My Love

#AtLast, Happy anniversary, my love.  I am grateful that you are a very supportive husband and a very loving papa.  There are forces that brought us together and so happy that we've chosen each other to be partners for life.  I am thankful that we've already started celebrating since midnight with great food, lots of wine and being #foreveronthedancefloor. We've passed the #infamous7yearitch and have beautiful little loves together.. I want to grow old with you so let's keep celebrating.  

Love you Always xo 

What's on my Night Table

Relationships are important. The past few years have felt like a whirlwind for me---juggling school, home and events but I've been able to catch up on my family time, my friendships with my girlfriends and most importantly my husband and my children.  Now that I've graduated from Nursing and have finished studying for a little while...I was finally able to read for fun!  Mind you, with a full-time job, a house to tend to, and a family who definitely need my attention....I didn't breeze through these books very quickly but they're worth the read.  These were sitting on my night table when I wasn't reading past my bedtime.  

MCB xo

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

by Eckhart Tolle

Ekhart Tolle's message is simple: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment. And while this message may not seem stunningly original or fresh, Tolle's clear writing, supportive voice and enthusiasm make this an excellent manual for anyone who's ever wondered what exactly "living in the now" means. Foremost, Tolle is a world-class teacher, able to explain complicated concepts in concrete language. More importantly, within a chapter of reading this book, readers are already holding the world in a different container--more conscious of how thoughts and emotions get in the way of their ability to live in genuine peace and happiness.

Tolle packs a lot of information and inspirational ideas into The Power of Now. (Topics include the source of Chi, enlightened relationships, creative use of the mind, impermanence and the cycle of life.) Thankfully, he's added markers that symbolise "break time". This is when readers should close the book and mull over what they just read. As a result, The Power of Nowreads like the highly acclaimed A Course in Miracles--a spiritual guidebook that has the potential to inspire just as many study groups and change just as many lives for the better. --Gail Hudson

The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate

by Gary Chapman

Are you and your spouse speaking the same language? While love is a many splendored thing, it is sometimes a very confusing thing, too. And as people come in all varieties, shapes, and sizes, so do their choices of personal expressions of love. But more often than not, the giver and the receiver express love in two different ways. This can lead to misunderstanding, quarrels, and even divorce.

Quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch are the five basic love languages. Dr. Gary Chapman identifies these and guides couples towards a better understanding of their unique languages of love. Learn to speak and understand your mate's love language, and in no time you will be able to effectively love and truly feel loved in return. Skillful communication is within your grasp.

The Happiest Toddler on the Block: The New Way to Stop the Daily Battle of Wills and Raise a Secure and Well-Behaved One- To Four-Year-Old

by Harvey Karp, Paula Spencer

Toddlers can drive you bonkers...so adorable and fun one minute...so stubborn and demanding the next! Yet, as unbelievable as it sounds, there is a way to turn the daily stream of "nos" and "don'ts" into "yeses" and hugs...if you know how to speak your toddler's language. In one of the most useful advances in parenting techniques of the past twenty-five years, Dr. Karp reveals that toddlers, with their immature brains and stormy outbursts, should be thought of not as pint-size people but as pintsize...cavemen.
Having noticed that the usual techniques often failed to calm crying toddlers, Dr. Karp discovered that the key to effective communication was to speak to them in their own primitive language. When he did, suddenly he was able to soothe their outbursts almost every time! This amazing success led him to the realization that children between the ages of one and four go through four stages of "evolutionary" growth, each linked to the development of the brain, and each echoing a step in prehistoric humankind's journey to civilization:
- The "Charming Chimp-Child" (12 to 18 months): Wobbles around on two legs, grabs everything in reach, plays a nonstop game of "monkey see monkey do."
- The "Knee-High Neanderthal" (18 to 24 months): Strong-willed, fun-loving, messy, with a vocabulary of about thirty words, the favorites being "no" and "mine."
- The "Clever Caveman" (24 to 36 months):
Just beginning to learn how to share, make friends, take turns, and use the potty.
- The "Versatile Villager" (36 to 48 months): Loves to tell stories, sing songs and dance, while trying hard to behave.
To speak to these children, Dr. Karp has developed two extraordinarily effective techniques:
1) The "fast food" rule--restating what your child has said to make sure you got it right;
2) The four-step rule--using gesture, repetition, simplicity, and tone to help your
irate Stone-Ager be happy again.
Once you've mastered "toddler-ese," you will be ready to apply behavioral techniques specific to each stage of your child's development, such as teaching patience and calm, doing time-outs (and time-ins), praise through "gossiping," and many other strategies. Then all the major challenges of the toddler years--including separation anxiety, sibling rivalry, toilet training, night fears, sleep problems, picky eating, biting and hitting, medicine taking "-- "can be handled in a way that will make your toddler feel understood. The result: fewer tantrums, less yelling, and, best of all, more happy, loving time for you and your child. "From the Hardcover edition."

