The Wedding

I love weddings. I love the build up to the big day, the pre-wedding jitters of the couple in question, and anticipation and the formalization of the union. It is all great fun.

This past weekend, I had the privilege of participating in Mike and Randy's big day. From helping with the invitations, to the decorating, to meeting his family, it was truly a wonderful experience.

And it was also full of the usual wedding day glitches. Let me explain (and I do so with the utmost love and respect for Mike and Randy):

1) As one of the photographers of the event, I arrived Friday anticipating taking family photos as the entire clan had not been together for a number of years. While waiting for all the family to arrive, I had the honor of peeling 50 pound of potatoes for the salad. Unfortunately, Randy's Mom and Mike's Father and step-Mom did not arrive until late in the evening, so the pictures had to wait. We did however, have the good fortune of being served one of Mikes fantastic meals, and to partake in a beautiful bottle of 30 year old Port. YUM!

2)The highly anticipated wedding day! We arrived to take more formal pictures of the family, but the boys were not yet ready. And the family members were scampering about trying to finish decorating. While no formal pictures got taken that day, we did get the decorations up. But then we had a minor disaster as Randy's pants were not hemmed up by the tailor, so we ended up taping them up and praying they would hold. And on the ride to the meeting house, Mike was anxious (oh yes you were!) as Randy kept pretending not to know his vows. So they were written on a cheat sheet in the event he forgot. And when as we made our pit stops to put up balloons for people to use as markers, we noted some nasty children playing near our chosen site. Needless to say, the balloons appeared to have been popped when we drove past them on our way back to the farm. Bastards! They will burn in hell.

3) The ceremony. It was a beautiful, simple, exchange of vows. It truly expressed the deep love and affection Mike and Randy have for each other, and the commitment to each other that we know they both have. But then there was the ring incident. As Mike placed the wedding band on Randy's finger, it got stuck. It would not move. Randy joked that he and gotten fat overnight, but the bottom line was that the ring wasn't moving. Luckily, Mike's step-Mom Peggy had some liquid hand sanitizer in her purse, and with a quick dab the ring slid on.

4) The rain. Oh there was rain! After we left the meeting house it started to sprinkle...then pour. But as Randy said, it forced everyone to socialize under the porch, instead of separating into their own groups. I learned that they have a very diverse group of friends who love them as much as I do.

5) The meal and reception. Simply put...amazing. The meal was catered by their neighbor and the food was fantastic. And while the mosquito's got a little thick towards the end, it was a relaxed and joyous affair. All the things a wedding should be.

6) Day 1 of married life. I arrived Sunday morning to finally get the pictures of the whole family together. The sun was shining and it was lovely and warm. As I pulled up the driveway, I waved to Randy who yelled "You missed it! It was yesterday!" I know why Mike loves him.

When Mike was trying to explain to me the Quaker belief system, I must admit I had some trouble with the concept. I got it in my head that during the moments of silence that occur, each member was looking for enlightenment in some form. In looking up the word in my old dictionary, I found the word Enlightened to be defined as such: well informed, tolerant, unprejudiced.

How truly descriptive of this couple! Well informed describing their knowledge in their professional lives, their chosen life as farmers, and of course, regarding the needs of each other. Tolerant..who has learned more about tolerance than a person who has been discriminated against? Unprejudiced....who is more unprejudiced then a person who has had to rise above the thoughts and beliefs of others in order to live their life according to who they are instead of who they are expected to be?

To Mike and Randy...I wish you continued success in your lives. You are an inspiration.

The update

For those who are interested, my fathers fever seems to have corrected itself with a bit of extra fluid. Who'd have thought? He was assessed by the dietitian who noted that he was a wee bit dry, and that perhaps additional fluids through his feeding tube were required, given the inconsistency with which he takes food and fluid orally.

Christin 1-Nursing Home 0.

And his bed was finally fixed as well...except that now the foot of the bed will not go down so he is all crunched up in his bed when the head is raised.

Christin 2- Nursing Home 0

Oh, and there seems to be an outbreak of diarrhea on the unit, and guess what? My Dad has it too. Within 24 hours his bum and nether regions look like the flame on a blow torch. Needless to say, I took in a really nice thick barrier cream to protect what is left of his skin.

Christin 3- Nursing Home 0

Need I go on?

UGH!

I am frustrated! My Dad recently moved to a nursing home, and my sister and I thought that this was it...finally he would settle in somewhere, home at last, the final frontier.

But, alas, I was wrong. What would have made me think this move would be any easier than anything else in my life??

First of all, they were not feeding him. Now I know the idea of a resident having a feeding tube might suggest they do not need to receive food orally, but this is not the case with my Dad. He was receiving 3 meals a day in addition to his nightly tube feedings prior to his move to the nursing home. So when I straightened out this misconception, they were kind enough to feed him ONCE per day, at lunch. Guys! Your killing me here! Then they decide that he is choking on his food, so they stop feeding him again in order to get a swallowing assessment done.

So I ask them, how is he getting fluids in the interim? Through his feeding tube, they reply. And anyway, it's a total meal replacement system, so he doesn't need anything else, right? Wrong again, I tell them...lets do the math. If his tube is flushed every 3 hours with 20 cc's of water his intake of fluid is 160 mls per day. Does this seem a little on the low side? Cause it does to me. So, they tell me "we'll look into it". I think, personally, this is code for "Get off my back", but I'm not certain yet. Later clarified, I am informed that he actually receives 440 cc's of water through his tube in a 24 hour period. I think this was supposed to make me feel better.

