15 days later....

so. i haven't been in hiding... just been busy enjoying life. 

here is a rundown of the basics from the last couple weeks...

first off--- i finished off another semester of grad school. and may i mention- i made a 4.0 for the SECOND semester in a row?!?! crazy. i think ive gotten smarter with age. this is a 3.0 kid from high school...  who is now a 4.0 kid in grad school at duke... how does that happen?!?!

sorry. im really proud of my hard work!

my LAST semester starts january 18--- crazy!

ok. moving on.

i finished harry potter book 7...

perhaps one of the best books ever.

 

 really. it was that good.

 this little guy has become even more awesome. and im even more crazy about him.

 

 i met captain america. 

it was pretty sweet. 

this was right after spiderman almost tackled me.... really.

i drank butterbeer. 

never heard of that?!? its from harry potter. 

and well they have it in harry potter world. 

no. its not real beer. but

holy moly so good. like crazy delicious. 

mix of cream soda taste with perhaps root beer splash. and then crazy awesome caramel froth. 

oh my. if only you could buy it in cases....

oh yeah. i went to africa. 

sorta. 

african safari---

at animal kindom. 

it was pretty amazinggggg

and before all that madness--- 

i was a quilting queen. sewing up a storm. 

thus the reason i have been away. 

seriously. i sewed and crocheted like a madwoman. 

here are a few things i made...

this is part of my mom's quilt. 

the fabric was found in her grandmother's attic. 

the whole quilt is made from her grandmother's fabric.

 

it was really fun to make--- this is it in the making. i wish i had a picture of my mom's face when she opened it up. it was a big surprise! 

here are two other gifts i made... fun little bags for jewelry on the road, lippies in the purse, or even credit card & ID for a night out--- super easy and great gifts!

 

 well. thats really about all for now. 

we had an amazing christmas... first with our family and then at the sniders. 

then of course our week in florida with the sniders. 

im so blessed with such a great family on both sides!

well. this is probably the last picture of me in shorts for a long longggg time. 

snow coming monday!

back to our country life in the mountains! 

love and peace

portrait...

anyone ever take a picture of you and you realllly really like it???

of course my dear friend lindsay who took my wedding pictures--- well every picture she took i loved. 

other pictures are mostly-- eh. 

but today. ryan took a picture of me... and im crazy about it. 

mostly because its not 'posed' or silly or anything. its just me. 

off in another world--- (harry potter world to be exact)---

i love reading. 

i love being outside. 

i love this photo :) 

hope all is well in your neck of the woods---

this is the quiet before the "storm" of my awesome family arrives! in t-minus 4 hours!

peace and love! 

T-SHIRT BLANKET

SO. MY BRO AND HIS WIFE ASKED ME TO MAKE THEM A TSHIRT BLANKET/QUILT FOR CHRISTMAS.... AND TODAY-- I FINISHED IT!!

THIS IS ONE SIDE!

 

CAN YOU TELL ITS MY BROTHER'S SIDE! 

HAHA---

ANYWAY. IM PRETTY EXCITED TO GIVE IT TO THEM. 

I SPENT MY DAY SEWING. SEWING. AND SEWING. AND I HAVE LOVED EVERY MINUTE!! I'VE MADE ALL SORTS OF THINGS TODAY-- BUT OTHER STUFF WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER MACMINN CHRISTMAS... 

WHICH IS.... 

SATURDAY!!

THE FAMILY STARTS ARRIVING TOMORROW!! 

CAN'T WAIT FOR A HOUSE FULL OF LOVE!

finished!

holy cow! im finished with the semester!!!

so glad to have it alllll done. :) 

only 2- yes TWO more classes next semester

ob & peds (aka babies and mommas and some kiddos)

and then. i will be. a

FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER!!

well. after my residency.

this school thing is really flying by. 

well.... since my family will be here in ONE week to do christmas... i suppose i have some crafting to do!

