Update on Life

** WARNING ** LONG POST AHEAD **

About six weeks ago, I had a bout of panic of going back to school, working, preparing for the temple, and trying to fit in having any time with my husband. Michael and I took some time to talk, pray and decide a new path for me. After some heavy conversation between ourselves and the Lord, we decided that I would take some time off of school now that I have my Associate's degree. A full time job sorta fell into my lap the week before and I was totally psyched for it and was able to take it after this big decision.

I have not QUIT school to those of you who are appalled at what you just read, I am just taking some time off from it. Michael's education is the most important of the two right now since he would like to be the breadwinner of the family. He has 3 semesters after this one to complete and then we can go from there for me! I have also (again) come to a crossroads in what I want to be when I grow up. In high school, I wanted to be in the medical field and went to the best high school because all my classes were medical based! I had thought about nursing or just something in the health field. My senior year I decided that maybe Dental would be that field. I started out college in the path of Dental Hygiene but after a year or so, I just felt bored of the subject. I took some time to think about my major and after some health scares, I decided NUTRITION!! I did that again for a year and decided, hmmmm... Maybe its not for me. This is now where I am and have been taking this time off from school to think about what I want to do. I have thought again about Nursing - especially since I work with a bajillion of them! I still have time to think about that though!

Anyway, my new shift in Labor and Delivery as a full time clerk started a week ago Tuesday. I have been working both night and day shifts (rough!) starting at 5 am or 5 pm working twelve hour shifts. I have loved the job so far and think that the more I get to know the nurses and other co-workers, the more I will love the job!

So today started out as any other night shift day causing me to sleep until 1:00 in the afternoon. I get up, eat some cereal, check out things on the computer, get ready and head out the door. Some may criticize me, but I have been donating plasma. I usually do NOT have a problem with this, but today was not the usual. I got there and it took 40 minutes to get to a bed compared with the usual 15. It also took 1 hour 15 minutes to donate when it usually takes 40-50. My dumb veins kept collapsing and I was done with the process about half way through, unfortunately, I had to go until the machine said I was finished. Well, I was feeling all fine and dandy and drove over to the hospital for work. I got all settled and started pulling up all the necessary programs on the computer. My arm bandage from the poke was seriously hindering my tasks and speed so I figured after an hour or so, my poke site was fine and I could take it off. I took off the bandage like normal and all of a sudden the hole started oozing/gushing blood. "Oh Boy" was my first thought and I put the gauze back on. I had cut through the stretchy band so I couldn't put it back on so one of the nurses went to get some gauze and tape. I sat down to wait for her and was feeling slightly lightheaded so I put my head down on the desk.

Next thing I know I am curled up on the floor looking up at the nurse. She asked why I was on the floor and the only thing I could think of what that I fell. I guess I blacked out again because the next thing I remember was being in a very bright hallway and moving. They had gotten me on to a gurney and rolled me down through the trauma elevator to the ER. My blood pressure had dropped down to 67/33!! It took me a good 30 minutes to fully come to. The nurse had called Michael to tell him I was in the ER, but I was Okay. They gave me a whole liter of fluids and watched my blood pressure slowly rise back to normal. After the liter of fluids and an 10oz cup of water, the doctor had me do a lap around the ER to see if I could stand on my own without passing out again. When they released me (and hour and half after the episode) my blood pressure was back up to a better level of 102/59. We figured out that I fainted because I saw my own blood (which has never made me queasy before) and the fact that I hadn't eaten, had very little plasma left in me, and that I have a dumb medication that lowers my blood pressure while trying to fight migraines. Well, I self prescribed to stop taking that dumb medication so that this never happens again, that and no longer doing plasma.

Luckily, I work in a hospital where it took less than one minute to get me down to the ER and be treated. Thanks to all the wonderful nurses (who I haven't worked with yet & who I scared to death) That helped me get to a place where I could be taken care of. I seriously hope that was the last time that ever happens!