SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK - dawnofsierra!!!!

Originally Posted by mrsd

Congratulations!

1. What destination would you like to cruise to?

2. How do you handle the emotional stress of pediatric nursing?

3. Have you ever had a patient to die on your shift?

4. Have you ever been deep sea fishing?

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Thank you!

1. I would enjoy cruising anywhere tropical and warm, the Bahamas, for instance or the Virgin Islands!

2. Sometimes a shift will become especially stressful, but that is often due to some sort of stress in the home where I'm working or sometimes when the child is especially sick and I spend the entire shift trying to catch up with myself. I actually thrive quite well under the pressure of a child suddenly facing a crisis and do not become stressed at the time. It's usually when I look back at it and see the possibilities of how it could have turned out had the correct steps not been taken that I think about how stressful it was. At the time, though, I'm just doing what needs to be done. I do my best, when I leave work, to do just that, and not bring it home with me.

3. I am so thankful to say that no, we have never lost a child on my shift!
4. Yes, when I was younger, I went on vacation with my boyfriend time and his entire family. They chartered a boat to go out deep sea fishing. Everyone else put on a Dramamine patch to prevent sea sickness, but I foolishly, chose not to use mine. We got way out into the ocean, and, oh my, talk about sea sick! Those cartoons where you see people turn green leaning over the side of the boat, I nolonger find that to be an exaggeration!

How embarrassing, too!

Thank you, these were great questions!

Originally Posted by Ilovecats

Yay! Aw Steph, you know I adore you.

You deserve this more then most people I know.

You're sweet, affectionate, helpful, and funny. You have a great baby too, Seirra.

Here's my questions:

Have you ever considered getting another cat, or is one enough?

How can you discribe your lifestyle?

What region to you live in?

Do you have a boyfriend? (You don't have to anwser this if you don't want too)
What job do you have?

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Thank you, Jenny, you're so great, too!

1. Every kitty I have ever brought into our home has quickly become a foster. Sierra is an only child and likes it that way!

2. My lifestyle is calm and peaceful.

3. We live on one of the beaches of Eastern NC.
4. Don't mind at all, Jenny, I do not have a boyfriend at this time and am as single as can be!
5. I am a private duty Pediatric Nurse.
Thank you, Jenny!

Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

I can't think of any questions but congrats Stephanie!!

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Thank you, Sam!

Originally Posted by Catfolks

I am not going to ask questions, but I want to give you a flower if I may.
Back the last of November and first of December I went through one of the
deepest valleys I have ever had to go through With Mother being so bad
and passing away. I could alway count on you for a text message, a phone call,or
a post on here I didn't post but Cindy told you had asked.
Your voice has such a soothing comforting sound to it I ment so much for all
you did.
SO THANK YOU!

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Charlie, this is so incredibly touching!

You are so very wonderful, and I thank you, my friend!

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

Thank you, Jenny, you're so great, too!

1. Every kitty I have ever brought into our home has quickly become a foster. Sierra is an only child and likes it that way!

2. My lifestyle is calm and peaceful.

3. We live on one of the beaches of Eastern NC.
4. Don't mind at all, Jenny, I do not have a boyfriend at this time and am as single as can be!
5. I am a private duty Pediatric Nurse.
Thank you, Jenny!

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Originally Posted by captiva

Stephanie!

Hi! I'm so glad to see this! Congratulations!!!!!!! Boy, you've answered some really thoughtful and intense questions, so I'm going to try to think of some light questions for you.

Tell me about your town. Is it really small??? Do you have stores nearby?

Can you see the ocean from your house?

Do you like music? What's you favorite kind?

Besides Sierra, what brings a smile to your face?

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Hi, Chris!

1. Emerald Isle is a small town that is mainly populated during the Spring and Summer by vacationers. This time of year, it's mainly just the locals. In fact, Sierra and I are the only ones on our block right now! There is a gas station about 5 minutes down the road, and Indian Beach is the next beach over, just a few minutes away, but they only have a couple of convenience marts. They do a have a fresh seafood market from where Sierra enjoys her occcassional baked fresh fish treats!

2. From downstairs, we cannot see the ocean, but from upstairs we can! It's just so wonderful to go out and just listen to the ocean, love the sound!

3. In the house, I enjoy playing background music, usually one of Sierra's CD's for cats or classical. I enjoy mostly older music from the 60's and early 70's, not very familiar with newer music, really.

Great questions, Chris, thank you!

Originally Posted by fwan

Steph!
i have been pondeing about what i want to do right as i finish school.
Ive wanted to be a midwife/nurse and i know the consenquences if it is a stillborn.
Is it a hard job?
I know that my heart would fill with pride after assisting a birth and seeing the parents faces light up.
How do you feel when you see a baby born?
How many years does it take in a course to be a nurse?

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Hi, Fwan!

Nursing is definately a challenging, yet extremely rewarding career.

Seeing a baby born never began to feel like an everyday, taken for granted experience for me. With the birth of each healthy baby, my heart filled with so much joy! I even had the opportunity to deliver at times the baby decided to arrive before the Dr.!

Most Nursing Schools require 4 years. In order to be a Nurse/Midwife, you would need to go an extra 2 years for your Masters.

Thank you for these great questions, Fran!

Originally Posted by Kellyyfaber

Yay!!! Steph, you're such a great gal! You deserve this so much!! You're one of the reasons TCS is so wonderful!

