Job Update!!

I was just offered the Medical Review Coordinator Position!! WOO HOO

Work woes and the loss of a bestfriend

So work has pretty much been sucking. People are ALWAYS calling out sick and I have been working very understaffed. It totally sucks knowing that on certain days there is a 75% chance that my coworker will call out sick. So I have applied for the Medical Review Coordinator position and I should find out within the next week if I get it. I'm not totally keeping my fingers crossed that way I can't be dissapointed if I don't get it. But I am so ready to have a new position in the company for more than one reason. Which brings me to the second part of my post title. So my BFF and I have not been doing well for awhile. But I she finds out that I applied for the Medical Review position and tells me that she applied for it as well. Well after grilling me about why I applied. She proceeds to throw me under the bus at work and has tried to dis-credit me with my co-workers. I confronted her about it and she got totally defensive and denied everything. I am so sick and tired of playing highschool drama. SO I decided to end our friendship. WELL... it has Totally backfired for me with regards to work... NOTE TO SELF: Never have a best friend at work!!!

So anyway she has now said to multiple people at work that I am not smart enough to get the position and then there was a call out for a sick person and she did not call me to come into work, but told my boss that she tried everyone and no one would come in!! I AM SO ANGRY.... Needless to say, she obviously was NEVER my bestfriend and I am better off with out her, but I am still so hurt that I invested so much of myself into her and our friendship only to get shit on.


I am trying to gain a new attitude about work and not get bogged down in the drama and crap.. But most days it is so hard!! Why can't this be easier?

Wow Time Flies

So i haven't updated in almost two months. This seems to be a recurrent theme with me lately. UGH.... So I'm going to try to catch up. Well September 28th was NH's birthday and I decided to throw a Surprise party. The planning went off with out a hitch, HOWEVER the execution was poor. Now when I say poor, there were things that were out of my control completely. So we went to Jillians Billards which is a sports bar. Not everyone I inivited showed, but that is always how it is. NO worries there. We get there, everyone yells Surprise!! YAY!! Then the crap started. The waitress was a complete flake. She took forever to get our drinks. Then we order appetizers....and wait..... and wait......... then order our meals...and wait.... 35 mins later our appetizers show up.... we are out of drinks at this point. We had only ordered WATER for pete's sake....no refill. So 4 of the 6 dinner orders arrive... YAY!! and we are still waiting for the last two.. one more shows up and then then waitress comes up to the table and is like.... SO I can't refill your drinks cause we are all out of glasses and we ran out of bread so they didn't make your sandwich, but it's like totally not my fault!!! AND THEN SHE JUST WALKS AWAY!!! WTF?!!! So my friends says forget it and eats our food. We never got our drinks refilled and she NEVER came back to the table. So we just through some money down and walked out. I personally don't think we shoud have paid anything. UGH... NH and I walked our friends out to there cars only to find that one of our friends car had been broken into and her purse and Ipod were stolen. What a shitty evening!!! We waited with her until her boyfriend and the police showed up.

My birthday was a week later and I went to a coworker's house for dinner after work. Work sucked, but that is for another post. My mom came up a couple days later and we had a mother daughter day and it was a good birthday!

Reading List

So I sitting here thinking about the books I have read this year and I"m kinda sad to realize I have only read about 20 books. Boo, I totally thought it was more. Anyway, I wanted to share with you the books that I am Currently reading and hope to finish before school starts at the end of this month.

This one is just fun and makes me want to be a kid again!






Continuation of her other books, which they turned into a HBO series that I have NOT watched and don't plan too.







This is her second book. So far I have cried through almost every page of this book.





This is funny and makes me use my brain... LOL












So yes, I read multiple books at a time. And Yes I have my reasons for doing such. Sometimes when I get home from work I need to read a children's book before I go to bed so that I don't dream about work or replay adult situations in my head (that whole Alpha Intrusion thing you know!)

PSU STUDENT RIGHT HERE!!

It's Official.... I have been accepted to Portland State University to get my bachelor's in Criminal Justice. There are so many thoughts that are in my head right now, it's almost too overwhelming.
#1. How the heck am I going to pay for school? I know that there is financial aid and scholarships and grants, but isn't there a cap on financial aid and what if I have already met that cap? How will I get this degree that I desperately need? UGH... How do I even go about finding and applying for scholarships? I never had ANY help with this stuff when I first went to college (hence my HUGE amount of student loan debt).
#2. When will I find the time to study and take quizzes and Test and still SLEEP and work my all consuming full time job?
#3. What if I'm not smart enough to pass my classes. I have been to college in 6 years and haven't been to a university in 9 years. I'M FREAKING OUT HERE!!

Luckily, I have NH to help me through this. Keep me calm and teach me the ropes of scholarships and grants!!

I start school on Sept. 38th so wish me luck!!

Health Update

So just a mere 3 weeks after my sinus surgery, I have another ear infection and swollen sinuses and have been placed back on antibiotics and steroids!! UGH

Updates, Updates, Updates.......

So Let's see here, It's been a month.

