It is going to be a busy time

So, Olivia _____ is coming soon. I don't know her middle name yet, I am voting for Grace, but I am just grateful to get Olivia! It could be Rhea, and I like that, still......Grace seems like it flows....
She is due any day actual due date is May 4. Trouble with that is I will be gone to Chicago beginning on Sunday and will be back late on May 5th. Working the 6th.....so I am hopeful she arrives in the next couple of days because I want to be there! I was there for October's debut and I was there for Bubba's debut. I would love to be there for Olivia's!

Sunday I leave for a conference put on by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. I am excited to be going! I am going with five others from the hospital. I hope they are as excited as I am! I have been once, a long time ago when I worked at Baptist. It was quite an experience! And while I was gone to the conference, Rick got saved in his garden. I was the last he told, I had been home a week, knew I came home to a much different man, he told the neighbors and my family! My mom said, "I am so glad Rick got saved" and I said to myself, that is it! That is what happened! Wonder what surprise will be waiting when I get home this time??

And my co-workers nominated me for nurse of the year. I am surprised and excited by that. There are a lot of great nurses who were nominated. I voted on Tuesday. No, I did not vote for myself! I did vote for an excellent nurse who I admire a lot! I wonder who will win. I do not expect it to be me, there are so many good nurses to chose from! I am honored though that they nominated me and I "made it" to the final cut. I have been doing this since 1978. I was 19 years old, an LPN and scared to death. I quickly decided I needed to go back to school and started that journey. I took classes at WKU one or two at a time to get used to college, I had no clue how to go about it. I took all the classes required for the first semester of nursing at that time and challenged out of it. I started in the second semester and finished in "2" more. To do that meant I had to go to summer school and get as many classes out of the way as I could. And I did and I graduated with an associate of science in nursing in December 1981. I passed boards in February 1982, and it was 6 or 8 weeks before I knew for sure I passed! The test was pencil and paper, and lasted 2 full days. You couldn't go to the bathroom without an escort! These days, they have an idea when they finish, if it cuts off at 75 questions they most likely pass. If they take the whole test, they have to wait 2 or 3 days to know.....(2 or 3 days for results anyway, but WOW! remember it took our class 6 -8 weeks). Similar circumstances with certifications, CCRN anyway, when I took it (it is a certification in critical care nursing) it was a four hour test and same 6 to 8 week wait. Today it is computerized and results are instant. So much has changed in the technology in taking care of our patients too. Wow! Memories! More on that later!

It is a beautiful day, the sun is shining, nice gentle breezes.....then a few hours south is such devastation. Please remember the folks affected by the deadly tornadoes in your prayers!

I would like to be so humble as to be able to count my blessings daily and thank the One above who provides them! Without His guidance, I would not be able to make it!

1 Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (KJV)

I love y'all!
To be continued.......

friends

Friendship is a wonderful thing. I am blessed that I have many, many folks I call my friend. Today, five of us got in the car and went to Nashville to Vandy in their Medical ICU to visit a sick friend. Jennifer was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension related to lupus (a connective tissue disorder) around a year ago. She has had the lupus for several years. She has a baby girl who will be four years old in August. We almost lost her when Aubry was born. God saw fit to spare her. We have cherished every day with her since. Almost a year ago, she was so very short of breath. She is just 30 years old. Walking was a chore. We encouraged her to make sure at her dr appointment that week to please not leave until she knew what was wrong. We found out. This pulmonary hypertension is a very serious illness that if it does not respond to treatment can take your life. Jenn's life is at risk. Yesterday, things got much worse, she was very, very ill, and still is though today was more stable. She has responded some to the treatment. She is now being considered for a lung transplant, which is the only thing that can "save her" short of a miracle, which I am looking for. The workup for an organ transplant is a rigorous thing. Lots of tests have to be done and even a mental evaluation usually is done because to receive an organ transplant except in certain circumstances someone (the donor) is brain dead. Then there are blood and tissue matches that have to be certain things. So to be considered for transplants at some places, you have to be strong enough mentally to accept that for you to live someone else has to die. I am not sure if I would be that strong. I have another friend waiting on a kidney transplant. And it is the same situation, there are such things as living donors for kidneys, but most usually those have to be family, and are difficult in other ways. He is waiting for a kidney now, and is on dialysis several times a week. I just don't know how strong I would be. I have guilt feelings over so many things. I think I might have guilt if I needed a transplant and you hope to receive it, but at that same time you remember someone has to die for you to receive. Please pray for peace for all of them involved in both these instances.

I wrote a little thing called Seasons last night. It was mostly just feelings after we received word about Jenn yesterday. I just don't know how to handle this. But then again, I do know. I have faith in the One above. I know He can send comfort, peace, healing. He has many times and will many more. I just ask for once more.....

Seasons
People come into our lives for only a season. Some seasons are longer than others, and all seasons change. With change comes growth. With change comes purpose. With these seasons we learn love, trust, hope, friendship, and sometimes we learn anger, envy, jealousy and other things that when we put them all together make each of us who we are at any given moment in time. Then the season ends. And we learn loss, grief, a different kind of anger, acceptance, trust and love also remain. Then as soon as one season ends, a new one begins.

