What a snowy, crazy night

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

We had a big snow storm in pa over the weekend. Here we got around 14 inches! Saturday night my daughter had her college orientation and they did not bother to postpone it. I did not want her driving so I and dh decided to take her on the one hour and 20 min drive. It took about 3 hours to get there but by the time we got to indiana, pa we came upon an accident with a few bystanders. Having medical background I saw a plow truck turned on it's side in the ditch and a large pickup truck partially over the concrete median that separates the highway. The pickup somehow had hit the plow truck in the now freezing rain and flew upward and got his front wheels over the median! The driver a young guy had his door open but definitely was injured. I asked the plow truck operator "when they called for an ambulance"? He said "it just happened "and "I'm not sure if one was called" I yelled to dh in the car call 911. We luckily have an onstar system and while dh took care of that I ran over to assess the situation with the driver. Dh was yelling at me "Where are you going" "I replied being a nurse, I'm sure I'm the only one that is medically qualified to look at the guy!" I think sometimes dh forgets what I do, but I just ran over to the guy. Now being the median was about 5 ft tall, and being only 5ft 5 and not the thinnest and best of shape my daughter boosted me up which was a hilarious feat as others looked on. The guy whose name was "michael"was alert, but had a very nasty head wound when his head cracked the glass. I yelled to my daughter to "grab the paper towels I kept in the car and my gloves in my nurses bag "(I do home nursing as well as being a critical care nurse). She ended up not finding the paper towels but i found sone bandages left over in my bag that I placed over the wound with a clean hand towel she got out of her college stuff she was taking with her. It was bleeding pretty good and a little bandage just was not going to do it. The ambulance took about 20 min in the freezing rain, and all the poor guy kept saying was, "Thank you" and "could you call my wife" I had my daughter call her on her cell phone and by the time they talked, the ambulance and police had arrived and the medics told her to go to indiana hospital where they would meet her there once they transported him. We then proceeded to go up to the university which was about 10 min away, got her checked in to her dorm room and moved all her stuff in actually very quick timing.
My dh then says "Now for the trip home" I said to my dh "There is no way we are driving home in this mess! It is dark, icy and we saw what could happen back there, so get us a motel". Well, all the hotels near the university was booked, I guess wewere not the only ones that thought staying over in indiana was not a bad idea. We did find one motel called scotts motel(later to be known by us as bates motel). The guy told my dh on the phone he only had one room left. We got there in about 5 minutes and it had a 20 rooms but I only saw one car in front of the desk office and one at the far end of the motel. The room was clean at least, but we had no heat, the bed was on a downslant with lumps everywhere and the door's lock was broken. Dh and I both looked at each other. The guy basically said this is all I have so take it or leave it. We felt we had no choice so we took the room because we were cold and tired and pretty wet. I ended up finding a clean pair of scrubs that I threw on after I took a shower. We then moved the desk and chair in front of the door, but neither of us was really going to sleep that night.
I realized we did not eat since early afternoon and I was starving. Dh ran over to a restaurant across the highway that was still open and got us some rosemary chicken and brown rice which hit the spot. We came back in early am and I was so grateful to be home.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

HONEYBEE56 1/13/2009 5:17PM

Wow! What an adventure/experience and situation! How fortuitous for the fellow that was injured that you were right there on hand! What a dreadful place to have to spend the night! It reminded me of a place we had to stay one night that I have since affectionately dubbed as the 'Cockroach Inn'. Ewwwww....can't describe my true feelings about that place. I couldn't help but wonder if they rented the rooms by the hour! You made me chuckle about being 'helped' into the truck! LOL Been there...done that! On lookers are always amused. Thanks for sharing this drama in your life. It was most interesting! Hugs~Dusty Healthy Natural Supplements & Foods Report Inappropriate Comment

LACEEJO11 1/13/2009 1:43PM

WOW!! No room at the INN!!! I am happy you all made it home safe and sound...One night like that can sure make us appreciate "HOME SWEET HOME" . But thank GOD you were there for that poor head injured fellow! LaceEjo11 Report Inappropriate Comment

20 pounds and counting!!!!!

Sunday, January 04, 2009

I had earlier in nov 2008 made an affirmation to loseweight and adopt healthier eating and lifestyle habits. I joined a health club which I started working out, at first slowly but now more regularly. Today I am down 21 lbs and counting. I am
so done being the chubs I was! I am on my way!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DINA:-) 1/4/2009 6:46PM

21 lbs in 2 months is fantastic- way to go! Report Inappropriate Comment

DINA:-) 1/4/2009 6:46PM

21 lbs in 2 months is fantastic- way to go! Report Inappropriate Comment

FITTGRRL 1/4/2009 6:43PM

I am so excited for you! you truly are on your way to a healthier you. Congrats on your success!!! yay!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MAMAGOSS 1/4/2009 2:38PM

good for you! May this be the year you achieve your goals! Deb Report Inappropriate Comment

MARYCMCGREGOR 1/4/2009 12:48PM

Congrats on your first 21 lbs! What a great and encouraging way to start a new, healthier year! Report Inappropriate Comment

Happy new year!

