Two Sides of Enough

Sometimes I find myself sitting behind the wheel of the car thinking enough with the hockey. Enough with the chauffeuring, the gas-guzzling, the game-to-game. Enough with the broken windshield where a nice new one used to be. Sometimes I find myself staring at my reflection in the mirror thinking enough with the wrinkles, the puffiness, and the sleep-deprived eyes. Enough with the loose skin and the unstoppable gray hairs. Enough with the laugh lines that look anything but happy.

Sometimes I find myself standing in front of an empty refrigerator thinking, enough with the meal prep: morning, noon, and night. Enough with the burn from bacon grease when making breakfast and packing lunches at the same time. Sometimes I find myself gazing at photos of tropical beaches and secluded getaways thinking... Enough with the perpetual ticking clock, enough with the steady stream of demands, the dust bunnies, and homework. Enough with the needs of others that never seem to be satisfied. But then something happens to pull me out of my negative abyss and set my head on straight.

Sometimes when I say, “Enough,” I forget that enough has two sides. My life’s little joys – like nightly hugs, sweet faces, and looking into the eyes of the ones you love – are the soft side of enough. They are the cool side of the pillow on a sleepless night. In one turn, these little blessings soothe away the bad, the draining, and the ugliness of my life.

These small little things are enough—enough to get me back up to do it all again tomorrow.

And although sometimes I find myself thinking, “I am done with today,” when it comes right down to it, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

I open my arms and hold him for a moment. And like an overextended inner tube stretched beyond capacity, my son is the key to releasing all that is pent up. I feel the pressure slowly seep from my body as my shoulders begin to relax.

“I’m glad that you are my mom.”

Essence of Life

Working in the Neurological Rehabiliation Unit (Neuro-Rehab) is an experience that can’t quite be put into words. It’s fast-paced, intense, and the stress of some situations can even occasionally make my own heart rate go up as high as one of our traumatic brain injury patients.

Some people love me. I was just given a certificate for one year of service. A week later I started my second semester of nursing school. I can promise you that you do not want to be a patient in my unit. If you are then that means you’re really sick. But I can also promise you that if you end up here you will get stellar care by a team of the best health care providers available.

Often times I may act a little wacky though. I may seem rude at times. Maybe my patients catch me acting totally inappropriate for the situation at hand. Maybe they've even thought, “how can you act that way with all this going on with my family member?”

Well, I have my reasons. Following is a letter to the families of Rehab patients everywhere.

Dear Disenchanted Family Member of My Rehab Patient,

So you walked in to me singing a song out loud as I hung that tube feeding, huh? You were a little bewildered, and thought, “Is that from the Sound of Music? Why is she so inappropriately jolly considering my dad has a tube down his nose?!”

First off, it is the Sound of Music. After all, these are a few of my favorite things.

I’m not singing for my own satisfaction. What you don’t realize is I’m singing to calm my nerves, to keep myself relaxed. Your dad almost died before he came here. I’m concerned for him, but I don’t want you to see that on my face. I don’t want you to worry about him. That’s my job. I just want you to love him.

I know you just heard us laughing and cracking a joke in the hall. I get it. You don’t see anything funny with your mom being paralyzed in that bed, attached to all those monitors.

I understand. I do. I hope you can understand that while you were home sleeping unaware I watched the young mother next door go home on hospice. She couldn’t fight the cancer anymore. Now she can die at home peacefully with her family. At 34 she didn’t think she'd run out of time…doctors tried. I begged God, but she went anyway. I heard her son say, "But Mommy who's going to cook dinner for me every night?" and she let him cry in her hair for twenty minutes.

There also was a code blue. My coworkers restarted the heart of the man across the hall. They did CPR on him so many times, and actually broke his ribs. Just when they were afraid it wouldn’t restart, it did.

Some times I have to laugh. It’s the only thing I can do. I know when I cry, it's so hard to be able to stop.

I’m really sorry if I seemed short with you when you came in to visit. I know you thought I was being rude, and I know that once outside again you complained about me, saying “she must have wanted a break instead of taking time to talk to me!”

No. I won’t get a break today. I wasn’t trying to be rude. I was focused on the change I just noticed on your dad’s pulse ox. I was wondering what I would try when I have my license, when his blood pressure plummets again. You see, the RN is giving the maximum amount of all those drugs you see hanging. I know you’re not ready to say goodbye. I’m not ready to give up. That distracts me sometimes and makes me a less than perfect conversationalist.

