Sometimes you just have to flip...

okay, the one person that will appreciate this comment is beck. i went rhonda fitz on somebody at work. for those of you who do not know who rhonda fitz is, she is the reason i met beck. in one night, i met beck at the csc, cussed out rhonda, packed everything i had in a fitted sheet, threw it down the hall and moved in with beck. the rest is history.

anyway, i went to work yesterday. i was not in the greatest mood. i did not have a great holiday, it was very stressful and i was ready to go back to work. okay here is the story! we have a resident at the snf who is a high risk elopement, demented as a betsy bug and sleeps with a fork wrapped up in a sock. needless to say, do you think we need to have her real close to then nurse's desk? so i make the suggestion to move this lady to a room that is across from the nurse's desk, away from the doors and she is off of the back hall. sounds realistic and logical to me. so when i leave work on wednesday, i let the charge nurse know that our executive director has said this resident needs to be moved - tonight. so i go into work on yesterday and the lady has not been moved. so i simply asked if the resident did not get moved because the room was not clean. this unit manager, we will call her nurse eyeballs, because she cuts her eyes at people all the time. nurse eyeballs proceeds to go into a tyrade that i can't make room moves at night, i need to get with nursing staff to make any moves and yada yada yada. eyeballs then proceeds to scream for the nurse, we will call her nurse wratchet, hope this spelling is correct, but you get the picture. eyeballs screams, yes i said screamed, did you know that she is moving...just another promise she is supposed to be on another unit!" nurse wratchet screams at me why is resident moving. so as if i need to explain anything to her, i begin to explain the rationale behind moving the resident. remember i make the decisions on room changes. she looks at me down her nose and over her stinking little glasses and screams, "what is that going to solve?" at this point i am fit to be tied. i turn and look at both of these "nurses" - i think they are both a disgrace to the nursing profession - and say "first of all i am not in the problem solving business...i manage chaos...furthermore, i do not question the clinical decisions that you make everyday as you care for your residents; therefore, you will not question my decisions as the director of social services...do i make myself clear?" nurse wratchet proceeds to say, well you don't have to fly off the handle to which i replied you don't have to ask so many damn questions. as i am walking down the hall some other smart ass employee says, well ginny just got her first dose of judy, this would be nurse wratchet. i did not turn around or miss a beat - i said judy just got her first dose of ginny. needless to say nurse wratchet or nurse eyeballs did not have anything to say to me today. this was the first of two major catastrophies that happened yesterday. i will blog on that issue tomorrow. i think i will change the name of my blog to the life and times of a nursing home social worker. again, why could i not be rich instead of so good looking? this is what my father always asked!

It is not my job....

I am so tired of hearing people say, 'it's not my job!" You know I wander if Jesus ever thought that it was not his job to do something. I work in the helping profession of healthcare. If people would stop and think, most people do not go to the hospital or nursing home because they do not have anything better to do. The people who are in the hospitals or nursing homes are sick...less than better health. They are ill, don't have the privacy of their home, have not had a bath or at least a good bath in several days and the list goes on. I am not here to say that I take care of every patient and every need they have. Nor am I saying that I am perfect but for crying out loud!!!! I have cleaned toilets, wiped tailends, fed, washed dentures and many other unmentionables. When I was in college, these things were not listed in social work 101. But let us make one thing very clear, you will not hear me say is "That is not my job!"

Just an update

I had a minute to update my blog. Not much has been going on here in our little world. Jamie has just turned 15 and I have had 5 teenage girls at my house overnight. Yes I think I have officially lost my mind. The kids are out for the holidays, which I am so happy. Jacob is such a pickle in the morning, and I am so sick of Jamie's algebra teacher I could scream. We do not have any big plans for Christmas. But we are going to the Beau Rivage - I think that is how you spell it - on NYE. We were supposed to go to Gatlinburg on December 2 to a friend's wedding. Nothing went right. We ended up not going. We have not been anywhere that has just been the two of us in a very long time. As I said, nothing comical or dramatic has happened. I will update later with another bassakward tale. love to all.

Stormy Weather...

