Canon 40d, Canon 17-40mm f4L1/640s f8 at 40mm iso200
Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo TX.
September 16
10 months ago
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Cadillac Ranch #1
Canon 40d, Canon 17-40mm f4L1/640s f8 at 40mm iso200
Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo TX.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Evolve Quote of the Day #4
Troubleshooting lack of urine output after catheterization:
"If catheter is misplaced in vaginal opening, make a second attempt with another sterile catheter."
Oops.
"If catheter is misplaced in vaginal opening, make a second attempt with another sterile catheter."
Oops.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Bath Day
As I alluded to in an earlier post, today was Bath Day, or actually the instructors titled it, "Bed, Bath, and Beyond." Ha! The morning started off a very chilly 27* this morning, and the heaters in the Smart Hospital were apparently not working. I had a very chilly hike across campus since we're not allowed to wear any unapproved coats or jackets over our uniform--or we'll be written a ticket by the Fashion Police for being out of uniform. Yes, really.
Of course since I'm the solitary guy in my clinical group, and we can't have any fraternizing (**GASP**) I get to attend lab today, and tomorrow. Yay!
My experience today was startlingly trenchant. Since I was not with my clinical group, I was quite literally being cared for by a total stranger. And I found the experience completely humiliating. I was given a bed bath, complete dependent oral care, and fed nectar thick liquids observing aspiration precautions. Don't get me wrong, my partner was very professional, and was actually quite good as he's been a tech for 6 years. But the overall experience was quite demeaning. I'm just not very good at being helpless I think. My personal space is pretty big too, and I really hate being touched without my permission. So honestly I found the experience fairly violating.
I imagine I'm not the only one to feel that way. It's given me an interesting perspective--even the best care can still be offensive or not enough. And it has nothing to do with the caregiver.
Anyway, I'll be processing this day for a while.
Of course since I'm the solitary guy in my clinical group, and we can't have any fraternizing (**GASP**) I get to attend lab today, and tomorrow. Yay!
My experience today was startlingly trenchant. Since I was not with my clinical group, I was quite literally being cared for by a total stranger. And I found the experience completely humiliating. I was given a bed bath, complete dependent oral care, and fed nectar thick liquids observing aspiration precautions. Don't get me wrong, my partner was very professional, and was actually quite good as he's been a tech for 6 years. But the overall experience was quite demeaning. I'm just not very good at being helpless I think. My personal space is pretty big too, and I really hate being touched without my permission. So honestly I found the experience fairly violating.
I imagine I'm not the only one to feel that way. It's given me an interesting perspective--even the best care can still be offensive or not enough. And it has nothing to do with the caregiver.
Anyway, I'll be processing this day for a while.
Evolve Quote of the Day #3
From the module on urinary catheterization, regarding palpation of the bladder for distention:
"Remember that the palpation of a full bladder increases the urge to void."
Umm....ya think?
"Remember that the palpation of a full bladder increases the urge to void."
Umm....ya think?
Chilly
Student nurse Drofen thinks a 27* morning in a building with a broken heater is a lousy time to learn and practice bed baths on each other.
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Sent from the Cingular network using Mobile Email
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
First Born Survey
Here you go mommies (and daddies thank you very much!!!) - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born. If you're a parent and you're reading this, consider yourself tagged.
Let's see how much you remember!
1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? No
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Not really. We were engaged, but I was about to break it off. We scheduled a big talk, and she told me she was pregnant. Good thing I let her go first.
3. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? Honestly? I was kind of turned on. It's happened all three times.
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? No
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 23
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? She was late, and her girlfriend was in town for the pre-wedding festivities and made her take a pregnancy test. Turns out when you stop taking your birth control pills, you're not only no longer protected, but you're also fertile as Napa Valley.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? I guess I was the 3rd to know. The next person I told was a good friend at the time.
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yes, I was hoping for a boy at the time, but I'm so glad she and the next one were girls.
9. DUE DATE? April 16
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? She did, but I'm pretty sure she milked it.
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? She craved butterscotch pudding. She would make huge bowls of it at time. She wouldn't finish one bowl before she made the next. The frig was constantly full of it.
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Our parents who were constantly trying to do the math to see if we'd had sex before we got married.
13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? A girl.
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? Again, at the time yes, but now no way.
