Still running.. and working!

This last weekend I spent a lot of time in Rock Springs.  I worked a 24 hour shift, then I was off for 24 before working another 24.  On my time off I went for what turned out to be a great run!

Trying to get a picture of all the stuff around my waist.  It's that time of the year that I usually overdress and then end up tying something around my waist.

When I started going to the best Running clinic anywhere at the UofU orthopedic hospital (ask for Laura) it was discovered that years of running holding my water bottle was causing me to swing my arms in front and across my chest.  No bueno for good form.  So until I'm much better at my form I'm trying to not run with my water bottle.  I dug in my closet and found a hydration belt that I bought about 5 years ago.

There it is! It holds my big insulated bottle and having it around my waist doesn't bother me too much.  I can also carry my phone and stuff in the front.  I'm not in love with it but it will do until I can afford something I really want.  I can even tie my long sleeve around my waist under the bottle.  It feels a little crowded but better then being hot!

It was a really good run of about 5 miles, running 11 min/miles average.  I had a wind in my face running back to the apartment and the higher elevation but I still felt good.  I didn't try to go fast....and I didn't.  It was nice and cool with the sun shining.  I had to do some puddle jumping though.

That's because the night before Rock Springs looked like 

THIS:

Crazy winters I tell ya!

Here's a pic from an easy run around Liberty Park.  It was hot.  Very hot.  In the last week I've ran:

5 miles - easy around my neighborhood.  I thought I was going to die it was   so hot and I felt dehydrated.

4 miles - downtown around Liberty after I dropped my car off.  I wore gloves   and it was windy.  I overdressed, of course.  My 2 miles Tempo run turned     into a little bit of speed work.  Oops.  Laura (Physical Therapist) told me to   wait on the speed work.  I'm still not "there" with my foot!

5 miles in RKS.  It was cool, but not glove weather. 

I've also been working.  A LOT!

It doesn't always look like this, but enough that it keeps me grateful for such an awesome job.  The picture above is at our Park City base and the picture below is the sun setting at our University of Utah Hospital Base.

I had quite the fixed wing transport.

I took this picture after we got back to the plane when we were done dropping the patient off at the hospital.  I spy a vent, suction, thermometer, my nurse purse and a lot of fear.  Lots and lots of stress and fear.  

It was a pediatric transport of an infant.  Despite the picture and using all the tricks in that particular bag, it was a difficult transport and I about fell to my knees in gratitude when I handed her over to the amazing team at our Children's Hospital.  The baby was alive and I think she'll do OK.  

Fixed wing transports can be long.  We were with this patient from about 9pm until midnight.  That is a long time.  Plus the weather was crappy and we were getting bounced around.  Just as we were landing I thought I was going to vomit from the heat, movement and stress.  I learn something new every time I transport someone and I feel like I made some good decisions even though I didn't have all the information about her condition.  Unfortunately we don't have x-rays or even x-ray vision in the aircraft.

SO in a nutshell it's all good.

Work is good, busy and exciting.

Running is coming along nicely and I feel like I'm getting stronger and I'm running better. 

How do you dress to run in the fall??

Are you nervous you will get cold??

Blog on..............

Back to my regularly scheduled life.

 It's summer!

This is what happens when your plane sits in the sun and we forgot to pull down the shades.  Hot as Haites!!!  I may or may not have been whining at this point.  Luckily it was a non patient leg of a transport.  Also, super lucky, the airplane has some great A/C!   

Work has been super busy.  Not just the actually hours I put in but the extra training and stuff involved with being a flight nurse.  My second job is going great and I don't have anymore "after work hours" stuff to do.  Being a nurse is a blast, but the continuing education can be over whelming.  With that, I'm done with excuses and whining.  I love working hard and even though my blog suffers, I don't!  

Plus the running....

A quick 3 mile run in Rock Springs.  Getting ready for the Wasatch Back in a couple of weeks and running at a higher elevation.  My pilot made fun of me in this outfit.  He was sure I couldn't be seen....haha

Here is my new brace.  

The only pain I have now is around the Peroneal nerve.  

(notmyfoot)

I'm not sure that I have tendonitis there but I wouldn't be surprised.  

My foot hurts the worse when I am in my flight boots. I looked everywhere for flight boots that may help but they are so expensive and there is no guarantee the pain would be better.  So I bought the brace and it fits nicely in my flight boots and so far so good.  My foot aches when I'm on it all day but the PF part of my pain is still pretty much gone since the surgery.  

