Pictured with Shane in front, tennis courts and The Royal Women's Hospital Sydney, at the back.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
YOUNG NURSES IN TRAINING
Pictured with Shane in front, tennis courts and The Royal Women's Hospital Sydney, at the back.
AnyOne for Chicken Soup
The first time I was introduced to a Chicken Soup book was in a Mental Health Unit where I worked. A young Japanese girl approached me and asked if I had read it? "No," I answered, thinking what a strange name. You immediately conger up thoughts of a book on cooking, at least I did. "You have to read it Crystal, It's a wonderful book, what I enjoy about it is the fact the stories are short. I can't read anything lengthy so it suits me." She lent me the book and soon I was hooked. So today I suppose I am writing my own chicken soup for the soul.
How much we learn from time and wonderful people who cross our paths! I returned to nursing in 1994 after a marriage breakdown. Rather it was my younger daughter who encouraged me to go back as in my confusion and distress I didn't know where to turn. I had come from a medical family yet everyone was far more clever than I. My older sister passed her finals coming first in her year and third in the state of New South Wales. That an achievement!
A natural dreamer with my head in the clouds or books, I wanted to be a ballet dancer dressed in beautiful costumes floating across a stage. Or a singer or maybe a hairdresser.
My mother said No!.....you are going nursing. To get me away from a persistant boyfriend of another culture I was placed in a huge Sydney Hospital to train and live in the nurses quarters. What does a shy country girl do? Well, she does what she's told as best she can and I actually learned to like it.
What I didn't like were the daggy uniforms which have since become history. I refused to have a photo taken in mine for which I am sorry about today. But I picked up learning very quickly and loved all the off duty adventures soon learned from the other nurses. We had to be inside by ten at night and I never broke this rule, I was too frightened to, but many did. I didn't go out with boys either, they frightened me also. My training stood me in good steed and like previously written, I returned back, blue book in hand in 1994. Later I completed University and gained a couple of Degree's., but that's another story.
Now residing in Queensland a lovely lady at church approached me one day with a book she had purchased for me,....."For me?" I questioned.... I hardly knew her!
The book.....Chicken Soup for the Nurses Soul...
How much we learn from time and wonderful people who cross our paths! I returned to nursing in 1994 after a marriage breakdown. Rather it was my younger daughter who encouraged me to go back as in my confusion and distress I didn't know where to turn. I had come from a medical family yet everyone was far more clever than I. My older sister passed her finals coming first in her year and third in the state of New South Wales. That an achievement!
A natural dreamer with my head in the clouds or books, I wanted to be a ballet dancer dressed in beautiful costumes floating across a stage. Or a singer or maybe a hairdresser.
My mother said No!.....you are going nursing. To get me away from a persistant boyfriend of another culture I was placed in a huge Sydney Hospital to train and live in the nurses quarters. What does a shy country girl do? Well, she does what she's told as best she can and I actually learned to like it.
What I didn't like were the daggy uniforms which have since become history. I refused to have a photo taken in mine for which I am sorry about today. But I picked up learning very quickly and loved all the off duty adventures soon learned from the other nurses. We had to be inside by ten at night and I never broke this rule, I was too frightened to, but many did. I didn't go out with boys either, they frightened me also. My training stood me in good steed and like previously written, I returned back, blue book in hand in 1994. Later I completed University and gained a couple of Degree's., but that's another story.
Now residing in Queensland a lovely lady at church approached me one day with a book she had purchased for me,....."For me?" I questioned.... I hardly knew her!
The book.....Chicken Soup for the Nurses Soul...
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
AN UNUSUAL STORY
Kids Explore Nature (Tree Hugging Tots): Moon
This week's Kids Explore Nature (Tree Hugging Tots) is on the Moon. We took a natural approach to studying the moon during the day and night. For our Nature studies, I am including both my sons ages 4 and 9.We read the following books this week on the Moon:"The Moon Book" by Gail Gibbons"The Moon" by Robert Louis Stevenson, Tracey Campbell Pearson"Papa, please get the Moon for me" by Eric
Monday, November 2, 2009
When the Kookaburra Laughs
When the kookaburra laughs at early dawn , you know your still alive and breathing. The joyful cackle echoes across the miles sharing the pleasure of perhaps a hearty breakfast. Hopefully....you think, another snake has hit the dust or should I say a hungry tummy.
