Isabella Maria

Isabella Maria
Her 3 week pictures... such an angel!

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Randomness

Here I sit in the stable vent unit at work. It is almost 3AM and I am SO tired I can barely stand it. But, I am getting holiday pay. So I will deal with it. I can do anything for 5 more hours, right??
It is funny, I thought I was paranoid about being pregnant BEFORE I started trying. Even worse now. I have pretty horrific PMS. Well actually, PMDD. Every month I get EVIL (unless I am on my meds, which are designed to help with the PMDD, which I kinda forgot to keep taking and now the half life of the med is gone so this month I am screwed), sore, hard, swollen boobs, bloating and nauseated. Well, pretty much all of those can be symptoms of pregnancy. Now that I actually WANT to get pregnant even though physically and mentally I am miserable there is a small part of me that is excited. I have taken 2 tests, both of which have been negative, but I don't think I am even due to start my period yet, so those aren't yet necessarily definitive. If I do this to myself every month this is going to be a very emotional rollercoaster type of thing for me. But how can a woman trying to conceive not feel like that? Ugh.
A friend of mine recently told me that a woman really isn't a woman until she has had a child. I SO do not agree with that. I almost felt it was a small dig in a weird way. She is not at all the type to be like that, but she has a kid, and I don't. What would you think? I think I am a real woman regardless if I use my uterus for it's intended purpose. So I might not have a kid (yet) but I do have a career, husband, loving family and friends, 2 fabulous dogs and a house. So bam. Don't know what made me think about that enough to write about it, but there ya go.
My poor step sister Sarah and her boyfriend's apartment got broken into in Alma, MI a couple days ago. They were both home, IN BED. Thank GOD the people weren't the killing type. Just the stealing all your shit type. I hope they get caught.
And my last random thought of the day. I am a lazy bastard. I can't seem to get myself off my couch on my days off and be productive. I would rather lay around then clean my house. I mean, I still do, but I have to battle myself to do it. Why? I so want to keep my house and car nice, but the effort I must put forth to do it seems soooo taxing. Is everyone else like this or am I as lazy as I thought?
OK, if I don't stop myself I am just going to babble on here all night for something to do. Hope everyone has a better Labor Day then I am having!

Monday, August 25, 2008

The bad part of being a nurse.

There's a little girl, about 3 or 4 years old, who has been coming to my floor of the hospital since she was probably around one or so. She has a chronic condition is basically fatal in infancy or early childhood. She is a very sweet, smart, funny girl who loved to dance and take walks through the halls. She has two parents that love her to peices, they are very proud and doting parents.
One of the nurse's aides ran into the Dad this morning on her way to work and told her that their little girl is in the ICU and probably will not make it through the day. That was surprising news to all of us, we didn't even think she was sick, she wasn't in to see us at all.
Well, I made the decision to go see her after work this morning before I went home. I decided I was going to because another patient who was always with us died on the 8th, and I didn't see him before he died and I regret it. It was my last day of work before a mini-vacation and I was in a hurry to get out of there, so I thought I would just see him when I came back to work a week later. He was in the PICU for a kidney and liver transplant, so I was hoping/expecting to see him when he pulled through and was on our floor again. After all, he always pulls through. Even though he was on ECMO, I assumed "oh, he will come out of it". Well unfortunately the next time I had a chance to "visit" him was at his viewing on the 15th.
Anyway, I visited the little girl on my way home and it was HORRIBLE. I forgot how bad it is to see kids in the PICU like that. I worked in a PICU at Children's in Detroit so I know what it's like, but since I don't work on that intensive of a floor anymore I guess I just don't think about it that much. I was only there for a couple minutes, long enough to give them my number (in case they need anything since they live close) and to stand there and awkwardly look for the right thing to say, while in my head paying my respects. I am not a cryer at work, but it took absolutely everything I had to not cry until I was out of the room. As soon as I was down the hall and out of sight I pretty much cried like a little bitch. It's not cool to see that. As I am sure you can imagine.
On my way to my car I couldn't get out quick enough. You know the scene of Grey's Anatomy when Christina gets stood up at her wedding, or the scene in the SATC movie when Carrie gets stood up at her wedding, and they want their dresses off immediately like it's burning their skin? Well that's kinda like how I felt when I was trying to get out of the hospital. The elevator couldn't come quickly enough. I hated feeling like the crying people I see often in the halls at work. I would rather be the nurse, when it's sad but doesn't penetrate into more than the poker face "work me". I hated that the parents of other sick children saw me crying. I am not sure why. I just re-read those last three sentences and wonder what a psychologist would say if I told him/her that... Hmmm... Food for thought...
I also felt mad at God. I do NOT like to feel like that. Even though I don't really go to Church I feel like God has a strong presence in my life, even if I don't talk about it. It's a me-Him thing I suppose. But come on? What God lets that little girl suffer? What God would allow those parents to go through the misery of watching their child be sick and then die? All I could think of was that it was complete bullshit and I was angry. I can't even begin to comprehend the anger and pain her parents must feel. They have to watch her die and then have her funeral, and then go home after it's all done and see their house, with her bedroom and everything she owned. Shoes at the front door, probably toys in the living room... ugh. I am pretty sure that if I had a child die I wouldn't be able to handle it and I would end up being an alcoholic or addicted to drugs. I have panic attacks over my dogs' health problems, if my child died... no. I would be done. So would Aaron.
I have since calmed down and am not angry at God anymore. There must be a reason, even if we don't understand it. All I know is I hope it's a good reason.
I hate blogging about stuff like this because when people read it they probably feel obligated to comment on it. I feel so much better to get this stuff off my chest though. I am not sure why writing it helps, but I am glad it does. Maybe I can get her out of my mind for more than 5 minutes when I am awake now. Here's hoping.
Something kind of interesting... I looked up her condition and there are 60 known cases of it. I have taken care of 2 children with it. Wow.
Next post will be something happy!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Just in case you didn't already know...

