complications

I have a (funny, but not really funny) story, thanks to a visit to urgent care Saturday. I have been feeling awful lately...the worst symptom being dizziness. It started Wednesday morning and has not let up; in fact, I think it is getting worse. Anyway, Stephanie very strongly suggested I go to the doctor on Saturday, so I did. Because it was the weekend, though, I was not able to see a "real" doctor, so I went to urgent care. I did not want to go to urgent care. The nurses/doctors there are not good, but I figured better be safe than sorry. Here is my first conversation with the doctor:

Me: I have been feeling really dizzy lately and I have no idea why.
Doc: When people feel a cold coming on, they can get very dizzy.
Me: I don't think I'm getting a cold, though. I haven't had any cold symptoms. Just dizziness.
Doc: Well, usually people get dizzy when they are getting a cold.
Me: Ummmmm...[remember that time I said I'm not getting a cold?]

[After checking my ears and throat for 1.7 seconds]

Doc: Your ear looks a little red. You probably have an ear infection, which is causing dizziness. Here is a prescription for vertigo (...something, something; I can't remember) and antibiotics for an ear infection.

Hm. Number 1: I don't trust these doctors. Number 2: I definitely am not taking medication without getting a second opinion because of what was stated in number 1.

So. Here's the (funny, but not really funny) story...

The doctor decides to do an EKG to check my heart, just to make sure nothing serious is going on. The doctor leaves while the nurse hooks me up and performs the EKG. She takes the results to the doctor, who comes in soon afterwards. He looks surprised and asks if I have any heart problems. Gasp. I get really nervous because yes, I have had issues with my heart in the past and even recent past. The doctor says that the EKG shouldn't be producing results like this because I'm only 23. At this point, I am feeling tears come to my eyes and close to having a breakdown. It is a great fear of mine to find out that I have serious heart issues and I figured that this was finally happening. The doctor keeps saying, "You're young. Your heart should not be acting this way." He says they will do another EKG, but if it produces the same results, then he will have to send me immediately to the ER. Wha?!

So the nurse sets up another EKG, with the doctor in the room this time, and she notices that two of the wires are switched. She casually reverses the wires and the doctor looks over me to make sure they are all correctly placed. The nurse runs the EKG again.

Thank God. Thank God. Thank God. Seriously, thank you Lord.

The resutls are NORMAL! The three of us loudly let out the awkward sound of nervous laughter. The nurse: "I'm so sorry about that (insert awkward chuckle)!" Oh, the relief. I was too busy being thankful I wasn't dying to be angry with the incompetent nurse. Whew.

I left urgent care without knowing the cause of my dizziness. But more importantly, I left at least knowing that I wasn't having a heart attack. All that to say, I am going to schedule an appointment with a "real" doctor this week because I am still feeling awful. I'm not myself, and I hate it. Your prayers are deeply appreciated.

idyllwild

Here is our short vacation in pictures:

We have arrived!


Enjoying the pretty scenery


We went to these little, very culturally-diverse shops (where Stephanie bought some sweet beanies, as pictured below) and I saw this. I love it. I want it.


Sweet beanies make for good mirror pictures


The second day, we went on a hike


Stephanie recorded my brave and risky ascent up the side of this huge boulder


I recorded her fantastic dismount

lovely

I know I was just on here, but I was flipping through some pictures on my phone and wanted to share them. I love nature.

In Chino, taken from inside a van, sitting in a parking lot, while one of my girls was refusing to put on a seatbelt



I wish I could remember where I took this picture


In Idyllwild, sitting outside at a Mexican restaurant

yes please

Some things that Stephanie and I have done together:

Got manicures and went to a Padres/Angels exhibition game


Braved a scary ski lift (first time for me) and went to the top of Mount Baldy


Competed with the Olympic USA bobsledding team (at Knott's Berry Farm)


Went apple-picking


Conquered the heights of Chino Hills State Park


Went snowboarding in a snowstorm fog


Today, we drove to the mountains and are spending the night in Idyllwild. We're staying in a cabin in the middle of a cute mountain town, complete with bookstores, gift shops and candy stores. We've already spent a lot of time in the local coffee shop and have loved breathing clear air and listening to the sound of...nothing. No screaming kids or speeding cars or feeling the pressure of going, going, going. Mmmmmm, I don't think I want to go back.

