Grant and the kids went on a hike with church friends in Gold Canyon. It was a great little two mile hike; we will have to do this one again.Saturday, February 26, 2011
Hiking at Superstition Mountain
Grant and the kids went on a hike with church friends in Gold Canyon. It was a great little two mile hike; we will have to do this one again.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Horseback Riding
On President's Day, we thought we would do something that Lincoln or Washington would have done. You know, ride horses.
My dad, Raea, Ethan, and I went horseback riding in Cave Creek. Raea and Ethan were able to control their horses so well. They were amazing.
Larissa and Herston didn't miss out on the fun, either. They were taken around the stable and loved it.
My dad, Raea, Ethan, and I went horseback riding in Cave Creek. Raea and Ethan were able to control their horses so well. They were amazing.
They all shall play
While the big kids were on their 90 minute sunrise horseback trailriding adventure, Grant took the little kids to the state park. It was so fun to pass them on our ride and have little cheerleaders.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
My Homework
1. Think about your first professional experience with the death of a patient. What was this experience like? How has this influenced your understanding and approach to caring for a dying patient and family?
When I was 18 years old, I was a transporter in a large hospital. One of my jobs was to pick up patients that had died and take them to the morgue. My first body was in the ICU. The nurse had told me, “I am just so busy; can you bag the patient for me?” I had no clue what I was doing, and I remember struggling as I was trying to put this body into the bag. It look like he was alive, but the patient was (obviously) unable to help move for me. I also remember that every time I touched him, he bled which left me thinking that death must be dirty and gross.
There was no family at the bedside; I always hoped that they were there for his death, but it bothered me he was alone. Did the people/staff realize the magnitude of what just happened? I remember thinking in my teenager mind that I couldn’t believe people weren’t “freaking out” that a dead guy was right there.
2. Think about your first personal experience with death (friend, family member, relative, pet, etc.). What was this experience like for you? How has this experience influenced your understanding and approach to caring for a dying patient and family?
Family relatives have died around me, but I haven’t felt the true loss of a loved one. I remember when my Dad’s mother died. I wasn’t sad that she died; I didn’t see her that often, but I was incredibly sad watching my Dad cry. I couldn’t help putting myself in my Dad’s shoes, and I began to cry over the thought of losing my own mother.
3. In addition to these two experiences, have you had any professional or personal experiences with death which stand out as critical events that have influenced your understanding, empathy, and capacity to care for a dying patient and family?
I began my nursing career in OB where death is not common, and in my biased opinion, the most tragic. I remember taking care of a mom who was 38 weeks, and she decided to go to Triage because the baby wasn’t as active as usual. The week prior she had an ultrasound that showed she had a perfect baby with a great heartbeat, but now the baby’s heart beat was gone. She had to deliver a beautiful 8 pound baby girl stillborn, all of the pains of being a new mom, without the reward. I had the mom as a patient for a couple days. She kept the baby in her room during the day, and I would undress the baby and take the baby in the morgue every night. I remember the baby had purple lips, but no other signs of death. It was if the baby was just wearing lipstick. I took such good care of the baby, not wanting to hurt her arm as I tried to put on and off her little pink dress. I would swaddle the baby with my signature wrapping as if it was going to help her sleep better that night.
I stayed with the family and did minimal medical nursing care, but I was there and listen. I wanted to be strong for the family, but I cried right alongside with them. The grandma even hugged me. I learned death is not scary or dirty. The real hard part of dying is the one’s left behind.
4. In what ways do these past experiences represent a resource that you can draw upon in working with dying patients? In what ways do these experiences present challenges or barriers for you in working with dying patients?
Recently I was in the room with the doctor and the family as the patient was dying. The doctor was hugging and praying with the family, and I remember thinking that the doctor was the most amazing person ever. I realized that when I had cried with the grieving families before that it was ok. I was feeling the love for the patient and giving more power to the patient’s memories.
5. Consider your own personal cultural and spiritual/religious values and beliefs. How do you think these influence your care of seriously ill patients?
I believe in an afterlife where people can decide, even after death, to follow Jesus Christ, so they can experience the joy of heaven. When I am with my grieving families, I am very generic in my terms of Heaven and God, but I have them start the dialogue. Last night, I had a tragic patient and when his mom finally made it to his room and asked what she could do, I told her to just pray for him.