My Nursing Career Begins!

From nursing student to working on the wards...

I graduated from my nursing program, took my nursing board exam, wrote up my CV and cover letter (with several edits) until I finally had the courage to send it.  As confident as I wanted to appear at my job interviews, my knees were shaking.  I had hoped to give them a good first impression but did I have what they were looking for?  After only a few days of the waiting game, a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders because I landed my first job in my nursing career.

I was nervous about being the "rookie" since I wasn't at the same level of experience as the nurses on the ward.  Just listening to the nurses morning report on their patients sounded impressive.  So many questions went through my mind.  Would I fit in with the healthcare team? Would I be a burden to my preceptor?  Will I be able to manage my time well? What if I made any errors?  I was now responsible for patients’ lives and no longer had a nursing instructor by my side.  

As part of my orientation, I was paired with a nurse preceptor to help guide me through my first six weeks of my career. We worked closely together and she helped me organize my plan of care among our patients. Every day I arrive a few minutes earlier to see my assignment and get settled on the floor. By being on time, I want my colleagues to know that I'm reliable and have a strong desire to work with them.  I ask questions and take notes along the way to help my training go as smoothly as possible.  The hardest part is convincing myself that I'm competent ----rather than worrying about a new nursing intervention- I just have to do it! My commitment I've made for my patients is that I'd maintain current knowledge of every action I do and provide a safe environment.  Our continuing education is mandatory so it's a good thing I'm still in the mode of active learning.  A novice nurse couldn't know everything so sometimes I ask, "Since I've never done this before, could you please walk me through it?" It's all part of the learning process. If I know of a certain procedure being done with a patient that wasn't actually assigned to me, I take initiative and ask to observe and assist, in order to gain experience.  I was now out of school but is when the real learning begins ...and after every new skill I've accomplished so far, I think to myself, "that wasn't so bad at all" and move beyond many of the fears that I initially had.  Presently, the tough thing for me right now is that I often get attached with some patients and think of them after my shift has ended.

If I plan on having a long healthy career in nursing, I must be mindful of burnout and take care of myself as well.  Us nurses need to take our breaks, enjoy our lunch, take a breather and have "me time" after work.  It's not a selfish approach because my time is demanded both at work and at home.  It's also important that an open line of communication with friends and family is established about what's being asked of me and how I could meet their needs without giving too much of myself.  Besides, we have to stay positive and motivated in every way.

Since I was a unit co-ordinator a few years ago, in the very same department I currently work at, I was familiar with my surroundings. However, this time I needed to know where all the supplies, equipment and medication were stored in, as a nurse.  I also knew more than half of the staff so being sociable was not very difficult.  They knew I enjoyed sitting with them during lunch, and bonded by getting to know one another.  After all, I spend 12 hours every work day and need to stay connected with my "family" of nurses.   Fortunately for me, with the endless support from my fellow colleagues, transitioning from student nurse to registered nurse has been a lot easier than I had anticipated. I've got a lot to learn in the next few months but my colleagues have told me that I'm better prepared than I realize.  Here goes....My first year on a neurology/neurosurgery department...

MCB xo

Rest and Relaxation

Living life to the fullest. This post entry IS an event because it's been a long time coming and one that'll be remembered - I needed this!  Hubby decided to treat me to rest and relaxation,at Spe le Finlandais, but he deserves this just as much. Thank you for dealing with me when I needed to meet deadlines, when times were nerve-racking before exams or when my knees were shaking before interviews...and for being so patient with our brats - whom we love so much. More importantly, I am grateful for all the moments we create and share together as a family. Who loves you? I do.

MCB xo

Nursing Grad!

Your journey through nursing school has been long and arduous but an end is finally in sight. As you approach graduation you experience a strange mix of relief and panic. The realities of what lies ahead as a professional nurse start to creep in making it hard to breath. You question yourself asking, Did I make the right decision to become a nurse? Do I have what it takes to succeed? These feelings are normal and are experienced by all new graduates. Here are seven strategies that will help you survive, and even thrive, during your first year as a nurse and beyond.