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? She gained about 75 lbs--which was bad because she's 5'1"
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? I don't think so. We didn't know anyone where we lived.
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? See above.
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? Other than a big case of the first-time-parent-stupids?
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Arlington Memorial Hospital, Arlington TX. I would not recommend it to anyone.
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? She was induced at 9 am, and delivered 12:30 pm the next day, so 27 1/2.
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? I did. We made a stupid posterboard sign to put up in the window. "WOMAN IN LABOR" I felt like a really big dork. I even ran a red light just cause I could and she was shrieking in pain. She only had the cervidil in...
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Myself, and my ex mother-in-law. This was before I began hoping she'd be hit by a bus.
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? It was vaginal, but I wouldn't call it a natural birth. Far from it--totally intervention laden.
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? She had many shots of demerol before they finally gave her an epidural.
25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 9 lbs 6 oz.
26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? March 31, 1999
27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HER? "The 9 y/o"
28. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? She will be 10 at the end of next month.
Let's see how much you remember!
1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? No
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Not really. We were engaged, but I was about to break it off. We scheduled a big talk, and she told me she was pregnant. Good thing I let her go first.
3. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? Honestly? I was kind of turned on. It's happened all three times.
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? No
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 23
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? She was late, and her girlfriend was in town for the pre-wedding festivities and made her take a pregnancy test. Turns out when you stop taking your birth control pills, you're not only no longer protected, but you're also fertile as Napa Valley.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? I guess I was the 3rd to know. The next person I told was a good friend at the time.
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yes, I was hoping for a boy at the time, but I'm so glad she and the next one were girls.
9. DUE DATE? April 16
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? She did, but I'm pretty sure she milked it.
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? She craved butterscotch pudding. She would make huge bowls of it at time. She wouldn't finish one bowl before she made the next. The frig was constantly full of it.
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Our parents who were constantly trying to do the math to see if we'd had sex before we got married.
13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? A girl.
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? Again, at the time yes, but now no way.
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? She gained about 75 lbs--which was bad because she's 5'1"
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? I don't think so. We didn't know anyone where we lived.
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? See above.
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? Other than a big case of the first-time-parent-stupids?
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Arlington Memorial Hospital, Arlington TX. I would not recommend it to anyone.
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? She was induced at 9 am, and delivered 12:30 pm the next day, so 27 1/2.
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? I did. We made a stupid posterboard sign to put up in the window. "WOMAN IN LABOR" I felt like a really big dork. I even ran a red light just cause I could and she was shrieking in pain. She only had the cervidil in...
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Myself, and my ex mother-in-law. This was before I began hoping she'd be hit by a bus.
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? It was vaginal, but I wouldn't call it a natural birth. Far from it--totally intervention laden.
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? She had many shots of demerol before they finally gave her an epidural.
25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 9 lbs 6 oz.
26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? March 31, 1999
27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HER? "The 9 y/o"
28. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? She will be 10 at the end of next month.
The Rite of Parenthood #8
The successful parent knows that baby clothes sizing is often very subjective, and not really standardized. Which is why it's perfectly normal for a 7 week old infant to have already outgrown his newborn, AND 3 month sized footed pajamas...
...right?
The kid's in 6 month clothes and size 2 diapers!!
...right?
The kid's in 6 month clothes and size 2 diapers!!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Shuffle Meme: Cup O' Tea, Newsboys
1. Put your iTunes on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Tag at least 10 friends
What do your friends think of you?
Godspeed (Sweet Dreams), Dixie Chicks
If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say...
Forgive and Forget, Avalon
How would you describe yourself?
The Secret Wedding (Braveheart Soundtrack), London Symphony Orchestra
What do you like in a guy/girl?
Suite in C Major for Solo Cello, BWV 1009, John Williams
How do you feel today?
The First Noel, Sergio Franchi
What is your life’s purpose?
Don't Think I Won't, Mark Wills
What is your motto?
Dreams, Kenny Chesney
What do you think about very often?
Slow Motion, Third Eye Blind
What is 2+2?
What I Miss About Heaven, Lee Ann Womack
What do you think of your best friend?
Your Love Is Extravagant, Casting Crowns (HA!)
What do you think of the person you love?
Eye, Plum
What is your life story?
Always & Forever, Raze
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Trouble, Indigo Girls
What do you think of when you see the person you love?
