Super Star Little Brother

My little brother Kevin was involved in the filming of High School Musical 3 this summer. I have been patiently waiting for the movie to come out. Sure enough Kevin's face is plastered all over the ending. Kevin can be seen dancing and blowing on his trumpet especially in the last scene! Congrats for being a paid movie star Kevin. Even though you detest the movie its fun to see you dancing!!

Code White

During a busy shift we get a call over head "CODE WHITE, snack bar. CODE WHITE, snack bar." The ER is required to respond to these. Myself, Dr. Patten, and Chris took off with a gurney only to find out the poor mom was outside in the freezing cold. By the time we got there, Carlos--our amazing respiratory therapist, had delivered the baby and a nurse was running him upstairs. Poor mom was still exposed to the world bleeding like crazy. Poor husband was kneeling with his legs out to the side and served as her pillow on the cold cement. People were trying to catch a glimpse despite the people out there serving as her barrier. Mom and baby are doing just fine. The sidewalk looked like a horror movie with a TON of blood everywhere. Everyone some how managed to get blood on them. We were the only ones who brought a bed and took her upstairs to L&D where they finished up. The husband walked funny for a few minutes. Next time she said she were get to the hospital sooner :D Funny expereince--really glad I'm not an L&D nurse!

I'm Going to Hell--according to a psych patient

Psych patients always provide a great source of entertainment and frustration. We had our own personal psych unit running down in the ER. One lady had been brought and was completely manic! She just would not hold still or stop talking. After some negotiations I was able to get blood and urine out of her. After an hour and my poor nursing student walked around our station with her for 20 min. I caught bits and pieces of their conversation. Comments such as "you need to come find the savior" and "I'm just helping you to find charity in your life." Well, after a while this was getting on my nerves and she was starting to yell and get more aggressive. We have a room basically stripped to 4 walls so the patients can't hurt themselves. In trying to get her back in and shut the door she started screaming and claiming I was depriving her of spreading the message and charity we needed. I got in front of her to prevent her from leaving. Most of the time I try to keep a straight face and try to reason with these type people--She was past the point of reasoning. Unfortunately, I had to call security to come help me. I could probably take her if I needed to but was twice my weight. The last she said as they were taking her upstairs, " You are cruel people and will all go to hell!" What can I say I've heard it before.

Draper Temple Open House

I can't believe how hard it is to get 5 people together. But hey it's possible. Amber, Scott, Mark, Weston and I drove up and walked through the Draper Temple Open House. The last open house I had been to was the Mt. Timpanogos Temple when I was 11 years old. The temple is gorgeous. Simple and yet detailed in everything from the pictures to the sparkling chandeliers. I loved the peace despite the hundreds of people walking through. Weston held out pretty well--he kept going "wow' in a whispered voice. I can't wait to go the temple. The primary song kept popping in my head the whole time.

After leaving the temple we went into the church to have cookies and water. They had an amazing display where the global map showed where every temple was and various pictures of the temples around the world.

The car ride was entertaining--Weston was involved. Poor kid was already tired and just cuddle with his blanket and goofed off with Mark. They dropped me off at the hospital where I changed and discovered my feet were covered covered in blisters. 12 hours on my blistered feet was a lot of fun. But completely worth it.

I wish you could see his face better--he likes to glare and giggle

Levi Kohler and Crystal Sorenson are married! Two of my best friends are married! Congrats you two!! Cheryl is amazingly talented and made their cake. She's so talented!!

Lesson In Patience

I love the gentle pushes and prods Heavenly Father loves to send me. This will come as a giant shock to many of you--I am not a patient person. I do not like waiting. I love to have lists and a plan. Many years of practice has gotten me to the point where I can enjoy and relax a bit. However, those tendencies still exist. Since Kindergarten I have had a plan and graduated college was the conclusion of that plan. Then I created a new plan and started working. Then the plan changed and I moved to Orem and began a new job. Now--I have absolutely no idea.

After sweating, crying, and LOTS of lists I still had no answer. I have so many options that it was beginning to feel overwhelming. I felt I was failing and not doing enough for the world. My daddy gave me a blessing that has helped me so much. My faith, testimony, and understanding of the Priesthood has grown significantly over the last few years. I fasted prior to the blessing and it was rewarded. No earth shattering things were said, but rather the gentle reminders I have always known. My parents have taught me well. The conclusion--Be patient. I am where I am supposed to be, doing what I should be doing, and living how I should be. I am not perfect and I still have LOTS to learn but I am doing just fine.

I will continue to be patient and see where life takes me. The one thing I have learned--my plan will change. In the mean time I do plan to create some sort of social network, travel the world, and spoil myself and those I love!

