Spot of Tea Anyone?!

So my mom is cute. Not just a little cute- but SUPER cute!

Because my nieces were in town, she had a tea party for Grandmas and their grand daughters. Who does that?! Only cute, fun, and creative people! She had been planning it for weeks. I felt very honored that I was invited as well... my Grandmas were just there in spirit!

After I went with John and Laura's family to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house, (tangent time...beautiful!!! With Beautiful chandeliers everywhere. I cant wait to go back there! ok tangent over) we came home and saw our back yard turned into a little tea room.

My mom had made sandwiches cut out in hearts and stars...plus Peanut Butter Sandwiches on bread cut out as bears with chocolate chips eyes! Each place setting had their very own tea cup that my mom has collected around the country (Each one was glass- and somehow none of them broke!) Oh and by the way.....Tea= Chocolate Milk and Pink Sobe! I loved it! And so did the girls!

They got lip gloss and each girl got to pick out a hat to wear...and I may say that my nieces are BEAUTIFUL

And so is my mama!

(This picture says to me..."hmmp...when will we begin?" )

The girls had fun, the food was yummy, and the weather was perfect!

Basically...It was a brilliant day!

I know that these girls will remember it forever! :)

Thanks mom! I sure love ya! I just hope I inherit some of your creative brain! :)

'arry Potter

Thank you Harry Potter for coming out during the same week as Joey's Birthday! Therefore, we stayed with the theme and had a PARTY for our favorite Joey!

After seeing the movie we all came back for pizza, cake and icecream! :)

Well all love ya Joey!!! I'm so glad that the whole family could be there for your special day!

Platty

Fish. I remember having fish when I was younger, but I don't really remember anything about them except for the bubbler keeping me up at night, the snails that ate the scum, and Wanda was our fishes name!

As you may recall, we have a fish tank at my work. My only job (thankfully) is to feed them in the morning. It's not difficult and I love the way they all swim to the top- apparently so happy to see me and get their daily food. It's a very easy job and I'm okay with that!

There is a fish man- Bruce- that does all the dirty work. He cleans the tank, changes the water and the rocks, and keeps them looking all perty.

The patients love the fish tank and I have spent many hours with them looking at the fish and examining them. We decide if they are girls or boys, give them names - like pokadot- and have a lot of fun watching them chase each other.

They are all the same kind of fish except for one- the Plecostomus. He's our algae eating fish and is so super cool! His face kinda looks like a sting ray! I of course couldn't get a good picture of ours- so this is one from the powerful and all knowing google!

See- I told you they're cool! But they are also very shy and dont like to come out much. You have to consider yourself a very special person in order to have him come out and swim by while youre looking in our tank.

Therefore, because I have examined these fish many times with a different kids, I notice when things are a bit out of the ordinary. I noticed something strange the other day as I went to feed the fish. The usual routine is that I lift the lid and the Plecostomus swims as fast as he can to hide in the dark corners of the tank. (I've decided that he's like a toddler that plays peek-a-boo... "if they cant see me, I'm not here!" Type of thing)

Well, this particular day- he didn't swim away. He stayed like this - you can see the back half of his body and tail under the rock there.

I thought my poor Platty had died. But then the thought occurred to me that possibly he was stuck under there! For some reason, I thought that I would become a super hero and save the day!

So getting towels ready, I stuck my hand in (hoping the other fish wouldn't think they were getting a lucky break and were receiving a steak dinner of my hand and arm) and moved the rock. Platty kinda wiggled, but he didnt swim away. Therefore, I determined that he was indeed- not stuck.

So next idea- He must not be feeling well. He was not acting in his typical "scaredy-cat" form. I wiped off my fish water arm, scrubbed it with soap and water and sanitized it as much as I could. Then I called Bruce. I would let him save the day (and the fish!) I informed him that Platty may need an IV and some life saving skills- all of which I was not prepared to do! (Whether he found that funny or not, I did and laughed at myself for being so Witty!)

Bruce came to my rescue.

As I walked with Bruce to the fish tank and he got out his flashlight, he informed me that our fish had ICK. (I found it funny that the first thought that I had was "Ick? ICK!" Ü and I bet all of you did as well huh!) Then he goes on to tell me that it is very contagious and he would get them medicine. I think he saw the look on my face because he told me not to worry because they would be just fine.

However, I was not worried about the fish being fine (I was sure they would be). I was worried because MY hand and arm were in that 'ICK filled- contagious ' tank- as I tried to 'Save the Day'! I was scared to death that I would start getting a white fungus on my arm! The color came back to my face as he told me that it is only contagious to other fish and that I will be fine! (I sure hope he knows what he is talking about!)

