I hope to be back now. I get involved in things when I am off and just plain forget to check in here. Now that is a pitiful excuse, I know. Sorry. I have had a horrible cold. I am on day 11, so hopefully it will soon be gone. LOL A med-tech I work with says it takes 14 days to get rid of this, so I am close.
I still enjoy my job, but our census is down so low that everyone's hours have been cut. I have been working 2 days and then 3 days off. I am mostly on the early morning shift, but that is ok, because it means I get more hours. I do still work the evening shift once in a while, but mostly just to fill in for someone. I would be off till next Thurs, except one of the young ones asked me to work for her on Sat. evening. I figured I might as well.
The coworker that I used to be at odds with and now am friends with asked me to trade weekends off with her. Since I had no plans, I did. Her son is playing basketball and she wanted to be there. I don't blame her. So I am off for a week, then work for about 7 days straight.
The past year was a rough one for our residents. We lost 12 or 13 dear residents in 2015. Many of these were long time residents. They ranged in age from 80 to 100. Losing these dear people is the hardest part of my job. Many of these were ladies, who I fed their last meal to them. Now we have 2 gentlemen who recently went on hospice. Hospice doesn't mean they are ready to die, but it does mean that they are so seriously ill that only the hospice meds can keep them comfortable. I sat with one of these gentlemen yesterday. He has Alzheimer's and is known for hitting. My charge nurse told me to sit by him but stay on my toes and be ready to duck. She said if he declined his high protein shake, to leave him alone. Well, I sat beside him, rubbed his arm and talked softly to him. He drank his whole shake, 2 glasses of ice water, a glass of orange juice, and a glass of grape juice.
My charge nurse could not believe it. No one had been able to get him to eat or drink in days. His wife was so appreciative to me. That man drank over 925cc of liquid plus his power shake. He even smiled at me, so I know God was helping me with him. It is moments like this that make me love this job and know that I am where I am supposed to be.
Sorry to ramble on and on about my job, but any more, that is kind of my life. My life has taken a direction that I never could have ever expected. I never dreamed that I would some day be working while Kevin keeps things at home going, But you know what, I know God has had a hand in this, because everything is working so great. I have done no quilting in over a year. Just have lost my quilting mojo. Maybe some day I will get it back. I have another niece getting married in August, but I guess she will get cash since no way I have time to make her a quilt like I did her sister. Hayley (my niece that got married a couple of years ago) is expecting her first baby in May. It is a little girl. I think I will crochet her an afghan for the little one. I do a bit of crocheting now and then, but not much knitting. I just enjoy crocheting more. LOL
I am so looking forward to spring. Last year was a total bust on the garden. We didn't get anything out of it, but a few potatoes. We did have our kids come and dig the potatoes. We gave them several bags full to feed their families. So I hope to have a very small but good garden this year. I have to get it in my head that garden work has to be done on days off. LOL Last year, I worked so many days that when I had time off I just wanted to chill, or I had to get groceries, etc.
My chickens are laying up a storm. (Thanks Cathy!) I saved 2 roosters, but something got both of them and the light colored pullet this fall. This all happened in one afternoon while I was at work. So I have 6 hens and no rooster to protect them. I also still have 5 ducks which I know is going to be a mess this spring. Three of them are drakes.
Anyway, I enjoy my poultry. Buddy has gotten too fat this winter, so in spring, he and I are going to do lots if walking and playing outside. Callie and Aeris are still the queens around the place. I would love another small dog or a kitten, but Kevin says we have enough. LOL I know he is right. We may decide to get a large dog to kind of protect the place, but not sure I want to train another puppy right now. LOL I am thinking a chocolate lab, but still no decision on that yet. Kevin would be on board with another dog for protection. We'll see. I still miss old Midget. I will never find another one like him.
Well, it seems that I have written a book, so I guess I will end this. I have missed the board, but I see so many of you on FB that I guess I was slacking.
I hope you are all doing well with your families. Have a great day.
Blessings,
Winona