HANNAH GARMAN

This is an email I received from a friend of mine. Please read below and hopefully you can help make Hannah's Christmas Wish come true :)


Hannah is my 5 year old cousin who, just a few weeks ago, was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, a rare and incurable brain tumor. She has been given 12 weeks to live and is currently in her 7th week. Hannah's story is sad, but especially sad because her mother passed away just two years ago from breast cancer. Her father, brother Jordan, and sister Brittany are dealing with the unthinkable.

Right now Hannah has lost most of her motor skills. She is confined to a bed and cannot really do anything or play with the gifts she has been receiving. Hannah LOVES getting cards, though. She has gotten so many and has so much fun opening them and reading them with her grandma. She is so proud of all of her cards - her room is filled.

When asked what she wanted for Christmas, Hannah said she would like to see how many Christmas cards she could get. Many people have passed along this wish to their churches, friends, prayers groups and families and I'm asking you to continue to pass on Hannah's story.

So if you have time during the holidays, and would like to help Hannah with her wish, please send her a card. Her address is:

Hannah Garman
704 Orchard Rd
Lititz, PA 17543

You can feel free to forward this to as many people as you wish. If anyone has questions, they can email me at shanelle.lee@hotmail.com. If you want to keep up to date on Hannah and her progress, check out her Caring Bridge website at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hannahgarman

We appreciate your thoughts and prayers especially through the holiday season.

Many blessings,
Shanelle

Christmas Tree

We finally got our Christmas tree! This is only our 2nd tree we have gotten, living in the same house for 4 year! We have never truly made the time to go get a tree, plus, with my schooling and finals, it has been so difficult. So, the tradition has grown that we meet up with John's parents and other friends and family for breakfast and then head to the same great place in search of a tree. This year, I think we were all in a hurry. Normally, we take a wagon ride through the fields until we find the perfect tree. I love that part! Instead, this year, I believe that everyone tagged a precut tree and no one ventured into the fields. Still, I love the experience and all the smells that go with having a fresh-cut Christmas tree.

UGH!

Not a good way to start my weekend... :(



Needless to say, the blame was not on me for this one. John had been begging me to get my oil changed in my vehicle and convinced me to head to Cloister because they were fast and cheap. So I did. After being told I needed a new lightbulb, oil filter, and new transmission fluid, I left with a bill of $120 instead of $30. (To make matters worse, I opted not to get the tranmission fluid replaced on this visit. That alone would have run me $150!) Anyway, those Cloister guys must have done something to my tire in order for me to come back... I just know it :)

Graduation~

Kelsey and I at Annie Baileys after the final

Our study group

Celebrating at Krista's after the final. A Champagne toast to the new graduates!


Well, after a long 2 years of tears, laughs, and frustrations, we have all made it! We made it to the end of nursing school and are looking forwards to starting in the real world. I have accepted a job at Hershey Medical Center in Women's Health, where as the rest of my study group is planning to stay at Lancaster General. It's an awesome opportunity and I couldn't have asked to start at a better place. I love the women I will be working with, and I am so excited! My start date is January 5th, so I have a little time to get scrapbooking and cleaning up the house. (We all know it has been a wreck these last few weeks. Tuesday alone, I did 10 loads of wash; and there's only 2 of us! It was not good!) Anyway, the pediatric office has graciously given me full time work during the day until I start at Hershey. I am just so excited to finally have 1 full time job! Plus, I will only be working 3 days a week/12 hour shifts.

Anyway, here are some pictures of graduation!

STRESS!

I have been so stressed out with studying for finals and my last test, I needed some time to do something for myself. I came home after the test today and set up for Christmas. This was as far as I got; I felt guilty for not studying.... so to the books again! I am just looking forward to when I won't have to worry about school and can finally get into the Christmas spirit!



Oh, and did you see Jupiter and Venus the other night? Look really closely...

Black Friday

I did it again.. I was up at the crack of dawn for my annual black Friday shopping extravaganza! Michelle was sick this year, so it was the first year that I went by myself. Normally, we make coffee and hit the road.

I woke up at 2 and was at the mall by 3:30. This was the first year that some of the stores opened at 4AM instead of 5. Needless to say, I picked the right store because as I was standing in line outside, they decided to open their doors 15 minutes early! This might not sound like a big deal, but when there is a mad rush of people sprinting across the parking lot, you'll be lucky that you were standing in line.

