Quick, quick update... I will expand on these topics at a later date..
In the last 2 weeks:
I have hung out with Sarah + Kyle much more.. lots of friend time, had a UTI and got pretty sick, finished my Peds rotation today which also included that I got to go to the Childrens ER! It was really fun, I think I am heading to ER now.... Maybe not childrens ER, which was a bit slow, but maybe regular/adult ER.. We'll see! I enjoyed Peds way more than I thought I would, and I'm happy I got the experience... Also have my first exam of the semester on Friday.. EEK!
Until I update again.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
So...
I have decided that I liked Peds! Yay! It was fun, I almost can't wait to go back next week.. Although I get extremely exhausted with 12 hour clinicals, and it tooke me almost all day to recovery from Wednesday. Woohoo! Hope next Wednesday is good also :D
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
First day in Pediatrics
Well, today marked my first day in my clinical rotation of the semester, as well as my first clinical rotation of Pediatrics. It was hard, frightening, overwhelming, fun, and exhausting.
I don't really know what I was expecting in Peds besides being completely terrified of making children cry! I slept horrible the night before, waking myself up and thinking I had missed my alarm. I kept dreaming that I was making my 2 year old pt. cry! It was weird.. I woke myself up at 3:30am and had set my alarm for 4:45, but couldn't fall back asleep. So I just tossed and turned until my alarm went off. Then I showered and prepared for my rotation to from 6:15am-6:00pm (my first 12 hour shift!)
I had picked out a patient the day before for prep that is 2 years old with Asthma/Respiratory Airway Disease/Acute Bronchospasms. My patient was extremely irritable, crying, fussy, restless and agitated pretty much all day. She talked to me a few times and smiled only a handful of times. She liked playing with my stethoscope and pretending to use as I do. I could definitely tell she was not feeling well.... exactly what my "nightmares" were - a crying child all day long!! I felt helpless and sad for her, but I think part of her crying was not feeling well + manipulation to get what she wanted - cookies, pudding, crackers, juice, etc. Who feeds their children that diet?! I encouraged water and fluids throughout the day, but ultimately the mother feeds her child when the child cries and doesn't want anything but cookies.
I also got to witness a fellow classmates pt. who was 9 months old with fetal alcohol syndrome and failure to thrive. That was definitely heart breaking!! He couldn't sit up or hold his own head up - when a normal 9 month old would be sitting, crawling maybe, interacting, playing, etc. This infant didn't interact and barely responded to stimuli. He wanted to be held constantly and cried when anyone put him down. He didn't respond much to toys, snapping your fingers, his name, or really anything. Very sad for him.... :( It made me want to cry. But hopefully he will continue to improve and grown and develop.
Wow.. Peds was a totally different experience than what I am used to, taking care of adults. It was fun in a way - I got to give my first IV push medications - but at the same time, exhausting and long. I didn't want my pt. to cry but she just wasn't feeling up to anything. I guess it was just "one of those days" and that's what you get. I did learn A LOT and I thought my instructor Jami-Sue Coleman was awesome! She was so supportive, nice and didn't stand over my shoulder every 2 seconds... It really made me feel like maybe I can do this......Maybe!
Who knows... Maybe Peds will be my place, Maybe not. I haven't decided whether or not I like Peds yet but maybe in the next 2 short weeks I will take a better liking to it. :)
I don't really know what I was expecting in Peds besides being completely terrified of making children cry! I slept horrible the night before, waking myself up and thinking I had missed my alarm. I kept dreaming that I was making my 2 year old pt. cry! It was weird.. I woke myself up at 3:30am and had set my alarm for 4:45, but couldn't fall back asleep. So I just tossed and turned until my alarm went off. Then I showered and prepared for my rotation to from 6:15am-6:00pm (my first 12 hour shift!)
I had picked out a patient the day before for prep that is 2 years old with Asthma/Respiratory Airway Disease/Acute Bronchospasms. My patient was extremely irritable, crying, fussy, restless and agitated pretty much all day. She talked to me a few times and smiled only a handful of times. She liked playing with my stethoscope and pretending to use as I do. I could definitely tell she was not feeling well.... exactly what my "nightmares" were - a crying child all day long!! I felt helpless and sad for her, but I think part of her crying was not feeling well + manipulation to get what she wanted - cookies, pudding, crackers, juice, etc. Who feeds their children that diet?! I encouraged water and fluids throughout the day, but ultimately the mother feeds her child when the child cries and doesn't want anything but cookies.