Work Update:

So I have adjusted to working the day shift, however 4:45am comes way too early. I have been staying at NH's house during the work week since it's only 13 blocks from work. That way I get to sleep in an extra 30 mins. Yes it's totally worth it. I will also be moving to the beginning of the week at the end of September. My new shift will be Sunday, Monday, Tuesday every other Wednesday. It's bitter sweet. I am happy that I will have Friday and Saturday off, but NH works Tuesday through Friday so we will only have one day off together. Boo on that, but I guess that is how it will be when medical school starts.


Surgery Update:

I am still trying to heal from surgery. My nose gets plugged alot and I have dried buggers and scabs that are continually invading my breathing space in my nose. I have my last Dr. Appt. on Sept. 1st and I hope that the outcome is good. I don't want polyps again!! I have been trying to use my Netti pot or my nasal rinse twice a day, but I'm not very good at it. Ugh

Love Update:

NH and I have been together for 10 months now and it's so amazing!! I can't believe how blessed I am. NH has gotten 3 secondaries back from Medical School. The first 3 are Penn State, New York Medical College, and George Washington in D.C. It's super exciting and scary all at the same time. I can't believe that in a year NH will be starting Medical School Wow!!!

Pet Update:

So Sinatra STILL has fleas. I finally took her to the Vet and had her treated and also got her vaccines and 256.00 later, SHE STILL HAS FLEAS!!! I'm at my wits end. I used the flea comb yesterday and got 79 fleas off her. I went to the pet store and bought carpet powder did that and then went and stayed at NH's house for the work week. When we came up here for my days off. I walked in the house and instantly was attacked by fleas. I probably had 20 on my legs. This is so gross. I have never ever ever been around fleas let alone be bitten by them. I almost lost my mind. We went back to the pet store and I bought pesticide and sprayed my entire house. I just don't even know what to do anymore. I am just beside myself. If anyone has any ideas please please please HELP ME!!!

Also, I have to get Sinatra fixed and the Vet that I took her too wants to charge me 374.00 dollars. OMG that is soo much money!!! Ugh, so now I'm hunting for a cheaper vet so that my flea bag won't have babies.

Family Update:

So lot's has happened on the family front.

Katie is pissing me OFF!! She got some scam job, supposedly managing people who are selling perfume. 1st- she's 18 and has had 2 part time jobs. Nothing to do with Management. Melissa told her off and now Katie won't even tell me anything. I also found out that she is thinking about moving in with one of her co-workers. WTF!!!! Is she stupid. She has been working at this job for all of a week and she is going to live with this person. I totally feel like I need to go and beat the crap out of Katie!! UGH

So my mom had a biopsy and texted me on Friday while I was at work that she has Cancer. She told me that it's no big deal. It's basically like Basal Cell Carcinoma but in the Cervical region. I texted my sister and she isn't worried either. SO why am I freaking out. Oh yeah, because my aunt died of Cancer, and my job deals with people who had NO BIG DEAL Cancer and then it came back and THEY DIED. I don't even now how to feel and I can't talk to my mom or sister about it, since they are acting like it's nothing. Ugh..... I asked my mom if she wanted me there for her surgery which is today and she said NO! Really? NO......... Um OKAY


So that's all my updates for now....

Bugs are the Bane of my Existence!!

So the baby Kitten got fleas and gave it to Huntress. I have spent the last 4 days killing them, spraying the carpet and treating the cats with medicine. Next step Flea bath and spraying the yard. UGH

I stayed the night at NH's house and we were in the living room when I heard a noise in the Kitchen. NH went in there and there was a RAT on the counter eating our quakes. UGH UGH UGH. The last one we killed (poisoned)crawled under the floor boards and died(unknown to us). We came home and found about 25 flies in the living room and thought that was really weird. Then I went into the bathroom and screamed bloody murder. There were about 50-75 flies in the bathroom. It was soo gross. This happened about 4 times and we had to go on a killing spree! UGH UGH UGH UGH

Lastly yesterday morning I was sitting at NH's house at 4:30am at the computer desk in my towel putting on makeup and I felt something on my leg. I looked down and a giant Wolf Spider was crawling up my leg. I screamed and swatted it off me. It was so BIG that it couldn't run away, it kind of lurched across the floor. I was able to drop a thick book on it to kill it. I was so upset that I woke up NH to clean it up and check my clothes and shoes for more spiders!! 5x ugh!!

Newest Addition

When my Dad came to visit he brought me the newest addition to my home. A baby kitten... She is soo cute and has the bluest eyes. She is 3 months old. I have named her Sinatra. I believe that she is half Siamese and Tabby. She is spunky spunky spunky. It has taken Huntress a few weeks to get used to her but they are finally becoming buddies. Sinatra follows Huntress all around so much so that she found the cat door to go outside. I had to go get her a kitten collar and an ID tag today so that people know she belongs to me.

The Latest

So I have officially finished my first week on days. The first day was good until about 2:30pm and then I crashed hard. I came home and started to fall asleep while eating dinner. I was in bed and passed out by 8:45pm. The next 3 days got a little better, but I'm worn out. So today is my first day off and I was shocked when I woke up at 8am this morning and I have been very productive today. It's kinda cool... I might just like this day shift stuff.







On another front, I have applied at Portland State University to finish up my Bachelor's Degree. If I get in I will be accepted into their criminal justice degree which has an online program. I'm nervous but I hope that I get excited about going back to school.

