Wine Tasting & Donating Blood

Last weekend, my husband and I had the pleasure of going wine tasting in Temecula with 11 of our close college friends. We had a fantastic time. We started off our day by meeting at our friends Gina & Robert's house in Murietta. That's about a good hour and fifteen minute drive from where we live. Once we all arrived there, we had a quick lunch in the area and then we were off to the wineries. We hit a total of four wineries - my favorite being the last one, where we all had a taste of their almond champagne in a chocolate cup. YUM! It was delicious! I also enjoyed the Muscat wines at every location since I'm a fan of the sweet dessert wines. We had a great time and I'm hoping we can make this an annual tradition. Later that night, we had dinner back at their house and watched a photo montage that Gina had put together of our time in college. Then we headed home. It was such a nice day. It's so great to have such a wonderful group of friends like them.

The next day, my husband and I did our usual routine and went to church at 10:30. I have really come to enjoy going to church every Sunday and I'm happy that it's something my husband and I can do together. I noticed the big "Blood Drive" signs as we were walking in. I just winced and kept on walking. You see, I have always wanted to donate blood but there was only one reason stopping me...I.HATE.NEEDLES. After mass, our priest spoke to us about the blood drive and the importance of donating it if we were able to. Then they had a little boy speak to us who had leukemia but thankfully, was in remission now. He said that even though he was doing much better, he knew of a lot of kids in the hospital who still needed blood. Boy did he know how to pull at my heart's strings. I couldn't help but get emotional at the thought of all these babies needing blood transfusions and just sitting there, healthy, with the only thing stopping me being my fear of a little needle. I also started thinking about the possibility of someone in my own family needing it someday, God forbid, like my dear Henry so I mustered up the energy to walk myself over to the hall where the blood drive was being held and signed up. I couldn't help but tremble the entire time I was waiting, which was for more than an hour. I think it was my fear and the fact that the room was so cold and I didn't even have a jacket with me. Before I knew it, I was having my interview. I was asked if I had been anywhere outside of the United States within the last 3 years. I told them where I had been and all was still okay. They checked my iron levels and those were very good so after that, I knew I really had no excuse.

My husband, who was also doing this with me, was called before me and had already started the process of donating his blood. When I was finally called, I layed down and was still trembling. I kept trying to tell myself to think of all the people I was doing this for, but that didn't seem to calm my nerves at all. When the needle finally went into my vein, it wasn't so bad but I was immediately told that my blood flow was slow so it would be a while before I would finish the pint they needed. The nurse tried adjusting the needle a few times to see if this would help the blood flow but it was done to no avail. I couldn't cross my legs and they wouldn't let me pump the pressure ball I was given too much since all of that movement seemed to slow down my blood even more. I was so frustrated. Finally, after about 15 minutes, I was told I had to be cut off. I had donated 400 CC's (500 is needed for a pint of blood) and I just couldn't do it anymore. Apparently, I was so dehydrated that my blood just wasn't coming out anymore. I was heartbroken. I can't even explain exactly what I was feeling but the word failure came to my mind right away. I just felt so horrible. All I kept thinking was what if Henry really did need the blood and I was the only one that could give it to him. I just couldn't do it and it would've been all my fault. I asked one of the nurses if they could still use my blood since I was nearly close to the pint and she explained in medical terms that because they did not have a full pint of my blood, they couldn't use it to save lives but would instead send it to USC and use it for research. I thought, Research?!? Are you kidding me??? I didn't do all of this for research! I did it to save a life!

I have to admit, I am very bad at drinking enough water in a day. Sometimes I will have the same water bottle sitting on my desk for more than 2 days. But never did I think that not drinking enough water would stop me from saving a life. I was so bummed the rest of the day. I went to go visit my sister Emma and Henry later that day and couldn't help but cry. My sister consoled me and told me I had done a great thing just by trying. I took a big step that day. But I decided then and there that if water was the only thing stopping me from saving a life, then I would change that right away. It's been a week and I have been drinking 40-60 ounces of water every day. That alone is a huge accomplishment for me. I'm hoping I can go back as soon as I am able to to donate blood again...and this time, to help save a life.

This weekend was a mellow one. We cleaned our house yesterday and had our first problem since we moved in last May. Turns out our bathtub was getting backed up with disgusting water since I was doing a load of laundry. Both of us tried not to freak out. We ended up going onto Yelp, found a great plumber and about an hour later, problem was fixed. Whew! Thankfully, it wasn't something that couldn't be fixed and it wasn't something that cost an arm and a leg.

This week my husband's company is expected to have some lay offs. *sigh* It's something he's known about for quite some time now. I ask that you please say a little prayer for all those who have lost their job and for all those that will. I am also praying that my husband is not one of those who is layed off. So if you can pray for that too, I would more than appreciate it. I'll let you know what happens.

Here's to a good week...