Aaron and I are trying to have a baby.
I have actually been off birth control since February... and lemme tell ya.. if I would have known it would have taken this long I would NOT have worried all those years before I got married. HA!
Between Feb. and now we have just been not preventing, so now we've decided to make a more official "go" of it and try. So I will really try to pay attention to when I'm ovulating, you know, all that stuff. I am hoping to be like Kim and the first time I look at a penis at the right time of my cycle I conceive. However I am not expecting it!
There is a girl at my work who is also trying to get pregnant who has the same LMP day as me... interesting to see what will happen there. Will we get pregnant at the same time? Will one of us conceieve way before the other one and leave the other one in the dust? No, it is not a competition, but you know what I mean. She already has a couple kids, at least we know she is fertile. I am hoping I am but no real proof yet!
We have been waiting for the perfect time to start trying, but then a day or two before my birthday we were in the car going to trivia and I had a realization... I told Aaron, "I am almost 28! I am done with waiting... I am ready to start trying now. I am close to 30!"
So yes, the timing may not be perfect. But people tell me that if you wait for the right time, or until you get that new car, or new whatever then you'll NEVER be ready. You just kinda gotta go for it. So we are going for it. I assume it will take a while to get there anyway, so we have the months we are trying to conceive to tie up any loose ends we have.
But the things we already have going for us... we have a 3 bedroom house. In that respect we are ready. We have a place for the kid to sleep. We both have jobs, cars, health insurance, etc. so the baby would have all needs taken care of. The rest will I am sure fall into place. We will both make sure anything else that is not taken care of will be resolved before I go into labor. :)
With that being said, I have to go to get ready for work. Blah. I am sick of working.

Friday, August 22, 2008

It's my own damn fault...

My 2 dogs, Bear and Harvey, are fabulous. I love them dearly. But sometimes they drive me nuts. And it really probably is my fault...

For example:
When I come home from work, I have to go in the basement and let Harvey out of the kennel and get them both in the upstairs with me... even if that means nearly pissing myself because I have to go so bad. Because if not... they will scream in disapproval that I am home and they are not up my ass. So, rather than hear them be sad, I suffer (albeit briefly), take care of them first and then see to myself. They would be in NO harm to have to wait for me to go to the bathroom first, I just can't handle them being upset.
After I get them from the basement they give me tons and loves, and I give them some back as I walk up the stairs with my legs crossed. Then, while I use the bathroom, they are both in the bathroom with me, I have to pet them. Again, I suppose I don't HAVE to, but they are so excited to see me, and I am happy to see them. It seems like rejection if they can't have the first couple minutes with Mommy, right?
Then, after I use the restroom I either get in the shower, or if I am too tired wash my face and do all the night time stuff to get ready for bed. This morning was a get-in-my-pj's-and-screw-the-shower-till-later morning. But by this point all three of us are my in little bathroom. I either am so tired or so used to the situation (not sure) that I actually go in the HALLWAY to put my pajamas on just so I have a little more room, since the dogs are practically burrow into my ass. I am trying to get my first leg in my pjs when I accidentally knee Bear in the head because he come out into the hallway to be closer to me while I was getting ready. Thank God there wasn't much force to it, although he deserved a nudge I would have hated to hurt him!
I thought getting a second dog would eliminate Bear following me everywhere I go. I thought (blissfully unaware) that the dogs would occupy themselves and leave me alone for a little bit when I was doing boring things, like laundry. Nooo.... this is not the case. Now when I do laundry and go back and forth between my laundry chute and laundry room in the basement I have not one, but TWO dogs following me. Why are they following me? Are they trying to learn how to do laundry? Is there something they can accomplish from this? Does it make sense why I am blogging this?
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. They are my Babies. But sometimes I wonder what the difference is between them and real children. Well, apart from copraphagia.
They make me want to scream and pull my hair out sometimes... but they love me unconditionally. You can see it in their eyes when we come home from a long day of work. I always get sad when I pull out of the driveway at night for work and I see them both look out our front window and watch me drive away. We (Aaron and I) love them unconditionally too. :)
OK, enough sappiness about dogs. I am going to bed now. Gotta work again tonight!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Update on Meatless me

