Thankful Thursday | I didn't get COVID
This week, I am thankful:
that I didn't catch Covid
I took care of a patient one day, and all was well. But the next day, the patient developed a cough and a low-grade fever.
I messaged the doctor to ask for a respiratory panel order, and I sent the swab down. In a half hour, the lab called me and I was like...uh-oh. It's not usually good news when the lab calls!
Sure enough: Covid.
Obviously, we put droplet precautions in place immediately, but they were not in place the day before.
But, I didn't get sick. Yay immune system!
that the oak flowers are falling
I'm not particularly allergic to oak pollen, but I do dislike the yellow dust that covers everything this time of year.
But, they're starting to fall this week, which means after a good rainstorm, the world will stop being a dusty yellow.
And I can wash my car!
that I successfully killed the yellow jacket in my laundry room
You may remember that I have pretty bad reactions to yellow jacket stings...like, I have to go get on steroids (which means I can't sleep), my limb swells up, and I want to itch my skin off for a good week.
Zoe found one crawling on the laundry room wall, and I couldn't get it with the swatter. I'd heard hairspray freezes their wings, though, so I did that, and he fell to the floor. I assumed he'd crawl under the washing machine and die, but nope, Zoe and I turned around, and there he was, crawling out from underneath.
We both screamed. Ha.
And then I did get him with the fly swatter. Whew.
It would have been funny to have a video of us both screaming, though. 😉
I HATE yellow jackets. Hate, hate, hate. Every time I get stung, I know I have at least a week of suffering in front of me, so I will cheerfully kill any that come into my house.
that my current class is halfway done
Week four actually ends on Sunday, but I submitted my work for this week, so I'm officially at the halfway mark.
Once this one is done, I'll have knocked out four classes. Yay me! I'm getting through it.
(With lots of complaining, but still, I'm getting it done.)
that using the AIDET method is easy for me
My hospital, like many healthcare institutions, is implementing some AIDET training, which I attended this week.
AIDET stands for acknowledge, introduce, duration, explanation, and thanks.
Basically, you say hi, you introduce yourself, you say what you're going to do, how long it will take, why you're doing it, and you say thank you at the end.
This seems extremely common sense to me, and as a friendly, chatty person, I already do all of this without thinking.
So, this expectation is gonna be super easy to meet!
that my shoulder mobility is getting so much better
I'm now able to do some things at the gym that I could not do before, which is cheerful news.
I think I'm probably getting close to being able to graduate from PT, which will be great; that will be one less thing on my weekly schedule.
But of course, as a good PT patient, I will do my home exercises as directed.
that I haven't had to do a night shift in a while
Every month when the work schedule is published, I hold my breath as I open it, hoping desperately that I will not be on nights.
And then I breathe a huge sigh of relief if it's all day shifts. Ha.
My unit knows I prefer not to work nights, but I also know I will get put there if it's necessary for staffing.
Which means every month is a nail-biting experience for me.
The schedule for May just came out, though, and I have zero night shifts. YAY!!!
Good tip on the hairspray!
I have some "fake wasps nests" in the garage to discourage wasps to build a new nest there (again. We had to remove one in the past). But they are not nearly lije the wasps where you live.
This week I am thankful for the free nationwide breast cancer screenings in our country. Although an unpleasant procedure, I always faithfully turned up at the regular intervals. So do most (but not all) women I know. A close friend was diagnosed with a pre-stage of cancer in her most recent screening, but is now in time for less invasive treatment and her prospects are very good. Such a shock, and now such a relief.
Also: tulips everywhere. When the first one are done, the spring sun has awoken the next. We have many sizes and colours and I am happy that past me took the expense and trouble to plant them. It is a joy, I really enjoy this phase of spring.
If they tested for penile or testicular cancer like they do breast cancer or cervical cancer, there would be a far more pleasant procedure. This is what I tell my NP/PCP every time they bring it up.
I am thankful that my annual physical went well. Everything in my blood work was in a normal range. I may look old but my body is working fine.
I am thankful for air conditioning. We've had crazy hot weather and I turned it on yesterday. I slept much better last night than the night before.
