"A" Sleep-over

I worked my third shift in a row in the PICU. I had to tell everyone that I did it purely for selfish reasons...I wasn't "taking one for the team" or "helping out" or anything else of that nature. I did the first day for an extra $15/hr, I did the second and third days because of a special little patient. I was reminded today of a "zany" streak I had over a year ago (maybe even two!) where all (or a lot!) of my "favorite" patients had names that start with "A". My "favorite" dietician has a name that starts with "A", and one of the nurse practitioners has a name that starts with "A", my name ALSO starts with "A" (and ends with "A" and has one in the middle!). SO, "back in the day", I created my own little "A team", and it was a big joke between myself and the dietician (love her!). Well, it just so happens that THIS little patient ALSO has a name that starts with "A", and so when I was explaining this whole story about why I was working in the PICU (you know, the whole selfish, it's all about me thing!) to the dietician, she said "I guess she (the patient) is on your "A team"!" Yep, that's about right! So, I tried to tell her mom the story, but I was totally cracking up and it is almost one of those things that isn't funny to anyone else...oh well, at least it brought me a laugh, because the rest of the day was not so humorous.

I suppose when "the plan" is not altruistic in nature, things are bound to happen to "mess it up" in some form or another. I ended up being pretty busy today, but kept telling myself that I could not complain, because I brought it on myself! I transferred my two patients from yesterday off the unit, and got a post-op. Of course, I wasn't dealing with the critical care type of craziness as the rest of the nurses in the PICU, but that is what they are used to. Things like today are actually kind of what I'm used to! However, I found myself close to tears multiple times throughout the shift because of one particular situation. Luckily, I was able to hold myself together for the most part, and things appear to have turned out okay.

I planned on going out and getting dinner for someone at the hospital, but when I left work, the roads were SO bad! My mom had called and warned me that they were slick, but I was not prepared at all! I tried to make it to my dad's basketball game, which probably is half a mile or so from work. I got stuck trying to get up four or five different hills, finally coming to a stop in my parents' driveway. I walked to the game, and called the hospital to see if the person was going to starve if I didn't bring dinner. Being a very practical person, she told me no way should I go back out in that for her, but the tears immediately started flowing. I guess the anxiety and emotions of the whole day finally got to me! The roads should be better tomorrow, so maybe I can bring her lunch instead.

I decided (with my parents' help), that I would just sleep at their house tonight. I think that was a great idea! I hate driving as it is, and it was pretty stressful getting stuck on those hills of pure ice (I don't think I got that lesson in driver's ed...but not really something I'd like to practice!). So, sleeping tonight on the couch in the basement at mom and dad's. My own little "sleep-over"!

I'm tired! Good night!