The joys of spring

RehabLand had a very long winter. Finally, spring came on March 21. Daffodils are popping up and the trees have buds.

Now, we're experiencing the not-so-hot stuff. Hail. Yesterday, it was golfball-sized near the Hotel, but thankfully, miniscule at the Hotel.

With almost 6 inches of rain in the last two days, there are lots of puddles that look like small lakes. Flash flooding really is not like a flash mob, folks.

And if that wasn't enough, here come the tornado warnings.

Let's just hope the power stays on...more later.

Fun: Sunday Stealing

Gotta love the Weird Questions, Part 1 from Sunday Stealing this week. Here are my contributions below.

Do you wear slippers?  Yes, if you call Crocs around the house slippers.

How many pictures are in your living room? Photos -3, artwork-2.

Do you ever watch Brady Bunch reruns?  Not lately.

Are you allergic to anything?  If it's outside, most likely.

When was the last time you called in sick? Can't remember.

Have you ever been in a car accident?  Yes. Mostly fender benders. Nothing terrible (knocking wood).

What is your favorite snack food? Depends. On this diet: peppers and hummus.

 Have you ever seen a tornado? Yes. Got very close and NEVER ever want to do that again ever (if I can avoid it!)

 If you won a million dollars, what would you buy first?  Another lottery ticket.

What time is it right now?   1353.

Do you think it's cool for men to wear flip-flops? Cool? Not really. Practical? Sometimes, yes.

How many pairs of shoes do you own?  Over 30, mostly black.

Do you think you are a hypochondriac?  No. I hate to bug my doctor. I only call if I am sick.

Do you own a dictionary?  Several, in multiple languages.

Are you actually fat but in complete denial about it?  According to BMI, yes, I am technically over 25. Denial? No, or I wouldn't be on a diet, silly!

What color is your mouse pad?  Don't use one.

Does your kitchen have a theme? No. It's all white. Maybe snowstorm or whiteout would be more appropriate.

When they say evacuate...

They mean evacuate. I wish I could hang a few of these photos from St. John's in Joplin, MO up on the unit so my patients could see them. Maybe then, the next time we ask them to move for a storm warning, they'll do it.

I just don't think people get it.

That is all.

Lather, rinse, repeat

It's not just on a shampoo bottle. It's the story of my life in taking care of Mr. J., one of our usual suspects. My shift went as follows.

1. Suction him (very frothy trach) on first rounds.
2. Do AM bowel routine.
3. Return in 30 minutes to clean up, then suction again.
4. Finish bowel routine.
5. Suction. Leave.
6. Move bed from across unit storage so admission has a bed in his room (and all other assorted furniture). Do dressings on other patient. Thank goodness she can survive without me!
7. Come back, do AM care, dressings, PICC dressing (since he has one that's falling off), turn.
8. Suction 'cause you rolled him a little too much changing the linens.
9. Reposition and all is good for about 30 minutes.
10 Admit new person down the hall.
11. Feed Mr. J. lunch.
12. Suction after lunch. Fluff, buff, make all comfy.
13. Turn, clean up, drop full suction canister on table and floor.
14. Clean up mess, call for Housekeeping. (Thanks Bob! I couldn't live without you.)
15. Get Mr. J. ready to get up. Mr. J. decides to stay in bed today.
16. Suction.
17. Reposition. Fluff, buff.
18. Take care of other patients.
19. Finally, eat lunch during department meeting: elapsed time 10 minutes (I ate slow with a salad).
20. Send labs on new patients. Let new patient take a nap.
21. Finish admission and assorted paperwork.
22. Get ready to leave and hear a tornado warning called on intercom: Code Gray. Everyone out of the pool!
23. Wake up napping patient (already awake) and help him transfer to wheelchair to get into hallway.
24. Quitting time comes.
25. Run out the door, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Getting Bubba home safely after making it through a hailstorm and watching the tornadic clouds on the horizon just two miles away: priceless.

I celebrated the end of the tornado warning with a drink , a soak in the tub and a good scrubbing, and lather, rinse, repeat.

More to come...

Terrible tornadoes

Are currently terrorizing the middle of the country, and a really scary story..a tornado hits a hospital in Joplin, MO.

So happy our tribe made it back in one piece, since there were storms aplenty on our way back home. Bubba was content assembling his new toy dinosaur (which has a million pieces) and a trip to Dahey's favorite sandwich place. He wolfed down his Italian sandwich like we hadn't fed him in days. This couch potato child swam and played for hours and he ate everything in sight.

He also slept soundly every single night, which was lovely. Can't wait until the tribe can hit the road again one of these days.

It was nice to be away, though. I, am back to reality: housework, computer work and work at the Hotel. I'll be praying for no tornadoes.

Whenever

I think I'm too big for my britches, or feeling low because I didn't get something I really wanted, I feel grateful that I didn't get everything out there that I could have gotten.

If you want to read a compelling story, check out AJN's Off the Charts blog for Dispatches from the tornado zone in Alabama by Susan Hassmiller. She is blogging about her experiences as a Red Cross volunteer.

Finally, if you can, please give.

A little coincidence here...

A little bit there could be construed as a little more than coincidence.

What a wild weekend! I escaped from the Hotel, so it's been fun working on the final paper of the semester. The coincidence: when your instructor is also a film maker who made a movie about an area where more than a few of your patients are from. I only got to see the trailer, but it was eye-opening to see the remoteness of the area.

Bubba had a party and the kids had a good time playing soccer until the rain came. At least, no tornadoes came with it.

Who knows what the week will bring. Just hoping it's not a ton of admissions.

Stay tuned.

Happy New Year?

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.  ~Benjamin Franklin

I certainly hope so. Woke up with all the body parts and house intact, and trust me, after a wild, stormy day like yesterday in RehabLand, that is all I ask for. I love the Wizard of Oz, but have no desire to have a life-like recreation while I'm on vacation. I still worry about the Specialist's senior assistant NP, since she lives very near where some tornadoes tore up a wide swath of town. I'll be checking on her today.

And since it's a Saturday, I'm hitting the road to see my siblings and check out a couple of holiday open houses.

Gonna have to find me some blackeyed peas somewhere, since I can't find my can. I'll take whatever luck I can get!

More to come....