I Will Be There, Britney Spears
What will you dance to at your wedding?
You Don't Know What Love Is, Lonestar
What will they play at your funeral?
Old Enough, Nickelback
What is your hobby/interest?
Everybody's Free To Feel Good (Romeo & Juliet Soundtrack), Quindon Tarver
What is your biggest fear?
Why Would You Go Back, Jeni Varnadeau
What is your biggest secret?
Carried Away, George Strait
What do you think of your friends?
I Heard The Bells, MercyMe
What will you post this as?
Cup O' Tea, Newsboys
Sounded more fun that it actually was...LOL.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Tag at least 10 friends
What do your friends think of you?
Godspeed (Sweet Dreams), Dixie Chicks
If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say...
Forgive and Forget, Avalon
How would you describe yourself?
The Secret Wedding (Braveheart Soundtrack), London Symphony Orchestra
What do you like in a guy/girl?
Suite in C Major for Solo Cello, BWV 1009, John Williams
How do you feel today?
The First Noel, Sergio Franchi
What is your life’s purpose?
Don't Think I Won't, Mark Wills
What is your motto?
Dreams, Kenny Chesney
What do you think about very often?
Slow Motion, Third Eye Blind
What is 2+2?
What I Miss About Heaven, Lee Ann Womack
What do you think of your best friend?
Your Love Is Extravagant, Casting Crowns (HA!)
What do you think of the person you love?
Eye, Plum
What is your life story?
Always & Forever, Raze
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Trouble, Indigo Girls
What do you think of when you see the person you love?
I Will Be There, Britney Spears
What will you dance to at your wedding?
You Don't Know What Love Is, Lonestar
What will they play at your funeral?
Old Enough, Nickelback
What is your hobby/interest?
Everybody's Free To Feel Good (Romeo & Juliet Soundtrack), Quindon Tarver
What is your biggest fear?
Why Would You Go Back, Jeni Varnadeau
What is your biggest secret?
Carried Away, George Strait
What do you think of your friends?
I Heard The Bells, MercyMe
What will you post this as?
Cup O' Tea, Newsboys
Sounded more fun that it actually was...LOL.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Dear Mr. Continuously Ringing Cellphone,
I understand that I am in a public place, and even though I am studying, I should expect to be interrupted by many of the distractions going on around me. But even if I weren't currently studying, I would still find the following excruciatingly annoying:
1. A full 7 minutes of continuously ringing cell phone at full volume.
2. A ridiculously flamboyant ring tone.
3. Blank stare in return of pointed looks of annoyance by everyone else in Barnes & Noble.
Let me explain this to you as gently as I can. I have been studying urinary catheterization and feel fully qualified to take your cell phone and shove it directly through your penile meatus and deep into the average 8 inches of your male urethra. For your information that would be like a size 95 French. M'kay?
1. A full 7 minutes of continuously ringing cell phone at full volume.
2. A ridiculously flamboyant ring tone.
3. Blank stare in return of pointed looks of annoyance by everyone else in Barnes & Noble.
Let me explain this to you as gently as I can. I have been studying urinary catheterization and feel fully qualified to take your cell phone and shove it directly through your penile meatus and deep into the average 8 inches of your male urethra. For your information that would be like a size 95 French. M'kay?
Weekend Round Up
Here's a brief post about the last few days.
Thursday was the first day of non-orientation type Foundations Lab (what we do when we're not at clinical.) It was at our Smart Hospital which apparently is revolutionary and has been toured by thousands and thousands of school administrators and government people from several different countries. It's basically a sim lab with dummy's etc, but it's set up a like a real hospital. There are ICU suites, ER suites, pedi suites, OBGYN suites, etc. Anyway it's pretty cool. But we found out as soon as we arrived that we would be working with 'standardized patients'--patients that are paid actors, but from the community. And the kicker was that they were going to be evaluating our skills! Our skills that we had only heard lecture over, and hadn't even practiced on each other, let alone real people! Nice little surprise to generate some sympathetic responses. It was very stressful, luckily we got to go in the rooms as pairs, so we could feed off of each other. We did our PPE and hand-washing check-off and I passed, thank goodness. I was a bit worried because the gown, mask, and gloves were all about 3 sizes too small for me. In fact the gown hiked up my sleeve and displayed my shoulder tattoo, which is normally NOT visible, and the instructor griped at me, big fun.