:) love & peace

update on that cold....

i got a zpack.
i mean as a provider--- i hate giving z packs out.
as a sick person-- i love it. im just hoping it will work.
i mean 9 days of crap--- something has got to give.

somehow today i managed to knock out a 6 page paper- despite feeling awful.
i also went to post office to send out 3 packages of goodies (aka leftovers from the party yesterday)
went to the pharmacy. and walked the dog.

quite a successful day for a sick person.

tomorrow: more doctor's appointments and school work.
wednesday by 5:00 i should be done with this semester.

only  ONE MORE SEMESTER of graduate school left.
really?!!?
how did that go by so quickly.

cold

i keep thinking i will wake up feeling better--- i am wrong. 

the last 9. yes. NINE. days 

i have woken up, unable to breath, coughing, and thats after a miserable night of stuffy nose, not breathing, cant get comfortable sleep. 

i have finally decided that its time for a trip to the doctor. 

granted. i have to drive 20 minutes to get there-- hopefully-- 

ill he will have a fix. 

im a hot mess. really.

open house

well Today we hosTed an open house. 

IT WAS A BIG SUCCESS. 

WE HAD A TONNNN OF PEOPLE STOP IN- 

LOTS OF FOOD- 

AND LOTS OF GREAT COMMENTS ON OUR HOUSE. 

IT WAS REALLY FUN TO "PUT OUR HOUSE ON DISPLAY" FOR A FEW HOURS AND CHAT WITH FOLKS. I LOVE ENTERTAINING AND HOSTING PARTIES. IM HOPING TO DO MORE IN THE NEXT YEAR- NOW THAT WE ARE SETTLED IN OUR HOME AND ALL. 

UNFORTUNETLY I WAS TOO BUSY RUNNING AROUND TO TAKE ANY PICTURES, BUT LET ME SAY- WE HAD TONS OF FOOD THANKS TO LOTS OF FOLKS... INCLUDING MY HUBBY. 

OF COURSE- YESTERDAY MY COLD CAME BACK WITH A VENGEANCE. :( AND I FELT AWFUL ALL DAY. I EVEN TOOK A NAP YESTERDAY. LUCKILY TODAY I FELT A LITTLE BETTER, BUT I REALLY JUST NEED SOME REST. MAYBE ONE DAY :) 

TOMORROW I WILL WRITE MY LAST PAPER OF THE SEMESTER!!

AND THEN GET INTO THE CRAFT FOR CHRISTMAS MOOD. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

LOVE. JOY. PEACE.

chrisTmas!

 

FIRST I MUST APOLOGIZE. THIS IS IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY WAY THE KEYBOARD WILL WORK. LOVELY. :) 

NOW ONTO THE BLOG:

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

AND I LOVE DECORATING. 

ABOVE IS OUR WOOD BURNING STOVE--- AMAZING. BUT SINCE WE USE IT ALMOST DAILY I CANT DO TOO MUCH DECORATING SINCE IT GETS SUPPPER HOT. 

----

THE STOCKINGS WERE MADE LAST YEAR :) 

AND THE WREATH I MADE LAST WEEKEND!

THE NATIVITY IS FROM HONDURAS

----

IM HOPING THE MASON JARS WITH GLASS ORNAMENTS WILL WORK OUT  ON THE 'MANTEL'/ STOVE PART. WE WILL SEE. IF NOT CANDLES WORK OUT WELL SINCE THEY MELT DURING WHEN WE HAVE A FIRE AND MAKE THE HOUSE SMELL YUMMY!

NOW ON TO THE FRONT PORCH...

IM KINDA LOVINGGGG THIS WREATH. 

1$ GLITTERY RIBBON. 

LEFTOVER RED & GREEN RIBBON SCRAPS

ORNAMENTS FROM... DOLLAR TREE!

WAAAALAH!

 

 AND FINALLY... PROBABLY MY FAVORITE ORNAMENT. 

RYAN GAVE IT TO ME THE CHRISTMAS AFTER WE WENT TO JAPAN--

ITS A CERAMIC CRANE- 

WHILE WE WERE IN JAPAN WE MADE PAPER ORAGAMI CRANES THAT SYMBOLIZE PEACE- AND WE HUNG THEM IN THE PEACE MEMORIAL IN HIROSHIMA. 

IT WAS A REALLY AMAZING MOMENT IN MY LIFE- AND I LOVE THIS REMINDER OF PEACE. 