I am thankful a niece was able to get the documents she needs to establish Canadian citizenship. Bill C-3 makes it possible for her as she had great grandparents that came from there.
Your gratitude for AC made me laugh - I'm on the north side of Lake Ontario and when driving home in a rainstorm last night, thought "I'm so glad that the temperature is above 0 so I don't have to worry about this freezing on the road like I did last week" LOL I will sure to thank my AC when we crank it up in a few months!
Yay! for PT! I haven't gone to PT, but I have been doing a lot of stretches that are significantly helping me with an issue I have. Keep up the good work. This week I am thankful:
*that my son passed his FAA written exam yesterday! One step closer to his pilot's license. Also thankful for the aviation community; these people are noticeably kinder and more supportive than the general population.
*that it looks like the same son will be able to register for the classes he wants for next semester. Because the math program we use doesn't line up exactly with normal course descriptions and because we homeschooled/didn't do AP classes and because the community college's placement testing doesn't go high enough to place somebody into calculus, this was questionable. Also, two other classes he needs are contingent on his math placement. This isn't 100% set in stone yet, but it looks like outcomes will be favorable.
*that my senior college boy is wrapping things up. He played in the organ vespers yesterday and sang also. It was so beautiful to this mother.
*for my kids. They all pulled together yesterday to get folks where they needed to be. My husband and I had to be gone during the day yesterday (on separate adventures)-- but my youngest was sick. She was okay with staying home with my oldest daughter (who is a very good nurse). Later in the evening, the older 2 needed to be at an awards thing, but my baby wanted me to stay home--- so big brother stepped in and escorted them. Busy days like that make my head spin, but it's nice when we can all pull together to get it done.
*for spring. Sure, it's a little too hot and dry for my liking, but it's ever-so-beautiful!
*that we got our garage straightened up a good bit (not completely--we're not superheroes!). For asparagus. For the shower I'm about to take and the coffee I will make after that. That my kids are enjoying their soccer season. For those silly kitties. For a pretty walk along the canal towpath--on what we call "Bluebell Lane." That I was able to stay home with my children; it has been so good for our family. For beautiful art and music.
Congratulations to your son on completing his next step to being a pilot! I can also imagine your joy at listening to your other son sing and play the organ. Music is not something we've ever pursued for our children, and none of them was sufficiently motivated to learn on their own, but I do sort of regret the lack of formal musical training in our family.
Well, I felt the same way. It wasn't until the last couple of years that my children had lessons because my father offered to pay for them. That being said, music major son did not benefit from this. He's taken lessons while in college. Our kids definitely don't have what so many others have, and I comfort myself by reminding myself that if it is something they really want later, they can make it a priority in their adult lives. I am thankful that our church's organist/choir director is very good and has helped give the children a love for music.
And you know, it's always a trade-off. Kids really can't do it all. Some are music. Some dig sports. Some do FFA. Some just enjoy reading. I try to let each kid pick their joys.
Hi Jody, loved reading your list and perspectives!
I am sort of surprised that COVID is still tested for specifically. Is it that much different than other similar illnesses? Does it have a different treatment? I guess I don't think about it much anymore, but I'm sure it's different in a hospital setting.
Thankfuls:
--That neither my husband nor I have (yet) gotten whatever illness took out three of our kids this week. It has featured fevers and vomiting. That is not the kind of thing we can easily power through to continue caring for other people, which of course is the reality of being sick as a parent. Also thankful one of my sons hasn't gotten sick, although he's actually my most stoic sufferer when he does get sick. 🙂
--That my husband has his substitute teaching license now and so could go in on my scheduled subbing days for me this week in order for me to stay home with our sick children. He was the sub for the sub, basically.
--For some needed reminders that a difficult situation could be a lot worse. Perspective is always helpful, and it led to me adjusting my attitude. Given that there's not a lot I can actually do, an attitude adjustment on my part was the most best option.
