Nurse On Call

Two Activities.One Purpose...

2011-11-14T22:35:00.009+04:00

click the image to enlarge

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families are not only affected emotionally, but financially as well. They struggle to pay for hospitalization and treatment necessities while trying to cope up with the emotional turmoil. The disease does not only affect and changes child's life, but also poses challenges to parents, relatives and even some friends to cope with this life threatening illness. The family process is definitely affected including their coping mechanisms. This is so true for Therese Faye Macabbabad's case, a little girl suffering with Relapsed Clear Cell sarcoma of the kidney.

As a nurse working in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), I've seen several cases and most of them are admitted to PICU post operatively or whenever their condition deteriorates-- requiring intensive medical and nursing care and close monitoring of hematologic and cardiopulmonary status.

click the image to enlarge

A few weeks ago, I have received a message from a friend informing me that he's planning for an activity-- a shoot for a cause, to help his friends. It never crossed my mind that he was referring to the parents of Therese. I have seen them once while they were taking care of Therese in PICU. I was on duty on that particular night but I was not the assigned nurse for Therese. The realization sinked in when I saw these images on my face on my FB wall. The shoot for a cause didn't materialize; instead, these two activities were planned and posted. An hour ago, I've learned from my friend that Therese is readmitted in the hospital for another cycle of chemotherapy.

As a compatriot and as a nurse, I wanted to help Therese but my capacity to do so is very limited. I've written this post hoping that people will help Therese by availing the services posted in these two activities.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you in advance for helping Therese and her family. Shukran and God bless you for your kindness.

P.S. Image credit: Sir Mike of Abu Dhabi Lecture Series with consent of Therese's parents.

Random

2011-10-14T20:34:00.008+04:00

Hala napakarami na ng cobwebs ng blogsite na 'to. Sobrang napabayaan ko sa pagiging adik ko magpiktyur-piktyur at sa iba pang anik-anik hihihi. Madalas rin akong panggabi kaya wala akong masyadong maisip na maisulat. Teka, teka tama na nga ang pagsusulat ng mga dahilan na yan.

Ano nga ba bago sa akin? Eto, dati pa rin. Si Misalyn pa ring nangangarap maging photographer pero wala naman masyadong time mag-shoot kasi palaging panggabi ang duty sa hospital. Kaya madalas ang naipo-post ko sa aking photoblog eh mga kuha ng nakaraang bakasyon or minsan naman yung mga photos na inaamag na rin at halos sandamakmak na ang bilang at forever na lang nakalagay sa aking laptop.

Trabaho wise, dati pa rin. Nasa Pediatric Intensive Care Unit pa rin ako. Nag-aalaga ng mga batang kritikal ang kalagayan ng kalusugan dahil sa sakit. Madalas pa ring sumasakit ang ulo dahil sa mga "proud and mighty" na mga magulang ng pasyente. Masyadong matapang imbes na magpasalamat nga dahil inaalagaan ng maayos ang kanilang mga anak, kahit pa yung iba brain dead na. Nakakalungkot rin na bihira akong makapagturo ng Basic Life Support kasi understaff kami sa PICU. Miss ko nang magturo ng CPR, ventilation at mock code , malerky sa sagot ilang partcipants at magcheck ng answer sheets after magbigay ng test.

Pamilya wise, dati pa rin naman, awa ng Diyos. Nagpapasalamat ako at lahat naman kami ay maayos ang pangangatawan. Si mister magaling na after ng 2 major operations ng tuhod nya. Sa wakas makakapagtrabaho na ulet kaso mapapalayo sya sa amin. Kakailanganin nyang tumira sa Ruwais, mga 6 hours drive mula dito sa lugar namin. Hay naku, dagdag na trabaho nananaman 'to. Hirap maging super Nanay!

Teka puro ata reklamo ang naisulat ko. Maiba naman, gawin nating masaya. Sya nga pala, salamat kung sinoman ang nag-nominate ng aking photoblog sa PEBA Any Blogger, Anywhere! Contest para sa Picture! Picture! Blog category. Kung sino ka man, salamat ng marami. Nakakataba naman ng puso na may naniniwala sa aking kakayahan sa pagkuha ng litrato. ;)

Sumali rin ako sa isang international photo contest kaso hindi pinalad na manalo. Sabi nga nila, better luck next time :)). Sasali na lang ako ulet next year...weather-weather lang yan, baka makasuntok ako sa buwan next year hahahaha! Fingers crossed!

Ay! Meron naman palang magandang nangyari sa aking piktyur-pikytur career. Sinuwerte palang na-published ang ilan sa mga photos ko sa SEYAHA, ang stakeholder magazine ng Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, sa kanilang July 2011 issue, kasabay ng pag-feature nila sa akin at ang aking mga obserbasyon sa Al Ain City. Kalerky neng! Nosebleed ako sa pagsagot sa interview. Naubos ata ang baon kong English :)) Sabi nila naka-jackpot daw ako kasi na-published sya sa UAE at internationally. Kung gusto mong mabasa, click ka lang dito at i-download mo lang ang PDF copy or preview mo ang E-brochure and turn to page 24 and 25.

O sya napahaba na ata ang aking kuwento. Next time naman ulet kapag tinopak ang aking mga kamay tumipa ng keyboard. Have a nice weekend!

Proud to be a nurse

2011-06-11T04:58:00.003+04:00

Let me share these videos from Johnson & Johnson Health Channel in YouTube. Watching these videos makes me proud to be a licensed nurse working with all the wonderful people in medicine. Big thank you to J& J for these videos. Thank you for making people understand what and who we are as nurses and human beings and thanks for making me cry too :).

Video credit all goes to J&J Health Channel

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T06:55:00.001+04:00

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” ~Washington Irving

Happy Mother's day to all the great mothers in the world!

Endless journey

2011-05-02T22:26:00.009+04:00

"I believe that life is a journey and survival can be very difficult. Sometimes the obstacles can be incredibly cruel, but if we will remain true to ourselves, accept our weaknesses and make use of our strengths, we will surpass every single stage of difficulty"

I lifted the first photo and text from Al Ain City Daily Photo which I've posted sometime last month when I was having difficulty managing my time to fix all the things that I needed to complete and carry on with my everyday tasks as a wife, mother and employee. Looking back, I have encountered a lot of obstacles that sometimes I really wanted to give up but because of my family, I tried my best to carry on. Until this very moment, I must say that life can be very challenging at times especially if we are out of our comfort zone.

During the 1st quarter of this year, I have been to a park located in the middle of the desert for the nth time, and every time I look at the flowers thriving in a hot and dry desert, just like those that I have captured at Al Ain Paradise, it always remind me of the word survival. It never cease to amaze me that each and very single life on earth has its own way of survival.

To date, it has been 6 years that I am trying my very best to survive here in the sandpit. Having said that, I want to thank all the people who made my life a lot better. And most of all, I thank GOD for the all the blessings bestowed upon me and that includes my family, my colleagues, my friends, my host country and YOU...yes! it's you....for being a part of my virtual journey.

Have a nice day. Stay well and be good. I may not visit your sites often, but you are always in my thoughts!

Inspirational Day #12 and an update

2010-11-17T11:50:00.004+04:00

Hello everyone! How are you guys? This blog was in a hiatus for more than two months but I am actively blogging (photoblogging, I should say hahaha!) at Al Ain City Daily Photo and Monochrome Splendor. This photography thing is really growing on me :-)). By the way, I would like to thank my Facebook and blogger friends for your warm greetings on Al Ain City Daily Photo's 1st Blogoversary!

Two months ago, my family and I have been to the desert at Al Dahmaa District of Al Ain City. Hubby drove us way up to the foothills of Al Dahmaa sand dunes. His right leg is still painful till this time due to ligament injury and he's using a cane to walk. Anyway, we had a nice time watching the sun as it sunk deeper into the horizon. We enjoyed every single minute of it until the sun finally bid good bye. Ahhhhh!......it was a mesmerizing experience for us. An enthralling experience to see the painted desert......pastel colors soothed our eyes and gave me a feeling of tranquility. Seeing those wonderful colors, I thought of how blessed I am to see the beauty of the sunset....it never cease to impress me and thank the good Lord for all the wonderful things around us.

If you wish to see more of our photos, you can click here.

~Clouds come floating into my life,no longer to carry rain or usher storm,

but to add color to my sunset sky.~

-Rabindranath Tagore

~The principle of life is that life responds by corresponding;

your life becomes the thing you have decided it shall be.~

-Raymond Charles Barker

On another note, yesterday was the Eid Al Adha of our Muslim brothers and sisters. To all my Muslim friends and colleagues, wishing you a prosperous and happy Eid!!

~Rest in not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under

the tress on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water,

or watching the clouds float across the sky is by no means a waste of time.~

-J. Lubbuck

By the way, I would like to invite you to join us in Project Smile.

Have a nice day!!

Inspirational Day #11

2010-08-28T00:01:00.005+04:00

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive-to breath, to think, to enjoy, to love."

~~Marcus Aurelius

~o~

Few days ago, a friend of my mine posted this question on her Facebook status.

"Define happiness.....what makes you happy?"

I answered her with a quote of an unknown author and stated my thoughts about it that goes something like this:

"Let me borrow a line from a quote....Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections" What makes me happy?.......as simple as every breath I take makes me happy. It reminds me that I am still alive and I can watch my children grow, I can offer my help to someone who needs my help, the way I can. I can appreciate even the little things around me. I can watch the sun when it rises and spread its rays into the horizon and when it sinks deeper over the horizon."

How about you? What makes you happy?

Have a nice weekend . God bless.

Have a blessed weekend!

2010-08-27T09:30:00.001+04:00

Visit Skywatch Friday for more friendly and amazing skies.

In the eyes of a child......

2010-08-24T11:02:00.009+04:00

Have you ever experienced a situation wherein you don't want to show something bad to a child but you can't control the situation and there's nothing you can do but to leave?

It was in March 2010, about few days before we left Al Ain City for our annual vacation when I and my hubby were walking at the Town Center, and stopped by at one of the jewelry shops when I have witnessed a street scenario wherein two women were having an argument and their voices were at the top of their heads. As an expatriate and for someone like me who can only understand some basic Arabic, I did not completely understand what they were arguing about. It was the body language that somehow stressed that they were fighting about something.

While the women were shouting at each other, I saw this cute Sudanese girl, cuddled by her mother, looking at the scenario. It looked like the mother was totally unaware of the scenario outside the jewelry shop and completely engrossed by looking at the jewelries. Few minutes later, I saw one of the women slapped the other woman's face while the other one was crying. I turned my head to the child and she saw me looking at her and that prompted me to take a snapshot. There was a sudden feeling that I wanted to take the child away from that place while I was looking at her eyes. I was wondering what was in the child's mind. I was so sad that I couldn't do anything but to leave the scenario.

On another poignant and perturbing note, if you were reading the newspapers and watching the online news, or following the headlines on the television, I'm pretty sure that you are aware of what had happened in the Philippines, my home country, for the past 24 hours. My prayers are with those of the victims. May the healing hands of our Lord God touch the bodies of those who are in critical condition and we reach out to the families of those tourists who died yesterday in that very tragic hostage drama.

There are so many "what ifs, what and whys" inside my head. I noticed that there were lapses between the negotiating officers and the suspect, police officers were unprepared for the battle and it was so disgusting to see that they were not properly equipped and used the sledgehammer to open the door of the tourist bus. Ahhhhhh.... what a shame! If I am going to state my countless observations, I will end up writing a complaint letter :(

Looking back at the scenario mentioned above, I can say that it was far lighter compared to what had happened in the Philippines but just the same, it was such a disturbing scenario for that innocent child. How about the young victims of the hostage drama? I can almost imagine the traumatic experience of those children inside the bus albeit they were freed long before the shootout had happened.

As a pediatric nurse, I always look at the child's eyes whenever I perform my general assessment. It tells me when I needed to do something to alleviate their pains and worries, offer my hands and act as a surrogate mother. In the situations mentioned above, all I can do is to offer my prayers and hope that they will forget those traumatic experiences. If I could have their eyes covered so they won't see the hatred and violence, then I would. If I could have shield their minds so that their thalamus won't perceive the hatred and violence, then I would but I know that these are impossible.

In this difficult time, I hope and pray that peace, love and understanding reign in our hearts. For all the parents out there who did take a moment to explain to their children of what had happened and instilled values in their offspring's mind, thank you so much.

A prayer

2010-08-08T02:22:00.001+04:00

Dear God when worries start to consume us...please help us to clear our doubts and inspire our thoughts. Teach us to be still and trust in the power of Your loving and healing hands.

Amen.

Inspirational Day # 10

2010-07-17T18:00:00.007+04:00

Hello! How are you? I hope that everything is well and good with you and your family. For the past few weeks I was heading towards somewhere.....I have no clue, I just kept walking and fighting against the obstacles of this paradigm that I called life. Good thing that my family is here beside me and somehow clicking alleviated the pain....it keeps me going till this time. As of the moment, I'm doing well.

I had my 12-day vacation and during those days, I kept myself busy with family matters and with my hobby. I must say that sky watching with my family around is the best ever. Somehow it gave me a feeling of serenity. Sunrise and sunsets never failed to amuse and enthralled me.

Here are some my photos, taken a week ago on our way to Dubai. I thought of including some quotes for us to ponder.....and somehow let the thought provoking words of the quotes' authors inspire us.

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive-to breathe, to think, to enjoy, and to love."

