Good news today!I was accepted into the nurse anesthesiology program at the College of Hedmark in Elverum. It starts in January and is a full time course for 3 semesters. I have applied for funding from my hospital, in exchange for committing myself to a 2 year contract. But if I don't get the funding, I will try to work half time. It will be tough, and a bit tight financially, but I should be able to do it. I can also get a student loan. The important thing to make it work is to have Husband's support.
Sunday our quiet little ER saw some action. Remember, on sundays we are only 2 nurses on the floor and one charge nurse who does all the registrations, answers the telephone etc. We had 4 trafikk accidents, and the roads weren't even slick: first a couple of kids who in swerving to avoid a deer, ended up on the roof in the ditch. Then some tourists got the sun in their eyes and went right over the guard rail and into a cement block. The third was a car full of teenagers driving too fast. They lost control and head-on collided with a couple of older men. And in between all of these there was a COPD patient who could hardly breathe, a chest pain patient and a young girl who had been recieved a knee to the spleen and banged her head during a handball game. Just as the afternoon shift came in to relieve me while I was working on the patient with chest pain the trauma calling in my pocket went off again. I just took it out and gave it to her (it was the 4th MVA), while I finished up with my patient. Ended up going overtime with no lunch break.
Other news:
I have bought plane tickets to come to the US for Mother's operation. I'm flying over on feb 22. Mother's knee replacement is scheduled for feb 23, and I'm staying until march 19, by which time she should be just about ready to drive again. I'll just bring along my books and do a lot of studying while I'm there. It will be great to see Tormod again too:
Tormod seems to be doing well in Ithaca. Step by step he's been coming closer to his goal of a security job. He got his drivers licence at the beginning of the month. Then he took a 2 day course to get a security licence. He still has to do another 16 hr course - I'm not sure if that is conflict management or what, before he gets his badge. And today is his first day as security guard at the Mall. He is also finished with all the preliminaries for the border patrol job, and hopes to hear from homeland security about going to the academy after he turns 21. Still has a couple of weeks to go on that.
Irene and Ingvild are both in school. Doing well I think. This weekend they were both councelors at a Christian Community confirmation camp. Poor Irene was unlucky with the car, which I had let her borrow. She called me on Saturday to say that the oil lamp had lit up when she was out shopping for the camp. She made it to the nearby gas station and bought some oil, but it ran out at the bottom as fast as she poured it in. NAF (the equivalent of AAA) towed the car to a garage in Hamar, and today I got the verdict. The oil pan had a hole the size of a tennisball. Replacing it will cost me about $800. Just what I needed! I don't know what happened, but the roads going out to the camp are pretty rough.
Husband is enjoying his work with the pigs. He keeps telling me funny stories: like today, when he came to work after having had the weekend off, he got quite a shock. One of the pens was empty, though the door to it was closed. The boar had apparently jumped over the side into the neighbor's pen and was busily humping him while the humpee stood there happily chewing on the iron bars of the pen!
Nothing new on Audun. He's working that same market research job. Going to Red Cross Youth meetings. Has a long distance girlfriend in Bosnia.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
workaholic?
In the past 20 days I have had one day off, and that was 10 days ago. Have to admit I'm tired today. Of course part of the reason is that I had a day shift following an evening shift. I hate that. Never get enouph sleep, and come to work feeling like a zombie. Pluss, what with eating breakfast at 6:30, by the time breaktime rolls around (if indeed it ever does) I am famished. In fact I am famished way before noon!
Also I donated blood today, leaving me with a lightheaded feeling (maybe not the greatest idea in the middle of a work day, but hate to make the trip to town on a day off). Anyway, I came away with a workout t-shirt which I can use at spinning tomorrow, and a bunch of iron tablets.
It was still dark, and raining when I left for work at 7 am. The day started with the night shift chewing me out (not me specifically, but as representative for yesterday's evening staff) with a long list of complaints: we hadn't made them coffee, nor cleaned up the dirty utility room, nor emptied the garbage, nor were there enouph beds, nor disinfected the isolation room etc etc. Ok, I admit that I should have checked the dirty utility room before leaving, but I am positive that the rooms where I had patients were tidy and the garbage thrown away. The isolation room could easily wait until the housekeeping staff cleaned it in the morning, and 5 beds was plenty - they hadn't even used 2 of them. So maybe they were just complaining for the sake of complaining. Still, I like to think of myself as conscientious so it is not pleasant to be accused of sloppiness.
However the day picked up when a nurse from the surgical floor on her way through, saw me and said how pleased they had been last night when I brought the isolation patient to them: they had been soooo busy, and were so gratefull that I had taken all the tests (it was a case of suspected mrsa) and installed the patient in the private room and made her comfortable. All loose ends tied up. It made my day, I can tell you.
I am looking forward now to 2 days off, and next week looks a bit less intense as well. Hooray!
