Whose blog is this, anyway?

Before I get started, let me just say that this blog has taken on a personality all its own. It's crazy! There seems to be this growing interest in "making the blog." For example, my second-mom, Patty, has "made the blog" twice. I'm not keeping count -- she is (apparently pictures don't count, because several pictures have been posted of her; I think I have to mention her actual name). Anyway, now it's three times. Congratulations, Patty. Also, when I don't post about a particular event within a certain amount of time (which, as you know, happens often), you better believe I will hear about it from my friends who are readers. And, this week, confusion has ensued due to the fact that I've included something in my Facebook status that I have not written about on the blog (Paw Paw, I will be doing a post about my Tuesday. Don't worry, you haven't missed anything.)

That brings me to today's post -- a post I never intended to do, but was pretty much forced to do. Suddenly people (aka my mom) think they can just decide what my blog posts will be about. A couple Sundays ago, Lifeblood came to our church. For those who don't know, Lifeblood is major blood center here in Memphis. We were already at church that afternoon for a bridal shower for my lovely friend Heather, so I decided to donate. As did my friend Becky. I had never donated blood before. I'd always wanted to; I just hadn't for some reason. But I give blood to my babies in the NICU all the time ("give" meaning I actually do the transfusion via IV, not give my own blood, obviously), and Memphis is having a blood shortage; so I decided now was the time.

I was answering a looong list of health/travel questions (I think I forgot to tell them that I've been to Austria. I hope there are no terrible blood cooties in Austria), and my mom and Patty showed up with my camera, which was there to be used at the shower, not the blood drive. "We're going to take pictures for the blog!" Mom announced. I was a bit confused, but kept answering questions. When I finally finished and made it to my little reclining chair, Mom was ready with the camera. I told her I didn't know if I would post about this experience, that I hadn't really thought about it.

"Oh, you have to post about this! It's your first time giving blood!"

So now I'm posting about it. Mom actually ended up leaving the camera with another lady from church, because she had to go get ready for Heather's shower. So the appointed photographer took lots of pictures of me and then Becky, who showed up a little after I did. We did not get to sit by each other, though, and it was sad.

Okay, in no way do I want to discourage anyone from giving blood. But this is my blog, and I have to be honest. It HURT! I have a really high tolerance for pain. I've had my blood drawn numerous times (even my fellow nursing students who were practicing on me!) and it's never bothered me. But this really, truly hurt. It hurt when I got stuck, and it hurt the entire 20 minutes or so that my blood was slowly draining into that huge bag. I didn't say anything, because everyone else was talking and laughing and I didn't want to look like a big baby. However, in talking to other donors since, I have realized that the donation process is not usually a painful one. Everyone else assured me that it's never hurt them and that it's not supposed to hurt. So apparently I just had a bad stick or something. The experience has not discouraged me from giving blood again, and I hope it hasn't you either. Even if it hurt every time, it would be worth it. The people who need it are most definitely hurting much worse.

pictures . . .

Becky smiling

me smiling (I wish you could see all the blood in the bottom of that bag!)

neither of us smiling because we were sitting so far away from each other . . . boring!

Just to show that I survived, here I am just a few minutes later with my dear bride-friend Heather and her mom Carol at Heather's shower. I love this picture because Carol totally didn't think she was going to be included in the photo, haha.

All I know is, they better not have spilled any.