IF YOU ARE AROUND MY HOME THIS WEEKEND- FEEL FREE TO STOP BY ON SUNDAY ANYTIME FROM 2:00-5:00

WE ARE HAVING A CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU!

LOVE & PEACE TO YOU ALL

SO CLOSE

IM SO CLOSE TO THE END OF THE SEMESTER--- ITS DRIVING ME CRAZY!

MY COUNTDOWN:
1 PRESENTATION/POWERPOINT
1 PAPER ON AN OLD PERSON & EXERCISE
1 SOAP NOTE/DAY AT CLINICAL
CHARTING ON MY CLINICAL DAYS

MY BREAK CAN'T GET HERE SOON ENOUGH!

FOR NOW.... ITS A FIRE, CHRISTMAS TREE, PIZZA, SNOW OUTSIDE, AND BASKETBALL ON THE TV

saturday

i had big plans for today... i suppose the day is still young- but i have only done one thing on my list. 

paper. 

it was my priority for today though. 

no fun. 

thank goodness i just finished it. 

now on to laundry. grocery. running. and then. maybe. a little christmas decorating and crafting!

thankful

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalm 100:4) 

thankful for an amazing life. with two incredible families. 

thankful for my hilarious. loud. crazy. macminns. 

thankful for a bed to sleep on. laughter in the halls of their house. (wait. there are no halls. you get the drift)

thankful for food on the table. 

thankful for 2 brothers that take care of me. 

thankful for supportive. loving parents. 

thankful for far too many things to list. 

so happy to be at home in georgia. 

may you have a wonderful day. remembering the important things in life-- that most likely- are not things. 

love & peace

time

where does the time go?

i am not sure what i spend my days doing---

but they seem to slip away so quickly. 

i have become a master crocheter! 

i can whip up some goodies in no time.

we celebrated ryan's birthday (for 2 days)

i have also learned how to decorate a cake and ice cupcakes in record time!

i started reading  harry potter 7

and i have made some christmas decorations for the house.

ryan and i leave for my parents tomorrow morning-- and im pretty pumped. 

it will be great to be at their house, eat food, hang out, argue with my brothers, play some games, see my sweet cousin sister, see my awesome sister-in-laws, eat some more while we play more games, be loud, be obnoxious, sit around and do who knows what. 

its going to be a fun, quick 3 days. 

may your thanksgiving be wonderful, fun, and a time of reflection on all the important things in life.

cakes. crocheting. and a backache. OH my!

lets see. where to start. 

oh how about cake decorating class. 

yeah. its a class. 

at our church. 

and its AWESOME. 

a lady who used to teach those classes at a craft store- is now teaching us- for free!

it is so fun!

yesterday was week 2. 

not only did ryan and i spread the icing on the cake we decorated the top! 

i made the little bird.

ryan made the cloud rain on the bird. 

haha. 

i was pretty impressed with the outcome! 

next up. 

crocheting. 

learned a new stitch! thats going to def benefit mom! :) im working on her christmas present right now. 

im already done with all of my sister's! and my mother in-law!

there are perks to sitting at home all day not being able to do much!

which leads me to my shoulder

im supposed to still be in a sling- 

but i just wear it in public. at home i just take it easy. 

my PT is going well. 

i can almost lift my arm all the way up straight by my ear!!

almost is the key word there. 

im lifting a hefty ONE pound weight also!

i go to the doc today. let's hope its a good report!!

and my back-- well its because of the sling. 

the sling adds so much stress and tension on your upper back muscles. 

thus the major upper left back pain. 

so heat. and a massager are my new friends. 

oh and school. the only other thing i do.... 

its fine. ready for this semester to be over. 

let me get a countdown going for you: 

1 blog post (not a fun one. stupid school one)

1 group paper

1 group verbal presentation

1 exercise paper due

1 personal paper

& just completed a day early :) 1 verbal presentation

and 30 hours of clinical

thats all that separates me from christmas break :) 

almost. done.

oh my...

what's worse than having one arm in a sling?!?

ok. yeah- i know. a lot of things. 

but.... 

how about. 

one arm in a sling and a mysterious pulled muscle in the back. 

im talking really pulled. like any twisting movement or bending down takes my breath away. 

ummm. 

how does a girl with one arm do that?

overcompensating?

i dunno. 

but ibuprophen. heating pad. hot bath with bath salts (homemade in fact). 

none worked. 

i WOKE up with it killing me. 

what in the world did i do last night!

oh my. 

good thing im going to physical therapy in just a little bit. 

this is only a test....

ummm i got an email from my dear katie b that said... i can't comment on your blog.
just curious... is this the case for others?? i sure hope so.
i haven't had a comment in ages and was thinking people had given up on this blog!

today i... (updated!)