Also I donated blood today, leaving me with a lightheaded feeling (maybe not the greatest idea in the middle of a work day, but hate to make the trip to town on a day off). Anyway, I came away with a workout t-shirt which I can use at spinning tomorrow, and a bunch of iron tablets.
It was still dark, and raining when I left for work at 7 am. The day started with the night shift chewing me out (not me specifically, but as representative for yesterday's evening staff) with a long list of complaints: we hadn't made them coffee, nor cleaned up the dirty utility room, nor emptied the garbage, nor were there enouph beds, nor disinfected the isolation room etc etc. Ok, I admit that I should have checked the dirty utility room before leaving, but I am positive that the rooms where I had patients were tidy and the garbage thrown away. The isolation room could easily wait until the housekeeping staff cleaned it in the morning, and 5 beds was plenty - they hadn't even used 2 of them. So maybe they were just complaining for the sake of complaining. Still, I like to think of myself as conscientious so it is not pleasant to be accused of sloppiness.
However the day picked up when a nurse from the surgical floor on her way through, saw me and said how pleased they had been last night when I brought the isolation patient to them: they had been soooo busy, and were so gratefull that I had taken all the tests (it was a case of suspected mrsa) and installed the patient in the private room and made her comfortable. All loose ends tied up. It made my day, I can tell you.
I am looking forward now to 2 days off, and next week looks a bit less intense as well. Hooray!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Cat tales
PUSELINE
PIRIL
FLUFFY
GARFUNKLE
I got the idea to write this post this afternoon. I was sitting on the porch freezing Kale. It was a lovely warm (for the season) afternoon, with the late afternoon sunlight flooding the garden. While I worked I was watching the cats.
We have 4 cats. They are Puseline, the mother and oldest, 6 yrs old. Daughter Piril is 5 years, son Garfunkle, 4 years and newcomer Fluffy, who is 2 years. Fluffy actually belongs to Irene (as Piril belongs to Audun, except that Piril has been living here off and on since birth and all the time for the past 3 years). Since Irene can't have a cat where she is living she brought her here. Fluffy used to be an indoor cat and she absolutely loves the outdoors.
Now Puseline is the boss cat, though Piril has been challenging her constantly. The problem is that Puseline takes off for weeks and months at a time in the summer, so Piril doesn't want to give up top cat status when she comes back for the winter. This year however her sovereinty is undisputed. Piril and Fluffy are much too busy spatting between themselves.
Just now Piril went in through the cat door. Immediatly afterward Fluffy showed up from under the veranda. They had a little fight on each side of the cat door, growling and spitting and hitting the swinging flap with their paws so that it swung wildly rattling back and forth - until Topsy came to break it up.
Piril's favorite trick is to wait until Fluffy has climbed onto the roof, and then sit on the railing so that she can't get down, without landing on her. Garfunkle as the only boy, doesn't participate in all the power struggles. He just lies there and looks lordly.
I want to end this post with a memorial picture of Sebastian, who was with us for 12 years, and whom we had to have put down last winter because of a skin condition.
SEBASTIAN
PIRIL
FLUFFY
GARFUNKLE
I got the idea to write this post this afternoon. I was sitting on the porch freezing Kale. It was a lovely warm (for the season) afternoon, with the late afternoon sunlight flooding the garden. While I worked I was watching the cats.
We have 4 cats. They are Puseline, the mother and oldest, 6 yrs old. Daughter Piril is 5 years, son Garfunkle, 4 years and newcomer Fluffy, who is 2 years. Fluffy actually belongs to Irene (as Piril belongs to Audun, except that Piril has been living here off and on since birth and all the time for the past 3 years). Since Irene can't have a cat where she is living she brought her here. Fluffy used to be an indoor cat and she absolutely loves the outdoors.
Now Puseline is the boss cat, though Piril has been challenging her constantly. The problem is that Puseline takes off for weeks and months at a time in the summer, so Piril doesn't want to give up top cat status when she comes back for the winter. This year however her sovereinty is undisputed. Piril and Fluffy are much too busy spatting between themselves.
Just now Piril went in through the cat door. Immediatly afterward Fluffy showed up from under the veranda. They had a little fight on each side of the cat door, growling and spitting and hitting the swinging flap with their paws so that it swung wildly rattling back and forth - until Topsy came to break it up.
Piril's favorite trick is to wait until Fluffy has climbed onto the roof, and then sit on the railing so that she can't get down, without landing on her. Garfunkle as the only boy, doesn't participate in all the power struggles. He just lies there and looks lordly.
I want to end this post with a memorial picture of Sebastian, who was with us for 12 years, and whom we had to have put down last winter because of a skin condition.
SEBASTIAN
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Day off
Since coming home from Crete, I have either had an evening shift, been going onto or coming off a night shift. Today is my first full day off.