It was been 7 whole days since I last ate meat. My conclusion... it's not really as shitty as I thought it was going to be!
What sucks is shopping, really. I like to buy quick things for lunches. I was pissed at Hot Pockets... they have ONE flavor without meat. 4 cheese pizza. I am sure it is good, but even their lean pockets don't have anything devoted to alternative diets! Geez! I have a feeling that Morningstar Farms and I are going to be best buddies.
Eating out can also suck, depending on where you go. Tonight we are going to go to Al-Ameer for my b-day dinner, they have a vegetarian section. Yay!
Going green (haha) has made meal time a little more fun. I have to put thought into my meals now. And didn't really realize it before but meat on some level has always grossed me out a little bit. Guess I just ignored it before. Guess I had to so I could keep eating it.
Some things I have realized:
1. Vegetarian fried rice from Chinese places= Good.
2. Mushrooms are running f*cking rampant in veggie foods and they must be stopped!
3. If a mushroom is even in my mouth, I gag.
4. Beans are good...
5. Tofu feels like a cooked sponge. EEEEW.
I have known #3 to be true for some time but the theory was retested a few days ago on veg. fried rice. I couldn't even taste it, but I felt something SO gross on my tongue, and then there I went with the wretch. Since I can't make myself eat one due to the gagging, my theory is that I am probably deathly allergic to them and that is my body's only defense mechanism.
OK well I want to blog more but I have to go.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Sluts

Last night I went the party of a good friend whom I have known since 1999. He has this party every year, everyone attends, it is a good time. Like always, Aaron and I went. Nothing unusual there.
Well, there were a couple women there that I had never met before. Someone had to know them, so they were friends of some of my friends somehow. At first I thought nothing of it, it is not unusual for there to be new faces at parties. We're a friendly bunch of people and new people are always welcome.
One of them was definitely on the prowl... hey more power to her. She didn't mess with my husband so I am not concerned. What people do is their thing, I usually don't really bother myself with it. In my younger years I was a little judgemental and I have tried to get over that. I am happy to say I have done very well with it.
However... there was this one woman whose actions were appalling. OK, she may be a nice woman, she may have good qualities... but at this point I don't even care. She conducted herself like a common slut. She was DYING for any... ANY male attention she could get. I saw her leave the party a couple times with a guy and come back a while later, tousled hair and the back of her shirt dirty and crumpled. She had the nerve to look ashamed. Bitch, if you're ashamed of what you're doing... DON'T DO IT. Or at least be a little more inconspicuous!
Not 10 minutes after she came back the SECOND time from leaving the party to get hers, I saw her lift her shirt for two more guys. Now she had double the attention, at once. Are you KIDDING me?! I was sitting in eyeshot of it all and I obviously got up and walked away.
Now if some of you are saying, "if you're not concerned with what other people are doing, why did you know when she left? etc. etc." There are two reasons for this. 1. It was not a huge party. After a few hours of being there and looking at people you can tell when people are missing. 2. After a while it became a source of entertainment for Autumn and I... watching stupid people act stupid is fun. We made a drinking game out of it. When someone acted a fool in front of us we clinked our glasses and took a drink. No exaggeration we went through 2 fifths of Malibu. LOL!!!
Now, if someone I know was acting like this it would be a different too. Is that a double standard? Maybe. But I don't care, my friends are more like family to me... pretty much no matter what they do I am going to accept them and love them as they are. Plus, they would be among friends that they know they could trust. Sure, it would probably not be in their better judgement to do it, but whatever. At least it is not a room full of complete strangers doing all this to/with them.
I don't blame a girl/guy for having sex. If you want to have sex, do it. We're all adults here. It's a natural thing to want to do. But if it comes to a point that you're embarrassed by your own actions, maybe you need to do a little self-reflection and make some life changes. Or maybe take a brush with you to your next romp in the hay in a back yard or car. LOL
People wonder why there is a pornographic industry that dehumanizes/objectifies women... because there are dumbasses out there who will let them! Like this one!
OK, I am done now. I have exercised the demons!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

You May be Right... I May be Crazy...

