Hi Team.
I just want to start by thanking you all for the tremendous support you have been and continue to be during this hard time I am going through. I cannot say enough how much I appreciate the outpouring of love and support. I am SO blessed.
Today was a little better day. I was a zombie for the better part of the day because I had only about 2 1/2 hour sleep. I drank 2 1/2 quarts of water and tea today and I was very active at work! That makes me 3 for 3! I guess I had better figure out how to sleep under stress or I'll never make it as a paramedic! Today was an extra long day at work so after the first few hours I was really wide awake and doing much better than the beginning of the shift. When one works with kids it is kind of a sink or swim kind of deal. Either I had to pull some strength out of my pocket and get it together or I'd have been eaten alive! I chose not to get eaten!
My assistant (the rock of my staff) was out and will be all week because her grandmother is very ill. My substitute is a wonderfully nice person but pretty much useless. She takes no initiative and when given directions and asked if she needs clarification or assistance with anything she says no. She talks as though she understands what is expected and then does nothing! I'd almost rather be a staff person short and over the legal ratio of staff/kids than have to deal with that. The kids are always rowdy and squirrelly when they get out of school early so that can be challenging and today was no exception. On top of it, one of my 4th grade boys really slammed his thumb in the door (heavy metal school doors). He had a small cut or puncture, hard to tell which, on the outer thumb next to the thumbnail and it stubbornly bled. I applied pressure for about two minutes and checked it but it didn't stop. It finally took about 10 minutes of pressure and elevation to stop it. It wasn't a lot of blood but it didn't want to stop. He got upset and started to get nauseated and a stomach ache, pale and generally not looking so hot about the time I got the bleeding stopped and a bandage on his thumb so I took him inside and had him lie down, elevated his feet, kept him warm, I got an ice pack for his thumb and I talked to him as I monitored him for the next 10 minutes. While I dealt with the minor medical emergency my childcare program fell apart and my teacher and the sub did not communicate or effectively handle the 28 kids that were there. Now the teacher is a good teacher and works wonderfully well with me ordinarily, but she was trying to deal with the group with the sub as her back up and nothing was happening. I could see it all falling apart but I could not leave the inured boy. It was very frustrating.
After monitoring the boy for 10 minutes he seemed to be doing better. His color was back, he was talking and animated but still not his usual self and he insisted that his stomach still really hurt and he felt like he would be sick. At this point I managed to get the staff to get all the kids inside from the playground so we were all in the cafeteria. I had the injured boy away from the group and mostly out of site of the kids. He was visible enough that I could monitor him while assisting my staff in getting control of the group again, which I did. Within the next 10 minutes, my injured boy was smiling most of the time he was talking and he was telling me about his dad's previous injuries of having impaled his arm with some part of a broken bicycle one time. I figured this kid would be okay now. Somehow during all of this I had called my boss to inform her of the situation and called the kids' parents. Sadly, mom's work phone went straight to voicemail and the home phone and dad's cell phone, (which were supposed to be emergency back up numbers) gave me a recording of having been disconnected! It was another 40 minutes before his mom called me back and I filled her in. I let her speak to him and it was decided that his dad would come and get him and they would go home. By the time he got picked up he was complaining to dad that he wanted to stay and have a corn dog for snack! It was a very long day!
Once home for the evening I discoveredt that My grandpa's service will be on Monday so I will be taking the train Saturday to the station nearest my brother and will stay with him for the weekend. My husband will drive down on Monday, attend the services and bring us both home. I also found out, however, that my sister, whom I haven't seen in probably 10 years, will be coming from Nebraska and staying with my mom for a week -a mile from my home. I am so excited and happy that I will get to see her. My mom is happy that she will have all her children in one place for the first time in decades!
As I said, I am doing a bit better for now. I'll try to keep current here as much as possible.
Stay safe.
Hotflash out.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Report From Ladder Company 40 Day 126
Hi Team.
Simple report is all I have the energy for. I am not really sleeping but I have remembered to drink my fluids. I was busy today and therefore pretty active so I guess that is 2 for three. Just functioning at minimal levels today. Sorry this post is such a downer. I'll climb back out of this hole after I've had a few days to deal with things. Thanks for caring.
Stay safe.
Hotflash out.
Simple report is all I have the energy for. I am not really sleeping but I have remembered to drink my fluids. I was busy today and therefore pretty active so I guess that is 2 for three. Just functioning at minimal levels today. Sorry this post is such a downer. I'll climb back out of this hole after I've had a few days to deal with things. Thanks for caring.
