Testing, Testing.... 1, 2, 3...

Hello??? *taps microphone*

Sorry I've been so MIA lately.... There's been much of Life that's been happening as of late (like everyone else, I guess).

Here's a brief overview to "bring you up to speed" on what's been going down...
- the kids finished school. All went well..... M is going into grade 5, B into grade 3, N into grade 1.
- I sorta got a job.... Tee hee.... :D
I am opening up my dayhome again, and I'll have 3 part time boys (with the possibility of another on days off school). The cash will be nice.
- I was looking into the possibility of going back to school. To become a library technician (kinda like a junior librarian). Those of you who know me, know my love of anything printed on paper that is readable. Annnnnnnd, that leads me into the next item....
- I heard about an opening at my local library for a possible part-time staff member. I wouldn't need a diploma or anything yet (which means I could study and take my courses at my leisure). Which means I have to create a resume. Something I haven't done in over 11 years! Eeeps! *bites nails in anxiety!* I'll have to pursue that and see where that leads.
- We got kittens!!! (and not in the "My mother's going to have kittens!" sort of way.... actual real kittens....)
The one with the white face sitting oh-so-prettily is Bella.... Who has decided that Hubby is her person. My kitty's name is Toffee, and she's a little lighter in color, and she's decided that I am her person. *grin* It's so nice to be chosen! Which takes me to my NEXT point.....

- I was days away from a blood infection. I got a bite from our kitties mom (completely my fault - I got between her and our dog Katy, and the cat was TERRIFIED!!!), and my whole hand swelled up, and it was sooooooo sore. So, off to the Emergency Walk-In I went.
I ended up having to fill out PAPERWORK to the Public Health Officer (apparently, you have to report all animal bites... who'da thunk?). They wanted me to "narc out" the mom cat (even though it was my fault) so they could put her in isolation for 14 days and look for signs of rabies.
Now.... those of you in warmer climates may be all "Well, yeah!! Give up the cat! Absolutely!"
This is Alberta, people. We have had 1 case of human rabies in the last 30 years. And it was transmitted by a bat. Honestly. Our risk of rabies is SUPER low....
I did not narc out the cat.
The Public Health officer tried to "scare me" into doing that.
When he couldn't succeed - he basically said "Well, good luck then!".
I'm pretty confident that I'm A-okay. If I start frothing at the mouth, Hubby will take the appropriate steps. (And no.... He won't shoot me in the head like something out of "Old Yeller"!)
I ended up on the strongest antibiotics I've ever been on (and that's saying something!). My tummy is sooooooooo upset pretty much 24/7 since I've had to take 1 pill every 8 hours. Ooohhhhh.... my tummy!
- I'm so sick of yogurt. See 2nd last sentence for further clarification.
- The kittens are doing great. We brought them home last night, and they are litter trained, and on kitty kibble, and slept from 10:30 - 5 last night without crying or meowing. (they are actually scampering across my floor, chasing each other as I type) (they almost sound like mini horses.... Aaaaaah!! Bella's trying to climb up my leg!!! SHARP nails!! aaaahhhh!)

SO yeah. That's my life right now. Loads of kitty fun!
Thanks for reading!
C.

Obituary....

Le MAY, Richard (Dick) George

April 18, 2009

Le MAY - Richard (Dick) George
March 29, 1948 - April 18, 2009
Richard (Dick) George Le May passed away peacefully after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
Dick was born in Calgary and remained here except for the years he spent in BC apprenticing as a machinist, a trade that he excelled at. Dick was motivated by anything mechanical, he built and restored classic cars, sprint cars, dabbled in boats, airplanes, and raced motorcycles. Dick designed and built the 'LEMAY' car literally from the ground up. The 'LEMAY' is an original work of art, and like Dick there will never be another. Dick also enjoyed sharing the distinction of being one of the craftsmen having a part in the manufacturing one of the prototypes of the Olympic Torch for the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics.
Dick is survived by his sisters, Barb (Gord) Morris, Deb (Sonny) Hauser, Jean Le May, and Kelly Jackson; brother Les Le May and sister-in-law Rose Le May. He also leaves extended family, Ken Jackson, Bonnie Le May, Stephanie Butterwick, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother Kay Jackson, father George Le May and brother Norm Le May.

At Dick's request there will be no funeral service. Relatives and friends are invited to an open house Saturday, May 2, 2009 to celebrate his extraordinary life. Please call 403-###-#### for details.
Forward condolences through
www.mcinnisandholloway.com.
In living memory of Richard Le May, a tree will be planted at Fletcher Park, Airdrie by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH Telephone: (403) 276-2296.

