Mom's Job

Not A Mom's job, but my mom's job.

Is hard.

There's a reason she's in such amazing shape.  It would be the non-stop, constant movement that keeps her in such good shape.  I've said for a long time now that I wouldn't be able to keep up with her if I had to.  Guess what?  I can't.  Even broken and bolted back together, the woman's a damned Energizer Bunny.

Two days.  That's all I did.  Okay, okay, I lied. 

A day and a half.  I'm freakin' exhausted.

But there was one highlight of the weekend and that was Momma Fargo's visit.  She only made it down from her neck of the woods for one night, but it was good to see her.  Mom and RCC held down the lodge while Bill, Momma and I went for a longish ride (I'd put up pics, but Bill has them on his camera).

So, while I'm exhausted as hell, I had a blast.

And I hope Mom heals up fast.

Letters of Intent - Bionic Cowgirl Edition

I'm hooking up with Julie at Foursons today for a little LOI.  I think the nincompoops healthcare professionals at EPMC deserve it.

Dear ER "doctor":

Thank you very much for starting off my mother's stay at EPMC with a bang.  The ER nurses rocked.  You, you whined like a little bitch when Mom bled on your slacks. Caused by doing something you told her to do.  And then you had the nerve to tell her to "stop it!".  Hello?!  She was following your instructions to raise her arm - broken into nine pieces - above her head.  Mom is "dirty tough" (<-- thanks for that Mikey) and assumed you had a reason to ask her to do that, thus proceeded to do as you bid.  Next time, look at the x-rays first, asshole.

Signed,

Be Glad I Wasn't There

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Dear I'm too busy to help you Floor Nurse:

Standard operating procedure for patients who are post-op orthopaedic surgery is ice.  Copious amounts of ice.  Reduces swelling; increases healing.  Anyone who has ever sprained their ankle knows that.  So, why did you not at least offer ice?  Why did my mother have to suffer through the night - drugged up on IV meds - and have to ask for it the next morning when the meds no longer touched her pain?  Ice should have been applied liberally throughout the night.  But, hell, what do I know?  I've only got 25 years in medicine; several as an athletic trainer, several as an EMT, even more as an MA, plus throw in a year or two in hyperbaric medicine.  A nurse I am not, but I at least know to apply freakin' ice!

Signed,

Could Have Done A Better Job Drunk Than You Did Sober

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Dear Orthopod's MA:

When I was told that you would call us when Mom's new prescription was called in, I expected you to, you know, call.  Since you did not, Mom spend her first night at home managing her pain with *ice* and ibuprofen.  24 hours after a horrific horse injury and an elbow reconstruction surgery in which the surgeon could only put seven of the nine bone pieces back in place, my mother had to spend the night with just ibuprofen.  She is dirty tough, but that was expecting a whole lot.

Not only did you not call to let us know her script had been called in that night, Bill had to call the next day to find out if it had been done.  Only then did Mom get her meds.

Signed,
Hope Karma Kicks You In The Ass

Never a Dull Moment

The Bionic Cowgirl's at it again.

Getting more bionic by the minute.

*shaking head*

That mother of mine.  What are we going to do with her?

*shrugs*

At this rate, she's going to be the Six Million Dollar Cowgirl.  (<--thanks for that one, Mrs Mom)

Randomness. Again.

Digger's my oldest child.  He's also a bit of a pain in the arse.  He's ten inches or so taller than me and likes to use my shoulders as arm rests.  It's annoying.  But not as annoying as what he told me at our friends' wedding:

"Mom, you're so little.  It's like having a fun-sized parent."

Funny, but annoying.

Little shit.

~~~~~~~~~~

So today, I went for up the hill for a ride.  It was cold enough that I wore my duster to ride in; I've found that riding bareback with a duster on will keep me nice and toasty.  The duster acts like a tent that holds in the horse's body temp.  It's actually quite cozy.

After my ride(s), two actually, Mom needed Bill and I to move some hay.  Since walking in my duster is like walking in a damn prom dress, I changed out of it and into my Carhartt jacket.

And was able to zip it closed.

For the first time in a long time (we're talking years).

Not only could I zip it closed, but I had layers on underneath!

Sister Saturday

Normally, Sister Saturday involves lots of sweat, swear words and tears. 

And then we pull into the gym parking lot. (<-- I crack myself up sometimes.)

Today, though, I'm gonna do something completely out of character and brag on my sister.

Every October 4th, Office Max bestows A Day Made Better Awards on teachers across the nation.  The secretary at Nebalee's school nominated her for the award with the following:

Nebalee has been at our school for several years. She is an enthusiastic and dedicated teacher who continually looks for creative ways to help students and staff achieve to their highest potential. Nebalee holds a Type D Adminstrators License and did her internship at Eagle Crest. Nebalee takes the time to get to know each of her students facilitate their individual learning style and time line. She is the first to volunteer to spearhead any new initiatives. Her professionalism speaks for itself, she always conducts herself in a professional manner with students, staff and parents. Her students find in her a loving and compassionate teacher who always looks to their best interest. Nebalee has taught in several grade levels at our school and she is undertaking the challenges of a new kindergarten classroom this year. Please consider her for this A Day Made Better Award.

Apparently, the people she works with think she's pretty incredible and the people at Office Max agreed.  Nebalee had no idea that she'd been nominated, or chosen, until they showed up in her classroom toting two large boxes...



Two of these boxes full of supplies for her classroom!



A peek inside one of the boxes



A new office chair!

In addition to all of the consumable supplies, she got a new camera and printer for her classroom.  But since the dates on the pictures are everything except the 4th, she must not have figured it out yet. :)

When she got home from work that day, she drove into her driveway to find this...

Guess Nebalee's not the only one excited about this cool award.

Way to go, Nebalee!  It's about time you got recognized for all of your hard work.

Long Week.

Glad it's over.

Managed to finish my challenge today: 32 push-ups in one minute.  Pathetic.

Don't care.

It's bed time.

Have a good weekend, y'all.

My Chillins Are Victims

I've been a healthcare instructor literally my children's entire lives.  When Digger and Ashinator were babies, they were my "victims" for my EMT classes.  I'm a firm believer in exposing students to as many experiences as possible while they are in the classroom.  That way, they don't freak out when they have to do it for realzies.

Today was the final class for my Medical Asepsis class, where the student learn about infection control and minor in-office procedures that they might be called on to perform.  With a theatrical make-up artist for a brother, it would be silly of me not to use his talents.  It's been a year or so since our schedules have lined up well enough to drag him into class, but today the stars aligned properly and I got him in to make up the chillins.

Don't open a radiator on an overheating car!*

The students changed wound packing.

And cut away dead "tissue" from the burn site.

I had to throw in a creepy picture just because it's October and it ups the creep factor.

I'm pretty certain the students had a good time and it's good practice for skills and documentation.  It doesn't even feel like a final exam. :)

*in real life, the make up looked much better, I don't know why the camera picked up so much yellow/orange.

Challenge update: worked a fourteen-hour day today, ditched the gym, so I'll add today's challenge to tomorrow's.