A Little Trick!

After having to take a few months off due to my kidney donation surgery last April, I'm again able to donate blood.

Did you know your hemoglobin level can differ

by up to a whole point from one hand to the next?

It's pretty crazy, but true!

I recently learned this little trick. Thank goodness because I had to use it when I donated last Saturday. During the screening process, my hemoglobin level was 12.3 when tested from my right hand - 2 tenths of a point below the required 12.5g/dL.  I asked them to test from my left hand, and my level was a whole point higher - 13.3.

I think it's because my "e" is on my left wrist, and I always donate from that arm :)
Yeah - success!!
I ate a steak and green salad for dinner, just to make sure to replenish.
OK, I had chocolate ice cream for dessert too.
One can never be too careful!


Per the LIFESOURCE WEBSITE there is a CRITICAL NEED for blood donations. Click on the link to read more, and please consider making a little time in your busy schedules to offer a pint. It's so easy to do, and the donation centers are nice, air-conditioned environments in which to spend an hour during the current heat wave! I actually went to a drive at Divine Providence parish instead of Westmont this time, and I used 556C in memory of Erin.  It felt good.

~ interesting stats ~

I'm the most common, O+.
Remember, O- is the universal donor.

What type are you?
The generous type, for sure!

PS - see Mimi's helpful tip in comments.

Let me know if you donate and I'll post your name in the sidebar.  Perhaps others will be encouraged/reminded to do so if they see your name.  Spread the word. 
It's all about helping others, isn't it?

A Little Grace

A special little girl was born on Friday, July 7.

This is Elizabeth Grace,

named after our Erin Elizabeth.

She is the daughter of my niece,

the granddaughter of my brother, aka my Milwaukee kidney.
(Photo from my niece's blog HERE.)

Soon after this little sweetie was born, they noticed she was very lethargic.  Tests were done, and they found her blood sugar level was dangerously low.  She is now in Children's Memorial Hospital in the NICU. The results of more in-depth tests point to a condition called hyperinsulinemia - her pancreas is secreting too much insulin which causes her sugar to drop. The doctors have currently prescribed a medication plan hoping to regulate her little system, and she will most likely be in Children's for about a month.

Please keep Elizabeth and her very tired and worried parents in your thoughts as life's roller coaster takes them on this unsettling ride.

She has a big sister at home waiting for her too. 
 Perhaps you remember this photo and post from last summer.

Thank you,
from Elizabeth's great Aunt Mary
who is a bit weary of life's challenges...

Luxury or Necessity?

So, how did everyone fare during the 3-day power outage?
Did we all have fun doing without our electricity?

~ reading this weekend's book club selection
once the sun went down was a bit of a challenge ~

 - Peter Vilhelm

~ it was awfully toasty without the air conditioning,
and really hard to sleep at night ~

- Jules Cheret

~ and man what a pain it was to have to drive to the local coffee shop

at 5:30am for my morning jump start ~ 

Thank goodness we're up and running again!

I'm exhausted!

Luxury?  Maybe.

Necessity?  Let's say the highly preferred way of living!

FLY ERIN!

it's summer time

swim season

pasta parties 

fuel, the night before the big competition

teamwork and success

a little girl born with gills and grit

the family fish - the only one,

calling it her own, in no one's shadow

POTTS!!!!!!!

Streamline!  Don't breathe!!

You get her, Potts!  

You get in there and catch her!!!!

FLY ERIN

swim fly

edge out the competition in the lane above

and leave the one below far behind

keep moving with focus and intention
see the wall

as i work in the pool now

your physical strength and fiercely competitive spirit

are in the smell of the chlorine

and in the determination of my patients

who work through their limitations

and boy, does that make me smile!
fly, erin... FLY