August in pictures:

Obsessed.

If putting goat cheese on everything is a crime, call me a criminal. I am currently obsessed. I loved chevre for a long, long time, but most recently have been eating it all the time! My favorite pairing: goat cheese and eggs cooked just about any way. It's an affair to remember.

baked eggs.

After my usual perusal of my daily blogs this morning, inspiration hit. Using only ingredients found in my pantry and refrigerator, I made these.



Hands down, most likely the best thing I have ever made. Ever. Onions, carrots, canned tomato sauce, oregano basil = homemade pasta sauce. I spooned two large spoonfuls of the sauce into little ramekins. I dropped in a dollop of goat cheese and then cracked one egg sprinkled with black pepper into each ramekin. Into the oven at 425. Fifteen minutes later, I sprinkled some more basil on top. The egg was perfect; the white perfectly set while the yolk was perfectly runny. I was in absolute heaven. I kid you not.



MAKE THESE.

freckly, fireworky, fremonty, fourth & fifth.

My day of celebrating the US of A's birthday started with working until 7:30a. I didn't mind. Overtime is [almost] always good :) I slept a bit, but made myself crawl out from under my down comforter earlier than usual so that I could get outside in the beautiful Seattle sunshine. I saw most of Seattle on the Burke-Gilman during my usual bridges run. Running in sunshine = FRECKLES. I got home, packed my bag with BBQ necessities, and hopped on my cool collapsable boardwalk bike to a friend's house. The 5 minute bike wasn't enough, so after I dropped of my bag, I took my bike back out to the Burke, biked the short mile and a half between the Ballard and Fremont bridges. My friend's didn't mind. Biking in sunshine = FRECKLES. A beautiful dinner with friends, and then we headed to Fremont. The entire population of Seattle had moved from the Burke-Gilman to Gasworks park. It was an amazing site. Every square foot of that park was covered with bodies. Most of the group stayed for the fireworks show. I on the other was on people-overload. The thought of fighting my way out of Gasworks with the thousands of other people was not a happy one. So Karie and I walked back into the heart of Fremont, toasted America at the Red Door, walked back to her house, and finshed off her homemade nectarine cobbler while watching the very same firework show on her rooftop patio.

My fifth has been just as freckly. Since I was able to sleep during my usual working hours, I made myself get up in the morning. While I like working nights, I MISS, MISS, MISS my mornng runs. It was even more beautiful out than the day before. After I ran, I promptly showered, threw on a sundress, and walked out the door. I walked to Fremont, grabbed a groovy green smoothie, read by the canal, and then bought white nectarines from PCC. I discovered a new favorite! Mama Chia cherry lime juice/drink. A bit pricey, but absolutely amazing! The most delicious way to get my Omega-IIIs. The texture will blow your mind. I walked back to Queen Anne.... walking in sunshine = FRECKLES. Are you sensing a theme here? I wasn't as smart as I usually am though. I was sun hungry. Hour long runs in the sun, no big deal. Two hours spent sitting in the sun with sunscreen on only my face, big deal. My shoulders are a bigttoasty [read: WAY toasty]. I know better this. My red-headed head and pale skin knows better than this. Woops.

All this to say, my freckles are officially OUT. Happy summer!

hiatus.

A blogging hiatus. That's ok... worse things have happened. Lately: I've worked more nights than I can remember, am in a constant state of nocturnal jet lag, am in the throes of half marathon training, and have been putting arugula into everything I eat. I've been keeping the Queen Anne farmer's market in business.

Now on to 7 days off. I love being a nurse.

cupcake vitamins.

Mini red velvet cupcakes are so small. So small they don't really count. Little cupcake vitamins. I whipped up a batch along with some cream cheese frosting today to bring to Monday evening Bible study.



And now, I baking turkey meatballs in the very same mini muffin tin. Good stuff all around.

mmm...

Candied ginger, a bowl of kettle corn, and a glass of sparkling water on a Friday night. Pair that with my ever-changing netflix queue, and you have a happy girl. I need nights like these.

