Sleepless Goodbyes

This past weekend was a rollercoaster filled with work. And lots of it.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday night were my nights to work.  Fully prepared for craziness there.  If you have been following my blog closely (I know I have SO many fans out who read every single post obviously...) I had made a post about a previous patient of mine who is a young women with 3 small children and stage 4 cancer.  Well, she is back in the hospital again for other complications related to the cancer.  All I kept saying to myself the entire weekend was how I need to not attach myself to patients because I already have with her.  I can’t help but think about her when I am away from work, hoping and praying a miracle happens.  I just know if something happens to her I am going to be a mess...but I am just going to do the best I can to help her now.  That’s the only thing I can do.  Prayers and doing my job at work.

It was Jackie’s birthday on Friday and unfortunately for her she was working.  But at least she got to work with me, Mal, and Adrienne...obviously making her night the best it could be: complete with a yummy sandwich ring, some D. C. (diet coke) that we drank way too much of because of lack of sleep the day before, bomb dip from her mom, and a cookie cake made by yours truly.  We had some cream aka ice cream too, but there was way to much food for us to handle already.  We had a crazy first 5 or so hours of work that night as well so it’s not like the night we were celebrating her birthday.  That would not have been realistic seeing as we were at work obviously.  But it was the best we could do for being there during her 23rd birthday.  

Saturday night turned into being a slow night until 6am med passing started where a patient’s urostomy leaked all over the place which led me to having to change it not once but twice in the last 20 minutes of the scheduled shift.  Thank god Mal helped me pass on of my patient’s meds for me.  After the 12 hour shift they needed help in many areas of the hospital and were offering extra pay if we stayed for 4 hours over.  So tempting.  So tempting that I took them up on it and worked on the step-down unit until 11:30.  I had 3 patients, 2 of them having been in a car accident the day before.  They were both in the same accident, and both in the same car, and both broke ribs along with other bones.  And both the most compliant and thankful patients I have ever had.  I was taught a valuable lesson from something one of them said when this conversation happened: 

Me: “You are going down for your surgery now, I forgot to take off your heart monitor and earrings before, so we need to do that now before this nurse takes you to the Operating room if that’s ok with you! I’m so sorry I forgot, I thought I had thought of everything...I am trying to do things perfectly for you and I guess that I failed with that one!”

Patient: “Sweetie, there was only one person that was perfect...”

Wow, so true. I guess I can only try my best at work/in life in general.  Nobody’s perfect.  Thanks go to her after 15 hours of work and still teaching me a valuable lesson.  

I gave report to the next nurse coming on and headed home to finally rest before going to Columbus to say my goodbye to Fahad.  I slept for a little over 3 hours grabbed a dc and headed south.  Fahad and I went to Hyde Park and had a delicious dinner filled with steak, cheesecake, and wine.  Oh, and we got calamari/crab cakes/scallops for an appetizer...I know what you are thinking.  Amanda does not like sea food.  Well we got it anyway so I could attempt it again.  And I can honestly say I enjoyed it this time.  Maybe it was lack of sleep? Or maybe it was that I was enjoying the company of Fahad? Or maybe I really did enjoy it (shhh don’t tell anyone).  For reasons like this one, I will continue to try to like seafood so I don’t miss out on something people seem to really enjoy.  

We ended up closing the restaurant and headed back to campus.  I was going to originally head home, but I was suckered into going to mug night.  I wasn’t too upset by it.  We sat outside on the deck and people watched for most of the time before Falon and Alex showed up.  It was a nice chill night with all of them and I am glad I made the decision to stay for it.  I haven’t been to Columbus in a long time where it was just a small group of people out like that.  Different, but in a great way.  So glad I got to see Alex before he leaves for Tucson next month since I can’t go down for his going away party either.  Saying goodbye to friends is always so flipping hard, but I say those are just 2 more people to add to the list of placed I can go and visit.  And it’s see-ya later for everyone, not goodbye for good.  And I know the people who are leaving ohio are leaving for amazing opportunities that should not be passed up.  So happy for my friends and all their journeys even though they will all be missed like crazy!