Valentine's Day Chaos

Valentine's Day started out nice and slow--which is a good thing because we were a few nurses short that night. The night started out calm--but it didn't last long. Before I knew it we got a call from Provo ambulance who was bringing in 3 traumas. A car of teenage girls had managed to plow their car head on into a tree. The girls were really lucky. I'm sure they won't be able to walk straight for a few days but no serious injuries. Seriously, I don't think I will ever let me children drive until they are 30.

(this is what I imagine the car looked like)

Well within 15 minutes of them all arriving Orem calls with a full cardiac arrest. Poor guy wasn't even that old. He was stabilized and quickly sent to the cath lab. We would also send another crashing patient up there within a few hours as well.

The craziness continued from there. One of my patients delivered her babies a few days ago and was now had blood/pus continually oozing out of her. She had been bleeding continuously for days. I had to infuse her with 2 units of blood. Poor thing. How excited am I to have a baby right :D! Needless to say in order to get caught up I had to stay til 0600 and chart like crazy. Oh I love my job!

Not Your Typical Valentines Day

I didn't think Valentines Day would turn out like it did.

I woke up at 11:30am--yes it's early for me. Gina, Cressie, Kalli and I went wedding dress shopping for her upcoming nuptials. Cressie and I sat there making jokes and trying not to hate the really skinny girls who looked gorgeous in every gown they tried on. We made Gina spin and pose in every dress. We also found out that Cressie and I are pretty good and this idea of telling people what to wear. This was the final product of our searching:

While Gina was getting zip and striped in the dressing room Kalli had some fun of her own.

Scary isn't it!

After shopping for 4 hours I picked up Weston and entertained him for a few hours so Scott and Amber could have a few hours of quiet. Dani and Nicki stopped by. Weston discovered the stairs and wouldn't leave them alone.

The conclusion of Valentines Day ended up with my true love--work. They were so short that night I went in to help. It actually wasn't too bad until 11:00pm then the flood gates opened. 3 traumas--car vs. tree; a full cardiac arrest; and some serious chest pains that had to go to cath lab came in. In addition to the million of other sick people. I stayed til 6:00am getting caught up. One poor girl had an abcess at her incision site and had been bleeding for days. I ended up giving her 2 units of blood because her levels were so low.

My Dad is great. He knows I don't like Valentines so he has gotten me presents over the last few years. This is year is one of my favorties.

I love Willow Tree Figurines! My collection continues to grow. Overall it was a great holiday. A lot of chocolate was consumed and I was able to spend the day with people I love.

A Real Nurse

I sometimes forget why I became an Emergency Room Nurse. I see a lot of junk and get abused in many ways. Well, last night I had a few reminders why. I don't get them very often.

1st: A cute little boy came in with his parents holding his arm on daddy's lap. When I asked him what was wrong he replied, " I hurt my arm here." Turns out he had fallen off his chair eating dinner and broke his elbow. Poor thing. He was adorable and got so mad at the doctor when he took his pretzels away. I had to sedate him in order to fix the bone and he threw up later too. The first words when he started waking up again was "Can I have my pretzels?" He talked about his little brother and how his was "bruk."

2nd: A man came in by ambulance because he was having chest pain. Turns out is was a full on Heart Attack. We had four nurses, the doctor, and techs in there and had him ready to go to the cath lab in 22 minutes. Our night staff is amazing! He went up to the cath lab and then the ICU. My adrenaline got going on that one!! It was good to have a real emergency.

3rd: Yet another gunshot wound to an older guys' hand! Please clean your guns without bullets in them!!!

A Night In the Hole

I swear work was never going to end tonight. I was out in triage out tonight. Triage is the place where you go to check in and tell the first nurse what is going on. From the there the nurse gets vitals and assigns the patient a color of how bad they are. Its good to see what and how things come to the ER.

1st: A woman walks into my triage room and says my boyfriend is on his way--he shot himself. Soon enough they wheel him in with his jeans cut off above his knees. On the inside of his kneeare what looks like a million bug bites and a hole that oozing blood. on the outside of his knee is the same thing. Yeah come to find out that he had been cleaning his gun and shot his own leg. Poor man!! Luckily he only fractured part of the bone and didn't have an bullet fragments left.

2nd: A teenage girl comes in and says "I've swallowed a toothbrush." I has to ask for clarification. but yes she had swallowed and normal size toothbrush. Woulsn't tell anyone why she did it though. My doctor was not amused.

3rd: A young girl is brought in by her dad because he thinks she might have a urinary tract infection--nope its pinworms. How sad is that.

4th: A teenage boy comes in and says he has a growth on his toe. He pulls his sock off and I have to do a double take. It looks like a bug has exploded off his little toe. Seriously, it was yellow and black and fuzzy. One of the most random things I have ever seen. My doctor didn't believe me till he saw it and said, " that's really bizarre." I had to walk out of the room because I was laughing so hard.

