Day 13:
Even though my little girl had a really rough night, I am thankful that I am able to hold her. Today I am thankful that she still wants to be held by Mommy even though its just when she's sick. After a long over night at work, I came home and together we slept for a few hours. Then she just let me hold her in the chair while we watched Gnomeo and Juliet. She pretty much sat there for the entire movie, while I slept. I'm just very thankful she's so well behaved.
Day 14:
Today I am thankful for my jobs. Yes, jobs. My work as a CNA is never predictable, but I'm thankful that they are flexible and have the ability to work with me. I am also thankful that Kohl's is willing to take me on. I really love being a CNA, I can't even describe it. Its hard work, its exhausting and most of the time the hours just drag on. But be there to make the difference in people's lives, even for a little while, is more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Day 11 & 12
Ugh, here's to being a few days late. A lot has gone on. ANYWAYS
Day 11:
Today I am thankful for our Military. Those who are currently on Active Duty status, those on Reserve status, and those who have become Veterans. All branches, all types, EVERYONE. Without these brave men and women I wouldn't be sitting here typing this out to you. In fact, chances are I wouldn't have an opinion at all. Thank you all for everything.
Day 12:
Today I am thankful that Kaylin feels a bit better. It makes running errands before work a lot more pleasant. Her fever is gone, but she's still a little stuffy. She ate a full waffle and a squeezy fruit for breakfast, chick-fil-a for lunch and then quite the dinner. Its nice to see her running around and playing rather than feeling crummy with me.
Day 11:
Today I am thankful for our Military. Those who are currently on Active Duty status, those on Reserve status, and those who have become Veterans. All branches, all types, EVERYONE. Without these brave men and women I wouldn't be sitting here typing this out to you. In fact, chances are I wouldn't have an opinion at all. Thank you all for everything.
Day 12:
Today I am thankful that Kaylin feels a bit better. It makes running errands before work a lot more pleasant. Her fever is gone, but she's still a little stuffy. She ate a full waffle and a squeezy fruit for breakfast, chick-fil-a for lunch and then quite the dinner. Its nice to see her running around and playing rather than feeling crummy with me.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Day 9 & 10
So I'm totally stealing this idea from many of my Facebook friends. But instead of putting it on Facebook, I'll put it on my blog. :)
And once again, I'm a few days late.
Day 9:
Today I am thankful for the bed I sleep on. Its a simple thing really and often taken advantage of. But then I think about all the people, even in the US who don't have a bed to sleep on. REALLY puts being thankful in its place. Even just today I saw a lady sitting on the street corner, in a decent part of town, holding a sign explaining that she sleeps in her car. I've always tried imagining what that would be like, how miserable that would be. But in the end I can't. I can't imagine because I've never had to experience that. I've always had a place to call "home". My parents busted their butts for me, so therefore tomorrow morning when I crawl into bed I am going to make sure I think of how grateful I truly am.
Day 10:
Once again, I have to be thankful for doctors. Kaylin's been battling her cold for a few days, fever off and on, fussy and clingy. With her still not feeling up to par, I did the right thing and made her another appointment at Carson. The doctor was awesome, she listened to all my concerns, including the rash that had made its way up her little abdomen and to the backs of her ears. Instead of feeling like she was in a hurry, I felt like she was really listening. I know those Army doctors, most of them aren't really all there. Sure physically but they really don't want to look at yet another snotty nosed, fussy, whiny baby and have to listen to baby's parents make a big deal out of nothing. I admit, I can be one of those parents every now and then. BUT this time, she was really there. She listened, looked at everything I made a note of, gave me clear instructions and sent us on our way. For once, someone who actually cared.
And once again, I'm a few days late.
Day 9:
Today I am thankful for the bed I sleep on. Its a simple thing really and often taken advantage of. But then I think about all the people, even in the US who don't have a bed to sleep on. REALLY puts being thankful in its place. Even just today I saw a lady sitting on the street corner, in a decent part of town, holding a sign explaining that she sleeps in her car. I've always tried imagining what that would be like, how miserable that would be. But in the end I can't. I can't imagine because I've never had to experience that. I've always had a place to call "home". My parents busted their butts for me, so therefore tomorrow morning when I crawl into bed I am going to make sure I think of how grateful I truly am.
