Woosh

I just found this really cool site about kites.

I live in a place with not many trees and a lot of wind . . .

Starting to think this looks like a lot of fun!!!

Life

Well, in the past couple days I've:

-recorded about eight "events" on my heart monitor

-started to hate having a monitor around my neck :)

-went swimming

-played on a "slip-and-slide" with my little siblings

-started to teach my younger sister to drive

Not a bad life, eh?

Lub-Dub

That's the normal heart sound. Lub-Dub. Crisp, regular, and strong. 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Amazing, actually that most of our hearts function for so long without difficulty. They do an incredible amount of work, and never rest. They should be:

Lub-Dub. Lub-Dub. Lub-Dub.

But mine keeps doing this (without purpose, reason, or written notice)

lubdublubdublubdublubdub . . .

Irregular, 120 to 180 beats per minute, and not so strong. And there I am - a little dizzy, out of breath, and sometimes a little scared.

So, now I'm wearing a little box and sticky electrodes to try to capture these brief episode when my heart goes a bit balistic. I'm hoping it'll work, and most of all that it will be easy to fix.

Pretty

I just discovered a realy cool photo blog. It's called Apparently Nothing, but it's really something (forgive the pun - couldn't help it)

Just click on the pictures.

The Cost of Hairlessness

Ladies, I've discovered an area where men have a great idea.

They don't shave their legs.

I've just tried an experiment in hair removal - chemical vs. mechanical.

In other words, I shaved one leg and used Nair on the other one.

My chemical leg hurts. And itches. And its red. And bumpy.

I guess this isn't a "better living through chemicals" moment. Oh well, at lest my skin isn't peeling. . .

yet. . .

Vroom Vroom

I finally got a new car!!!!

God has really shown himself faithful in this situation. I think He was showing of his sense of humor, to! Dad and I had just been talking about borrowing money for a brand new car, something that I just didn't feel right about. I was praying for guidance with it, and a few minutes later Mom calls to tell me that our neighbor was getting a new car.

Sure enough, our surrogate grandmother neighbor traded in her old car, Dad went up to the dealership and bought it. Its an Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight with a little less than 40k on it, and has been really well cared for. Our dear friend never drove much over 70mph, and I know how conscientious she is about maintenance. Plus, this car has the same motor as that little sports car I tried out . . .

So the bottom line is that God gave me just the perfect car at just the perfect time. Isn't He great?

A Tongue Lashing

I had a patient last night who was rude to me - all night long. She snapped and yelled and argued. So, to everyone who has ever been or ever will be in the hospital (listen up, everybody!)

Please be nice to your nurse! It costs you nothing to be polite. Yes, we know that pain, sorrow, illness, and confusion might make you not yourself. We understand that, and we'll still take care of you with the utmost skill and compassion. But when the pain is eased and you are resting, remember that we are human too. We feel it when you snap or yell at us. A "thank you" is apprecieated, and a "please" is even nicer.

We nurses are not all-knowing, so don't be angry if we do not know the answer right away. We will find it for you. Also, we are not in charge! Shocking as it is, we are bound by the physician's orders. No, we cannot just give you that medication, we cannot just take out your IV. Yes, we really do have to take your vital signs, we really do have to wake you up. And no, you can't go outside to smoke. Sorry, but hospitals are not about waiting on you or having everything you want. They are about helping you get well.

I guess that is the bottom line. We're here to help heal you, and a little politeness makes the whole process easier on us all.