5 Weeks Left in Utah

We are enjoy some time with family/friends before we leave to Missouri. I can not believe we only have 5 weeks left. That means 4 weeks until our baby boy arrives :)

+++ Warning+++ Picture overload

Emma loves ALL her cousins. This is cousin Kate, Emma is helping her with her binky. (I don't edit pictures, sorry for the red eyes)

 Emma and I have met my mom several times at the mall. We can't leave until we get a chocolate at See's and go to Chick-fil-a. On one occasion we even went to City Creek and went to Johnny Rockets.

 Dad and Emma feeding the ducks. Now whenever Emma sees bread on our counter she says... "Duck Duck"

Happy Fathers Day Landon. Emma Loves you.

Swimming time with Landon's cousins.

 My mom took Ruby's girls for a few days. We enjoyed eating Sugar Cookies in the fun Tree House.

South Ogden Days! Emma's second cousin Walker (Wa Wa) is one of her best friends. I have become very good friends with my cousin Dougs wife Amanda. They played on the Carousel and loved it (at least Emma did). They will miss each other so much. She always says his name and they have played so much together in the last year. Emma even took his hand and walked him to Nursery on Sunday

After eating dinner and going on a few small rides the big boys went on a big boy ride. I don't think my cousin Doug made out like a big boy though.... Needless to say Landon rocked the ride a little to much and it was not a happy ending. Although, when I saw Doug get out and scoop puke out of his eyes I absolutely could not stop laughing. I was laughing so hard at him that I peed my pants. (Don't know why I am telling everyone this). I seriously couldn't keep it in, the laughter and the pee. We were both messes! After we all calmed down we decided it wasn't a good idea to go look at the Old car show and instead walked the back way to our cars.

Emma eating cookies with Grandpa. Bonnie and Emily came down and we went to the Splash pad with the kids.

How ofter do 4-plexes end up with 4 fun couples? Not often... I am super lucky to have gotten to know the Quists, Boltons, and Fosters. I seriously love these people. We used to all live together on Brinker Ave. and then slowly they all moved away. We were able to have one more get together before us and Boltons move far away...... It's not "good bye".. instead... "see ya later"!

My Nursing Career

I don't know where to even begin. Mckay-Dee Hospital has been my little home for 5 years now. I started out as a CNA (with Landon) and worked my way up the ladder to an LPN then a Registered Nurse! Going through school, precepting, residency program, EKG course and ICU critical care course was not easy. Landon and I can not thank our parents enough for all the help they have given us; meals, babysitting and encouragement.

For my records I want to remember how a typical day went on IMC

0500: Get report from the off going nurse

0530-0730: Introduce myself to my 3 pt's, do an assessment (Ask them about pain, nausea, listen to heart/lungs/stomach, neuro checks etc...), run a tele strip (the heart monitors), look up all the am labs and CHART on the computer.

0730-1100: Pass out am medications, Dr.'s start coming in to write orders, help CNA's with AM cares, ambulate pt's in the halls, assist with Physical Therapists, make sure the Dr.'s orders have been verified and done.

1100-1400: Start my second assessment for the day and Chart. Help with lunch, eat my lunch. Continue to assess pain and nausea. Treat blood sugars before meals.

1400-1700: Wrap things up for the day, do education to pt's and family.

1700-1730: Give report to the oncoming nurse.

Now that doesn't sound to bad but.....

- Discharge a pt to either a homeless shelter on the bus, Nursing facility (requires social work needs), home, home with home health care, a pt dies.

- Admit a pt from the ER or whats worse is a Direct Admit (from like a Dr. Office), get a transfer from another unit (usually from ICU).

- A pt pulls out an IV and you have to restart one, or whats worse is a feeding tube.

- A pt is confused and you have to frequently re-orient them.

- Transport isn't available and I have to take my pt down to Radiology for tests.

- Give my pt a golytely prep for a Colonoscopy

- I have a lazy CNA who can't even take vital signs, doesn't chart a thing, isn't proactive about getting the pt up to the chair for meals, or I can never find them for help.

- Titrate drips (Heparin, Insulin, Pressors).

- Alcoholic who is withdrawing and on a CIWA protocol

- Agitated/upset pt who is out of control. Call Security

- Give blood, antibiotics, fluid boluses

- Monitor trends, urine outputs, vital signs, neuro status, 02 requirements

 - Communicating with Pharmacy, Social Workers, Dr's, RT/ PT/OT/ST (different Therapists), dialysis techs, wound care & family

-Clean up code browns (big adult poo messes)

What kinda of pt's does IMC have?

- Pneumonia                                                   

- Sepsis                                                          

- GI Bleeds or Colitis                                       

- Congestive Heart Failure exacerbation             

- Pulmonary issues (diff. breathing, COPD)       

- Ventilator or Trach pt's     

- Head injuries                                                 

- Pancreatitis                                                   

- Brain bleeds   

- Renal and Liver failure

- Diabetics

- DrugOverdoses and Suicidal

- Cancer 

- Obesity w/ multiple issues

- Necrotic wounds with nasty infections

- Seizures

- Strokes (we are THE stroke unit) 

- Falls/Rhabdomyolysis

- Sometimes we just don't know what is wrong                        

IMC has a lot of really great nurses, they have taught me so much. There is a lot to know and I felt like I was learning something new everyday. Leaving this Unit isn't easy, but I am so excited to not wake up at 0400 or try and stay awake all night. I am also excited to eventually get a different job and learn a whole new side of nursing. Most importantly, I am excited to stay at home with my family!

Emma and Her Cousins

Bonnie had her 3rd baby. Boston Wade.

My mom and I drove up to Logan, slept at her house and watched her kids while she had the baby. Then next day we came back to my moms and watched Cody and Olivia for a few days. They are such good kids and Emma will miss ALL her cousins when we move.

As you can see in most pictures Emma has a Handkerchief around her neck. That is my dads signature. Every time she goes to Papa's he puts one around her neck to keep her clean. I was doing laundry one day and she found one and said "Papa".

Tree house Museum

For Emma's 1st birthday she got a year pass for the Tree house Museum. 10 months ago Bonnie and her kids came with us. Emma is going to miss this place when we move, I hope we can find something similar to it in Missouri.

 You can see in the pictures how much Emma has grown in the last 10 months.