Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I was going to do this yesterday, but, alas, I ran out of time...

I am thankful for so many things, that it is difficult to know where to start I am thankful for my salvation and for my God. Without Him, I truly do not know where I would be. I would be lost and cold and alone in the world. Hallelujah that His mercies are never ending!!

My family, who is my everything. My parents who protect me and love me (even though I haven't lived with them for nearly a year!!) through the hard times and the good times. Thanks Mom and Dale!! My brothers and sisters for keeping life interesting. Never a dull moment at our house when we're all together. We've had so many new memories this year, that I will treasure forever. My boys, Josiah and Jordan, for reminding me that it's the simple things that matter in life-- reading a book on the bed. Feeding a baby a bottle and having them look in your eyes. I melt everytime I hold them!!

My friends...for everything! Teaching me to grow outside of myself and inspite of myself. For stretching me to limits that I didn't know existed. For showing me what life really is supposed to be like.

It is so easy to take these things for granted this time year. I was talking to a doctor here at work tonight and he was telling us how he is single, and does't have any family and is new to the area, so he spent Thanksgiving here at work. I realized how fortunate I am to have the life that I do. This is something that I want to avoid--taking all of these things for granted.

I went to my grandparent's house for dinner--it was scrumptous!!! Nothing was processed and EVERYTING was homemade. No TV dinners or prepackaged food to be found. Quite the treat for the single gal living off of TV dinners, Taco Bell and the occassional left over at mom's house! The weather has been gorgeaus--it's definetly autumn in Florida for once.

The radio station's are playing Christmas Carols on the late night shows. The stores have the Christmas displays up and perfected and they're gleaming in the lights. My other favorite time of the year is being heralded in... Christmas is in the air.

WaHoo!!

It's official...I'm going to Brazil in March!!! Yesterday, I paid for the ticket (over $1000--yikes!!). Today, I applied for my passport. It should be in by the first week of January... I'm so excited! I can't wait. I can't wait to impact the lives of people in a country who aren't as fortunate as we are to live here in the United States. I can't wait to use my education for the greater need and to get outside of my comfort zone. It should be very interesting!

More to come tomorrow!!

Itchy

So, about a month ago I had this rash on my belly. I thought no big deal... I'll just stay out of the pool for a while (too much chlorine). Then, it wasn't going away!! So, I switched laundry detergent, body wash, perfumes, bought new pajamas.

Still the itching welps continued to pop up. But, why would anyone want to go to the doctor. That just makes too much sense. I'll deal with it on my own!

About a week and a half ago I'd had enough! I couldn't get in with my regular doctor, so I went to a clinic down the road from my house. The PA who is about 2 weeks out of school walks in with the med student and after discussing what kind of possibl pseudomonis type infections it could be, decided that I, the goofy nurse who can't sleep, have a fungus. Gross, but something that can be dealt with. So, I walked out of there with my prescription for Diflucan and went on my merry way.

Said antifungal didn't work!! 2 days later I'm itcing again! I walk down the hallways using any hard surface I can to scratch my back. I'm constantly itching my legs. So, out of shear desperation, I go to my regular doctor. I explain the whole situation to him and he takes a look at these itchy little devils of welps on my legs...I have an arthropod. Think scabies, bed bugs, etc. DISGUSTING!!!!!! I am thoroughly creeped out right now.

The worst part is, I don't even know where this came from! Some patient at work probably passed along their lovely little buggers to me inflicting 2 months worth of pain and agony on me. So, I'm going out to buy new sheets and wash all of my clothes in hot water to get rid of these little parasites and lather my whole body in a cream. Quote of the week... "I don't do anything weird, but the people I take care of do!"

Golly, I love my job! :-{