1. crocheted a scarf
colors dont really show here... but its kinda stringy? ...if you crochet- its just chains that are joined together at the top *around the neck* by a single crochet. seriously. took me 30 minutes. im crazy about it. i made another one today too. while i watched wheel of fortune.





















2. baked  a turkey. yes a whole one. and it turned out beautiful! ...not for us though. its for the community kitchen on saturday. we are making another one tomorrow!

3. did homework... wearing my new scarf. in my favorite coffee shop. 

 *dang. i got greasy hair. washing it is so hard... oh well. ill try again tonight! haha*

4. i made a loaf of bread. yes. homemade. it smells amazing

5. ryan cooked me an INCREDIBLE dinner. orange chicken & asian noodles.

it was a gooooood day. :)

until it started to rain and get cold. then. instantaneously... my shoulder start throbbing.
im like an old lady already.
to the hot shower i go.

happy halloween!

last night ryan and i went a halloween costume--

"arctoberfest"

a fundraiser for the ARC of haywood county

despite the shoulder- we had a great time!

tried to dance (see below)

laughed a lot. 

ate some great food. 

and hung out with some amazing people!!

this year- we went for the free and practical costume. 

McDreamy & his patient :) 

we will probably throw those back on tomorrow night for the trick or treaters. 

we hear our little road gets tons of them! 

i hope!! 

love & peace from the injured

scarf goodness

i just finished my first scarf!!

im pretty excited.

helllo christmas presents!

...and maybe ill sell a few.

its an 'infinity scarf'! so all connected. kinda like a neck warmer. 

yeah--- its really warm!

oh. and thats my new haircut. 

i loooovvve it. 

oh. and if i can do this in a sling-- you can do it!!

if you are a crochet-er check out the pattern here!

 http://brookeanndove.blogspot.com/2010/11/infinity-scarf-pattern.html

enjoy!!

crocheting & life

my amazing dear friend- barb --also the mom of katie b: her blog is listed over there <---

has been teaching me how to crochet. 

my first "work of art" is a rando odd ball piece of crocheting that i turned into a "crochet needle" holder thing. i'll post a pic one day... maybe... 

today was lesson #2. 

i found an "easy" scarf i wanted to make.... 

so. she helped me understand the directions- got me started... and wahla

im started!!

this is the loop of the infinity scarf im making!! im soooo excited. i can actually see how it will be a scarf! and in not much time!!

helllLO christmas presents!! 

after i took the picture above i realized--- wow. thats my life. completely. 

book. phone. tv remote. laptop. dog toy. 

that is it. right there. well except for physical therapy. 

im having a good day today. some days are terrible. 

im back to sleeping in a recliner and the past 2 nights i've slept great. 

i still have not mastered washing my hair. 

i mean i can- but next time you take a shower, try and wash it with one hand. 

and then imagine you having lots of hair. its tricky. 

also can't pull up any pair of pants that are remotely tight: read jeans. 

i can wear my baggy jeans. and sweat pants. and probably my linen pants. 

shirts are all button up- cut tshirts- or xl shirts. its attractive i know. 

i am driving now. (well whenever i don't take pain meds) thats a big relief for me and ryan. 