I had an emotional day yesterday, but I reflect on it with a positive attitude. I have hope in a restored relationship and I am optimistic about the future.

Come back for Idylwilld pictures :)

changes

I used to be a houseparent.

Now I'm a floater.

It basically means I will be a houseparent, not only in the girls cottage where I've been working, but also in the two boys cottages if they need me. Floaters "float" around between the three cottages, filling in when a houseparent is on vacation or when they need some extra help. I'm excited about the position. It will be sweet working with the boys, as well as the girls.

I won't officially be a floater until the beginning of July, but I was in Palmer cottage today - one of the boys' cottages. It was...different. The boys are so much more physical (obvi) and they are a lot more mean to each other. But they are also a lot more active (which I love) and they enjoy being outside. Pros and cons to both girls and boys, I guess.

In Hannah Montana's words:

Joshua Tree

I was gone almost eleven hours yesterday, off-campus with two of my girls and some boys from the other two cottages. We drove a couple hours to the desert, arriving at Joshua Tree. It was my first time visiting the national park and we had a great time. Besides one of the boys throwing a tantrum and some complaining from the others, it was a good trip. We climbed huge boulders, went on a hike to a dam, tried some rock climbing, and briefly walked through a mine. I'm sore and a little sunburnt, but it was a good change of pace to be gone all day.

dear mom

Happy would-be birthday, Mom. You left us too soon.

ups & downs

My life has been such a roller coaster of emotions recently that it has been hard to think of anything clear to write. So, instead of taking a deep dive into the depths of my heart, I'll instead take the easy way out and write a brief update. So here you are.

one:
My grandma's funeral was on Saturday

two:
Work has not gotten easier, but has not gotten harder either

three:
I've worked out for several days now and am determined to keep it up

four:
I am going to the Bahamas in less than two months

five:
My 18 month commitment at Hillview is up at the end of August

six:
I have the greatest sister

seven:
Seattle, Washington is looking lovelier and lovelier

eight:
I have found that broken relationships can be hard to mend

nine:
I have good people in my life

ten:
Summer in California blows

me time

I MISS...

wearing flip-flops all the time

fall in the midwest

having a cat

I LOVE...

taking pictures

watching football

sunsets

I AM THANKFUL FOR...

my job, however hard it may be

my sister and grandparents

opportunities

I WISH...

i was in love

snowboarding season would hurry up and come

i had a better car

I HATE...

when people are in the way and don't move out of the way

cough syrup

feeling like i always have to prove myself

I BELIEVE...

people can change

life is what you make of it

discipline is necessary

I SHOULD...

be working out more...ahem...i should be working out

not allow my job to so greatly affect my life

stop watching so much truTV

I CAN'T...

wait for a new adventure to hopefully come soon

believe how ridiculously crazy and insane people can be

stop thinking about all that i want instead of appreciating all that i have

I FEEL...

tired. always tired

enthusiastic about what is to come

happy when i'm with people that love me

I AM AFRAID OF...

nasty, fuzzy spiders

failure

driving next to semi-trucks

I THINK...

journaling is therapeutic

pink is one of the best colors

jodi picoult is fantastic

I NEVER...

have tried sushi. and probably never will

work-out without music

thought i had this much self-control

domestication

While I was working yesterday, there was some down time, so I decided to try my hand at making peanut butter kiss cookies. I remember eating those back when Vons used to have a plate of free cookies in the bakery. Yummmmmm.

I wasn't quite sure how they would turn out because I haven't had the best success with baking chocolate chip cookies. But. They were sooooooooo good! Lookie!

goodness

So during bedtime, I was spending time with one of my girls. She knows I'm in love with Zac Efron and I mentioned that Liam Hemsworth (Miley Cyrus's boyfriend) is cute.

[Don't judge me...pre-teen girls like talking about this stuff, alright?!]

Anyway, she posed this question to me: Kara, if the only two guys left on earth were Zac and Liam, who would you date? I quickly answered Zac Efron, duh. This girl agreed and said that Liam was ugly. So I asked her a question: If Liam was the only guy left on earth, what would you do?

Her answer: I would find a bucket of water and marry that instead.

Ahahahaha...what?!? Where did that even come from? It was incredibly presh.

Later, we were talking about height and she said, "How tall are you, Kara? Are you six or seven feet tall?" Haha, ummm. More like 5'9", thanks.

It was a cute ending to a good day.