We're on our way!

The van is clean!
The bags are packed!
Just awaiting the carload of girls!

Have a great weekend!

Getting excited!!!!

I know it's only Wednesday and we're only leaving Friday.....but I'm already packed as much as I can be until we are about to leave!

I'm looking forward to a bunch of things about our little weekend get-a-way! I like a road trip once in a while! I'm happy to be spending time with the girls! I'm looking forward to seeing KC friends, Joyska, Mary Jean and Tony, and giving them all big hugs! I'm looking forward spending a bunch of time in the prayer room, just as part of the praying people in the seats, as that isn't usually the norm in our prayer room! We put everyone we can to use! I'm getting really excited about visiting the restaurants that I love and don't get up in Canada!!

So, the excitement is building!

Ahhhh.........breathing a little deeper.....

After almost 4 weeks off work, I'm getting into the groove of my newest routine, or at times, lack there of. And I'm really enjoying it.

I was speaking to someone this weekend about my wrist and time off and the person commented that she would be pulling her hair out by now. I am definitely not feeling that way! I am really taking this time as a blessing.

I don't remember the last time in our lives that we had this many evenings relaxing at home. It is good to learn how to sit without multitasking. I'm such a multitasker that I have found it hard at times to just sit or just pray without other things going on. But I find myself getting more comfortable with a slower pace.

I'm happy having an evening at home without having to fill it with a plan. I'm happy that it is light outside a little longer in the evenings. I'm blessed to have my husband around so very much. I'm blessed that I get to read the Bible, pray, journal and listen to teaching cds all afternoon if I want to right now. I know that this won't last forever and I'm cherishing these next 2 weeks and the last 4.

I can't put my finger on it, but I feel like it's making a difference deep down inside. It is a definite change of pace for me, and I like it. It's like a token of peace and contentment. Definitely not every moment. But more often then usual. And I like that.

The good, the bad and the ugly.....

And the latest in my life....

Well, things are always happening, aren't they?

I leave for Kansas City next Friday with some ladies! I'm really looking forward to the trip! It's time for me to visit that place again! I'm going to eat some yummy food and soak in another prayer room! I love it!

Then, on April 8th, I'm off to Toronto for 2 nights with my sister! I'm experiencing the perks of her job! How nice is that! We are going to enjoy a nice sister trip together, on her company! They rock! And I'm looking forward to an airplane ride again! They paid for my last one....to Puerto Rico in January 2006!

And for the not so good news, I have to take more time off work for my wrist. The fact that my wrist isn't better is the bad news. I'm feeling bad that I'm not working, but also don't at the same time because I'm just following the doctor's orders. I kinda miss work already, but I also love my life at home, with relationships, Sanctuary, God, etc. I'm not climbing the walls or anything after 3 weeks at home already! I trust that my arm and wrist will get better with time! So, 3 more weeks of no work for me. I was really shocked to hear that number!

On a positive note, I'm going to rest my arm and, in my brain, think of these weeks as a blessed holiday (without doing much with my left arm). I will never have this amount of time off with holiday time. So, I will use my time wisely. And enjoy it. The doc said to me as I was leaving the office a little shocked at the time frame he prescribed, "Go and enjoy your life!".

And so I shall.

Birthday Bash Completed.

Ahhhh...it is finished. All the planning, calling, prepping, slide show-making, thinking, secret-keeping. Done!

We threw my mom a surprise 50th birthday party today, almost 1 month after her actual birthday. It was a hit. Thinking back on who was there.....at least 51 people! And many no-shows.

She loved it. She felt affirmed and honored. She cried a few times...happy tears. She was surprised. She was the girl of the day and the queen of the party!

And I'm going to sleep! Mom's 50th birthday bash complete.

And the latest......

Yesterday was full of appointments between Shane and I. And here are the latest pieces of information on the wrist and the shoulder.

Shane - is to keep taking the meds for inflammation and pain control, keep using the sling at times during the day, and to refrain from activities such as cooking, vacuuming, hockey, shoveling, lifting anything overhead, etc for 2 weeks!!!! He's still in pain (but a little less) and the shoulder is still quite inflamed and swollen. He's in pretty good spirits nonetheless!

