ER Wonderland

(Sung in the tune of Winter Wonderland)

Patients scream
Are ya listening?
On my brow,
The sweat is glistening.
Drugs and a sling
Are the things that I bring
Working in an ER wonderland.

Gone away is the night crew
Here today, we're caffeinated and brand new.
Here comes a code 3
And I gotta pee
Working in an ER wonderland

In the trauma we apply some  traction
In triage we calm the people who are miffed.
But when we call report there's no action
Because ICU is changing shifts.

Later on, we take a lunch break
To rest our tired bodies that ache
Til then we admit to the floor
Manage lines at the door
Working in an Er wonderland.

12 days of Christmas for Moms

12 days of Christmas for moms

On the first day of Christmas, my children gave to me....
the reason I'm a mommy.

On the second day of Christmas, my children gave to me...
two un-flushed toilets
and the reason I'm a mommy.

On the third day of Christmas, my children gave to me...
three toothy smiles
two un-flushed toilets
and the reason I'm a mommy.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my children gave to me...

four "why do I have to's" 

three toothy smiles

two un-flushed toilets

and the reason I'm a mommy.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my children gave to me...

five hours of sleep!!

four "why do I have to's" 

three toothy smiles

two un-flushed toilets

and the reason I'm a mommy.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my children gave to me...

six piles of laundry,

five hours of sleep!!

four "why do I have to's" 

three toothy smiles

two un-flushed toilets

and the reason I'm a mommy.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my children gave to me...

seven extra wrinkles,

six piles of laundry,

five hours of sleep!!

four "why do I have to's"

three toothy smiles

two un-flushed toilets

and the reason I'm a mommy.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my children gave to me...

eight granny panties, 

seven extra wrinkles,

six piles of laundry,

five hours of sleep!!

four "why do I have to's"

three toothy smiles

two un-flushed toilets

and the reason I'm a mommy.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my children gave to me...

nine requests for play dates, 

eight granny panties, 

seven extra wrinkles,

six piles of laundry,

five hours of sleep!!

four "why do I have to's"

three toothy smiles

two un-flushed toilets

and the reason I'm a mommy.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my children gave to me...

ten half eaten snack bags, 

nine requests for play dates, 

eight random socks, 

seven extra wrinkles,

six piles of laundry,

five hours of sleep!!

four "why do I have to's"

three toothy smiles

two un-flushed toilets

and the reason I'm a mommy.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my children gave to me...

eleven extra stretch marks, 

ten half eaten snack bags, 

nine requests for play dates, 

eight random socks, 

seven new found wrinkles,

six piles of laundry,

five hours of sleep!!

four "why do I have to's"

three toothy smiles

two un-flushed toilets

and the reason I'm a mommy.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my children gave to me...

twelve unexpected hugs and "love you's"

eleven extra stretch marks, 

ten half eaten snack bags, 

nine requests for play dates, 

eight random socks, 

seven new found wrinkles,

six piles of laundry,

five hours of sleep!!

four "why do I have to's"

three toothy smiles

two un-flushed toilets

and the reason I'm a mommy.

written by me. :)

Bedtime Rituals - A poem

There are some dear sweet children of mine,
Who, at bedtime, have a irritating tendency to whine
We remind them, "brush your teeth, be sure to read
And thank our Lord that we have all we need!"

We tuck them in, read them books
Snuggle, hug, pray and give them sweet looks.
We make sure their fed, healthy, safe and sound
No monsters in closets, no bad things around.

But what seems to happen more often than not,
Is how very often they tend to get caught
When we hear a giggle, foot steps or a boom
As they're sneaking and running from room to room.

They cry, "But mom...I need one more drink,...

I have a question and want to know what you think,...

I have a really good story I forgot to tell,...

I have a horrible huge scratch when I tripped and I fell..."

We say, "It's bedtime, turn out the lights!
I can't believe you're still up, It's 10:30 at night!
I don't want to hear you say in the morning
how tired you are as you roll over and keep snoring."

I say sternly, "Don't get up again.
In the morning, you can tell me all this then.
Don't even think about coming out unless you're on fire!
Even so, Stop/Drop/Roll and head back to bed to retire."

"OK." they say, their bare feet lagging
As their blankets behind them are dragging.
"I love you! Sleep well, Oh children of mine!
I'll see you in the morning!" I say as I smile and recline.

Sometimes

Sometimes, a day just leaves you spent.

Sometimes, it can be a week or a month of exhausting events.

Sometimes, the day just doesn't go as you planned.

Sometimes, you wake up tired. 


Sometimes, you come home from a busy day and you don't want to do anything.

Sometimes, the laundry and other chores can wait.

Sometimes, you're child's/childrens' whining makes you want to whine too.

Sometimes, their words make you sad.

Sometimes, being a mom is really hard.

Sometimes, you feel bloated and gross.

Sometimes, it's PMS.

Sometimes, you worry about tomorrow.

Sometimes, I want to go somewhere far away, preferably Florence, Italy and escape.

Sometimes, when you feel like you've used up your energy and your body is tired,  all that sounds good is a jacuzzi and some wine. Then you wish you had a jacuzzi, so you just have your glass of wine.

Everyday, my kids' find a way to make me smile with their words and personalities.

Everyday, I get to be a mom.

Everyday, I wake up thankful for another chance to learn and grow from my Lord.

Everyday, I hug my family and tell them I love them.

Everyday, God holds me in His hand.

Everyday, I am thankful for the blessings of health and provision.

Everyday, I feel blessed to have family and friends that love me.

Everyday, that my husband is home I am happy.

Everyday, the Lord is faithful.

Everyday, is a day that the Lord has made...

His promises are true everyday, even if sometimes I forget.

Ode to the ER-extended version

As ER nurses we take care of lives 

Afflicted by trauma, illness & hives.

From ambulance calls to crowds at the door,

There is rarely a dull moment and we never get bored. 

Life is just crazy and we'll never see enough

Of complaints SO bizarre, you just couldn't make it up!! 

Some will cry out, "I DON'T UNDERSTAND, 

WHY THE LONG WAIT? AREN'T YOU WELL MANNED?"

They don't understand that part of our call, 

Is to look to the greater good of not just one, but of all. 

We have to first treat the gravely ill or near dying,

And while the wait stinks, please know we are trying

To help every person that enters our door,

To deny someone help is not part of our core.

Overwhelming hard work is a part of our day,

Sometimes we cry in a hysterical haze... 

Thinking we're pushed beyond our ability,

Yet somehow we do it with help, patience and humility.

Many we'll help, for some there's little hope

Because of their problems and addictions to dope.

From the chronic, the minor, the acute and depressed,

We can reflect on our lives and know that we're blessed.

For our lives are finite like hourglass sand,

Tragedies can happen despite the best laid out plans.

It's not uncommon to see someone die,

To say it's not hard would be a huge lie 

......and it's true that there are times when we cry.

For those whose lives we can pull from the brink,..

Help us find joy when the department stinks.

Be Fruitful and Multiply

It started with a Guido and a redhead

and from there the family grew. 

What turned into six 

had grown from merely two.

The six turned into 7

then 8 and 9 and 10,

The love was over flowing

 from where it had once began.

And now 19 we are

The youngest to the old

Thankful for each other 

though not often told.

A family can be a blessing 

or a thorn deep in your side

but what's important is you have them,

so keep in check your pride

In remembering the gift of Christ 

to us on Christmas morn

And how came in humility,

 in the manger he was born.

To each other we must present ourselves

with mercy, grace and love

for it was demonstrated clearly 

from our God up above.

Giving service to each other 

in the way that we were served

not keeping records or accounts

or what we think deserved.

For someday we'll be the eldest 

of a family that grew from two

And our testimony will live out

in what we say and do.

Merry Christmas to my family

I love and cherish you all

So please know how much I care

even when I forget to call. :)