Our Christmas Poem

Six days to Christmas, we were running out of time,

Living each day, making sure puppy is fine.

We’d wrapped all our packages, tied up with bows,

But we’ve still got a mountain of dirty, stinky clothes.

And what of the Christmas card making Mora loves best?

She found it more important we go to work dressed.

With household chores and working lots of hours,

We’ve had to make time to stop and smell the flowers.

On May 15^th of this year, on a perfect sunny day,

Mora married Brian and he swept her away.

They frolicked with Minnie and Mickey Mouse,

Returning in time to move into their house.

They removed smelly carpets, and painted the walls,

Moved lots of furniture and decked the halls.

Since we needed a break, we set off on vacation,

To New Hampshire and Maine, it was quite a sensation.

This year we were blessed to have our brother (in law),

To stay over this summer and make us guffaw.

Mora was given a beautiful puppy,

So when football began she wouldn’t be grumpy.

Brian returned as a head coach for the Knights,

Improving the youth of America night after night.

Brian continues to work as program assistant, administration,

For the office of Development, Alumni Affairs & Foundation.

Now halfway done with his MBA,

And still playing video games day after day.

Mora works by Stockton and also at Shore,

Her bosses can’t ask her to do much more,

But dragging injured or bed ridden patients from bed,

Is why she went to college and crammed so much in her head.

She gets a day break when she has had enough of Shore,

And heads over to do pediatrics to learn lots more.

Princess Peach Pluchino has become our fur child,

She’s a pretty Golden retriever with a temperament mild.

Don’t misunderstand, she is sometimes quite crazy,

She keeps us on our toes and prevents us from being lazy.

Our cute little lady has taught us a lot about living,

And she really is a gift that keeps on giving.

We’ve had a great year and could not ask for more,

And this leaves us wondering, “What’s in store?”

We hope your year has been bright and merry,

And that this holiday season is just the topping cherry.

BMP~2010

Christmas Carding

Every year for the past 5 or 6 years, I have written a christmas poem with the help of my parents. This tradition was born when my Nanny was sick. My mother, who usually dressed me up and took my photo for the christmas card, was in NY taking care of nanny, and we found ourselves with only a few days left until christmas with no card. So I did a self portrait, got cards printed and created a cutesy poem to go out. The response from our family and friends was so fun and unexpected, that I have felt the need to continue with this tradition. We have had many poems, some years better than others, but it has been a standing tradition. This year, I was unsure whether I should make a Brian/Mora/ Peach poem, or leave the tradition to my parents. I decided to write a Pluchino household poem but then decided to write a Jimenez one too. Its just too fun to rhyme sometimes and writing the christmas poem is like recapping the whole year. SO two poems will be coming to a household near you, and once they are sent out I will also share via technology.

Season greetings to all, and to all a goodnight :)

Baby Its Cold Outside

I can't say I'm into the holiday season this year. Brian is all motivate trying to get everyone's gift purchased and done ASAP. Here I am dragging my feet. Our tree is half up, with lights and 3 ornaments. Our house looks like we're Jewish, IE no wreath or lights. Our fur baby has a total of 3 presents to her name. I have not wrapped anything yet, which is usually my favorite part. I have not even thought of a card idea nor put together a mailing list yet. I haven't even 100% decided we need a christmas card vs an e-mail. My tradition of watching the Nightmare Before Christmas has not been done and I have not even watched a full Home Alone movie yet! I guess this is what happens when you are an adult....anyway 2.75 days off to relax, get caught up on chores and get my Christmas on.

6 Months Flies By

This was the song I picked to walk down the isle. I had a hard time picking, and since I was rather non-traditional about the wedding ceremonies music, I'm sure about 4 people knew the words to the song that was played by Dave on the guitar.

"Who knows how long I've loved you?
You know I love you still
Will I wait a lonely lifetime?
If you want me to, I will

For if I ever saw you
I didn't catch your name
But it never really mattered
I will always feel the same

Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we're together
Love you when we're apart

And when at last I find you
Your song will fill the air
Sing it loud so I can hear you
Make it easy to be near you
For the things you do endear you to me
You know I will"


The photos of us walking down the isle together are my favorites from all the wedding photos.

