Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Birthdays and Needles

Tomorrow morning I am driving to Georgia to visit my parents. It's my Dad's birthday, woo! We (my brother and sister in law, my sister and brother in law, my niece and her two daughters, my nephew and his wife, and Mom and Dad) are going out for lunch on Saturday to celebrate Dad's birthday. :)

I have no idea where we are going, apparently my brother in law was going to make reservations at Outback, but as they are not open for lunch on Saturday, I am not confident in that plan. Mom and Dad love Red Lobster, though, so maybe we'll end up there.

I am looking forward to seeing Mom and Dad, but I am not looking forward to the drive. I am going to burn a bunch of cd's to take with me -- including all the Harry Potter soundtracks. And possibly some Amy Winehouse. Maybe Psychedelic Furs... maybe Missy Elliott... definitely that Lip Gloss song by Lil Mama that has been stuck in my head for two months now.

So: my husband has a terrible fear of needles. It's funny, because he will watch really awful, disgusting, bloody, disturbing things in movies (I won't go into detail -- you're welcome) but if someone gets an allergy shot he has to look away.

Last week he had to have a blood test. He was very brave, I went with him and he did great. He did less great when, later in the week, the lab called to say that they had messed up the test and he had to go back in to have more blood drawn. Gah! Did I mention this is one of those fasting tests where you can't eat/drink anything for 12 hours prior? Geez. So he fasts and goes back in.

This time he decided it was time to get over his fear, and he watched everything. He watched the nurse/technician/whatever she's called get out the needle, and realized that it's not one of those little get-a-shot needles; it's a hollow pointy tube to suck his blood out. He watched her find a vein and insert the needle, and he watched her fill up a small tube with his blood. It didn't take as long this time, he said (I wasn't with him) so maybe the first chick hadn't been very good at it, anyway.

I was so proud of him! He called me from the parking lot and he was fine -- not woozy, not nauseous. Woo hoo! Then, the next morning, the phone rings... The nurse/technician/whatever she's called had actually NOT taken enough blood, and they weren't able to do all the tests. He has to go in AGAIN to have his blood drawn. And fast, AGAIN.

I said this is wonderful! The forces of the universe are helping you get over your fear of needles, yay! Poor thing, he is not so happy about it. :(

On a different note, here is a picture of my Yankee Candle tart burner: