The Blog lock-out is over

Yikes, for the life of me my blog has NOT let me sign in for about 2 weeks now. I've racked my brain for reasons why, but for some reason today it let me sign in. Great! It hasn't let me comment on other blogs either, so I do apologize for that. I have to say I'd just sit here and hit "Comment" after "Comment" and nothing. Here's hoping she's all fixed now :)

A lot has happened lately, so in my true to slacker-not-able-to-log-in-fashion, It's a list on the blog type of day..

-For starters the Picc is gone! Yay! It was removed yesterday at work, which was exactly 3 weeks from placement. Feeling good and hoping things continue in that direction.

-Our CF community lost a very near a dear person to me recently. Nicole lost her battle as did her little boy. It's been very difficult lately thinking about her and everything that happened. She is on my mind so very much.

-I officially entered the world of CFRD on August 30th. Been feeling it for a while now, so we decided I needed to keep track of my sugars. Sure enough I landed myself on a carb counting adventure with the help of a Novalog insulin pen. Her name is "Penny." ;)

-I've been trying very hard to enjoy every moment of my most favorite season, FALL! We went to a pumpkin patch, apple orchard, did a hay ride, and have been to 2 Fall festivals. Love this!

-I ran the 2nd annual "Out Run CF" race. I chose to do a 5K with the picc line in tow. It went well and I was so happy to have been able to do it.

-I've recently begun to start "couponing." Not crazy hoarding or anything, just watching for deals on the things that we actually need. So far so VERY good! It's pretty cool to see all the $ we can save.

-Being the crazy person I am, I've started getting some early Christmas shopping done. I've gotten all of my nieces and both of my Goddaughters finished already. Definitely a good feeling :D

-I continue to run at least 4 days a week and love it. There just isn't anything else that makes me feel so great.

That's it for now. Just coming off of IV's yesterday has officially made me feel like I've been hit by a mack truck. I can't remember the last time I felt this exhausted, or slept so deep. Shew. Back to relaxing :)

Featured on Run Sickboy Run!

Check out my friend Ronnie's awesome blog providing CF awareness and so much more. I was asked to do a guest post about how exercise has increased my lung function. Thank you Ronnie for such a great opportunity to share my story with others! :)


Take a Look!

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins #91
Those of you with multiple blogs or private blogs...if you could add a link to your blog when you comment, that would be GREAT! And...here we go!

1. Fall Festivals, the cooler air, changing leaves, the smell of fall, vineyards, our friends wedding we're in, Colon cancer walk, fall recipes, and Halloween! are some of the things I'm most looking forward to in October.

2. Sometimes I get frustrated when I don't think positive and don't use "The Secret" like I should.

3. What's meant to be will always find it's way.....and that's why there is a saying, "never say never"!

4. When I'm down, I remember the quote "Before you frown make sure there is nothing to smile about."

5. Working and taking care of patients is where you'll find me most often.

6. A rainy day is good for the soul...time to relax and enjoy...

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to staying in a watching a movie tomorrow my plans include my cousins wedding and Sunday, I want to meet Beth for coffee @ Starbucks in the morning, then go to Easton to visit Granny with Kevin.

Tuesday Ten

10 Great Things That Happened This Summer

Summer is over....Here's reflecting on the summer you had.

You can either talk about personal things that have happened to you or great things that happened in general.

1. Vegas!! Went in August for 5 days and loved it!
2. NYC for our lovely purse shopping trip with the work girls.
3. Went of a camping trip with the family for a long weekend.
4. Went to a Baltimore Ravens pre-season game....AWESOME!
5. Got a Wii and a Wii fit
6. Went to MD wine festival which I just love
7. Had a big summer party/cookout, even had an ice luge, good times!
8. Went out to eat to some great places with friends
9. Ate lots of steamed crabs (my favorite!)
10. Worked on the house, got new appliances, and a new flat screen wall T.V.

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins #90 Those of you with multiple blogs or private blogs...if you could add a link to your blog when you comment, that would be GREAT! And...here we go!

1. There is no need to be negative all the time.

2. Where in the heck did the dust come from in this house right now! I'm a cleaning machine :)

3. So far today work and cleaned the house is all I managed to do.

4. Prospects for good health a long life, and a cure for CF works for me.

5. What's meant to be will always find it's way is the message.

6. Simplicity and tranquility are somewhere that music can usually take me.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to having date night in Ellicott City with this lovely chilly crisp weather , tomorrow my plans include baby shower for baby Alivia, and Scott's family over for a crab feast in the evening and Sunday, I want to drink wine at the wine festival until they close!! :)

Thursday 13

Thirteen Things about My Week1. I declared this week "rest week" because I've been running myself into the ground lately.2. Yesterday sucked, today was much better.3. I forgot that I have a lecture and dinner tonight on Crohn's disease in Baltimore at a fancy Hawaiian restaurant. I have no clue what I'm going to wear either.4. I've been going to McDonald's everyday for a sweet tea @ lunch. I love them!5. I feel like I never have enough time to please everyone, and some friends just don't understand that I have a busy schedule too... I hate guilt trips!6. I met one of the Doctors (I work for) wife this week, and was blown away at how opposite they are! I wondered how they are even a match...Scott said people probably think the same of us and he's probably right.7. Scott's whole family is coming here Saturday night for a crab feast. I have a baby shower in the afternoon, I have a feeling It's going to be an insanely busy day.8. Hopefully tomorrow being Friday Scott and I will be able to go out, just the 2 of us to Ellicott City....it's been a while.9. One of our Anesthesiologists called me today to tell us that he just finished his last treatment after being diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and is doing fantastic! That was great news for us.10. I'm very excited to go to a wine festival this Sunday. After this week, wine sounds just devine ;)11. I actually had to turn the heat on a little bit during the drive to work this am, it was quite chilly out and I loved it!12. When I get home from work I like to turn off my brain and not have to talk or think (just for a little while)...I have a hard time telling people that I sometimes just don't feel like talking on the phone. Especially after a l...o....n....g.... day at work.13. I'm wondering how I'm going to get the whole house cleaned and everything done before our party on Saturday. I know I worry about it too much, but I just like things a certain way if we're entertaining.

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Tuesday Ten

10 Simple Things that Make You Happy:

1. A good glass of wine (I love Riesling)

2. A cool fall day (rainy is fine too)

3. Laughing until you can't breathe

4. Cooking (new recipe or an old favorite)

5. Being a Nurse

6. Listening to music

7. Taking pictures

8. Eating great food!

9. Getting my morning email from Scott :)

10. Being surrounded by my family, dogs, and friends.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Whistle While You WorkWe are talking about jobs today. Pick any job of your career. Tell us when and where it was. Then answer today's Saturday: 9.


1. Tell us which job your are telling us about, and when you had it.
This is my current job, been there from December 2003- present

2. Where do/did you work?
As a R.N. at an out patient Gastroenterology procedure center (Ambulatory Surgery)

3. Tell us about that boss.
She has no clue

4. Do/Did you find your work creative? If yes how?
Not really creative, but challenging. Although we do get creative sometimes and will have themed days. We've done "crazy hat day, crazy sock day, mismatch scrubs day" etc. We do have fun and our patients love it.

5. Tell us about your favorite co-worker.
She's like our work mom. I tell her everything and vice versa. She gives great advise and we vent to eachother all the time. Actually all of my co-workers and I are very close though. We hang out socially, and do frequent trips to NYC together too. We're like a small family there. :)

6. Tell us about the biggest jerk in that job.
There is no jerk, just a lazy, lying moron who has no clue what happens around her. And is extremely selfish. But everyone else is pretty great.

7. Where do/did you see yourself with this job in five years?
I see myself there still. I truly love my job and the doctors that I work for. We have a great time at work and I love my patients. I can see myelf being the Nurse Manager in 5 years. Right now I'm the charge nurse.

8. Tell us about your commute.
It's great only 14 miles away, so about 15 minutes on the highway. Very close and I'm very lucky.