So this morning I go to see my Dad. He's up in his chair in the TV room. His cheeks are flushed, and you can feel the warmth radiating off of him. I cart him back to his room, and ask the PSR to check his temp. Well, apparently she is not allowed to do this, so I ask her to get me the thermometer and I will check it myself. Apparently that is a no no, because she had a horrified look on her face and said she couldn't do that either. So I ask her to get the nurse, but it would appear she is on her break, returning in a 1/2 hour or so. No, I tell the PSR, she is coming back now to check his temperature. A staring contest followed, but in the end I was victorious.

Guess what? He had a fever. ..39.5. Not enough to kill him, but certainly enough to treat, given he is normally a healthy guy. I debate the causes with the RPN..urinary tract infection, chest infection, DEHYDRATION??? Gee, look, his mouth is dry, and his tongue is cracked and coated!

So off the RPN scampers to get a Tylenol suppository, and in it goes. Well, she says, I guess that's it. Wrong again! What is with these people? I ask if perhaps we should try to determine the cause of the fever, before it gets out of hand, and she promptly offers to have the on call physician come in to see him...on his rounds...on Tuesday...

Bottom line, with gritted teeth and a spectacular amount of restraint on my part, I convince the next nurse to check his vitals, and low and behold his blood pressure is 84/62...a tad low for him. We collect a urine sample to be sent off, and the on call Dr, who has now been notified starts him on Cipro. And they start to give him extra fluid through his feeding tube as he is just a little too lethargic to be fed.

This evening, his blood pressure has improved, but his temperature is climbing again. I am assured that he will have his vitals checked every 4 hours through the night, but I am certain I will be setting my alarm for the wee hours to ensure he is OK.

It's an ongoing saga, my life, and it is getting a little tiresome....

A funny thing happened...

I was updating myself on Jenn's Blog, when one particular entry brought fond memories back to me. The story goes like this:

My daughter had injured herself during a ball game and was complaining of pain to her hand. I took her in to work to have it looked at and x-rayed, and came across two of my night-shift co-workers. While chatting with them in Obs, there was a pt located in the room directly across from the nursing station. He was vomiting. Loudly. Ridiculous loud, as a matter of fact. So the three of us simultaneously look up at his room (with disdain, I might add) and go "Blaaaaaaaah", mimicking the noise he is making. We then returned to our conversation.

On the way home my daughter says to me "I can't believe you guys made fun of that poor man". "Oh please", I said. "Listen to that for 8 hours and see how you feel".

Apparently I am lacking in compassion...

Oy..

I have been very negligent with my blog. It's not that I lack content, it's more a matter of time management.

So, for the past few months I have been on a modified return to work. That means I get to go to work and re-experience all those situations I know and love. For instance, on one of my first few shifts back I had the joy of dealing with the man who took an ambulance in to the hospital because he had the flu. He had chills, muscle aches, and just felt terrible. And guess what? His wife and 2 yr old son had the same thing over the weekend! Now, you ask, did they come to hospital? Oh no, just the husband. Wimp! His man card has since been revoked.

And there is the woman who had vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. When was her last period, you ask? 1 month prior to this episode of bleeding. Now, you might think, as I did, that perhaps this might be her period again, particularly since she insisted she was regular. Nope, she was convinced that this was not her period, although it felt like it, looked like it, and the timing was bang on. Guess what? It was in fact her period, and another chunk of the health care budget was wasted.

But today I had the privilege of meeting a true to life loser. While playing baseball today, one of my teammates pulled his hamstring. Far from the picture of health, he rolled around on the ground, moaning and carrying on. When assisted to the bench, he determined that he had pulled the muscle, and would be unable to finish the game. Fair enough, you think. This type of injury can be quite painful. So, I offed him a tensor bandage and some ice, as well as some Tylenol.
"Ohhh, he moaned, I can't bend to put it on". So, with gritted teeth I offered to apply it. I asked him to pull up the leg of his shorts, and the conversation went like this: "I caaaan't." "Yes, you can." "I caaaan't" "Yes, you can" "I caaaan't" "Yes, you can" "Oh look. You did it". Ugh! Whiny-ass baby!

Then he insists he must go to the hospital immediately. "No you don't", I said. "Yes I do" "No, you don't" "Yes, I do" "No, you don't" "Yes, I do. I have a Factor V deficiency and have to go right away" "No you don't. Keep an eye on it and if the area starts to swell or get warm and red, then get it checked. But right now, you are fine". His response? "Oh ya, my doctor says that too" Hmmmmm.

So I offer him the Tylenol and he says he'll take 8 tablets. 8! I told him under no circumstance would I give him 8 tablets. He insists he always takes 8 tablets. So I tell him again, that under no circumstance will I give him 8. "Did you know" I tell him, " that Tylenol is hepatotoxic? And that your liver produces clotting factors?" Surprise!! He did not know this little gem of info. Ugh!

But then came the kicker. "I think", he says, "I should file a Workers Comp claim"."Why" I ask, "would you have to do that?". "Well"....this is a TTC tournament, and I've injured myself"." "Buddy" I tell him, "This may be sponsored by them, but you aren't at work so there is no claim to be made."

Oy! They are everywhere, these inadequate people, and they are breeding! I fear for my life....