Stay safe.
Hotflash out.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Report From Ladder Company 40 Day 125
Hi Team.
Sorry no exclamation point, it has been a rough day. It started out well. Coach Alex and I did get our walk, our butts have officially fallen off! (Well, we can wish, can't we?) We got to walk outside today! YAY US!! I SO needed the sunshine and fresh air, it was great! Sadly we had one small casualty though. Coach's hubby, John joined us today and was rudely attacked by the curb which threw him to the ground, banging up his knee pretty well. (OUCH!) Kinda takes the reward out of walking, doesn't it? :( We got him seated inside the mall with his knee elevated and rounded up a bag of ice for it as he insisted we continue our walk. He seems to be moving around okay for now. I bet tomorrow's gonna be pretty tough though. Say a prayer for him, please.
Before I forget, I got plenty of sleep last night and I have had about 2 1/2 quarts of fluids today so I am 3 for three.
It got a little rougher after that. My stomach decided to revolt and I have been dealing wtih digestive issues all day. Good thing I did not have to work today and could stay close to the necessary facilities. I spent some time writing my "fan fiction" story which was good because I haven't written for a couple of weeks. I had really bad writer's block. I was glad to post another chapter. And I discovered that my friend (that I met through the writing web site I go to) finally joined facebook so I can keep up with her a little better and she can see all my pictures now! YAY! She has been a tremendous encouragement on this journey but does not have regular internet access and therefore does not follow this blog. She still ROCKS though!
It got even rougher this evening. I was sitting at the computer getting ready to post my chapter when I got a text. It was my brother's facebook status. This is what it said:
"(my brother's name) lost his last grandfather today."
I was shocked and dumbfounded and horrified to read it. Then I was angry to have read it. THen I lost it and cried like a baby. Then I called my mom because I didn't want her to find out from facebook. Upon calling her I found out that she had called my brother and told him. Not me. She said she knew I came home from work late so she hadn't called me yet but was about to. It was 7:23 when I talked to her. I get home around 7 so that made sense. Except I didn't work today. And finding out from a text really sucked! I am not mad at anyone, it was not intentional, it just happened and it really sucks. I know my bro will be horrified when he finds out that I found out that way and I hope he will not think that I took it personally. I hope he will not kick himself because he really thought I already knew. While talking to my mom I made sure that she would call my sister in Omaha and I called our other sister in Portland and made sure her grown daughter knew too so that they would not find out through facebook.
I am deeply saddened by the loss of Grandpa. He is the one I spoke of in an earlier post, the one I saw two weeks ago. I never imagined he would go now. I thought he was doing surprisingly well and had a few more years left in him. I am thankful to have seen him and to have at least said goodbye, even if I didn't realize it was for good. God is amazing and faithful and so loving. Yesterday at church, a young woman came up to me and said, "Last night I could not sleep even though I was really tired. I prayed and God told me to pray for you so I prayed that he would lift you up and show himself to be very real to you." (My tears just started flowing again). He loves me so much he had me lifted in prayer before the news came! That ais so special and so overwhelming!
15 years or more ago, my grandpa died. He was revived miraculously but he remembered being dead. He told us he went to hell and that he hadn't even believed in hell before that. He said he went there and it was awful and he was frightened. I do not know if Grandpa ever gave his life to the Lord after that, but I pray that he did. He was a good, loving and compassionate man and I hope that he gets to spend eternity with our Lord and that I will see him again. Not knowing is hard, but I have to trust that God will not let me think about that and worry about it because it is too late to change it now. I talked to Grandpa a few times about God and being saved but I just don't know what he finally decided. I just hope he is in the big firehouse in the sky shooting the breeze with the firemen and family that have gone before him.
Please forgive me if the next week or so is sporadic as far as posting goes. I will try to be on it because it is good for me but I don't know what this week holds and how strong I will be. I am too sad right now to think about anything more than the moment I am in.
Thanks for all the support you all have been to me and that I know you will continue to be. I feel blessed to have such good friends. Take care and stay safe.
Hotflash out.