In other news I tried for a run the past 2 days.  There is no place for me to ride without being in the direct sunlight, and with the heat being 100+humidity I would say that running was a better idea.  I timed it to run in the rain yesterday right by where I will be living in a month and a half! It was much better once the rain started.  Today I had chemotherapy class and afterwards headed up to wildwood to be in the shade.  It was only 85 out in the shade instead of 105...yea, thank you toledo weather. Nice to be in the AC again.  That is until volleyball tonight at 9:30. Maybe it will cool down to 90...

For now, a shower is in order.

Keep it real.

"I think we should make a book"

Last night I spent my time with jackie, mallory, and Mr. and Mrs. Malenfant (aka jackie’s ‘rents) at the Malenfant residence in Waterville...about 10 minutes from Perrysburg.  Jackie’s birthday is tomorrow so we had a mini celebration last night complimented with a delicious steak/potato/corn dinner.  Great food, even greater company.  Throughout the dinner we got on the topic of work.  Even though we complain about work sometimes, we do have to look back and laugh/enjoy the craziness that ensues there.  I think we could have talked all night about the many stories we have already had there...which is why Mr. Malenfant said we should write a book.  Or at least write down all these stories we have.  

Story time from work on Tuesday night: I was assessing my patient’s feet seeing that they were swollen and I went to take off her socks when she was quick to say “oh please be careful with my right foot!!”.  I just figured she may have a sore on her foot of some sort but when asked about it she said “I have my money in my sock and don’t want to lose it.” Hmmm...well I guess no one will steal it from you? Where she went on to say that she thinks that if anyone will go for it in her sock at least she’ll wake up.  I told her we could lock it up, but she seemed to think it was much safer in the right sock.  And that her son would pick it up tomorrow morning.  

This is just one story of many from each night.  Some are funny like this one, some sad, some just down right crazy.  I realize why there are sooo many shows about hospitals/medicine.  You never run out of stories.

On another note, thanks again for the donations that keep coming in for my ride in August! Still have a long way to go, but so thankful for everyone so far who has gotten me this far with the donations.  Monday since it was pouring cats and dogs I had to pay a visit to the treadmill...wasn’t originally looking forward to this, but turned out pretty good.  This Tuesday I went on a nice 22 mile ride along river road from pburg.  I can’t tell you how happy I am with my bike purchase this year, best purchase of the year for sure.  I think about that literally every ride.  Yesterday I did a short run before heading over to the Malenfant residence...I woke up at 5:30pm after work the night before cutting it a bit short.  Ok with me, legs were screaming at me.  

Today another ride at some point before going into work tonight....first night of 3 for me! Let’s hope they are good ones, or at least ones full of lots of stories for our book “the adventures of floor 4cd”. 

50 50 50 50 50 50!!!!!!

As I write this post I have a load of laundry next to me, a thunderstorm outside, due date playing in the background and an ice pack on my back.  Laundry is next to me because it always takes me a day and a half to actually fold and put it away. Thunderstorm is widely appreciated in Toledo since it hasn't rained in a month.  Due date: just because I like background noise.  And the ice pack? Well, I need to learn how to not slouch when I'm riding jarvis, especially when I'm riding 50 miles on him. (or 102 when pelotonia rolls around)  I think an ice bath is in order later today if it still feels like this.  I'm not sure if I will actually put myself through that one though...we'll see.
So the ride yesterday I broke up into a 30 mile ride with a 20 minute break to grab some more water at my place, let marley out to pee/play, and get a snack.  I rode to luckey and back on that first part where I only saw a few cars, motorcycles, and fellow bikers.  It's funny how much a motorcyclist and I have in common: they wake up early to feel the wind in the hair, as did I. With the exception of them having some extra help with the actual feeling the wind in the hair with the motor part of it.  And we all had helmets on, so I guess not really feeling it in the hair...sort of.  Regardless, we all enjoyed the morning in the outside....I thought I was going somewhere with that.
Also on my ride someone was gracious enough to spray me with some water as they were watering their grass.  With only about 5 miles to go it was much appreciated.  And I came to the realization that I need to buy riding gloves at some point very soon.  My right pinky is still numb from the ride.  Not the best sensation ever.  I will be heading up to bike works of sylvania this afternoon to see if they can help me out with the glove situation.  Hopefully I get some suggestions, they always have been super helpful there!!!
All in all, it was a solid ride.  It makes me believe that I can really do that next 50 when Pelotonia comes in August.  Well, hopefully!
Not much more going on here.  Will update you all again soon.  Don't forget to make a donation to my ride if you haven't yet and if you can!  Any little bit helps, even if it is 5 or 10 dollars!!!  Just go to
http://www.mypelotonia.org/riders_profile.jsp?MemberID=115667&SearchStart=0&PAGING
and click on "donate to my ride".  Thanks for everyone who already has helped donate so far!  You are making a difference in people's lives by doing so!
Alright, I guess I should get back to laundry. BOO.