~Marcus Aurelius

"With each sunrise, we start anew."

~Author unknown

"Each golden sunrise ushers in new opportunities for those who retain faith in themselves, and keep thier chins up...Meet the sunrise with confidence. Fill every golden minute with right thinking and worthwhile endeavor. Do this and there will be joy in each golden sunset."

~Alonzo Newton Benn

"People are like stained-glass window. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."

~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

"There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun."

~Pablo Picasso

Thank you Lord for all the blessings.

Have a nice weekend. God bless my blogger friends.Ciao!

Green Mubazzarah by night (in black & white)

2010-06-26T16:39:00.005+04:00

Green Mubazzarah is located in the foothills of Jebel Hafeet, the second highest mountain here in the United Arab Emirates. If you'd like to see my photos and read more about the Green Mubazzarah, click here to visit Al Ain City Daily Photo.

My apologies if I don't get to visit your blogs often. Been very busy with my night shifts and with the family stuff. I may not visit your blogs often but you are always in my thoughts. One shift to go and I'll be having my 12-day vacation. Hoping to visit your pages real soon.

Click here if you'd like to visit the new home for Monochrome Maniacs and please click the image to enlarge.

Have a great weekend my blogger friends. God bless.

Isang repleksyon at pagmumuni-muni

2010-06-13T21:34:00.020+04:00

Off ako ngayon sa trabaho at halos natapos ang buong araw ko sa panonood sa www.hayag.com sa live streaming ng Pilipinas Got Talent Grand Finals. Hindi ako pala panood ng mga reality at talent shows pero this time nanood ako dahil kay Jovit Baldivino. Marahil dahil humanga ako ng masyado sa binatilyong may malaking boses, or shall I say, powerful voice. I must say that his performances were all awesome and gave me some freaking goosebumps:) Hindi lamang ang boses nya ang hinangaan ko kundi pati na rin ang kanyang determinasyon na matulungan ang kanyang mga magulang. Aaminin ko, noong mapanood ko sya sa unang pagkakataon sa Pilipinas Got Talent ng kinanta nya ang Faithfully,pinahanga nya na ako. Halos naiyak nga ako ng sinabi nya na nagtitinda sya ng siomai after nyang pumasok sa school. Sa pangalawang pagkakataon na napanood ko sya ng inawit nya ang Carrie, mas lalo akong humanga sa kanya. There were times na inuulit-ulit ko pa ngang panoorin sa youtube ang mga past performances nya kahit na yung mga fan-made lang.

image downloaded from the internet

Right after watching Pilipinas Got Talent, I talked to my kids over the phone (nasa Pinas pa kasi sila, nagbabakasyon at parating sa July) and asked them kung sino ang bet nila kanina. Of course, bilang mga bata iba ang choices nila. My 7-year old son liked Ruther and my 12-year son liked Alakim. I asked them why. My 7-year old son JM told me na tuwang-tuwa sya sa puppet ni Ruther and my 12-year old son Joel told me that Alakim's magic is simply amazing. Nasabi ko sa sarili ko, ahhh ang mga bata pure entertainment lang ang nakita nila at hindi nila nakita at naramdaman ang istorya behind those talented people. Marahil dahil hindi nararanasan ng mga anak ko ang hirap na dinanas ng iba at tulad ng hirap na dinanas ko noon makapag-aral lamang.

Bakit nga ba si Jovit ang naging paborito ko among the 12 contestants? Hindi maipagkakaila na talagang napakaganda ng boses ni Jovit, sabi ko nga sa umpisa, powerful ang voice nya. Aside from the powerful voice, kakaiba ang karisma nya sa mga tao. Para sa akin mas malalim ang pinag-ugatan ng paghanga ko sa kanya. Nakakarelate kasi ako sa kwento ng buhay nya at bumilib ako sa pangarap nya na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral at makatulong sa pamilya. Marahil nakita ko sa kanya ang sarili ko. Hindi man ako magaling kumanta, pero yung kagustuhan ko na makatulong sa pamilya ko ay palaging nasa puso ko at marahil sa isang tulad ko na nanggaling rin sa isang mahirap na pamilya, ang pagtulong ang pinakapriority ko noon at hanggang ngayon. Marahil dahil marami rin akong napagdaanang pagsubok, mostly financial and emotional, noong nag-aaral pa lamang ako. Maraming pagsubok ang dumating pero pinilit ko na makabangon at pinairal ko sa aking puso at isipan ang pag-asa na isang araw maiaalay ko rin sa mga magulang ko ang diplomang minimithi ko. Yun nga lang Nanay ko na lang ang nakawitnessed dahil namayapa na ang Tatay ko bago pa man ako makabangon.

Mahabang panahon na ang nagdaan, maraming bagay na ang nangyari at maraming mga pagbabago sa buhay ko ang nakita at naranasan ko. Ang dating buhay ng pamilya ko noon ay ibang iba na sa ngayon. Lahat yun utang ko sa mga magulang ko na walang sawang nagmahal sa akin sa paraan na alam nila. Bagamat hindi perpekto sa paningin ng iba. Bahagi rin ang ilang kaibigan at kaklase sa college sa pagsuong ko sa mga problema. Ang iba nagsilbing inspirasyon at ang iba ay nagsilbing hamon. Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa UERMMMC Nursing Alumni-USA, sa aking pamilya at sa Maykapal sa kung anoman ako ngayon.

Magpahanggang ngayon, ang pangarap na yun ay patuloy pa rin. Natupad na ang ilan at patuloy ko pa ring inaasam na matupad ang mga susunod pang pangarap. Modesty aside, hindi lamang sa pamilya ko natupad kundi umabot pa sa mga taong malapit sa aking puso. Kung loobin nga lamang ng Maykapal na maibalik ko ang dating si Misalyn, masaya akong tutulong muli sa mga kababayan ko sa pamamagitan ng Pinoy Forumers Society.

Hayyyyyy napahaba na 'tong nasulat ko. Bihira lang akong magsulat ng taglish. Pagpasensyahan nyo na ang mahabang reflection, pagmumuni-muni at paghahalintulad ko ng aking nakaraan sa buhay ni Jovit.

Isang pagsaludo sa kakayanan at talento ng isang Pinoy. Mabuhay ka Jovit! God bless you.

My apologies to my non-Filipino readers for writing my thoughts in Taglish (Tagalog and English). A blessed Sunday to all!

A short note

2010-06-04T08:07:00.006+04:00

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love."

~~Max Muller

I have nothing much to say or a story to share.Wishing you a great day filled with love and happiness. God bless everyone.

On competencies, family and friends

2010-05-22T23:46:00.006+04:00

Hello! It's been a while since the last time I posted an entry. How's everybody? Enjoying the weekend? Please excuse me if I don't get to visit your blogs often. My schedule is too hectic. Heck! it's killing me but this is the life that I have chosen for now. I'm okay. Oh my! I hope that these competencies will end up soon.

I have attended and completed the Pediatric Advanced Life Support Program for Health Care Providers in one of the AHA's International Training Center in the region. It was a two-day course coupled with practical and written exams after the video presentations and core case simulations. It was fun though I must admit that it gave me a lot of stress considering that I have had such limited time to study. It was a blissful experience for me especially when I received my certificate and PALS card.

our instructors

with fellow RN's

random shots during the simulations, tea break and completion

Next is the Neuro Workshop at the end of this month and the Central Venous Access Device competency sometime next month.

Am still alone. My hubby is enjoying his vacation. Joel and JM are enjoying the summer in the Philippines. They are complaining about the scorching heat but at the same time they are enjoying the beaches and the malls.

Today is my day off from my hospital work and I'll be doing 2 nights tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. My sleep pattern is very abnormal because of my night duties. Well, this is not something new with nurses.

I hope that everything is well with Lucy and to all of you, my blogger friends. I may not visit your sites often but you are always in my thoughts.

Have a blessed weekend to all of you. A big hug to all.

Wordless Tale of Innocence

2010-05-13T16:56:00.007+04:00

(click to enlarge)

Have a nice day. God bless.

Happy Nurses Day!!

2010-05-12T19:19:00.005+04:00

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. Today, nurses are being honored for their invaluable role in delivering quality health care and to bring recognition of the act that nursing is a respected profession.

Chronic disease is the focus of this year's International Nurses Day. The International Council of Nurses highlighted the six key areas (diabetes, cancer, depression, hypertension, respiratory and heart diseases) in this year's campaign with a theme of "Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses leading Chronic Care."

Here in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi, we will celebrate the said event with poster presentations and a grand ball at Al Ain Rotana Hotel. Prizes will be given to the lucky nurses and to the winners of poster making contest.

I have been a nurse for more than eight years now and I can say that it is a tremendous feeling of joy though there were times that I am complaining how difficult it is to be one. I thank the Lord wholeheartedly for all His blessings and for allowing me to be a nurse.

I would like to extend my warmest greetings to all the nurses out there. My sincerest appreciation for the tender loving care of my fellow nurses. Have a fabulous nurses day. Cheers!

International Thalassemia Day

2010-05-08T18:12:00.010+04:00

Tawam Hospital in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company-SEHA launched an awareness campaign regarding Thalassemia in commemorating the International Thalassemia Day held at Bawadi Mall.

Photo shown above was taken this morning. Dr. Omar Trad, one of the Hematologists and Oncologists of the Pediatric Oncology Department of Tawam Hospital and his team lead the awareness campaign.

Thalassemia is a group of inherited autosomal recessive diseases of the blood that affects a person's ability to produce hemoglobin, resulting in anemia. Hemoglobin carries oxygen and nutrients to cells in the body. First known in Greece, Thalassa, a Greek word, meaning the sea and was first known as the anemia of the Greek people who lived around the Mediterranean Sea. It affects both males and females and is passed to children by parents who carry the mutated Thalassemia gene. If you'd like to read more about the Thalassemias, click here and here.

Screening is the key tool in preventing this disorder. If you are living in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, you can seek vital information about the Thalassemias at Tawam Hospital and Al Mafraq Hospital or seek your professional health care provider's advice.

A piece of advice: Prevention is better than cure. Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!!

'Rest Day'

2010-04-29T23:20:00.011+04:00

Hello! It's been a while since I posted an entry here. Yours truly is so busy but I am trying to blog once in a while. Most of the time or when I get time to sit in front of my computer for a longer period of time am doing some scheduled posts especially for my Al Ain City Daily Photo blog. My schedule is so tight that I can't even get fairly enough time to sleep. I have had 13 nights and 2 days shift with OT's in between. Apart from those duties, I've attended some conferences to complete the required Continuing Nursing Education (CNE). Tomorrow night will be my last night duty for this month.

Today is my rest day. Huh! Rest day? No, no, no and a BIG no! I did the laundry today, some household chores and studied for 2 hours for my Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) recertification on May 19-20, 2010. Of course my 'rest day' will end up with clicking and blogging. I've been to Al Muwaiji and had some sunset snaps.

Oh! I saw my Twilight DVD today and watched the movie again for the nth time, which reminded me of the third installment of the Twilight Saga. I am so excited to watch the Eclipse. Team Edward go, go, go!!

By the way, I made a photo mosaic for my blog header. Let me share it with you guys. Hope you like it.

I'm still alone here at Al Ain City. Hubby, Joel and JM are still enjoying in the Philippines. Huhuhuhuhu. Tsk, tsk,tsk..gotta to go, I need to prepare a decent meal for my dinner and eat alone :(

Have a great weekend. God bless.

Sky watching in the Philippines (Bagasbas Beach-Daet, Camarines Norte) Part 2

2010-04-23T10:09:00.002+04:00

Pictures shown below were taken last month during my holiday in the Philippines. It was one lazy late afternoon when I asked hubby if we can go out. We didn't plan to go to Bagasbas beach. In fact, we didn't even bother to changed our clothes. I thought of walking around the subdivision.

We were walking for almost 20 minutes when all of the sudden Joel asked his Daddy if we can go to Bagasbas Beach. Alas! Joel asked my nieces and were off to Bagasbas beach.

these guys were enjoying the beach

Joel and Maisel

Joel and my nieces

Nanay and Ghet

Ghet

hubby

The kids enjoyed swimming while yours truly enjoyed sky watching and clicking :)

For more friendly and beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday. Thanks to our Skywatch Team. Have a great weekend!!

Sky watching in the Philippines (Bagasbas Beach-Daet, Camarines Norte)

2010-04-16T06:34:00.006+04:00

It was Ghet's birthday, a day before my birthday and Joel's graduation, when I took these snaps. My family as well as sis Irma's (my sis-in-law) kids decided to dine out at Leo's Cuisine, one of the restaurants in Barangay Borabod. We wanted to try the calamari and vegetable noodles in the said restaurant. We had a sumptuous dinner and I had these shots before, during and after the dinner.

March 28, 2010 @04:30 PM

@06:30PM

@06:45PM

@07:00PM

@09:00PM- taken outside the restaurant

Go and visit Skywatch Friday to see the wonderful skies all over the world! Thanks to the Skywatch Team.

Happy Sky watching and have a great weekend!!

JM and Joel's Graduation and My Birthday

2010-04-15T18:50:00.005+04:00

Hello! It's been a while since the last time I posted an entry. My apologies for being so slow these past few days. Been busy lately and there were other things that I have attended aside from my usual duty schedule. How are you my blogging buddies? I hope everything is well and good.

