Canadians love their hockey rink

Well Pete this one is for you. Sorry that I haven't gotten any pictures with them playing on it but I always forget my camera in the evening when they are playing. Here is what the guys do for fun in the evenings. Put on stinky used gloves (by the way I don't miss the smell of the hockey gear), grab their sticks and start playing their games. In the last picture is the sitting area right above the rink and next to timmy's. It good because at night now we sit out in shorts and t-shirts and watch the games. We are going to get a game with the hospital going real soon. Its just so hard with everyones schedules. With people going on the leave periods, the hospital staff are getting quite scarce. Anyway right behind the rink is a volleyball net and beside that is a big open field where people will either play soccer or cricket. Because the weather is getting really warm there are tons of people out and about in the evenings. So there you go Pete there is your hockey rink.
ROTO 2 fellas COOL IN THE HOUSE and well I tried the Crystal Lite thing and that didn't fly, they love the whole Coolio thing, like I said there is a sign above CSR saying COOLIO'S CORNER. and by the way the new guy for CSR is AWESOME, he cracks me up and he is WAY BETTER the Birgit. I don't have any worries about him and well......HE DANCES WITH ME TO SALT N PEPA. That is all i need right

Anyway guys I am going to go now and have some chicken tenders becuase that seems to be the safe choice or the only choice these days for supper.

Busy but still time to Goof around

Again it has been a while but just when I thought the weekends were busy....The week gets busy. Tuesday I was at work from 700am till 1100am the next morning. CRAZY. But like the heading says there is still always time for goofing around. The first picture is Tiny Tim. He is the OR nurse. I am starting to get a Short Complex at work. they are all so tall and well my nexk is always sore from looking up at them. Today I got to enjoy a bit of the sun today. Its starting to get really hot here.

Just to let you all know I will be coming home on my vacation. I think that I miss my Boys way to much to not come home, and I have to see the little mans slapshot. There isn't anything much exciting going on except that we are still doing surgeries. And you are all pretty tired of hearing about amputations. Its funny that you work so much and when you get time off all you want to do is work because there isn't anything else to do. Never satisfyed eh. Anyway I am going to promise to try and take some time out of my day to write on here. I haven't kept up a diary so I am going to try and make this it. I miss you all and I can't wait to see everyone of you and share some of the experiences that I am having over here.

I am off to call my boys right now so take care everyone and I will chat tomorrow.

COOLIO ( that is my new name, even the CO and RSM call me that.)

More Ranges and no Beer for St Paddy's Day

Well its been a while since I have writin on this blog. Things are really getting busy. This weekend was another busy one. The other night we lost a little girl that was caught in the cross fire of a suicide Bomber. It was the hardest day yet. Seeing the innocence of a child. She was about 7 years old. I have found it hard to sleep the past couple of nights but I have to continue to think that this is why I am here. To try and help those who need it and I know that we can't save everyone.

On the good side, the little boy that we did the brain surgery on the other week, He is doing awesome and he was discharged a couple of days ago. He was walking and talking. That made my heart melt.

We didn't get beer for St Paddy's day but honestly even if there was Saturday was not the day to drink beer. The day defore that we all gathered for a group picture and as you can see I am my usual self. Goofing off to keep the spirits up. Then that afternoon we were back at the ranges. I am a killer LOL in the last picture it just shows you how hot it is, that is sweat. I thought that I have lost 5 pounds on the ranges alone. Its almost the end of March and

I am looking forward to the journey back home. To live a normal day without seeing deaths......to play with my little guy and eat MAcdonalds, watch Genereal Hospital and sit and chat with the girls.

In time. ladies we will have to have a big party when i get home.

again I don't regret one minute of this tour and I will remember the life experiences for the rest of my life. and honestly that little boy will be in my heart forever. seeing him walk out of here was truley a miracle for me. until tomorrow

Work Work Work

Its been a weeks since the CDN died, and a week since I have had the opportunity to write on my blog. Wow I never thought that I could ever work so much. We have had 2 different events of multiple casualties come in. In one of the events we lost 2 patients, one of them we lost on the table preforming a craniotomy. The other one just didn't really have a chance. Last night we lost another one from the same explosion and he just progressivly got worse and worse. For me that is 4 deaths in one week. Again what am I a Dental Tech????

In the first picture that is me just doing my regular STYLIN routine. It was another night that I was called in and well I was going to go outside and get a few things from the reefer. I know you ladies love the style. In the second pic that is me and Kathleen, She is a sweetheart. That was afterthe 20 hour night. I am surprised that I am even smiling and standing. I know that it was 5 hours after that picture I was back at work.