My sister is getting married!

I love her to death and couldn't be more excited for her and Luke!

1.26 kilograms

I held 1.26 kilograms to my chest last Saturday. I picked up an extra shift at TG last Saturday, and to my delight, was staffed downstairs in the NICU [lately, I've generally been put in the intermediate care nursery when called in]. I had a generally easy assignment. Two girls, and one precious IUGR baby boy. This little guy was tiny, 1.26 kilos; 2.7 pounds. According to his gestation, he should have been at least a kilo heavier. But he was an IUGR baby. Tiny little boy, with his precious big head [typical IUGR]. I cared for smaller babies before [a 600 gram baby; 0.6 kilos], but this particular little one was 1.26 kilos all by himself [aka. BREATHING all by himself].

I finished this little guy's care time, hooked up his feeding, and settled him in his nest. An hour later, I could hear his little cries from across the room, muffled by the heavy isolette doors. I would open his isolette, and put my hands on him to settle him. One had over his little body, and one hand cupping his head. Preemies do wonderfully with containment of any kind. He settled, and I quietly closed the isolette doors. A few minutes later, he was crying again. This little man should have been sleeping. There really was no reason for him to be awake. I would put my hands on him and settle him, and then he would wake up 20 minutes later.

Finally, I decided that I was going to take this little guy out and hold him. This is a luxury that NICU nurses almost never have time for. Either babies are too sick to be held, or parents and volunteer hold. Holding by nurses generally only happens when we bottle feed babies. As soon as they're done, they're back in their crib, and we're off to the next baby. I found that I had 30 minutes of extra time. Not ideal for holding a baby who depends on an isolette for maintaining their temperature, but I thought this little guy was tough enough. I set up my rocking chair, and took my precious little handful out and settled him on my chest. Babies, especially preemies, LOVE to be held skin-to-skin. They regulate their temperature perfectly, sleep better, and are healthier when held skin-to-skin on a regular basis. However, nurses aren't allowed to hold skin-to-skin. This little guy knew what he wanted though. He burrowed up against my neck, his little body right over my heartbeat. His tiny hand clasped the chain of my necklace. There was no way I was going to move him or take it away from him. He instantly settled, and we rocked for almost an hour. I suddenly found more time to hold him. I was exhausted. I had worked more overtime that week than I had ever worked before. But, I wouldn't have chosen to be anywhere but in that intensive care nursery at that moment; rocking and praying for the precious little boy in my arms.

If you had asked me five years ago, or even 10 months ago if I would have ever wanted to be a "baby nurse", I would have said an emphatic "NO." But as I rocked those 1.26 kilos, I was once again reminded of why I am a nurse. I never knew I would have the capability or desire to care for such a vulnerable population. But it is exactly the population I love, and it is exactly why I love being a nurse.

With two other babies calling my name, I put Mr. 1.26 kilos back in his isolette. He didn't even wake up. He was in a happy, deep, peaceful sleep. I am so blessed to be able to act as "mama" for this little guy for one hour. And five days later, I'm still thinking about those 1.26 kilograms.

red curry coconut

Happy tax day! [I got my tax return 4 weeks ago.... whaaat?!]

Yesterday, I had a revelation. The world was illuminated for a few moments. Senses were amplified. I was making red curry coconut noodles. With cups of tea in hand, MM and I made a thai dish that could rival Orrappin on Queen Anne [my favorite Thai joint!]. Here's my list of ingredients:

Coconut oil, ginger, red curry paste, chicken, coconut milk, sweet chili sauce, onion, red pepper, broccoli, rice noodles, and cilantro. Essentially, put these ingredients in one pot in that order. You will not regret this decision. However, I realized I just gave away what could have been quite possibly my super secret recipe to have for the decades to come. Oh well.

After eating hot, delicious noodles, we went to Menchie's for guava tart frozen yogurt. The day could not have gotten better.



I got called in to work at 11p. So I ate these noodles cold at 3am. Just as good.