Yesterday we traveled to my wife's home town where one of two sisters that are pregnant had delivered the night before. She was about 38 weeks along when she delivered and it was really bad timing, haha. I told her husband to get used to it, because that's how it works when you have kids, LOL! They had a baby shower scheduled at their church--which went on without her, since they couldn't notify everyone that it would be canceled. They also just bought a house and had to be out of their current house post haste. So I spent the day with my F-I-L and the husband's father and brother moving all their furniture. I'm SORE today, but it was good, we got all their furniture moved, and picked up some new furniture and a frig for them also. I couldn't believe how lazy his family was though, anything that was heavy, they arranged it so my F-I-L and I got the honors. At first it could have been coincidence, but towards the end it was really obvious. Kind of frustrating, but oh well. We got home about 6 pm (they live about 90 miles from us) and I grilled up some bacon wrapped venison back-strap. The bacon grease totally caught on fire on the grill, but somehow miraculously the whole thing ended up grilled to perfection--better to be lucky than good I guess.
Today my wife, the 2 y/o and Baby Drofen are staying home from church because the 2 y/o has a green snotty nose that she's working out. The 9 y/o and I will be going to church, and then it's school work all this afternoon. Way behind on reading since I was busy all day yesterday. And I have a couple modules to get through, so look for more Evolve QOTD posts.
Finally, here's a small prayer that Christy and her family is ok. They're caught up in the Kentucky ice storm aftermath. I was really worried last night because I hadn't heard from her in awhile, but then she posted late last night. Anyway, Christy, hope things are getting better...
Thursday was the first day of non-orientation type Foundations Lab (what we do when we're not at clinical.) It was at our Smart Hospital which apparently is revolutionary and has been toured by thousands and thousands of school administrators and government people from several different countries. It's basically a sim lab with dummy's etc, but it's set up a like a real hospital. There are ICU suites, ER suites, pedi suites, OBGYN suites, etc. Anyway it's pretty cool. But we found out as soon as we arrived that we would be working with 'standardized patients'--patients that are paid actors, but from the community. And the kicker was that they were going to be evaluating our skills! Our skills that we had only heard lecture over, and hadn't even practiced on each other, let alone real people! Nice little surprise to generate some sympathetic responses. It was very stressful, luckily we got to go in the rooms as pairs, so we could feed off of each other. We did our PPE and hand-washing check-off and I passed, thank goodness. I was a bit worried because the gown, mask, and gloves were all about 3 sizes too small for me. In fact the gown hiked up my sleeve and displayed my shoulder tattoo, which is normally NOT visible, and the instructor griped at me, big fun.
Yesterday we traveled to my wife's home town where one of two sisters that are pregnant had delivered the night before. She was about 38 weeks along when she delivered and it was really bad timing, haha. I told her husband to get used to it, because that's how it works when you have kids, LOL! They had a baby shower scheduled at their church--which went on without her, since they couldn't notify everyone that it would be canceled. They also just bought a house and had to be out of their current house post haste. So I spent the day with my F-I-L and the husband's father and brother moving all their furniture. I'm SORE today, but it was good, we got all their furniture moved, and picked up some new furniture and a frig for them also. I couldn't believe how lazy his family was though, anything that was heavy, they arranged it so my F-I-L and I got the honors. At first it could have been coincidence, but towards the end it was really obvious. Kind of frustrating, but oh well. We got home about 6 pm (they live about 90 miles from us) and I grilled up some bacon wrapped venison back-strap. The bacon grease totally caught on fire on the grill, but somehow miraculously the whole thing ended up grilled to perfection--better to be lucky than good I guess.
Today my wife, the 2 y/o and Baby Drofen are staying home from church because the 2 y/o has a green snotty nose that she's working out. The 9 y/o and I will be going to church, and then it's school work all this afternoon. Way behind on reading since I was busy all day yesterday. And I have a couple modules to get through, so look for more Evolve QOTD posts.
Finally, here's a small prayer that Christy and her family is ok. They're caught up in the Kentucky ice storm aftermath. I was really worried last night because I hadn't heard from her in awhile, but then she posted late last night. Anyway, Christy, hope things are getting better...
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