For today's post let me share some photos of JM and Joel's graduation, as well as my birthday's treat to my family. Joel's graduation was on the same day of my natal day. My children received some academic awards and special awards. I am so proud of them. Apologies for the quality of the pictures because I didn't compile all the photos in one folder and most of my snaps were scattered in different folders, making it difficult for me to locate my photos.

My husband marched with them and yours truly was a haggard mommy cum photographer hahahaha. Anyway, I enjoyed every single moment of the graduation ceremonies though it rained for few minutes.

JM reciting a poem and a not-so-happy shot before the graduation ceremony started.

JM showing his certificate

Hubby and Joel after the graduation ceremony and Joel's nice smile while waiting for the official photographer to take some shots for the class picture.

My family and relatives' messages for me written on the beautiful pink paper with artistic cut outs made by my beautiful niece Maisel.

Hubby while looking at Ghet's gift for me and of course, yours truly with that big grin :)

Let me share some good news. My children are coming back to live with us here in Al Ain City. They will be here before the school year starts, most probably by July. I am running out of words and time to write because I am working tonight. I'll visit your blogs tomorrow.

Have a nice day to all of you and for those living in the Middle East, have a great weekend. God bless.

Inspirational Day # 9 : A blessed Sunday to all!

2010-04-04T09:55:00.004+04:00

It's weekend once again and it's time for our dose of inspirational quotes. Happy Easter to our Christian brothers and sisters. May this day brings you peace, joy, love and new beginnings.

"Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be."

~Marsha Petrie Sue

"Everyone's travels through life end the same way, so you might as well enjoy the journey."

~Author unknown

"Ask not what tomorrow may bring, but count as blessing every day that fate allows you."

~Horace 64 B.C.

"Always direct your thoughts to those truths that will give you confidence, hope, joy, love, thanksgiving, and turn away your mind from those that inspire you with fear, sadness, depression."

~Bertrand Wilbertforce

A blessed Sunday to all. God bless us.

Have a blessed weekend!

2010-04-03T21:41:00.005+04:00

(please click the image to enlarge)

This shot was taken 2 weeks ago while I was on my vacation. I was inside the nipa hut while waiting for hubby and children.

I miss the cool breeze of the pacific, I miss the Bagasbas beach. Ahhhh...there's no place like home. Back to reality, it's time for work. Bye Philippines, Hello UAE!

Am linking this post to The Monochrome Weekend hosted by Aileni. Thank you Aileni.

A blessed weekend to all!

Monochromatic Monday

2010-03-22T17:22:00.001+04:00

One of the monochrome shots that I took at Bagasbas Beach of Brgy. Borabod, Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines. The weather was partly gloomy but at the middle of the day, the majestic sun came out and spread its rays into the horizon. In this photo, my hubby and children were enjoying the waves and the cool breeze of the pacific.

(please click the photo to enlarge)

Visit Aileni's page to check out the monochrome maniacs.

A monochromatic and wonderful Monday to all of you.

Skywatch Friday- Bagasbas Beach

2010-03-18T20:47:00.001+04:00

My vacation is not complete without visiting the Bagasbas Beach at Brgy. Boradod, Daet, Camarines Norte. Since we came, it was raining. My mother told me that we are lucky because there was no rain for almost two months before we came. Finally, the rain stopped last Tuesday. The following day, at 06:00 o'clock in the morning, we went to Bagasbas Beach though the weather was still gloomy. Luckily, at the middle of the day, the majestic sun finally came out and spread its rays into the horizon.

Here are some of my pictures. You can click the images to enlarge. More pictures to be posted and more vacation stories once I get time to sit down infront of my computer for a longer period of time.

some reflection shots

After few hours of swimming, we put on our clothes because the cool breeze made us shiver (except for my little one). I unfolded my tripod and we enjoyed taking some snaps.

Hmmmm.....where's hubby and Joel? Aha! Guys, where are you going?

Am linking this post to Skywatch Friday hosted by Klaus with team members Sylvia, Wren, Sandy and Fishing Guy. Thanks Skywatch Team.

Have a great weekend and happy sky watching!!

Inspirational Day #9

2010-03-13T20:57:00.011+04:00

Hello! Hello! How's everybody? I have a lot of catching up to do. Missed you all and I missed reading your blogs.

Ahhhhhh..there's no place like home. So glad that am here, spending my vacation with my family after the long and tiring flight from Dubai to Manila. Our departure was delayed for more than 2 hours due to torrential rain in UAE and Dubai airport used only one runway for depatures and arrivals. We were supposed to leave Dubai at 03:45 AM but the plane finally had its turn to depart at 07:00 AM (UAE Time). Anyway, am here, happy to be with the kids and with my mother.

It's weekend once again and it's time for our weekly dose of inspirational quotes. Am thinking of a topic since this morning and I've decided that RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES will best suit the photos that I've prepared for today.

I always think of responsibilities when I speak about my rights. As a human being, we were born with rights….right to live, right to eat, right to decide, right to love, right to vote etc. etc. We have our own free will to decide but sometimes we tend to forget our responsibilities, and too often we fail to act; that every right we have, responsibility comes along with it. I would like to share the bible verse that tackles this topic but I forgot the book where it was written. Forgive my old and rusty neurons hahaha. Anyway, the main idea that I have learned from that verse was, we were created by God and He gave us the free will to choose and decide, but we must be responsible enough to face and bear the responsibilities that comes along with our rights.

At the early age of 20, I became a mother. I was not aware of my responsibilities then and I always pushed my limit. Looking back, I never thought of so many things that I have to bear being a mother. Thank God that my mother is always around to help me understand the things that I need to understand. As I get older and wiser, I've realized so many things in this paradigm that I called life....and one of those is the responsibility.

These setences can explain this topic like:

1. We want to be loved, then it's our responsibility to give love and share love.

2. We want to live, then it's our responsibility to take care of ourselves.

3. We want a good job, it's our responsibility to study well and perform well at the school and look for a job that would best suit our capabilities.

4. We want a better life, then it's our responsibility to make a difference.

It's pointless to discuss our rights without discussing our responsibilities.....and I must say that rights and responsibilities comes along with set rules and boundaries. And as humans, we learn from our mistakes, that is, if we failed to abide by the rules.....be it the Holy rules or the Law of human. We're not perfect and nobody's perfect anyway, therefore, we commit mistakes and that's understandable. We learn from our mistakes and misfortunes but we should not commit the same mistake again and again and again.

"We have not passed that subtle line between childhood and adulthood until... we have stopped saying "It got lost," and say "I lost it."

~~Sidney J. Harris

"You must take personal responsibility.You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of."

~~Jim Rohn

“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.”

~~Bob Moaward

A blessed weekend to all. God bless.

Inspirational Day #8

2010-03-07T22:53:00.017+04:00

Hello my blogging friends. How's everybody? Enjoying the weekend? I hope so.

Just an update, I went to our Employee Health Clinic yesterday for the follow up check up. Alas! my voice is gone though I feel better. Way better than last week, coughing wise. Yesterday morning, I woke up early, I was calling dear hubby and I noticed that my voice is gone. Too bad am having laryngitis and it will take time, may a week, to recuperate. According to the doctor who saw me yesterday, my throat is still swollen but as far as vital signs are concerned, it's way better than last week because am afebrile. So much for this laryngitis thing.

It's weekend once again and it's time for our weekly dose of inspirational quotes. Perhaps the most appropriate topic for this week is happiness. I always believe that being happy or sad is a matter of choice and our emotions will have an impact in our health. According to Dr. Richard Davidson, a scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, happiness is a combination of positive emotional states including satisfaction, contentment, joy and pleasure. It is directly associated with actively embracing the world and being fully engaged.

According to research, neurotransmitters, the chemicals that carry signals from one neuron (a brain cell) to another has something to do with happiness. One of these neurotransmitters is the dopamine. Studies showed that dopamine mediates the transfer of feel good signals between the left prefrontal area and the emotional centers in the limbic system of the brain.

Aww, forget about those medical terminologies and technicalities. Just be happy, keep smiling and the world will smile back to you. Though sometimes, it is difficult to be happy especially during our difficult times, I still believe that it is always better to at least smile, though a little amount of dopamine will be released, at least will are still keeping ourselves healthy. Always remember that there's always a reason to smile no matter how difficult or tough life can be, we just need to look around and appreciate everything that we have.....our friends, our jobs, and our families or anything that makes us happy.

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

~~Frederick Keonig

"Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence"

~~Aristotle

"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections."

~~Author Unknown

Counting down..two days to go!!..yuhoooo! I'm going home!

A blessed weekend to all. God bless everyone.

Thank you

2010-03-04T06:23:00.006+04:00

I'm feeling better. Thank you for your sweet and kind words, prayers and wishes. Though am still coughing, at least I feel better compared to these past few days. I had tons (uffff am exaggerating here, but it is really dificult to ingest those capsules, tablets and syrups) of medications but to no avail. After completing the 5-day doses of Zithromax, am still coughing. I had ventolin nebulizations and am getting some antitussive before I sleep at night.

I'll be working tonight. Am hoping and praying for a quiet night.....less admissions and eventful cases. I had a five-day sick leave in between my days off and I can't afford to have another one.

I miss each and everyone of you. There were times that I really really tried to sit in front of my computer for at least few hours to update my photoblog for the City Daily Photo Community and read some updates but I couldn't really stay that long. I'm back and hopefully my condition will get even better in the next few days.

Thanks to dear hubby too. He took good care of me and gave me a beautiful bouquet of yellow flowers for our wedding anniversary last Sunday, February 28, 2010. Thanks hubby, muaahhh.

A wonderful day to all of you. God bless.

Inspirational Day #7

2010-02-27T09:23:00.005+04:00

It's weekend once again and its time for our Inspirational Day. How's everybody? I do hope that everybody is well and good. Today, I think I should be talking to myself and remind myself of these quotes. Why?

Yesterday, after attending the worship service, I felt that my chest was getting heavy and I can't barely breathe. I was coughing (and still coughing till today)as if my lungs will come out of my rib cage. Until this very moment, I can feel the pain in my throat. I really hate it when am having this sore throat. I can't sleep well and I can't eat well.

Our Employee Health Clinic is close during Fridays and there's no where to go, not even in a nearby clinic. I went to the Emergency Room-Fast Track Section, accompanied by my brother since hubby was not around. I had some back to back nebulization of Ventolin. I stayed there for a couple of hours until I felt okay, at least my breathing in usual pattern. I felt relieved with back to back nebulizations and I even told the ER nurse that it was my first time to experience the nebulizer ( hahahaha but it's true).

I guess the change of weather is the culprit. I really hate summer. Here in UAE, the temperature can be as high as 50 degree celsius. Yesterday's temperature was 26 degree celsius. I can't imagine what will happen to me during the peak of summer. Can't wait for the next winter season. *Sigh.

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
~~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields,

What the River Knows, 1990

If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.

~~Elbert Hubbard

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book.

~~Irish Proverb

Counting down...11 days to go!!

A wonderful weekend to all. It's time to get some rest. Stay healthy. God bless.

A short note and an update

2010-02-25T09:42:00.010+04:00

Hello my blogging friends! How's everybody? I hope that everybody is well and good. Please excuse me for being so slow in commenting and returning the visits. After filling my vacation leave, I realized that I have a lot of things to do. My schedule is too hectic. I have such limited time to sit infront of my computer. I really miss visiting and reading your blogs. As soon as I find time to sit and read, I will definitely visit your sites.

Just an update. What makes me so busy nowadays?

1. POEA Message Board- official Philippine Overseas Employment Administration forum for Overseases Filipino Workers (OFW) and aspirants. Am encouraging all the Filipino expats blogging friends to join us in the discussion.

2. Job related trainings, seminars, and audits.

some of my colleagues from my previous unit (Pediatric Surgery), we had an Oracle e-leave training

AJ, our Pediatric Clinical Resource Nurse discussing the Humpty Dumpty Falls Risk Assessment tool

3. Night duties- 9 night shifts to go before my much awaited vacation.

4. Al Ain City Daily Photoblog- needs to be updated daily as a rule in joining the City Daily Photo community and mine is not updated huhuhu. I would like to do so but I really need to study my subject before posting it. Requires time and effort...excuses,excuses, excuses hahahaha.

5. Household chores- ahhhhhh I hate the laundries ( any disposable clothes? hahaha). Last week, I had some minor burns when I was frying a milk fish for our dinner. Awww! really really painful.

6. Packing things, coordinating with the small charity group.

7. Etc.etc, etc.....

Need to leave this blog, I heard the long beep from the washing machine and I need to handwash some of our clothes. Bye for now. Counting down......13 days to go ...yuhooooooooooooo!

A virtual hug to everyone. Have a nice a day and God bless.

On living, loving, hope and acceptance

2010-02-22T09:38:00.008+04:00

One of the subjects that truly fascinates me is the sunrise. I love to see the majestic sun spreading its rays into the horizon as it always remind me of HOPE, which is an important factor in LIVING and LOVING. As a pediatric intensive care unit nurse, I can always see and witness the importance of hope in our lives, because we, the healthcare team, are dealing with lives. Honestly, there are many times that I myself lose all my hopes whenever I see a patient dying, that even we've done our best, the patient is still deteriorating, and that puts me to think that hope comes with ACCEPTANCE.Yes, it's true that we must continue hoping but once an imminent situation comes, we must accept the reality......the reality that everything has inevitable end.

