2 weeks...

Bahia Principe San Juan - Club Golden

ok... in just two more weeks I will be completely FINISHED university and headed to the DOMINICAN!!! Yes, it is true - I just booked the trip only moments ago! My friend AJ and I are headed on a grad trip to the tropics... going to relax away the past four years of study!!

I am more than just a little excited after talking with AJ and exploring different places to go... an all-inclusive journey to the carribean... sigh...horseback riding on the beach, sunfish sailing, catamaran rides, boogie boarding, scuba lessons, merangue lessons, spa, massage, kayaking, windsurfing, and the good ol soaking in the sun... can I leave tomorrow?!?!

So I know I have been quite remiss in updating around here... I will try to keep on top of things... thanks Gwen for missing me :)

he scores!!

Derks-42 SCORES!!!

Thats what I am talking about... smiles - I am sitting here after a glorious day of boarding, listening to the webcast of the Chicago Shamrox game against Rochester Nighthawks... Jonas, my good friend is playing his first game as a Shamrox is kickin butt out there!! And just scored his first as a part of the team... the announcer just said that the team appears to be more confident now that Jo is on the floor... such great things to say!! I am so proud of him!!

Lacrosse is just wonderful... :) I have no question in my mind why it is our national sport... its absolutely great!!

emergency

So the last two days... have been the most intense days in emergency yet I think! We were super busy, but thats ok because I like it busy! (sorry if that sounds morbid) These past two days weren't the typical days of busy either - typical meaning "I have a temp, my throat hurts, I have pain..." they are legit but not as crazy wow as all the stuff that has come in the past few days... on my first day the most 'yikes' thing was a person who came in with severe facial fractures from a MVA (motor vehicle accident), her face was so badly broken that her sinuses were exposed - I have never seen anything like it ever!

Yesterday was really busy too - fractured collar bones, seizures, chest pain, incomplete miscarriage, and the grossest was a guy who came in with his fingers all mashed... one finger tip was still in the glove... I think it was the grossest thing ever... I had to pick it up and put it in some normal saline solution... ugh - I felt so bad for that guy! OOO and I got to teach the two other nurses how to test for RSV in infants... it involves sticking a suction catheter up the baby's nose and suctioning it into a sputum trap.... boring for you - but yay for me!

So... wonder what tonight will bring...

GO SHAMROX GO!!!

It's official! Jonas Derks has signed with the Chicago Shamrox!

I am super excited for him - he is such a great lax player... big smiles!! I do however wish that I was in Ontario about this time... I am missing the season! There will be a wonderful roadtrip at the end of March to see him play in Buffalo...I sadly will not be there in person... but! I shall dress in green to support our man! Sigh, the memories.... such wonderful wonderful times... I will post a few pictures to include you all in the memories of the last few years!

It all began with the BUFFALO BANDITS... my first experience with the wonderful game!

Proudly wearing our orange... (Jilly even painted her dresser ORANGE!)

Then Jo was traded half way through the second season to ARIZONA STING... and thus our colour support changed... burgundy girls we are now!

Even baby Braeden was proud of his daddy! (This was at the Champions Cup 2006 in Toronto)

and yes... Koda at home was a proud supporter of #43!!

last few days...

so I am headed into a night shift now... hopefully I am rested enough!! feel free to bring coffee all you beautiful coffee fairies out there! Other than that life is going... I miss people - it seems I am so busy with work... I need a girls night... thank goodness Tamara and Henny's housewarming is on Sat... I will survive until then... I think! ;)
Love you all - miss you tons... Chan... I get off at 7am... wanna meet for breaky?? (I so wish!) I will settle for a breaky date with the gym... sigh...

promised pic

So here is that pic from the "clowns of the high seas" party that I promised! It was a great time and I was so impressed with everyone's costumes - most people just kept to the pirate look though! I left by 11 because I had to work the next day... but I heard that it went well into the morning... well past 3am! Birke and Carla brought me a mocha at work the next afternoon... that was super sweet! They said that the birthday boys had a great time!

UPDATE

A few pictures from our day....

the journey begins....

gorgeous...although visibility was poor!

Aaron... after a tumble!

our boards... mine is the pretty one on the left!

It was a lovely day today up on the hill!!! hard to see at times... Aaron did incredibly well!! He's going to exceed my abilities in a few short runs...
I did good too today ;) I fell once - and not badly! It was awesome in the powder!! And we ran into Dave and Wanda and kids... fun fun!

ok so tonight I am off to a "clowns of the high seas" party... one of the guys from work is celebrating his birthday... and we are dressing up in some combination of clown and pirate...interesting and wierd!! I'll definitely post a pic!

boarding with my bro

For Christmas I got my youngest brother (Aaron/Arie/Dauly) a snowboard rental, pass, and lesson... and today we are going to use it!! YAY I will try to take some pictures today... and give an update afterward... as we all know - me and snowboarding usually accounts for some injuries... sigh... maybe this time will be different?? Aaron will probably do great! Anyhoo... their snow report for today says that it is excellent conditions... yipee! So off I go...

Have a good day everyone!!

questionnaire time...

