Upside down and inside out!

Have you ever had one of those days where it feels like you have magic in your fingers and everything goes smoothly? Or have you had those days where the magic has somehow left your fingers and everything breaks or falls apart? Which day do you suppose I had today? Correct answer: B.

The problem occurs when your 'falling apart' day affects a little 5 year old boy who is counting on you to have a 'magic day!' It all started when I headed downstairs with a 15 year old boy, to the operating room. Parents aren't allowed in the OR so he asked me to stay with him until he fell asleep. The problem is the OR is very unpredictable at times. His parents and I entered Pre-op at 12:30. Now, I can keep a conversation going for awhile, but my conversation skills were put to the test. Time kept on tickin, but nothing was happening. We talked about Guitar Hero, which he loved and so did I, rabbit hunting, and I was entertained by the crazy things he has done with his friends. By 3:00 finally the doctors made their appearances and we headed on our way to the OR. While there the patient had received some medicine that made him all loopy. (This is one of my favorite parts of the job! People on this medicine always crack me up! ) The surgeon, Dr. Headly, and I were talking as we walked into the room. A little bit later, the patient and I were trying to figure something out and I said, "Oh! Ask Dr. Headly. I bet he has a good head about him!" HAHAHA I know you are all laughing right now. Because I totally cracked myself up. I did not have any intention of being punny- so the shock of it made me laugh out loud. I think I even said "Hey! That was a good one eh?! Haha Good head! Haha" I'm sure the Dr. found it hilarious! It was very apparent by his- "good one Jill". and that was that. I still laughed though.

So what does this have to do with a 5 year old and things breaking you ask? Well, because I spent all afternoon chattin it up in the OR, I felt an extreme rush of things to do on the floor. In my rush to get caught up, I was informed of a little 5 year old who had to have an IV start. He was having a really hard time. I talked to him about what coping techniques would work to get him through it. He decided to play video games. AHa! Luckily we have those. So out the door I flew like a flash (there is my dedication to Christmas.) and the video game machine was not there! What?! Its always there. Finally after the 3rd place of looking, I found it! Phew! Relieved, I went back into the room, set it up and began helping him get started. Of course he picked the football game. Now, For those of you that know me well, know that I love video games. However, I have always stayed away from the sports ones. They just never did it for me. So, as he says "lets play football" my heart sunk a little bit. My cheerleader, Laura the nurse, didnt really help either. "Jill is amazing" she tells him. "She can fix anything and knows all about all video games!" Wow- Laura! Help a girl out! So I felt the pressure. Of course as the little boy is getting frustrated at the game, the time is getting closer to do the IV. Dad, mom and grandma all tried to figure out how to play the game. (You would think there would be a PLAY button, but no. No such luck). We switched the game out, to try one that I could possibly help him with and somehow in the process the whole game system stopped working all together!!! There is nothing more frustrating when you're 5, have to have to get poked, and the game you want to play to help you get through it- DOESN'T WORK!!! Arg!

So, to quicken the story, the IV gets done and I go in search of another game system--The game system that he had played the previous time in the hospital. I found it and brought it in. He was so excited. He said to me "I choose to play Mario!" um...well...Mario was stolen a couple months ago. Sadly, I had to inform him that Mario was lost and his little eyes filled up with tears. "but...but...thats what I want to play!" Moral- Life is hard.
After some talking, he decided on Finding Nemo. We played it for awhile, but it was a little difficult for someone with only 1 hand. (sometime kids refuse to use the hand that the IV is in, even though they could!)

My last chance to appease this child was in the laptop. I retrieved it from my office and went to save the day. Too simple, you say? You say correct. As it was booting up, a huge error message filled the screen. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!! Can a girl get a break? I mean its for the children!
The story ends well though. A little bit of that magic came back into my fingers and it started working normally. I got him all set up and I even think he had a itty bitty smile on his face as I left the room!
I'm just thankful the elevator worked well on the way down. That would be the last thing I needed- plummeting down 4 floors at the end of the day!

The airport

I flew home this past weekend to take my ever so exciting child life certification exam.

