and then there were three

So long to another rotation. Done and over with. See ya!

Today was my last day at the VA~! and that makes me oh-so-happy. It was a great month. I ended it on a positive note by saving a man's life. Well, I didn't save his life...I just didn't ignore him, and he got the care he needed. It had a happy ending. :) 

He also told me that "if Pharmacy school doesn't work out for you, then you should be a super-model". LOL, I told him, "No sir, I doubt it, plus I am way to old for that"...then he said "Nah, 40s the new 20" Um......HELLO, I am NOT 40!!!.....  Talk about a back-handed compliment. Haha!

The VA was my sixth rotation out of nine! And now there are only three left. WOW~ !

On another exciting note....I have started applying of jobs.  I was contacted by a past preceptor...she told me that the Children's Hospital, where I was on rotation in October, will be hiring 6 new graduates to start next summer! That would be perfect timing for me. I applied for the job the next day.

My preceptor from this month told that there are two job openings that I should consider applying for...they are both located about 30 minutes from our house in really RURAL settings. One is a small office that is essentially made up of one doctor, 2 nurses, and one pharmacist.  Evidently the fact that is a small office out in the country with a small staff is a turn-off for some people. The other is a work-from-home opportunity. I applied for both. :) I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have either of these jobs.

So, I have some prospects.....in the meantime, I am praying that the right opportunity will come along for me and our family...*fingers crossed*

Next Monday I head back to the Children's Hospital for another month. It feels a little less daunting because I was there in October and have already met some people. But first, a three day holiday weekend ahead.

I can't believe it is almost 2011~ FINALLY! It's gonna be a good one.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt

winter wonderland

Here are some more pics of our first snowstorm in OH! Karsen knows the rules~ We can't play in the snow until we pose for a pic or two.

This was our first snowstorm here, so the kids were really excited.

Dylan (left) was eagar to run off and play with his friends in our neighborhood. Evidently, it isn't cool to play with Mom and Dad in the snow. Not so fast, Dylan. Of course I had to get a pic first. His face makes me laugh. His eyes are basically saying, "mom, you're embarassing me!!!" LOL I hear that all the time these days!

Even Chris had fun "working" and clearing the driveway. Can't you see the excitement on his face? LOL, well nevermind... (Yes, I have a corny sense of humor.)

Then they got busy working on a snowman....

TA-DA!!! Meet "Joey", our first OH snowman!

I am sure there will be many more to come.

Look who else was out enjoying the winter wonderland. SANTA!

He was strolling through the neighborhood (behind a fire truck) giving out candy canes.

It was so beautiful that I did not want the snow plows to come clear the roads.

We can't wait until the next big snow!

Merry Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas from Dylan, who has chocolate on his mouth and is telling me to hurry up and take his picture so he can finish the cookie he has in his hand. Dylan basically eats like it is the holidays 12 months out of the year, so he is especially enjoying the fact that something is constantly going on in the kitchen, and we are letting him eat 24/7. Tis the season!

Merry Christmas from Karsen, who wants me to point out that her pajamas are new and were the first present we let her open tonight. She took a break from her I-Touch App that is literally counting down the seconds till Christmas to let me take this picture. Christmas is T-minus 0 days, 2 hours, 13 minutes and 11 seconds away, people! Can you stand the excitement?!  We get updated about every 3 minutes! Ha!

Merry Christmas from our family to your's!

weekend snapshots

Beautiful Christmas lights.....

a surprise visit from our favorite family in NC.....

Best friends playing the snow in camouflage hunting gear. NC meets OH. Can you believe Christmas is in 6 days?!

 

first big snow ...

for us

together in OHIO.

wordless weekend

courage

(google)

I knew the Veterans Affairs Clinic would be an interesting month for me...So far...

on Day 1: A patient barked at me in the hallway for no apparent reason.

Day 2: A patient came in and after I talked to him for 20 minutes I realized he was wearing a sweatshirt with a big deer head on it that said WELL HUNG TAXIDERMY.

Day 3: My clinical pharmacist preceptor is about 5 months preggo, and our patient noticed and said, "I didn't know you were expecting?! I thought your butt was just getting big!"

Day 4: Diabetes Clinic: A man came in with uncontrollable blood sugars due to non-compliance (eating poorly and not taking his oral meds and insulin) and after I told him all the body systems his diabetes could negatively effect: his eyes, kidneys, nerves at his extremities, and that it could even cause erectile dysfuntion....He screams, "Now, you got my attention!"

I have spent time in various clinics: Coumadin management, Heart Disease Risk Reduction, Diabetes Care, MTM, and Lipids.  I feel passionate about this patient population because my Daddy and father-in-law are both Veterans....and there is so much NEED. They need our care; it is the least we can. In 10 days I have heard as many stories that would just break your heart and make you cry. They are in pain, emotionally and physically...but their resilience is awe-inspiring.

It is a bittersweet mix of feeling a great deal of satisfaction when you feel like perhaps something you tell the patient may ultimately help them take better care of themselves....versus feeling so sad for the patient that tells you he has PTSD and stays "hunkered down" under his comforter each day until the sun goes down. At the end of each day, he tells himself, "I will try again tomorrow."

Then you have the moments where they crack you up, make you laugh, or shock you! Thankfully, (due to my crazy family and interesting upbringing) I am not easily shocked. I feel at home and quite comfortable there.  What does that say about me?

Regardless, I thought I would be learning a great deal from my preceptor this month, but I am learning much more from the patients.

“Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.” - Robert Lewis Stevenson

wordless wednesday~captured smile*

*caught with camera phone*

Being 9 rocks!

Since Karsen turned 9 a couple weeks ago she has.....

 a new-found confidence

  and has been a little more sassy

and is just as silly as ever.

 Actually, she has always been sweet, confident, sassy and silly.  

 We can't believe our baby is 9. She is growing up so fast, but she will always be our baby.

And according to her, "Being 9 rocks!"

Rotation #6: VA Ambulatory Care

It's December 1st! Today I start my 6th rotation at the Veteran's Affairs Ambulatory Care Clinic. It will be a major change from the kiddos at the Children's Hospital last month. I hadn't thought about it, but when  I went to give fingerprints at the VA (they have extensive security checks before the rotation starts) I checked in at the front. A few minutes later, a woman came up to me and said "Hi, Heather, you can come with me"...I guess she could see the surprise on my face. I was wondering how she "knew me". I had some government conspiracy theory going in my head....lol when she leaned in and said, "Well, you are the only woman here, so I figured it was you". Ha! Duh!

I looked around and just saw dozens of men, and then there was me. I had not thought about that aspect of the rotation.

Well, I am going to read up on anti-coagulation for the coumadin clinic and diabetes management for the out-patient counseling I will be doing. It will be a refresher for me, but it is amazing how stale your brain can get when you have a month off.

I want to make a good impression because they have a job posted at the VA that I would LOVE to have. Wish me luck!