Rest in Peace, Le May. You were a good guy, and were loved by many.

C.

There's been some sad stuff going on in my life lately. 10 days ago, I received a phone call that an old friend (who was actually my mother's boyfriend after she & my dad divorced) was dying in a hospice of colon cancer that had metasized to his liver.
I went to see him the next night, and he knew me. He was lucid, and talked intelligently for 75% of the visit (which is a gift from God, I'm sure).... Towards the end, when his meds kicked in, he started rambling, and muttering....
I won't lie to you - I was completely dumbfounded when I saw him. I had no idea that a man could get THAT thin and still be alive. (He was about 100 lbs and 5'11")

I was supposed to go see him today, and I got another call last night saying that he is not eating or drinking at all (and he has specific orders for no IV and no feeding tube) - he is just getting meds to keep the pain manageable. My mom sounded really shook - they've loved each other for 40 years, and he didn't know her. She advised me to think about not going...
So of course, I started praying and thinking about her advice.

I ended up not going today.... I felt like if I was to go, it would not be to encourage him, or uplift him.

And another weird thing..... Since I found out about him, and his cancer, I've been seriously interceding at every opportunity... For God to soften my friend's heart towards His love, and for God to open the eyes and ears of his heart so that he can see God in all His Fullness... On Saturday, I was praying for him, and since then? God has taken away all of the burden to pray for my friend (which is weird)... I've been praying that the Lord would be merciful to him, and that He wouldn't allow the suffering to continue. And I've been praying a blessing on the family. That's all I really feel the freedom to pray! So odd!

So that's it. I'll write more later....

Happy Easter

I sit here, with a cuppa tea in hand, contemplating the reason for Good Friday. They call it "Good".... but my Saviour was betrayed, flogged, whipped, mistreated, and nailed to a cross.

For my sins.

For your sins.

So that we could be reconciled to God.

He didn't have to. "Father, if it be Your Will, take this cup from Me! But not My will, but Yours be done."
His submission was what led Him to be the Cup of Redemption for us.

Thank you Jesus for being the Lamb of God. Who died so that I may live in Christ.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!!!

Happy April....

Well. Another month! Wow! 2009 is starting to accelerate quickly! (Or maybe I'm just becoming old.... The jury is still out on that last point....)

Easter is fast approaching... Did I tell y'all about the challenge that God sorta dumped in my lap? Well, I was listening to Shine FM (our local Christian radio station), and I swear I heard a challenge from a congregation in the States to read thru either the entire Bible in 90 days, or the Hew Testament in 21. I was a little intimidated by the whole Bible in 90, and I thought the New Testament in 21 was a more "realistic" goal, so I decided to do that one. (Apparently, I was the only one I know that heard that challenge) Well, I DID it!!!! *insert cheering*

I did have to take 2 days off - I was so sick that I actually couldn't read because if I read, then I couldn't breathe because of all the congestion in my nose. I was so drugged! LOL But I did it....

This was my reading schedule:

March 8: Matthew 1-10, Revelation 1.

     9: Matt 11-20, Rev 2

     10: Matt 21-28, Mark 1 & 2, Rev 3.

     11:Mark 3-12, Rev 4

     12: Mark 13-16, Luke 1-6, Rev 5

     13: Luke 7-16, Rev 6

     14: Luke 17-24, John 1 & 2, Rev 7.

     15: John 3-12, Rev 8

     16: John 13-21, Rev 9

     17: Acts 1-10, Rev 10

     18: Acts 11-20, Rev 11

     19:Acts 21-28, Romans 1-5, Rev 12, Philemon

     20: Romans 6-16, Titus, Rev 13

     21: I Corinthians 1-10, 1 Peter, Rev 14

     22: 1 Corinthians 11-16, 2 Corinthians 1-13, Rev 15

     ********** sick & couldn't breathe*************

     25: Galatians (all), Ephesians (all), Phillipians (all), Rev 16

     26: Colossians (all), 1 & 2 Thessalonians (all), 1 Timothy (all), Rev 17

     27: 2 Timothy (all), Hebrews 1-5, Rev 18

     28: Hebrews 6-13, Rev 19

             29: James (all) 1 Peter (again, apparently! :D), 2 Peter (all), Rev 20

             30: 1, 2 & 3 John (all), Jude, Revelations 21-22.

