A Spotted Blog: January 2010

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Happy Birthday, sister number 2!

On resolution #2, i.e. to bake a new recipe in honour of each of my sisters' birthday..... I will have to allow myself some leeway - I shall endeavour not to fail in this resolution so early in the challenge!

Meanwhile.... because she loves purple:

Hope you had a great one! Miss and love you heaps!

what a (good) way to start the new year!

Resolution #1 completed, for a start!

I get my donor card in approximately 6 weeks, which will tell me what blood type I am; that's right - I don't know what my blood type is!

I was quite nervous at first, as I didn't quite know what to expect.

I had to first fill out a very comprehensive form detailing my medical history. Questions asked include if I have ever lived outside Australia (yes), if I've traveled in the last 6 months (yes), if I've been to North Queensland in the last 4 weeks (I wished, but no), if I've ever had surgery and/or been admitted to a hospital (yes and yes), if I've ever injected any sort of substance not prescribed by a medical practitioner (no), if I've gotten a tattoo in the last 12 months (no), if I've ever had sexual relations with sex workers (not to my knowledge!), if I've had male-to-male sex in the last 12 months (no).

Then the (male) nurse took my blood pressure (all good) and a pin prick was made to determine my haemoglobin levels (ie. iron levels) - it needs to be >120 for women; I had 133.

Once all was good and dandy, I was led to a big room with beds, where my blood was taken - 500ml is taken, with 30ml used to be tested each time for infectious disease etc. This process only really takes about 10mins, so it wasn't too bad.

The Husband had accompanied me as he was interested in donating too; however he was deemed ineligible due to him having only 1 functional kidney. It only occurred to him then that it could have explained why he had fallen quite sick both times after he donated blood in Malaysia. I really gotta give it to him though; he was happy to donate even though he had fallen sick on past occasions.

How do I feel, after donating?
I'm exhausted. They recommend no strenous activity for 12 hours and to keep my fluids and food up. I've been very diligent with the above, but I'm just feeling really tired. Like I caught only a couple of hours' sleep the night before.

Hence, good night!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Off to a great start...

... on my first resolution of the year.

Australian Red Cross Blood Service

I've finally taken the plunge and registered and made an appointment to donate blood this Sunday! I've had several needle pricks in recent weeks so I should hopefully be accustomed to it now!

On meeting resolution #2 : I will need to start planning soon since the first sister-birthday of the year is in two days!

Current Obsession

My previous post wasn't a true reflection of my obsession - of late I have been obsessed - yes, that's right - obsessed - with the TV Show Glee.

Actually, let me rephrase that - I'm obsessed about the performances on the TV show Glee. The storyline isn't exactly the best or most brilliant - I tend to fast forward bits of the acting once I know what's going on (my sisters and husband would know how annoying I can be with that habit) but would watch the performances over and over and over and over again. Then if I have stuff to do I'd listen to the soundtrack over and over and over and over again.

Obsessed, I tell you.

Maybe it's just because the singer-performer in me is busting to get out of the closet, haha

But anywho - it's great to watch particularly because the songs are really sung by the actors themselves - most of the lead characters have been on Broadway. The teacher was Link Larkin in Hairspray, the female student was Cosette in Les Miserables when she was like, 9; etc.

Fave scene from SATC movie 1

This is definitely my favourite scene of the first Sex and the City movie. Didn't think too much of the first SATC movie, hence won't be having very high hopes for the second one. I'm one of those people who think that TV shows should quit while they are ahead, and not try to jump the shark. But though I don't have high hopes for the 2nd SATC movie, I'd still watch it - heheheh

Fave fave gowns - Christian Lacroix and Oscar de la Renta:

Monday, January 18, 2010

Resolution for my twenty-eighth year of life

Just a couple at the top of my head; I'll hopefully have more as time goes by - let's see how long before we realise I may have trouble keeping to them:
1. Donate blood! I've always been meaning to, but the fear of needles, and the face of procrastination just get to me each and every time.
2. Bake a new, never-tried recipe, when each of my sisters celebrates her birthday. I am usually in the habit of baking the same stuff over and over again, because I'm usually baking for one thing or another and can't afford to make mistakes or spend a bit more time trialling a new recipe.

Happy birthday to me!

Monday, January 4, 2010

what a way to start the new year!

I found myself in the Emergency Department for 4 hours yesterday, after my infection became worse. I was having a case of Urinary Tract Infection for the past 5-6 days which did not get any better despite a course of antibiotics, garlic pills, and 100% cranberry juice (which, by the way, is one of the foulest, sourest things I've ever tasted). Two nights ago, my temperature fluctuated from really cold to a high temperature, to a point I was shivering and could only be calmed by blasting the heater at my face. It happened again yesterday after lunch, so it was off to E.D we went.

Apparently the infection has spread up to my kidneys, which explains how lousy I felt. So I was put on 2 courses of strong antibiotics via IV drip. Somehow the nurse who put my first IV in (as pictured above) made a bloody mess (pun intended). It turned out the first IV put in was too small, and put into a smallish vein, so a more senior nurse decided to save us all time and put another IV drip in, through my wrist.

I left the hospital late yesterday night, and am now on an oral dose of antibiotics for the next 5 days.
Which leaves me with the runs.
And it's also the time of the month for me.

Oh woe!