--That we don't generally have a lot of rattlesnakes here. My dad (in Tucson) sent a video to my kids of a big one rattling next to his house with the caption "spring in our backyard," and I was so grateful that we don't see them often enough here to be blase about it like that. We do have them occasionally, but mostly we have non-venomous snakes. Still not my favorite, but not quite so anxiety-inducing.
--For a surprisingly satisfying run on Tuesday night. I always run in the morning, but that was the day my youngest woke up sick. I had been caring for sick children starting at 4:30 a.m. and never got to go for a run. After I had gotten the sick ones into bed early, I decided to make myself go, despite my tiredness, stiffness from cuddling sick kids all day, and the fact that I had already eaten. And, of course, the run loosened me up and made me feel better. It was also nice to run right at sunset, because here on the flat plain we have light for quite awhile after the sun is actually below the horizon, which meant most of my run was absent the glaring sun I'm usually dealing with.
--For the big soaking tub my husband put in when he re-did the kids' bathroom. I rarely take baths, but I did after my evening run. It helped with the lingering soreness and stiffness from my day of being in awkward positions.
"the most best option"? Inadvertent, but funny. Sounds like something a three-year-old would say. 🙂
Kristin, I'm impressed you went for a run after a long day like that! Caregiving is exhausting. Good for you getting a run in.
Oooooh, I can attest that Covid is still a thing unto itself. Six weeks ago - despite being a poster child for timely boosters - I developed a “cold” that turned into a tsunami of symptoms I will not detail. After a week, fearing a broken rib from coughing, I finally “consulted my medical professional.” Bingo! It never occurred to me to test for Covid; I didn’t even have any tests anymore.
Because I tested positive, the PA told me I could have longer symptoms (correct) and not to be alarmed. She was also more aggressive in prescribing lung meds.
Well, the respiratory panel we run tests for a zillion respiratory things, including rhinovirus, which is the common cold. And yep, in the hospital, even with a common cold, you get put on some isolation precautions. Obviously, the levels vary (a TB rule-out case is going to require a higher level of precautions than a common cold), but we just really are trying to prevent the spread of any respiratory germs.
In a crowded environment, full of people with underlying conditions, it all gets taken pretty seriously! 🙂
RE: Yellow jacket weapons - We get black widows and brown recluse spiders in our garage on occasion, and while I’m pretty use to them now and can “handle” them calmly, when we first moved here if I encountered one it would involve a lot of shrieking and looking for the nearest weapon: shovels, windshield ice scrapers, laundry starch spray, a bucket, whatever shoes I was wearing at the time, spray paint (clear coat, fortunately), etc. Glad you and your were able to defeat your foe!
This makes me think of our church. You see, we regularly have wasps (and stinkbugs and lady beetles) flying about during worship. Acolytes, ushers, and congregants have become adept at the reverent wasp swat. Sometimes it's a silent group effort. It's sometimes rather comical.
This is going to be a strange Thankful Thursday, but here we go:
--I am very, very thankful that DH was assertive in his request that the doctors culture DS#3's blood, to find out exactly what bacterial infection he has. The doctors were rather dismissive at first, the infectious disease doctor even saying "I'd be surprised if anything came up." But it did, he has a staph infection in his blood, and the antibiotics they had him on were not effective against staph, so now he's on the better ones.
--Once again, I am thankful for blood donors, as DS#3 needed a third transfusion to keep his hemoglobin above 7. We still don't know why it's dropping, for sure, but thankful there is donated blood.
--DS#2, through a series of events, ended up leaving his nurse aide job, but he says he would rather spend his days helping DS#3 at the hospital, so he feels this was part of God's plan. I'm also thankful that he got registered for his nursing classes for the fall and was able to get assigned to the clinicals at the hospital he wanted (the one DS#3 is currently at, where the care is, even given Thankful #1, still better than the hospital where he got the staph infection!!)
--For lovely weather and open windows.
--For the good health of my other DS's and my relative good health--aside from the odd sleep-deprivation headache, I'm not doing too badly.