My love for animals and a preoccupation for their rights has been leading me to do progressively bolder things.
It used to be I would just donate the occasional dollar to the save a homeless dog thing at PetSmart when I would buy food or treats for Bear. Then we adopted Harvey, which truly opened my eyes to the plethora of homeless, sad, scared, hungry, defenseless animals there are out there. Then I started trying to get more involved with Last Day Dog Rescue, the rescue that brought us Harvey. Now it is starting to snowball. As soon as I can afford it (AKA my Birthday money... how pathetic AM I?) I am going to donate to PETA and become a member.
And... here's the clincher.
I am going to try out vegetarianism.
GASP!
I have actually been thinking about it for a while now. I have seen my belief system go in this direction for some time but knew I would have to attempt this when I was ready. It feels like a big commitment to me. I didn't want to cut out my biggest protein source when I could be getting pregnant, or when I wasn't sure I could put my 100% into it. It's a lifestyle change and I wanted to take it seriously.
But with all the stuff I have been reading, researching, learning... it feels right to begin this now.
Yesterday I signed a pledge from PETA to be vegetarian for 30 days. Doing it made me actually commit to something I had always wanted to try anyway.
Actually making the decision was kind of interesting in a way, because of the new things I now have to take into consideration. There are a couple things to figure out. Will I be an ovo-lacto vegetarian... meaning will I eat cheese and eggs? The answer to that is a big fat hell yes. I realize I need some kind of protein, more than friggin' peanut butter. So yes, cheese and I will still be an item. I can reduce the chances of animals suffering for my nourishment by getting free-range eggs and maybe umm... I dunno, organic milk?

According to www.reference.com...
A lacto-ovo vegetarian is a vegetarian who does not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish or animal flesh of any kind, but is willing to consume cheese, butter, yogurt and eggs. Lacto- means "milk" and ovo- means "egg".
In the Western world lacto-ovo vegetarians are the most common type of vegetarian. Generally speaking, when one uses the term vegetarian a lacto-ovo vegetarian is assumed. Lacto-ovo vegetarians are often well-catered to in restaurants and shops, especially in Europe and metropolitan cities in North America.

Some lacto-ovo vegetarians who are motivated by ethical reasons may avoid fertilized eggs as well as caviar, feeling that both involve the killing of beings or torture and exploitation of source animals. They avoid cheese that contains rennet and yogurts that contain gelatin as these two things involve killing.

The very thought of caviar makes me want to vomit. I think I can find it in me to give that up too. I didn't even know what rennet was, so I looked it up and took the liberty of copying and pasting the info that I found from the same site here:
Rennet, substance containing rennin, an enzyme having the property of clotting, or curdling, milk. It is used in the making of cheese and junket. Rennet is obtained from the stomachs of young mammals living on milk, especially from the inner lining of the fourth, or true, stomach (abomasum) of milk-fed calves.

Wow. I am glad I already ate before I read this. I felt a quasi-wretch with that one. If I would have KNOWN this had to happen for some cheeses to be made, than maybe I would have given that up years ago. YUCK. In case you're also wondering where you can get rennet free cheese, here is a veggie forum that can give you some pointers. http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=46149
Maybe one day I will be able to be vegan. As of right now this is not an option. To me, the thought of being a vegan is like the equivalent of a Muslim woman deciding to wear the hijab. It is the ultimate proof of your devotion to a set of beliefs. While I think that sure, they are both great ideas in theory, and I admire people who are capable of doing it, I am not ready for anyhing like that yet. My vegetarianism is SOOOO in its infancy.
So, you might think this is a good thing to do, you might think I'm an idiot. But when it all comes down to it, I feel good about the decision I have made. According to www.peta.org I can save over 100 lives a year by not eating meat. That makes me feel so much better to know that. And it is actually quite sad to think that since I have started eating meat regularly, lets say since 1982, when I was two years old... approximately 2600 animals had to die for me to sustain my fat ass. Wow. 2600 lives to nourish ONE.

Here is the video I watched that made me make the final decision to try it out, if you want to see it. It is pretty graphic, be warned.



Watch more videos at PETA.org

I will keep you all posted about how going veg affects me. I wonder how much I am going to miss it? I was never a HUGE carnivore, but I probably still ate meat in some fashion almost daily. Well, so far the last time I ate meat was Tuesday night and so far so good. No meltdown yet! The biggest obstacle I assume will be around my period. I usually crave beef then. God, I sound like a vampire.

OK, well I have written all this after getting home from a 12 hour shift. I am SO ready for bed now. If you actually read this whole thing you are a trooper! :)

Damn am I going to miss bacon.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

KFC- to eat or not to eat?

