Month: January 2021

My Experience with the COVID-19 Vaccine

So first, let me start by saying I feel extremely grateful to have been in the first round of recipients. Working in the clinic setting I thought I would have been in a second or maybe even in a third wave of recipients but with the possibility that it will become necessary to deploy ambulatory RNs into the hospital in the event of worsening COVID surging I was able to get both vaccinations at early dates. I feel for those healthcare workers who have been on the frontlines from the beginning yet still unable to receive it at this time even though they are the fighting hands, day in and day out, aiding in saving lives of so many who have become infected with this awful illness. My hope is that all healthcare workers and non healthcare workers will have it in the coming weeks to months so we can all start to feel at least a little protected as we attempt to return to normalcy.

Vaccination #1 – Saturday, December 19, 2020. 10:00AM

Initially, I felt fine. My arm a little sore – to be expected, a sharp object was just jabbed into it. I came home from receiving my vaccination and went about life as normal. Tyler and I went for a walk, ate lunch, cleaned house… honestly a pretty normal Saturday.

Then somewhere around 4pm, I was wiped out!! I felt like a train hit me. We had just gotten back from our walk about 30min prior to and it was all I could do to keep my eyes open. By 4:30, I couldn’t fight the urge to fall asleep any more and climbed into bed. I slept harder than I have ever slept for 2 straight hours. By the time I woke up, my arm HURT. I actually only woke up because I rolled over onto that arm and the pain woke me. I stayed awake for a few hours then returned to bed by 9pm and called it a night.

The next morning I was a little groggy and had a dull headache. By the 24hr mark I was okay, minus my arm. The arm pain started to fade by the 48hr mark and was completely gone by Tuesday when I woke up.

Vaccination #2 – Thursday, January 7, 2020, 10:00AM

Just like the first one, initially I felt okay. I had the vaccine, waited my 15min then headed back to work (at home) for the rest of the day. The first few hours were business as usual, then it hit me like a ton of bricks…

Around 2:00 the headache started, just a dull annoying headache but nothing seemed to make it go away. I tried Tylenol, caffeine, and extra water – my usual cure for all headaches. By 4:00, the chills set in. I felt like I was freezing in my 70 degree home with sweats and a blanket on. By 6:00, I was full on miserable. My head was pounding, my body ached, I was shivering like I was in the Arctic in a bikini, and my arm felt like it was rammed by a bull running full speed. I took another dose of Tylenol at about 8:30 and went to bed to try and sleep off the misery.

The next morning, the headache and just general feeling of brain fog were still present as well as the body aches. I was able to go into work and complete my day but boy do I wish I had it off so I could have slept off the rest of the misery. By about noon, the brain fog and headache did begin to lift and by around 4:00/5:00 the body aches were diminishing. Again, this night, I was in bed by around 8:30pm but thankfully, I only needed to take one dose of Tylenol all day.

The following morning, my symptoms were almost completely gone. A dull headache and a sore arm were my only remaining side effects. The headache went away by the end of the day and the sore arm gone by the end of day Monday.

All in all, even though I did experience side effects, I feel so blessed to have had the vaccine and I feel that it was well worth all the discomfort I felt in the days follow receiving it. I know there is still so much unknown about the vaccine and honestly the virus itself but I feel like it is a great step towards us at least attempting to return to normalcy.

If you have had the vaccine already, please share your experience below. And if you have not received it yet and have questions, please reach out. I would love to answer any questions that I can or at least help direct you to a credible site for further information.

xo, Kathryn

*disclaimer* This post reflects my personal experience with being administered the Pfizer vaccine. You may or may not have the same experience.

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Cooking with Tyler – Week 1

So anyone who knows Tyler, knows he loves a recipe for an idea THEN he basically throws it away midway through preparing the meal and runs with the rest of the dish how he sees best fit. Let’s be real, sometimes this makes something that would be good — AMAZING… and other times, well it ends up with whole lot of love, some crazy flavor, and maybe even a run to Taco Bell.

So for our first recipe we made Avocado Toast with Miso Fast Greens from Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky’s cookbook, Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow. Sounds like a simple recipe but trust me, Tyler found his ways to mix it up…

Ingredients:

  • whole grain bread – Nope, Tyler doesn’t like whole grain so Italian bread fo us
  • avocado
  • greens – Tyler used kale
  • eggs
  • salt
  • pepper
  • olive oil
  • miso butter
  • garlic – Tyler used pre minced from the jar
  • red peper flakes
  • sesame seeds – I forgot to buy (oops!)
  • everything bagel seasoning – added by Tyler
  • balsamic vinegar – added by Tyler

And notice, I did not put the amount for anything…. Tyler eyeballed from the start today.