Just still taking it slow on my runs and working on form.  It's not very exciting and I can't wait to get back to higher miles.  I just pimped all my friends into running and now they are running like crazy and I hate missing out!

In the meantime, I'm trying out this cleanse.

Here is a review (not mine).

Her review on the second time around.  She has some good hints!

It took a while to find a week when I had 3 days that I thought would work but I've started today.  My expectations are not to loose ton's of weight or anything (it's only 3 days!) but to get rid of this weird feeling of fullness.  I know I snack too much even though I eat healthy 90% of the time. 

THEN..just before I started.  My Magic Bullet bit the dust.  It had put in some good time so I wasn't too heartbroken.  I replaced Mr. MB toot sweet!

DOES ANY JOB IN 10 SECONDS....OR LESS!

How can I pass on that?  The new one has the bigger smoothie glasses with sipping tops.  It also has the bigger blender attachment. 

Its the small things.........

What is your favorite recent purchase?

Blog on............

"Yes Dorothy, dreams really do come true"

My work week in Pictures.

(and a few words)

On our way to Jackson Hole

I named this "Butte".  Because I wanted to.  Just "this" side of the airport.

It's a beautiful place to fly.

Shoved into the ambulance with all our gear. 

This was just one of the 6 - 30  minutes rides I took within 24 hours that day.

Yikes

Just say no!

I beautiful night to fly!

Here is a picture of my medic, Eric Froerer, from the Saturday night shift.  This is his last shift with AirMed and it is surely a loss for our program.  Fifteen years on the job.  Such an amazing guy, so nice.  He just happen to be there for my first flight ever and first flight by myself and my first helicopter shuttle.  He will always be more then a little special to me.  I was thrilled when I found out I was working with him and we had an excellent night!

Flying to the Raceway.

Making a big circle around so we can buzz the raceway!

It was really the highlight of my non-patient contact part of my career. I felt way more badass then I deserve...that is for certain!

Eric and our pilot, Greg.  They took us to the starting line with a golf cart.

Jet cars.  Loud and bright.  

Mater car.  Way awesome!  We were so close I felt the jet engines in my whole body.

Eric showing me the video he took.  Yes, he is missing part of his arm and has a hook.  I forget he has it because he is so awesome with it.  As far as I know there is nothing he can't do with it.  Even hold his phone...

Close!

Had to have proof!

Greg, me and Eric.

Back to the helicopter.  Such a good time!

That's some pretty kick ass highlights to a really tough week!  

Work hard and play harder!

Blog on.............

Night Night Baby

Lets face it.  Since I started working as a flight nurse, my "night shifts" take on a whole different meaning.  The truth is, if there isn't a flight then the team is sleeping. Of course there is the occasional night where you just fly all night and feel like you've been beaten with a large bat the next day.

In the ICU, when you work a night shift you are basically on your feet all night and if it's slow you are struggling against nature to stay awake.  Someones got to keep the patients from dying.  

I do most of my flight nursing on a fixed wing team.  That means when we get a call, our odds of being gone for 4-6 hours on just one call are almost 100%.  Sometimes we are gone longer.  Lately I've been scheduled a couple of shifts a month on the rotor/fixed wing team, meaning we do either, depending where the patient is.  

Doing a night shift in the hospital on the flight team is a difficult struggle for my psyche.  I have spent almost 10 years coming to the hospital, occasionally at night, to stay awake for 12 hours and do patient care.  My last flight team shift there, was at night.  I never did go to sleep.  Luckily it was because we had multiple flights and I just couldn't sleep in between.  I did learn a valuable lesson about being on the 3rd floor when our ready room is 3 floors away and getting a rotor call.  I did this thing called HUSTLE! 

Our helipad is attached to the hospital that happens to be up on the hill looking over the city.  It had been raining but was starting to clear up as the sun went down.  So beautiful. 

The new Helicopter EC-145.  I've talked about it for months and even put in 2 shifts at the U without flying.  Until now.  It was everything and more.

It was also my first "real" flight with NVG's (Night Vision Goggles).  

I have studied these things every time I work and a couple of times on my own.  I've ran around the helipad wearing them at night, I've practiced putting them off and on, I've had the best pilots and medics in the world that go over them with me again and again.  I'm really not an idiot, but I wanted to be prepared to use them and I don't care how many times you practice, the real world is what sinks in the knowledge.  Lets just say with the new helicopter and NVG's it was all I could do to get myself belted in and ready.  By the end of the night I was feeling a lot more comfortable with them.

That's when the best medic EVER comes into play.  I can't say enough.  Their strength is in the scene call and being with a medic that has more rotor experience then me was a life saver.  On the not so serious side, it was awesome!