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Today is jan 1 2009! Wow where did 2008 go??? I started spark back in nov when I recently restarted south beach diet. I made a dent in my weightloss but more importantly I made some affirmations to myself that 2009 is the year for melody! I love my family but there are some things that I have put on hold like taking care of myself through eating, exercise and what goals I have for myself personally and professionally.
Last night I went out to dinner with the family and had a small salad and grilled chicken. Hubby thought I should splurge but I knew we had appetizers and drinks at home when we would have some of our friends over. I did have a glass of sangria and a margarita at home (boy, I love those). I'm sure they were not in the sugar allowances with south beach but all in all not too bad. The scale remained about the same and I was estastic! Now I can start free and clear today. I have work this afternoon but I exercised on the treadmill for 30min and completed week one of cpt5k but I think I will repeat it. I'm able to keep up but til it is comfortable for me I think I need to repeat it.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LISA.LOU 1/3/2009 10:39AM

Happy new year to you, too! It sounds like you're doing great. I've been off the wagon a bit for the last 3 months and while I still ate healthy, I managed to put six pounds back on. Well, they're coming off. I'm going to see to it! :) Report Inappropriate Comment

MAGICSMOM 1/1/2009 4:04PM

Happy New Year! Congratulations on your fabulous attitude! 2009 is your year! Report Inappropriate Comment

Resolutions

Sunday, December 28, 2008

The holidays are going to be coming to a close soon, new years eve is just around the corner and I did some soul searching on what i want to achieve for the new year. This is going to be a year of personal growth for me in different areas so I decided to break it down as follows.
-To finally reach my goal and stay there the key is healthy eating and exercise. I know I can do this I have taken off almost 18 lbs during the roughest time of the year. There will always be challenges to overcome. Many people say they will start after the holidays but if you look at it, food is the center of every holiday. There will be new years, valentines day, st patties, easter, memorial day, picnics in the summer, independence day, labor day, halloween, thanksgiving and again christmas. So the key is to change your eating habits and food choices at this time, your family will learn to give up things too. The amount of choices out there today with splenda products and lower fat items make it very do-able. Coronary artery disease is such an epidemic in this country, as a intensive care nurse I am finding younger and younger patients coming in with heart attacks, strokes and needing coronary surgery. Drugs do play a role but in the most part it is how we eat and how our society accepts the high fatty/sugar diets and fast food is winning out. We as parents need to start out youngsters out with good healthy eating habits that will stay with our children for a lifetime. They not only will be given the gift of having a happy, energetic mom or dad but will instill these habits in their life and possibly their own children. Okay I'm off the soap box now.
two-On a personal note, I decided to go back to school to achieve my masters as a nurse practioner. I love working as a coronary care nurse but feel I might be able to help and make more of a difference as a practioner. It will be a long haul but I am prepared now to take the plunge.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LISA.LOU 1/3/2009 10:51AM

You are right on the money with everything you said! Good luck in your continued education. Report Inappropriate Comment

RHYNIC 1/1/2009 11:35AM

Best of luck to you in 2009. I see you are setting yourself up for a lot of work, but when you achieve your goals you will be so proud of yourself. welcome to the road runners. gail Report Inappropriate Comment

MAGICSMOM 12/30/2008 8:18PM

Yes, you can do it! You have the will power and the drive! I know you can do it! Good job and keep it up! Kim Report Inappropriate Comment

RENA1965 12/28/2008 2:04PM

I hope you make the plunge, there will be a huge need for good doctors even more, if people don't wise up.. I had a dad die from chronic heart disease and a wonderful husband from diabetes type 1.. I am doing the life style change full out and have never had regrets.. I don't miss the food, as I sat on the school bench and learned what it will say to eat to be satifisied.. This is the most important thing to teach patients, neither my dad or my husband were overweight or smoked but were extremely active.. However, most people have no clue how to eat healthy these days, and if you point small things out in a e-mail they get sour and upset.. Keep up the great work, I find it alarming that so many people are scaring people whom use sweetners away from them.. My husband was under a University hospital in many resource projects and at no time did I ever hear anything bad about them if used with "moderation" like everything else. My only complaint is sorbits that gives me chronic diarre even with small doses in a couple of sugar free sweets now and again.. kind regards Rena. Report Inappropriate Comment

Cookies go away!

Monday, December 22, 2008

I have realized something today this is the first holiday season I have lost weight instead of gaining in many years. Today I was at work in the nurses lounge with cookies upon cookies around me. Temptation was very high and I really just wanted to snatch just one! One of the docs the other day gave us a huge gift bag full of chocolate, chips and other junk food. The bag was just about empty, when I looked inside there was a few south beach protein snack bars in there. I not surprised no one ate them with all the goodies to be had but I felt it was a sign for me to continue my journey and ditch the cookies. So I finished my break by taking a walk around the hospital eating one of the bars. I know I can do this. I honestly can't wait for the holidays to end but these are just trials for me to get through and decide how bad do I want to reach my goal.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ASH72461 12/23/2008 5:46AM

i understand that i work at a nursing home and it seems all the families want to bring in sweets for everyone this time of year. i enjoy the freh fruits the most. however that one seems to get sent in the least. Report Inappropriate Comment

LIBRA741 12/23/2008 5:01AM

Today is my Christmas party in work - your blog is a great inspiation not to over do it! Thanks Report Inappropriate Comment

DIAMNDSPRKLMOM 12/23/2008 3:53AM

It's AMAZING those South Beach Bars were in the bag!!! WOW!!! I would have been doing a happy dance! for overcoming that challenge! Comment edited on: 12/23/2008 3:54:24 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

ILVCMP 12/22/2008 10:07PM

Good for you on resisting temptation. You are doing great. I am so very impressed that you took a walk and ate a bar instead. Have no fear the holidays will soon be over all we will only have all the normal temptations. Report Inappropriate Comment