Night Terrors or the Sixth Sense??

So right now I am on my 5-day weekend (ya-hoo!) and am on my 3rd night off. It has been nice and well-earned. I definitely need this break from work. 

However, I got to witness something I only heard about from my husband. Starting back in October, Bella started having night terrors. Of course, every time she had one I was working....until last night. Now she has only had it about 4 or 5 times, but it sounded frightening when my husband would tell me about it. Well, last night I got to see it first hand and Oh. My. God. Talk about freaky.

I was brushing my teeth in the bathroom when my daughter (and btw she is 5) started whimpering. John immediately went back to comfort her. Then she just started screaming. I ran in; I was standing next to her bed and John was half-lying on her bed. She was staring into the space between us, crying hysterically and saying "I promise!! I promise!!" She literally looked like she was in a trance. I made John move, sat down and grabbed Bella. All of a sudden, she blinked and leaned into me, crying softly this time. So we took her in the bathroom, gave her a quick shower, dressed her, and laid her back down. She was fine by this point and went right to sleep. She's fine now; no remnants of last night lingering. I am still recovering! I can't help thinking of all those horror movies where the bad spirits got the young children. And let's not even think about the fact that the small town we live in is considered one of the most haunted cities in America.

Now maybe my imagination is running away at the moment. But if things start going bump in the night, you can bet I will be moving in with someone across the river. :0

-Liz

The Snarkiness of the Skinnies

Newsflash to those of you who know me: I am overweight. Gasp! I know, you had no clue, right? ;-) Anyways, I am working on a meal plan, just counting calories and exercising. I have been sick for about a week now, some sort of respiratory infection, and have not exercised in a few day, but am getting back in the saddle tomorrow! I look forward to making some real progress soon.

I like reading about others' progress and think it's very inspiring. However, some are OBSESSED with it. Like "all I had were rice cakes, an avocado and oh yeah that colon cleanse, why are there still fat people out there? Whatever" At least that's how these people sound! I was following someone on fb who posted about her weight loss and she happens to be a nursing student. She recently made a post about how she told a cancer patient how she lost weight and hopes she inspires this patient to lose weight. Well that is great, really it is, but she made a comment about how she felt that she couldn't be a good nurse and be overweight. So that means that I suck? And another commentor had the audacity to post "it amazes me when there is a health professional who is overweight especially when they have to educate patients on healthy living/lifestyle" blah blah blah. Really? That amazes you? Morons!

I felt the need to "snark" back at them. Let me inform ya'll what makes a good nurse: Compassion. Knowledge. Skills. Communication. The ability to advocate for your patient. Intuition. Trusting your gut (no matter how fat it may be). Time management. Having confidence in your abilities. Knowing when to ask for help.



This past week I took care of a patient who was actively dying and was DNR. Technically I was taking care of the family the most since the patient was in a coma. As a nurse, I checked on them, I monitored their loved one, and I tried to accommodate them as I was able. I am PRETTY sure they won’t remember me for being a fatty. And it’s very possible they won’t remember me at all. Because it wasn’t ever about me anyway. It was about being with their loved one in his final moments on Earth and saying good-bye and knowing that he was not alone.

And that's my fat-rant of the week ;-)

-Liz

Oops ;-)

OK, so I have neglected my blog! I am going to try to post at least once a week, to get in the habit. Stay tuned and don't give up on me yet! :)

-Liz