On the super safety serious side.  I took the pictures of myself after the walk around and while the pilot was doing his preflight checks.  I decided a while ago that when I'm flying, with a patient or not, my head is the game.  It's really nice to check out of reality and think about something else.  Especially in the helicopter where we work as a team and we all are super vigilant about safety and looking for aircraft and other hazards.  Safety is only as good as your crew.  I do love a little light banter when we are out of class B airspace. 

Cool pic eh?

This was my foot in the airplane.  Yes, we did both sorts of flights.  Booya!  I was talking to my pilot about my podiatrist when I realized....hey, my foot doesn't hurt!  I was out of the boot for this shift and even though I planned to wear my night splint when I laid down, that never happened.  Twelve (14) hours in my flight boots and my foot did so good.  It was the first time in MONTHS that I've been on the airplane without pain.  The vibration of the airplane use to make it ache after about 30 minutes.  I spent 6 take off's and landings in various vibrating aircraft (teehee) and not once did my foot call attention to itself.  A slight ache at the end of my shift but that's it.

I can't even tell you what great news that is!  I'm sure your sick of hearing about my foot.  I get sick of worrying about it.  I am so glad that I had the surgery just for the decrease in daily pain.  It gives me the patience to go on and take it easy so I don't do any damage to the healing tissue and I can get back to my running.  

The best thing about night shifts that I had forgotten about?

No Guilt Jammie Day!!!  

Don't you just love being in jammies all day?

Working really weird hours for years I ignore the "social" acceptance of jammie time, sleep time, awake time and keeping my mouth shut  (OK that doesn't have anything to do with jammies).  But I do feel a little bad if I do nothing all day..unless I'm up all night making a living!  On that note, I don't go out in my jammies.....any more.  :)

Do you have a job that challenges you?

I know my friend Tera is going to answer this question like this.  "Only when I charge and you work"  Teehee   

Blog on...............

Making Memories

That's what our team did all day today.  Not by choice of course, but what the heck, you make the most of what happens.  Right?

It's almost necessary to succeed as a Flight Nurse.  

We flew into a small town to pick up a patient and then our plane had a problem.  Another flight team took our patient and we (me and my medic) ended up hanging out with the pilot in this small town airport waiting for our mechanic.  We borrowed the airport car to go get some food.

Of course I had meticulously planned my meals and taken them with me to work, but I didn't have them on the plane.  I needed to find something to eat.  After driving down the main street (took about 3 minutes) I realized a grocery store will be my only hope.

It was a Buick LaSabre.  Word.

My medic is way too cool.

Organic Turkey, an orange and 2 hard boiled egg.

Actually pretty dang good and held me over until I could eat the food that I brought. 

I am very proud of staying on task.  It was a very hard day and I just wanted a snickers, alcoholic beverage and a silly movie.  

I ended up driving 6 hours myself, in a rental car for 2 hours, flying for 30 minutes and now I'm in bed chowing down a grapefruit.  My favorite treat!

Hungry Runner Girl mentioned the Documentary "Hungry for Change" on her blog this morning and I'm watching it.  It really is good so far!  Talking about how we move less and eat so much more sugar.  Read your food labels!!  

How do you cope with a stressful day?

Blog on........

Trust Fall

Last night after I wrote this post, I still couldn't sleep.  I was at work in Rock Springs and since I couldn't sleep I naturally gave myself a mani-pedi at 2am. Just as I was settling back into bed and starting to get sleepy we got a call.  Unfortunately for my team, I was wide awake and wired.  My body is so crazy. Well it turned out to be the longest transport/return of my career. 

This is what the plane looked like by my side in my frustrated hustle for some patient care. I may or may not have tossed a few things to the side.  

Pointing out that although my job sounds glamorous and looks bad ass, there are some moments where everything seems to be going wrong that a few (hundred) cuss words may pass my lips.  

After we delivered the patient safely to a tertiary facility (big word = big hospital) we took a cab back to the hanger and we were told that the plane was covered in ice and we would have to let it thaw in the hangar for an hour and it might be 2 hours before we took off.  I was at about the 24 hour mark of wearing the same clothes and only had a 2 hour nap in those 24 hours.  I grabbed a blanket and tried to get some sleep on our sweet pleather couch.  

A couple of hours later and the ice on the runway was still bad and before we knew it they closed the ENTIRE airport because of ice conditions.  That put my pilot in time out and we were stuck.  Pilots are only allowed so many hours on duty and then need a set number of hours of rest before they can be on duty again.  The FAA is very strict and our pilots follow those rules and the rules of Air Methods to a tee.  Safety First!

