life at the foot'

I am proud to work at the Foothills Hospital



Foothills is the major trauma centre for southern Alberta, southeastern British Columbia and southwestern Saskatchewan, Last I checked it had 22 Operating Theatres including a specially designated trauma operating room. Pictured above is a brand new wing called the Mc Caig Tower and in it is the ICU-brand new this year. The first time I walked through it I thought- this place looks like a spaceship! I want to work here.
So here I am, screening all the patients to weigh the risks to the benefits of treating them to maintain clear lungs and strong bodies despite having perhaps a brain injury, burn, spinal cord injury, there are many reasons to add.
Even if they are ventilated and sedated, Especially if they are not.

child's play

This is supposed to be a pool noodle hammock, which is just one small modification away from a giant noodle diaper.

work with dad

Its that time of year again, and where's dad to be found? 

A nasty hail had possibly killed the mother of these Loggerhead Shrikes, she lay dead on top of these cold, precarious but live young. I had come to work with dad that day so I warmed them in my hand for a few hours, while dad fed them. We snuck them into  another nest of similar aged Loggerhead and when dad checked on them days later all had survived.

These are how cute they are just weeks later

manitoba flooding

When I visited the cabin, many of the trees are letting go because of the high water table

The Highways were essentially chewed up in places and some important highway bridges  collapsed

The Bridge over the Souris river had rocks dumped to reinforce its pillars a day before the 3rd crest this of the year.

Souris is known for having peacoks run wild in the streets, one was seen rubbernecking the sight of the bridge emergency preparations.

Clear lake

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I'm a little embarassed to admit this, but we are all friends here. This is a picture I took pulled over on the highway near Wasagaming. I took a picture of a nice little omish family like the shameless tourist that I am. In my defense, this is unique because these are not actors they are real people, and the fact that they are still choosing the wagon method of transportation truly is awe-inspiring. Like writing letters, something so simple and so beautiful. I wanted to ask them where they were going but I figured I had made enough of a spectacle already, I'd better get on my way.

We had the chance to stay at the old hospital in Wasagaming, which is a neat summer home now.

I especially liked the trail Tanya and I went on. Starting off in a conifer mix, we quickly descended down the valley the tree variety changed into mixed forest, then into quiet dark ferns and finally the hike finished at the river bed. Natures version of a basement floor came to our rescue on this hot hot summer day.

shaking in his boots

I bought a hammock online this year, and I was so excited to lie on it for the first time. Apollo was sniffing around too so Sean brought him up with me. He sat nice for a moment

Awwwww.

Sean goes inside to get the camera.

Meanwhile Apollo proceeds to stand up, realize he has no footing, and wobble from side to side. I can't help him out or I will most definitely flip us, and I can tell you from experience that frame is solid Cypress Wood

and it does not feel good to bump into. So I did what any child tubing would do when the ride is bumpy. I Held on for dear life.

 When Sean returned I I had to beg him to a) stop laughing b) stop trying to get a picture c) make it stop, please make it stop

Distracted driving

Sean brought this birthday present home, but it wasn't the right size. It did get me thinking, its not our fault that women have the bad reputation as drivers. We are tempted to multitask from an early age!!

shed and stuff

 

 

 Sean made the shed match the house exterior as well as the dog house. Cool! Notable features are the clear roof which brings in natural light to find our things quickly in the heat of a summer day. The foundation was made by digging a hole and levelling the surface with used tires. This acts as a water barrier.

You can take the man from the cave, but not the cave from the man. 

Wisdom teeth be gone

So I went to the dentist today. I will not make this read graphic or painful for anyone as it wasn't so bad. That being said I still feel like I just had a stroke on my right side so who knows what kind of dental hangover awaits. I requested to keep my extracted upper and lower teeth to scare my children (annotation: referring to children someday, of course) into the consequences of not brushing someday.

Things that worked for me during this dental procedure:
1)TV- the BBC news ribbon caption helps when things get a little noisy. I multitasked and had my cleaning and fillings done all at once- it had been a while.
2)Checked up on the rhythm of breathing once in a while and slowed it down. There is a good calming effect to be had there
3)Ask what to expect in terms of freezing. Once I knew I should not expect to wake up to the mouth renovations I felt much more comfortable. And they were right, I didn't feel a thing.

Things that didn't work:
1) Closing one's eyes for a poke does not work as this just makes you more aware sensory-wise. Then again looking at the bright light above your head doesn't feel too good either.

I advise to try finding something on the opposite side of the dentist and stare at it. I picked looking at my dental hygienist. It may have creeped her out a little but her tools were the most interesting things in the room, harmless little suction thinger and water/air spout. Also good was the fact that she didn't flinch the whole time! (they must teach them that at school). I would have flinched if I watched it, or maybe passed out. That happened once at a take your kids to work day but that's a story for another day.

Anyways two teeth out, two to follow in three weeks time. Hopefully I will not morph into a chipmunk but rest assured a picture will follow soon if I do...

 update:
Well, its now night time and I'm still talk like an idiot because I have to squeeze a tea bag to keep the bleeding down. Apparently tannins work well to form clots. And they taste better than gauze too.
I bet you can't even tell which side is swollen. Can you?

I'm not going to brag about not being overly puffy for two reasons.
1) This whole ordeal is not peanuts afterall, there quite a bit of TMJ pain in my small child jaw from being open for hours at a time today, unfortunately the Torodol wont touch that. Smiling with my mouth open hurts, which explains the mugshot above.
2) I'm a tad superstitious about tempting fate. Like pointing out when things are going smoothly in the ICU, or commenting on how good the drive is for traffic, how good the fishing is today, etc etc. the moral of the story is not to mention these things out loud.

Anyways I do realize I am going on a tangent here about this mini-surgical feat. It helps to stay busy when in pain. If you are thinking, your breathy story about this day is painful to read, you may be right, but aha! that's the beauty of blogging, You could just move onto the next topic. As opposed to Facebook which forces these thoughts upon all, whether you want the info or not.'
I hope there isn't some facebook big brother out there who is going to punish me by perhaps putting my face on a lamo commercial or something.