So, here's the latest on the wrist.....

Yesterday I had an appointment with a sports medicine doc. I do not have a ganglion! And I do not have anything wrong with my bones according to the xrays. So no surgery! Yippee!!

What I do have are some very irritated tendons and the synovial spaces! So the big word is extensor tendonitis and synovitis. I went to my first massage appointment for it this afternoon and boy was there very painful moments but I think it was really good for my wicked tight forearm!

Yeah, there is recovery for tendonitis! And I want it quickly! So heat and ice, massage and stretches, complete with a topical anti inflammatory and we'll see what happens!

So, it's pretty good news but I'm still a little impatient to have this all behind me! I need peace and patience to enjoy the small steps toward healing!

I regret to inform you......

We did not win the lottery tonight =( Too bad for us! I was hoping to have the story of winning the lottery without ever having actually purchased a ticket!

But, on the other hand, we have the wonderful chance of learning more throughout this next year about faith and provision from our wonderful Father. Who wants to pass up that opportunity and take the easy route?

Yippppeeeeee!!!!

We opened presents and it feels like we won the lottery or had a bridal shower all over again! I'm pumped! And I do hope that we win the lottery this week, as there was a ticket in one of our cards! We'd definitely use that 8 million! We'd have no debt, a house and Sanctuary would OWN, yes own, a building!!!!

Merry Christmas again!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

It is quite early on Christmas (about 1am) and I still have to go to sleep so that I can wake up for Christmas!

We had a nice gathering with my dad yesterday and the Farrow's today, after a nice reduced Sanctuary day!

Off to bed I go! A full day ahead!

Let the holidays begin!!!!

I just finished my last shift before Christmas! I worked that past two nights and they were nice for me. I just love working only 2 in a row!

And now I have the Christmas week off! I have a great boss! I have from right now on the 22nd to the later evening of the 29th off from work! He gave me a great Christmas schedule!

And I've surprised myself in the last few days with how excited I'm getting about Christmas. It generally isn't a huge deal for me because I can celebrate the meaning of Christmas any day of the year! It's not the day that matters to me!

But, I'm a little extra excited about it this year. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I didn't get to do Christmas last year because I worked all of Christmas, missed family gatherings, Shane and I didn't give each other any presents and then off we went to OneThing. This year I get to make all family get-togethers but one, Shane and I are giving gifts to one another which is a special treat and I get a lot of Shane and family time this week! Yippee!

So, I should get to bed so that I can wake up and begin my week off!

Bummer!

I applied for a position that was looking better and better the more I thought about it. I've had it on my mind for the past 2 weeks...praying and thinking about it, whether it would be wise, etc. And I decided that it would be good! I was setting my hopes on it.

I couldn't stand the suspense any longer, so I called my boss this morning. There are two runners up in front of me! I'm really surprised because I didn't think anyone in their right mind would take the position except me! Everyone I talked to definitely wouldn't apply...so they said. So, I felt pretty good about it.

Looks like I'm out of luck. As my boss said, Carry on!

Fun festivities!!!!

I'm smelling good (wearing the perfume Shane likes that I rarely wear), looking fine (dressed up and even have mascara on which almost never happens!), and ready for a night out with the girls!

A few of my close dear friends and I are going out for our monthly girls day, but we always do something special for the month of December! Mmmmmm.....Pine Ridge Hollow! Very fun for the season!

Just waiting until it's time to pick up the ladies!

Let the gatherings begin!

Today is gathering #1 of the Christmas '06 season. We are going out to my mom's for the day! We generally don't do presents because we head out to a hotel for the weekend in the New Year instead. But us kids got her a little something this year!

Our gatherings are a little like a potluck, as I always bring the dessert and Steph always brings the drinks! It works pretty well that way.

I'm going to bring some games.....especially our newest addition...Killer Bunnies! Playing it with just 2 people isn't so fun. I think it will be much better with a few others!

Unfortunately, I had to miss my first day of work because of my wrist yesterday. I've had my brace on and off since Thursday night when I got home from work. It's been really sore. I even slept with the brace on the last two nights...it feels better on the wrist but ends up bothering my hand! I hadn't had to miss any work related to my wrist yet, but the last 3 days it has been really sore. I made it through my 12 hour shift on Thursday by massaging it, icing it multiple times and watching very closely what I was doing with my wrist. I was lucky that I had a really good assignment so I could use my wrist minimally.....but I can't count on that every shift! By 5:30am on Friday morning, we thought I should rest the wrist for the day. I'm glad I did. It is always really hard for me to not go in for a shift (which has only happened once since I started in August '05!)

So, keep praying for my wrist! I want it fully healed!

And I'm going to bring the brace, be careful today and enjoy my family and the yummy food! Merry Christmas!

Ahhhh....the good old wrist...

Time for a wrist update. Feeling a bit of disappointment. Last week was a fabulous wrist week! The most pain free week since August.

The last two days have been the most painful in the last few weeks. And my heart is disappointed. I was so hoping that last week meant my wrist was going to be pain free forever.

I let the supervisor know this morning that I'm having extra pain but coming in. She seemed to encourage me a bit to stay home...as she had an extra nurse to place. It seems way too complicated with WCB to introduce missing time into the picture. Hopefully I don't have to go home in the middle of the shift, because she'll already have canceled the other nurse. I hate those kind of decisions. But I'm going to work.

I still have an appointment with a sports medicine doctor right after Christmas. I was starting to hope last week that I wouldn't need him!

So, I continue to ask you all to pray. I want a fully restored wrist that functions fully and without any pain. My heart needs a little encouragement from the Lord about this healing thing. But, though I don't get it, I'll keep on praying faithfully!