9. What hours of the day do/did you work?
I get there about 0550 and work until about 1430 or 1500. Not bad at all!

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend~!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about My week.1. Today is 9/11 and my heart goes out to those who lost their lives and their families. We will never forget. Today is also my sister in laws bday.2. I wore an American flag pin on my scrubs today in honor.3. I went to Chipotle tonight for dinner and stuffed myself silly and it was totally worth it.4. I'm looking forward to going to the chiropractor tomorrow, I'm finally getting back on track since he told me "A ton of my joints are out of allignment" ouch!5. Tomorrows work party should be a blast and much needed...I'd love to be able to definitely be able to make it to Crissy's party too but not sure...6. Hung out with my best friend Bee tonight and it was so great to catch up (even though it had only been 2 weeks) that's long for us.7. I love it that people love to come to our house and hang out. In the past 2 weeks, 2 different sets of friends/family have asked if we'd have them over, it's awesome and I love to!8. I went looking for Halloween costumes tonight...verdict NOTHING yet :(9. I'm still very bummed about my 2 patients from this week and last and broke down and got upset again today.10. I found a new nail polish that I'm in love with and the color stays on your nails for about 5 days which is great for me being a nurse and washing my hands a billion times a day.11. I had 2 co-workers tell me today that I always work my as* off. It feels good to know your work ethic is appreciated.12. I had Starbucks this morning, my favorite "white chocolate mocha" and it made me so happy :)13. We bought a fire pit this week and I'm so excited to make our lower back brick patio, a place to hang out and have a campfire....awesome!

Thursday 13

Thirteen Things about THE SECRET (the book) and my vision board.I've read the Secret and totally believe in the law of attraction. This weeks 13 is dedicated to the things that I put on my vision board. FYI the vision board is a part of "The Secret" where you literally cut out pictures, quotes, or sayings of things or wants in your life. By looking at the vision board everyday these thoughts become things :) On my vision board which I keep on my dresser, and have a copy of it on my desk at work is pictures of: 1. Babies2. Motherhood3. The outdoors4. Jeep Wrangler5. Money6. New construction (kitchen, house etc)7. Breathe easy8. Live well and giggle9. Cooking and entertaining10. Have more fun11. Blogger12. Endless possibilities13. Traveling and adventures

20 random things

I've seen a couple people on their blogs do this. I think it's neat, and I'm bored so guess what? Here's my list :)

~I could listen to The Cure (any of my CD's/ iPOD) and never ever get sick of them. They've been my favorite since about age 13. U2 is a very close second

~I've slept like a brick the past couple of nights, i think because my days have been so INSANE and exhausting at work.

~Haven't been to the chiropractor is over 2 weeks, and my back hates me for it, we're going tomorrow...no excuses considering they are literally next door from work.

~I had an awesome time with Julie and seeing her girls on tuesday night, sometimes i can see us with daughters too, then some days i just see boys...Hmm.

~I miss my cousins and hope we hang out soon

~I did my nieces spanish homework for her on Monday...shh don't tell (it was her birthday, consider it a gift ;)

~We're supposed to go to NYC on saturday but i'm thinking its a no-go considering all the hurricanes brewing in the ocean. boo.

~I can't wait for Halloween and have already starting checking out costumes online.

~I signed up today to do a colon cancer walk in honor of a former patient of our practice that lost her battle 3 years ago.

~I can't wait for the holidays and have already starting thinking about some Christmas gifts i'd like to buy...especially for my nieces. And I dreamt about Christmas cards last night (weird)

~Loving how the feeling of fall is in the air, and it's actually chilly when i'm driving to work at 0530...Plus Fall festivals are the best!!

~I heard from a couple friends via email this week that i haven't talked to in a little bit and it made me feel great :D

~I'm praying for my co-worker who's in the hospital battling lung cancer.

~I'm all about house projects right now. we've done so many great things to the house this year and i just want to keep up the good work.

~Mark Ruffalo is my favorite actor

~I want to see the movie Stepbrothers so bad! I just love stupid humor.

~Hooray for the season Premiere of Ghost Hunters tonight yippee!!

~My mom is the best. I can tell her anything and she's always there to listen, offer advise, give support, and be my best friend.

~You can never take too many pictures...one of my projects is to actually frame some of those pictures and hang them on the walls.

~I've been working out on our new Eliptical and love the feeling you get knowing you are exercising.