It took me over an hour and a half to get to work this morning because of the weather. Now people up north drive all day every day in snow. But you let it rain in Alabama, and the world comes to a screeching halt...literally. However, more important than how long it took me to get to work is the issue that the schools let out early because of bad weather. When I was in school, I clearly remember getting into the hallway with a book over my head to protect me from the potential of flying glass that lined those hallways - the windows. Now, the school system is so scared of being held liable for something, they put our children on the mobile disasters waiting to happen - buses - cheese wagons - whatever you want to call it - and send our children home in the weather. I don't understand it. Oh and by the way, did I mention that those storms never came today. Have a great one!

Telepathy....

Okay every once in a while, your kids work together. Stephen called me tonight on the way home tonight. He said he was in WalMart buying stuff for supper. As he walked around the corner, what was calling his name? Christmas Tree Little Debbie cakes. So he bought a box. Yes I said "a box." Anyway, when he got home, he said that the front of the house looked different. Upon closer inspection, the kids - Jamie and Jacob - had gotten the Christmas tree out of the back room, put it together and decorated it. Did I mention that they are both still breathing? I was totally shocked! These are the same two kids who cannot ride in the backseat to school in the morning without having a major meltdown. Thank God for small miracles!

My first day....

Well, I have survived my first day as Director of Social Services. Doesn't that title sound important? Oh my goodness!!!! It has been three years since I have been in the nursing home, and boy does it feel good to be back. These residents are just "proud to be here." They are not worried about what clothes the other one has on. They don't care that the food on their plate is not color balanced. They are just happy to have a warm bed to sleep in, hot food on their plates and some amount of independence. I have been accustomed to working in the more "glamourous nursing homes"...is that an oxy moron? Anyway, I don't know that I will ever go back to that side. There are young and old in this facility. There are all sorts of socio economic levels. This is what social work is all about. Meeting a person where they are in life and traveling the rest of the way with them. I have alot of cleaning up to do in the office and just in record keeping in general. But it is going to be a joy to get there. The great thing about my job is it gives me a reality check...everyday!

People Amaze Me Part 2....

Just when you think you have seen it all, something else comes up. As you know, I have changed jobs...again. I have finally decided that nursing homes is where I belong. Anyway, I have worked at MCE for about 6 months. I have done nothing to any of these folks to make them be disgruntled, except maybe because they have had to cover my units when I was in the hospital. Anyway, when I came back to work from the last hospital stay, I was put on "desk duty." Thursday, I was in my office on "desk duty", and I thought I heard, "except Ginny." I was not sure so I did not pay it much attention. In a few minutes, a nurse that I work with, came to my office and said, "do you want me to order you something from Sal's?" I declined because I do not know what kind of food they have. Anyway, she went on to say, "OK, I was just checking...everybody else ordered chinese." Do you see my point? This goes back to "except Ginny." It just amazes me because all of these women claim to be Christians, but yet they treat people like second class citizens. Oh and did I mention, that no one in the office spoke to me all week except for the other social worker, Margaret. Oh well, I guess I just need to let it go. Two wrongs, don't make a right. Love to all.

People amaze me...

For those of you who have read my recent blog you know that I have been "under the weather" so to speak. Well I return to work today to be told by my boss, "We think you need to be on desk duty this week so you don't make yourself sick again." MAKE myself sick again. Is there some kind of sick joy out there to being laid up in a hospital, eating less than desirable food, having needles gouged in your arm while they "look" for a vein, and listening to everybody else's alarms go off on the floor. I wanted to smack her. Oh well, enough of that. Good night.

Come on 2007....

Okay, I have to be the most negligent blogger ever. But I have decided that I am going to do better at blogging. It is a good way for my friends and family to keep up with our day to day lives, but it is also good therapy. Here goes...

I have decided that 2006 has not been a good year. Well I guess it actually started in December. As many of you know, Stephen's dad was diagnosed with cancer in December. I began my adventure with kidney stones in February. Stephen's dad died in March. More kidney stones in April and May. Left DHR, otherwise known as hell, in May. Had a serious situation with Jamie in May. Started a new job at Medical Center East in May. Got pneumonia in June. Made it through July and August without too many bumps. End of September begins the latest...