I also got to witness a fellow classmates pt. who was 9 months old with fetal alcohol syndrome and failure to thrive. That was definitely heart breaking!! He couldn't sit up or hold his own head up - when a normal 9 month old would be sitting, crawling maybe, interacting, playing, etc. This infant didn't interact and barely responded to stimuli. He wanted to be held constantly and cried when anyone put him down. He didn't respond much to toys, snapping your fingers, his name, or really anything. Very sad for him.... :( It made me want to cry. But hopefully he will continue to improve and grown and develop.
Wow.. Peds was a totally different experience than what I am used to, taking care of adults. It was fun in a way - I got to give my first IV push medications - but at the same time, exhausting and long. I didn't want my pt. to cry but she just wasn't feeling up to anything. I guess it was just "one of those days" and that's what you get. I did learn A LOT and I thought my instructor Jami-Sue Coleman was awesome! She was so supportive, nice and didn't stand over my shoulder every 2 seconds... It really made me feel like maybe I can do this......Maybe!
Who knows... Maybe Peds will be my place, Maybe not. I haven't decided whether or not I like Peds yet but maybe in the next 2 short weeks I will take a better liking to it. :)
Monday, September 13, 2010
Just a few happy pictures
Here are a few pictures of my mom and Nicholas, and me & Nicholas..
Happy pictures!! He's changing so much already. I love this little buddy :)
Letter #1
My first letter to..
#17 - Someone you know who's going through the worst of times:
Dear S -
I know you are going through so so much right now. I can't imagine your pain and what you are feeling - shock, confusion, anger, pain, relief, love maybe. I'm not sure. I'm glad you shared today with me because I know it must have been hard for you. I love you so much friend, and I know you will make it through J's death. I can't believe he's gone and that it's all over in a blink of your eye. Who would have ever thought it would end up this way - I didn't. I feel so much heart ache for J and for you. I don't know what happened or where everything went wrong, but I know everything happens for a reason somehow.
I know you are going through other things as well, and I know life is really hard right now. Stuck somewhere in between, but you will make it through. You are so strong! I can't believe the bravery you showed me today... I don't know if it was just shock, but I am proud of you. You are handling things well. However, if you need ANYTHING you know I am here!! and so is Kyle. You have so many friends and family members who care about you and are there for you, and I know you see that.. but I hope you know you are my friend too and I am here any time you need me. Even if it's just to sit on my couch and be silent with someone.
Love you so much S! Stay strong - you will get through this too, just like you always do.
xoxo < 3
Kelly
#17 - Someone you know who's going through the worst of times:
Dear S -
I know you are going through so so much right now. I can't imagine your pain and what you are feeling - shock, confusion, anger, pain, relief, love maybe. I'm not sure. I'm glad you shared today with me because I know it must have been hard for you. I love you so much friend, and I know you will make it through J's death. I can't believe he's gone and that it's all over in a blink of your eye. Who would have ever thought it would end up this way - I didn't. I feel so much heart ache for J and for you. I don't know what happened or where everything went wrong, but I know everything happens for a reason somehow.
I know you are going through other things as well, and I know life is really hard right now. Stuck somewhere in between, but you will make it through. You are so strong! I can't believe the bravery you showed me today... I don't know if it was just shock, but I am proud of you. You are handling things well. However, if you need ANYTHING you know I am here!! and so is Kyle. You have so many friends and family members who care about you and are there for you, and I know you see that.. but I hope you know you are my friend too and I am here any time you need me. Even if it's just to sit on my couch and be silent with someone.
