching and listening to the birds, though I'd much rather be watching The Lake.  I'm thankful that I'm here and able to watch anything at all!!

Frank and Danielle came over--we went out for food--then came back to the house for a bit. When they left, I went out to pick up Matilda's First Birthday (already!!) card and gift. Time flies!

A quiet night, other than the fireworks occasionally popping off in the 'hood, and maybe the rumble of thunder.

Tomorrow is my holiday to work, and I got the draw of the 3-11pm shift. Not bad, unless the next day is a work day, too, starting at 0630, which it is. We'll see how it plays out.

My maternal grandfather participated in the Sit Down Strike in Flint, MI way back in the 1930's?  for better working conditions and 8 hour shifts.  Seems odd, doesn't it, that so many people still have a longer work day?!

Thank you for reading. Hugs.