Day 10:
Once again, I have to be thankful for doctors. Kaylin's been battling her cold for a few days, fever off and on, fussy and clingy. With her still not feeling up to par, I did the right thing and made her another appointment at Carson. The doctor was awesome, she listened to all my concerns, including the rash that had made its way up her little abdomen and to the backs of her ears. Instead of feeling like she was in a hurry, I felt like she was really listening. I know those Army doctors, most of them aren't really all there. Sure physically but they really don't want to look at yet another snotty nosed, fussy, whiny baby and have to listen to baby's parents make a big deal out of nothing. I admit, I can be one of those parents every now and then. BUT this time, she was really there. She listened, looked at everything I made a note of, gave me clear instructions and sent us on our way. For once, someone who actually cared.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Day 7 & 8
So I'm totally stealing this idea from many of my Facebook friends. But instead of putting it on Facebook, I'll put it on my blog. :)
Day 7:
Today I am thankful for the people I have met in my short career. The residents, my fellow aides, and other random people. I enjoy going into a facility and looking forward to working. I get excited knowing that some people are on the same shift as me. I find myself starting to get attached to people at certain facilities. I can't wait to find a steady job, and I'm sorta keeping my fingers crossed its the one I've been working on for the last few weeks. ;-)
Day 8:
I am SO glad my daughter has healthcare insurance. She's been fighting a fever for 2 days now, nothing "serious" but 102.2 isn't anything to laugh off either. She was given a good few rounds of tylenol and motrin and I made her an appointment for this morning. Naturally I underestimated my quickness at getting ready and the Ft Carson traffic at 8:30 in the morning. We made it into the pediatric clinic with moments to spare before her appointment. We hung around a few minutes and we were finally seen by a nurse practitioner. Kaylin got her ears, eyes, nose, throat and abdomen checked. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing to explain the fever. All I got was a script for Tylenol (not complaining there) and a "wait and see what develops" diagnosis. Not my goal but hey at least I know that I did the right thing. I can't imagine having her and not having any insurance for moments like that. Her fever sprang up on us while I was at work in just a matter of hours she was miserable and it was still climbing. Poor baby, poor mommy.
Day 7:
Today I am thankful for the people I have met in my short career. The residents, my fellow aides, and other random people. I enjoy going into a facility and looking forward to working. I get excited knowing that some people are on the same shift as me. I find myself starting to get attached to people at certain facilities. I can't wait to find a steady job, and I'm sorta keeping my fingers crossed its the one I've been working on for the last few weeks. ;-)
Day 8:
I am SO glad my daughter has healthcare insurance. She's been fighting a fever for 2 days now, nothing "serious" but 102.2 isn't anything to laugh off either. She was given a good few rounds of tylenol and motrin and I made her an appointment for this morning. Naturally I underestimated my quickness at getting ready and the Ft Carson traffic at 8:30 in the morning. We made it into the pediatric clinic with moments to spare before her appointment. We hung around a few minutes and we were finally seen by a nurse practitioner. Kaylin got her ears, eyes, nose, throat and abdomen checked. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing to explain the fever. All I got was a script for Tylenol (not complaining there) and a "wait and see what develops" diagnosis. Not my goal but hey at least I know that I did the right thing. I can't imagine having her and not having any insurance for moments like that. Her fever sprang up on us while I was at work in just a matter of hours she was miserable and it was still climbing. Poor baby, poor mommy.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Day 5 & 6
So I'm totally stealing this idea from many of my Facebook friends. But instead of putting it on Facebook, I'll put it on my blog. :)
Yeah I know, I'm a day late and a dollar short. You'll deal. I've worked 3, 8 hour shifts in the last 3 days and I am definitely not used to it. So I'm exhausted. ANYWAY....
DAY 5:
Today I'm thankful for my friends. The ones that have stuck by me through everything, listened to all my worries, laughed at the good times, and cried at the bad times. I have no idea where I'd be if I didn't have them. The ones that spend hours working their butts off to make me laugh, when the situation feels impossible, and the ones that notice I'm missing from church and basically say I'm coming for dinner and that is final. I'm thankful for the friends who I can call at all hours of the night just to hear that everything will be okay again one day. I'm thankful I even HAVE those friends. I'm thankful for the ones who stay up with me on over night shifts, just to keep me awake. I know sometimes I'm a shitty friend. I come off (at least to myself as a needy, whiny person) but my friends understand. I could name you all, or you can just feel it in your heart. Where it should be, because even if I'm not always in contact with you, I'm always there for you.
DAY 6:
Today I'm thankful for my health. I cannot begin to think of how I would do if I was sick. Especially now that Kaylin is sick, I'm not sure I could handle being sick and her being sick too.
Yeah I know, I'm a day late and a dollar short. You'll deal. I've worked 3, 8 hour shifts in the last 3 days and I am definitely not used to it. So I'm exhausted. ANYWAY....
