Potassium Can Kill You

So. In case you didn't know, potassium is a very dangerous substance (at least when it comes to the human body). Today we were talking about IVs and IV solutions, and how there are strict restrictions on potassium and IVs due to the fact that "we were killing a lot of people." Oh, is that all??

My instructor went on to say that potassium IV pushes (pushing an amount of potassium directly into your bloodstream via your IV site) are only given in emergency situations: "We do give potassium in code situations - why? They're already dead! Can't get worse!"

I love my new instructor...

Another FYI - those tiny air bubbles in your IV line won't kill you - it would take an entire IV line of air to actually kill you... doesn't that make you feel better???

I WON!

I read a very cool blog called Young House Love - where a young couple, very much like M and I, fix up their older brick ranch house, very much like M and I! I have found ALL sorts of ideas and inspiration from their site, and it's a much-loved part of my Google reader.

John and Sherry of Young House Love do a "Fab Freebie" about once a week, and I've entered about six ... and I WON the last one!!! They were giving away a set of four crystal drinking glasses from the Mikasa Cheers Too line - SUPER CUTE.

All we had to do was leave a comment, starting with "I'll drink to that" and telling about the best toast you have ever given/heard. This is what I left:

"Comment by Dani on August 24, 2009 @ 3:49 pm

I’ll drink to that!

The best toast ever was one that my husband did at my friend’s wedding – he told the ENTIRE room that he met these two girls training at a restaurant (me and my friend), and he really liked one…but since she went home for the summer, he was stuck with the other one…and MARRIED HER (therefore … me!).

The whole room (me included) cracked up. =)"

Yay for my winning entry! All that was left was to pick the type of glasses I wanted - white wine, double old-fashioned or highball. After MUCH deliberation, M and I picked these - super cute right?? Yay housewarming present for us!!!

Paint colors are the devil.

Ummm I never knew that taupe could have so many freaking variations. One does NOT expect this shit when you sign up for house-painting. we decided on a gray - see below - FAR LEFT (PS - the walls look WAY PINK in this picture. I SWEAR it looks a lot more GRAY GRAY in real life. Sigh.). However, the tan that we want to put throughout the house is eluding me. Right now we are leaning toward the one on the left - but it looks to freaking GRAY in this picture. We just painted some on moving boxes here at the apt in order to put the color next to the couch and bed, and they both look fine...and neither is gray. Sigh. Blast you natural vs. artificial light!
Also, in this picture the WALLS look Gray. Sighhhhhhhhhhhh. I guess we'll just GO with it...right???

I hate making decisions!!!

Falafel for the Soul

This is very very cool - http://falafelforthesoul.blogspot.com/

Because everyone needs random encouragement. What better way to show love and support to our fellow humans?

Floors

I think that leaving my house in the hands of floor refinishers is kind of like how I'll feel when I leave my newborn with a babysitter for the first time.

Ugh.

One another note, HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY LITTLE BRO!

Home Sweet Home

We bought our first house.

Holy crappers.

Last One, I Swear.

Here is an interesting article about Obama-care from CNN (thanks mom) that everyone should read. While you're at it, take a look at these stories about health care in this country - it's atrocious.

Sigh. I didn't say that this was easy, or that we should trust what everyone says ... we just need to be as informed as possible. And I know that it's hard to do.

And Another Thing...

...I do NOT consider myself a liberal. Or a socialist. I do consider myself a Christian and a compassionate human being - one who does not want to see anyone suffer - thus my career path. I don't think it's right for people to be denied health care because they are poor, or sick. That isn't American. We are a very large country, and I just think that we should take care of each other. I know our finances are in the can right now, but won't we ALWAYS make excuses about not fixing the MESS we call health care in this country?

And videos like this DON'T HELP - they HURT. Hear that James Dobson?

Sigh.

Health Care

I'm not going to get into all the craziness that is buzzing about health care. But I am embedding this video:




I wish the different "sides" would get together, CHILL the F out and talk it out. In mild voices. I feel like it's the crazy partisian election all over again. And it makes my head hurt.

I'm SO EXCITED

I got an 88 on my Nursing 1000 final!!! This means that if I can pass my sterile dressing change on Wednesday, I will have SQUEAKED by with an 85.8 in the class - which rounds up to an 86 - a B!!!!! HOLY CRAPPERS.

What will I do NOW on my THREE-WEEK BREAK? Oh sister-friend, I have my list prepared:
- Organize group drinking session for Wednesday
- Send out book club e-mail
- Study my ASS OFF for Wednesday's sterile dressing change
- Finish book club book (City of Thieves) and play (Waiting for Godot)
- Go to Home Depot and look for paint colors and light fixtures
- Re-read entire Twilight series
- Close on our HOUSE
- DO crazy amount of renovating on said house
- Take LOTS OF NAPS
- Watch movies
- Start some sort of exercise routine
- Cut hair

And seriously, the list could go on. Because I also need to PACK and CLEAN our apartment, because apparently my lovely husband is lost without me. =)

Sigh. I also have to work somewhere in there. Whatever, it DOESN'T INVOLVE THINKING. I refuse to think for the next few weeks.

YAY!!!!

Note to self...

Back to school penny sales 8/2 - 8/8

When all this finals business is over ... I need to purchase school supplies for NEXT semester. (let's all do a collective prayer that next semester DOES happen)