Neonatal ICU

I started in the NICU today… I’m excited to be around little humans who don’t have any of the big human problems yet. I was assigned a baby to follow and write notes on… it is one that was born at 36 weeks (full term is 37-40) but he is doing pretty well! We have another baby who was born at only 27 weeks and has had many many complications.. they are all so tiny!

I was able to help out with healthy baby exams, and will also be doing resuscitation and circumcisions (ouchies!).

I’ll keep you posted!

D is almost done with his EMT course and has been volunteering like crazy with the ambulance service and getting some really good calls.

MUCH LOVE!

We was in the Gorges and done found an Ithacasaurus!

Good day y’all!

A few weeks ago, D and I ventured south of Watertown about 2 hours to Ithaca…. it was awesome… it was wonderful… it was nice… it was beautiful… it was like swiss cheese. (I have learned something from our president).

Ah…to finally feel alive again and remember that there is life out there, that people still eat healthy, folks still hike to waterfalls. Being in the Watertown area has been a very tough journey.. it often makes me wonder… “there sure are a lot of pizza joints, but where are all the dentists?” Folks in these parts don’t quite seem to take care of themselves, they have no pride, no ambition, it is a sad state of affairs and I feel it brings me down from time to time.

But…. ITHACA! Whoohoo! The rash of Burger Kings, Arby’s, Gas Stations, strip malls… were magically whisked away with a 2 hour drive south… as we approached the finger-lake region we reveled at signs pointing towards farmers’ markets, thai food, sushi, The Moosewood Restaurant.

We spent the first part of the day hiking on the trails to the highest falls in NY, The Taughannock Falls.

We then wandered downtown… which if you look below looks an awful like a pic of Pearl Street in Boulder (where D is from).

We then wandered around Cornell University (“ever heard of it?”~Andy from The Office) and ate ice cream, but it was after dark, so no pics… but it is beautiful!!! Every building looked like an old castle.

The trip was fabulous and made us feel human once again, then we returned to the glitz and glam of the neon fast food lights in good ol’ Watertown NY. Only 3 more months! I start my Pediatric Rotation on Monday for 6 weeks and then Surgery and we are on our way back out west!!

MUCH LOVE.
D and G

~~~WITH THE PICS BELOW, YOU HAVE TO CLICK ON THE SMALL IMAGE, AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEXT MED SIZED IMAGE IN ORDER TO GET TO THE FULL SIZE! ~~~

3 days of spring?

A quick rant…

“Spring” is gone. It didn’t even really come… even the photos from the post before were taken in a shivery, bone chilling wind that left you wishing you had your down coat.

Today? 93 degrees and hot. I am thankful for the sun and the beautiful days… but some 60-70 degree weather would be nice. Geeesh!

I think being from Northern Arizona and Southern Colorado has made us spoiled…

Off to eat some Mexican food and go bowling!

Could It Be?

Here in Upstate, the phenomenon known as Spring Fever actually exists. It is not just a phrase… it is an illness… we have heard stories of wild folks who emerge from their dusty, damp and dark caves…

gaggles of children out on their bikes, folks out raking… the smell of burning leaves everywhere, our building manager Lyle jumped on his little motorcycle with his SECURITY jacket on and his police helmet (he has no affiliation with either… he usually sits in his window in his apartment with his big belly hanging out of his undershirt in his boxers drinking a beer.. nice guy…. but a little odd )

People’s eyes have changed, there is hope, the 3-4 feet of snow that had latched on to each square inch of Watertown has now receded with a major rain storm about a week ago… and not only is the sun finally out, but you can feel it!!! 50 degrees!!! A couple weeks ago, we spent the day in Clayton (just an easy walk and some studying at the coffee shop!) on the St. Lawrence River and there are sheets of frozen ice floating in the blue waters. As opposed to just a week earlier when the ice fishermen were out in full force!

There are HUNDREDS of birds migrating through this area… HUNDREDS. The skies are full of geese, ducks, and birds that I have never seen before. As we drove on some old county roads with farm fields on either side there were hundreds and hundreds of birds sitting and resting at sunset. Deer everywhere.. in groups of 15-20 every couple miles…

Life is beautiful and especially when we let those around us in.. to smile and remind those around us that life is good and to be thankful. We can always find something to complain about… but lets look at this world in a ‘half full’ kind of way. An elderly couple holding hands, a small child learning to ride a bike, squirrels digging for food…. these are all things I could have missed today if I had let myself go to deep into the demands of everyday life. Look up, take a breath, smile and feel the sunshine on your cheeks.

Much love. xoxo

PHOTOS! First 4 photos from Sacket’s Harbor NY (from left to right… so the 2 ice fishermen, the dead milkweed and the birds)

and the rest from Clayton a week later!:

a-quick-I LOVE YOU DAD-post.

Love you Dad. Thank you again for this poem.

(A selection from
ANAM CARA
by the late Irish poet,
John O’Donohue)

A BLESSING
May the light of your soul guide you.
May the light of your soul bless the work
You do with the secret love and warmth of your heart.
May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul.
May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those
Who work with you and to those who see and receive your work.
May your work never weary you.
May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement.
May you be present in what you do.
May you never become lost in the bland absences.
May the day never burden you.
May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams,
Possibilities and promises.
May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.
May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected.
May your soul calm, console and renew you.