I want you to know that when I see your grandma in this condition I feel your pain. I think of my own grandma who passed away after her own aneurism. When their conditions mirror each other, so similar in presentation, it’s like peeling the scab off my grief. I don’t let you see that, but I choke back my own tears while you cry.

Oh dear mom, as you try to maintain your composure while your child remains paralyzed, I have to fight to keep from sobbing all over your shirt while I hug you. Your situation is a very real confrontation of the frailty of our children. I don’t like it as a mother. I will sweat blood to fight for your son's comfort, no matter the age. I know it could be mine just as easy.

My kind sir, as you cry over your injured spouse, I’m sorry that I have to walk away. I’m sorry I can’t be stronger for you. For a moment I place myself in your shoes. I imagine my loved one laying there, and I grieve with you. Then I get back on the gloves and I change the brief on your bride. I just wanted you to know that.

My singing, dancing, laughing behavior might make you think I’m indifferent. Or my distraction and firmly set expression might make you think I don’t care.

But I do.

What you don’t see is when I pull into my driveway at the end of the night after my long shift has ended. Often times I put my car into park and I cry. All the stress of fighting for them, all the grief pushed away, all the emotions finally have time and catch up to me. I don’t sing or laugh. I bawl.

Then I wipe my eyes and go inside. I hug my boys a little tighter. Then I go to bed early so I can come back in the morning and fight another day.

I just wanted you to know.

Sincerely, 

Your Rehab Tech aka Nursing Student 

New Doors

When Morgen's alarm went off at 6 am he jumped right in to the shower. 

I had no idea he would actually choose to sign up for classes this early in the morning. But as he was considering which major to go in to and looking at all the options, I took him out to the college to meet with his counselors two different occasions, and he really wanted to take this computer class. So he now has school earlier than when he had high school! And it's his choice. He is taking two computer classes, sociology, art history and scuba this semester. He already completed all of his math requirements when he passed the AP calculus test in 10th grade. And his scores were such on his ACT that he ineluctably has one English class. 

I'm so proud of him for his choices and excited for the new doors that are opening for him right now. He also starts two new jobs this week. So when I watched him walk in to his first college class today help me understand why I just bawled?! 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hWMecluFs60

I watched this video on my phone, dried my tears and drove to my own class, Nursing Fundamentals (Fundy's). New doors are opening all around me. 

You Help Me See

I used to wake up in the morning feeling tired. Already bored with the day in front of me. Bitter that life was not moving in the “right direction.” Waiting in anticipation for Friday to appear, only to be disappointed that nothing fun was on my agenda.

The days all blurred together. The weeks turned into months. The seasons changed. Another year went by.

Planned vacations were always something to look forward to, and, in general, life was uneventful.

And I was not at peace.

When I wasn't at peace with myself, it was difficult to relate to anyone around me. Relationships suffered. Friendships went by the wayside. I felt alone. Completely and utterly alone. Miserable.

It was often hard to smile.

At certain moments, I'd see a sparkle of light, it did not hang around as long as I'd like it to.

I dreamed that something would “happen” in my life that would force me to wake up. Take notice. Make a change. I didn't realize I had it in me all along to go in deep and take action all by myself.

For me, it was a combination of both.

On the afternoon of August 5th, 1995 at 3:23 p.m., I gave birth to my little baby, Morgen.

I remember waking up in the middle of that night with him laying by my side thinking, “Oh my, there is someone that needs me in order to thrive.” Although he was growing inside of me for nine months, nothing really prepared me for that moment. All of a sudden, I was a mom, and it was no longer about me. There was another life for which I was responsible.

And what a beauty he was.

He became my shining light.

The days were no longer boring. Every minute had a purpose. And as he grew, he became my most influential teacher.

The days were not boring to him. He was in awe of everything he encountered.

Prudence getting potty trained was absolutely the most hilarious thing he had ever seen. 

And at three years old, he knew exactly what he wanted at any given moment of the day. The glory of being a child.

I decided to be a child again. I decided I was going to wake up beaming with joy every morning and go to sleep feeling content with myself and with my life.