I feel like I have become more of a pro when it comes to flying since I have done it more frequently lately. As I approached the check point, I put all my lip balm/glosses/and chapsticks dutifully in a white clear plastic bag- so, i guess, there would be no reason to believe there was a bomb in them. Can anyone explain to me how a baggie will contain an explosive device if it went off? I'm still working on that one.

Before I got to the the scanning machine things I handed the guy my boarding pass and license and waited for the okay. However, he threw me off. "Let me guess..." He said as he took my stuff. What he was going to guess was a mystery to me and I wondered what on earth I did to deserve this "special" treatment of the security guard talking to me. "Vegas!" He said as he looked at my destination. He laughed and then sent me on my way. I was baffled by this #1 Because I have never seen these people have any sort of personality and #2 Why did I look like I was going to Vegas? (Maybe it was the belly dancer outfit that I was wearing!)

The next step is always something that takes some thinking. Which line is going to move fastest through the check point? I have this amazing sense to get in the line that moves the slowest. This occurs any place where a line is needed. Grocery stores, library, bathrooms etc. (I even waited almost an hour for a hot dog at the Diamond backs game. I just kept thinking that it would go faster any minute. I know. I'm lame!) I was bound and determined to beat the system and pick the fast lane. The trick is once you pick it, you are stuck because everyone else fills in behind you. There is no going back. Unfortunately, I failed again in the picking.

The lady 2 ahead of me had 4 little totes full of stuff. 2 laptops, her carry on and her purse. Each one requiring its own tote. As she was loading up her stuff, the lady directly in front of me was taking off her shoes and putting on her little booties from the airport. (apparently the airport is helping with any sanitary issues. Very nice idea, but for some people they are tricky to get on, which adds to the time.) The lady putting them on was for some reason struggling to figure it out. The tote lady in front of her finally got all her stuff to the moving belt and sent them on their way as she made her way to the medical detector. (I'm still behind the bootie lady trying to figure out how I can help the situation move a little faster.) As the tote lady made her way through the dreaded medical detector, her boarding pass was not in her hand. Stopping the line even more, we had to wait as her things went through moving belt so that she could retrieve her pass.
The bootie lady finally had it figured out and was ready to slide her own tote onto the moving belt. I sighed a sigh of relief- Finally we were moving! But the sigh was just premature. The bootie lady entered the medical detector as I slid my tote onto the belt. The alarms started going off. "Go put your jewelry in your tote" the security lady said. The poor bootie lady was pretty frazzled as I'm sure she was thinking, "I'm not a terrorist! I just like to look good!" She took off her earrings, rings and necklaces as we all waited patiently. She stuck them inside a little bucket and put it on her tote as it slid into the scanning machine. As it did so, I could hear it tip over and each one of her precious things were scattered everywhere inside that dark cave! She didnt notice because she was trying to hurry to not stop the line more. As she went through, of course the alarms go off again. I am now standing, next in line. Waiting for the okay to walk through. But because the bootie lady set off the alarm again, the security lady turned her back to me, cutting off the pass for me to walk through and yelled out "woman assist!" and waited for someone to come. It was funny because she didnt take her eyes off the bootie lady like she was going to try something! I myself, was blocked in , since she had her back to me and the long line was forming behind me. (I even wondered to myself, does she think that I am going to try and slip by as she has her eyes on the bootie lady?Does she not realize that there are like 10 security guards watching everyone? I guess she didnt, because she didnt budge until someone else came. I kind of got a little self conscience and wanted to shout out to the crowd- its not me thats backing you up!!!
Finally someone came, and I stepped through those scary metal detectors- luckily, they didnt go off! Why do I feel like they are always going to go off? I know that I dont have a weapon of mass destruction in my pocket, but I worry- what if someone planted one!
Luckily I had arrived to the airport like 2 hrs earlier- since traffic wasnt as bad as I had planned- so this delay didnt stress me out!
Here is the moral of your story. If you are a lady and like to look nice, make sure all jewelry is off and in your carry on. Once safely past the metal detector, you can get all dolled up! And maybe it wouldnt hurt to practice putting on socks over and over again so as to prepare for the booties!
(I hope this all made sense. I realized as I was typing it that I didnt know the real name for things- so I made them up!)

Thats it! I'm walking!