Snake Tees and 4 12’s...

I have a lot to catch up with you all...haven’t written AGAIN in a while.  I’ve been busy on vacation/working 4 12 hour shifts straight.  I figured I would just update after I had all of them done (and 7 days off straight!!)

Well well. I left for Bethany beach, delaware last Sunday for the week with my family+Alana. So glad she could join our clan.    Jared’s parents came down for a few days as well.  I haven’t seen them since Em and Jared’s wedding I think! Always good to catch up! It was a week of good eats (of course, Mommy Ernzer was cooking so it was awesome), company, running and biking, and relaxing on the beach with a drink in hand  (only after 4 o clock was there a drink in hand...ok, maybe 3 o clock on some days). I ran every other day and biked on the other days. I was able to do about 5 miles running around the sea colony resort/boardwalk the days I ran and 20- 30 miles biking each time.  The 30 mile ride was absolute bliss: no wind, a few random hills, perfect temp, and very wide roads for me to not have to worry about traffic being a problem.  Oh, and it was right by the shore too...so gorgeous views! I wish every ride was like that. I guess I’ll have to not live in Ohio for that.  Maybe some day...

yay! share the road with us!

The runs were pretty perfect as well. I think the fact that I was on vacation and I knew I had a yummy breakfast to come back to when I was done made it that much better.

Then we spent the rest of the morning/afternoon on the beach. I think this was the first year I was actually able to spend more than an hour on the beach and not get bored.  Just laying there in the sun with the family was a blessing this week.  I don’t think I’ve had so much fun or laughed so hard in a long time.  Can’t get enough of that crew.  

enjoying the sun and our 4oclock bag

biking over to play tennis

J-rod and wall-e

lana baby

Upon returning to Toledo, I was definitely bummed to be leaving everyone.  I was actually ok with coming back to work.  I am glad now that I had my mind set to work 4 in a row because I don’t think I could have done it otherwise.  And I had some pretty sweet patients/coworkers every night which made it that much better.  I had the same conversation with one of my patients who was getting 2 units of blood and a unit of platelets about the importance of giving blood and how thankful he is for people who do (see second to last post).  So thanks to everyone for continuing to give blood!!!  

I also had a lesson on heparin drips and the importance of monitoring lab levels of ptt and ufh as well as just looking for signs and symptoms of bleeding.  One of his lab levels was normal (the one our hospital goes by) and the other one was way out of wack.  And he had some bleeding problems.  I spent most of one night trying to stop the bleeding while we finally turned off his heparin drip even though his lab levels we go by at UT were normal.  Which reminds me I need to email someone about this problem.  If we are using a lab that is not accurate then it is not safe for these patients! I will email someone now...

How was working 4 nights in a row you ask? Hard on my body? Yes, but not as bad as I thought it would be. Did I like it? Actually, yes, very much so.  I was able to have the same people back every night which made it so much better.  I love getting in a groove with things and getting to know the patients more and more each night.  Am I going to enjoy a nice margarita or 2 or 3 tonight with my girls? yes. On that note, time to take marley for a walk so I can start getting up and ready to go! 