In the end, we hung out with the Salt Lake crew at the Hangar until the airport opened back up and our SLC based plane took us (including our pilot) back to Rock Springs and picked up our other Rock Springs pilot to go get the plane. They were on their way to a transport so although it isn't like dropping off a friend, they did get us back around 3ish.  TWELVE HOURS! 

Before we left I was walking out of the SLC hangar when I saw three of the big snow removal machines go by.  They are pretty darn awesome.

The main International airport is just behind our planes. Crazy foggy/yucky.

 Looks like there is snow on the ground, huh?  NO no no.  Ice.  

Never trust an airplane hangar to catch you in a trust fall.  It was more like a violent slam to the ground.  Phone, helmet bag and work laptop (in a well padded bag) all went flying.  Luckily only the 3 pilots, 2 medics and multiple mechanics saw me.  One of the mechanics checked on me and the other guys just yelled from the plane.  It was so icy and SLIPPERY that they couldn't hurry to me without falling. Either that or they were too busy laughing.   

I brushed off and made it to the plane.  

I can't decide if I'm feeling crappy because of my "hard landing" or the fact I've been up around 40 hours.  I feel really lucky that I didn't hurt myself.  I am sure I would have had I not spent the last year working on a strong core.  TRX/Pilates ROCK!  I do know that my body wouldn't tolerate much of that.  

We had to take off over at one of the big runways.  The SLC team was on the way to pick up a patient so we were one of the first to take off.  Medical transport can get priority.  Bye bye horrible weather and ice.

Of course then I had to drive home. 

Guess I should get some sleep!  I have more painting to do and a post showing all my progress!

Watching the news it was clear that many many people fell today.  Utah doesn't do ice storms and we were running amok.  It was like a snowstorm in Georgia...what do we do?  what do we do?

Have you ever turfed it hard in front of a crowd??

PS. Not much about running right now. This long, hard to heal injury is just killing me!  

Blog on.................

Tuesday nerves!

Lets start this post out right!

That's right!  On my way home from the Rock I stopped at our new library and was greeted by no line and the best volunteers.  When one handed me my sticker he said, "Good work, Citizen".  Thank you volunteers! 

Speaking of the Rock.  Here is a peek at Sunday's flight.  Pretty sunset and successful flight, can't ask for anything better!

I also flew all night last night and now I'm exhausted.  So frustrating.  BUT, when I finally made it home my FREE RooSport had come in the mail!!

After touching it and seeing the quality I'm super excited to use it.  I will do a product review when I get back from Vegas.  I plan to wear it for all three legs so I can see how easy it is to use in the day and the night.  

Tomorrow I have a mock scene flight at work and I'm pretty nervous about it.  I learn so much from "pretend" scenarios, since my job requires us to be ready for just about anything.  I am just not good at it.  I get flustered easily and my memory wipes clean.  

I'll have to pre-medicate with bacon.

Luckily I had a massage tonight and my back and chest muscles were so tight!  I feel much better now, but I plan on keeping that chest stretched!  (heehee)

I guess it would help to meditate or something.  Life. Stress.  

Good thing I have bacon.  Lots of bacon.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Blog on...........

Working reward

The last three days have been interesting!  I'm really glad I got in my 14 mile long run on Sunday because the half marathon is about 10 days away and I haven't ran since.  I should do a tempo run tomorrow but I'm feeling "off" and hoping I can get out for at least a short run before I drive to Colorado Springs.  But more about that later.

Monday I went to work at the Rock.  I was feeling pretty tired when I got there so we did our usual plane check, equipment check, med check etc and then I laid down to read.  I was SOUND asleep in about 5 minutes.  Luckily I laid down when I did because about 90 minutes later the phone rang for a call.  I was excited because that is what I like to do.  When I called for report the patient seemed pretty sick and I was even more excited.  I don't wish for people to be sick, but that is what I'm trained on and work hard to keep my skills up for.  Transporting a sick ICU patients is one of my favorite.  