Sorry no exclamation point, it has been a rough day. It started out well. Coach Alex and I did get our walk, our butts have officially fallen off! (Well, we can wish, can't we?) We got to walk outside today! YAY US!! I SO needed the sunshine and fresh air, it was great! Sadly we had one small casualty though. Coach's hubby, John joined us today and was rudely attacked by the curb which threw him to the ground, banging up his knee pretty well. (OUCH!) Kinda takes the reward out of walking, doesn't it? :( We got him seated inside the mall with his knee elevated and rounded up a bag of ice for it as he insisted we continue our walk. He seems to be moving around okay for now. I bet tomorrow's gonna be pretty tough though. Say a prayer for him, please.
Before I forget, I got plenty of sleep last night and I have had about 2 1/2 quarts of fluids today so I am 3 for three.
It got a little rougher after that. My stomach decided to revolt and I have been dealing wtih digestive issues all day. Good thing I did not have to work today and could stay close to the necessary facilities. I spent some time writing my "fan fiction" story which was good because I haven't written for a couple of weeks. I had really bad writer's block. I was glad to post another chapter. And I discovered that my friend (that I met through the writing web site I go to) finally joined facebook so I can keep up with her a little better and she can see all my pictures now! YAY! She has been a tremendous encouragement on this journey but does not have regular internet access and therefore does not follow this blog. She still ROCKS though!
It got even rougher this evening. I was sitting at the computer getting ready to post my chapter when I got a text. It was my brother's facebook status. This is what it said:
"(my brother's name) lost his last grandfather today."
I was shocked and dumbfounded and horrified to read it. Then I was angry to have read it. THen I lost it and cried like a baby. Then I called my mom because I didn't want her to find out from facebook. Upon calling her I found out that she had called my brother and told him. Not me. She said she knew I came home from work late so she hadn't called me yet but was about to. It was 7:23 when I talked to her. I get home around 7 so that made sense. Except I didn't work today. And finding out from a text really sucked! I am not mad at anyone, it was not intentional, it just happened and it really sucks. I know my bro will be horrified when he finds out that I found out that way and I hope he will not think that I took it personally. I hope he will not kick himself because he really thought I already knew. While talking to my mom I made sure that she would call my sister in Omaha and I called our other sister in Portland and made sure her grown daughter knew too so that they would not find out through facebook.
I am deeply saddened by the loss of Grandpa. He is the one I spoke of in an earlier post, the one I saw two weeks ago. I never imagined he would go now. I thought he was doing surprisingly well and had a few more years left in him. I am thankful to have seen him and to have at least said goodbye, even if I didn't realize it was for good. God is amazing and faithful and so loving. Yesterday at church, a young woman came up to me and said, "Last night I could not sleep even though I was really tired. I prayed and God told me to pray for you so I prayed that he would lift you up and show himself to be very real to you." (My tears just started flowing again). He loves me so much he had me lifted in prayer before the news came! That ais so special and so overwhelming!
15 years or more ago, my grandpa died. He was revived miraculously but he remembered being dead. He told us he went to hell and that he hadn't even believed in hell before that. He said he went there and it was awful and he was frightened. I do not know if Grandpa ever gave his life to the Lord after that, but I pray that he did. He was a good, loving and compassionate man and I hope that he gets to spend eternity with our Lord and that I will see him again. Not knowing is hard, but I have to trust that God will not let me think about that and worry about it because it is too late to change it now. I talked to Grandpa a few times about God and being saved but I just don't know what he finally decided. I just hope he is in the big firehouse in the sky shooting the breeze with the firemen and family that have gone before him.
Please forgive me if the next week or so is sporadic as far as posting goes. I will try to be on it because it is good for me but I don't know what this week holds and how strong I will be. I am too sad right now to think about anything more than the moment I am in.
Thanks for all the support you all have been to me and that I know you will continue to be. I feel blessed to have such good friends. Take care and stay safe.
Hotflash out.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Report From Ladder Company 40 Day 123 and 124
Hi Team!
Sorry I did not post on Saturday. I spent most of my computer time trying to get some pictures uploaded. I was having problems.
Saturday was a good day. I slept about 9 hours and then had a nap later in the day for about 2 1/2 hours. YAY ME!
I drank all my required fluids (about 3 quarts) but did not get a lot of exercise. I still don't have a new pedometer and it will be at least a couple of weeks, most likely, before I do. Again, if anyone knows where I can find an ankle mount pedometer, please tell me. I know they have them for medical research purposes but I don't know if they are available to the general public or if they are affordable. Pete took quite a beating on my hip though. (RIP, Pete!)
Saturday night was my monthly TPC Fire Buff Battalion meeting. I always look forward to our meetings. I was voted in as club secretary! YAY ME!! I also was issued my official membership card, a fire coat with liner and an official club fire phone!
