Running thru life... URRRR

So last Thursday it happened.
I was rear ended on Route 66.
I was hit hard.

Fortunately, there was a police officer that was like two cars behind us.
So he escorted us both to the emergency lane where we exchanged information, and then got back in our cars.  I specifically asked for the police officers information because it is always better to have more information than less.  I also asked to look that the person who hit me insurance card so I could verify that information she gave me was correct.

I got in the car and called my hubby who was on his way to class. (I used speaker phone so i had both hands on the steering wheel!- More important- He actually picked up his phone.)
He told me he would meet me at home because I was kind of shaken up regarding the whole thing.

Upon getting out of the car, he asked me if i was ok and I responded with:  "Yea but my back hurts."
His response:  "We are going to the ER."
Mine:  "No we are not- I just spent 12 hours in a hospital- I am not about to go back to one."
(Of note this week was not my week- rough week!!!)
After a couple minutes of going back and forth and my husband stating he was not going to class,
I gave in on going to the ER.

We headed to FairOaks because you could not pay me money to go to Fairfax Hospital because they are huge and we would be there for ever.
We entered the ER at 7 pm and were out by 8:30pm.
It was all and all a good experience but I think that is because I knew what to say.

The doctor walked in and asked what brought me in and I said something like this:  "Status post MVA- rear-ended.  Airbags did not deploy, seat belt locked.  Lower back pain- most likely lumbar strain.  No loss of sensory, no radiating pain.  Pain in lower back 2/10- not bad but there.  Uncomfortable.  No allergies to any medicine, no major medical hx."  The doctor looked at me and laughed-  "Are you a physician?"
I an answered with "No I am a nurse Midwife, the pain is not bad but because it was caused by a accident by someone else I want it to be documented in case the back pain continues and I have issues down the line.  I really just think rest, Motrin and maybe a muscle relaxer would help."
He agreed:  10 minutes later I was signing my release papers with my muscle relaxer prescription.
He did tell me that I can not run for at least a week maybe two until I am completely feeling no pain- OMG!!!!! Seriously it was like he was telling me I lost my leg.  Not running possibly a whole two weeks- that is hell to me!

So Joe called out from work for me for Friday and I am glad he did for two reason:
1) Muscle relaxers make you feel like you are out of your body and totally relaxed
2) I spent all day on the phone with our insurance company and then later with the lady who hit me insurance company. PAIN IN MY BUTT...

Not only do I have an automobile insurance claim but now I also have a personal injury claim to cover my ER bill, pain medicine bills,  days lost at work, and yes my marathon which my doctor advised me against running in two weeks....urrrrr!!!!

The lady that hit me, actually tried to call me multiple times.  After discussing it with Joe, we decided we are going to do everything thru the insurance companies because it is safer legally, especially since I have been injured.

Fortunately, USAA (my insurance company) called me around 11 and after an hour on the phone with them they had already started my automobile claim, had a estimate set up, and a rental car set up for me.  Then they discussed my Personal injury Claim and gave me some pointers.  Personal Injury Claims results in a lump payment to the injured.  It is a one time payment- ie do not rush into settling until you know that you are doing well and will not need long term treatment.  Also keep trace of everything from doctor appointments, names,  prescriptions,  etc.

Which is what I have been doing.  I have a folder in my desk where I am keeping everything!!

This whole experience has been weird:

1)Friday I felt like I had no control over anything- I just layed around the house- something I do not think I have even done a day in my life.....Joe waited on me hand and foot, which was wonderful but weird to me.

2)USAA is awesome because they:
1) Quick to response
2) Speak English
3) Give me all my options and also give me a heads up on what the other insurance company might ask, etc.  

3) I have amazing friends, family, and co-workers.  I had so many calls on Friday and Saturday checking on me.   Friday at one point- i had to hand my phone over to Joe because I needed to rest. 
=0)

It is Thursday right now (a week later), I find that I only experience the back pain when I sit in one place for more than 30 minutes or after working all day on my feet.  If not feeling better by Friday, I am going to need to make a follow up appointment.  The doctor said the first 4 days are the hardest and  it should resolve within a week, if it persist longer than a week I should have follow up.

I am trying to keep thinking good thoughts!
Thanks for all the good thoughts this week. 

Running thru life... New Book Series...

I am in love with a new book Series...

The Hunger Games!!

My friend recommended the book and let me borrow hers- I finished it in two days.

It is rare that I read something and say- OMG, That was amazing.

So I recommended it to my sister in law who purchased the 3 books together.  

Saturday she gave me the last two.  

So Sunday and Monday I spent time recovering from the car accident on the couch with 

"Catching Fire."

OMG!!!

