Saturday October 14th 2023

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Oct 14, 2023

Joe, a potluck sounds like a nice evening.

Tweety, RIF = Reduction in Force. At the risk of saying too much, they eliminated the nurse manager's position. We're a small staff and so it's personally sad. Also sad and worrisome that the finances are that poor. I'm fairly confident I could find another job pretty quickly but the process sure is a hassle. And unless I did home health or a nursing home I'd have to drive a bit (obviously home health would be driving more than "a bit"). And of course I don't want to see this community's hospital fail. AND I think the nurse manager did a lot of things well and I don't see things functioning well without someone in that position.

Physically I feel much better today. When I woke up I briefly forgot the events at work. Going to try to observe the eclipse. We should see it at about 80% of the full annular eclipse.

No Stars In My Eyes · Oct 14, 2023

Okay, I just posted my first post today on the end of yesterday's posts. Oh well.

So the dgt texted that he wasn't really alert, and that when they first got there she said his 02 and heart rate dropped some, but "came back up-" She isn't sure what time they would come by here to keep Nannie and Momo company so I can go visit hubby. But at least I know I will get to go to the hospital today, and speak into his ear. I will make sure the sitter leaves the room when I do talk to him, for privacy's sake. I still have stuff to say, and as I always told my patient's families, just talk to their loved one when this 'time' comes around. I am hoping he won't have to be transferred to the hospice facility; I don't think he needs to be moved. But I will just have to go with the flow.

Dgt said that yesterday when she got to the hosp. she was crying and telling her dad that she didn't want to say goodbye, because she is really going to miss him. He opened his eyes and said, "(her name), everything is going to be okay. Don't worry." Not meaning that he will get better, but that nature was happening as it should, and he's okay with that, so she should be okay, too. She really is okay with 'our' decision, but she's a very emotional girl (if 48 years old is still being a "girl".) and having a tough time. At least she is being more of an adult than she usually displays. She is who she is, though, and maybe learning some life lessons through all this.

Of course, I''ll have more to update you on, later.....

toomuchbaloney · Oct 14, 2023

No Stars In My Eyes said:

Okay, I just posted my first post today on the end of yesterday's posts. Oh well.

So the dgt texted that he wasn't really alert, and that when they first got there she said his 02 and heart rate dropped some, but "came back up-" She isn't sure what time they would come by here to keep Nannie and Momo company so I can go visit hubby. But at least I know I will get to go to the hospital today, and speak into his ear. I will make sure the sitter leaves the room when I do talk to him, for privacy's sake. I still have stuff to say, and as I always told my patient's families, just talk to their loved one when this 'time' comes around. I am hoping he won't have to be transferred to the hospice facility; I don't think he needs to be moved. But I will just have to go with the flow.

Dgt said that yesterday when she got to the hosp. she was crying and telling her dad that she didn't want to say goodbye, because she is really going to miss him. He opened his eyes and said, "(her name), everything is going to be okay. Don't worry." Not meaning that he will get better, but that nature was happening as it should, and he's okay with that, so she should be okay, too. She really is okay with 'our' decision, but she's a very emotional girl (if 48 years old is still being a "girl".) and having a tough time. At least she is being more of an adult than she usually displays. She is who she is, though, and maybe learning some life lessons through all this.

Of course, I''ll have more to update you on, later.....

No matter how old you are when a parent dies, you are automatically transported back to your preteen self, if even for a short moment. I think that I was an emotional 10 year old of and on for a year after my mother's death. Our relationship was unhealthy, unhappy and difficult for many years, strained by her alcoholism and mean mouth. Just because we mourn and grieve those relationships for long months before the deaths didn't mean that we don't revisit that work later. It can work that way in any love relationship that has not been meeting the needs of all involved at end of life.

Have your neighbor sit with granny while you visit with the rest of the family at the hospital.

Hang in there. You've got the right idea...one day, one step, one moment at a time. Still praying.

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 14, 2023

Hello all!

I am following the posted developments, NSIME. Hugs.

Ado, good you are feeling better today. Scary stuff at work, though. I hope there are no more (momentous) changes in workforce.

Joe, potluck sounds like fun!

New computer arrived yesterday, and dh got it all set up for me. It's nice to live with a System Administrator (retired)! We made another reservation to go to Disneyland this week, as the weather is good and by golly, we are retired and can do it!

This morning we have been out several times, monitoring the eclipse. Can't see the whole eclipse, as from our vantage it is not full-on. But dh has a lens he used to use with his telescope, and we were able to observe the passage of the moon across the face of the sun. Interestingly, it was visible in the shadow of the leaves on the house! The light between the leaves, that usually dapples the wall, was crescent-shaped, rather than round!

We will attend Zoom Sabbath School, then have no other plans for the day.

Have a good day!

nursej22, MSN, RN · Oct 14, 2023

Hugs to NSIME. This is probably the best outcome for Mr. Stars, at the end of his struggles with poor health and ETOH. I too hope he doesn't need to move, but it sounds that there is a good plan.

Annie, that is grim news. And so soon after building a new facility.
I was down at the park this morning and noticed a fellow looking at the sky with a welders helmet. Oh, duh, it was time for the eclipse. I snuck a little peak and could see a little bite out of the lower edge.
TMB, that is a beautiful picture! Thank you for sharing.
Joe, car shopping is so draining to me. You are lucky that you have a trusted salesperson to help.
Hi Tweety!

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Oct 14, 2023

Got a call from the IT manager because the nurse wasn't able to get the telemed hospitalist on the video call. So I went to the hospital and we got it working.

Hubs has a #13 welding helmet so we used it to check out the eclipse. Also noted the crescent-shaped shadows.

Back home with a cat in my lap and reading more of The Haunting of Hill House. Made bread from a Pampered Chef beer bread mix using a mango-flavored beer. It's good.

toomuchbaloney · Oct 14, 2023

No eclipse here in the Alaskan interior. I think we were really out of the pathway, but it's ridiculously overcast anyway.

There are fresh moose tracks near the cabin. I'll try to get a photo.

No Stars In My Eyes · Oct 14, 2023

Hubby passed at 3:53 PM. I was able to be with him and hold his hand and talk to him, sing hymns in his ear. I told him that the body was the envelope that carried the soul to Earth, and his body was so worn out, that he could let it go now. I gave him a pep-talk about not being afraid for himself or for me, he would be in my heart forever. It is such a comfort that I could be there for him and hold his hand while he transitioned. It gives me a lot of peace to be able to have done that.

All for now----

And thanks again to one and all for your support.

toomuchbaloney · Oct 14, 2023

Oh Stars!

He was so ready and you gave him what he needed. It sounds like this was as good as you might have hoped. The rapidity of this decline suggests that this could have been much more traumatic and tragic had he had some terminal event at home. You were so, so strong and wise to get him into care when you did.

Be extra good to yourself for a minute. Maybe two.

I'm still praying.

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 14, 2023

God bless you, NSIME.

I, too, am praying for you and the family.

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Oct 14, 2023

God bless you, Stars! It is such a blessing that you were able to be with him and provide comfort and love as he left this life.

You are in my prayers as you move through this time.