I love to call the chaplains for grieving families, and I truly believe this is one of the most underutilized practices in the hospital. I am amazed how well they talk to families and how accepting patients are to chaplains.
My fellow staff nurses sometimes tease me, but I am known to sing primary church songs to my patients. My patients are often confused, restless, agitated, or combative, but they recognize the old familiar hymns. The patients calm down, and we can just hold hands.
6. What does a "good death" mean to you?
I do not want to be “trached” or “PEG-ed”. I do not want to fight in vain. I want a romantic death.
I don’t want to die in a hospital. I wanted to die at home, but since death is harder for the one’s left behind, I won’t out of respect to my husband who has a difficult time with that concept.
Take me to the beach. Let me sit in a lawn chair while the waves take my last breath. I want people to be enjoying life around me.
When I was 18 years old, I was a transporter in a large hospital. One of my jobs was to pick up patients that had died and take them to the morgue. My first body was in the ICU. The nurse had told me, “I am just so busy; can you bag the patient for me?” I had no clue what I was doing, and I remember struggling as I was trying to put this body into the bag. It look like he was alive, but the patient was (obviously) unable to help move for me. I also remember that every time I touched him, he bled which left me thinking that death must be dirty and gross.
There was no family at the bedside; I always hoped that they were there for his death, but it bothered me he was alone. Did the people/staff realize the magnitude of what just happened? I remember thinking in my teenager mind that I couldn’t believe people weren’t “freaking out” that a dead guy was right there.
2. Think about your first personal experience with death (friend, family member, relative, pet, etc.). What was this experience like for you? How has this experience influenced your understanding and approach to caring for a dying patient and family?
Family relatives have died around me, but I haven’t felt the true loss of a loved one. I remember when my Dad’s mother died. I wasn’t sad that she died; I didn’t see her that often, but I was incredibly sad watching my Dad cry. I couldn’t help putting myself in my Dad’s shoes, and I began to cry over the thought of losing my own mother.
3. In addition to these two experiences, have you had any professional or personal experiences with death which stand out as critical events that have influenced your understanding, empathy, and capacity to care for a dying patient and family?
I began my nursing career in OB where death is not common, and in my biased opinion, the most tragic. I remember taking care of a mom who was 38 weeks, and she decided to go to Triage because the baby wasn’t as active as usual. The week prior she had an ultrasound that showed she had a perfect baby with a great heartbeat, but now the baby’s heart beat was gone. She had to deliver a beautiful 8 pound baby girl stillborn, all of the pains of being a new mom, without the reward. I had the mom as a patient for a couple days. She kept the baby in her room during the day, and I would undress the baby and take the baby in the morgue every night. I remember the baby had purple lips, but no other signs of death. It was if the baby was just wearing lipstick. I took such good care of the baby, not wanting to hurt her arm as I tried to put on and off her little pink dress. I would swaddle the baby with my signature wrapping as if it was going to help her sleep better that night.
I stayed with the family and did minimal medical nursing care, but I was there and listen. I wanted to be strong for the family, but I cried right alongside with them. The grandma even hugged me. I learned death is not scary or dirty. The real hard part of dying is the one’s left behind.
4. In what ways do these past experiences represent a resource that you can draw upon in working with dying patients? In what ways do these experiences present challenges or barriers for you in working with dying patients?
Recently I was in the room with the doctor and the family as the patient was dying. The doctor was hugging and praying with the family, and I remember thinking that the doctor was the most amazing person ever. I realized that when I had cried with the grieving families before that it was ok. I was feeling the love for the patient and giving more power to the patient’s memories.
5. Consider your own personal cultural and spiritual/religious values and beliefs. How do you think these influence your care of seriously ill patients?
I believe in an afterlife where people can decide, even after death, to follow Jesus Christ, so they can experience the joy of heaven. When I am with my grieving families, I am very generic in my terms of Heaven and God, but I have them start the dialogue. Last night, I had a tragic patient and when his mom finally made it to his room and asked what she could do, I told her to just pray for him.
I love to call the chaplains for grieving families, and I truly believe this is one of the most underutilized practices in the hospital. I am amazed how well they talk to families and how accepting patients are to chaplains.