---------------

well lunch time. school time. PT. then more crocheting!!

its my new fav thing-- since i can't really quilt much these days. 

thats def a 2 handed task! 

post-op week one

well- what a week it has been.

things ive done:
- slept
- watched a lot of tv & movies
- started an aweeesome book: in the woods
- learned to crochet
- slept more

goals accomplished:
- ride a stationary bike
- do laundry
- drive
- put on blue jeans (although i can only get one pair buttoned. they have big buttons. so ill be sticking to the elastic pants
- sorta washed my hair
- walked to end of my street
- sleep in my bed (well one night i have)

goals for next week:
- more bike action
- one day of clinical
- crochet something (other than just row after row)
- make it to bible study
- go for a mountain drive
- finish book and start next one
- cook dinner
- find someone to sweep and mop our floors

irony

so. im in a "exercise interventions" class for school. 

we learn about the importance of exercise and how to implement it in our patient care. 

we have learned how to make fitt plans for our patients. 

this week our assignment is to make an exercise plan for ourselves and then implement our plan. 

yes. like work out. 

oh hello. post op day 5. 

exercise? yeah right. 

this is as much exercise as i get:

the electrical stimulator on my shoulder. 

so. im working on a tentative plan. 

my fitt plan is: 

walk to mailbox.

walk to barn. 

walk to fridge. 

my goal- on friday ride a stationary bike. 

lets see how it goes!

what day is it?

today i took a bath. 

a bath has never felt so good. 

so good in fact i fell asleep. 

luckily mom was right there to say- danielle. its time to get out. 

other than that ive slept. a lot. 

thats all.

if i dont move  i dont have pain. 

if i move--- my left arm that is--- i feel like my arm is broken into a million pieces. 

its awful. 

but im doing good. 

so glad mom dad and ry are here. 

they are the best. 

we got the big bandage off my arm to reveal some  smaller ones. those are the incision sites.

tomorrow i go to the doctor for my follow up.

then to physical therapy. 

getting out of the house... watch out!

surgery.

the basics:

1. surgery: bankart repair 

2.surgeon: dr. jarrett

3. locale: asheville othopedic surgery center

before.... 

(but after some versed)

it was apparently during this time some funny things occurred. i only verrry vaguely remember the following:

1. i told my nurse she was mean and i wanted mt other nurse back. (wupps!) this was while mom, dad and ry were in the room. apparently it was awkward. haha

2. they put in  a nerve block in my arm and i found it hilarious to have ry pick up my arm and watch it fall onto the bed. i had noooo feeling or control.

3. i had a panic attack (1st time ever) and grabbed this mans hand (found out later he was a crna) and would not let it go. during this time i learned if you start yelling you cant breathe, you get a tonnnnn of attention really fast.

4. i got a wedgie when they moved me onto the OR bed. i let everyone know.

5. i then proceeded to say, look! i wore my pretty panties for you!

6. then i flashed the OR people and said, i dont care. ive seen lots of boobies and know you have too

thats the last thing i remember. 

until i woke up with ry beside me.

i looked like this:

because of the nerve block i felt great yesterday. no pain. nothing. 

around 1am this morning it started. throughout the night i proceeded to have the worst pain of my life.

today after getting meds in me- i have started to feel decent.

im so grateful to have ryan, mom, and dad at my side.

could not survive  without them.

along with an amazing church checking in and bringing food.

and dear friends texting and facebook-ing me.

and a cute little 8 yr old JP making up jokes for me :) along with his super stellar step-mom passing them along to me :)

this concludes my update for now! 

more later im sure.

peace!

going under

welp.
in the morning i will be going under---
for the surgery.
im having a bankart repair.
should be unexciting.
mom and dad are on the way.
sister meredith and bro colin (in laws) are here visiting.
keeping me company tonight. its quite nice. :)

we have painted my toenails.
gone out to waynesville.
and wrote all over the "wrong" shoulder things like " go away!" "wrong side!"
hopefully the surgeon will get the message.
i may be out of blogging for a bit.

feel free to text. call. send me a letter. e-mail me. or even facebook me!

off to hang out.
rest.
try and sleep.
adios.

love & peace

sttttoooooop!

do you remember in the lion king. simba is running through the forest. 

running hard. 

and then. all of a sudden rafiki holds up his hand and says 

STOOOOOP! 

yeah. this scene. 

well. thats the story of my life lately. 

i've been running alright. 

ok. not literally, but thats another story. 

i have school. 

gotten involved at church. 

been sewing like crazy. 

trying to get back into exercising (ryan i know you are shaking your head here, but i WAS going to that class when i hurt myself :) and it was my 3rd trip in a week! )

i go to clinicals. 

i hang out with my youth. 

