Saturday, January 30, 2010

A little more progress

And so it goes...more on the blue and yellow sampler. This is maybe 1/5 completed now...at least the top.
I made a bunch of 4 patches a while back, as you may or may not remember. I have been wondering how to set them together. How about this block? I think it is a fun one! Remember, if you see a few strings on my quilt blocks, it is in your imagination. :)
I put the edging around the little crib blankie. This was great fun to do! This will be sent off to cover some NICU infant.



*************************Nurse's notes******************************


A trucker, 40 years old, a tough, big guy, was on the road, about 1000 miles away from home. He got the sniffles (let's call this gentleman Fred) in Utah...developed fever in New Mexico...and by the time he hit Texas he was really, really sick. He went to his doctor and got some antibiotics, and headed back out on the road for another 3 days. Long story short...he came into our hospital severely short on oxygen (hypoxic). He was my patient...and became more and more aggressively angry and confused (no oxygen to the brain). Ended up on the ventilator...and on the roto-prone bed, with severe white out pneumonia in both lungs. This bed turns patients completed face down, to promote oxygenation to the lungs. It is an ominous sight for a nurse...

Guess what the culprit was? H1N1 flu, and a secondary bacterial infection. Poor guy...he is recovering now, still on the ventilator after two weeks and now has a trach. I will keep you updated on him, he has a precious wife and family who are wonderfully supportive and desperately worried about him.


Get those flu shots...and get to the doctor if you get sick and take this one seriously, people. This flu is a killer of two of my patients this season so far.....


Now on a lighter note...



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



Have a super week!!


Julie

21 comments:

Jenni said...

I like the idea with the 4 patches, adn the sampler is coming on well.
We had a lot of the H1N1 at the hospital last winter. The hospital I work at is fairly small, and we don't have many reverse aircon isolation rooms, so if you didn't get it... I had my vaccination when it came out, so hopefully this winter coming it will be a bit better, but so many staff didn't have the vaccination even offered free.
Some of the Drs and nurses caught it last winter and had to have a few weeks off work.

Chookyblue...... said...

had my flu shot.......the whole family is done......

mkhquilts said...

Julie-First I want to say your blue and yellow sampler is wonderful! I really love that kind of sampler, with different sized blocks that fit together like a puzzle. I've made a few of them like that, and have a pattern for another one I'm going to start soon.
Secondly, I'm also a nurse/quilter. I also do Heartstrings quilts.
We have not seen too many cases in Spokane of H1N1, at least on surgical. That poor patient you wrote about! I'm sure many of us are praying for him!
Mary H-Spokane
http://mkhquilts.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I love the block you are using for your 4 patches - how are going to join them? Sashing/cornerstones? I am going to copy your idea as I have shoes boxes full of squares, this is the ideal project - thanks for sharing.....

Barb said...

Love the quilt you are working on....truly, just up my alley, what is it called and where can I get it?

Helen in the UK said...

Love the blocks you've chosen to use your 4patches.

Best wishes to your trucker patient. Why is it men either think they've got flu when they only have a cold or soldier on regardless until they are so sick?!?! There seems to be no happy medium with them :)

ria vogelzang said...

Thanks for warning us about this flu-killer, Julie. I allready had my shots, because I have astma.
Hope your patient is getting better soon.
Love your blue and yellow sampler and your other pictures.

Anonymous said...

Hello Julie, you have such a way of setting out your blocks in your quilts...love the four patch....I have my flu shot every year....Hugs Lyn

Shari said...

People aren't taking H1N1 too seriously in my area, but it is summer. The government is funding the vaccine and we are trying to get all our patients up to date before winter comes around again. I suspect this season will be worse than last... will be thinking of your trucker and hoping he can pull through... just like a man to try to tough it out...

On the quilty front glad to see you are making good progress on your various projects... not sure how to help with the insomnia side of things though... sounds like you are in the zone where you are afraid to go to bed because you won't sleep... hopefully your dr can help...

hugs - Shari

Amelia said...

The four patch took on a complete new look with the additional pieces.

The crocheted blanket turned out so cute...Lady, you do have talents.

Have a great week - be safe.

Unknown said...

Wow, after reading your nursing notes, I almost forgot about the quilt! I sure hope he recovers quickly. Isn't it amazing that in our haste to finish our jobs, we don't take care of ourselves first? Your quilt looks like it is coming along just beautifully and I love the block!

Connie said...

Hope your patient will make a full recovery! Your sampler is very pretty , Iworking on finishing my sampler now. HAPPY SEWING!

Suzy said...

Your blue and yellow sampler is coming along great! And I really love what you did with the 4 patches. The block is really eye-catching. Hope you don't mind if I steal that block idea in the future... LOL! :o)

The crochet blanket is so cute, especially with that edging. Some baby is going to be very lucky.

I'll be praying for that trucker. How scary to be so far from home and so sick. Men...the testosterone makes them think they are invincible, I think.

Quilter Kathy said...

That is so scarey. The media reports (lack of) on H1N1 here make it seem as if it's gone now.
Love your blocks :)

AnnieO said...

Loving your blue and yellow progress! What a happy spring quilt this will be. Also your new block is pretty--scrappy is always my favorite.

I have to get the H1N1 shot, they offer it through the hospital where I work. It sure is a scary bug since it starts out so innocently and then ravages through the upper respiratory system. I hope he improves and gets to go home in the next couple of weeks.

Pat said...

What a great setting for your 4-patches. I got my H1N1 this past week. Now they have SO much of the vaccine that they are practically begging people to get it...any age at all.

Angie said...

I love the block you picked for using the 4-patches. Your b/y sampler is going to be lovely! :) Someday...I will make me a b/y one. :) Is your crib quilt crocheted or knitted? It's lovely.

That is one scary story about your truck driver patient, Julie. I must confess that I always place less emphasis on what may be going on with me health-wise. And right now I'm dealing with sneezing and coughing issues. :/

Loris said...

Great progress on your beautiful yellow and blue blocks! and I love the block in the second picture..I'm going to keep that one in mind. I love the green in it.
I know what you mean about those roto beds...Years ago now, but I spent many a night in fear that the pt was going to fall out! Hope your trucker pt continues to improve. Strong work caring for him.

Sharon said...

Your little four patch looks great in that block. Thanks for the update on the flu...I agree that there are people out there that just don't take it seriously. I hope he is on the mend quickly.

Elaine Adair said...

I also, have been looking for a neat block to use up some orphan 4-patches - this one is cool! Great idea - thanks!

Sharon said...

My husband was a trucker, he was away and had surgery, was recovering at his moms in AZ. Kept telling me he was getting better. Finally he called my dad to take him to the hospital but it was too late. Internal infection and he passed away 5 days later. Why do these "I can do anything" men not listen to their bodies? I just battled breast cancer with radiation and dr. insisted on the h1n1 shot for me!

Puffins and purples!!

I was tempted by Puffins...a squirrelly breed!!  LOL!  This fabric was shared with me, and I have been loved these bright, candy corn colors...