Nurses = Outstanding

**I'm sorry. All my cool hospital pictures are in my computer... which is currently having some sort of mental breakdown. Hopefully I will be able to add them later.**

I have always had a lot of respect for nurses. My parents had many friends that were nurses when I was a child and I have had many great nurses as friends.

In our latest foray into the world of medicine with my daughters' mysterious chest pain I came to love and respect them even more.

Our emergency room nurses were wonderful. They were incredibly busy the night we came in, but the triage nurse had Gwen hooked up to an EKG within ten minutes of us walking in the door and showed it to the doctor right away. She had us in a room ten minutes after that. She was calm, efficient and compassionate. My hospital feedback for her- Excellent!

When we were in the ER room we had another nurse. He was in to hook her up to the machines in a very short amount of time and checked in on us often. He stoically endured her complete melt down when it was time for the IV and blood work and gave us updates about when the doctor managed to get in touch with the pediatric doctor and what was happening with transport. With as busy as they were and especially since their ENTIRE computer system crashed about 3 hours into our visit it would have been easy to close our curtain and forget about us, but he was very proficient and attentive. My hospital feedback for him- Phenomenal!

We were then transferred to a pediatric wing of another hospital where we had our first nurse for an hour until shift change and our second nurse for the rest of our visit. They were great with Gwen and extremely caring. If they came in while she was eating or sleeping they would come back later to do what they needed to do. They wanted her to be as comfortable as possible and took any concerns I had to the doctor immediately.

The second nurse also endured my anger/insanity at the incompetence of the pediatric doctor who discharged us, professionally and almost completely straight-faced. I wish I could tell their boss how outstanding they were. I think I should be getting a survey in the mail... maybe?

A Line In The Sand

Have you ever been in the room with me when there is a discussion going on and suddenly realize that I have not said a word for 20 minutes or more? Ever wonder what I was thinking? I’ll tell you. I was thinking this:

Don’t say a word, Don’t Say A Word, Don’t SAY A Word, Don’t SAY A WORD, DON’T SAY A WORD, DON’TSAYAWORDDON’TSAYAWORDDON’TSAYAWORDDON’TSAYAWORD!!!!

I’m not a debater. I don’t enjoy a good argument. My opinions are almost always a little ‘out there’. Perhaps I was born in the wrong decade, because I would've made a great hippie.

I digress.

My point is that the ‘Don’t say a word’ mantra is playing in my head as I type and I am determinedly ignoring it. Don’t worry, I don’t ignore it often.

My silence has been disturbed by the recent equal marriage unrest. Seems like everyone has a strong opinion and it has led to some ugliness between friends and families. Well, I am not here to start a fight. I am here to express my opinion. If you have a different opinion; get your own blog and share it.

As a follower of the example Jesus set for me I refuse to throw stones. I am not going to beat anyone up for their opinions, actions, or lifestyle.

As a follower of the example Jesus set for me I will try to be an example of what I know to be right.

As a follower of the example Jesus set for me I will Love, cherish, hang out, walk, talk, and eat with you whether you are doing what I think you should or not.

As a follower or the example Jesus set for me I look into the past and around at the present and weep for Christians who are persecuted, those who were not and/or are not free to worship God.

As a follower of the example Jesus set for me I can therefore sympathize with people being mistreated for their beliefs and lifestyle.

Many people came to America  for religious freedom.

Wikipedia says: Freedom of religion or Freedom of belief is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any religion.[1] The freedom to leave or discontinue membership in a religion or religious group.

I am afraid. I fear that by beginning to be hardhearted and to mistreat a group of people as a government we take the first step towards becoming a nation of persecution and fear, because these things don’t happen overnight. They are gradual. It's a slope that can get steeper with every decision. Many people don't see what they are becoming until it is out of control.

Will we become just as bad as the countries our ancestors fled from? Will we become what we try so hard to prevent in other countries where my fellow Christians are being mistreated?

I fervently pray that we don’t. I believe now is the time to prevent it.

Another Trip to the Bookstore

Another trip to the bookstore. Another day when I got home and kicked myself for being able to spend so much money in so short amount of time. I want to share with you one of the books I came home with yesterday.

Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis and Beth Clark

I haven't read this book, but I have heard so much about it. It is the amazing story of a young girl, fresh out of highschool, who goes on a short mission trip and is called by God to make it her life.

I will let you know how the book is... or better yet, watch some of her YouTube videos and buy the book yourself! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfXgCx3f_1c&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqaphcYWBEQ&feature=related

Obviously, I have no Idea how to get the YouTube videos to play here on my page :( Sorry!

Spiritual Sunday - Kindness

There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness. - Dalai Lama

Ephesians 4:32- Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Hadith - Muslim & Bukhari

"Allah is not kind to him who is not kind to people."

He who has let go of hatred,

who treats all beings with kindness

and compassion...

that man is the one I love best.

Bhagavad Gita (12.13-14)