5th: A girl around my age came in at 2am by ambulance because she couldn't stay awake. Well duh its 2am most of the world is asleep by then!!

6th: A cute little boy with a lisp came in because he cut his thumb open. He was adoarble and just kept smiling and loved looking at the fish.

That's a glimpse of what I see on a nightly basis. Gotta luv the chaos of the ER.

Horse vs Man

In triage one night and older man wheeled into my triage room. Blood and who knows what else covered his shorts. When asked what was wrong this is the story I got:

I was riding my daughter's horse when she bucked me off and I landed on my back. Something spooked her because she stepped on my stomach and kicked hard. I've been bleeding down there a lot but it doesn't hurt unless I move. The hospital put a bandage and ice on it.

I got him right back to a room and into a gown. The doctor went it. Come to find out this poor guy had his manhood nearly ripped off. To quote the Dr, "This is fixable--in the OR!!!" The tissue of the whole unit was intact but the skin had basically slid right off (degloved). To his credit he did not take any pain meds and was laughing about it the whole time. I was impressed and just kept thinking--ouch ouch OUCH OUCH!!!! Poor guy! I hope the swelling and bleeding stopped and he got put back together!

Power of Music & Making Decisions

I have been surrounded by music my entire life. Recently I have been reminded of the power of music and the influence it can have on my life. The two following songs have helped me a lot lately.

Amazing Graze

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Its also an amazing movie! I recommend it!!!


What Heaven Sees In You

Sent to this earth, you were saved through the ages for this day and time.
Child of great worth, child of promise, daughter of the divine;
Pure and holy, in a little white dress
You were held in a circle and you were blessed.
And the Father looked down and the angels surrounded that place.
They knew the truth—all that you could do
And you will too if you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you.

Dressed in white once more, making promises to follow in God's way.
So much lies in store for the little girl who enters at the gate.
Pure and holy, in a little white dress
You were led into the water and you were blessed.
And the Father looked down and the angels surrounded that place.
They knew the truth—all that you could do
And you will too if you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you.

Do you understand who you are?
Part of the Father lives in you.
And if you continue on this path
Every promise God has given will come true.

Heaven on earth, in the House of God so much fills your heart and mind.
Woman of great worth, woman of promise, daughter of the divine;
Pure and holy, in a long white dress
You promise forever and you are blessed.
And the Father looks down and the angels surround that place.
They know the truth—all that you can do
And you do too, 'cause you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you.

Will you have eyes to see what heaven sees in you?

©2001 Doug Walker & Sherry Marks Walker
Anyone who knows me understands how bad I am at making big life decisions. After weeks of debate, frustration, prayer, and discussion--I am moving home for the summer. I'm a big list person with my pros and cons between three options home came out on top. I will live at home until I can find a house of my own to buy. Yes, I am going to buy a big person house as soon as I find the best deal. I'm excited for this step of my life!! Bring on the adventures!

My New Hobby

In case I didn't have enough to do or enough hobbies I have found another one I think I'm going to love . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .FLOWERS!!!

What do you think? I LOVE colors and I am really excited to keep playing with this and see what else I can put together. Oh I am also starting a book club that will meet on the 2nd Friday of every month. Let me know if you want info!

Cedar City--My Tribute to Theora

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to head down to Cedar City, Utah with my best friend Sarah Yancey. Theora--my other best friend--was the star of Southern University of Utah's Opera. This girl can SING!!! We started out after me only getting 4 hours of sleep--of course I worked the night before! Sarah and I talked the entire time about random stuff. I've missed goofing off with her. Well, turns out her whole family headed down there for the same reason. Sarah and I, met up with the Hansen clan and played at Theora's house after stuffing ourselves at Costa Vida. I still can't eat a whole burrito by myself though.

The Opera--The Magical Flute--was 3 hours long and in German. Theora had my attention the entire time--well maybe not the entire time, the rest went to the Feather covered guy. I think he ran over that whole studio 5 or 6 times and had the funniest facial expressions. Theora was gorgeous and amazing. I always knew she could sing and this time she blew me away. Sarah and I made the comment that we wish we could have the stage prescence and grace she did. When it was over we gather outside the door and watched her adoring public greet her.

The after party was hilarious. Since the beginning of time we have played pounce for hours upon hours. This tradition has not changed. Theora, Sarah, Andy, and I played pounce for 5 hours straight. Andy was new to our game and was easily frustrated when we kicked his butt over and over and over. The name calling and jokes intensified as the game went on--we didn't stop laughing the entire time. Plus we had episodes of BONES in th background. What more could you ask for! The party continued in the morning with chocolate chip pancakes and an intense game of Phase 10. I was so not excited to go home--I don't remember most of it being passed out in the back seat. I love these girls and can't wait to spent more time with them!