Life is Peachy

What have we been up to of late?

Brian
The end of football season with games, suspensions and such
Mowing the lawn
Trying to find time to play Halo and bond with the Bromance
Planning for black Friday
Cutting down trees with bare hands
Learning how to cut glass and repair a window
Club advising

Mora
Cleaning the green algae off our house
Visiting parents and helping with the home decorating decision making
Setting records for days worked in a row
Work first Saturday ever at BIR main campus
Seeing a child I have known forever celebrate being an "adult" at her Bat Mitzvah
Dissuading people from pregnancy rumors (which apparently start once you have been married over 4 months)
Chasing after puppy/ trying to wear puppy out
Rescueing puppy toys from sure death with carotid fixations after ear to ear splits, colo-rectal surgeries, ear/eye transplants, face lift/ neck replacments, etc.

Peach
Finding new and clever ways to get self into trouble (stealing laundry, knocking into people's knees with cone head, eating water bottles, stealing tree branches from clean up piles)
Learning to be cute and nudge mommy to get what she wants
Finding new friends to play with
Getting used to travel crate for upcoming journeys to holiday events
Learning "gentle"
Learning "nice" and "kisses"
Learning not to nip and bite
Learning not to jump (not as successful as above)
Learning paw (bilaterally) which she is pretty great at
Learning "lay down"
Learning "stop" in mid run
Working to differentiate toys
Working on waiting for guests to enter

Us
Spending time with friends
Training puppy
Cutting open puppy and they trying to keep puppy calm and quite x 14 days while sticking plastic cone on her head (still in progress)
Working, working and more working
Making the man room
Avoiding the laundry
Planning the holidays
Paying bills
Trying to make time to be "newly weds"

Just a little of what we have been up to :)

1 Year Later: My Life as a PT

So this week has been a long but fun week. Today is my 1 year working anniversary. I'm going on day number 9 of working in a row. What have I been faced with??? Just a taste (keeping from a HIPPA violation)

• diabetic feet with holes in toes...check
• torticollis x 3...check
• a billion cases of pneumonia...check
• lots of broken bones including hips, knees, ankles, and even a humerus...check
• a hospitalized person trying to steal library books from the hospital ?!!
• an adorable patient who carries around a lovey stuffed puppy and knows his name but not their own
• 2 self proclaimed "dirty old men" who were so cute I had to reply "I'll allow it."
• 2 patient falls neither of which were directly my fault but which still made me sad
• multiple attempts at poop...only 2 patient's were able to succeed
• multiple peeing accidents on the floor

Being a PT is a hard job. In the acute care setting, no regular person knows who you are or what you are there to do. Everything thinks massage when they think PT. Everyone thinks you can cure with one touch. No one gets 4 - 6 weeks is a normal recovery time. So the first thing you always say to a patient is you purpose, which you sometimes have to defend very adamently.

You have to answer to doctors, nurse's, patients and their families. You have to do what is best for the patient but follow the hospital rules and what families can do for their loved ones. You have to know how to word everything to please everyone, because making enemies makes life harder in this setting. You have to know where the place you works hides things like spare panties, socks, extra oxygen tubing, back up walkers, chair alarms, chap stick, combs, toothpaste and wash clothes because these things lend into your credibility and usefulness to patients. If someone stole your clothes, would you not love to take a walk with the person who brought you an extra gown and some undies.

You have to be able to use all of your extremities for a different purpose while moving. You have to know a little something about everything and make conversations out of nothing. You do lots of paperwork, and no matter how hard you try to keep up on it, someone will be calling you to do it faster. It becomes a challenge of what is more important, patients or paperwork, and since the paperwork is about patients your head sometimes spins. Sometimes you forget to answer questions on your paperwork because you get so caught up with people's problems and stories and lives and how you can make things easier and happier for them.

You get the opportunity to work with people who really care and those who just come to do enough to get a paycheck. You grow close to and work harder to help those who care and get annoyed by those who do the bare minimum. In the end the only justice so to speak, is when patients say things like "You are so much nicer than the person yesterday." Some patients you want to keep forever, and some cannot go home soon enough, but each one still steals a special place in your heart. Some people are repeat offenders and its bittersweet to see them back.

