Tropical Storm Hanna

Well tropical strorm Hanna has officially landed and is pounding us right now. This morning when we were outside on our back deck which is covered drinking coffee, it was just rain. Now It's a whole new story, pouring rain, and mega mega wind. I'm really hoping we don't lose power, but I'm thinking we probably will.

For me it's a great excuse to stay in and cook. So I'm going to make Crock Pot Taco Soup yum! I love the way a good slow cooking soup fills up the whole house with the yummy aroma. :) Last night I did some Greek food. We had Greek kabobs, tzatziki sauce, and Greek pasta salad with Feta cheese. It was delicious and I'll definitely be making that again!

Well here's to a much-needed-day-of-relaxing-lovely-stormy-day! I'll take it after the emotionally draining week I just had. Thanks Hanna :)

What a week

This week was not a good one. My patient is not doing well and prognosis is grave :( I haven't been able to shake this all week, neither has anyone for that matter. It's heartbreaking to see how it's effecting everyone. Not to be a big negative person, because I try not to but this week has just all around been crappy. It all stems from the code too...taking worries home, being pissy, easily annoyed etc. and I hate it because it's not me. On the bright side of things, I guess I should be happy that when things happen like this it still hits me this hard. I don't ever want to become immune to situations like this just because I'm a nurse and "it happens." I don't care, that's not who I am.

I'm extremely happy to say that after a crap-tastic week I'm looking forward to a semi-quiet weekend. Tomorrow hurricane Hanna is supposed to blast us. I find that as an excellent excuse to stay put and chill. I'm thinking...enjoy the rain, have coffee, read some cookbooks, get some things done that I've wanted to do. My main goal is just to turn off my brain.

Thursday 13

Thirteen Things about THE SECRET (the book) and my vision board.I've read the Secret and totally believe in the law of attraction. This weeks 13 is dedicated to the things that I put on my vision board. FYI the vision board is a part of "The Secret" where you literally cut out pictures, quotes, or sayings of things or wants in your life. By looking at the vision board everyday these thoughts become things :) On my vision board which I keep on my dresser, and have a copy of it on my desk at work is pictures of: 1. Babies2. Motherhood3. The outdoors4. Jeep Wrangler5. Money6. New construction (kitchen, house etc)7. Breathe easy8. Live well and giggle9. Cooking and entertaining10. Have more fun11. Blogger12. Endless possibilities13. Traveling and adventures

20 random things

I've seen a couple people on their blogs do this. I think it's neat, and I'm bored so guess what? Here's my list :)

~I could listen to The Cure (any of my CD's/ iPOD) and never ever get sick of them. They've been my favorite since about age 13. U2 is a very close second

~I've slept like a brick the past couple of nights, i think because my days have been so INSANE and exhausting at work.

~Haven't been to the chiropractor is over 2 weeks, and my back hates me for it, we're going tomorrow...no excuses considering they are literally next door from work.

~I had an awesome time with Julie and seeing her girls on tuesday night, sometimes i can see us with daughters too, then some days i just see boys...Hmm.

~I miss my cousins and hope we hang out soon

~I did my nieces spanish homework for her on Monday...shh don't tell (it was her birthday, consider it a gift ;)

~We're supposed to go to NYC on saturday but i'm thinking its a no-go considering all the hurricanes brewing in the ocean. boo.

~I can't wait for Halloween and have already starting checking out costumes online.

~I signed up today to do a colon cancer walk in honor of a former patient of our practice that lost her battle 3 years ago.

~I can't wait for the holidays and have already starting thinking about some Christmas gifts i'd like to buy...especially for my nieces. And I dreamt about Christmas cards last night (weird)

~Loving how the feeling of fall is in the air, and it's actually chilly when i'm driving to work at 0530...Plus Fall festivals are the best!!

~I heard from a couple friends via email this week that i haven't talked to in a little bit and it made me feel great :D

~I'm praying for my co-worker who's in the hospital battling lung cancer.