Sure, it will be difficult but acceptance will set us free....free from pain, free from denial, free from regrets and free from sorrow. Whenever I think about these subjects, it reminds me of Kubler Ross' Five Stages of Grief and as daughter who lost her father, I truly believe in that five stages because I've been through with denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance (DABDA).

And there comes the sunshine which reminds me that whenever we lost someone we love, they are just right up there, watching over us from up above......like the sun beaming its rays to our surroundings.....it's like telling us "don't be sad, I will always be here for you no matter what".

Let me share this quote which reminds me that I have to accept and look for the positive perspective of living:

"Though humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."

~~Bill Cosby

A blessed start of the week to all of you. Keep smilling (though sometimes it's difficult).

Inspirational Day #6

2010-02-20T10:35:00.007+04:00

It's weekend once again and it's time for our inspirational day. I was so tired after my night shift but when I saw these flowers in the hospital garden, the muscle aches and tiredness were all gone. I grabbed my camera inside my bag and started clicking. I didn't notice that it was already nine o'clock until somebody called my name (a co-staff).

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love."

~~Max Muller

"Where flowers bloom, so does hope."

~~Lady Bird Johnson

"Who would have thought it is possible that a tiny little flower could preoccupy a person so completely that there simply wasn't room for any other thought...."

~~Sophie Scholl

The third and last quote may not be applicable to others but it was exactly what happened to me while taking some snaps of the tiny flower shown in the 3rd photo. I found that tiny yellow flower thriving even with the steaming heat of the sun and growing beside the cactus (see 4th photo). I thought of patience while looking at those small flowers. I patiently clicked for several times until I got one nice capture ( at least to my eyes).

I thought of putting the first and second quote written above because my workplace is where the love and hope are constantly shared. Looking at my patients and their parents, especially the mothers, I can always see and feel their anxiety and each time I talk to them, I can feel the love and hope in their hearts.....hoping to get through their most difficult time...the hospitalization.

Am dedicating this post to the parents of our sickest patient in PICU. I hope and pray that the gentle healing hands of our Lord will touch my dear pediatric patient.

A blessed weekend to all of you.

Counting down...3 weeks to go!!

2010-02-18T00:28:00.007+04:00

Yey! This is it!...this is really is it! I already paid our tickets this morning after filling my annual leave. To top it all, my request for 5 days off prior to my vacation was granted this morning. Yuhooooooooooo! Am so excited to go home. I don't care about my tight schedule nowadays.

I still have a lot of things to do and to prepare. Actually, I need to jot down and make a list. Aside from the gifts for my sons and for my mother, I need to buy a decent lens for my camera.....am sure I will enjoy this vacation..of course with my children and mother around; am that sure it will be a wonderful and delightful holiday.

"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections."

~~Author unknown

Inspirational Day # 5 - Happy Love Day !!

2010-02-13T16:58:00.007+04:00

It's weekend once again and it's time for our inspirational day. Love is in the air...yes! I can feel it! Happy hearts day to all!

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love."

~~Max Muller

"We are all born for love. It is the principle of existence, and its only end."

~~Benjamin Disraeli

"Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up."

~~James A. Balwin

"You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love."

~~Henry Drummond

By the way, let me share this stolen shot that I took last Saturday during our PICU's 1st Anniversary party. So sweet, right?

It really caught my attention while I was taking photos of my colleagues while they were dancing and enjoying the party.What makes this photo special? It reminded me of my Dad. Can't help but cry...I really really miss you Dad!

Share your love to everyone. Don't forget to tell your love ones how much you love them and how important they are.

Have a great weekend my friends!! Hugs to you guys.

Hello!

2010-02-12T11:08:00.008+04:00

Hello! How are you my blogging friends? I really missed posting here and I really really missed you guys. It's been a while since the last time I posted here....6 days to be exact. Thank you guys for visiting me and my city daily photoblog. Most of the time I am too tired to sit infront of my computer and I can't really stay too long especially when am from night shift.

What's new with this ever toxic nurse? Well, nothing special. I had my usual night shifts. Busy as usual, especially last Monday and Tuesday night because I had the sickest patient in PICU but I really enjoyed working with our team, with everybody helping each other, although there were times that we can't really expect much help from the others because they were busy with their own patients too.

Ariel, Jeanette, Roldan, Dr.Itani and Mary Anne

I had a 7-month old patient, which I admitted last week ( 4th of February) with hepatic failure and poor baby because his condition is really bad. When I came back after my 2 days off, he's already intubated and ventilated, not just with the conventional ventilator but with high frequency oscillatory ventilation. Anyway, to make it simple, my patient is really really sick and because of the liver failure, blood transfusions can happen almost every 4 to 6 hours with all kinds of blood products.

Aside from the busy nights that I have had, I am still clicking in between, mostly after night shifts while riding a taxi on my way home. Skywatching is the best ever. We had a cloudy day few days ago ang I enjoyed looking at the skies ( though it brings back some sad memories).

Oh! I enjoyed the PICU anniversary party last Saturday night. We had some dancing, ate some cake, indulged with sweets and of course, I enjoyed taking photos.

just before the actual picture taking

Have a great weekend everyone. I will visit your blogs tomorrow. Am working tonight, need to take some rest.

God bless!

Inspirational Day #4

2010-02-06T06:38:00.218+04:00

It's weekend once again and it's time for our inspirational day. Am dedicating this post to my friend coffeevegie addict.......sis, we will always pray for you....panatilihin mo sana ang lakas at tibay ng loob na palagi kong hinahangaan sa 'yo......I know, your popsie's always around and he's watching over you from up above.

*******************************************************

I always cry whenever I see a gloomy sky because it reminds me the feeling of sadness and sorrow when I lost my father in 1997 due to colon cancer. Though I have accepted it and moved on with my life, I can't help but cry because I never had a chance to say how much I loved him and am really really sorry for hurting him.....his feelings. That I never meant to break my promises.

Often times, writing a poem for him alleviates the sadness and I remember that one of the blog entries in this webpage of mine was a poem for him. Somehow, it makes me feel that he's always around.......watching over me from up above.....that he's listening and embracing me......and telling me that " Daughter, you are forgiven."

"We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey."

~Kenji Miyazawa

"When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure." ~Author Unknown

"Although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow,
May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow."
~~Author Unknown

"The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God."

~~Eileen Elias Freeman

Never let the day passed by without telling your love ones how much you love them and that you are thankful for having them.

By the way, visit Ms. Eng's page and have a look at the photo and post that really touched my deepest emotion. Click here.

A blessed weekend to everyone.

Happy Anniversary PICU Team!!

2010-02-03T07:39:00.015+04:00

Yesterday I woke up early in preparation for the clicking stint (hahaha). Actually, I volunteered myself to take pictures of PICU team. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the hospital where I am working will celebrate its first year anniversary on February 8, 2010. Before the opening of PICU, we were working in ICU and we were using some of its bed to accomodate our pediatric patients.

Geared with tripod, my misalyn (Sony Cybershot point and shoot), and my jocel (Canon EOS 500D), I went straight to our unit....just right on the dot but some of the staff members came late, some were absent and there was a meeting of the consultants and specialists. After taking few snaps, our Nurse Manager decided to reschedule it because we can't wait for the doctors to finish their meeting. Some of the staff were from night shift so they really need to go home and rest.

Let me share some of the photos. Come and peek into my world of nursing.

a formal shot

another one

unplanned (stolen) shot

Shiney's showing Emily our 'sunshine fund' record

First 5 staff from left asked me to take a picture. I was about to clicked the camera when Emily and Babitha joined them, it's not in the center anymore.

In this photo, our Clinical Resource Nurse is reminding us to update our PALS (Pediatric Advance Life Support) certificates & card. Am guilty! I need to renew my license for PALS.

This is Ancy checking her patients medication in the electronic medical administration record before the counterchecking.

Starlet and Sheena just finished their bedside endorsement and they gladly pose for a shot

some brainstorming here for the presentation on February 11,2010 ( Lovely's leaning her chin on the table, she's so sleepy, just finished her first night duty)

That's all folks. Have a nice day blogging buddies.

Happy Anniversary PICU Team!!

Inspirational Day #3 and my 100th post

2010-01-30T11:23:00.009+04:00

Yesterday, we visited one of the highest mountains (check out my photoblog to see more photos..click here) here in UAE and as we drove on the road up to the mountain, I saw these weeds and plants yearning for the rays of the sun. It never failed to amaze me and I thought of hope, courage, love and the hindrances....which are important aspects in living as a human being.

I compared the rocks to hindrances......to our problems; and I compared the weeds and plants to humans...to us. These weeds and plants are thriving so much to keep themselves alive inspite of the heat of the sun especially during summer months and thrive with little or no rain at all.

And I thought, as humans, our hope, courage and love keep us alive. Without love, courage and hope, life is nothing....life can be miserable and the desolation of being unloved, without courage and hope to live for can be so scary.

“Love comes to those who still hope even though they've been disappointed, to those who still believe even though they've been betrayed, to those who still love even though they've been hurt before.”

~~ Author unknown

"Once you choose hope, anything's possible."

~~Christopher Reeve

"Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow."

~~Dorothy Thompson

"We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope".

~~Martin Luther King,Jr.

With hope, courage and love....life is so meaningful.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you guys for your support and perennial visits. This site will be nothing without you. May the virtual friendship that we have will continue to bloom. Looking forward to continue sharing my thoughts with you as I always enjoy reading your posts and learn something from you.

A blessed weekend to everyone.

Thank You!

2010-01-28T06:07:00.015+04:00

Hello! How are you blogging buddies? It has been a while since I posted an entry here. I had three night shifts and I was so tired. Please excuse me for being so slow in commenting and visiting your blogs these past few days...five days to be exact.

Thank you Lucy for the this Yummy award. I've posted it on my side bar. Please visit Lucy's Day to Day Life blog and What is left of a new whole life blog. She's an adorable 80-year old woman who always amazes me.

Knocked off from 3rd night shift yesterday, I just ate my breakfast, posted an entry for my city daily photoblog and I slept the whole day. Didn't even notice that it was already 06:00 PM until I heard the typical sound coming from the door. My husband came from central Abu Dhabi and he gave me these beautiful flowers.

Thanks hubby. Muah!

I want to thank you for guys for your perennial visits.You always make me happy.

Let me share this photo that I took last Monday after my first night shift. It is always nice to see the majestic sun spread its rays across the horizon.

"Each golden sunrise ushers in new opportunities for those who retain faith in themselves, and keep their chins up.... Meet the sunrise with confidence. Fill every golden minute with right thinking and worthwhile endeavor. Do this and there will be joy for you in each golden sunset."

~~Alonzo Newton Benn

A wonderful and thankful thursday to all of you.

Inspirational Day #2

2010-01-23T09:29:00.007+04:00

Good day my blogging friends. It's Saturday once again..and it's time for my Inspirational Day. Its time to reflect and thank the Almighty God for all the blessings that we have...each day and each breath that we take is a such a blessing.

Happiness is like a perfume: You can't give without getting a little on yourself"

~~Author Unknown

"Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"A cloud does not know when it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed...It feels an impulsion...this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know,too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizon."

~~Richard Bach

Talk not of wasted affection, affection never was wasted, If it enrich not the heart of another, its waters returning Back to their springs, like the rain shall fill them full of refreshment; That which the fountain sends forth returns again to the fountain.

~~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A blessed weekend to everyone.

Counting down...6 weeks to go!

2010-01-21T12:04:00.009+04:00

I am so excited to go home and spend my 19-day vacation with my children. I know that 19 days is not enough and am pretty sure that it'll be one of the most tiring vacations ( due to my hectic schedule) that I'll be having. I need to visit some schools to conduct surveys and some assessment for a foundation, plus I have to attend three graduation ceremonies, one for my JM (kindergarten), another one for my Joel (elementary) and the last one will be our "maid-in-heaven's" graduation (college). Am so excited to see them wearing their best clothes, shoes and their toga while receiving their diploma. Can't wait to see and celebrate with them the triumph of completing one important rite of passage in their lives.

Let me share some old photos:

Joel and JM

JM and hubby

JM, Sheila and Joel- wacky shot with the laptop's camera

Ghet and JM

Aside from attending my loved ones' graduation ceremonies and conducting school surveys , I will celebrate my birthday with the kids, some close friends and with my family. Yehey!! 6 weeks to go!! Can't wait to see you guys.

My random thoughts strike again

2010-01-19T11:58:00.009+04:00

I had my night shifts last Saturday and Sunday, it was actually one of the busiest nights that I had considering that on my first night I had 2 patients. In Pediatric intensive care unit setting, having 2 patients can be very difficult especially if the one allocated to you is non intubated. I’d rather have those sedated and paralyzed than those screaming and crying patients. Well, we can never choose our patients.

At the middle of the shift, I admitted a 6-month old baby with moderate respiratory distress and according to the physician specialist on duty, the baby needs to be connected in a Nasal CPAP. As soon as the baby arrived, I started my rapid cardiopulmonary assessment. I noticed that the baby is having moderate retractions and an audible rhonci and crackles, but looking at the respiratory effort, I concluded that the baby will be okay with oxygen delivered via nasal cannula.

The respiratory therapist on duty felt the same way too and we almost have the same assessment. The baby was placed on the cot and oxygen therapy was started. Looking at the baby’s breathing pattern, I noticed that he’s comfortable with 2 liters of oxygen. We started our routine admission protocols and history taking was started. I noticed that there were relatives outside the room and they were actually blocking our way. I didn’t want to argue with them. I asked one of the relatives to leave ICU and let the mother stay with the baby. Nobody listened; I decided to call the security guard and asked him to instruct the relatives to leave the PICU as they were instructed beforehand that they are not allowed to stay inside the room.