7p-7a

Empty halls, echoing beeps, bleary eyed residents and fellows, restless little ones, peaceful little ones, ringing phones, beeping pagers, scribbling progress notes, dark rooms, illuminating penlights, 0200 lunches, scrambling at 0500, waiting at 0600, and blissfully sleeping at 0800.

An Isaiah 59 Monday

Woke up this morning to sunshine. Sunshine and Isaiah 59. As I finished my Bible study lesson that culminated in Isaiah 59, I was completely entranced by the last seven verses. The gospel message in 7 verses; depicting our Savior like a knight in shining armor. Beautiful words for a beautiful day.

After a quick workout, I caught a bus to Belltown and walked the rest of the way into the heart of downtown. I live only 15 minutes away from Pike Place Market, but only go occasionally; to show out of town friends or on a particular mission to purchase something.Today, I slowed down and literally strolled the market. Ran into two old nursing friends in Le Panier. Bought some of my favorite tea from Market Spice Tea and a piroshky from Piroshky Piroshky. I still remember my first piroshky at the market with my dad on my 13th birthday date. It was also the day I got my ears pierced for the first time. A good day and a good memory.

I'm now sitting on my patio with a mug of my just purchased tea. Off to do something with the huge bunch of basil I bought last week that will go bad soon if I don't use it. I don't know what led me to buy such a big bunch. And then off to Bible study where I will end my day with Isaiah 59. What a blessing to have days off like these.

bald cupcakes.

A muffin is nothing but a bald cupcake. I couldn't agree more, Jim Gaffigan. Needless to say, I love muffins. On my birthday, my roommate surprised me with a peach/ginger muffin. It was so incredibly yummy. I knew that I had to somehow recreate it. Today, I almost did. I swapped the peaches for lemons and cranberries.

Lemon juice, lemon zest, chopped ginger, plain yogurt, flour..... I give you the Lemon Cranberry Ginger muffin. I don't think it could be better if I tried. This one is going in the recipe box for keeps. [ignore my alien-skinned looking hand, please]

Lately.

I got to spend the evening with this little bright-eyed boy on the left. 4 years old and too much energy for me. I started nannying him when he was 6 months old and could hardly sit up. Now he chatters like a chatterbox and is showing ME how to use my iPhone.

I also was lucky enough to experience one of the most beautiful days in Seattle I've seen yet. On my day off. Woke up to the sun shining through my blinds, caught a bus downtown, and walked back to Queen Anne, making stops at Trader Joes and Cafe Fiore. I ate brown rice sushi outside of Fiore on a lawn chair. With my sunglasses on. With a matcha green tea latte in my hand. I walked back to my apartment and immediately threw on my running shoes. 4 miles later, I had some new freckles. Good, good day.

I also had a wonderful weekend of birthday. I spent my real birthday (3/21) working and sleeping. I slept my birthday away; literally. But it's ok because the days leading up to it were spent eating cheesecake and dancing the night away with some wonderful old PA friends, visiting my family for a Sunday birthday lunch of the best chicken tacos you could dream of, and being surprised by some dear friends with dinner and flowers on Tuesday. It was truly a beautiful birthday weekend of sorts. And this third cute picture is of my sister, Laura. She works at a natural foods store and is as cute as a button.

Two posts in one day?

What? I think I've done this maybe once. What is 2nd post in one day worthy, you ask?:


BAKED KALE CHIPS!

So simple, and SO delicious. Even if you don't like kale, you should try these out. Not one hint of bitterness. SO GOOD.

-Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
-Wash & dry as many kale leaves you can fit onto a baking sheet.
- Cut the kale into tortilla chip sized [or a little bigger] pieces. Cut the center stem out and throw away.
- Toss the kale with enough extra virgin olive oil to lightly coat each piece. Sprinkle kosher salt over everything!
- Bake for 20-25 minutes on a baking sheet in a single layer. They should be entirely crisp/crunchy while still holding their green color.

Let them cool, or eat them right out of the oven! If you were a bit heavy handed with the olive oil, you might want to let them sit on a paper towel first for a few minutes.

So so good.