--For the Commodore, who remains a steadfast companion and source of amusement and delight for us through this time. His latest trick is to beg to go out to the garage (he has an extra litter box out there and also likes to explore), and refuse to come in at night so that I have to go pick him up and carry him in like a baby. And he sleeps by my side every night.
Oh, a couple more thankfuls about the hospital: When we went to visit DS last night, we noticed he seemed to be having trouble drawing a deep breath. His O2 sat was fine, but his heart rate was alarmingly high. He called the nurse and within two minutes they put him on a liter of oxygen, and then within twenty minutes the portable X ray team was there to get a chest x-ray and ten minutes later a nice lady came in to get an EKG. The response time was impressive, considering it was nearly 8 pm.
Wishing you the best for DS3's recovery. I hope the medication will take on!
thankful for you, that my m-i-l is still around although she is in hospital again. this time for 3 weeks. that i will speak to the dr. buddy saw last friday to get the info on his possible kidney disease. for beautiful weather. and my son is 15 tomorrow. where did the time go?
I can't imagine having to do night shifts in my forties. It makes me exhausted thinking about it! So glad you're free for a month!!
My husband is epi-pen levels of allergic to stinging insects. I'm the killer of all stinging things in our house. I got a wasp and a yellow jacket (mean suckers) yesterday and then cleaned the smash & fall areas in case they left their little tracking pheromones to encourage buddies to come to their aid.
Thankful we have some cooler temps coming after a week of 90s in April in VA! Thankful for a grill to avoid oven heat. Thankful for having a body that is strong enough to climb on chairs and swat stinging insects. Thankful for leftovers nights built regularly into our family's week (and the respite that gives). Thankful that my kids get super excited to bring leftovers to co-op days and are just generally healthy eaters.
- I'm thankful that DH has been gone on a walk with me every day this week. Given his health issues, it's never a guarantee that he will feel up to going.
- I'm thankful that grandson's other set of grandparents could keep him yesterday when he had an earache and took him to the doctor to find out he has yet another ear infection.
- I'm thankful DS finally got his time scheduled to work at an elementary school. He needs those hours for his education class, and the semester is rapidly coming to an end.
- I'm thankful our family will be able to get together this weekend to celebrate DS's birthday.
- I'm thankful for air conditioning. It has been hot here this week. We had at least one day that was 90 degrees.
I used some all-purpose cleaner spray to kill some fruit flies last year!
Thankfuls:
1. I motivated myself to go to the gym early this morning before work and felt great for getting my workout done first thing. I also had time for a sunrise swim in the sea!
2. I made it to a yoga class last night. I missed it last week so was happy to get there.
3. I managed to increase my running time. I went for a run last week and ran for fifty minutes.
4. I wanted to reread The Testaments as the TV series came out, and assumed it would be on a waiting list at the library. Surprisingly it wasn't so now I'm reading it again!
5. I'm thankful that the weather is getting warmer and the days are brighter!
It's already wasp season here too. Over the weekend, DH swatted one near the sofa and did not see where it fell or if it was truly dead. Our young dog, who is small, found it still kicking and got stung on her leg a couple of times. I gave her half a Benedryl tablet and she was fine by morning. Thankful for that!
Today I am thankful that my ex and I can now talk with each other peacefully about family issues that affect both of us -- our children and grandchildren. There is lots of drama going on, and it's so good that our past personal rancor is not part of the equation.
I am thankful that the pain in my hip and shoulder is getting better, even as I wait for the MRI that will answer some questions.
I am thankful that I manage my money well! I am surrounded by people who don't, and who just can't see that they are the source of their own problems.
I am thankful that I seem to be sleeping better after a long period of insomnia.
I am thankful for my good friend who listens to all my woes and is always supportive.
Your #3! It is so hard to witness other people's train wrecks when you know they could have been easily avoided. (But you know that un-asked for advice is usually only resented.)
I’m thankful for/that …
- My youngest is turning 8 years old today. We love her (our ninja bunny snuggler) and she is such a blessing.
- Our mommy-daughter date yesterday. We had so much fun making floral bouquets together, eating yummy treats, and dancing to music.
