It was a hot afternoon, so we headed out for some time "poolside". Kate recommended that we spike Sam's hair, so he was sporting a slightly different look than he usually wears. He also is quite proud of his physique, so he wanted to show some skin.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Fun in the Afternoon...
It was a hot afternoon, so we headed out for some time "poolside". Kate recommended that we spike Sam's hair, so he was sporting a slightly different look than he usually wears. He also is quite proud of his physique, so he wanted to show some skin.
Kate & Her Glasses
Any one who knows Kate well knows that she loves glasses. She believes that they are both for safety and for a fashion statement. Here are a few photos of her wearing medical endoscopy safety glasses while working on a sticker project. OSHA will be so proud of her!
Kate's Saturday Morning Routine...
Kate loves the weekend. She looks forward to Saturday & Sunday all week. Saturdays mean a trip to gymnastics followed by a trip to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Gymnastics is called Salto and she wakes up asking about "Falfo". Today was quite challenging as she was introduced to some new skills. Daddy thought everything would be better once they got to the doughnut shop. She stood at the window watching the doughnuts move through the proofer to rise, float through the oil to cook and then move along the conveyer belt to get their coat of yummy icing. Kate misses very little, so it didn't take her long to notice that some of the doughnuts fall off the shelves in the proofer and get stuck. She pointed this out to Daddy and commented, "Doughnuts fall and go boom...that so sad."
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Musings about work...desire, drive, committment
I work in the medical field when I'm not figuring about how to be a good mother and role model. I love my job...it's interesting, challenging and fast-paced. In addition, I have the privilege of watching injured people get better. I work in trauma. I don't think it's as sexy as the medical shows on TV, but that's okay.
There's a myriad of ways people get hurt or manage to hurt themselves. Some of it's bad luck, an accident, dangerous lifestyle, or sheer stupidity. In the end, our goal is to get people back to their lives and as close to their previous level of functioning as possible. People often ask us if "I'll ever be normal again". We tell them they'll be different, after all we didn't build them, but we'll help them through the process of recovery. There's nothing like seeing a patient walk into your office to follow up when you've only seen them horizontal on a gurney in the past.
The most frustrating part of the job is when our patients don't do their part of rehab. They frequently come to clinic complaining of pain, weakness, and lack of progress. When asked if they're exercising or in physical therapy, they will frequently give us a myriad of excuses describing why they haven't followed through. This explaination is then often followed by a request for pain relievers. ...hmmm
This has been eating at me for about a week after I had a patient encounter that followed this pattern. The bottom line is we can fix the fractures, sew up the skin, and take x-rays. However, we can not create the desire, the drive and the committment to get better. Those things are internal and drive us to get better, work harder and set goals. There's no pill for this and surgery doesn't automatically create the desire to get well.
It's sad. Some people are so severely injured that they never get better, but they improve. Some people have the potential to get better, but don't want to.
There's a myriad of ways people get hurt or manage to hurt themselves. Some of it's bad luck, an accident, dangerous lifestyle, or sheer stupidity. In the end, our goal is to get people back to their lives and as close to their previous level of functioning as possible. People often ask us if "I'll ever be normal again". We tell them they'll be different, after all we didn't build them, but we'll help them through the process of recovery. There's nothing like seeing a patient walk into your office to follow up when you've only seen them horizontal on a gurney in the past.
The most frustrating part of the job is when our patients don't do their part of rehab. They frequently come to clinic complaining of pain, weakness, and lack of progress. When asked if they're exercising or in physical therapy, they will frequently give us a myriad of excuses describing why they haven't followed through. This explaination is then often followed by a request for pain relievers. ...hmmm
This has been eating at me for about a week after I had a patient encounter that followed this pattern. The bottom line is we can fix the fractures, sew up the skin, and take x-rays. However, we can not create the desire, the drive and the committment to get better. Those things are internal and drive us to get better, work harder and set goals. There's no pill for this and surgery doesn't automatically create the desire to get well.
It's sad. Some people are so severely injured that they never get better, but they improve. Some people have the potential to get better, but don't want to.
A Scene at our Evening Dinner Table...
Picture Mama & Daddy attempting to talk about their days. Kate is somewhat concerned that she in not actively involved in the conversation and begins to softly sing, "Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle little 'tar...how I wonder how you are...way up high in da sky, like-um diamond in the night..." The parents' conversation continues...Kate becomes increasingly troubled about being left out. The volume increases, "Tinkle...tinkle...TINKLE LITTLE 'TAR!!!" No response...volume increases "TINKLE, TINKLE, TINKLE LITTLE 'TAR...HOW I WONDER HOW YOU ARE???"
Meanwhile, little brother is exhausted and is slowly listing to the right and breathing rhythmically.
The food was fantastic and the company charming.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
A Day at the State Fair
Today was our first trip as a family of 4 going to our State Fair...Kate had a wonderful time seeing all of the animals. Her favorites were the Clydesdale horses, lambs and piglets. Sam had a great time people watching and hanging out in his stroller. Daddy and Mama did our best to avoid meltdowns and enjoyed a little good food...including the famous Cream Puffs...
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Lessons Learned...
Kate's excellent adventure with corn up her nose has come to an end. The odyssey began Monday with a kernel of fresh, Wisconsin sweet corn traveling against gravity into Kate's right nostril. Tuesday morning Kate woke up and again announced she "had corn in her 'nofah'". I asked her if it really was there and she replied, "Yes, corn happy!" Great. There's apparently nothing like having happy corn up one's nose...or as expensive.
We visited the pediatrician Tuesday afternoon on a fact-finding mission to find said happy corn. No luck, this kernel was an elusive one. The next step was to decide if we should let it go and risk an infection or take it to the next level: the otolaryngologist (aka ENT). Since the complications of letting corn marinate in her nose for a few months didn't sound good, we opted for the ENT.
Wednesday we all headed to Children's Hospital's ENT clinic for the "procedures". Kate must have sensed something was up when she met the nurse practitioner. She immediately announced she "needed to go home."
Our very kind ENT, 2 nurses, a resident and myself then positioned our very strong toddler for the exam. First came the high powered microscope...no corn$$$. Then came the endoscope to look into her right sinuses...no corn$$$$. Next, better look on both sides and her ears with the otoscope...$$$$$. Alas, there was no corn, but there was one tired toddler from putting up one amazing demonstration of strength. This happy corn apparently had laughed its way right through the nose, down the esophagus and into her diaper.
I did ask her if she planned on sticking corn up her nose again and she adamantly replied, "no!" Thursday I found her with a Ritz cracker headed north towards the right nostril...
We visited the pediatrician Tuesday afternoon on a fact-finding mission to find said happy corn. No luck, this kernel was an elusive one. The next step was to decide if we should let it go and risk an infection or take it to the next level: the otolaryngologist (aka ENT). Since the complications of letting corn marinate in her nose for a few months didn't sound good, we opted for the ENT.
Wednesday we all headed to Children's Hospital's ENT clinic for the "procedures". Kate must have sensed something was up when she met the nurse practitioner. She immediately announced she "needed to go home."
Our very kind ENT, 2 nurses, a resident and myself then positioned our very strong toddler for the exam. First came the high powered microscope...no corn$$$. Then came the endoscope to look into her right sinuses...no corn$$$$. Next, better look on both sides and her ears with the otoscope...$$$$$. Alas, there was no corn, but there was one tired toddler from putting up one amazing demonstration of strength. This happy corn apparently had laughed its way right through the nose, down the esophagus and into her diaper.
I did ask her if she planned on sticking corn up her nose again and she adamantly replied, "no!" Thursday I found her with a Ritz cracker headed north towards the right nostril...
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