On September 27, I am driving down Highway 78 and I black out. Yes I said black out. Some how I managed not to flip my truck and ended up in the Food World parking lot. EMS came and got me and took me to Trinity Medical Center - used to be Montclair. My heart is going crazy, blood pressure is sky rocketing and my blood sugar is over 500. Should I mention that I had just had the ^%&^^%*& scared out of me . Anyway, they thought I had had a MI - heart attack. They admit me to the hospital. On Thursday, I go through my first and hopefully last arteriorgram. The outcome was at the tender age of 31 I have "mild coronary artery disease" - thanks diabetes. The cardiologist said it was not enough to worry about at this time - easy for you to say. They dismiss me from the hospital on Saturday. Don't understand why since I was still tachycardic as well as blood pressure still high. Went back to work on Monday. Get on MICU, get cold, clammy, sweaty, tachycardic, blood pressure - get the picture? Needless to say they put me back in the hospital - October 2 - 6. During this hospitalization, they come to the conclusion that I have H. Pylorei, high blood pressure and hyperthyroidism. Did I mention I have gained 32 pounds since July? Let me just tell those of you who are not 30 yet - it goes down hill - slap down hill. So I have to go on this suicide concoction of antibiotics that actually made me feel worse than when I blacked out and had a tube run up my leg to my heart. So I get out of the hospital on October 6. I won't even go into the war that my doctor and I got into. He basically told me I was a fat ass drug addict. I'll share more later. I go back to work on October 8 only to be written up, or as Medical Center East calls it, "positively redirected" because I had excessive absences. Oh I'm sorry I was a patient in your hospital. HELLO! Anyway, drama continues with "orientation reunion." This was a waste of time. This is where the newest employees of MCE come together to talk about their first six months of employment. Oh my - don't you know that I had an earful for them.

Then we go to Maw Maw's house, and wouldn't you know it - a kidney stone hit from hell. I got to pay a visit to the largest hospital in Georgiana, AL. I did not care what hospital big or small as long as they made the pain go away. Meanwhile back at the ranch, I have decided that I do not like "hospital social work." It is not social work. It is cattle herding. Regardless of whether the patient is medically ready or even socially ready - abuse cases - they have to go if the insurance company says so. I don't get to do social work every day. I only get to clean the shit off the fan after it has hit the fan. As luck would have it, word of mouth made it to a nursing home administrator that there was a disgruntled social worker in the community who loved the nursing home and wanted to go back. I was offered a job as the Director of Social Services at a nursing home in Birmingham, as well as the opportunity to train for the administrator's job. It did not hurt that it was a $10K pay raise. So I turned my notice in. Well guess what? Yep you guessed it I just got out of the hospital again. Monday, October 30, I was readmitted to the hospital with DKA - diabectic ketoacidosis and GI bleed. While in the hospital they found that my right kidney "looked funny." Yes this is comforting. Upon further investigation, it was found that this was medulary calcidosis - I think I spelled it right. This is basically that I have had so many kidney stones in such a short period of time that it has made calcifications on my kidney. Oh did I mention I have five kidney stones in my right kidney as we speak? The good news is though that I am not in kidney failure or anywhere close to it. Most of you are probably thinking why do I even bother getting out of bed. Some days I wander the same thing. But as long as I can go I am going to go. If nothing else maybe this can be comic relief that Murphy's Law still exists. Until the next drama, good night.

The Bass Infirmary...

I just hope I spelled infirmary right!!!! Anyway, can I tell ya'll just how sick I am. Sick, sick, sicker than a dog. Okay enough drama. You see I got sick Tuesday night after cutting grass. I thought oh just a little bit of dirt up the ole sinuses, blow it out with some saline and everything will be fine. Oh no!! Nothing is ever simple for Virginia!!! I go on to work Wednesday, go in late on Thursday - yes this is at the new job - and Friday morning forget it! Can't talk, can't move, don't want to talk and don't want to move! So I suffer through Friday. Jamie and her friends come over to watch movies while Stephen takes Jacob to see "Cars". I must admit the teenagers were good. Stephen leaves Saturday afternoon to go to his mother's house - with the children. I am at home to be miserable - at my own request. I ask Big Aud to come out to the house and stay with me, but she is cooking. So I get up in my workout pants, nasty Relay for Life shirt and dress shoes and go to my mom's house. (It was the only pair of shoes I could find with no effort.) I spend the night at mom's house. Sunday my sister, Skinny Lib, comes to visit. I tell her bye because I am fixing to somehow take my nasty sick butt to the doctor. She says, "Oh but no! I will take you!" We get to the clinic and the drama begins.

