Finally, snow in Raleigh

I came home from work and Lauren had already made her make-shift sled. The top of a plastic container from the garage! She didn't care. The girls were having so much fun! It was so beautiful! All the whiteness!

And hey Allison let me take her picture WITHOUT her tongue sticking out! WOW! How did I rate this?

Oh ok, there it is! For a minute there I thought I was missing my daughter! Glad she cleared that up rather quickly!

And of course, Lauren had to get me with something! She had so much fun playing, sliding, throwing, anything at all, just to be in the snow!

I got Kelley to bring Aliyah over. This was her 1st snow! Had to get pics, of course!

She is such a beautiful girl! I am so fortunate to be a part of her life, she has the most wonderful parents! I hope we are all close for a lifetime to come!

We didn't try throwing snow on her, and she isn't crawling yet, so we couldn't put her down in it! But she sure is fashionable, isn't she! Totally beautiful! Makes me want another one! Maybe a boy though!

Great Snow of 2010- ClubMed style

The weather forcasters had predicted up to 10 inches of snow for the weekend. ClubMed had already called me wanting to know if I wanted to drive in on Friday night and spend the night. No, was the 1st thing out of my mouth. I told them I was scheduled all weekend and I would definately be there, but I was not staying. It started snowing before 2100 and kept coming down. When I got up Saturday around 0500, it was beautiful, everything was covered! So off I headed. I did put a bag in the car, just in case.

There weren't alot of patients and we didn't see alot on Saturday. Different parts of the Triangle got different amounts. Lin and I headed out to get a picture in the snow.
Lin is a weekend-option RN. I love working with her and Tammy and Mr. Wong. They are great! After going back in for abit, a few more of us went out. Mark, Sarah, Me and Shannon! What a crew to work with! Can I tell you how great of a shift that goes by when these guys are with me?
So Sarah took the camera to take another picture of us. I asked her to count out loud...1, 2,3! As she did it, Mark and I BOTH threw snow on Lin. Neither of us knew the other one was going to do it, but it was hilarious. She reminded us that she would get us back later.

But she still loves me! Lin & Tammy below! BFF's thats for sure! Both are great peeps to work with.

I left around 1500 and attempted my drive home. I-40 was still covered and backed up, it did take me awhile to get home.

Luckily there weren't alot of cars out, so slow and steady was the way to go.

I laughed as I pulled into the driveway. Years ago (4-5 to be exact) we had a huge ice storm, I had been stranded at Rex for 3 days. As I left at 0330 one morning to go home, it took me 90 minutes to get home which usually took less than 20. But I-40 was nothing but ice. I made it home in the VW, made it down South Saunders Street, into the subdivision, but when I turned into my cul-de-sac, the car started sliding. It slid right into my mailbox and there it sat for another 48 hours because the ice was so bad. So when I pulled into the cul-de-sac and saw Tarek and Kelleys car in front of my mailbox, I laughed. Here we go again! ha ha... So I just decided to back up between our houses and leave the Durango where it was.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious......

I guess that is the best word I could think of. I could certainly say, wow, super, thank you, etc. but that wouldn't be nearly good enough. On January 25th I couldn't have asked for a better staff. Call-outs and shortages already didn't let me think that the night was going to be very good. I put Carolina on beds and I took the Charge RN role as well as the Supervisor. I came in at 1700. I hadn't planned on being there this night, but had already worked 8 hours at Wake and had been up since 0500. The lobby was packed, EMS's were coming in one after another, it wasn't looking good.

Other than absolutely wonderful, Im not sure Ill experience another night like this one. With high-acuity patients, some not getting breaks/lunch until after 0200, not one single person complained or made any sort of sarcastic comment. They all worked together. It made me very proud they were MY team! Finally after 0400 things started settling down, I wasn't sure if Linda was coming in or not. But we had freed up enough beds to let Carolina take the Charge RN phone and I could attempt to go home. I finally left around 0530, after being up over 24 hours.

I wouldn't trade this night with this group for anything. It was totally amazing!

Another Reunion....this year is starting off GREAT!

I called Alicia on the way home today from my meeting. I haven't talked to her in 10 years even though we 'chat' through facebook or text each other at all odd hours! WOW! What a conversation. I could have talked for another hour or two, but I had about 2 hours of sleep in 30 hours....so I really wanted to get home and go back to bed for awhile. I will see Alicia soon enough with this trip to Vegas. I can't wait! More Kodak moments!

The Adventures of Bob & Phil....

Meet Bob, Phil & Laura! They (well, Bob & Phil) are my newest additions. I kept trying to find the voodoo doll at Hot Topic that I have come to the conclusion they have stopped selling, and I can't seem to have time off to make a trip to New Orleans, so Bob & Phil are the next best things.

Bob & Phil actually came to Club Med 1st, but they have enjoyed their stay across the city as well. Laura was very entertaining, as Im sure you can imagine!

Bob seemed to make it around the Bays at ClubMed and through the department at Rex. Needless to say, they did keep the evil spirits away, for the most part!

Everyone seems to love Bob & Phil, so much so that I found out my sister emailed the girl and she is ordering her own! I now need to find some very LARGE needles in order to stab, if the situation warrants!

Bob & Phil ended the week with drinks! They both deserved it. With those numbers its going to be a long month!

Almost half way there.....Chemo #5

Dad is almost at the 1/2 way point. Yippeeee! Round 5 of 12 was today. Also, Martin Luther King day. Dad has made a friend there and since you are sitting around and cant do alot in the 5 hours that you are there, now he has a friend. Yeah! The next round is 6/12, thats 50% complete! I can't wait. He is still doing great. Minimal side effects!