Ahhhh....I love Wednesday mornings!

Wednesday mornings are one of my favorite times of the week! I love having the morning at home, and all to myself. It is some nice Kristi time. Shane goes out with Brian each Wednesday morning and though I sometimes want to sleep in, I try to get up when he leaves so that I get some valuable time to myself.

Wednesdays are generally the days that I get some good studying in. Right now I'm watching a DVD series on the Song of Solomon. I'm really enjoying it, but each DVD is so long that I have to break it up over the week!

Wednesdays usually means making a good supper too! And I like that! After coming off fast days on Tuesdays and having the day at home mostly on Wednesday, we make a point of having a yummy supper together! I also like that about Wednesdays.

Wednesdays are usually days that I can fit in a coffee with a friend! Today Christina and I are going for coffee to celebrate her birthday which was last Friday. It will be nice to get together! Then I'm going to do a little more Christmas shopping as we are having our first official gathering this Saturday and we wanted to get my mom a little something.

So, all in all, Wednesdays are in competition for my favorite day of the week. I love staying at home. I love alone time (sometimes). I love having yummy suppers with my hubbie. I love the occasional coffee with a good friend. I love having time to pray, read the Word and study more specifically.

Ahhh....I'm glad it's Wednesday!

Supportive Care in Labor......

That was the title of an all-day workshop I went to this past tuesday. I felt inspired when I left. And excited about my choice of career.

We went over a whole bunch of things to do in labor to provide support to a laboring patient. Almost everything that I have heard before, but definitely a good reminder! It inspired me to think a little more outside the box and try to be a little more creative when I can be!

So, today was my chance to try some things out! I had a low-risk, healthy patient with a happy baby (inside) that was hoping to have her baby without analgesia (drugs for pain). So, we did all kinds of things while laboring and while pushing. It was fun! And now I'm exhausted!

But, we got a beautiful, huge 10 pound baby out of the deal, with a beautiful delivery, and no pain meds used at all! Just what she wanted! And that she was so satisfied (and that she said my voice was so soothing for her throughout her labor) made me feel content and happy with the way I did my job today! (Deanna, I thought of you! You would have loved it!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINA!!!!!

Today is Christina's birthday! I hope that you have a fun day and enjoy the next year of 24 like crazy!

Two other friends of mine have also had birthdays this week - Erica and Heather - and both days I was meaning to call them and then it got too late! Bummer! So, Heather, if you are reading this, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOU TOO!

On the wrist front, I'm have a really good wrist week! Probably the best that it's been in the past 3 months or so! I'm very encouraged and praying that this means total and complete healing from this place forward!

Today I start my 3 day shifts in a row weekend. Usually if my wrist is going to hurt at all, it is going to be after this specific weekend in a month. So, here's the test!

I've had the least pain all week, compared to the past 12 or so and I have been able to play guitar almost every day without pain too! It's been so great! I'm very encouraged!

Shopping can be fun???

I went to the mall with Steph to look at possible Christmas gifts and we had a really fun time together! We both tried on clothes and actually found multiple things that worked and we would actually like!

I generally don't like the mall. I get super tired from a short walk in the mall - there is something that zaps my strength and endurance when I'm there.

But today was fun! We could have enjoyed hours more in the mall together! And so often, even if I'd like to buy something to wear (which is rare), there is nothing that I would like or would look nice. Today was different too!

Ahhhh....sisters rock! I had tons of fun with you Steph! Let's do that again!

So, now that Shane's had the day to blog an explanation......

Today marks 1 whole year without seizures! So, today is a special milestone in our house! Yippee! This means that I could soon have to share my van......=) I've had access to wheels at any time for a year and a half and that could soon change...and I'm definitely ok with that! It will be nice to have more than one driver in the house again!

Yeah for healing!

Today marks a special anniversary.......Shane's got dibs on the explanation!

The season has started.....

The Christmas party was a success with 14 friends and a whole lot of yummy food! We played a fun, interactive game and had a blast with regifting presents! I love regifting! We got a sweet gift out of the deal! Thanks Jacquie and Joe!

Then came Saturday and it was time to bake up a storm with my sister and mom! It was our annual Christmas baking day! We spent about 3-4 hours baking 3 different recipes! Mmmm....holiday cookies, million dollar shortbread and magic french fudge!!!! So good!

Steph and I had just bought long underwear at Walmart that morning, so we spent the baking day in our long underwear. And we have pictures to prove it....that I won't be posting! Very nasty looking! It was a fun day with my favorite ladies!

Then off to the Guse's farm for a Sanctuary shindig! How I like those! We had the usual potluck (always yummy), went skating, enjoyed the hot tub and talked with one another. I love my Sanctuary family!

So, it has been a nice Christmas-filled weekend! I even got my Christmas greeting cards done! Ahhh...it's been good!

And now we have another day filled with worship and prayer at Sanctuary! I have the pleasure of leading the 4:30pm set and singing with some great people! It is like the good, old times of 6 months ago....Johan, Steph, Christina and I! It should be fun! How I love sundays! Get me to the prayer room!

Christmas festivities begin!!!

I worked a 12 hour night. I did an hour recertification for CPR. Now I need to sleep, as it is later than I usually get to bed!

Then I must be up, at an earlier hour than usual, to tidy my house, bake some goodies and get ready for our Christmas party! Friends and food! Sounds like a great plan to me!

Our tree went up on Wednesday to prepare for the Christmas party! Today starts the festivities of the month! It should be fun!

And I like the snow!