All in all my job has been very challenging teaching me new things every week and I can't wait for many years more.

Cutie Pie

I love this puppy. She was entertained by my old tooth brush for like 20 minutes. Animals are such cute things. I love coming home and having a welcoming committee :)

Four Months

I really cannot believe how quickly time flew. I feel like we've been married for 5 years, certainly not 4 months (in a good way). Since we have gotten married we've had a packed life: disney adventure, back to work, deciding to switch job locations, moving, unpacking, renovating, renting a 16 y.o. for the summer, NH/ Maine, getting a puppy, training a puppy, trying to turn said puppy into decently behaved dog, football, back to winter hours, welcome parties, and just life in general.

I've posted on how our wedding day went (wonderfully) and what is different about marriage (nothing). I feel as though today deserves a special theme too. I remember laying up at 11 pm, the night before our wedding, trying to come up with respectable vows that would not be 100% predictable and corny, and instead meaningful and representative of what I brought to our relationship, practicality and fore planning :) My vows were what Brian can expect from me, what I expect from him, and what I expect from us as a couple. I wish I had my copy now, as I would probably retype and analyze, but maybe at 6 months or a year :)

Anyway, I find the wedding vow I fall back on the most is when we do disagree, is the line about "if you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have the good sense to take the first step back."I'll be the first to admit I am horrible about this but trying to work on it. But it is my favorite line, because I have vowed to do it and have many years to continue to try...59 and 8 months at least :)

These are a few of my favorite things

curtains made from rehearsal dinner table cloth!
singing washing machine/drier
mermaid art wall and polka-dotted piggy bank
homemade milk shakes
last but not least our little family :)


I've had this song stuck in my head all week, so I figured I would pick some of my favorite things in my life...

Peachisms

So we have had our little puppy for 2 weeks now. On monday she will be 13 weeks, and I must say she isn't a little puppy now. Our trainer says she about 3 or 4 years old now, which makes sense.

What Peach can do:

• lets us know she wants to go out side by jingling a bell on our back door
  
• stays in her crate for up to 4 hours during the day without accidents
• sleeps 9 - 10 hours a night with no potty break (crated of course)
• will sit on command either verbal or hand command
• runs in circles
  
• can find you playing hide and go seek if you make noise
• can climb on the couch but understands she isn't welcome there
• can sneak out of a blockade unless its a locked baby gate or closed door
• knows and distinguishes different people (cries when mommy goes upstairs, sits and waits at bottom of stairs for Brandon, jumps on hallways blockade to get to daddy when he comes home.)
• will dance for a spoon full of peanut butter

What Peach is learning to do:

• play fetch
• drop it, take it, leave it
• roll over
• stay
• catch in mid air
• walk nicely on a leash
• go to bed quietly without crying
• go potty outside 100% of the time

What Peach likes:

• playing hockey with ice cubes
• her fuzzy green froggy and tug of war rope toy
• snuggling with daddy, and mommy sometimes
• playing fetch with mommy
• biting feet
• stealing bath mats
• playing with towels
• trying to steal laundry as we try to fold it

What Peach dislikes:

• the rake and broom
• being without her people for too long
• the dark
• eating at a specific time
• being crated (initially, she seems to get over the insult after a bit)

So in conclusion, we are getting used to our growing puppy, as she turns into a smart, funny little girl.

MIA as Usual

So, I've been a bit too busy to write anything here yet again. I'm not 100% sure why I write here, except for the fact I like to look back over time and see what was going on and how much things have changed.

Last friday Brian and I unexpectedly adopted a puppy. Her name is Peach (Princess Peach Pluchino), she is 12 weeks old today and weight about 14 pounds. She is full of energy, lovey and completely not potty trained. Its been an emotional roller coaster this week, as I guess I did not heed people's warnings about how hard it is to train a puppy. She likes to pee on our new rug, poop in front of her crate and eat acorns. She is also snuggly and warm and cute which almost balances out all previously mentioned offenses. She does not sleep late which means I will not be sleeping late for a while. But hopefully a month from now I can look back and she will be potty trained, house broken and much less of a pain in my behind.