Not much else happening right now. I"m going down to Portland next Friday for the Indigo Girls Concert and NH is coming with me!! YAY

Month long update

Okay so I haven't updated since June 15th. Wow that's a long time. Sorry. So let's see here...

I have my meeting with my supervisor and his boss and unfortunately I didn't get the job as the donor education coordinator. At first I was really disappointed, but lately I am happy that I didn't. There are lots of reasons that I won't go into. LOL

So just two days after I finished my antibiotics for my ear infection I got a horrible sinus infection. The ENT doctor put me back on antibiotics and steroids for another ten days. When I finished that I went and saw him and my polyps still had not gone away, so I have to have sinus surgery again!! UGH. I had My CT scan on Thursday and I'm scheduled for August 6th. I'm super not excited about having surgery again. It was really painful the first time. However, I am working on another ear infection so if having surgery will stop this then Bring on the Pain!!

Since we are on the topic of my health. I will get on my soap box for a bit!

I have been trying to get my health in order. I'm tired of being overweight and having people look at me differently. That being said, I"m also tired of hearing people say: "Just eat less" or "Just workout" as if it was that easy and implying that I'm not doing either of those things. Trust me, I have been trying and it's not working.

Anyway, I went to my PCP and had a physical. I was expecting to hear: your Cholesterol is up and your Thyroid is low (I have hypothryoidism) and your fat, blah blah blah. Instead she came in and looked at me a little puzzled. My cholesterol is perfect and my good and bad cholesterol is great!! My Thyroid has corrected itself. I'm no where near diabetes. I told the Dr. what I eat and how much I had been working out (we will get back to this later) and she was puzzled (like me) as to why I'm so heavy! So the next appt was with my Asthma and Allergy Dr. I have been feeling when I work out that some has duct taped my lungs and I have a hard time breathing. I had a pulmonary lung function test done and I was expecting horrible results. Again the Dr. walked in and looked at me puzzled (the how the hell are you so fat when you have results like this look, I'm getting really familiar with this look). He told me that for my age I have a lung function at 122%. LOL ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! He told me that he thinks that I have vocal chord spasms when I exert myself (which is common is athletes..lol) and that is why I feel like I have duct tape around my lungs. He also commented on my weight (thanks alot). The last Dr. I went to was the Bone and Joint Dr. As most of you know my knees have been bothering me since Highschool. They are very noisey, crack , pop, grind and swell. Lately even the simplest walking causes this, which makes working out almost impossible. I felt it was time to get some medical help for them. So I had x-rays done and went and saw him. This turned out to be one of the worst experiences of my life. He walked in a gave me one look and said " Your 31 and Fat, Loss weight, there is nothing I can do for you" My jaw hit the floor. He looked at my x-rays and said you have very mild arthritis. So just lose weight and work out and you will be fine. I explained that I have been trying to lose weight and that I had been working out (a lot prior to a few months ago) and that my knees where getting worse. He put me on the table and examined me. He said well we get an MRI if you want, but I don't think it will so anything. It was a really negative experience to say the least. I had decided that after my MRI if things were the same I was getting a second opinion. So I had the MRI and went back. And this time he was a totally different person (kind of bowed down to me). He came in and said that I have Advanced Chondromalacia of the knees (he changed that to moderate since i'm ONLY 31, which he repeated about 6 times, I know how old or young I am buddy) and that there are a few options for me. He doesn't want to do cortisone shorts because all the tissue surrounding my bones looks really good. But my femur and Tibia are bone on bone and my Patella has no cartilage behind it and has a lot of fluid build up. So as it turns out I'm going to have Hylagan injections which are basically crushed up Rooster Combs. LOL I start these today. I have one shot in each knee for 5 weeks with the hope that it will last for about 6 months and I can postpone knee surgery or knee replacements for awhile.

So that is where I am health wise: Sinus Surgery August 6th, Rooster Comb injections for the next 5 weeks, Weight Loss Conundrum (if anyone has REAL suggestions I encourage them please), and I won't even get into Breast Reduction yet, but that is to come.

So back to everything else. NH got the MCAT results back and did about the same. We are working on Medical School application now and all the stress that entails.

My Dad came out for his visit and it went as good as could be expected. We did not get to talk about some of the things that I needed too, but I felt like we did dicuss some important things that I hope he takes to heart and truly thinks about and changes. On a positive note, he bought me a TV (I truly love guilt gifts!) It is the biggest, nicest tv I have ever owned. I love it!! I kept my Dad busy for the two days that I had off while he was here. We went to the Space Needle, on a Duck Tour, Kerry Park, Saw the Fremont Troll, Ate at Ivar's, Went to the Everett AquaSox(minor league baseball) game for the 4th and saw fireworks, and did a couple of other things.

I work my last three nights of night shift last week and will start on days on Wednesday. I'm very nervous for some reason. 1. I feel very fat right now and there are so many more people that I will be seeing everyday. UGH 2. I have to get up really early in the morning for work now and I'm not sure if I can.

I just spent the last 4 days camping with my mom, Carleen, my niece and NH. It was so much fun.

I think that is all the updating for now.

Been A month

It's been almost a month since my last post. So much has happened that I think I need to get some lunch before I blog it all........... LOL

Nothing Like Going home!