1. What time did you get up this morning? 0715am
2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds are a girls best friend...
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? We Are Marshall (when I was in ON)
4. What is your favorite TV show? Grey's Anatomy, House
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? cereal or protein shake
6. Favorite cuisine? Italian
7. What is your middle name? Myrrh
8. What food do you dislike? sushi
9. What is your favorite CD at the moment? a mix of songs...
What kind of car do you drive? Mazda MX6
11. Favorite sandwich? Peanut Butter
12. What characteristic do you despise? Dishonesty
13. Favorite item of clothing? right now... my cozy bathrobe from Jillybean - sooo warm!
14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? headed to Greece soon!!
15. What color is your bathroom? white
16. Favorite brand of clothing? thats a tough one for me... no brand in particular I guess
17. Where would you retire to? somewhere warm with mountains!
18. What was your most memorable birthday? I am gonna have to go with #22 - my princess party!
19. Favorite sport to watch? Lacrosse
20. Furthest place you are sending this? Ontario
21. How many do you think will send this back? not even an inkling
22. Who will have the craziest answers? well probably the craziest person...
23. Favorite saying? hmm...
24. When is your birthday? December 25
25. Are you a morning person or a night person? hard to say - depends on the shift... but more productive I guess in the morning after I finally wake up!
26. What is your shoe size? 9-10 (depends on the brand)
27. Pets? Koda is in Ontario (tears, no longer mine)... Foundher is here...meh
28. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? I am going boarding tomorrow!
29. What did you want to be when you were little? a mamma
30. How are you today? feeling kinda under the weather... had to have a nap and feeling nautious... yikes!
31. What is your favorite candy? tootsie rolls
32.What is your favorite flower? orchids/roses/daisies
33. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? there are so many! April 22 -Amanda's wedding, May 7-trip to Greece, June 1 - GRAD, June 2 - Jo n Theresa's wedding!
34.What church do you attend? Rock Christian Community
35. What is your full name? Carin Myrrh Vivian
36. What are you listening to right now? the furnace...
37. What was the last thing you ate? a sandwhich
38. Do you wish on stars? sometimes I do... I love looking at the stars!
39. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? orange
40. How is the weather right now? relatively stable - as far as Terrace goes!
41. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Mom - she's in Texas
42. Do you like the person who sent this to you? she's wonderful!
43. Favorite soft drink? 7-up I guess... don't drink soft-drinks often
44. Favorite restaurant? East Side Marios - can't wait to be in ON to be able to go!
45. Hair color? dark brown - the fucia has faded leaving some highlights
46. Siblings? 2 brothers 2 sisters
47. Favorite day of the year? December 25 and not cuz its my birthday - I just love Christmas!
48. What was your favorite toy as a child? my dolls!
49. Summer or winter? I like all seasons... but summer is best!
50. Hugs or kisses? I'll take both please!
51. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla
52. Do you want your friends to email you back? I always love getting emails!
53. When was the last time you cried? last Grey's episode
54. What is under your bed? some easter surprises for my sibs... and a duffle bag
55. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Shannon
56. What did you do last night? Progressive Dinner (salad at one house, entree at the next and dessert at the last... too much fun!)
57. Favorite smell? mmm cinnamon!
59. What are you afraid of? heights I suppose sort of...
60. Plain, buttered, or salted Popcorn? buttered
61. How many keys on your key ring? not sure actually... I only need one of them though!
62. How many years at your current job? 2 months (just moved here)
63. Favorite day of the week? Sunday I think...
64. How many towns have you lived in? lots!!! at least 7
65. Do you make friends easily? I do
66. How many people will you be sending this to? not even a clue - again

spinal cord injuries (SCI)

Hey everyone... a lot of people have been asking questions about what happens with spinal cord injuries and what the chances of surviving and complete recovery are... I had some good conversation last night at the (wonderful and amazing) progressive dinner with a few people...

I posted the above picture because it gives a very good idea of what level of ability is impaired at each level of the spinal cord.

I have another really great resource if there is anyone who really wants to learn more about this - please feel free to comment or call! For those who don't really want to read more I will give you a brief idea of some stuff I do know...

After any spinal cord injury the person sustaining the injury will go into spinal shock. This is the total loss of all reflex functions and movement below the level of the lesion (injury). This condition may last several hours, days, weeks, or even months. The full extent of the injuries could take up to a year sometimes to determine.

There are also two types of spinal cord injuries - complete and incomplete. A complete SCI is the total absence of movement and sensation below the level of the lesion. The cord is either completely severed or destroyed in the region. All the areas of the body whose innervation (where nerves connect to the spinal cord) begins at or below this section of the cord will now remain isolated from the brain.

Incomplete SCI indicates that some sensory and/or motor function below the level of injury has been preserved.

There are different functions that are affected according to the neurological level of injury. (see picture)

At the level of L4, the person with SCI can extend the knees and flex the feet. There is a certain amount of paralysis in the back of the legs, but walking is possible with forearm crtuches or with short foot braces and a cane. Most lesions at this level affect the cauda-equina (sheaf of nerves beyond the spinal cord down to the coccyx). The bladder reflex function may be lost as well.

I am praying along with everyone for recovery the recovery... I have had a lot of experience with SCI's and I have no doubt that a full life is ahead! I hope that some of this information helped and that it will help you to direct your prayer... this info was taken from a book published by the Canadian Paraplegic Association called "Life after a spinal cord injury"...

a cheers to my heroes in chairs... my heroes who life life to its fullest, challenging standards and achieving their dreams!