Me - I'm to take another week off work to rest my wrist and keep using the tensor in the day and the splint at night. I'm now on an oral anti-inflammatory (and I'm not a fan of taking meds!). No work to me means no guitar either so that puts a hold on that fun area of my life for the time being. I'm willing though....anything to help the process! The wrist is swollen says the doc and some friends and family, though it has been hard for me to see.

So that's us right now. Feeling ok about it. Not too discouraged if you're wondering. Doesn't feel like a big demonic attack. Just another storm we will encounter in our lives. I'm not enjoying that my wrist problem is such a long storm, but I am still determined to build well!

Have a beautiful day!

Prayer request......

I've got a prayer request for each one of you!

It's about our drug plan coverage. There is quite the pharmacy bill in our home each month (Shane's drug is especially expensive). We are encountering a new problem this year since we had to change over to the hospital's benefit plan in September. The new drug plan year starts in January. And we are passed our maximum and it's only the beginning of March! Therefore, they will not cover any more medications until next January (2008!).

March also marks the last month for the Pharmacare year and amazingly we haven't hit our deductible. Had we, our pharmacist could give us the next 3 months of medications without us having to pay. Last year we definitely hit it, somehow we didn't this year (the deductible was higher this year).

So, I'm feeling a little desperate and really asking for your prayers for provision, specifically in the area of medication money this time. Things are already tight and now to add much more of the budget into meds is really stressful.

Please pray! Thanks!

Two peas in a pod????

Nope, two injured in a pod.

The sound of tendinitis resounds in this apartment lately. Shane's had wicked shoulder pain since waking on Thursday morning. The doctor at the walk-in yesterday said it was a form of tendinitis. He's in a lot more pain that I am in right now.

So, between my wrist in a brace or splint and Shane's shoulder in a sling, we are two injured in a pod. Charge on!

Is it morning yet???

I awoke last night hearing Shane's voice talking with someone. I could tell that he had answered the telephone. It was really quite dark in the room and down the hallway, making me think it was still nighttime. But, if someone was calling, perhaps it was morning already. I turned to my clock. 2:35am or so. Ok...that's not morning!

I made my way down the hallway. It was confirmed. Shane was on the phone.

So, who was calling our place at 2:30 in the morning?????

My sister!!! Calling from Las Vegas!!!! Funny thing was, she thought it was 10:30pm Manitoba time but it was really 2:30am!!!

It was so nice to hear from her! It sometimes reminds you how dear someone is to you when they are not 10 minutes away! Though I see her 3-4 days out of a week, when she's not around the other 3- 4, I feel it! Ahhhh....sisters are a wonderful thing! Love you Steph!

Funny splint story....

This past night was night #3 with my new splint. I haven't minded wearing it at night, though I do wake up at times when I'm turning and notice it. Generally, it makes my wrist feel pretty good!

Yesterday was the first time I noticed myself doing something funny with it in my sleep! I somehow was dreaming that I was in a movie theater and had my hand/arm stuck in a cup holder. So, I woke up as I was holding on to the edge of my splint and pulling my arm up trying to get it out of the "cup holder"! I gave a little chuckle, turned over and went back to bed!

Ahhh....the power of dreams!

What the darkness of the night brings......

Nothing but a scary-looking wife lying next to Shane, complete with a night guard to prevent the grinding of teeth and now to add to the collection of gadgets, a splint that totally immobilizes my left forearm, wrist and digits! It looks frightening!

This last night was my first night wearing the new night splint. I've recently woken up feeling quite nice in the wrist department. It is quite a hard contraption to have next to your face so I wore an empty pillowcase around it all night. And amazingly I didn't take off the splint or the pillowcase in my sleep!

I went to Occupation Therapy for the first time yesterday to get fitted for this splint. After 1 and 1/2 hours in OT, I emerged with my night splint, a new tensor brace to wear for pressure and a plan to take the weekend off work to see if the night brace settles my recent wrist pain flare-up. So, I suddenly feel like I have a lot more time on my hands this week! Just taking away 2 12-hour shifts opens up a lot of extra time!