DAY 5:
Today I'm thankful for my friends. The ones that have stuck by me through everything, listened to all my worries, laughed at the good times, and cried at the bad times. I have no idea where I'd be if I didn't have them. The ones that spend hours working their butts off to make me laugh, when the situation feels impossible, and the ones that notice I'm missing from church and basically say I'm coming for dinner and that is final. I'm thankful for the friends who I can call at all hours of the night just to hear that everything will be okay again one day. I'm thankful I even HAVE those friends. I'm thankful for the ones who stay up with me on over night shifts, just to keep me awake. I know sometimes I'm a shitty friend. I come off (at least to myself as a needy, whiny person) but my friends understand. I could name you all, or you can just feel it in your heart. Where it should be, because even if I'm not always in contact with you, I'm always there for you.
DAY 6:
Today I'm thankful for my health. I cannot begin to think of how I would do if I was sick. Especially now that Kaylin is sick, I'm not sure I could handle being sick and her being sick too.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
This is my job..
I work as a CNA, Certified Nurse's Assistant. Basically MY job is to do all the "dirty work" the nurses and LPN's don't want to do. Sorta like a nurse will do some of the dirty work of the doctor. Yeah its a hierarchy, same thing goes for nurses.
In my short career, I've only worked at 2 facilities. Both nursing facilities with assisted living and skilled living centers. Some of my residents were highly functioning, other residents were completely incontinent. A little background for those who don't know, people in assisted living are highly functioning. They can get up, get dressed, feed themselves, toilet themselves, basically like living on their own but under the care of people. (They may need meds or oxygen) Skilled nursing facilities have people who are incontinent, need mobility help, or can't even get out of bed without trained assistance.
My first shift ever was at a skilled nursing facility in Pueblo. Man I was rusty. I hadn't practiced ANY of my skills in 2 years, I'd been over the packet and the state testing requirements half a dozen times. But without actual people and things, I wasn't going to gain those skills back. Most jobs do an orientation or training, however with an agency there is no type of training. Its sink or swim. I never know when I'm going to get that call. The call that I am needed at a nursing center, hospital or home. THAT call can come at any time for any shift. I've gotten calls at 5:40 in the morning for a 6 am shift and I've gotten calls at 11:15 at night for a 10:30 pm shift. Anyway, I have to be thankful for Pueblo. I teamed up with another Agency (I work for a staffing agency) CNA and we just helped each other out. It was nice to get some of the skills back, even if I was a bit rusty and slow.
Now the rest of my shifts have been at a home here in town. I did some of my clinical hours for my CNA certification at the same home 2 1/2 years ago. Some of the residents I remember working with are still there, some are in worse shape and some have passed on. My days are spent getting residents out of bed for meals, helping them go to the restroom, and helping them in any way they may need. We get them dressed in the morning, change them after meals, and do miscellaneous tasks all day long.
In either case, I am thankful to have my life the way it is. Its not perfect, its not how I imagined everything but at the same time I can function in society, I am able to take care of myself and my daughter. I need to be more thankful. Its hard and sad to see some of our residents, who are sick and ailing that have barely any visitors. I'm sure that it takes its toll on the family to see someone they love so sick and helpless. But seeing how some of the residents just need someone to talk to, I feel sad.
Now I know my job isn't glamorous, it's far from it. I've compared it to parenting older people instead of children. And typically that is exactly what it is. However I have yet to come home from a shift and not feel like I made a difference in someone's life. Even if it is just to be there to sit and talk to for a few minutes. I smile when I enter a residents room and the resident remembers my name. It means I've made a difference, even if its just for a few minutes.
At first I was honestly sad. Some of the people at the facility are just waiting to die. Its hard to see, its hard to think like that. Its hard to think that it is a quality of life. Its sad to think that I could end up like that. I actually came home the first day saying that I never want to get old. Thankfully the nurse on shift that day, reminded me that this isn't how the majority of the elderly population lives. Which is definitely true.
Thankfully I love my job.
In my short career, I've only worked at 2 facilities. Both nursing facilities with assisted living and skilled living centers. Some of my residents were highly functioning, other residents were completely incontinent. A little background for those who don't know, people in assisted living are highly functioning. They can get up, get dressed, feed themselves, toilet themselves, basically like living on their own but under the care of people. (They may need meds or oxygen) Skilled nursing facilities have people who are incontinent, need mobility help, or can't even get out of bed without trained assistance.
