Swine Flu Vaccine

A lot of rumors have been flying around about the H1N1 vaccine coming out. Working in a hospital, I got an email saying I was required to get it. I was nervous about being a guinea pig, and couldn't decide if I really wanted to get it. Then I heard all the things people are saying about it, even some girls at school saying that the vaccine was made with cancer cells and were worried it was going to give us all cancer. So, amid all the craziness, I decided instead of listening to what everyone else had heard, I'd look up more info about it myself. Here are some things I found:

-The vaccine is NOT made with cancer cells, it is made the exact same way as the seasonal flu vaccine. There is a dead virus vaccine-the shot, or live virus-which is the nasal spray. The live virus does not mean you will get the swine flu, they have crippled the virus so it can no longer cause the disease, but your body can build antibodies to it.

-The similar strain of H1N1 in the 70's did have a vaccine that caused Guillan Barre, but this vaccine does not. In fact, an MSN health article I found said that getting swine flu now can cause Guillan Barre. They have worked that out with the new vaccine.

-There are side effects, just like the seasonal flu vaccine, such as headache, fever, runny nose, sore throat, etc. But the side effects are no where near as dangerous as getting the swine flu.

-If you're worried about thimerosal (preservative used that contains a small amount of mercury), the shot does have it, but in a very small amount that can't cause any harm. The nasal spray doesn't have thimerosal.

I got the nasal spray last week and other than a bit of a runny nose, I haven't had any problems. The swine flu is most dangerous to pregnant women and young people, healthy or with other health problems. I don't judge people for not getting it, but I think people should be better informed about it. Since I have friends that are pregnant and young siblings and nieces, I got my vaccine because I don't want to risk exposing them to swine flu since my floor at work takes care of those patients. But I suggest reading up on it yourself, The CDC website is the best place to look, also MSN health answers a lot of questions.

Sad Story

I ordered my coat, the toggley one, and I've been so excited. I ordered on our desktop, which has a darker than normal screen. So on my desktop it looked red. But now I looked at it on this computer and another, and it definitely looks pink. The order called the color Cranberry! Cranberries aren't pink! I feel so deceived. Well, we'll see how it looks when it gets here.

Almost there...

This week I started my precepting, which is where I pick the type of floor I want to work with, get buddied up with a nurse, and work their schedule for 135 hours. I get to be a lot more independent and try out how I want to do nursing when I'm on my own someday. I have to say, I love it! I really love nursing and I'm so excited to finally be an RN. Nursing is so different from what people think, even I didn't know what I was getting into when I started nursing school. The most intimidating part is there is so much responsibility. Not just with giving meds, but remembering to get everything done, patient care, making sure the patient is stable and noticing any changes, making sure the cna gets everything done, carrying out new orders the doctor writes, the list goes on and on. And I'll be accountable for all of it. Legally. But I just feel it, that I'm meant to be a nurse, despite my fears, I know this is what I want to do. It's such a unique profession, where you get to be part of peoples' lives, helping them when they need someone who's caring. Of course you get the crazy patients and mean ones, but that's why nurses have such a good sense of humor I think. Knowing I'll be done in less than two months has just made me think about how far I've come to get here and reaffirmed for me that this is what I want to do. Also, it feels like we'll be able to start a new part of our lives, and we can start our family after I'm done, it's made me think about a lot of things. I can't believe I've lived through nursing school and it's already almost over, but I'm so grateful and feel so blessed to be where I'm at right now. This is more of a journal entry, but I want to remember how I felt later on.

Birthday Boy

Yeps, today is Tanner's birthday!! He turned the big 2-4! My hubs is getting old, but I love him more than ever!! :) I just want to be cheesy for a bit and write some of the wonderful things I love about him:

-The way he says he knew he was going to marry me from the first time we met...awww.
-The way he makes me lie down and cuddle with him when he knows I've had a rough day.
-He can always make me laugh.
-He knows how to 'shake that thang.'
-How excited he is to be a dad (nope, not announcing anything, just when the time comes)
-He is honestly the smartest person I know, I don't know how he does his school, it's amazing.
-He's so spiritual and is always inspiring me to be better.
-How cute and funny he is when he talks in his sleep. I know many others like this too. :)
-We can talk about anything.
-He's my best friend and I love him so much!

I know that was sappy, but happy birthday Tanner! I love you!

Thoughts for the day

-I love that it is fall! I for one am always cold, but I still love bundling up, cuddling, going up to see the leaves change, all of it!!

-We're so blessed, it's easier sometimes to focus on what we don't have, but writing it down and thinking about it reminds me of how much we do have and how blessed we are.

-I'm sad because our camera may have officially died. It only turns on when it feels like it and then it will take maybe 3 pictures. That's why we haven't really posted any. That's one big thing on the list of stuff to buy when we have money (Marci, I already told Tanner we're saving up, 'cause I want a Nikon too! :) ).

-I'm so excited to have kids, we've got them all named, we're planning on having 5 or 6, 3 girls and 2 or 3 boys. haha When we drive somewhere Tanner will randomly say "You two stop it back there, don't make me pull this car over," and call them by the names we've picked out for our first two. It's so cute, one day he said he feels like they're already ours, these 5 kids (we only have 5 names that we absolutely love).

-I really wish we could buy a dog, a great dane to be exact. My friend's mom says it's just cause I want a baby, which I do, but I think it's also that I just love dogs.

-I love Tanner more than ever, he's my favorite.

-I enjoy knowing what's going on in the world, but sometimes the news can be so negative.

-I'm super excited because little Noelle is sleeping over Thursday, she's my other favorite.

-I can't wait to go skiing with my new skis!

-Conference was amazing! I love what Elder Holland said about the Book of Mormon being true, it was so powerful. Thanks Nick and Tess for giving us tickets, we're so lucky to have you guys!

-I'm grateful to be healthy, especially mentally. I had a clinical on a psych unit and that would be so hard, especially to be schizophrenic, it's really sad.

-I love my Grandma Barrow, she's one of the most amazing people I know, I wish I could see her more often.

Which one??

For Christmas Tanner is letting me get a new winter coat. These are my two favorites, I really want a red one. I think I'm leaning towards the dress one on the bottom 'cause it's longer and will be warmer, but I love the toggles on the top one. Help me decide!!

The ultimate symbol of liberty and freedom....

Yes, that is what the commercial said. If you enjoy liberty and freedom and love your country, you know what you must do: buy an Obama Chia. I could not stop laughing when I saw this commercial. I thought it was a joke, like a SNL skit or something, but nope, these little guys are actually out there. I couldn't help but think, maybe I'm being silly, but is that really appropriate?
What made me laugh even more, was when I realized there are people out there buying them and these are what their purchases got them. This person must have not realized she bought the 'Long-haired with Male Pattern Baldness Obama.'

I don't know if this one looks like he's had his head out the car window or has just been electrocuted.

Need I say more? Be sure to get on the phone and order yours today!