I am sitting at the airport in Denver waiting to Fly back to Seattle after being home for a week and what a week it has been!! I worked Sunday night and got off at 6am, I had NH take me to the airport for my 835am flight. When we got there I found that my flight was delayed (No Biggie, gave me time to eat). I finally got onto the completely packed flight only to sit next to a family (Mom, child and toddler that didn't qualify for a seat) The mom and toddler sat right next to me and the kid kicked me the whole flight. I actually didn't care because I slept the entire flight! LOL When I landed I had to get the rental car and then I drove to the Hotel. When I got there, THEY PUT ME IN A SMOKING ROOM!!! WTF and UGH all at the same time. At first the room just smelled ALOT like bad air freshner and then my asthma kicked in and I got a horrible migraine. When I went to ask for a room change they tried to tell me that I booked a smoking room. I have NEVER known an asthmatic to chose a smoking room, but whatever. Then they told me that they were completely booked for the night so I ended up staying the night in there. That evening I went to dinner with some family and caught up on old times. That started my week of non-stop going. I got to see lots of friends from highschool and college and of course my loving family!! Tuesday I met up with Rob Cornell and had lunch, then I drove to Highlands Ranch and met up with Miss Lanie and her beautiful babies!! I ended up staying there for dinner. On Wednesday I met up with Mike Nix, Melissa Brakey, and then went to the Platte Grill to meet Loy for drinks. I ended spending time with Loy, Marcella, Desi, and Val G and then I saw Danielle(my best friend from middle school) It was such a blast and a great way to begin my trip. On Thursday I met up with Jessica for Lunch and then met family for dinner. After dinner I drove to Longmont and hung with Brian Hogan. I got to drive right through a terrible (but totally awesome) Thunderstorm and there was 1.5 inches of hail all over the highway. It totally looked like it had snowed. BTW, we had Tornado's and Tornado warnings all week. Friday morning I was exhausted so I slept in and then around noon and met up with Becki and Jenny and spent time there for a few hours. I had dinner with Rachel and then went to the 311 concert!! It rained like crazy there. We had to park in the lower parking and Hike up to the top, however, I didn't make it. My knees are just too bad. So I batted my eyes and was able to take the Handicap Van to the top!! I was totally embarrassed that my knees gave out. The concert though WAS JUST AWESOME!!!! Saturday morning I went to my aunt's house and did an Herb walk and had a nice breakfast and then I met up with Sabrina and Lana and had lunch with their mom's and Bri brother and new baby. Man it made me miss them. I have known those girls since I was 3 years old. After that I went to my cousins house and ate some great Clam Chowder and hung out for awhile. I had planned on going back to the hotel and packing and getting a good night sleep before my flight but Val G. called and invited me out. So I went and I got to see Val, Mike S, Jodie and Leroy. I danced my ass off and had a great time. I drug my bootie into bed around 245 and slept like a rock until my alarm went off this morning. I met my gramma and Aunt for Breakfast and then past out on gramma's couch for while. Woke up, drove to the Airport and turned in my car. Took the shuttle and now i'm here. READY to go HOME!! I'm just exhausted but it was great coming home and spending time with everyone!!

Drama, Drama, Drama

So this last month has been filled with Drama. Not specifically me and my personal life, but everyone around me. I don't even know where to start which could be a bad sign all together. hahahahha Let's see here.

Ali had her 6th birthday party on may 23rd. NH and I went down for the Pot Luck and kid's party. When we arrived there was a huge blow up bouncy house set up in the backyard. It was so awesome. We ate food, bounced and I also got to play with Natalie (who is doing well btw). Ali opened up her presents. Apparently that week she was being a girl so the presents that I got her were too boyish. I got her a 3D Robot puzzle/toy and some books. Oops my bad, I didn't get the Girl Memo for the week. Anyway it was fun!

NH took the MCAT the following week and I'm happy to say that that stress is over. Now it's time to focus on applications to Medical School. It has been a long few months of constant studying and not being able to do fun fun stuff... LOL

Our relationship is going swimmingly and I could not be happier. Chances are that I may go with NH to wherever medical school calls, but that won't be for another year. I'll keep you posted.

Now on to the drama!!!! (insert menacing music!)

My littlest sister has moved to Oregon and is now living with my other sister. I got a phone call from her while NH and I were MCAT testing and her and her boyfriend broke up and she was devastated and was renting a U-haul and moving immediately. She arrived the next day in Oregon. I don't know much else. But in 18 year old world. THIS WAS LIFE SHATTERING!!!

In other news, My Dad is coming to Visit in the first part of July. This is bitter sweet for me in so many ways, none of which I am going to dredge on about now. But I feel a huge awakening/reckoning for him when he comes. He wanted to come stay for like 3 weeks. I love my Dad, but HELL NO!!!! I have my own life and I honestly don't have the time to babysit/hangout with him.

In other news... I have a double ear infection and I found out that my sinus polyps that I had surgery for a year ago are back! Ugh.. So i'm on steroids and Antibiotics to try to help all that out... LAME

In better News!! I'm coming to Colorado for 6 days from June 8th -14th. I'm super excited to see everyone, although I'm much fatter than the last time I was there, so that part makes me nervous!!

Once again.. I"m a slacker

Lot's has been happening. I will update tonight!! Love ya

Oh Aunt Flow......

