I Sell My Body For Money, Its Called Plasma Donations

Welcome to the life of a poor college girl! Today was my 4th time selling my plasma. It's quite convenient only taking a few hours of your week and the Donation Center is so near to my apartment. Then you walk out with about $65 dollars every week. Anyways, the first time I went I had a trainee get me all set up and then this cute guy came and needled me up. Today the girl did it all by herself. I wasn't nervous, she's been working for a couple of weeks, right? And she had someone observing her. Well, she missed my vein but got it the 2nd time. Didn't hurt a bit....until later!

For all of those who don't know what plasma is or what plasma donation is, let me explain: plasma is the proteins that accompany your RBC's in your blood. When taken, your body immediately regenerates what was lost within 24-48 hours (which is why you can donate plasma twice a week. So they take your blood (similar to giving blood) but then centrifuge it out in a machine that's right next to you--separating the plasma from the blood (RBCs). After the centrifuge the plasma enters this little bottle and the rest of your blood re-enters your arm through the needle. So while the blood was re-entering my arm, I noticed a little bit of pain. Just a bit. I thought about it and typically I always try to be invincible and do the "tough it out" thing. But I know a lot about how the body tries to communicate to you. I looked down at my arm AND SAW THIS HUGE BUBBLE RIGHT WHERE THE NEEDLE WAS ENTERING! Freaked me out just for a second.

I asked if one of the workers if that was normal and she rushed over to me, pushed some buttons and just began idly talking to me. I could tell she was trying to be calm, to make me calm, by talking but I saw through it. I did the best I could to act like everything was normal but my body didn't. I quickly began breathing really hard and having a serious hot flash. With a few ice packs and my feet even more elevated, they unstuck me and re-needled me in my right arm so I could get my blood back.

Basically, the needle and vein weren't together. So when my blood returned it just entered my tissue and made this huge awesome bubble. Now I'll have a wicked bruise for awhile. My arm hurts a bit and I don't like the lady who initially needled me up but, heck it was worth the $$.

On The Bright Side of Things.....

I have the best brothers in the entire world!

A little background: John is in Washington DC for the semester for an internship at the National Defense University and Jim is serving in Afghanistan and comes home this summer!!!!

1. A couple of weeks ago, John had me run down to Cougar Creations (BYUs printing shop) and pick up a packet he had sent int to be printed and bound. When I picked it up, there was two sheets that were printed from his email with the packet. I thought it was a fluke that he had accidentally sent in those to be printed or something. But I later discovered that they were receipts from a DELTA transaction for a TICKET to NYC during the 3-day weekend in February for REBECCA RHODEN! Yes, ladies and gentleman. I'm 19 and going to New York City.

2. When I told Jim I didn't get picked to be a Young Performing Missionary (Service Mission) in Nauvoo he replied back with an invitation to take me to GUAM this summer when he returns!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited if this works out. I mean, have you SEEN pictures of GUAM before? I had from missionaries but now especially after I googled pictures of Guam--the beaches and sunsets are S.U.P.E.R.B!

These pictures of my brothers make me laugh so much! Oh, the memories of childhood. I love my brothers probably more than anything else, even over my baby blankie. And my dog Macey. I don't know how my wonderful parents (who I also love dearly) gave me two of the best, kindest, funniest, talented, smartest older brothers a younger sister could ever ask for. I think I probably trust them more than I ever should: if they told me to jump off a cliff, I would. Isn't that a little weird? Anyways, I love them and when I know that they love me I get all tender! Although they did go to Europe without me a couple of years ago, I think I've forgiven them by now...I think. Maybe after these awesome experiences I will be completely healed...

It Is Hard To Fail But It Is Worse Never To Have Tried To Succeed.

There are many times in my life when I've experienced failure. This week was just another experience. And even though I know that whoever made the decision was inspired--my heart still ached, just hurt. My heart. It's interesting that your spirit can make your body feel that extra pain right there.

Now I'm confused. And feel lost at what exactly to do. I like making plans, but it's hard to have them end up not to what you expected or wanted. I guess its partially what you get when you always allow the "let they will be done" in every prayer.

Funny then that where "failure" would be in the Bible Dictionary "faith" is found instead.

(props to john for the picture. he took it in dc and sent it to me when he found out about my denied opportunity)

The Key To The Big Is The Small

It's the second day of January and I am so excited for this new year. It just feels like its going to be a great year! This post is really for my mom, she requested I do a new years post. I'm trying to decide if it's because she wants to know what my resolutions are or if she's missing me already? (i left home 2 days ago).

I love setting goals. I'm not sure why, but I'm just a very motivated person to always have a new plan or idea and how I will accomplish it. So this year, 2011, I decided that I want to work backwards with my goal setting. Usually I go for the big and try and work out the small. But this time, I'm working on 5 things (one for each finger on my hand) that I will do every day. You know, the key to the big is the small? That's kind of the idea I'm going for. I have ideas about the outcomes, but I don't want to limit the possibilities of the fruits of my big 5. Happy New Year! I time to "Look Not Behind Thee" and move forward, a time of becoming.

New Year's: Look Not behind Thee

Full Circle

A couple of weeks ago I went to the bathroom after one of my classes. As I walked to the wall filled with sinks to wash my hands I looked quickly in the mirror and there sitting on the mirror was a little square sticky note that said something sweet and personal. I felt so loved! I'm sure many people saw the sticky note and went away feeling more hopeful and charitable. I love people and the good they do, the good that they somehow eminate for me to become better. I hope I can share that one day, full circle.

Oh Boy Did I Luck Out!!! A Night With BYU's Cecil :)

Suite 15 is where it is at!!!! Tonight I went to the BYU mens basketball game at the Jazz's Energy Arena in Salt Lake (against Arizona). John lucked out with 2 special tickets, and after asking several girls and being denied, John decided to take me since I'm always back up. :) Suite 15 just happened to be President Cecil O. Samuelson's suite. For those of you who don't know him, you should. He's the President of BYU and in the Quorum of the 70. With BYU having 30,000 students, it's not very likely that many people get to personally meet the President and especially watch a basketball game with him and his wife. It was so much fun! The suite had delicious food, a cute bar with tables, flat screen tv, 3 rows of seats, a personal bathroom, and random waiters to check on us. With only us, Pres.& Sis. Samuelson and their granddaughter, there was also the Vice President of Athletics (another Q of 70 member) whose wife knows John and was the one who offered the tickets with his wife and daughter also there. I definitely had a wonderful evening with President Cecil O. Samuelson :) I promise I'm not that much of a creeper, but here are some highlights:

-When pulling into the parking garage in salt lake, we let a car in the opposite left lane cut in front of us and then when we pulled in to pay at the booth the guy told us that the car in front of us had payed for our parking!!! So nice, especially at Christmas!

-Shaking President and Sis. Samuelson's hand, visiting with them.

-When Sis. Samuelson leaned over to talk to the other lady and Pres. Samuelson said, "Sharon, watch the game!"

-Hearing Pres. Samuelson talk to all the players quietly under his breath, "Oh jackson!" or "Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right."

-Sis. Samuelson turning around and always saying, "Wait, what just happened?"

-During halftime, when Pres. Samuelson got a personal text showing that Noah Hartsock received a minor concussion and 6 stitches to the upper lip when hit during the first 10 minutes of the game.

-Having special sporting officials checking up on us during the game:)

-After the game, walking through a beautiful Barnes&Noble and reading random books while awaiting traffic to die down. I will always dream of having a beautiful library of gorgeous books one day!

-P.S. Did I mention BYU won?