A Flyover Blog

My Holiday Grinch

  There is one thing I hated about the holidays this year. It happened last year, too, and to tell you the truth, I deal with it every day. I am talking about my injured hand and the compromises I make just to function. I try to keep this blog upbeat, but since this is intruded on my life almost 2 years ago, I post about it every now and then. Who knows, it may help someone else. Today, I thought I'd talk a bit about chronic pain.

Chronic Pain is defined as pain that lasts more than 3 months and does not go away despite medical intervention. The IV injuries I suffered in March 2007 caused pain has been going on non-stop for 21 months now with no sign of letting up. It is a full-time job just to stay psychologically on top of the situation, and to constantly adjust my routine so that I can be productive. Some days I do better than others. The American Pain Foundation is a great resource for anyone living with chronic pain, no matter what the cause.

In addition to the pain, the other major symptom I deal with is loss of strength; I've lost 70% of the strength in that hand, due to muscle damage. That weakness affects every little thing I do - from driving to taking the cap off the toothpaste. It infuriates me to have to ask for help with the simplest things.

The biggest challenge for me this Christmas was allowing my family to help with all the holiday prep. Mitch wrapped most of the gifts and helped with the little bit of cooking I did do. I bought party trays instead of baking. We had a decorating party after Thanksgiving, so I had lots of help with the house. Even with all those changes, I overtaxed my hand and lost at least one day each week in December. On those days, the hand did not function. At. All. The pain was excruciating - think a migraine in your hand and arm. I spent those days in tears, with heat on the inflamed nerves.

I am a big believer in turning lemons into lemonade, and the coming year holds much promise on the Patient Safety Crusade front. If you haven't yet visited my new HealthCare PSI Blog, I encourage you to. And please spread the word. Chances are you know someone who has been the victim of a preventable medical error. The next step is a new HealthCare PSI website coming in January. Is that the end of it? No way; it's just the beginning.  More about that soon.

 

Sorry About That

Today's hospital angel video seems to have gummed up the works, so I got rid of it. :) It was a cool story, but I noticed AOL found it, so you can probably see it there now.

Over Already?

  Christmas ended too soon this year. I know, I know, the world economy is in the tank and half the country is eyeing January 20 as some magical milestone on the path to Nirvana - the state, not the band. January 20 also happens to be my birthday; yeah, I share it every four years with a presidential inauguration.  Go figure.

As for me, I think we should probably keep playing Christmas carols just to keep things in perspective. I believe I saw a year round Christmas music station on AOL Radio; I may spend the major part of 2009 there, so if you see me humming God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen in July, you'll know why.

The rudest part of Christmas this year was waking up the next day and seeing that annual story on the early news - you know, the one where they tell you where to dispose of your fresh Christmas tree. Does anyone actually jump out of bed at 4:30 the day after Christmas, rip the ornaments off the family tree, and haul it to the nearest chipper? I don't think so. That story could have waited a couple of days.

if, like me, you think Christmas ended too soon this year, lmk. Maybe we can form a club. 

It's More Than Just A Holiday

 

To the American People: Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world."
~ Calvin Coolidge Presidential message (December 25, 1927).

Red Friday - December 26

    

I don't know your name, but I wish you a very Merry Christmas! 

A Christmas Eve Prayer

   

A Christmas Prayer

Loving Father, help us to remember the birth
of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and the worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and
open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and
good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing
which Christ brings, and teach us to
be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy
to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening
bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen!

-- Robert Louis Stevenson

Faith Hill - A Baby Changes Everything

Beautiful new song this Christmas. Enjoy.

A Christmas Message

   

"This is the message of Christmas. We are never alone."

-Taylor Caldwell (1900 - 1985) English novelist.

Red Friday - December 19

 

Wishing all our military men and women a wonderful Christmas and hoping you return home safe and sound.

U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp

Thursday Thirteen - Week 47

  

Time for my annual list of favorite holiday things. This year it's just a random list of the things I love most about this season. I hope I included some of your favorite things, too.

13 Things I Love About Christmas

1. Christmas lights. The more the merrier.

2. Christmas Music. One of the local radio stations starts playing wall to wall Christmas tunes on Thanksgiving Day right through December 25th. At this point I'm a little Tired of Madonna's tacky rendition of Santa Baby, but I sing along with everything else.

3. Christmas Cards. I know it's becoming a lost art, but I love getting these in the mail. I send them every year, too. It's a tradition.

4. Church Christmas Programs. Ah, the anxiety. The rehearsals. The festive handmade costumes. The forgotten lines and the perfect solos. I love church programs!

5. The smell of fresh Christmas greens.

6. Christmas trees. There is no such thing as an ugly tree. Okay, obviously that quote was written before hot pink, purple and turquoise trees hit the market. But, you get the idea.

7. Christmas goodies. I don't bake but I have several friends who do. Love those pretty cookies!

8. Wrapping paper and ribbon. So many colors to choose from.

9. Glitter. On everything. It never really goes away, does it?

10. Christmas ornaments. I collect them, mostly woodsy, handcrafted treasures. This year I've found a few old-fashioned, but glittery pieces to add to the mix.

11. Entertaining. Whether at parties or dinner, seems like December is the month to catch up with friends.

12. Shopping. I do most of my shopping online, but I do love to get out among the Christmas shoppers, put a little money in the red kettle and just be part of the experience. I've noticed people are thinking more about their gifts this year, looking for just one meaningful thing.

13. Our family Christmas. Juggling schedules, exchanging gifts, having fun, making memories.

Many Blessings to You This Christmas!

 

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