- A slower and calmer volunteer day at church this week. Gave me a chance to catch up with my labeling and tidying things in the kids’ area.
- For the start of spring like warmer weather, non windy days, earlier sunlight in the day, birds tweeting, and trees budding.
- Rest and the chance to catch up on sleep.
Gratitude:
I have the circumstance, ability and willingness to keep a ordered, clean and well appointed home and yard. I have been retired now for nearly two years. I have created a xeriscape in the front yard, worked on irrigation, pruned, re-seeded, worked with big men with rock moving men and three car garage doors. I was raised that "THIS IS MEN'S work."
Not to my Hubby. He was the first man to really believe in me. He is not one for compliments but he automatically assumes I can do anything. I overhead him at a party once: All Mary Ann has to do is read a book and she can do anything. I bet she could do brain surgery.
I am grateful for this home of 25 years. We grew a family in it. I became a confident and loving wife and mother in it. Precious. I hope it will be just as wonderful for the next family in it.
Mary Ann, your DH's confidence in you reminds me of my DH's confidence in me. One time when he was already into the early stages of his Alzheimer's, I was making some joke about me being "a fragile flower of the South" (having been born and raised in TN). He looked at me and said, "You're about as fragile as a B-52." One of the best compliments he ever paid me.
This is the highest compliment to a resourceful woman:)
I had a friend give me a sticker that says “not fragile like a flower. Fragile like a bomb” love that
We might say that you didn't need whiskers to do that. 😉
My husband often compliments me, and the best is when he compliments all women by saying we're superior in every way.
This isn't just a women's blog so I should have used "they're" instead of "we're" - either way, my husband believes women are better at everything. He has said this for almost 50 years!
Good info about hair spray vs wasps!
Thankful that we made it through a bad round of storms a couple of nights ago. Many had significant damage to their home/property, and my heart goes out to them.
Thankful that my BIL's health, which required hospitalization, is improving.
Very grateful to locate a good quality used car for my daughter!
And for my steady, hard-working husband, who did all the legwork to locate said car.
Also for my cats, who find something new to do to make me laugh on a constant basis (I'm sure it's all for my benefit! Ha!).
Glad you dodged Covid, a yellow jacket sting, and night shifts. This must be you lucky week!
1. I got the Spectrum Motorola cell phone to finally work...and actually make calls. Just needed to take it to their phone store so they could pop in the SIM card for me.
2. Free TV shows. Putting the indoor antenna in the window brings in more stations to watch. I'm enjoying the Southern gospel music extravaganzas on the religious station out of Baton Rouge even if I am not into that denomination. Incredible musicians there! Getting to watch an hour of Jeopardy, one year-old game and the current one, each weekday if I'm not working. And ME TV is running Hogan's Heroes again, albeit at an earlier time and only one episode. (Who needs to watch the 5 o'clock news, anyway?) That's all my entertainment, free of charge.
3. My very loving Snuggly Wuggly dog.
4. Menopause. Yes. For real. I've been in what I call my "mini pause" for many years now, and I feel I got my life back when the periods ended. Not having to arrange my life around 28 day cycles is a huge blessing. Ditto, the bad surprise of an irregular period. I was reminded of this the other day, when a coworker had to run to the back and buy some pads and Ibuprofen. Yes, it was/is a curse!
5. Two more months and the new roof is paid off. Very happy to not have shingles blowing off -- but will be even happier not to have to write that great big check each month.
6. Progressive Insurance is sending me a check for property damages caused early last March by that moving truck, and the government is investigating them. Also for all the people who helped me work through this major problem.
Government is investigating the moving company, not Progressive, that is
So thankful for the steroid injection in my hip and referral for PT even if just for a few weeks, then will resume on my own ( and in between). Bring able already to ho up and down stairs without psin less than 24 hours later is wonderful. Im thankful that my family has means to do a dry goods stock up. Necessary but boring purchase so I make a Sam's Club just quarterly to really stock up. Thankful for back to back Friday afternoon only substitute teaching job to get pit of the house, enjoy time with young people, earn a bit of money, but not be wiped out after a full day.