My first shift ever was at a skilled nursing facility in Pueblo. Man I was rusty. I hadn't practiced ANY of my skills in 2 years, I'd been over the packet and the state testing requirements half a dozen times. But without actual people and things, I wasn't going to gain those skills back. Most jobs do an orientation or training, however with an agency there is no type of training. Its sink or swim. I never know when I'm going to get that call. The call that I am needed at a nursing center, hospital or home. THAT call can come at any time for any shift. I've gotten calls at 5:40 in the morning for a 6 am shift and I've gotten calls at 11:15 at night for a 10:30 pm shift. Anyway, I have to be thankful for Pueblo. I teamed up with another Agency (I work for a staffing agency) CNA and we just helped each other out. It was nice to get some of the skills back, even if I was a bit rusty and slow.
Now the rest of my shifts have been at a home here in town. I did some of my clinical hours for my CNA certification at the same home 2 1/2 years ago. Some of the residents I remember working with are still there, some are in worse shape and some have passed on. My days are spent getting residents out of bed for meals, helping them go to the restroom, and helping them in any way they may need. We get them dressed in the morning, change them after meals, and do miscellaneous tasks all day long.
In either case, I am thankful to have my life the way it is. Its not perfect, its not how I imagined everything but at the same time I can function in society, I am able to take care of myself and my daughter. I need to be more thankful. Its hard and sad to see some of our residents, who are sick and ailing that have barely any visitors. I'm sure that it takes its toll on the family to see someone they love so sick and helpless. But seeing how some of the residents just need someone to talk to, I feel sad.
Now I know my job isn't glamorous, it's far from it. I've compared it to parenting older people instead of children. And typically that is exactly what it is. However I have yet to come home from a shift and not feel like I made a difference in someone's life. Even if it is just to be there to sit and talk to for a few minutes. I smile when I enter a residents room and the resident remembers my name. It means I've made a difference, even if its just for a few minutes.
At first I was honestly sad. Some of the people at the facility are just waiting to die. Its hard to see, its hard to think like that. Its hard to think that it is a quality of life. Its sad to think that I could end up like that. I actually came home the first day saying that I never want to get old. Thankfully the nurse on shift that day, reminded me that this isn't how the majority of the elderly population lives. Which is definitely true.
Thankfully I love my job.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Day 3 & 4
So I'm totally stealing this idea from many of my Facebook friends. But instead of putting it on Facebook, I'll put it on my blog. :)
For the entire month of November I'll be blogging about what I am thankful for.
Day 3:
I am thankful for this beautiful weather we've been having. Ohmygosh, it's been bea-U-tiful! (Please remember to say that like Jim Carey in Bruce Almight, kay thanks) Not only did the summer royally have a massive amount of weather suckage in Germany, but we get to Colorado and were barely here a week and we got a "cold" spell. Okay for the rest of the state, that had temperatures in the 90's (I remember getting off the plane in Denver feeling like I was hit in the face by a sweaty, stale palm) it was cold. To us, it was normal. However even though the cool was a nice break from the 90 degree temps, it was chilly! Anyways, usually by this time we're always bundled in thick heavy jackets, snow boots and gloves. Shoot I got HOT taking Kaylin trick-or-treating. Long story short, even though we got like no summer to enjoy, I'm so glad that its been decent enough to enjoy the fall. :)
Day 4:
The laugh of my baby girl. I honestly don't now how I can get more thankful. Her laugh is so cheerful and happy. Its amazing that I lived so long without it. Her laughing can make me laugh, its honestly contagious. In just one laugh, she can make my day go from bad to amazing. I even notice other people around her laugh and smile when she does. See its not just me.
For the entire month of November I'll be blogging about what I am thankful for.
Day 3:
I am thankful for this beautiful weather we've been having. Ohmygosh, it's been bea-U-tiful! (Please remember to say that like Jim Carey in Bruce Almight, kay thanks) Not only did the summer royally have a massive amount of weather suckage in Germany, but we get to Colorado and were barely here a week and we got a "cold" spell. Okay for the rest of the state, that had temperatures in the 90's (I remember getting off the plane in Denver feeling like I was hit in the face by a sweaty, stale palm) it was cold. To us, it was normal. However even though the cool was a nice break from the 90 degree temps, it was chilly! Anyways, usually by this time we're always bundled in thick heavy jackets, snow boots and gloves. Shoot I got HOT taking Kaylin trick-or-treating. Long story short, even though we got like no summer to enjoy, I'm so glad that its been decent enough to enjoy the fall. :)
Day 4:
The laugh of my baby girl. I honestly don't now how I can get more thankful. Her laugh is so cheerful and happy. Its amazing that I lived so long without it. Her laughing can make me laugh, its honestly contagious. In just one laugh, she can make my day go from bad to amazing. I even notice other people around her laugh and smile when she does. See its not just me.
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