A little over a year ago a season changed in my life. I am not far enough away from that to have the strength to have another season change.

I pray to God that He heals the sickness that is trying to overtake my friend. I ask for His will be for her healing. Please join me in that prayer. I know I'm selfish God. I must ask for that anyway! Only You can provide what I ask! I also ask for the comforting touch for her family that only You can provide, for You alone have all power. And I ask for help for those of us who love her, and there are so very many, help with accepting whatever Your will is for her. Comfort, peace, healing God please! In Jesus name I beg.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

I love y'all!!
To be continued...........

Strange week!

It has been a very strange week this past 7 days. It all started last Saturday with the low blood sugar episode and then on Wednesday with a ride in an ambulance, only my second as the one on the stretcher. Hope there is never a third! No offense EMS friends, I love y'all and some of you EC folks are even family, but if I'm in an ambulance, I want it to be because I'm the one working, not the one receiving!

Saying that, I do have to say thanks to Danny and Motley, they were great! I thought everything would be fine and it was, just not used to having my heart beat quite that fast, and it had slowed significantly by the time they got here but even 100-110 is a bit fast for someone sitting and not doing anything for a few hours.....but when I was here alone and it was 140-150 for over an hour, I was wondering when it was gonna slow down. By the time I got to the room (at 2am no less) it had slowed to 70. The chest tightness went away as soon as it slowed to the 80's. All the labs were fine.

And thanks to my friend Sandy for the ride home yesterday. I really appreciate it! Today I need to go in to employee health because I spent a few hours in the hospital. They have to say it's ok to go back to work tomorrow.

Later this month I am going to Chicago for a nursing conference. I am very excited about that trip! I am a little leary to go anywhere so far from home though after all the stuff that has happened these past 6 days, but I will be fine. It is not going to happen again! I know this!

I thought about Rick and Carlos when I was taken into the ER. I passed the last room Rick was ever in in the ER and was in the room where the ER doc told Carlos he had lung cancer and 2 doors down from the room Rick received the "mass in his brain" news. Seems that often there is something to trigger a memory.......

The storm on Tuesday night gave me a casualty, my flag pole was snapped in half! I guess maybe if I'd taken down my flag on Tuesday, it would not have happened, I just thought it would have been a little stronger. If I replace it, I will take it down next time! (I do plan to replace it when the tax money comes in!)

Today is Good Friday. Seems like a strange name to represent a day in which our Lord was scourged, crucified and died. But on second thought, "Had it not been"....where would I be?

Had It Not Been

Just suppose God searched through Heaven
He couldn't find one willing to be
The supreme sacrifice that was needed
That would buy eternal life for you and me

Had it not been for a place called Mt. Calvary
Had it not been for the old rugged cross
Had it not been for a man called Jesus
Then forever my soul would be lost

Oh but I'm so glad He was willing
To drink His bitter cup
Although He prayed, Father let it pass from me
And I'm so glad He never called Heaven's angels
From my hands pull these nails that torment me

Had it not been for a place called Mt. Calvary
Had it not been for the old rugged cross
Had it not been for a man called Jesus
Then forever my soul would be lost

As you go through your Easter weekend, take a moment to reflect why we have the season and thank Him for dying for you. I will.

I love y'all!

To be continued...........

What a beautiful day!

This day is the Lord's day. And what a beautiful day it has been. We had Church this weekend. Today was the foot-washing/communion service. And though I did not take part in that part of the service, I was blessed beyond description from just observing. Oh, what love was there. And closeness. It was a little taste of Heaven. I was blessed to observe and could not take it all in. There was such heart-felt love all across the room and it spilled over and over and over. God was there in every corner, in every seat, in every heart. Oh, I wish you could have been there. These words do not adequately describe the scenes I was blessed to view. I thank my Lord for allowing me to be there.

Oh, the love from the One above. Oh what Love He had for us to send His Son to die for us. And what sacrifice He made. Please, remember the reason for the season.


Psalm 118:24
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Boy, do I have a story for you......

I find myself being very blessed today. I don't have a lot of memory of a good part of the mid day today.

