A day in the ER--ALL DAY

To our surprise this morning an ambulance, actually two were parked out front this morning. We both immediately went outside to see what was happening in our neighborhood, only to find out that they were for our close neighbors' house. We went right in & called for her & went up to her bedroom. Yes, I think we're pretty close. The EMTs were already working on getting vitals & setting up the leads for their portable EKG...
VS were stable and the EKG showed nothing abnormal, but she was in excrutiating pain. You feel helpless, even though its not about you, but you want to do so much.
They brought her to Duke, and I followed. It was a long day for her: 2 doses of morphine anti-nausea meds.--lots of vomit, more pain & a new pain med that finally hit her, well made her feel a lot better. After an x-ray then a CT..confirming that she has a small bowel obstruction. I watched the nurses, the doctors, heard other patients in pain. Its weird to be in a situation & not be able to help more.

I pray that she is doing better, I know she has been through this before, but to live alone & deal with it seems overwhelming. Good prayers & thoughts for Shirley.

The Friends that you miss...

I often tend to have close friendships & not many. I hope that doesn't sound too sad. I remember a counselor once said to me why do you think that is? Honestly I don't know, all I know is that I truly cherish the friendships that I have formed along the years.
1.Erin-Whom I met when I was 5, she was riding her big wheels in our neighborhood. We were neighborhood friends for a while. Played kick ball, rode bikes, hide & seek & always got called in for dinner by our moms. We are still friends 30+ years later. Our lives took us on two very different paths. Me through college, eagerly & her w/barely one semester of college & then a baby by 23. She still lives near where we grew up, her parents still in the house that she grew up in. Our lives so different, yet me becoming a mom soon, converging as well. We are still friends, talk & see each other when I'm up there. And I would do anything for her.
....Along w/Erin I did have more friends through school, some have reconnected with on Facebook, but nothing like my two close college friends:
2.Sarah & Kim-Looking at all that I have been through since meeting them when I was 18 is insane. The losses, trips, joys, weddings we've experienced are endless. I've grown up a lot since 18 & we are still there for each other. I would never question a phone call after midnight from either...
3.Leah-A friend who is so unlike me in many ways & yet like me in so many other ways. We shared this eagerness for adventure, always wanting to explore our surroundings & never wanting to miss something out there.
4.Anita--A woman that has so much laughter & spunk, that I miss often. Someone that you could laugh with, just to laugh.
5.Lori-Don't you wonder how we worked @ that company for as long as we did. Another transplant to California, that made it feel a little more like home. How we both miss hanging out with you & Chris.
6.Irika/Anastasia--How much you made Nursing School enjoyable. How we will never forget our VA rotation. I often think back to our late study nights and thank God we all passed the Boards first go around.

I know we are all in different places in our lives & none of you are near me (in location) at this time. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to if you all lived by & we could just say 'oh, just drop by'. But for some reason God has put you in my life at a certain time, physically near me at time when we needed it most. It doesn't mean that one day we won't be again, but who knows- I'm just glad that I can call any of you up at any time & you would just listen. MISS YOU!

Whats in a name--18 weeks

Will this child be Liliana or Mateo. This is Mini me @ 18 weeks.






We have had these names chosen for years now. Liliana being my choice & Mateo a name
we heard while living in California & both liked.
Liliana is my given birth name. A name from my birth mother I presume. I've always liked this name, so different from my own. If I had never made my way to the states by adoption, who would Liliana be? Probably a Spanish speaking women....what else I'm not sure. I want Liliana to be someone I see grow & mature into her own person. What a sweet name, perhaps Lili for short. & Mateo, Spanish for Matthew. Sounds strong to me. Not Matt, maybe Matty to us (as a baby).
These are our choices, this is who we'll all get to meet in about 5 months. :)