She is very very photogenic, so included are some of her photos.

If its love...favorite song of the week

"And there’s a thousand ways you can skin it
My feet have been on the floor
Flat like an idle singer
Remember winger
I digress
I confess you are the best thing in my life
But I’m afraid when I hear stories
About a husband and wife
There’s no happy endings
No Henry Lee
But you are the greatest thing about me

If it’s love
And we decide that it’s forever
No one else could do it better

If it’s love
And we’re two birds of a feather
Then the rest is just whenever

And if I’m addicted to loving you
And you’re addicted to my love too
We can be them two birds of a feather
That flock together

Love, love
Got to have something to keep us together
Love, Love
That’s enough for me

Took a loan on a house I own
Can’t be a queen bee without a bee throne
I wanna buy ya everything
Except cologne
’cause it’s poison

We can travel to Spain where the rain falls
Mainly on the plain side and sing
’cause it is we can laugh we can sing
Have ten kids and give them everything
Hold our cell phones up in the air
And just be glad we made it here alive
On a spinning ball in the middle of space
I love you from your toes to your face"

81 one days of being Mrs. Pluchino :) Life IS great!

So long, but not farewell...

Hello again, its been a while, but house stuff, life and vacation got in the way of me documenting that I have a life. Funny how hard it is to record what happens in life when you are too busy living it.

So whats been new with us you might ask? We have been going pretty much non stop. First on fixing the house up. Then with work and trying to fit in some fun on occasion. Then VACATION. We went for 10 days to New Hampshire followed by Maine for some much needed family time and relaxation.

We are now back, and Brian has started his football season, which means, I am a "football widow." I get my husband from about 8 pm everyday until I go to bed, and then saturday afternoons and sundays. This only lasts until November, and then I get to bother him much longer each night. This widow -ship is not 100% horrible, as it give me more time to make dinner, do chores around the house, get together with friends and maybe return to an exercise routine.

Some pictures from out travels...

Volleyball
House pictures
New England

My favorite photo of the month...


Some quotes from our trip...

Brandon "I've got an iron vault. Your have a cardboard box."

Matt "Hamsters and flamingos have never been known to get along. Natural born enemies."

Brian "I dare you to eat a hamster."

Mora (to Brian who is growling at traffic on the way home) "God, you do need to play Halo!"

So all in all, the past few weeks have been lots of fun if busy :)

Our House is a very very very fine house, with one cat in the yard...

The Outside

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Family Room After

Family Room Before

Tuesday, June 29th: I rushed up to north jersey to close on our house. We then caravanned down route 9 (not very fun) to our new house. We unloaded one truck and went back to apartment for another load. At this point after unload that truck it was midnight and far past my bedtime. I went to bed (passing out to a point where I had an intelligible conversation with Brian) and Brian, Shiv, my mom and brandon continued to move. Jamie and Matt were apparently part of this mas exodus too, although I only know this from stories as I was snoozing in preparation for work the following day.
Wednesday, June 30th: I got up at 6 am to go to work. Stayed until 2:30 against my will. The boys and my mom oraganized, cleaned and preped the downstairs walls for painting. I came home and we went to home depot to pick our paint colors, ceiling paints, primers and various other supplies...one of many many trips.
Thursday, July 1st: I worked all morning and then came home for more trips to home depot for more paint...The painting continues.
Friday, July2nd - 5th: Never ending projects everyone is forced to do via me. Some highlights....painting of walls, furniture and ceiling fan, cutting down trees, mowing the lawn, unpacking the wedding gifts, organizing the stuff into respective rooms. There were many many projects, but this is just a few to name. I want to do a before and after at some point, but in order to do this I need the before photos from my hubby.
Tuesday, July 6th: Back to work for Mora and Brian while Annie (and Brandon too) are busy busy painting molding, cleaning windows and being poor slave guests.

So a few photos of what was done, but more to come when things are completed.

