Somebody Wants My Blood

The Woodridge School District #68 had a blood drive today and needed donors. Although, I didn't sign up, I decided I would pop on in and do it. I've donated several times in the past, in fact, I filled up the back of my donor card today.

I don't mind donating blood, but the last time I did (January 22, 2011), I got sick a few hours afterwards. I had never had that problem before, but I was busy trying to clean up my house to watch my sister's kids in a few hours. I figured that I stayed too busy and hadn't eaten or drank enough like I should have done. Well, several weeks later I found out I was pregnant with Cameron. When I calculated back, based on how far along they said I was, I had been pregnant for about a week. That's probably why I didn't feel so great. Even though I am still nursing Cameron, they say it is fine to donate. Generally, you don't want to donate when you are pregnant.

While I was there, a young guy donating blood got sick. He was on a chair behind me, so I couldn't see very well. I also didn't want to stare and make him feel uncomfortable. I know how it would make me feel. I'm not sure of all the details, but he had to stay for a while till they knew he would be alright. Hopefully he didn't get it all over him. Knowing my luck, I would get it all over myself.

Once I finished, they gave me two cans of apple juice and a treat. I wasn't sure which treat I was going to take and I narrowed it down to two. The lady said to go ahead and take both. I asked her, "Can I do that?" She told me that would be fine, so that's what I did, but instead of grabbing two different treats, I grabbed two bags of chocolate chip cookies. After finishing one of the drinks, they came back and grabbed the empty can and threw it in the garbage. I realized that I should have taken a picture. She was kind enough to grab me another can instead of retrieving my empty one from the garbage. So, I took a picture with the two bags of chocolate chip cookies and the two cans of apple juice, though I actually had three juice. Wow, this mobile Heartland Blood Center was quite generous! My next donation eligibility date is in 8 more weeks. Maybe I'll have to track them down! :)

I Feel Like Our Snowman

I hadn't noticed it on the way to church, but coming home I noticed that our snowman's hat, head, and middle section were missing. Clinton told me that they were taken last night while we were at the Chili Cook Off. As if that wasn't sad to hear and put a damper on my mood, I got terribly sick later on.

I felt exactly how I did on July 11, 2010. The only reason why I know when it was, is that it was over my birthday weekend. Clinton and I went out for my birthday Friday, July 9th and we went out again Saturday, July 10th. I was hesitant to go out that second night because I was suppose to give a talk the next day. I was tired, unprepared for my talk, and I woke up at 1:00am and was sick all through the night. The hard part is that I felt nauseous, but I never threw up. I was so sick that I called the Bishop that morning to let him know I would not be at church. There was no way I could stay up front and give my talk when I couldn't stay out of the bathroom for very long. I disliked spending all that time on a talk, only to not give it. I ended up speaking in sacrament a few months after that.

Tonight, I had awful diarrhea or something. The previous time, a friend of mine said that it was probably food poisoning, because it usually hits about 4 hours after eating, and that's exactly what happened. If what I had was food poisoning, it was either some sort of delayed reaction from eating the various bowls of chili Saturday night at the Chili Cook Off, the leftover chicken enchiladas and rice I ate for lunch and dinner (but Friday night when our family ate them we were fine), or I have no idea. Maybe it wasn't food poisoning, but the chili by itself did something strange to me, who knows.

So, nevertheless the cause of my illness, I felt like our snowman - terrible, not quite myself. I was sick for a while, laid down to take a nap around 7:30pm, woke up at 9:30pm, and still felt sick for another hour or so. Eventually I was able to sleep. I'm hoping I feel better Monday morning.

Emma Sleeping Cozy On The Couch

We were off to a late start with dinner, so we read scriptures and said family prayer before we ate dinner. Right after that, Emma told me that she wasn't feeling very well. She didn't have a fever or anything noticeable, but she complained of her tummy hurting her. I told her to grab a "sick" bucket just in case something were to happen. When we did have dinner, Emma ate toast and applesauce instead of the meal we were having.

She asked where she should sleep tonight. I figured it wouldn't be good to have her sleep in the top bunk of her bed if she did get sick, nor would it be good to have her sleep in the bottom bunk where Anna sleeps. Emma set up camp on the couch. I told her we could move a little table near the couch to put her sick bucket on, but I guess she and Anna put two empty cookie boxes down on the floor, set a princess chair (that is borrowed from friends) upside-down on the boxes, and covered it with blankets. Why they did that, I have no idea. She looks very comfortable snuggled on the couch. With the couch next to the large windows in our living room upstairs, it can get pretty cool. I made sure she put down a warm blanket underneath her as well as on top.

So far, she is fine. Nothing has happened yet, and hopefully nothing will. I guess I will find out in the morning or during the night if something has changed. Poor Emma, hope she feels better tomorrow.

Though Emma felt a little yucky for a bit today, the day started on a great note with Ward Conference at church and ended on a good note, too, with watching Downton Abbey. Downton Abbey is a favorite PBS show that Clinton and I both like to watch. Tonight it was two hours long, so I thought it was the season finale, but fortunately they showed scenes for next week's show. I don't know when the season ends, but I don't mind that it has continued.