I just wanted to share my recent experience with JC Penneys Portrait Studio. We've been using them since 2004 when Jecilyn was born. We love Miss Betsy! I'm a big fan of the "Smiles by Wire" service. For those of you that are not familiar with this, you can download and share your photos online. The cost is $4.99. Anyway, at our recent trip, Miss Betsy went a little crazy. She took something like 45 pictures of Treavor and Jecilyn. And, being Miss Betsy...there wasn't a bad one in the bunch. She broke it up into 2 sittings.
I ordered Smiles by Wire on both sittings, but apparently something happened and one of them did not go through. I saw Miss Betsy type my address in....but some how something went wrong. I called her today and told her that I only rec'd half of the pictures. She told me to call the 888 number on my sheet. When I did, I was on hold for a few minutes. My call was eventually answered by a lady named Joan. She explained that my 2nd sitting had not "posted." I asked if I could re-order the service. She told me that, unfortunately, they can't re-order the smiles by wire. She explained that I could still order prints, but that the service was no longer available. She was very apologetic. I told her that my husband was deployed and that we had gotten the pictures taken for him. I explained that JCPenneys is one of the few websites he can access to see pictures. I was pretty frustrated...but what can you do!?!?!
Joan apologized again...and said she would like to do something for me. I figured I'd get a free service next time or something...I would have been fine with that...but Joan went above and beyond. She emailed the pictures directly to me. That kind of customer service is so rare these days...I just had to pass it on!!!!!!
And, FYI, she also informed me that Smiles by Wire is free to military families. She also said that military families receive a free 8x10 and no sitting fees. Just show military ID!!!!
Here are the great photos that Miss Betsy took! She rocks! Of course, my cuties make it easy!!!!
Have a great day!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Best Wishes Jason & Erica!
Yesterday was a big day for weddings! I guess there were a lot of people who thought that getting married 07/07/07 would bring them good luck. My friend Jason married his sweetie yesterday. I attended the wedding...and it was a blast! Best wishes Jason and Erica!!!
Friday, July 6, 2007
Fun Food Friday
This is one I haven't actually tried. I've been wanting to do it for a while, but Jecilyn always throws a fit and ends up eating the banana before I have it done... My idea is to take Stonyfield Farm Whole Milk Plain Yogurt mixed with a little honey and Organic Peanut Butter. Then, cover a banana with that mixture and roll the entire thing in some crushed up cereal (all Natural of course!) I figure the cereal will stick to the banana kind of like one of those Cheeseballs you see at parties. Once that is done, you can get really creative. I was thinking I'd add some raisin or chocolate chip eyes and call it a snake. Or maybe, slice some grapes in half to make feet for a a caterpillar. Maybe some watermelon slices (triangles) to make dragonfly wings. Be creative! I'll be sure to photograph whatever I make...if I can ever get the damn banana out of her hands!!!!
Just another ordinary day...NOT!
Yesterday we got up and dressed and headed out to meet Aunt Nett for breakfast at our favorite restaurant--Sorentino's. We love that place! They have a HUGE variety. They are inexpensive. The food is ALWAYS delicious. Their fries are even good cold! The portions are huge. They are VERY kid friendly (On my last dinner visit, they brought out fries for the kids--as an appetizer. They loved it!). The staff is super pleasant. They've even been known to bring Eggplant Parmesan to the poor miserable pregnant girl in hopes of inducing labor! It's always a pleasurable experience.
Yesterday, Nett and I ordered our usual--a broccoli and cheddar omlette with hash browns and toast. I ordered scrambled eggs, hash browns and toast for Jecilyn and Treavor to share (at the huge cost of $1.99). I also ordered them a fruit cup. It was all just as yummy as always. But...as I picked Treavor up out of the high chair, I noticed he was a little red around his mouth. Hmmm. No biggie. Must be something he drooled out. By the time we left the restaurant, his cheeks were a little red, he sneezed a bunch of times, and his eyes looked a little funny. I determined he must be having an allergic reaction to something, but didn't know what. I figured I'd give him some Benadryl. But, I didn't know how much to give. So, I called the doctor.