WARNING!!! TMI MOMENT (do not read if you are sweemish!)

So I was walking down the Feminine Products Isle the other day and got to thinking...

It's been 21 years that I have been purchasing these blessed items (note the sarcasm)and Wow I'm soo ready for the day I don't have to take part anymore.

While I love being a woman for the most part. For one week a month I wish I was something else (man, tree, dung beetle?) Anything!! The week leading up to this event is terrible. Bloating, crying, sometimes even YELLING (I know not me!) lol... But then comes the worse part... CRAMPS!!!! The bleeding I can take, but what the heck is up with the increase of Bowel Movements (BM). I mean seriously.... I am already "very regular" as it is, but for the love of God... Why must I go so much? Is that even normal? And to top it off, it's not like its a normal BM either. Nope!!! Color, consistency the whole bit.... UGH UGH UGH GROSS GROSS GROSS

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to everyone that is a Mother or Mother to Be.

I have have so many friends and my sister that have had children this year.

It really has been a blessed year!

My sister gave birth to my Niece on Dec. 16th. One of my friends Had Triplets (2 boys, 1 girl) on March 11th, 2009. Another friend had Twins (1 boy, 1 girl) on March 23rd, 2009. And I have 3 friends that are due very soon!

Being that I used to be a Step mom, I understand the love and the struggles of being a parent and I'm just in Awe of ALL mothers out there!!

I LOVE YOU MOM!!

Spring is in the Air!!

My allergies are killing me.... and sometimes it feels Literally. I am a human snot machine. My eyes are so puffy and I can't stop sneezing. This week I have walked out to my blue car to find it yellow from all the Pollen. Wowwy! I'm just miserable. Ha-Ha....

Half my Heart

My Sweetie (whom I have affectionately named New Hotness or NH to protect their Identity) flew home for a week and I'm just miserable! I dropped NH off at the airport on Sunday and ever since I have slept terribly and keep searching in my sleep for NH. I read something in another blog about how it's possible to miss something you already have and it was very fitting to my situation. NH makes me a better person and our relationship is so powerful that I feel like half of my heart is missing right now. So I have decided to list the reasons why I miss NH so much!

Today is our 6 month Anniversary and it's the first time we have been away from each other for more than a day or two. We are connected to each other, complete each others thoughts or have the same thoughts at the same time even if we are not together.

NH is incredible, driven, independent and wise in years (lol, but not in age) hahaha

NH is soo funny!!

NH has a thirst for life and keeps me young and wanting to learn more

NH doesn't put up with my BS, but also allows me to be Whiny, Hot Tempered or Cry Baby when it's appropriate!

NH gives the best hugs and Kisses!

Weekend Fun!

I had my Niece Ali this weekend and what a blast/re-affirms my not wanting kids! LOL So I got off work Friday Morning and went over to my sweeties house and napped for a bit. Woke up at about 11 and we drove down to Portland and picked up Ali (after I played with Natalie, who is doing great btw)

We headed back up to Seattle where we made a pit stop at the Rain Forest Cafe for dinner. We got to sit right next to the Elephants and Ali had such a great time. I order an adult drink but didn't get carded (starting to happen more lately, UGH) and then when the waitress brought it realized why I didn't get carded. She made it a Virgin drink! LOL Whatever

After dinner we dropped off sweets and went back to my house. Ali was snoring by the time we pulled into the drive way. So we jumped into bed or I should say the Snoring heat machine got into bed. I think I just had a corner
Side Note: How in the hell can a 45lb. 5 1/2 year old take up soo much room in a bed? I mean really. She turns into a 450 lb elephant, its kind of ridiculous.

So we woke up Saturday morning at 730, or I should say I woke Ali up. She said to me " Aunt Turtle, I usually sleep longer than this" So I asked her what time she got up and she said 7 am. LOL

We took our shower and headed out. Ran around and then went and picked up Granny for lunch. Went to PF Chang's and watched this litte girl consume soo much food.

At 7pm we went to the WORLD FAMOUS HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS!!!!! Enough Said... LOL
Ali got a T-shirt and ate hotdogs and candy... But she threw a fit because i wouldn't but her a 40 dollar basket ball.. UGH

She had several meltdowns over the weekend and by Sunday I was ready to take her home. It was a good weekend ......

New Pics of the Nieces

These were taken before Natalie went into the hosp. Ali is 5 1/2 years old and Natalie was 3 months old

Good Days Are Here

Sorry it has been so long since I blogged. I think it is a combonation of being lazy, overworked and anti-computer. Not to mention I have not been home much, I feel like I have been living out of my car. SO here is an update long over due!

Well Natalie has made a full recovery!! She ended up with so many things it's still unbelievable. Her Discharge Summary said Bronchiolitis, Resp. Failure secondary to RSV, H-flu, Metapneumovirus and Pneumonia. She was on two different Ventilators: A CMV (Continuous mandatory ventilation) that was set at a high frequency (which they usually put premie babies on and very sick people) and then the regular vent. She had to have a blood transfusion, also Albumin and Lasix, Solumedrol and a bunch of other stuff. It was so scary, at one point the Staff told my sister they didn't know why Natalie wasn't getting better and that the were just doing supportive care. HOWEVER, after she got her blood transfusion things changed and she recovered very quickly, was extubated on that Monday and released from the hosp a couple days later. GOD is so good!!! And getting Superman's blood didn't hurt either!!!