First, I send sympathy to @Karen A., @kristin @ going country, and everyone else dealing with family or personal illness right now. I may have taken a couple of bad falls, but I've stayed remarkably healthy otherwise through a long hard winter, and I'm thankful for that.
And I don't know if anyone else in the Commentariat is a fan of traditional Irish music--but I'm thankful for the life, work, honesty, and blazing talent of Moya Brennan, the harpist and lead singer of the family group called Clannad, who died April 13. Her funeral Mass is being livestreamed on Facebook at 2 pm tomorrow Irish time (I think this is 9 am EDT), and I'm going to try to tune in through DH's FB account (which I've kept open as a memorial site for him, though I rarely use it). RIP to a woman who's been called "the first lady of Irish music."
Oh yes, I love her music!
Last night, a dear friend brought her grandson to watch the stars thru my old school telescope for a class presentation about dark week. We only got rained on once.
The in ground tulips are starting to bloom.
The dog woods and lilacs are budding up.
I invited mom's friend to lunch and a visit.
I love Spring. The morning birdsong is so happy, a fire in the morning to take the chill off, but not feed all the live long day and a quilt to snuggle in at night.
The ophthalmologist says the two things that are wrong with my eyes are stable, so my recent sight problems are age-related and new contacts should address that. This one is a big deal for me.
Panda Express continues to have relatively nutritious fast food, served by thoroughly pleasant, helpful, and accommodating staff.
That I reconnected with a now-retired coworker/work friend and he's as nice as ever.
That a knitting colleague may become a friend after all. We're friendly but she hasn't had/made time to get together other than knitting; this may now change.
That my father continues to aggressively take care of this health. This week's focus is hearing and his hearing aids. Specifically getting them comfortable so he'll actually wear them.
Panda Express is so good, yes!
I don't post often but I enjoy reading everyone's comments. Today I am very thankful for some good things:
My new job starts Monday!
My kids are all happy and healthy and on their own paths.
My garden is planted and I am looking forward to fresh veggies!
I wish you all a great week!
I wish my medical personnel would do more of E. It would help me if I knew why they want things done. They just say they are ordering things then I have to decide which to do. I am old. I no longer want invasive procedures. Without any explanations, how can I make informed decisions? Once again, I wish you were my nurse.
The ER is the absolute worse for E. They send young Suzie to tell you she's there to take you for test X. When you ask why, you get "doctor says so". Not happening with me - you best give me the reason for the test else I am refusing the test. All the while the ER docs are pretty much hiding.
This week I am thankful . . .
-that my son and I recovered quickly from the sickness that hit us both on Monday. We both spent a good 36 hours out for the count, but yesterday all I needed was Tylenol to feel back to normal. Of course, then I made the mistake of drinking a Mountain Dew, and I don't know if it was all the sleep I got on Monday and Tuesday or the sugar and caffeine, but I slept very little last night. Tonight I will be thankful for my bed!
-that I only have to teach four more class meetings. I am at the end of a three year fellowship, and while I will be sad to leave my university in about a month, I have senioritis real bad. I am sitting her commenting on your blog when I should be preparing for the class that starts in an hour. I have done zero grading for weeks. Your professors are counting down the days just like you are.
-that I might get the job for which I am interviewing. I have not gotten so many jobs at this point. But also every job for which I interviewed before this one seemed to come with a really steep downside. This job is kind of amazing. Will I get it? I am scared to be fully hopeful, but I am thankful for what feels like a little glimmer of hope.
-for the dress I am wearing. It is light and breezy for this hot weather, makes me feel pretty, and cost only a few bucks at Goodwill. I googled it when I found it and learned it was an expensive dress that I suspect the woman donated because she couldn't get the slight armpit stains out of it. So many of my best Goodwill finds are similar--expensive items in good shape that happen to have a little stain or a tear. An oxyclean soak fixed this dress right up.
You may think that AIDET is common sense but you would be amazed at how many doctors, nurses and other medical staff don't even do the basics: INTRODUCE THEMSELVES by name and what they do.