You would think that this would be something on which you could get an answer RIGHT away...but you would be wrong. I had to leave a message for the appointment scheduler to leave a message for the nurse to call me back. That's just nuts. So, I headed to Target to get the Benadryl...and speak to the pharmacist--who would give me an answer prior to the onset of anaphylactic shock. By the time we got to Target, Treavor's poor little eyes were swollen shut. I should mention that Target is right across the street from the restaurant!...We spoke to the pharmacist who took one look at him and said...."One half teaspoon now. If it doesn't get any better, give another in an hour and call the doctor. If it gets worse, go to the ER." About 5 minutes later, I got a call from the nurse. She didn't have a dosing chart in front of her. Duh! She didn't know how much I should give him. She put me on hold for a few minutes, and then came back and confirmed "one half teaspoon." She told me to take him to the ER for safety....So off we went.
Back to the ER for the 2nd (actually 3rd since Jecilyn also got her stitches taken out in the ER) time since Jeff left. As we were signing in there was a two year old little girl behind us who MIGHT have taken some Xanax. I asked if she could give me some of her stash!!!!
Amazingly, I was in and out of the ER in less than 45 minutes. I think it was closer to half an hour but I'm not sure. I was once again VERY IMPRESSED with the care that we received. Granted, we were stuck in a bed in the hall because all the others were full...and that's not really the best place to keep a three year old contained...but I can't complain. There were a lot of people interacting with Jecilyn and keeping her entertained. Even the maintenance man talked with her as he swept. Out of no where someone appeared and gave her a Sesame Street Book. On our way out, I told her to give it to the lady so the next little girl could read it. They let her keep it.
The doctor wrote Treavor a script for Zyrtec. He said it does the same thing as the Benadryl but wouldn't make him sleepy. I looked at the doctor and said, "Do you really think that sleepy is gonna bother me!?!?" He laughed and warned that sometimes Benadryl has the opposite effect on children. As he was writing the script, he paused and asked..."Would you like me to write one for some Valium for you?" Without missing a beat, I replied, "No, I think I'd prefer Xanax...and some Zoloft." The entire nurses station busted out laughing. I didn't think it was funny. And, I didn't get my script...Oh well.
Treavor is fine. The swelling all went down within a few minutes of taking the Benadryl. Now, we just have to figure out what caused it.
Yesterday, Nett and I ordered our usual--a broccoli and cheddar omlette with hash browns and toast. I ordered scrambled eggs, hash browns and toast for Jecilyn and Treavor to share (at the huge cost of $1.99). I also ordered them a fruit cup. It was all just as yummy as always. But...as I picked Treavor up out of the high chair, I noticed he was a little red around his mouth. Hmmm. No biggie. Must be something he drooled out. By the time we left the restaurant, his cheeks were a little red, he sneezed a bunch of times, and his eyes looked a little funny. I determined he must be having an allergic reaction to something, but didn't know what. I figured I'd give him some Benadryl. But, I didn't know how much to give. So, I called the doctor.
You would think that this would be something on which you could get an answer RIGHT away...but you would be wrong. I had to leave a message for the appointment scheduler to leave a message for the nurse to call me back. That's just nuts. So, I headed to Target to get the Benadryl...and speak to the pharmacist--who would give me an answer prior to the onset of anaphylactic shock. By the time we got to Target, Treavor's poor little eyes were swollen shut. I should mention that Target is right across the street from the restaurant!...We spoke to the pharmacist who took one look at him and said...."One half teaspoon now. If it doesn't get any better, give another in an hour and call the doctor. If it gets worse, go to the ER." About 5 minutes later, I got a call from the nurse. She didn't have a dosing chart in front of her. Duh! She didn't know how much I should give him. She put me on hold for a few minutes, and then came back and confirmed "one half teaspoon." She told me to take him to the ER for safety....So off we went.
Back to the ER for the 2nd (actually 3rd since Jecilyn also got her stitches taken out in the ER) time since Jeff left. As we were signing in there was a two year old little girl behind us who MIGHT have taken some Xanax. I asked if she could give me some of her stash!!!!