As many of you know- I have been traumatized by elevators in the past. But also most recently,as I have mentioned, the elevator at the hospital has started in on the shinanigans! One might think that I would have learned my lesson by now. But I think that at times, it takes a few of those "um- I think my heart just stopped" moments for me to finally get it.

Yesterday, as I got in, there was a dad with his cute little daughters. Of course they were so excited to push the buttons so everyone told them what floor they were going to and eventually all 5 buttons were pushed. We went up to the 2nd floor and one lady got out. Then the lights around the numbers signifying that the floor was chosen, went off and we started back down again. I started the whole "Don't freak out" talk that I do inside my brain to myself, over and over again.
"If other people panic, then I'll succumb to the fear, but until then, stay calm". But then the doors didn't open and flashbacks started flying throughout my brain of the other incidents that I have had. Confused, the dad calmly pushed the buttons again and it went back up and stopped at the floors that it needed to. Whoosh- relief filled my heart as I jumped off onto my floor.

That should have been enough of a lesson learned, but I had to get it one more time before I finally caved in that elevators are scary scary machines that humans put way too much trust in!

Today, I took those same cursed elevators again. I got on and as we pushed the buttons the lights around the numbers would turn off as if they weren't chosen. So we'd push them again, and the doors would close, lights would go off, and we'd be sitting there not moving. Finally it worked. It went up to the 2nd and 3rd floor but then the lights would go off the numbers and it went back down to the first floor. The other lady that was with me, looked at me strangely. and I said something that I'm sure was profound like, "Um- why is it that we can not seem to go UP in this elevator?" Once again on the 1st floor, and weirdly still on the elevator, we tried again. After our ride up and down, we were finally successful in getting to our destinations!

I think that I can cancel my gym membership because I'll be getting all the exercise that I need now- no more elevators!

Important info

oops! I kind of forgot some very pertinent information in my last blog and I dont want any of you to loose sleep over it. When I returned home, I did exactly what the officer said. I went straight to my room and there it was- my wallet was laying on the floor. Not realizing the panic and anxiety it had caused me. I have made sure since that time that it doesn't jump out of my bag again!