Unfortunately this patient was REALLY sick.  My first glance terrified me and I was sure he was too unstable to transport.  After some discussion with Medical Control and the receiving doctor it looked like we were on our way.  I had a great medic that is super smart and meticulous (and hot! - well that's unprofessional!  haha).  We spent a good hour at the hospital getting the patients meds on our pumps, assessing, taping and moving.  Let's just say this patient was over 300 lbs.  Very difficult to care for someone that large.  Very difficult to move patients that large.  I know that obesity is a complicated subject and if it was as easy as "calories in" and "calories out" then most people would be thin.  It's so much more complicated then that.  When I meet a critically ill patient that is obese, I don't know them.  I usually can't have a conversation with them because they have a breathing tube and I don't know the circumstances of their lives.  I do know that no matter what the reason is for their condition, it's almost impossible to care for them how I would like to and for their bodies to fight a good battle because of the extra stress on everything!  Sometimes, all the problems that my patients have (and this is not specific to any patient) that include obesity it's apparent that they aren't taking care of themselves.  That is frustrating.  Your body can only give as good as it's given.  

Luckily for us, we were able to transport the patient slowly and safely to a hospital equipped to to take care of the issues without any severe instability.  It took about 9 hours because of the care we had to take with moving and making sure the patient was safe and so were we.  The bad news is:  It totally kicked my ass.  The adrenaline that gets pumping and the physical work along with flying is a recipe for exhausted!  I LOVE my job!  But now I can't seem to get enough napping in.  I did make one mistake after the flight and I didn't have my EmergenC that I usually have after every flight with 2 bottles of water.  I could tell the next day I was dehydrated.     

At the airport we saw this Air Crane.  How cool is it???  It is for fighting fires. I watched some You Tube videos about them and they are impressive.

On the flight to SLC we saw a fire that was burning just south of Bear Lake.  It's pretty amazing to see it from the air.

Tuesday my son had to take our dog to the vet.

I hate it when something goes wrong when I'm out of town.  Matt left the same day I did and we were both a little worried about our dog, Ted.  He had been moping around, not eating well, puking and a little diarrhea.  The kids left at home watched him closely and then on Tuesday my son, Daniel, called me and said he was worried and wanted to take him to the vet.  We have the best Veterinarian ever - I called and he was able to take him right in.  After stool and blood tests they confirmed some sort of intestinal virus that Ted probably picked up from a long walk and drinking some water or something.  I guess there is a pretty big outbreak of it and the Vet had seen about 6 dogs in a week with it.  Ted was given some meds and sent home. Today when I got home I noticed he was a little more lazy then usual.  I love it when he lays like this, with his paws crossed.  He's a great dog!

My favorite part of the day!

Opening these!!

I work - I get a reward.  OR - my husband works, gets a bonus and I get new shoes!

YEAH, new shoes!!!

AGAIN?  I probably need an intervention but when Road Runner had a 25% off sale on shoes for VIP's AND they had the new Asics in PINK in men's - it was kismet.  The planets aligned and it had to happen.  I have the perfect outfit for them too.  Hahaha.  I will run in them!  They are stable enough and maybe I'll find they are the combination that will help my foot heal.  Who knows??  

Before I knew that I would feel sorta crappy today I signed up for an Athletic Conditioning class with the famous "ass kicking" Christian.  I napped most of the afternoon so I decided to go.  If you've never done Reformer Pilates then here is a pic of how they are:

Usually I just take a Pilates class but the studio 9th & 9th has other classes on the reformers too.  About 45 minutes into the class I thought I was going to vomit.  It was HARD!  Then we ended on 100 push ups   Doesn't he know I can only do about 10 push ups that are OK.  I tried though and by the time I finished and got in the car I could hardly hold up my arms.  Talking on the phone was painful. I just hope I can wash my hair tomorrow!

About Colorado Springs.  

My great friend Chris has a daughter Lyndsi.  (there will be a quiz later..haha) I have known Lyndsi since she was 7.  I met her the same weekend I met Chris up camping.  Chris and I have been good friends since.  When he lived in town we spent many weekends camping with other single parents and kids and had the best time ever.  He is truly a great man with a huge heart!

Lyndsi is now married and is having her second child.  She really doesn't have contact with her biological mom, so I have wormed my way in as pseudo mom.  I was there for the birth of her first boy and I'm hoping to be there for the second.  She has been pretty miserable and having labor pains, but I'll be there by Friday night.  I love this girl and think the world of her.  I'll be in Colorado at least a week, then I drive to Moab for my race.  I'll get some runs in before the race.  I hope.  One thing is for sure - there is going to be a lot of baby holding and sniffing.  My blog may temporarily transform itself into a baby blog.

Long post....lots of rambling!  Welcome to my head!

Do you ever just have a few days when you are exhausted???

Is there anyone in your circle of friends that you consider family?

How do you think the health care system should handle the ever increasing obese population?  

Blog on...............

Check out SUAR website!  She is giving away Yurbuds and they look pretty sweet!