I'm official!
Me in my fire coat.
A close up of our patch (this one is giant sized on my back)
I can't run fire calls yet though. I have to wait until I get my official ID badge from the fire department. I'm so close I can smell the smoke!
Sunday was a typical day of rest. I have had my fluids, only 2 quarts, but that qualifies. I had plenty of sleep but I didn't do much else. 2 for 3 for friday and for saturday is all I can claim. Tomorrow should be better though. I am meeting Coach Alex in the morning and we are going to walk our butts off! =D
Until next blog, stay safe!
Please, say a prayer for the victims and for the rescuers in Haiti. That was so cool seeing the Haitians singing praises to God despite their hardships! We could learn from that.
Hotflash out.
Sorry I did not post on Saturday. I spent most of my computer time trying to get some pictures uploaded. I was having problems.
Saturday was a good day. I slept about 9 hours and then had a nap later in the day for about 2 1/2 hours. YAY ME!
I drank all my required fluids (about 3 quarts) but did not get a lot of exercise. I still don't have a new pedometer and it will be at least a couple of weeks, most likely, before I do. Again, if anyone knows where I can find an ankle mount pedometer, please tell me. I know they have them for medical research purposes but I don't know if they are available to the general public or if they are affordable. Pete took quite a beating on my hip though. (RIP, Pete!)
Saturday night was my monthly TPC Fire Buff Battalion meeting. I always look forward to our meetings. I was voted in as club secretary! YAY ME!! I also was issued my official membership card, a fire coat with liner and an official club fire phone!
I'm official!
Me in my fire coat.
A close up of our patch (this one is giant sized on my back)
I can't run fire calls yet though. I have to wait until I get my official ID badge from the fire department. I'm so close I can smell the smoke!
Sunday was a typical day of rest. I have had my fluids, only 2 quarts, but that qualifies. I had plenty of sleep but I didn't do much else. 2 for 3 for friday and for saturday is all I can claim. Tomorrow should be better though. I am meeting Coach Alex in the morning and we are going to walk our butts off! =D
Until next blog, stay safe!
Please, say a prayer for the victims and for the rescuers in Haiti. That was so cool seeing the Haitians singing praises to God despite their hardships! We could learn from that.
Hotflash out.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Report From Ladder Company 40 Day 123
Hi Team!
It is with great sadness that I announce to you the demise of Pete. Pete was a nice little pedometer with a great sense of humor and a penchant for tomfoolery but he was a good buddy, always by my side. He went with me nearly everywhere I went and loved just hanging out. He passed quietly and apparently without much suffering. His ticker just quit on him. (sniff sniff). Although we gave each other a hard time, I will miss the little fella!
Well, I guess I cannot tell you how many steps I took today either. I do know that I sat maybe 20 minutes of my entire shift at work today and that usually adds up to as many steps as a "walk" day, which today would have been if I hadn't had a funny shift today. And I drank LOTS of tea (herbal) and lost count it was so much. Coach Alex knows about a lot of it though because it was at the tea shop she works at. That makes me two for three. We won't even talk about sleep. Suffice it to say I need to get some and it needs to be a priority before something bad happens. I didn't go to bed as planned last night either but I will get good sleep this weekend!!
I had a super special awesome birthday. Tons of people sent me electronic birthday wishes and that was fun. My relief came in and sent me home a half hour early today! :) Coach Alex served me a lovely afternoon tea and gave me a red tea pot with three kinds of tea and a hand crocheted tea cozy! Then my hubby took me to dinner at Royal Thai Bistro! YAY ME!!! He kept thinking that he didn't like Thai food but he let me order and he liked most of it! Then we went to Cold Stone Creamery for dessert. I was too full to eat much of it though.
Well, I am going to end this post because my sister just called and I don't like to type and talk.
Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone! I had an awesome day!
Stay safe!
Hotflash out
It is with great sadness that I announce to you the demise of Pete. Pete was a nice little pedometer with a great sense of humor and a penchant for tomfoolery but he was a good buddy, always by my side. He went with me nearly everywhere I went and loved just hanging out. He passed quietly and apparently without much suffering. His ticker just quit on him. (sniff sniff). Although we gave each other a hard time, I will miss the little fella!
