Big Mamma's Craftin House

Monday, January 24, 2011

Kicked out of the hamster cage!

Yep I'm home. My stay was short and sweet. Apparently my body/liver reacts very quickly to heal my body. (please note: these are the remarks and explanation given to me by their doctors)
Prior to calling for this study I was going to the gym at least 3 times a week and just before going in for my first physical I was lifting a lot of weights. So much that my legs hurt and my arms hurt so much it was very uncomfortable to stretch them out. I thought I was doing good. Loosing weight and getting back into shape after the holiday eat fest. I was never told or asked about exercise levels. I guess there is a enzyme that your liver gives out when you work out to repair muscle damage. A normal person has a level of 200 and mine was 14,000. They called me back to redo the blood draw, thinking it was a mistake, but also asked me about working out. I then told them how I was working out and they let me know to stop completely and they would do a redraw. I guess everything was fine after I stopped and so I was admitted to the study.

As I had said in my previous post the last day I was there we did many, many vitals. I guess that was another problem; my blood pressure readings were all over the map. My blood pressure was pretty low at one point with a reading of 86/64. Most of the time the top number ran 109 -96 and the bottom numbers were between
70&76 .

So their full explanation was that "the client" which is the drug company that is trying to get FDA approval for this certain drug did not feel I would be a very accurate body. They felt my body responded to quick and often to what's going on with it and that I was manipulating my readings. The bottom line is that they could not take a chance of not knowing if it was my body that was creating a certain reading or was it the drug that I was taking creating the reading.

Good news is they still pay me for the time I was there so that is good.. I have to wait until the study is done so won't see anything til around the first of March. They said I can still try to get into other studies but not this one again. Maybe I will, maybe I won't but it was quite the experience.
Big Mamma Luvs Ya

XOXO

Friday, January 21, 2011

Day TWO in the Hamster wheel

Making it though another day. It’s mid morning right now about 20 till noon. So far the only thing I have done are my “VITALS” I lay down for the ECG, blood pressure and heart rate. Then stand up and again for blood pressure and pulse. My first blood pressure was 94/71 with a heart rate of 82.

PERFECT!!!!

Now on to more important things, dinner last night. I had no idea what it was but it was spicy. Ok I do know what was in it just that I am sure it doesn't have a name. It consisted of rice, The broccoli was ok. A little hard for my liking. That square thing on my plate was some kind of bread that I had already eaten the top of. That was the only good thing, oh and the Dixie cup of diet soda I was allowed to have.

I had said I would touch on the people that are here with me. I have already clued you in that most don't speak English.. and that's totally fine since I understand Spanish so if they are talking about me I'll know. Yesterday as I walked in to the common area this really tall older woman came running up to me. She had a blanket wrapped around her and extended her hand and said, "Hi, what's your name? Mine is blah blah" I was somewhat taken aback, she came outta now where so I missed her name and plus I just didn't pay attention. I thought she was just being overly friendly but also thought well maybe because there was a lack of people she could speak with she was happy to see me. NOPE - come to find out she is just crazy!

I thought this would be easy for me to be in here since I am a person who really doesn't need to be around other. I'm an only child so I play very well by myself. LOL. I have no problem speaking or talking to strangers, I used to be a trainer and facilitated classes, so no problem, right?

WRONG!!!!

Have you ever been somewhere sitting close to someone... like at the library or in my case at a long table with many computers, and the person next to you keeps talking out loud to no one about what she is reading or looking at on the computer. I know you know the type, they want you to ask about it so bad that they get a little louder and I can see from the corner of my eye that she keeps looking at me to respond. I won't do it! Plus I really don't care.

On a lighter note did everyone watch American Idol last night.. I was apprehensive about the new judges but I think it is going to be a good year.

Stay tuned for dinner! You know I can't wait to see what it is.

Big Mamma Luvs Ya

XOXO

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Day one as a Guinea Pig

Hi everyone.. I want to let you all know that I am taking a break from my challenges and cards. I hope a 27 day break. The reason is I have entered a medical study and have to stay in their facility with limited items to bring. I know! Can you believe they would not let me bring my whole crafting room.. BEEP.. BEEP.. back the truck up here I come. LOL.

So for the next month (or 26 days) I thought it would be a great idea to diary my stay here.

I arrived this morning for check in at 8:30. I was one of the first that showed up with my bag in tow. Now packing was a little different. They provide you scrubs - pants and a jacket, a pair of socks, towels, and all toiletries .. you can only bring your undies, some tee's for under the scrub shirt and a pair of shoes. I also could bring my blow dryer and straighter.. (thanks shanny) but no shampoo or conditioner.. I brought makeup but could not bring liquid just the powder and of course my lap top and cell phone. The other thing I did was stamp a bunch of images and brought my copics so I could color and have my images ready to go when I get out.

First thing automatically you get a wrist band and you be come a number. My number is ALT1-55, and everywhere I go and everything they do it's all about the scan. There are 6 in my group and lets just say I don't understand them and they don't understand me. I feel like the new kid at school, but everyone has been very nice.