Thursday 13

Thirteen Things about...This Thursday Thirteen is dedicated to my insane week.1. I was hospitalized Monday into Tuesday with a small bowel obstruction.2. It's the worst pain I've felt in my life..and I've had 3 so far. One at age 9, 19, and now 28.3. Scott was by my side the whole time, and as great as he was, I was so sad because I know I scared him to death.4. I'm lucky the obstruction did not require surgery...*sigh of relief.*5. This will probably happen again, but I'm thinking positive.6. I went back to work today and we had "mis-match" day where our scrubs didn't match, we wore unmatched socks, jewelry, and clogs etc...it was funny, and our patients enjoyed it.7. I really felt missed at work...I received so many calls, texts, and messages. Today each doctor that I saw stopped me and asked about the ordeal and expressed their concern, some of them even called to check on me. I'm very lucky to have such great co-workers, and work for such great Docs. It's not just work they are like family.8. I finally made a brand new recipe last night and It was G-R-E-A-T.9. The house is in desperate need of cleaning up because it has been neglected most of this week, that's my job for tonight.10. Laundry hasn't been done in 2 weeks secondary to the insanity, so I'm also working on that tonight.11. Scott is out tonight fixing both of his sisters computers, then to his parents to fix his mom's car...I wish he was home.12. I'm so happy tomorrow is Friday and I'm hoping to end the week on a much better note than it started.13. We realized this week that we're going to have to cancel our trip to Boston in September b/c of my cousins wedding, and we're in a wedding the following weekend...just not enough time :( I hope we can reschedule that trip, we both have always wanted to go there.

Monday Peeves

I was inspired by this one from "The Daily Meme" blog. Anyway I found one that tells you to list a Pet Peeve of yours every Monday (and pettiness is encouraged!) YAY!

Although I have a list of pet peeves, here's one of my biggest ones:

LOUD CHEWERS!!!!!
Ew!!! Please Please Please people chew with your mouth closed!! No one likes to see the lovely work of your digestive system's saliva breaking down your food as you chomp to the high heavens. GROSS!!! And the sound of loud chewers smacking their lips around is enough to make me want to gag.

There! I feel so much better, and I think I accomplished the pettiness part too. WOO HOO!

Friday Feast

Appetizer
When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?
July 4th...my sister in law is a beautician so she cut it at the family party :)
Name one thing you miss about being a child.
Not having a care in the world except for what time you had to come in from playing from sun up to sun down.
Salad
Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil. yum
Main Course
If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?
I'm actually re-learning German again. I took it for 4 years, and have gottena little rusty, so I'm refreshing now it's great and very challenging. I'm also taking Nursing Spanish too.
Dessert
Finish this sentence: In 5 years....
I hope to be a mommy :)

Thursday 13

Thirteen Things about JESS

1. This is my first Thursday 13.
2. I'm at work right now waiting for my first patient of the day.
3. We just got back from Las Vegas last week and it was awesome! I'd love to go back some day.
4. I'm very excited for football season...GO RAVENS!!!
5. I'm obsessed with steamed crabs...can you tell I'm from Maryland ;)
6. I've had a major urge to go camping, hiking, bike riding, etc. recently
7. I'm hoping that a bunch of friends and co-workers are going out this Saturday to a Hawaiian party at a local bar. fun.
8. I love macaroni and cheese and could eat it everyday and be extremely happy!
9. I love to cook, and have a goal to make at least one new recipe a week. Although this week it's been all about carry out.
10. My cousin and I text eachother an inspirational quote of the day and I think it's pretty awesome.
11. I'd like to finishing painting my upstairs wall and hallway this weekend.
12. This is my favorite #!13. I love taking pictures and think that you can never take too many!

Done deal

Ok so again today I've been spending my day off work because of this cold designing the blog. As you see earlier my brain just couldn't absorb it all. So today I stopped by moms for a pot of amazing crab soup, and she made me a ham sandwich...yum. I then picked up some greasy chinese food for lunch, I was able to get into and understand how to set up this blog. Finally! Woo Hoo! And I'm starting to feel better from this stupid cold, BONUS!

Information overload

So I'm sitting here trying to figure out all the bells and whistles of how to set up this blog etc. I have to admit I find it kind of confused. Ahhh!! On myspace I learned all that stuff so quickly and it was pretty darn easy. This....I'm finding a little different. I keep jumping from link to link, page to page, I think my eyes are going to pop out of my head.

Day One

Finally set up the blog yay!! I'm getting over a stupid headcold that everyone at work has had for about a week now. Oh joy. So around 6am I'm at work spiking IV bags for the patients for the day and I keep hearing that little voice in my head telling me I shouldn't have come into work today. And that voice was right, so after setting up everything this nurse took herself home. So I've spent the day with the dogs doing a whole lot of nothing. Watching TV, sleeping, and re-hydrating. What a day, I actually enjoy doing nothing sometimes. Although my head is so stuffed I can barely keep my eyes open. Ugh. And the wonderful husband brought me home an awesome lunch from Boston Market. Ahh macaroni and cheese can always cheer me up! Until next time...