"Wrap it up, B"

So, eventhough we don't have a real closing date, we are wishing and hoping and praying to close on our house this monday or tuesday and subsequently move in and begin making our house our home. Below are pictures of the packing process, mostly at the end. I've included a before of our room for some perspective....I cannot wait to move, paint, fix the floors and begin to decorate and unpack all our fun wedding presents.

Thanks to all our friends and family who have offered and provided their love and support throughout this horrible process. NEVER BUY A SHORT SALE!!! EVER! :)

When I first moved in...clean, neat and clutter free...when I had time to be a housewife.

Post wedding/honeymoon chaos when we just gave up.

Our bedroom then....

Our bedroom after, with our bed disassembled and a place for me to wait while they set a date.

All of our possessions...there is more hiding around the corner too...

Doesn't this look like so so much fun to move??!!??

No News is No News

We are impatiently waiting to hear whether we have a mortgage commitment so we can close on the house we have been waiting for for about 6 months. I'm tired of this. The end.

Forever and a Day

So now that we have been married for a whole 26 days, everyone asks what married life is like.

My answer is typical..."Its pretty good."

What can you say to people?

• Its nice to not be "living in sin" anymore.
• Its weird that my name is forever changed to Mrs. Mora Pluchino and yet I forget 1/5 times.
• It sucks to get to be a princess for 12 days and then have to go back to the real world of working.
• Its quite endearing to wake up every morning and know the person who grumbles at me (for clumsily stumbling over him in the early morning light) is my husband forever.
• Its not much different since we lived together before.

But anyway, what I've been enjoying about married life is the kinship people seem to feel towards you and your relationship when you tie the knot. Its like a secret clan of people. Your relationship is automatically authentic if your significant other is now your husband. How strange to be taken seriously.

I also just enjoy my husband and being able to call him that. I enjoy the continued team work on things like buying our house, eventhough he has been the project's president while I've been more like the coffee girl/ treasurer ;-) I enjoy our mutual enjoyment of reliving our wedding via media and finding ways to pass this along to our family and friends (although I may be a bit more excited than someone else I know). I enjoy the ability to do nothing together and still be together. I like the planning forward to when we FINALLY move into our house. And I love looking forward to watching our marriage grow from this 26 day old thing into something 60 years old, wrinkly and a little saggy ;-)

The Rest of Ever Part II: You + Me = A Norwegian Walrus?

On May 16th, the weather was still perfect. We woke up, packed up the horrible mess in our room and moved out to have breakfast with the Pluchinos. We then stopped by the Jimenez house to say some goodbyes and drop off paperwork for our marriage license!

We then drove 2 hours to our apartment where we changed, relaxed for a few minutes and then grabbed our honeymoon luggage. Shiv dropped us off at the Airport. Spirit Airlines is one of the most relaxed airlines I have flown with, and after 15 minutes of consciousness on the plane, I fell into a deep sleep and woke up when we were landing in Orlando.

After getting off the plane, we put on out wedding ears and began the honeymoon. 45 minutes later we were checking in at our hotel, only to find they gave us a room with two double beds for our honeymoon. We had to spend the night in that room as no others were available, but the next day they moved us and we got a BIG BED (which I still hogged)!!!

We began our Disney travels with Magic Kingdom. It was hot and sweaty, but other than that we had such a fun time. We went to every park at least once, visiting most twice. We avoided Blizzard beach because I was afraid of the big ski slope ride and needed sleep.

Some pictures to follow when they are working...but I was very sad to come back to the real world.

The Rest of Ever Part I: Making it Official

Our wedding day was more perfect than I could have imagined. I expected things to go wrong. I expected it to be imperfect and I was ok with that. But the set up process went very smoothly. The rehearsal was yummy and fun. And Saturday, May15th, 2010, North Jersey woke to a gently windy, 70 degree, sunny day.

I woke up at 5 am, unable to contain my excitement anymore, and attempted to do my own contacts. This was soon followed by being held down and yelled at by Ellie and Marisa until I finally was able to get them in. The hair and makeup went quickly and smoothly, and even though we were behind on our wedding timeline, we still ended up with plenty of time waiting prior to our ceremony. Brian and I saw each other before the ceremony and did some bride and groom photos, which was nice to have some 1:1 time to get my excitement out.