{A word... Making my son my reason for feeling needed and/or loved was dangerous, and as such Morgen felt a huge responsibility for my happiness. In my innocence, I had accidentally placed a heavy burden on him for my mental well-being. I have read that a lot of first time mothers do this; and single mom's, as well. I realized my mistake when he was about 10 years-old and I made baby steps to rectify it. Today he knows that he is not responsible for my peace of mind. His happiness is not centered around making ME happy, that never worked for either of us. Contentment I now know, is found within. I let my boys be little boys, not caregivers for my discontent. No one can be my reason for living, having Morgen was simply the moment when I woke up and the best day of my life.}     

I don’t keep track of the days anymore. Mondays feel like Saturdays. Thursdays feel like Fridays. Every day is special. Every day has purpose.

I eat nourishing food my body needs in order to thrive. I make sure I find time to myself every day.

I love what I do.

{You help me see the beauty in everything}

I see beauty in everything.

• The smile on Markus' face when I pick him up from school.
• The way Molly leaps down the stairs.
• The glory on my son's face when he won his first running race.
• The tranquility of the Grand Canyon on our way home from Phoenix.
• The flowers blooming in our yard each spring.
• And the uniqueness of every human being on this planet.

Traveling and new people, new places, new insights, new experiences help me beam with joy every morning. While I enjoy every day to every extent, I can hardly wait to go on the next adventure. Last year it was Arizona, this year I hope to volunteer in Costa Rica or Kenya or Rio possibly through my work/study nursing school program. It turns I did pass my pharmacology class with a "B" and as such will get to remain in school. I am not sure what my story holds, I hope it holds many adventures that I have yet to realize. Thank you for sharing your story. It makes me smile. I have been given the gift of my boys and the sunshine they add to my life and I am so incredibly grateful to have found the thing that makes me feel content every night and that is traveling with them. Everything is amazing through their little eyes. Explore. It's MY word for 2014. :)

What makes you feel inspired in this new year? I’d love to know.

Merriest Christmas

From our family to yours...

Life and Times

When I was expecting Max I hoped he would have so many characteristics. I saved the list I wrote in his baby book and it begins: He’d have a good heart, would never give up, would be funny, honest, and athletic, forgiving, musical, and that once, he’d score the game winning goal.

He has a sweet heart and has found a sweet girl to share it with, Kyla. They went with a whole group of friends to see the lights at Temple Square last night and then came back to our house after for hot chocolate and watched a movie until way too late! :) As a result he woke up late for his hockey game this morning. 

He has a persistence in whatever he sets his mind to, and I love his witty sense of humor. He's obviously athletic and would play every sport if I had time to take him. He's forgiven me for so many of the mistakes I've made in being his mom and if I could change some things I would make different mistakes. 

He had a drum solo in the band concert at school on Tuesday night and I could see the smile on his face while he was playing. 

He had the game winning assist today.  

So Max when that little voice says, “You might as well give up,” Remember all the times I believed, encouraged, supported, and all the times I rose to my feet and cheered with tears in my eyes so you could overcome all the trials that have come your way. When that little voice says, “No one needs you,” remember this: Someone does.

Someone counts on me to be there when he wakes up,
When he goes to sleep,
When he is scared,
When he is happy,
When he is sad.

My boys can count on me to be there.

Not perfect.
Not yell-free.
Not toned, fit, and styled.

To be there.

Not always calm.
Not always smiling.
Not always pretty.

Trying and sometimes failing, but getting back up and trying again, hoping to do a little better than the day before. I round up all the strength I have in my weary soul and say these three words loud and clear, at least once a day:

I am here. 

Someone is counting on me to be here, and I am.

I am.

And today, that is enough.

The First Day

"I remember what you wore on the first day. You came into my life and I thought, "Hey, you know, this could be something." - Martin Johnson

I grew up seeing handwritten notes of love. My mom worked long hours teaching us and  she often wrote small, square papers on the bed for my sister, Sheri, and me to find. Sometimes it was just a smiley face, other times she simply wrote the words “love you” in her beautiful cursive, but it was more than enough. Starting in 1980, I started writing notes to my grandma who lived in Portland.  What I loved the most is that Grandma Jo always wrote back. The excitement I felt when I looked in the mailbox and saw a letter in my grandma’s shaky writing never disappeared. Even in college when there were tests to study for and work, I took time to sit on my floor and read my grandma’s letters the moment they arrived. By studying her handwriting, I could almost tell how she’d been feeling that day. In the end, her manuscript became barely legible. Those notes are now treasures.

