News From the Nursery Lab 2008-5

Today I had the pleasure of checking in on our latest Warrior Baby. Our overnight Lab Scientist was in doing the labs on her, and I stepped in as that particular Lab Scientist hasn't worked NICU for quite awhile. I not only wanted to check on WB, but make sure the draw was going okay.

I was surprised to see that her head was no longer bandaged. So, I went to the opposite side of the bed for a closer look and was thrilled to see the marvelous job done by the surgeons. Other than flatness due to the lack of an eye, she looked absolutely amazing!

I haven't had a chance to talk to the nurses about her recently, but we don't do labs every day, so I take that as a definite sign that things are going far better than they expected prior to the surgery. She's a beautiful little girl.

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This was my weekend to work. The census count has been really low the last week or so. Counting back, nine months ago should have been July. No wonder the census count is low. It was so blasted hot in the Midwest last July, I'm sure that sex was probably not indulged in. I can hear it now..."Not tonight! It's too flippin' hot!"
Sure a different answer than "I have a headache!" LOL!

Anyway, I generally opt for working in the Critical Care Lab on weekends; even if the NICU census is low, sometimes emergency surgeries create more work to do. Not this weekend, however. So, I defrosted the dorm-sized refrigerator in the lab's break room.

Do you even want to hazard a guess on how many years it's been since I physically deforsted a refrigerator? Yeah, about that long ago!

Anyway, the thing was so overrun with frost that nothing was getting cold in the frig any more. As I told one of the workers, it's bad enough to be dieting and keeping cans of SlimFast in the frig, but when the SlimFast isn't particularly cold, it gets quite annoying! I used my blowdryer to melt the ice and it still took over two hours to accomplish the task. I'm going to be stiff and sore tomorrow from sitting down on the floor for that long!

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Yesterday after work I was supposed to go to a Pagan Music Concert. Sad to say, though, I didn't make it. I fell asleep instead.

It's the curse of the stupid ear infection I've got. I had been getting a lot of sleep this week, but it wasn't restful sleep, just "sick" sleep. So, now that I'm on antibiotics, I'm getting a little bit better rest. Thank goodness!

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I took a few pictures with the new camera this week. It's very convenient to have a small camera with me all the time. Of course, now I just need some inspiration to get out more to do some photos!

These pictures are taken at a local park. Spring thawing has led to some flooding. And, it was windy, so I didn't want to be outside very long and get my ear all pained up again. So, the pictures are very general. Hope you enjoy them anyway!



This is the pond where we used to go ice skating. If you look way over in the middle of the picture, you'll see a picnic table in the water. That table is usually about 15 feet away from the pond. In the background is the summer Shakespearian Theatre. I'd love to see a Renaissance wedding done there. It's a neat stage.


This is the walkway along the Iowa River. As you can see, the river is almost level with the walk. Still a beautiful place to be on a sunny day.


What can I say? I like to sleep in the sun, too!


Bocci, anyone?


This tree caught my eye. I like 'em when they're oddly shaped.


This part of the park should be called City Marsh, not City Park.

That's about it for this time. It's time for me to think seriously about taking my medicine and going to bed. Talk to you all next time!