I like to think it started at 1:15 as planned (but the video time stamp says 1:19.) The lake was stunning, my husband was so sweet, and of course I cried a few tears of happiness. We then proceeded to knock the rest of the photos out, and then were able to have fun and spend time with our family and friends. Our reception went from 1:45pm to about 9:30pm, so by the end, everyone had their share of booze, dancing, and food. We then went back to the hotel to hot tub, relax, and change my name on Facebook. At about 12 am we were finally able to return to our hotel room for some much awaited sleep prior to our honeymoon....

My Little Piece of Cheese

10 years ago I was hurt pretty badly. What does a disfigured 13 year old think? Will I look like this forever? Will it get better? I specifically remember thinking about who would love me now that I was scarred. But people have been kind over the years. I learned to appreciate myself not just in how I looked, but to try to be a pretty person by actions and interactions.

I remember at one point discussing with someone how to cover my burn on my wedding day. How I could "totally wear gloves and no one would see it."

But to be honest I love my scar. It reminds me to be a nice girl. It reminds me that bad days can always be worse. It reminds me to count my blessings. It looks like a heart to me. A little lopsided It changes sometimes, changes colors, textures, bruises. Its like my thermometer, its gets purple when I'm hot or cold. And Brian calls it my piece of cheese, because it looks like plastic cheese to him. So thats pretty much my story.

10 days until I get married to someone who likes cheese. :)

Time Flies

Who knows where the time has gone, but there are 16 days until we get married. Where has the time gone? I am so excited to have a break to spend time with family and friends setting up for our big party followed by Disney! I'm a little scared of post-nuptual depression since wedding planning has been so much fun. But then we'll be newlyweds hopefully moving into our new home where we can live happily for the rest of ever!

Next Month Away

So today is April, which means next month is offically May. Which is the marrying month for Brian and I....YAY!!! 44 days until that exciting day :) I know I have to wait, and I do enjoy the anticipation, but those days could go a bit faster!

<3

Now, Then, Here and Gone

So as I sit here on a rainy night, alone, listening to Pandora I can't help but have a bit of de ja vu. I looked back to my blog from March 30th last year because then I was on this self healing prescription that required me to journal and exercise daily, but its deleted, which means it was so sad or angry I decided to erase it for posterity's sake when my life became this amazing happy place. Still, comparing then to now makes me laugh. I went from counting days I hadn't cried, to counting the days left until we get married. I did it again, because really, its funny to have known my thoughts then and to know how very wrong I was.

I took a large step recently. I got over it. The "it" if which I speak need not be named, as the only person who reads this knows what it means. Needless to say, parts of me, whether I fully realized it or not carried this "it" with me deep inside to break out and torture myself when I was a bit too happy or comfy with how things were going, just to knock myself down a bit. ( I'm a glutton for punishment any day of the week.)

But as I sat mulling over wedding vows and counting down days, I realized I needed to let this go. As my significant other has told me over and over, nothing happened, there was nothing to worry about and it was time to forget it. But stubborn me likes to pick at scabs whenever possible and so I've kept this one from healing. But since I was not allowed to pick in Lent, maybe I was able to let this alone long enough to forgive and move on. So I mended the bridge that I had been pretty adamant about burning. I made the last step in my forgiveness. And I put myself out there....to be trampled on and rejected to also give that "it" a chance at their own portion of closure. And I was quite pleasantly surprised that time does heal all wounds and in the end everything was fine and dandy. So yay for those things.

We have made mistakes in the past. I will probably never be able to say they were of an equal magnitude for the pain and hurt they inflicted but then again I can only feel from my perspective and so I'm not very objective. But what I do know is that the hurt has been erased daily with love, sweetness, kindness, thoughtfulness, silliness, tickling and plans for a happy future. I'm actually thankful for feeling that devastation this time last year, because it makes this year so much better. It was another chance for me to step back and look at myself, my life and evolve into a better, more grown up individual with more to give to others.

