Sunday, September 15, 2013

Struggling, Football, and the Peds ER

This semester, I've been struggling through 9 credit hours.  That's a lot of school for someone who also works full time.  I'll admit that this semester is the first time I've had to deal with the green monster of envy, you know that mean little person inside that just wants to yell at anyone that has the nerve to ask me to volunteer for one.more.thing.  Sometimes I wish I could sit at home all day and eat bon-bons and watch Maury.  But then all the "you are not the father" bits would only remind me of how much I really do enjoy my job.  So, the irony was not lost on me that this last week I was studying PMS and was super-grumpy and still had a mountain of school work to do and still had to work.  I may or may not have eaten way too much salted caramel gelato (I keep it hidden so the kids can't find it!).

But then on to work I went one night last week and was greeted by on of the assistant nurse managers needing to talk to me.  Oh boy...I follow policy to the letter of the law, so I know it can't be that, but these days, there's really no telling what ruffles people's feathers anymore.  Unbeknownst to me, someone had written a nice letter that they were happy with their care, and the boss-lady gave me a copy and a movie ticket.  What a nice way to start my day.  Then a few hours later, EMS was transferring a patient to us and one of the transporters called my first and last name down the hallway.  I wondered if I knew him and when I got closer he looked vaguely familiar, but I still couldn't place him.  He gave me a huge hug and told me I took care of his daughter in the NICU and then when he showed me pictures from his phone I was able to place him right away.  It's so nice to hear the happy endings!  As if that wasn't enough to end my grumpy mood....sometime after midnight, when I was finally caught up on stuff at work, I looked up to see flowers sitting in front of me and a very young couple who had delivered their baby the night before and wanted to thank me for taking such good care of them.  Awwww....all this in one night.  


Moving onto the kids and their cray schedule...


On Fridays during football season, everyone wears their jersey or cheer outfit.  How cute are they?


We went to LBHS's first home game of the season.  In true pre-teen fashion, Megan found her friends and was chit-chatting with them.  


Daniel hung out with me in the stands and spent the whole game telling this adorable little girl everything about football.  "See, now they going to kick for an extra point".  So adorable!!

Joshua hung out with some of his friends, and I know better than to go take pictures.  :) 


The next morning, it was an away game for us. Hot, hot hot!  We have a sports-brella that we us and it keeps us cool, but still it's the humidity that really gets to us. 


Joshua's team out on the field.  I know that because that's one of Joshua's favorite coaches.

That week Daniel's team won and Joshua's team lost. 


The following day (Labor Day), Megan and I went out to run some errands and came across the rally for improving birth.  In all 50 states, there is at least one rally scheduled on Labor Day to help encourage moms to take good care of themselves while pregnant and to improve birth related outcomes in our country.  


I had an opportunity to talk with some NPs and CNMs about upcoming community events, while Megan got busy holding a sign.  


The kids had a teacher work day the week before last, so we decided to adventure off to Blizzard Beach for a few hours.

I want to relax on an island in the middle of nowhere. 


Caught in the act.  Daddy feeding Lilly strawberries that I had just washed for some smoothies. 

And onto a home football game....Patriots vs. the 'Caines


On this particular morning, it was in the 70's and so nice!  I stopped by Panera Bread for some egg sandwiches and a hot coffee before heading out to the field. 


My sweet boy...he let me take some quick pictures out on the field.



These two sit through Daniel's game with me, while Keith is in the announcer box doing his thing. 



A warm up lap around the field. 


Settling in with a good book and a blanket...it was really chilly!!


A picture of my sweet boy! 


Daddy in the announcer booth doing the spotting. 


Waving to the crowd below. 


Daniel is standing right beside the coach in the red shirt. 


Megan getting ready to cheer.


Joshua hanging out on the sidelines.  He isn't in for a lot of plays, because he's a new learning player.  But he's having a great time! 


An action shot!!


They lost their second game and the coach was trying hard to be positive.  


Daniel showing off his stuff. 


Megan hanging out in her hugglepod.  


This past week was our first week of "too busy Tuesday".  Joshua has ORFF which is like an introduction to percussion instruments.  ORFF is right after school until 4:15pm and he has to be on the field by 5:15pm, so one of us stays with the little ones and one goes to get Joshua, brings a snack and he does his homework in the car and changes for football practice.  



