The end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 have been marked by some of the most interesting, fun, memorable, and scary times so far. In December I quit my job as a staff nurse and packed my bags to travel. It was an incredibly hard leap of faith to make, but one I am just as incredibly glad I chose to do. I miss many people from my staff nurse job, but I am starting to enjoy my role as a travel nurse at my first contract quite a lot! Some of the nurses and aids are starting to warm and open up, as usual some of the patients remind me why I chose this path, and overcoming the challenges of being a stranger in a strange land is rewarding all in itself.
I just spent the best couple of days with my husband and daughter ever, but it didn't start out that way. On the morning of December 30th, I came home a little feverish and achy. I started rotating ibuprofen and acetaminophen. By the early morning hours my next shift, I was shivering from a higher fever, but I felt pretty ok when I went to bed the 31st. I had rented a suite at a hotel near my assignment for the New Year, as the folks I stay with don't have much room for me to visit my family without being a bit crunched for space. I woke up at noon with the worst shivers I had ever had, freezing cold, but with a fever topping around 103 or so. I hurt so badly, I almost couldn't get out of the bed for another dose of Motrin. I thought it may be flu. As it turned out, I had developed a raging kidney infection and UTI. Let's hear it for kidney stones too big to pass, am I right?
Despite the fever, and thanks to some very strong antibiotics and more acetaminophen and ibuprofen, I was able to spend New Year's Eve and Day with the fam. Had it been flu, they would have had to do it without me.
I noticed a tiny rash on my left forearm New Year's Day. Above the rash there was an itchy tiny little bump closer to my thumb. Overnight, a red ring spread around both, and both developed little tiny fluid filled blisters. The bigger of the two started ulcerating. Pretty certain they are recluse bites, but at this point a doctor wouldn't be able to do much except monitor. Since I'm already on levofloxacin (Levaquin), I'm not as concerned about cellulitis. Yet. Then I noticed yet a third spot on the base of my thumb. That spider had gone to town on me. I never felt him/her bite, and I have no idea where it happened.
My husband said I've only been gone about three weeks and I am already falling apart. He may well be right, but I am still loving the new career path I have chosen.
Now, about planning... I was so sick and busy, I never stopped at the grocery store. The food I have where I am staying is limited and mostly canned or frozen as I was pretty frugal. Thankfully, I only work two nights before my next stretch, (I get to go home for a few days!) I thawed a chicken breast, opened a can each of black beans, corn, and Rotel tomatoes with chili and lime, mixed the canned items up, and made a bed on the bottom of a disposable foil pan. I salted and peppered the chicken breast and roasted the whole shebang. I am a little tired of southwest flavors for the moment, but beggars can't be choosers, and the meal is actually really good! Next week, I refuse to eat anything Southwest flavored. This time I am going Italian and Southern.
For New Year's night, we went to Paula Deen's restaurant. I wasn't super hungry, but oh em gee! Next time I will try the fried chicken, but the greens, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and ooey gooey butter cake were all simply to die for! This has inspired me to find her recipe for her greens. Our server told us to cut way back on the salt in the recipe. I'll use ham steak for the ham in the greens, pan fry a few pork loin chops (no breading, olive oil, easy on the seasoning), and also look for one of her mac and cheese recipes. Her Southern dishes in her restaurants are no joke, and quite frankly, I've never had greens that good. The green beans even looked under cooked, but they were cooked to pure perfection without being mushy or crunchy!
One more night, then I am headed home after a few hour of sleep. I am really looking forward to my on bed for a few nights! (Or days, that is...)
No comments:
Post a Comment