Day 11-Monday!

Hey all! So another week started. Today went well. It was a little slow. We had quite a few no shows, so had some down time. I have just about finished the orientation checklists. Yay! I still have to go get checked off on the lab tests- lead testing, hematocrit/hemaglobin testing, rapid strep test, and accucheck. I've done all of these before except for the lead testing. The facilities I've been at screen for lead risk and only test if needed, so never have done it. I'm somewhat familiar with how it works, though the collection device, if I saw it correctly, looked different to me. I'll learn it, hopefully Wednesday. Went to a recipe club meeting with some of the women from the church I go to. It was fun. What they do is bring in a dish they made that's a recipe they have never tried before. We had broccoli and cheese (which I found out after eating most of the serving I got was made with cream of mushroom soup- which makes my tummy not so pleasant), chicken salad- 2 types, with red pepper and with green apples, cream cheese with topping that went on pumpernickel bread, pita chips, some type of grape salad looking dish, and strawberry shortcake (made with a pie crust shortbread that you put strawberries and whipped cream (fat free whipped cream)). It was good. =) Finally got my room picked up a little. I haven't put away all my clothes because I'm moving to lodge this coming Sunday and will have to pack everything up. I did get all my clothes into folded piles- separated by clothing type (tanks, short-sleeved casual shirts, long-sleeved casual shirts, non-casual clothing, and winter clothing). Yes I know it's May; I also know that the low here last night was in the 30's. Brrr. Funny thing here is that it doesn't have to be cold to get snow....weird. Apparently they get snow sometimes and it's like 50 degrees out. Strange. Anyway, looking into getting a humidifier, b/c my nasal passages are so dry! In fact, my nose is so dry that every time I blow it, it bleeds to some degree. Now, don't worry, not bleed bleed. What I mean is that the gunk that comes out is bloody, or partially bloody, and sometimes it actually bleeds. My nose feels like it has scabbed over 'boo-boos' instead of mucous membranes. Add on to that I am congested constantly. I thought my sinuses would like it our here- NO pollen, no high humidity, no allergens. Wrong! Too dry, too dusty, and different allergens instead. I think I may have a sinus infection today. I get them alot. Had a sinus headache most of the day. It wasn't too painful, mostly just annoying. =P Well, I'm gonna run. Gonna review some material, and prepare for my day tomorrow. I'll check in tomorrow!

Day 10-Sunday

Hey all! Went to church this morning and they had a potluck lunch afterward. The sermon was on 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, Jabez. It was good. Then hung out at home and picked up my room a bit. Then went to evening church at 6pm. It's a discipleship class and they're going through the Experiencing God Study. It was good too. The people are very nice there. Came home after that and took a shower! It was nice to finally get a real shower. Didn't have a shower rod for awhile and had to wash up/sponge bathe, wash hair under flow in tub. Not pleasant to do....hurt my back. =/ But that's okay. I got quick. hehe. Anyway, back to work tomorrow. They are having a one-day orientation for new hires, new contractors, and those that need to do their annual classes. I hope to go to that. We'll see. I had a cow cross the road in front of the car right in front of me. It was strange to me. =P It just meandered across the road, stopping the traffic. Apparently, that's not uncommon here. Anyway, have a great night!!!

Day 9 Saturday!!

Hey all! Sorry this is late. Went to Gallop. Went to the laundromat to wash my clothes in water that doesn't turn whites tan. =) Then went to the mall, bought some books at Waldenbooks-3. One book specifically for me, one for Kevin and one that both us will like. After that went to the Wal-Mart. Got a laundry hamper, a 3-drawer cart (needed something next to my bed to put my glasses, alarm clock, and phone on; and it'll double as food storage when I move into the Thunderbird.), laundry stain remover and wrinkle releaser, and bread. Went to the car wash after that. I went to Gallop with a fellow nurse, Nadolyn. We took her car. It was a dirty as mine (outside) because of all the dust. We stopped in Window Rock on the way home at a store called Lowe's (no not the home improvement store). This was a grocery store. I got spaghetti noodles, pasta sauce, Parmesan cheese, two boxes of pizza rolls, and garlic bread. I needed dinner items that aren't made in a microwave. I don't have a microwave here. =( Then I watched Beverly Hills Chihuahua. It was hilarious! I don't think I've ever laughed and cried so much in one movie. =D Hahaha. Y'all should watch it. Well, gonna go. Take care!