Little miss thing...stole my sunglasses. 


Running across the field to meet up with Daddy.



Megan is writing a biography.  She's illustrating it as well.  I'm sure there's a lot to write about, since she's had such an eventful life already at the ripe old age of 9. 


The Nurse Practice Council had a breakfast for the employees this week with Minute to Win It type games to work on improving patient satisfaction scores.  It was a lot of work. 

I also had a PTA meeting this week on Tuesday night to work on some fun stuff for 5th Grade moving up ceremony.  

And on top of that, I had a parent teacher conference with Joshua's teacher and she said he's such a joy to have in her class!  He's doing quite well this year.

This week's game....(Yesterday)....at Boone High School.



Megan, having a snack before the game.


Well, she didn't even get to cheer...a coach brought her to me because she was crying and complaining about chest pains, so we went to the Peds ED to get a work-up done.  Thankfully, it was just some dehydration due to the humidity. 



After some IV fluids, she was feeling better and we walked back to the minivan.  Crossing the catwalk, she stopped to look at all the construction. 



On the way home, she talked me into a milkshake.  



Wednesday, August 28, 2013

1st Home Game of the Season


Balance has been the word of the day this past week.  Clearly it may be this week as well, as it is already Wednesday and I'm just now getting around to last week's update.  With a little over 3 weeks left of my semester, many projects and tests have been taking a big priority, which means that Keith has been working overtime with his stay-at-home-dad duties!!  He's been a champ getting all 3 kids geared up and ready to go to practice multiple nights a week. 


Daddy got to present Daniel with his game jersey after Thursday night's practice.  Daniel has it balanced up against him, that's why he looks like the hulk. 



Megan got the best package ever in the mail this week....a whole box of original Nancy Drew books.  Mmmmm.....they smell amazing, and many of them have personalized notes in them from years gone by.  


I attempted to bring some note cards to study one night at cheer practice, but was distracted by the sheer volume of 31 girls yelling and clapping through cheers.  Wow, they have really found their voice this year, as compared to last year when we kept having to remind them to be louder. 


The girl in the blue shirt and blue shorts is the "flyer" that Megan is a "front spot" for.  So there's Megan standing in front of her while they were practicing stunting in the gym.  This year. the girls will go to competition after football season closes, so they are working on their performance now. 


The first week or so back to school is a prime time for paying out subscriptions to a billion activities. Joshua is joining the ORFF Ensemble, which is an introduction to rhythm instruments.  This is in addition to being a member of the Owl News Network (his school's news program), and Pop Warner Football.  I'm fine with the activities as long as his grades remain a priority. 


Not all football nights are cheer nights, and so Megan finds herself doing some studying at football practice.  

And from this weekend's game...

Lake Brantley Patriots VS Winter Springs Grizzlies

The Tiny Mites take the field. 


Half time snack time. 

Me and my sweaty boy. 

We won!  Everyone put a hand in!


Joshua getting ready to weigh-in before his division plays. 

This year's Junior Pee Wee theme is: 31 girls, one mission.  So this picture is more like: 3 girls, 3 elementary schools, one mission.  They get so excited to see each other in the afternoons.  


Keith signed up to volunteer at the games and was assigned the announcers booth.  He spots the players on the field for the announcer.  He was only signed up for the Tiny Mite games, but ended up assisting for the Tiny Mite, Mitey Mite, and Junior Pee Wee games.  So fun!!


In an attempt to get some shade, I ran to the van and got our umbrella, grabbing a couple of snow cones on the way back to the stadium.  We have a Sports Umbrella coming in the mail this week, to provide some sun protection during the games. 


The Junior Pee Wees take the field!  So cute that Megan gets to cheer for her big brother!!


There's our girl, showing some spirit, kicking her leg up! 


All the girls run to the end zone to cheer on the boys. 

Love this picture!  I swiped it from a friend's Facebook page.  :) 
Our Junior Coaches are LBHS cheerleaders. 

Some pictures from the team Shutterfly site...

Daniel on the field...he's #12, standing in front of the grey #33.

Daniel sitting on his knees. 




Megan in the gym being silly with some of the girls while waiting for professional pictures to be taken. 

It was a great day.  Both boys' teams won their games.