After 9 hours of shopping, I just about finished my Christmas shopping. I tried to convince John to purchase a big screen TV as a joint gift, but he was not having any part of it. Needless to say, our friends purchased one the same day and John was probably kicking himself for not saying yes. The deals were really good, but you wouldn't know that we were in an economic crisis with the financial stock markets by the way people were buying things! It was nuts!

at 2AM

Nursing: The Heart of Technology

Here a just a few quick pictures we took at the nursing convention we went to in Harrisburg. The convention was titled: Nursing, The Heart of Technology. We heard great seminars and attended an NCLEX review course to prep us for boards. I don't truly know if this was helpful, because after we were finished, our brains were fried, and I felt dumber than ever! Anyway, think about this slogan, I thought it was interesting:

1. Nursing, The Heart of Technology
VS.
2. Technology, The Heart of Nursing

We saw videos and demonstations on robotic machines caring for patients, passing medications, and now even doing procedures in operating rooms! It was crazy, but it made me think: is this was we have finally come to? Where is the compassion and "therapeutic touch" of another human being?

But then I saw the up side: These robots can care for people with easily transmittable diseases. Think about it... If a nurse cares for a patient with small pox (this disease is easily spread through direct contact or by touching a contaminated surface or area), they are putting other patients at risk by then caring for them. Do you really know if there are no organisms of anything on their clothing, their shoes, their pen? Scary, isn't it?

The bad thing about technology is people and their resistance to change. One speaker talked about the older generation of nurses and their resistance to change. The speaker commented that she was one who resisted the change from the mercury thermometers to the tympanic or oral! How little a change, but how resistance and stuborn nurses were. Can you image using a mercury thermometer today? I don't even know if I would know how to use one!

Anyway, I found myself sitting there, being one of those "old nurses." I saw these robots, the "incision free surgeries," the thoughts for pacemaker changers via telephone waves, etc.... and I thought, 'never in my time.' But guess what, it's coming... and sooner than we know it.



Study time :)

Jenelle, Me, and Kelsey. Look at all of our goodies. I bet we got about 30 pens, easily, tablets, hand sanitizers, lotions, all kinds of freebies!

Me, Dana, and Gail

Happy 25th/23rd Birthday!

I have decided that I officially do not like birthdays anymore. This year was really hard for me. I hated 25! I guess I wasn't the only one because everyone else that I talked to, felt the same way when they hit 25. I don't know what it is, I just don't like it. I feel I'm not done with school, I haven't really accomplished anything since highschool, and I have nothing really to show for my work after being out of HS for 6 years! UGH; 6 years; let's not say that again!

So, needless to say, no matter how I feel, my birthday came and went. After a long drawn out day of studying (6 hours), followed by a non-eventful night at work, I ended the night falling asleep by midnight. The following evening, after a long bickering event of where to go to dinner, everyone finally decided on this awesome restaurant called Johnny's. It is an awesome steak house for John and I am in love with their Salmon and martini menu! The night ended well and everyone had a fun time.


Janelle and I

Nothing like a good chocolate cake and a mango martini!

The boys

The girls

The night my world ended :(

Tonight, John and I decided to combine finances. By finances, I mean, EVERYTHING! To top off my wonderful evening, John made me call and cancel all of my credit cards. I know what you're thinking, 'Jacquie, you shouldn't have so many credit cards!' Let me just tell you; some of these credit cards have not been used since 2006, and some, I can't even find anymore! It's horrible. As the receptionists on the at the credit borough laughed on the other end when I told them my husband was making me cancel the card, John's mouth couldn't hit the floor fast enough when they told him the credit limits ranging from $700-&2300! It amazes me: and we wonder why people can't get out of debt. Imagine, $2300 worth of Limited clothing in a couple of shopping sprees! I'd be in heaven!

Strasburg Ghost Tour

Michelle invited Tracy and I to go on our first ghost tour of the season. Actually, Tracy and Michelle have never been on one before! I remember a couple of years ago, John and I went on one and have a wonderfully, scary time! I loved every minute of it!

This ghost tour was a little different. It was more directed to people who are "out-of towners." We walked the streets of Strasburg, listened to ghost/history stories, and visited grave sites. SPOOKY!

Michelle's mother had invited her Red Hat group and we were just the tag alongs I guess. They were such fun women and they couldn't stop talking! It sounds like there are trouble when they all get together! Afterwards, we stopped at Friendly's to celebrate the October birthdays. Nothing better to end the night than a hot fudge/melted peanut butter ice cream sundae! Ugh, the gym can't be calling my name sooner. HAHA!


