The man that exploded!

So there is so much for me to catch up on blogging about, but I figure I need to write about my experience last weekend at work before I forget all the details.

So on Saturday I had to work which means I was 37.5 weeks along in my pregnancy. I was having a steady morning with a discharge order for one of patient right at the start of the shift. I usually am pretty fast about getting all the paperwork done and really did jump on it fast and let my patient know when a good time a right could come pick her up. I though everything was under control and so I sent the other nurse in the unit I work in to eat some breakfast since one of her patients was just taken to surgery. So I'd really not have many patients I needed to watch (3). Well that what I thought.

So shortly after I sent Cindy to eat breakfast, my other patient(who had his bladder removed due to bladder cancer and had a illeostomy) called complaining of not feeling well. (He was trying solid food for the first time that morning since surgery) So I thought, we just pushed this a little fast, it was scrambled eggs though. So usually a nice soft food to start out with is great, but I pulled back his table and saw some drainage on his gown. So I thought I better investigate....So I pulled back his gown to see a full JP (Jackson Pratt) drain. (Basically it's a depressed bulb hooked to a tube inside his stomach area to drain out blood and other stuff out of the surgery area). So I went and got the container to empty the drain and when I popped open the little tab to empty it..It started spouting out!! I was so surprised. I hadn't had that happen in all my years of nursing. I even told him, "I haven't had that happen to me in the 8.5 years I've been a nurse." I also noticed that his other dressings had more drainage on them than they had earlier. I figured I better go double check what I had for an order to either change the dressing or reinforce them. My patient then started telling me that his abdomen really was hurting!!! I could tell because he was getting up pacing the room because it hurt more to sit or lay down!! He has a history of asthma and had been having quite a strong cough, which is a good thing to do after surgery to move air throughout the lungs and avoid getting pneumonia, but I kept telling him it wouldn't hurt as bad if he'd take a pillow and squeeze it against his stomach as he coughed. Well I hadn't had very good luck getting him to do that all morning.

Well off I went to find this man some pain med... I knew he was horribly uncomfortable. So I got the rest of his morning meds with them, cause he was running a high blood pressure and should probably get his blood pressure meds, right. Well after giving him the Demerol he stood back up and was starting to pace a little as I was preparing and scanning the rest of his meds, when he told me he was going to be sick. (BTW, I never like any patient telling me that) So I jumped to the closet where we have basins and dumped whatever the rest of the contents were out and rushed to get this basin to him. As he turned around on the other side of the bed to grab the basin, I heard this POP POP SquiSH!! and simultaneously saw his gown ballooned up to rival the pregnant woman that I've become!!

At that point I realized a few things: 1. I had a pretty good idea what had just happened. 2. I didn't have anyone in the unit that I could yell for. 3. I hadn't put on my Vocera badge that I usual put on every morning that makes me connected to the rest of the employees in the hospital. 4. I had to get some help some how and take care of my patient!!

So I had the patient lay down on the bed, cause he was still talking and being coherent!! And I used his phone to call the Clinical Coordinator (House Supervisor). So she got there shortly after I pulled back my patients gown and saw intestines peeking out from under the dressing that used to be taped on all 4 sides!! Wow I really hadn't seen that one coming from the my first clues, and I sure didn't think that anything that drastic would happen before I could get his pain under control and take a look at the dressing myself.

I'm just amazed at the team work that comes from working in this little hospital as I had the hospitalist at the bedside and he never left, and two nurses(Cindy and Nikki) assisting me at the bedside while the Clinical Coordinator (Sandy M) contacted the surgeon on call and a 2nd OR crew to come do surgery. It ran very smoothly and patient did well and maintained that high blood pressure clear through. (I never thought I'd be so happy to see someone hypertensive.) Within about 40 minutes we had him intubated and sedated/paralyzed, while the surgeon came and placed his intestines back in in abdominal cavity for transport to the OR, where he under went a major antibiotic washing and they remade his illeal conduit too (the first one was looking a little dusky in color). I was amazed though to see the intestines and how they were filled with air and fluid and that I could see some of the fluid in the intestine as the surgeon placed them back in the abdomen. (Sorry if that grosses anyone out.)