Why is it that every time I go to the doctor they have to give me an IV? I drink all the time. I am diabetic. Part of being diabetic is being thirsty all the time hence the reason you drink all the time. Dr. Hamer says, "You are dry...you have fluid behind your right ear drum...a river behind your left ear drum and your heart is racing...oh by the way, have you ever wheezed...well it is back with a vengence...your sinuses are screwed up...I can't see through them!" Nice to see you too doc! So they start an IV - only after three attempts, pump me full of fludis, run Rocephin through the IV and gives me a RX for Endal, coug syrup with a kick, and Zythromax. (For those of you who know me very well, it is usually no less than about 10 sticks to get an IV.) Then my sister says, "Can she go back to work?" His response, "Gosh dang no...she can't go back on the floor sick as she is!" So now here I go back home to call my new boss of all of three weeks to say, "Hey, I have the crud...I can't come back to work till Wednesday." But you know what? God blessed me with this wonderful boss - unlike others I have had - and she said, "OK, get better...we will handle it!" I say, "Am I going to get in trouble?" She says. "Why for being sick?...get well." Oh for the small blessings in life.

Okay it is almost 24 hours later, I still feel like crap. I cough nothing comes up, my chest hurts, and I can't get my breath. OK now I know how CHF patients feel. I don't know who is the worst patient, nurses, social workers or men. It is definately a toss up.

On a happier note, my nephew, Bill, has finally gotten a job and an apartment in Lousiana. He will be at least within an hour of Hannah. I selfishly want things to work out to where we can all be one big happy family, but I the common sense side of me wants Hannah to know her mom and dad. Keep them in your prayers. Another Bass Akward tale later! Love to all!

Thank God for family reunions, Part 2

For those of us with kids, you will find this story amazing! God does have mercy on us as parents when we have long trips. For several weeks, Stephen and I had been planning a trip to Dothan, AL. Every year, Stephen's mother's side of the family has a cook out at his cousin's, Glenda, house. So this year, was no different. Our weekend agenda was the family cook out, go to Dothan and see Micheal and Tammy and go to Panama City Beach.

We had to be in Ozark, where Glenda lives, at 10:30 am on Saturday. This would mean that the Bass family would have to be out of the door at 6:30AM. For those of you who have known me for a long time - this ain't happening. There is no way that I can get myself and two kids up and dressed and out of the door for a 6 hour trip at this time of the morning.

So we decided to go to Prattville and spend the night, adn then get up Saturday morning to go to Ozark. This worked beautifully. So we get to the hotel in Prattville. Very nice and accomadating. All the kids wanted to do was to go swimming - it had an indoor pool. Okay, fact number one. See I can't understand why women get so upset every summer because their swimsuit does not fit right. MINE HAS NEVER FIT RIGHT! Therefore, it is no surprise to me each summer when I look down to find that intertube around my waist. The kids had fun in the pool, and then every guest of Country Inn and Suites, got to see me almost do a belly flop into the hot tub. Yes, I said belly flop. No one bothered to tell me there were two steps into the hot tub. So as I am "gracefully" trying to get my big behind in the hot tub, I step off of what I thought was the only step, and near about kill myself! So once all that was over, we went back to the room - to sleep.

Well we got to the family reunion. It was great! This is just about the only time that we get to see Maw Maw's side of the family unless someone dies. You all know that it is the truth. We cooked out hamburgers and swam and all that good stuff! We left Glenda's, Stephen's cousin, about two. Tami and Micheal, our friends in Dothan, had a wedding on Saturday morning and visitation Saturday night. So we did not try to do anything with them on Saturday. Sunday we went to their house and cooked out steak and potatoes. Oh my goodness those were the biggest, most tender perfectly cooked steaks I have ever put in my mouth. It was so great to get to spend some time with them. I just wish we had not had to leave. We get to see Micheal more often since he married Tami, but I just hate that it is so far away.

