Nurse Training

Today was Jesse’s pre-op appointment for his sinus surgery next week. We had to leave pretty early, when it was still freezing outside. Just in case you need proof of how cold it was… Jesse even had to scrape the ice off the windshield.

Ice on car

I find it very strange that pre-op is more than a week before surgery. I still don’t really know what the point of the whole appointment was. We were there for over four hours. We didn’t get to meet the surgeon, just the resident who works with him. Then we were supposed to get to speak with the anesthesiologist, but he wasn’t there either, just another doctor who works with him. They did take blood though.

ENT office

But all was not lost. Since we were all ready at the hospital, we popped in at clinic for some quick training. Jesse has to give himself weekly injections at home. He usually does it in his leg, but it often really hurts. So whenever he has a doctor’s appointment coming up, he saves his shot to have a nurse do it in his hip/butt.

After his last clinic appointment, he said the nurse did it so awesome that I needed to learn to give the shot like she did. So we asked her to show me how to do it. Apparently there isn’t as much technique as I thought there would be. I was concerned that there would be a danger if the shot wasn’t given in the correct spot. Her words were “It’s butt… it totally doesn’t matter!”

I’m learning that being a CF wife means that I will gradually earn an honorary nursing degree. I’m already really good at accessing Jesse’s port for IV’s and such, now I can add giving shots to my skill set. I can’t wait until next week when I get to give it a try. I’m sure Jesse is just as anxious too.

Home Projects

Since Jesse’s parents have been staying with us during the holidays, Jesse wanted to take advantage of having his dad’s help with a couple of projects we have been wanting to get done around the house.

The first one was quick and easy. They relocated a hose that is part of our air conditioner. For some reason our builder positioned it in a way that made it impossible to clean or change the filter. Now it’s all better.

Air conditioner

The next project was a little more involved. Again our builder decided to cut a corner a put the water heater right in the middle of the garage. It took up so much space this way because nothing ever fit in the leftover space. Now it’s in the corner where it makes more sense. It leaves a lot more room to walk out the door with my arms full too.

Water heater beforeWater heater after

The best part is that the girls were out shopping while this was going on. 🙂

The Meaning of Christmas

Luke 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Manger scene