Later I asked the hospitalist and the surgeon how many times they had seen this happen and each of them had said about 3-5 times in their careers. One is a retired gentleman that just does on call surgeries for us and was in the army (I think). The hospitalist had seen most of his in his residency.

So far the outcome is good and my friend is on the recovery. He was extubated on Monday and he took a few steps at the bedside yesterday!! We've come to be good friends and he told me that I needed to be his nurse everyday. "If I've got to be in here, so do you!" he says. Well he gave him self the name of the exploding man (and okayed me writing this blog) as I talked to him about the thoughts that he had as this happened to him. I felt bad, cause I can imagine that would be the worst nightmare to have to live through and then have to live through the increased pain that comes with another major surgery in such a short time frame.

Recently I've had some really sick patients come my way and people have started labeling me as a problem child or a poop magnet. But I'm so excited that with the last 3 ventilated patients that I've helped take care of...they all got better. Well the other 2 have gone home and this one is on the mend.

This was definitely not what I expected to have happen to me coming to work on Saturday, but what an interesting experience I won't be forgetting anytime soon!!! I hope I didn't gross anyone out. I just wanted to keep some of the details for my memory sake, cause hopefully I don't have to see that again.

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!!

Coming to Grips!

So I realize that my last pregnancy update sounded pretty hysterical. And in reality I was pretty hysterical. I'm realizing that I feel like I needed to have everything figured out. I need to know exactly how I'm going to cope with the birth, what kind of mom I'm going to be, how am I going to pay all the bills while I'm on maternity leave, who's going to be with our baby when I go back to work, etc. And the list could go on and on. So Yes I was freaking out. But I'm coming to realize that I really don't have to figure everything out before it all happens.

So from Stake Conference adult session didn't really explain what I learned. But it made me realize that with the economical uncertainty, (I'm sure everyone is feeling at least a little), that things are going to get better with the economy, but that we have the knowledge that will get us through the tough times. With this statement I realized that I don't need to know all of these fine details about what's in our future, cause I have faith that the Lord will take care of us as long as we are doing what we should.

After I let this sink in a little while, as I thought about some of those things that were bothering me, logically things have kind of just been eased in my mind and I realize some possible solutions to some of my worries. I realize that as I just continue to live doing the basic (prayer, scripture study, attending my church meetings and fulfilling callings to the best of my ability) then the answers will be apparent when the time comes with the decisions we'll be making.

I also decided that I must thing I'm never going to see Chad, and in reality I realize that the month of November might be a little hard for me cause Chad will be in Caldwell for that month, but I know that we'll figure that out too. I'm sure I'll be busy just trying to take care of our little one and working and keeping the house up too. Who has time to miss Chad when you have all that going on right?!! Well I can keep talking myself into it!! Wish me luck with that one.

Oh how embarrassing.

So I just have to say that I have the cutest, most modest husband.  Several weeks ago he had 3 test in a week, which is always a little stressful for him.  It just happened that it was the week that I was working a ton and had to work the weekend following.  So I was pretty busy myself.  So to get more time together, Chad tries to come in around lunch time on the days I work and have lunch with me.  Which I love cause it breaks up my 12 hour day!!! 

But on this one day Chad came in and we were just sitting down to eat when Chad turned to me and said, "The most embarrassing thing happened to me today!"  So automatically I think about the times I've split my pants on dates (Yes, I mean times), or when I totally had my organ piece music for Junior Miss upside down and totally goofed up in front of the entire audience.  But Chad goes on to explain that on his neurological test earlier in the week, they had a new format... it was movie clips of signs and symptoms of neurological diseases.  I think lots of people that are really book smart have a more difficult time with the practical side of medicine/practice, which I feel this test actually measures a little bit better.    

Well Chad got 100% on the test and so the professor gave him these reflex hammers in front of the entire class.   Oh how embarrassing!!! But isn't it great that Chad has practical knowledge.  I just know he's going to do so well as he starts his 4th year in a few weeks!!

