Resting Heart Rate

According to Wikipedia an average adult female's resting heart rate is about 75. Mine is 118 right now. I have been 'resting' on the couch after waking up about an hour ago and it's kinda weird to have your heart beating so fast. This has been happening sporadically since I started school. Last week I had a really great week filled with sunshine, hope, and time with my hubby--I think it happened twice. Previously, it was happening almost every day. This week I am only working 2 shifts. I was hoping that that in itself would prevent this from happening.

I have talked to several people who have shared that they have experienced a similar symptom at certain times in their lives and made lifestyle changes to control this.

I am looking forward to not working nights. I think that asking my body to switch back and forth and go without sleep or normal sleep patterns is messing with me.

I will keep you posted on how this resolves. The biggest thing you can do for me right now is pray for me.

Panthers vs. Bears

Last Thursday night was Jake's 3rd Freshman Football Game and it was AWESOME!



Look for #78 blocking 2-3 men at a time!

It's Friday!!!

okay- so I wanna post this cool song I never noticed before- I was riding around in my van this morning in the beautiful sunlight in an especially great mood after having breakfast with my sister whom I have not seen in 2 months and this song came on the radio!

My First Tag!!!

Ah! I can't believe I just looked at my comments from 9/22 and I've been tagged by Twinsand2Boys. Let's see if I'm doing this right...

Here are the rules for tagging:
1.) Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2.) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3.) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4.) Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 Facts About Me:
1. My favorite color is lime green.
2. I am the fun parent.
3. I buy things for my kids sometimes because I want them to have more than I did.
4. I met my husband in April and married him 6 months later. (16 years ago)
5. My Grandma Pierce taught me to sew when I was 6.
6. I do a better job creatively and performance wise when I'm doing it for other people.
7. Nothing grosses me out, not blood, not guts, not snot, not puss, not slime, not spiders, not snakes, not varmints, not poop, nothing!

THE FIVE TAG
10 years ago I:
1. Was buying my first house
2. Was 27
3. Had 3 boys ages 6,5, and 2
4. Had just lost 25 lbs. by walking and doing Suzanne Somers.
5. Was still a "Capital Granny" by profession.

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. Sweep up the 5 hamsters worth of dog hair on my tile.
2. Vacuum another 3 hamsters worth.
3. Backup my laptop before I get a Blue Screen of Death.
4. Study 2 chapters for Microbiology
5. Get all foo fooed up for a Date with my Hubby.

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Chocolate covered raisins
2. Gardettos
3. Chex Mix
4. Tostitos & Queso
5. Milk Duds

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Get debt free including the house.
2. Invest wisely.
3. College tuition for our kids
4. Help family members that need it (including buy my Mom a house here in TX)
5. Go on a real vacation

5 places I have lived:
1. Oregon
2. Idaho
3. Hawaii
4. Oklahoma
5. California

5 jobs I have had:
1. Retail : Target
2. Nurse's Aid in nursing home
3. Army Medic
4. Web Designer
5. Certified Surgical Technologist


Okay- I will tag Twyla. I'm not sure I know 7 bloggers personally, but I'll work on it. THANX!

What a Difference A Year Makes

Wow! I just pulled up these to pictures to compare and !!!!!!!! is all I can say! Left- beginning of season 2007 Right-beginning of season 2008!

Wow! I can't believe this is already the end of September!

Fall has arrived!
...well, the colors are not as intense as in other parts of the country, but here is a photo from this morning:

This has been a hard year full of many ups and downs, highs and lows.

I am thankful for the ability to work again in my field of training and expertise. I have been back in the OR for almost 2 years now after being out for 2. -- 2 new jobs working more hours than I thought humanly possible. Such a blessed opportunity to earn and try to catch up financially.

The boys have been real troopers knowing that Mom is gone for a reason and always trying to greet me with hugs and kisses--even when I'm an unbearable grump to them.

The Summer brought some surprising trials and struggles that I'm still working on. I know that the Lord does such incredible things when He is molding us and making us in His image. It's just draining sometimes and I often have the thought that I am in a hurry to get to the 20/20 hindsight because He is so faithful to do such incredible things through the darkest times.

This Sanctus Real Song is song intense. It really expresses what I'm been going through this year.

If weakness is a wound that no one wants to speak of

Then "cool" is just how far we have to fall

I am not immune, I only want to be loved

But I feel safe behind the firewall

Can I lose my need impress?

If you want the truth I need to confess

[Chorus:]

I'm not alright, I'm broken inside

And all I go through, it leads me to you

Burn away the pride

Bring me to my weakness

Until everything I hide behind is gone

And when I'm open wide with nothing left to cling to

Only you are there to lead me on.

Honestly, I'm not that strong.

I'm not alright, I'm broken inside
And all I go through, it leads me to you
Burn away the pride
Bring me to my weakness
Until everything I hide behind is gone

And when I'm open wide with nothing left to cling to
Only you are there to lead me on.

I'm not alright... that's why I need you.

I probably don' t want to admit that I struggle with pride, but it is there. I struggle with perfectionism and needing to appear like I have it all together. I really enjoy when someone tells me that I am smart and good at something. Maybe too much. A good friend shared some wisdom that it is more important to seek the Lord and find out who I am IN HIM. I am still trying to find out who that is.

I hope you are seeing the colors in your life this Fall and that the Lord is blessing you with the opportunity to see Him in all things.

What I Do

Yep, that's me on the right. So now you know :D
National Surgical Technologist Week is September 21-27th.
Who is behind the mask in your OR? Hopefully it's a nationally certified Surgical Technologist! It may even be ME!

Woot! Oh Shoot! Photography Course

Yippee!!! It starts today! I am so excited that I am actually going to learn to take my photography to an all new level! Just the opportunity to know what that M stands for and all the features and options on my Canon Digital Rebel XTi thrills me!

It is the one thing that I am doing for pure enjoyment to add something that doesn't have a deadline or add stress to my already chaotic life!

It is an online course by Candice Stringham. It is only available through JessicaSprague.com!

I'm sure I'll be posting some Fall photos here soon. The first photo tips are referring to evening outdoor lighting and I can kill 2 birds with one stone by taking a walk to the park and apply some new techniques!

...I'll keep you posted!

Go Panthers!

Are you ready for some football!!! This is a video made by one of the parents of Jacob & Daegan's game last week. You'll have to mute your 'puter, though :D

Amazing How Much You Forget...

...in 7 years.

When the professor started giving a cursory overview of ionic bonds, covalent bonds, saccharides, organic elements, peptidoglycan, and equations for chemical reactions I quickly realized just how much information can be "dumped" when you don't use it! I knew I would have my work cut out for me this weekend getting myself up to date with my studying, but sheesh! It is all extremely fascinating to me, though. So at least there's that.

I have gotten through Chapter 1 today, so I am hoping to get through Chapter 2 after church tomorrow and get going on my 'Article Review' that is due Tuesday.

I was going to use an article about Superbugs, but I was reading about biotechnology and gene therapy. I think I may look for another article pertaining to either one of those.

Meckenzie's 1st Bday Photos

Well, it is now 4 months later.... and I have finally gotten around to editing Meckenzie's birthday pics. It was my very first big event with my new camera and Voila!...er, well-- not quite. All the photos looked great on the little tiny previewer, but once they were downloaded they were all WASHED out! :( Needless to say, I was highly disappointed. I have finally sat down and taken the time to edit each one. I used a few different techniques to get the color and saturation back-- I am always amazed at what Photoshop can attain.

Here is a small preview, but be sure to go to the album to enjoy the full effect.