Woke up to frost on the grass, clear skies and a golden sunrise. Though I had to scrape ice off the car after work yesterday, this was our first frost here at home. I hurried to pack the onions which have been drying on the porch into paper bags and bring them inside, then turn off the outside water faucet so that it won't freeze.
After breakfast we took a short walk with Topsy before going to the gym. Really got my pulse up during the spinning class today. Perhaps it is a good idea to walk the dog first, so as to warm up, prior to the real work-out. It was a good workout and left me in a good mood.
While Husband was feeding his pigs I did the laundry, went shopping and started on dinner. Audun called while I was at the store. He was mystery shopping at different stores all around Mjøsa including Stange today and wanted to come by. It was so nice to see him! We haven't been in touch since Irene's birthday dinner, except for an e-mail while I was in Crete. Audun brought Ingvild home who has spent the last 2 days with her sister. The girls have their autumn break this week. We had a great visit over dinner. Audun couldn't stay long as he still had a couple of stores to do before his red cross youth meeting this evening. But was able to give him the honey and olive oil that I'd brought for him from Crete and a box of eggs.
Dinner was a new recipe: pasta primavera, though it should have been called pasta autumna as the veggies involved were cantarelles, broccoli, cauliflower, red bell pepper and the beans that I picked the other day. It was really yummy and everyone liked it.
After Audun left we walked the dog again, I sat down to knit on Irene's sweater while finishing Bridget Jones Diary , laughing myself silly over the part where she writes christmas cards while drunk. Did 45 minutes of Pilates this evening, watched an episode of Desperate Housewives and called Mother and Father, to get some advice about the absentee ballot which arrived in the mail today. I mean I know who I'm going to vote for for president, it was the other offices I needed advice on. Father told me about taking Tormod to get his drivers licence, and how he finally passed his road test.
All in all it was a good day. Tomorrow I start a series of 5 night shifts followed by a couple of evenings and a dayshift, making 9 consecutive days of work.
Woke up to frost on the grass, clear skies and a golden sunrise. Though I had to scrape ice off the car after work yesterday, this was our first frost here at home. I hurried to pack the onions which have been drying on the porch into paper bags and bring them inside, then turn off the outside water faucet so that it won't freeze.
After breakfast we took a short walk with Topsy before going to the gym. Really got my pulse up during the spinning class today. Perhaps it is a good idea to walk the dog first, so as to warm up, prior to the real work-out. It was a good workout and left me in a good mood.
While Husband was feeding his pigs I did the laundry, went shopping and started on dinner. Audun called while I was at the store. He was mystery shopping at different stores all around Mjøsa including Stange today and wanted to come by. It was so nice to see him! We haven't been in touch since Irene's birthday dinner, except for an e-mail while I was in Crete. Audun brought Ingvild home who has spent the last 2 days with her sister. The girls have their autumn break this week. We had a great visit over dinner. Audun couldn't stay long as he still had a couple of stores to do before his red cross youth meeting this evening. But was able to give him the honey and olive oil that I'd brought for him from Crete and a box of eggs.
Dinner was a new recipe: pasta primavera, though it should have been called pasta autumna as the veggies involved were cantarelles, broccoli, cauliflower, red bell pepper and the beans that I picked the other day. It was really yummy and everyone liked it.
After Audun left we walked the dog again, I sat down to knit on Irene's sweater while finishing Bridget Jones Diary , laughing myself silly over the part where she writes christmas cards while drunk. Did 45 minutes of Pilates this evening, watched an episode of Desperate Housewives and called Mother and Father, to get some advice about the absentee ballot which arrived in the mail today. I mean I know who I'm going to vote for for president, it was the other offices I needed advice on. Father told me about taking Tormod to get his drivers licence, and how he finally passed his road test.
All in all it was a good day. Tomorrow I start a series of 5 night shifts followed by a couple of evenings and a dayshift, making 9 consecutive days of work.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Sunday night
Been home for a week and it's been alternately pouring rain or sunny and windy. Yellow leaves are carpeting the lawn, and the crowns of the trees are looking more and more transparent. Tonight I think we may have our first frost. Tor changed the tires on my car before I embarked on this weekend's night shifts in order to be prepared for just such an eventuality.
I've been working non-stop since returning from Crete. There hasn't been a single day when I haven't had either an evening shift or been going on or coming off a night shift. Can't wait for payday in November. Finally I'll be able to make a decent dent in my debts. It is now clear that I will be going back to college in January. I have been accepted to the 2-year midwifery program this week. Am still waiting to hear about nurse anesthesiology and intensive care. It's exciting and a little scary. I'm hoping to continue working part time while I study so as to avvoid a huge student loan. Though I have applied for the study grant that our hospital is offering, I fear they will consider me too old.