Inevitably, I have to interrupt and say: Please. Who are you and what is your position and why are you here? More times than not. People point to the badges (which are rarely readable as they are mostly turned around and depending how far the person is from you....). It is beyond annoying. It is unprofessional and rude.
And it is problematic for a patient who may be in pain or otherwise not feeling well and very weak to have to now try to figure out who is here and why.
It's the worst when more than one person enters and I'm not talking a bunch of residents.
Hopefully your good example will influence other medical staffers to do the basics.
It is beyond common sense for a staffer to introduce themselves. Happens in hospitals, in doctor appointments.
I start by introducing myself in a doctor appointment because in a multiple practice, I've had the wrong doctor come in and not even know it till I introduce myself. Seriously, AIDET is NOT a small thing to practice. And the fact that it has to be taught? OMG. It says a lot about the medical "profession."
Glad the bee didn't get you. I'd be screaming too if I ended up as you do when bitten.
That reminds me of a 10CC ?
lyric "bedside manners are extra".
I noticed during childbirth that nurses were more approachable than the gynacologist/obstetrician. I kept asking what they were doing.
Sadly, even as nurses we experience it in the work place. On our Peds unit, we would regularly have doctors or surgeons we don't normally see, come to consult on a patient. They would badge into the unit, and literally walk right past the desk with one or two of us looking at them, and keep walking. Soooo many times, one of us would say, "Excuse me... who are you and who are you seeing?". Even if we assumed it was the surgeon for the appy patient or whatever, we did it to make a point. They were coming on to a locked unit first of all, never mind, the rudeness of looking at the charge and other nurses and not acknowledging us in any way. A simple "Hi, I'm ____ and here to see____" would go a long way!
Ah, the badge issue; mine is ALWAYS flipping around to the wrong side! I always try to pay attention and flip it around properly but it inevitably flips again.
Luckily, I am a pretty constant presence in my patient's days once I introduce myself in the morning, so if my badge is backwards it is less of a big deal.
Found super cheap tickets for a massive indoor climbing jungle gym with zip lines, rapelling etc for my kids & I during my Staycation (also frugal-I'm getting paid to be off work And doing cheap fun day trip things!)
It finally Rained!! My Farm has been gasping for moisture & I'm sick of watering, in April for heavens sake
Several excellent books read in a row recently
My bestie arrives tomorrow from NYC for a quick weekend visit-So Excited!!
This is my first post here but I regularly read and appreciate Thankful Thursday.
My thankful list:
** that I feel able to post finally on a Thursday. I have struggled with thankfulness. Our family life has been disrupted by one son estranging us. This has been incredibly painful and continues to be so but we, me especially, are beginning to function better. It has been a year with no progress through therapy and he doesn’t choose to continue. Prayers that reconciliation occurs.
** that my husband has been such a pillar of strength even though he cries as well
**that we are planning a vacation in a few weeks. It has been hard to look forward so this is progress.
**that this blog has given and continues to give me a place of calmness and inspiration. The good energy just flows here❤️
**that my daughter in law cares for our granddaughter so well. She is often left to single handedly manage home, work, and child because my son’s job involves much travel that is often without notice.
Now I need a tissue.
I am sorry. That sounds really hard
Janice, I'm so sorry for your pain. I have also experienced a devastating estrangement and it's pure agony. May continued therapy and your vacation bring you some happiness.
Aww, Janice, I am so sorry about the estrangement. Sending you a big hug and wishing you strength for healing for yourself, even if the estrangement carries on.
This week I am thankful for….
• My son’s school offers practice SAT testing during school hours for all students.
• My grandma’s personality is still as lovely as ever despite her ever increasing memory loss. I know this isn’t always the case so I relish everyday that she is herself.
• Helpful customer service people. I had a few issues pop up this week with various things and I needed some outside help. Everyone I talked to was so nice and helpful and got my issues resolved quickly.
• I’m about to head out of town for a weeklong work trip and I don’t need to do any prep work for my husband (which was not the case in my previous life).