As soon as the guard approached one of the relatives, one female relative, which I believed was the auntie, shouted and told me “This is our country, this is our hospital, and we can do whatever we like to do. Pack your things and go home to your country if you don’t want what we are doing.” I didn’t want to lose my temper because I knew that I would be losing the therapeutic way of dealing with that kind of relative. I just ignored her and let the security guard dealt with it. I continued my nursing care and asked the mother to stay with the baby.

While doing the MRSA swab, the mother told me “I am so sorry sister, forgive my relative”. I didn’t answer but I smiled to acknowledge that I heard her and I just continued my nursing care. I didn’t notice that time passed by so fast and my night shift was over.

Why am I sharing this? I want to share that being a nurse is not easy. Horizontal violence thru verbal abuse can happen and if you don’t know how to deal with it, you will lose your control and temper. Hearing those demeaning statement can be very lethal and I guess that is one of the reasons why I became hypertensive. My life as a PICU nurse is so stressful, not just with the demands of it but including that horizontal violence from the relatives of our patients. I feel like being a nurse, you are holding a cactus in your hands, you are afraid to be hurt but you still love it.

If you will be given a chance, would you like to be a nurse?

Inspirational Day #1

2010-01-16T14:26:00.002+04:00

I have chosen Saturday as my Inspirational Day ,and every saturday allow me to share some of the thought provoking quotations that motivates me to face the challenges of this paradigm that I called life.

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." ~~ Confucius

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful."~~Buddha.

"Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."~~Hans Christian Anderson

"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. "~~Albert Camus

“Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better.”~~ Henry Rollins

A blessed weekend to all of you. God bless.

Support the Haiti Disaster Relief Effort

2010-01-15T11:51:00.013+04:00

Am sure by this time you already knew that Haiti was struck by a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake last Tuesday, January 12, 2010 and the said country is in chaos with an estimated death toll of 45,000 to 50,000 people.

While surfing the net for more news and updates, it sadden me to see those children and women crying in pain and devastation but at the same time my heart is rejoicing because of the endless help and aide that Haiti is getting from different organizations and countries. It makes me proud to see my colleagues in profession battling the catastrophic scenario to offer their help. My deepest gratitude to the volunteers and I salute you guys for doing that.

As a blogger, I am encouraging each and everyone of you to place the logo (powered by Blogger) in your side bar to show our support to the Haiti Disaster Relief Effort.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and survivors of the recent earthquake and let us hope that they get through this most difficult time. Let us offer our prayers for them.

"People never forget that helping hand especially when times are tough."

~~Catherine Pulsifer

" We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."

~~Dr. Loretta Scott

Aching and Funny Wednesday.....and Thankful Thursday...I'm back!

2010-01-14T09:00:00.014+04:00

Hello! How are you my blogging friends? I missed posting here for 3 days. I had 2 night duties and a day of struggle with hypertension. I stated in the comment box that I am supposed to be doing my last night duty for this week, last night. Unfortunately, my blood pressure shoot up maybe because of my stressful job or I was just so tired with the previous 2 nights.

During the second night duty, at the start of the shift, I was vomiting and I had a terrible throbbing headache but then I managed to finish my shift. Luckily, I was able to endorse quickly. As I stepped my foot in my bedroom, i just changed my clothes, brushed my teeth, took my medication and I went straight to bed. Few hours passed by but the throbbing headache was still there. I asked my husband to go home early. At exactly three o'clock in the afternoon, we were in Naima Clinic to see and ask for doctor's help. My blood pressure was 156/115mmHg and the pain was really killing me.

As soon as I got my newly prescribed medication, I took one tablet and waited for its effect. We just sat down for few minutes. Luckily, I felt relieved with 2 tablets of paracetamol ( 1,000 mg) and 1 tablet of cozar ( my antihypertensive medication). I called my unit and the Nursing Supervisor on duty to inform them that I won't be coming for night duty.

On our way home, I saw some sand dunes in Naima District and as usual, it was clicking time again hahaha. My hubby asked me if I can managed alone but then he accompained me while walking towards the subject. If you wish to see more photos of Naima district sand dunes and Green Mubazzarah, go and visit my photoblog. Click here.

Let me share this photo of the Hafeet Mountains and my frowning hubby while sitting on a bench ( irritated in what I have done; took several shots just for one subject).

hafeet mountains and Naima District sand dunes

frowning hubby in one of the parks in Green Mubazzarah

Am so thankful that I feel better today, my newly prescribed antihypertensive medication is such a wonder and above all, thanks to His healing power.

A wonderful thursday to all of you. Keep smiling.

Am linking this post to Thankful Thursday hosted by Simrat at Akal Ranch.

Mellow Yellow Monday & Blue Moday- on favorites, necessities and hobbies

2010-01-11T08:59:00.017+04:00

Last night, my hubby gave these flowers to me. There's no occasion but he knows that flowers will brighten up my day.

Thanks hubby.

flowers from hubby

Since this photography thing is growing on me, I've decided to buy a tripod. This tripod has a maximum height of 59 inches and with a low position height of 7 inches, very easy to carry because of its folded length of 17 inches and it has a carry case.

Our antivirus software is already expired. I bought this Norton 360 to protect our PC's from spywares,viruses and worms. We used it for 3 computers and I saved as much as AED 100 rather than buying 3 separate ones for my laptop, my sis-in-law's laptop and for the kids' laptop.

tripod and antivirus

Oh yeah, this is my tweety bird stuff toy ( *giggles*). I love it and i usually put it on my bed.

tweety bird- one of my favorite cartoon character

I love scented candles and collecting different shapes and colors is sort of a hobby for me.

pale yellow scented candle that i bought few months ago

A piece of thought : Once we discover that we have the potential in anything that we love to do, don't be afraid to try and maximize our potentials. Aside from the health benefits, since it can be our way of destressing, we'll never know the future lies ahead of us. Sometimes we'll realize that our hobbies can be our source of income and our source of happiness.

To mellow your day, click the badge of MYM and click the BM link below. Visit the other participants and enjoy! Happy MYM and BM to everyone.

Blue Monday

Monochrome Weekend- Shadow

2010-01-09T02:52:00.004+04:00

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”

~Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta

“What is life? An illusion, a shadow, a story, And the greatest good is little enough: for all life is a dream, and dreams themselves are only dreams”

~Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Thanks to Aileni for hosting The Monochrome Weekend. Click the link to participate and find an interesting and meaningful monochrome shots.

A blessed weekend to everyone.

Gifts for myself

2010-01-08T20:16:00.010+04:00

Okie docs, this is the girly-hippy side of myself. I love shopping ( but I am spending wisely) and I love pink, red and black. I love perfumes, bags, shoes and wallets. Oh yeah, very feminine.

pink- I feel like I am still young..... ha!ha!ha! ( by the way, am i old at 33? )

red- just love it...no particular reason

black- makes me feel lite and to mask my unwanted fats ha! ha! ha!

colourful and girly socks by Ninewest

Usually, i wear this kind of socks with my colorful scrub suits. As a pediatric ICU nurse, I love wearing colorful scrub suits, it is better to wear the colorful ones compared to plain scrubs. Sometimes, I notice that it is easier to deal with conscious ( i mean, not sedated with narcotics and controlled drugs) patients if I am wearing a colorful scrubs. Children love colors and the prints of cartoon characters.

pouch by Guess for my powder and lipstick

I don't use and wear make up. I just pamper myself with baby powder and a light shade of lipstick and lipgloss. I have an allergy with the cosmetics. A friend of mine told me that I must try the hypoallergenic type. Anyway, I am comfortable and contented with powder and lipstick. No more , no less.

cardigan by Marks & Spencer

cardigan by Mango

It's winter time here in UAE, albeit there is no snow in this side of the world, it is so cold . I need to wear a cardigan or a jacket. I usually leave my house at 06:40 A.M. or P.M ( depending on my shift) , and during those times, the weather can be chillin' cold.

Summer by Burberry- I love its summer and citrus scent

Even with these gifts for myself, I still feel that a vacation with the kids will be enough for me. Unfortunately, my vacation is only slated in March. Yuhooooooooooooo! 2 months to go!

How about you?.....I mean , what is your favourite colour? What was your gift for yourself last Christmas or New Year?

And speaking of gifts, one of my blogging friends is celebrating her birthday today. Happy, happy birthday Maricar! Here's my virtual gift:

Happy weekend everyone. Keep smiling.

this and that of my wednesday....nothing special

2010-01-07T10:41:00.016+04:00

Hello my blogging friends. How are you to day? I hope that everything is well and good. Sorry for the lack of post. Am getting addicted to clicking hahahaha and even today my mind is rumbling of what to write...ahhh...let me think...sigh*....?????//&&*** @@###...okay let me just write whatever comes into my mind....rambling....like walking without a purpose.

Yesterday, I woke up early and ironed the clothes of my husband. He's off to Abu Dhabi. Few minutes later, I had a nice cup of hot choco and started visiting and reading some blogs. I had to stop because I have to get myself ready for the CAREVUE training. Carevue is an electronic application for electronic medical documentation.

On the way to the IT Room, I saw this beautiful sunrise. Of course, I won't let it passed by....therefore, I clicked hahaha.

07:46 A.M. at Tawam Hospital Polyclinic

I, together with my 2 colleagues enjoyed the Carevue training. We were about to finish the first part of the practice session when the system just stopped working. We had to end the training early.

We bid goodbye with each other and I decided to visit the majesctic Al Ain Palace Museum (please click the link to view the related post and pictures). I rode a taxi and took my point-and-shoot-camera. All of the sudden, I changed my mind and decided to visit the Diwan Roundabout. I was so disappointed when I saw the fountains were not working. I walked to the other side and found the Diwan Building an interesting subject. So, I clicked again (will post the photos in my photoblog sometime this month).

After few snaps, I decided to continue walking with nothing in my head, and sometimes reflecting with anything about myself, just appreciating the nice weather. Enjoying the cool breeze of the wind as I breathe in and breathe out while looking at the colorful flowers, until I reached the bus stop area but then when I saw a taxi approaching City Seasons Hotel, I decided to ride a taxi.

After few minutes, I heard the taxi driver asking me " wen rou?", I opened my eyes and told him " Al Ain Palace Museum". I closed my eyes again and after few minutes more, the taxi stopped just right in front of Al Ain Palace Musem. Paid the fare and walked through the palace's main courtyard.

I was about to leave the Private Majlis of the palace when I noticed that i took a shot of myself. I stayed in the palace for more than an hour. Of course, with clicking hahaha. I decided to go home because I heard the burburic sound of my stomach.

Right after the late afternoon snack, I uploded all the photos from my camera to my laptop. Around 06:20 P.M. I saw my hubby standing just right infront of our room's door. I asked him if we could eat out. He said yes...and that's another story.

That's my reverberating wednesday. Forgive me if I bore you to death with this promenade post of mine. Thanks for reading. Keep smiling and before you leave my blog, let me share this quote that I found inside the palace. Have a nice day everyone.

with my reflections and the other visitors

The Weeds and the Friendship

2010-01-03T08:53:00.007+04:00

Have you ever noticed the weeds? Have you ever watched them sway as the wind blows? Have you ever thought how they thrive? Have you ever compared the weeds with your friends? Yes! With our friends.

Few weeks ago, I’ve posted my observations about the weeds here in UAE. Apart from those observations, I also thought about it in a different perspective. I compared the weeds with the humans. Weeds have different types, colors and shapes. Same with the humans, we are different from each other. We have our own identity and characteristic. We certainly come from different places thus; we have our different ways on thriving and living.

While pondering about my observations, I remember my mother telling me that friends usually come in a much unexpected situations like love. You’ll never know when it will happen. You will just wake up one day and realize that you’re in love. Same goes with the friendship; you’ll never know that even your worst enemy is going to be your best friend.

Back home, specifically in my place, gardeners usually deracinate the weeds and I think, most of the time they don’t realize how beautiful the weeds are. I think if somebody will tell them that some weeds can be an ornamental plant, they will consider growing them in their lawns and gardens. Much as like our friends, sometimes we do look at them in a superficial manner. Sometimes we tend to disregard their beauty, their uniqueness, and their strengths and respect their weaknesses. There are times and situations that we focus our attention mainly on what they can do for us and we forget to think of what we can do for them.

Real and genuine friendship, much as like with the weeds, you need to water and take good care of them so that it will thrive longer. You will never leave them suffering from drought.

I would love to know your thoughts about this subject. I would love to know as well, if have you ever compared the weeds with certain things, please share it with me and let me ponder with you.

Have a nice day my blogging friends.

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-01T08:23:00.002+04:00

Hello my blogging friends! How are you today? How's your new year celebration? I hope that you guys had fun.

Just want to share my New Year's Eve celebration. Me and my hubby travelled all the way from here, Al Ain City to Dubai to watch the amazing fireworks in Jumeirah Open Beach. Before going to Dubai, we headed off to Sharjah to picked up my youngest brother. We arrived at around 11:15 PM and we waited until midnight to witness the event . Of course, my night will not be complete without clicking :) Let me share some of imperfect shots. It was really difficult to capture a nice angle shot because of so many hands right infront of my camera. UAE residents from different emirates gathered together in Jumeirah Road along the Jumeirah open Beach to welcome the new year. We encountered heavy traffic and it was really difficult to find a parking area.

