Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Bowling with my homies

So as a farewell get together for an AWSOME nurse Jeanie team four, my team went bowling and we had FUN!!!





Love y'all
Rachel

The next up date should be really FUN since I am headed to Madrid in the am!!

Monday, February 2, 2009

You are not alone


In my line of work everyone knows you can't do it alone. Where I am now is no different, you need support.

There is an organization that I truly am humbled by and would like to make sure their support is appreciated. The Soldiers' Angels is whom I am talking about. They not only take the time to make care packages, have quilts for wounded soldiers, food and all the other items a person might need. They also take care of the staff. If we really needed something they can get it for us. Not only do they have material items in their arsenal they also have a huge heart of gold. I have seen a Soldiers' Angel sit and hold the oxygen mask while trying to make sure a Marine had a means to get a hold of his family. Their mottos is "may no soldier go unloved" and they truly do a good job of following this.



Being in the ICU I can be rather focused on my patient and not see the people at the desk or that come and check on the unit since really they don't talk to the nurses much. The SA are not of that habit though. They ask how you, yes you the nurse are doing, will wait till you come out of your room to talk to you no matter how long. I truly believe they really do want to know how I am. In all honesty I have met only two people from SA being on nights, that being said they put in far more hours than it seems humanly possible. I am unsure how "big" the staff is but they do get stuff done!

I am truly humbled by their dedication.

As many of you know I have done packages once a month for about five years sent to the troops down range and away from family. I just wanted to pass on this site to see if while I am here in Germany you might continue this tradition for me. Please Adopt a Soldier and send a few items.

http://soldiersangels.org/

On a personal note let me tell you why I think doing this is important and what for me it is like to get mail over here. It adds a little pep to your step as you walk to the mail room just thinking there might be a little slip in your mail box or a letter from a loved one. Then there is that moment when you see that you do in fact have a mail. If you happen to have a little white slip then that means there is a package and you go get in line to pick it up. Everyone in line is the same weather you are a young baby faced soldiers or a old high ranking official. Its not really the content of the box that give you the trill. It the sweet knowledge that someone took the time to think about you. I have yet to see anyone no matter how small the package or letter put it in their backpack. Nope you carry that box or envelope the long way to your car!!!!! That is how I see the whole scene play out and that is in Germany not further away like Iraq is.



Thank you for putting up with my looooonnnnggg post and please check out the site.

Love ya,
Rachel

The big event

After New Years I got sick again...perhaps due to New Years. *shrug*

My cousin Louise was getting married and I had worked it out to be able to get home...for the weekend and see the big event. It was a surprise so she did not know I was going to make it there. The flight was pretty harsh since I was still sick, my tv did not work, the head set thing did not work, I had no leg room due to a metal box that was part of the plane under the seat in front of me and of couse my seat mate next to me was a teenage horror. After 24hrs of travel I got into the Springs and then went to bed so I could be ready for the weekend.




Over all it was a lovely time till I woke up the morning of my flight (Mon) with horrible chills, fever and feeling like a truck had run over me. Really I had been feeling pretty bad all night but I just did not realize how bad off I was till I tried to get out of bed. When I did get the clue that my fever was close to 103 I got my parents up and we headed to the ER in a CO snow storm. Come to find out after chest x-rays, sinus x-rays and a flu test *drum roll* had the flu and a snius infection.

I was not allowed to fly out till friday so my parents and other relatives had to continue on with their travel plans while dear Aunt Sissy and Uncle Teever took me into their home. I was taken care in style no worries and did get the flight back to Germany.

All in all is was a wonderful trip if only to see my family.



Espically to see them cut up the rug like they did!!!






A new year has come

So one of the many reason I have been gone is I was traveling. The other reason is I have been really sick, I missed work for three weeks....yeah if you know me I never call off. To be honest one week I got stuck in CO with the flu and was not allowed to fly but other wise I had to call off and two times got sent home from work.

Lets start were we left off;

After Christmas comes New Years. Well my fever broke at about 0100 on Dec 31 and I got a call three hours later if I wanted to go to Amsterdam for New Years. I thought this was a WONDERFUL idea and went.









HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

A long time gone


Just want to say sorry for not keep you posted and I am back on the blog train and you WILL be entertained.