So Chad was teased for a bit from classmates, but I'm so proud.  I have always known that he's amazing and smart, but I'm proud of his work ethic that make him  that way too.  Thank heaven he can motivate himself to study, cause I'm always distracting him coming up with reasons I need to spend time with him.  

So I'm sure that Chad is going to kill me when he reads this, and he's going to be embarrassed all over again, but I'm so proud of him I had to share!!!  

30 weeks update & Stake Conference

So I'm not sure how many really wanted to see that, but for Chad's and my family that won't really see me showing before she's born, Here they are. Pictures at 30 weeks!!

So now that the craft fair is done with. I've decided that it's time to read and get prepared for the baby. I haven't read anything really, besides the developement of the baby as she's been growing. So with all the craft fair stuff I had to work the one weekend that Chad could go to a birthing class with me. So after talking with Dr. Minudri about what type of education prior to the birth, that we should have, he said that we could read a book and ask any questions that we had.
So I've been reading the book Your Pregnancy & Birth, which the Dr. gave to us on the first visit to comfirm our pregnancy. Well it's been a good book. It's reminded me of all those things that I learned while I was in nursing school and so it's all coming back to me. But I was surprised at the feelings that came with it. I started to just think about how everything that has been for the last few years is going to change. Not only are we going to have a baby, but Chad is going to be in his Fourth year of Vet school. What was I thinking!! All of a sudden I'm not sure I am ready for that. AHHH! Has anyone else done that? I remember talking with my friend Brenda from work(HI!), she and her husband just had an adorable little boy this last year, and she told me how it does totally change your life to have a new baby, not only your entire body, but it changes your relationship with your spouse as well. But she also said she would have it any other way either. So it changes things in such a dramatic way, but for the better.

So I just have to keep that in mind. But after a very emotional Friday,(Poor Chad. Where do these hormones come from???!!!)I was able to get off work just a little early(Thanks Jan!!) so I could make it to the adult session of Stake Conference. As sad as the night was for me, cause our Stake Relief Society Presidency that I was serving in for the last 8 months was released from our service, the meeting was just what I needed!! I was still emotional, but I was so sad to be released, I have really enjoyed being in on the meetings with the Stake Presidency and see the love they have for those they have stewardship over. They spend a lot of time away from their families, for us, those they serve. What neat men and obviously amazing wives too, cause they are supportive even though I'm sure they have to be more diligent in their own homes.

But the best part was listening to these wonderful men, and Gail our former RS President and then hear the testimony of Melissa Eichner, our new RS Pres. They just were inspired to talk about the hard times that we all are facing, but gave a perspective on what we can do to make it better and realize that time will make things better, but just to continue to live the way we know we should be living as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But the music was wonderful!! I had tears just streaming down my face on the last number and couldn't even hold up my part of singing in the congregation! I almost made the chorister loose it too. Oh WOW!!

So these talks made me realize that I am freaking out about the baby coming...I just wasn't helping that she was pushing on my ribs on my right side for a week straight!!! I think I now know what it feels like to have chest tubes rubbing on the nerves along your ribs. It causes a burning pain I've never felt before that is constant!!! I know now why we give narcotics to people who do have chest tubes, cause Tylenol doesn't touch it at all. But all is well....for the first time that I've noticed, she moved and her feet are now pointing downward, which causes different sensations, but nothing near as intense as the rib pain. Oh it also helps that I realized, that pioneer women did all of this in pregnancy and still had to walk miles in a day. What a whiner I am!! I realized women were made to have kids and I can cope too. So I'll be fine!! But I would love to hear about anyone else that had odd or simliar feelings with their pregnancies, it would make me feel so much better!!!

