Africa 2010

Below are a few of my favorite photos...there are so many to choose from. I may add more later. Hope you like getting a taste of what life is like there.

Another corner of the compound/house...the family includes the animals.

Cooking in Africa....These photos are taken inside the home of a family that we just walked by and asked if we could come in and take some photos. The people are all so friendly. They are cooking the same beans/nuts that you see being washed in the river above. They then pound it and make it into a past or dried powder to be used in sauces as a flavoring. The bottom photo is their oven to bake things. Makes you appreciate our stoves and electricity. Big pots-eh...

Mother and baby...below

This little girl took care of her baby sister/brother for 4 days while her mother had surgery. It was interesting how well she did in caring for her. While her mother was in the OR I saw her with the baby tied on her back like all the other women do and then later I saw her trying to feed him some "millet mush" with a spoon made from a gord. This was all out in the dirt yard area. They would sleep there each night or on the floor by her mother in the post -op area. I saw the father around some, but this little girl took care of the baby.

I went to Ouelessebougou, Mali, Africa on December 27th. This year was again enjoyable, but different with some political issues along with communication that lessened the amount of surgeries that we would usually do. In the end, we have made progress for the futue.

Grandchildren at Christmas

I keep saying I have the cutest grandkids...so I just have to back it up with these photos taken at Christmas.

Passing Boards!

I know...slacker here has not posted for quite some time...like Halloween. I'll try to do better, so there are lots of things to catch up on. First milestone that happened was me passing my boards as and Acute Care Nurse Practioner...I'm official! It was the best feeling when I came out of the test at the U of U testing center and the girl who was proctering the test told me that the minimum score was 350 and my score was 424! I just started to cry, jump up and down, and then gave this stranger (the proctor) a hug. It was such a relief and pure joy to know I was done and did not have to stress about studying anymore! It has been a long 4 years of this "nagging...I need to study" and now I am free to do things I want with any spare time I have. Funny how quickly the time spent doing school is absorbed into various aspects of life.

I had already been working as an NP (Nurse Practioner) since the first part of October since the State of Utah gives you an "intern" license to work under until you pass your boards. I finally took my boards on December 23, so it was one of the best Christmas presents ever. I'm working 3 days/ week for Drs. Carl Gray and Harold Johnson at UHO (Utah Hematology Oncology). I love the patients and getting to know them. The work is interesting and I continue to learn things everyday. The staff are all wonderful to work with too. Such nice people! Check me out on their web site at http://www.utahhemonc.com/03_physicans.htm. I also still assist in the OR 2-3 days each week, so it is a great mix. The staff at ORMC are also very nice. Life is good!