My plan is to wear the brace or splint as much as possible this week so that we're quickly on the road to complete healing, as I've been believing that February would bring. Today is the last day of February and I know that God can still work a miracle. I also know that if I'm not healed completely today, I'm going to keep asking for faith to keep believing for it. Just because it may not be the plan that I would have liked (healing 6 months ago for that matter), I don't want my heart to be offended towards God over my wrist. My wrist pain will fade away but the truth of my heart will be revealed.

So Lord, come with your healing power! Start and/or complete that work in me today!

Yep, I did it again....

Another delivery! I have a pattern going on. The last 3 of my 5 and a half deliveries have been in the same room.

Listen to these facts.....in the last 2 shifts I have delivered a baby on both. Same room, both same culture, both without a support person and both preterm! When the nurse from triage wheeled this morning's patient in with that information, I told her with those facts, I would probably be delivering this baby myself.

Well, I even had a doctor in the room....a junior resident. But it was hilarious role-reversal and a lot of good teamwork! I had a graduate nurse helping me get water and such ready, a resident starting an IV and I was delivering the baby! It was funny to see the doctor at the head of the bed and the nurse doing the work at the end of the bed! Too funny and quite fun!

All in a day's work....

Another one!!!

I finished off the shift early this morning by delivering another baby! Just the patient and I in the room when the little one made a surprisingly quick appearance!

Ahhhh....that was a nice way to end the night! I like the adrenalin rush! I just don't love the shaky hands! And just as a fun detail, it was in the same room as my last delivery a while back! Weird!

Somehow I had a feeling earlier in the night that I may catch this one. I just had that feeling! And sure enough....it happened!

Well, I'm in desperate need of some cheerios and sleep! Then the day is full of praying and singing! I'm excited for the rest of the day!

Just wanted to let you know....

My flowers are beautiful! And getting prettier by the day! Ahhhhh.....they make my heart sing a little!

Valentine's Day Events!!!!

I had a wonderful Valentine's Day yesterday! My husband was over-the-top!

I heard "Happy Valentine's Day! You're worth it!" one million times over and loved hearing it each time! He blessed me with a wonderful day full of surprise plans and verbal affirmation about what he thinks of me throughout the day!

I had a nice morning of time alone with Jesus as Shane was out with Brian for the usual Wednesday morning meeting. I love Wednesday mornings!

Then part-way through the afternoon, a beautiful bouquet of flowers was delivered for me! And of course, my thoughtful husband picked out the very flowers I love! Pink Gerber daisies like we had at our wedding, little white daisies and beautiful purple tulips, my favorite flower! They are gorgeous!

Then off we went for an early supper at the Keg! It was so good! And the company was fabulous! I had a very yummy virgin strawberry margarita!!! We drove around looking at the beautiful houses in Linden Ridge, dreaming of a home!

Then off to bowling! I whooped Shane in the first game! That never happens! Then he won the second game! It was fun!

Then we rented a movie, Open Season! So cute! It is coming down to the fact that we really generally pick cartoons already because of the amount of crap out there! We really enjoyed it! Shane's been quoting the movie since last night!

The evening was still young when our plans ended so we spent the rest of the time talking and drinking tea to worship music! How wonderful is that!

I love my husband! Thank-you Shane! I had a wonderful Valentine's Day and felt so special!

Happy Love Day!!!

Happy Valentine's Day all! Hope that you enjoy today whether you have a significant other and/or the Greatest Love of all in your life this year!

It seems appropriate to say a little sap to my honey! I love you Shaner! You are wonderful and a great husband! I'm excited for many more years together! You're fabulous!

Shane has planned the events of today for us and it's been a secret! I love that! Secret plans are special to me!

Again, Happy Love Day!

Good morning!

I can't believe I'm up at 7:45 am on a day that I can sleep in! But I feel ready to rise! Crazy!

Today will be a good day! Shane and I are going for hair cuts. Yeah! Cut off my pony tail! My hair dresser, Becky, is out exploring the world since sometime in fall, so I haven't gotten my hair cut since August!!!! Yikes that is 6 months! So today is the day.

Then we're going to visit Shane's grandpa, who remains in the hospital. We weren't able to make it out this week yet, and didn't think he would still be there, but since he is, today is also the day for a visit.

