News From the Nursery Lab 2008-4

And Other Things As Well...


When I last updated you on the nursery, I left you with news of a WB who I thought was in surgery. She wasn't; she went to surgery this past Friday, however. I'm pleased to report that she came through the surgery with flying colors. As far as I know, the tumor was removed with little problem; the biopsy results are still pending. But, she's resting comfortably with a head that, though bandaged, is of a size a head should be! I'll be listening for new updates to share with you. I expect the next new thing that will concern me will be when the arterial lines are removed and we begin to draw labs through heelsticks.

We have seen a lot of babies in the last few weeks with birth defects that are way over the top. That sounds awful, doesn't it? But, we see so many kids with heart defects, intestines born outside the body, prematurity, and other serious things, that they almost become routine. As horrific as it sounds, we love and care for them, and know that eventually we'll get them well enough to go home. And, each and every one of them tugs at my heartstrings when I do my little bit to help them.

And then we get something that makes us aware of the miracle of a healthy birth. In the last few weeks we've had a baby born with "lobster claw" hands and feet. He has a cleft palate which won't be repaired for awhile. He's got other problems associated with his disease as well. And, yet, he's gone home already. His family is ready and willing to take up the challenge.

Another baby was born with a "conehead". Seriously. She's a beauty, too. Last I heard tests were going to be done to figure out if there was mental impairment as a result. I know they have to be certain, but as I looked into the eyes of that child, I saw "old" eyes, filled with wisdom and humor, almost like an old soul was in there, amused at all the fuss.

I realized that in a short time it will be a year that I've been part of the NICU team. I'm glad I made the change in spite of losing all my goof off time, not to mention my writing time, to go back to work full time. Sure, I hate it to bits every morning at 3 a.m. when the alarm goes off, but at the same time, I like to think that bringing "grandma magic" to the job helps the wee ones get through some tough times. Don't disillusion me, please!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other life news, I find that I'm allowing myself to begin to tread down the agoraphobic path again, much as I did after my mother passed away six years ago. I ws horrified to realize I was letting myself fall into that trap again, and disappointed in myself for not realizing how easy it would be to do it all again. So, I'm making myself leave the house when I can.

Saturday I joined my fellow pagan friends at a local shop that specializes in greenware/ceramics. I'd never done ceramics before, so I made an attempt to do the Illuminati brand (from Dan Brown's Angels and Demons) on a simple 6 x 6 inch tile. It's supposed to be done on Saturday. It will be interesting to see the result!

Sunday I dragged myself out of the house for a few hours and went to the mall. I dinked around in BB, looking at routers and network cards for my laptop; I want to take it on vacation, and also to work on occasion. I ended up buying three new CD's and a small digital camera. I didn't buy the one my heart was set on, as R and I had words over my need to possess electronic things; (who, ME?) I purchased a Fuji digital with only basic stuff on it. I wanted something to easily tuck in my purse to get those pictures that I never seem to have a camera handy for - things like the beautiful red-tail hawk I saw last week, the soaring turkey vultures flying overhead; Hannah being a dork in the yard with Phoebe, grandbabies, friends, flowers, all the neat things I see. Maybe little tiny baby hands and feet, too. You never know what might find a place in my album.

So, words or not, I did come home with a camera. He doesn't know it, though. He will, in time, of course. I just haven't decided when that time is. *wink*

My next stop was at Barnes and Noble. I picked up the "contest" books. And, of course, I picked up a book in the SciFi section for myself. Haven't even had the time to think about reading it yet.

Phlebotomy class only has two more didactic sessions. As much as I hate to say it, I'm saddened to have to say that over half the students are disappointing the heck out of me. We have a few that are exceptional, but the rest of 'em? Oh, my. Some of them haven't even managed to draw blood on their lab partners. I hate to tell them, but patients are real skin, not plastic like the artificial arms we start them out with. This group seems to think that it's appropriate to come to class late, be absent, not study. The exams and quizzes have had abysmal scores. I think some of them will not make it to clinicals, as they won't make the 75% cumulative score for the didactic portion. And, we can't blame it all on missing the snow days. They could, after all, have used those days to study in spite of not having class. That's what a syllabus is for, after all.

And, with luck, warmer weather will arrive about the time of the end of class. I'm anxious to get out in the yard and dig in the dirt.

Hannah the Horrible shredded a boot and a placemat over the weekend. Wastebaskets are a continuing source of joy and wonder. I didn't think I would ever need to use the kitchen wastebasket for a centerpiece on the table.

Seriously, I love that dog. And, she's only nine months old; smart as a whip, she only goes on destruct when she's bored. I'm finally getting it through my thick skull that I need to put more training time into my day...for both my benefit and hers! I'll post some new pictures of her when I get her groom finished. She's "roughed" out, but still needs a bath and the finesse grooming. I'm putting her in the fancy-schmancy show dog coat to see what it might look like. I'll take it all off with the next groom for ease of care this summer, though. She's so joyful in all she does, puddles, mud, anything that might be rough and tumble and dirty makes its way into her pretty white coat.

I know there's more to talk about, but I think I'm tapped out for now. I'm finally getting a bit of a chance to visit blogs. Probably won't reply to them, though, but will jump in as I get caught up.

And, so, I'll close for this time. See y'all again soon!