Love you so much S! Stay strong - you will get through this too, just like you always do.
xoxo < 3
Kelly
Thursday, September 9, 2010
A Letter A Day
I saw this on someone else's blog that I don't know but I thought it was a great idea. I don't know if I can do a letter every single day, but I want to try and write all of them at one point or another. You are supposed to write a letter to each of the below once a day until you write one to all of them. It's supposed to be "Free Therapy" and I think it's a great idea to do if you have ever had feelings you were never able to say! Here is the list:
1. A stranger
2. Your spouse, or your future spouse - even if you've never met them
3. Your child(ren) or future child
4. Your first love or crush
5. One to each of your parents
6. Someone in your life who has caused a lot of pain during your childhood
7. Your sibling(s)
8. Someone you've hurt
9. Someone you don't understand
10. Someone deceased
11. The person you'd want to take care of your children if you & your spouse are no longer alive
12. Your best girlfriend
13. Your dreams
14. Someone you don't talk to as much as you'd like
15. Your 13-year-old self
16. The person you miss the most
17. Someone you know who's going through the worst of times
18. Someone that caused someone you love (not you) a lot of pain when they were a child
19. Someone that changed your life
20. Your reflection in the mirror
I don't know if I will write them all in that order, but I'll get to each one sometime. I'll post them on here (even though I know no one reads this) but without specific names - maybe just first initial :)
I'm kinda excited about it!
As far as school goes - I've been trying hard to study study study, but it is hard. I am distracted and sleepy. I am almost ahead for lecture on Monday but tomorrow I will finish the readings. Tonight Kyle and I are going to Shaun's house for dinner/football/hangout. Should be fun after a long day of 4+ hours of reading Med/Surg about TB and COPD! Ahhhhh!
I also start clinicals next week, starting with my Peds rotation. Excited & Nervous for that one!
1. A stranger
2. Your spouse, or your future spouse - even if you've never met them
3. Your child(ren) or future child
4. Your first love or crush
5. One to each of your parents
6. Someone in your life who has caused a lot of pain during your childhood
7. Your sibling(s)
8. Someone you've hurt
9. Someone you don't understand
10. Someone deceased
11. The person you'd want to take care of your children if you & your spouse are no longer alive
12. Your best girlfriend
13. Your dreams
14. Someone you don't talk to as much as you'd like
15. Your 13-year-old self
16. The person you miss the most
17. Someone you know who's going through the worst of times
18. Someone that caused someone you love (not you) a lot of pain when they were a child
19. Someone that changed your life
20. Your reflection in the mirror
I don't know if I will write them all in that order, but I'll get to each one sometime. I'll post them on here (even though I know no one reads this) but without specific names - maybe just first initial :)
I'm kinda excited about it!
As far as school goes - I've been trying hard to study study study, but it is hard. I am distracted and sleepy. I am almost ahead for lecture on Monday but tomorrow I will finish the readings. Tonight Kyle and I are going to Shaun's house for dinner/football/hangout. Should be fun after a long day of 4+ hours of reading Med/Surg about TB and COPD! Ahhhhh!
I also start clinicals next week, starting with my Peds rotation. Excited & Nervous for that one!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Yikes!
This is how I'm feeling right about now...WHOA. Today was really overwhelming. I had back to back orientations for pediatrics and psychiatric rotations. My brain feels fried and overloaded!! I'm taking the entire night off (even though I just took off all weekend to spend with my mom) and pick back up tomorrow with study, study, study time. I am way behind and now even more so, but that's ok......
I am headed to pediatrics, psychiatric and oncology (for Med/Surg rotation) this semester. Along with all the lectures...I am feeling excited about where I am going, but majorly blahhhh tonight. Thankfully, tomorrow is another day!!
I had a great weekend with my mom here! She was soo helpful and I miss her already. We ate tons of yummy food (including the rib cook off) and watched movies, hung out with Jenna/Teresa/Nicholas, painted an accent wall in our house an ugly green which Kyle and I are in the process of repainting, and just relaxed. I wish she could have stayed WAY longer but back to reality I guess. Miss you and love you mama!
Also - I'm really loving this song right now: Breakeven (Falling To Pieces) by The Script.. Just saying.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
6 hours of studying?...Check
Well, today I didn't have class, but that doesn't mean anything. I did have 6 hours of studying to do anyway! Ahhh...to be a nursing student.