Today I am off.........I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am going to go get a coffee and get some sun. relax and take a breather.

Other than the work, life out here is better than i thought it would be. I mean the deaths and injuries are hard but the people are really good and supportive to everyone. The staff that I work with are really good and respect your time. Roto 2..............the cheif still isn't dancing but he is loosing up. I think that we are going to have a BBQ for St Patricks Day and I am crossing my fingers for BEER!!!! HA HA

We will see.

Anyway fellas I am on my way to get some UV rays. Hope you are all doing really good and I miss you all

Crystal

Work Work Work

Its been a weeks since the CDN died, and a week since I have had the opportunity to write on my blog. Wow I never thought that I could ever work so much. We have had 2 different events of multiple casualties come in. In one of the events we lost 2 patients, one of them we lost on the table preforming a craniotomy. The other one just didn't really have a chance. Last night we lost another one from the same explosion and he just progressivly got worse and worse. For me that is 4 deaths in one week. Again what am I a Dental Tech????

In the first picture that is me just doing my regular STYLIN routine. It was another night that I was called in and well I was going to go outside and get a few things from the reefer. I know you ladies love the style. In the second pic that is me and Kathleen, She is a sweetheart. That was afterthe 20 hour night. I am surprised that I am even smiling and standing. I know that it was 5 hours after that picture I was back at work.

Today I am off.........I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am going to go get a coffee and get some sun. relax and take a breather.

Other than the work, life out here is better than i thought it would be. I mean the deaths and injuries are hard but the people are really good and supportive to everyone. The staff that I work with are really good and respect your time. Roto 2..............the cheif still isn't dancing but he is loosing up. I think that we are going to have a BBQ for St Patricks Day and I am crossing my fingers for BEER!!!! HA HA

We will see.

Anyway fellas I am on my way to get some UV rays. Hope you are all doing really good and I miss you all

Crystal

The First Ramp Ceremony

You have probably all read in the news about the fallen soldier. Yesterday was a crazy day. We did 5 cases and then we had a little boy come in and we had to do another brain Surgery. All was good and it was almost time to pack it in when..............Four Canadians carrying a stretcher come in. It was all so surreal and fast. It was in the evening so there were not too many people around but good thing the surgeon was still there. I was beside the Doc the whole time in the trauma bay and was a part of it all. I was handing him the instruments as he was trying to save his life. I knew that I would be here for the worst but I NEVER thought that I would be that close to it. I was standing right beside the Doc when he asked for silence and "called the death" For a second I thought that it was only in the movies and tv but it was sooooooo real. The padre was there and the hospital was in utter silence.
Accidents happen and that is too bad. I remember thinking as I was cleaning up blood that someone is outside telling his buddies that he didn't make it.....................Now someone had to tell his family.
I was off today and I spent alot of time reflecting on what I saw. I just got back from the Ramp Ceremony. That is where they carry his casket into a plane and "Bring him Home"
It was again another experience that I will never forget. The image in my head right now is one of the ball bearers...............he was one of the guys that brought him in last night. They played Amazing Grace on the Bagpipes.
That song will always remind me on my First Ramp Ceremony.
Good night

Another Mass Casualty

There is something about Saturday nights or Sunday mornings that just don't go over so well. I had the day off yesterday and I was going to get some things done. I did sort off but I realy needed the time to relax. I fell asleep at 400 and didn't wake up until 730. So i was up for about 10 minutes and the pager went off....................damn. Anyway I got to the hospital and they told us that there were 9 coming in. I guess it wasn't a typical mass casualty but there was enough coming in that almost every one and their dogs were there. The patients came in and most of them were in stable condition............except one of them. If you were thinking of the injuries that he had, well he had them all. Missing leg, other one shattered beyond repair. two mangles arms. fractured skull and fractured face (a lefort class II, for you medical folk). He was losing so much blood that they truely couldn't keep up. one of the docs said that he hasn't seen anyone take this much blood product before. In the first picture i am pushing the fluid and the blood to the patient. Its pretty cool, col but nerve wrecking wondering if you are doing it right. The second picture is me doing my facial thing again, i think that it was during the Craniotomy. and well the last picture is again home away from home. That is GREEN BEANS the coffee house by the hospital. I went there last night and got alot of coffee's for the OR staff becuase it would be a long night. The setting in there is great.Off to the left there is a sitting area with chess boards and they play the coolest music.

Anyway i am getting ready to go back to work. I didn't stay for the outcome of the patient last night because i am working the next 7 days straight but i guess i will find out soon enough

CHOW