me...a hot mess

So for a solid week I've been driving in the god awful heat with my top down. It's just too hot for my air to keep up with a cloth roof. On Friday the 6th I drove to work 25 miles, then drove to Long Grove 22 miles. I was absolutely soaked by the time I got there...I mean soaked. I grabbed Cal and Karrick (they were there for a week plus)  a full computer, flat screen, the Wii, some toys and their luggage. All of this in my tiny car. While driving to Lombard, right passed Woodfield I noticed my gas gauge said 10 miles til empty. I would make it to the next exit or so I thought....sweating like a whore in church on Sunday, I continued driving....within 2 miles my car just ran out of gas. FUCK!!!! It's a 112 with heat index, I have 2 kids in the car and I fucking run out of gas? I coast to the shoulder and park. Ca l and I tried to find a gas station via our phones but it was too sunny and too loud on 53. I decide to walk to find a station. I grabbed Karrick and left Cal. 45 min later I return empty handed , but almost delirious from the heat. I carried Karrick part of the way and kept him in any shaded areas while walking. I called 911 and they send a State Trooper. He takes 1 look at me and puts all of us in the squad to cool off. He gets warm water bottles from his trunk for us to drink as he calls for back-up and the 2nd trooper has gas...Booyah!

I start laughing...yes laughing because this whole thing is just ridiculous. I have a invisible sprinkler pouring water down my head  so I use Buttercup as my sham-wow to constantly dry off. 

Karrick with a look of horror on his face throw his hands up and asks in a very stern voice

 "what are you laughing about?" I had no idea. The trooper tells me he is calling 911 for an ambulance as he thinks Im not acting right.. 

All the while I keep thinking "I have a giant 75th birthday party for my dad in less than 24 hrs and really?! I don't have time for this. Ambulance comes and asks me to get out of squad

2 paramedics grab an arm and support me walking to the ambulance...I am now super dizzy and my fingers and lips are tingling. I can't catch my breath and continue to rain sweat on everything.

Once in ambulance I am packed in ice packs, IV, heart monitor, blood pressure and glucose level are all checked. 

They take me, Cal, Karrick, the luggage, computer, Wii and my camera bag all in ambulance to Alexian Brothers ER.

My body temp is high, blood pressure is high and still sweating. They take a bunch of blood to make sure toxins haven't been released into my muscles. That comes back normal except my potassium is low. They give me supplements, keep ice on me, IV and monitor temp and BP.

All I can worry about is..the party, I have so many things to finish up for my dads party. I need to go and go home now! A few hours later I return to normal...tim shows up from downtown. My wonderful brother in law picked up my car on the side of the road. The equally wonderful trooper waited with my car and key til Brian got there (otherwise towed at 180 bucks)

I had Heat Exhaustion 

Arrow marks where we stopped...look around not a freaking gas station for miles!

this was me

My hero's to the rescue....

Unfreaking-believable how in Gods name do I get heat exhaustion ? 

Ex lifeguard  and ex paramedic...just insane! almost a sin

Fireman Karrick

Sunday Karrick and I spent the day with the Lombard Fire Department. Karrick was a Fireman for a Day. It was so much more than I could have ever expected. Fireman are probably the happiest people alive. I grew up around fireman and know a lot of fireman . Every single one will tell you they love their job, that they are excited and happy when it is their day to work. These men went out of their way to embrace Karrick and terach him everything they could. Fireman Tony took Karrick by the hand through every inch of that firehouse; he opened every compartment on each truck, Engine and ambulance and explained what and how everything worked. He gave Karrick as much hands on experience allowed. We got to go out on calls (we couldn't get out of the engine)

There are a lot of pictures here, I picked some that are cute, great photography and some that show Karrick's  feelings. Karrick's smiles are worth their weight in gold. These men got down to Karrick's level when they spoke to him...literally down to his level.

Karrick and FF Tony sitting quietly in the back of the Engine

                                         Karrick was told it was his turn to go up
                                                                         and
                                               ff Tony waving me on too...yikes! 

  I shot the skyline from the tower really freaking high up all the way from Lombard

 Karrick loved the headphones, he was able to talk to the other fireman, hear the radio and not the blaring sirens

The firehouse had a training facility on-site. A child and adult dummy were in the house that was set up. We went through it without the fire and smoke machines

Karrick was put to work and felt really important, He learned how to drain the hose then twist them to dry in sun. This house doesn't have the hose tower to hand wet hoses to dry

chillin in the family room watching TV after a hard day. A few men walked to the gas station next store and surprised Karrick with Skittles. We had  lunch with them...blueberry, chocolate chip and/or plain pancakes, bacon, eggs and hash -browns. We left before dinner because TJ had a baseball game and karrick was getting tired. 

Pinning a Honorary firefighter badge on Buttercup

FF Tony drove karrick home from the South Lombard station (we are N Lombard, but our station doesn't have the training facility) they flipped on  lights and sirens coming down our block. I almost cried. I left 1st so I could get Tim and the brothers outside to greet them

family and Thanksgiving

 Tim's brother Mike and family came in from Colorado for the week. My niece Kristin and her fiance Jack came in from Boston. Jack is from England and they met at college in Boston. It was a great week and loads of fun. My sister in law Chris is the blond version of me. After the few months I've had it was great to just laugh. I set my timer on the camera to capture all of us...clearly I belong behind the camera. My right arm was injured (unable to move or use.. ridiculous pain) so I couldn't even do my hair or readjust my scrunchie. Below I prematurely started cheering at the success of the timed pictures (there are at least 4 more like it)

The rope swing on the hill was a huge hit

 Karrick and Fergie snuggling 

I tried super hard to get my other 2 nieces over for a total grandchildren picture but was not successful