I had class yesterday from 8-5. If you read my last post, you know that I woke up at 4am to rush to the hospital and see my nephew be born :) but that doesn't mean I wasn't tired ALL day! It was so worth it, but I was really distracted during lecture (8-12:30). I couldn't concentrate at all - all i could think about was seeing and hold that little cutie and visiting with Jenna and Tanner. So anyway, I was distracted, exhausted and over school already. haha.. But I had to push through it. I scarfed my lunch down in between 12:30-1 and then had to be in lab from 1-5pm. After school was finished I went back to the hospital and held Nicholas forever and visited Jenna from 5-8pm! I was pretty exhausted by the time I got home and totally crashed around 10. I felt kind of bad visiting Jenna for so long, since she was the one that was really exhausted, but I just couldn't stop holding Nicholas! He is so perfect. Well the entire day was worth it, but I don't think I learned one thing in school.
So instead, today I got to spend 6 hours studying and reviewing all the things that I should have learned in school yesterday! It doesn't matter though, I would have had to study 6 hours either way.
I have tomorrow off school also and I won't have as much studying to do as I did today, but I'll still do some. Then......... MY MOM IS COMING!!!! I am so excited! What a great week I'm having :) She will be in at 5:30 and staying until Tuesday morning. I wish she could stay longer but I'm happy she gets to come at all! I have school Friday from 9-5 and work Saturday 9-5 but other than that I'm going to be with her the rest of the time. I wish I didn't have work on Saturday, but that's reality I guess! Anyway, I am really excited to see her!! :)
I had class yesterday from 8-5. If you read my last post, you know that I woke up at 4am to rush to the hospital and see my nephew be born :) but that doesn't mean I wasn't tired ALL day! It was so worth it, but I was really distracted during lecture (8-12:30). I couldn't concentrate at all - all i could think about was seeing and hold that little cutie and visiting with Jenna and Tanner. So anyway, I was distracted, exhausted and over school already. haha.. But I had to push through it. I scarfed my lunch down in between 12:30-1 and then had to be in lab from 1-5pm. After school was finished I went back to the hospital and held Nicholas forever and visited Jenna from 5-8pm! I was pretty exhausted by the time I got home and totally crashed around 10. I felt kind of bad visiting Jenna for so long, since she was the one that was really exhausted, but I just couldn't stop holding Nicholas! He is so perfect. Well the entire day was worth it, but I don't think I learned one thing in school.
So instead, today I got to spend 6 hours studying and reviewing all the things that I should have learned in school yesterday! It doesn't matter though, I would have had to study 6 hours either way.
I have tomorrow off school also and I won't have as much studying to do as I did today, but I'll still do some. Then......... MY MOM IS COMING!!!! I am so excited! What a great week I'm having :) She will be in at 5:30 and staying until Tuesday morning. I wish she could stay longer but I'm happy she gets to come at all! I have school Friday from 9-5 and work Saturday 9-5 but other than that I'm going to be with her the rest of the time. I wish I didn't have work on Saturday, but that's reality I guess! Anyway, I am really excited to see her!! :)
I have a nephew!!!
Nicholas Cruz Epstein made his arrival on earth on August 31st, 2010 at 7:41am. He weights 7lbs 8oz and is 21inches long! I love him so much and his mommy and daddy will be amazing parents!!
We have been waiting for this day for soo long now and he is finally here! I am so glad Jenna let me be a part of her special delivery and it was really amazing!
Jenna called me at 4am on Aug 31st and told me she was having regular contractions and that she was going in to get checked at the hospital. I of course said Are you KIDDING me?! I had to be to school at 8am with no exceptions! She told me she would call me back and let me know. So then 5 comes around and I get a call from her saying she is 5cm dilated and ready to do this! I throw on some clothes, and raced over to Saint Marys! I didn't think he was going to be born before I had to leave for school but I wanted to be there anyway. They broke her water around 6:30 and by 6:50 she was 7cm dilated! I was soo excited and anxious thinking I would actually get to see him be born. Well... by 7:20ish she was 10cm and pushing away! He was born at 7:41 and I was SO happy I got to see him be born. Unfortunately, thanks to school, I had to rush and leave and actually made it to class by 8:05.. not bad!
I'm so happy for Jenna, Tanner and Nicholas and I know he is a very lucky little guy!
I love you guys! Congratulations :)
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