Out of all that I read, I think reading the 4 Gospels were amazing, but I also loved Corinthians, and Romans, and Hebrews (but it was tough slugging there for a bit.... Lots of stuff I just didn't completely grasp). And Revelations??? Wow. I don't get that book at all. It's so full of imagery and symbolism that I find it hard to understand (what is the symbolism, and what is actually going to happen??? HAS it happened already? Why has God tarried for so long?). And the whole "whore of Babylon" thing - woo! Makes my head hurt. ;)

But, I was SO PROUD of myself for doing that.... I think I am going to commit to reading thru the Bible in a year. It's been a long time since I last did that... And reading every night was oddly right-feeling to me. (I did it as a teen every night, so maybe I feel that I'm getting back to myself... Who knows.) Often I'd be reading and I'd start being all excited and start talking to Hubby, "Honey! Wow! Listen to this...." and I'd look over, and he'd be hunched over his iPod, completely asleep. So I'd just underline it instead.  (Why does it always seem that you get the best stuff late at night???)

But loads of amazing things have happened in conjunction to this spurt of Bible reading... I felt the utter breath of God one day, when I was praying where He busted my chops over my attitude of "God is my buddy, but not the King Of All" - I was only trusting Him to be the Lord over the "little things" in my life (like kitchen utensils, and where I'd park, and traffic, and finding me new plates). He busted me big time.... I didn't realize that I was putting God into a box! He wants to DAILY be transfigured in my life! He DAILY wants to show me that HE is Lord over ALL!!! That He is not some small thing to be taken out of a box, or to be given token prayers, but that HE is YHWH!!! He is the Alpha and Omega! He cares for me - absolutely. But He wants to be the God over ALL my life, not just where I park when I'm at Physio! And He wants me to believe Him and in His Might for more than just Corelle plates at an amazing deal.... He wants me to entrust Him with all my hopes, dreams, fears, and my everything. He is big enough to handle everything.

Too long I've been treating Him like He is this fragile being who is susceptible to "cracking under the strain" of my neuroses/neediness/fickleness/lack of commitment/lack of character (fill in the blank)..... If God can handle all my raw emotions, why can't He handle me in all my humanness???? As my Hubby is fond of saying, "Why are we surprised when we fall down? God isn't!"

God knows what we are. We are frail, we are prone to mistakes. We are bull-headed, stubborn, and oftentimes stupid as sheep. (Which is pretty stupid, from what I've been told.) But God doesn't let that color His perception of us. 

Over all our faults.... God sees us as HIS. 

If God had a fridge and a wallet, we would be displayed with the utmost of pride. 

I don't know why that blows my mind like it does (for the love of Pete... How many seminars and conferences have I sat in? How much inner healing have I had? And I am still floored by the BASICS of the Father Heart of God towards me????). I'm not even sure that others are as impacted by this truth as I am.....

But if I am to live as a follower of Jesus, who is God's Only Begotten Son, who was crucified for my sins (even though He didn't have to - He was spotless! I was far from spotless....) then it looks like I have some life adjustments to be making. It looks like I have some appointments up on top of the Altar of the Lord, allowing Him to prune me (awwww, shit....), refine me, and teach me to be like Jesus.

What a way to start the Spring! And what a wonderful entrance to Easter!

What Is Your Favorite Jewelry?

I saw this on another person's blog.... and I gotta say, it intrigued me. So I thought I'd steal the idea and put it  on MY blog! *evil grin*

I have several pieces of jewelry that I simply adore. I don't know if I can choose between them! They all have meaning that is precious to me....

First up - my engagement ring. My ring now is a 3 stone ring, with a sapphire in between 2 diamonds - all about a 0.25 carat size each. It is not the original ring that Hubby proposed to me with (that one was a 0.25 carat solitaire).... But I adore it. It's different from the average engagement ring, and I love how unique it is. And I'm a sucker for colored gems, too.

Next up - my diamond earrings. I have princess cut diamond solitaire earrings that my Hubby gave me one year... Just because he loved me. He tucked them inside of some roses, and I actually was CRYING so hard when he handed me the roses that I didn't see the earrings in the center of the blooms! I wear them all the time.

My necklace is next up.... It's a chocolate diamond pendant that he surprised me with at Christmas. I was SHOCKED..... I never expected to get anything like that for Christmas! (I was thinking maybe an iTunes gift card, or an Old Navy gift card....) Needless to say... being a typical girl, I did a typical girl thing - I burst out into tears on Christmas morning. The kids were a little worried! :)

Then my family ring that Hubby picked out for me. It's so cool.... We actually picked out the SAME setting for a family ring (you should have seen the relief on his face!) He has great taste in gems...