This morning, Nick and I got up around 7am, went to Brownsville and had breakfast at Laura's Hilltop. I had one pancake (and only ate about 1/2 of it), coffee and orange juice. Nick had a biscuit, gravy and scrambled egg. The food was good. Then we drove on up to Jones and Gravil Tax Service and spent some time with Norman Warnell. He did our taxes for us. We were blessed there today too. By now, it's about 10:30 or so and we are back home. OK, I am feeling just as normal as ever (hahahaha) and decided to drive into Bowling Green. I got to the end of 1749 and remembered the tags on Nick's truck need to be renewed. I called him. He called me back by the time I got to This and That at Boiling Spring. There I started to feel a little weak. We decided to meet at Butch's office. By the time I arrived at Shady Land Church of Christ I was so weak and shaky and felt like I was going to pass out. I called Nick back and told him how I was feeling. I then planned to meet him at Marilyn's store. Then I called him back, I couldn't go any farther. Brandon lives right beside Otter Gap Church and I remember pulling in there. I was drenched and cold. I couldn't hear very well and couldn't see very well. Nick had called Brandon and he came outside. He brought me a couple pieces of light bread, which I ate. Nick pulled in and called EMS. I could not even walk. After a few minutes after eating the bread, I began to "dry up" and wasn't so sweaty. My hands were still shaking and I still couldn't walk. We waited a few more minutes. No first responder came. After a couple more minutes, I felt strong enough to get out of the car with help. Nick canceled the ambulance and he brought me home. I ate some lunch and felt better. I then took a little nap. When I woke, I was feeling a little sweaty again, and a little weak and maybe even a little winded, though I was just sitting on the couch. I fixed a frozen dinner and ate it and felt better so I went on to Church. I began feeling a little weak again, so I ate a bowl of chili. I'm OK again, so I guess I will have to see about this. I have had this feeling only 2 other times, the first time my blood sugar was just fine, the second time I had no way to check it. This time I didn't either, but the symptoms fit. Problem with that is, I am not diabetic and I do not take insulin. But I really hate that feeling. And one scary part is I don't remember leaving the house. I do remember sitting at This and That and I do remember passing Shady Land Church. I do not remember turning onto Brandon's road. I have no memory at all of leaving Brandon's, but I do remember them helping me around the car. I don't remember stopping at Keith's for the sandwich that I ate, but I remember eating it. This is really weird! I do thank the Lord above for keeping me safe! Had it not been for Him keeping me safe while I was driving like that, I don't want to think about it!

I would ask you to please remember Jamie Stice's family in your prayers and her little baby that was ripped from her little body by some woman whose agenda I can not comprehend. Jamie was a relative of mine, I do not know her, but I did know her grandparents. Her grandfather and my grandmother were cousins. Holland was a good, decent man. I knew one of his sons because he was my sister-in-law's husband. I sort of knew his brothers, one of whom Jamie belongs to. My niece and nephew are her first cousins. They were close.

It has been quite a few weeks around here. Our new baby will be here in just a few weeks, any day really. Please keep Val and her family in your prayers as well.

Please remember the reason for the upcoming season! Easter! Remember why we celebrate it! Also, remember "pray 'til you pray!" -- advice I need to heed myself!

Joshua 24:15 (King James Version)

¹⁵And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

I love you all.
To be continued.............

Glad for a few days off

I have worked a little overtime this past week! I think I wound up with 56 hours......usual is 36. I am tired! I also have call today, so I am hoping Bowling Green and the surrounding area stays healthy today! I don't work again until Thursday, but I do have a meeting Wednesday afternoon. And I am looking forward to cooking class with Libby tomorrow. It is a little windy today, but it is warm. The clouds are getting thicker and lower.....and darker. I think rain is on the agenda today. I just hope there are no severe storms....

At the end of the month I am going on a trip to Chicago to a conference. Once I swore I would never fly into O'Hare again. I hope I can keep that, I am not sure where the flight is going in.....the conference will be excellent though. It is all about critical care nursing. Right up my alley! It also brings back sweet memories of my trip to the same conference (it is held annually in a larger city) in Atlanta 9 years ago. It was while I was there that Rick was saved out in the garden. That is something I will never forget because it was then that he changed so very much for the better! He just couldn't stop talking about it! And the last thing he was able to say aloud was that he prayed for God's will to be done when that breathing tube was going in. My dear friends Kim and Mary prayed with him. They were helping place the tube. I had to leave the room. Wife kicked in and nurse left me. I couldn't bear to see him hurt and struggle. When I came back in the room (Beverly and Teresa were with me) he was so peaceful. That was the first of some of the worst struggling I witnessed him suffer. There were more episodes of his inability to breathe. It was so hard for him. But 5 and 1/2 weeks later he was able to rest.

I don't mean to make anyone cry. Remember this blog is about feelings and healing for me and if it helps other family members and friends through missing him, then I am blessed even more.

Remember the reason for the Easter season........

John 3:16 (King James Version)

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life

.

I love y'all.

To be continued...........

WOW!

Last night I wrote in my blog. I went to share it on facebook. It would not let me. It said it was reported as "abusive content" or some such thing. Now, I would like whomever did this to please leave me alone. You should not have done that. There is nothing abusive or offensive in this entire blog. You had no right to do that. This is my blog. I will write whatever I please. It is about my life and every word in it is true. Every word! And if you don't like it, then maybe you need to hit your knees and ask the Man upstairs about it and listen to that still small voice when He speaks to your heart. You owe me an apology! AND I want to be removed from your friends list because I know you can not be my friend or you would not have done that to me. Oh, and I need you to contact facebook and tell them you made a mistake!

I worked today. It was busy. I learned some things today. I am not too old to learn! This is a short post tonight, no pictures.

I love y'all.

To be continued...........