Friday, August 9, 2013

Trip to the Emergency Room

On Monday I fell in the parking lot of Day Care that is part of the Hospital I work at.  I tripped over crack in the pavement and twisted my right ankle.  I fell like a ton of bricks on to my left knee and knew there was no way I could get off the ground with both legs injured like that.

My purse and my daughter were still in the car.  I was walking around the car to get her out to take into the building when - WHAM, down I go!

I started calling for help.  There were lots of other people around dropping off their kids.  The first person to (sort of) respond was a man who asked me if I was okay.  I said "No."  He then asked if I had my phone.

"No, it is in my bag - still in the car - like my daughter."

He then went to my car, got my purse -- and left me there!

I then got my phone out myself and called the Hospital Switchboard.  They patched me over to Security.   I had to contact them because I was a Hospital employee injured on Hospital Property.  The woman from Security got there in about 5 minutes and started doing the "Incident Report".  I let her know that I could not get off the ground.  She called in and asked to dispatch an ambulance to get me.  I then added the fact I am 20 weeks pregnant.  That seemed to spook her a bit.

Apparently lots of parents were telling the staff I was laying on the ground because the manager of the Child Care Center then came out to check on me.  She finally got my sweet baby out of the car.  Alexandria was SO HAPPY to finally be out of her carseat and that car!  She took her inside to her classroom.

After a few more minutes more staff came out with washcloths and crushed ice filled rubber gloves.   They handed me the items so I could preform a bit of first aid on myself.

WHERE IS THAT AMBULANCE!?  I AM ALREADY AT THE HOSPITAL! YOU JUST NEED TO TAKE ME THE TWO BLOCKS AROUND TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT!!!

I just cannot get off the asphalt!

After 20 minutes I was really starting to feel the pain. The crowd of people around had grown. The Chief of Security was now there (who has the same birthday as me!)  and two more staff from the Child Care Center.  The antsy staff called up to the ER to see what's going on? 

Apparently no one actually called for an ambulance!

30 minutes after my fall the police officer arrives who is staffed at the ED.  He is excited to drive my Volt once I am carted off.  

Now that the EMTs have actually been called, they arrive pretty quickly.  They splint up my right foot with padded cardboard and tape. Then the "lucky"  guys get to pick my butt off the ground and on to a gurney.  They jokingly ask which hospital I want to be taken to.

They drive me up to the Emergency Room and when I arrive the staff is like, "Oh, there's the woman that fell in the parking lot!"  Apparently they had been made aware of my impending arrival -- but again  no ambulance was informed!

The first nurse to get to me had the microphone to monitor the baby's heart.  My "passenger" was A-OKAY!

Then the Rad Tech arrives with a moble x-ray machine to image my knee and ankle.

Then I sit there for about 40 minutes with NOTHING TO DO.  I am then informed nothing is broken.  Here is a prescription for some pain meds.  No work - bed rest for 2 days, and here are your bandages and crutches.  We will get a wheelchair to get you out of here.

Great!  I am so over this morning and have not had breakfast (It's been about 2.5 hours since my fall now.)

So the nurse wheels me over to the pharmacy where the pharmacist says "I cannot fill this medication because the incident report is not on file for my Workers Compensation."

WHAT?!  So apparently my fall was admitted to the ER as "Workers Compensation" because I am an employee having an accident on the premises.  I am told to go to Employee Health to do the needed paperwork there.

I break out my phone and contact my husband letting him know how my morning went.  He is going to come get me.   I foolishly thought that it would be an easy process to get whatever needed to be done to fill my medication.  I sat in the waiting area for about 20 minutes watching people go to lunch now... me still starving at this point.   I finally called out.  I am in pain and really need to get his taken care of so I can just get home and put my feet up.

My Husband arrives at this time from his work and joins me in the waiting area.  Finally I am taken back where the manager is like "I am not sure what happened to you is workers comp."  I said.  I don't care -- just please help me get my meds so I can go home."  It is amazing how I was able to control my temper because I was so HUNGRY and in PAIN.

Finally, she fills out another report and calls the pharmacy to dispense my meds.  Aaron wheels me back over to the pharmacy where the Pharmacist then says that taking the medication will effect my pregnancy... so great.  Perfect.   All that for really nothing!

It was a struggle getting up to our 2nd floor walk-up condo, but I made it.  Between the Left Knee and the Right Ankle -- I wanted to limp on both legs.  I could not bend the knee or put weight on the other leg.   It sucked!   Aaron has been taking care of things that I normally do because I am laid up.  it is nice that he helps but also hard.




Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Baby Two due 12/25/2013

I am 14 weeks pregnant with Baby Two.  I am worried about getting gestational diabetes again and being induced early, like what happened with Alexandria.  I have already changed my diet to that of a diabetic and I have been staying active.   So far this pregnancy has been smooth.  I never had morning sickness, but I suddenly found the taste of peanuts and peanut butter was like dirt.   I think I am getting over that now too.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Finding the Time

Aaron and I have been taking turns working out while the other one distracts Alexandria.  She is a little pistol that gets into EVERYTHING she can.   Usually it is whatever is the most dangerous item in the area - - that is where you'll find her!   Like standing up on her rocking chair...

A wobbly toddler on a wobbly surface what could go wrong?

 Or trying to grab the pedal on the elliptical machine.

Let me help by sticking my tiny fingers into this moving machine!

Finding the time to workout is often an issue.  With all that happens in life how can you commit to a workout schedule?

Time is the thing no one thinks they have.  "I just don't have the time!"

Well there are 24 hours each day.  Everyone has the same amount of time every day. What you pack into your time?

6-8 hours of sleep
8-9 hours at work
1 hour commuting
1 Cooking/Eating/feeding the baby
half hour of Household Chores
half hour of Personal Care (bathing etc..)
3.5 hours of "watching the kids"
30 minutes of "free time" with Aaron



Ways to squeeze activity into your busy schedule.


While at work:
  • Take a 15 minute break to take a short walk. 
  • if you have a large building - go to the restroom on another floor.
  • walk to a co-worker's desk instead of emailing.
  • Stand-up during conference calls. Pace.
  • Sit on a yoga ball.
  • put pedals under your desk and just pedal away!
  •  

While Cooking:
  • March in place
  • Do Squats as deep as comfortable with the counter for balance.
  • do curls or presses with cans or jars for weights.
    • big old jars of spaghetti sauce work those arms!  

While watching the kids:

Be active and set a great example on being active!

  • dance with the kids
  • chase / play tag
  • if small enough -- pick your child up and carry them around. 
    • remember to work both arms switch sides.
  •  get outside. play in the yard - walk around the block.

Use your time well.  Every day is a gift that is why it is called the present.



Monday, February 25, 2013

Let there be LIGHT!

Ever since we bought our condo in December 2011 I dreamed of doing some home improvements.  This weekend I finally replaced the light in the dining room!!

I never liked the blue pendant halogen light in our dining room.  The whole room was dark except for the one little spot light of crazy bright light.  It was hard to play boardgames with the poor lighting and if the table was not under it -- you would hit your head on the darn thing too!   IT HAD TO GO! 

Before - No light, cobalt blue night time forehead-smasher.
The light is on.  The room is still dark.



 So I used my birthday cash to buy a much needed replacement light for the ceiling! 
After
Let there be LIGHT!!!


What a Change!  I am so happy to have lots of light in the dining room!! 

Alexandria also liked this project because she got to play in the box the light was delivered in.


Monday, February 4, 2013

10 pounds down in January

My New Year's Resolution was to stop drinking sweet tea.  It is like drinking liquid type II diabetes and makes the "lab rat" part of my brain so happy to be flooded with sugar.

I used to only get it as a treat when I had to travel south of the Mason-Dixon Line for work -- but after living in Atlanta, GA for going on 4 years and having daily access to the beverage -- it took it's toll.

Of course that wasn't the only factor to dropping my weight last month -- but I like to think it was a big contributing factor.   Why blow my daily calories on a beverage!

I have switched to drinking a zero calorie all natural diet soda that is sweetened with STEVIA and not something that causes cancer.

 
 
I like it but it may be more of an aquired taste if you are not used to stevia.
 
 
I've also been trying to follow my own advice and wouldn't you know it?  I was right!
 
 
Tip #1

Drink Lots of Water Every Day!

Most people do not get enough water. Water is vital for the function of the kidneys that purify the blood. When the body does not get enough water some of the load is shifted to the liver. The liver's main function is to metabolize the body's fat for energy. If it is busy doing the kidney's job, you are not burning off fat! (Not to mention all the other benefits of a well hydrated body!)

Some recommend drinking 8 glasses of water each day, but that is the amount of water it takes for a sedentary 128 pounds person to stay hydrated. If you are bigger or more active, you will need more water to take care of your body's needs. (Makes sense to me!)

An easy way to figure out the minimum amount of water you need is to divided your weight (in pounds) by 2 and drink that many ounces of water daily.

Example: A 200 pound person would need a minimum of 100 ounces of water to stay hydrated daily.