Day 8/ Friday!

Hey all! Today was good. The day flowed very well at the clinic. We did have a panic call. What that is that someone pushes a panic button somewhere and it's announced over the PA based on room. Then you start movin'....gotta find where the panic is and help! Anyway, I bought some jewelry today. I'll attach a pic. It's a necklace earring set. It's gorgeous! =) It's pink...hehe. Well, I'm going to go to bed now. I'm pooped! Oh tomorrow I may be going to Gallop with one of the nurses I work with (a fellow traveler). In Gallop, we'll not only hang out and have fun, but also wash clothes and go shopping (like grocery). Why you might ask? Because if you wash anything remotely white on the reservation it will become a tan color due to the discoloration of the water here (leave the water running and it becomes yellowish), and shopping because prices on the reservation are expensive (extra tax and they have to ship everything in) and there isn't much selection on the reservation. So there you have it! Have a great night! Oh, I also posted a pic of the back of my car to show how filthy it is. The dust can get so bad out here and then we get a rain storm, mild at best. Good for the sinuses, bad for the red car...hehe.

Day 7- 4th Day of Work

Hey all! Today was different at work. On Thursdays, there is no morning clinic. We don't see clients until after lunch. In the morning we clean the clinic, have our meetings and team building exercises. Today also included a mock drill. The unit I'm on did good. We have room for improvement. but they said we did do good. =) The weather was better today. It truly is gorgeous out here! Y'all have to come out here sometime in your life (preferably when it's not a dust storm). So, yeah, the weather is strange. I got sleeted on last night on my way back from the grocery store. (!!) It's May, it's not supposed to have precipitation of the wintry kid, is it? Apparently, it happens. One person told me that sometimes it does that, just snows or sleets out of the blue even when it's not cold out. Interesting. Anyway, tomorrow is Friday!!! Yeah for the weekend! I'm looking forward to the events I have coming up. =) I will let you know all about it. Until then,...Toodaloo!!!

Day 6- Work day 3

Hey all! Today was great! Here's the quick and easy. Cause I'm tired and it's late. =P I went to work today and was oriented to evening clinic. Work was good. Gave my first vaccines that were more than 2 at the same visit. There were four shots, 2 in each leg for this 4 yr old. He was not a happy camper. After work, I went to church at a church my associate pastor found for me out here. There was a time of discipleship followed by a corporate prayer time. They prayed for me, for God to help them become like an adoptive family for me while I'm here. And they don't even know me! Sat I'm going to help w/a soup kitchen type outreach w/the ladies, & Sun the church is having a potluck & they said I don't have to bring anything. They're wonderful people, & I'm excited to partner w/'em as a church. They truly have a heart for this city. It's awesome! Also, I went grocery shopping. I have skim milk again!! Yeah!! Plus, I finally have a shower rod!!!! I can finally take a shower. Yippee!! Well, I'm gonna go....need to get some sleep. =) Night!

Day 5/ Work Day 2

Hey all! Today was pretty awesome, both positive awesome and negative awesome (as in something that puts you in awe). I enjoyed working in the clinic. The people are very friendly and helpful. The providers (doctors, nurse practitioner) were very friendly and helpful too. The awe factor was the dust storm. It was very bad. =( It was so bad that we lost power and the computers for awhile, the waiting room was like standing outside in the dust, and Interstate 40 was shut down completely due to 3 tractor trailers that went off the road. I am going to attempt to post a picture that is better than 1000 words. =) Went to dinner with my roomie. It was good, okay it was only so-so. We went to the Holiday Inn to eat at there restaurant. I got a burger. Here they only have two cooking options: medium well and well-done. That's fine by me, I usually get medium well. Oh no no, I ordered it medium-well, and I got passed well-done. I can't imagine what well-done would have been like: black rock? =*O Anyway, the fries were good. And I had a cherry coke! Aaahhhh, my first soda since I've been here! I missed you soda!!! =) Here goes for the pic...