And so, even after a heart wrenching day ended by rolling my horribly debilitated patient through a hallway with his in denial wife at our side, like a funeral procession, with holy water and all just to make him smile and give him a change of the scenery in his hospital room, I cannot wait to fall deeper in love with the man I have chosen to spend my life with. I can't wait to love him so much that I cannot give up hope even when it completely opposes logic and reason. I love Brian with everything I have now, but I know love changes (he tells me this and is always right so...). If there is one benefit of working where I work, it is seeing how love matures. How lovers become friends. How spouses remain friends. How back scratching seems to feel like sex when you are 75+. How humor between a husband and wife is what gets you past 20 years of marriage. How holding onto any part of your significant other creates a connection, whether its their hand or toe. I'm so excited that I have someone to share that love with and I hope we are blessed with many more days together.

The end. I know I'm a dork :)

Showered With Love

This Saturday, March 20th, 2010 (perfect date), was my bridal shower. Brian and I received amazing gifts for our new house. ON Tuesday we got an e-mail that shows hope we might be moving into said new house sometime soon! Shannon came for my shower, as well as my family from NY and even my aunt from Florida. It was a long happy day of spending time with my favorite people, opening presents, playing games and eating yummy tea party food. :)

Where is My Nose?

So this week has been a pretty horrible work week. Not only was it the first week without the help of my wonderful student, but I have been banished to the second floor twice. Normally, I don't mind the second floor, but the ratio of my patients in ICU has been extreme. The ICU is a sad and depressing place. It is sometimes reserved for severely ill people who didn't have insurance who have no real hope of getting better, but can't be sent to a long term care facility because they have no means to pay for it.

Its is really sad to work with a young, non-responsive individual doing passive range of motion (PROM) that you know is doing nothing but maintaining their body's joints while their insides and minds turn to bacteria infected mush secondary to infections that get spread throughout long hospital stays. In the case you think I am being over dramatic, I would tell you definitely not. Two people died in ICU on Monday. Not my patients, but still, two people left the world in one morning which is horribly sad.

And the sad realization is that everyone dies eventually. The fact that our department check the obituaries daily, and knows at least one person a day. I have had the honor of knowing about 10 people who have died, and I have only worked at this job for 5 months. I guess everyone comes to a point in their life when they realize their mortality, but working where I do, I see every possibility for what will become of me if I make it past 50. What my skin and body parts will look like. Different variations of how I may act. Will I be the sharp as a tack, cranky person who yells at everyone, the pleasantly confused one who can't find my nose, or some combination personalities on the spectrum. I can only hope to continue to have a healthy relationship/ partnership with Brian where we care for each other emotionally and physically so that when we are in out 80/90s we can take care of each other. And I can only hope that my children are kind souls who are willing to help their parents with things like grocery shopping and cleaning, because old people have such a hard time with those things.

And also, the amount of good I feel I am doing for some of these people is limited. I know it is my job, and I am overall preventing pneumonia, constipation, pressure ulcers and deconditioning (things I tell my patients and myself minutely). But what good does that really do when the person is dying of 3 different kinds of cancer and has 4 weeks to live. Who am I to say they are unsafe to go home with their husband of 63 years just because they might fall and fracture a hip? I know it is my professional obligation to say they need to go to rehab or have 24 hour help (the last of which most people cannot afford) because it is my fault of they go home and fall, but sometimes you feel like this horrible monster in doing what is "best" for them. Some days, when I am told a person is put on comfort care (hospice) and no longer needs PT, I am so relieved, because I can stop torturing these poor souls. Sometimes I wish I could just take these people home with me for a while, especially when they have no spouse, family or friends and are alone in the world.

Most days I love my job and can see the good I do. Especially getting post-op surgeries moving or helping really good strokes get sent to the proper rehab they need. It is the frequent fliers of the trade, with their sad stories and constant trips back to the hospital that male me so sad, because in the end you are doing nothing but taking them out of their comfy bed and sticking them in a chair, where they are likely to be left by the nursing staff until bedtime.

On happy notes: I am getting married to my love in 58 days. My face looks somewhat better. My dentist office did my teeth cleaning early. My bridal shower is this weekend. And my family and friends are healthy and happy.

Crazy Talk

Julie: "Well there is a language barrier."
Mora: "What language? Crazy Talk?"