~I'm all about house projects right now. we've done so many great things to the house this year and i just want to keep up the good work.

~Mark Ruffalo is my favorite actor

~I want to see the movie Stepbrothers so bad! I just love stupid humor.

~Hooray for the season Premiere of Ghost Hunters tonight yippee!!

~My mom is the best. I can tell her anything and she's always there to listen, offer advise, give support, and be my best friend.

~You can never take too many pictures...one of my projects is to actually frame some of those pictures and hang them on the walls.

~I've been working out on our new Eliptical and love the feeling you get knowing you are exercising.

And the blah-ness continues

Blah-ness is in full effect today, and not by choice either. The day at work today just had the same feel as yesterday. We all still feel the effects of our patients code yesterday. Today's report says she's not doing too well either. :( It's hard to shake a feeling like this and some people just don't understand. Lets face it, most jobs don't require life or death training. I don't care how long I've been a nurse (6 years to be exact) codes never ever get easier...I guess because we are human and we care so much. Some people can just leave work at work. I'm not one of those people. I've worked with the same group of people for almost 5 years now, and we are like family. Whether it's something that goes wrong, when someone is sick, when someone hurts, we all do.

So tonight I'm by myself. Scott is playing cards like he does on Wednesdays with the guys. I'm happy that he does that, it's nice for him and I know he really enjoys it. My mom and dad steamed up some lovely Maryland crabs and offered me some so that's dinner tonight. My absolute favorite too! Nothing like crabs and beer :) I'm really trying to shake this blah feeling, but it's easier said than done. Sometimes I find that going for a ride and listening to good music is very therapeutic. That may be in store of tonight. Me, the pups in the Xterra, rocking out to my favorite group "The Cure"

Sounds like a plan to me!

Here's to a chill night with Elektra and Hooper :) Thank goodness they are used to my crazy loud music ;) It's ok they love The Cure too. Oh and they always cheer me up :)

Code Blue

Today was back to work after a lovely long weekend. This week sure did start with a bang too...Unfortunately one of our patients coded today and went into respiratory arrest. Not sure why, but all I know is to be involved in a code is terrible. I mean you feel good as a nurse that you are doing everything you can to save this person, but at the same time you just feel helpless when nothing is working. I've been in my share of codes too, having worked critical care and now outpatient surgery. It was a long one too, she was intubated, CPR initiated, the works. . After pushing cardiac meds on her, we were able to get a pulse, but we were bagging or ventilating her manually. She was transferred to our local hospital and I pray she's ok. Unfortunately being a surgery center we do witness this, but it's never ever easy. It just sets the tone for the whole day, and leaves you with this weird, sick in the stomach feeling like you've been punched. I can't get it off my mind and sure hope she's doing ok tonight...

Luckily I have plans tonight to go out with my good friend Julie. I'm going up to her place in Ellicott City (which I just love it up there) to visit her and her girls, and we're going out for some yummy mexican food and drinks tonight. It sure is perfect timing for the day we just had today.

Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole

I decided to give my breakfast casserole a whirl in the crock pot. It turned out AMAZING!!!! And so easy, I turned it on low at 11pm last night, and when I got up this morning I turned it off around 9, and it was perfect! Here's how I did it

16 oz. of hashbrown potatoes
1 lb sausage ( I did about 12 links) cooked and chopped
8 pieces bacon (that's what I had leftover) cooked and crumbled
12 eggs ( I had only 9 and it was perfect)
1 cup milk
salt and pepper (about Tsp. each) more to taste if needed
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Spray crock pot with no-stick spray
Put hashbrowns on bottom
layer cheese, sausage, and bacon with final layer as cheese on top
Mix eggs and milk, salt and pepper, then pour over all ingredients in crock pot.
Turn on Low for about 8-10 hours.
And when you wake up breakfast is served! :) Yummy!