Anyway, here are some of the photos. If you wish to see more, please visit my photoblog. Click here.

click photos to enlarge

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Wishing you a wonderful year filled with love, peace, harmony and good health. God bless!

My 3rd Blogoversary

2009-12-31T04:49:00.004+04:00

Thank you!

Three years ago, I was alone in my room and was just looking at my laptop, my mind was wandering and wondering about the chronicles of my life as a nurse and how I missed the intensive care setting. I decided to write about how I feel and that's it......the birth of Nurse On Call blog.

Three years had passed by and I am still here, writing my thoughts about nursing, life, family and friendship.Until now, I don't usually write in a daily basis due to the nature of my job. Some of my colleagues often wonder how a busy nurse like me can still find time to blog when all I need is to rest after a tiring days or nights work. I often smile and tell them " I guess it is a matter of doing something that you really like. I always believe that if there's a will, there's a way."

Few months ago, I discovered that I have this great interest in photography. I started clicking and sharing my photos with my blogging friends. Last November 7, 2009, after writing my random thoughts about the chronicles of my life as an imperfect individual with main focus on the nature of my job, I thought of having a photoblog......thus, the birth of My Scraps and Patches in Al Ain, my imperfect shots and captured images about anything and everything of Al Ain.

Let me take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you. Thank you so much for your congenial presence and for letting me feel that someone is interested to know a bit part of me and even the 'unsual' part of me.

Happy New Year my blogging friends! I wish you good health and more blessing to come with peace and harmony in our hearts. All the best to each and everyone of you and to your families.

My Mellow Yellow Monday

2009-12-28T09:26:00.013+04:00

It was about 06:45 A.M, around 15 minutes before the endorsement, when something struck into my mind after I saw my colleague Imelda wearing a yellow isolation gown. I asked her if she can pose for me. Luckily, she said yes.

Nurses and all members of the healthcare team use the yellow isolation gown before entering the room of a patient that needs an isolation precaution, it can be droplet, airborne, contact or strict barrier precaution. This is a protective clothing that we wear along with the gloves, mask and other protective gears. Use of mask differ according to the type of disease but the yellow isolation gown will be used for all types of isolation precaution. Please be informed that isolation gown can be different from one healthcare institution to another.

my colleague Imelda

Another yellow...this is an example of a sharp bin. We throw the used needles and sharps here and all of it will be destroyed using an incinerator. When it reaches the 3/4 level , it should be closed and we need to open a new sharp bin.

yellow sharp bin

Last but not the least, this yellow wet floor warning sign is very important to our housekeeping department. At the beginning of the shift and as needed, the cleaners will mop the floor and will clean the entire nursing unit including the patients room.

wet floor warning sign

For more yellow posts, click the badge below and check out the other participants. Happy MYM!!

Keep smiling everyone. Will visit your blogs tomorrow. *Sigh. I'll be having my 3 days off starting on Wednesday until Friday.

Addicted to Twilight Saga

2009-12-27T04:31:00.008+04:00

(look how addicted I am, I even clicked it! hahaha)

I just finished watching Twilight and Twilight Saga: New Moon. I must say that I fell in love with the characters of Bella and Edward and I can’t wait to watch the other upcoming Twilight series; Eclipse and the Breaking Dawn.

Though fictional and fantasy because of Edward and the rest of the vampires, as well as Jacob and the rest of the werewolves, I still like it because of the romance part (Oh! I am a romantic type of person hahaha). It is actually a fantasy-romance movie that tackles life, love, choice and free will.

Since I can’t wait for the next film, which is slated to be released on June 30, 2010, I think I must buy the book of Stephanie Meyer, the author of the novel. For those who didn’t watch the movie, I think you better watch it and am sure that you’ll not regret it and much as like me, you will fall in love with it.

Ahhhh, it is nice to sit and relax, watch a movie while drinking a cup of tea. I still got 14 hours to rest and tonight will be another 'action' series of this paradigm I called nursing.

Piece of thought and reflections

2009-12-26T03:55:00.004+04:00

Few months ago, I discovered that I have this great interest in photography. I find it unsual if I will consider the nature of my job. Just imagine a pediatric nurse turned photo enthusiast. Isn't it unsual?

I can draw and I love sketching but this photography thing is quite interesting albeit very frustrating on my part because I don't have a nice camera. I have this point-and-shoot type digital camera. A 12.1 megapixel Sony Carl Zeiss Cybershot with 4x optical zoom and with 30mm wide-angle lens. Frustrasting because I find it difficult to capture flying birds and too difficult for macro shots and distant focus.

Another thing is the minor editing of photos. Currently, I am using the ACDSee Photomanager 2009. I find it easy to play with the applications but it is quite limited. Well, just fine with me especially I am a novice learner with very limited knowledge about the photography. Just trying my best to learn by playing with my imperfect shots. My way of relaxation after a tiring day's or night's hospital work. Am contemplating on buying a good camera and Photoshop CS4. I still need to learn a lot of things and I am not in hurry to do it. I'll take it one step at a time.

Here are some of my photos, indeed picture paints a thousand words.

monochrome in black and white

blur background with focus on the subject

just an ordinary shot with minor edit in exposure

monochrome in sepia

just an ordinary sky shot with minor edit in shadows

If you will try to examine my photos, you will feel the sadness deep inside me. Well, I am trying my best to cope up and face the challenges of this paradigm that I called life.

Pick your choice and please tell me why. A blessed Saturday to everyone. God bless.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-24T14:11:00.002+04:00

Instead of posting the usual season decorations, I am sharing this photo to each and everyone of you, my blogging friends. May the good Lord shower you with abundant blessings, a sunshine-filled and wonderful year ahead. Let us count our blessings and thank the gracious and loving Father.

Let me take this opportunity to thank you for sharing your insights and wonderful thoughts in each comment that you post. Your presence in this blog of mine is highly appreciated. Let me thank you for sharing your blogs with me, I enjoy reading and I always learn something from you. I may not write a comment in each post but I always read them whenever I am free from my hospital work.

Happy Holidays!

'Aching and Bleeding'

2009-12-21T10:52:00.014+04:00

I have 3 consecutive night shifts this week.Last night was the first and two more nights left before my 4 days off. Duty wise, my first night was uneventful and hoping for quiet nights with the remaining night shifts.

Life wise, my heart is aching and 'bleeding'. Yesterday,I made some tough decisions that really broke my heart but I have to do it or else I will continue hurting myself. My heart is yearning for my father's presence whenever I am in this kind of situation. His words of wisdom will certainly lessen the sadness and will always make me think of the positive outcome no matter how painful it is. I miss you Dad. I know you are watching over me from up above. I will whisper it in the air, I know that you will touch my heart and will embrace me tight.

Like those syringe,butterfly needle and tourniquet shown above, it hurt us when somebody draws some blood. The torniquet squeezes and tightens, the syringe and butterfly needle pricks our veins and capillaries and the blood will surely flow;ready to be transferred to the vacutainers (blood tops).

Ahhhhhhhhh...I hope that everything is going to be alright. Good thing that my hubby is very supportive. Forgive me friends if I bore you to death with this post of mine.

Time to rest and sleep. I'll visit your blogs tomorrow or as soon as I can. Keep safe my friends.

A Prayer

2009-12-19T05:59:00.004+04:00

Dear Heavenly Father, I am offering my hands to you,
Please bless these hands everytime I handle my patient with care.

Please bless my heart and soul as I start checking and preparing my patients medication.

Guide me with your words of life and wisdom,
In such way, and through Your presence, please give me an alert mind at all times;

Allow my ears to listen intently in every monitor’s alarm,

For life is such a blessing

And every breath we take is a miracle.

Dear Lord, I humbly offering myself unto you as nurse

And will always ask for your guidance.

Allow me to offer a light of hope to a sick child.

Amen

Pieces of thought

2009-12-15T05:43:00.005+04:00

United Arab Emirates, being one of the countries in the Middle East, is well-known for its steamy hot weather especially during the month of April until August, and August being the hottest. Wind blows and it makes you feel like standing in a huge microwave oven. It can be humid especially in Dubai, central Abu Dhabi and other northern emirates. Few weeks ago, Jeddah, KSA experienced a deadly flooding and last Saturday and Sunday, UAE experienced torrential rain. With my more than 4 years of stay here in UAE, I’ve experienced the hottest and it was quite surprising for me yet i find it amazing, to experience the torrential rain.

Ahhhhh…rain. It reminded me of my childhood, the happiness that rain brought to my life and there were lots of sad memories that sometimes I don’t want to think of, but on the brighter side, it makes me appreciate life in a different perspective, that after the rain, sun will come out to give us some warmth and a new ray of hope.

I opted to take some photos of the sky after the rain and let me share it with you.

a promise of another rainy day......

but definitely after rain, sun will come out....

and skies will be painted with wonderful colors....

to give us a new ray of hope and new beginning.

Let me leave you with this quote to ponder:

"In the rainy season, sometimes to get to the first lesson we had to run really quick, because we had to cross the river to school and we'd have to go up and down the bank to find a place to cross because there is no bridge." ~Haile Gebrselassie~

Go and visit Skywatch Friday to see more amazing and fantastic skies.Click here.

Have a sunny day to everyone! Keep smiling.God bless.

Love qoute to ponder

2009-12-12T02:38:00.005+04:00

Love is the emblem of eternity;

it confounds all notions of time;

effaces all memory of beginning,

all fear of an end.

~ Madame de Stael ~

An entry post for The Monochrome Weekend hosted by Aileni. Go and check out the Monochrome Maniacs.

A wonderful weekend to everyone. God bless.

Have I told you that I love you?

2009-12-10T03:48:00.005+04:00

Have I told you that I love you?

I know that you might not hear

whatever I wanted to utter,

I know that you might not read

whatever I wanted to write;

I know that you might not feel my warm embrace

and the soft kiss on your forehead..

But please let me whisper in the air…… I love you Dad.

Please keep on watching over me from up above.

A short note

2009-12-07T04:55:00.004+04:00

Good day everyone. Please allow me to say thank you for visiting my blog. I love reading your intelligent thoughts even in my simplest posts as much as I enjoy reading your wonderful thoughts and be awe with your splendid photos. In as much as I want to visit your lovely sites, I may not able to do so because I have few days off this week. I'll be back as soon as I can.

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have a nice day everyone. God bless.

Chow time!

2009-12-04T04:15:00.009+04:00

Well, well, well it's Friday once again and it's weekend for the Middle Eastern countries. I noticed that when its weekend, it is usually time for feasts. I am talking about the emirati population. For more than 4 years of living and staying here in UAE, mostly inside the hospital whenever I am on duty, after seeing and witnessing lots of emarati tradition, I can say that they really love feasts.....be it inside the hospital, in the hospital gardens or inside the patients room ( oh yes! that is so true!).

I can still remember my first few weeks here in UAE, that there were times I spent my whole day explaining ( or shall I say arguing...hmmm sounds nontherapeutic hahaha) with the family and visitors about the visiting policy. Oh I'm telling you, when they visit their sick relatives or even friends, they will bring their carpets, tea & coffee pots with tsai ang gahwa and of course, bowls of food and sweets.

It was about three months when I finally told myself..."enough Misalyn! Don't stress yourself" though there were times that I couldn't help but explain again and again and again..blah..blah..blah...until I get used to it. Khalas! I just ignored it.

Enough of that stories...well, since today is friday and I am craving for something to munch, and so unlucky that it is wee hours, I will stare at these photos and try to imagine how delicious is it( I ate some steak and shrimps and hubby ate the salmon and shrimps last week at Chilis Resto ).

grilled steak (well done) and shrimps with sauted vegetable, garlic bread and mashed potato

grilled salmon and shrimps with sauted vegetable and yellow rice

Come on let us imagine together (while sniffing some lettuce huhuhu...sounds familiar???)...so yummmmyyyy!!

Watery Wednesday- fountains and a quote to ponder

2009-12-02T21:24:00.011+04:00

click photos to enlarge

"In our consciousness, there are many negative seeds and also many positive seeds. The practice is to avoid watering the negative seeds, and to identify and water the positive seeds every day. "
~Thich Nhat Han

Posted for Watery Wednesday hosted by 2sweetnsaxy.Click here for more watery photos.

************************************

You may find that the quote I posted is quite irrelevant to my subject but I opted to use it for some reasons. I belong to an organization wherein we need to water all the 'positive seeds' and cast away those 'negative seeds' to keep the organization intact and function as a group with one mission and vision.

A piece of thought

2009-11-30T00:08:00.003+04:00

With all the problems and challenges in life, with the numerous and endless concerns that we have in our everyday lives, sometimes we forget to appreciate the small things around us. That life itself is a miracle and we should be thankful for every minute of it.

Every breath we take is an enormous proof that our existence is a miracle....

Even a glimpse of a sunrise is an abundant blessing ......

And as we lay to rest, the sunset is a constant reminder that life is indeed a miracle.

Thank you Lord for all the miracles..indeed YOU are our gracious and loving Father. Exalt Thy name.

A quote to ponder

2009-11-27T04:30:00.001+04:00

"The word 'happiness' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness."