Well, I guess I cannot tell you how many steps I took today either. I do know that I sat maybe 20 minutes of my entire shift at work today and that usually adds up to as many steps as a "walk" day, which today would have been if I hadn't had a funny shift today. And I drank LOTS of tea (herbal) and lost count it was so much. Coach Alex knows about a lot of it though because it was at the tea shop she works at. That makes me two for three. We won't even talk about sleep. Suffice it to say I need to get some and it needs to be a priority before something bad happens. I didn't go to bed as planned last night either but I will get good sleep this weekend!!
I had a super special awesome birthday. Tons of people sent me electronic birthday wishes and that was fun. My relief came in and sent me home a half hour early today! :) Coach Alex served me a lovely afternoon tea and gave me a red tea pot with three kinds of tea and a hand crocheted tea cozy! Then my hubby took me to dinner at Royal Thai Bistro! YAY ME!!! He kept thinking that he didn't like Thai food but he let me order and he liked most of it! Then we went to Cold Stone Creamery for dessert. I was too full to eat much of it though.
Well, I am going to end this post because my sister just called and I don't like to type and talk.
Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone! I had an awesome day!
Stay safe!
Hotflash out
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Report From Ladder Company 40 Day 122
Hi Team!
Day 122 already? LOL Did I ever tell you I was 29 twice? I guess numbers are not my thing! LOL I am quite sure I will really be 41 tomorrow though. I was born in 1969, so that makes me 41! It shouldn't be so hard for me to keep it straight. (I blame it on blondeness. I have brown hair now, but until I was about 7 I was blonde and in the summer I have a lot of blonde (and red) highlights).
Well, I just checked on Pete to see what my progress was. According to Pete I walked 502 steps today! No wonder I feel so drained! LOL I was on my feet and busy all day. Pete is just being tricky. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!) I drank about 3 1quarts today so that was at least a good part of my day. Sleep I definitely bombed on. I was having some computer issues last night when I was also watching Rescue Me and being disgusted and disappointed, and got involved in trying to straighten things out. When I got to a good stopping point it was after midnight. OOPS! >.< So I think in all fairness I would say I got two for three today.
Tomorrow I work from 6:15 to 12:15 and then I am going to the tea shop (where Coach Alex works) to relax. Later, when my husband gets off work, I don't know what we'll do. Maybe I can talk him into the Royal Thai Bistro, one of my favorite restaurants. Or maybe we'll have a family game night. Or maybe both. Or??? Who knows.
Well, I'm VERY tired and I'm going to bed so stay safe and I'll blog at ya'll later!
Hotflash out.
Day 122 already? LOL Did I ever tell you I was 29 twice? I guess numbers are not my thing! LOL I am quite sure I will really be 41 tomorrow though. I was born in 1969, so that makes me 41! It shouldn't be so hard for me to keep it straight. (I blame it on blondeness. I have brown hair now, but until I was about 7 I was blonde and in the summer I have a lot of blonde (and red) highlights).
Well, I just checked on Pete to see what my progress was. According to Pete I walked 502 steps today! No wonder I feel so drained! LOL I was on my feet and busy all day. Pete is just being tricky. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!) I drank about 3 1quarts today so that was at least a good part of my day. Sleep I definitely bombed on. I was having some computer issues last night when I was also watching Rescue Me and being disgusted and disappointed, and got involved in trying to straighten things out. When I got to a good stopping point it was after midnight. OOPS! >.< So I think in all fairness I would say I got two for three today.
Tomorrow I work from 6:15 to 12:15 and then I am going to the tea shop (where Coach Alex works) to relax. Later, when my husband gets off work, I don't know what we'll do. Maybe I can talk him into the Royal Thai Bistro, one of my favorite restaurants. Or maybe we'll have a family game night. Or maybe both. Or??? Who knows.
Well, I'm VERY tired and I'm going to bed so stay safe and I'll blog at ya'll later!
Hotflash out.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Report From Ladder Company 40 Day 121 (addition)
Hi Team!
I don't know if any of you read my original post for day 121 but I have edited it about 1/2 hour after originally posting it. I had originally talked about watching Rescue Me but I just want to say for the record IT SUCKS! It is rude, crude and pornographic. Do NOT be tempted if that sort of thing is a turn off to you because it is gross! Enough said!
Stay safe.
Hotflash out.
I don't know if any of you read my original post for day 121 but I have edited it about 1/2 hour after originally posting it. I had originally talked about watching Rescue Me but I just want to say for the record IT SUCKS! It is rude, crude and pornographic. Do NOT be tempted if that sort of thing is a turn off to you because it is gross! Enough said!
Stay safe.
Hotflash out.
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