There ya go! My most beloved bling.

Tell me about yours!

 

Wow.... Been A While! Sorry!!!

Well, happy March everyone!

So the last update I had given was that I'd popped a stitch out of my palm. That was long time ago. Sorry!

The stitches came out. I took them out myself (I had 3 actually fall out all by themselves -so gross!), so I decided that Now Was The Time. Armed with my trusty nail clippers and my tweezers, I set out to rectify the wrong that was stitches in my flesh. Easy peasy. They came out great. (I actually got complimented on the stitch removal by Casual Diane's fill in for the day!)

So, I've maintained what the surgeon gave me. I can move my middle knuckle about 80-85 degrees. and the top knuckle (by my nail) has maintained it's dismal 5-10 degrees. No change there.

In February, we focussed on ultrasounding the CRAP out of my hand so to minimize scarring. I think we accomplished that!  My scarring is nowhere as deep and as "thick" as the first surgery's scarring.  Actually, I've responded so well to what's gone on, I'm actually "conditionally discharged" depending on what the surgeon says next week when I return back to the Hand Clinic at the Rockyview Hospital. (We need his opinion on whether the rebuilt pulleys are strong enough yet for unsupported active use or not as I can still feel the tendon bowing when I bend my finger.) But really?? So minor. Casual Diane had brought up the possibility of yet ANOTHER surgery to try to loosen the tendon further up my finger so that I can bend the top joint (so I don't jam it all the time when reaching for things). Shockingly, I didn't recoil in horror like I thought I would.... Surgery #2 was so easy that I would sign up for Surgery #3 no problem. We'll have to see though.....

I did achieve a milestone recently - I was able to wear my ring on my right hand once again since last September. I felt very posh and swish waltzing around with BLING on my hand rather than yet another splint! LOL! Only me!

I have developed a bit of allergic reaction to all the silicone sleeves that I've been wearing.  (Translation: my pinky is disgustingly gross looking. It's flaking, and red, and painful looking.) We are Elecom-ming it up and have switched to Coban wrap with a gel over top of the scar (to soften it at night)

But I can do ANYTHING I want to do (I even played piano! Woo!). Washing dishes is no problem, neither is typing or cleaning (boo!). I am still a little achy when I write, or do tasks like sewing (which I take as a sign from Above that I'm simply not supposed to sew! LOL).

All in all - really pleased with how this has all turned out.

Yay God!

We Interrupt This For A Fast Breaking News Story...

So I had mentioned that I was "bleeding like a stuck pig" on my last update....

This just in - I was popping a stitch! (cue cat throw up noises)

When I was at Physio last night with the lovely Casual Diane, she mentioned that "Oh! I can see your stitch is pulling out!". I told her that I was bleeding quite excessively (well, at least in my ind I was), and she had a better look at it, and I was actually RIPPING the stitch out of my finger. 

Gross, hey???

So, we've Steri-stripped the sucker, and have allowed it to be a little more supported today. The bleeding is less today, and I've tried to maintain my bend. (Which is hard. YOU try not bleeding all over the RoboHand 3000!!!)

So yeah. Mystery solved. Unfortunately. (bleah!) 

What I Think Every 30 Something Says To Themselves On The Inside...

So Am I The Million Dollar Girl, or Just The Thousand Dollar Girl?

As promised, here are the pics of the new & improved, bionic me. *laughs* So I'm not sure what they call this contraption - maybe the "Bend-o-matic 3000". All it says is "Wave Flex" on the carrying case, and there is no user's manual (to my consternation!).

And, like always, get ready for your guided tour...

See?? Kinda cool how it attached on, and bends your fingers for you..

More Super Cool Bending Action....

Annnnndddd, a side view.....

oh! Check out my extension! See - there's little sticky pads that

attach onto your fingernails (I kid you not!), and then there's little

Velcro straps that you hold your finger more securely with.

There's this little remote as well, that you control the speed and 

degree of flexion/extension that you get. Pretty gosh darned cool.