Then it's time to par-tay!!!! Steph's 22nd birthday and my mom's 50th birthday are on tuesday so our little family is getting together to celebrate! A yummy potluck at my mom's! I'm bringing lasagna, rice and a pie. Steph's bringing a yummy shrimp dish and garlic bread. I think mom might supply salad and is making meatballs! It is going to be very nice! I always love our times together!

So, I'm going to start the process by eating some breakfast and read some of the Word!
Have a great weekend!

The weekend is here!!!

Work just ended and the weekend will soon begin! First I must get a few hours of sleep in and then.....

Off to the hotel we go! The family is spending the weekend at a hotel as our belated Christmas present. It is going to be nice! I plan on eating, vegging, hot-tubbing and relaxing all weekend! I think we are all quite excited!

So, have great weekends all! For I sure will!

I'm feeling happy and that in itself makes me happy!

I'm off to bed after finishing my last of 3 night shifts for the weekend. I hope it is a restful sleep, as it will be a reduced one so that I can make it for the majority of the Sanctuary marathon day!

The reason I'm happy? I really enjoyed my shift at work. I'm not even sure what made it better than others, but I really enjoyed myself. I felt good, felt perky and felt like I was enjoying what I was doing and the people (both patients and co-workers) that I was working with!

I have been praying hard about my feelings toward work. It is hard for me to go back after my 6 day stretch off. When I'm there I usually like it, depending on what kind of day and which ward I'm on! I love my life outside of work so much that I find it hard to spend the other half of my week there. It feels like it is just a little too much. Honestly, I look forward to the day when my life is mostly filled with Sanctuary and family stuff, with a little nursing to enjoy on the side. I like what I do (nursing) for the most part, some days I even love it, but it is not what my life vision and meaning is all about.

So, today I'm going home with the phrase I love it! Some highlights:
- a nice compliment from one of the obstetricians that I'm a good nurse!
- dropped in to see my patients from the last two shifts to follow up and see their babies. Both were so pleased to see me and one took a picture of me and got the spelling of my name for the memories, with a hug to top it off!
- the husband from the previous night's patient found me in triage this last shift to tell me personally what they had after I had left!
- compliments from my charge nurse that I'm a "super nurse"! (Yeah right but I'll take the compliment!)
- got pulled for a few hours to LDRP (not the highlight), but the charge nurse there told me she likes me and wanted to keep me!
- got another compliment from a co-worker whose daughter is a recent new nurse on the floor who shared with me that her daughter mentioned that she really likes me!
- a patient who sadly said to me "You're leaving?" and acted genuinely disappointed when I had to get pulled to another ward for another laboring patient
- got thanked by a dad for doing "great coaching"! That rocked!

Boy, that was a lot of compliments for one shift, now that I look back! That's probably why I'm feeling happy and positive! It is awesome what a kind and positive word can do for another!

One more very rewarding moment: a crying father as he watches the birth of his baby....love it.

I'm liking the weather!

Ahhh...we just walked to the mailbox to drop off a letter and I wanted to stay out there much longer! The weather is quite nice today! And yesterday as well!

This is a blog of random thoughts. Not much of a theme.

My family is going to a hotel for the weekend next weekend! I'm so excited about it already! So, to prepare for the hotel, I painted my toenails this morning as I listened to Allen Hood! It was a good teaching!

Supper is cooking away in the slow cooker. It is nice to leave the apartment for a bit and then when you walk in the door, supper smells wonderful already! I got a slow cooker recipe book from Shane's mom and dad for Christmas and we've been trying new recipes each week. Today it's Lemon Cream Chicken! Looks good so far!

Wednesday is Song of Solomon study day each week. Yesterday I studied Song of Songs 1:5 and 6. It was really good! A little heavier of a topic, but still so good and had depth to it! Though I am sinful, He sees me as completely and totally lovely! Now that is an incredible God and Bridegroom to see me so beautifully, even in my weakness!

Tonight I'm back at work for the next 3 nights. I'm trying to ignore that dreaded feeling of not really being totally pumped about going to work and knowing that I won't be asleep at night until sunday night! I hope the next 3 nights are really good and that I can kick the dreaded feeling and look forward to work instead!

On that note, I'm going to do some more reading and then do the dishes with my husband before my afternoon nap. I flew through 1 Samuel in the last few days and really enjoyed it! We'll see what's next!

Have a great weekend!