Step 1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat then add greens, stirring frequently, until wilted – done to perfection!

Step 2. Add miso butter, garlic, and red pepper flakes and saute – after a look of disgust when opening the miso butter, he completed this step to perfection… minus the measuring part.

Greens Complete….oh what there is more! Batch 1 turned out perfect and there is so much kale left over, now lets skip the miso and add balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper! Check! Oh wait, there is even more! Now lets make them with just olive oil. Thank goodness Tyler liked the extra special flavors… because nope, that was a funky combo of flavors (and yes, he used the same pan from the first perfect batch through his specialty concoctions…Hello Flavor!)

Step 3. Toast the bread, scoop half an avocado on each slice, smashing the avocado with the back of the fork onto the toast – sous chef to the rescue! My only appearance till clean up has been made. Done to perfection if I do say so myself!

Step 4. Place greens on top of layer of avocado – we had two pieces of toast each, and the mystery greens were a thing. Tyler didn’t tell me which piece had which of the specialty greens so the first bite sure was interesting. Hint, it wasn’t the delicious Miso Greens!

Step 5. Make the perfect fried eggs and place on top of greens- I have to give Tyler credit, he made 4 perfectly cooked, runny eggs. Bravo, Chef!

Step 6. Garnish with red pepper flakes and sesame seeds – not a chance! Garnish by Tyler was Everything Bagel Seasoning — this was actually a great choice! The extra salt was the perfect addition.

So all in all, we ended up with something that was pretty similar to the original recipe, only a few twists and turns. Judge Kathryn (me) gave Tyler a score of: 8. Would have been a 9 but he used too many unnecessary dishes (that I had to clean up).

See below for the original recipe and let me know if you decide to give the Pros or Chef Tyler’s version of the recipe a try!

Happy Cooking!

xo, Kathryn

Let’s Try This Again… Hi, My Name is Kathryn

Hi! Wow, how has more than 2 years gone by since I last post!? Yikes! I have to say, I have certainly missed writing. So with this [ridiculously] long delay since my last post, please allow me to reintroduce myself, or should I say, introduce my NEW self! Just kidding, still the same me, just a new last name….

Hi, my name is Kathryn Meadley. I married the LOVE of my life, Tyler, on 10.31.2020. With the marriage I also got the best puppy son in the ENTIRE world, Ash. He is my shadow, snuggle buddy, and is 100% a mama’s boy. Tyler said he lost him to me while we were dating but being married is a whole new ball game. Don’t worry, you will hear more about both my boys frequently if you continue to follow along through this journey.

And yes, my gray fur baby kitties are also still around. We are a happy family of five. The kitty cats are still just as cute and needy as ever. Debra is my sassy, little girl and Dexter, Debra’s son (we think), is still just as scared of life as ever before. He trusts his people and his mom (Debra) ONLY! But hey, even though he is always in his constant state of hiding, Debra takes great care of him and makes sure neither of them EVER miss a meal.

I also still work as a Registered Nurse. I work for an outpatient cardiology clinic… yep, I left the 12 hour shifts and back breaking work of the bedside for the 8-5 Monday – Friday life. It certainly has its perks but sometimes I do miss those mid week days off. Hard to say no to weekly routine and a consistent sleep schedule though. I have been with this clinic for almost a year and it has treated me well. I even get to work from home from time to time… certainly nice during a pandemic.

Exercise …. well that’s been a bit all over the place. I MISS RACES and EXERCISE CLASSES (without masks)! They gave my TRAINing purpose but I am navigating the online fitness world and am slowly finding a love for BeachBody on Demand. Maybe one day I will follow a program from start to finish but for now I am enjoying the ability to change it up most everyday. As for running, I am finally finding my stride. I had an injury shortly before the wedding (just another obstacle to juggle as a COVID bride! Insert full sass eye roll! haha) that kept me off the pavement for about 3months but over the last few weeks I have started to run more consistently and its starting to feel less like torture.

Food…. this has been a HUGE perk of getting married. Tyler is a GREAT cook and LOVES to cook! #winning!!!! Tyler does about 90% of all the cooking in our house and it is AMAZING!! Yes, I still hate cooking so I have become a great dishwasher while he creates fantastic meals. Slowly, I will transition him to cooking healthier meals but for now I am enjoying not picking up a pot or pan or planning a single meal. It sure is nice to actually EAT at least one good, home cooked meal a day. Oh, how I love this man! (PS this no cooking thing has had its trade off… I am now the Laundry Queen!)

I think that about sums up an introduction/where I am at in life now. I cannot wait to connect with each of you in the coming weeks and months!

XO, Kathryn