Tracy, Michelle, and I


Some of the Red Hat Society Ladies

My pumpkin

I went for the simple look this year. It was all about getting the other pumpkins done. This is my best example of the character on A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Oh what fun you've missed:

I have been having so much fun now that's it's fall. I love the weather and I love dressing in sweatshirts! This past Sunday, I went to carve pumpkins with the annual crew. We ended up carving 9 pumpkins total. Michelle was having a 70th birthday party for her mom and we needed to carve multiple little pumpkins to light the paths. They turned out adorable. We made a whole day of it. I brought stuff to 'make your own pizza' and pumpkin cookies for desert. The kids loved it. You'll see by the end pictures that we had a "not-so-happy camper." It seems every year we have one and this year was no different. Oh well.... Here's to next year!



All the pumpkins in a row....


Abigail did a great job. She carved 3 ghosts the entire circumfrence of the pumpkin.


Mom, Michelle, was so proud of her HAND DRAWN cow she thought up and created! Way to go Shell!


Zac was so proud of "his" pumpkin his mom made. He kept telling everyone that those were his hands she traced.


Gabrielle did a wonderful job on her pumpkin as well. It was a long 7 hours.

Farm Show, Farm Show, How I Love Thee

Ah, you know it has hit Autumn when the leaves start to turn, and you realize you now need more than a sweatshirt outside. The beginning of the Farm Show also marks a time for Autumn, as we get excited to carve pumpkins, prepare for the trick-or-treaters, etc. I love it!

I have been to the Farm Show only twice this week. I've enjoyed many long lost pleasures such as Kreider Farms milkshakes, funnel cakes, and a warm toasted sub. I love every minute of it, from looking at Bobcats with John, to seeing a 1200 lb pumpkin. It is also a good time to catch up with friends that we 'never find the time' to see, unfortunately.

Every year, I love looking at the animals and watching the baby pigs feed, holding the chicks, etc. This year, kittens came onto the scene. I loved all of them! I wanted one so badly, but with Matilda, I don't think that would fly too well. (with John either) John and I had a wonderful time together last night as we walked the grounds of Manheim and laughed over chocolate milkshakes. Such fun times!

Courtney and Drew's Wedding

Courtney and Drew's wedding was perfect. After almost a whole week of rain, the weather held out Saturday for their special day. The weather was perfect, the sun shining, and fall leaves falling. How beautiful!



Courtney and Drew


Jess & I


AJ, myself, and Eric


Jess & AJ


Awwww!


Ty & Marissa





High School Reunion?


Colin decided to break out the guitar. It was awesome. He and AJ decided to write a song about Courtney and Drew's wedding. It was so creative! They did an amazing job!


This is the table of 'party-poopers.' They did not want to have fun!




Keely, myself, Courtney, Jess, and Sara

Thank You

We can say thank you enough for all your love and support to us. We couldn't have made it 5 years without all of you behind us, encouraging us through school, starting a buisness, and life's everyday challenges. We love you guys!

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WEDDING PICTURES, CLICK THE LINK TO THE RIGHT FOR A SLIDESHOW.

Cooking with Mom

My Saturday consisted of spending the morning at the pediatric office... working of course. MISRIBLE! Since we are getting into flu season, it seems all I am doing is giving nebulizer treatments and giving flu shots. This past Saturday was exceptionally bad...
I had to give 2 flu shots to a brother & sister; probably 11 & 7? They were both screaming so loudly, kicking, punching, and holding onto the door handle to escape. The mom was in no control what so over and after about 5 minutes of this going on, she started to have a break down and cry! She finally got the little girl onto her lap and held her tight. I was just about to go in for the sting, and the child starts to vomiting. She had worked herself up so much, she made herself sick. Although once she got her shot, she was fine. Her brother on the other hand was not so easy. I offered to grab another nurse to help hold him down and he promised he would stop the kicking. Again, once I had the needle open and just about near his arm, his mom released her grip and he started swinging and kicking again. Needless to say, I immediately backed away, needle open and all. I was not about to get stuck with a needle, clean or not clean... I didn't care. This ordeal went on for almost 20 mintues! I'm in the room thinking to myself, 'I do have other patients, I don't really need this today!' I know it's horrible to think, but this is outrageous! As much as I love kids, I hate giving shots! This makes for a really long day!

When I finally got home, my parents brought over Chinese and we started cooking. Our friend is having surgery and I wanted to make dinner for her family while she is recovering, so I decided on something easy... soups. My mom and I made chicken corn noodle soup and white chicken chili... AWESOME! Here are a few pictures for our fun 5 hours of cooking....


Yes, I made the dough rivals! My favorite part to the soup!
And we couldn't have done it without the palmagranite martinis! YUM!



The best part was that I got to use all my new cooking gadgets! I love the Le Crucet and recommend it to everyone!



Look at all the soup!