Lesson Learned

Driving in Arizona- Far away from the list of my favorite things. In reality I live about 25 minutes from work. In Arizona freeway time- make that 45 minutes. Its very frustrating to wake up from a wonderful sleep 20 minutes earlier just so that I can be stuck in stop and go freeway traffic.
So I decided it was time to beat the system. What I really wanted was a helicopter drop off every day. Apparently that is frowned upon. So I started taking detours, which led to some interesting places. However, after many failed attempts, such as the frontage road and back roads that everyone else was using, I finally found the perfect route. I had been enjoying this nice zig zag course until yesterday.
While at work, I had just a little time left and needed to buy something before I went home. Reaching for my wallet, I was SHOCKED that it was not in my purse. Praying that it had fallen out in my room and not in the pocket of someone else, I left for home. I left work at a different time, and to my dismay, many people take my "special route" at this time. This made it a whole lot less special. Stop and go was happening instead of zoom zoom zoom. I turned off my normal zig road to a different zag road because it appeared that less people were taking it. Happily finding my new freedom I was finally zooming down the road. Happily that, until I saw the cop in front of me, facing me on the other side of the road. My instincts kicked in as I slammed on my breaks until I got to 45 mph. In my defense and in honest truth, I really thought the speed limit was 40. As I passed him, I prayed that it was empty or he didn't see the outrageous speed I was going, because as you might recall, I didn't have my wallet, which meant- NO LICENCE!!! I almost died as I saw him flip around and follow me. My prayers that it was a coincidence that he pulled in behind me were dashed as he flipped on his lights and I reluctantly pulled over.
With my head bowed as if I had been sent to the principal's offices I wondered what the outcome of this would be. Oddly enough as he approached my car (which seemed like an eternity) he said, "hello, how are you today?" What?! He needs a new door approach because honestly- how is anyone at that moment? "I'm okay" I replied in a quiet, school girl voice. "Can I see your licence and registration?" Here it comes, I thought. I said okay and reached in the glove box. As I was reaching for it he said, "I clocked you going 45 in a 35 zone." "How fast?" was my -reply. He kinda got a smirk as though he was thinking haha I got you. As he said "45" I shockingly said "really- huh". All the while thanking the heavens that he ONLY clocked me at 45 and not what I was going before I saw him!!!
In my frazzled state I handed him my insurance card- not registration!!! I explained to him that I just moved here and that is my newest card until they send it to me in the mail. I had yet to recognize my error, and the look on his face showed his confusion. After a few more random questions he asked for my UT registration. As I reached for it, low and behold I pulled out my AZ Registration. It was then that I realized my error and said, "oh my gosh! I gave you my insurance card! I'm so sorry!" Dumb Dumb Dumb. But then I thought that maybe I'd get off for being dumb! However, the worst of it had not happened. He then asked for my licence and I had to tell him the bad news. I explained that I didnt have it, and that I actually didnt know where my wallet was, and that I hoped that it was at my house and not stolen because I never drive without it (I hope you're catching on that I was rambling now). I then realized that maybe I shouldn't tell him that I didnt know where it was. So I summed it all up with, "I'm sure its in my room. I just cant believe that I dont have it because I always do! and of all days...." He asked if I had anything with a picture ID. Nope. Sure didnt. Well- except for my employee badge at work. (I know you're all saying- no you didnt offer your employee badge! Well yep. sure did.) He said that didnt count.
Shaking his head and standing there in utter shock. He asked where I moved from, if my licence was from UT or AZ, if I knew the number, where I was coming from etc. He just keeping shaking his head in unbelief and sighing. Finally he said, "This really doesnt look good for you." "I know" I said. And he walked back to his car. As I sat there in an agonizing wait, I kept wondering why he pulled me over for a measly 10 miles over. Slowly I came to grips with the fact that I would be paying hundreds of dollars and would have to go to traffic school. I did the crime. I would have to do the time. Oddly enough I wasnt emotional. I was calm as he came back. He then repeated a few more times how things just didnt look good for me(I think he was trying out for an academy award for dramatic affect) and that I need to have my licence when I drive (um, doy. I know that). I just agreed with him, didnt fight him on anything, didnt try any tricks, and didnt make excuses. I guess thats what works because he said. "So, I'm giving you a warning for speeding and first thing when you get home, you need to find your licence and put it in your purse". I wanted to say- "Really? You dont think that thought has been running around my head every minute since I found out that I didnt have it!" But I simply said "Okay officer". Then he added "and dont speed on the reservation again". OH!! The reservation. It all made sense. I had no idea that I was on it! And I have heard things are a little more on the strict side. I'm thankful I didnt end up in jail! I, of course, agreed. and he had me sign my warning. He then added, "You're like the 5th person that I have pulled over today from Utah!" "Really?! " I replied. "I guess they dont know how to teach us to drive!" he laughed and sent me on my merry way. I of course thanked him many times and with a grateful heart drove home.
How did I do it? How did I not get a ticket? How do you speed and not have your licence and still get only a warning? I have come to the conclusion that God was thinking, "Jill sometimes goes fast on roads that she shouldn't. Therefore, to teach her a lesson, I will have him pull her over, but scare her enough that she wont do it again." Well to that I say "I got it! Lesson Learned!"

MY HERO

Last Friday was a little on the rough side. I am going to start working earlier on Fridays because we have new Dr. who is going to start doing most of her surgeries on Friday. Therefore, in order to help prepare kids for this, I need to go earlier. This past Friday started the beginning of it. I had called a family the day before with information and to reassure them that I would be able to prepare their 5 year old and stay with him until he fell asleep. I left work on Thursday with my teaching doll and kit ready for me bright and early.

4:30 Friday morning came really fast. I drug myself out of bed and was proud of myself for leaving promptly at 5:30 A.m. I would have PLENTY-O-TIME I thought to myself. I drove the 5 min to the freeway and started on my way (in the fast lane, of course). A few minutes down the road I felt a little strange. "Man, this road is bumpy!" I thought to myself. I had never realized how uneven the road was in the past. Then I was startled by a strange noise. "Is that the road or my car?" I decided, luckily, to change to the slow lane. Do I get off and check out my car? But what would I check? I don't know cars! I decided to take the next exit and by that time I could barely hold onto my car. It was rocking back and forth and shaking so bad. As I hit the off ramp my tire completely blew! and I almost lost control! I turned right and luckily it was a dead end so there wasn't too much traffic passing. I got out and sure enough, my tire was in shreds!


