Saturday, November 8, 2014

A little progress


Good morning!  Blogger is all messed up...at least on this end of the computer!  I have not been able to post a thing.  The pictures are a bit distorted, but above is a little mug rug I finished up and put in the gift pile.


I cut one zillion 1.5 inch squares for the postage stamp quilt. I know because I counted them...NOT!!!  But there are a lot...


And I am joining the party, a bit late, making letters, following the Timecula Quilt shop instructions on their blog.  They are fun and fast!  I will replace the "M", because I don't particularly like the fabric choice I made.  Maybe the "O" too....and I am working backwards, because I am working backwards through the blog posts.



I am working on Christmas gifts too...and will show them when I am all done.



***********************Nurse's Notes********************

WARNING!!!  sad case here!!!


I had a patient....doesn't it always start like this??  I obtained written permission to tell her story...so I am not violating her privacy.

She was a nurse.  And a type one diabetic.  A very large lady, and she had bypass in the 1980's and many stents in the 90's.  She came in with chest pain, and there was just nothing the cardiologists and surgeons could do. Every vessel in her heart was clogged up. Then...she went into congestive heart failure, due to her very weak heart.  Then...her kidneys failed, and she was placed on continuous dialysis, not regular dialysis,  due to very low blood pressure.  Then...her liver enzymes shot up...then...her intestines became ischemic (low blood flow situation), and failed.  All the time, the family kept on saying "do everything you possibly can!".. The patient said..."Hospice for me".  So it was a continual struggle for the family and the patient.  But yesterday, when I had a day off, the hospital called me.  She had passed on quietly that morning.  So it was sad, and yet it was a relief for her, I think...and I also think that Heaven received another angel that day.  I had her every day when I was at work...the room will seem empty, where she was....


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



Back to the quilting stuff....


Have a great day everyone, and hug your loved ones close!!

Julie


17 comments:

Lilac Joan said...

Thank you for your posts. I especially like reading about your nursing journey. I am not a nurse (and never could be--I'm hopeless in a sickroom), but I so appreciate what you and your sisters do. Love your quilts too. You get so much done so I guess your computer time is a lot less than mine.

Unknown said...

As a nurse myself I've seen my share of sad stories. They sure can affect you as a nurse over time- I think that's why nurses are so important- we have such compassionate hearts! Thanks for sharing your stories!

Karen said...

Your mug rug made with strips could be made larger for place mats. Would make a nice gift item.

Roxanne said...

I'm doing the Temecula alphabet quilt too. They are easier to do in batches anyway. You'll catch up fast!

Lori said...

Love your projects. The mug rug is a cutie.
So sorry about your patient. What can we do to make sure our family follows our wishes?! I struggle with that after seeing my husband with his father.

Leeanne said...

Sad story, glad she passed peacefully. All your projects are looking great.

MARCIE said...

What a darling little quilty! I need to piece some of my extras into projects like that. I love both versions of your flying geese quilt. The blue is definitely more you, but the brown was great. Bye bye brown!

Sherrill said...

I remember when I was just starting out as a nurse's asst. and there was a man on the floor I was working that day in the final throes of dying. I really had to clue what to do and he had no one with him! Whenever I think of that, I always wished I'd spent some time with him as I'm sure he knew he was dying and alone. Sad, sad.

Quilter Kathy said...

Love your letters!

Janet O. said...

Cute little mug rug.
Wow--a zillion! That IS a lot!! : )
I plan to respect my fathers wishes not to "do all you can". He is so ready to go. A funeral for an old friend of his today--Dad let his family know he was jealous.

Chantal said...

WWWOONNNDERful work Julie, at the sewing machine just as at the hospital. It is a harsh thing to say but we all have to go. In her toughest moments she had someone as wonderful as you by her side. :)

Sandy said...

Cute little mug rug!
Sad about your lady.

KaHolly said...

Sometimes it's hard to let go. I really like your letters. I know I'm going to be sorry I didn't make them when all is said and done!

Nancy said...

Your patient's story is sad, but I am glad that she departed without suffering any more. I can only hope my family follows my end of life wishes that I've set up in a living will.

Joyce Carter said...

Hi Julie. I so enjoy reading your nurses stories. I think it takes a very compassionate person to be a nurse and I admire all of you for doing such a wonderful job
Your mug rug is very cute. It will make a great gift.

Barb said...

cute mug rug - sad story. I feel badly for the family, but glad for the patient that she passed peacefully. If a patient can speak, they need to be heard and respected I think.

Sue SA said...

Your red letters look great, the M is fine and will fit in with the rest of the team when they are all done!

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...