As a nurse (and also as a human) I know that there are people we connect with more than others. I've had many experiences at work when I've received report from a nurse that a certain patient was difficult, or needy, or apathetic, or rude, or a thousand other non-attractive personality traits! Immediately I make a judgement about the patient and it either places a black cloud over my relationship with her and the whole shift is tainted, or I get in to see her and I have a connection with her that is absolutely opposite of what I'd planned on experiencing. I know I've given report that I had a hard time with someone and found out the next shift that the nurse I gave her to had a wonderful experience. Sometimes the opposite happens...where one nurse enjoys a patient and thinks she rocks then the next nurse who gets her thinks she's hard to deal with --it totally goes both ways!!
Anyway, back to my original idea...sometimes I have such unique and amazing connections with families that completely make my night! I had just such a connection with Paul, Brookelle and Kole, this amazing new little family who started their journey with pain issues, sleep deprivation and an uphill battle with breastfeeding!!! Happens all the time :) I spent a good portion of two shifts in their room trying to make the transition from "couple" to "parents" run smoothly. They were so sweet and grateful for my help and they endeared themselves to me by being so incredibly patient. So after I loved them and left them, I found this note in my box....and their words made my day! Believe me, there are many frustrating shifts where I'm sure I'm the worst nurse in the universe or that I don't feel I helped anyone at all! But one small "thank you" speaks louder than a thousand inadequacies on my part. It is for this reason that

I LOVE MY JOB.

10 Random Things I'm Thankful For...

Felt the need to blog, but can't quite say what's in my heart just now..... so I decided to throw out some things I'm grateful for......not a complete list, mind you, just a few...

FRIENDS....those who stand by us every day as well as those who've left us--they have ALL touched our lives...

WATER...cold and crisp for drinking as well as hot and cleansing for showering, washing stuff and generally making life cleaner :)

SLEEP....good old fashioned shut-eye, whether power nap or a full 8 hours, it's much needed and I LOVE it!

FIREFIGHTERS.....they save lives, plain and simple.

SNUGGLES.....from teeny tinies, mamas, aunts, friends, lovers, dogs, blankies or daddies, doesn't matter--we all need 'em, any time, any where.

MITTENS.....and caps, scarves, coats etc. When it's cold out, I'm grateful for whatever warms me....I guess I could add hot cocoa to this category as well...

PILLOWS....and the little eyes that peek out from them! After a long day, the best thing in the world is a soft pillow to welcome me to my bed....and my nieces and nephews make me smile equally as much :)

JESUS CHRIST.....we celebrate Him as the greatest gift at Christmas and the Savior of the world at Easter....and every day He blesses my life.

MY MOTHER.....for being the kind of mother who has the guts to purchase this sweatshirt for her grown daughter....should I take the hint that she thinks I have attitude??!! Plus, she taught me how to love.

ALL THESE PEOPLE.....they're why I am who I am (so blame them if you don't like me) and they love me unconditionally, even when they're cold and wiggly.

Just some, not all, of the things I'm grateful for. Not by a long shot.

The last night of the decade, 2009...

I had to work New Year's Eve this year. It's ALWAYS busy on December 31st (everyone is trying to get their "little tax deductions" in by the end of the year :). We knew there was no chance of getting cut that night, so we decided to party like it was 1999 (wishing that it was...who wouldn't like a "do-over" decade??!!). Here's proof that we ended the decade in true-nursery style!

Rhianne and I had been at Walmart several nights before and saw these awesome headbands (and the glasses) and HAD to have them! We wore these for probably about 10 hours that night! I told parents that they were birthday hats in celebration of their baby's birthday :)

The matching set...

Pucker up, baby!!!

Britt brought fancy crowns to add to our party getup so we could ALL look fabulous! Liz, Britt, me, Rhianne, and Sarah

Annalee busted her sparkly antennae out too!

Do a little dance...

...make a little love...

...get down tonight!!!

Drinking a celebratory toast of Voltage from med cups...that's how nurses do it!

Rhi, Sarah, me, Vendla and Britt rockin' the night away :)

Oops we must have done it again! (I don't remember what, though....I wonder if Britt spiked my Voltage.....???)

You know exactly what was going through our collective minds at this precise moment...."Heeyyyyy!"

Blowing a kiss to 2009 and ready for all the love, loss, laughter, learning and life 2010 has to offer!

Since I had to spend the night working, I couldn't have picked greater peeps to enjoy it with!!!

Happy 2010!!!