Just as good as the first book, makes me want to read the third!

I have told myself that I can not start the third until next weekend, because I find that it turns into an all night reading event which is not good during the work week.

The movie for The Hunger Games is opening in Theaters March 23- 

Be excited.

Be very excited

Running thru life... A Kiss

Ever have a day where you just need a kiss...

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Coconut Kiss to be exact!!!!

Running thru life..... Happy Birthday

Today my hubby turns 30!!!

Happy Birthday to him....

Joe ended taking the day off and I had the day off.  

So we spent the morning at the repair shop getting everything squared away with my car...

URRRR...... another future post!

Then headed home to open Birthday presents......

Clemson was playing keep away with the Birthday Cards

 Then on to a Birthday Lunch at Restaurant Eve!

 Restaurant Eve was awesome!!!

Then home to spend the rest of the day relaxing and Joe playing with his new Ipod Nano.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!!

Running thru life... Goat Cheese, Fig, & Walnut Mac

Another recipe from Family Circle:

Goat Cheese, Fig, and Walnut Mac

I love Mac and Cheese and this recipe caught my eye because it was different:

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups 2% milk

1 spring of fresh rosemary

1 pound gemeli

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons all purpose floor

2 logs (4 ounces each) goat cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup dried figs, sliced

1 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Instructions:

Step 1: Add milk and rosemary to a small lidded saucepan over low heat.  Cover for 20-25 minutes, allowing herb to infuse.  Remove rosemary sprig.

Step 2:  Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil- add gemeli.  Cook per package directions; drain and set aside. 

Step 3:  In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.  Sprinkle in flour, whisking constantly for 2 minutes.  Pour in infused milk, whisking until it comes to a boil.  Simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes.  Crumble in goat cheese, piece by piece, stirring until smooth.  Add salt, figs, walnuts and cooked gemeli.  Serve immediately.  

Finished product!

Excellent and very very different.

Very easy and will be using this recipe again!

Running thru life... Cake Time!

 With Joe's Birthday just around the corner, I thought I would try out some dessert Recipes that I have been saving.  First up:

Snowball Cake

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (2-layer size) devil's food cake mix

1  pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1 egg

2Tbsp. granulated sugar

1pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1cup cold milk

1tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

1cup BAKER'S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut

Instructions

HEAT oven to 350ºF.

PREPARE cake batter, in 2-1/2-qt. ovenproof bowl, as directed on package; scrape side of bowl. Beat cream cheese, egg and granulated sugar until well blended; spoon into center of batter in bowl.

BAKE 1 hour 5 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in bowl 10 min. Loosen cake from bowl with knife; invert onto wire rack. Remove bowl. Cool cake completely.

MEANWHILE, beat dry pudding mix, powdered sugar and milk in bowl with whisk 2 min. Stir in COOL WHIP. Refrigerate until ready to use.

PLACE cake on plate; frost with pudding mixture. Cover with coconut. Keep refrigerated.

So I made the cake on Friday night and then Frosted in Saturday morning.  

Finished Product:

What is looks like when you cut into!

It was an easy recipe that tasted delicious!

Next time I think I might try using a flavored cream cheese to add a little something extra like strawberry.  

Happy Baking...

Running thru life... Let the sunshine IN!

You may recall in December I posted Home Project that I am taking on this year. 

Well another one in complete!
Installing a Storm Door

Our basement is quite dark and would love to add some natural light into it-
also it would be great to have to let Clemson look out. 

This sounds easy enough- you go to to Home Depot/Loews, Pick out a door and install it- right?

WRONG!!!

Apparently the way our front door is, it is necessary to build out the frame in order to install a day. 

Something that HomeDepot/Lowes/Our normal handy man is not comfortable with doing. 

URRR.... something easy turned into hard. 

So I started looking into options-
I contacted a couple contractors, and a couple companies that specialize in installing doors. 

I ended up getting estimated from 4 companies-  Ranging from $500 to $1250.

Talk about range!

We decided to go with JustDoors which is based out of Ashburn for $500. 

So they came on two Fridays ago and installed our door in less then 2 hours.

This was definitely worth paying for someone to do it since the door alone would have been 200-300 dollars.  We got an Anderson door that has a interchangeable screen for the Spring and Fall time.  I really do not know how much will with use this but only time will tell.  

After the door was installed I did a little touch up painting that I wanted to do....

 and here it is....

The only thing that still needs to be done is the guy from Just Doors has to get some more nail covers so the black nails which you can not really see in the picture will be covered and blend in with the white.  

So far we love it because it add so much light into our house!!

Clemson also loves it!!

Next house project...... Carpet 

Urrr....