Thursday, February 26, 2009

Dear Benjamin,


You are now my big one year old! You have enough personality and pazazz to fill a grown man's shoes. You know exactly what you want and when you want it and you will tell anyone who will listen. Stranger, spanger, if someone has food or something you may like, they are your new friend. We really need to work on this. You love people. I love to watch you interact with different people. You know exactly what you can get away with, with each different person. Papa Joe won't dare walk by if you give him a few alligator tears. Grandma wont let her poor grandson just sit in the kitchen with nothing to do, lets open the dishwasher so he can take everything out. Oh, No! You are already bored, let me carry you around while I vacuum. Grammy won't dare put you to sleep if you cry. The real water works come out then. You have everyone marching to your drum! You are very affectionate like your Daddy. Although you do have a little stinker in you. You gave me a big open mouth kiss on my cheek and then I could feel your little chompers trying to dig in. I was able to pull away just in time. You gave me a little ornery grin, like, "What Mama? I was just kissing you." You have a new friend at Church. I must say, this melts my heart. I could watch you and Brock interact all day long. Keep Christian friends Benjamin. You can be each others support.
Mama sees you doing great things with your life Benjamin. Always keep your eyes on God and I know he will lead you to greatness. You are special. You, my Sunshine, will always be special to me.

I will love you always,

Mama

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Thimerosal

Last night in my Microbiology class we talked about autism and vaccines. The compound Thimerosal is put into vaccines as a preservative. Thimerosal contains mercury. In 1999 the FDA recommended Thimerosal not be used. Recommended is the key word. Not all vaccine manufacturers have stopped using it. As a parent you can ask your child's pediatrician if they use vaccines with Thimerosal. If they do, you can ask them to order some without it. You may have to pay for it, but I am sure for any parent its worth it.
We had a woman in class with an autistic son. She has five children and he is her fourth. The day after his vaccines he stopped talking and has since been diagnosed with autism. Why would one child be afflicted and not another? Answer, some people are genetically predisposed( this is not the word I want to use, but I have been sitting here for a few minutes trying to figure out what word I am thinking about, I've given up, so thats the word I am using.), meaning their genetic make-up makes them more susceptible.
Anyway, I thought I would share what I had learned in class. Hope everyone is doing well!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Sunday, February 08, 2009

I can't think of a good title, so I will go title-less. I have been wanting to write about my experience of going through the CNA program and my clinicals at St Simeons and St John's, so here we go.
I first would like to start with my pre-thoughts to the program. I have to have this course, or something similar, in order to apply for a Nursing program. I am NOT looking forward to it. CNA is a fancy title for someone who gets to do all the crappy (literally speaking) jobs. You clean people, wipe people, move people, feed people, etc. I need to just get this done and over with so I can continue on pursuing my nursing degree.
Now my thoughts during class. The class is in north Tulsa. There was a wide variety of people in the class. There was only 12 people in the class, ranging from pre-nursing students to a lady who talked about shooting at her husband once and then having to take care of her husband's ostomy after she stabbed him. Yikes! To say the least, the people made the class even more interesting. The book work was good and I am usually not one to toot my own horn, but toot toot, the most I missed on any of the test was one. I really enjoyed the class and the people I met.
Now my thoughts during clinicals. The first day was at St Simeons in the "Memory Center" which houses residents with Alzheimers. I was really nervous and was on the edge of being totally scared out of my mind. The class had taught me a lot, but reading something and actually seeing it with your own eyes is totally different. These Alzheimer patients I had read about now had names, had families, had fear in their eyes, these were not patients these were people. I was immeditatley put to work. Changing sheets, I can do this. The CNA working was busy giving baths in the shower room, but I know I can do this. I begin to change the sheets and "David" comes in. "Sorry, sorry, Christmas, ummm, sorry." My book knowledge comes handy. "David, are you thirsty?" "No." "Are you hungry?" "No." I really don't want to ask, but I know I must, "Do you need to go to the bathroom?" "Yes." (Side note, when a patient with Alzheimer talks incoherently you are suppose to ask direct questions, Are you thirsty, etc.) My first real experience with helping someone go to the bathroom. Luckily as I am guiding him, the CNA comes out and helps me. Later that day, I helped feed the patients, gave a bath, and interactied with the residents. The day was surreal and emotionally was more than I could have ever expected. I cried the whole way home. Boo-hooed cried. The rest of the clinicals were at St John Hospital.
After clinicals thoughts. It was a life changer, the whole class. I am so glad I took it. And I would recommend everyone to take it.