Monday, March 20, 2006

Getting Ready for Summer

We have an above ground pool at the farm and we have enjoyed it through the years. As the Grands get older, we enjoy it more often. Until last July, I worked the regular 8-5 job so had the weekends only to enjoy the pool, clean house, take care of the yard and garden, etc. Last July, I went back to the ER with the 7on/7off schedule. So, this summer, I am really looking forward to spending time w/the grands (as they have informed me, they will be at Memama's house every week I am off). Hence, the purchase of a slide for the pool. I personally can't wait for it to come in (just ordered it today) and get it set up. I'm still a kid in many ways (shut-up Greg) and would rather be outside playing in the water than cleaning house, etc.

I guess the weeks prior to the arrival of the slide and warmer weather, I will try to get the essential things done around the farm.

Hope all ya'll have a summer filled w/wonderful exciting times planned. Of course the most anticipated time for our family still revolves around the forth coming trip to China to get our little Maddie. Nothing new on that yet.

Have a great day. Once again must get ready and go to work.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Demotion/Or is it?

Had an interesting night at work a few weeks ago. A male patient came in, and after dealing with him for approximately 1 hour, I still wasn't quite sure why he was there. He came in very dirty, an obvious leg deformity. He appeared to want help finding a wheelchair that was stolen from him, also his dog (clue right there he wasn't completely mentally there.). Never found out what happened to the wheelchair or the dog. He told me he was in law school at Jeff State Jr. College (doesn't have a law program) and that he was a doctor in Viet Nam (later changed that to a Medic). He also demanded something for pain and told me the only thing that worked was hydrocodone and he could generally get that over the counter but hasn't been able to find it (Big clue there!). When I told him that this was a controlled substance, he became very upset at me and told me he knew what he was talking about and I didn't have a clue. After trying to reason w/him (big mistake), I finally left the room and the ER doc went in (a female). He didn't like her either but told her that he wanted to see a real doctor and wanted to talk to someone who knew something about medicine that obviously "that tech I've been talking to doesn't know what she is talking about." The tech being ME. The short of it is we had to call the police in because he became quite uncontrollable.

Point - I have seen how some of the "techs" work at different hospitals around the Birmingham area. They are way overworked and under appreciated (as are most medical personnel). So, to be classified as a Tech - by the standard of those I admire - was a compliment. Now when someone asked me something I answer "What do I know, I'm just a tech." By the way, the doctor that night set him straight about who was in charge of the ER - HER!

Have a great weekend. This "Tech" is going to work.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Promised Pics




As promised-a month ago-(ok, maybe two months ago), here are pictures of the puppy and our babies. The puppy is half chocolate lab and half shorthair German pointer. She was named by Haley (above) and Teri, our youngest daughter. They named her(at different times) Boots which is short for Boot Scootin Boogie. She is very loving and playful. The only problem we had, she refused to be house trained. Therefore, she is now out in the pen in the backyard.

I tried to put Hannah's pic w/puppy in this spot but it didn't work. I really hate computers. We were fortunate to get a picture of her holding the pup w/head up. Most of the time (when she catches her) the pups rearend is in Hannah's face and the head is down.

Update on goings on at the farm. We are all finally well again. Mike had a run of the flu - lasted about a week. I had an episode w/my back and spent Valentine's day at the hospital getting an epidural. Always a romantic thing to do on Valentine's. Am pretty much free of pain but still having some problems w/the back. Had a MRI done and the doctor recommended that I go see a neuro-surgeon. Kind of hesitant to do that. Will update later if I do.

Lost one of our horses. She was the herd mare and about 20 years old. Mike found her down the end of last week. Appears she broke her leg. She was getting blind and we expected her to die soon but I hate she went this way. She was a very sweet horse and gave us two beautiful babies. (If I ever learn to use this picture thing, I'll will try to post pictures of the horses). I can't keep Mike still long enough to help me in here with this sort of thing.

We are taking next week off for AEA (Spring break). We are taking the grands to TN to Rock City, the aquarium and around Chattanooga. This will be the first full 7 days I have taken off, by choice, since Christmas. Have been working extra - have two positions open on the opposite week and have been filling in some. The girls and I are really looking forward to being away and playing. I told them they get to choose what we do and where we eat the whole time we are gone. Maybe I shouldn't have given them the freedom of where we eat. This is their time, hopefully we will survive. Altho, their choice of eating establishments seems to be the type of places my darling brother has eaten at the majority of his adult life.

We are still in the waiting period as far as our little "Chinklett" is concerned. Teri is anticipating our trip to China will be July or August. All paperwork is completed. It is now up to the Chinese government. Teri told me we needed to start our shots. I asked her, "WHAT SHOTS". When going over seas, one must be vaccinated for hepatitis C, TB and something else, and take med for malaria. Fortunately, I have already had the Hep C and TB vaccinations (required w/all medical personnel, and they are not fun to take). So, as with pregnancy, we are waiting. Exciting and tiring for me so I can only imagine how Teri and Josh are feeling. Just trying to keep busy so the time passes I guess.

Hannah funnies: She will start crying (real tears), stop, tell her mother why she is crying and then continue. Tara asked me the other day, "Who does that sound like?". When she was little, she would throw a fit like none other. One day she was underfoot in the kitchen, throwing a fit. I told her I didn't have time for this and she could go in the living room and throw her fit(she was two). She hops up, says "Ok mommy", goes into the living room, throws herself on the floor and continues her fit. Hence, all fits thrown in the family afterwards were called TARA FITS. Sounds as if the gene has been passed down. By the way, Hannah is two.

She also cut her hair the other day just because she didn't like her curls. Her mother asked her if she was going to do it again. She replied, "Uh-huh, I not like my curls." So we took her to a beauty shop and had her hair cut. Now she is happy.

That's all the rambling for now. Not promising to blog every day but will try to be more faithful than have been in the past. Love you guys.