So for a while now I have heard about www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com and chose to not look. Partly for selfish reasons, I like their food! Also partly because I know if I watch it I will probably never eat chicken, or any other kind of meat, again.
Well, I finally made myself go there, I am just sickened. I want to forward it to everyone in hopes that it affects you all the same way. Not to sound all after school special, but... If enough people care and act on it, then something will change and these animals' lives will improve. I tried to put the videos in this post but the site wouldn't let me.
I don't know how the people that work there can sleep at night. I wouldn't be able to do that job for one second. Hell, while driving home from WV I saw a homeless dog on the side of road, all skinny and friendly and I cried all the way to Ohio!
I hope you will go to the site and see for yourself...

kentuckyfriedcruelty.com

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Old Blogs so I can erase my second blogspot account

I used to have another blogspot.com account but I never use it anymore. Here are the old posts I had on it. I will put them here so I don't lose them... but I do want to erase the old account. I hope I am not doubling up on the old blogs I am posting. Hmmm I will have to double check that. For some reason I just can't erase my old blogs. This is probably why I still have every nursing school paper I have ever written. I guess I just value my thoughts. :) Probably because I have so few of them. LOL




This week
Hello! Since Aaron had to leave for National Guard Annual Training this morning, we made a point of spending some time together before he left. Thursday we had dinner at Joe's Crab Shack in Ann Arbor because they were having a fundraiser for Mott. 10% of what we spent went toward building the new hospital. It was good!!! Then Friday we went to the Simpsons Movie, which was funny! After that we spent a grueling 1+ hrs looking at paint for the new house at Home Depot, and then out to dinner again. Good LORD there are a lot of paint colors out there. And if any of you are creative or anything and have cool ideas, please let us know. Right now we are wishing that we could afford an interior decorator... at least for paint. We want a deep burgundy wall color for our bedroom but can't figure out a way to do it without making the room all red and boxed in feeling... grrr.....Picking out paint for the "baby room" is exciting because even though we aren't even trying to have a baby yet, it is proof to me that we will soon enough! It is exciting! I want nothing more than to be pregnant. We know it isn't quite the right time yet, but I can't wait for the day when all of a sudden it IS the right time!Anyhow, it stinks that Aaron has to be gone for 2 weeks but hopefully I will be so busy packing and preparing to move that time will fly by...PS- if any of you reading this are on this site to blog too, can you please tell me how I am supposed to put pictures up here, and how I can put my friends' blogs on the right hand side of the page like other people do? I don't know how to do that yet, but I would like to! Thanks much! :)
Posted by andrealamorand at 4:55 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Friends and Support
This won't be an incredibly long post, I would just like to say how blessed we are for having the friends we have. I sent out an email about our new house to the Phi Sigma Pi alumni listserv and got literally 10+ different people emailing me back within 24 hours to congratulate us. It is just a good feeling to know that even if you don't see them as much as you would like, there are friends out there who care about you and would be there for you in an instant. Even years later I can still say that joining Phi Sigma Pi was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It DEFINITELY changed my life for the better. =) I love and miss my brothers!!PS- for those of you who don't know already, I met Aaron through Chris Szabo, a Phi Sigma Pi alumni. His Halloween Party in 2003 is where we met. :)
Posted by andrealamorand at 11:01 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Nickelback
Last night we had an opportunity to go to the Daughtry/Staind/Nickelback concert at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. My dad had bought tickets for my brother to go, but at the last minute his friend stood him up so my brother didn't want to go after that. So... we went. It was a good time, apart from the HALF HOUR BATHROOM LINES. Nickelback puts on a great show, I definitely recommend going to one of their concerts if you have a chance. All the bands were great. I am glad we went! I think they overfilled the place though, because the bathroom lines were ridiculous! I had a girl come up to me and beg me to let her go in front of me in the bathroom line. She offered money and everything, and I told her the only thing she could offer me that would be worthwhile was a pair of dry pants, because I would need them if someone else was in front of me in line. I think there was swearing involved, there was NO way I was letting that girl cut in line. LOL Andrea with a full bladder is NOT very nice. Now I feel bad for the girl but she needed to do the time like I did. Who knows, it might make her devekop a little character? muahahaha....
Posted by andrealamorand at 5:29 AM 0 comments
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Monday, July 16, 2007

