I learn new things every day

I am starting to think that the people that my husband refers to as "dumb as rocks" are up the same alley as I am. He is nice to me so he never tells me that I am as dumb as the rocks... he knows WAY better that that (because he of course is NOT as dumb as rocks), but I am starting to get little hints that he thinks my intelligence is lacking.

I tend to agree on days like yesterday. I was so proud of myself for finally remembering that I volunteered to donate blood (this was the first time because I have always forgotten before) and I arrived at the church 15 minutes early with James in tow. James came a long because he was extremely bored and I told him I would get him a chicken sandwich at Wendy's after we were done (which never having donated before I couldn't see how it could take longer than 20 minutes).

We were suppose to have the chicken sandwich before we went (like two hours before is what the lady on the phone had said when she called to remind me to drink lots of water and have a high protein meal) but I had gotten busy with laundry and such and I had spaced the whole meal thing (1st mistake).

I was trying to be efficient, which is never an easy task for me, and I was going to Wendy's after because it was right next to the Walmart and James needed something there. That way I wouldn't have to go to the Wendy's then to the church then to the Walmart .. I had a plan and everything.

My view of the afternoon changed quickly when I walked into the church and they handed me a 20 page pamphlet to read through. 20 minutes later I got to enter into the "waiting room" and watch while other people were hooked up to machines that drained their blood out of them into nice pint sized bags.

I have spent almost the last two years getting my prerequisites done for the nursing program. I was an avid ER watcher for at least two years out of my life. Yet I found myself sitting there shocked that they were going to take a whole pint of my blood. I am use to little test tubes that hold like a tsp of blood. I had assumed that they took a few of them then combined them to make a nice pint size bag. Yep.. I told you... dumb as rocks.

I have never handled the loss of blood very easily. My period drains me for a good two weeks. It is estimated that a woman loses an average of 2 TBS during their whole period. That is what I sat there thinking for the next 30 minutes as they questioned me on my my traveling and had me take a "computer test" that asked me random questions about daily life.

I just sat there hoping that they would come up with a good reason not to take my blood. The travel thing didn't succeed. I actually wasn't anemic for one of the first times in my life. Things weren't looking good for me... I got the green light and I was sent to the chair.

As I look around the room I see that they have let James over to the refreshment booth where he is taking advantage of the free snacks. They must not have told him to only take one because he had two drinks and a handful of snack packs that included pretzels and Nutter Butters. I was glad they were keeping him entertained, but what where they thinking letting a 13 year old boy at their snacks without limitations. He was going to have that place cleaned out before they let me off the chair.

A blond haired girl started prepping me, but she was trying to do ten things at once and before I knew it a brown haired girl came over and said she was going to be taking over. I murmured that that would be fine as long as she had done it lots of times before. She kind of laughed me off, but when the blond haired girl stayed around for a minute to monitor the prepping (and the brown haired girl had to do it twice because she messed up the first time) I figured I was being trained on. Yay.

The needle has just been stuck in my arm when I hear a bunch of commotion behind me. Seems that one of the girls that just gave blood was throwing up all over in the refreshment area. I turn around to see James staring at her covering his face with his shirt to hide from the stench (obviously gagging underneath there) . I seemed to have forgotten to teach him how to behave when people are throwing up around you. Starting with the "don't stare rule" and then maybe adding that when you cover your face with a shirt and sit there gagging it seems a little rude.

I am sitting there in the chair squeezing a ball, people are running this way and that to clean up throw up, and I was left there all alone feeling like I was going to pass out while an insanely large needle proceeded to drain me of a pint of my blood.

It was actually over quite quickly. It didn't take very long because I am as they say "a fast bleeder" which is great for me while I am sitting in a chair having my blood loss monitored, but shoot me on the side of the road or nick an artery in the operating room and I think I am a gonner...

Before my newbie (who I learned later that I was her first candidate like EVER... though I am sure she practiced on other newbies and such before I got the pleasure) took off to help in the cleaning efforts I asked her how common it was for people to get nauseated. She said it wasn't all to common. That is when I knew I was in for it. If it happens to everyone I am usually safe... If it only happens to a select few I usually fall right into that category. So I sat there and prepped myself for the nausea which I was sure would be coming.

Once I was all unhooked and had sat there for a minute I decided to go and try out the refreshment area. There I met up with James who was on at least his fourth item. He was happy to show me around and tell me of the recent happenings which he had witnessed. He frequently asked me how I was feeling and threatened me with disownment if I threw up.
All was going good. I had a sip of water, I was eating a Nutter Butter which surprisingly sounded good after losing a pint of blood. And then... the nausea hit me. It was really sudden. I went from feeling relatively normal to wanting to throw up in like half a second. James watched as the color drained out of my face. "I think I am going to be sick" I said out load. And that is when the kid surprised the heck out of me. He stands up and starts yelling "BAG!! We need a BAG over here. HELLO... WE NEED A BAG OVER HERE RIGHT NOW." I was a little startled that he was so panicked, I think he actaully made me jump. We are in a large cultural hall of the church and he is yelling at the top of his lungs. Let's just say that three seconds later I had three people running towards me with not only a bag but an ice pack and all sorts of other things.

Before I new it I was on the ground with my legs up and ice pack pressed up to the back of my neck. I had to sit there for a good 25 minutes being monitored by people, but I didn't throw up so all was well in Jamsie Land where he avoided the public humiliation of his mother throwing up all over the floor and was honored by all the cute nurses who told him he was good to have around and flattered him with compliments (they didn't want to have to clean up puck again either, lol).

When we finally got out of there I of course had to take James to Wendy's to get whatever he thought was worth waiting 20 minutes for (2 1/2 hours later) and then I had to have him push me around Walmart while he got what he needed and then also a pack of doughnuts because I was suppose to make dessert for the lady I visit teach who had just had a baby (luckily I didn't have the main dish).

I dropped James off at home. Meet my partner at the lady's house to deliver the meal and then went home and slept. I have a feeling that donating blood won't be on my regular list of things to do. Especially now that I am aware they take a whole pint of blood. Dumb as rocks I tell you.