Pediatric Grand rounds Volume 2, Number 8 is up at Highlight Health with a Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows theme.
Thanks for including my post on the challenge of teaching something I do almost without thinking.
Change of Shift: Volume 2, Number 3 appears in a very colorful format at Musings of a Highly Trained Monkey
and finally, Grand Rounds appears on Health Business Blog
Monday, July 30, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Vacation Bible School
This week, in addition to my other entertainment, I assisted at my parish Vacation Bible School -- with a western theme - Wah-Hoo!
My part, fortunately, was very scripted. I don't think I could have managed otherwise.
Day 1. The story of Rahab, who hid the spies sent by Joshua from the King's army. Joshua, chapter 2
We had the "spies" hidden under a sheet and when the soldiers came, I tossed more sheets over the kids to hide them too. The soldiers were actually voices on a CD and I only had to read my part and poke the kids with "swords" and "spears" through the sheets. Before I uncovered the kids, the "spies" (also on the CD) gave me a red cord to hang from my window so I wouldn't be killed when Jericho was destroyed.
Day 2. Joshua's Army crosses the Jordan river. Joshua, chapters 3-4. The river is flooded, but when the priests step into the river carrying the Ark of the Covenant, the waters are parted and the army crosses on dry land.
We put several thick towels on a tarp and soaked them. Then we had the kids take off their shoes and cross the "marshy ground" to approach the river (blue sheets held up to look like a flooded river. When the kids approached the river they could feel the spray from the flooded river (my partner had a spray bottle) and when the "priests" touched the river, it dropped away revealing rocks on the "river bed".
Day 3. The walls fall down. Joshua, Chapter 6
I was at the hospital with my husband, but my co-teacher had this under control. He had the children marching around the "walls" he'd set up and when they stopped and sounded their "horns", he had a pull-down video screen that rolled up like a window shade - causing some of the kids to bolt out of the room. I'm sorry I missed that one.
Day 4. The resurrection. Mark 15-16 I missed that one too, but my co-teacher had about 30 balloons blown up and hidden. When it was time to announce the resurrection, he pulled them out of hiding and tossed them around the room. The kids won't forget that any time soon.
Day 5. Naaman is cured of leprosy. 2 Kings 5: 1-14
We set up by the "Jordan River" again - this time with pots of water. We rubbed onion on the kids to give them an idea what it would be like to have leprosy. Some were upset. Some said they thought it smelled good - at first. By the time we cleaned the smell off, they were all glad to be rid of it.
Believe it or not, you can take the smell of onion off fairly quickly by rubbing the skin, under water, with the back of a stainless steel spoon. I have no idea how that works, but it does.
Afterwards, I dabbed vanilla extract on the back of each hand and invited them to "let God be in control" of their lives. That was a big hit after the onions.
Finally, it was back to the parish hall for the closing and traditional pizza party. I asked some of the kids if they plan to come back next year -- and got a resounding YES! from each one.
The program we used is Avalanche Ranch by Harcourt and each part of the program is scripted so that the teacher can just follow the program. You can choose your own crafts, but theirs come in kits and fit into the program themes. Our director of religious education opted to purchase a CD with all the music for each of the kids. It's well worth it. The kids who attended last year's camp still have their CD's and still sing the songs - whenever their parents can stand it. The music is peppy and upbeat. Some of it they already know, the rest written for VBS by PROFESSIONAL musicians.
I can't wait to see what they'll have for us next year.
My part, fortunately, was very scripted. I don't think I could have managed otherwise.
Day 1. The story of Rahab, who hid the spies sent by Joshua from the King's army. Joshua, chapter 2
We had the "spies" hidden under a sheet and when the soldiers came, I tossed more sheets over the kids to hide them too. The soldiers were actually voices on a CD and I only had to read my part and poke the kids with "swords" and "spears" through the sheets. Before I uncovered the kids, the "spies" (also on the CD) gave me a red cord to hang from my window so I wouldn't be killed when Jericho was destroyed.
Day 2. Joshua's Army crosses the Jordan river. Joshua, chapters 3-4. The river is flooded, but when the priests step into the river carrying the Ark of the Covenant, the waters are parted and the army crosses on dry land.
