27 March 2008

Sorry, I know its been a while since I last posted. Its been a whirlwind few weeks. We had a period of slowness, I actually have a picture of our admission board where where we had no patients at all. And then Easter weekend picked things up, of course. The Taliban know that if they hit us on our religious holidays it will have more of an impact back in Canada, thanks to all the nay-sayers and the media. I did an interview with TSN when the NHL All Stars were here, I didn't even know I did an interview, but supposedly it made it on the air. Wish I could have told you when or where to look for it on line. I guess you could always email TSN and ask them. I met the CDS's wife. She was a dear sweet woman, she brought duffel bags of stuff for the kids at the local market. So thoughtful. So, ya the NHL All Stars were here, I talked to Bob Probert again, and I got my picture taken with the lead singer of Blue Rodeo, Jim Cuddy. They performed a concert later that night, it was awesome! Totally made you forget that you were standing in the middle of a war zone, in the desert, five million miles from home. It was fun hanging out with some old friends from home, Comeau, Ellie, Slade, it was great!
So things are going well, and I was able to do some work reno's. We had a wall at the hospital that we've been waiting forever to have torn down, so one of the other nurses and I tore it down. We took crowbars, hammers, screwdrivers and a saw to it, so now we have more space for more beds, more equipment and more movement. It was funny to watch everyone coming around to see what was going on, I was like "you didn't see anything"! But we got it done, and the roof never collapsed. We did leave the supporting beam! We knew that much! haha
I have been sick for the last 5 days or so now. Yesterday I finally was able to get out of bed, but the day before I spent about 6 hours at the hospital on IV's. Today I feel abit better again, so I don't intend to push myself, but just plan to relax, and get ready for my night shift. I haven't worked in about 4 days, which hasn't been fair to my colleagues. Luckily we've been slow, but I still feel guilty about missing my shifts and not being able to get out of bed.
We had a St Patrick's day BBQ, which was fun, and nice to have everyone out for the festivities.
On a downside, we had an American ramp ceremony the other day, we had just finished being briefed by the CDS, and then a few us went into the hospital to see if we could take a few of the US patients over the ramp ceremony. It was pretty emotional to wheel two of these guys over to say goodbye to their fallen comrades. It was pretty tough to stand up there with the patients, with their unit on the aircraft while they said farewell. Very emotional.
Derek seems to be doing well in Jamaica, getting lots of sun, and their ex seems to be in full swing. I believe he's home a month from now! I know he's pretty excited about that.
I have booked his tickets to Santorini, and plan to book mine today. We are pretty excited! 71 days until I leave and 73 days until I see Derek! yay!! We meet up in the airport in Athens and make the trip into Santorini together! I can't wait! We have absolutely nothing planned, just going to relax, eat and drink and lay around in the sun on the black sand beaches! I can't wait! And the best part is that because the island is so small, and we don't feel like doing something one day, we don't have to. We can just relax and take it one day at a time. That I like the best.
I hope we ride the donkey's again! How much fun was that!! haha
Anyway, so life is good. Other than being really really sick, I am good. Thanks for all the emails and the parcels, I'm sorry if I don't get back to you as quickly as maybe you think I should, but I will get back to you. I appreciate your patience and understanding.
Lots of love!
Mary Ann
xxoo

Its almost the middle of March! Yay!

Hi there, things have been going well so far this month. Its been a sad month, with our first ramp ceremony. I'm not going to jinx us and say that it will hopefully be the last. Sadly, we know there will be more, but I know that we will do absolutely everything possible if they come into us at the hospital. Our pace has slowed a bit and that is a good thing, its been a good chance to get in and get ourselves settled in, and organized and on our feet. I've been off sick the past few days, finally caught the bug that everyone else seems to have had, I think I slept 36hrs the other day. yikes! But before that I started my gym routine, which has been a nice release. So all is well. Time is going by quickly and I like that. I've started to make plans for our trip in June to Santorini. We are staying in the hotel we'd stayed at when we were on my HLTA from Kabul in 2005, so we are pumped to go back to one of our favorite haunts, and this time we'll do some day trips to other islands, and just relax and take it easy. I'm pretty excited, and so is Derek.
He's doing well in Jamaica, living in the jungle, we've talked a few times. He had a good birthday on Sat. The big 32! I keep teasing him that he is well into his 30's and I'm just barely 30. haha! Poor guy. But they made a cake for him, (although it said happy 33 on it heehee), and they all sang Happy Birthday to him. So that is good.
So I'm not sure if you all have heard yet, but the news is out, Elizabeth and Rob (sister and brother-in-law) are expecting! They are due Oct 1! I am pretty excited! I get to be an auntie again! (Well, Brit, you are more like a little sister than niece though!) I think we were all pretty surprised at the news! I think noone was more surprised than Elizabeth and Rob themselves! haha! I'm super excited at the news, and am just really hoping that I'll be home in time. It would be horrible to miss the birth of our new family edition, but I'm preparing myself for that possibility, especially if she goes into pre-term labour. But she won't, Eli is super healthy, and is listening to her body (after much badgering from all ha ha!), so we'll pray that all goes well and that I can be there to help out. Since Rob doesn't do well with body fluids or functions, I'm hoping to be the stand by for the big day! I'm excited to have another baby to buy shoes for! The plan is still to come home and start trying ourselves, so hopefully if all goes well, our kids won't be too far apart in age. But I won't count my eggs before the rooster and hen even get to see each other! ha ha
Anyway, all is well here. I'm doing good. Happy the time is passing quickly.
I can't talk too much about the patients we care for, or any particular cases, for obvious operational security matters. Plus, you don't really need to hear about the gore I see on a regular basis. It will just scar you. But just have a drink for me when you are out!
I hear that Ontario has retarded amounts of snow! Craziness! I'm kinda glad I'm not there to shovel it! ha ha. Derek feels the same! He's hoping it will all be gone by the time he gets home!
Talk to you all soon.
Mary Ann

A new month! 7 more to go!

Well here it is March 1st already. Hard to believe, where does the time go! Its been a fast 10 days and hard to believe that ten days have pasted since I got on the ground. I know that the rest of the tour will go by this quickly, and I'm keeping myself pre-occupied with work, and hanging out with friends who are not working at the hospital. Its nice to have some friends that you don't live, eat and work with, in a few months we'll be all sick of each other, which is normal, so I'm starting out with trying to have a bit of my own time. I am no longer in a room alone, I have two dutch roomies! The Dutch OR team is here, they are very nice, and have been here previously so they know what they are in for. I'm settling into my room and routine well though, and am very happy to be working at the bedside providing patient care. Derek is in Jamaica now, and has been putting in some pretty retarded long hours by the sounds of it getting the camp up and running and put together. We haven't chatted since he got there but I am hoping to catch him tonight (your time, tomorrow morning my time!) The time change is still throwing me for a bit too. I think its 10 1/2 hrs different from Ontario. Or something like that. I'm missing the puppies alot but mom has been able to send me some pictures of them up there, sounds like they are keeping mom busy too!
Well, things are going well at the hospital, I think we were all hoping Prince Harry would stop by for a visit before he left, but alas, the stars weren't ruling in our favour!haha! But its been busy, a few interesting cases, a few heartbreaking cases, of course, but its nice to feel like we are contributing. And I'm ok taking care of the Afghan Army and Police guys, since it means that they are fighting, and our fellow Canadians are taking a back seat, which I realize isn't always the case. But it still helps rationalize taking care of people who sometimes are not the friendliest or respectful towards women. But so far so good.
Anyway, so things are good, thanks again for all the emails and I will try to get back to you all soon.
Lots of love,
Mary Ann