So first we had to give our vitals. Blood Pressure.. mine was 123/75.. I think that is good. Then on to weight.. I'll leave that one up to your imagination.. LOL! Then the famous Pee in the Cup trick and if your close to me you will know that I am not good at this trick at all. Get the hazard suit out. I never knew there was a science to this but I guess there are rules and regulations you have to adhere to or they know. Let's just say I never knew there is what is called a "Mid Stream" sample. That is a no no. Next had to do the EKG which they call a ECG.. what the hell do I know I'm no Doc but all is good with the ticker. WHEW! I guess 1 person in my group did not pass so then there were 5. Next they herd us into a different area of the building. This building/facility is huge.. have to stay with the group or your lost and thank god for the wrist band! We visit with the RN so that my veins can be inspected. Yep, there they are, the freeway of my body is good to go. The reason for the vein inspection is cuz they will be doing a lot of blood draws and I believe, 3 times while I'm here, I will have a catheter put in my arm to administer the drug .. hence the Guinea Pig statement.

The next test they conduct is a balance test. This one is crazy. They harness you up like you are going to jump out of a plane. Then you step inside this half box, they hook you up ( not the kind of hook up I would prefer but that's another story) It has the floor of course and two side walls and the front. What it does essentially is move .. ever so slightly .. and you have to keep your balance and stand up straight. First the front wall starts to tilt forward or back and it's like a head game. You don't notice it is moving until you start to follow it by leaning forward and then you catch yourself and stand up straight. It is just crazy.. the test goes as far as the platform you are standing on slides back and forth a little quicker each time. The best I can say is it's like when you were young and going to the carnival and the fun house. Well I came out of that all good and by now it's noonish. Time for lunch.

Well if that's what they call it! I think it was their attempt at some kind of cross between chili/fajita stuff? It was beef with some onions and bell pepper involved. I don't eat beef so I just left that. Also on the plate was some beans and rice. Now don't you think they should think this lunch thing through better.. beans in a confined area ..hmmm I'm just saying.

After lunch I guess they figure enough for one day. Just a small orientation to go over the rules and when lights go out.. that will be at 11 pm. So here I am.. It's 3:23 of day one and so far so good. There's quite the array of "guests" here but that will be for tomorrow.

Big Mamma Luvs Ya

XOXO

Friday, January 14, 2011

Happy Birthday DB

Yep now it's my brother's birthday. I made him a card and did a post on it but as I looked at it I thought it just wasn't right for him. I'll save it for another birthday. Plus it gave me the perfect reason to pull out one of my favorite stamps and get a hopping with Flourishes Blog Hop. You really need to go check it out.. they have some wonderful prizes. Just click this badge and check it out.

Then I picked my sketch and colors and this is what I came up with.

Much more appropriate for a Dr. I used the sketch from City Crafter Challenge #39 and I used the colors from Create With Connie and Mary Challenge #133

The stamp is from Hampton Art
The buttons and twine are from Bo Bunny
The Sentiment is from Cloud 9

Have a great and safe weekend and come back tomorrow to see what else I have created.

Other Great Challenges:
Wee Memories Twine Challenge
Prairie Fairy Fridays Challenge #144 - Happy Birthday
Pixie Dust Studio Challenge #57 - Lets play tag
Pear Tree designs Challenge #31 - Circles
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday 100th Challenge - All about favorites
Fab N Funky Challenge #55 - Lets get warm toasty
AiFactory Challenge #64 - Anything goes
Stamp Something Challenge - Anything goes

Big Mamma Luvs Ya

XOXOT

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Happy Birtyhday DD

Yep its my babies birthday coming up on the 23rd. WOW 24 YEARS OLD. I must have had her when I was 8 cuz you know I haven't turned 30 yet... LOL.. hahaha..

Where has the years gone. My baby is a grown adult and is teaching little kids herself. Where's my cane!

So I have spent this week working on her card and gift. I used the colors from two challenges ColourQ Challenge #67 and The Pink Elephant Challenge #91 - Pink, Orange and Aqua. Here are the Color Q colors. Both are the same color range and were perfect for what I had planed.
My plan was to make her a card about her favorite thing. Cooking and Baking. I bought new stuff just for this card. I went all out. First I bought the cutest paper pack by Cosmo.

Take a look at the package I bought.

My BFF was with me and right away said "Oh that is so her" and it is. She should have been born back in the 50 or 60's So vintage and retro.

I did something else that I have never done. I think it turned out ok but I know I did not do it correctly. I lined the envelope to match the card. Only for my daughter! Love you baby.

I used the sketch from Verve - Viva La Verve Sketch - Week 2

Don't you love those little spatulas. I found those and they are brads by Doodlebug Design. I almost dove over three people to get these. So adorable. I used two different stamp sets. The Cake stand came from a set by PJK Designs - 1001 Mom's Diner. You will see more from this set. And the bowl, mitt and rolling pin are from another set from Stampabilities - Baking.