Ever since our cardiology test finished last fall, there is a phrase I use to refer to times of incredible stress which are quickly followed by periods of immense relief. These are Cast It Into the Fire moments. In my mind I always see Frodo laying down, panting on the rock when its all over.
This year's award goes to: the Children's ICU rotation and its ensuing termination. P. T. L. this month is freaking over. Now if only I could mindlessly stagger over to some deserted alley and collapse in an irresponsible heap for the next month...
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
26 Will Be More Fun Than 25
Thanks everyone for being so sweet on my birthday!
I haven't even sat down to think about goals for the next year, because there's one Very Big Goal I have been working on for the last year and a half. Its only just now we are reaching the cusp of the calendar year this goal is to be accomplished: 2009. (Cue sound of me panting like a dog...) Oh, the pure ecstasy!
In other news: sometimes, even when I am incredibly tired or should be studying or doing any number of other things that would be wiser investments of time, I spend an hour or two reading the blogs of random strangers. It is truly one of my favorite pastimes and definitely the main reason I am grateful that Al Gore created the internet. So the other day I was reading one of the most hilarious blogs *ever* and... I realized that part of the simple allure of this girl's writing was that she didn't take herself too seriously and was able to accept her own flaws gracefully.
As a true Type A who has only become more rigid with the passage of time... I confess I am envious of this girl. To be able to accept my faults effortlessly and with grace and humor; ay ay ay. Help me Lord! I suppose that is a big enough goal for 26.
I haven't even sat down to think about goals for the next year, because there's one Very Big Goal I have been working on for the last year and a half. Its only just now we are reaching the cusp of the calendar year this goal is to be accomplished: 2009. (Cue sound of me panting like a dog...) Oh, the pure ecstasy!
In other news: sometimes, even when I am incredibly tired or should be studying or doing any number of other things that would be wiser investments of time, I spend an hour or two reading the blogs of random strangers. It is truly one of my favorite pastimes and definitely the main reason I am grateful that Al Gore created the internet. So the other day I was reading one of the most hilarious blogs *ever* and... I realized that part of the simple allure of this girl's writing was that she didn't take herself too seriously and was able to accept her own flaws gracefully.
As a true Type A who has only become more rigid with the passage of time... I confess I am envious of this girl. To be able to accept my faults effortlessly and with grace and humor; ay ay ay. Help me Lord! I suppose that is a big enough goal for 26.
Monday, December 08, 2008
She Got a Hippopotamus for Christmas
My mom used to tell me the craziest things. My sister and I thought she made them up to entertain us. As an adult, I've found out she was usually right. She told me the following story awhile ago and I always wondered about it; turns out Wikipedia confirms her love for the strange-but-true once again.
"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas is a Christmas novelty song written by John Rox and performed by Gayla Peevey (10 years old at the time) in 1953.
Peevey was a regional child star of the Oklahoma City area. According to legend, this 1953 hit was recorded as a fund-raiser to bring the city zoo a hippo. When released nationally by Columbia Records the song shot to the top of the charts, and the city zoo got a baby hippo named Matilda. In a 2007 radio interview with Detroit-based WNIC radio station, Peevey clarified that the song was not recorded as a fundraiser originally. Instead, a local promoter picked up on the popularity of the song and Peevey's local roots, and launched a campaign to present her with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas. The campaign succeeded, and she was presented with an actual hippopotamus, which she donated to the city zoo. The hippopotamus lived for nearly 50 years."
If you saw the hippos at the OKC zoo before 2002, you too saw Mathilda, the hippo Peevey sang about and got for Christmas. Sorry for not believing you Mom...
"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas is a Christmas novelty song written by John Rox and performed by Gayla Peevey (10 years old at the time) in 1953.
Peevey was a regional child star of the Oklahoma City area. According to legend, this 1953 hit was recorded as a fund-raiser to bring the city zoo a hippo. When released nationally by Columbia Records the song shot to the top of the charts, and the city zoo got a baby hippo named Matilda. In a 2007 radio interview with Detroit-based WNIC radio station, Peevey clarified that the song was not recorded as a fundraiser originally. Instead, a local promoter picked up on the popularity of the song and Peevey's local roots, and launched a campaign to present her with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas. The campaign succeeded, and she was presented with an actual hippopotamus, which she donated to the city zoo. The hippopotamus lived for nearly 50 years."
If you saw the hippos at the OKC zoo before 2002, you too saw Mathilda, the hippo Peevey sang about and got for Christmas. Sorry for not believing you Mom...
Monday, December 01, 2008
In His Name All Oppression Shall Cease
The hospital was pretty dang depressing last week. Its just depressing when you only have two patients- and then one goes brain dead and the other you take off the respirator. The world's deepest grief should be reserved for these parents.
But there is another part of it that is actually relieving; when these little chillins are relieved of their suffering. We pretty much see them in the worst physical state on earth. Sedated, intubated, and everything in the world going wrong with their little bodies. Its enough to make you realize how compassionate taking them off a ventilator truly is.
The moment comes when they take the tube out, and then what you see with your physical eyes is a tiny girl, turned a little blue, chest silent, heart no longer beating. The whole family is crying around a dark hospital bed, and she is gone. But if you close your eyes...
She is in a green field and a cotton dress, barefoot, running toward a man ready to scoop her up in his arms. The ribbons in her hair are streaming in the wind and there is a gigantic smile on her shining face, all creamy and pink-cheeked.
You are the one left standing in the dark hospital room, and she is freed.
"The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil." - Isaiah 57:1
But there is another part of it that is actually relieving; when these little chillins are relieved of their suffering. We pretty much see them in the worst physical state on earth. Sedated, intubated, and everything in the world going wrong with their little bodies. Its enough to make you realize how compassionate taking them off a ventilator truly is.
The moment comes when they take the tube out, and then what you see with your physical eyes is a tiny girl, turned a little blue, chest silent, heart no longer beating. The whole family is crying around a dark hospital bed, and she is gone. But if you close your eyes...
She is in a green field and a cotton dress, barefoot, running toward a man ready to scoop her up in his arms. The ribbons in her hair are streaming in the wind and there is a gigantic smile on her shining face, all creamy and pink-cheeked.
You are the one left standing in the dark hospital room, and she is freed.
"The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil." - Isaiah 57:1
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