6 Gallons!

I got my 6 gallon blood donation pin today when I donated platelets.

I started donating blood when I was 16.  I didn't have a personal reason for donating, such as a family member in need of transfusions, but I wanted to do something to help people in need.  Throughout high school and college I donated blood whenever I was eligible and in college I helped in hosting several blood drives.  It was during my last year of college that I started donating platelets.  

Since I started teaching, I haven't donated as much as I should.  Now I tend to only donate whole blood once a year when the Red Cross comes to the high school and platelets 2 or 3 times a year during the summer.  

Most people know what is involved in whole blood donation, but I have found that few know what platelet donation is.  So that is the topic for the rest of this post.  I hope you learn something new and look into donating platelets.

Platelet donation is a type of blood donation in which blood is drawn from one arm, platelets are removed by a special machine, and the rest of the blood plus saline is returned to the other arm.  (I have read that there are donation sites that use the same arm for donation and return, but I've only ever used double arm).

Platelets are used for patients undergoing chemotherapy or an organ transplant.  A single platelet donation can provide enough platelets for a full dose for a patient in need. (It would take 4-6 whole blood donations to provide a full dose of platelets needed).  Depending on the donor, one donation time can provide two or three doses of platelets.  In the past, I've always donated doubles, today I was asked to donate a triple.  

What can you expect when you donate:

Going into platelet donations, is very similar to whole blood donation. You enter the donation site and give them your medical history. All of the questions are the same, but there is a question about whether or not you've taken aspirin in the past 48 hours. Platelets help blood clot and aspirin counteracts that, so don't take any.

After the mini-physical/health check, you have a seat in a reclining chair and they start hooking you up. This is just like whole blood, except you have a needle in each arm.  So there is no chance to read, play games on a phone, etc... during the almost 2 hours it takes to donate. Some people use this time to chat with the other people donating, I use it as "me" time and watch a movie. When I'm at home I don't often take the time to just sit and enjoy a movie, so while I'm donating I do just that. Other options could include listening to music or sleeping (as long as you remember to squeeze the ball).

There are some side-effects to donating platelets.  I'm sure these vary from person to person, but here is what I experience.  First, it's COLD.  Of course, dealing with human blood particles, they have to keep the area cold.  But donating platelets makes me much colder than donating whole blood.  Today, one of the hottest days we've had this summer, I had both arms and my upper body covered with fleece blankets.  Second, donating platelets messes with your calcium, so your fingers and lips get tingly.  The site I donate at gives donors milkshakes to replace calcium while donating.  There have been occasions that's not enough, so I've also been given calcium chews and tums.  I think those are the two most common side effects.  I also experience nausea and slight dizziness.  This happens while donating and for a few hours afterward.  Then I am also extra tired the next couple of days.  The most important thing to remember is to take it easy and drink lots of water.

The time it takes to donate varies from person to person.  When I started donating it took me almost two hours.  Now if I do double, it takes about an hour; triple, about an hour and a half.  I donate once a month in the summer when they come to Carthage, but with platelets you can donate about twice a month.  

According to the American Red Cross website, donors with A+, B+, and AB blood types are encouraged to donate.  The need for other blood types vary by region.  AB blood types (that's me!) are the universal donor for platelets and plasma. 

If donating platelets and saving lives is something you would like to do, call 1-800-RED-CROSS.  It takes some time on your part, but it is so worth it.  

Summertime Cooking

Today my dad had to go to Springfield for some tests, and of course my mom went with him.  So I decided it would be nice to go to mom's house and cook supper for her.  Well, once I decided I wanted to cook supper, I also decided I wanted to bake, and to make ice cream.  Once I had the menu of pineapple enchiladas, angel food cake with strawberries, and vanilla ice cream set, I got started with my two little helpers.

First on the list was angel food cake.  I admit, I used a box mix, but it turned out delicious!  We then cut up strawberries to put on top, because I'm not a big fan of icing on angel food cake.  It makes it too sweet.

 Then we mixed the ice cream and started freezing it.  They had a lot of fun playing with the ice, but were not fond of having to wait for the ice cream!

 Finally it was time for the pineapple enchiladas.  I first had these about a year or so ago when my friend Brittany (Being Brittany) made them.  I was not to sure about them when she first told me what she was making.  When I think of enchiladas I think of chicken, beef, cheese, but definitely NOT pineapple.  But after the first bite, I was in love.  They were sooo good and super easy to make.  I had a few requests on fb to post the recipe so here it is.

Ingredients

1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple 

(I drain my pineapple otherwise the enchiladas are too soggy)

1/4 cup sour cream

(I start with 1/4 cup, mix it up, and usually add another tablespoon or so)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

(I use Mexican Style cheese)

1 (10 oz) can enchilada sauce, divided

6 (8 inch) flour tortillas

(I use whatever I have in the pantry)

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees 

In a medium bowl mix pineapple, sour cream, and 1 cup cheese

Pour 1/4 cup enchilada sauce on bottom of 9 X 13 baking dish

(I move the pan around to evenly distribute the sauce)

Fill tortillas with pineapple mixture, roll, and place in baking dish

Top with remaining enchilada sauce and cheese

Cover and bake at 375 for 30 minutes

Bon Appetit!!

First Post

First post...more about me...

I have been teaching for 5 1/2 years.  I've wanted to teach since I was in 2nd grade.  I remember my teacher was teaching about bees and I thought, "I want to have that much knowledge, and I want to be able to share it with others."  In high school I decided I wanted to teach special education and I never wanted to teach anyone over 3rd grade.  I still felt that way when I graduated from WIU in 2006.  But the first job available was in a high school, so I took it, and I realized high school students weren't as bad as I had imagined.  That job was a temporary spring semester job and the following fall I started working at the high school I've been at for the past 5 years.  It can be challenging at times, but if it wasn't, there would be no point.  I firmly believe challenges are what makes us the people we are.

It's amazing how fast 5 years goes by, and how much can be accomplished in that time.  Since graduating from college, I've become a yellow belt in Shotokan Karate.  Unfortunately, due to time constraints I am no longer practicing.  But while I was in it I traveled to several tournaments and even won first place in sparring! 

Besides doing karate, I had always wanted to dance as a kid.  So in the fall of 2011 I started clogging.  Other than doing our recital, we've had two public performances so far.  We clogged to "Country Girl" and "Crazy Town."  

                                               

Finally I've taken steps to further my education.  For the past four summers I've traveled on history trips to the South (Tennessee, Mississippi, & Louisiana), the East (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts), the South (Tennessee, Alabama, & Georgia), and most recently the West (Kansas, Oklahoma, & Texas).  These trips were a great experience for me as my family did not travel when I was younger.  I am able to take the information back to my students and it really helps me bring history alive for them.  I have also started grad school at WIU as a reading specialist.  

I've always been a bit sad that I have not started a family, but looking back I would not have been able to do all that I have done if I were married with children.  I figure I'm still young, there is time and I've enjoyed my singleness.  

So there is my very first blog post!  I probably won't update everyday and I hope to blog on a variety of things.  I plan on sharing book reviews, recipe reviews, movie reviews, historical trivia, a little bit of everything.  I will let you in on my world--enjoy the ride :)