Have you ever tried the drinking glass method to get rid of wasps? I wait until they land on a window (or wall) and then cover them with a glass. Then you slip a piece of paper between the window and the glass cup. You quickly turn the cup upside down and cover the paper with your hand. The wasp's stinger is pointing to the bottom of the glass so your hand is not at risk of getting stung. Then you open a door and toss the wasp outside (like you are throwing out a glass of water). It's been 100% effective for me. Just in the event you are ever out of hairspray (or don't want to risk missing it with a swatter).
Thankful to be at the beach for a few days (and also thankful that I only live 75 miles away from the coast). Thankful that my mom paid for the first 2 nights, that I got a discount for the 3rd night AND that the owner offered me a 4th night for just $10!! I had trouble with the lock getting in and she felt really bad about that and there was one night between me and the next booking and she didn't want to rent it out for just one night, so I got the blessing! Very thankful indeed.
I'm now 12 weeks out from the automobile accident which hospitalized me for almost 11 weeks.
I'm home now in Toronto, and walking with a walker or cane. It's been a steady recovery, and I am so grateful for my good health to start with and the wonderful care I have received in Kelowna and Toronto.
My daughters have been wonderfully present and supportive, and my hiking and choir community have stepped up in the transition to living alone in my apartment.
I have a way to go, but I know I will recover completely one day. I look forward to getting back to leading hikes in the fall, and going on the Camino next summer with my family.
Darlene, you've been through a lot and I'm so happy to hear of your progress. Cheering you on!
I know probably most of your readers won't get this or care, but when you were saying that you hate yellow jackets, as a Georgia Bulldog, I had to laugh. So what am I thankful for? That I'm not a Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket. Go Dawgs!! 🙂
Just thankful my family has enough food to eat, a roof over our heads, each other.Simple pleasures go way far in helping us stay centered,callm and content in these times.
Thankful I have good cooking skills, cleaning skills, know how to have a full life without spending a ton of $$, and have a husband on same wavelength.We love walking in local parks, swimming in the river, reading books, watching youtubes..
Thankful for my health.It is priceless!!
I AM SO HAPPY TO HEAR you have no nightshifts in May! I am a retired RN, night shifts were very very hard on me, too!!
Congrats on all those classes completed, you will have that BSN before you know it!
You should title your blogs "Kristen after dark| when you are working nights.
Despite tornado sirens going off two nights this week (and I suspect again tomorrow), no damage here. Night one sibling and spouse crated their six cats and headed to the basement. Night two the weather person took a pause while he hit the shelter room at the station (which is about 11 miles from me). We did get a little water in the basement from day two but it has stopped.
Lots of thunder, lightening, and rain = a fistful plus of asparagus. I'll be watching the patch daily.
Since I WFH, I was able to take shop vac shifts today. The water was slowly seeping in but as we all know, it would continue to spread. Better half has all shelving/cupboards on platforms so nothing got damaged/ruined. We have a dedicated shop vac in the basement.
We have a sump pump and egress window in the basement. We added onto the house and put in a full basement for it. It was a fire trap and dumping gallons of water into the septic means having to pump it sooner than our normal schedule.
That we pump said septic every 3 years. Unlike a prior neighbor, I'll not have raw sewage back up into my house TWICE before I pump it.
Today I am thankful for:
1. The fact that I woke up early enough to attend an early morning prayer meeting. It was a good way to focus my day.
2. The person who agreed to drive bus so that 4 classes can go on a long, special field trip this spring. Finding a bus driver had been weighing on me and causing some anxiety. I am feeling a bit less stressed now.
3. My cousins' visas were renewed at the last minute, so they will not have to leave the country where they are serving.
4. I have had lots of yummy leftovers in my fridge which makes my long work days this week a little easier.
5. Tea--a nice strong cup of black tea is so comforting.
Thankful that I’ve never gotten covid (crosses fingers)
'using the AIDET method is easy for me'
so glad of this.
I want to know what is happening and why. Sometimes information is added when I ask.
Yellow jacket sting is Very painful. I use the glass & paper method too.
I like to have a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol around. It’s really effective at killing bugs (especially cockroaches)!