5:22am

Went to bed at 12:15am, slept until 4am. I've been awake ever since. After tossing and turning for 30 minutes, I got up and ate a bowl of cereal on the floor by my fireplace, looking out over a street-light lit Ballard/Fremont. These nights are catching up with me. Three nights ago, I was awake, running from patient room to patient room, frantically totaling ins & outs. Now that I've paid back my sleep debt from 3 nights on, my body doesn't know what to do with itself. 5:27am now. My alarm is set to go off at 8am. I have a running date with the Burke-Gilman. Then a city day around the U-District with a good, good friend. And daylight savings time. So long circadian rhythm.

At least some things stay constant always:

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."
Psalm 4:8 (ESV)

Four things:

1) A wonderful, meaningful lesson at Greenlake Pres yesterday on the celebration of the Lord's day. When we remember to celebrate in this day, we allow ourselves to pursue grace, holiness, and delight in ways we otherwise could not. A beautiful, sunny Lord's day of resting.

2) I need one of those stupid little sleeping masks. No bones about it. 0-4 hours of sleep before 12.5 hr shifts just isn't cutting it anymore.

3) One pot will last the week. Just add rice. I could eat out of this pot forever. Curry: yellow, green, red; they're all good.



4) This morning at 0500, I was frantically totaling the I&Os of my three patients for the night and writing up their progress notes. We total our patients for the day early, so that the general surgery residents can round on them before presenting to their own attendings at 0700. I finished my notes. The gen surg resident grabbed one of my patient's chart and pulled out the progress note. A few minutes pass. "Who wrote this progress note?" "Oh, it was probably me," I said sheepishly, thinking I had made a horrendous error. "This is one of the best progress notes I've ever seen. You did all my work for me."

All in a 12.5 hour work night.

V-Day.

I spent my Valentine's day with my little sister and a dear friend. Laura was taking pictures for her photography class, so Leah and I were only too happy to be her models. The pouring rain dampened the photography plans a bit, but we ended up sipping lattes at Metronome Coffee, so it all turned out all right.

rounds.

I'm used to rounds. Every morning in the TG NICU, the outgoing neonatologist rounds with the incoming neo, the team leader (TL), pharmacist, and care coordinator. Each baby gets talked about, each chart gets pulled, and each RN has that small moment of undivided attention to ask the neo to put in or clean up orders. I've been spoiled really. Having an attending, the neonatologist, on the unit 24/7 is a luxury. Even if asleep, he/she is literally a phone call and/or door away.

Rounds at Children's is much, much different. There are residents, med students, ARNPs, and if lucky to catch them, attending physicians, that round on my patients. It's by luck that I see them coming down the hall in their surgical scrubs, white coats, and COWs (computers on wheels). If I'm not so lucky, I get a phone call from a kind soul telling me that they're one room away from my patient. Usually I'm not so lucky, and I'm either doing a sterile procedure, or something relatively important. I'm finding it's hard to find enough hands to pick up the phone in my pocket. Bluetooths; they should give us bluetooths. I am finding that I somewhat have a say in the plan of care of my patient in the rounds at Children's. I'm reminded that doctors were students once themselves; and actually quite enjoy working with the new residents. Physicians are humans too :)

Yesterday, I got an admit from the ED at 1530, smack dab in the middle of my lunch. This admit should have gone to the medical floor, but due to overflow, was put on our surgical unit. Two hours later, I was finally solidifying orders with the residents from the Medical Service. For those two hours, I was in the patient's room with the medical, dermatology, nephrology, and infectious disease teams. This particular patient had an autoimmune disease that was exhibiting some very odd symptoms. I felt like there should have been a video camera in that room; obviously an episode of HOUSE was being filmed. I was SO interested in the physician's conversations as the residents pulled in their attendings and other services to weigh in on this patient. I knew that I had to be there though. There was no way I was leaving that room until I heard from the resident's mouth himself what he wanted ME to do. Needless to say, I didn't mind missing lunch, I was too distracted and interested in what I was seeing to remember my rumbling tummy.