While Natalie was in the Hosp. I took Ali to the Children's Museum and we had a blast. I thought it would help take her mind off her sister. Here's a few pics from that day.

Ali in the Angry Aligator Dentist Chair!



Bob the builder exhibit!


During all of this I had my interview for the Donor Education Position. I think it went pretty well but I won't know anything until Mid May or so.

I also tried to get a buddy for Huntress my cat and instead I got the Devil Incarnate. It attacked me and Huntress and we were both in fear for our lives! Literally is was cowering on my bed while Lucifer as I named her circled and growled. She also Pissed all over the house.

These are bites, I should have taken a later one when the bruises showed!

After a long long discussion with a co-worker the decision was made to take her to the Humane Society. SO I recruited a friend to help me get the insane cat into the kennel and took her to the pound. GOOD BYE LUCIFER!!

On a side note for the animal lovers: The lady at the pound said that she was not a nice cat and was probably sick, so I think it was a good thing to do.

Please Pray

My niece Natalie was admitted to the PICU on Sunday. She has RSV, Pneumonia, Strep and H Flu. She is serious but Stable condition at this time.

Please Pray for HER!!!

Sometimes my job just sucks!!

So you will all have to bear with me for a moment but I have to get this off my chest as I have been sobbing for the last 1/2 day and my heart is soo heavy. Hopefully this won't be too graphic for you.

I was working last night and received a case from Montana State Patrol. It started out as a "routine" death call. I called the Coroner and found out that it was a 2 vehicle head on collision, 3 victims total but 2 fatalities.  In the first car was a 36y/o woman and a 13 y/o boy and the other car was a 16 y/o girl.  They had collided head on and the car with 2 passengers died instantly but were trapped in the vehicle.  The extrication took 2 hours because the car was soo mangled.  The 16 y/o was taken to the hosp.   

The extent of the 16 y/o injuries were unknown, but the other two were very severe.  The mother was 4 months pregnant and had torn her Aortic Arch, broke her pelvis and shattered both legs (femur, tib/fib) and crushed her chest. OMG!! and then her son had pretty much the same injuries expect for the chest.   As you can imagine the families of these victims were just devastated(Ex-husband/Biological Dad and New Husband/Step dad).  I was going to wait to approach the families about Cornea donation until the morning as I felt they needed time to absorb what happened.

I got a call from the Coroner at about 0300  and this is pretty much how our conversation went.

"Hey Kirsty I have bad news",  " What's that?" ,  " Well this is now a Homicide"   WHAT?

He then went on to tell me that the 16 y/o driver of the other vehicle had been fighting with her boyfriend and texting him and 4 mins before the accident she texted "I am going to KILL MYSELF"

My heart stopped and I started crying!  This little selfish girl took the lives of 3 people because she didn't want to live!!!  

ARE YOU KIDDING ME.  DRIVE YOUR STUPID ASS INTO A TREE OR A SEMI!!!  WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TAKING OTHERS LIVES!!

sorry, but it just blows my mind.  Still....... ugh!!

As far as I know she is still at the hosp and is doing ok.  I am very conflicted and really unsure why this case affected me  so much.  I deal with death all day long, IT IS MY JOB!  and I am damn good at helping families with loss and the end of life decisions.   I just can't let this one go!

On a positive note, both families donated corneas and that has helped them start the healing process.  I believe in donation, but more importantly my mission is to help families grieve and to help them build a legacy for the loved one that died and through donation I have seen this happen! 

Does Anyone Even Read This Thing?

I always feel extreme guilt that I am not updating this thing alot and then I got to thinking.  Does anyone actually even read this blog or am I just writing to amuse myself?  I'm not sure that I care either way, but I need to stop feeling guilty if I'm the only one that reads what I write.  I already know what's happening in my life so I'm pretty sure I would remember it if I didn't write it down. LOL  

Anyway,  Well big things are possibly in the works for me.  I have applied for a new position at my job as a Donor Education Coordinator so we will see if i get it.  I need lots of prayers and happy thoughts.  This job would mean that I would come back to the land of the day walkers and possibly work a "normal" job M-F 9-5.  I don't think I have done that in 6 years.  HOLY MOLEY!!

As for everything else.........Welll................  I am not working out very much.  I can't tell if it is because I'm tired or just lazy or a combination of both, but it is seriously ridiculous.  I am however dragging my ass to the gym and working out this morning and am going to attempt to go everyday.  I'm probably setting myself up for failure, but I have to do something. I feel just disgusting all the time.  Ugh.

On the exciting news front,  both of my friends that are pregnant are due next month and I couldn't be happier.  They have both had great pregnancies and they are carrying multiples and the babies have all done well!!!  My littlest sister got engaged on Valentines Day and I am excited for her.  My other sister and the girls are doing well.  I have it on good authority that her hubby is finally falling into line with this daddy "stuff" and is participating  and she even got him to go to Yoga with her.  Woo Woo!!

Night in Portland and what a night!!!