First Post
Hello!I thought this would be a good way to catch everyone up on what is going on in our lives. 2007 has definitely been the best year of our lives. April 21st Aaron and I got married, it was such a beautiful day! The weather was perfect, we had our friends and family with us celebrating, the day went off (almost) without a hitch! Then our honeymoon in Universal Studios was after that, and it was a blast. I recommend EVERYONE go there!Shortly after we got back, Aaron got a new job, a good job! He has been there for just over 2 months now. On May 2nd, Aaron's sister Kim gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Sadie Rose. She is happy and healthy, and we couldn't ask for a better neice! I swear the little girl's smile is addictive! =)And as if we needed anything else to make this year go great, Aaron and I will be closing on our FIRST HOME in about 3 weeks! YAY!!!!! It is 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bathroom ranch in Westland, within walking distance of Hines Park. And it has a fenced in back yard for our dog Bear, which is fabulous. Watch out for an invitation for a cookout, we don't know when it will be yet but we know we want to have one to celebrate our new house. =)Well this is about all I have for now. Thanks for reading, hopefully it didn't bore you to tears, ;) and we will be sure to blog about any news we have!!
Posted by andrealamorand at 11:30 AM 0 comments
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Back!

Well the trip to Virginia was a lot of things. Fun, refreshing, relaxing, interesting, family oriented, all those things I needed.
We rode down in a rented van. It was my Dad, his wife/my step-mother Laura, my brother Brent, sister Brianna and me. We drove down there Thursday morning after I got off work and stayed over night in a hotel in Marietta, Ohio. It is the town just before the bridge to West Virginia. If you ever get the chance to go to Marietta, do it! It is a little, old fashioned, stereotypical Midwestern American town. Stereotypical in a GOOD way, though. It was pretty, nestled in some hills, with a big lake, and a foot bridge, old fashioned shops with some really cute antiques and gift shops, and a pasta shop from out of this world! Awesome flavored stuff there! They also have a soda museum. I know, it sounds lame. But the inside is a 1950's themed soda shop. They have tons of memoribilia there, everything is for sale if you want it. Very cool place. If I take the same route to VA again I will definitely stay there or at least visit again! Marietta reminded me of the type of town that Steven King would use as a setting for a horror story. Everything is hunky-dory, then BAM!- alien invasion or something to that effect.
We got to WV on Friday. It is SO beautiful there. The tree covered mountains and fresh air are such a change from flat, busy, grey Metropolitan Detroit. We stayed in Bluefield Virginia for the next two nights. Well, my family did. I stayed with Nicki on Friday night. While we were in Bluefield we visited the mausoleum where my grandfather and several other family members are laid to rest. (At first I had buried there, but they aren't really buried at all. What is the correct term?) It was the first time my dad and I had been there since my grandfather passed away in 1996. It is a beautiful place. However, the stench was horrific. I can only imagine it was the stench of deteriorating bodies, unfortuately. It's too bad, it really did take away from the visit/mourning with my family members. There was also a gnat in there which grossed me out, because they have a rule of no fresh flowers, only fake. I can only imagine what drew that little guy there, which is disappointing and gross since I have family there. But the worst part was seeing my Dad cry and stand on his tip-toes to touch the plaque with his father's name on it. He just barely got it with his fingertips. I would have let him stand on my back if he had to. Anything to comfort him and hopefully make it hurt less... although I doubt anything would really help that situation. It hurt to see him upset, but what was even worse for me was thinking that one day I will have to visit him like that. I swear I am going to die when he dies. It will break my heart. I can't imagine the world without my dad. Mortality sucks.
On a (very slightly) brighter note, I got to see and take pictures of the headstones of my great grandmother and grandfather, as well as an uncle that died the day he was born and a great geat uncle. It sounds kinda morbid to want to see it in a way, but it is my family's history. Out of respect I should go there. I never got to meet any of them, so it was not really sad.
OK Seriously on a brighter note, I got to see my old and very dear friend Nicki. I have known her since 5th grade. I got to meet her new husband (I couldn't make it down for the wedding because I was in Nursing School) and see her house. I unfortunately didn't get to meet her 2 year old daughter Hope. I really wish I could have, she is a beautiful little girl! Nicki is 50% Chippewa, and her daughter looks just like her.
The family wedding was great! A little awkward at first... I am walking by people waiting for them to recognize my Dad, because I definitely can't put the names with the faces! I met a few of my dad's first cousins as well as a great aunt. I also met Elaine, the woman that married my cousin (well 2nd cousin if you want to get technical) Mark. The little bit I got to talk to her, she is very nice. Stressed, since it was her wedding day, but nice. My family is all hilarious and crazy. It was such a great feeling to have them come up and give us all big hugs and be so welcoming even though we haven't seen them in 12 years. It is nice to know that we could just land on one of their front porches one day and be welcome in their homes. I really need to go back down there again and visit more often. :)
The wedding was outside in the front lawn of her parents' house, which was an old dormitory from a teacher's college back in the day. They live in the moutains, so that house must have been old as hell! The pictures I have of the ceremony are beautiful -- a very happy bride and groom underneath a little flowery arc with big green mountains in the background.
Well, if you actually read this whole damn thing, WOW. I could barely write it. haha. In closing, my mini vacation was great! I want to go back down there soon and bring Aaron so he can see why I say I want to move there.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

See Ya!