My fellow staff nurses sometimes tease me, but I am known to sing primary church songs to my patients. My patients are often confused, restless, agitated, or combative, but they recognize the old familiar hymns. The patients calm down, and we can just hold hands.
6. What does a "good death" mean to you?
I do not want to be “trached” or “PEG-ed”. I do not want to fight in vain. I want a romantic death.
I don’t want to die in a hospital. I wanted to die at home, but since death is harder for the one’s left behind, I won’t out of respect to my husband who has a difficult time with that concept.
Take me to the beach. Let me sit in a lawn chair while the waves take my last breath. I want people to be enjoying life around me.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Happy Birthday, Ethan!
Have I mentioned this kid is going to be somebody? Take note, this kid is amazing. Happy Birthday, kid!
After a session of positive self talk, Ethan was recounting what he thinks his positive traits are. "I like to play with the little kids at the park I don't know. I am nice to them because you know what, Mom? I care about them, I really do!"
After a session of positive self talk, Ethan was recounting what he thinks his positive traits are. "I like to play with the little kids at the park I don't know. I am nice to them because you know what, Mom? I care about them, I really do!"
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Birthday Fun
For Ethan's birthday we went to BounceU. My little spider monkey climbs right to the top of the spider web. Sometimes you live to see your kids smile.
Afterwards we went out to eat. When his free birthday desert came, he gave away his first bite. Just love this kid.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Year in Review
This has been a great year with lessons learned and blessings received.
Not much has changed with Grant and I. Grant is still the department head, teacher, and coach at Alhambra, but this year his team had a winning season! Must be the coach.
I work two nights a week on the weekend as an ICU nurse. I am almost done with school (for now), and May never looked so good. I also gave coaching a try with the under six boys' soccer team.
Raea was baptised. The social butterfly is making friends on all her sports teams and now in Activity Days. I can't believe my oldest is in third grade.
Ethan did swim team, soccer again, and finally rode his bike around the neighborhood. Kindergarten has proved that he is a smart, independent thinker.
Larissa sprouted. My tall, little four year old is more of a tom-boy princess than I ever was. How she has grown into her own!
Herston is doing very well. Although he still requires thickened liquids, you would never have imagined his struggles early on. He has caught up if not surpassed many other two year olds his age.
Looking forward:
A second honeymoon for our tenth anniversary.
A nurse practitioner in the home!!!
Larissa in Kindergarten.
Disneyland? (the reward for no diapers in the house)
Not much has changed with Grant and I. Grant is still the department head, teacher, and coach at Alhambra, but this year his team had a winning season! Must be the coach.
I work two nights a week on the weekend as an ICU nurse. I am almost done with school (for now), and May never looked so good. I also gave coaching a try with the under six boys' soccer team.
Raea was baptised. The social butterfly is making friends on all her sports teams and now in Activity Days. I can't believe my oldest is in third grade.
Ethan did swim team, soccer again, and finally rode his bike around the neighborhood. Kindergarten has proved that he is a smart, independent thinker.
Larissa sprouted. My tall, little four year old is more of a tom-boy princess than I ever was. How she has grown into her own!
Herston is doing very well. Although he still requires thickened liquids, you would never have imagined his struggles early on. He has caught up if not surpassed many other two year olds his age.
Looking forward:
A second honeymoon for our tenth anniversary.
A nurse practitioner in the home!!!
Larissa in Kindergarten.
Disneyland? (the reward for no diapers in the house)
Side Note
Is one of your New Year's resolutions to read the New Testament?
Help me here:
http://scripturestudywithruth.blogspot.com/
Help me here:
http://scripturestudywithruth.blogspot.com/
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Faith of a Child
Last night without any teaching help, Ethan taught us the story of Daniel and the lion's den for Family Home Evening. "Pray and God will help you will your problems."
This morning I was getting upset when I saw the boys' dirty room. Ethan could tell he was going to get in trouble.
"Just wait, Mom. I need to say a prayer."
He asked for a great day and a clean house. How could I be mad anymore?!
Kids can teach us a lot about faith. Next time, I hope I am the one that thinks to pray.
This morning I was getting upset when I saw the boys' dirty room. Ethan could tell he was going to get in trouble.
"Just wait, Mom. I need to say a prayer."
He asked for a great day and a clean house. How could I be mad anymore?!
Kids can teach us a lot about faith. Next time, I hope I am the one that thinks to pray.
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