On Feb. 28th, my friend and I got to go to Portland to see Itzhak Perlman (world famous Vionlist) 

The set schedule was  Bach: Violin Concerto No. 1, Schubert: Symphoney No. 3, Brahms: Sypmphony No. 2.  It was awesome, however,  Itzhak only played the first piece and then conducted the last two. It was a little decieving and dissapointing.   Anyway,  My friend Stephanie and I stayed at the Heathman Hotel which just happened to be next door from the Arlene Snitchzer Concert Hall.   Here is a Pic of the Hotel and one of the rooms.  Our's had a pull out bed for Stephanie to sleep in. 

This is the front of the Hotel.........

Here is what one of the room in the hotel.  It was soo much fun!!  

We also ate at the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse,  they cook their steaks in a 1080 degree oven and then place it on a 500 degree plate!  It was very expsensive but SOOOO worth it!  All other steaks pail incomparison now.  I am forever tainted!  lol

Family Visit Weekend....

So my Sister and my two nieces came up this weekend and wow....  I am happy that they came up, but even happier that they went home. I'm just exhausted!  LOL   It was a fun weekend.

  First they came up friday night while I was at work, so when I got home on Saturday morning Valentines Day  I brought my sister flowers and a stuffed monkey and my niece chocolates.  Then took a quick 45 min nap.  

After that we went and got Pedicures and Ali got blue toe nails, I got neon purple and Melissa got Kawaski green.  It was fun!!  

Then we went to the mall and went to the Build a bear store and I spent an ungodly amount of money on a Hannah Montana Bear for Ali.  Needless to say, she loves that silly bear.  Then we went out to Red Robin for lunch.  After that we went back to my hobbit house: colored, napped and played the WII.  My sister cooked Spaghetti for dinner(she wouldn't let me cook)  LOL   

On Sunday Morning, we went to the Space Needle for Lunch and completed 3 rotations during lunch.  Ali thought that was so awesome.  The baby slept through the whole thing. 

 After lunch they drove back to Portland and I went home and died.  LOL   

I was just exhausted, but happy to have spent time with them.  I can't wait for the next time they come up! 

First Time for Everything!

Well I experienced my very first Earthquake on Friday morning.  I was sitting at my desk at about 525 in the morning and all of a sudden felt very sick to my stomach and dizzy.  I looked around and realized that the building was shaking.  I looked at my co-worker  who said that my eyes were "as big as pies" and she said.  We are having an earthquake!   I heard on the news that it was only a 4.5 which I guess is small.  But it was crazy!!  

One Moment in Time

I got this in an email today and thought it was something good .  So I thought that I would share it!

Remember....live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God (whomever that is). And never forget.....the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.    They are the ones that care for us.     
    If you see someone without a smile today give them one of yours! Live simply. Love seriously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

Date Day

I just had the best weekend ever and I just had to tell someone!  lol     

I worked until 7am on Saturday and when I woke up at 11am  "Date Day"  Started.  Yes, I said Day....  The entire day was a date....  I know  ........... SO MUCH FUN!!   

First we went down to Pike Place Market and got coffee (it was about 37 degrees out and I don't have winter gear!..... I know I don't need the lecture..  hehe)  So we went to the 1st ever Starbucks and got hot yummies.  Then we walked through Pike Place Market.  I watched them throw the fish, ate  yummy doughnut holes (I know, I don't like doughnuts,but these were soo good),  got fresh hot cashews and cinnamon almonds.  Took a picture with Rachel the pig.  Walked in almost all the stores.... And even saw the chewing gum wall.  LOL 

 We had so much fun!  

After that we went shopping at the Westlake Center and split a piece of pizza.  We finally got bored down there and decided to go to Happy Hour at the Melting Pot where we discovered that you can eat alot of Fondue for really cheap.  We gorged ourselves on cheese fondue and soda.   

Then I decided that it was time for me to get my next tattoo. So we went to Lucky Devil Tattoo and I got my name in Gaelic on my right forearm. I will post a pic when it heals..  It's a little big, but really cool.   After the tattoo we went and saw the  movie Seven Pounds where I cried my eyes out.....   Such a good movie!!  My date told me that it was cute that I cry at movies...  hehehe

It was such a great date day!!! 

Happiness!

I finally got to meet my new niece this past weekend.  She is so beautiful.  She looks just like her mother.  Ali was awesome too!  We played all weekend. Here is a pic of our first meeting. 

New Pics of my beautiful Niece

So i have yet to meet her, but I am going down this weekend to meet her and exchange Christmas presents.  My mom sent me some great new pics of Natalie and I thought I would share them.

She looks just like her mommy!

 Cutest thing on Earth! 

Crazy week.... I think I might have saved a life

This week has been a week for the books.   We have had Massive Flooding from all the snow melt off.  Highways have been covered in water and then shut down.  Power outages and what not.O One ladies house slid off a mountain and crashed into a stream. It's been crazy here.  And yet, Cornea and Tissue donation more ahead full steam!

My lifting partner got Strep and looked like she was on death's door step.  Poor thing!  So I took her some Popsicles and some ice cream and wished her luck! lol   She was swollen like chipmunk for almost two weeks.... So we have not worked out for almost a month now.  

