A Nurse's Notes

What Color is Your Shirt?

     One of our mothers in neonatal asked if we had seen her second shirt as she couldn't find it.  When asked what color it was, she said it was the color of my hair.  Interesting choice of description!  I would have thought she'd just say "brown."

Breaking Another Record! This Has Got to Stop!!

     In December we broke a record by admitting 112 babies.  In January we broke that record again and admitted 117!  This record breaking has got to stop!  We are too crowded and overworked!

One Incubator

     Two babies (not twins), two nurses caring for the babies, one incubator.

No Complaints...Usually!

     Our mothers put up with a lot!  Usually they don't complain about neonatal being hot and cramped with only the floor for sleeping.  But this day, everyone was a little on edge as it was so hot…and so cramped…with so little space on the floor for sleeping!  They asked me to please take a picture and show people how crowded neonatal is.  And I have to admit, it was challenging as there was so little space for me to squeeze through to care for the babies! 
     (Picture posted with maternal permission of all photographed.)

Ushers at Church

     Here in Rwanda ushers have a much larger role.  They make sure people fill up the seats one after another.  And when the row is full, the usher directs the next person to the end of the row behind—even if it’s the spouse of the person who sat in the last seat of the previous row!  So interesting to observe.  Today I sat at the end of an empty row because I had to leave early.  I really messed up the ushers. ☺ 
     Their other job is to keep an eye out for people they don't know—not an easy task when there are about 2000 people at church on a Sunday!  If the people are visitors, the ushers take down their names and where they are from, so when it’s time for visitor introductions, the visitor can be called by name, stand, and wave to everyone.  

Waiting...

     When your baby is born at 2.6 lbs., you spend a lot of time waiting for the baby to grow big enough to go home!  This mama is responsible for feeding her baby, weighing him each day, bathing him, and changing the bedding.  She also has her own personal hygiene, the laundry, and cooking her own meals.  But even with all of this, there’s still down time when she’s just...waiting.  Perfect for a nap!  But we don't have the space for beds for the mothers, so she curls up under her baby's incubator.

The Great Race

     We went boating at Kumbya.  As we explored the shoreline, we met a boat of kids—and the race was on.  Such fun for everyone involved!!

Not Worn Out

     On our hike, one little girl following us was carrying her little brother.  At first I thought she was dressed in shorts, but then realized she had on pajama pants.  For Christmas I got new pajama pants as mine were ripping along the worn out elastic.  But after seeing this little girl’s pajama pants, I realized mine still had a few year’s worth of wear!

Sunbirds

     I quickly quit cutting out a quilt when this sunbird stopped by these flowers outside my dining room window.

Valley Hike

     I’m not sure why this hike was named the Valley Hike, as there are so many valleys in Rwanda. ☺  It was a beautiful hike up the valley on the far side of the town near Kibogora.  Once again we picked up some tour guides—one was a father with a set of twins (now about two) who’d been in Neonatal when they were born.  As we walked, he pointed out a 3 year old who’d also been in neonatal.  The father turned out to be a very good tour guide because he didn’t point out the typical sites! ☺  We came to a bridge that, thankfully, had a railing.  I was torn—watch the iffy bridge or watch the amazing colony of weaver birds.  I’ll have to do that hike again sometime!