The words "I Love You" from my mom, written in her signature beautiful cursive, birthday cards containing funny memories, and thank you cards from my friends, students and church members written by hand, and ticket stubs to games I want to remember are all important things I can't bare to throw away.

But I have to tell you, my greatest notes have come from my youngest son, Markus. Around the time I knew I was falling, my son was learning to write words. As I took the steps to be more present, he began writing me love notes. The timing on these couldn't have been coincidental, these powerful visuals fueled my efforts to take a step back.

It's been six years since I went to the game where Markus and I danced to the Macarena like no one was watching. But I still have the ticket, and the notes of love that he has written to me. I keep them here and there around my house. Now they are not so much for encouragement as they are reminders- reminders that time is fleeting.

Because the backward letters have disappeared. The floating letters have been grounded on stable lines. The phonetic spelling has become traditional and the letters are no longer gigantic, but small and neat. But the love, the love is still there.

Throw out some love -- it has a way of coming back to you. As you know I am a lover of words. So Markus inspired me to take 30 seconds on a busy morning to tuck a colorful post-it note inside a guitar case, on a pillow, next to a breakfast burrito, or in a coat pocket on a wintry day. All I have to do is imagine the smile on the face of the one who discovers it and I feel good too.

Notes

They have a way of creating connection despite the busyness of life. What calms a boy's school day fears can be found in the smiley face above the letter "i" or in the curve of an imperfect heart. What creates hope in the heart of a weary mom can be scrawled in all caps on a paper in a neon-colored sharpie and left on the counter. What makes a friend feel beautiful can be a bouquet of flowers with a note of encouragement. What brings my distracted mind back home can be a stick-figure family drawn beneath a giant yellow sun.

What I believe in and I loved can be seen in my handwriting 50 years from now, even after I'm gone. What really matters most in life is at our fingertips. So grab a pen and anything you can find to write on, my friend. Throw out a note. Watch love multiply.

And it may come back to you when you least expect it, but need it the most.

*****

 

Enough

I could never express enough gratitude to you for being my faithful friend and constant source of inspiration on this journey called life. Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful every day for you.

Sisters 🎉 Friends

46

My sister walked into the café like she owned the place. It was the usual dinner crowd—a mix of salad and pizza, birthday and pleasure, plus the three of us. He carried his hockey stick back to the car and climbed in to the car, in the hopes of skipping the party altogether. He finished half a pepperoni and cheese pizza and downed about the same amount of milk. When our table became the loudest, Max and I agreed it was time to leave. I carried the bill over to the cashier near the counter, he ran to the car, past the woman slicing a loaf of bread on our way out. I caught him just in time, right before he planned to take full rein of the ride to hockey.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x4k9ODlsNYI

High Hopes

{Eagles coaches and Max}

After going through these two years, I can say that one of the most powerful things in this world is hope!  It can truly fuel anything.
Hope can even make a divorce joyful.  During the first year, I felt that.  I had hope.  It truly did carry me. During this second one, I have had very little hope.  I guess because I have felt overdue in putting my hope into my next chapter.  I am grateful for this experience as it has let me know that it truly is time to move on.  I want to cultivate the hope that I can still truly have a meaningful life and make a difference in this world, even though my life has and will continue on in a very different way than I had hoped.  I have the hope that I can once again feel in harmony with my life, as I have for the last many, many years, even without a husband.
Max had hope that he would make the Eagles team when he tried out in early April. And as it turned out, he is enjoying the process of learning to play as a "AA" team hockey player. With a win last night and a loss tonight, he never knows what to expect. He has hope that he might tryout for a "AAA" team in Colorado next year.  
I do not yet know if I will finish nursing school.  

• If I do, (test scores this week = 80.1%) I will have hope that I can embrace that experience with all my heart.  
• If I do not, (test scores last week = 67.3%) I will try with all my heart to have hope for a new life, whatever that may be. 

May you have hope for your life...may it consume you and carry you and help you thrive and live. May it bring you closer to living a meaningful life, whatever that might look like for you.
I have hope for you, whatever is on the horizon.
Yours, 
B

There's Always A Reason To Smile

Find it. 

