Baby Curt's Funeral

The funeral for Curt was yesterday, and the L&D nurse and I went. It was a very nice funeral. I have only been to 4 funerals before, all of which where LDS, so it was kinda different, but still nice. I personally needed to see the mother, and see that she was doing ok. At least better then I envisioned her doing. There was a slide show they put together of pictures that Dad took prior to the transport team arriving (with me in a couple), then with the transport team there, a few after Mom arrived in Spokane, and then some after he had passed away (I knew that because he didn't have the breathing tube any more). It was very touching. I had heard from one on the Mom's friends, who is also a coworker of mine, that the staff up at Sacred Heart was WONDERFUL with them. So that was very comforting to me also. The Dad is an avid outdoors man, and on Curt's tiny little casket at his feet was a stuffed toy elk and a stuffed toy football. On our way out we gave the Mom & Dad a hug, and they where very touched that we came, so that made me feel good. The doctor and his wife (who is actually the Bishop in the Colfax ward and the kids' & mine doctor) showed up which I thought was really nice. I still think of that Mom frequently throughout my day, but the tears are (almost) gone. It brought a sense of closure for me, seeing the parents, and I know that they will be ok. They will still have alot of tears that they will shed, but they will be okay. So thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It makes me realize how lucky I am, and that I have 3 beautiful wonderful kids, that I now have more patience for, and spend more quality time with them. Because you never know when our turn here on life may be over. Thanks again everyone!

The Worst Night of my Nursing Career

This is not a happy ending kind of story, so beware.

Sunday November 25, 2007 I had the worst night of my nursing career. I came to work, and a mother was in labor, and was getting ready to go to an emergency C-Section because she had been pushing for 2 hours and no progress was being made. I was supposed to be the Med/Surg Charge nurse, but since the L&D nurse was new to our hospital (but a very experienced L&D RN), I tagged along to help her find stuff. Baby was born at 7:20 pm, without a heart beat and not breathing. We resuscitated the baby, and finally go to the point where he, his name is Curt, had a heart beat of 140's and a respiratory rate of 50's, both normal. But still had made NO movement at all. No cry, not even moved a finger. His pupils where pinpoint. The left was slightly reactive, and the right didn't react at all, which possibly lead us to believe he had some kind of neurological damage or defect.

We took the baby warmer he was under into the PACU (post anesthesia care unit, recovery room) so she could see him and touch him while we waited for the transport team to drive (the weather was too crappy for them to fly) down from Spokane to take him to the NICU at Sacred Heart Medical Center. Once the mom started touching him and talking to Curt, he started moving a little, and even opened his eyes several times. AMAZING! Despite us attempting 3 IV's, intubating him, deep suctioning him, and trying to stimulate him to breathe, he never once made a single movement. Until he heard his mom's voice! That is when I couldn't hold back the tears any more, and cried.

The transport team arrived at 9:15pm, and took them 2 hours to get him ready for transport, but he was no where near stable. He was in very critical condition. If he lived, he may easily be a vegetable.

At 1:15am, probably only an hour of Curt being up in Spokane and having lots of tests done, the neonatologist called the mother and told her that Curt was not going to make it, and the they would keep him alive long enough to get her up there, but that she needed to come now. I made some calls, and by 2:15am she was in the ambulance being transported up to be with her baby and husband who left shortly after the transport team left.

At 6:12am prior to me leaving for the end of my shift, I got a call from the NICU Charge nurse, saying that they where waiting for the father's mother to arrive, then take him off life support, but she didn't make it. Curt died at 6:06am in his mother's arms. My patient, Curt's mom, was able to get up there, and be with her baby for his last 3 hours of life.

She is very religious, not of my faith, but said to a friend prior to her leaving for Spokane, that her baby was going to be with Jesus. So I pray that her faith will get her through it. She is 26 years old and it was their first baby. I am so gratefulfor the Plan of Salvation, and know that she will be reunited with Curt again someday. But my heart still aches for her. I am grateful for small miracles, in times of sadness. The fact that Curt responded to his mother's voice and touch despite all the uncomfortable procedures we had to do to him, is a miracle. I will be forever changed by this experience.

