What a beautiful day!!

So this is something that I've been working on in my own life, and I thought this was a beautiful way to do it.  I was impressed when I heard President Eyring message the first time.

So several Mondays ago the weather was so beautiful, I was way motivated to get things done.  But not only was it a get it done day, but one that I easily saw some of the beautiful blessings that I have in my life.  I've been noticing these gorgeous white flowering trees that I drive by on my way through town.  (They were on Main street on Sunnyside hill), but for weeks they have cheered me up as they remind that good weather is on it's way.  I also notice the the grain in the fields was long enough to just sway with the breeze, just enough that it reminded me of the small waves of the ocean.  It was amazing how it touched me, and just made me happy be there to enjoy these small things that God created for us!!  

I also went to the grocery store in Moscow and I just happened to see this older gentleman doing his grocery shopping, but what was unique about this man was that he was pushing his wife in a wheelchair in front of him as he pulled the grocery cart behind him.  His wife wasn't interacting with anything in the environment and had some dark glasses on that hid her eyes.  I really don't know what medical condition she had, but it made me realize a few things.  First, why was I worried about doing everyday things with a new baby?  I mean honestly, how selfish am I!!  I just realized that I will have it easy in comparison to this man.  Second, what a neat guy to not find someone to either do his grocery shopping or be with his wife as he did his errands.  It got me thinking about how great of a husband I have been blessed with.  Chad does so much for me to make me comfortable and happy even after having put in a full day of rotations even, and with me being in the last leg of the pregnancy and being whiny.  What a good selfless guy I was able to find by some small miracle.  I thank heaven for him everyday!!

So after getting home I was out enjoying the great weather and I decided that I would weed our flower garden, cause I know that Chad had been meaning to do it.  For those of you who don't know Chad, he's a doer!! So when things aren't done, it frustrates him and he loves to have everything looking nice (Especially the yard).  So I knew he'd love to have it done already.  So it took him a matter of maybe 30 seconds of being home before he realized what I had done!!  That's impressive!  But I guess it was cause he was thinking he would do it when he got home that evening.  So I was able to surprise him with that little thing.  It made me feel good, since he's so busy with rotations!!I feel bad that haven't mowed the lawn this year since I've been pregnant and I'm not as good with the plants as he is, but I'm trying to get better at that too.  And amazingly, the tomato plants are doing awesome!!  We planted 3 of them in our homemade planters for people who have no garden area!! So I'll have to get some pictures updates on the soon!!

House of visitors and WSU Graduation Weekend

It's been a crazy last week!! But it was so fun. Last Sunday, I was able to go get Jen Barnes from Spokane for a visit!! I felt bad cause I had to work almost everyday she was here. It was great to get an update and hang out with her. Of course, we had to get some pictures of favorite places or the new places that she hadn't had pictures at.  So we went to go take a look for the bears....but no luck...it was raining and we didn't get to see the bear cubs, just 2 adult bears.

Then on Friday night Julie Hunt came to stay with us for a few night, so she could make it to graduation! It was great to get an update about them and spend some time with her too. (And for some reason we have no pictures of Julie.  

It felt like old times having some of the best friends that I've had here in Pullman back for a visit. I was spoiled. But it really made me miss the others that I haven't seen for a while. And you know who you are! We miss you all terribly, but hope everything is going well for you in all your various places!!!

Pompe's disease

It's been interesting today as I've been at work, I was able to take care of several patients that were outpatients. For those of you that aren't in the medical ring, these are patient that either have a minor surgery/procedure or infusion and then go home in the same day.

Well I had two infusion patients today that had enzyme replacements. One patient has Pompe's disease and has know since about 1997. This patient comes in every 2 weeks for about 5 hours of an infusion of an enzyme replacement therapy that is thought(still in research stages) to at least decrease the difficulties with Pompe's. (People with disease, have difficulty breathing and their muscle deteriorate and so it make them difficult to move around from place to place and some even have electric wheelchairs, if the disease isn't caught and treated.) But the patient still feels like his health is declining slightly, but doesn't dare stop the study because of how fast the decline
would be if he did. I didn't mention that the infusions cost about per infusion $30,000. And they get infused every 2 weeks, $60,000 a month, over $720,000 a year. Can you imagine!!! Crazy and the study doesn't pay for those infusion either!! Thank heaven for insurance!!

Well this patient helped me to learn all about this disease process, cause I haven't seen anyone with it and haven't studied about it since nursing school, but here at Pullman Regional, we are willing to participate with the study of the drug and the paperwork involved. People from several hours away will travel here to get the infusion, cause more local hospitals won't participate in the study and do the necessary work.

But it was interesting to hear from the patient about how there are lots of disease processes that have similar signs and symptoms that Pompe's does, So any of the muscular dystrophies, or even MS, have been found to be misdiagnosis at first. He even told me that infants that die of SIDS may have Pompe's too, cause of the difficulty breathing symptoms. Amazing! I had no idea, but after talking with the person, it make perfect possible sense. Not that I'm 100% convinced that all of these disease processes are really Pompe's. And all it takes to screen is a simple blood test. Now my friend Jade (HEY!!) just had an interesting post about what can possibly happen with blood draws from an experience with her husband. Sorry Ben!! But it's something to think about, and he asked me if I was going to have my baby tested. Gave me lots to think about, and for sure I'm going to ask the Dr. about it on Thursday!!