The night before the first day of my graduate year came. Oh what a joyful night that was! 

Getting dressed, I felt like I was a teenager again....excited to make my parents proud...only this time I had my husband and my children happy for me too.

 

Last semester of our Nursing Program

            Prior to becoming a student in the nursing program, I’ve had previous work experience communicating with clients - as an independent financial advisor, a certified wedding planner and a unit coordinator at the Montreal Neurological Hospital.  In the humble career of nursing, I believe being knowledgeable, having confidence, integrity and a good self-esteem plays a role, as an individual or as a team player.   My strength is the ability to communicate - Talking and especially listening are extremely important in the nursing program, where poor communication could be detrimental in this career. My favourite clinical settings were obstetrics and pediatrics because of my serious interest in pregnancy and children. When caring for our patients, it can never be assumed that they have other resources or support, so it’s important that they receive excellent care and education directly from us.  Whether we’re working in geriatrics, psychiatry, or pediatrics, we are trusted with someone’s health or illness, or someone’s parent, someone’s spouse, or someone’s child. We explain things in a “nice” way however we are not to give false reassurance.  We encourage our patients to say how they feel while observing their non-verbal cues.  My plan as their nurse is to give individualized care to each patient, rather than generalizing patients according to their diagnoses.

            Last year, when I found out that I was pregnant, a part of me was disappointed that I cried because I wanted to graduate with my class at the end of the year.  One year later, here I am back at school and blessed with a healthy 8 month-old baby girl in my life. At the end of last semester, another obstacle came in my way – my husband was admitted in the hospital due to inflammation of the pituitary gland. He had an endoscopic trans-sphenoidal biopsy of the pituitary gland.  They’ve been investigating him since March and he is still not diagnosed. Therefore, I am now taking care of my husband, my 4 year old son and my 1 year old daughter at home.  It’s quite exhausting to try and juggle anything that comes my way and be successful at everything, but I always strive to try my best.  Over the weekend, both my kids were under observation for respiratory issues and (undiagnosed) asthma (due to their young age) so I know that the healthcare team needs to deal, not only with sick kids but also, with their worrisome parents.  As the mother in this family, I am so grateful to “connect the dots” and understand the physicians when they speak about the medical issues of my family members.   Oftentimes, I think that I was meant to be in the nursing program as a mature student because my past experiences definitely help me while communicating with others and be resilient. 

            Even though I was born in Montreal, I don’t speak French fluently and find it difficult to explain or educate my patients as thoroughly, as I do to my English patients.  I know that it’s something I need to improve in.  Since I’m returning into the nursing program, in my mind, my goal is to quickly refresh my nursing vocabulary, to learn and do as many technical skills as possible, in order to become confident working at the bedside.  For the following week, I plan to be organized with a nursing care plan for the day for each patient, read up on the diagnosis’ and watch videos of nursing skills to be done.

            One thing I’ve noticed among nursing students is that most of us already have genuine thoughts of care and concern, do acts of kindness, and unselfishly give ourselves to others, as though it’s a pre-requisite to be in this program. They say that the nursing career is very rewarding and I can finally understand that first-hand.  It’s so nice to be told by patients and their families that they appreciate the care, the education and the comfort I’ve provided for them during their stay, so far.  I definitely feel like I’m in my element.  Aside from working diligently for my exams and my term papers, I know I will be closer to achieving my goal when I succeed in my clinical rotations in the 6^th semester, as well.  

Jasmine's 1st Birthday {Hello Kitty}

Make Time for Your Girlfriends!

We are all busy in life and use the excuse- "I have no time!"  Our schedules are filled with work, school, kids activities, family obligations, birthday parties, and often times we're stuck in our daily routines.  The days fly by, then the weeks go by and before you know it, exhaustion comes over us all.  A much needed pause is realized when we need to exhale.  Just as it is important to have alone time...It's also important to spend time with our girlfriends every so often. It's important to spend time with our girlfriends every so often. 
Girlfriends openly share what's going on in their lives, understand one another and can relate to each other. My girlfriends and I have the best laughs...bursting out in laughter for silly things, laughing til our bellies hurt or laughing til we cry.  Spending time with them reduces any stress or any worries that were brewing inside. This is why it's important to make time for your girlfriends and to be there for each other. Real friendships celebrate life- all the joys and the sorrows, the love and the hardships. I am fortunate to have a true sisterhood with more than 35 years together. 