Yard pictures

So I was going through my folders of pictures and realized I never got around to blogging about our yard.  Chad and I have worked pretty hard the last few years to get our dirt hill to me something enjoyable. (Really probably more Chad than me, but I try to help out) After 3 retaining walls later and some flower beds, we really got to enjoy it last year with a few BBQs.  We were going to extend our cement patio across the back of our house last year, but it never seemed to get done.  But we hear, the guy is going to come soon to pour it!!  YEAH.  It'll be nice to finally be done with the yard.

 But when are we really done with our yard.  Chad starts his 4th year of Vet school in a matter of weeks and there for has no summer off this year.  So I'm sure we'll be limited in what we do.  Chad is so funny though.....He is already commenting about how "our grass is all dead and everybody else has a greener lawn than ours,  Our grass is going to grow back right?  I really wish we had the sprinklers on."  So we haven't had tons of warm weather to make it green up, but we are in some need of some sprinklers to be turned on, and soon.   So these pictures are really from last year, cause Chad would be so embarrassed to show pictures right now.

So our project for this year is how to get a garden in this yard.  So something else Chad has been working on is seed starters.  He planted them the weekend that started Spring Break and by the next weekend, we had plants sprouting!!

So after the progress we've seen on the starters inside, Chad had to move the peas to another container for some more growing room.  So the tomatoes will be planted in some garbage cans that we'll fill the bottom with aluiminum and tin cans to help drain water off the soil.  We're also hoping the edges of the can will help protect the plants from the wind.  Then the rest of the starters are flowers and will be interspersed with the bulbs that finally came up from last spring. 

Well there was one Lily that came up last summer.

So here's the 1 week seedlings

Here are the tomato plants

And the replanted peas!!!!

Labor predictions

So I've had this in my edit file since the day I did it and am finally posting it.  I thought it was cute.  I got it from a friends blog.   Thanks Ash!  I'm just hoping that it's not accurate on the late part.

If you want to play along go to .http://www.justmommies.com/quizzes/labor_prediction_quiz.php

for your own labor prediction.

 I had to call my mom for some of this information too.  Not things that I knew about my own birth, so it was kind of cool to get some of those details. Here's my labor prediction. 

I know you were hoping we weren't going to say this, but don't expect this baby to come early. Your baby is nice and comfy tucked away in your womb and has no interest in joining the rest of the world. We predict your baby will be born after its due date. Your baby will most likely be born in the morning. Justmommies predicts that your baby will weigh approximately 7.3 pounds and that your labor will be about 13 hours long.

Craft Fair, WSU Mom's weekends April 3-4th

So here are a few of the pictures from our Mom's Weekend Craft Fair that Camille Rupp, My sister-in-law, Stacie, and I did. With all out hard work we at least broke even and did make a little money. We're in the middle of trying to get taxes in to see really how much we made. So was it worth it????

Well in some ways it was a screaming sucess. I got an offer to sell my picture plaques in a little craft shop in Ephrata WA. I think that's how you spell it. And also got approached about doing a booth at the Big Red Barn events this year in Colton. If I decide to do these, it is still to be determined. We also got approached to sell these adorable birch wood scrapbooks, because "they go perfect with our baby things and cute dresses." I also have had people call me for some custom orders too. It's been exciting to see people so excited about things that we made.

It was incredible to hear all the positive comments as people looked through our booth. And our booth was almost always full all day Saturday. I was just glad that we were positioned where we were, cause we kind of overflowed into the booth next to us. Thanks to the Wolfe's that were selling the beautiful wood cutting boards next to us that were kind enough to let us let us crowd them all day. We also had many people comment on how cheap our things were priced. Which I realized after I went and visited the Now & Then store in Moscow and also when we compared ourselves to the other craft booths there at the Fair.

Here's a picture of the baby section that I made. I had tons of people comment on them, but most of the ladies were not far enough along to know whether they were having a boy or a girl. So most of this is all still available, or I could make you the set of blocks with colors of your choice.

So I didn't quite get all my Vinyl lettering on time cause of mail difficulty, so I have some cute windows, tiles, cards, and crafts that are still looking for a home. So if you're interested let me know.

I will have more up close pictures of things I still have available, but I'm feeling the need to catch up to date with what is going on now.