Who let the Dawgs out?

Max got his jersey two weeks ago at one of the practices at the Oval. He is loving the extra ice time. 

While Markus and I are loving the family pass to skate around while Max is at his practices. At $11.00 a month it's the coolest deal in town! I'm so glad we are finally getting the chance to skate out there. I've been wanting to for years, just never made it happen before I guess. My how everything has changed. 

 

Zumba?

Rain paused on the windowpanes. Came on the wind then stayed put as if each drop had nowhere in particular to be. Warmed oatmeal. Still sick, I danced around on the floor, and wore myself out just as fast. Another request for photos, strawberries, shower. I could feel the rumble in my stomach, the low pains of flu. Not much of a fall break. It’ll get better though, I reassured myself.

All We Have

Today—that’s where it’s at, my friend.

Today is all we really have for sure.

So I am SO glad today was a day I can look back on, in joy, and say today was not perfect, but it was memorable. Why? Because I encouraged. I smiled. I listened. I apologized. I waited. I cared. I tried. But above all, I loved … oh how I loved … and I HOPE my boys felt it from the top of their heads to the depths of their soul.

And when I wake up tomorrow and feel the pressure of future events, I will remember I am simply going to do what I can today. Today is doable. It’s manageable. It’s standing right in front of me requiring no plan whatsoever. Today is just waiting to be lived.

{Monster High girls I taught for tonight's Halloween Show}

"It's a Great Day For Hockey"

Aspen, Colorado 

Very Cool

Monsters have been pulling on my nerves, lightening flashes disrupting my sleep and trying my patience. So many memories I thought long buried have been hauled to the surface - jagged creatures all of them - and I'm at a loss as to why they've suddenly taken to stalking me.

As much as I often want it, I can't ignore the fact that Ben gave me my sons. There was love when we created them, and while that love changed in the end, what we created together then is blooming, cascading, sparkling and bewildering every day of my life in the forms of my sons.

Ben didn't fight me for my sons either. It was clear from the very first discussion we had about what my decision to end our marriage actually meant in reality, the boys were his focus. I have some very cool photos Max's coach took of the hockey tourney in Vegas of the boys on his team, and I still can't believe that they are there without me. I miss my boys so much and I just talked to them on the phone and they sounded like they were having a great time.  

“Missing someone, they say, is self-centered. I self-center you more than ever.” 

I want to see the photos, at least I get a glimpse and they are wonderful pictures, and the boys are playing great. I know the grief it makes to not share them. I still find it galling, to deliberately be generous to a devoted Ironman, to ignore the hurts and do the 'right' thing. I don't want to share the majesty and brilliance of my sons with people who don't care about them. I just don't. I want to be jealous, keep them close by me, carefully shared with those who will appreciate them for who they are, who love them enough to rouse on them, mock them, encourage and look forward for them.

I guess I have to get over myself enough - my scars and pains from past experiences - and give the gift of my sons to their (in so many ways distant) father. Even if the man has no idea what he is getting, or - even worse - what he is missing out on.

So.... It now looks like tomorrow after Max plays in the championship game and I work all day and my boys ride home they will be writing a thank you to Dad, enclosing their current school photos, and then maybe a mental palate cleansing Nerf war and Slurpee. Gosh, I am so tired of trying to be better than I am.

All this over seeing two photos. Which kind of explains why, elsewhere in my head, I had actively ignored a task now one year and counting put off, and continued to carefully avoid taking down the photos I had hanging on the walls in my home staring at me, waiting.

Waiting for me to be brave. Waiting for me to tie on some big boots and go monster stomping. Waiting for me to take a deep breath, a calm afternoon and evening last month, and sink into the deep, ancient, beautiful waters of memory, tiny babies and unbroken promises. Waiting for me to slay the last of the monsters, or maybe face them (warts, fire-breathing, knashing their terrible teeth and all), see them captured in sticky, shiny, matte-finished snapshots, and clear out the cluttered dense corners for better, brighter memories both past and to come.

Celebrate Today

I love the weather, what a way to make the day a perfect 10! Darlin sent me this text this morning...

Here's wishing you a smooth journey. :) 

Birthday Party

My brother's birthday party was scheduled for tonight but instead I went to Max's hockey game vs. The Regulators. I had so much fun watching Max play and I'm kind of sad that I won't be going to Vegas with him tomorrow. He is looking forward to playing some fun hockey games. Eagles, eagles, fight fight fight! 