Better late than never...(Christmas with Parker & Brianna)

I didn't let Mom take up Parker & Briannas Christmas presents. I wanted to take them myself. The only weekend I had was January 8-10. Charleston was getting hit with snow in the weeks before this, so I kept telling Brianna to keep some for me. I was so excited to see the snow and of course stop by the Spring Hill Bakery.

As we were driving in, we started hitting snow, which you would have thought there were 3 five-year olds in the car. We were all giddy! The temperature kept dropping, 13....11....9....5 degrees! Yes, 5 degrees! We didn't care though, because it was snowing! I don't think I have smiled so much as I did on this trip. The snow was beautiful!

Of course, we had to get pics with the hats! This is Parkers 'Bob' smile. You know, Enzyte Bob! Yep, thats the one! So we are both giving the Enzyte smile! Parker is such a wonderful kid. I just love him to death.
Pam actually got a picture with Allison WITHOUT her tongue hanging out! I couldn't believe it. Pam sat around awhile with us but then went home. Parker had a hockey game in Morgantown the next afternoon, so I was only going to see him for awhile!

I saw this pic and realized, back to the tanning bed I need to go. Of course, more pics with the hats!

Brianna & Allison playing around, and there, of course, is the tongue, so I know thats my daughter!

Parker & Lauren wasted no time in playing outside. I cannot say enough about how beautiful the snow was. It slowed down for awhile on Saturday but then picked back up. I could have just sat and watched it snow all day long.

I did get up Saturday and wanted my first stop to be the Spring Hill Bakery. Its a MUST stop everytime I am in Charleston. I really haven't been in alot, but even when Mom or Pam come down, I make them do a Bakery run before they head south! Well, I updated Facebook that I was heading to the Spring Hill Bakery and Eloise Matheny updated me that she thought the bakery was closed for Christmas break. Then Mom chimes in that 'oh yeah, they may still be closed'. WHAT? Closed? I just drove 5 hours and they are closed? Are you serious? Pack the car kids, we're heading home!

I looked up the number, called...and sure enough...CLOSED! My stomach sank! No white cupcakes, no sugar cookies, no star cookies, no doughnuts! Ugghhh! This is going to be a horrible trip home!

Brianna did have basketball practice at 1300-1500, so I got to go watch her at Charleston Catholic. That was fun and I took tons of pictures!

I think she looks so good because she's got Air Jordans on? You think?

Look at that form? Lookin good kid!

Allison made a snow man! At least her version of a snow man. Mom even gave her some cookies to use! His name is Bill! Isn't he cute?

Even Allison was having fun in the snow. I was so b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! I can't say it enough! I miss that about WV.

We didn't have alot of 'snow' gear, so we had to pick up gloves, mittens, etc. But the kids didn't even care.

Of course, Allison trying to warn me, prior to hitting me with a snowball! I know she loves me!

Then I made All the kids get out in the snow! With the HATS of course. I love these! I kind of started out with the red/green ones for Christmas! But then emailed her to make me one in Carolina Blue. After all, we are getting into basketball season!

I even made Mom get out there with the girls! No tongues are sticking out and everyone, for the most part, looks like they are having a good time!

On to the Facebook Reunion. I am borderline addicted to Facebook. Not really. But the #1 reason why I love Facebook, is because of all the people that I have lost touch with I have found through Facebook. People I grew up with, went to elementary, jr. high and high school and some in college, that I had lost touch with and haven't seen in over 20 years.

Mike Bumgarner and I were 9th grade sweethearts. Now whats funny is that we went to 2 different schools. I remember wearing his jacket to my school and getting grief from it. We ended up going to the same high school and still hung out in the same crowd. And then off to WVU. I left in 1987 and ventured on to Carolina and he stayed. Somewhere in the mix of that we lost touch. But about a year ago, maybe less, we found each other again on Facebook! Wow! 23 years! We were going to try to get together for dinner when I came to Charleston and try to catch up. Saturday night it was. We decided on Quaker Steak & Lube? I think that was the name of it. I had to laugh when he suggested it because I thought, 'theres no way thats the name of the restaurant'. But it was. It was a sports bar. WVU was playing as well at NFL football so it was perfect. We ended up sitting there for 4 hours, which seemed like 10 minutes and played catch up. Even though it was 1130p we were still in the swing of trying to finish talking about the past two decades. We headed downtown for drinks. It seemed that every bar we went to ended up closing 45-60 minutes after we got there. I think we went to 4 different bars before we called it a night around 0330. It was wonderful! We have always had this 'chemistry', very comfortable with each other and not sure if its like a best friend or a brother, but it was great! We walked back to our cars, as the snow was falling. What a wonderful ending to an awesome weekend!

I made him pose for a picture before I let him go! It was such a great evening...and can I mention the snow again. Totally beautiful!

Lauren and Mom got up and went to church. Then everyone headed back in the snow before we had to head home!

Allison even took some self-portraits, which are totally awesome! Because she is my daughter and she is beautiful!

She even made some interesting patterns in the snow!

Not too bad!

I wish we had snow. Snow like this! Enough to where we could get out and play! I do miss that!

Of course, she had to leave her name!

What an awesome weekend! I wouldn't have changed anything! Hopefully we can all do it again soon!

33.3333% complete....chemo that is

Today Dad went for Round 4 out of 12. Still doing great! Minimal to little side effects. Hes losing weight but alot from watching what he is eating too. He is glad. He looks great and he said its the 1st time he has been under 200 pounds in years! Keep up the great work, Dad...I love you!