Sunday, December 16, 2018

Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours!




Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours







It’s that time of year again. I swear the older we get the faster the years seem to go by. 

Each year starts with Bella’s birthday. I cannot believe she turned 10 years old this year.  Aubre spent time in January at the Grand Canyon.  She hiked from the rim down into the floor and back out with a group of her running buddies.


In February, Tyler turned 27 and in March Aubre turned 30!  Where did the time go?



In May, Dale & I headed to Disney for a much-needed vacation for my birthday (we spent his birthday in Disney last October). We splurged with our Disney Vacation Club points and enjoyed the Club Level at Animal Kingdom Lodge.  The photo at the top of this newsletter is from our day in Animal Kingdom, we finally got to ride Pandora!!!! Oh my, that was awesome!

Not much going on during the summer.  Started training walks for the Susan G Komen 3-Day for the Cure. I had registered to walk San Diego with a group of friends. If you want to walk 60 miles you need to train!

Dale & I renewed our passports for our upcoming trips. It was hard to believe we have had them ten years already. Just doesn’t seem possible. Not that we have done a lot of travel but we are confident in case of an emergency we would be able to get out of another country to get home (vs those who take the risk of traveling without one).

Cullen turned seven the beginning of September. A couple days later Dale & I celebrated our 35th anniversary with a nice dinner out.

Dale & I finally got a day trip to the shore (just to buy candy for our upcoming cruise). It’s still fun to walk the boardwalk when the weather isn’t great.


The end of September, I participated in the Philadelphia 3-Day for the Cure on the medical team again!  Dale was unable to join this year due to scheduling. It was odd to not have him on site the entire weekend since we have been doing this together since 2011. Because of survivors like these two, I will continue to fight!



In October, we celebrated our anniversary and Dale’s birthday on the Disney Magic with the Inaugural Cruise to Bermuda. We cruised with friends we met on previous cruises and new friends we had just met! We had a great time and actually got to relax some! We did kayaking the first day in Bermuda and spent the second day at Horseshoe Bay.



This cruise was also a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise, a first for us and so much fun to see the ship all the festivities.



McKenzie turned one while we were away on our cruise.  Thankfully, the kids held her party a little later in the month so we could participate!  I cannot believe she turned one already.  She has been released from the neurologist who was monitoring her from the complications associated with her birth. She has no permanent problems.  She is on target meeting every milestone.



In November, I traveled to San Diego to walk 60 miles for the SGK 3-Day. It was such an amazing experience, seeing some sights I have only dreamed about. I hope that Dale & I can return to vacation there.  There was so much to see in the few days I was there.  Thankfully the walk goes along some of the best views possible. 

We did make a quick trip to the San Diego Zoo as I was told it was “must do” when there. 


The next day we started the three- day walk. Each day there were spectacular sites to see. We walked through Del Mar


Torrey Pines State Reserve,



and La Jolla Cove.




We wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas. 

Love,
Patty & Dale
Aubre & Tyler

Friday, July 20, 2018

BEING A LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE



When I tell people that I am Labor & Delivery Nurse, most say "Wow, that's an awesome job! You get to snuggle all those babies."  

Well, just a bit of education, being a L&D Nurse is not the nurse that gets a lot of time with babies. Those are our amazing Postpartum Nurses who spend all their time caring for the new mom and her new baby. Answering the tons of questions new moms have and helping them with their baby. They comfort the crying baby at times so mom can get some much-needed sleep. They do get some great baby snuggles at times. 

Being a L&D Nurse is more about the mom. We care for the soon to be mom during what most times is one of the most amazing days of their life. Sadly, we also care for the mom on what will be one of the saddest days of her life.  

We take mom from the moment she enters the hospital. She may be in labor, she may be an induction for one of many reasons, she may be a scheduled c-section and in some cases, she may be arriving by ambulance via an emergency and need to be delivered immediately. No matter what, we are there for mom. We are comforting her, helping her deal with her pain the way she wants to. We do educate them often on what labor entails since some are truly oblivious to the entire labor and delivery process. 

We start IV's, we will check mom's cervix (sometimes multiple times), straight cath or place a foley after they have decided to get an epidural, hold their hair while they are vomiting into a pan we will then clean out, 

When the time for delivery arrives, we help the mom each step of the way. Sometimes the doctor is at the bedside when the mom is pushing, sometimes it is just the nurse. We call the doctor when it is time. They rely on us to do that. Occasionally the doctor doesn't make it and the nurse delivers the baby. This is not the norm but can happen.

Some moms arrive at the hospital following an appointment with their doctor where they learned the awful news that their baby's heart has stopped beating. This is a very special mom. She has to do something no mother should ever have to do. She still has to go through labor and she has to deliver a baby that she will not be taking home with her.  We take turns on our unit to try to avoid burnout from dealing with these losses too frequently. 

Still, most days are amazing days. Even the saddest days are amazing in that we can be a help to a hurting family. We all dread getting 'that' room assignment, but we take it with pride and know that we are going to do the very best we can to help this family through one of the darkest days of their life.

So, being a labor and delivery nurse is pretty amazing! I still feel new some days, but many days, I feel more confident in my care and the decisions I make in caring for my mother and her baby.

I love being a Labor & Delivery Nurse!

While I continue with my nursing journey, I am still walking to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. I have been involved with Susan G Komen 3-Day for the Cure since 2009. I will continue this quest because 'EVERYONE DESERVES A LIFETIME"!! This year, I will be walking in San Diego with a group of friends. I have to raise $2300 to do this. If you can assist in any way, please visit my 3-Day page.  Please support me on this journey