How did we celebrate our successes this year?  Us ladies took a few days from our busy schedules to have some serious quality time! My girlfriends booked a trip to Las Vegas months in advance to watch New Kids on the Block in concert.  Only 10 days before the trip, I just couldn't miss out and joined them!  As soon as we got there, we received "VIP treatment" at restaurants, clubs, bars, pool parties, and shows. Our husbands were ok when we called them and our kids were doing fine without us for a few days. Laughter, tears, the sun and crazy fun - it's definitely a trip we'll all remember. 

"Exude happiness and you will feel it back a thousand times." - Joan Lunden

So make plans to go out for breakfast, meet for coffee or go out for drinks and dance the night away!  Just be sure to make time for your girlfriends!

Love you so much, ladies...and love us together 
MCB xo 
  

God Rest in Reason { Karmen & Jeffrey }

July 5, 2014

This is a wedding I was excited to plan.  Just look at the engagement photos of Karmen and Jeffrey. Not only do they look cute together but they are one of the kindest couples I've met.  The bride is quite crafty,  I foresaw there'd be pretty little details incorporated into their wedding. They got married on July 5, 2014 and you can see the happiness and all the love put into their wedding day....from the ceremony to the reception!  Their photographer, Terry Quilatan, captured all the fun - from the Ice cream shop to the Superman & Hello Kitty as wedding cake toppers, up until the McDonald's cheeseburgers at the midnight table. The year of planning it together was magnificent!  Congratulations to the both of you and looking forward to celebrating more happy events in your life :)  

MCB xo

Church:  Mary Queen of Peace

Transportation: Avis Rene Levesque

Hair: Cathy Tapia

Cake: Linda & Shirlyn Guiang

Reception/Caterer: Riviera Receptions:

Photographer: Terry Quilatan

Photobooth:  Grinbox 

Videographer: Maya Medina

Make-up: Chris Lee

DJ/MC & Entertainment: A2 Productions

Karmen Chan Roca: Thank you Satin weddings for helping us making our wedding day so memorable and for allowing us to enjoy every moment of it. Jeffrey and I appreciated your professionalism. Thank you for journeying with us.

Nursing Pediatrics Rotation

      I have been looking forward to my pediatrics rotation ever since I started my intensive nursing program.  There’s a soft spot in my heart for children.  Yes, the children who are hospitalized are sick and not happily playing outside as they should be…but I want to give them the care they so need.  I have a 3 year-old son who’s been previously admitted at the Children’s for respiratory issues so I know that the healthcare team needs to deal, not only with sick kids but also, with their worrisome parents.   Last year, when I found out I was pregnant, a part of me was disappointed because I wanted to graduate with my class at the end of the year, plus, pediatrics was going to be my next rotation.  One year later, here I am back at school, beginning clinical at Montreal Children’s Hospital and blessed with a healthy 9 month-old baby girl in my life. Oftentimes, I think that I was meant to be in the nursing program as a mature student because my past experiences definitely help me by being comfortable while communicating with others. 

  Upon my first encounter with pediatric patients, the young children have already and undoubtedly pulled my heartstrings.  As a student nurse, it’s important to not become attached, not link our patients to our own children, and to not show our emotions in front of our patients and their families.  In my mind, my goal this semester is to quickly refresh my nursing vocabulary, to learn technical skills and become confident working at the bedside.  For the following week, I plan to be organized with a nursing care plan for the day for each patient, read up on the diagnosis’ and watch videos of nursing skills to be done.  It’s important to not only familiarize myself with my surroundings on the pediatric floor but to know what resources are available to refer to my patients and their families.  When caring for a sick child, we may be the only resource or support a parent may have so it’s important that they receive excellent care directly from us. This week, we learned that administering medication is takes a lot of time and requires many steps doing it in real life.  Drug dosage knowledge needs to be safe according to the child’s weight so a calculator in our pocket is more of a necessity in the pediatric setting than it is on a medical-surgical floor.  I admitted I also didn’t have much experience with IVs, tracheostomies, catheters and gastric tubes – but was happy to have observed it all during my day in TDU on 7C.  After all our patients were changed, fed, medicated and suctioned…I still had the time to play games with them and even sing one little girl to sleep.  One thing I’ve noticed among nursing students is that most of us already have genuine thoughts of care and concern, do acts of kindness, and unselfishly give ourselves to others… as though it’s a pre-requisite to be in this program. 

 

MCB xo