Haven't updated in a while. I have pleurisy. It hurts really bad! I was sick for about two weeks coughing and coughing, so I guess this is no surprise. I have strong drugs, which is great. But the problem is that when I take a full dose, I sleep for like 12 hours. Well that was fine this past weekend, but I work during the week so that isnt an option. :( I also can't work out for a while until my lung heals, which could be another two weeks. boo!

Also, I have gained quite a bit of weight in the past year and a half. I weight about 117 now! lol :) So now I have clothes I need to get rid of but I dont know anyone who wears my old size. If you know anyone who can wear a size 0 (mostly Gap pants) and shirts in x-small/small, let me know! There are some teenage girls at church but I don't know what sizes they wear.

I'm going to be in the Derby Parade again this year! I'll be Fern, the little girl from Charlotte's Web, so I get to stand by Wilbur the pig on the float. lol

I was kinda depressed after moving back to Louisville last year, but I'm finally used to living here again - as an adult. I REALLY miss my Indy friends, but here is where I am supposed to be. For now. So content I will be. :)

In the midst of so many friends having children, two of my friends are grieving tonight. They lost their baby due to the umbilical cord being wrapped around his neck. He was delivered via c-section and was otherwise a healthy baby weighing 3.3 lbs. He only had a few more months to go. They are obviously devastated. Please pray for them and their 16 month old son.

Sometimes life just seems so unfair. People everyday have children they don't want. Children they abuse and neglect. Children whose lives they damage forever. Meanwhile my friends are great parents and their unborn child was taken from them before they even got the chance to meet him. They were thrilled about having a second child.

There is nothing to do but pray.

Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much to everyone who voted. They won! I wish I could post the picture of her face. If you're on Facebook, you can go http://www.facebook.com/childrensmuseum and scroll down until you see the picture of the announcement. It's the 2nd picture down. Such a happy moment for them! :)

Here is a message Kristy sent out yesterday: "Dear Friends and Family: It has been a long and happy day, so I am just now able to post an official note to all of you on Facebook this evening. To all of you who voted, share, and worked so hard on our behalf to get others to vote - we owe all of you a big THANK YOU! If you haven't heard yet, we won the 2012 Honda Civic SI!!! 2012 was a rough year for us, but you helped make sure that 2013 had the best start! Thank you to all of you who made it possible. This truly would not have been possible without your love and support!"

New job for Derek, new baby and now new car. 2013 is looking great. :)

Flu levels around town are really high. The census counts at the hospital are crazy and we're short staffed b/c of staff calling in due to them or their kids being sick. They are offering double bonus pay (which is like $20 extra an hr on top of regular pay) for staff who will pick up shifts. This is the worse flu outbreak officials have seen in a long time nation-wide and there are rumorings it could get near 1918 epidemic levels. If you are sick stay HOME. The theme this year is back to basics - wash your hands often, get rest and make sure you keep your fluids up (even if you don't feel like eating). Do not go spreading your germs in public. If you do need to go in public and you're sick, at least wear a mask so you don't infect other people. To do anything else is irresponsible.

If you haven't gotten sick yet, make sure you wash your hands often (especially after being out in public). But you'd be surprised how many don't follow basic health proceedures, or how many don't follow directions from their doctor. I mean, do they go to the doctor just for the fun of it??? Why go if you aren't going to listen? It's frustrating to no end. Under the new health care rules, hospitals will NOT get reimbursed for some illnesses/proceedures if patients return within 30 days of discharge. Now, I think this is totally unfair seeing as how some patients do not follow directions they are given, won't take medication, etc. and that is not the hospitals fault. But we will get punished because of it. So for pete sakes, if you doctor tells you to do something, do it because it's for your own good. Don't ignore the directions and then come back wondering why you aren't better or have gotten worse. We see this all the time!
We just started a huge research project yesterday to figure out how to make patients and their families take more responsibility for their health (in light of the reimbursement changes this year). You wouldn't think this is necessary but looking at our stats it definitely is.

On a much lighter note, tomorrow is when Kristy and Derek find out if they won the new car!!!!! So excited!! Wish I could go in person. I will post sometime tomorrow when I find out. Thanks again to everyone who voted! =)

Kristy had the baby, Elise Christine, this afternoon! She came a bit early, but weighs 5 lbs and 9 oz and mommy and baby are both doing fine. :) Voting only lasts until Saturday! The winner is revealed on Jan. 12 and it cant get here soon enough. Also, forgot to mention Derek got a job just before Christmas!!! So many blessings let's make it 3 for 3. Thanks all! :)