Ugh  (Blizzard, Sickness and Flooding.... why are you keeping me fat?!!!!)  hahahhaa

So you might ask by my title of this blog,  " How did i maybe save a life"  Well I will tell you.  I was working the other night and my co-worker Beth was scheduled to work with me.  She had been called in early and left her house at 4:30.  We normally start work at 6pm.  I got to work at 5:45 and Beth was still not there.  By 6:30 we started to worry. My boss called her home phone and her cell phone but she did not answer.  We talked and decided that I would keep calling her every half hour until 8:30pm and if she had not shown by then I would call the police.  There was flooding in the street and some highways were re-routing so there was potential that she was just stuck and unable to talk on the phone (Washington state law, no cell phone use unless on a hands free head set). 

Anyway,  So i was left to work by myself.  Luckily a Technician stayed to help me until another co-worker arrived if Beth couldn't come.  I received a phone call at 8:15 FROM BETH!!  She was totally incoherent and had slurred speech bad.  She said that she just woke up and was in her car. She didn't know where she was or how she got to a parking lot.  I immediately had the Tech call 911 and I started to probe her for information.  I asked her what she saw around her.  What was the last thing she remember.  The make and color of her car. Were there builidings around her.  I had the Technician relay the info to 911 and they were able to send an ambulance to help her.  The whole ordeal took about 45 mins to get enough info to rescue her!  I was so worried for her safety.   Apparently what had happened was she  had had a migraine and got really dizzy on the way to work and found a place to pull off where she passed out around 5:15.  She stayed unconscious for 3 hours until she woke and pressed send on her cell phone (i had blown up her phone, so i was the last missed call).  

She was taken to the ER and watched for a day.  It turns out that she was placed on a new medication for migraines that bottomed out her Blood Pressure and that's why she passed out.  

I'm happy to report she is doing well and is back at work......  I don't know if I saved her life, but I'm sure glad that I was the one who took the call and was able to rely on my EMT experience and get her help! 

New Years Eve!

This was my first Official year to celebrate New Year's Eve.  I didn't have to work,  I know amazing...  Any way, I went out with a couple of friends of mine:  Tatyanna and her husband and my workout partner Stephanie and we went to the Melting Pot.  It was a pre-planned menu (4 course) and it tasted great.  SOO expensive though!   Ouch

Here are a few pics from that night! 

  Tatyanna and Myself 

 The group of us 

Christmas... I know it was awhile ago!

Christmas this year was a little different.   First there was the Blizzard, which made it impossible for me to bring gifts down to Portland, Mail anything or actually receive packages that I had ordered in the mail.  Poor UPS man slid down the street.... lol   So i have officially just sent the packages to family members....  I promise it was out of my control.  LOL  

Anyway,  so back to the little different.  We decided to give gift cards this year instead of "real" presents.  At first I thought that it might be fun and then I started to think about it and it seems so impersonal. I always take such joy out of finding special gifts for each person and making them smile. I also realized that since we are getting older I think I am no longer going to buy present for my family except for the kids.  I have  a great friend who purchased a special donation to a wonderful organization called Heifer International (www.heifer.org)  on behalf of her family.  I researched this and was amazed that I could help an entire family.  How it works is that I can purchase a flock of chickens, a cow, sheep and ot

her animals and it goes to a family to raise.  They make their living off the raising and and products from these animals.  They then give the same gift (the offspring) to another family in their community.  I found this to be a wonderful wonderful thing.  So, I have decided that next year instead of gifts i am going to donate to this cause in the name of my loved ones.    Hopefully they will all like that!  I don't really care if they do or not though.   LOL

Anyways, So I got to spend the holiday with my special someone and I got the best Christmas present on earth.   I was so shocked and amazed that I got such a wonderful gift.  I am so blessed!  Here is a picture of what i got!!  Woowie Zoowie!! 

It's the most beautiful thing i have ever seen!

More Pics!

This is one of my attempts to get my car out! 

This is the hill i hiked up

Winter Storm Update!

Yes this is delayed.... I"m soo poor at this stuff.  So we had a blizzard, you might have seen it on the news.  Seattle got 14 plus inches,  which in most places isn't a ton.  But to Seattle it was like the world ended.  First, most of the streets here are hills like in San Fransisco.  So it started snowing and then turning almost immediatley to ice.  Second,  the city did not believe in using Salt on the ice as it might pollute the Puget Sound (stupid, stupid, stupid)  Third, The plow have rubber tips on them so it only takes off the fresh snow.   So anyway,  they didn't do a good job and basically the entire city was shut down.  People, Cars, Buses, Snow plows and Emergency Vehicles were sliding or sliding off the roads.  One bus almost crashed off an over pass from sliding down the hill.  Anyway,  I was safe but stranded at my friends house.  I had to abandon my car 8 blocks from here house and hike.  I didn't get my car out for over a week until some great samaratin yanked my car out and whipped me down the street.  UGH!   Here are some pics from the great Blizzard of Seattle.  lol 

This was the road closure sign at the top of the hill by my friends house.  I have never seen an entire street closed because of snow!  LOL

 This was my care after the 3rd day.  I am in between two hills 

I will post more pics! 

Well this is proving to be a challenge for me!!  I feel like the only time I post is when I'm at work and then I don't have access to my cool pictures.  LOL   Anyway, so much has happened since my last post and unfortunately I have to get into the shower now to get ready for work, so again.  I will be posting later at work, but I promise it will be a good one.

Kisses