On the way back home, we decided to stop through Grimes, Alabama. This is a very small little town, but it is where Stephen's grandparents are buried - both sets. He tells me Big Mama stories. She died when Stephen was real young. It is a beautiful place. The cemetary is beside a church. There is a huge oak tree there that has to be over 100 years old. As you know Stephen's dad died in March. He and the kids are still having problems - I am too. Anyway, we sat down under the oak tree and talked about the "good times." It was a beautiful day. There was not a cloud in the sky. It was not too hot or windy. It was the most peaceful place. After we left the cemetary, we went to Aunt Sara's house. This is Paw Paw's only living sibling. She is 80 years old. She was so surprised to see us. I think that was the highlight of the trip. We were glad to see everybody, but sitting under the oak tree is what the kids will remember. Finally, life in south Alabama is just a little slower than it is here. It sure was nice to be there - that is at a slow pace.

Thank God for family reunions

yes, i said thank God for family reunions. we will be away this weekend to a family reunion. after surviving a few hours having our cheeks pinched and told how to raise our children, we are leaving for the beach. also, a couple that we are good friends with will be going with us. I am so ready for a vacation even if it is over a weekend. we are in prattville right now and just got through swimming. kids are tired and parents are happy. i will write more after we get back. i hope i am not cooked like a lobster. lots of love.

Free at last....

Good Lord in heaven!!!! It is so nice to be loved and wanted! Can you believe after 2 years, I actually sat down and ate my lunch! My GI tract probably thought they had been transplanted. I had my first day at Medical Center East today. It was soooooooooooooooooo different than DHR. I was actually welcomed with a smile, told that as long as you get in 8 hours "it will all wash" and someone actually was concerned that I may have gotten left upstairs. My husband said this was a cush job compared to where I came from. I am so happy. I left work today with enough energy to mop my kitchen floor, eat supper and help Jamie study for her science semester test!!!!!!! Tomorrow is a new day and thank God for it! Love to all!

I'm Back

ok, how long has it been since i posted? a very long time. things have been so crazy around here. just as things started to settle down, i resigned from DHR, my dad left for montana, jacob lost a front tooth and stephen has bid on a new job at blue cross. the only person that has any walking around sense right now is jamie. good lord! anyway, i start work monday at medical center east as a medical social worker. this is what i love. this is what i have done all of my social work life except for that part at dhr - otherwise known as the department of hell! i will be working ont he dialysis unit and medical intensive care. i think it will be a very eye opening experience to work on the dialysis unit considering that i have diabetes and jamie only has one kidney.

jacob lost one of his front teeth - only after it turned brown and lost the blood supply. he is so not into pain. he is having a hard time with paw paw's death and then my dad, papa, left for montana for four months. he is ready for school to be out so he can get just as dirty as he wants to.

stephen has bid on a job at blue cross that would be a very sweet promotion - to the tune of my salary. yes i would keep working because when i am at home i realize how dirty my house is. it is hard to believe he has been at bcbs for 8 years. it must really be nice to work for "the caring company". i think i have made a good move to medical center east. they have recently merged with st. vincent's hospital. this is a good merger because it is now a christian based hospital. children and family comes first. pay is good and more opportunity for promotion.

my sister has lost 123 pounds at last count. the doctors wanted her to have lost 156 pounds by august. i am sure that she will meet that goal. i wish i could lose just 40 pounds.

i am disappointed in that the insulin pump that i had been so excited about is not going to be approved by the fda any time soon. so i am going to have to go back to the doctor and find another one. my diabetes is pretty brittle right now. i can't wait any longer. but when it is ready i know that God will make a way.

i think i have covered everything that has been going on - some of what has been going on i will not discuss over a blog. but those of you who have a clue what i am talking about can call. those of you who don't can still call. love to all.