Different pages, still very funny. Anyway, I will miss Julie, my student, horrible. She has been such a pleasure to work with and teach and I have loved helping to form another caring PT to enter this profession.

67 days until our wedding. Almost 2 and a half months to go. RSVPs still coming in which are a much more fun part of wedding planning than I anticipated. Yay for good things to come like showers and bachelor parties (for the girls and boys respectively)!

Count Your Blessings

This was the quote for Dr. Seuss Day. As I have been very horrible at posting and it is now 73 days until the wedding, I figured I should write something here. Why, I don't really know since no one actually reads this, but it makes me feel as though I do have some sort of life. Above is my Dr. Seuss cake...

Wedding plans are hopping along. I got my hair and make up test drive done and they looked very bride-like. Now I am just trying to stay on top of face antibiotics that make me feel sick, trying to keep up on household chores and working. One week left of my student and then I'll be working hard again :(

Anyway, life is good. Grandpa is home and somewhat healthy. I am getting married to my favorite person in 73 days. I have a good job that is rewarding if hard. We are hopefully getting our house soon and moving. And I just love my life :) In comparison to one year ago this week, I feel like I fell down a rabbit hole and ended up in a fairy tale....

The Fight Over Peach

So the first words of advice almost every past bride gives me if the "At some point you will go insane and be crying to your fiance because he doesn't care about the difference between peach and pink." As typical Mora, I said I doubt it, I don't even like pink, but I think I reached this point this week. As I stood there blow drying the clear labels I thought were so fabulous when I bought them, but are only fabulous as smudging. After having labels print as things such as "Mora and Guest Jimenez" and inviting only one child of two child families, I reached my peach/pink point. Standing there blowing dry labels acknowledging I was going crazy was both humerus and upsetting, because since when does someone who is quite great at planning events reach a breakdown on pieces of sticky paper? But anyway, after throwing a temper tantrum over straws that broke the camels back, I am hoping that now my pink/peach moment is over and wedding planning will continue smoothly.

Did I mention there are only 100 days left until we are married and I become Mora Pluchino??!!

Love You, Mean It

As we sit here with Brian playing football and me listening to love songs and getting overly emotional and teary eyed, I think yet again of how happy and lucky I am. As "Let's Stay Together" is finally allowed on the playlist again and is a happy tune again, and I find new songs to love and relate to our lives :)

I'm sappy, I know....

"Ten miles from town and I just broke down
Spittin' out smoke on the side of the road
I'm out here alone just tryin' to get home
To tell you I was wrong but you already know

Believe me I won't stop at nothin'
To see you so I've started runnin'

All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
As long as I'm laughin' with you
I'm thinkin' that all that still matters is love ever after
After the life we've been through
'Cause I know there's no life after you

Last time we talked, the night that I walked
Burns like an iron in the back of my mind
I must've been high to say you and I
Weren't meant to be and just wastin' my time

Oh, why did I ever doubt you?
You know I would die here without you

All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
As long as I'm laughin' with you
I'm thinkin' that all that still matters is love ever after
After the life we've been through
'Cause I know there's no life after you

You and I, right or wrong, there's no other one
After this time I spent alone
It's hard to believe that a man with sight could be so blind
Thinkin' 'bout the better times, must've been outta my mind
So I'm runnin' back to tell you

All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
Without you God knows what I'd do, yeah

All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
As long as I'm laughin' with you
I'm thinkin' 'bout all that still matters is love ever after
After the life we've been through, yeah
Know there's no life after you"

one year later and a much happier place.

Have Faith

So my Mary Engelbright calendar has been very funny lately. It has eerily appropriate comments for different days and events. When my poor student had her first confrontation with a vomiting patient, the calendar said "If at first you don't succeed, try again. If not, then quit!" For the day that we began to wonder if we would be able to get our house, was the two words of "Have Faith." And for my day in peds was the picture of a bad little boy with the quote "If you can;t be a good example, you'll just have to be a terrible warning." This was then followed by a day of typically bad kids behaving extremely well. There remains nothing much too new in our lives. Still waiting for our contract to be signed and attourney review to end. Keeping our fingers crossed as I try to be a patient person.