~ Carl Gustav Jung

I miss them so much

2009-11-24T15:49:00.014+04:00

It was really difficult for me to get some sleep last night. I stayed on my bed with my laptop on at the bedside, wide awake, and blankly staring at the four corners of my room. I can hear the tick tack of the clock. I didn't noticed that I was crying until I heard my husband asking me" Hey! What's wrong? " I looked at him with my eyes shedding tears and then I hugged him. "You really miss them,right? " asked by my hubby. I replied" Oh, I really miss them so much".

JM's smile

my spiderman (Joel)

my little engineer (JM)

Joel prepared to visit Ski Dubai (June 2009)

Even Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore misses them too. Look how sad these buddies of Joel and JM are.

How I wish I can fly. I will definitely fly so high and fast like a speedlight to see my sons.I will surely kiss and hug them and tell them how much I love hugging and kissing them. Oh! please dear Lord, please give me more strength to endure this sadness in my heart.

I know, my children are reading this blog of mine. I miss you Joel and JM. Take care my adorable boys. Mama loves you so much. I will see you real soon...at least we can chat on the net. Somehow, it will lessen the sadness.Somehow, it alleviates the pain.

Huh! I think I need to relax and get some rest.

Breathe in..breathe out..relax

2009-11-23T14:40:00.010+04:00

As usual, nurse Misalyn is tired for having a critical and unstable patient in PICU and like most days, after work ,except during summer when the weather can be steamy hot, she wandered around the hospital's garden.

tiny violet flower

These are the lovely birds humming a sweet lullaby that made Misalyn closed here eyes and rest for a while. Sitting on the well-trimmed bermuda grass,with her eyes closed , arms wide open and breathing in the sweet scent of cool air, she started to embrace the natures gift of love.

Can you imagine what she just did few hours ago? Do you think she's insane? ha! ha! ha! :) How about you? What keeps you busy nowadays and what is your method or ways of relaxation? Care to share it with Misalyn? Am sure she will be delighted to learn about it.

Once again, am inviting everyone to join lordcm's Isang Minutong Smile.

Have a wonderful Monday to everyone. Ciao! Aloha! Paalam! Goodbye! Maasalam(a)! Keep smiling :)

Show me your sweetest Smile..Please?

2009-11-21T00:09:00.009+04:00

Therapeutic communication is one of the integral components of nursing. Nurses do communicate often with their patients and families within the process of nursing care. Smile is one of the nonverbal forms of communication which convey a message, both physically and subconsciously, “I am happy to see you and I am glad that you are here, or I am glad to be with you today, or I am glad that you are progressing and recuperating”

Technically speaking, when we smile and laugh, the brain produces endorphins which are chemicals inside our body that helps relieve physical as well as emotional stress, and thus, create a feeling of well-being. You might be interested also to know that a genuine smile increases the production of serotonin, the happiness hormone. I know that it sounds good but just imagine the nurses working in a very stressful areas or units like intensive care unit and ER. Some might say, “Look at those nurses, they hardly smile.”

Oh yes! That is the common assessment of the visitors and so unlucky that sometimes we just can’t help but frown and grimace especially when we are already exhausted. We are humans, we can get tired and weary. It just shows naturally as a common response to exhaustion.

I smile a lot before and during the beginning of my shift before the hunger, exhaustion and ‘toxicness’ starts to set it. I must admit, sometimes it is forced. I don’t want you to think that I don’t care about my patients. In fact, I do and I deeply care about them. Anyway, smiling is not the lone basis if we do care about our patients. I think what makes some of my smiles forced and unreal is the fact that am a bit scared of what will happen in the next hours of my shift. I don’t want my patient to deteriorate in my hands (which is unrealistic in a critical care setting). A typical example of this is my previous night shift. I had a septic patient with all infusions running. Name it; midazolam, nimbex, fentanyl, dopamine, epinephrine, furosemide, pantoprazole, and he do have it. With these continuous infusions, I should administer the other Intravenous antibiotics and IV medications as well as transfuse blood products in between. Not to mention that I have to enter my complete assessment in the CERNER in the next few hours while thinking of the intake and output, titrating the medications according to patient’s response, reviewing my nursing care plans and implement all of my nursing care. Oh dear! I feel that 12 hours is not enough. Anyway we can endorse whatever is unaccomplished and that is mainly the purpose of hand over: the continuity of care.

Probably you might think that I am complaining. Well, I am not complaining, (am smiling here) I am just stating some of the probable causes why do nurses tend to forget to smile and I hope if somebody with a relative or a friend admitted in the hospital stumbled upon this post of mine, he or she will understand why some of the nurses tend to forget to smile to the relatives and visitors or to the patient. Of course, we have to look at the present situation. One cannot smile if somebody’s dying or deteriorating. Anyway, nurses will still be there to pat your shoulders and stay with you to show our sincere empathy.

As a write this post, I remember a compatriot, a blogger and a forumer of POEA Message Board. Please support his A Minute of Smile Campaign. I am encouraging everybody to join.Please send your photo with your swetest smile. Please visit and have a look at the clickable logo in my photoblog ( if you wish to see some of my imperfect photos as well hahaha) or simply click here.

image source: lordcm

Please forgive me for using some of the medical jargons. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Keep smiling.

Celebration of happiness

2009-11-17T02:26:00.001+04:00

I had a nice day. I have completed and passed the Level II Competencies for PICU nurses as of 02:30 in the afternoon. Yehey!!

I woke up early and read some current information about central venous pressure (CVP) monitoring, drunk a cup of tea and took a bath. Spent my last few hours before the competencies with reading and analyzing the sample waveforms of arterial line and CVP lines. I need to catch up with the current trends because I was out of PICU for more than 3 years. Three years and eight months to be exact. So lucky that the nursing administration gave me an opportunity to transfer from Pediatric Surgical Unit to PICU during the first quarter of the current year.

I came just right on the dot and we started right away. I was too nervous yet too excited to finish the competencies. So lucky that our Clinical Resource Nurse (CRN) was in a good mood hahahaha. I will stop from here, am afraid that if I will continue, more medical jargons will be used and I don't want you to get bored of this post. I want to thank everybody who wished me goodluck. Thank you guys!

Before I end this post. I want to greet Ms. Lucy a happy ,happy 80th birthday. Keep blogging Lucy. More birthdays to come.

Happy Birthday!

Cheers!

(written : 11:50 PM , posted this time)

Let's celebrate

2009-11-13T21:58:00.016+04:00

Good day guys. I hope that verybody is well and good.

I just want to share my other blog which I started a week ago. Oh! Let me forewarn you that those click and shoot thing of mine are imperfectly captured by an equally imperfect and frustrated artist. Am doing it just to satisfy my imperfectly perfect desire to appreciate every pixels & colors of my photos and to share with you the beauty of the Spring Capital of UAE; Al Ain City.

Within the next few weeks, I promise that I will include some stories and information behind those photos. For the meantime, please bear with me. There you go...........please check it out and celebrate with me.

Cheers!

Gardens in the Sandbox

2009-11-11T13:24:00.010+04:00

These are my favorite places here in the hospital where I am working at. After a tiring shift, while waiting for the bus or while waiting for my hubby to come and fetch me, I will wander around these places while listening to the chirping birds as I take a glimpse to the beautiful flowers and trees.

parking area

garden infront of the polyclinic garden beside the taxi stand

sun-kissed bougainvillea

I used to sit on the grass while waiting for my hubby when it's chillin' cold but during summer time, when the temperature can be steamy hot, I usually stay inside the hospital.

Oh! It’s time for the meeting with PFS officers.Have a great Wednesday afternoon to all of you. Ciao!

Competencies, compentencies and competencies...whew!

2009-11-11T09:08:00.009+04:00

Our Clinical Resource Nurse is back. Guess what does it mean? Whoa! Another set of competencies to complete. This time around, we have our Level II competencies which include Pediatric trauma management, arterial and central venous pressure (CVP) reading, and Intercostal Catheters Management. With this set of competencies, I need more time to review and study.

Yesterday, I and my colleagues were talking about these competencies. Some of them are reluctant to do it this week and some are even saying that it was a bad decision that they transferred to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).I feel the same way too. I understand that competencies are part of our lives as nurses but sometimes I feel like we are over doing it. Anyway, we have to do it whether we like or not. Sigh..sigh..sigh.

Wish me luck guys, I have to do it on Monday, November 16, 2009.

Hello and goodbye

2009-11-09T11:51:00.007+04:00

Good day guys. I feel better today though am a bit tired. Oh! I'm still on tonight…..I need to take some rest, but before doing so, let me share these photos…..on my way home, I saw these sun-kissed cactus and bougainvilleas.

Have a nice day fellow bloggers.Bye bye for now.

Me,myself and I...flawed

2009-11-07T22:30:00.009+04:00

Life is a constant struggle for perfection and we, while yearning to reach these perfections are truly imperfect. Nobody’s perfect anyway except the word itself.

These past few days, I have been trying to examine the chronicles of my life as a nurse especially when I decided to work in a place that I first called haven in a sandbox. Is it really a haven? I thought it is but it isn’t. I know some of you will disagree because you just can’t imagine why till this very moment I’m still here. Do I have a choice? Yes, definitely I do have a choice but not this time.

Looking back at the time when I was still working at the Philippine Heart Center, I have had few wrong decisions that made my so called nursing life so imperfect until this time. If I can turn back the time, I will choose to fight and flounder my pride...it might have been different. As much as I wanted to escape from the reality….I know that the road for such is infinite….so as to perfection.

It may sound like I am unhappy to be here but I want you to know that I don’t regret it at all, for I have experienced so many things that money can’t buy….that those experiences contributed for what I am today….an enthusiastic nurse…willing to learn and accept the imperfections of being me. Afterall, everything happens for a reason and there is no such perfect paradigm on this school of thought that I called life.

my imperfect portrait

Have a wonderful and 'perfect' evening to all of you. Ciao!

Scent of A Woman 2

2009-11-05T23:41:00.003+04:00

Sorry dear hubby, I just can’t resist these lovely bottles. Promises are made to be broken ( oh no! ).Please forgive me.

The Beat by Burberry- it has a powdery scent, makes you feel like a baby.

Incanto Heaven by Salvatore Ferragamo - a perfect blend of fruity and floral scent, very light and feminine.

Me and My Silliness

2009-11-05T17:58:00.013+04:00

Nurses love flowers too and I am not an exemption to that.

I had a wonderful yet so tiring night duty. Wonderful because of the great team that we had and tiring because of the transfers and admissions. Our PICU can't accomodate Al Ain's growing population of sick paediatric patients due to increasing number of genetic disorders with underlying complications.

I admitted a patient with Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the keratin gene. One of these days, I will post an entry about this disorder. For the meantime, let me share with you why flowers came into the picture.

My patient was not admitted mainly because of Epidermolysis Bullosa, it was because of asthma attack,fever for 3 days duration and shortness of breath which triggered a very bad stridor that made him cyanotic. Accompanied by his grandmother and the ER nurse, we placed him on his bed. I saw him struggling with his breath but still reaching for his grandmother's hand. While doing the rapid cardiopulmonary assessment, I noticed that his grandmother was holding a beautiful white flower.From that very moment, I wanted to grab the flower and smell the scent of such flower. Very silly right? Ha! ha! ha! Just imagine how busy I was and yet I was thinking of grabbing the flower simply because I wanted to place it right under my nostrils ha! ha! ha!

On my way home, while walking towards my neighbour's house,I saw a river spinach and noticed it's flower. I know it is scentless, but I love it's blur white color.Please bear with me and my photos. Am contemplating of buying a good camera by early next year.

Have a flowery Thursday evening to all of you. Oh! I forgot to mention that am off today...yes! am off today! This silly nurse overlooked her schedule ha! ha! ha!

Craving

2009-11-03T10:44:00.019+04:00

I'll be having my 3 night shifts again and tonight is the 1st of 3 nights. I need to eat more..and am craving for steak. Right now, am dreaming of this well done, flame-grilled rib eye steak. Hmmmmm...yummy, delicious, delectable, tasty....what else? .....hahahaha!

How about you? Are you craving for something delicious? Come on guys, let's eat with gusto....okay, let me have a look what's inside the fridge.....gotcha! a piece of egg pie.

Have a nice day to all of you. Don't forget to drink lots of water (if not contraindicated), limit your intake of coffee, and drink a cup of green tea once daily. Cheers!

Tribute to those who offer their Help

2009-11-02T13:27:00.011+04:00

Today, we will be having our follow up meeting for the Relief Operation Part 2 of Pinoy Forumers Society for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng. The officers, volunteers and members will be heading to Marilao, Bulacan on November 7, 2009 to distribute the relief goods to our needy compatriots.

source: Sir Freedom

I want to say thank you to everybody for your time, love and efforts.Words are not enough to thank you guys. From day 1 of the planning stage,everybody is very supportive. Ours is not perfect....we all know that, but what matters most is our deep compassion to help our needy compatriots.

I woud like to thank Mrs. Zuniga, the principal of Bagumbong High School, Ms. Liway Flores of CRIBS, Inc. ( Create Responsive Infants by Sharing), to the parents of San Sebastian College (grade school level) students, our dear families and friends who supported our drive. Though I know that it's too early to say thank you, but I want you to know that we really appreciate every single help that you offer to PFS.

Go,go,go Pinoy Forumers Society!! May the good Lord shower all His blessing to all of you.