Max said after the game that it felt weird to be playing defense again and that he kind of liked it. I guess so - he helped his team keep the Regs to one goal and the Eagles scored nine. Way to go Bucky! 

I (❤️) This Time of Year

^*^*^*^*^

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LmXaaEvnnOQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DLmXaaEvnnOQ

Heart shaped puddle from our walk around Silver Lake on Monday. Markus noticed it. He is my noticer. 

Some Answers

Pharm 1250 Answers to “Practice Math Questions”
1. 17.5 mg
2. 15 mL per dose, 105 mL for seven days
3. 42 tabs
4. 0.4 mL
5. 82.72 mg
6. 1.25 mg
7. A.  40 doses  B. 2.5 mL per dose  C. 100 mL dispensed
8. 0.25 mL
9. 0.4 mL
10. 12.5 mg
11. 12.72 mg
12. 30 mg
13. 465 mg overdose
14. 2 tsp
15. 49 capsules
16. 7.5 mL
17. 2.048
18. A.  0.028, 2.8%
B.  0.428, 42%
C.  0.004, 0.4%
D.  0.0025, 0.25%
19. 0.4 mL
20. 0.03 mg

I was at work all day today and it was so busy I didn't have time to study. I am going to study tomorrow in between conference. Units 5 & 6 are going to be on peripheral nervous system drugs and drugs affecting the respiratory system. 

Practice Math Questions

Some practice math questions from my math test in Pharmocology last Friday. I will post the answers tomorrow so you can test yourself. :) I also had a test today on Units 3 & 4. I will not be studying just off the notes from the lectures anymore. It was way too hard to know all the answers to the questions that way, I think the text helps me to understand the concepts better and then I can make my own logical deductions from there rather than trying to memorize all the different drugs and their sub classes and functions. I still got a B but hey, who wouldn't rather get an A? lol

1. The initial dose of a drug is 0.25 mg/kg of body weight. How many milligrams should be prescribed for a person weighing 154 lb.?

2. The dose of a drug is 50 mg/kg of body weight once daily for seven consecutive days. How many milliliters of a syrup containing 500 mg of drug per teaspoonful, should be prescribed for a child weighing 66 lb.?

3. A physician prescribed 5 mg of a drug per kilogram of body weight once daily for a patient weighing 132 lb. How many 100 mg tablets of the drug are required for a dosage regimen of  2 weeks?

4. A medication order calls for 0.2 mg/kg of albuterol sulfate to be administered to a 23 lb. child. The source of the drug is a solution containing 0.5 g of albuterol sulfate in 100 mL. How many milliliters of the solution should be used in filling the order?

5. If the recommended dose of gentamicin sulfate for a patient with normal kidney function is 3 mg/kg/day, divided into three equal doses given every 8 hours, how many milligrams should be administered per dose to a patient weighing 182 lb.?

6. Rimantadine (anti-viral) HCL syrup contains 120 mg of rimantadine HCL in each 240 mL of syrup. How many milligrams of rimantadine HCL would there be in 2.5 mL delivered by oral dispenser?

7. Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) oral suspension contains 250 mg of ciprofloxacin per 5 mL. A physician prescribed 125 mg of ciprofloxacin q.i.d. x 10 days.
a. How many doses are needed?
b. How many milliliters should be given per dose?
c. How many milliliters of ciprofloxacin oral suspension containing 250 mg per 5 mL should be dispensed?

8. How many milliliters of an injection containing 20 mg of gentamicin in each 2 mL should be used in filling a medication order calling for 2.5 mg of gentamicin to be administered intramuscularly?

9. Pediatric Lanoxin injection contains digoxin, 100 mcg/mL. What volume must be administered to provide a dose of 0.04 mg?

10. The dose of a drug is 500 mcg/kg of body weight. How many milligrams should be given to a child weighing 55 lb.?

11. The dose of gentamicin for premature and full-term neonates is 2.5 mg/kg administered every 12 hours. What would be the daily dose for a newborn weighing 5.6 lb.?