"O" is for Organs

On Tuesday we talked about organs! They listened to their own heart beats and the air going in and out of their lungs with my stethoscope and thought that was pretty cool. Then we made "bodies," for them to wear. Garrick will still wear his at times, three days later!

Garrick's 5th Birthday!

Than saw the idea on a cooking show on PBS, and it sounded fun, and it looked really realistic. It was "burgers and fries." The bun is a yellow cake mix cooked in a tuna can, cut in half, the top was glazed with corn syrup and then sprinkled with seaseme seeds. The hamburger was a brownie cooked in a cookie sheet, then cut out using the tuna can. The fries where sugar cookies rolled thin and baked. The ketchup and mustard is yellow and "red" (it was pink really, I couldn't get it to turn red) frosting put in squeezy bottles. I think I got a bigger kick out of them then the kids did. Oh, and not show are the pickles (kiwi's sliced thin). The pickles where a big hit and disapeared fast before I could make my burger.

Top left corner and then clockwise is Madyson Mickelsen, Makenzie Mickelsen, Morgan Mickelsen, and Kody Gotfredson.

Garrick, Maren Gotfredson (who I do preschool with), Kody Gotfredson, and Jack Gotfredson.

Aleskia putting "mustard" on her burger.

All set up for the party!

Morgan Mickelsen "Pinning the Candle on the Birthday Cake"

Aleksia trying to smash the pinata as Jeniel Mickelsen holds it up.

"Quick grab the candy!"

Garrick blowing out his 5 candles on his "Burger."

Although short, fast, and to the point (start to finish was about 35 minutes) I think all had a good time. It's crazy that we now have a 5 year old! Next year is kindergarden. My how time flies!

Creating Keepsakes Convention 2007

These women are CRAZY! On Friday if you had bought $X amount of classes, you get in 1 hour early to the Vendor Fair. They line up, and sometimes are vicious! I just chilled out up top with Sarah, Kyan, and Trestin till the crowd thinned a bit!

Sarah and I stayed with the kids while Tanya and Whitney had a class Friday morning. The DVD player was a life saver for Kyan, who has a hard time when Whitney leaves.

Trestin loved his balloon, and even after falling asleep, he still held tight to it!

This is just a small chunk of what the Vendor Fair looked like. TONS of vendors selling and some demonstrating their products for you to buy. HEAVEN!

Whitney and Tanya making a CUTE Santa card "Make 'n' Take. Various booths have little projects for free-$2 for you to make if you like.

The Convention was a blast this year! It's always nice to get away for a bit (even if I did have Trestin), have a "Girly & Crafty" weekend with my favorite sister-in-laws! And luckily the weather in Seattle was perfect the entire time! It only rained on the way home alittle! Thanks Tanya, Sarah, & Whitney for a great weekend! Same time next year?!

Halloween Night

I found this outfit in storage. I have no idea where I got it, but it fit Tretin perfectly! And was pretty cute!

Aleksia at a Halloween carnival we went to, fishing.

Butch the Cougar (WSU's mascot) giving Aleksia a hug

Aleksia doing a pumpkin bean bag toss

At our ward's Trunk-or-Treat; The Safari Bunch

(leopard, and monkey, and elephant oh my!)

Carving Pumpkins

Again, Garrick chickens out of carving his pumpkin, "I don't like the goo!" Aleksia, on the other hand, dove right in. Taking her shirt off of course so it doesn't get dirty!

Trestin loved the pumpkins. Actually, he loved eating them. The seeds, the "goo," the pieces we carved out, it all!

Yummy! You can see a string of "goo" from his hand to his mouth.

"P.U.!"

Aleksia's - Garrick's - Daddy's pumpkins all a glow