i got a new job in an exciting ER. 

me and ryan have been hiking. 

do you get the point that i like to go go go!

i do. i do my best work when im going. 

running. 

running through that forest like simba. 

well. friday i got that BIG hand in my face STOP!!!!!!

 i go see an orthopedic about my shoulder. 

you know. the one that "falls out"all the time. 

yeah. its like once a week it 'subluxes'/'dislocates'. 

well. the only solution to the tricky "special" (as i call it) shoulder: 

surgery. 

that one word alone threw up a big stop sign. 

today i had a 'pre-op' appointment. 

it was the stop sign.

rehab is lengthy. like a good 3 months. 

so. 

there will be no running (literally and metaphorically)

 (but hopefully biking (eventually))

there will not be much sewing. 

there is definitely no job now.

at least no job in a cool fun ER. im looking at other options.... walmart greeter anyone?!? 

not a lot of church activities (since a lot require 2 arms)

the hiking will have to wait. although scenic drives are still in!

about the only thing i will have is school. 

and somehow attempt to do clinicals. 

don't get me wrong- netflix, wii, and words with friends will become my best friend. 

but really. my world has come to a stop. 

(well it will on friday)

i got the big fat RAFIKI HAND in my face. 

i have had a rough day today. emotional. frustrating. reality setting in. 

on the bright side of that big fat STOP hand--

there is a loving gentle compassionate hand as well. 

i may have gotten a big stop, but im comforted to know that i will not be alone in the slow journey ahead. ryan has been so wonderful today-- and i know he will be right beside me in the coming weeks of misery, excitement, tears, pain, achievement, and laughs. im also grateful that my family will be here-- mom and dad-- to help me this weekend. 

most comforting of all- i know that the Lord has a plan. 

He has a reason for slowing me down. 

He will provide that gentle comfort that I need in this season of my life. 

He will provide for my family. 

He will give me a peace. 

I think this will be a good season of my life. 

a time to slow down. 

a time to read. reflect. relax. 

and enjoy the smaller things in life. 

bring it on rafiki. im ready to stop.

My Experience on the HILL

Our experience with Heath Schuler and the office of Kay Hagan

Danielle Snider

           

Going into yesterday I was unsure what to expect. I have never been an advocate on Capitol Hill. In fact, the one and only other time I was on Capitol Hill was in seventh grade. I was probably eating candy from the national park and thinking about cute boys. I was clueless as to the power of Capitol Hill and the blessing it is to visit.  Walking into the building you immediately feel a sense of “wow, powerful things happen here”. Throughout the day I realized that yes, powerful things do happen, and yes I can make a difference and am impact on those things.

            Meeting Congressmen Schuler was a great place to start. He was very open to our conversation and feels very passionate about global health. Schuler brought up numerous points that made me sit back and think. He encouraged us to push this as a part of the “pro-life” movement. “Pro-life” is not just the nine months of pregnancy, but should continue throughout the “whole life”. Too often we forget that. These children need people to advocate for pro-life, for their life! Another touching point Representative Schuler mentioned was a comparison of his children to the pictures of a few children in Africa with malaria. I was humbled as he boldly proclaimed, “this beautiful child is no different than my sweet daughter. She deserves life as much as my daughter does. She is a child of God and we need to do everything we can to save her life.” It was fantastic to hear him proclaim that just because we live in America, it does not make us any better than those children in Africa.

            After a very positive experience with Mr. Schuler we ventured to the office of Senator Kay Hagan. We spoke with her office staff about the destruction of malaria in Africa and what they can do to help end this tragedy. They were very responsive and spoke encouragingly of how they would try to do what they can in this hard time to support Global Funding. I believe we opened their eyes when we mentioned that the 9% cut in the global health fund would cause 3.8 million people that would not get the treatment they need for malaria.

            Overall our experience on the Hill was a positive one. We were welcomed with open arms and encouraged to share our passions with others on the Hill. I am looking forward to follow-ups with both Congressman Schuler and Senator Hagan. Going into this week, I really doubted whether I could make a difference in Washington, but after two meetings I realized that my voice matters. Our voice as United Methodists matter. More importantly, our voice as followers of Christ matters and it is being heard.