12. The dose of gentamicin for patients with impaired renal function  is adjusted to ensure therapeutically optimal dosage. If the normal daily dose of the drug for adults is 3 mg/kg/day, administered in three divided doses, what would be the single (8-hour) dose for a patient weighing 165 lb. and scheduled to receive only 40% of the usual dose, based on renal impairment?

13. A patient weighing 120 lb. was administered 2.1 g of a drug which was supposed to be dosed at 30 mg/kg. Was the dose administered correct, or was it an overdose, or was it an underdose?

14. The adult dose of a liquid medication is 0.1 mL/kg of body weight to be administered as a single dose. How many teaspoonfuls should be administered to a person weighing 220 lb.?

15. How many erythromycin capsules, each containing 250 mg of erythromycin, are needed to provide 25 mg/kg per day for 1 week for a person weighing 154 lb.?

16. A 25 lb. child is to receive 4 mg of phenytoin (Dilantin) per kilogram of body weight daily as an anticonvulsant. How many milliliters of pediatric phenytoin suspension containing 30 mg per 5 mL should the child receive?

17. Write the following as decimals and add:

a. 2/1000
b. 75/100
c. 3/20
d. 5/8
e. 13/25

18. Give the decimal and percent equivalents for each of the following common fractions:
a. 1/35
b. 3/7
c. 1/250
d. 1/400

19. If an insulin injection contains 100 units of insulin in each milliliter, how many milliliters should be injected to receive 40 units of insulin?

20. Digoxin pediatric elixir contains 0.05 mg of digoxin in each milliliter of elixir. How many milligrams of digoxin would be administered with a dose of 0.6 mL?

Practice questions taken from:
Pharmaceutical Calculations 12th Edition
Howard C. Ansel, Mitchell J. Stoklosa

New Net

As per his coaches instructions...

Max is taking on the 5,000 wrist shot challenge again that he started last winter. He started out doing 162 shots a day and was on track to finish by January 1st before he missed a few days and didn't finish. So now he has restarted thanks to his coaches telling him what he needs to work on...shooting in the garage, basement, wherever! 

He took it to heart and this is what he had set up after school. 

He said that his net is too small though so I'm on the lookout for a regulation size net. The new one is different he told me, watching the first game of the NHL season Tuesday night. He is fired up! 

Like a Lightning Bolt

Markus came out for his first Lightning game of the season as just that. A streak of light. He was voted captain again this year and was pretty excited to have Cole and Cutter as his assistants. 

In their first game of the season Markus played defense against the Regulators. Even though they won, 4-0 he still only let one goal in all game and I loved watching him play. Max told him after that he isn't aggressive enough, to which he promptly tackled Max to the ground. Lol

Coach Greg (r) will help them get better all year, I believe and Tony (l) will help as well. 

Daily Inspiration

http://vimeo.com/68901496

Inspiring video from one of the directors at work. One of the many reasons I love what I do. 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S_0yjZEUbdg

Armed and Dangerous

Max played a game with the Eagles last night versus his own JV team. It was fun to watch him play versus his teammates, if not a little bit confusing. 

My parents came all the way down to watch it and afterwards Cole told me that he had protected himself versus some robbers that broke in to my parents house last week to find Cole standing ready with a shotgun! Lol

Goin' Home

The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.

That's the quote Craig's friend Dr. Barton gave today at his funeral from a talk on death by Elder Nelson. He also said that he was going to miss having this picture pop up on his phone whenever Craig would call. He also said that Craig was his best friend. As did the next speaker and the next. Craig had that way of making everyone he was with feel important. 

Craig's children all stood together at the pulpit and took turns speaking about their favorite memories of their dad. As they stood there holding hands and hugging each other I thought about how much Craig would have loved to see them and probably would have been taking a photo of them together. 

When a member of our stake presidency stood to speak, the funeral was going on three hours long. President Johnson kept his remarks short and said that Craig had taught him so many things but the one he wanted to speak about was when Craig had been working on one of his cars, he said, "Steve-o, you worry about getting yourself from point a to point b a lot, I want you to consider who you are along the way." And he left him at that. 

His wife Tina has so much to miss. 

Own The Moment

No goal is ever scored unassisted.

Max had a great one tonight in his high school game vs. Uintah. His first JV game of the season at the Maverick center. He helped his team to a 2-0 victory. 

{After the game with coaches Jay, Jeff and Russ.}
 (And a little photo bomber named Sheilds. Lol)