We put several thick towels on a tarp and soaked them. Then we had the kids take off their shoes and cross the "marshy ground" to approach the river (blue sheets held up to look like a flooded river. When the kids approached the river they could feel the spray from the flooded river (my partner had a spray bottle) and when the "priests" touched the river, it dropped away revealing rocks on the "river bed".
Day 3. The walls fall down. Joshua, Chapter 6
I was at the hospital with my husband, but my co-teacher had this under control. He had the children marching around the "walls" he'd set up and when they stopped and sounded their "horns", he had a pull-down video screen that rolled up like a window shade - causing some of the kids to bolt out of the room. I'm sorry I missed that one.
Day 4. The resurrection. Mark 15-16 I missed that one too, but my co-teacher had about 30 balloons blown up and hidden. When it was time to announce the resurrection, he pulled them out of hiding and tossed them around the room. The kids won't forget that any time soon.
Day 5. Naaman is cured of leprosy. 2 Kings 5: 1-14
We set up by the "Jordan River" again - this time with pots of water. We rubbed onion on the kids to give them an idea what it would be like to have leprosy. Some were upset. Some said they thought it smelled good - at first. By the time we cleaned the smell off, they were all glad to be rid of it.
Believe it or not, you can take the smell of onion off fairly quickly by rubbing the skin, under water, with the back of a stainless steel spoon. I have no idea how that works, but it does.
Afterwards, I dabbed vanilla extract on the back of each hand and invited them to "let God be in control" of their lives. That was a big hit after the onions.
Finally, it was back to the parish hall for the closing and traditional pizza party. I asked some of the kids if they plan to come back next year -- and got a resounding YES! from each one.
The program we used is Avalanche Ranch by Harcourt and each part of the program is scripted so that the teacher can just follow the program. You can choose your own crafts, but theirs come in kits and fit into the program themes. Our director of religious education opted to purchase a CD with all the music for each of the kids. It's well worth it. The kids who attended last year's camp still have their CD's and still sing the songs - whenever their parents can stand it. The music is peppy and upbeat. Some of it they already know, the rest written for VBS by PROFESSIONAL musicians.
I can't wait to see what they'll have for us next year.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Men
Could someone please explain to me what part of "Take it easy for a few days" would lead a man to believe that his doctor had given him the OK to go out and clean the swimming pool the day after a cardiac cath with stent placement.
I'm not sure I'm going to survive this. I really need a nap, but I do not dare go to sleep before he does.
I'm not sure I'm going to survive this. I really need a nap, but I do not dare go to sleep before he does.
Adoptaplatoon.org
One of my co-workers told me about an organization called Adopt a Platoon which matches deployed troops with individuals, families, and organizations in the US who send letters and care packages. She's been doing it for a while.
They're very careful to protect the identities and addresses of our troops, so it can take a while to get cleared by the organization. I got home from the hospital last night to find my acceptance notice from them. The first letter will go out in the mail today. The first care package will go early next week. After that, letters at least weekly and care packages at least monthly.
They have lists of suggested (and prohibited) items so I'll have a clue where to start - and in case our troop isn't able to let us know what he or she really needs. I plan to send a check list in each package with a self-addressed envelope that simply lists the contents with a spot to check "send more soon, send more later, and send something else instead." I hope he or she will not worry that our feelings will be hurt by checking that last one, because I'd much rather send things that are wanted or needed. I want to keep it really simple, because his/her free time can be better spent writing home than writing me.
There are tips on the web site I'd never have considered - like newspaper not only makes good cushioning material for care packages, but may serve double duty as reading material when it gets there. That means my local newspaper would probably be a better choice than the larger city paper to which I also subscribe, except perhaps for the city paper's comics.
They're very careful to protect the identities and addresses of our troops, so it can take a while to get cleared by the organization. I got home from the hospital last night to find my acceptance notice from them. The first letter will go out in the mail today. The first care package will go early next week. After that, letters at least weekly and care packages at least monthly.
They have lists of suggested (and prohibited) items so I'll have a clue where to start - and in case our troop isn't able to let us know what he or she really needs. I plan to send a check list in each package with a self-addressed envelope that simply lists the contents with a spot to check "send more soon, send more later, and send something else instead." I hope he or she will not worry that our feelings will be hurt by checking that last one, because I'd much rather send things that are wanted or needed. I want to keep it really simple, because his/her free time can be better spent writing home than writing me.