Phew! Now I just have to watch and make sure that they are getting better (whatever that means!) Now I am paranoid every time I give them their food. I worry that they all have ICK and are breathing too fast or not fast enough. That some look like they have more white on them or are being mean to the ones who do. When did my easy job of "just feeding the fish" become a "make sure that they all survive and are in good condition?" I may need to add "vet" to my list of job duties!

And the rest of you just have to make sure that I dont start growing scales or gills! Got it?! Good!

Ick!

Messing with my mind

Its hot. It has actually been quite a mellow summer so far- but today...HOT! When its 8 pm and its still 108... that is a problem. And I do believe that this heat is messing with my mind. Throughout the day- there were many slip ups in my vocabulary that made me wonder what was happening up there!

For example:

I took 2 of my nephews to McDonald's today. In the drive-through, after ordering the food she asked me to go the first window and I replied "Okay wonder"... (PAUSE) ... "ful". P Dog then asked me "Did you just say wonder?" umm..yeah.
I was laughing at myself as we pulled up to that window and they asked what sauces we wanted for the chicken nuggets. P Dog replied "BBQ sauce and ketchup." So then I turned to the nice McDonalds lady and said "They would like BBQ sauce and checkup please. no, I mean...ketchup." P Dog looked at me very curiously and asked "Checkup? Whats wrong with you?"

Maybe it was a subliminal message to myself of what I in reality needed!

Many other words that weren't necessarily funny, but definitely placed incorrectly caused people to have to really think as they listened to me talk today. I was a little nervous to have conversations !

Maybe I just need to call into work tomorrow and take a mental health day. I wonder if they would go for it!

But I do have to say in my defence, I also dont think its all me. Tonight, J-Dog was really excited about his banana shake. Each time someone got their shake, he waited patiently, but continued saying things like "I cant wait for my banana shake!" After taking the first bite, his eyes widened and you could hear the shock in his voice as he said, "Wo! It tastes like banana!"

Genius.

I think its time to move to Minnesota!

New highs!

Today Charlie reached a new high....











Can you believe it?!


I feel like it was just the other day that we celebrated this...

You know what I think about this?

I think its time to move closer to work!

Yes... I did it and survived!

For those 5 of you who actually read this blog...you may recall that I have had a few firsts this year. #1 was that I actually ordered fish at a restaurant! And #2 I gave blood (without passing out I might add).

Today I did something else...and it was something that I NEVER EVER thought I would do.

3 factors came together to make this happen today.

1- I covered for a lady at work that had to leave early and couldn't facilitated the OB tour one day. It was no problem and I didn't think anything of it. Then I got a letter in the mail from her, with a free movie pass in it! Sweet! That was a fun surprise! Anytime she needs me to cover- I'm game!

2- A few years ago, in a conversation with a friend, she mentioned that she had gone to a movie all by herself. I was shocked that people actually did that. I expressed my shockness to her (Not a word, but I sure like it!). And was quickly corrected by her that every person should do it at least once in their life. I vowed that I would not. However, since this conversation, many a person that I have talked to, have agreed with her on this point.

3- You see this movie

I've wanted to see it from the moment I heard that they were making it! I loved the first one and saw it many times in the theater. The problem is that I don't get out to movies too much so the weeks were passing by and I was feeling "sad" that I probably wouldn't get a chance to see it in the theater.

Today being my day off, I decided that I wanted to go see it. I'm sure I could have found someone to go with me, but then I put all three of the above mentioned things together and thought to myself - "Self, maybe we should go together, just you and I". So that we did!

I went all by myself to the theater, stuck my free ticket under the glass, and asked for 1 ticket. I walked in with confidence that I was okay with being alone, smiled at the other 2 people in there and just plopped down.

I really liked the movie and I think that I shall do it again sometime. (Surprisingly!)

Now, I am sure that each one of you has a deep desire to go and see a movie by yourself after reading this riveting tale. But let me lend you some expert advice (I consider myself an expert now you see, since I have seen it one whole time!) Maybe a comedy isn't the best choice! Its hard to really laugh as much as you want to when there is no one that you know right next to you to join in. In theory, you could turn around to the people behind you and laugh with them, but that may be a little awkward.

I just kinda chuckled to myself throughout the movie.

And now come to think of it, a scary movie wouldn't be such a good idea either. I can only imagine how hard that would be- screaming and then accidentally grabbing the person next to you- that you dont know. Awkward. I think that may be frowned upon.