Arabic Tea Pot

2009-11-01T00:50:00.018+04:00

It is really good to take a rest and forget our worries once in a while.I felt so light and gay yesterday, been to Al Ain Mall with my hubby, sis-in-law Yhet and brother Gab. We had a sumptuous dinner at Ponderosa Steak house and Caravan Restaurant. The food was superb. We tried oriental,italian,and arabic food. On our way out to the east wing of the mall, I saw this beautiful giant arabic tea pot.

While previewing the photo using the ACDSee Photomanager2009, I remember the photo taken at the Al Ain Palace Museum way back April 2007. Sorry, this one looks bad, but I just want you to see the miniature ones.

She, Joel,JM,Nanay and nurse Misalyn

Have a lovely and peaceful Sunday to all of you. Hugs to everyone. Nurse Misalyn will take a rest, too. Oh! it's tea time again.Come, let's drink a cup of green tea.

Cry, Laugh, Shout and Breathe

2009-10-30T19:52:00.014+04:00

After an exhausting night duty, I just felt that I wanted to shout and cry. I am not complaining, in fact, I am and will be forever thankful for the countless blessings....but sometimes I can't help but cry...sometimes life is so unfair. I can't explain further what I am feeling right now, perhaps a body massage will alleviate all the pain. I wish I could.................

A cloudy day, the colors depict my emotions

Cry...it will ease the pain
Let your tears pour like rain
Laugh..it will lessen the burden
Though you are still hurtin'

Shout...let your outrage vanished
Breathe...let go all of those fears
Remain still and think,
Close your eyes and count your blessings.

Cry,shout,laugh and breathe
Whatever happens...
At the end of the day,you'll say...Thank you Lord!
With You...forever....I will stay.

Makaton and Me

2009-10-29T12:32:00.010+04:00

I have had a very tiring duty at the Pediatric Extended Care Unit for two consecutive days. The first day was plotted in the duty roster and on the second day, I had to continue because one of the staff was sick. My Nurse Manager asked me if I could continue the following day and I said yes. Anyway, it was actually better than going back to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and takes care of a new patient. It was a matter of continuity of care so I didn’t mind at all.

I had 3 patients; all of them were ventilator dependent and suffering from degenerative neuromuscular disease. All of them were all 'product of inbreeding'. Among the 3 patients, I loved taking care of Ash (not her real name). A four-year old girl with curly hair, lovely pouting lips and dark brown eyes. She actually caught my attention because I needed to communicate with her using the Makaton signs and symbols. Some pictures of signs and symbols were placed on her bedside table and I kept on looking with the signs and symbols while bathing her on bed. Honestly,I don't have any idea about it. During the physiotherapy and occupational therapy time for Ash, I asked Sam (one of the occupational therapist) about it. She gave me a bit of information and that was a big help for me. I became interested and here I am, surfing the net to seek more information about it.

As a PICU nurse working in acute care setting, Makaton signs and symbols are not being popularly used most of the time, our patients are mostly sedated and paralyzed with narcotics, controlled drugs and paralyzing agent especially when they are on high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV).

Makaton was first developed in the UK in the 1970's by Margaret Walker, Kathy Johnston and Tony Cornforth. It is a system of communication that uses a vocabulary of key words and graphic symbols mainly used by and with people who have communication, language and learning difficulties.

Come!, let us read together. Please follow these links:
1. http://www.signedlanguage.co.uk/makaton.html

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makaton

3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/place-london/A920071

Maybe am using some of it or i have been using it since I started working and even each and everyone of us, perhaps we are simply unaware of it. After all, communication is an integral part of our daily lives.

Happy reading. Have a wonderful day my fellow bloggers.

Reconnect, Reunite and Nurture

2009-10-25T23:22:00.010+04:00

When I came to UAE more than 4 years ago, initially I was so sad and anxious. Sad because I left my adorable JM and charming Joel with my Nanay. I knew that I won't be seeing them for at least 6 months. Anxious because I was afraid of living alone...away from my comfort zone, without those warm hugs and kisses that I used to have when I wake up each morning. Though I was so sad and anxious, at the same time I was so excited and optimistic. I told myself that I am ready to face my whole new world and I kept on reminding myself that we need to sacrifice...well, at least for quite some time...that was my old plan then. After 2005, changes happened almost each year.My first two weeks was just fine. I can't help but cry every time I remember my wonderful children. Anyway, I managed to cope up as the time passed by. It was year 2007 when they finally joined me here in Al Ain but last June of this year, we decided that they must stay in Bicol for some reasons. Anyway, I will visit them more often, at least once every 3 or 4 months for 2 to 3 weeks. My eldest is already 12 years old, we chat almost every day. Thanks to the amazing form of technology....thanks to the internet.

Speaking of internet, its fantastic how this techy works, so glad that I've found ma'am Cherie through her friendster blog...I am such a lurker. One day, I decided to leave a trail on her friendster page and the rest is history. Ten days ago, I had a nice and quick chat with ma'am Odessa thru the chatbox in her blog site. This month, I discovered that my co-moderator (of POEA Forum- USA , Canada and the rest of the Americas board) is into blogging....ate Lolit, I love your poetic lines.

With the power of worldwide web, we can reunite and reconnect with our family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances but it is up to us how do we want to nurture the friendship and any relationship that we have with them. Still, the power is in our hands. Hey you!...yes! it's you!.....get up and reconnect with your friends and love ones.

misalyn, sis-in-law Yhet & Eunice @ Tunisia Court ,IBN Batuta Mall

Have a wonderful day fellow bloggers. Hugs and kisses to all of you. God bless everyone.

Thank You

2009-10-25T14:45:00.011+04:00

I would like to welcome my friend and co-moderator (of POEA Forum) blueberrylight to the wonderful world of blogging. I love this coffeeveggie addict friend of mine, an exceptional creation of God with a big heart for our less fortunate compatriots, and loves her family so much.

Sis, I am proud that I came to know you. Words are not enough to express my gratitude for all the support that you're giving to Pinoy Forumers Society. I know that you will stay beside me through thick and thin...for that , let me say thank you so much.

Welcome to our world, welcome to the blogosphere! Looking forward to read more posts of yours.

Another friend and co-moderator, blogging since March 2009....our ate-nyo of POEA Forum, I fondly call her ate Lolit, a full time mother,doting wife to her husband, and an affectionate friend of everybody...as the pseudoname in the forum implies...ate-nyo. A very loyal officer of Pinoy Forumers Society.....ate Lolit, thank you so much!

Last but not the least...a lovely lady, a math wizard, a teacher, a very loving sister and daughter , a "kikay" friend and blogging since June 2008. One of the advisers of PFS...thanks sis for the 'open letter'...am optimistic (alam mo na yun). I may not always tell you how thankful I am for having you as a friend but in my heart you will always be my "little sister".

Thank you so much. Keep safe my dear friends. God bless.

Alpers' Disease

2009-10-22T21:46:00.025+04:00

When I was working at the Philippine Heart Center way back 2002, I have seen and experienced taking care of patients with cardiac anomalies, mainly congenital heart diseases with underlying genetic problems. When I came to UAE, I have seen lots of genetic and metabolic disorders more than of what I've expected to see. Honestly,during my firts few months of stay here in UAE, I was so naive about their tradition regarding marriage and 'inbreeding'. What is the connection between genetic disorders and 'inbreeding'? Do I need to explain further about it? I know readers are clever enough to understand what I mean. Well, to make it simple, just imagine a woman who married her cousin, got pregnant and delivered a genetically abnormal baby.

Few months ago, I had a special patient, an eight year-old boy with metabolic disorder, global developmental delay and seizure disorder. Before the handover, I thought it was not as complicated case as it was, compared to the other seizure disorders that we have in PICU. As the handover started I came to realized it's complexity and surprisingly even our clinical resource nurse admitted that she doesn’t have any idea about it.

Alpers' disease is also known as Alpers' syndrome and named after Bernard Jacob Alpers. It usually occur during and after the first year of life and sometimes as late as the fifth year of life (???? and rolling eyes coz i had an eight year old patient... I need to review the statistics about it). A rare syndrome characterized mainly of liver disease with elevated liver enzymes, developmental delay, failure to thrive,seizures (mostly generalized & intractable seizures) and progressive psychomotor retardation (source: excerpt from NINDS Alpers' Disease Information page and Wikipedia).

For more information about Alpers' disease, please follow the links below:

1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpers
2.http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/artic/ninds_alpers_disease_information_page_ninds.htm

After that duty,I phoned my single,female Arabic friend and shared with her about what I have learned that night. I believe that I need to enlighten her further about inbreeding. I will try,after all there is no harm in trying.

My 3 nights

2009-10-21T23:51:00.014+04:00

After my third night duty, I managed to reached home at around eight o'clock in the morning. I had a light breakfast, had a quick bath, made a phone call to hubby, and off to my bed.

I woke up at around two o'clock in the afternoon and walked slowly towards the bathroom. After a quick shower, I opened the windows to breathe some fresh air and walked towards my working table. I almost forgot that I have a meeting with the officers of Pinoy Forumers Society. I feel so tired, my legs and pelvis are aching.

My first night duty was fine though I floated to Pediatric Extended Care Unit. I had 3 ventilator dependent patients and all them are having neuromuscular disease. On my second night, I was so unlucky to have the most critical patient in PICU, a case of neonatal sepsis with ascites, pleural effusion, multi organ failure and Disseminated Intravascular coagulation. I was so toxic and did'nt even managed to sip a cup of tea after 12 midnight. Luckily,some of my colleagues were there to give me a hand when they were free...afterall, it's the essence of teamwork. My third night was fine..... well ,at least with the patient allocation but not with minor things that happened to me due to my inepthness (???). Anyway,I had a patient with chest infection due to aspiration,with seizure disorder and post Nissen fundoplication.

It was during my third night when I accidentally slipped on the floor, I did'nt noticed the wet floor because I was in a hurry to go the toilet to pee. Ouch!...it was so painful and still hurting till this time. I sustained a small bruise on my left and right knees. Blame the wet floor and the housekeeper hahahaha. Few hours later, a colleague asked me to prepare a fentanly infusion, after checking and counterchecking, I took the ampule and opened it......Ouch! another one...sustained a cut on my left forefinger. My goodness!...blame the ampule this time hahahaha.My pelvis and knees are still aching, my forefinger is sore, apart from that, I'm still fine.

As I write, it is almost 12 midnight, here I am..still wide awake. I can't sleep....staring at the four corners of my room while listening to a mellow music. I'll be fine...music will lessen the pain...it has a soothing effect.Speaking of pain, I remember our CRN (she's on leave) telling us " Yalah! don't forget your pain assessment every 4 hours and PRN, and 30 minutes post analgesic administration, don't forget the sedation agitation scale if your patients are sedated and paralyzed.". I hope she's enjoying her holiday.

First of 3 nights

2009-10-18T16:57:00.004+04:00

I'm getting ready for my 1st night duty.....yeah bah...yeah bah....it's action time! Hoping for a nice tea break later.

See you tomorrow my friends.Wishing for a quiet night. Gotta go!..wish me luck.

Scent of A Woman

2009-10-18T01:54:00.002+04:00

Here are some of the perfumes that you will see in the market. Some are old, some are new, and there are classic fragrances that we love to wear. I remember a friend of mine saying "Ano ba yan? Baka naman 'maengkanto' ka na nyan". I replied..."Oh! that reminds me that I need to try Incanto Heaven and Incanto Bliss."

Hey! don't get me wrong....I will not buy those perfumes anymore, I am an obedient wife nowadays...Am I? Can you please say yes my hubby???!
...oh come on!...say yes!

Scent #1 Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline......this one does'nt suits me, I bought this because of its unique bottle.

Scent # 2 D & G Light Blue....hhhmmmm I love this,my favorite indeed!

Scent # 3 Escada Into the Blue......smells like summer and it lasts all day long.

Scent #4 Nina by Nina Ricci.........sexy but subtle, sweet and flowery but it will not last long.

Scent # 5 Incanto Charms......very light and fresh. I love the bottle design.

Scent # 6 Incanto Dream.......citrus/fruity and exotic but it does'nt last long....bottle design matters too.

Scent# 7 Incanto Shine.......flowery, sexy, fruity,and very feminine, of course, just like the other Incanto perfumes, I like the bottle shape and design.

Would love to know your favorite perfume. Care to share it with me?

Global Handwashing Day

2009-10-16T10:53:00.001+04:00

image source: WHO

October 15 is marked as the official Global Hand washing Day. I stumbled across this article from one of the english newspapers here in UAE while surfing the net. Have a look and practice the steps of proper handwashing.

Being a nurse, I believe that handwashing is the single most effective way of preventing hospital acquired infections (nosocomial infections).As a mother, I always tell my kids to wash their hands properly.

Please follow this related link for your perusal:
http://www.who.int/gpsc/events/2008/15_10_08/en/

Come on guys! let us wash our hands and sniff a piece of lettuce.....oh! no,no,no...I want food...a real food,never mind those calories hahaha. Well, just for today....please? Have a nice day my fellow bloggers.

Pinoy Forumers Society Relief Operation Part II

2009-10-14T18:37:00.001+04:00

I am so happy and proud that the PFS 1st Relief Operation was a huge success because of the people who shared their time, love and efforts. Thank you guys!

Because of its success, the officers, members and volunteers of the group decided to conduct part two of the donation drive.

For more information, please visit the following links:

1.Pinoy Forumers Society on Facebook
2.Pinoy Forumers Society on Friendster

For officers, members and Board of Advisers, please visit this link:

1.Pinoy Forumers Society Wetpaint Site

God bless!