Amazingly, I was in and out of the ER in less than 45 minutes. I think it was closer to half an hour but I'm not sure. I was once again VERY IMPRESSED with the care that we received. Granted, we were stuck in a bed in the hall because all the others were full...and that's not really the best place to keep a three year old contained...but I can't complain. There were a lot of people interacting with Jecilyn and keeping her entertained. Even the maintenance man talked with her as he swept. Out of no where someone appeared and gave her a Sesame Street Book. On our way out, I told her to give it to the lady so the next little girl could read it. They let her keep it.
The doctor wrote Treavor a script for Zyrtec. He said it does the same thing as the Benadryl but wouldn't make him sleepy. I looked at the doctor and said, "Do you really think that sleepy is gonna bother me!?!?" He laughed and warned that sometimes Benadryl has the opposite effect on children. As he was writing the script, he paused and asked..."Would you like me to write one for some Valium for you?" Without missing a beat, I replied, "No, I think I'd prefer Xanax...and some Zoloft." The entire nurses station busted out laughing. I didn't think it was funny. And, I didn't get my script...Oh well.
Treavor is fine. The swelling all went down within a few minutes of taking the Benadryl. Now, we just have to figure out what caused it.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Happy Fourth of July!
Mom Mom Ginny gave me this really cool picture. It's called the Human Liberty Bell. It was done in 1918. The bell is consists of 2500 Officers and Men at Camp Dix, New Jersey. The photographer Arthur Mole did several such photos. You can read about them by clicking here.
Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July!
Monday, July 2, 2007
I VANT TO SUCK YOUR BLOOD...
I made a trip to the Blood Bank of Delmarva today to donate blood. I've donated countless times. The first time I ever donated, I was scared shitless. In fact, I signed up for a blood drive in college under false pretenses. I had gained my freshman fifteen, and I used the blood drive as a weight loss motivator. I figured since I was so scared, I'd be sure to loose those 15 pounds--which would have made me ineligible to donate. Apparently, the junk food, the booze and the "ice your own cupcakes" were far too important. On the day of the blood drive, I met the weight requirement....and I donated. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Since then, I've donated over 10 gallons of blood.
About six years ago, I began donating platelets. This procedure is a bit more complicated and time consuming than donating whole blood, but it can benefit more patients. During the procedure, your blood is removed from one arm, fed through a machine that removed the platelets, and put back into your other arm. I don't know if I'm correct in this analogy, but I often liken it to dialysis. In dialysis, the bad stuff is removed from your blood. Here, it's the "good stuff" that is removed.
I found the following information on a Red Cross Website. Here's the link. The information on that page has been pasted below too--for those who do not want to follow the link...just because I think it's important information.
In an apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) donation, from the Greek "to take away," donors give only select blood components — platelets, plasma, red cells, infection-fighting white cells called granulocytes, or a combination of these, depending on the donors' blood type and the needs of the community. Apheresis is most commonly used to collect platelets and plasma.
Patient Benefits
A single apheresis donation of platelets can provide as many platelets as 5 whole blood donations. In addition, a platelet transfusion from a single donor greatly reduces the chances of an immune system reaction to the transfusion. Bone marrow transplant, cancer and leukemia patients whose immune systems are already compromised, benefit particularly from single donor platelet transfusions.
Apheresis donors' donations go through additional typing called Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing to ensure that the match between donor and recipient is as close as possible. Donors are then matched with specific patients in hospitals. Apheresis donors may receive emergency requests to donate for a patient to whom they are matched. Many apheresis donors find the knowledge that they are helping a specific individual in need particularly rewarding.
People who donate just platelets can donate every 3 days for a maximum of 24 times a year.
Who Can Be an Apheresis Donor?
The same good health requirements that govern whole blood donors apply to apheresis donors. You must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.
The Apheresis Donation Process: Safe and Easy
Similar to a whole blood donation, an aphersis donation consists of four steps: registration, health history and mini-physical, donation, and refreshments. From registration to refreshments, the process lasts 1½ -2½ hours. During the actual donation, you will sit in a comfortable recliner, and a carefully monitored machine will draw blood from one arm through sterile tubing into a cell separator centrifuge. The blood stays inside the self-contained sterile tubing and never comes in contact with the machine. After the blood component(s) have been collected, the rest of the blood is returned to the donor through the same arm or the other arm. It's a safe process — the collection sets and needles are sterile, used once for each donor and then discarded. Donors usually relax, read, or enjoy a movie during the donation.