I'm kinda thinking that either a chick flick or a good crying movie (which possibly could be the same thing) would be best! It easier to cry than to laugh or scream alone!

Just food for thought! And let me know if and when you do it! It is kinda of liberating! :)

Was this in the job description?

Child Life- According to the Child Life Council- "Child life specialists are experts in child development, who promote effective coping through play, preparation, education, and self-expression activities. They provide emotional support for families, and encourage optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to health care and hospitalization. Understanding that a child’s well being depends on the support of the family, child life specialists provide information, support and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members. They also play a vital role in educating caregivers, administrators, and the general public about the needs of children under stress."


Now from this,you can see that Child life is a very complex field that has many different levels. Each day is different. Each child is different. And each procedure is different. This I knew when I finished my internship. However, even though I knew it would be different every day, I still expected to basically be only doing the things mentioned above.

That was until I started working at a place where there are only 3 people in my program and there is a lot more needed to be done. And who knew that I would be the one called upon to do very random non-child life related things! (These things often leave me wondering if they were actually in the small print in my contract!) Not only am I the first "go to girl" when something technological breaks or stops working, (Which I always wonder about!) But there have been 3 things of late which have made me pause and wonder, and then laugh!

#1 A few months ago I was approached by my boss about something new we were going to help with. OB Tours! Yep! That's right. I would be giving tours to expecting mothers and fathers about what to expect on the day they go into labor. Really?! I work on Pediatrics. Not OB. I am single and have never had a baby myself. And to add on top of that- I have never seen an actual birth- ever. The only thing that I had going for me was that I had seen pregnant woman before and knew where the OB floor was located. Other than that- clueless.
I was told it was easy breezy. No problem. (Told to me by a nurse that had been working for 30+ years.) I went on about 3 tours that other people facilitated in order to learn and then it was my turn.
I asked her to only put a few people in my first group- just to help ease me in slowly. Sure enough 8 couples showed up that Saturday. 8 couples = 16 people. I decided that I needed to chat with her about what exactly "a few people" meant. But i guess that's the best way to start- jump in with both feet.
I have to say- that in the past few months I have learned a plethora of information about what happens on that day of labor! For the most part, the people have been great and haven't asked too many weird questions. Except for the "and when do we do the paternity test?" one. Other than that- its been smooth sailing!


#2 Our hospital (as do most hospitals) has seminars and classes that people can participate in. Therefore, there are speakers for each of them and these speakers need introducing. Out of the blue I started getting calls to be the one to introduce them! Really?! Me? I could see if I had been the one to schedule them, or if it was related to my field of work- but they never are. I just have to stand and read a paragraph that includes a bio for the speaker- All the while the coordinator is sitting in the back. Apparently she hates talking in front of a group. (I don't know where she got her info, but I'm not really one that is known for loving to stand in front of 30+ people and talking to them!) Then to top it all off, after I finish reading it, I feel awkward as I walk out the doors and go back to work as the speaker begins. I would stay- but usually I get called to do the seminars on infertility or lap band surgery. Fun stuff- I think I'd rather got fix the Wii that broke for the 15th time!

#3 Then to today. The hospital had just re dune the brochure for Pediatrics and they used my boss for the child life pictures. I was super fine with that! Then Tuesday I got a phone call. They are now redoing the brochure for the woman's center. It was going to feature not only the rooms and services we provide but also the classes. They have a really cute class where siblings of expectant moms can come in and watch a movie and learn all about new babies. The voice on the other end of the phone call said "we want you to be the 'teacher' for the sibling class - in our photos". So nothing (again) to do with my job, I headed down there for my next new role!

They had brought in a few kiddos that would be my "pupils" then they dressed up like doctors. ( I guess they do that in the class. I wouldn't know. Again- never been to a class and really have no idea what they do there!) I simply had a hold a baby doll and point to it like I was teaching them. But there was a trick to it! One of the boys was 3 and wouldn't just sit there and pose like he was interested in what I was saying. I actually had to teach him so that he would stay interested! "And why is he wearing a hat?" "And where is his belly button?" "And what color is it?" I had to get really creative because it took a long time to get all 3 to look in the same place at the same time. Oh and did I mention that there were about 10 people in there watching as well! It was quite the experience!

Then one final picture before I was released and could be a child life specialist again- They wanted me to hold hands with the kids and walk down the hall. Yep- Bum shot. Super thrilled about that one! Lets hope that gets vetoed in the final stage!

All I have to say is- it keeps me on my toes, keeps the job exciting and hey- it's job security right?!