Are Your Kidney's OK??

So March 13th was World Kidney Day. Being a renal nurse my fellow nurses and I decided we should definitely participate. Last year we did a traveling road show throughout our hospital, educating non-renal nurses on the care of our delicate patient population. This year we had more time to plan so we decided to do a community health screening open to the general public. Being the chairperson for our unit-based council, I was sort of elected to head things up. We started planning at the end of last summer and met monthly until the big day. None of us had ever done anything like this so we called on the advice and expertise of marketing, administration and many more. I was way stressed about the whole thing and woke up about 3 times the night before. We had no idea how many people were going to show up so we decided to limit the number we would screen to keep it manageable. The screening started at 8am but there was a lobby full of people by 7:15. We were mobbed throughout the morning but managed to handle it all. The day turned out to be a great success and we all breathed a sigh of relief. I think though someone else can be in charge next year.

Bump In The Night

So one of the awesome things about pregnancy (sarcasm here) is that you are totally drooling asleep at 8:30pm and wake about every 2-3 hrs to pee. This morning about 2:15 I woke up to pee and just when I caught the edge of sleep I heard a noise. I didn't think anything of it at first, it sounded like the dog coming up the stairs. But then I realized both dogs were in the room with us....hmmm. Don't freak out, I told myself and tried desperately to fall back to sleep. Then I heard it again. Ok, wake up the man sleeping next to you and have him check it out. So after about the third "JOSH," he woke up. I explained what he heard and our protector went off to check it out. He gave the whole house the once-over and came back to the room. I felt a little better after that, but still wanted to be sure. I decided to go downstairs and let out our ferocious schnauzer to get the bad guys lurking outside. He had been out for a few minutes and just as I was calling him back in, he barked and someone/something made the scariest noise I'd ever heard. Josh came back upstairs, he'd been checking the basement again, said "close the door and get upstairs" I was frozen and shaking, I don't know if I've ever been so freaked out in my life. He grabbed his hunting rifle and I called the cops. A few minutes later the nice officer checked out everything outside, put our minds at ease and left. We were still feeling a little jittery, but able to get back to sleep. Now just so you don't think we were over-reacting, I will tell you that we have had problems with break-ins in the neighborhood and last year one of our neighbors was held up at gunpoint in her own driveway (just around the corner from us). I like to think of the town we live in as a little rough, so I don't think it hurts to be overly cautious. I hate being afraid in my own house.

It's Been A While

Ok, so some time has passed since my last post. I have to say this pregnancy is taking a toll on me. I remember being tired with my first, but this is ridiculous. I have about zero energy and battle little waves of nausea all day. The weather's no help either. It's been a constant miserable grey, cold drizzle and if I don't see a stinkin' flower soon I might scream. My house, which I usually am very particular about, is in mild disarray. And every time I feel like every time the laundry's caught up, the friggin' hamper is full again. This is going to be a very busy week at work for me as Thursday is officially "World Kidney Day" and I have put a lot of time and energy into planning it. Please pray that my energy holds out and that I survive the week. Until I write again....

Good News!!

So my husband and I decided it was time for another baby. If you read my mom's blog you already know WE'RE PREGNANT!!! I should be due sometime around mid-October. But don't worry, I'm not letting this interfere with my workouts.....I went to the gym yesterday morning and actually made it through the class without feeling like my arms and legs we're going to fall off. I was even feeling ambitious and added more weight to my bar. Um yeah, well my butt is burning today. But, no pain no gain right?

First Time For Everything

My husband and I are in the middle of a few little home improvement projects, one of which is finishing our basement. After a long 12 hr shift at work, the only thing on my mind was a hot shower. I have this rule that I must wash the hospital cooties off of me as soon as I step in the door. I don't even touch my husband or daughter until I am germ free. Yesterday was a particularly yucky day at work and the shower was calling my name. I came home to find my loving husband and his father working away tirelessly on the basement. I was soo excited to see the progress as work was held up for weeks (football season). Anyway, I was just about to go back upstairs when Josh said "Oh, you're not gonna be able to shower yet the water's off." Deep breath! "Ok," I said, "for how long?" "Not too much longer" he promised and I headed upstairs to sit on a stool until I could get in. About a half hour later I almost fell of the stool when the water came on full blast in the kitchen. YES!!! Relief. I was seconds away from the steps when my mom calls. Ok I though I've waited this long, I might as well have a short conversation. While on the phone I hear a horrible sound coming from the basement. "What was that," she asked. "I don't know, I have to go," I said. I went downstairs to find a pipe had burst and my husband and his father mopping up the mess. "Well I guess we're not plumbers" my husband said and then I realized the shower was slipping further and further away. It was now going to be at least a couple of hours until I could get in. My heart sank, I was exhausted and I couldn't even sit on the couch. I lay on the floor at the foot of the steps when I had and idea. There was bottled water in the garage!!! What if I heat it up and use it. So I did. Yes I took 4 bottles of Aquifina poured them in to a pan and heated it up. I then carefully took it up to my bathroom and proceeded with a bird bath. I was cold, but clean and better yet could now put on my pajamas and slip into bed. I guess know I how my sister survives in Africa.

Update

Well I thought I would update everyone on how I'm doing with my resolutions. I am...one for five. Tonight I decided to go to the gym. I am tired of feeling like a slug and I remembered how I felt when I was working out. So I went to Gold's and tried Body Pump for the first time. The result.... I can barely type this blog and I am seriously considering installing a chair lift for the stairs. My legs feel like jello and driving a clutch home was torture. I went ahead and took some ibuprofen a few minutes ago and my heating pad is warming up. I don't know if I will be able to move at all tomorrow, so if you're reading this go ahead and give me a call sometime after 10. If I don't answer I think it's safe to say you can go ahead and call the paramedics.

New Year's Resolutions

It's become a tradition every New Year for people to make "promises" to change things in their lives that they're not happy with. My first thought about this year, was not to make any resolutions because I hate setting myself up for failure. It's like the moment I set these little "goals," something inside of me says NO. For example, let's say I wanna exercise more and lose weight. Is is just a coincidence that I suddenly crave quarterpounders from McDonalds??? Or, I say I'm going to have more patience then someone cuts me off on the highway. Are you kidding is it some sort of test? But despite this I am still making resolutions for this year so here they are... in random order

1. Exercise (stop laughing)
2. Be more productive
3. Finish home improvement projects
4. Spend more time at church
5. Save more money