Giving blood--and platelets--is a great way to help the community! A whole blood donation takes about an hour. That includes the interview and time in the "canteen" where they feed you! A pheresis donation takes about 2 hours. At The Blood Bank of Delmarva, there are TVs available and a library of movies to watch. Plus, all of the phlebotomists are wonderful and seem to really enjoy their jobs. They don't even mind wiping snot off your nose after you've sneezed! How gross!
Should you decide to try pheresis, be forewarned. Dress warmly. Something in the anticoagulant they give you can make you really cold!!!!!
About six years ago, I began donating platelets. This procedure is a bit more complicated and time consuming than donating whole blood, but it can benefit more patients. During the procedure, your blood is removed from one arm, fed through a machine that removed the platelets, and put back into your other arm. I don't know if I'm correct in this analogy, but I often liken it to dialysis. In dialysis, the bad stuff is removed from your blood. Here, it's the "good stuff" that is removed.
I found the following information on a Red Cross Website. Here's the link. The information on that page has been pasted below too--for those who do not want to follow the link...just because I think it's important information.
In an apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) donation, from the Greek "to take away," donors give only select blood components — platelets, plasma, red cells, infection-fighting white cells called granulocytes, or a combination of these, depending on the donors' blood type and the needs of the community. Apheresis is most commonly used to collect platelets and plasma.
Patient Benefits
A single apheresis donation of platelets can provide as many platelets as 5 whole blood donations. In addition, a platelet transfusion from a single donor greatly reduces the chances of an immune system reaction to the transfusion. Bone marrow transplant, cancer and leukemia patients whose immune systems are already compromised, benefit particularly from single donor platelet transfusions.
Apheresis donors' donations go through additional typing called Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing to ensure that the match between donor and recipient is as close as possible. Donors are then matched with specific patients in hospitals. Apheresis donors may receive emergency requests to donate for a patient to whom they are matched. Many apheresis donors find the knowledge that they are helping a specific individual in need particularly rewarding.
People who donate just platelets can donate every 3 days for a maximum of 24 times a year.
Who Can Be an Apheresis Donor?
The same good health requirements that govern whole blood donors apply to apheresis donors. You must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.
The Apheresis Donation Process: Safe and Easy
Similar to a whole blood donation, an aphersis donation consists of four steps: registration, health history and mini-physical, donation, and refreshments. From registration to refreshments, the process lasts 1½ -2½ hours. During the actual donation, you will sit in a comfortable recliner, and a carefully monitored machine will draw blood from one arm through sterile tubing into a cell separator centrifuge. The blood stays inside the self-contained sterile tubing and never comes in contact with the machine. After the blood component(s) have been collected, the rest of the blood is returned to the donor through the same arm or the other arm. It's a safe process — the collection sets and needles are sterile, used once for each donor and then discarded. Donors usually relax, read, or enjoy a movie during the donation.
Giving blood--and platelets--is a great way to help the community! A whole blood donation takes about an hour. That includes the interview and time in the "canteen" where they feed you! A pheresis donation takes about 2 hours. At The Blood Bank of Delmarva, there are TVs available and a library of movies to watch. Plus, all of the phlebotomists are wonderful and seem to really enjoy their jobs. They don't even mind wiping snot off your nose after you've sneezed! How gross!
Should you decide to try pheresis, be forewarned. Dress warmly. Something in the anticoagulant they give you can make you really cold!!!!!
Sunday, July 1, 2007
It's My Party...
I'm SO behind with all my pictures and such! I just can't seem to find enough hours in the day. And, I'm having some computer issues so that doesn't help either. My poor machine seems to have nearly run out of memory. Yikes!
Anyway, Treavor's birthday party was yesterday. It was lots of fun! As soon as I fix my memory problem (and the computer's too!), I'll post some pictures of that. AND....I also have video coverage. A first for me! I borrowed a camcorder from the base to capture the even for Jeff. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure out how to incorporate it into something fun!
The above is a picture of Treavor with his first birthday cake. We had some friends over on Friday to celebrate his "actual birthday." Despite this picture, he did enjoy the cake....and the bath afterward! More to come soon!
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