"Think Think Think! Dad has shown you plenty of times." However, when dad showed me, I wasn't on the side of the road, all by myself, in the dark with a flat tire. I was ready to go hang out with my friends or my TV show was on. So I didn't pay too much attention. I was now regretting that.


Thankfully, I have a brother just down the road. Feeling sad for having to call so early in the morning I dialed his number. In a sleepy yet supportive voice, he calmed me down and reassured me that he would be there. However, he lives about 30min. from me. I tried to think of other people to call, but I had nothin. I called the hospital and told them to please apologize to the family for me and that I would be late.


A little while later my brother pulled up and was all smiles. Not once did he complain about having to come or wake up early. He just got to work. We talked and laughed and every time I tried to apologize he told me not to worry about it. You know, its one thing to help someone, but its another to do it with a loving heart. That is true charity. As he was helping me, I thought of the rest of my family. My other brother, sisters, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law and of course my parents. I knew that each one of them would have done the same thing had they been called (and lived in the same state! :)) and they would have each done it with a smile and without complaining!


To add to the amazingness of my brother, he then let me take his car to work, while he took my car to get a new tire! I made it to work a little on the late side, but the whole adventure could have been a whole lot worse.
-I could have gotten in a huge accident on the freeway

-I could have not had a cell phone
-I could have had to do it by myself- which would have led to a disaster
-I could have had someone come help me and grumbled under his breath the whole time
-I could have had to take my car to work with the spare- driving 50 mph (which would have killed me) and which would have made me later
-I could have had to figure out how I was going to get a new tire, get the best deal, and not get taken advantage of

As you can see, I feel eternally grateful for my Hero.


THANKS AGAIN!

What a steal!!!

So tonight I need to share with you the good fortune that has come into my life recently.

#1- I have had a computer desk for a number of years now. However, I have not had a chair to go with it. I have searched for one that is just right and isn't going to require an arm and a leg to buy it! About a month ago, my roommate and I were in Bed Bath and Beyond looking for things for our house. I found a cute picture and went to purchase it. As we were walking out the door, we noticed the clearance section. Now, I don't know about you, but when I see clearance, I am drawn towards whatever it is, just to look! But this time, I was intrigued because there was this cute chair in the pile. I had already put on my sunglasses, preparing for the blazing Arizona sun, so when I saw the price tag, I thought it was a mistake due to my lack of vision.

Then my roommate said- does that prices tag really say $1.98? It was true. The crazy price that I thought I had made up behind those dark shades was what it was. But I am not easily deceived. You see- I was waiting for Kandid kamera to pop out and say- just kidding. Or at least wait until we sat on it and then collapsed to the ground in a pile of chair pieces and embarrassment. I of course had my roommate sit on it first and low and behold- it didn't collapse! The man at the counter saw us standing there starring at the chair for quite sometime and asked "Can I help you with something?" I replied that we wanted to know how much the chair was. He said the price was on it. I said, "Well this says $1.98. Is this a joke?!" The guy looked very stunned. He looked as though he was thinking- what kind of company do they think I have here? Of course its no joke! Sure enough it was no joke. They remodeled their wedding registry and got new chairs so they just stuck out the chairs to get anything they could for them. And lucky me came by at just the right time. I am still wondering why they chose $1.98. They should have just said- Free! But either way I am happy with it!!! My new addition fits very well in my new house!

#2 I recently bought a box of Apple Jacks and was so excited to pour myself a bowl full for dinner tonight. Now, I grew up loving cold cereal, but I forgotten something that I used to make cold cereal super exciting---The toys that come in them! My roommate pulled out something from the top of the box and asked what it was- "A Toy!!!" I shouted in complete jubilation. But did I realize what what it was? I thought it was a watch at first, but then-much to my happiness- it was an X-box game to play on your wrist! Could there be a better prize for someone than that which I got? I say NO! I love video games! Man- Due to this turn of events, I think I need to buy more cold cereal!!! Hours of entertainment will be had by all!