Just letting y'all know that in the morning I am leaving town for a few days! I, along with my Dad, step-mom Laura, and siblings Brent and Brianna are going to Virginia for a family wedding. Our cousin Mark and his girlfriend Elaine are tying the knot and we are going to be there for it.
I am so excited to go! I haven't been to VA to see my family since my grandfather died in 1996. I went there in 1999 for my friend Nicki's first wedding. It has been too long since I was down there. :) I can't wait! It is so beautiful and peaceful, very different from this place. I am sure I will not want to come home and will kick and scream all the way back up!
We leave Novi as soon as we can after I leave work, and then will slowly make our way down south. We will be staying the night in a hotel in southern Ohio Thursday night and then ge to VA Friday morning and stay until Sunday morning. Then Sunday morning we will do the same thing back up. I personally would rather drive all day and get to VA on Thursday and then leave Sunday afternoon, but hey-- it's a free trip so who the hell am I to complain?? The parents are picking up the whole bill, even the hotel. Hot DAMN! I am not sure why they want to do it that way but me being the broke ass that I am, I am NOT going to complain! :)
So I am at work and having a somewhat slow night in ther stable vent unit, where the kids with trachs on ventilators are. It is nice, for the most part the babies are sleeping. It has been a frustrating night though, I have had a patient with frightening symptoms and the doctors are not concerned. I am! This is the way I look at it, if this were MY child, what would I want them to do? Well we just had some tests ordered for the morning... so that eases my mind a little. I had the PICU nurses look at the patient too, so I feel a little better. I am a worrier for sure, so at times I wonder if maybe I am making a bigger deal of things than I should. But then I remember this is their lives I am dealing with, and I don't feel so bad for being a worrier.
OK, enough talking about crap that people probably do not care about unless they are nurses too! :)
Don't expect me to write for a while. YAY!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Stealing Kim's Idea of Posting Quizzes

I thought this was something others may be interested in taking. However I am surprised by my results, as I am left handed, and mathematically retarded. Hmmm....

Are you left or right-brained?
http://tickle.com/quizzes/show/3022
My result: Left-brained
Most left-brained people like you feel at ease in situations requiring verbal ability, attention to detail, and linear, analytical ability. Whether you know it or not, you are a much stronger written communicator than many, able to get your ideas across better than others. It's also likely that you are methodical and efficient at many things that you do. You could also be good at math, particularly algebra, which is based on very strict rules that make sense to your logical mind.



Who should you pick for President?
http://tickle.com/quizzes/show/13495676
My results: Democratic Candidate Barack Obama
Your values are most aligned with those of the Democratic Party. The Democrats advocate for social freedom and free enterprise with Government oversight and intervention. Democrats believe that government should play a role in alleviating poverty and social injustice, even if it requires a larger role for government and progressive taxation. Barack Obama is a junior Senator from Illinois. He is the first African American to be a major party's presumptive nominee for President of the United States.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Harvey and some animal rights things too.

I am writing this blog because my dog Harvey is freaking me out today. I noticed about a week ago that he had some frank blood in his kennel when I came home. I freaked out and checked every inch of his body. When I found nothing wrong I just assumed he had cut his mouth on the bone he had in the kennel with him and went on with my life.
Well ever since then every couple days or so I find another small blood tinged stain on the carpet under his kennel. I am trying to not freak out about this. But a couple days ago I wake up to him vomiting in my kitchen, and he vomits up two small puddles of watery blood. I just about DIE.
I feel gut-wrenching horrible about this, but we are REALLY broke, so I didn't take him to the vet until today. He has had no more vomiting to my knowledge, but it is making me worried. What if it became something that in the beginning could have been easily fixed but turns into a life threatening illness? I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that. So at 11:30 this morning he went to the vet.
Basically, the vet was concerned about an intestinal obstruction, but thought he looked way too perky for it to be that. Harvey is walking, playing, eating, drinking, pooping normal little Harvey-poops, happy, and shows no symptoms of anything wrong apart from this freaky puke he has been having. The vet gave me two options, we can treat with medicine for a couple days and see if he gets better, or we can do xrays and bloodwork, which was $200. Seeing how I do not have $200, we go the medicine route for now, which was $93. But that included an examination, a fecal test to check for worms and other undesirable parasites, an injection of pepcid to help his tummy and a 10 day course of antibiotics. Although it is money I can't afford to spend at least we got a lot of bang for our buck.
Best of all, the vet was loving as always and not at all judgemental for my decision to not spend the extra $200 for more definitive tests. I feel horrible that I didn't do it, but trust me if it continues we will be doing it, regardless of our financial situation. He is my baby, I will not see him do without medical treatment that he needs. I can't.
So, we are now trying to rule out partial obstruction, parasitic infection and possible ulcers. Weird, but OK. For the next 10 days my dog will be on antibiotics and pepcid AC, and for the next 3-5 days he will be eating a diet of only boiled chicken and rice to let his tummy settle. Bear has no known tummy issues but is still going to have to eat the chicken and rice, because he will throw a shit fit if Harvey gets that and he gets the regular food. :) Can't say I blame him.
So on a side note... I get emailings regularly from the Humane Society and often sign petitions and forward them to friends. Although it is a small contribution, I like to think I may be making a difference by doing it. So I will put on here the latest thing I have received from them. It is to help farm animals have more humane lives. I suppose the least we can do before we eat the poor things is give them the right to do things like stretch their legs and turn around in their cages. That's something a lot of them can't even do right now. I have NO idea how the sick farmer bastards can live with themselves and see those poor babies like that. My only hope is in their next life they are reincarnated into one of the animals they breed. That would be the epitome of KARMA.
OK, I am stepping off the soap box... for now. Here is the link if you feel motivated to help. I hope you do!
http://allcreatures.hsus.org/