The day before I had a ventriculostomy patient. A ventric is essentially a tube coming out of your brain, draining cerebral spinal fluid. SO interesting. Previously, I couldn't think of anything more satisfying that ETT suctioning little neonates in the NICU. Gross, I know, but pretty dang cool. BUT, draining this ventric is definitely up there! A drain, coming out of the ventricles of a 2-year old, draining crystal clear CSF. Every hour, I would check the level of the drain with a nifty laser beam. Every two hours, I would drain the CSF out of a little collection chamber. I was mesmerized. Gross, nerdy? I know. It just tells you how cut out I am to be a nurse.

All this to say, I am learning so much shift by shift at Seattle Children's. While the NICU still holds my heart, I am so thankful to be continually learning, continually enjoying what I do, and hopefully continually somehow positively touching the lives of these very sick, very vulnerable little children.

Is. 41:8-10

What I've been learning from Isaiah lately:

8 “But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Show me your power. Possess my heart and clean it. Isaiah, specifically chapters 40 and 41 are teaching me new things every week.

STL recap:

Currently itting in essential baking company in Fremont with a goat cheese/pear sandwich [incredibly good!]. A perfect time for a recap:

Such a wonderful time with my sister. On Sunday we went contra dancing. To be honest, I was quite apprehensive about going and almost begged off going [my last contra experience was interesting to say the least]. I am so glad I went. Such fun! A few girls from bible study go frequently in the Seattle area, and I am now thinking of going on a regular basis myself.

Monday morning/early afternoon included a snowy walk of Covenant Theological Seminary, a STL arch and Busch Stadium visit, some wondrous greek grub, and some grocery store visits. Monday evening was pho/Fiddler on the Roof night with J's neighbors [an odd combination, I know]. So good. One of my favorite films with one of my favorite foods.

On Tuesday, I chopped my hair off. Not really.... but a 1.5 inches makes my curls SPRING, thus making a much shorter do than I'm used to. Lunch at a completely authentic Jewish deli [matzah ball soup goodness], and then prep for Joelle's golden 25th birthday party, complete with golden gilt, a yellow devil's food cake, paper chain decorations, and a Taio Cruz music playlist. It was such a joyous evening celebrating Joelle.

Wednesday I flew back to SEA, finally got a work out in, and then back to the work life. An education day and then a day scrubbed into the OR. I was once again faced with a patient in a spica cast. I held it together until I saw a single tear slide down the side of the 20 month old's face in the PACU. It hurts to see these little ones hurting.

All in all, I wish I was back. I wish I could romp in the snow. I wish I could spend more vaca days with Joelle. I wish I could write more, but I have a car full of "junk" to drop off at my NEW apartment. Real life has begun once again.

Just a few:

Pictures of the gloriously snowy STL:

st. louis thus far:

Excitement all around... everywhere I go, even the airport. Sitting by my gate in Seatac, I was scanning through the latest posts from the blogs I follow. Winner winner! I won a $25 gift certificate to Simple Thrift [http://www.etsy.com/shop/simplethrift] from one of my favorite blogs, Cakies [http://mycakies.blogspot.com/]. Ready for some vintage shopping.

The flight was perfect. Thanks to an underbooked southwest flight, I had an entire row and an entire can of soda to myself.

St. Louis greeted me frigidly, snow piled high on the sides of the road. Joelle had dinner ready for me. I quickly got settled, and then we were off to a German pub with some of her seminary friends. Back to J's house for cups of tea and glasses of wine with more friends. While the age group of seminary students are quite a bit older than the age group of undergraduate students I've hung out with in years past [obviously], I couldn't help but be reminded of the egg-nog parties and get togethers I loved so much at SPU.

Church this morning was lovely, and then lunch with Joelle and Luke. A quick stop at Whole Foods for some groceries and beverages for Joelle's upcoming golden birthday party. And now some down-time until an evening of dancing.... yikes. Better rest up. More to come, and hopefully pictures.

sniffle.