Holy Toledo Humidity!

Dear God Toledo, why must you always be humid as hell when I just want to go on a friendly run after waking up? I went to get fingerprinted/background check for grad school in the fall and since I was right by UT’s trail I decided to take some time on a nice 6 mile run.  I was thoroughly ready for humidity...or so I thought. It ended up being a pretty good one, but just sweaty beyond belief.  After I planned on going to giant eagle to grab some snacks for Wine Wednesday with Mallory and me. And KC after rehearsal.   I felt bad for whoever came within a 5 foot radius of me. I had just enough time to come home, eat, and go to volleyball.  So I was the smelly one on the team at the beginning.  But I was glad I hadn’t showered seeing as though I had time between our games to practice my sandcastle building skills in the sand for the beach next week with the family.  

Lesson of today: it will be ridiculously humid in Toledo during the summer.  Being a smelly hot mess is going to be the theme of the summer after long bike rides and runs. And I’m ok with it. 

That’s about it. Have a wonderful, humid day.

Giving blood and saving a life

Very cliche title today. But so true. Working on the oncology floor of the hospital it seems as though I give a unit of blood or 2 at least once or twice every other week.  There was a night at work where 4 units of blood were used on one of my patients (2 of the bags went bad after some complications with getting an IV in/ a high fever ensued after starting one of them).  That is 4 different people who needed to donate to help out this one patient on one of his nights of stay! Are you getting what I’m saying to you?! We use a lot of blood on just our floor...and this is just our floor in our tiny hospital. 

I had a conversation with a patient of mine on Tuesday night about her cancer and how thankful she is to people who have helped her by giving blood.  She told me that she did not realize how important it is for people to give blood when they can, but she sure does know now! She has gotten so much blood that she now can “feel” when she needs it.  She knows when she is tired and dragging so much that a unit or 2 of blood will do her good.  After the unit she got ended she said to me “gosh I feel like a new person! Too bad it’s 3am”...I had to laugh. :)  

Moral of the story: give blood people.  Give as often as you can (if you don’t have a low hemoglobin level like I usually do. Grr.).  It literally will save a life.  You don’t have to be a superhero to save lives, just give some blood every 56 days.

A new ride to work

Last week my mom and I went on an excursion to find another bike. what? yes. another bike.  Why is this? Well, I’m going to start to bike to work and I can’t leave Jarvis outside in the middle of Toledo during the night. Just not a good idea. So I found an old one on craigslist for 40 dollars. I’ll take it. Only needed a new tire on it and it is golden.  I did a trial run last night and it worked well.  It is raining right now so I’m not sure if the biking to work tonight is going to happen unfortunately.  Maybe tomorrow night? Fingers crossed. The ride will be just over 10 miles one way so it will help add some milage on the miles needed for the training.  The bike is so much heavier than jarvis too so it adds some difficulty to the ride.  Helps me with the hills being non existent in NW ohio.  It is quite the gorgeous ride on River Road as well right by the Maumee! Maybe the amount of money that goes to gas from my paycheck will decrease as well.  At least I’m hoping so.  

Side note, this weekend was an absolute blast with my family celebrating marta and matt’s wedding. Marta looked gorgeous and Matt didn’t look to shabby either.  The different, relaxed feeling of the day made it so different than any other wedding but I think it was perfect for them.  During the afternoon (since the wedding was at 11:30) KC and I were able to explore the short north a bit and get Jeni’s ice cream: obviously.  That ice cream never fails to make me smile.  Love it.  At night we all found our way to goron biersch for some beers/dinner before char bar to celebrate some more.  Made for a wonderful night with everyone! The whole weekend was an eating spree as well.  So much food at cafe bella, then at barcelona, and at Aunt Elaine’s house.  We seriously went home with a loaf of bread from panera.  Thanks Aunt Elaine for feeding us!  Spending time with the family makes me that much more excited to go to the beach with the family next week! YAY beach!

Now to take a nap before work.