The other day when I woke up after an day's sleep the sun was shining and I just had to get out into the garden and start some fall clean-up. I picked the last of the zuccini and made mousaka and zuccini souffle for the last time this season. Also ratatouille where I substituted thinly sliced carrots for eggplant (yuck!). I also picked the last beans, not really enough to freeze, I think I'll figure out a good dinner to make with them. The corn never did fill out enough to eat. I had to give up and pull up the stalks. Too bad. Corn is always marginal here, but usually I have managed to get 2-3 ripe ears. Dug up the carrots which are a dissapointment this year. A very few of decent size, most went to the chickens to be recycled into eggs. Also pulled up the sugar peas and threw them into the chicken run so that they can pick through them. So really, the garden is almost done. There are still lots of flowers: roses, calendula, lavatera, cornflowers, sweet peas and sunflowers blooming (that is there were sunflowers until last nights rain storm knocked them down. I'll cut off the heads for the chickens to pick through, also I still need to pull up the dill. Thought I'll give the chickens the heads of that too. Only thing left is arugula which is blooming and Kale which I will harvest and freeze tomorrow or this afternoon.
But most of my "free" time has still been involved in replacing lost cards: automobile association, insurance, library. Unfortunatly the pictures I had of the kids from when they were little and up through the years are gone forever. I went to the police station on monday and reported the theft. Cause it turns out that whoever stole the wallet went straight to the nearest ATM and withdrew kr 9900 (about $1500). I think VISA will cover it but I have had to fill out some paperwork etc. Now I'm having problems with the new VISA card: the pin only worked once and I have to call them and find out what's the matter. I can't believe how much work and bother it is to have your wallet stolen! The worst thing is how my feeling of safety is shattered. I mean, I always thought of Norway as a safe country. There are bands stealing peoples credit cards not only at the airport, but on the trains and train stations, in the supermarkets in our little town of Hamar (it was front page news in the local paper last week - that time they got caught thanks to the surveillance cameras at the cash register!) and even more disturbing, when relating my misadventure at the airport I hear stories of bag snatching and card stealing even in our little village of Stange. I cannot believe it! I felt safer in Ithaca!!!
I've been working non-stop since returning from Crete. There hasn't been a single day when I haven't had either an evening shift or been going on or coming off a night shift. Can't wait for payday in November. Finally I'll be able to make a decent dent in my debts. It is now clear that I will be going back to college in January. I have been accepted to the 2-year midwifery program this week. Am still waiting to hear about nurse anesthesiology and intensive care. It's exciting and a little scary. I'm hoping to continue working part time while I study so as to avvoid a huge student loan. Though I have applied for the study grant that our hospital is offering, I fear they will consider me too old.
The other day when I woke up after an day's sleep the sun was shining and I just had to get out into the garden and start some fall clean-up. I picked the last of the zuccini and made mousaka and zuccini souffle for the last time this season. Also ratatouille where I substituted thinly sliced carrots for eggplant (yuck!). I also picked the last beans, not really enough to freeze, I think I'll figure out a good dinner to make with them. The corn never did fill out enough to eat. I had to give up and pull up the stalks. Too bad. Corn is always marginal here, but usually I have managed to get 2-3 ripe ears. Dug up the carrots which are a dissapointment this year. A very few of decent size, most went to the chickens to be recycled into eggs. Also pulled up the sugar peas and threw them into the chicken run so that they can pick through them. So really, the garden is almost done. There are still lots of flowers: roses, calendula, lavatera, cornflowers, sweet peas and sunflowers blooming (that is there were sunflowers until last nights rain storm knocked them down. I'll cut off the heads for the chickens to pick through, also I still need to pull up the dill. Thought I'll give the chickens the heads of that too. Only thing left is arugula which is blooming and Kale which I will harvest and freeze tomorrow or this afternoon.
But most of my "free" time has still been involved in replacing lost cards: automobile association, insurance, library. Unfortunatly the pictures I had of the kids from when they were little and up through the years are gone forever. I went to the police station on monday and reported the theft. Cause it turns out that whoever stole the wallet went straight to the nearest ATM and withdrew kr 9900 (about $1500). I think VISA will cover it but I have had to fill out some paperwork etc. Now I'm having problems with the new VISA card: the pin only worked once and I have to call them and find out what's the matter. I can't believe how much work and bother it is to have your wallet stolen! The worst thing is how my feeling of safety is shattered. I mean, I always thought of Norway as a safe country. There are bands stealing peoples credit cards not only at the airport, but on the trains and train stations, in the supermarkets in our little town of Hamar (it was front page news in the local paper last week - that time they got caught thanks to the surveillance cameras at the cash register!) and even more disturbing, when relating my misadventure at the airport I hear stories of bag snatching and card stealing even in our little village of Stange. I cannot believe it! I felt safer in Ithaca!!!
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