PS- If you are looking for a good vet go to him, they are great!!
Healthy Paws has 2 locations, Westland and Belleville. We have been going to them since we got Bear and we think he is great.
http://www.healthypawsvethospital.com/


I am going to bed now to snuggle with my hubby and dogs for the night. Goodnight!
:)

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Why not?

So I am awake at 7AM Sunday morning, tired but not quite ready for bed... what else to do but blog?
I have nothing of great importance to say this morning, just a few tidbits. Here goes.
I love love LOVE my friends. They are there for me whenever I need them and take me as I am. They're a very accepting group of people. They are genuine, sweet, funny and real. I love having every single one of them in my life. Any of you who know my friends are bound to agree. They are all amazing people.
I feel the pregnancy bug coming back. There were a few months there where I was not concerned about starting a family any time soon and I just wanted to concentrate on having fun. Well, with two trips to Chicago, one trip to Orlando and a trip to Virginia this weekend, I feel like I have taken advantage of this year as much as possible. If were up to me now, I would try to get pregnant this month. But, we have to be responsible (BLAHHHH) and figure out what is going on with the Border Patrol stuff first. I go back and forth on it, but it is relieving to know that yes, the urge is still there, I just managed to shut it up for a while with lots of fun. :) I have some names already picked out... now all I need is a positive pregnancy test.
OK as lame as this blog is I think I am going to stop for now. If I delve into the next couple subjects that are floating around in my head I will be typing for WAY longer than I baragained for!
Goodnight!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Last Night

Last night was cool. First of all, Aaron and I went to dinner with Kim, Chris and Sadie to DeLucas. It was pretty good. We had fun. Sadie learned how to dance with a fork with a breadstick on the end of it like Benny and Joon. :) She never ceases to amaze me with her cuteness.
After hanging out with the family that night Aaron and I went home and snuggled with the dogs. I took a nap, Aaron went to bed for the night like normal people do. After I woke up from my nap I went to George's house at like, Midnight. He was having a few people over for a bonfire. Naturally, I stopped at Kroger on the way there and picked up S'more fixins.
It was a nice night to be sitting out by a fire. It was pretty. Billy, Little Billy, Dave, George and I sat out and just talked. After a while Bill and Billy had to go home, seeing how Billy is like, 4. Dave went in the house to get a drink and George and I were outside talking when we saw what I at first thought was a firecracker. But no sound went off, and we realized it was not a firecracker at all, it was a friggin shooting star. It was AMAZING. It at first looks like any other shooting star, little white dot, just brighter than any one I had ever seen before. Then it had a LONG bright blue tail or trail or whatever you call the thing that is behind a shooting star. I guess it actually hit the atmosphere and burnt up, causing the amazing colors. It took a few seconds for all the color to dissipate in the sky, which is different from a firework, which the only thing that remains after it burns out is the smoke. It was definitely not that we saw. Too bad Dave had to be inside for it- it was definitely a cool thing to see!
Super Dave came over later. I don't know him but he seemed like a nice guy. I know he did King Bong last year at Szabo's party so he had to be at least somewhat cool! :) Then we all went in and watched the movie Dead Alive. Man, was that a vile, grotesque, gory movie. It was a really, REALLY bad zombie movie from the 80's. Either the director's aim was to make it hilarious, or that was definitely the worst acting I had ever seen. For crap that bad, they had to be doing it on purpose. lol.
So it was a good night. I am going back to bed now. Gotta work tonight.
Blah!