Round 1 with more to come

Most of my blogs have been about my kids. Well, this one is about me. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am 30 years old and I feel as if I am 60. I have recently gotten out of the hospital with my fourth round of kidney stones since February of this year. I have never missed so much work. Since February, I have had two surgeries for kidney stones, passed one, put in the hospital for another one and my father in law died. To add to that, my daughter is 14, thinks she knows everything and has gotten a mouth on her. My dad is leaving next week for Montana, my sister will soon be smaller than me, I can't keep anything on my stomach, my house looks like a hurricane came through it, oh no, that was Jacob, and my husband is snoring at 2:30 in the am while I am up blogging. What is wrong with this picture? There are many more blogs to come this weekend. I am just getting started. And did I mention that this is race weekend?

Firsts

Wow! Easter was great, but oh so stressful!!!! This is our first Easter without Paw Paw! It was so weird. Stephen preached Sunday, I sang at church - I know that is strange. This was the first time we had been back to the church since the funeral. I think it finally hit little Jacob that Paw is gone. He just cried and cried - for hours. I took him to the cemetary so he could talk to Paw. The things he said were so sweet and innocent but so sad. He said, "I don't mean to talk bad about God, but it is not fair that he took PawPaw so soon." Then he asked me, "How do you keep loving someone who is not here anymore?" Okay I am a social worker, but it is so different when it is your child, all you can do is cry. Or at least that was all I could do! There are a few things that I think children should never have to hear - death, cancer, DHR - this is to name a few. He seems to be doing better today, but it is from day to day. Everybody is doing better - but good grief it is so hard! Write more later - love to all.

Jacob's First Love

We have started going to a different church. A friend of mine, Sharon Smith, goes there also. She has a daughter, Savannah, who is 7 or 8. Sunday night we were coming home from church and Jacob was real quiet - clue number 1. I asked Jacob if something was bothering him. He had no reply. As a mother you know when something is up with your kids. Again, I asked him if he was okay. In a minute he says, "ok I admit it...I hugged Savannah...I have a crush on her." I thought Stephen would run off the road. We laughed until we cried.

This same little girl reminded me that Sunday was Potluck Sunday. She then told me that they always ran out of bananna pudding. In a minute, again she said "we always run out of bananna pudding." I said, "Savannah, do you want me to bring some bananna pudding?" She said, "Oh no I just hope we don't run out of bananna pudding - well okay just bring alot of it." Have a great weekend. Love to all!

The Joy of God...

I have heard what the singing in heaven is going to be like. Stephen and I had the great privilege of attending the Gaither Homecoming concert last night. It was the most awesome event I have been to in a long time. It was a little different than the concerts before. George Younce, Anthony Burger , Jake Hess, David Phelps and Mark Lowry were not there. George, Jake and Anthony have gone on to heaven. Mark Lowry has had a motorcycle wreck and David Phelps has gone out on a solo tour. But there was some young talent there that were on fire for God. The Issacs, The Booth Brothers, Signature Sound. I say all of this to say that the Holy Spirit was in the BJCC last night. It was so nice to be in a placewhere there was no smoking or drinking. It was awesome! God is so in charge. Love to all, gin

Double Sizes

This morning I stopped at the Chevron to get a cup of coffee...since I was too lazy to get up and make coffee. Anyway, Jacob comes inside with me to get a snack for school. He chose Baked Cheetos. I am very surprised he picked something healthy...it was probably an accident. He asked me if they had a bigger bag of Cheetos. I told him no. He says, "But I like double sizes." I, trying to be the diplomatic mother says, "Honey if you eat double sizes all the time then you will end up doublesized like me." Jacob, or otherwise known as Ernest T. Bass, he says, "You are not doublesized...you just look like you are pregnant." I could have crawled under anything. If you ever need the truth about something, just ask a 6 year old. Write more later. Love to all.

Will it ever end?

How can someone be 30 years old and feel like they are 130? I had the horrible thought today that I may have another kidney stone. This is not a good feeling. Luckily, thank you God, it was not. I in turn have been told I have C-dif. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is basically that I have taken so much antibiotics since my two surgeries that the antibiotics have killed all the good bacteria in my body. So not only do I have to now take nasty Flagyl as well as this grainy junk called Granulex. Oh well, as most of you know if it can happen it will happen to me. Or as Becky would say, "Why do you even get up in the morning? I will survive, but good grief!!!!