1. If you and Sierra were to be stranded on a deserted island, besides food, what 3 things would you want to have with you?

2. If God gave the chance to choose who you would spend your last hours on Earth with, besides Sierra, who would you choose to spend this time with?

3. What's your favorite movie?

4. Do you ever not answer the phone just because you don't feel like talking?

5. Do you make your bed as soon as you get up?

6. Do you cook, eat microwave meals, or order out most?

7. Have you ever hung up on a telemarketer?

8. Do you live close to your family?

9. Do you think it is cruel to keep an animal in a Zoo or do you think that it's good to have the animals as "ambassadors" for their kind to help educate people about their species?

10. If you won a $5,000 shopping spree for Sierra, what would you buy?

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What a sweet thing for you to say, Kelly, thank you so much, I would say the very same to you!

1. My computer (my deserted island has electricity

), my Bible, and a soft, cozy bed for us.
2. I suppose my immediate family would be most appropriate for my last living hours.
3. Boy, that's tough. I really don't watch alot of movies. The Godfather is a classic in my view. For lack of a better thought at the moment, I'll go with that, if I think of something better, I'll come back to it!

4. Absolutely!

5. I don't completely make up the bed unless we're having a guest, but simply fold the covers up so it looks neat, and yes, if Sierra is not in, I make it up as soon as we awaken.
6. I cook all of my food.

7. Yes, but only because after I clearly said thank you but I'm not interested, he was going on and on and on...
8. My parents live about 3 hours away.
9. As long as the animals are treated extremely well, as in hygiene, food, surroundings with adequate space, Vet. care, plus lots of love, I feel it is acceptable.
10. Good one! Oh, a dream come true!

A big, soft, fluffy bed (that she probably would never get in but would sleep in the box

), a kitty tower with a soft cushion on each level (again, the thing about the box

), a new elevated dish (her Christmas dish broke), a new remote control mouse (hers quit working), lots of fun wand toys for hours of interactive play, a soft, fluffy blanket, a camera mounted on the wall so I can watch her via the internet wherever I am (ok, that's more for me!), additional Drinkwells, one for each room in the house, how long are my answers allowed to be?

These were fantastic, well thought out questions, Kelly, thank you!

Originally Posted by MyRage

Hey again.

I was kind of curious... everyone has a down day. How do you deal with yours? What makes you cheer up?
Besides... Sierra

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Besides Sierra? Yes, we all have days like that some time or another. Sometimes, I cope best by dealing with what needs immediate attention and then pushing it all aside and sort of escaping with other thought processes altogether, here being my most usual place to be.

Most often, I find that helping others deal with their present situations helps me cope with my own, in fact I rather thrive on it. Other times, I find incredible cheer here with all of our light hearted fun, sharing our day, and talking about our babies! I have amazing friends here with whom I can confide, and I always receive such sweet love and support to get me through any difficult time!

I also enjoy relaxing by snuggling up with my baby girl, a good book, and cup of herbal tea or looking out over the ocean and listening to the magnificient roar.

Thank you, Tia, great question, as always!

Originally Posted by Felicia's Mom

Congrats!! I can only think of one question; People are talking about Sierra's illness, but I don't know what illness they are talking about. Did I miss something?

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Thank you so much for asking, Nancy! Several times, when you have sent me a little just catching up note, it has arrived at the absolutely perfect time to bring me a big smile in the midst of a difficult time. It was almost as if you had a radar knowing just when I needed a friend although you never realized anything was going on with Sierra. Thank you!

You may be interested in Sierra's thread, or what's left of it after the crash anyway, and now I update it as events occure.
This past June Sierra had some abnormal labs and had also begun exhibiting symptoms such as increased water intake and increased urination and we were referred to the Veterinary Specialty Hospital where she was diagnosed with early Chronic Renal Failure. She also has extremely high blood pressure, which often go along with eachother. Sierra had to have her little tummy shaven for an ultrasound so they could see her kidneys, and one of her kidneys was found to be "abnormally small and irregularly shaped". This means one isn't working right, and it's putting too much stress on the other one. The Dr. said this was likely genetic. These were taken on July 4rth, what a bad day. Poor baby.
"I don't feel well, Mommy."

During that time, she become quite ill, wouldn't eat, vomited frequently, and began losing weight. She required pretty much around the clock care and would only eat by me syringe feedling her.
We changed her diet to a food low in protein and phosphorus and she began taking medication for her high blood pressure. The first med., though, she had a horrible reaction to, but now she is taking Norvasc every day and doing quite well with it! She is now taking several supplements daily also.

At our last visit, her labs had fallen back just to within normal limits, a celebration day for us!

She has been vomiting here lately and had a few bad days. I can tell when her BP becomes elevated, and have observed this several times. We are returning to the Specialty Hosp. in March to have her labs redrawn and her blood pressure checked.
As you know, Sierra is truly the love of my life, everything that I am revolves around her, and all in all, my sweet baby girl is doing wonderfully!

I know without a doubt she is going to always be perfectly ok, as God is watching over her and always gives me strength! I must thank all of our incredible friends here at TCS for having made it through this time with (partial

) sanity!

You guys have been here for us with so much love and support at times I felt as if I could just crumble. Sierra not only received so much love and prayers, but also such incredibly special gifts from all over the world! I'm so blessed, and truly am unable to express the love and gratitude that I feel for you guys!