After one heart attack and then a second, life is no longer taken for granted. It's amazing that even though you have practical knowledge concerning life threatening symptoms, when your the person concerned the inevitable goes unrecognised.
My first attack happened while driving to visit a patient. "Gosh this bra's tight I must have been crazy to fasten it like this, this morning?" I could hardly breath and pulled off the road into a Road House car park thankful it was handy. Opening my car door I sat up high in my seat breathing and savoring, the sweet fresh air. "Relax," my mind instructed while waves of blackness passing over. There was no fear, I've been ready to 'Go Home' for years.
The feelings passed and after a drink of cool water... and feeling better, I continued on to see my waiting patient. About a month later packing to move back to Oz it happened again, only differently. This time there was no tightening, just the near syncope episode of slow darkness. Gripping the kitchen bench I leaned over it hanging on to keep from falling. This too passed only to be repeated again and again until finally I knew help was needed. Laying in the emergency van attached to a monitor I watched the heart pattern graph reading, I was in A.F.
After spending two days in hospital and going through numerous tests I was placed on medication twice daily and sent home. A month later, back in Oz I visit my doctor telling her of my experience. ...asking for an E.C.G. and the news is, I am still in A.F. and she is concerned.
To tell the truth I'm more disturbed about my knee's. After a fall in Fiji airport it feels like I have smashed both patella's and the pain is excruciating. I can hardly walk. At church one Sunday the children wander around all those seeking prayer for healing. "I'll be in that," I've witnessed many healings over the years so why not now? Isaac, an eleven year old stands quietly behind gently touching my back and prays. Nothing happen's. Then about a week later I realise there's no more pain and I am able to walk for longer periods....and I Praise God!
Nothings taken for granted. The simple pleasures of life like that of a pair of kookaburra's waking me from slumber at four in the morning... now brings pleasure and stimulates a smile.
After one heart attack and then a second, life is no longer taken for granted. It's amazing that even though you have practical knowledge concerning life threatening symptoms, when your the person concerned the inevitable goes unrecognised.
My first attack happened while driving to visit a patient. "Gosh this bra's tight I must have been crazy to fasten it like this, this morning?" I could hardly breath and pulled off the road into a Road House car park thankful it was handy. Opening my car door I sat up high in my seat breathing and savoring, the sweet fresh air. "Relax," my mind instructed while waves of blackness passing over. There was no fear, I've been ready to 'Go Home' for years.
The feelings passed and after a drink of cool water... and feeling better, I continued on to see my waiting patient. About a month later packing to move back to Oz it happened again, only differently. This time there was no tightening, just the near syncope episode of slow darkness. Gripping the kitchen bench I leaned over it hanging on to keep from falling. This too passed only to be repeated again and again until finally I knew help was needed. Laying in the emergency van attached to a monitor I watched the heart pattern graph reading, I was in A.F.
After spending two days in hospital and going through numerous tests I was placed on medication twice daily and sent home. A month later, back in Oz I visit my doctor telling her of my experience. ...asking for an E.C.G. and the news is, I am still in A.F. and she is concerned.
To tell the truth I'm more disturbed about my knee's. After a fall in Fiji airport it feels like I have smashed both patella's and the pain is excruciating. I can hardly walk. At church one Sunday the children wander around all those seeking prayer for healing. "I'll be in that," I've witnessed many healings over the years so why not now? Isaac, an eleven year old stands quietly behind gently touching my back and prays. Nothing happen's. Then about a week later I realise there's no more pain and I am able to walk for longer periods....and I Praise God!
Nothings taken for granted. The simple pleasures of life like that of a pair of kookaburra's waking me from slumber at four in the morning... now brings pleasure and stimulates a smile.
Book Sharing Monday: Patty's Pumpkin Patch
This week for Book Sharing Monday, we'd like to share with a wonderful book that my family enjoyed reading so much.Patty's Pumpkin Patch written and illustrated by Teri SloatInSummary:In Patty's Pumpkin Patch, the story takes readers on an intriguing journey through the growth cycle of a pumpkin garden. We see that Patty's garden is a busy place. As she plows, plants and weeds her garden, many
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