Friday, April 26, 2013

Most Excellent

Yesterday I was able to pick up an OT Rotor shift.  

We sat around and I did some studying and I was chillaxin on the recliner when BOOM...we got a scene call!  

The entire way there and while trying to land my heart was racing!  I really wanted this but I was so nervous.  My medic was great and I had prepared myself for this day for months.  Luckily while in the helicopter I have to concentrate on looking out, safety and landing, so I didn't have time to get too scared.

Well the call happened and I was able to use some skills that I had been practicing and studying but had never used in that setting.  



Picture of the GlideScope that morning during our morning equipment check. It is a visual laryngoscope so we see on the screen where to put the breathing tube instead of cranking the mouth open and trying to look inside.   I went through our scene bag just to make sure I knew where stuff was.



The pilot took this picture while we were working on the patient.

We finished the call and I think we did pretty darn great.

When I got home late, not even a dog met me at the door. I found them downstairs sleeping with Daniel.  Even when I went down there and kissed Daniel good night they stayed there.  



Needless to say all that adrenaline took it's toll on me the next day. 
Exhausted.  

I still managed to get up and get going.   It was my last day in the gym walking on the treadmill.  I walked a very brisk 1 mile with no pain!  Yippee!

After I went to REI (sports store) and found a new flavor of NUUN.

Watermelon.  NUM!

One of my pilates teachers showed my some band exercises I could do with my foot and I've been trying to do them every day to get my foot and ankle strong. I really like working out with.





I am giving my foot every chance to get me running again.
I've come up with a running plan and hope that I will be running an hour within 5-6 weeks.   

Maybe this will even becoming a REAL running blog again!

Do you like working out with bands?

How do you find your best training or rehab plans?

Blog on............


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Picturepalooza


What a week!  After the Boston tragedy I spent a lot of time glued to the TV watching every update.  I'm sure most of the country did.  It's been great to see how much support and love there is in the running community. 

It's been a big week and the best way to recap is through pictures!  (That last bit just raise your voice up like it's Oprah giving out prizes)

Saturday I had lots of friends running the Salt Lake Half and Full Marathon.  Mile 8 water station was within walking distance of my house so I decided to go at least feel the spirit of the race and support my friends.

I had lots of layers on PLUS a water proof jacket.  It just rained more and became colder as time went on.  

The first runners behind the motorcycle police.

Water station

One of the first runners to go by running the full marathon (the half marathoners turned at the light, marathoners went straight)  and he was wearing a Boston shirt.  It was awesome! 

That is all the pictures I took.  After that I put my phone away because the rain was so bad.  I also gave out "I run for Boston" bracelets my friend Jason had made.
I am still wearing mine.  I can't do a memorial run but wearing the bracelet makes me feel better.  

Salt Lake did an amazing job with security.  Bomb sniffing dogs, helicopters, policeman everywhere!!  I am always amazed at how much of a sacrifice our public servants make.  Not many of us have jobs where your odds of getting hurt/shot/run over/threatened are so high.  I even saw a couple of fireman go by in a ranger.  

Cheering on the runners really fueled my excitement and I LOVED seeing my friends run by.  I even saw my brother!  He wasn't going to run it but joined his friends last minute.  Just an all around great experience.  I missed a couple of people, which makes me sad, but I was surprised how hard it is to see every ones face as they run by, especially with hats!  I stood there until the race was 2:15 into it and then I had to go home.  I was freezing!  I gave up my gloves to my friend Nicole for her sister and was chilled to the bone!  It took a heated throw, a huge blanket and a couple of hours for me to warm up.

Bloggers I saw at the race.

JOSH 
I have never met him but yelled his name and high-fived!

Met her very briefly last year at Wasatch Back.  Accidently yelled Rachel...oops.  She was running super fast!

Met at the Scott Jurek meet and greet and she actually yelled my name so I saw her!

So awesome.  I love the friends I've made online!  

FOOD
Naturally I took pics of my more memorable meals.

Back into the Paleo mode I made a delicious breakfast with bacon, eggs, avocado and tons of veggies!

I also tried making Cauliflower "fried rice".  I had been looking at the recipe for a while but just had not made it.  It was very good, but it doesn't taste like fried rice.  I would make it again, it's a great addition to pot roast and avocado.


Hehehe.  No, I didn't eat one of these.  They were in the EMS lounge in Denver when I went on a flight.  Last thing I need to do is eat something like that and then get on an airplane.  Toot!  Toot! 

WORK


Had a chance to see a Hyperbaric chamber and learn a little bit about CO poisoning. Crazy how much I learn at work every transport!

US Customs and their black SUV's with tinted windows.  
Who knew?

Our airplane next to another medical airplane.  
I'd like to say it's a little showy, red and shiny.  If you see it, wave!


Best thing about fixed wing flights?  Taking a nap on the way home after dropping off the patient.  This time it was a sunshine nap and it was spectacular! 

I take pictures with my iPhone, I don't really have another camera thanks to gravity.  I was trying to be artsy.  I think I love it!  I  may have this printed up and framed and hang it in my office. 

Sometimes our plane looks pinkish. It's my main office. My job is really awesome.

Today


Drove home from work and noticed all the windmills in Wyoming were barely moving.  Very rare for that great state of wind.

That's about it.  I'm completely out of the boot and I'm starting to plan my running schedule.  Slow and steady....

How was your week?

Blog on...........