There are tips on the web site I'd never have considered - like newspaper not only makes good cushioning material for care packages, but may serve double duty as reading material when it gets there. That means my local newspaper would probably be a better choice than the larger city paper to which I also subscribe, except perhaps for the city paper's comics.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
It was a long day, but not a bad one
They took my husband to the cardiac catheterization lab at about 12:30 and told me the procedure would take 45 minutes to an hour. 3 hours later, he finally made it to the recovery area. At least he's consistent. He never makes any procedure easy for the physician who has to perform it. Thanks to the nurse who came out every 45 minutes or so, I was kept up to date on the progress and knew he was doing as well as could be expected.
I have only good things to say about this visit so far - from the valet service to the medical and nursing staff. Everyone has been wonderful. I'd love to know how they jam cell phones, but there was always a telephone around I could use when I needed to contact family to let them know how things were going.
I was concerned about leaving him for the night -- until I met his night nurse. The nurse is a former Scout leader, so they hit it off right away. After watching him work for a little while, I had no worries about the quality of care he'd get either.
Yes, I took names, and yes, they'll be going in a complementary letter - along with a thank-you to all the cheerful, but nameless faces who made the day more pleasant.
I have only good things to say about this visit so far - from the valet service to the medical and nursing staff. Everyone has been wonderful. I'd love to know how they jam cell phones, but there was always a telephone around I could use when I needed to contact family to let them know how things were going.
I was concerned about leaving him for the night -- until I met his night nurse. The nurse is a former Scout leader, so they hit it off right away. After watching him work for a little while, I had no worries about the quality of care he'd get either.
Yes, I took names, and yes, they'll be going in a complementary letter - along with a thank-you to all the cheerful, but nameless faces who made the day more pleasant.
Vaccines lead to age-related diseases
I had an interesting conversation recently with a friend who made the above allegation. I promptly went into defense mode and gave my rant about people misunderstanding vaccines.
Turns out my friend had no such misunderstanding. She simply meant that, prior to immunizations, most people died before they had the opportunity to experience such ills as arthritis, heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and all those other diseases we may experience on the far side of 40.
Turns out my friend had no such misunderstanding. She simply meant that, prior to immunizations, most people died before they had the opportunity to experience such ills as arthritis, heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and all those other diseases we may experience on the far side of 40.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Informed consent?
My husband has a cardiac cath scheduled for Wednesday to check a couple of relatively small areas with decreased perfusion after exercise. 9 minutes on the treadmill and he was having no chest pain or shortness of breath when they did the scan. If he was less active, he'd never have known he needed to get this checked out. His only symptoms were some dizziness and shortness of breath when he spent 20 minutes on a stair climber at the gym last month. That and if he mows the lawn when the temperature in the 90's he gets a little winded. I'm glad he's paying attention. Lots of people would think that was normal.
It sounds like he may need a couple of stents, but that there hasn't been any damage done - yet. I listened as the cardiologist explained the procedure - in very simple language. I watched as he explained the risks and asked if we had any questions. I was the only one asking questions and those were mostly "When and where?" As soon as the cardiologist left the room, my husband looked at me and said, "So is there any danger that the procedure could trigger something?"
Well, yes, but not much and it's safer than not doing it.
The interventional cardiologist will review all this with him again on Wednesday, but I expect that the conversation will be the same. He will have no questions for the doctor and lots for me as soon as the cardiologist walks out of the room. Good thing these cardiologists explain things so clearly. I know the vocabulary, but this sure isn't my area of expertise.
It sounds like he may need a couple of stents, but that there hasn't been any damage done - yet. I listened as the cardiologist explained the procedure - in very simple language. I watched as he explained the risks and asked if we had any questions. I was the only one asking questions and those were mostly "When and where?" As soon as the cardiologist left the room, my husband looked at me and said, "So is there any danger that the procedure could trigger something?"
Well, yes, but not much and it's safer than not doing it.
The interventional cardiologist will review all this with him again on Wednesday, but I expect that the conversation will be the same. He will have no questions for the doctor and lots for me as soon as the cardiologist walks out of the room. Good thing these cardiologists explain things so clearly. I know the vocabulary, but this sure isn't my area of expertise.
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