I can count on three fingers the number of times I've been sick since December 2009. I credit my yearly [required] flu shots to that fact. I work in hospitals, but hardly get sick. My daily purell baths also might have something to do with it.

But now..... sniffle. Not a cold, not the flu... an achy combination of the two, minus the temperature. The nurse in me almost wishes I did indeed have a temperature. I could then just picture the bad little bugs burning up and wasting away inside my body. But instead, I have spent my day laying on my bed/couch like a baby, hoping I'm not worse tomorrow. I'm usually able to go about my day when I'm not feeling so hot, but I've surrendered to the awfulness of this little bout. Headache [I never get headaches], continuous sneezing, a faucet for a nose, aching body. Boo. These past few weeks I do admit to running myself a bit thin. I was telling someone the other day about how I've never been so tired as I have been these past three months. In college, there were many a late night, with many a horrendous finals week. But, working as I have been with few days off, there are no time for naps, no chances to skip class, no instances in which procrastination could lead to some needed rest. It's work. Get up and go to work. No other option.

Anywho, tea, broth, some of my sister's hazelnut bread, sleeping for 13 hours, and seasons of ER have been my day. And tetris. I do admit to playing a bit of tetris.

Here's hoping I'm feeling better soon. I have the luxury of having 5 days off; the first of which I spent laying in my bed sick. I had great plans of working out, organizing, crafting, and baking. I was able to work out only twice this past week, which has made me grumpy. I'm hoping that I can hop on an elliptical at the very least tomorrow [possibly] or I will continue to be very grumpy. Not working out is in the top 5 of things on my "trigger card." Being hungry is another. I don't like having a faucet for a nose either... sniffle.

changes.

Change is good. It helps us learn. These were the words my manager was telling me and 5 other brand new NICU Staff RNs when she simultaneously told us that 18 NICU positions were going to be cut in January. Being the low man on the totem pole, I didn't have much hope. I applied to a few positions; got called for a last minute interview. I found out that I officially lost my FTE the day before said interview. Not a week later, I was offered a full time position as a Staff RN at Seattle Children's.

In the span of 2.5 weeks, I worked three holidays (willingly), finished up my scheduled NICU shifts (on a run of five 12s) and started full-time orientation at Children's the following day. I lived out of the trunk of my car for the week and was at the mercy of some dear friends as I begged for a bed. I'll be moving to a beautiful living space in Interbay at the end of January. What a Nov-Jan it's been. My dad had two knee operations and two hospital stays. My parent's house almost caught on fire. Sheesh. A proverbial rollercoaster.

Where I'm currently at: I am now a surgical nurse at Seattle Children's. I did my senior pedes practicum on this unit. The acuity is high and the population spans newborn to 21 yrs. The surgical unit houses 11 services including general surgery, ortho, urology, GI, neuro, and EENT. It'll be a whole new arena of spinal fusion and bladder augmentation patients while I still get my beloved gastroschisis and diaphragmatic hernia babies. While l love the NICU and am sad to leave the critical care setting, I am so blessed for this experience at Children's. I did not go one day without work. In fact, I worked several extra days in Dec/Jan thus far. God is good. Children's as an organization is something great. While it may sound cliche, they do great things. I am excited for the opportunities of growth there. And, I have the privilege of double dipping as I work on-call in the NICU at TG. My 6 months in the NICU will not go to waste. There are bigger things at work than I could have imagined.

Being the wimp of a person that I am when it comes to traffic, I refused to commute to Seattle five times this week. I packed up my car with some clothes, a pillow, a towel, and bags of trail mix and was on my way. My four nights of couch surfing were perfect. I lived the highlife. Two nights were spent in a beautiful three story Queen Anne townhouse with a walk-in glass encased shower. One night was spent in a boat on Lake Union: hello Seattle skyline. Beautiful. My friends were so, so hospitable. Living out of my trunk was not as bad as I had foreseen it.

2010 was a whirwind, and the first 7 days of 2011 are proving to be more of the same.

More to come [perhaps a little more consistent than merely monthly updates...:)]