I was using the Bionic Hand this morning, and I was bleeding like a stuck pig! (I hope it's not a bad sign!) I have physio with the lovely Casual Diane tonight, and so I'll ask her how it's looking. My finger is very achy today, and very sore. (Granted, I keep on forgetting my Advil, so it's prolly all my fault..) On a pain scale of 0-10, 10 being where you pass out, and 8 is where you are nauseated from the pain, I'd say I'm a dull 3. Not too bad, but still painful.

C.

Here We Go Again...

So..... guess what??? I had to go see my hand surgeon again, and he determined that I needed another surgery. (How did I get so gosh darned lucky??!?) I saw him January 12th, and my whole entire appointment was 10 minutes from me walking in the door, checking in with the receptionist, sitting down, getting called back, getting seated, seeing the doc, and leaving. WOW!!! Fast! (But on the up side - I only had to pay $1.50 for parking! W00t!)

Yeah. Surgery. His office called me on the 12th in the afternoon, and set up surgery for January 15th. (cue inner freaking out...) With much fear and trepidation and memories of the last hand surgery floating thru my mind, I showed up for the surgery Thursday morning. I won't lie to you.... it was incredibly gross. Knowing that once again, you get to undergo extensive therapy to be able to move - I think it is mandatory that successful physio patients have to be a bit sadistic.  And hearing your own scar tissue rip away from your tendon during the ever-so-fun Patient Participation portion of the surgery (you have to move your hand when they tell you - with it wide open... "Annnnddd, make a fist? HARD!! Again! Really hard!!" ) - barforama. I am still a little urpy when I remember it. (I try not to remember it)

But this is my latest owwie.... I'll take you on a tour. I'll post pics of my Bionic Hand later... ;) 

All bandaged up from Physio today - looking pretty 24 hours post surgery.

Look Mom... No Coban wrap! It's a little bit of gauze to catch some blood.
The white strip is a Steristrip - you can use it in place of stitches. We are using it as a support for the pulley that the surgeon reconstructed for me to hold my tendon.

 
Look at my stitches! Not as many as the first surgery (hallelujah!), and he followed the previous incision line so it will eventually look prettier. What a sweet man!

And get this.... I am in Physio already. Moving it, bending it, and trying to get the tendon gliding and hopefully moving it enough that the scar tissue won't adhere to the tendon again. (Scar tissue treats muscle, bone, tendon, ligaments, and skin all the same - it just glues it together hence the reason why I couldn't move anything.) I can bend the middle joint a lot better than I could before, but the top joint wasn't released... The surgeon said that there's very little success to be had with those itty bitty joints, and that we were asking for more trouble than it was worth.

I'll take photos of my Bionic Hand later tonight and post it...

C.

How is it January already??

Wow. What a hectic holiday season!

Christmas Eve went well.... Christmas Day was a smashing success! All those hours in the kitchen did their trick - my in-laws were SO impressed with the food (inside I felt like cheering!). I must have spent 9 hours cooking, and just laying out the tables to perfection.  (Yes, I said TABLES, in plural. We had 1 grownup table, and 1 Big Kid table, and 1 little kid table. All went well. No food was thrown to my knowledge, and it all got cleaned up. Eventually. :D  )

Now, here we are thrown into January. My youngest daughter is turning 6 next week (how did THAT happen!?!).

And we are smack dab in the middle of setting New Year's Resolutions. I personally like my youngest son's "revolutions".... He wants to learn to fly this year, and he wants to learn to swim "really well, like a big big boy".

My resolutions are not as lofty as his are. Mine are pretty simple, I think.

In 2009, I want to spend more time outside. I love being outside, but part of the downside of living in Canada is that you risk life and limb at times when you go outside in the winter. (Case in point? Today. Our high temperature today was -24 C, and with the wind it was a balmy -37C. Brrrrr.... You go outside too much and hello frostbite!)

In 2009, I want to relearn how to play the piano. I am so out of practice, and it shames me. My scales are all herky-jerky and my fingering is consistently incorrect. (Poor Mr Curtis would whack me on my knuckles in horror, I'm sure!) I also love being able to make something beautiful happen when I sit down to play.... not something that sounds like I belong in a grade 7 concert band! Yeeks!

Also, in 2009, I'd like to get my finger as close to normal as humanly possible. Yes, I understand that it will probably entail another surgery on my poor pinky. And I"ll be in for some MORE physio, and yes it will suck temporarily. But if I could use my pinky again! And to bend it properly! That would be tremendous!! (I was sort of "discharged" on December 29th. All I need to do is go see the Hand Surgeon, find out when he can slice me, and there I go.)

Those are my "revolutions".

Happy New Year!